CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

C HAPTER T WENTY -T HREE

W hen Charlie and Oriana arrived at Rose Hill Lady Prue was not at home.

“I don’t like leaving you to have to explain this mess to her by yourself.” As they were alone in the morning room, he took her into his arms. This situation was intolerable. “Do you think Lady Stern was correct when she said Pettigrew only wanted to avoid paying for a Season for his daughter?”

“I do not know the family well.” Oriana gazed up at him, searching his face. “However, he does have a reputation of being late paying his bills. At least, that is what I have heard secondhand.”

“It probably doesn’t matter. Even if he was, I don’t see how that could help us.” He kissed her. He could give her some good news. “My secretary will be back tomorrow or the next day at the latest with the license.”

“I am glad about that.” She gave him a small smile. He’d do everything he could to keep her happy. “When do you want to visit Vicar Taunton?”

“Tomorrow?” The sooner they had a firm date, the better it would be for them.

She gave him a skeptical look. “Tomorrow is Sunday. We have to meet with my tenants.”

“Then on Monday. At what time are you going to plan the meeting?”

“After everyone has had time to eat their dinners.” In this area that was usually around noon or shortly thereafter.

Despite what his sister had said, Charlie was determined to spend as much of his time as possible with Oriana. “Would you like to dine with us? Or shall I join you?” Once again she looked at him as if he had forgotten something. “Back lanes, remember. I’ll meet you here after I attend church in Stanwood town.”

“Very well.” Oriana hated having to hide their betrothal. “That will be easier than me traveling to your house, then coming back here.”

She closed her beautiful auburn eyes. “Oh Charlie, why is this happening to us? Why could not everything go smoothly?”

“I wish I knew.” He held her against him. “I do know it will all work out. It always does. We must have determination and faith.”

“That is exactly what we must have.” And they did have those attributes. She just had to keep reminding herself of it.

A knock came on the door and Figgs entered. “Miss, my lord, Lady Prue will be dining with friends this evening, and Cook has not been feeling well. She asks if you would be satisfied with soup and some cold meats.”

Charlie had a feeling that normally Oriana would settle for that simply to make things easier on her staff. “Why don’t you dine with me?” She tilted her head and regarded him for several seconds. “I need to wash and change my gown.”

She probably had grass stains on her shift as well. “I’ll wait here.”

“Very well. I will not be long.”

“I’ll have Miss Kerby attend you, miss.”

“Thank you. Lord Stanwood will dine with me tomorrow for luncheon.”

“I will make sure Cook is prepared.” Figgs bowed.

Once Figgs left Charlie took his beloved into his arms again. “We can bring up the wedding date.”

No.” Oriana gave her head a shake. “You need to have all of your family here.”

“Very well. We’ll wait.” He let her go and she left. There must be something more he could do to disprove the existence of a betrothal contract to Miss Pettigrew. Perhaps a thorough search through all his father’s papers was in order. But first he needed to help Oriana catch the scoundrels who were damaging her property. Then he remembered that Hugh and Constance were here. That must mean Kenilworth had arrived as well. He was someone who would be able to assist if need be. It occurred to Charlie that it wouldn’t hurt to have Chandos and Rochford here as well. An idea was starting to form. Now if he could bring it to fruition.

“Are you ready to go?” Oriana said from the door.

“More than ready. It occurred to me that the children being here means that Charlotte’s husband has arrived early for some reason.” Charlie grinned. “Are you ready to be courted by an eight-year-old again?”

“That is not funny.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “He will have to be told this evening.”

“Yes, I agree. His heart will suffer less if he finds out sooner rather than later.” He took her hand before she could hit him. “We’ll ask Charlotte and Kenilworth how they want to deal with him.”

They agreed to take the main road through Liliford and Stanwood because it might be too dark to take the lane back to her house that evening. People did notice who went where and with whom.

Hugh ran out of the house the moment they drove up to the front. “Miss Ognon! I am so glad you’re here. There’s something I must say to you.”

Charlie placed his lips close to her ear. “Here it comes. I will help you out.” She nodded, and he jumped out, then strode to her side of the curricle, lifted her down, and tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. “It will have to wait a few minutes, Hugh.”

Charlotte and Kenilworth appeared at the door. She glanced at her son and rubbed her forehead. Kenilworth didn’t appear worried at all. “Let’s go to the drawing room, shall we? There is a matter we must apparently resolve.”

Hugh walked on the other side of Oriana as they entered the hall and went to the family drawing room.

Charlie led her to a small sofa and sat next to her. Hugh took the chair next to her side of the sofa. “I hope you have an idea of how to break the news.”

“As simply as possible,” Kenilworth said. “I remember going through this at around his age. At least he chose someone suitable.”

Oriana’s lips twitched. “Who did you pick?”

“A dairy maid. Her father would have been delighted. My father would not have been. Nor was the groom who had been courting her.” He turned to Hugh. “I am sorry to tell you that before we arrived, your uncle Charlie had already asked Miss Ognon to marry him, and she has agreed.”

Hugh glanced at her. “Yes. It is true. I am to wed your uncle. I hope you are not too disappointed.”

He heaved a large sigh. “Constance said you were too old for me.”

“That is very true.” Oriana was glad his twin had sought to depress his intentions. “I would be very much older by the time you were of an age to marry.”

Constance entered the room and sat on the chair next to her brother. “It will be all right, Hugh. Theo and Mary told me that Miss Ognon is to be our aunt.”

He had a stoic look on his face. “I will just have to wait for someone more my age.”

Charlie exchanged a glance with Kenilworth as he wiped a hand down his face. A little help might be in order. “You know, Hugh, your papa was even older than me when he and your mama wed. You have plenty of time to find the perfect lady for you to marry.”

As Charlie had hoped, that intrigued his nephew. “Papa, how old were you?”

“About twenty years or so older than you are now. As your uncle said, you have a lot of time before you can think of marriage.”

“I do not think you should wait that long,” Constance opined. “After all Papa is quite old. You will want to marry before he dies.”

“Where on earth did you get an idea like that?” Kenilworth asked.

“From Grandmama.” Constance raised her chin. “She said that she had begged you for years to wed.”

“You don’t always need to listen to your grandmother. If I had done as she had wanted and wed another lady, you would not have your mama.”

Charlotte covered her mouth and her shoulders started shaking. Theo and Mary entered the room and asked what was going on.

Once they were told, Theo said, “It is my understanding that it is better for gentlemen to be older when they wed. They can be rackety when they are younger.”

A shocked look appeared on Kenilworth’s face. “Who told you that?”

“Matt.” She raised a challenging brow. “He said you were very rackety, and that you had to do some farming before you could marry.”

Oriana bit her lip, and Charlotte got up and went to the window. She was clearly almost in whoops.

Charlie almost asked for clarification, then decided to leave it as it was. At some point she would discover that sowing one’s oats had nothing to do with farming.

Fortunately Royston entered and announced dinner was served. Charlie took Oriana’s hand, then leaned over to Hugh. “Although it didn’t work out for you this time, I must commend you on your excellent taste.”

“Thank you, Uncle Charlie.” Hugh beamed. “I will be older the next time.”

“Outstanding idea.” Charlie squeezed the boy’s shoulder.

He tried to seat her at the foot of the table. But Oriana resisted. “I truly do not wish to tempt fate. Charlotte should sit there until we are married.”

“In that case you can sit next to me.” He had to stop himself from putting his arm around her waist.

“That is a lovely idea.” Oriana appreciated that he wanted her in his life and wanted to treat her as if they were already wed. He was going to be a wonderful husband. And, by the way he treated Hugh, an excellent father. A trickle of fear rose that all might not work out the way they wanted it to, and she shoved it down. She would not be frightened.

* * *

The next day Oriana prepared the large dining room for the meeting by placing the estate map in the middle of the table. Glasses of ale and lemonade as well as tea and biscuits were on the sideboard. She had several sheets of cut foolscap and pencils off to the side of the map.

Charlie arrived in his curricle just as her tenants made their way to the house. Oriana stood in the hall as Figgs opened the door.

Mr. Smith walked next to Charlie as they entered the hall. He gave his hat to Figgs and Mr. Smith did the same. “Looks like you’ll be takin’ our miss away from us.”

Charlie slid Oriana a quick look and paused for a moment. “I do have intentions in that direction. However I can assure you that even if I am successful, Miss Ognon will retain her property and control over it.”

Smith gave Charlie a considering look. “Heard you was one of those progressives. She’ll like that.”

“That is what I am counting on.” He inclined his head. “Shall we go see how we can protect her interests and those of all of you?”

The other men and, Oriana was glad to see, some of the women, had followed them in. Watts and the Greens were present, as well as the gardeners. “Let us repair to the dining room for our discussion.”

They followed her and stood around the table. Before she began she met each person’s gaze. “As some if not all of you know, miscreants have been causing damage and, in one case, harmed a person.”

“Aye,” Smith said. “Me daughter Susan had her arm broke.”

Everyone murmured and nodded in support.

“The last two attacks occurred about a week apart on two different farms both located near a lane leading to a larger road. I propose that we set up a watch schedule. Although the farms that the scoundrels already attacked should keep an eye out, I believe they will strike the hay barn between the Coombes’ farm and the main house. I need you all to take part in keeping a lookout until we have caught the men responsible. They have been here during the dark part of the early morning.”

“To make it easier on all of you, some of my men have volunteered to assist,” Charlie said.

Oriana continued, “I am perfectly aware that you all have a great deal to do.”

“His lordship rescued one of my calves when those blackguards flooded a field,” Davis said. “And miss found where the stream was blocked and took out most of the trees. Right mess she was.”

“I’ll keep watch.” One of the Davies sons looked around. “As I see it, the lookout times will be between midnight and three or four in the morning. If we can have two of us together, we can take turns napping.”

Someone shoved the man next to him. “Not ye; ye snore too loud.”

A younger woman said, “Some of us can keep watch too.” Someone guffawed, and she blushed bright red. “With a brother or a father.”

“Thank you. Please talk among yourselves and tell me what you decide. There are refreshments on the sideboard.”

A few minutes later two sons of a farmer who didn’t have a tenancy near an outside road came up. “We can keep a lookout between the Coombes’ place and the barn. Our sister can help us.”

“Thank you.” Oriana had not wanted to order her tenants. She was glad they were coming forward. Within an hour they had the schedule almost complete.

Charlie looked it over. “I have men to fill in the times that don’t have anyone.”

Watts came up. “I can spare one of my grooms on different nights.”

Oriana wondered how that would work. Both of his grooms were females.

“All my men know how to behave themselves,” Charlie said. “We can pair them.”

Once Charlie filled in the missing hours Oriana clapped her hands. “It looks as if we have a complete schedule. The watch will begin in two nights’ time. That is shortly before we expect an attack. Thank you all. Have a good rest of your Sunday.”

As they filed out, it occurred to her that Charlie had once again deferred to her plan and judgment. She could not have found a better mate.

“If it is convenient for you, I’ll bring my men over tomorrow so that they can become familiar with the vulnerable parts of your estate.”

“That will be fine. I will leave out the map.”

He glanced around, then pulled her into the parlor across the corridor and closed the door. “You were remarkable.” He claimed her lips as if he wanted to conquer her, and she responded in kind.

He had called her his equal, and she would be just that. He maneuvered her to a sofa and pulled her down onto his lap. “What are we going to do?”

“I’m going to show you another way to make love.” He pulled up her skirts and moved her so that her legs were on opposite sides of his lap.

“Oh.” This was different. He released his cock. It sprang up as if it was greeting her. In a way she supposed it was doing exactly that. “May I touch it?”

He made a low growling sound. “God, yes. Please.”

It was hard, but the skin was as soft as a baby’s skin. “It is very interesting.”

“Hold on to me.” His hands stroked her thighs and her whole body was aflame.

The ache in her mons was almost unbearable. She wanted to shout at him to make it better, but all she could manage was a hoarse whisper. “Now, Charlie. Now!”

He lifted her up. “Guide me into you.”

Oriana was not quite sure how it would work, but she took his cock as he lowered her down and he slid in. “That feels so good.”

“I know.” He grinned and kissed her again. “Move up and down and it will feel even better.”

He showed her where to put her knees, and soon it was almost like riding a horse, but much, much more enjoyable. What was even better was that she was in control. Until she wasn’t. He held her close and kissed her when she convulsed around him and collapsed. Her heart beat so hard she thought it would burst from her chest.

Charlie stroked her back as his breathing slowed. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” A feeling of peace and rightness came over her. All would be well. It had to be.