CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

C HAPTER T WENTY -S EVEN

C harlie spent the rest of the day agreeing with whatever fabrics and colors Oriana wanted. The fact that she had excellent taste made his job easier. Then they returned to Rose Hill to dine. He’d gotten used to sleeping with her at the cottage, but that wouldn’t be possible again until they were well and truly wed. At least they had a meeting with the vicar tomorrow.

Her cook served a beef roast with mushroom sauce as the main course, removed with fresh peas in butter, pureed potatoes, and an apple pie with cheddar cheese. He groaned as he sat back in his chair. “I ate too much. That was excellent.”

“Cook will be extremely pleased with your appreciation of her efforts.” Oriana glanced at the remains of the pie. “I believe she made it especially for you.”

“I haven’t had a pie like that in years.” He loved his French cook’s apple tarts, but they were different from a good old English apple pie. “We will have to continue to dine here once or twice a week after we’re married.”

“Speaking of marriage. I have a note from Mr. Harrington asking him to call on me. I can only assume it is about the settlement agreements. I shall meet with him tomorrow afternoon.”

Lady Prue came sailing into the dining room. “Good evening.” She kissed Oriana’s cheek. “It seems as if I have missed all the fun.”

“Where have you been?” Oriana gave her aunt a jaundiced look. “I can assure you that staying up in the middle of the night waiting for the scoundrels to strike again was most definitely not fun.”

She took a seat at the table and poured herself a glass of claret. “I suppose that depends on who is telling the story. Green Two thought it was exciting.”

“I think all the younger people did.” Charlie had noticed that they had formed a bond from working together. “They don’t require as much sleep as the rest of us.”

“Are you calling me old?” Oriana said in a shocked tone.

He was in for it now. “I am saying you are older than seventeen or eighteen.”

“Not that much older.” Her brows had risen and her jaw firmed.

How to get out of this mess? “I did not mean to imply that you are old. You have many more responsibilities than she does. The whole of the estate is on your shoulders. I don’t consider myself old, although I am older than you, and I was tired as well.”

Lady Prue sipped her wine and chuckled.

Oriana turned her glare on her aunt. “I am happy we can be of amusement to you.”

“I am merely pleased that you are having conversations like this. I had begun to think you might never marry.” Lady Prue set down her wineglass. “As to what I have been doing, you might be interested to know that Pettigrew has been quietly spreading the information that Stanwood is contracted to his daughter.” Oriana flashed Charlie a look of horror. “After speaking with Cordelia Stern, I have been visiting various people in the area and suggesting that it was highly unlikely, considering that no one had heard of it before. As I did not know the former earl, I could not be as forceful as I would have liked to have been.” Lady Prue took another sip of wine. “How are you planning to deal with him?”

“I have no idea.”

His beloved shook her head. “We know it is not true. Charlie had his secretary review all of his father’s documents and did not find anything even suggesting a match.”

“Sir Henry and I went to see Harrington and he found a proposal from Pettigrew and a firm refusal from my father.” Charlie glanced at the pie and wondered if he could eat another piece, then decided against it. “There was something interesting in Pettigrew’s request. He referred to the sixth earl and my father was the fifth.”

“Well.” Lady Prue raised a brow. “Someone did not look in their Debrett’s before giving the order to his solicitor.”

“The solicitor appears to be a bit sloppy as well,” Oriana said.

“Yes. It was not well done of him. I’m glad my father went to Harrington.” Charlie wished with all his heart that his father had not died when he was so young. “Speaking of Harrington. Do you want me to be here when you have your meeting with him?”

“Hmm.” Her smooth forehead wrinkled. “I think that might be useful. That way if one of us wants to make a change, it can be done immediately.” She turned to her aunt. “Can you tell me what people think of Pettigrew’s claim?”

“Unfortunately no.” Her ladyship picked up her glass again. “I do not think anyone is willing to take a stand. Other than the Sterns, that is.”

Oriana pulled a face. “I suppose that should not surprise me.”

This had to be put to bed, and the sooner the better. He reached over and covered her hand with his. “My sisters and their husbands will all be arriving shortly. Maybe one of them will have an idea.”

“That would be useful.” She blew out a breath. “We have been completely at a loss.”

“Well, we have had the other incident on our minds.” He raised her fingers and kissed them. “I had better be going. Shall we ride to the vicarage together or separately?”

She gnawed on her bottom lip for a second or two. “Separately. We can also ask if they have heard the gossip and what they think of it.”

They rose from the table, and he bowed to her ladyship. “Thank you for your efforts on our behalf.”

“It is nothing. I want the two of you to be happy. Take care going home.”

“I will.” Oriana walked with him to the door. He took her into his arms. “What time is the appointment?”

“At ten.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I will see you then.”

He gave her a lingering kiss. “Until tomorrow.”

* * *

The next morning he arrived at the vicarage as Oriana was driving up the street. He waited for her to take her curricle to the inn and join him. He smiled but was careful to bow instead of taking her hands. “Good morning.”

She curtseyed. “Good day to you.”

He opened the gate and they strolled to the door without touching. She didn’t even take his arm. That would change soon. He knocked on the door and the housekeeper opened it. “Good morning, my lord, miss. Mr. Taunton’s waiting for you in his office. I’ll show you the way.”

When they entered the room, Taunton’s face was grim. He held up a letter. “Have a seat.”

Charlie and Oriana exchanged the same confused glance. They sat in the chairs in front of the desk, and he reached for her hand. She wrapped her fingers around his. “What is it?”

“This”—he slid the paper across the desk to them—“is a letter from the rector in Viscount Ognon’s parish. He will post the banns for your marriage to your cousin on Sunday. He has asked me if I have posted the banns here and, if not, requests that I do so immediately.”

Charlie tightened his grip on his betrothed and waited for her to respond.

Her eyes grew hard as shards of amber, her chin firmed, and she leaned forward slightly. “We are here to discuss my marriage with Lord Stanwood.” Her tone trembled with contained rage. “I will not countenance a marriage with Lord Ognon.”

Taunton’s brows drew together. “There is also a rumor that Lord Stanwood is to wed Miss Pettigrew.” He leaned back in his chair. “How in the name of Heaven have the two of you got yourselves into such a pickle?”

“We have no idea.” Charlie rubbed his forehead. “Pettigrew’s claim is false. The only evidence of an agreement of any kind was in a proposal he made to my father, which was rejected. Harrington has the papers.”

“Ognon has been asking me to marry him since he came into the title,” Oriana said. “I have told him more times than I care to remember that I would never be his wife.”

Shaking his head, Taunton stared at them for several seconds. “Very well. When would you like to have the ceremony? Do you want me to call the banns?”

“I have a special license.” Charlie took it out of a folder. “The rest of my family will be here by the end of the week at the latest.” Just a few days away. “We would like the wedding to be held then, in the Stanwood chapel.”

“That’s probably the safest place to have it.” The vicar had a wry smile on his face. “At the very least no one will be able to try to stop the wedding. Now, how should I respond to Ognon’s rector?”

Oriana was sick and tired of everyone trying to interfere with her and Charlie getting married. “Tell him that you will take the appropriate action.”

“That’s a very good idea.” A slow smile appeared on Mr. Taunton’s face. “At the very least it relieves me from having to make an explanation. What are you planning to do about Pettigrew?”

That, in its way, was more problematical than Ognon having the banns called. “We are still working on a scheme. We are hoping his sisters or brothers-in-law will have some ideas.”

Charlie’s jaw tightened. “I’m not sure we can wait for them. This has gone on long enough. We have to come up with a way to put an end to his lies.”

That was exactly the type of statement she wanted to hear from him, but it would not do. “We still have to think about his daughter. How do we show him for a fraud and not harm her?”

“I’ll try to think of something.” Taunton rose. “Tell me when to be at the chapel and I’ll see you then.”

Oriana and Charlie rose. She held out her hand. “Thank you.”

“Good luck.” He waved them away and went back to his papers.

She tucked her hand into the crook of Charlie’s arm. “Would you like to go to Mr. Harrington and ask him to meet us at Rose Hill within the next half hour if he is available? I just want to see some progress made.”

“I agree. The sooner the agreements are signed, the better.”

They strode to the inn together and collected their respective curricles, then went their separate ways. For once Oriana did not stop to chat with people. She did remember to wave and smile. She walked through the doorway of her house. “Figgs.”

The majordomo had an apron tied around her and was just removing it. “Yes, miss.”

“I am expecting Lord Stanwood and Mr. Harrington the solicitor to arrive within the hour. Please have a tea tray readied. We will meet in my study.”

“Yes, miss.”

She went to her office and paced, praying some sort of plan would magically pop into her head. Unfortunately nothing did. Just as she was about to lose her patience, Charlie knocked on the door. “We’re here. Shall we begin?”

“Yes. Please take a seat.” She went around to the chair behind her desk. “Mr. Harrington, please show me the contracts.” While she read, tea was brought in. Charlie poured and handed her a cup. “Thank you.” The agreement was just as he had said it would be. The only surprise was the amount of pin money she would receive. She glanced up to see Charlie reading documents as well. “Is it in order?”

“It is.” He smiled. “Are you ready to sign them?”

More than ready. “Yes.”

“We will need a witness,” Mr. Harrington said.

“If my aunt is here, she can witness the documents; if not, can my majordomo act as a witness?”

“Yes, either would be appropriate. I apologize. I should have brought one of my clerks.”

Oriana tugged the bellpull and Figgs entered. “Miss?”

“Is her ladyship at home?”

“Yes, miss. Shall I tell her you would like her to come to you?”

“Please.” Oriana was tempted to hold her breath until the contracts were signed. Fortunately she did not have long to wait.

“Figgs said you needed to speak with me,” her aunt said as she entered the room.

Oriana pointed to the documents. “We need a witness to our marital agreements.”

“Well, that will be my pleasure.” She took the chair the solicitor had abandoned.

Charlie and Oriana signed in the places Mr. Harrington indicated and Aunt Prue witnessed their signatures. Another item completed.

“Do not forget that Lady Stern’s ball is tomorrow,” her aunt said before leaving the room. “I ordered another gown for you. Your maid has it.”

Oriana blew out a breath. “At some point I must visit Town, if only to purchase my own garments.”

“I wonder if she has ordered a ball gown for our ball and a new gown for our wedding,” Charlie mused. “She is a helpful person to have around.”

He was right. She would have no new clothing if it was not for her aunt. “Perhaps I should take her to Town with me to do some shopping.”

“If you don’t mind, Miss Ognon, my lord,” Mr. Harrington said. “I will take these back to my office and have copies made for both of you and for my files.”

“Thank you for agreeing to come early.” Oriana held out her hand, and he bowed over it.

“I am delighted that I could help you with at least one of your difficulties. Call on me if you require anything else. I will see myself out.”

He left, and Charlie took her into his arms. She always felt so safe when he held her. “Mrs. Rollins would like to speak with your before they leave.”

“Today?” Oriana couldn’t remember when the decorator was departing.

“Yes. They are leaving after luncheon.”

“Very well. We can take your carriage.”

He bent his head and claimed her lips. “We are making progress.”

They were. Oriana would hold on to that thought. He had signed marriage contracts with her. Not Pettigrew. And she had definitely not signed a contract with her cousin.

Ognon Hall, Warwickshire

“My groom can’t find them.” Ognon poured a glass of wine. “Where could they be?”

“They were dependable before. They might have run into a problem and had to make it another night.” Humphries shrugged and tossed off his glass.

“No. It’s more than that. The houses are mostly empty. As if they left. But there’s nowhere they can go.” Ognon started pacing the library again.

“Did you tell your rector to post the banns?”

“Yes. He’ll start on Sunday. He’s going to write to the vicar in the village in which my cousin lives.”

“Then you’ve nothing to worry about. Why bother with tenants who don’t want to be here?” Humphries poured another glass of port.

He had a point. After the banns were read, she’d have to agree to marry him. “I wrote to her and told her I was coming to visit. But she said I had to stay at an inn.”

Humphries twirled his glass. “Didn’t you tell me it was only women living there?”

“Uh?”

“Only women.”

“Oh, yes.” What was he getting at? “My cousin and an aunt of hers. That’s all.”

“Then you can’t stay there. It isn’t proper.” He contemplated the wine. “You should go and stay at the inn. Come to think of it, I’ll come with you.”

Ognon’s butler entered carrying a silver salver. “A card for you, my lord.”

Ognon opened it. “It’s from a Lady Stern, inviting me to a ball in two days. I say, I think she’s in the same area as m’cousin.” He glanced at his friend. “I know what happened. Oriana agrees we should wed and asked this Lady Stern to invite me.”

“Excellent.” Humphries rose. “I’ll wager my diamond pin that Miss Ognon will be there as well. You will be able to announce your betrothal.”

“We can leave this afternoon.” Ognon tugged the bellpull and a footman answered. “Tell my valet to pack. I’m attending a ball. I’ll be gone for a few days at least.”

This would be perfect. She was finally going to agree to marry him. His financial difficulties were at an end.