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Chapter 2
When the evening meal was through, and everyone was completely filled from the seven-course meal that Fitz had asked Cook to prepare for the special occasion, Lady Douglas took the children to bed. Cook, even though an older woman in her forties, was always happy to appease her master and didn’t speak ill of the large, sudden task at hand.
All the servants seemed to be in higher spirits with the young family filling the halls with the sound of youthful laughter. Lord Douglas and his family were the only ones that ever paid Fitz a visit. Sometimes Marian’s sister, Natale, would pay him a small visit, but those were few and far between. He wasn’t even sure about Marian’s only living relative anymore yet gave little concern for the thought.
With the night in full swing, Fitz sat with Michael in his study as they enjoyed their evening port. Fitz had a true smile on his face as he looked over the lists the three boys had made about fun things they’d enjoy doing during their stay.
“How long are you planning to stay before continuing west to Bath?” Fitz asked before taking a small sip of his port. He drank very little and usually only with Michael when he visited.
“A few days, at least. I want my wife to rest fully before we travel by carriage once more,” Lord Douglas explained.
“Then it seems we shall go fishing tomorrow, followed by a walk through the woods that little Madison thinks is haunted,” Fitz said with a chuckle. Lord Douglas raised his eyebrows as Fitz handed over the youngest boy’s paper. As the father read his son’s note, he couldn’t help laughing boisterously, causing Fitz to join him.
“I have no idea why he’d think of the woods of Chatham are haunted,” Lord Douglas said once his mirth had subsided. “The imagination of young children.” Fitz took the note back. He was excited to treat the three young boys, for it had been some time since he’d been fishing. Always Lord Douglas brought his family in the fall or winter months, but during the spring months, they had many more options to plan fun outings.
“You have always been good with children,” Lord Douglas spoke up. “The excitement I see on your face as you talk to my boys and the way you are now, planning these outings. You could truly out beat me as a doting father.” Fitz gave his friend a pleasant smile as he set the notes aside. He couldn’t disagree with his friend, but he also didn’t want to agree. That would require him to remarry, and that was something he hadn’t thought about since the funeral.
“They are good boys,” Fitz offered, thinking that it was simply his duty as a humble host to show his guests a pleasant time. “There will come a day, sooner than expected, when the boys will be old enough to begin their studies. They should have a memorable childhood.”
“It is more than that, Fitz,” Lord Douglas said in a pleading voice. “I know you are not keen on this subject, but in order to have children of your own, you must consider remarrying.”
Fitz fixed his eyes on his friend, trying not to say or do anything to put him off. He didn’t want to anger Michael or upset him in any way. He was his only friend, and he didn’t want to lose him, too. But he also couldn’t agree with Michael. Though he’d longed for a large family with plenty of children to raise, that dream had vanished along with Marian.
“Though I can at least agree to the idea of having children and becoming a father, the thought of returning to Town to attend a Season is what keeps me rooted at home,” Fitz confessed. He disliked Town because it was often overbearing and unrealistic.
At least in the country, he didn’t have to worry about what other people thought about him or deal with any rumours circulating about him. Far away from Town, he didn’t have to worry about high society and all of their social functions.
“Then do things the traditional way. Agree to an arranged marriage if only to produce an heir and keep the Mavis family line alive. Then, you’ll have someone to be the Duke of Chatham when you pass away. It will be someone you’ve raised and taught, and not just some random Earl who’s persuaded the King to choose to your successor,” Lord Douglas suggested.
“Come now, Michael. Surely, you’d like the dukedom for yourself to pass on to one of your sons. After all, you can only have one heir,” Fitz said with a smirk.
“That is my only fear as the father of three boys and an earl. That one day they’ll fight over my title,” Lord Douglas said with a sigh. “I wish they could stay small forever and I shall become immortal.” It was Fitz’s turn to laugh boisterously, thinking that only a truly loving father would say such a thing.
“Well then. Let’s hope that if I do ever remarry that I shall produce three daughters so that our two families might become joined and no one shall need to fight for anything,” Fitz said once his laughter had died down once more.
“I agree that it would surely do the trick,” Lord Douglas said. “But seriously, Fitz. You could have an arranged marriage with a young lady of decent birth and connections. Someone pleasant enough not to cause you any more trouble than she’s worth. And when you have a carriage full of your own children, it shall all become worth it to you in the end if only to have the joy you have with my boys in your daily life.”
“And to whom do you suppose I should write to make such an arrangement?” Fitz asked, thinking that this plan would be of no use to him. It almost seemed as terrible as the idea of going to Town for a Season.
“Write to the lords in your own area,” Lord Douglas said with a shrug of his shoulders. “You have a decent neighbourhood with at least a dozen worthy families. Write to those you are already familiar with, who are close by, and enquire of which lords have eligible daughters. Be plain and frank, that you seek a wife to carry on your lineage. No one would dare say anything against that borne responsibility.”
Fitz thought about Michael’s words for a moment. It was a feasible and logical plan. It was an idea that had been used time and time again to secure strong family lines. And though it would probably appear strange that he was writing to these lords after very little communication over the last few years, perhaps they would overlook that little fact for the prospect of marrying their daughter to a very wealthy duke.
“My position in society makes me a very eligible gentleman. I doubt this task would be very difficult from my position. It depends on the number of eligible young ladies in the area,” Fitz spoke, trying to see this as a matter of business instead of a personal matter.
Perhaps if he kept to this line of thinking then he might be able to produce an heir without becoming emotional attached to the woman. He couldn’t risk another heartbreak if something were to happen to his second wife.
“That is the correct way to look at it,” Lord Douglas said with a nod. “Any father would be eager to have you as a son-in-law. You shall either have every lord in the area knocking on your door, or, you’ll discover for yourself if there is a lack of eligible young ladies in this area.”
Fitz could only nod as he looked back down at the notes the young boys had written. He was still eager to spend the following day with them, doing things that used to bring him so much joy. He liked the idea of having children of his own to one day spend days like that with.
He’d teach them all sorts of things, from fishing to how to ride a horse. Fitz very much liked the idea of this, even though he almost loathed the idea of marrying and having to bed a woman he could not love.Perhaps it was all for the better that I never fall in love again, Fitz thought as he settled on his decision.
“When you leave for Bath, I will construct these letters to the lord I know of in the neighbourhood. I shall then write to you if I have any success in the matter,” Fitz announced. Lord Douglas smiled brightly as he picked up his glass of port and held it in the air.
“To the future Duchess of Chatham and all the children you shall one day have,” Lord Douglas toasted as he leaned his head back and downed his drink. Not wanting to be rude, Fitz took a sip from his own glass. Even with the decision made, he did not feel excited about it like he did about spending the day fishing with the young boys. He didn’t want to dread the idea either, not wanting to become a disrespectful husband. He understood that couples were married all the time through arranged marriages and lived decent lives. He understood that love wasn’t always present in some marriages. But having experienced a deep connection with Marian, he knew of the possibilities. Now he needed to come to terms with his sense of duty over his heart’s wants to finally be healed.
“Since I want you to succeed, Fitz, I advise you to write to all lords in the area regardless of rank. Though it would be most acceptable to marry a young lady in close rank as yourself, I think that rank is not as important as finding a suitable young lady to be your bride,” Lord Douglas spoke up.
