Her Secondhand Groom (5 page)

Pursing her lips, she almost shoved to her feet, bent on finding the key so she could open that door and tell that insufferable man what she thought of him and his “suggestion”; but instead of shoving to her feet like she so desperately wanted, she stayed anchored where she was, paralyzed, and entranced at the mention of her name. “Are you sure you wish to marry Juliet?” Mother asked, her tone full of what sounded like disbelief.

“
She’s the one who went to school, isn’t she?” Lord Drakely countered.

“
Well, yes,” Father acknowledged.

“
Then we understand each other.” Lord Drakely sighed. “I know you two hoped she’d have a Season, and I have no doubt she’d have her pick of the gentleman if she were to go; but surely what I’m offering is the best arrangement for your daughter. She’ll still be close enough for you to see her regularly. She’ll also be guaranteed the title of viscountess―which, as you probably know, should she go to London, she may or may not marry a titled gentleman. And don’t forget, all the debt will be wiped away, so you won’t have to impose on your new son-in-law to pay it.”

“
And just how will this benefit you?” Mother asked. She’d never been one for subtlety before, why start now?

“
Well, she’s been to school so she’s been trained in what to expect being married to someone of my position.”

Juliet cringed at the casual tone in which he spoke those words. Or perhaps it was their meaning. It was hard to know.

“
All right, then,” Father said. “As her guardian, I give my consent. Where do I need to sign?”

Lord Drakely chuckled and Juliet seethed. That was it? Nobody was going to ask her opinion?

“
The idea just came to me last night,” Lord Drakely began nonchalantly. “In my haste to discuss this with you first, I haven’t had time yet to arrange contracts and such. I was actually hoping for a wedding at the end of the week. Would that be a problem?”

Yes!
That would be a problem indeed, Juliet inwardly screamed as she jumped up and ran to the little board in the kitchen where a handful of keys hung from a couple of nails. She was not going to marry a man she didn’t even know. And worse, it looked like this grand event would be taking place sooner rather than later.

Grabbing all five keys that hung on the wall, Juliet stalked back across the kitchen. She didn’t know which key it was and didn’t want to waste another minute by coming back to the kitchen to grab another option. She would try them each one at a time if that’s what it took. The occupants of that room weren’t going anywhere. If only she hadn’t been so concerned about which dratted tea cups were suitable for a guest like him, she’d already be in that room.

Rounding the corner to leave the kitchen, she collided with Lord Drakely. “Pardon me,” she gasped as his firm hands landed on her shoulders and kept her from falling to the floor.

“
It’s all right, Miss Hughes,” he said simply. He let go of her and continued walking down the hall without so much as a backward glance at the woman to whom he’d just affianced himself!

With a quick glance at her slightly shocked parents, Juliet chased after her betrothed, chastising herself for even thinking of him in such terms. “Lord Drakely! Lord Drakely!” she called as he climbed up in his carriage.

Poking his head out the open door, he blinked at her. “Yes?”

“
I―I―” she stuttered, trying in vain to think of how to finish the sentence. Several phrases from “I don’t wish to marry you” to “I cannot marry you” to “Who do you think you are to affiance yourself to me without so much as a by-your-leave” ran through her mind. Finally, she decided on, “I think we need to talk about something.”

“
We do?” He blinked his brown eyes owlishly at her.

“
Yes,” she said through clenched teeth. His first wife might have passed away some time ago, but surely he remembered
something
about women from the time she was alive. “Don’t you want to ask me… I mean―that is―I…uh…I overheard you talking to my parents in there and…”

“
Oh,” he said as if he’d just solved a complex mathematical equation. “You heard about the wedding, then?”

“
Yes,” she acknowledged.

“
Well, you can relax. You’ll be able to enjoy yourself that day without the worry of supervising my girls again. I’m planning to bring Mrs. Jenkins with me to attend them.”

Juliet stared at him unblinkingly. What was he talking about? There was no way she, the bride, could supervise his children that day. Why would he even mention such a thing?

“
I must be off,” he called. “I’ll see you in six days hence. Give my best to Juliet.”

Juliet? Give his best to Juliet?
Was the man cracked or did he just not… Laughter overtook her. He thought Henrietta was Juliet!

Well, she thought, turning back to the cottage, two could play at that game. She bent her head to hide her grin as she walked past her mother. If he thought he was going to get away with something as underhanded as betrothing himself to her―or her sister, in his mind―without so much as a word in passing, he deserved the little surprise he would find come their wedding day. Not that she expected him to go through with the service, she didn’t. He’d call it off once he raised her veil, but the look of shock on his arrogant face would be well worth the embarrassment she’d face.

Chapter 4

Patrick could hardly contain his excitement as he rode back to Briar Creek. Before he’d left his estate that morning, he hadn’t told the girls where he was going or that they might have a new mother―and governess―by the end of the week. He knew it was a slim possibility Ian Hughes would turn his offer down, but remote as it might be, he didn’t dare risk the girls’ feelings.

As soon as the carriage jolted to a stop, Patrick swung open the door and jumped down to go in search of his daughters. He finally found them out by the stables getting ready for their riding lessons. It would seem they’d developed quite an interest in equines since their week at Marcus’ a few months ago. That alone shocked Patrick more than anything he’d ever witnessed. That man
hated
horses, and for good reason, too.

“
You girls about ready to mount?” he asked, walking up behind them.

Celia nodded vigorously. “Yes. And Harry said I get to go first.” Her words spoken as proudly as if she were declaring she’d just won a war.

Patrick grinned at her. She may be a girl, but there was no denying she’d been spending too much time with Cook’s two sons. A mother would be very good for her, indeed. He’d have to ask Juliet to work with them on being more ladylike. It wouldn’t do for Celia―or any of them―to continue to puff her chest out as she spoke when she got older. That could result in all sorts of situations he’d rather avoid.

Clearing his throat, he stepped closer to her. “Allow me to help you.” He grabbed her about the waist and hoisted her up into the saddle. “Settled?”

Grabbing for the reins, Celia grinned. “I’m ready to ride.”

Reluctantly, Patrick handed the reins to his daughter. “Be safe and do exactly as Harry says.”

“
Yes, Papa.”

Patrick waited for her to ride off before turning back to Helena and Kate. “Can I interest either of you in a secret?”

“
A secret?” Helena shrieked. “Always.”

He chuckled. “I thought you might be interested. How about you, Kate?”

Kate just stared at him with her big hazel eyes in a way that would have made him feel bad if not for the good news he was concealing. She was still disappointed she’d had to leave the Hughes’ home yesterday without a promise of return, but he also knew he had just the words to make her look at him as if he were the bravest hero in the world.

Locating the nearest mounting box, Patrick sat down and pulled Kate and Helena down to his lap. Settling one on each of his knees, he grinned at one, then the other. “All right, since only Helena’s interested in my secret, I’m only going to tell her.” He winked at Kate before turning to whisper his news in Helena’s ear.

Helena’s response caught him off guard as she bounced off his lap and started jumping around, while shrieking something he couldn’t understand.

Turning back to Kate who just blinked at her older sister, he said, “Are you the slightest bit curious now?”

She turned her eyes back to his and looked at him with an expression only a five year-old could make. “I suppose,” she said in the most insincere disinterested tone he’d ever heard.

“
Hmm. That’s not quite the response I was hoping for. I expected more of a reaction from you. Perhaps I ought to just keep my secret to myself.”

Crossing her arms, she blinked up at him.

“
I need a wee bit more excitement, Kate,” he teased even though it was obvious she was trying her hardest not to crack even the smallest hint of a smile. “You must really be angry with me.”

She nodded and glanced at her squealing sister.

He gave the most exaggerated sigh he could muster. “Well, I’m torn. On one hand, I could just keep my secret to myself until you’re no longer angry with me; or I could try to charm my way back into your good graces by letting it slip. Helena,” he called out, grabbing the attention of his other daughter. “What do you think I should do?”

Helena glanced at her younger sister. “Keep the secret.”

Patrick shook his head. “And here I thought I was raising loving little girls,” he muttered. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, since I cannot teach sisterly love, perhaps one Miss Juliet Hughes, soon-to-be Lady Drakely, can.”

Kate and Helena blinked at him, both silent.

Right. Yet again he was speaking with words beyond their understanding. “I’m marrying Miss Juliet Hughes on Saturday.”

Immediately, the squealing, shrieking, screaming, and giggling commenced again, this time Kate joining in the celebration. Patrick spotted Celia on the old brown nag she was riding. He’d tell her his news when they were alone. Being the oldest, at nearly ten, she was the only one who actually remembered her mother, which meant she would probably be the only one not happy about the new arrangement. He swallowed. If only things had been different.

“
Papa,” Helena called, bringing him to present.

“
Yes?”

“
Will she like us?”

Patrick blinked at his little girls. Not five seconds ago they were jumping up and down with excitement, and now Helena looked like she was about to swoon. “Of course she’ll like you,” he assured her uneasily. At least he hoped she would. He shook his head. She’d like them. She had her own brood of younger siblings whom she seemed to like, poor manners and all. His girls were no different.

Helena nodded, her eyes still uncertain. “What will we call her?”

“
What do you want to call her?”

Both Kate and Helena stared blankly at him.

“
What would you be comfortable calling her?” he rephrased.

Before they could answer, Celia rode up and cleared her throat.

Patrick looked at her, and she gave a pointed look to the mounting block he was sitting on. Tentatively, he stood up, casting her a questioning look as he did so. “Uh…you do realize even with me not sitting on that, you’re still not going to be able to get down without some help?"

“
I know,” she said airily. “But even if you have to help me down, Harry says it’s good practice to use the mounting box.”

Patrick stared at her, dumbfounded, then chastised himself for even thinking of rolling his eyes at Harry who was reaching up to take Celia by the waist. He lifted her off, then set her on the mounting box.

“
That was absolutely ridiculous,” Patrick mumbled under his breath.

“
I heard that,” Celia said while her sisters giggled. Shaking out her skirt in the most unladylike manner possible, Celia looked over at her sisters. “Was there a snake?”

“
A snake?” Helena asked.

Celia shrugged. “I heard the two of you screaming like banshees, as Lord Sinclair would say, and I thought there was a critter of some sort.”