CHAPTER TWELVE

C HAPTER T WELVE

O riana closed the door behind Stanwood and turned on her aunt. “Why did you accept his invitation to the market?”

“Because I want to go, and it was very nice for him to invite us.” Aunt Prue gave Oriana a wide-eyed look. “Why are you so opposed to it?”

She really did not want to tell her aunt about Stanwood’s suggestion that he court her. She had to come up with some reason. “I have a great deal to do here.”

Aunt Prue pierced her with a disapproving look. “Oriana, please remember that I have managed this estate. There is not so much to do that you cannot take a day or two a week for yourself.”

“The problem is Stanwood,” she mumbled to herself. Also, her aunt might have thought she was managing the estate, but she had not done a very good job.

“He is a very well-favored gentleman.” For a moment she thought Aunt Prue would roll her eyes. “What in the name of God do you have against him?”

He wants to court me! That’s what . “Nothing, nothing at all.”

“Good.” Aunt Prue gave an emphatic nod. “Now I have some things I must do.”

As she strode toward her parlor, Oriana rubbed her forehead. She would not be able to get out of going to the market, but she could and would find a way to avoid him until he left the area. She started to make her way back to her study when a knock sounded on the door.

“Good day, Mrs. Taunton, Mrs. Evermore,” Figgs said. “How may I help you?”

“Are either Lady Prudence or Miss Ognon available?” Mrs. Taunton inquired.

“If you will please wait in the parlor, I will ascertain if they are at home.”

Oriana practically ran the rest of the way to her study. No one would knock on her door unless it was important. She absolutely did not want to be cajoled into helping with another village event. Although, to be fair, she had not had much if anything to do with the assembly.

She picked up a pencil, intending to make a list, then put it down again. Perhaps her aunt was correct. She was turning into a hermit. She was one of the major landowners in the area and had a responsibility toward the village. A responsibility she wanted. Rising, she went to the corridor. Hearing voices, she turned toward the middle drawing room. Aunt Prue was there with the other two ladies.

“Of course we will help with the preparations,” she said. “Please tell us what you want us to do.”

Oriana entered the room. “Preparations?”

“There you are.” Her aunt had a delighted smile on her face. “I almost forgot the village fête is fast approaching.”

“Indeed it is.” Mrs. Evermore nodded. “We have only three weeks to make all the plans.”

Oriana sat next to her aunt on a small sofa and poured a cup of tea. “I echo my aunt; what can we do to help?”

Mrs. Taunton set down her cup. “We will need the use of your wagon and a groom to transport goods, and possibly people.”

“I have a list.” Mrs. Evermore took out a long sheet of foolscap. “We are to have jugglers, vendors, a children’s play, and various games.” She glanced up. “Possibly a pet show. Definitely a tug-of-war for the men, and an egg race, and a three-legged race. The inn and bakery will provide refreshments. However, some of the women want to bake cakes and biscuits.”

“We are open to other ideas as well.” Mrs. Taunton looked at Oriana as if she was throwing down a challenge.

“It sounds like a great deal of fun.” Oriana was determined not to disappoint these women or the village. “Have you thought of a contest of some sort for the women and children?”

“What an excellent idea!” Mrs. Evermore beamed. “We could have a baking contest.”

Mrs. Taunton knitted her brows for a minute. “What about footraces? One for the boys and one for the girls? The younger ones of course.”

“That is a very good idea,” Aunt Prue said. “It will give everyone something to do.”

“Miss Ognon,” Mrs. Evermore said, “would you agree to be a judge for some of the events?”

“Yes, of course; I would be honored.” Oriana infused her tone with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. How was she to do that and not insult anyone?

“Wonderful.” Mrs. Taunton placed her teacup down and rose. “We will apprise you of the details as the fête draws nearer.”

Aunt Prue rose. “We look forward to it.”

“Call on me anytime.” Oriana stood and escorted them to the door. This should keep her busy enough not to be able to spend time with Stanwood.

As the ladies drove off in a curricle, Aunt Prue regarded Oriana. “I must say I am surprised and proud of you for volunteering to help with the fête.”

“You were right. I need to do things other than estate work. The fête seems like just the thing.”

* * *

Charlie had been riding home when he was hailed by Mr. Taunton, the vicar of the Liliford church. “Lord Stanwood, may I have a word with you?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t know if you remember, but Liliford has an annual fête. My wife is on the planning committee, and she has asked me if you would be kind enough to help with the preparations.”

Charlie remembered the fête well. Stanwood, being a market town, didn’t have one. Therefore, Liliford’s was the only one in the area. “I recall my father being involved. I’m happy to continue the tradition.”

“Very good.” The vicar smiled. “Very good indeed.”

“Send a note around telling me what you would like me to do and when it is taking place.”

“It will be in just over three weeks.”

“That’s perfect. The week after is my family’s summer fest and ball.” Charlie hoped he would also be announcing his betrothal then.

“It will be wonderful to see the Stanwood festivities revived.” The vicar continued to smile. “Thank you, my lord.”

“It’s my pleasure. I will see you soon.” He started his horse again. It was gratifying to be fully accepted as the earl. He’d have to tell his sisters about the fête when he got home.

He was almost to Stanwood when he came across Will Hammersmith and reined in. “Will, how is it going?”

He tugged his hat. “Well, my lord. I wanted to thank you for thinking of Miss Scully.” He appeared as if he had been dazed by something. “She’s amazing, the way she can work iron. I can do normal things like horseshoes and the like, but she’s a real artist.” He looked at the ground for a second and scuffed one foot. “I’m going to ask her to marry me proper, like, on market day. I want to take her to pick out a ring.”

“I’m happy for you, and her.” Charlie was also proud of himself and his first and probably last effort at matchmaking.

“It was you bringing us together.” Will’s mien became serious. “Can I ask you to make up the contract you talked about?”

“Certainly. I’ll have it done.” He could stop by Harrington’s office on his way home. “Don’t forget to invite me to the wedding.”

“Not a chance, my lord.” Will grinned. “I’d better be getting home. I don’t want to miss my ma’s cooking.”

Did Miss Scully cook at all? That was something Charlie hadn’t even thought of. “Yes, I must be on my way as well.”

Harrington wasn’t in his office, but his clerk promised to tell him Charlie had come by. He arrived home with barely enough time to change for dinner. And he’d forgotten all about telling the innkeeper that he needed to arrange lunch on Friday in a private parlor. After he washed and dressed, he scribbled a note to be taken to the inn and gave it to Royston.

“I’ll have it taken there straightaway, my lord.”

“Thank you.” Charlie entered the drawing room to find his family already there. “Who plans to go to the market on Friday?”

“I am going to go,” Charlotte said. The other ladies agreed with her.

“I have invited Oriana to attend market with me, and to luncheon as well. Would you want to join us?”

Theo looked at him thoughtfully. “Do we need to?”

She was growing up so fast. Still, he was glad that she had thought of the proprieties.

“Her aunt will be there as well.” Although, as evidenced today, Lady Prue was not much of a chaperone.

“I think we should come too.” Theo took a glass of lemonade Mary handed to her. “After all, you can be surprisingly alone in a group of people.”

“Let me tell Royston. I just gave him a letter reserving the parlor.” He strode out of the room and caught the running footman just in time. “Tell Royston there will be up to ten people there.”

“Yes, my lord.” The man left and Charlie returned to the drawing room, taking the glass of sherry Kenilworth held out.

“If you don’t need me, I’m going to go back to my estate for a few weeks. I’ll return in time for the ball. Charlotte will stay here in case you require her.”

Charlie hoped he would. But that meant becoming closer to Oriana.

In addition to Kenilworth, his other sisters and brothers-in-law decided to leave for two to three weeks as well.

Royston announced dinner, and Charlotte took Charlie’s arm. “How did your time with Oriana go today?”

“I’m not sure. I asked her if I could court her. She said we hadn’t known each other long enough. Then she put up several reasons why she couldn’t marry at all, so nothing was resolved.”

His sister frowned slightly. “You need to spend more time with her.”

“That was my intention in asking her to accompany me to the market.”

Charlotte shook her head. “Normally, I would not suggest this, but I believe that you need to live in her pocket. She must learn to know you much better than she does.”

He wasn’t sure that was a good idea. “Won’t she tire of me?”

“If that is what happens, then she is not the right lady for you. She will spend much more time with you once you’re wed.”

She had a point. “I came across Will Hammersmith today and he told me he planned to propose to Miss Scully on Friday. I could ride over to Rose Hill and tell her that.”

“Take your curricle. Then you can ask her to go for a ride.”

“That’s an excellent suggestion.” He hoped. Well, he’d find out soon enough. If she didn’t send him away with a flea in his ear, he’d count it as progress.

The next morning after breakfast he drove to Rose Hill, hoping Oriana was at home. Figgs answered the door and, with great good luck, Lady Prue was in the hall. “Come in, Stanwood. What brings you here today?”

Suddenly his cravat felt too tight and he had to resist the urge to ring his finger under it. “I spoke with Will Hammersmith yesterday. He gave me some news I thought Miss Ognon might want to know.”

“Good news, I trust.” Lady Prue turned to their majordomo. “Please ask Miss Ognon to join me in the morning room.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Oh, and there is no need to mention his lordship is here.” Her ladyship took his arm.

“Yes, my lady.”

The exchange caused Charlie to wonder who was actually in charge of the house. “Will she not tell her?”

“Honestly, I have no idea,” Lady Prue admitted. “I did hire her, but it is more Oriana’s house than mine.”

Tea arrived and, shortly thereafter, so did Oriana. At first he thought he was going to be treated to her head inclining; then the corners of her lips tilted up. “I hear you have news I will wish to hear.” As she took a seat on the chair next to the sofa upon which her aunt sat, Charlie exchanged a quick glance with that lady. They now knew to whom the staff answered. “Tell me what took place.”

Charlie related his complete conversation with Will and waited.

“This is wonderful indeed.” Her smile broadened. “I am so happy for Miss Scully that he appreciates her so much, and about the wedding of course.”

“We should see them at the market on Friday. I believe it is the custom for those who know the couple to be present during the proposal.” Interesting that she was more pleased about Will’s accolades about his potential betrothed than the marriage itself. Was appreciating Oriana the key to her heart? What did she think about marriage?

“Wouldn’t it be romantic if he proposed in front of everyone?” Lady Prue said when Oriana didn’t answer.

Oriana came close to rolling her eyes.

He had to discover what it was about marriage that she didn’t like. “It would certainly be a grand gesture. I’m happy to see how secure he is in himself.”

“What do you mean by ‘secure in himself’?” She swiftly turned her head to him, her well-shaped brows pulled together. “He is getting a successful business.”

“Is he?” Charlie raised a brow. He thought she knew the terms of the agreement. “He is getting a wife who will always have control of that business. He is also giving up his name, and his children will have his wife’s name. Only a very secure man could do that and be happy about it.”

Her brows remained knitted. “Would you do something like that?”

“If I was a younger son and I loved the lady, I would.” He’d already told her that. “Or if I married a lady with a title in her own right, I would insist that the titles be combined.”

“If you loved her,” Oriana stated.

“Yes. In my case I would only wed for love.” How was he to make her understand that he was serious? “Although many men—gentlemen—would not be able to live like that.”

“Stanwood is quite right, my dear,” Lady Prue said. “It takes a special male to have a wife who is just as talented or more so and not try to belittle her.”

“I suppose I never thought of it at all.” Oriana blinked. “It simply seemed like a good solution to Miss Scully’s dilemma.”

“I brought my curricle.” He drank the rest of his tea and set down the cup. “Would you like to go for a ride? Perhaps we could stop by the smithy and hear the other side of the story.”

“We could. I shall fetch my bonnet.” Oriana stared at him for a moment as if she was perplexed. “I will return immediately.”

He rose as she did. “I’ll be waiting.”

As soon as he thought she was far enough away, he turned to her aunt. “What does she have against marriage?”

Lady Prue took a deep breath. “I do not know if it is marriage or men. She was not at all impressed with the specimens she met in Town. Nor did the stream of them coming to the door thinking they owned her property change her view of the sex. Ognon is a worthless here-and-thereinian. Oriana told me she believes he is behind the stile. If he can compromise her into marriage, he will.” She started to take a sip of tea and stopped. “How serious are you about my niece?”

Obviously Oriana had not told her aunt about his offer. “I asked if I could court her.”

Lady Prue sighed. “I suppose she made up all sorts of excuses why she should not wed.”

“Yes. Although most of them were perceived character defects that all of my sisters own, and which I’m used to and appreciate.” He glanced around for something to eat, but there was nothing. Perhaps he wasn’t supposed to have stayed long. “She is quite concerned about the estate and how it would go on if she wasn’t here all the time.”

“Yes, well, that is her father’s fault. I will tell you one thing, young man: Actions speak louder than words. Show her what you would do and how you feel.”

Light steps came down the corridor, and he stood. “Thank you for the advice.”

“It is time for you to go.” Her ladyship waved him away.

He met Oriana as she entered the parlor and held out his arm. “Shall we?”

She glanced at his arm before taking it. “We shall. I will see you later, Aunt Prue.”

“Your ladyship.” Charlie bowed. “It has been a pleasure.”

She placed her hand on her heart. “It is so pleasant to be around a true gentleman.”

Oriana did roll her eyes at that. “Come, we must be on our way. I must have my curiosity satisfied.”