Her Sudden Groom (21 page)

His carriage came to a stop. He descended and told his coachman he’d be back in a few minutes.

“
Afternoon, Marcus,” he called, climbing the stairs to the house.

Marcus was seated in a lounge chair under the covered porch. “Alex,” he said, rubbing his jaw and looking everywhere but in Alex’s’ eyes. “I don’t know how to say this, and I doubt you do, either, so I’m just going to say it. I don’t think Caroline’s going to be good company today.”

Alex stiffened. “What do you mean? What’s happened?”

“
Not what you think. It’s just that Caroline has been crying a lot these past few days.” He paused long enough for Alex take his meaning. “I know you have a sister and mother, so you’ll know to be careful while she’s having her...” He dropped his gaze to the ground and cleared his throat. “I just thought I’d warn you.”

“
Thank you,” Alex said tightly. He really didn’t think it was his business to point out to Marcus that it was neither of their business what was going on with Caroline’s body at present. And yet, it was a good thing Marcus had said something. He’d just make sure to allow her plenty of time to sit and try not to say anything she might find upsetting.

“
You’re welcome,” Marcus stared down at his boots. “By the bye, I’m sending along a chaperone today. She’s as much for your protection as she is for Caroline’s.”

Alex snorted. “I suppose daylight demands a chaperone.”

“
Even darkness demands one; she just doesn’t have one. More’s the pity,” Marcus said with what Alex interpreted as Marcus’ best attempt at a snarl. “She’s inside. Best of luck.”

Alex walked up to the door. “Are you coming?”

“
Hell no.”

Chuckling, Alex walked inside and ignored the butler who was trying to attend him. He found Caroline in the blue salon. “Are you ready?”

“
Yes!” She smiled at him in a way that sent a jolt of lightening straight to his groin.

He offered her his arm and escorted to the carriage, throwing Marcus a triumphant smile as they walked by.

Marcus just shook his head.

Inside the carriage was a slim woman dressed as a maid. Alex stared at her.

“
Alex, this is my maid, Nettie. She’s acting as my chaperone today. Nettie, this is Mr. Banks.”

Alex nodded once to her and she did the same. He was glad she hadn’t attempted a curtsy in the carriage. That would have been awkward for all three of them.

“
Where are we going?” Caroline asked as the carriage traveled down the drive.

He clucked her on the chin. “You’ll see when we get there.”

She scowled. “Oh, I brought my notes for our project.”

“
Pardon?”

Sighing, she grabbed her reticule and dug out a stack of papers. “You know, our campaign.”

“
Of course.” He’d nearly forgotten all about that confounded thing.

“
I know you wanted to call it a campaign, but I think that’s too boring. And I wanted to call it an experiment, but as you said, it’s not. I thought we could both compromise and call it a project. What do you think?”

“
Whatever you want.” He waved his hand dismissively. They could call it the Magna Carta for all he cared. Hopefully after today his “experiment” would be over.

She kicked him with the toe of her slipper. “Would you please pay this some mind? The next meeting is a week from Thursday.”

“
All right,” he agreed testily.

“
Good. Now, why don’t we go over my ideas,” she suggested.

He scrubbed his face with his hands. “I can’t read in the carriage. It makes me sick.”

“
Really?”

“
Really. How about we talk about it later? We’re almost there anyway.”

“
But we just left,” she protested.

He smiled. “I know. We’re not going to Watson Estate today.”

Caroline frantically shoved her papers back into her reticule. “Where are we?”

“
In the carriage.”

She rolled her beautiful blue eyes. “You’re quite the jester today, aren’t you?”

“
I try.” He stretched his legs out and put his arms along the back of the squabs.

Nettie smiled at him and he winked at her.

Ten minutes passed and a big, grey brick house came into view. The main part of the house used to be a castle. It even had the slim windows archers used to stand in to fire their arrows at the intruders.

“
Where are we?” Caroline breathed, staring out the window in awe.

“
Rockhurst. This is where Andrew and Brooke, Lord and Lady Townson, live.”

“
We’re going to see them today?” she squealed, her eyes as big as tea saucers.

He nodded. “Sorry. It couldn’t be helped. But not to fear, there will be others here, too.”

Her fingers tightened on the strap of her reticule as the carriage came to a stop. “Could you take me home, please?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Alex got out of his seat and held the door shut when the coachman tried to open it, telling him to wait a minute. Sinking to his haunches in front of Caroline, he took her hands in his. “What’s wrong?”

“
I can’t meet them,” she said, her eyes blinking rapidly and her hands as cold as ice.

“
Why not?” he demanded softly. “They’re not going to hurt you, I promise.”

She didn’t even crack a smile. “I know that.”

“
Then what’s the problem?” he asked, flummoxed. His family could be a bit much at times, but they were nothing to be afraid of. Well, at one time, one or two of them might have been, but that was mainly rumor.

“
I just can’t meet them,” she said, her voice uneven.

“
But they want to meet you. Brooke insisted I bring you here today. And Uncle John, Aunt Carolina, Liberty, and Paul all came here right after church to see you. Madison and Benjamin have traveled since yesterday to meet you.” When her eyes nearly popped out, Alex realized he’d said too much. “The point is, they’re harmless and they came today because they wanted to meet you.”

“
Alex, you don’t understand. I won’t fit with them. They’re titled and proper. I’m not. I’m a poor relation to an earl who’s been packed off in the country for the past thirteen years. I can’t even do a proper curtsy.” Her lower lip quivered and she broke eye contact. “They’ll know instantly I don’t fit with them and the whole afternoon will be awkward. Please, take me home.”

“
You’re not going home,” he said firmly. “Not until you spend the afternoon with me. Caro, your fears are unwarranted. Those eight adults in there are the most socially unfit lot I’ve ever met. You included.” He snorted. “Only one of them has ever given a hang about their reputation, and to the enormous relief of us all, that is no longer the case. Look at me. You’ll fit in just fine. You won’t be expected to do a curtsy or call anyone ‘my lord’ or ‘Your Grace’. Nobody in that house cares about such things. You could break wind at the table and nobody would care.”

She swatted at his shoulder. “Stop. You’re exaggerating.”

“
No. I’m not.” He brought her hands to his mouth and kissed each knuckle. “Just come in with me. If, after you meet them, you feel out of place, I’ll take you home.”

“
All right,” she agreed.

Before she could change her mind, he swung the door open and jumped down. She took his hand and descended from the carriage, then stood back while he helped Nettie down. “Rather glib, I’d say,” Nettie whispered in his ear as she passed by him.

He smiled at her before offering Caroline his arm.

Stevens, the butler, met them at the door and directed them to the drawing room.

“
Smile, Caro,” he whispered as they walked in.

“
Alex,” Andrew called. “It’s about time you got here. Brooke claims she’s gutfounded.”

Laughter rippled through the room, and Alex grinned.

“
If your pocket watch is broken, I hear the duke knows someone who can fix it,” Paul said, winking at his wife.

He waved them off. “My watch is in working order and if I know Brooke, she’s not gutfounded. She’s probably been snacking on chocolate.” He flashed a smile at Brooke who had her hands spread open to show she hid no chocolate. “Anyway, Brooke will have to wait a moment longer. I’d like to introduce you all to Caroline.” He turned to a rigid, overwhelmed Caroline. “Caro, you remember Andrew, Earl of Townson—” he pointed to Andrew— “next to him is his breeding wife, Brooke. Over by the pianoforte arguing over who gets to hold the baby is Paul, he’s a vicar, and his wife Liberty. She teaches illiterate bastards to read in her spare time.” He paused and waited until the snickers stopped. “Sitting over on the settee is Madison. She’s also expecting a baby this summer. Next to her is her husband, Benjamin. You probably know him best by his ducal title, Gateway.”

“
It’s nice to meet you all,” Caroline said, glancing at all of them tentatively.

“
It’s nice to meet you, too,” Benjamin said. “And just so you know, even though your family connection does not recommend you, we shall all look past that flaw and either love you or hate you for your own personality.”

His wife smacked him in the chest. “Ignore him. What my notoriously tactless and extremely rude husband means to say is, we’ve all had our differences with your cousin, but none of us will hold that against you.”

“
Exactly,” the duke agreed. “She said it much better.”

“
I always do.” Madison flashed him a smile.

“
Well, I for one think your relation to Lady Olivia is a point in your favor,” Paul said, smiling grandly. “If not for her pulling Liberty and Alex through the ice while skating on the Thames last year, I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t have married Liberty.”

Liberty rolled her eyes and Caroline gasped. “You went in, too?” Caroline whispered.

Alex nodded. “It’s not a day I like to recall, but yes. I went in, too. In all fairness to your cousin though, the reason I fell in was because the ice cracked further while I was trying to help Liberty out. Lady Olivia had already been escorted out of the vicinity.”

“
Good gracious,” Caroline muttered. “How did the two of you get out?”

“
Benjamin,” Liberty and Alex said in unison.

“
He graciously pulled us both out,” Liberty continued. “He took me to my home, and since I was unconscious, I’m not really sure what happened to Alex.”

Alex waved a hand. “It’s not important.” The duke had been kind enough to help Alex that day. The details were unimportant.

“
Have you all had some sort of unpleasant encounter with Olivia?” Caroline’s voice was nearly inaudible.

Nobody moved to answer. “Yes,” Alex said at last. “Nobody has experienced her the way you have. But yes, they all know what she’s like.”

“
I’m so sorry,” Caroline rushed to say. “I hope nobody has been driven to nightmares.”

Brooke snorted at her jest. “Nobody as much as Andrew,” she said, nudging her husband with her elbow. “Tell her.”

“
No,” her husband said, shaking his head. “I don’t think she’d like to hear any more disparaging stories about her cousin.”

This time Caroline snorted. “I assure you, the things I’ve experienced at her hands are far worse than anything you could possibly tell me.” She forced a weak smile and took a nervous breath. “But that matters naught. I would like to apologize to all of you for anything she may have done or said that was offensive.”

“
Apology unaccepted,” Brooke said. “Her sins are not for you to apologize or pay penance for.”

“
Thank you,” Caroline said.