The Inconvenient Elmswood Marriage (Penniless Brides 0f Convenience Book 4)

by Marguerite Kaye

  ‘I’ll happily toast the first part,’ Alexander said, ‘but I’m going to have to lay claim to being the second.’

  ‘Actually,’ Owen said, kissing Phoebe’s fingertips, ‘I beg to differ.’

  ‘Lads, lads...’ Aiden said, laughing. ‘Can we not all agree that we’re equally happy? Owen and Phoebe. Daniel and Kate. Eloise and Alexander. And Estelle—my lovely Estelle—and me.’

  ‘I’ll drink to that,’ Alexander said. ‘And Eloise and I have another little celebration to share with you. We are expecting the arrival of a sister or a brother for Tilda in the autumn.’

  ‘Well, now, since we’re sharing good news,’ Estelle said, when the toast had been drunk and the cheers and the questions had subsided, ‘Aiden and I have something wonderful to tell you too.’ Estelle’s beautiful smile softened. ‘We have not one but two new arrivals expected. Only yesterday we had the papers. We’ve adopted twins. A little boy and girl, just four years old.’

  Phoebe jumped up from her seat to throw her arms around her twin. ‘I am so happy for you. I am so very, very happy for you.’

  ‘And so am I,’ Kate said, reaching across the table.

  ‘Oh, Estelle.’ It was Eloise’s turn to hug her sister. ‘Tilda will be so excited. Two new cousins at once. That is wonderful.’

  ‘I hope you and Uncle Daniel will find time to visit us and meet our twins before you go,’ Estelle said. ‘We are expecting to have them at Cashel Duairc some time next month.’

  ‘We don’t set off on our next trip until June,’ Kate said, touching the beautiful pendant that she always wore—a very special gift from Daniel, with his precious turquoise as its centrepiece. ‘It’s a short visit to some of the Spanish islands in the Balearic Sea. The flowers at that time of year are supposed to be beautiful, though I’m not looking for specimens so much as ideas.’

  ‘Kate has ambitious plans for a new kind of wilderness garden—a mixture of desert plants and English flowers.’

  ‘No one wants to hear about my horticultural endeavours, Daniel.’

  ‘Your garden is becoming quite famous, actually,’ Eloise said. ‘“The entrancing gardens created by the explorer Daniel Fairfax and his botanist wife, who travel together to the remotest parts of the globe in search of exotic new specimens...” Or something like that is what I read recently.’

  ‘I wouldn’t exactly call Europe a remote part of the globe,’ Kate said.

  ‘But we are off to India next year.’ Daniel grinned at his wife. ‘Kate wants to grow tea.’

  ‘My news isn’t nearly as exciting,’ Phoebe said, when the laughter had once again died down, ‘but if you are not all rushing back to your homes tomorrow I was hoping you would come to the official opening of my new restaurant.’

  ‘Another restaurant?’

  ‘Where is it?’

  ‘It’s one where no one pays,’ Owen said. ‘It’s near St Giles, actually, and it’s more of a free kitchen than a restaurant.’

  ‘It was Owen’s idea. I am always saying what a shame it is that so much of the produce at Covent Garden goes to waste. At the end of the day the unsold produce is left to rot.’

  ‘If you can make cakes out of grass, I said to her, surely you could make something tasty and delicious out of discarded fruit and vegetables.’

  ‘Yes, but I couldn’t sell it—I mean, who would pay to eat leftovers in a restaurant, even though the leftovers I make are utterly delicious. As you’ll see in a moment, when I serve dinner.’

  ‘Now, that will be just like the old days,’ Eloise said wryly. ‘Mouldy cauliflower ice, anyone?’

  ‘That would be rather too much like the old days—which is why I’m only pulling your leg. But I’m serious about my charity kitchen,’ Phoebe said. ‘We open tomorrow, and it’s first come first served. Will you all come and help?’

  ‘An invitation I think none of us can refuse,’ Kate said. ‘A final toast. Here’s to all of us, who each rather conveniently married the person we love without realising it. Cheers!’

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, be sure

  to read the other books in the

  Penniless Brides of Convenience miniseries

  The Earl’s Countess of Convenience

  A Wife Worth Investing In

  The Truth Behind Their Practical Match

  And why not check out Marguerite Kaye’s

  Matches Made in Scandal miniseries,

  starting with

  From Governess to Countess

  Historical Note

  There’s a veritable patchwork quilt of my past research stitched into this book. Daniel was partly inspired by the renegade explorer and diplomat Richard Burton, whom I read about in Mary S. Lovell’s excellent biography A Rage to Live, when I was writing about another explorer—Christopher, in Claiming His Desert Princess.

  Burton notoriously translated the infamous sex guide, The Perfumed Garden, and it is this book I have Daniel obliquely referring to—although I do know that the timeline is slightly out! Other previous reading which informed Daniel’s life in foreign service include H.V.F. Winstone’s biography of Lady Anne Blunt, and Deborah Manley and Peta Ree’s biography of Henry Salt.

  So what was Daniel actually up to when he was captured?

  I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that—it’s classified!

  But just to do a little bit of scene-setting: in Egypt, Muhammad Ali ruled for a huge chunk of the nineteenth century, during which time he did a lot of modernising and warmongering. He established coveted trade links with India, positioned Alexandria as a key world port, and made Egypt pivotal to the cotton trade.

  In Daniel’s time Ali was involved in the Greek War of Independence (1821), the Ottoman War (1831-1833) and the invasion of Syria in 1831. Britain at this point was on the side of the Turks. So, as you can imagine, there were vast swathes of opportunity for an undercover British agent to do his thing.

  But Daniel’s activities are not confined to Egypt, and—because I do like to re-use worlds I’ve already built—he takes a trip to my fantasy Arabia, and thus encounters two daughters belonging to the eponymous Lord Henry Armstrong.

  If you’re interested in finding out how they ended up married to Arabian princes, you can check them out in Innocent in the Sheikh’s Harem and The Governess and the Sheikh.

  Talking of sheikhs... Kate’s new career as a botanist is inspired by two people—one of whom is my invention and one real. The Cornish botanist whose book she reads was the work of Daniel Trevelyan—or was it? You can find out the history of that publication in my book The Widow and the Sheikh.

  Marianne North was an eminent Victorian botanical artist who explored the far reaches of the globe in search of specimens for Kew Gardens, and it is this real-life character whose history I ‘borrowed’ for Kate and Daniel’s happy-ever-after—though I let them precede Miss North in their travels.

  What else?

  Squire Mytton—or Mad Jack Mytton—was a real character, whose exploits sound wholly fictional.

  I’ve taken a few liberties with Farmer Styles’s experimentation regarding different fertilisers, though the agricultural revolution was in full swing by the eighteen-thirties.

  And, finally, Donne’s Good Morrow is not only one of Daniel and Eloise’s favourite poems, it’s one of mine.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Mr. Fairclough’s Inherited Bride by Georgie Lee.

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  Mr. Fairclough’s Inherited Bride

  by Georgie Lee

  Chapter One

  Baltimore—September 1842

  ‘Gentlemen, listen.’ Silas rapped his knuckles on the polished top of the rosewood dining table, bringing the boisterous men in their black dinner jackets and white waistcoats surrounding it to attention. ‘If we can manufacture iron rails in America instead of relying on England, we could dominate the competition.’

  ‘But the English rails are far superior to ours,’ Mr Penniman answered, resting his hands on his round stomach. ‘As are their engines.’

  ‘They’re cheaper, too,’ Mr Baxter added, flicking away a small crumb sitting beside his plate.

  ‘The prices will shoot up if the government changes the tariff rates or something interrupts the English supply,’ Silas reminded them, determined to win these investors over to his idea. ‘If we build our own foundries and hire the best iron workers, buy from the best domestic suppliers, we can produce our own rails and lay them ten times quicker than the competition. It’ll ensure that the Baltimore Southern Railroad is the most impressive in America and at the forefront of innovation and development. We could even manufacture our own locomotives.’

  The table erupted in a cacophony of disbelief and amazement with Mr Penniman and Mr Baxter astounded by the idea while Mr Wilson and Mr Farrow marvelled at the possibility.

  At the far end of the table, Richard Jackson, Silas’s business partner and mentor, remained silent where he sat beside Lady Mary Weddell, his ward and hostess for tonight. He allowed the men to argue among themselves and left it to Silas to convince the wealthy investors to part with more money than they’d already supplied to the Baltimore Southern. Silas would not disappoint Richard or himself or allow other men’s lack of vision to dry up his income and keep him from sending home the money his family relied on for their upkeep. The Baltimore Southern would grow and succeed. He’d make damn sure of it.

  ‘America is heading west, gentleman.’ Silas raised his voice to gather the men’s attention. ‘When her boundaries reach the Pacific Ocean, new ports and trade routes with South America and the east will open up and provide untold opportunities. The railroads will be key to bridging the continent and reaping the benefits of those new opportunities.’

  ‘You can’t imagine the railways will stretch that far?’ Mr Penniman leaned forward to see past the other men to Silas. ‘It would take an engineering feat of immense proportions to traverse the Sierra Nevada.’

  ‘In time we’ll have those engineers and the equipment capable of conquering mountains. Already we’ve made it so that a man travelling from Kentucky to Washington, D.C. can do it in four days by rail instead of three weeks on horseback. Imagine being able to cross the county in a matter of weeks, of goods and raw materials reaching factories and markets as quickly. With your investment in the foundry we can take the first steps towards claiming this magnificent future.’

  The men nodded and mumbled their agreement. Even those who’d been hesitant tilted their heads in thought at Silas’s proposal. Silas shifted in his chair, determined not to betray the excitement surging inside him. He’d won them over. He could feel it.

  ‘You do dream big, Mr Fairclough,’ the balding Mr Penniman said before leaning over to take the last sweet from the platter in the centre of the table.

  ‘His big dreams will overshadow all of us one of these days,’ Richard added, finally making his presence as the senior partner and the owner of this house felt. He held a handkerchief to his mouth and coughed as quietly as he could before sliding it back into his pocket. ‘The smart man would buy into the future while it’s still affordable.’

  ‘I assure you, gentleman, we aren’t the only ones having this discussion, but we must be the first to put our plans into action.’ Silas motioned for his valet, Tibbs, to instruct the footmen silently waiting along the periphery of the dining room to refill the brandy glasses with the fine vintage Silas had procured from one of his best English sources. None of the servers made a move to top up Silas’s glass, though. Tonight required a clear head.

  Mr Penniman covered the top of his crystal glass with his hand, glancing at Lady Mary Weddell to say that it was in deference to her that he exercised restraint. ‘No, thank you, I think I’ve had enough for the evening.’

  ‘Don’t deny yourself the pleasures of Mr Fairclough and Mr Jackson’s generosity on my account, Mr Penniman,’ Lady Mary encouraged, offering him and a number of the other gentlemen a smile that saw them sit back and allow their glasses to be refilled. ‘I refuse to let my presence parch a gentleman, especially while discussing matters that require a robust thirst.’

  She motioned for a footman to place a new tray of sweets on the table in front of Mr Penniman. She’d been so sly in her ordering of the extra treats that not even Silas had noticed their arrival in the dining room. Clever girl.

  Mr Penniman didn’t hesitate to select the largest chocolate dusted with white sugar. ‘You’re a very smart woman, Lady Mary. You’ll make some man very lucky one day.’

  Lady Mary’s smile remained as beguiling as before but the sparkle she’d turned on Mr Penniman dulled. He was oblivious to the change in her as he savoured the chocolate, but Silas noticed it. It was the same painful regret that used to mar the drawn faces of the women who regularly appeared on the doorstep of the Fairclough Foundation, begging for help. He doubted Lady Mary shared that sort of misery, but the nagging feeling that something unpleasant had brought her to America was as difficult to ignore as her help in wooing the investors.

  Silas motioned for Tibbs, who leaned down beside him. ‘Send Lady Mary a nice gift, something to thank her for her assistance tonight.’

  ‘How nice a gift, sir?’ The mental tally of Tibbs’s contacts at various Baltimore shops and goldsmiths was almost visible in his light grey eyes.

  ‘Ladylike exquisite.’ Silas raised his half-drunk glass of brandy to Lady Mary, who nodded serenely. She was a plain young woman he guessed to be about three or four years younger than his twenty-five, with lively and intelligent brown eyes which seemed to miss nothing about her surroundings. She wore her blonde hair in a more mature fashion without the barrel curls most young women preferred. Her slender waist and stomach were accentuated by full breasts that were well hidden beneath a high-necked and far too plain dark grey gown. Despite the puritan simplicity of her attire, she sat with the poise of a queen, seeing over the table and the dinner arrangements with the panache of an experienced hostess. If she wore better dresses and did her hair in a more becoming fashion, she would be striking, but standing out, as Silas had learned during the three months that she’d lived with Richard, was not her habit. Instead, she remained discreetly present, understanding the gravity of what Richard and Silas were trying to accomplish and coyly doing all she could to help them achieve it.

  ‘Yes, sir.’ Tibbs straightened and Silas was certain Lady Mary would like whatever Tibbs selected for her. Silas couldn’t speak to her tastes for he’d never enjoyed a private conversation with her beyond the weather. Despite them both being from England, she didn’t hail from the same barely respectable part of London that Silas did. Thankfully, most Yanks didn’t recognise the subtle difference in their accents, all to Silas’s benefit. The higher up the social ladder they believed him to be, the more favourably they viewed him and his wild ideas.

  ‘Gentlemen, here’s to us and the future success of the Baltimore Southern’s expansion.’ Richard raised his brandy glass, the level of the liquid inside of it as unchanged as Silas’s glass. The guests raised their drinks in answer, offering up a supportive cheer that made Silas smile. They’d secured the investors, even Mr Pen
niman who smiled at Lady Mary as widely as he did whenever his horse placed first in a race. Silas drained his brandy and motioned for Tibbs to refill it, ready to celebrate before tomorrow and the hard work began.

  * * *

  ‘We did it.’ Silas relaxed into the leather wing-backed chair in Richard’s study and stretched his feet towards the roaring fire in the grate. The study was an impressive room full of fine wood furniture and leather chairs where Richard had spent years building up his wealth through various business ventures, though it was the railroads that were closest to his heart, as they were to Silas’s. Silas had been speechless the first time he’d stood in here, having stepped off the boat from England the day before, and he’d promised himself that one day he’d have a room like this. It was a pleasure to sit in this chair tonight and think of his study at home and how he’d achieved almost every goal he’d set for himself since leaving Liverpool nearly five years ago.

  ‘Not we, you.’ Richard removed his handkerchief from his pocket and coughed into it.

  ‘They wouldn’t have supported me if it weren’t for your influence.’ Silas traced the bottom of his brandy glass, wishing his ideas could stand on his reputation and merit, but he had yet to cultivate that kind of influence. More years in Baltimore establishing roots and a string of successes as long as the Baltimore Southern’s tracks would earn him the respect he craved. Until then, he was thankful for Richard’s influence and every opportunity he’d provided Silas since Silas had arrived in America. Without Richard, Silas would still be the penniless, prospectless nobody he’d been when he’d left Liverpool. Silas tapped his glass with the pad of his finger. He’d never be that man again. ‘I’ve already applied to the English patent owner for permission to build his locomotive here. Given what we’ve already invested in the steam works, it needs to start producing engines as soon as possible.’