Chapter Three
The following morning, Julian was finishing a plate of eggs and pickled herrings when Lady Margaret arrived in the breakfast room. He took one look at the large navy-blue diary in her hands and his appetite disappeared.
It was never a good sign when Lady Margaret produced her diary and even less when her face displayed the look it currently did. It meant she wanted to announce something big. Julian didn’t like unexpected announcements.
“I have some good news and some not so good. Firstly, I have been thinking of our conversation from the ball last night and have come up with a plan,” she said.
“And to what particular part of our conversation are you referring?” he replied.
“Why, marriage of course. While the Saunders girl might be dithering about choosing a husband, I decided it was high time that we did something about securing the Newhall line. I have come up with a plan to find you a wife.”
Julian puffed out his cheeks, which resulted in him receiving a swift clip over the ear.
“Don’t be a cheeky thing. You might be Earl Newhall, but that does not mean that I cannot pull you back into line. Your father gave me express permission to beat you if I felt it necessary,” she added.
“As I recall, I was twelve at the time, and even then, I don’t think he was actually serious about it,” replied Julian, rubbing his offended ear.
Lady Margaret took a seat in the chair next to his and gave him one of her warm smiles. He leaned over and gave her a forgiving kiss on the cheek. She meant more to Julian than his mother ever could.
“Tell me your plans, dearest Maggie. I am eager to hear them,” he said.
She opened the diary and Julian caught sight of several pages of detailed lists and notes. His heart sank further. Lady Margaret had been busy.
“A week-long party in the country. Lots of lovely young unwed ladies, with their chaperones in tow. At the end of which, you will fall hopelessly in love with one of them and we shall have ourselves a new countess. What do you think?” she said with a smile.
Julian’s brain had frozen as soon as it had registered the word party. The thought of having a house full of guests filled him with dread. Meeting with diplomats in palaces and embassies was one thing, but actually having guests sleeping under his roof was less than ideal.
“I have just had a whole month of dealing with the Prussians over the issue of trade with France; I don’t think I could stand a house full of people,” he replied.
Lady Margaret waved away his protest and turned the page of the diary. Julian saw that she had already drawn up a long list of guests for the event.
He shuddered. “Are we really going to invite all those people? It does seem a lot.”
“Trust me, I know what I am doing. You need a good selection of young ladies from which to choose. Your father has been gone for over two years, and he would no doubt be telling me off if I didn’t prod you into doing something about getting married. You are twenty-eight years’ old, and you need an heir,” she replied.
He gently placed his hand over hers. It still seemed at times like only yesterday that he had received word of his father’s untimely death. A short illness which had taken him, a fit and healthy man, within a matter of days.
“Yes, as usual, you are right. But don’t you think it is getting a little late in the year for a house party? Those things are best held in summer. Perhaps we could wait until next year,” he said.
Lady Margaret patted the top of Julian’s hand. “You need to marry. Besides, any girl who does not want to come to Derbyshire at this time of the year would not make a sensible countess. Your wife has to be able to endure the chill of a country winter. If any young woman on my list does not own a heavy wool coat and a pair of strong leather boots, then I shall strike her name off. We will find you someone practical. Pretty, but with an intelligent mind. In time, you may even fall in love.”
Julian screwed up his face. There was no use attempting to dissuade Lady Margaret from her plans. Once she had an idea in motion, there was only one outcome. He would have to go through with the house party. With thirty earls of Newhall having gone before him, he had the bloodline to consider and to continue.
“Alright, I shall have a house party. But can we agree to keep it to a small and manageable number? I don’t want to find myself having to fight off a horde of unwed ladies and their marriage-minded mamas,” he replied.
Lady Margaret chortled. “Say that three times fast. Marriage-minded mamas. Marriage-minded, oh never mind. We shall find you a lovely girl, and you shall both be happy.”
Julian ignored the last remark. The lords of Newhall and happy marriages did not go together. His parents had been an outstanding example of a terrible, and ultimately failed, union.
“Well then, now that we have that settled, could you please tell me the good news?” said Julian.
The smile disappeared from Lady Margaret’s face. She closed her diary and set it down on the breakfast table. “That was the good news. The bad news is that his highness the Count of Lienz arrived in London last week. And he brought his wife with him.”
Julian gritted his teeth. His mother was in England.
