CHAPTER SIX

C HAPTER S IX

O riana was slightly dazed when her set with Lord Stanwood ended. She had never been held the way he held her. She had never spent a dance floating in strong arms that were both respectful and protective. He was very enticing. Unfortunately, she did not have long to consider what it all meant, for a tall well-dressed gentleman was introduced to her as Lord Kenilworth, a brother-in-law of Lord Stanwood and the husband of his sister Charlotte, Lady Kenilworth, and he asked Oriana for a set. She found herself being led out for a country dance. By the end of the evening, she had stood up for every set. And, to the credit of Lord Stanwood’s family, the gentlemen and ladies had danced with as many villagers as there were sets. That resulted in the local men dancing much more than they normally would. There were a few times when she thought one of the young women would swoon from being asked to stand up with a fashionable London gentleman. They were certainly impressive, but there were so many of them, Oriana had trouble remembering their names.

After the assembly, she climbed the stairs with her aunt. “I do not know how anyone can recall all of them.”

“You have forgotten your lessons from your Seasons. Do not think about how many there are. Remember the titles. You already know the peerage.” She started ticking them off on her fingers. “Naturally, there is Lord Stanwood and his sisters. The eldest is Grace, Lady Worthington. Then there are Charlotte, Lady Kenilworth, the twins, Eleanor, Lady Montagu, and Alice, Lady St. Albans. And, of course, their husbands.”

It could not be that easy. “There are more. I know I danced with at least one duke.”

“Indeed. Lord Worthington has a few sisters as well. Louisa, the Duchess of Rothwell, Augusta, Lady Phinn Carter-Woods, Lady Madeline, who married Lady Stern’s eldest son, Harry, and the youngest is Lady Theo. She will make her come out next year.”

“It does seem easier to remember them that way.” Not that she would see them anytime soon. “I am for bed.”

“I forgot to tell you.” Aunt Prue smiled. “We have been invited to dine at Stanwood Place the day after tomorrow. I have been warned that the older children dine with them as well. I expect it will be extremely entertaining.”

More names to remember? Oriana thought she might have a headache. However, there was a more important question. “Why?”

Her aunt raised one brow, as if the answer was obvious. “To come to know each other better. It is important that the major landowners in an area develop ties.”

There had to be some way to get out of this event. “We did not do that before.”

“It was done during Lord Stanwood’s father’s time. Cordelia Stern told me how they managed to coordinate crop sales and start the local schools, among other worthy endeavors.”

“I cannot imagine he would remain here all summer. Surely he will go off on a round of house parties.”

“Not from the conversations I heard.” Aunt Prue shook her head. “Other than spending a few weeks together, the family devotes summers to improving their local areas and spending time with their children.”

“Wait, who was the other duke?” Oriana could swear there were two.

“That would be the Duke of Chandos. A friend of Lord Stanwood’s.” Aunt Prue grinned. “He is much more likely to be the type of gentleman you were used to in Town.”

The type with whom Oriana was not impressed. “Feckless.”

“That is the impression I got.” Aunt Prue tapped one finger on her lips. “Stanwood has another friend. The Earl of Rochford. He seemed to be a steadier sort of gentleman.” She bussed Oriana’s cheek. “Have a good night’s sleep.”

“You as well. Fortunately, these things end early enough to manage several hours in bed.”

Kerby, Oriana’s lady’s maid, was waiting for her when she reached her room. “Did you have a good time?”

“I did. It was much better than I expected.” She turned her back to her maid. “Were you able to see any of it?”

“I crept downstairs and took a peek. The townspeople were thrilled with the visitors from London.” Kerby unfastened Oriana’s new gown. “Are you happy that Lady Prue insisted on a new dress for you?”

Oriana was. Once the Stanwood party arrived, she would have felt shabby in one of her older gowns. “Yes. I hate to admit it, but she usually knows what she is about.”

“Sally Scully seemed taken by the young man she was introduced to.”

“She did.” Sally and Mr. Hammersmith had danced two sets together. “I hope they continue to get along.”

Oriana lifted her arms as her maid dropped her nightgown over her head. She yawned. “Oh my. It has all caught up with me. I am more tired than I thought.”

“I will wish you a good night,” Kerby said as she carried Oriana’s clothing out of the bedchamber.

“You as well. Do not stay up late.”

The door closed as Oriana slipped beneath the sheets and dropped off immediately. Yet she did not dream of accounting books as she usually did but of a handsome man with golden-blond hair and summer-blue eyes who laughed easily, was kind to everyone he met, and held her as she had never been held before. She punched her pillow. She did not want to dream about him. Nothing good could come of it. He was simply another gentleman who would put her at risk by gambling.

* * *

Charlie rode home with Charlotte, Kenilworth, Mary, and Theo, who was beaming with happiness. “How did you enjoy the evening?”

“I do not think I am ready for balls yet,” Mary said. “But now I know what one does there.”

“I loved it,” Theo gushed. “I am so happy that I was able to make my debut at a country event before doing it in Town.” Her dark eyebrows drew down for a moment. “However, I would have liked to have danced with more of the young men present than my brothers-in-law.”

“We were doing our duty, brat,” Kenilworth muttered.

Theo crossed her arms. “I am not a brat.”

“You are when you complain that we made sure to stand up with you instead of leaving you on the side of the dance floor.”

Charlotte smiled. “He has a good point, my dear. It is much better to be able to dance.”

“I suppose so.” Theo heaved a sigh. “Thank you.”

“Didn’t Chandos dance with you?” Kenilworth sounded perplexed.

“Yes. But he is a friend of Charlie’s. It was like having one of my brothers stand up with me.”

Kenilworth raised his brows. “Do not, I beg you, tell him that. He will complain the rest of the time he is visiting.”

“Oh, dear, yes!” Charlotte laughed. “He considers himself quite the catch.”

“Even if he isn’t on the market,” Kenilworth drawled.

Theo frowned. “I suppose I must start considering these things.” Her mien lightened, and she glanced at Charlie. “How did you like Miss Ognon? I think she is very pretty.”

He liked Miss Ognon a great deal. He just wished he’d been able to spend more time with her. “I agree. She is very pretty and nice. However, I must still overcome her first impression of me. I’m afraid it was not good.”

“I have invited her and her aunt to dine with us on Monday,” Charlotte said. “Perhaps you will be able to change her initial opinion.” She glanced at her husband. “I know for a fact that it can be done.”

The coach lights were bright enough for Charlie to see Kenilworth’s eyes dance with mirth. “Stanwood, do tell. What did you do wrong?”

Charlie told him about how he had gambled to win her estate to gift it to her, only to discover she already owned it. “She does not like gamblers. I fear I have a great deal of ground to make up.”

His brother-in-law burst into laughter. “Of all the mad things to happen to you. You gamble less than anyone of my acquaintance. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished.”

“I know what we can do,” Theo piped up. “We can play cards after dinner. She will see that we only play for penny stakes.”

“The way you win, I might insist on using spillikins sticks,” Kenilworth retorted.

“That is not fair. I only won ten pounds the last time.”

“Ten pounds in pennies ,” Kenilworth reminded her.

She speared him with a haughty look. “I do not know why you are complaining. You taught me.”

Charlie couldn’t keep his amusement in any longer and barked a laugh. “She has you there. When I left for the Continent, she barely knew how to play Snip-snap-snorem, and I returned to find her besting everyone in the family at whist.”

“Yes, yes.” Theo fluttered her fingers. “Be that as it may, we need to find a way for Miss Ognon to forgive you, and I think cards would be the best choice.”

“Hmm,” Charlotte mused. “I will consult with Grace, but Theo might be correct. Having a game or two after dinner will give us the opportunity to let drop that gambling is not something you normally do.”

Or do at all , Charlie thought. The one time he’d meant to perform a good deed by gambling, it went wrong. Maybe his family was right, and they could help him out of this mess. He could protest all day long and she wouldn’t believe him. The fact was, the more time he spent around Miss Ognon, the more he liked her. In fact, she was the only lady who had caught his attention. And the way she felt in his arms tonight only furthered his determination to have her.

* * *

Oriana woke on Monday morning refreshed but bothered by her dreams of Lord Stanwood. It had been the second night in a row she had dreamt of him. She would not fall into the same trap her mother had. Any gentleman she wed—she could not believe she was actually considering marriage—could not be a gambler. Oriana rose, performed her ablutions, dressed, went to her study, and had breakfast brought to her. She absolutely must finish the books, and that was the only way she would be able to work without interruption. By eleven she had completed the accounts, called for tea, and started trying to remember all the names of Stanwood’s family. Taking a piece of foolscap, she wrote down the titles, then the names, using her aunt’s methods, and, to her surprise, recalled them all. Even the two single gentlemen. Perhaps this would not be as bad as she thought. After all, no one would expect her to learn the children’s appellations. Although despite what her aunt had said, Oriana did think that Lady Kenilworth had been teasing about the children. One could not even conceive that they would dine anywhere other than the nursery. It boggled the mind.

A knock sounded on the door, and Aunt Prue entered Oriana’s study. “I am going to the village for a while. Would you like to come with me? Perhaps we can discover more about Sally Scully and her beau.”

Oriana pushed back her chair. “He and his family joined her and her father at church yesterday. I am not sure there is more to know.”

Aunt grinned like a little girl. “But we will not know unless we make an effort.”

That was true, and Oriana really did not have anything else pressing. “Give me a moment to fetch my bonnet and gloves.”

“Excellent.” Aunt Prue smiled. “I will call for the carriage. Oh, I almost forgot. When we return, I have a new evening gown for you to try on.”

Oriana narrowed her eyes at her aunt. “How many more gowns did you buy for me?”

Her aunt shrugged. “Not many. A few carriage gowns, a ball gown, some day gowns and evening gowns. Simply because you are not in Town does not mean you should dress like a provincial dowd.”

Something was going on. “You have never bought me clothing before.”

“We have not had the Stanwoods in residence before. I was assured that they plan to entertain this summer.”

Oriana was not going to ask who had informed her aunt of that fact. “Very well. We had better hurry.”

Her curricle was waiting by the time she reached the hall. One of the footwomen assisted her aunt into the carriage as she climbed up on her own. They stopped at the fabric shop first to gather what information they could there.

Mrs. Taunton was speaking with the elder Miss Carrington. Both ladies turned to greet them.

“My lady, I wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed the assembly,” Mrs. Taunton said. “It is the best one we have ever held.”

“Thank you,” Aunt Prue said. “However, we cannot take any credit. It was all the committee.”

“You would not believe who I saw riding to the blacksmith’s early this morning,” Miss Carrington said in the way of an older woman who is the first with new gossip. “That young man Lord Stanwood introduced to Miss Scully.”

Now that was interesting. Oriana pretended to look at some ribbons and other trim as she listened to the conversation.

“What fascinating news, Miss Carrington,” Aunt Prue said, nodding. “That was exactly the type of thing I had hoped to hear.” The older woman appeared confused. “Did you not know that he is also a blacksmith?”

Miss Carrington’s eyes widened. “No one told me. He would make a very good match for Miss Scully.”

“We certainly hope so,” Aunt Prue responded.

“Miss Ognon.” Mrs. Taunton drew Oriana aside. “I wondered if you would be interested in having your groom train two girls in that profession. Mrs. Green has twin daughters who are horse mad and would love to be grooms. You are the only person I can think of who could have them trained.”

“Hmm.” That was a wonderful idea. “Watts has been complaining about not having any help. I do not think he cares if he could teach a boy or a girl. Have them report to the house tomorrow morning.”

“Thank you so much.” Mrs. Taunton smiled broadly. “I had hoped you would agree to take them on.”

This was the main reason Oriana could not marry. She needed to keep her project at Rose Hill going. She could not imagine any gentleman agreeing with her.

She caught her aunt’s eye. It was time to leave. Perhaps they could go by and see how Mr. Hammersmith was working out. Yet when they stepped onto the street, the first person they saw was Lord Stanwood striding from the direction of the blacksmith’s.

“Good afternoon, ladies.” He smiled and bowed.

She curtseyed. “Good day to you. Did you come to see how things are going?”

“I did.” A sparkle entered his blue eyes. “Will is taking instruction quite well.”

“Instruction?” Oriana had not expected that.

“Indeed. It is Miss Scully’s business, and it will remain her business. If they agree to wed, their future children will inherit the shop, but Mr. Hammersmith will not own it or have any right to the income with the exception of what he earns.”

Oriana was tempted to shake her head to ensure she heard him properly. “What he earns?”

“Indeed.” His lordship’s countenance was completely serious. “That is the agreement. Her father wants the business to remain in the Scully family. This type of agreement is not uncommon among merchants and even the aristocracy, where a title can be held by a lady. There is no reason the Scully and Hammersmith families should not be able to do it.”

She knew all of that. In fact, her estate had descended through the female line. What she did not understand, or what she had not understood, was that Lord Stanwood would support such a scheme. “At least he earns a salary. That is more than most women have in a marriage, even if they work in the business.”

“Miss Scully and her father insisted that Will have funds of his own.”

“That makes sense.” Even if he was a younger son, he had his pride. “Did you negotiate the agreement?”

“In a manner of speaking. I helped them work out some of the details. Mr. Harrington, one of the solicitors in Stanwood, will draft the agreement if they decide to wed.”

Perhaps Oriana should look for a younger son. Yet he would have to agree to allow her to keep her property and forego receiving the rents. Despite what his lordship said, she was not at all sure how common that thinking was.

“Oriana.” Her aunt touched her arm. “We must go home. There is much to do before this evening.”

Lord Stanwood inclined his head. “I look forward to seeing you later.”

She was almost dreading it. It had been years since she had been around tonish people, and she had not taken to them when she had been in Town. “I am looking forward to this evening as well.”