Chapter Twenty-One

CeCe nervously pushed at the ruffles on the sleeve of her morning gown and tried to give a reassuring smile. The tension in the green salon could be cut with a knife.

The Baron had been closed off with Eli and Robert for most of the morning. Occasionally, loud yelling could be heard from the closed door, causing all the occupants of the green salon to flinch.

A very subdued Elizabeth sat wringing her handkerchief on the rose brocade Queen Anne chair. She had returned with Robert at some point last night. For all intents and purposes, she was ruined in the eyes of society. Not only were there rumors in town about her gambling, but now that she had been missing and left alone in the presence of an unmarried gentleman, she either needed to marry immediately or disappear from society.

The Baron was in a towering rage when he discovered what Elizabeth had been up to in the country. He was confident the marriage he had arranged would come to naught.

Elizabeth hadn't uttered a single word; her face was colorless, her lips pale, and her eyes a touch glassy. Elizabeth's entire future was to be determined in that very room, and she was not to have one single say in it.

Her mother, Lady Stephens, was still above stairs and in delicate health—or at least she considered herself in delicate health.

The Baroness stirred her now-chilled tea counterclockwise in a soothing rhythm without the intention of ever drinking it. Unknowingly, she was lending a bit of normalcy to the unusual morning.

The door opened, forcing life on the room's occupants. The women's faces all turned to see what the verdict would be.

The Baron, red-faced and sweating, spat out, "It's better than you deserve, girl. I hope he beats you daily for the mischief you've caused this entire family and me."

Elizabeth looked stricken.

Robert sighed. "You are to be my wife."

At his words, Elizabeth's face began to flame with color, but it was quickly squelched. "It is a business arrangement only; I have bought your debts for all intents and purposes. If there comes a time when I feel you have paid them off, we may part ways amicably. But until then, you work for me. We will be wed in name only."

It was the first time during this entire affair that CeCe thought she might see Elizabeth break down into tears. Her face reddened, her chin tightened and quivered. But although her eyes were glassy, no tears fell.

"Yes, sir," she muttered, turning to her uncle, "Thank you, my Lord."

The Baroness couldn't stand this another moment. "When are they to wed?"

"As soon as a special license will allow," Robert responded. "I have things on the estate that need attending."

"Of course," the Baroness replied as if this were something that was discussed every morning in their drawing rooms. "If you gentlemen will excuse us ladies, we have some preparations to make."

CeCe excused herself from Elizabeth and her mother before they went upstairs and slipped out to the stables. She had her favorite mount readied and made for Rotherford Hall from there.

Knowing she was welcome at Rotherford Hall, she was delighted to find Mariah working with her plants.

"You know that you give the gardeners a complex when you come and work behind them," CeCe teased, sinking beside her.

Mariah laughed. "I suppose I do, and truth be told, I probably make a mess of things in the process. But I feel so at one with nature mucking around in the soil. And so, I will continue cultivating my plants if that's what I'm truly doing."

CeCe smiled. "You are too modest, and they thrive under your care. Every time you give something to Mother, it dies, and she goes into depression, thinking, if she can't keep a plant alive, what can she do."

Both women chuckled, thinking of the Baroness's lack of a green thumb.

"The conservatory is lovely at Mangrove Manor," Mariah weakly tried to defend the Baroness.

"That's only because she's forbidden to enter. It irks her terribly! " CeCe added with a grin.

"Eloise is a wonderful woman with many gifts, but patience with plants is not one of them. I'm sure you are not here to discuss horticulture now, my dear. What's brought you to see us today?"

CeCe thought for a moment. She didn't want to betray Robert and tell Mariah about his engagement, which would be his place. But she felt so bad about him making such a sacrifice.

"You do know that Robert came over early this morning?" CeCe began hesitantly.

"I do," Mariah responded kindly.

"You do know who he brought home last night?"

"I do."

"You do know..."

"CeCe," Mariah cut her off, "are you trying to ask if I know that Robert has offered for Elizabeth?"

CeCe let out a huge sigh. "Good heavens, yes!"

Mariah laughed. "Child! If you have a question, just ask."

"I'm not sure if I have a question. I just feel bad that Robert will marry rotten Eliza to save her and the family from ruin. Your family has always been my heroes. But maybe this time we are asking too much?"

"I see." Mariah kept weeding and digging in the earth for several moments, collecting the herbs and her thoughts.

"CeCe, Robert is a grown man. Nobody asked him to go after Elizabeth. Nobody asked him to pay her debts or to marry her to save her reputation. Robert is a very perceptive person. He can often see things in others that we simply cannot see. Maybe because it's not quite developed in Elizabeth yet, or hidden underneath scorn and contempt—of this, I do not know."

"I also do not know what his plan is with her. And I, too, am concerned, very concerned. But one thing I do know is that if my son didn't want this marriage, he wouldn't be doing it, and no power on heaven or earth could make him."

CeCe nodded her head slowly. "You are right, you know. But then you usually are." CeCe gave Mariah a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Run up to the Hall and find Charles," Mariah replied affectionately. "I'm sure he's been missing you something fierce since it's only been about nine hours since he's beheld your face."

CeCe laughed at Mariah's lighthearted teasing and stuck her tongue out at her before dashing toward the house.

"Peanut, what a delightful surprise," Charles embraced CeCe as she rounded the corner near the kitchen. He lowered his head, whispering into her ear, "I feel like it's been forever!"

CeCe giggled, thinking of Mariah's earlier comment. But it was quickly forgotten as his hands slid to the curve of her hip.

His breath was hot on her throat. She felt her heart race and her stomach tighten.

"I've been thinking we need to spend some more time alone," he whispered, the low tone dancing across her skin. He scattered kisses along her jawline, tightening his grasp on her behind and lifting her tighter into him.

Her nipples pebbled, and she felt his hardness against her belly. Moaning softly, she arched up to place a soft, open-mouthed kiss in the space just below his Adam's apple.

Not being able to contain himself, he let out a guttered groan. CeCe was going to be the death of him. Charles scooped her up and headed for his room; it was either that or take her in the hallway in front of the kitchen.