Emily Hendrickson (26 page)

Behind them, the knocker sounded again, and the gruff voice of the vicar could be heard in conversation with Sidthorp.

“Funerals are such sad occasions,” Aunt Bel remarked. “You must prepare for the expenses. There will be the sums for the mourners in the village. Will the late earl be buried here, or is Lord Leighton removing his body to Crompton Vale in the north?”

“David had not decided when I last spoke with him.” Elizabeth debated a few moments, then seated her aunt on one of the armchairs, while seating herself at the desk. “There is something decidedly odd in all of this.”

Her aunt looked up in surprise. She had been surveying the stack of paper on the desk, absently glancing at the list of people to be notified.

“Do you think it singular that David had the black-bordered paper to hand this morning? He had the list of names all drawn up for me as well.”

“I doubt that anything unusual is going on,” her aunt replied thoughtfully. “It may be that he suspected that his father would not live long and anticipated the need.”

“Aunt Bel, it takes time to get that paper, although I know most stationery shops carry such all the time. Yet I do not recall a recent trip to the village, or any servant being sent off on such an errand.”

“But then, you are not privy to everything his lordship does, are you?” her aunt reminded.

“True,” Elizabeth admitted. Of course Aunt Bel was right. Elizabeth was being foolish about the entire matter. Pushing her feeling of unease aside—for after all, why would David behave in such a bizarre manner when
he
had not murdered his father?—she set to work on the remainder of the letters.

To say that dinner was subdued was to say that a funeral is a jolly occasion. Lord Augustus mumbled morosely all through the meal. Egbert, oddly enough, had great patience with his father, rather than arguing as was his wont.

Jeremy Vane sat quietly at his place, watching the others with that strange look on his face that Elizabeth had observed earlier. No one else seemed to question his behavior, so she said nothing, deciding that David had enough on his plate without her silly observations.

When Elizabeth and her aunt elected to go upstairs to their rooms in the north wing, the men left the table, each for their own unstated destination.

At the top of the stairs. Lady Montmercy paused, catching sight of Filpot.

“My good man, we would like to pay our respects. Would you please show us to his late lordship’s room?”

The valet looked stunned, and hemmed and hawed without giving her an answer. Finally he replied, “I cannot do that, ma’am, until I ‘ave a talk with Lord Leighton.”

Aunt Bel sniffed and marched down the corridor to her room with her nose tilted in the air.

A thoughtful Elizabeth followed her.

“I believe I shall take to my bed at once. This has been a shocking day,” Aunt Bel announced in aggrieved tones.

Purvis waited for her inside the bedroom, which was immediately next to Elizabeth’s room. Across the bed lay three black gowns.

“Ah, Elizabeth, I found these in the attic,” Aunt Bel declared, perking up when she saw the work to be done, which she intended to supervise. “They are relatively recent, for I had them made only last year. One never knows when one will require mourning. Hold them up to her, Purvis. See which can be made to fit.”

The following hour saw two of the gowns made presentable, and one which could do only after considerable taking in. Elizabeth declined this, suggesting that her Aunt had rather keep the dress for her own use.

Aunt Bel fussed about, urging Elizabeth to take a sleeping potion, for that was what she intended to do. “Sleeping with a dead person in a house is so depressing, you know,” she said with a sigh. “But then, few have my tender sensibilities.”

Elizabeth escaped to her room before she gave way to the ridiculous urge to laugh. Aunt hadn’t meant it to sound as though she actually slept
with
the deceased, but it had sounded frightfully like that. Elizabeth decided she was on the verge of hysteria, and accepted the hot milk from Rose as an aid to sleep.

Tomorrow would be another hectic day.

But as she drifted off to sleep, she recalled Filpot. Now, she might not like the man in the least, but even taking this into account, she thought his behavior was most peculiar. Her intuition told her that something was distinctly havey-cavey. The problem was to figure out what it might be.

In the morning, Elizabeth rose with a feeling of apprehension hanging over her. A look at the black gown that Rose held out for her to put on brought everything back in force.

David now held the title of Earl of Crompton, with a second title of Viscount Leighton, and head of the Percy family. Such an awesome responsibility for one so young.

And curiously he insisted that she marry him. Elizabeth took comfort that in the six months required for mourning, anything might happen. He might even learn to love her, she thought, as Rose adjusted the black gown of lightweight bombazine. Turning about before the looking glass, Elizabeth could see that the judicious tucks and stitches that Purvis had taken proved rather nice.

While a depressing color, the gown strangely enough flattered Elizabeth to a surprising degree. The bodice was very low in the front and back, but there was a sheer scarf to wear around her neck, so she needn’t feel indecent. The short sleeves were quite full, and a pretty little bow tied in the front, directly below the bodice;

With that comforting thought hugged to her ample bosom, she went down the stairs to the dining room.

The only occupant turned out to be David. Elizabeth paused on the threshold, wondering what she ought to say. He wore the deepest black, and the thought crossed her mind that it was fortunate he possessed the proper clothes. But then, men as dashing and restrained in their dress as he, would be apt to own a black tailcoat and breeches. Black hose and shoes, the black waistcoat, all could be found in his wardrobe, couldn’t they? She suspected they could, yet was she being overly suspicious again because she wondered about it? Foolish, silly, addlepated, that was what she was.

He glanced up from his plate to meet her concerned gaze. “I understand your aunt wished to see my father last evening. Inform her, unless I chance to see her first, that she may see him today if she likes. She flustered Filpot, for he wasn’t prepared for such a request.”

Elizabeth wondered why not. It was a common occasion after a death for friends and relatives to view the deceased. While this was normally confined to the funeral service, it was not that unusual.

She said nothing of her feelings, for they were so absurd as to be outrageous. “I shall, my lord.”

“There is another matter I wish to speak to you about. My father declared he wished that we be married as soon as possible. I have sent off an express to Doctor’s Commons for a special license. When the vicar was here yesterday, he indicated he would respect my father’s wishes. No one will think a thing about our marriage if we do not wait for six months, for we have been betrothed for weeks.”

Elizabeth groped for a chair, then sank down upon it, feeling as though she had stepped into a fantasy world where wishes came true in the most unlikely fashion. What could she say? She had promised only the day before that she would not hand David the mitten. Actually, she had provocation to jilt him, for he certainly had displayed none of the lover-like manners one expected. Perhaps rakes did things differently? She certainly did not know.

“I, er, this is indeed a surprise,” she said shortly.

He relaxed a trifle, she noted. Had he expected her to reject him?

“I suppose your aunt will feel it unseemly, such haste. But since she caused the betrothal in the beginning, it is only fitting she see it through.”

Whatever he meant by those words, Elizabeth had no chance to ask, for Egbert wandered into the room.

“Elizabeth and I have decided to marry immediately, as soon as the special license arrives from London.” David studied his cousin as he made this statement. Elizabeth also watched keenly.

“That makes sense, I suppose. Best fill the nursery as soon as possible.” He walked to the sideboard to select buttered eggs, ham, toast, and coffee.

Elizabeth would have blushed had it not been for his prosaic attitude, as though their action was logical and proper under the circumstances.

The nursery had to be filled. That was the reason for their marriage. And was that not common? No profession of love was required, just a willing body, she thought bitterly. Oh, that her aunt had never moved her to the pink bedchamber on Valentine’s eve. She would not be in this predicament now. Hyacinth would. At that thought, Elizabeth realized she did not like the notion of Hyacinth being married to David in the least.

When her heart was engaged and David was indifferent to her—or whatever he was feeling—marriage became a less than joyous future. But she was not about to let anyone else have the chance.

Then Uncle Augustus entered, corsets creaking. He grumbled a “good morning” to them all, then selected an amazingly hearty meal to begin the day. “Need sustenance, y’know. Dashed hard to get through the day otherwise.”

Before Elizabeth could think of a reply, Jeremy Vane walked in, neatly garbed in black, a superior look on his face that she found revolting under the circumstances.

What had happened to the rabbity, meek, and mild man she had first known when coming here? He had been such a delight. This man was a stranger.

“Good morning, all. Pity the rain must continue. However, it does fit the occasion.” Jeremy strolled to the sideboard to survey the offerings.

“David and Elizabeth are getting married as soon as the special license arrives from London,” Egbert announced somewhat baldly. His words fell into a silence that Jeremy did not immediately break.

He had tensed upon hearing the news. Elizabeth could see his shoulders stiffen as though receiving a blow. Then he relaxed a trifle and assumed a polite mask—for that is what it appeared to her.

“Fine, fine,” he declared slowly with patently false enthusiasm, then compressed his lips a moment before continuing. “Understandable, considering the circumstances. How fortunate for David that he found a willing partner in the wilds of Surrey.”

“We knew each other while in London, you know,” Elizabeth said in excuse of she knew not what. She did not care for Jeremy’s insinuation that David had to snatch at just anyone, or that she was willing to participate in something faintly underhanded, for that is what he made it seem.

“Oh, so you did. How providential for you, David. Things just seem to fall into your lap.” With that snide observation he took his plate with him from the room, along with a large cup of coffee.

Elizabeth surmised that Jeremy found their company not to his liking, and she decided those remaining felt the same about him.

“Dashed loose screw, if you ask me,” Egbert commented.

“No one did, but for once I agree with you,” David replied. He finished his meal, then rose from the table. “There are a few things to discuss, Elizabeth. I shall wait for you in the study.”

She dawdled a bit, wondering what it was he wanted to talk to her about. Perhaps he would tell her what was really going on. No, she dare not hint at anything like that, for he’d think her bud-witted for sure.

Deciding the best way to find out what he wanted was to go to the study, she left the remains of her breakfast behind and walked across the entry hall. As had happened the day before, a rap at the door brought a guest, a stranger this time. Elizabeth paused, curious to see who had come.

“Ah, Sidthorp. I am sorry to learn things have come to this pass, indeed. I need to speak with the new earl at once.”

Elizabeth spoke up then. “I am on my way to him now, sir. I trust you are the solicitor, Mr. Fynes?” He must have immediately surmised the death from the hatchments. He was a pleasantly rotund man, slightly balding, and possessed of a pair of snapping blue eyes.

“I have that pleasure. I need not ask if you are Miss Elizabeth Dancy, for you match the description I was given to a tee.” He gave her a cordial look.

“Come with me.” She wondered what had been said about her, like any vain young creature, then scolded herself for being foolish. She escorted Mr. Fynes to the study.

“David, I am sorry this day had to come so soon.” The solicitor reached out to clasp David’s hand.

“Indeed. I am pleased you could arrive with such speed.” To Elizabeth he said, “Does Jeremy know he has come?”

“I chanced to cross the entry hall when Mr. Fynes arrived. Jeremy had removed himself with his breakfast to the office wing before that. I doubt if he knows aught, unless Sidthorp reveals it, and that is unlikely.”

David exchanged a look with the solicitor. “Now to business. Have you drawn up the marriage settlement? My father particularly wished to see a goodly jointure arranged for Elizabeth. You contacted her family solicitor?”

Mr. Fynes nodded. “By chance he is a friend of mine and was able and willing to reveal such provision for a dowry as has been made for Miss Elizabeth.”

She reeled with shock at the revelations being made, one after another. All this talk of marriage settlement and jointure and arrangements that took a great amount of time to make was almost more than she could absorb.

David’s suggestion that they marry immediately had not been precipitous. Their coming marriage had been carefully planned and for some time. Why?

The amount of her pin money, her future jointure, the arrangement for their first son, was discussed and settled. From time to time David glanced to where she sat, but did not ask her to comment. Indeed, she couldn’t have said a word, so great was her surprise. A woman did not normally take part on these discussions, anyway. Since Elizabeth had no father and her brother was on the continent, Mr. Fynes appeared to act on her behalf.

When they concluded the settlement, they turned to other matters, Jeremy Vane, for one.

“What shall you do about him?” Mr. Fynes inquired.

David glanced at Elizabeth, then said, “One moment. Will you inform Mrs. Sidthorp that Mr. Fynes will remain several nights with us?”