“Society is still mourning the loss of the tenth Duke,” Lady Joan continued. “He was a real gem of our social circle. So charming, so handsome.”
Rosalind had to suppress a smile; she wondered if Lady Joan had been one of the ladies that Annie had mentioned, although to be fair, the ladies he brought home were probably of a far lower class than Lady Joan. “I obviously did not have the pleasure of meeting him.”
“Of course not,” Lady Joan sneered, “I doubt your paths would have ever crossed had he lived. It was a sad loss when he went to explore the continent.”
Rosalind was prevented from replying by the arrival of another lady. This one was much older, walking with the aid of a stick. She was announced as Mrs Adams. Rosalind was interested in the newcomer especially when she noticed the discomfort of the other two ladies.
Mrs Adams approached Rosalind and stood before her. “So, you are the new Duchess,” she said, looking closely at Rosalind. She smiled when Rosalind raised her eyebrows, silently questioning the open scrutiny. “Well, you are pretty enough, that’s for sure. Happy to meet you, my dear; hope you can sort this place out!” she said and sat herself on the nearest chair. Unfortunately for the two other visitors, it was directly in their line of sight.
“Surprised to see you here Joan,” Mrs Adams started. “Come to punish yourself have you?”
“Ah, no; I’ve come to welcome the new Duchess to the area,” Lady Joan stuttered, but she had flushed deep red at Mrs Adams’s remarks.
“Of course you have,” Mrs Adams chuckled. “Now then, what do you think of the useless bunch of people you’ve seen this morning? Want to run back home yet?” she asked Rosalind, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Rosalind could not help the laugh escaping her. “It would be very poor of me to make a judgement of an area after one morning,” she replied easily.
“It doesn’t get any better, let me assure you,” Mrs Adams said darkly.
Lady Joan could not prevent herself from defending her home. “We have entertainments enough that I’m sure would please Her Grace.”
“They would only entertain someone who had little sense,” Mrs Adams interrupted. “Have you travelled much?” she asked turning back to Rosalind.
“We have spent quite a lot of time enjoying this country, and my family has spent some time in Paris when travel was possible,” Rosalind acknowledged. “I like the architecture and feel of the new places we see. My mother has always liked to keep up to date with the latest fashions, which drove her choice of location.”
“Thought as much,” Mrs Adams nodded in approval. “Dresses like the one you are wearing are not from a country bumpkin.”
“Thank you,” Rosalind said with a smile; she was rapidly coming to like Mrs Adams.
The old lady turned to Lady Joan, “Don’t underestimate this one, or you will fall flat on your face for a second time.”
Rosalind had no idea what was being referred to, but it was obvious that Miss Latimer and Lady Joan did. One looked mortified, while the other looked ready to kill Mrs Adams, which just seemed to amuse the old woman.
“We shall not keep you any longer,” Lady Joan said, rising without really looking at anyone. “My father is holding a ball next month; I do hope we shall see you there. Everyone who is anyone will be in attendance.”
The ladies said their good-days, and Rosalind was left alone with Mrs Adams.
“He can hold a thousand balls, but he’ll never find a husband for that one; they think people have short memories and are stupid, which just proves to everyone how arrogant they are,” Mrs Adams said cryptically.
Rosalind decided to show some mercy towards Lady Joan; it was obvious that Mrs Adams had no time for the young woman. “I’m not sure about that; my own case shows that people will overlook a great deal to marry money.”
Mrs Adams laughed loudly, “Joan carries with her even more disadvantage than you do my dear!”
“Then I’m surprised she is ever seen in company,” Rosalind said with a smile, not really taking the comments seriously. Lady Joan had obviously thought she was at the top of the local society.
Mrs Adams chuckled, “You will soon find that Peter is not the only desperate resident in these parts. Now, enough of Joan; she bores me with her stupidity. Tell me about your family.”
Rosalind told Mrs Adams of her family history; there was no reason to be dishonest even if she had wanted to hide the truth. In reality, everyone knew she had been married for her money, so she could mention her family without shame. She also found herself confiding that her role was to find husbands for her sisters.
“Annabelle is two and twenty and feisty; she was always getting into trouble at home,” Rosalind explained fondly. “She has been known to fight her friends, but luckily that was when she was younger; age has settled her at least a little. Grace is next at one and twenty. She looks completely different from myself and Annabelle. We would tease her when she was little, saying that she belonged to the fairies. She is beautiful and loves everything to do with gardens. Then finally at twenty is Eleanor. She is so direct it is easy to forget that she is so young; I suppose it comes with having three older sisters. She is by far the most intelligent of us all, as well as determined. I love them all,” Rosalind finished.
“Well, if they are as pretty as you and come with dowries as large as yours, you should have an easy task,” Mrs Adams responded.
“I had hoped to find them husbands who would treat them well,” Rosalind replied; she did not mention love in case she was ridiculed. It seemed as if she had obtained Mrs Adams’ approval, and she did not want to lose it. She did not think the older woman would subscribe to her own opinion of finding a love match being more important to a marriage than any other reason.
“And yet you married a stranger,” Mrs Adams said, her eyes narrowing in her observation of Rosalind.
“I had to obey my father, whereas my sisters will be miles away from either of my parents,” she said candidly.
“Ah, I see how it is,” Mrs Adams replied. “Peter is a good man; you should have no doubt of that,” she said simply.
“I know,” Rosalind replied honestly. Her situation could have been a lot more difficult than it was turning out to be; she was all too aware her position could be worse. “Unfortunately we are both faced with a situation that neither of us wanted.”
“Have you met Annie?” Mrs Adams asked.
“Of course,” Rosalind replied with a smile. “Peter had avoided telling me about her situation, but she is as welcome to my home as any of my sisters are.”
“Glad to hear it,” Mrs Adams said firmly, but with approval. “Peter’s mother was my best friend. She was also named Marianne, God rest her soul. She fought for that child as a mother should never have to.”
“I believe so,” Rosalind acknowledged. “I suppose Peter has as well, albeit in a different way. I cannot criticise him for it when I am here to promote my own sisters.”
The conversation was interrupted by Peter’s entrance. He immediately smiled warmly at Mrs Adams and went over to her, placing a kiss on her cheek. “Have you been interrogating my wife?” he asked pleasantly.
“Not half as much as I wanted to,” Mrs Adams replied. “I had to get rid of Frances and Joan first and now you have barged your way in! It will keep though. I’ve seen enough to know that you’ve made a good choice.”
“I didn’t have any choice,” Peter responded, before looking mortified at his unthinking words.
Rosalind stung a little and then cursed herself; it was purely her vanity that was insulted. His words were true; he had not had any option. His words should not affect her so much but, for some reason, they did.
Mrs Adams tutted at Peter and shook her head. “Don’t be an insensitive brute; that role should have died out with your father and Robert. I expect better of you, my boy.” She turned to Rosalind. “Take my advice: invite one of your sisters to stay with you immediately; you will need the company, and it
will take the limelight off you a little if there is an unmarried heiress in the area, whatever her background is.”
She nodded her goodbyes and left the pair alone. The air stilled as the two of them struggled for something to say to the other. The room always seemed oddly quiet when Peter and Rosalind were left on their own. It was as if they needed the distraction of someone else for the atmosphere to be relaxed.
Peter broke the silence. “It is a good idea for you to have some company. I am still spending a lot of time out of the house, trying to improve things on the land.”
It was only their second day at home, and already he was telling her that he would be spending very little time with her Rosalind thought. Surprisingly the thought made her feel empty. She shook herself; they were strangers, and she had to accept that he wanted it to remain that way.
“I shall send a letter for Annabelle; hopefully she will arrive before the ball being held by Lady Joan. If I send it immediately there will be more chance of her arriving in time. Please excuse me. I shall return to my chamber to write it; there is no point delaying,” Rosalind responded coolly and left the room to write the letter.
Peter was left feeling unsettled. All he seemed to do was open his mouth and upset his new bride. He congratulated himself by thinking that he had been married to her for less than a week, and he had managed to insult her on more occasions than he cared to recollect. What was the problem with him? He had never been so tongue-tied around anyone previously, and he owed her so much.
He walked to the window and looked out over his land. If he was honest with himself it no longer felt like his land; it probably had not since he had moved to his farm. Yes, it was his ancestral home, but that was all. The whole process had unsettled him; he was floundering, both in the role of Duke and husband. He wanted to feel like he belonged, like he was needed and making a difference, but the reality was Rosalind was the one who belonged; she was the one who was needed and whose money would make the difference. He was surplus to requirements, and he had no idea how to change his feelings. He hoped he would find consolation in the outdoors. It had helped him in the past, but somehow his feelings were different from anything he had experienced previously. He had no idea what to do to improve matters.
Chapter 7
Rosalind wrote her letter and, after a small lunch, joined Peter in the phaeton for the promised ride around the parkland. She had been a little apprehensive at the start, but it was soon obvious that Peter was trying his best to be amenable.
They travelled through the woodland surrounding the house and then ventured into the wider areas, passing the farms that belonged to the land.
“I hadn’t realised the land attached to the house was going to be so expansive,” Rosalind said after an hour had passed and they still had not turned back to the house.
“It is, isn’t it,” Peter acknowledged. “This last year there have been many changes; not all have been welcomed though.”
“Oh? What has happened?” Rosalind asked, interested.
“I’ve introduced more up to date methods in some of the farming techniques,” Peter started to explain. “You have probably already surmised that neither my father nor brother were really interested in anything beyond their own enjoyment, so the neglect has been ongoing for years. I’ve had to persuade tenants to introduce more efficient methods of farming to try and make the land more profitable.”
“Has it worked?” Rosalind asked.
“Yes, it seems to have improved things greatly so far,” Peter said with pride. “Some of the farmers did not believe what I was saying until I actually worked the new equipment on the land myself.”
“Ah, so that explains the ruddy skin and rough hands,” Rosalind said with a smile.
Peter laughed, “Yes, it is fortunate that I don’t frequent the London balls very often, or my acquaintances would think that I have gone completely rustic.” He felt inordinately pleased that she had noticed something about him. He had no idea why it caused such feelings; it was such a little thing, but it pleased him nonetheless.
“What do the tenants think of you helping?” Rosalind continued.
“I think they have seen so much change over the last few years, with there being the three Dukes in such a short time, that they are just wondering what will happen next,” Peter responded. “I gained some credibility with them after the last harvest produced a profit for the first time in years. Long may it continue, although there is no guarantee that we will see a profit next year.”
“So, you had already started to bring yourself out of debt then?” Rosalind asked. She wondered why such a substantial amount of money was needed if the land was profitable.
“Ah, the tenants were safe, but the farmer Duke and his many houses, along with outstanding debts, were still at risk,” Peter explained. He tried to sound light-hearted, but Rosalind could detect the bitterness underneath.
“I see. I’m not surprised it takes so much money to run the house; I was quite worn out after Annie gave me the tour yesterday!” Rosalind joked.
Peter laughed, but then became serious. “You need to decide whether or not you wish to keep all three houses. I would argue that we have to keep Sudworth Hall obviously because of Annie, but the two other properties, you can decide if you wish to keep them, or we could sell them. They were to be sold as an effort to reduce the debt, but they would not have cleared it; now, thanks to your money, we don’t need to sell them unless you wish it.”
Rosalind frowned, “Why would I decide?” she asked, not sure if her father had stipulated something of the sort in the pre-wedding discussions.
Peter stopped the horses and turned to fully face Rosalind. “It is your money that has saved the houses, the land, and Annie’s future. Apart from keeping Annie in her familiar surroundings, you may do as you wish with the rest of it.”
Rosalind was confused, “But you are my husband,” she said, trying to understand why he would want to pass over such decisions to her.
“And it is your money,” Peter said quietly.
Rosalind began to realise just how hard the situation Peter had faced and how difficult the decisions he had made had been for him. She put her hand over his and spoke gently. “Neither of us wanted this situation, and I know, even on such a short acquaintance, that you did everything you could to avoid entering into the arrangement which we now face. The day I married you was the day the money became yours; it isn’t right for me to interfere with the workings of the finances.”
“You have every right to,” Peter insisted. “Every time I clear another creditor’s account, I am reminded that it is only because of you that I am able to do that. I have no idea how I am ever going to repay the sacrifice you’ve been forced to make.”
Rosalind smiled sympathetically. “There is no need; it was my father’s doing, his foolish scheme to secure our place in society. All you have to do to make me happy is to just be honest with me; that is all I ask. My father sprang this on me a few weeks before the wedding date when he had obviously been planning and scheming for months with his solicitor. He never once told me that was what was expected of me. If he had been honest from the start, at least I would have had time to prepare myself.”
“I’m sorry,” Peter responded.
“It isn’t your fault!” Rosalind said with a shake of the head. “We both have family members who are accountable for our situation. I just hope that we can rumble along and make the best of it.”
Rosalind was being overly optimistic, but she did feel sorry for Peter. Who would have thought that the man she faced in her father’s home was the sensitive man who was struggling with the decision he had made?
Peter sat quietly and then squeezed Rosalind’s hand. “I can easily promise that I will always be honest with you. I have been very fortunate in my choice, and I do appreciate you.”
“Good. I will remind you of that when we are old and grey and you are sick of the sight of me!” Rosalind laughed, determined to lighten th
e mood.
Peter smiled in response. He turned back to the horses and clicked the reins for them to recommence their journey. The thought of being with Rosalind until he was old and grey suddenly did not seem like such a bad thing after all.
*
Rosalind soon fell into a regular pattern, if not an easy one. Morning visits would always be a trial for her, especially when Lady Joan visited. The women had developed a mutual dislike for each other based on the questions and cutting remarks that Lady Joan uttered every time she opened her mouth to speak. Any attempt at normal conversation by Miss Latimer was disregarded as soon as Lady Joan thought of some other remark that was a thinly veiled insult.
Rosalind knew that she should act like the Duchess she was and put Lady Joan firmly in her place, but she did not feel confident in the support of the neighbourhood and her husband to take such a risk. She was the newcomer in the area so would have been at a disadvantage even if she had a different background; with that added issue, there was no reason to suppose that she would receive support from virtual strangers.
The afternoons and evenings were what Rosalind looked forward to the most. Annie was kept busy until after morning visits; then she would be brought to the drawing room. Very often Mrs Adams would stay longer than was normal to see Annie, and the three would chatter and laugh together.
Sometimes, Peter would take Rosalind and Annie out for a carriage ride but, if he was busy, Rosalind would walk out in the grounds with the young girl. Annie was able to join Rosalind and Peter for their evening meal if they were not entertaining guests. Rosalind especially appreciated the chatter that Annie supplied, and it was only that she shied away from those that she did not know well that prevented her from joining them when guests were present.
Rosalind told Annie that her sister, Annabelle, was on the way to stay. At first Annie was reluctant that someone would come to visit, but Rosalind was careful to include Annie in conversations about what Annabelle would do with them both to ensure that she became excited at the prospect of another visitor.
Rosalind: A Regency Romance (The Four Sisters Series Book 1) Page 5
