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21
The Earl of Keegain discretely closed the doors to his study. “Well, then, Sir John, what is it you wanted to speak to me about?” He asked, though it would be rather incredible if he did not know the answer to that question already.
“I doubt it will come as a surprise to you, my lord,” John began, ignoring Lord Keegain’s gestured invitation to have a seat. “For I believe I have made my feelings toward your sister, Lady Charlotte, abundantly clear. However, just in case I have not, let me tell you now quite plainly that I am hopelessly in love with her and wish to marry her, if I may gain your permission and approval.” Sir John spoke in a rush, wringing his hands in nervousness.
“Indeed, I assumed that was your intention when you asked to speak with me privately. Unless I am very much mistaken, I believe my sister returns your regard. I have no immediate objection to such a union,” Lord Keegain replied, with a smile.
“I wish to be forthcoming,” Sir John said. Indeed, he wished it more than anything, and could only hope that his partial honesty would be enough. “I want you to know, I do not intend to deceive you. There are several matters which I must disclose before you may fairly grant your consent.”
“I appreciate a forthright attitude,” Lord Keegain said carefully. He lifted a decanter of brandy, offering Sir John a drink, but he declined with a wave of his hand. Sir John’s nerves were such that he did not think he could swallow a sip. He would probably choke on it.
Keegain put the decanter aside foregoing the drink himself. “Go ahead and tell me what is on your mind.”
Sir John drew in a long steadying breath. “Firstly, I understand that several months ago you apprehended a number of French spies.”
Keegain gave Sir John a searching look. “Indeed, I did. They seemed to be part of a larger conspiracy, and one of the culprits escaped, but what bearing can that have on my decision to give my permission for Charlotte’s marriage?”
John’s thoughts flashed to his visitor earlier in the week. Henri Toussaint was certainly someone that Keegain should know about, but John was unwilling to tell him just now. Such a confession would probably squash any chance of a marriage with Charlotte, when in fact, he did not even know if the man was actually his relative. Relation or no, he fervently hoped that Toussaint would never darken his doorway again. He shoved all thought of the little man from his mind. It was of no account. John took a deep breath. It was imperative that he make a good impression with the earl. He needed him to agree to this proposal. He had never felt so desperate, still there were some facts that must be revealed.
“I understand that while we are at war with France feelings are necessarily high against them,” Sir John said. “I have for many years made a practice of concealing from my friends and acquaintances that I, myself, am of partial French descent. I am not ashamed of my mother’s heritage,” he said quickly, “but I have experienced distrust enough times at the hands of my peers that I have found it to be much simpler to keep that information to myself.”
“I see,” Keegain said. “Does Charlotte know of your parentage?”
“Yes. I have disclosed this matter to your sister, and she did not instantly spurn me on account of my ancestry, but…”
Sir John braced himself for a rejection. Even though he believed Lady Charlotte loved him, he knew he needed Keegain’s approval. “I would understand if you yourself had a different estimation,” He finished, sucking in a breath and holding it. If he was to gain Charlotte’s inheritance, he needed Keegain to agree to the match. He was aware of how much Keegain’s answer meant to his financial security, but there was something else even more at stake. He would be devastated if he could not have Lady Charlotte as his wife, not just for her inheritance, but for herself.
The thought stunned him. John found that he could no longer imagine his life without Lady Charlotte. He needed her smile and her laughter in his life. When he had held her sister’s child in his arms, he could picture just such a child as his own; a child with Charlotte’s boisterous spirit and riotous curls.
“I would think much less of my sister if she had reversed her good opinion of you for such a reason,” Lord Keegain declared firmly. “Indeed, I am trying very hard just now not to be offended that you think that I might object to your suit on account of it.”
Sir John blinked unused to such candor and open-mindedness. “Then, I apologize, my lord,” he said.
“Accepted.” Keegain said seriously. “Your father was a most upstanding English gentleman from everything I have been made to understand, and I have no doubt that your mother is a fine woman in her own right. I have no objections to a marriage between you and my sister as long as Charlotte is willing, and of course, you have no dealings with that blackguard Napoleon.” Keegain paused a moment and then continued. “I suppose it has been rather difficult for you; prejudices rising as they have, but I assure you, sir, that is not the way we conduct ourselves in this family.”
Sir John felt a great weight fall from his shoulders. Keegain had approved his suit. He only had to convince Lady Charlotte. The lady would be his. He was sure of it. The sudden joy in his heart had nothing to do with the financial security that the marriage would bring, in fact it was nearly forgotten in his rush of emotion.
“I… I am very glad to hear it,” Sir John managed. Twice now he had confessed his deepest secret, and he twice had not been faced with immediate rejection and disgust. Rather, the Keenings had accepted him without prejudice. He was stunned.
“I shall not tell you how to live your life,” Lord Keegain said, in a gentler tone. “It certainly isn’t my place, but I must wonder if this veil of secrecy is really so necessary as you believe. You have a good reputation around Town. You are well-liked by everyone I have spoken to, and after you began to show interest in my sister, I must say, I spoke to a goodly number.”
“I would expect no less, my lord.”
“Do you really think your friends would revile you for something you have so little control over? Or rather,” Keegain considered softly, “if they do, can you truly count them amongst your friends?”
“Perhaps, you are right. Indeed, I am questioning the wisdom of the situation now; simply because of the way you and Lady Charlotte have reacted. It was not so in my youth, but perhaps, what was necessary as a schoolboy to avoid harsh treatment is not so vital now,” John said thoughtfully. It was a very alien notion.
“Consider it; that is all,” Lord Keegain said, shaking hands with the man. He saw the matter resolved, but John could not end the conversation just yet.
“Was there another matter you wished to discuss?” Keegain asked, when he hesitated.
“Yes,” Sir John attempted to reply without squirming uncomfortably. Lord Keegain’s acceptance of him despite his French mother made his guilt about the wager and its deception only that much stronger. “It is connected, I suppose, to my first confession. My father’s family, as you know, is a very old and established one here in England, but we never had a large estate, and the Ashbrooke financial resources were much diminished, by the time my father came of age. It was my mother’s inheritance that kept our family for many years. Now, with the war, the remainder of her property in France has been seized. I cannot say when, or even if, it will be returned to me. I am not quite penniless, but I cannot claim that I will be entering into marriage with the amount of resources that I would prefer.”
“That is unfortunate,” Lord Keegain agreed sympathetically.
“It would have been far wiser, of course, to liquidate the French property and convert it to English assets years ago,” Sir John said with a sigh. “But my father, like many, did not think things would become so dire so quickly.”
Keegain nodded. “There were many who escaped with little more than what they could carry.”
