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“Exactly,” Sir John said. “And after my father’s death, my mother was in no state to deal with such matters.” He shrugged. “She did not wish to speak of it. And I was young.”
“How old were you when your father passed,” Keegain asked gently.
“Thirteen,” Sir John said. “I did not come into my majority until it was already too late to remedy the situation. I was unaware how dire matters had become, or else, I would have attempted to convince my mother that we needed to take action sooner, but…”
Keegain held up a hand, halting further explanation. “My own father also died when I was young. I still seem to second guess myself, asking what he might have done in this situation or that.”
Lord Keegain seemed thoughtful, and Sir John did not disturb him. Presently, he smiled and shook his head. “Again, it seems to be a situation that is beyond your control. It is of no bearing to your suit, really. We shall hope for your sake that Napoleon is roundly defeated and you are able to reclaim your property. Until then, I am sure you know that Charlotte will enter into marriage with a sizable resource of her own.”
“I do know it,” Sir John admitted, heat rising to his face at Lord Keegain’s shrewd scrutiny. His heart beat fast and the words came faster, spilling out of his mouth. “I suppose it is common knowledge. But it is not the reason for my proposal, I assure you. I feel confident that I would be just as… as overcome, I suppose I might say, with affection for Lady Charlotte if she were penniless and nameless.” Sir John’s tone softened. “She has utterly bewitched me. She is most lovely, but it is more than that. She is vibrant and energetic, why even when she was ill she…” He broke off to keep from waxing poetic.
Keegain favored him with a knowing smile. Sir John’s words were the absolute truth, but somehow, he still felt uneasy. If he had not fallen in love with Lady Charlotte, if he were still pursuing her for the sake of her inheritance alone, he would have said very nearly the same things to Lord Keegain. They might not have rung with such perfect sincerity, but the words themselves would have been the same. That knowledge made him miserable, even as Lord Keegain nodded slowly.
“I believe you, Sir John. And I understand the sentiment. Perhaps you have heard that my own beloved wife did not enter into our marriage with the status and fortune that many in society would have expected the wife of an earl to claim? Yet it makes no difference to my heart, and everything else pales in comparison to that.”
“Yes, exactly,” Sir John agreed. “I wish the situation were reversed, that I might better prove my love. If Lady Charlotte were penniless, and I in possession of my full fortune, then none might think my love for her were suspect. The idea of that suspicion shall always gall me.”
“Ah, well, I can tell you with great certainty that if thingswereto be reversed, you would find that many people would instead suspect your bride of being the fortune-hunter. It is far better to put the matter out of your mind altogether and care only for the love between you. That is what is most important.”
“Then am I correct in assuming that youwillgive your blessing to our union, despite all I have told you?” Sir John felt nearly breathless with anticipation of the answer, even though it seemed fairly certain now that Lord Keegain would give his assent.
“Certainly. As long as Charlotte herself has no objection, that is. I am sure you have noticed by now that my sister is quite opinionated. I would never dream of telling her whom she is to marry. She would be like to use me as a target for shooting practice, as she does most anything else that vexes her.” Keegain said jokingly.
“Of course,” Sir John agreed with a laugh, imagining just what Charlotte’s reaction might be if her brother were to order her marriage rather than asking for her approval, or if she were ever to discover his own deception. “I shall ask her directly. It just seemed wiser to ask for your blessing and to disclose these matters to you…beforehand.”
“I appreciate that. I fear Charlotte would be terribly fierce if she thought she had to battle for my permission, after all.”
“That does sound entirely…” Sir John could picture just such a situation with perfect clarity, but words failed him.
“Charlotte?” Keegain supplied.
“Yes. Then if I may, I shall ask to call upon her soon and speak with her privately?”
“I have no doubt that will be agreeable. Now, we really must return to the drawing room before either Charlotte or my mother comes to hunt us down, which they have been known to do. I have found it is best not to vex the Keening ladies,” he whispered conspiratorially extending his hand. “They can be quite formidable.”
Sir John Ashbrooke shook Keegain’s hand firmly and followed his soon-to-be brother out of the study. He decided that his only course of action was to take Lord Henderson’s dubious advice and put the entire matter of the wager out of his mind. No one ever need know of it and it was better off forgotten.
* * *
22
Lady Charlotte felt an unaccountable rush of anticipation when Sir John was announced the next afternoon. Her suspicions had been raised when Sir John and her brother disappeared together for a time on the previous night. Alice, for one, had been certain that such a thing could only be explained by Sir John asking Ruddy for permission to marry Charlotte, but Keegain had been inexorably close-mouthed no matter how Charlotte had coaxed him to reveal the contents of their conversation this morning. She had even risen early to catch her brother alone at breakfast in the hopes of convincing him to tell her the content of the gentlemen’s discussion, but he would not. Indeed, Keegain had claimed such complete ignorance that when Jane joined them at the breakfast table, Jane marveled that he even knew his own name.
Charlotte sniffed. She was quite sure that her brother had recounted the entire conversation to his wife.The two of them shared everything. Perhaps she could goad the information from Jane?
Alice said she did not need to do so. It was entirely obvious. Charlotte refrained from answering her sister with her usual banter, but she felt nearly as certain as Alice. Sir John must have spoken to Keegain about her hand in marriage. Lady Charlotte had been reflecting all morning on the matter, and was determined to accept Sir John’s offer, if and when, he made one. Her groundless but persistent doubts must be an unwanted side effect from the matter with Lord Marley, just as Jane had assured her. Sir John loved her. Charlotte was almost certain. If there was something else, some nameless cloud overshadowing their union, it could not be more important than that love.
Still, by the time Sir John Ashbrooke arrived, Lady Charlotte was a bundle of nerves. Her mother and her two sisters were sewing placidly as if nothing extraordinary was in the offing. Jane was still off on her morning ride with her brother and Charlotte thought she should have gone with them. It would have settled her nerves, but she also did not want to be absent when Sir John arrived. Thus, she was stuck here with her sisters and their needlework.Waiting was abysmal!Such was her distraction that she nearly jumped out of her seat when Sir John Ashbrooke was announced.
“Lady Charlotte,” Sir John greeted her politely, looking as handsome as ever but rather nervous as well. “I hope you are well?”
“Indeed I am, in spite of the merriment and the late hour of last evening. Are you well yourself?” She murmured, rather demurely. Charlotte felt strangely subdued, as though she were somewhere outside of herself, watching this moment from afar.
“I heartily enjoyed every moment. I must confess. Your family is so warm and delightful-”
“And rather loud,” Charlotte interjected.
“I would saylively, myself,” Sir John laughed. “Having grown up as an only child with very little extended relatives to speak of, it was a new and most charming experience for me.”
