Page 61 of Wedding the Widow

“I most certainly did, Robert.” Papa glared at her. “Perhaps she was having a little joke with you.”

“I am sorry, Lord Robert, I do understand; however”—she attempted a concerned countenance—“I wanted to make absolutely certain you were prepared for life with small children. They are well behaved, but they are, nevertheless, children. Sometimes noisy children.” If the man was going to take them, by God, she’d make sure he knew exactly what bargain he was getting in exchange for whatever dowry her father must have offered to entice this man to marry her.

Lord Robert leaned back in his chair, his cravat seeming to relax about his throat. “You are very conscientious, Mrs. Easton. I commend your sense of fairness to assure yourself of my understanding of the situation with your children. Put your conscience at ease, my dear. I have weighed the prospects and believe, almost to a certainty, that I shall be able to manage quite tolerably.”

“Indeed.” How lovely to know she and her children could be tolerated.

“Yes, I believe I will be able to work despite the din for the short time before the boy is sent to school. Your father informed me that your son will be at Winchester shortly. Quite a good school. I went to Eton after a series of tutors, then finished at Oxford, where I met your father. I assume your boy will end up there as well. That is satisfactory.”

“If he goes”—Elizabeth glared at her father—“he will come home for holidays. I’d want him to bring his school chums home as well.” She turned her attention to Lord Robert, who sat transfixed, a spoonful of liver soufflé poised before his mouth.

“Holidays?” The soufflé quivered.

“Of course, Colin could come to us for his holidays, couldn’t he, Wentworth?” Her mother broke in smoothly. “Elizabeth and Kate could come as well.” Solution found, her mother beamed about expectantly, a bright smile on her lips. “No need for Lord Robert to be disturbed at all.”

Lord Robert’s shoulders relaxed, and the soufflé continued into his mouth. “That is a splendid idea, Lady Wentworth, if it will not disoblige you too much. Then the girl would only need a governess to keep her occupied until her come-out; then she would be married and out of the house as well.”

Opening her mouth to disabuse him of these plans for Kate, Elizabeth got not a word in before her mother hastily rose. “Come, Elizabeth, I am certain your father and Lord Robert have much to discuss over port. I will ring for tea, and we can settle the details of the wedding while we wait for them.” She grasped Elizabeth’s arm with fingers of steel and urged her from the room.

They made it to the family parlor before Elizabeth exploded. “What are you doing, Mama?” She jerked her arm free and sailed across the room to stand rubbing her it before the fireplace. She’d likely have a bruise there tomorrow where Mama’s fingers had gripped her so intently.

“Trying to keep you and this family from ruin.” Mama’s gaze cut her to the quick. “You have presented us with an impossible situation, Elizabeth. Bella’s betrothal, while announced, could still be broken if a scandal of sufficient intensity should taint the family and come to the ears of Lord Haxton. Then there is Dotty to think of, poor thing, who is to come out this Season, if you and your by-blow do not make her unmarriageable.” Mama pulled the bell, flounced over to the chaise, and lowered herself onto it.

“I did not do this on purpose, Mama. I am perfectly willing to marry Jemmy if you will kindly produce him. He also wishes to marry me. It is the man you angered a lifetime ago who has locked Jemmy up and is forcing him to marry someone else,” Elizabeth shot back, overwhelmed again at the monumental contrariness of life. “You married the man you loved. Why am I not allowed to do the same?” Her chest hurt abominably from unshed tears. “I do not want to marry Lord Robert.”

“You may not have another choice, Elizabeth.” Mama smiled and nodded as the door opened, her signal always to stop speaking when servants were present. “Tea, please, Tawes.”

“Very good, my lady.” The butler withdrew.

Mama’s smile fled. “You chose to dance, my dear, and I am sorry to say, you are going to have to pay the piper a hefty sum.”

Tears spilled down Elizabeth’s cheeks. How could she marry someone, anyone, who was not Jemmy? “I could go into the country until the child was born. We could place it with someone, somewhere. Anywhere it would be cared for and loved.”

Rising from her seat, Mama pulled Elizabeth into her arms. “You know that would not be possible. People would find out, Elizabeth. They always do. Then you would be ruined just the same.”

“They will know anyway. No one is going to believe that I have married Lord Robert because I love him. Nor will anyone with a grain of sense believe I was overcome with a fit of passion for him and bedded him before we were wed. No one will believe this is Lord Robert’s child.” Not one single person would believe the lie. Why, then, tie her forever to a man she did not love?

They paused a moment while a footman set up the tea things and left.

“The ton may not believe, but they will accept and forgive because you have done the correct thing. They will not penalize you or your sisters for your folly.” Mama sat her down on the chaise and handed her a handkerchief. “You must try to make the best of the situation you can. Lord Robert does not seem a bad man. Your father speaks very highly of him. And likely he will not mind you traveling to London next year, after the child is born, to spend time with your family. You will miss Bella’s wedding, of course, but it would not do for you to attend and flaunt your condition. Best to remain in the country for some time after the birth. Allow people time to forget exactly when you married. Then they will just say, ‘Oh, it was born in the early autumn,’ and no one will count inconveniently.” Calmly, Mama poured and handed Elizabeth a cup.

“But what am I to do in the country, Mama? Do you think there is some village near him in whose life I might take part?” Miserable, Elizabeth sipped her tea and almost choked. Hastily, she put the cup down.

“I am sure there will be some way to fill your time while you are there. The children can occupy much of it, especially with a new baby. When Colin goes to school, it may be harder.” Sighing, Mama tasted her tea, added a lump, and moved on. “You will have Kate and an infant to care for. I am sure as long as they don’t disturb Lord Robert, he will let you keep them with you. As you say, there may be village events—bazaars, charities, that sort of thing—to occupy you.” Doubt clouded Mama’s face. She had never been one to take an interest in the home village at Worth. She’d always persuaded Papa to take them to Brighton after the Season.

As Elizabeth thought about it, they had not spent three summers together at Worth in all her life.

“And of course, Lord Robert will let you come to us whenever you wish.”

Elizabeth tore at the handkerchief, wishing to rip something apart, anything at all. All her sorrow and frustration would disappear if she could tear a hole in time and go back to last summer. She would do so much differently.

“Dry your eyes, my dear. Your betrothed will be in shortly, and you may not look the eager bride, but you will look pleasant and cordial to him. He is doing us a great favor. We will be forever in his debt.” Handing her a fresh handkerchief, Mama patted her hands before serenely pouring more tea.

Elizabeth blotted her face, hoping it didn’t look too hideous. She wouldn’t want to turn her betrothed to stone.

The door opened almost immediately, and Elizabeth straightened up, the semblance of a pleasant smile plastered on her face.

Deep in conversation with her father, Lord Robert seemed not to notice. He walked absently toward the sofa and sat beside her. “But the translation should have read, ‘We thank you greatly,’ not ‘We thank your Greatness.’ Totally different meaning all together, don’t you know?”