Chapter 9

AFTER ANGUS LEFT, THE chatter began almost immediately.

William turned to face his young companion. “Pleased to meet you. My name is William.”

“Ben,” the lad said, his lips pursing together. “Benjamin, that is.”

“Ah! Isn’t it a wonderful time to be alive!” called a man from William’s side. The newcomer was dressed in cream and gold and instantly reminded William of his brother’s garish living-room décor. It was an obvious display of wealth and a massive contrast to the dark muted colours that Benjamin wore. However, if one were to take a second glance, it would be clear that the newcomer was peacocking – his clothes might have looked fancy, but the quality of the fabric paled in comparison to that of Benjamin’s.

“Imagine! Our pick of the girls!” the peacocker said as he fell comfortably into the seat beside Benjamin.

William took an instant disliking to the man. Before he could say anything, however, Benjamin’s face contorted as he mumbled, “They are hardly cattle at the market. ”

“What’s that, man? Speak up! I can barely hear you!”

Benjamin seemed to shrink into himself. The boy had seemed quite confident when he’d invited William to sit with him, but faced with this loud personality, he appeared to have withdrawn back into his shell.

“Sorry, chaps! Where are my manners. My name is Wilfred – Wil for short. We’re only supposed to use our first names here, you know. For anonymity, so I’m told. But, as a fifth son, I’m well used to that!” he said, slapping William hard on the back and causing him to choke on his sip of whisky.

“William,” William managed through coughs.

“Another Wil! Well, maybe we should both go by our full names, then. Wouldn’t want the little ladies to get confused, eh?” Wilfred said with a snort, causing William’s skin to crawl.

Wilfred looked expectantly at Benjamin, who refused to meet his eyes.

“And what kind of woman are you after, William?” Wilfred asked. “Will you be looking for brains, beauty or bursting purse strings?”

William gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.

Unperturbed by his icy reception, Wilfred continued, “I, for one, will be looking for the lady with the biggest dowry. I’m not remotely bothered by her level of intellect, so long as she’s not a total blithering idiot. I wouldn’t mind a comely one,” he said, jabbing William in the ribs. “Though they’re the ones likely to have been tainted more than once, if you get my meaning.”

William couldn’t contain the growl that left his lips. Wilfred froze at the sound, his face blanching.

“If you value your life, sir, then I suggest you find other like-minded companions to expel that excrement to.” William was not a violent man in general. However, in that very moment, he had the most vivid recollection of his brother calling their mother a whore. William didn’t trust himself not to beat Wilfred to within an inch of his life should another derogatory word cross his lips. He had to take deep, steadying breaths to calm himself.

Of course, what had he expected coming to a place like this? Did he think that all the men here would have honourable intentions?

Wilfred’s mouth hung open for a moment as he stared stupidly at the pair. “Apologies for any offence caused,” he said as he stood up. Wilfred offered them the slightest of bows before scuttering off to the largest group of men now huddled around the drinks cart, laughing loudly. They immediately accepted Wilfred into the conversation. Wilfred clearly made a quip about William and Benjamin, for the entire group flicked their eyes towards them before erupting into laughter at something Wilfred said.

William made a mental note not to befriend any of the group.

“Well,” Benjamin said, “it’s nice to know that we’re not all here solely for financial gain.”

William felt a lump form in his throat. If only the young lad knew just how wrong he was.

After a moment of silence, Benjamin asked, “If you don’t think it incredibly rude, do you mind me asking why it is you have requested Aunt áine’s help in finding a wife?”

Tactfully, William decided to answer almost honestly. While the main reason had been financial, during his long journey here, William had finally allowed himself to indulge in the fantasy of what it would be like to share his life with a wife. He’d pictured rolling over each morning and watching her as she slept. He could see Martha bustling around her, giggling as the pair picked out what she would be wearing for the day. He saw himself watching her sip tea across the breakfast table, and her hovering over his shoulder as he filled in the account ledgers, correcting him on where he’d made a mistake. He saw their long walks around the grounds, both nodding their heads at the tenant farmers who worked the land. He’d even allowed himself the odd vision of what their wedding night (and the nights to follow) would be like – though only when he’d blown out the candles in the sconces and was sure neither of the footmen were likely to open the little hatch in the carriage to catch him.

“In truth, I’m not sure Aunt áine can offer me what I’m looking for in a woman. But I know with certainty that I can’t find what I’m looking for on my own.” The young man looked quizzically at William, and he clarified, “I mean to say, I am looking for a worldly woman. One that has a mind of her own and isn’t afraid of a partnership, instead of a marriage.” God knew, with the condition of William’s manor, he needed a woman who wasn’t afraid of rolling up her sleeves and mucking in. A woman who spent her time having luncheons and balls and sewing would be useless to William.

“And you think a group of – how did that delightful man put it? – ‘tainted’ women can help you ... how?” Benjamin asked.

“I’m not sure, really,” William said, honestly. “I think my thought process was that if a woman proved herself ... divergent in some ways, then perhaps she would be welcoming to a less traditional role in a marriage. Now I’ve said it out loud, it does sound rather foolish.” While William had met his fair share of loud, strong women in his time, they’d all been bound by their station in life. Of course, some had been strong-willed and unashamed to be. And William had admired them for that. But he doubted any one of them would have been able to help him out of his current plight. He needed a woman who wasn’t afraid of sitting down with the ledgers or swapping silks for linens to help him about the farm. He needed that mythical creature who had been raised as an equal in a man’s world, who knew her way about running a business – and, preferably, would not be ashamed of William when she realised that he couldn’t do those things. He doubted such a woman existed. But if ever there was a place to find his fantasy woman, surely it would be here at the fabled Aunt áine’s.

And what William certainly wouldn’t be mentioning to anyone was the fact that he had no interest in taking a virtuous woman to his bed. Of course, there was nothing wrong with a virtuous woman if that was her prerogative. But William desired a partner who wanted to share his bed, not just out of wifely duty, but because she enjoyed it. He could imagine nothing worse than performing the act with someone who felt like they had to because a ring on their finger and a vow in a church told them they ought to.

In fact, he simply wouldn’t have the stomach to bed a woman who didn’t want it as much as him.

On the occasions William had taken a woman to his bed, he had been neither a bastard nor a man without a title. He’d simply been himself.

Passionate. Empathetic. Lonely .

“I don’t think that’s foolish at all,” Benjamin said, his mouth pulling into a grin.

“And you?” William asked. “Why are you here? You look like the young ladies of the ton would be falling at your feet.”

Benjamin’s smile faltered. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve not gone out in society.”

William eyed the young man over again. He was certainly of the age where he should have a few seasons under his belt.

Benjamin looked around. When he was certain no one was eavesdropping, he whispered, “I’ve not told anyone outside of my family of this, but I guess it doesn’t matter. Benjamin’s not my real name, and I’ve hidden myself away since it happened, so I doubt anyone here would recognise me anyway.”

Damn it , William thought. Why hadn’t he thought of changing his name? Not that he had an outstanding reputation to tarnish to begin with.

The young man’s words finally settled on William. Why had he felt the need to hide himself away?

“You don’t have to tell me your secret,” William said. “But it’s safe with me if you choose to.”

Benjamin – or whatever his name was – held his breath for a moment. He took a final look around before continuing, “I was involved in a serious accident when I was thirteen. I was kicked by a horse.” His eyes flicked unconsciously to his groin and back to William. “The physician said I’d likely never have children, even if I were able to, er, physically perform after I healed. And when it became apparent that I was capable of, er, a physical performance only once in a blue moon, I, eh, decided not to come out in society at all.” Benjamin’s face fell. He clasped his hands nervously in front of him, twisting his fingers. “I never planned on subjecting a woman to having me as a husband. But my brother passed away a year ago, and there’s just me left to keep the family name going. I thought that, maybe, Aunt áine could help me find a woman who could overlook my, er, shortfalls. I know I wouldn’t be able to, em, satisfy her as often as a husband ought to. But even if she were to seek her pleasures elsewhere, I wouldn’t mind. As long as she is kind, I would afford her all the other ways a husband should love his wife. And, should we be blessed with children, whether mine or not, it would give me unsurmountable pleasure to have a family.”

William had been so engrossed in what Benjamin had to say, he hadn’t noticed that Wilfred had drifted back and was leaning in to hear their conversation. Benjamin yip ed when he finally saw Wilfred, and William felt anger like he’d never felt before festering inside him.

Wilfred scurried off towards a smaller group of men by the fire and quickly joined in their conversation, a satisfied grin on his face.

Wilfred’s eyes met William’s. With all the might he could muster, William conveyed with a single look that Wilfred would not repeat the young man’s story if he valued his life. Wilfred blanched and shook his head when a man wrapped his arm around his shoulder and muttered something into his ear. Satisfied that Wilfred wouldn’t gossip about Benjamin, for now at least, William settled back into his chair.

Benjamin sunk back into his seat, deflated. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag. I bet you not one woman will even look at me now.”

“I wouldn’t worry about him.” An odd sensation washed over William. Aside from his servants and the memory of his mother, he had never felt protectiveness over another soul like he had for Benjamin, despite only having known him for such a short time. William wanted to tell the young man that there were many, many other things he could do to please a woman but thought he might leave it at least until the subject was brought up again. The look on the young lad’s reddened face told William that it might be a while indeed before he was ready to talk about that again.

The pair settled into casual talk about nothing and everything. William had never had as meaningful a conversation about nothingness before, and he felt a firm friendship solidify before the hour was out. Benjamin also said to call him Ben, which William thought was strange, given the fact that Benjamin wasn’t his real name to begin with.

Over the course of the hour, William grew to dislike most of the surrounding men. Only a handful seemed uncomfortable with the lewd talk about dowries and bedroom experience. Another duo of men had sequestered themselves from the main groups. William eyed the pair over. One was tall, wisp-thin, and clearly a bag of nerves, throwing the occasional glance over his narrow shoulder to ensure none of the main group looked his way. The other man was his companion’s opposite in every way.

Though seated, William gauged the second man’s stature to be around the six-foot mark. His limbs and chest bulged like William’s, but it was clear it had not been achieved by working the land. His clothes, while crisp and clean, were nowhere near the quality of the other men, William’s attire notwithstanding, though he clearly held himself with no less regard than the gentry surrounding him. He had chestnut hair with the merest speckling of grey, which matched the dark grey of his irises. Danger radiated off him in waves as his eyes scanned the crowd, his expressionless face assessing them as if he could see into their very souls. His grey eyes settled on William and the slightest knowing smirk crossed his face as he tipped his head in acknowledgement. Then he did the damndest thing. He pulled a purple flower from his pocket and twirled it in his fingers, all the while glaring at William.

William had no idea who the man could be, but he decided that no good could come from befriending him. Without so much as a tip of his head, William turned back to Benjamin and ignored the menacing man.

As a bell chimed its seventh ring from somewhere deep in the manor, Angus returned. To William’s surprise, five of the men, including the god-awful Wilfred, wordlessly stood up and crossed the room. Wilfred threw William and Ben a malevolent grin as he swooped out of the room, Angus closing the doors behind him.

“That was strange,” said Benjamin, his sentiments being echoed around the room.

“Indeed,” William agreed.

No more than ten minutes later, the doors opened once more. To William’s utter surprise, Angus glided in, flanked by the men who had left with him earlier. The men now wore matching black velvet jackets, and each carried a handful of letters. Wilfred’s eyes met William’s and Benjamin’s, and he threw them another smile.

What in God’s name was going on?

“Good evenin’ again, gentlemen!” Angus boomed. “And what an evenin’ it has been!” He gestured at the black-clad men behind him who spilt out into the room, passing out envelopes. Wilfred made a beeline for William and Benjamin, excitedly shoving two sealed letters with their names on them into their hands.

“What’s going on?” William asked, his distaste for Wilfred masked by his curiosity. There was something different about him that went beyond just his change in clothes. William could have sworn that Wilfred had a permanent scowl etched into his face, as if the smell of dung clung to the air around him. But that look was completely gone – instead replaced with excitement and, strangely, an odd look of pride .

“You’ll find out in just a minute,” Wilfred whispered back to him, flashing a bright smile to the pair before glancing about the room.

“What is this for?” Benjamin asked, turning the letter about in his hand.

Wilfred tapped his nose. “Just a minute more, lads, and you’ll find out!”

As if on cue, a hush fell over the crowd, each man either looking confusedly at the others or at the letter in their hands.

“As ye have probably guessed by now, not all of ye were what they seemed,” Angus boomed, gesturing at Wilfred and the other men who had disappeared and changed their clothes. “I want to make myself abundantly clear. Aunt áine’s is nae a place for just any man to waltz into to find a wee wifey.” William suddenly noticed a petite woman dressed in burgundy now standing beside Angus, though he had no idea where she’d materialised from. “Ah, there she is! Ma beautiful wife, áine,” Angus said, his features softening as he looked down in total and utter adoration at the small woman at his side. A smile crept across his face as he took a step backwards to allow his wife the floor.

William had half expected Aunt áine to be a wizened old crone, and while she was perhaps in her fifth decade, she looked like the spring of youth was still firmly in her step.

“Thank you, mo chroí ,” she said to Angus, the faint wisps of an Irish lilt to her voice. “Gentlemen,” she said to the room. “Thank you for expressing an interest in joining us here at our home. As you know, we are primarily a matchmaking service with a ... let’s just call it a twist. You have each been invited here based on the merits of the letter you wrote to me.”

William cringed internally. While he couldn’t remember the contents of his letter, no less writing the damned thing, he still couldn’t imagine how his drunken ramblings had been enough to get him here.

Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, William realised what was happening .

Damn it!

Wilfred worked here! His job had been to ferret out those among the newcomers who weren’t worthy enough to stay. Of course, it had all been a ruse to see if William and Benjamin should be awarded a place here. And William had ruined it. Not just for himself but for poor Benjamin. William’s stomach hollowed as his eyes flicked between his letter and Benjamin’s. He would never forgive himself if the young lad’s letter told him he had to immediately leave. Before William could cruise his wave of guilt any further, Aunt áine’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.

“Of course, it is very easy to falsify one’s intentions when jotting them down on paper, and this evening was a chance for us to ferret out those with less than honourable intentions. Many of the ladies that reside here have gone through hardships, and it is not our intention to be burdening them with more. To that end, most of you will be leaving us tonight. Those that stay will be shown to their rooms and will be introduced to the other male residents at dinner.” Aunt áine stared at the group for a minute before waving her hand and saying, “Well, get on with it, then. We haven’t got all night. Open them!”

Tentatively, William turned over the letter in his hand and broke the seal.

Heart hammering, he unfolded the piece of paper and saw a single word etched upon the page: Stay .

He turned to face Benjamin, who held his letter out for William to read. Relief crashed over him as he saw the identical looped writing telling Benjamin that he could remain at Gaol Lodge.

“Sorry, fellas,” Wilfred whispered from behind them. “I didn’t mean any of what I said.”

William was about to apologise for the way he’d reacted – though it was duly warranted, ruse or not – when someone from the crowd bellowed, “You can’t do this to me!”

Wilfred turned on his heel and ran into the crowd before William could even find the source of the commotion.

“Do you know who I am? Any of your whores would be lucky to lick my boot, let alone marry me!”

A man broke from the crowd and marched up to Aunt áine, the black-clad servants too caught among the bodies to reach him in time.

William half expected Angus to push his wife aside and protect her, but he stood still, an eager grin on his face.

Aunt áine didn’t move a muscle as the irate man came to a stop in front of her, his fists clenched and knuckles white. William made a move towards Aunt áine, but she was faster. Viper-like, the moment the man’s hand twitched, she struck, her fist connecting with his nose. The room stilled as the man fell flat onto his back with a muffled thud .

Angus placed a congratulatory shovel-like hand on his wife’s shoulder and said proudly to the room, “She’s a braw fighter, no?”

Without so much as a whisper, the rest of the men, barring a few, left the room, the unconscious form being dragged out unceremoniously behind them.

Only four men remained.

William gritted his teeth together to see that standing beside the wisp-like man was the broad form of the chestnut-haired man who had nodded at William earlier. William refused to meet the dangerous man’s eyes and prayed to God that his room would be far, far away from him.

Aunt áine let her eyes fall on each of the four remaining men. “Gentlemen, follow me.”