CHAPTER THREE

C HAPTER T HREE

C harlie stared out at the drive and the fountain beyond. From what he’d seen, the property was in excellent condition.

An older groom walking his pair came straight over. “Bit o’ prime blood ye have, sir.”

The man must not have expected him to stay long. “Thank you. I’m quite fond of them.” He climbed into the curricle and gave the servant his office to release the pair. “Good day to you.”

“Thank ye.” The man doffed his cap.

That visit had not gone at all the way he’d expected it would. He’d thought he’d be greeted with relief, not disdain. He reviewed the conversation and his impressions.

At first, Miss Ognon had reminded him of a banty hen, all golden brown, irritated, and businesslike. She had the most amazing amber eyes, which she’d closed as she held out her hand for the document. When she’d opened them again, he was mesmerized. Charlie had never seen a female who intrigued him so much, both mentally and physically.

While she was shunning him, his body had the opposite reaction to her. She’d quickly changed from a banty hen to a golden warrior.

What was it about her that he was drawn to? Her beauty? One couldn’t deny her amber eyes and wealth of golden-brown hair enhanced her creamy complexion. That she was intelligent was clear. After all, she was doing an excellent job of managing her estate. She was confident. Look at the way he had been summarily dismissed.

That was the first time anyone had done that to him. Charlie gave himself an inner shrug. Well, it really didn’t matter what it was exactly. He could not overlook the fact that he wanted her. It had been a long time since he’d had that reaction to a lady. Fortunately, the widow he’d half fallen in love with explained that it was lust and not love, and he was much too young to consider her. Because of that conversation he knew that pursuing Miss Ognon was the only way to work out if it was only his lower body talking or if she was the lady for whom he’d been looking. He wished he could have dragged her into his arms and kissed her. Although from her reaction to him, that wouldn’t have helped at all. She would have slapped him soundly, and for good reason.

He had to think of something else. What she’d said about her cousin had brought out all Charlie’s protective instincts. Then again, it explained why Ognon was so desperate for Charlie to take the money. Yet the man had done this more than once. Why did anyone gamble with him? Although a better question might be why he had not been blackballed from Brooks’s. Just as Charlie reached the village of Liliford, his thoughts wandered back to Miss Ognon. What did she mean, there were no likely gentlemen in the area? He was a prospect. Not that she knew that. Yet she soon would. He’d make sure of it.

The village of Liliford lay just two short miles from Stanwood town. Part of his estate was situated between the village and the market town from which his title took its name. The house itself was on the far side of Stanwood town. The villagers of Liliford traditionally attended the festivities Charlie’s family held. He drove into Liliford. He’d been to the village often while growing up but had not visited here much since he’d been back from his Grand Tour. The Earls of Stanwood had always been the largest landowners in the area and had, naturally, taken on responsibility for the people.

He drove to the Rose and Crown, one of the two local inns. As he jumped down from his carriage, he threw his reins to the ostler, flipping him a coin. “Take care of them for me, will you?”

“Yes, me lord.” The young man grinned.

Charlie strode into the common room and greeted the locals gathered there. “A pint, if you’d be so kind.”

Miss Coley, the innkeeper’s daughter, blushed. “Yes, my lord.”

Once he had his ale, he strolled over to a long table of local men. “Do you mind if I join you?”

One of them pushed out a chair with his foot. “Not a’tall.”

He took a long drink and listened to the men talk. Most of it was about crops, then one man said, “Don’t know if old Scully’s girl can handle the job.”

Scully was the blacksmith. His daughter, Sally, had been slowly taking over the business for about two years now. “Why is that?”

The man wiped his mouth with his hand. “She’s a woman, ain’t she?”

“She is.” Charlie took another drink. “When was the last time you had work done there?”

“Last week. Had me draft horse shod.”

“And was it a good job?” Charlie regarded the farmer over his pint of ale.

The man scratched his chin. “It were. But ye see, yer lordship. That’s what I’m saying, don’t know how she’ll do it.”

Charlie forced himself to keep a serious face. “I think you’ll find out, if you ask, that Sally’s the one who did the job. It was the first part of the business she took over.”

The man’s jaw dropped, and he leaned back in the chair. “I’ll be dammed. Never thought she’d have it in her.”

His companions sniggered, and one of them said, “Never asked, did ye?”

“She’ll do us proud,” an old man with gray hair added. “Needs a husband and some babies if the smithy’s to stay in the family.”

Charlie had already talked to Sally about that issue, when her father had asked to speak to him. Actually, it was more accurate to say she had talked to him . “I might have some ideas.” The men nodded in agreement. It was time to ask some of the questions he had. “What do you know about Miss Ognon at Rose Hill?”

One of the men snorted. “Used to be a fair number of Londun gents come to visit. She sent them away with a flea in their ears, she did. Not many come around anymore. You look’in that way, me lord?”

“Just curious.” He took another sip. “Someone mentioned her to me, but I have never met her and don’t know anything about her.”

“Keeps to herself mostly,” the man said.

“She goes to church and shopping,” the old man added. “Seems to get on well with the ladies and other women. Goes to the teas and things they put together. Only strange thing is that she has a female act’in as her butler.”

Charlie let his surprise show. “Dressed like a butler?”

“No, no, me lord. Not in breeches,” one of the younger men said. “All in black, like. And all her other servants except fer old Watts are female.”

“That maybe fer the best,” the older man said. “House of women. Might be better.”

“Does she live alone?” That would be odd.

“No. Got an aunt liv’in wit her.”

“Ah.” He drained his pint, put it on the table, then called to Miss Coley. “A round for everyone. I have to get home. By the way, when’s the next assembly dance?”

“Saturday next,” she said as she filled the glasses. “Will we see you there?”

“You just might.” Charlie inclined his head to the room. Would Miss Ognon be in attendance? “I’ll see you later.”

He left the inn, and his curricle was shortly brought around. Augusta and her family had already departed for Scotland, but Charlotte and her family had arrived. He should ask if she, Theo, and Mary would like to take a shopping trip to the village. They’d be able to discover more about Miss Ognon than he would. They could also find out if she was attending the assembly. First, he needed to stop at the blacksmith’s house in Stanwood to speak to the smithy’s younger son.

He stopped the carriage in front of a neatly kept two-story cottage with attics surrounded by a stone wall. Sissy, the maid of all work, opened the door of the house set back and to the side of the forge as Charlie lifted his hand to the knocker. “We saw you from the window, me lord.”

“I’d like to speak to Mr. Hammersmith and Will, if I may.”

“Here.” She led him to the only parlor in the house. “I’ll go get Mrs. Hammersmith and some tea. She made lemon biscuits today.”

“Thank you.” After the maid closed the door, Charlie glanced around the parlor. It had been recently painted and a new chair had been added. Naturally, everything was just so. Mrs. Hammersmith had been a senior maid training to be a housekeeper at Stanwood Place before her husband had caught her eye and convinced her to wed him.

The door opened, and Mrs. Hammersmith entered and curtseyed. “Good afternoon, my lord. I hope you have good news.”

“I think I do. I’ll need to speak with your husband and Will before I know how they’ll like it.” What they might not appreciate was that Sally’s property would not belong to Will.

Sissy came in bearing a tea tray. She set it down on a low table in front of the sofa. “They’ll be here straightaway, ma’am.”

“Thank you, Sissy.”

Mrs. Hammersmith poured four cups of tea and set biscuits on four small plates. By the time she was finished, her husband and son joined them and looked expectantly at Charlie.

“Right, then. I’ve spoken to Miss Scully, the daughter of the Liliford blacksmith. She is interested in marrying and having a family.” Will and his father let out identical breaths of relief, and Charlie held up his hand. “You should know she works with her father and has been taking over the business. She and her father want the smithy to remain in her name. That said, under the law, any inheritance would remain her property.”

Will nodded, but his father appeared less happy.

“Naturally, your eldest son or whichever of your children you choose, would inherit the business.”

“What’s she look like, this lass who can work as a smith?” Mr. Hammersmith asked. “Is she any good?”

Charlie wanted to smile. Mrs. Hammersmith was a tall woman with broad shoulders, as were their three daughters. “She is a bit under six feet with broad shoulders. She is, naturally, muscular, but in a way that doesn’t look odd.” He glanced at Will. “If you know what I mean. In any event, there is an assembly next Saturday. That might be the best time to meet her. I will provide the introduction.”

Mrs. Hammersmith gave her husband and son a considering look. “That is a very good idea, my lord. It will not be as awkward as a meeting at her home.”

He inclined his head to her. “Thank you.” Charlie finished his tea and biscuits, then rose. “I should be on my way home.”

“It’ll take you a while to get there.” Hammersmith chuckled. “You can’t go five feet without someone stopping you. We’re all glad to have our own earl home again.”

“Indeed. I’m happy to finally be stepping into my father’s shoes.” Charlie shook Hammersmith’s and Will’s hands, and they walked him to the door.

As the man predicted, Charlie had not gone far before he was stopped by old Mrs. Peterson, who walked out of the fabric store and bobbed a curtsey. “Me lord, could ye have a word with Mr. Coyne about his dog? He got into my house the other day and I only just stopped him from breeding with my Missy.”

Charlie bowed slightly. “I will do so today.”

“Thank ye, me lord.” She curtseyed again.

It was since his father died that the town had had their earl to take care of their needs. He’d only been about twelve years old. Grace had, with the help of his mother’s father, Lord Timothey, gained guardianship, and looked after him and his brothers and sisters. After she married Matt Worthington, he was also involved. Charlie had returned from his Grand Tour two years ago to take up his responsibilities in full. But it was only since last autumn that his dependents had decided he was ready to lead them.

He found Mr. Coyne sitting outside of the Stanwood Arms, a popular posting house. “Mr. Coyne, might I have a word?”

He and the men with him stood. A slightly belligerent look appeared on his mien. “Is Mrs. Peterson going on about me Shaggy again?”

Charlie met the other man’s gaze and held it. “She asked me to speak to you about keeping him away from her dog until she’s out of season.”

Coyne’s naturally red face grew redder. “But she’s entic’in him.”

The other men guffawed.

Charlie let out a breath. “Mr. Coyne, she is a bitch in season; of course she is enticing him.”

His companions laughed louder. One of them said, “His lordship’s got you there.”

Charlie let them finish before continuing, “However that may be, Shaggy has no business breaking into Mrs. Peterson’s house. I will ask that you keep him confined in a way that he can no longer do so.”

Coyne rubbed his chin. “I could use a puppy or two. Shaggy’s gett’in on.”

As Missy looked to be a cross between a small fluffy dog and a pug, and Shaggy was a much larger mix of some sort, it was difficult to understand how useful their prodigy would be to a farmer. Charlie raised a brow. “Keep him away from Missy. If you do not, you could very well be sued for damages.”

“Damages!” The man doffed his hat and heaved a sigh. “Yes, me lord.”

“Thank you.” Charlie started his pair again but only got another ten feet down the street before he was stopped again.

Lunch was long over before he arrived home, but Penny, his housekeeper, had luncheon sent to him in his study. He was drinking the last of his tea when Charlotte knocked on the open door and entered.

“I wondered if you would arrive home before dinner. Papa always seemed to be delayed when he was in town.” Other than Grace and Charlie, Charlotte, who was two years older than him, was the only one old enough to remember their parents well.

“Just the person with whom I wanted to speak.” He set aside his serviette and she lowered herself onto one of the brown leather chairs in front of his desk. “Do you think Theo and Mary would like to take a shopping trip to Liliford?”

His sister raised one brow. “I suppose they would, but why Liliford?”

Sooner or later everyone would know. It might as well be sooner. “I met Miss Ognon today.”

A small smile appeared on Charlotte’s face. “And?”

“The situation was not at all what I had been led to believe. The estate belongs to her. Ognon is simply in the habit of using it as collateral when he gambles.”

Her jaw dropped and she shut it. “The snake!”

“That was my thought.” As well as some harsher and much more vulgar words. “I am considering coming to know her better. However, I have the impression she does not have any interest in me.”

Propping her elbow on the arm of the chair, his sister placed her chin in her hand. “And you wish to change her mind.”

“I don’t know if I would put it like that. I simply found her interesting.”

She straightened. “What is it with men and the chase?” Charlie couldn’t think of anything to say to that. “I will take the girls to Liliford and see if we can discover anything else about her.”

“Thank you.” Actually, he was extremely thankful that she’d go along with his course of action. He knew how easy it was for the family’s help to spin out of one’s control. “There is another thing. Liliford is having an assembly Saturday next. I’d like everyone who is here to attend. Will Mary be allowed to go?”

The chin dropped back into Charlotte’s hand. “Let me think about it. I believe I’ll visit Lady Stern and ask her advice.”

“Thank you. While you’re there, will you invite them to dinner? I don’t wish to be behind in doing so.”

“Yes, of course. The younger children as well? Or rather Martha. She is the same age as Mary. I do not know if Stephen is at home for the summer or not.”

Surely if Lady Stern had a fourteen-year-old daughter she would know what to do. “That would be perfect.”

“Very well, I’ll write to her, asking if I could come by tomorrow. I’ll take Mary and Theo with me.”

“When will you go to Liliford?” That, after all, was the main reason he wanted to speak with Charlotte.

“After visiting Lady Stern. It might very well be that she knows or knows of Miss Ognon.” His sister’s brows drew together. “How is she related to Lord Ognon?”

Charlie shook his head. “A cousin of some sort.”

“Well.” His sister rose. “I shall discover what I am able.”

Shortly after she left, her children, Hugh, the Earl of Stoneleigh, and Lady Constance Grace Hansom, both seven years of age, and two of his many nieces and nephews, ran into the room with Apollo.

“We’re going to have puppies!” Hugh shouted.

“He said we might have puppies,” Constance corrected him.

Her twin turned to argue.

“Wait.” Charlie reached out to stroke the Dane. “Who is going to have puppies?”

“Apollo and Scarlett,” Hugh announced. He glanced at his sister. “But not yet. Scarlett isn’t ready.”

That was one way to explain it, and probably the best way to explain it to children. Suddenly it struck him what his nephew had said. Scarlett, an Irish Setter, did not need mixed breed puppies. Not if his secretary planned to sell them. Charlie would have to tell Jamison to secure his dog and ensure Apollo was not around Scarlett until she was out of season. “Scarlett and Apollo will not have puppies.”

The children’s faces dropped.

“Mr. Jamison might have someone else planned for Scarlett. These things must be arranged.”

“But they are in love,” Constance protested. “You should see them together.” Her eyes narrowed. “Mama and Papa married for love. So did Zeus and Posy.”

Charlie was almost certain Zeus and Posy married because she was in season. “Yes. We all agree that marrying for love is what we want. I wish to wed for love as well, but we cannot and may not make the decision for Scarlett. Mr. Jamison is her . . . her . . . papa, and it is for them to decide.” Why was Charlie having this conversation?

Hugh and Constance exchanged a look, then Constance said, “We will speak with Mr. Jamison.”

The pair dashed off, and Charlie glanced at Apollo. “Sorry, boy, but your playmate may not become either your wife or your paramour.” He tugged the bellpull, and a footman entered his study. “Apollo is not to be around Scarlett until she is out of season. He’ll have to be on the lead every time he leaves the house. Tell everyone, and make sure none of the children let him out.”

“Yes, my lord.” The servant bowed and left.

A few minutes later Jamison entered. The look on his face was a combination of laughter and horror. “As much as I despair of hindering the course of true love, I fear that I must move Scarlett somewhere else.”

“I had the same idea. The question is where?” The dower house was not far enough away to stop the children.

His secretary dropped into one of the chairs in front of the desk. “I had planned to take her to my brother’s house in a week. May I have permission to travel sooner?”

This was the reason Charlie had hired the man. He always had a plan. “You may leave as soon as you wish.”

Jamison stared at the ceiling for a few moments. “Early morning should be sufficient.” He shook his head. “Today might be better.”

“Knowing those two, I believe you’re right. I need to have a talk with my stablemaster. He should have known better than to have put that idea into their heads.”

Jamison laughed. “It wasn’t Kapper. It was one of the young grooms.”

“That makes more sense.” Charlie stood. “I’ll leave you to it and see you when you return.”

“I won’t be more than a day. Two at the most.”

He shook his secretary’s hand. “Good luck.”

“Thank you. At least I discovered the danger.” Jamison chuckled again.

“There is that.” They strolled out of the room. “You take care of one lady and I’ll see what I can find out about another.”

“A possibility, my lord?” He had a hopeful look on his face. Everyone, including Charlie, wanted to see him wed.

“It’s early days but perhaps.” If the way he had been immediately drawn to her was any indication, “perhaps” would turn into “absolutely.”