My Deceitful Marquess

by Amaya Evans

  Someone knocked on the door

  “Come in.”

  A maid walked in. “Miss, you have a visitor. It is the Marquess of Wilmington.”

  “Tell him that I’ll be right down, Martha.”

  Sonia looked at herself in the mirror for one last time and went downstairs to meet the marquess. “Charlotte I can’t be alone with him and Horatia is slow to arrive so you will be present, but you will be invisible until my brother appears.”

  “Has your brother not come downstairs yet, miss?”

  “No, he wants to come down later to give himself airs of greatness and according to him, he wants us to talk a little more without being observed all the time. I told him that it would be wrong for a lady to attend to Lord Wilmington alone, without a chaperone or at least her brother’s presence, and he only laughed.

  Charlotte sighed, “Very well, miss. I will accompany you.”

  When they reached the living room, they saw Robert sitting there. He looked very elegant. “Good evening, Miss. Hearst.” He stood up to place a kiss on her hand.

  “Good evening, Lord Wilmington.”

  “You look radiant today.”

  “Thank you, very much,” Sonia sat down and didn’t know what else to say.

  “It is a wonderful day, is it not?”

  “Certainly, but warm.”

  “How do you feel after last night’s event?”

  “Well, but I arrived a little tired,” Sonia smiled. “There were a lot of dances in one night.”

  “I believe you will now have many invitations and gentlemen who will wish to know you better.”

  “I’m not interested.”

  “I’m sorry?” Robert thought that he had heard her wrong.

  “I said I’m not interested.”

  “I thought you wanted to get married.”

  “I know that everyone thinks I want to catch a husband with a title, but believe me that there is nothing further from reality.”

  He looked at her in confusion.

  “Don’t look at me like that.” Sonia smiled, amused. “I’ll explain.” She moved closer to him and Robert could smell the faint scent of vanilla.

  “I don’t want to get married because the only thing I see in married couples is suffering and the one that bears the worst part is always the woman.”

  “I have seen happy marriages, Miss Hearst.”

  “Please call me, Sonia.”

  He smiled. “Fine, but only if you call me Robert.”

  “Oh, of course,” she said, showing her pleasure. “Now that we are better acquainted I’ll explain why there are no happy marriages.”

  Robert looked at her, amused. Sonia had something about her that caught his attention. She was refreshing as well as beautiful. Her skin was so white and he could bet that it was as soft as it looked and those lips that every time he saw them Robert could not help wondering what they would taste like.

  “Marriages seem to be happy because that is what is expected of them, but in reality, it is only a contract between two people. Where the woman contributes a large dowry, children, obedience and total secrecy about the privacy of their relationship. While the man will only give her a noble name so that the woman and her offspring can display it. He will fill her with children while he goes from lover to lover and she will have to be silent because it would be a scandal to air the dirty laundry of her marriage.”

  “I think you are a little stern in your way of looking at things. As I said not all marriages are the same.”

  “Do you mean that some marriages have love? Maybe fidelity?”

  “Yes,” Robert answered.

  “I’m afraid that’s just a fantasy.”

  “I disagree with your way of thinking. I think if you do not give someone a chance, how will you really know the way things will happen in a marriage?”

  “Oh no, Lord Robert,” Sonia said. “If I did that it would be like playing the lottery, don’t you think? And if I have the bad luck of getting a bad husband. I would not be able to get out of that terrible situation, for we are hopelessly united until death do us part.”

  Robert could not help laughing at her drama even though he saw her point of view. “What do you plan to do, Sonia? I understand that your brother will not return to New York until you have married and I must add, married very well.”

  Sonia looked at him in surprise. “How did you hear about that?”

  “You know what people are like. They say one thing over here and another over there.”

  “Yes, I see that the gossip is not exclusive to where I come from.”

  “Believe me, Miss Hearst, it is one of the greatest sources of entertainment in English society.”

  “I see ...” Sonia was thoughtful for a moment. “It is a little worrisome.”

  “The last thing I wanted to do was worry you.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m not worried. In fact, I’m accustomed to people talking about me, for better or for worse.” Sonia leaned down to serve him a cup of tea. “Cream?”

  “Just a little, please.”

  Sonia handed him the cup of tea. “Regarding what I am going to do with my brother and father. Well, I’m still thinking about it.” Sonia looked at him, full of hope. “Do you have an idea?”

  Robert could not believe that he had arrived with the intention of wooing the heiress and they were talking as if they were two good friends. “The truth is I cannot think of anything, but if something comes up, I’ll tell you.”

  “You don’t know how much I appreciate your understanding.” Sonia looked up at him with bright eyes.

  The door opened and Sonia’s brother arrived. Robert stood up to greet him. “Mr. Hearst is a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Likewise, Lord Wilmington.”

  “Please call me Robert,” he asked.

  “Robert, please sit. I see that you’ve already had tea,” Edward said, looking at Sonia.

  “I’ll ask the maid to bring some more,” Sonia said and rang the bell.

  “Lord Wilmington, you are well known in London. People speak very well of you and say that you are a war hero.”

  “Well, I would not say that. I am just one more who served my country.”

  “Your modesty speaks well of you.” Robert settled into the chair. “Now that you’re out of the violent world of military life, what do you want to do?” he asked without preamble.

  “I would like to conduct some business. I have one in mind.”

  “Dear God! A nobleman working? Won’t it scandalize more than one person?”

  “I am not a man that places great importance on what others say. Times change and today you cannot live only from tenants.”

  “It’s true. You can’t live solely on old money, as we call money coming from past generations.”

  “I do not deny that it helps a lot, but it is time to change the customs.”

  Edward gave him a piercing glare. It didn’t make Robert uncomfortable because he knew that as Sonia’s brother he was concerned about the men who courted his sister. But what he did not like was talking about things as vulgar as money in front of a lady. Fortunately, a footman entered with a maid holding a tray of tea and almost immediately after they walked in the room Horatia entered apologizing for being late. That lightened the mood, but from Edward’s demeanor, Robert knew that the subject was only suspended until they saw each other again. The rest of the visit, they only talked about unimportant things and later he said goodbye, but not without first inviting Sonia to a theatrical representation in Ranelagh Gardens.

  “I’d love to. I don’t know it and I’ve been told it’s beautiful.”

  “It is, Miss Hearst. I am sure we will have a pleasant time. Obviously, Lady Essex is invited to join us as well.”

  “It will be a pleasure, Lord Wilmington.”

  “Well, there’s nothing more to talk about. I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

  A few days after Robert’s visit, Sonia was able to have some time to herself in
the library of the house.

  She was focused on reading when Edward arrived and Sonia assumed that he would ask her questions about Robert or try to pressure her on the subject of marriage.

  “My dear little sister. I see you’re occupied.”

  “I was, but now that you’ve arrived ...”

  “Yes, I’m interrupting you, but I just wanted to ask you what you thought of the gentlemen who have come to visit you. There are several who have insisted on courting you.”

  “You know I’m not interested in any of them.”

  “Well, you’ll have to little sister because you know our father is waiting for news.”

  “Well, then you’ll have to give me more time.”

  “You’re running out of time, sister. You must decide soon. I don’t know why you have to think about it. Just choose the most important man. Or the one that you like the most.” Edward stood up. “One more week, Sonia.” He left the library.

  Sonia didn’t answer him, but she wanted to strangle him. Who did he think he was to tell her how long she had to choose the man that she would have to live with for the rest of her life? None of these men seemed to be right or good ... perhaps the marquess who was a very handsome, elegant man. She enjoyed going out and talking with him much more than with the others. Who just spent the time talking and boring her with conversations about things she didn’t understand, nor wanted to understand, but the problem was that even if she liked the marquess, she couldn’t see herself attached to him for life. Sonia had an idea that had long been spinning in her head and since her brother had given her an ultimatum Sonia would have to put it into practice with the marquess.

  Sonia would have to see what he thought about it and there were only two possible outcomes. One was that he would call her shameless and ruin her reputation by telling every one of her proposal. Or he could agree because she knew that he was not in a good economic situation and that her proposal would benefit them both. God, help me to make no mistake, Sonia thought desperately. She closed her eyes and told herself that in desperate times, desperate measures.

  *****

  The next day Sonia sent a note to Robert to meet him in the afternoon, at her cousin Horatia’s, because she knew Horatia always gave them a little space to talk. Then she dressed in a yellow dress with brown stripes which she knew looked good. She told Charlotte to help her with a nice hairstyle. Sonia wanted to look her very best for the marquess because on that depended him wanting to help her.

  Later that day in Horatia’s house Sonia anxiously waited for Robert’s arrival. It didn’t take him long to arrive and as always he looked very handsome. He greeted everyone present and walked to where she was.

  “Miss Hearst.” Robert bowed and kissed her hand. In front of Sonia he had no objection to speaking with a certain familiarity, but before Horatia and her husband the viscount he had to keep the formalities. Although he knew that once they were alone, they could speak less formally.

  “Lord Wilmington, I’m glad to see you again.”

  “I feel the same. If I may say so every time I see you, you are more beautiful.”

  Sonia smiled. “Thank you.”

  While everyone was talking about the climate, the political situation, the upcoming dances and even the hunting season. Sonia only thought about how she would explain everything to Robert.

  Horatia seemed to understand this and a short while later she invented an excuse to leave them alone for a moment to talk. When at last there was no one else in the room Robert approached the chair where Sonia sat. “Sonia, I can see that something is worrying you.”

  “Yes, there is something I want to talk to you about but I don’t want you to think bad about me after this.”

  “I do not think that could happen. You seem to be an exceptional woman and I have the best opinion of you.”

  “Maybe that will change, but I must tell you anyway,” Sonia took a deep breath. “We have spoken many times about the fact that I don’t wish to marry and we have made jokes about it.”

  “It’s true and you also know that I wanted to ask for your hand in marriage but I respected your way of thinking. Although, I do not share it.”

  “Well, my brother thinks that it is time to choose someone and I don’t know what to do.”

  Robert took her hand. “Sonia this time would come sooner or later.”

  “I know, but I don’t want to get married,” Sonia said mortified, “and the only thing I can do is pretend.”

  “I do not understand you.”

  She stood up from the chair and began to walk around the room. “I thought I never wanted to get married and if my father has an attack for that he’ll have to get a good doctor. Instead, I want to live alone, peaceful without anyone who wants to impose his will on me. But I don’t want to live my existence without knowing how it is to be with a man.”

  Robert almost swallowed his tongue in surprise. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me, Robert.”

  “I don’t want a man to tell me what to do, but I want to know what intimacy is.”

  “What are you thinking of doing? You know that if you do that, you will lose your reputation and every possibility of being in society. Even if you don’t marry, you will lose the respect of all and you will be an outcast in London. A pariah with money but an undesirable person in all the social events and houses of the nobles.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “You’ll care, my dear. You may not believe it now, but you will.”

  “And if he were someone we know?” Sonia looked at him. “Someone handsome, from a good family and discreet enough not to say anything.”

  “Have you thought of anyone in particular?”

  “The only one that comes to mind is you,” Sonia said matter-of-factly.

  Robert did not know what to answer, but he could not believe what the mischievous woman was suggesting.

  “Sonia, my dear,” he said. “I do not think that is a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  “I am a man of strong passions and you are an innocent girl.”

  “I don’t care,” Sonia said quickly.

  Robert thought it was funny that he loved Sonia’s spirit and her urge to conquer the world, but he knew that it would not end well. After a few weeks of getting to know her, he felt some affection for her. She was an original young woman, creative and to some extent innocent. Then he said, “Why not?” Maybe it was a very selfish way of thinking, but before another more cunning man came up with something outlandish or accepted her scandalous offer, he preferred to do so. She would be an excellent marchioness. Her beauty, character, and elegance left no doubt but he would change the terms of this agreement a little with her, only she would not know.

  Maybe with time, she would know him more and he could make her fall in love with him and in that way convince her to stay with him. He was sure that over time the absurd idea of ​​staying alone would be erased from her mind.

  “Very well. I accept your proposal.”

  Sonia looked at him in amazement. “Really?”

  “Is that not what you wanted?”

  “Yes, of course, but I didn’t think you’d accept so soon.”

  “What man in his right mind would say no?”

  Sonia didn’t know what to say. In that moment she didn’t know if she had done things very fast and maybe it was not what she wanted. It was said that Robert was a passionate man and that before going to war, there were many women who had passed through his bed. Then she thought she was not looking for fidelity, just an adventure. After that, she would take her jewelry and leave England but she wouldn’t tell Robert that.

  CHAPTER 5

  Robert was at White’s, waiting for Sonia’s brother, Edward, who would be arriving at any moment. Robert thought that even though Sonia liked him and trusted him he had to do the right thing for the both of them. He needed the money from her dowry and he could not stand the thought of her making the same proposal to another m
an. He did not understand why, but it felt like a kick in the stomach whenever he thought about it.

  Edward arrived late and immediately sat down to talk with Robert. As always he went straight to the point.

  “Well, Wilmington, tell me why you arranged to meet me here in the most private part of the club. It must be something serious and if that is the case you should have gone to my house to talk about a future marriage with my sister.”

  “It’s not what you think, Edward.”

  He looked at him curiously. “Then?”

  “I asked you to come here because I do not want Sonia to hear about this conversation. What I’m going to say is something I do not want to leave this place.”

  “Good God, Wilmington! You’re worrying me already.”

  “Give me your word of honor that you will not tell Sonia and you will not rush to write your father either.”

  Edward looked at him very seriously. He seemed to think for a moment and then nodded. “Very well, you have my word.”

  Robert relaxed a little. He did not want Sonia’s family to say that she was a shameless hussy or any number of other things. “I want to marry her.”

  “I thought so but I still don’t see the reason for giving you my word.”

  “I have not finished.”

  Edward was silent while he waited uncomfortably.

  “I do not want Sonia to know I want to marry her.”

  Edward looked at him inquisitively. “Could you explain that to me?”

  “We both know her very well and we know she’s an impulsive young woman who still believes in fairy tales. She does not think marrying is her next step but wants to live alone with no one to control her.”

  “It’s true. I know my sister well and where does that leave us?”

  “Yesterday Sonia told me that she did not want to marry, but that she wanted to know what intimacy was.”

  “Excuse me?” Edward interrupted him and almost choked on his drink.

  “You heard me, Edward.”

  “I can’t believe the audacity of that girl. She’s completely shameless.” Edward raised his voice.