Chapter 22

Twenty-Two

D roplets clung to the blades of newly greened grass, sparkling in the rare ray of London sunshine. Phil tried to concentrate on anything other than the man walking with her. As soon as the rain stopped, Grandfather requested she take a turn with him alone in the park. His stride was not as steady as it had been last year. He waited until they were near the center of the park to bring up the reason he'd brought her out alone.

"Your aunt led me to believe you had a certain tendre toward the young Viscount Endelton." He paused. Phil was certain she was meant to say something, but found nothing to say. "Neither of you mentioned him this morning, despite his help when Alexandra was injured."

Phil chose her words carefully. "Lord Endelton has been most kind and is very amiable."

"And he brings a blush to your cheeks. Is he who you thought of at breakfast when you claimed there wasn't another man interested in you?"

"It was. But he cannot return my feelings."

"Does not or cannot?"

"I am not sure if he does. But at any rate, he cannot."

"Nevertheless, I am told he speaks with you often."

"He seeks out my company when we are at events together." Phil wouldn't contradict the truths he must have learned from her aunt. "I had hoped he would be a match for Alex. But like mine, her name was scratched off the list."

"List?"

"His cousin, the Duke of Aylton, helped draw up a list of suitable matches. Our names were removed because of our father."

"How did you come to know of such a list?"

"It fell out of a book in the Endelton library."

Grandfather stopped walking and turned to face her. "And you discussed this with this man?"

"Lord Endelton is somewhat like our William was. The subtleties of conversation and expression elude him. When he discovered I'd seen the paper, he asked for my help in choosing a woman who would suit. I know it was ridiculous, but I agreed. Of course it didn't work out."

"He still speaks with you?"

Phil's cheeks were all but on fire now. "He does. Most kindly. But there is nothing to do for it. The duke will never approve of tying father's name with his, even if Father is to inherit your title someday. Father's reputation preceded us. I despair of ever finding a match for Alex."

"Does Alexandra wish to be married?"

"She says not, but she used to." Dreams from before the accident were rarely mentioned now.

"Your sister is very practical. One of the reasons I purchased the townhouse in Bath for her." Grandfather's face was strained.

"It is a tremendous gift. I've often worried about her being stuck in Father's house forever. I didn't want to leave her to his mercy. I also know I can't depend on my future husband's kindness, either. Although I hope to find one who would welcome any of my sisters if necessary. Earlier, you said this would help me too. What is to keep Father from forcing a marriage onto one of us?"

"The law."

Couldn't he see the law wasn't enough to protect them? Threats and demands would weigh heavier. "What good is that? It cannot prevent his retribution if we say no."

"But society can, to an extent."

"Are you speaking of the entail?" Her father's fondest aspiration was to inherit the title of earl and the lands that went with it. Not a difficult thing to manage since he only had to wait upon Grandfather's death.

"With any luck, the Willows will never be in his hands. I have found a closer relative to take over the entailment."

"Where? How?" Phil's mind reeled. She and Alex had searched Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, trying to understand the entail.

"My cousin, the one whose title I inherited, has a grandson."

"In America?"

"The grandson has agreed to a visit. Only with the war we are having with the Americans, he has not been able to come as of yet. Last week, I received news he is coming on the same ship as a delegation to the king."

"Does he know he would inherit the title?" Could an American even be restored to the peerage?

"I have no idea what my cousin has told him. But the grandson is unwed, and if he is a man of principle, as I believe him to be from my cousin's letter…"

"You wish one of us would marry him?" Phil hazarded a guess.

"Although I hope a marriage could result, I will not push any of you toward him beyond making an introduction. For all we know, he is balding and has no teeth."

Phil laughed at the ridiculous idea. "Do you wish me to meet him before accepting a proposal?"

"I wish for you to be happy. I am worried you will not be so with this Mr. Newcomb."

"I could be content." Or she hoped she could be.

"Your mother was content, at least for a while. She found joy in her children. Your aunt was happy. There is a vast difference between content and happy in their circumstances."

"What of Grandmother, was she happy?"

"Neither of us were at first. Ours was a marriage forged by our parents. We had barely met. It took us a while to build a friendship. And for her to help me understand, she had more of a purpose in my life than to provide for the heir and the spare. It wasn't until after your mother married I understood your grandmother was meant to be a good advisor to me. Some days I wish I could relive my life with all the wisdom I have learned in my seventy-six years."

"What would you do differently?"

Grandfather laughed. "I think I would run away to the colonies and join my cousin. The idea of creating a life from nothing is intriguing to me. Would I have the respect of others without a title?"

"I'd respect you."

Grandfather patted her arm. "Your father, like other men, sets a great store in titles. They are only masks for bad men to hide behind. I want to give you a warning. Word has reached my ears your Father has concocted a scheme to marry you off if you don't find a match. The man he has chosen, is not of good character."

Phil didn't point out her grandfather discussed the same over breakfast. To mention the subject twice, the match must weigh heavily on his mind. "I am wise enough not to trust any of my father's choices."

"I wish I could do more to protect you. As you have pointed out, you won't reach your maturity for two years. At my age, I am unlikely to be appointed your guardian."

"Your gift today is more than generous and provides us with a way out of our father's home."

"But what of Georgiana, Jane, and little Rose? I doubt I can live long enough to protect them."

"We will do our best for them."

"I know you will. Which is why I must do my best for you."

"You always have. Aunt told me you are funding much of our Season. And now we all have a safe place to go if we refuse the husbands Father finds for us."

They completed a circuit of the park's perimeter and stopped at a stone bench dried by the sun.

Grandfather sat, leaving room for Phil. "I would like your advice. I've thought of funding Rose's schooling. Something the other four of you were not gifted. Not because I didn't care for you; I didn't feel you should be separated. But since your father relies on your sisters to educate her, I believe the situation could grow untenable."

"We have managed so far. However, Father won't allow us to even give her lines as punishment when she refuses to work. Thus I worry her education is likely to be mediocre at best."

"I will have to think about it more. I don't believe she's reached an age to appreciate the opportunity."

"We don't often appreciate much in our lives until we can look back on them."

"How did you get to be so wise?"

"Alex says it is because I read too much." Phil believed it was because her time in the schoolroom had been cut short by Mother's death. What she wouldn't give to pay attention to the lessons she ignored or for a few more months of schooling.

He checked his pocket watch. "I intend to speak with your sister before I must deal with other matters."

When they returned to the house, the butler handed her a note from Mr. Newcomb. He would not be by, as he was leaving town for four days. Just long enough to go to Gloucestershire and see Father.

Whites was more crowded than Michael liked. Having been informed the duke had not yet arrived, he wandered for several minutes before finding a quiet seat by a window. Michael had yet to talk with Edward, who had been called in by the Admiralty. Deborah was feeling indisposed and was no help either. He stared at the second page of the newspaper, allowing the words to blur before him.

Did he only like Miss Philippa because she was forbidden? When he'd been a child, Mother had often tricked him into eating something by telling him it was only for grownups. Occasionally, the forbidden food was just as he imagined, and the other times, it was as disgusting as tripe. He hadn't imagined their conversations or Miss Philippa's smiles. Neither was his desire to be near her. He hadn't imagined his reactions to her touch either. No, he would like Miss Philippa even if she was being thrust upon him. The only real objection to their relationship Michael could see was Sir Lightwood. If her father wasn't such a liability, would his friends approve?

"Pardon me," a footman interrupted. "The Earl of Whitstone has asked you to join him for tea."

Michael froze. He'd never been introduced to the earl. What was the rule to follow? What would Richard say? The earl out ranked him and was one of the oldest peers.

"Of course." Michael set aside his paper and followed the footman into a private parlor.

The powdered wig on the earl's head reminded Michael of his own grandfather, who had died when Michael was but a lad. The lines crossing the old man's face testified he smiled more than he frowned. "I am Lord Ryeland, the Earl of Whitstone, and I presume the footman was about his business, and you are Lord Endelton, Viscount Endelton?"

"Yes, my lord." Michael felt like a schoolboy again, unable to speak for fear of saying the wrong thing.

"Thank you for coming, Lord Endelton. I could have sought proper introductions, but those take time, and, at my age, time is not something I wish to waste. Do sit, please."

Michael sat in the only other chair at the small table.

Neither man spoke until the servants set out their tea and closed the door.

"I admired your father and your grandfather very much. We didn't always see eye to eye on the votes, but they were logical about their opinions. Your father was especially eloquent. Are you like him?"

"I wish to be." The comparison to his father would never put Michael on the better side. His father understood people and always seemed to know what to say to coax a smile to change a man's negative opinion. Michael seemed to create negative opinions of those around him.

"This is your first year in parliament. Observation is the best. No one expects you to stand out yet. And not all of us can be William Pitt and his son. Amazing orators they were." A sense of reassurance in the earl's tone softened what could have been harsh advice.

"I would have liked to hear them debate. My father spoke of both often."

The older man added an extra drop of cream to his tea. "I wanted to thank you personally for your kindness in rescuing my granddaughter, Miss Lightwood."

"Any gentleman would have done it."

"But not anyone did. And you kept your silence about the mishap. Which is to be commended."

Michael shifted in his chair. The earl seemed to know every detail. "I don't know if my silence helped. This morning I learned there are those who speculate about Miss Lightwood's limb. I do not know the source of the rumor."

The earl frowned. "I knew it would come, eventually. The Season is more than half over, so I guess it is time."

"I hope the gossip is isolated. My source takes a dim view on most things."

They ate in silence for a moment. Unlike most silences, it wasn't uncomfortable.

"I must commend your valet on his fine repair work. Is there any way I can reward him?" asked the earl.

"He was well compensated."

"Good. Good." The older man ate several bites.

The conversation and the food neared their end.

"You impress me, Young Endelton. I believe your father would be proud knowing you succeeded him. How is the hunt for a wife?"

If he had still been eating, Michael would have choked on his food. "The hunt for a wife?"

"Isn't that what you are about this Season?"

"It is my aim to find a suitable partner."

"Have you found someone to suit you?"

"Not one my cousin approves of."

"Your cousin?"

"Duke of Aylton, Sir Richard Thomas Kenworth."

"Ahh." The earl nodded. "There was much gossip around his marriage. Since his father recognized his bye blow as the successor after young Richard, it is hardly surprising."

"My cousin isn't like his father."

"I have heard as much. And the duke doesn't approve of your choice?"

"He worries someone will take advantage of me."

"I assume he was against the aid you rendered my granddaughters."

Michael tugged at his cravat, too warm around his neck. "He was concerned."

"No doubt on my son-in-law's account. I wish it was not so. I still have some influence in my granddaughters' lives. If someone were to offer for them, the marriage settlement would be fair."

Unsure what to say, Michael nodded his head as he reviewed the conversation, sure he hadn't mentioned Philippa. It wasn't possible the man could have guessed his interests. Conversing about politics was much more comfortable than discussing the Earl's granddaughters. "Will you attend the House of Lords while you are in town?"

The earl's full eyebrow raised, but he allowed the change of subject. "I believe I will."

As they finished their tea, they talked over the sealant points of the current legislation. The earl pointed out counterarguments which Michael had dismissed.

When the teapot was empty, the earl stood. "It has been a pleasure meeting you. I hope we have a chance to speak again."

"Thank you." Michael bowed slightly and followed the earl from the private room. The earl crossed the larger parlor with a speed Michael would not expect from someone who spent three-quarters of a century on the earth.

The chair by the window Michael occupied earlier was now filled by men discussing the chocolate trade. Interesting thing, chocolate. He doubted it would ever become as popular as tea. Finding no one else with whom he wished to converse, Michael searched for a book in the library. If only all books about finding love were not fiction.