CHAPTER THIRTY

C HAPTER T HIRTY

O riana sat at her desk dumbfounded. Instead of asking Penny, she went to her study to consult the house plan. There were no bedchambers left at all. The ones that were not currently being used had been stripped of their furnishings. She had done that herself. The only place left for her was with Charlie. She had slept with him in the cottage. Her cheeks warmed thinking about their time there. But she had not even considered remaining here for the night until they were wed. She sat back against the chair. He would, naturally, be pleased. But she did not even want to think about what his sisters—her future sisters—would say about her sleeping with him here. Especially with everyone staying at the house, including the children.

She narrowed her eyes at the plan, praying against all hope that another usable chamber would appear. He had known that the only bed left for her was his. Truly, she was going to give him a good piece of her mind. He had invited her to remain here knowing she would have to sleep with him. Then she remembered what he had said about him not realizing that everyone would arrive today. Oriana blew out a breath. It had not been his fault. It had not even been her fault. It had been pure chance. But what were they going to do about it? She stood. The only thing they could do. She was going to have to go home to sleep.

Oriana made her way up the stairs to her dressing room. It was a shame there was only a bed for her maid here. Perhaps there was a cot she could use, but no. The ones they had found all needed to be remade. Her maid was there when she entered the room. “I think I will have to go to Rose Hill tonight after all. There are no more beds.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about it,” Kerby said. “It struck me as odd, but none of the servants showed any interest at all where you were staying.”

“They probably think I am going home.” Oriana went to the washbasin.

“I told them I had to go back and fetch your ball gown. So, they know.” Kerby turned and put her fists on her hips. “You are already pregnant. No one here is interested in what you and his lordship are doing as long as you wed. Make yourself and him happy.”

For the second time in less than thirty minutes Oriana’s jaw dropped. “Kerby! I never expected to hear words like that come out of your mouth.”

She appeared a bit chastened, but not much. “We’ve all been waiting so long for you to find a man to make you happy, that’s all we—I want for you. It’s not like his lordship is going to be upset.”

“Well, that’s probably true.”

She went into the parlor where Charlie was waiting. “What am I not going to be upset about?”

Oriana crossed her arms over her chest. “There are no beds left where I can sleep alone.”

A distinctly wolfish look crossed his face. “I know. After you wondered where Penny would put you, I realized that you’d have to sleep with me. In our bed.”

She rolled her eyes. “The point is that it is not yet our bed.”

“It is close enough.” She did not notice he had prowled toward her until she saw his boots. “No one is going to notice. Not even Grace, who knows more about how many bedrooms are in the house. Aside from that, she would remember that my brothers’ rooms haven’t been taken. She does not know that there are no furnishings.” Charlie wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t you want to sleep with me?”

“That is not the point. Of course I do.”

He nudged up Oriana’s chin with one finger. “Then stay with me.”

“It is just so . . . so blatant.” And Theo and Mary were living there now.

He kissed her again. “Sleep with me tonight.”

“Let me think about it.” She wished she could do what she wanted and not what she should. It simply did not feel right.

“If that’s the only answer I can have now, I’ll take it.” He placed her hand on his arm. “Let’s meet the others in the drawing room.”

“They will be waiting for us.” She would have to tell him about her decision later.

They entered the drawing room, and it was clear the family thought of Stanwood Place as a communal home. Or did they treat everyone’s house the same way when they visited? That was something she would have to discover.

Con Kenilworth pressed a glass of sherry into her hand, then another into Charlie’s hand. “The house is truly overflowing.”

“It is,” Charlie said. “Chandos and Rochford have decided to stay at the inn.”

That was the first Oriana had heard about them being there.

Con’s mouth quirked up. “Are they joining us for dinner?”

“Er, no.” Charlie cast up his eyes. “They are dining there as well.”

Charlotte came and stood beside her husband. “I think it is because they do not wish to be quizzed. Both of them get on well with the children.” She glanced at Oriana. “Mrs. Rollins is coming to visit our house next month after all this madness has completed. When will she be back here to begin the refurbishments?”

“As soon as she is able to arrange to have the fabrics delivered. I believe she is contacting local craftsmen to do the work.” Or rather that was what Oriana had suggested the decorator do.

“I like that idea.” Charlotte took a sip of wine and nodded. “It provides income for the local area and, possibly, jobs.”

Before long Royston announced dinner. Everyone went in with their spouses. Charlie pulled out the chair at the foot of the table for her. Oriana glanced at Grace and then Charlotte, but both ladies gave surreptitious nods of approval at his plan, and Oriana allowed herself to be seated.

They had retired to the drawing room after dinner when Royston entered hurriedly and went straight to Charlie and Oriana. “Sir, miss, one of the grooms from Rose Hill arrived. A Lord Ognon came to your house and is a bit disguised and demanding to be let in. He said that you were waiting for him, and if they did not allow him entrance, he would wait until you returned. He has not left.”

She hoped everyone was well. “Is my staff all right?”

“Yes, miss. Apparently Figgs had everyone go around to ensure all the doors and windows were locked. Your aunt opened an upper window and ordered that he depart immediately, but she was ignored.”

Oriana looked at Charlie. “I have to go home.”

His face firmed into hard lines. “That is the worst thing you could do. At this point the fool is content to wait. If you go home, he will insist on entering.”

She wanted to shake him. “But Charlie, I cannot remain here. There are no spare bedchambers.”

“You can sleep in my room,” Mary said. “I will stay with Theo.”

“Yes.” Next to her, Theo nodded. “That is the best plan. You should remain until you and Charlie wed.”

“That is very generous of you.” Oriana hated running anyone out of their chambers. “If you are sure?”

“We are,” Mary said.

Charlie narrowed his eyes at her, but he was wrong. It was not the right thing for them to sleep together like this.

“Stanwood,” Kenilworth said. “She’s correct. Accept it. You will be married soon enough.”

Charlie didn’t like the idea at all. He wanted Oriana next to him where he could keep her safe. But looking at his two younger sisters he knew he was being selfish and setting an extremely poor example. “Thank you.”

“We are happy to do it,” Theo said.

Royston inclined his head. “Your staff will be pleased with your decision, miss. I will go tell the groom.”

“When exactly are you going to have the service?” Matt asked.

Charlie stared at Oriana. “The day after tomorrow.”

“That is only two days,” all of his sisters, who had gathered to hear the news, and Oriana said at the same time.

“I thought you wanted to have all of our tenants attend?” she said.

“I do.” Yet there was no reason to wait any longer.

“We cannot possibly prepare in time,” Grace said.

He was not changing his mind. “We can and we will. The kitchens here and at Rose Hill can start preparing tomorrow. Everyone else will be given a task.” He looked at all of them. “It is not like having a fête day. We will only need to provide food and drink. The inns in Stanford town and Liliford can provide the ale and cider. We can ask the bakers in both places for cakes and biscuits, make up lists of what we require, and someone will be assigned to complete the task.”

His beloved looked up at him. “This is madness.”

It probably was mad. But he was done with all the indecision. “What is mad is me waiting to have you for my wife and you waiting to have me for your husband. I want this finished.” He stepped into the corridor and found a footman. “Please tell Royston and Penny that I have decided the wedding will be in two days. I would like a menu sent to Miss Ognon by late tomorrow morning. Plan to have the local gentry dining on the terrace and in the gardens and food for the dependents from both estates set up on the grounds where they used to be. When the message is sent to Rose Hill, make sure that Lady Prue is notified.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“I hope they don’t kill the messenger,” Kenilworth said.

“It’s not that bad.” Charlie shrugged. “We’re not dining here tomorrow. Rose Hill will have an even easier time.”

There was a roar loud enough to reach them from the lower level. His brother-in-law raised one dark brow. “I wonder what that was.”

Charlie glanced at the door. “No doubt we will discover it eventually.”

The footman came dashing back, smiling. “My lord, it shall be done. A note has been sent to Rose Hill.”

“Thank you.” Good. He was finally going to get his way about this wedding. The dithering had gone on long enough.

Charlotte and Oriana wandered out to the corridor. Oriana had a resigned expression on her lovely countenance. “We had planned to invite our neighbors. My question is, to what are we inviting them?”

“A celebration. We need say no more than that.”

“Very well,” Charlotte said. “We will write the invitations after breakfast. Thankfully, we are in the country, therefore, it will not take long.”

“I will notify Royston that he will need to have at least one running footman available.” Oriana bit her lip. “If we can have a list of items we are procuring from the village and town, the footmen can go by the shops and place the orders.”

“Excellent.” Charlotte nodded. “I will be interested to see what the cook decides to make.” She linked arms with Oriana. “Let us gather our sisters and plan this wedding.”

“It’s not as if they don’t have enough experience,” Kenilworth murmured. “Where will the service be held?”

“In the chapel. I spoke with Vicar Taunton about it. I’ll send him a message giving him the day and time.”

Charlie and his brother-in-law went back into the drawing room. “What of your rector here?”

He grinned. “He was happy not to be needed. He’d already made plans to be away for a couple of weeks.”

“It sounds as if it is all working to your advantage.”

Charlie gave Kenilworth a steady look. “As long as your plan succeeds.”

He smirked. “It will. It will.” And strolled off.

It had damn well better or Charlie was going to create a scandal and everyone else could go hang. He meandered into the drawing room where his family, or rather the female side of his family, were seated in small groups with paper and pencils out, talking and scribbling on whatever piece of paper they could find. He was happy to see that Oriana was with Grace. She was the only one of them who knew all the gentry in the area. He would wager that Lady Prue would be here early tomorrow to lend a hand. She had been up to something, but he had no idea what.

Matt strolled up to Charlie. “Now that you have everyone dancing to your tune, what do you plan to do?”

What he should have done before. “I will coordinate the comings and goings.”

A different footman rushed up to him. “The vicar said to tell you that he will be here to conduct the service at ten in the morning the day after next.”

“Excellent. In the event no one has thought to do it, the chapel must be made ready.”

“Yes, my lord. Mrs. Penny has sent some maids over.”

“Very good. Keep me informed.”

Matt chuckled lightly. “Efficient and effective.” He placed his hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “I always knew you’d make an outstanding earl.”

It had taken an emergency to make him step fully into his roll, but he’d done it. “Thank you.”

The same footman came up to him again. “The Liliford baker has agreed to Cook’s request.”

“Thank you. I think that when it comes to the items we’re ordering from other shopkeepers, I only need to be informed if there is a problem.”

“Yes, my lord. I’ll tell Mr. Royston and Mrs. Penny.” The lad trotted back toward the hall.

“Flowers,” Matt said in an urgent tone.

“Mrs. Penny is in charge of them.”

“For your bride.” He sounded like he was speaking to someone who was not paying attention. Charlie stared at him. “For your bride,” Matt repeated. “And jewels.”

“Damn. They will have to come from the garden.” The only florist in town was a known gossip. “I need to know what color her gown is. I will have my valet ask her dresser. I’ll also have him bring out the family jewels and some others. She should have something of her own.” He glanced at Matt. “What else am I missing?”

His brows puckered together. “Who will give her away?”

“Will you offer to do it?” He was the only gentleman of whom Charlie could think.

“It would be my pleasure.” His brother-in-law smiled. “I’ll go speak to her now.”

The knocker sounded and the door opened. “Good evening, your grace, my lord.”

“Thank you, Royston,” Chandos said. “I believe we can find everyone.”

“Good evening,” Rochford said. “I’ll follow his grace.”

His friends reached Charlie as he was standing in the corridor surveying the drawing room. Rochford came up beside him. “What is going on?”

“We expected to join a game of cards,” Chandos said.

Charlie tried not to smile. “I am getting married in two days and announced it after dinner.”

“You finally set a date.” Rochford grinned. “It looks like everyone has a job. What can we do?”

“Ask m’sister Worthington and Miss Ognon. I am here directing.”

“That reminds me,” Chandos said. “Ognon’s here, telling everyone he’s getting married to his cousin.”

“We know.” Charlie hoped he would be able to see the idiot’s face when he found out Oriana was marrying him. “He’s sitting outside of her house.”

The footman came up again. “Lady Prue said she would break her fast here.”

“As I expected.” He inclined his head. “Thank you.”

“Sir, the Liliford inn can only provide half of the ale we requested, but they can send more cider.”

“Accept the cider and buy the rest of the ale from the Stanwood Arms.”

“We’ll leave you to it,” Chandos said, strolling off with Rochford toward the drawing room.

Now the plan was coming together. He still didn’t know how they’d get there, but in two days Charlie and Oriana would be man and wife.