Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

T wo months later

The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the grand estate. It had not been a long drive from the train station in Guilford, which was a few hours from London by rail, but Noelle had packed for three weeks, for they no longer had a London home to return to, despite the initial funds that Cooper had provided her.

She requested an amount upfront and the remainder once their business was concluded.

Business.

That would have to be on the forefront of her mind over the next few weeks – and not the man himself.

Noelle stole a glance toward him from the corner of her eye. She had seen him only occasionally since the day he appeared at their London townhouse and announced to her father that he would like to marry her.

Her father had been taken aback, for sure. Still, once Cooper had announced how he had completely fallen for her and was willing to do all it took – most significantly, pay off any debts for his future wife’s family instead of expecting a dowry – her father had quickly agreed.

There had been two more public engagements where they had both appeared, but this would be the first event with only titled guests that he had been welcome to. Lady Burton had been somewhat hesitant, but Hattie had insisted that they both attend and how could they turn away the man who Noelle was going to marry?

The short carriage ride from the train station in Guilford had been silent, her father and Cooper not having much to say to one another. Noelle supposed that her father’s pride had taken a bit of a hit that his daughter was essentially being bought rather than he paying a dowry for her, but he hadn’t left himself with much choice, now, had he?

The carriage door opened now, and a shock of cold wind blasted within. Noelle shivered as she shifted the carriage blanket off her legs. Cooper reached out and took it from her, the back of his hand brushing against hers as he did, the action warming her even though their touch was through her winter gloves, while his hands were bare.

She was reminded of how strikingly handsome he was each time she saw him. As much as she had tried to tell herself to be unaffected by his presence, it wasn't easy when he was so alluring. His mysterious past only added to his attraction.

He stood, first descending the stairs, before reaching up a hand and helping her out. She smiled in thanks, surprised when he held his elbow out for her.

“Fiancée,” he murmured, reminding her that this is where the charade truly began.

They walked up the grand estate's stairs, the gravel crunching beneath their feet. Noelle's heart raced as they approached the imposing double doors flanked by intricate stone statues of mythical creatures. The door swung open before them, revealing a grand foyer adorned with towering evergreen trees, their branches twinkling with lit candles and delicate glass ornaments.

Lord and Lady Burton stood at the entrance, their faces alight with welcoming smiles that faltered slightly when their eyes ran over Cooper.

Noelle's father greeted their hosts warmly while Cooper nodded respectfully. Hattie, a vision in a rich crimson gown, hovered in the background with a curious glint in her eye as she watched Noelle and Cooper.

She wished she could tell Hattie everything, but she remembered one of the stipulations of her contract—that no one would know the truth. Hattie’s sister, Hermione, joined her a moment later, her flushed cheeks matching her dress.

"Welcome to Burton Manor," Lady Burton said, her voice as elegant as her surroundings. "We are delighted to have you join us for our Christmas house party."

A rush of nervous excitement tore through Noelle as she took in the opulent surroundings. The walls were draped with sumptuous fabrics, the air filled with the irresistible scent of evergreen and spiced cider. Servants bustled about, preparing for the evening's festivities, their footsteps muffled by the plush carpets that lined the halls.

This was what it would be like to live in a house where one could afford to keep servants and host lavish parties, although Noelle couldn’t say she found a particular draw to doing so.

She looked beside her, wondering if Cooper was the type of man who would expect to host such gatherings. Likely, if it meant increasing his precious business connections.

Not that it mattered – for she would never actually be his wife.

As they were led through the manor and briefly introduced to some of the other house guests, Noelle couldn't help but notice the whispers that followed in their wake. She caught snatches of conversation from passing guests, their curious and judgmental gazes lingering a moment too long on Cooper.

He didn’t need an introduction – everyone already knew who he was.

She was surprised by her surge of protectiveness towards him, knowing he was out of his element. But she also couldn't deny the thrill that accompanied the realization that they were embarking on this adventure together – that neither of them was alone in this.

“We shall show you to your rooms, and then you must join us for dinner,” Lady Burton said. “Most of the other guests have already arrived.”

She handed them off to a housekeeper who murmured, “Follow me.” Noelle kept her arm fully wrapped around Cooper’s as they ascended the staircase. Her father was first shown to his room. The housekeeper continued down a corridor until she came to a stop. “Yours, my lady,” she said, gesturing to one door before pointing across the hall. “And yours, my—sir.”

“Thank you,” Cooper said warmly despite her error, and Noelle couldn’t help but ask a question that had been weighing on her mind since she had first overheard him talking to his brother.

“Do you truly want to be a part of this world?” she asked, to which he smirked and shook his head.

“Who would ever desire to be noble?” he scoffed. “It is a necessity to use this world, Noelle. Not a desire.”

She hated that she loved how her name sounded on his lips, how he rounded the O, and his voice dropped when he said it – even when he was essentially reminding her of how he was using her .

“Well,” she said, needing to break the tension between them before it could harden. “I shall see you at dinner?”

“Of course,” he said before stepping into his doorway, tilting his head over the oak door to peer at her. “You know where to find me if you need me before then.”

She could still hear his laughter after he shut the door and continued into the room. What disconcerted her was that she could equally feel it, deep in her soul.

Cooper knew exactly what and who he would be encountering when he arrived at this party.

Not the names of each guest but the type of people themselves.

“Why do you not tell me the names of everyone in attendance again to see if you remember them?” Noelle asked as they walked down the staircase together. She didn’t realize he only needed to be told something once to remember it.

“Lord Bingly, Lady Crupley, her daughter Lady Brighton, Lord and Lady Aster, their daughter Lucy, and their son John?—”

“Lord John,” she interjected, holding up a figure. “He is very particular on the ‘Lord’.”

“Of course he would be,” Cooper scoffed. “Very well, Lord John.”

“This is what you are getting yourself into,” she warned, and he nodded.

“Of course. Lord Rochester and his brother, Lord Andrew. Lord Northbridge and his sister, Lady Jennifer. Then our hosts, Lord and Lady Burton, their daughters Hattie and Hermione, and their son, Lord Leopold, who is away on the continent.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t stop running his eyes over her.

Her lips were as red as they had been earlier in the day, and he couldn’t help but wonder if he kissed her again, would the rouge come off, or were her lips naturally that color?

Her gown matched her lips. The bodice was fitted with a high neckline adorned with a lace collar. The sleeves were long, with delicate lace cuffs peeking out near her fingers. The bodice featured intricate embroidery that appeared to be twigs of greenery.

The skirt was full and floor-length, not as volumized as the dresses many of the ladies would be wearing, but from what he had seen, Noelle preferred simpler garments.

“Holly,” she said, following his gaze to the gown’s embroidery, her cheeks reddening again in her most becoming way. “My mother loved Christmas. I try to honor that.”

He wanted to ask so much more, but they were not yet well enough acquainted for him to know if she would be averse to jests about her name. He supposed she might take it to heart if it had been her mother who had loved the holiday.

“There you are!” Lady Hattie said, practically bounding up toward them when they reached the bottom of the staircase. After one relatively suspicious look toward Cooper, she lowered her voice as she looked surreptitiously around her and then leaned in toward Noelle. “Mother insisted I speak with the Rochester twins, and they are both falling all over themselves to try to impress me.”

“I would be too,” Noelle said with a smile for her friend. “Lady Hattie, I am not certain if you have met Mr. Hartwell?”

“You will know my mother, of course, Mr. Hartwell, as she is the one always trying to separate you from your money,” Hattie said, eliciting a chuckle from Cooper. “I hope I am not rude in saying, however, that I was surprised to hear of your quick engagement.”

“It was rather quick, Hattie, I know,” Noelle said, and Cooper felt a moment of guilt that he had asked her to keep this a secret from even her closest friends. But the circle must be kept tight. “I wish I had time to tell you of it before the party, but we were only just becoming acquainted, and you had already left for the country. Mr. Hartwell and I met at your mother’s charity ball.”

“I do recall seeing you dance.”

“It was surprising to both of us how quickly we fell for one another.”

The words rolled off of her tongue, surprising Cooper. He wasn’t aware she would tell the stories so easily, but they had practiced this before.

“Well, I am happy for you, Noelle, of course,” she said with a small smile.

“Thank you, Lady Hattie. That means more to me than you know,” Cooper said sincerely. He wasn’t certain that all would greet him with such a warm welcome, but he knew it would mean a lot to Noelle for one of her closest friends to be accepting.

“Tell me, Hattie,” said Noelle, “is there anyone here you would like to charm? Besides the Rochester twins?”

“Perhaps Lord Northbridge,” Lady Hattie said shyly.

“Lord Northbridge it is, then,” Cooper said enthusiastically, for Lord Northbridge would be an acquaintance of importance. “Nothing like the present.”

They steered around a few guests with polite nods before Noelle led them to the corner, where the man in question was currently chattering.

On their way, he couldn’t notice how more heads began to turn toward them, and the whispers began. Let them. It wasn’t anything new.

They stopped in front of two gentlemen, and when it seemed that Noelle was not inclined to say anything, Cooper decided to start the conversation.

“What brings you here to Burton Manor, Lord Northbridge?” Cooper said before Noelle suddenly began to speak.

“Lord Northbridge and Lord John, might I please introduce my betrothed, Mr. Cooper Hartwell?”

“Ah, yes,” Lord Northbridge said, a slight gleam in his eye as he somewhat ignored Cooper, although that was not unexpected. “I heard that you were engaged.” His eyes flicked up and down over Cooper. “A pity.”

“A pity?” she repeated, and Cooper couldn’t help but step forward. While many noblemen had become used to aligning themselves with people who had acquired their wealth outside land ownership, that didn’t mean they were all pleased about it. Cooper was used to being looked down upon, but that didn’t mean Noelle had to bear the weight of it. He had to be careful to walk the line of demanding respect while not ostracizing himself.

“I believe, Lady Noelle, he means that it is a pity you are no longer available as an eligible young lady.” Cooper looked down his nose at Lord Northbridge, daring him to suggest differently. “Is that not what you were insinuating?”

Lord Northbridge, it seemed, was not one to back down.

“Actually,” he said, stepping toward Cooper until they were nearly toe-to-toe, “that is not what I meant, nor is it up to you to make any assumptions.”

“Why don’t you tell me, then?”

“I meant that it is a pity that Lady Noelle is engaged to a commoner. I could hardly believe that Walters would stoop so low.”

Cooper opened his mouth to respond, but he was surprised when a gentle hand rested on his arm, and Noelle stepped between them.

“Lord Northbridge,” Noelle said, standing tall, her shoulders squared back. “My fiancé was invited here, just as you were. I would ask that you be polite to him and to me. Mr. Hartwell might not have been born into the same set of circumstances as you or I, but the fact that he has made such a great success of himself is sure to be admired, is it not?”

Lord Northbridge clearly wanted to say more, his nostrils flaring as he pressed his lips tightly together.

“Yes, Lady Noelle, you are correct,” he finally managed.

She stood still, waiting, and Cooper had to work hard to prevent his laughter from emerging.

Finally, she won the battle of wills as Lord Northbridge succumbed.

“It is wonderful to meet your acquaintance, Mr. Hartwell,” he muttered through tight lips. “I do hope you enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you, Lord Northbridge,” Cooper said with enthusiasm. “I am sure I shall, with such excellent company.”

“Lady Hattie, we are happy to see Lord Northbridge, are we not?” Noelle said, drawing her friend, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, forward between them as Lord John melted away, apparently finding this confrontation too much to bear.

“As I am you,” Lord Northbridge said, his countenance softening. “Always a pleasure.”

Lady Hattie nodded, but she no longer seemed so inclined to charm Lord Northbridge as she had been previously. Perhaps she hadn’t realized that the man’s true colors did not shine as brightly as she had thought.

“I look forward to seeing you at dinner,” she said, beginning to back away when Lord Northbridge stepped forward and took her elbow.

“We appear to be standing beneath the mistletoe,” he said, looking overhead. Cooper followed his gaze but saw only a bough from one of the Christmas trees their hosts had placed throughout the room.

“I believe you are mistaken, my lord,” he murmured, earning him a curious glance from Lady Hattie.

“We are going to help with the decorations tomorrow,” Hattie murmured. “Perhaps, then, the mistletoe will be placed around the house.”

Which would be up for everyone to find or ignore.

As for Cooper, he knew that it would be something he should try hard to avoid – even if a part of him wanted nothing more than to be trapped beneath it with Noelle.