Marriage to a Mister (A Daughters of Regency #1) (21 page)

Charity laughed. She liked this man. "Absolutely not, I wouldn't put anyone in this room through such scrutiny. You must be fearsome when on a mission."

Felix drew himself up and preened. "But of course, will you set your cap at me now, or maybe you would benefit from my scheming?"

Charity reared back and scoffed. "How absurd! You are in no danger from me, Mr. Woolf, I assure you, you are much too ..."

"Much too what?" he asked, grinning madly. He had not had this much fun with a woman in ages.

"Much too silly, you are a very silly man, and frankly, you are not the type of man I am inclined towards."

"You wound me," he said dramatically, palming his chest. "And pray tell, which man is Lady Preston's type, if one may know?"

"Hmm, tall," she said and laughed when Felix drew himself up higher.

"With dark hair I think."

He palmed his own light brown hair and faked a frown. "A hit, madam."

Charity brought her free hand up to her mouth and tapped her bottom lip. "Reading, he must be a great reader."

"Reading?" asked Felix, wrinkling his nose. "You're right, we can never be together. Our amore was short lived, but we will always cherish these moments, won't we?"

Charity threw her hand to her mouth and tried not to bring attention to herself laughing in such a boisterous manner. Oh, how she was having fun.
 

"You and I are just not meant to be," he shook his head sadly.

"Friends then?" she asked. "I could use one more at this party."

"Friends it will be, Lady Preston."

"Please, call me Charity. We are friends now, are we not?" she asked, mirth in her eyes.

"Of course! Shall we find my aunt and put that duet into her mind?"

"Yes," she said, happy to have made a friend that she didn't have to trick or trap into marriage. Felix Woolf, she knew, would have made a great catch but she didn't want to spoil it, not the one thing that had made her laugh heartily for the first time in more years then she could count.

***

Evan watched as Felix charmed the Lady Preston to the point of hysterics. The idiot. He damned his own inelegance in speaking to others and looked out the window.

Fleur cleared her throat. "Has it been long since you've been back at Blackburn Hall, Mr. Woolf—"

Evan stiffened. "Mr. Woolf?" he asked, trying not the let the hurt show. "We are alone, madam, one would think you could call me by my given name."

"I'm sorry ... Evan. I'm not used to this, please forgive me."

Evan winced. "Don't apologize, it should be me who begs your pardon. After all these years you know I'm not gifted with easy speech, not like Felix," he said, nodding towards his cousin, who still had the lady in a fit of giggles.

"I haven't seen Charity that relaxed and happy in a long time," she said absently, enjoying the sight of her friend being carefree.

Evan coughed. Somehow his simple plan to ask her for a walk had derailed horribly.

Fleur fanned herself lightly, feeling the room heat up from all the activity. "It is a bit warm tonight, don't you agree?"

Evan, seeing his chance, charged at it. "Yes, it is. Would you maybe care to walk in the gallery? It is sure to be cooler and I don't think anyone would miss us."

Fleur looked around and saw everyone deep in conversation. Julia was still speaking to Prudence and Phoebe, and Charity and Mr. Woolf now spoke to Madeleine, Lord Blackburn, and her father. "Yes, I believe you are right," She looked over to him. "I'd love to, Evan."

He tried not to grin like an idiot, he really did, but he knew he failed when he saw Nathan, Oliver, Dom and his own traitor brother looking at him and laughing together. Had they nothing better to do?

"Shall we?" he asked, holding out his arm.

Relieved they would finally be able to have a conversation, Fleur slipped her arm through his and he led her towards the door, only to be stopped by her father and Lord Backburn.

The duke nodded. "Fleur, Evan, Lady Preston and Mr. Woolf are going to grace us with a few performances for the evening, will you not come and join us?"

Evan opened his mouth and then shut it. How was he supposed to tell his father-in-law he wanted to be alone in a dark gallery with his daughter?

The earl walked behind them, placing his hand on their backs, pressing them forward. "Yes, you two go ahead to the music room and we will be along in a moment."
 

Evan looked at Fleur and they both resigned themselves as he led her out of the drawing room, but not towards the gallery. His mother, Lady Preston, and Felix followed.

"There now," said the earl once they were gone. "They will have to sit beside each other for a full hour at least."

The duke shook his head in worry. "They did not say one word to each other this afternoon or throughout dinner."

"We will just have to keep an eye on them, Julian, make sure they have plenty of opportunity to be together."

The duke agreed and walked towards the door to make his way to the music room with the earl, all without knowing they had thwarted the very thing they were trying to accomplish.

INTERVENTIONS

The following morning, Fleur laughed along with the other ladies while Madeleine regaled them with anecdotes of when her boys and nephews were young. They would be properly put out if they knew, which just made the whole thing more laughable.

The night before had been lovely, even if she and Evan were never able to speak. The men all left for the card room again after a bout of music and charades. The ladies talked until they retired. Exhausted, she did not even hear Evan come in and when she woke, he was gone again.

 
The ladies had risen by ten that morning, with the men once again rising early, this time to go shooting. After breakfast they had retired into the morning room and were now waiting for them to return so they could all ride out together for an afternoon picnic.
 

She looked over at Charity, again talking with Prudence's aunt. She worried for her friend. Would it be good for her to seat a horse again? Surely they would give her a docile mount.

"Where have you gone off to?" Julia asked, tapping her sister on the temple.

Fleur looked over, smiling. "Just woolgathering. I'm concerned about the picnic, we will all be riding beforehand and Charity ..."

Julia nodded, instantly knowing what Fleur was referring to. She was much too young to have known Charity's older brother, but she could imagine losing Andrew to the war. It was a fear she lived with every day.

"Charity scared of horses?" asked Prudence. "Are you sure? I always thought that one was scared of nothing."

"Think, Prudence," said Phoebe. "If you take a moment you will remember why she might be frightened."

Prudence looked from one to another and then it dawned on her, and she felt ashamed. "Oh."

"Don't look like that, I have told you over and over not to worry where Charity is concerned, she's not herself lately," said Phoebe.

"She has never warmed to me, not the way you three have. I know I haven't known all of you as long since I met you only last year during my come out, but you have been so kind to me." Especially Julia, she added to herself. "You know, it's just occurred to me that my aunt and your mother, Phoebe, will have to ride out in a carriage with Lady Blackburn. My aunt is not able to mount a horse at her age."

Phoebe nodded and looked over to Charity. "That is true, maybe you and I could convince her to go with them. She seems fond of your aunt; they've been talking all morning."

"You and I? Convince her?" Prudence asked, her jaw having yet recovered from astonishment. "Are you mad? She'll throw me from her room before I get a word out."
 

"Don't be silly," said Julia. "Madeleine will call for us to go up and change soon, afterwards we can all meet in Fleur's room and go together. Between the four of us she'll have to relent, though don't expect it to be easy. She is proud and won't want to lose face."

Fleur nodded. "She will want to make a good impression too. We can remind her that she would be in danger of doing just the opposite."

Julia laughed. "You mean she won't want to be dumped on her backside in front of all those marriage prospects."

"Julia!" Fleur scolded, but lost when the others laughed. She shook her head and smiled.
 

***

Fleur looked at herself in the mirror, adjusting the matching hat to her riding habit when a knock came at the door. At her nod, the maid let in Julia, Phoebe, and Prudence.

"Don't you and Julia look smashing in your matching greys," said Phoebe.

Fleur sighed happily and looked everyone over through the mirror. She remembered the day she and her sister had chosen the same thick cotton for their habits, though the styles were different. Julia's was more military influenced and Fleur's was less severe, but they did make a pair just the same.

Phoebe was also in a lighter cotton, a sapphire that matched her dark blue eyes, but Fleur noticed Prudence
 
was pulling at her sleeve cuffs self-consciously. She was in an older style made of a brown wool, something more suited for fall or even winter. It had little to no decoration besides the frog clasps that lined her front.
 

Fleur walked over, hugged Prudence to her, and asked the room, "Are we ready to go to war?"

"I am dressed for it," joked Julia, pretending to be in good humor, but not looking forward to the confrontation at hand.

They left Fleur's room and walked slowly to Charity's. "Maybe I should wait downstairs," said Prudence.

Julia clicked her tongue. "Nonsense, everyone knows Charity is harmless, just quite rude when it suits her."

Fleur cleared her throat in warning as she stopped in front of Charity's door. She knocked.

When the maid opened the door, Fleur could see Charity inside. She was pacing and wringing her hands, her golden hair lovely next to her burgundy habit.

"Charity?" Fleur said, trying to catch her attention, but her friend did not hear her.

"She's been like that for the last half-hour, madam," whispered the maid, her brow furrowed with worry.

Fleur smiled and nodded in understanding. "What is your name?"

"Clara, milady. I didn't know what to do, she's been in a right state —"

"It's all right, Clara. Would you run down for a fresh pitcher of cool water and cloths?"

"Of course,
 
milady."

Fleur watched the harassed maid curtsey before she ran from the room. Charity was now sitting down upon the bed fanning her face.

"Charity ..." Fleur said, but she didn't stir.

She walked over and placed her hand on her shoulder, regretting the action when Charity jumped. "Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you."

Charity nodded and when she caught sight of the others, she stood with her back ramrod straight, her chin lifted. "Is it time to go?"

"No, not yet. We, the four of us I mean, we would like to speak to you about today's picnic."

Charity frowned. "What of it?"

Fleur cleared her throat and pushed forward. "We were talking and we realized that Phoebe's mother and Prudence's aunt would be riding out in the carriage with Lady Blackburn. There will be room for a fourth and we wondered if you would not like to join them?"

Charity was dumbfounded. "And miss the ride? Whatever could you be thinking?"

"You won't miss much," said Phoebe, trying to soothe her.

"I will miss everything! How am I supposed to go about ... making new friends if I cannot interact with them?"

Prudence shook her head at Charity's stubbornness. "What she means is how will she go about finding a husband."

Charity glowered, her face red and her hands unsteady. "How dare you? Are you not the same as I? As any woman in our position?"

"Of course I am, I just don't feel the need to go about it as you do. We are not all as pragmatic about finding love."

Charity stood silent for a moment, then with a shaky voice spoke directly to Prudence. "Love? Is that what you hope for? And how may I ask should I go about finding love? I have no hope left in me, nor can I afford to prioritize love. You think because my father is titled that I have every opportunity in the world, you, who know nothing of what I suffer. You, who thinks I am no better than a fortune hunter. Yes, I admit it, I will hunt and I will scheme. I will laugh at every joke that a man makes, though I may not find it amusing, and I will compliment when it is not in my opinion to do so, and I will say yes to the best and wealthiest man who offers for me, if he is able to provide protection and a comfortable life for me and mine. I will do all of those things because I need to survive. It is the only way I can, society has made it so, not I, so do not judge me, Prudence Wilson, lest someday you find yourself in my position."

Prudence looked down to the ground, following the wood grain with her eyes. She knew not what to say, only that Charity was right, she knew nothing of her life or what problems might come with being an earl's daughter. Not all of the upper echelon were well off, or stable.

Fleur stepped forward. "Ladies, please, we didn't come together to argue. Charity, dearest, please listen. The point we all came here to make, Prudence included, is that we are frightened for you. You have not ridden in over two years and are anxious to do so. Don't you think now is not the best time to re-acquaint yourself with riding?"

Charity shook her head. "No. I ... I have been riding since I was —"
 

"Charity, think of it this way," interrupted Julia. "You are very unlikely to make a good impression upon any of the men if you make a fool out of yourself on horseback. Do you really want to put yourself in such a vulnerable position?"

Charity looked away. "But it is so silly, fearing something you have done practically your whole life."

Fleur felt slightly guilty for bringing Prudence and Julia. They were being harsh but it was the truth - only a fool would put themself in such a precarious position when only one's best foot forward would do. Then she thought of her own fears.