CHAPTER TWENTY

C HAPTER T WENTY

T he following morning Charlie was in his study when Royston knocked on the open door and entered. “My lord, Lord Pettigrew is requesting to see you. The last orders I received regarding his lordship was that he was not to be allowed either on the estate or in the house.”

Charlie only vaguely knew of Pettigrew, and he’d never heard of the ban. “When was the order given?”

“Before your father’s accident.”

That was years ago. Charlie supposed it couldn’t hurt to see the man. “Announce him.”

A rare sign of distress appeared briefly on his butler’s countenance. “As you wish, my lord.”

Why would his father have barred the baron from Stanwood? He wondered if he would soon find out.

Lord Pettigrew bowed after he was announced and smiled. “Stanwood, I’m glad to find you at home. As you must be aware, there is an issue that we must discuss.”

Considering Lord Pettigrew had been prohibited from entering the property, Charlie was certain there was nothing of import to discuss with the man. Or, for that matter, anything that was unimportant. Still, he waved Pettigrew to a seat in front of the desk. “And what might that be?”

His lordship assumed an expression of shock. “Why, your betrothal to my daughter Sarah, of course.”

Charlie was extremely glad he had not been drinking anything. He might have spewed it on his desk and possibly on his lordship. What the devil was Pettigrew about? “I am unaware of any betrothal to your daughter.”

His lordship lowered his brows. “You were quite young when your father and I made the agreement. However, I had expected that he would have mentioned the arrangement to you.”

There was no way in hell Charlie would accept this lie. “If there was an agreement, I expect he would have.” He tapped his pencil on the desk. “Do you have a copy of the signed contract?”

“My solicitor will have it.” The man seemed certain a betrothal had been made.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected anything like this. Yet he had a niggling feeling that he should proceed carefully. “I will ask my solicitor if he has a copy.” Pettigrew smirked. “And my sister Worthington. You are aware, are you not, that she was my guardian until she married?”

Suddenly, his lordship’s expression did not appear quite so satisfied. “I was told your grandfather, Lord Timothy, was your guardian.”

“Only nominally. Grace was in control of everything.”

“I see.” Clearly Pettigrew did not. He rose. “I will find a copy and send it to you.”

Was that the reason Papa had given the order? Had Pettigrew tried to arrange a match? Charlie inclined his head. “I shall await its arrival.” Reaching behind him, he tugged the bellpull. “Royston will show you out. I have a great deal to do.”

Such as write to Grace, and speak with Oriana, and with Sir Henry. He was his father’s closest friend and would know about the betrothal if it had happened or even been proposed. Pettigrew’s story could not be true. Shortly before Charlie’s father died, he told Charlie and Grace to marry for love. Another reason not to believe Pettigrew. And before Mama’s death, she had told them that they and the other children should only marry for love. The problem was that even if there was no contract, Pettigrew could easily raise expectations, and that would cause trouble. Charlie had to discover if, as he expected, all of his father’s papers had been read and that there had been no betrothal to Sarah Pettigrew. Charlie knocked on his secretary’s door and opened it. “Please write to Lady Worthington and tell her Pettigrew insists that I am betrothed to his daughter. I do not believe it is true, but I must try to prove the lack of an agreement. Ask if she knows anything about the claim. I am off to speak with Miss Ognon and Sir Henry.”

Jamison inclined his head. “I’ll have a message out within the hour. After that, I’ll head to Town. With any luck at all, I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Good man, thank you.” Charlie went out the side door to the stables and ordered his curricle readied and had a message sent to Stern Manor that he and Oriana needed to speak with them. He just hoped both Sir Henry and Lady Stern were at home. A few minutes later he tooled the vehicle down the drive. Oriana was not going to be at all happy about this. It occurred to him that was an understatement especially after they had anticipated their wedding vows. Fortunately she was extremely commonsensical. More so than he was. Still, he dreaded telling her. He arrived at Rose Hill and was escorted to the morning room and announced. She and his sisters were seated at a table with ledgers and other documents.

“Charlie, this is a lovely surprise.” Oriana came to him immediately. “I did not expect to see you today.”

He took her hands and squeezed them. “You might not be happy to see me after what I have to tell you.”

“What is it?” Her beautiful smile dissolved into a look of serious worry. Perhaps she would not be as stoic as he thought she’d be. “What has happened?”

“I received a call today from Lord Pettigrew.”

She dropped his hands and stepped back. “Go on.”

“It’s not true.” He’d better try to assuage her concern before he told her what was said. “I know it can’t be.”

Oriana’s lips formed a thin line. “What is not true?”

“He claimed that my father betrothed me to his daughter.” Charlie tried to reach for her, but she stepped back.

“I do not want you to touch me.” Tears filled her eyes and streamed down her ashen cheeks. “Why would it be a lie? These arrangements are made all the time. How could you . . .”

Charlotte, Mary, and Theo left the table to stand next to Oriana. Charlotte crossed her arms. “I never thought you could be such a dunderhead. Start at the beginning.”

Theo put her arms around Oriana as she sobbed.

“It is as I said.” He told them precisely what happened. “I want Oriana to accompany me to Stern Manor. Sir Henry was closer to father than anyone outside of the family. He will know the truth of the matter and have an idea how we dispute Pettigrew’s claim. I’ve also had my secretary write to Grace.”

Charlotte nodded. “That was good thinking.”

Oriana had mostly stopped weeping. “Are you positive that you were not previously betrothed?”

He stepped toward her, but she still was not ready to allow him to touch her. “Yes. Before my father died he told Grace and me that he wanted us to marry for love. He would not possibly have said that if he had already betrothed me to any lady.”

“My parents believed in love matches. Neither of them thought arranged marriages were good.” Charlotte went to Oriana. “Go with Charlie. Among you, he, and the Sterns it will all be worked out. I know it will be.”

“My love.” Charlie tried to make her see how much he loved her. “I refuse to wed anyone but you. I promise you that no matter what happens we will be married in ten days.”

“Very well.” She took the handkerchief Mary handed to her. “I shall go with you. But I think we should take care not to be alone until this is all settled.”

“It shall be as you wish.” That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. Then again, there was no point arguing with her.

“Come,” Theo said. “Wash your face and change into a carriage gown. We”—she indicated Charlotte and Mary—“will continue the inventory.”

“If it is even needed.” Oriana sounded slightly hysterical. But anyone would if they felt as if their life was spinning out of control this way.

“I swear to you, everything will end the way we want it to.” Charlie had to remind himself that they had not known each other for long. And she was used to distrusting men.

At this point Oriana did not know what she wanted. Mostly what she wanted to do was to lie on her bed and cry. She had been so, so happy. She should have known it could not last. She was destined to spend her days alone. For the first time she prayed that she was not with child. Despite that, what she had to do was dry her tears, wash her face, and change her gown. The Sterns were practical, salt-of-the-earth people. They would know what she and Charlie should do. He looked so fierce, so determined. But what would happen if the claim was true? Would he turn his back on a prior agreement? It would destroy his honor. Could she allow him to do that? Would he do that? She was so confused. She had not felt like this since her mother died.

“I will be ready to leave in a few minutes.” She left the morning room and forced herself not to run to the stairs. If only she could make herself believe that everything would work out. That she and Charlie would still marry. When she attained her chamber Kerby was not there, and Oriana tugged the bellpull. She could not allow her staff to see that she was upset. By the time her maid arrived she had washed her face and placed a cool cloth over her eyes. They were still red and a bit puffy, but perhaps she could blame dust from the records.

“Miss?”

“Kerby, I must change. Lord Stanwood and I have an appointment we must keep.”

“Yes, miss.” She went to the dressing room. “Did you forget about it?”

“Ah, no. Something came up suddenly.” Oriana tried to hide her face from her dresser. Thankfully her hair was in order and would not need to be dressed again. As soon as her gown was fastened, she headed out the door.

“Miss, your bonnet and gloves,” her maid called.

How could she have forgotten them? “Thank you.” She received her bonnet and slapped it on her head, donning the gloves as she descended the stairs. Charlie was waiting for her and she brushed past him. “We must depart.”

She felt him hurry after her. She had to reach the carriage before he could help her into it. Oriana did not know what she would do if he touched her now. If only she had thought to take her own curricle.

As if knowing that she would not accept his help, he went to his own side of the carriage. As soon as she was seated, he sprung his pair. “It will work out.”

“I do not want to discuss it. We can do so when we are with Sir Henry and Lady Stern.” Instead of taking the road through Liliford, Charlie turned down a lane. “Where are you taking me?”

“This way is faster and will allow us to avoid meeting people who wish to speak with us. If you want me to, I will turn back and take the usual route.”

She shook her head, then realized that he was probably watching his horses and not her. “No. It will be better this way.” Thankfully they had only told a few people of their betrothal. Her staff would be unhappy, but they would . . . would . . . she did not know what they would do. If only she had not met him or fallen in love with him. It was a lesson to her to never again trust a gentleman. How could he not have known? Perhaps if she could be angry at him, her tears would stop threatening to come again.

What seemed like an eternity later they drove through the gate to Stern Manor.

When they pulled up to the front door, Lady Stern came out. “Stanwood, Oriana, what is so urgent?” She glanced at her ladyship. “Oh, my dear. What can have happened?” Lady Stern helped Oriana down from the curricle and put an arm around her shoulders. “Come with me. Sir Henry will be here directly. A nice cup of tea will help. I am a great believer in the restorative properties of tea.”

Lady Stern pressed a handkerchief into Oriana’s hand, and she realized her tears were flowing again. She tried to thank her, but nothing came out.

“Stanwood, go to the stables and wait for Sir Henry. He will be there soon.” She and her ladyship went into the house. “I want a tea tray immediately.” Soon they were in a bright room at the end of a corridor. “Sit here.” Oriana did as she was told, and Lady Stern sat next to her. “Now, then. This is not like you. What has you in such a state?”

Oriana took a deep breath and tried to stop the tears. Tried to stop feeling so miserable. The door opened, someone came in and left, closing the door behind them before she could speak. Did her ladyship even know about the betrothal? “Lord Stanwood came to my house and told me . . . told me that Lord Pettigrew is claiming that Stanwood is betrothed to his daughter.”

“And it is not true,” Charlie said.

When had he arrived?

“Stanwood, sit.” That must be Sir Henry.

Oriana raised her head to see her ladyship frowning. “Tell me all about it. Charlotte sent me a note about your betrothal. I thought you and Oriana had settled everything.”

“We had.” Oriana felt Charlie’s presence next to her; still, she could not look at him but continued to watch Lady Stern. “Then Pettigrew . . .”

As he explained, Lady Stern’s frown deepened. “That nasty pinchpenny! All he is attempting to do is keep from giving his daughter a Season.” She glanced at her husband. “Unless Henry can remember anything at all about such an arrangement, which I doubt, I can tell you it never occurred. As you are aware, your parents were opposed to arranged marriages. If they had not been, Grace would have been contracted well before you were.”

Could it actually be true that Lord Pettigrew had made it all up? That there was never a betrothal between his daughter and Charlie? Oriana’s tears dried and hope began to bloom again. Perhaps her life would not be ruined after all. She took a peek at him.

Sir Henry nodded. “In any event he’d never betroth you to the daughter of a Tory.”

For some reason that must have struck Charlie as humorous, making him grin. “You have a good point. What, however, am I going to do about it?”

“Tea is required before we begin to work this all out.” Lady Stern gave Oriana a quick hug. “Come now. If I know Stanwood—and I have known him since before he was born—you will be wed. The only thing we have to decide is how to deal with Pettigrew without innocents getting hurt.”

Not long after tea had been served, Charlie was encouraged to tell the Sterns and Oriana word for word what Pettigrew had said and what Charlie had responded. His narrative was interrupted occasionally by Sir Henry and Lady Stern ensuring Oriana that the claim was false. Still, the news did not stop the ache that had settled in her stomach. She had finally found the right gentleman for her and more happiness than she ever believed she could, and now someone was trying to claim they could not marry. Not to mention that she might already be carrying Charlie’s child. She blew into the handkerchief. If everyone else could fight for her future, she would as well. She should have had faith in her betrothed when he told her it was a lie.