Chapter One
Geoffrey, Earl of Harrington, first son and heir to Marquis of Markham, set out from his rooms. He was excited that his task to find a wife was finally finished.
Today was the day he would ask for Lady Charlotte Carpenter’s hand in marriage. He had written to her guardian and brother-in-law, Lord Worthington, requesting the appointment. Soon he would wed the most sought after lady on the marriage mart and begin his journey to the Continent where he would take up his position on Sir Charles Stuart’s staff.
He rounded the corner into Berkeley Square. There were a damn lot of people out at this hour of the morning. He entered the Park and shock halted him. It looked like some sort of catastrophe in the making. Lady Charlotte’s family’s two Great Danes were with several footmen.
A rough-looking man was being led away, and Lady Charlotte stood with her hands on her hips, her face flushed, saying something to the Marquis of Kenilworth. The last gentleman Geoff wished to see. The man had been a thorn in his side since he’d returned to Town. Still, he was certain Kenilworth had not yet requested to marry her.
But what the devil could be going on at this time of the morning?
“I’m coming with you. She won’t trust a man by himself,” Lady Charlotte proclaimed.
Geoff’s attention was drawn to a weeping female servant. The two youngest girls, Charlotte’s sisters, were trying to comfort the woman. Lord Merton, Worthington’s cousin, had joined the fray.
“Charlotte, you cannot,” Lord Merton said, glancing from her to Kenilworth. The man shrugged as if to say he did not care and was not going to become involved. “Worthington will not allow it.”
It took a few seconds more for Geoff to understand exactly what Worthington, Charlotte’s brother-in-law and guardian, would not allow. Then he saw that Kenilworth had his carriage a short distance away. Hell and damnation! There was no way Geoff would allow her to go off with that licentious bounder!
“I completely agree.” Geoff strode forward to add his voice to the side of reason. “Lady Charlotte, you may not accompany Lord Kenilworth. I forbid it.”
“You. You have no business telling me what to do.” Her voice shook with growing anger. “Nothing will keep me from going. If need be—”
Geoff had never seen her in such a taking. He was about to attempt to calm her when her brother-in-law appeared.
“Go where?” Worthington asked as he reached them. Lady Worthington was beside him but almost running to keep up.
“Miss Betsy abducted another young woman.” Charlotte narrowed her eyes at Geoff before she turned her back on him. “Kenilworth is going to the inn where they are taking her. I am going with him.”
“Kenilworth?” her brother asked.
“I’ll keep her safe,” the man said.
“I object.” Geoff started after Charlotte as she moved away toward Stanwood House.
Kenilworth grabbed Geoff’s shoulder. “You have no business disagreeing. It is her guardian’s decision to make and he has done so.”
He jerked out of the other man’s grasp. “I see what’s going on,” he said to Worthington. “You are encouraging Kenilworth’s suit over mine.”
Worthington turned and stared at Geoff as if he was mad. “This man”—Worthington pointed at Kenilworth—“has actually asked to marry my sister, which is more than I can say for you. I suggest you leave, before you are forced to do so.”
This could not be happening. Geoff couldn’t believe what he was hearing or seeing. Lady Charlotte, the woman he had decided was his perfect wife, was driving off with that bounder Kenilworth. And not only had her guardian refused to stop her, he was aiding and abetting Kenilworth.
Snapping his mouth shut, Geoff wrenched his gaze from the carriage. All his planning, all the time and effort he had put into courting Lady Charlotte . . . all for naught. What the devil was he supposed to do?
Drat it all! He needed a wife and soon. Still, there must be a chance that all was not lost. There must be a way to get her back. “My lord—”
“If you’d wanted to marry Lady Charlotte”—the Earl of Worthington cut Geoff off as he began striding away, as if there was nothing further to discuss—“you should not have disappeared in the middle of the Season.”
He had notdisappeared. He had specifically informed Lady Charlotte that he must attend his father. “But I wrote you expressly stating that I wished to speak with you about Lady Charlotte,” Geoff said, following Worthington out of the square. That, after all, was what was properly expected from a gentleman wishing to marry a lady.
Worthington halted and turned so quickly, Geoff almost ran into the man. “Be that as it may, I fully expect my sister to wed Kenilworth.” They had reached the front door and Worthington stood aside as Lady Merton was issuing orders to a footman placing a trunk on her coach. He pressed his lips together before saying, “Accept the facts as they are and focus on finding another lady.”
Geoff’s breath rushed out as if he’d been punched in the stomach. That was untenable. How the devil was he to find a wife of whom his father would approve and wed her in the short period of time he had?
His mouth opened but nothing came out. Finally he croaked, “This late in the Season? That will be almost impossible.”
“You should have thought of that before you left Town.” Worthington inclined his head. “I suggest you get started. Lady Holland’s ball is this evening. The eligible ladies still here should be present.”
