The Earl's Inconvenient Wife

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  The butler came in with the tea and set it on the table.

  She waited for him to leave before saying, “Forgive me, my lord. I have no right to say such things to you.” She leaned forward and poured the tea into their cups.

  “There’s nothing to forgive. Lord Roderick and I have been friends since we were children. He’s not a hard man to get along with once you get to know him.”

  “I suspect a friend of his might say that,” she mused, thankful he’d been gracious in his reply to her.

  “It’s true.” He accepted the cup she handed to him. “I won’t lie, my lady. I would have enjoyed the opportunity to court you, but I believe everything happens for a reason. Lord Roderick is a good man. Stubborn and obnoxious at times, but when it comes down to it, you can trust him to do the right thing. He might not be agreeable now, but he’ll come around. Give him time.”

  “He thinks I trapped him into marriage.”

  He chuckled. “I heard him explain it. Somehow you managed to force him onto the veranda without a word or a look in his direction.”

  Her lips curled up into a smile. “It does sound silly when you put it that way.”

  He took a sip of his tea and added, “An exaggeration on his part. He meant well, of course, when he went to suggest you go back inside.”

  She couldn’t argue that point. “Yes, I suppose he did.”

  “I know you meant well, too. Sometimes things happen, and you’re thrown into a situation you didn’t plan on. It’ll do him good to have you in his life. He takes things far too seriously. I keep telling him he needs to laugh more.”

  From what she’d seen of her husband, he didn’t smile at all. Even her first impression of him had told her he was unusually serious. But she didn’t know what she could possibly do to make him laugh. She drank some of her tea and tried to think of something to say. After a long minute passed, she finally said, “He’s decided we’re going to Weston today.”

  “Being away from London will be good for both of you,” he replied. “London provides too many distractions. There are too many places to keep you entertained.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?”

  “Only if you need to get acquainted with your husband and he needs to get acquainted with you.”

  “You’re right, but I wish I could take my family with me.”

  He offered her a sympathetic smile. “No one can fault you for that.”

  Footsteps crossing the hard floors alerted her that her husband had come home. She wasn’t sure why she knew it was his footsteps, except there seemed to be a certain hurried pace she’d come to associate with him. He didn’t take his time strolling like other people did. Noting the slight trembling of her hands, she quickly set her cup on the tray. The last thing she needed was to spill anything around him because he made it a habit of making her nervous when she wasn’t mad at him.

  Lord Clement turned his attention to the doorway and called out, “There you are,” when her husband entered the room.

  Roderick stilled for a moment, glancing from her to Lord Clement.

  “I was beginning to think you’d never show up,” Lord Clement teased.

  She marveled that Lord Clement could be so at ease in Roderick’s presence. Her stomach was a bundle of nerves.

  “Yes, well, I had to get ready to leave for Weston.” He glanced at her again but asked Lord Clement, “How long have you been here?”

  “Not long.” Lord Clement motioned to the spot next to Claire on the settee. “Why don’t you join us? We’re enjoying some tea.”

  “I have something I need to tend to in the library,” Roderick said, turning his attention back to his friend.

  “You can spare five minutes to drink some tea.”

  Roderick looked as if he was going to protest but then shrugged and plopped down next to Claire.

  “Try not to seem too eager,” Lord Clement commented, a twinkle in his eye.

  He sighed. “I don’t often waste my time sitting in a drawing room when there’s work to be done.”

  Lord Clement’s eyebrows rose and he shot her a knowing look.

  Despite the awkward situation of being so close to her husband, she chuckled.

  As the butler brought in an extra cup, Roderick looked at her. “Do I amuse you?”

  “Yes, but for all the wrong reasons,” Lord Clement joked.

  “You think you’re funny.” Roderick rolled his eyes as she poured his tea. “It is unfortunate you were born too late to be a court jester.”

  Claire tried not to laugh again, but she couldn’t resist. Roderick’s lips turned up at the corners, something that surprised her. She didn’t think he ever smiled, even if he could only manage a small one. Apparently, Lord Clement could reach him on a level she couldn’t.

  Roderick took his cup from the butler, and after the butler left, he said, “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you told me to expect you.”

  He shrugged. “I didn’t mind. It gave me a chance to talk to your wife.”

  Her husband shifted next to her and glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

  “You make a good couple,” Lord Clement continued. “I hope you remember that when you’re at Weston.” Turning his attention to her while Roderick gulped his tea down, he asked, “Has he told you about Weston?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “It’s beautiful,” Lord Clement said. “The land is mostly flat making it ideal for horse riding or taking a walk.”

  “The manor has vines going up the side of one wall,” Roderick added with a grimace.

  “The vines give it character. It enhances the manor.”

  He set his empty cup on the tray. “Enhances how unkempt it is.”

  Claire noted that her cup was almost full and that Lord Clement was still sipping from his. She couldn’t believe Roderick rushed through drinking his tea as fast as he did. When Lord Clement said her husband’s mind was on business, he wasn’t kidding!

  Lord Clement also noticed how quickly Roderick drank his tea, for he asked, “Is this your way of getting me to leave?”

  “Leave? You came to me to discuss a matter with your ward. I thought we’d do that in the library.” He looked in her direction. “The situation isn’t suitable to discuss in a lady’s presence.”

  “No, I’m afraid it’s not.” Lord Clement finished his tea and set the cup on the tray. “I can take a hint.” He rose to his feet and retrieved his cane. “Thank you for a pleasant conversation, my lady.” He turned to her and bowed.

  She joined Roderick in standing and curtsied. “It was nice seeing you again.”

  Roderick cleared his throat and told her, “We’re leaving in two hours.”

  She rolled her eyes as the gentlemen left the room, noting that Lord Clement told him he needed to relax more. It really was a shame Lord Clement hadn’t been out there on the veranda instead of Roderick. With a resigned sigh, she went to the desk and took out a piece of paper so she could write her family a letter.

  Chapter Nine

  Nate closed the door of the library and faced his friend who settled into the chair across from his desk. “I notice you and my wife are on amiable terms.”

  Perry snickered as he set his cane against the desk. “And I didn’t think you cared about her.”

  “I was making an observation. It has nothing to do with what I think about her.” He crossed the room and poured them some whiskey from the decanter.

  “I hope you’ll have a gracious disposition when you’re at Weston.”

  As he handed his friend his glass, he shook his head. “I’m taking her there to stop her and her sister from spending all of my money. The two don’t know the meaning of restraint. But then, I suppose that’s why she married me.”

  “Oh, Nate. When will you stop fighting her and get to know her? She’s actually a sweet lady.”

  He gritted his teeth and sat across from Perry. He didn’t care what his friend thought about Claire. He really didn’t. Forcing
aside his irritation, he said, “Perhaps if you saw the bill I paid today, you’d be more sympathetic.”

  “Perhaps you should have set a limit on how much she could spend while she was out shopping?”

  Groaning because his friend made a good point, he set his glass on the desk and leaned back in the chair. “I thought you wanted to talk about your ward.”

  Perry shook his head. “I hope you’re being nice to her.”

  “I don’t believe that statement has anything to do with your ward.”

  “I feel sorry for her. You aren’t making this easy for her.” Before Nate could order him to get to the point for coming over, he continued, “As for Christopher, I need your advice.”

  “I thought he was at Harrow.”

  “He was until he got in trouble. They expelled him.”

  “His behavior is that bad?”

  “I’m afraid so,” Perry replied. “His father never showed any restraints, and he’s acting just like him.”

  “Yes, but his father died when he fell off a prostitute’s balcony after drinking too much whiskey.”

  “Do you think logic works on him? The boy is seventeen and reckless. I had to stop him from going out and threatening someone to a duel because Christopher claimed he was cheating at a game they were playing. Thank goodness it stopped with a few punches and broken furniture.” Perry ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to do. I thought you might have an idea.”

  Nate leaned back in his chair and considered what he might do with a ward if the young man refused to behave responsibly. After a couple minutes, he said, “Make him a servant. Let him work at the lowest position and pay him, or not, according on the work he does. That should teach him responsibility.”

  “I have a hard time doing that with my cousin.”

  “Do you want him to start taking things seriously or not?”

  “You’re right. All right. I suppose I could make him a stableboy.”

  “That’s perfect,” Nate agreed with a smile. “Make sure he gets to clean out all of the horses’ stalls.”

  Despite the grin on his face, Perry admonished, “There’s no need to take such delight in forcing him to shovel animal excrement.”

  “It’ll do him good to get an aspect of what he’s doing with his life. Even Lord Edon behaves better than him, and Lord Edon leaves a lot to be desired.”

  “Lord Edon has more sense than to insult a viscount until he’s almost staring at the end of a pistol.” Perry set his glass on the tray and grabbed his cane. “I hope this works. This time I’ll go back to Blackburn with him. So much for finding a bride this Season.”

  “I’ll tell you what. I’ll take your ward off your hands and make him a stableboy at Weston. Then you can continue searching for a wife.” Nate stood with his friend and placed his glass on the desk. “What a sorry sort we are. You want to find a wife and can’t while I don’t want one but had one thrust upon me.”

  “Come now, Nate. You needed a wife.”

  “Need and want and two different things.”

  “If it weren’t for my limp, I’m sure I could have found one by now.”

  As they walked toward the door, Nate shook his head. “You could compensate for that by putting something in your shoe.”

  “Yes but then how would I know she could accept my imperfections?”

  With a laugh, he said, “Imperfections or not, you could have a wife. Ladies will overlook a limp if a man comes with a title or money, and you have both. I don’t know why you fool yourself into believing you can’t get a wife. I’ll tell you why you can’t find one.”

  “I was afraid you might.”

  Hiding his amusement at the sarcastic tone in his friend’s voice, he continued, “It’s because you spend far too much time chasing your ward.”

  “You’re right. Again. But I’ll tell you what I’m right about.”

  Nate stopped at the door and waited for his friend to speak.

  “You’re afraid there’s more to Lady Roderick than spending money.”

  “I don’t know how you deduct that.”

  “It’s easier to keep someone at bay when you think the worst of them, even if the evidence only lies with her parents and sister.”

  “But if she’s part of their family, then don’t you agree she’d share their aspirations?”

  “Not necessarily. She’s nothing like her sister or Hester.”

  Nate opened the door. “Don’t rush on out of here.”

  Perry jabbed him in the arm. “I look forward to the day where you say I was right.”

  “You’ll be looking forward to it for a very long time because it won’t happen.”

  “This from the same gentleman who was sure his brother would live forever.”

  “He would have if he hadn’t been careless on a horse.”

  “Give Lady Roderick my condolences.”

  “Like I said, it’s too bad you weren’t a court jester.”

  As Perry left the library, he glanced over his shoulder and added, “Remember to smile.”

  Grumbling, Nate made sure the butler saw his friend out before he returned to his library.

  ***

  Two hours later while pacing in her bedchamber, Claire made up her mind. Just because she was his wife, it didn’t mean she had to go with him. Husbands and wives lived in separate residences all the time. For all she knew, she was carrying his child and her part of the bargain might very well be done. That being the case, she saw no reason to confine herself to his country estate where she’d be without the love and support of her family. God knew her husband wasn’t going to give her those things.

  Determined, she picked up her valise and opened her door, checking the hallway to make sure no one could see her before she left the room. She debated whether to take the bold approach and walk right out the front door or to sneak off by traveling the servants’ stairs. Straightening her back and lifting her chin in the air, she opted for the front door. She was the countess, and that being the case, she had every right to leave in front of everyone.

  She strode down the hall and toward the staircase. Her heart raced in anticipation. It wasn’t like her to be defiant, but she figured the sooner she stood up for herself and did what she wanted, the better off she’d be in the long run. After all, did she want the big oaf to dictate the rest of her life for her? Today it would be Weston. Tomorrow, it’d be what she could wear and eat. Really, the manipulation had to end somewhere!

  A door opened behind her. “Where do you think you’re going?” The all-too-familiar stern voice of her husband stopped her in her steps.

  With what she hoped was a casual glance over her shoulder so she could judge the distance between them, she said, “I will go where I please.”

  Then, without waiting for him to head over to her, she ran down the stairs, lifting her skirt and petticoats so she wouldn’t trip and fall to her death. Unfortunately, he was too fast for her and blocked her before she reached the final step. She dodged to the side, but, once again, he was too quick for her so she was unable to get around him.

  She grunted and stopped trying to bypass him. Looking him square in the eye, she asked, “What do you hope to accomplish by making me miserable?”

  “Making you miserable? What about what you’ve done to me? I was ready to marry the Duke of Rumsey’s daughter when you and your manipulative family trapped me into marriage. If anyone’s suffering, it’s me. And since I have to suffer, you do, too.”

  She tightened her hold on the valise, wondering why he had to be the one on the veranda that night. Why couldn’t it have been someone more reasonable? Probably because someone more reasonable would have left her alone instead of bothering her. “I shouldn’t be surprised you’d be this way. You wouldn’t leave me alone at the ball, and you won’t leave me alone now. If anything, you’re the one who trapped us both into this horror of a marriage because you wouldn’t leave me alone. So if anyone’s to blame for this, it’s you.” Satisfied
, she gave him a firm nod and waited for him to refute that one.

  To her disappointment, he was quick to respond. “Ah, but you and your father were waiting for me to go out to the veranda. It was only because I wished to protect your innocence that I followed you. And a lot of good being a gentleman did me.”

  The footman opened the front door and paused when he saw them. They turned their attention to him, forgetting their argument for a moment. He cleared his throat. “The carriage is ready, my lord and lady.”

  With a wide smile that implied he enjoyed cornering her, Roderick returned his attention to her and offered her his arm. “Come along. Your carriage awaits.”

  She frowned at him, not wanting to take his arm but knowing she had no other choice. He’d probably pick her up and haul her to the carriage like he did on their wedding day, and she didn’t want to repeat that incident. “Very well, but I won’t be staying there.”

  He laughed in a way that indicated he wasn’t the least bit disturbed by her warning.

  Gritting her teeth, she marched with him to the carriage. Curse him and his stubbornness! If he would take the time to listen to her—really listen to her, then she might be able to get through that thick skull of his. But no. He made assumptions about her and what was worse, he had a surprising vindictive streak in him. Whatever made her father think Roderick would make a good husband?

  She shook her head and glanced at Roderick who watched her with an amused smile on his face. She scowled at him, but this only seemed to delight him more so she quickly turned her attention away from him and let the footman take her valise. With a heavy sigh, she allowed the footman to help her into the carriage and crossed her arms, refusing to look at Roderick as he settled next to her.

  “I wouldn’t be too depressed, my dear,” Roderick said in an annoyingly happy tone. “Soon enough, we’ll be at Weston, and you can do whatever you want to. Maybe you’ll even discover that you can enjoy yourself without money.”

  She stared out the window and ignored him.

  He didn’t say anything else. He simply opened one of his ridiculously boring books and started to read it.