“I would like that very much,” Claire confessed.
He guided her to the bed and they readied themselves with their night clothes and then climbed in. He tucked her into his side where she used to lay at Madame Kingston’s house. She felt it was more of a cover than any linen would have provided her, and definitely offered a safer feeling of comfort and reassurance.
“What is America like?” she asked. “I assume that is where you were for your business ventures.”
“Yes, I went there. America is massive. The land is sprawling farther than the eye can see. The land is more vast than we could ever comprehend here in England.”
“Do you think we will have to move there? Away from Lady Catherine, Lady Sophia, and Madame Kingston?” she asked.
“No. I have enough vested to purchase my own townhouse, that is separate from the money of the Briarwood estate. I understand London is home, and I do not wish to take that from you. But perhaps you would consider a long honeymoon with me until the scandal dies down.”
Claire thought about this, and found she liked the idea of traveling to foreign lands with the promise of returning home. She wondered where they would go and what they would see. For so long she had been trapped in the necessity of survival, she had forgotten what it was like to live for the sheer pleasure of it.
“I would like that very much,” she finally agreed.
“I want to show you everything, Claire,” he whispered into her hair. “Please forgive me for being away for so long. It was never my intention, but I thought of you every day.” Claire felt the tears in her eyes.
“There’s nothing to forgive, Christopher. I would be lying if I didn’t say that some part of me hadn’t hoped for this, but given the circumstances, I never thought it would happen.”
“I know, my love. I know.” Claire closed her eyes against his chest and listened to the sound of his heart beat. The calm rise and fall of his chest was enough to lull her to sleep, as much as she wished to remain awake so that she could talk with him about their future plans. Some small part of her was convinced that when she woke up in the morning, all of this would be gone.
When she did wake up, the day passed by relatively quietly. The couple ate an early breakfast, and then traveled together to view a townhouse Christopher had been considering purchasing. She felt slightly reassured knowing that they were forming a plan.
Claire thought it strange that the scandal didn’t truly come to fruition until about a week later when they were setting up the new townhouse. All of a sudden, two men burst through the door in a fit of rage.
“What have you done, marrying that harlot?!” Lord Briarwood shouted at his brother. His face was just as enraged as her own brother’s had been, but it was nothing compared to the tight lipped white fury of the older man whom Christopher resembled so much that there was no question it was his own father.
Chapter 11
“Lord Antoine, I expected you days ago. I must say, I am shocked by your delay. What took so long?” Christopher remained calm and collected. He took Claire’s hand in his own. Lord Antoine looked between them with absolute disgust.
“You can’t claim to think that this is acceptable. We will never permit this farce of a marriage. Do you have any idea what it has done to the family name?”
Both Lord Briarwoods paced the room. The older man finally sat in the leatherback chair, which was to be designated for Christopher’s in-home office. Claire didn’t miss the note of disrespect it paid to Christopher.
“I actually haven’t thought much of it at all, since you have no say in the matter,” Christopher responded. Lord Antoine’s face filled with more rage.
“How dare you? How dare you stand there so calmly and disgrace this family?”
Christopher smiled politely. “The only disgrace this family faces is that which it creates for itself. I told you back when I was betrothed to Margaret, I care little for the gossip of the ton. It means nothing to me. If you are so hung up on it’s reputation, that is not my concern.” Christopher sat on one of the sofas facing his father, but his relaxed state did nothing to dispose of his quiet, fixed demeanor.
“If this is how you truly feel, if you wish to see this marriage through, it will force my hand.” His father spoke at last and Claire knew where Christopher got his quiet yet authoritative demeanor from.
“I thought you might say that, Father. Which is why I have taken the liberty of conversing with my solicitors. They agreed that when you stepped down as Marquess of Briarwood, your capacity as the decision maker of the estate is now a complimentary one. As I am the head of the estate by your signature, you have no legal ground to stand upon regarding what happens to it and the financial holdings.”
Claire’s jaw dropped along with both the Briarwood men. She didn’t know there had been a legal contract signing over the responsibilities to him as the head of the house. Was the senior Lord Briarwood ill in some way? Was he so decrepit that he was unable to Lord over the estate? Claire peeked at him from under her lashes and saw the lines in his face tighten with anger.
“When I signed the titles and the lands over to you, it was to ensure the Briarwood legacy carried on with honor and dignity. I trusted you to make the right decision regarding it’s welfare, and the inhabitants in it. You risk throwing it away for another one of these…women?” He gave her a look that made Claire feel insignificant. She stiffened and sat up in her seat.
“I beg your pardon, my Lord…” She began. Christopher squeezed her hand as both his father and his brother began to huff in indignation.
“You see! That is what you get when you toy with a woman of her ilk. No respect for the rule of men in the house, and no understanding of her place within it!” Lord Antoine bellowed.
“I don’t doubt my wife, the Marchioness of Briarwood, will forgive your cruel remarks. But I am going to caution you that it would be in your best interests to curb them from here and further on.” Christopher’s voice was so quiet it was eerie to Claire. She had never heard such fury in his tone.
“I will never save face with a…” Christopher stood, and his brother closed his mouth immediately. He took his seat once more.
“You can’t do this, Christopher,” his father pleaded, trying to keep the argument neutral to the estate, rather than a personal familial debate.
“I can, and I have. I am not going to disown my wife now because of your thoughtless and judgemental opinions of her.” Christopher sat back down and grasped her hand again. The looks Lord Antoine was casting her way were filled with enough venom that she was grateful for Christopher’s protection
“Think of your mother,” the elder Lord Briarwood begged. “She is beside herself.”
“I have thought of Mother. I would think she would be happy to have a daughter-in-law. As I understand it, Antoine’s reputation as a rake will not see him as happily wed as I am any time soon.”
Antoine stood up, but Christopher didn’t take the bait. He remained seated, as calm as ever.
“What will you have us do, Christopher? Leave the manor so that you and...” He waived his hand toward Claire, not really looking at her, but heeding Christopher’s warning not to insult her further with name calling. “Can move in to the house?”
“Of course not,” Christopher said. The older Briarwood looked confused.
“I don’t understand. What is it that you want from us?”
“I don’t want anything accept your blessing, but I do realize that is asking too much from at least Antoine. Narrow-mindedness was always his strongest suit. But Briarwood Manor is your home, Father. I would never kick you out.”
“But you just said we have no legal recourse to stand on,” his father added.
“I did say that, in reference to if you tried to take the house or the financial holdings away. But should you care to return home and continue to live off of my good graces with a monthly stipend, then I would not think anything of it. It is home to you and Mother.”
; “This…this was her idea!” Lord Antoine cried and pointed a finger at Claire.
“It most certainly wasn’t,” Christopher countered. “Father signed the executor of state title over to me several years ago, if you recall. I believe you cried with rage, but that is another case of family theaterics we do not need to discuss. The point is, you have been living with this situation for quite some time now, whether you want to admit it to yourselves or not.” Christopher sat back, growing more comfortable as the pompousness of his father blew out from under his sails.
“Lord Briarwood,” Claire began, focusing her attention on Christopher’s father. “If it would put you and the Lady Briarwood’s mind at ease in the slightest, I hailed from a wealthy family before my reputation fell. I did what I had to in order to survive. I beg you to see reason in that.” She didn’t much care what Lord Antoine thought of her, but it seemed vital she at least shed some light on the fears in the old man’s face.
“It’s alright. He is aware of this It was all outlined in the letter the Duchess sent to him,” Christopher told her.
“It was?” She looked at Christopher. When had he seen the letter? She thought surely it was drafted and sent that very night, but apparently not.
“The Duchess called me to a meeting the day after our vows were spoken. She may be a meddlesome woman, but she is certainly crafty. She wanted the news delivered in such a way that she controlled every response, and every possible outcome. She does enjoy playing games.” Christopher smiled, although it was an exasperated one. “I played along because even in soliciting my own scandal, I was also ensuring that it was merely that, and not a complete fall from grace and reputation. By allowing her to dictate the circumstances surrounding it, so she might somehow spin herself into the whole sordid tale, we have found ourselves in her favor. Think of it like we are her pets whom she has groomed to be adored by the masses for our bravado in standing against the machinations of society.”
Claire shook her head in disbelief. When all this was over, she was looking forward to leading a quiet life with just she and Christopher, as well as possibly an heir or two.
“You have the favor of the Duchess of Cambridge?” his father asked.
“Yes, very much so. The Marchioness and I are having tea with her in two days,” Christopher explained.
The effect was instantaneous. Lord Antoine and their father’s jaws dropped, and so did Claire’s disbelief hang on her face. She was not looking forward to that occasion.
“The Duchess, you say?” The older Briarwood rubbed his chin and neither Claire nor Christopher interrupted his thought process. “And I suppose the invitation was solely for you and the Marchioness?”
“As a matter of fact, your timing for this visit is perfect. You and Mother have of course been invited.” Christopher smiled. Claire realized what the game was. The Duchess would be looking for any discord to continue to feed the scandal and keep it alive, burning hot. It was up to them to decide if they would allow that or not.
“I see. Well, I will have a talk with your mother to see how she feels about it. But if the Duchess requests our presence...” he trailed off. He looked at Claire then, searching her face for honesty and trustworthiness.
“You are aware of the past travesty and scandal my son has endured?”
“Yes, my Lord,” she murmured.
“Are you here solely for the personal and financial gain of this marriage? My son has been dishonored enough. I fear your reputation only adds to that, whether intentional or not.”
“My Lord, I learned a long time ago that I needn’t require the assistance of a man to survive. I have married your son because…well, because I love him. I always have. He’s a kind person whose company I prefer to keep, and I wish to share that for the rest of my days.” Claire felt that was the most honest, sincere thing she could say regarding the matter. The older man looked at her for a long hard moment before giving her an imperceptible nod and then turning away. He might not like it, but apparently her ability to coax an association with the Duchess from the entire matter was enough to receive his blessing.
Lord Antoine huffed, looking between them. “You can’t be serious, Father! Everyone knows the Duchess’s favor comes and goes.”
“Lord Antoine, the matter is decided. You haven’t much recourse to fall back on except your trust and until the day I perish, your inheritance. But I suggest you make peace with it on behalf of your brother if you wish for this family to remain amicable. Your mother and I might have...reservations,” he said, looking at Claire. “But we will learn to cope with them as necessary.”
Lord Antoine closed his mouth, although it was clear he had more than reservations, he said nothing. After the two left, Claire breathed a sigh of relief. The only person’s approval she needed now might be the Lady Briarwood. She suspected it would be much the same reaction as Lord Briarwood, but if that was the worst of it, they could get through it together.
Two days passed and then the afternoon for tea with the Duchess came. Claire and Christopher had only discussed what they needed to regarding the event, and what was expected of Claire. The rules were basically the same: speak only if the Duchess addressed her and remain demure, if possible.
“I know it isn’t fair, Claire,” Christopher murmured in her ear. She felt good that they could ride in the carriage side by side without feeling like they would be caught. She relished in his warmth. “Above all else, remember that I return the sentiments you expressed to my father. I love you too, Claire. I always have.” Claire turned her face up to see the sincerity in his gaze. “My sweet, sweet Claire. You have endured so much, and yet you still have the capacity for love in a world that has shown you cruelty. How is this possible?”
Claire smiled. “It hasn’t all been cruelty. I have formed my own little family. Madame Kingston is like a mother to me. Lady Catherine is a dear friend, and now Lady Sophia. Rose was like a sister, and Lord Bradford and Lord Desmond have been like the supportive brothers I have always wanted.”
“You have such a sweet disposition. It is truly inspiring. Never lose that, my beautiful wife. It is what I love most about you.” Claire turned her face up and kissed him. He had come to her last night and their union was beautiful. If it was a testament to how the rest of their life was to be lived, then she was satisfied that it would be one of comfort and love.
Claire still couldn’t get past the vastness of the Duchess’s townhouse. They were escorted inside and seen to a sitting room, where she found Lord and Lady Briarwood waiting for them. She was pleased to see Lord Antoine wasn’t present. She wasn’t sure she could keep her composure in the face of his unrelenting hostility.
“Mother! It is always good to see you.” Lord Christopher approached his mother and embraced her, but the older woman’s eyes were fixated on Claire. Her silver hair glinted under the sconce lights, and her face was impassive as she observed her new daughter-in-law.
“Lady Briarwood.” Claire curtseyed, permitting herself the introduction even though she should have waited until someone introduced them. “I am pleased and honored to meet you.”
Claire dared a look up at the Lady Briarwood and she saw warmth flicker across the older woman’s face. “Marchioness.” Her greeting was simple. Then she added, “I knew your mother, Lady Bonnefant. She was a kind and honorable woman. She would have felt the despair any mother would if she knew what you have had to do in order to survive in this world.” Claire nodded, not trusting her voice to crack. “I trust that despite your hardships, you shall endeavor to live to her good name.”
“Of course, Lady Briarwood,” Claire whispered. She wondered if she would be able to converse with Lady Briarwood about her mother someday. She had no one left to swap stories with and share her memory.
“How very touching. It is nice the two of you have made each other’s acquaintance.” The Duchess’s voice came from the doorway.
All eyes turned to her as she regarded them all. She observed for any note of d
iscomfort or tension that she might be able to utilize. Claire hated being a puppet in her games, but she knew this was a necessity if she was going to have her happy marriage with Christopher.
Tea was a forced affair. The Duchess continued to ignore Claire for the duration and focused her attentions of Lady Briarwood, who was closer in age to her. They discussed the latest gossip of the ton. Occasionally the Duchess would slip in a snide comment about their family drama, but Lady Briarwood either had the forethought, or was warned not to rise to her baiting.
As they were preparing to leave after tea, the Duchess called, “Marchioness, I would have a private word with you.” Claire looked at Christopher, who nodded grimly and walked out of the tearoom with his parents.
Claire looked back at the Duchess and waited for her to speak. When she finally did, Claire was surprised by her questions. “Tell me what was life like at Madame Kingston’s establishment.”
Claire stared in disbelief for a long moment, then considered the request. “It was taxing, to be honest. The work was grueling, debasing and yet…”
“And yet, you still have the innocent outlook of a young maiden. It makes one wonder what sort of treatment you received at the house that it would promote such a positive, hopeful view of the world.” The Duchess picked up a biscuit on her plate and tossed it to one of the dogs lying patiently behind her. She tossed another one to the other dog and they happily snacked on the treats.
“I suppose that is because of the caring nature of Madame Kingston,” Claire replied. “She treated us like women in need of support rather than with disdain at our misfortune.”
“Indeed. She was kind to you, then?”
“Yes, your Grace. I thought of her very much like a mother. As much as she is known to run a business, she genuinely cares for us.”
“This is good to hear,” the Duchess murmured, petting the adoring head of one of the hounds who had approached and put its massive head in her lap.
A Rogue's Courtship: Clean Regency Romance Collection Page 16
