The American Earl (18 page)

He smiled back and held up his hand as if taking an oath.  “I promise.” 

We had a most interesting conversation about hunting. He had some fascinating stories that had me hanging on his every word. It wasn’t until the whole room went quiet that we looked away from each other to see what had happened.

The Duke of Morton stood in the doorway.  He advanced confidently into the room and greeted Aunt Barbara, who looked like the cat who swallowed the canary.  Then he turned toward Lizzie and began to approach her chair.  One of the men sitting next to her hastily vacated his place so the ducal bottom could possess it.

I said to Mr. Winston, “My American cousin would be horrified if he saw that little display of aristocratic power.”

“I suppose some of our ways must seem strange to him,” Mr. Winston said. “It will take him a while to grow accustomed to being an earl.”

“I don’t think he plans to stay around long enough to grow accustomed,” I said. 

Mr. Winston looked surprised. “Is he going back to America?”

“That’s his plan.”

Mr. Winston said, “But what about Stoverton?  I understand it needs … er… some attention.”

“It needs a great deal of attention,” I said baldly. “And money. I believe he plans to make some … arrangements.”

He nodded and smiled. “I say, Lady Julia, would you care to come for a ride in the park with me this afternoon?”

I thought this was a wonderful idea. I had galloped Ty hard this morning so he should be well enough behaved this afternoon. We were making plans when Lizzie called my name.

I looked over to where she was sitting with the duke beside her. “Are you planning to go to the park this afternoon?” she asked.

“Yes. Mr. Winston and I were just talking about it.”

Lizzie turned to the duke. “Perhaps we could join my cousin and Mr. Winston, Your Grace.”

The Duke’s handsome face looked perfectly amiable. “That would be delightful.”

The calling hour was over and the gentlemen began to get up to leave. When the room was finally empty Aunt Barbara gazed at Lizzie with stars in her eyes. “Morton actually called! And you are going to the park with him this afternoon. Oh, Lizzie! I knew you would make a good match, but a duke!”

Lizzie just smoothed her dress over her lap and didn’t answer.

I said, “What if Lizzie doesn’t like him? She’s not going to marry him just because he’s a duke.”

Aunt Barbara looked at me as if I were insane. “What is there not to like about Morton? He’s handsome, he’s only twenty-eight, he has plenty of money, and he’s a duke. There is no reason in the world not to like him.”

“You have to do more than like a man to marry him, Mama,” Lizzie pointed out. “You have to love him.”

“Believe me, it’s just as easy to love a duke as it is an ordinary man,” Aunt Barbara retorted.

Lizzie and I exchanged looks. 

Lizzie said, “Mr. Winston seems very nice, Julia.”

“I’m curious to see how he looks on a horse,” I said.

Lizzie laughed and Aunt Barbara frowned. “I thought I told you Thomas Winston is not a suitable match for you, Julia. I don’t want to see you spending time with him. You need to look around for someone who can offer you a home, not a younger son who spends all his money on horses.”

In fact, it had occurred to me that Tom Winston was exactly the kind of man Evan had told me to look for.  Since he had no estate of his own, he should be happy to come and live at Stoverton. And clearly he liked the country life – he had told me he didn’t come to London very often. He sounded almost perfect. And he seemed nice.

It was too bad that the prospect of marrying this perfect man and living with him at Stoverton made me feel so gloomy.

* * * *

Aunt Barbara, Lizzie and I had almost finished luncheon when the dining room door opened and Evan, Maria and Miss Dixon came in.  They had color in their cheeks and looked to be in high good humor. 

“I hope we’re not too late to eat,” Evan said to Grantly. “We’re starving.”

“Of course not, my lord,” the butler replied. “I shall bring some more cold meat and bread.”

“Thank you,” Evan replied. He turned to Maria and her governess. “Sit down, sit down. I’m sure you both want some food.”

Maria went with alacrity to take her chair, but Miss Dixon held back a little, looking anxiously at Aunt Barbara.

Aunt Barbara glanced at Evan, then back at the hesitant governess. She nodded briefly and Miss Dixon moved to take a seat.

I looked at her.  She was wearing a plain gray gown and her thick auburn hair was pulled back into a severe chignon.  Even so, she was an extremely pretty and obviously well bred young woman.  I wondered what had happened to necessitate her earning her own living.

It isn’t fair, I thought.  If Miss Dixon had been a man she could have gone to India and made a fortune. Men aren’t forced to become governesses when they’re poor.

“…went to the Tower,” Maria was saying and I pulled my attention back to the conversation.

“You went to the Tower?” I demanded. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have gone with you!”

Evan replied, “You were engaged here this morning, and Maria asked me if I would take her. I must say it was very interesting.”

“Evan liked best the place where all those people were beheaded,” Maria said teasingly.

“Who was the one who knew all the gory details?” he retorted.

She giggled. “I knew about King Henry’s queens. It was Miss Dixon who knew about the others.”

“Miss Dixon was a mine of information,” Evan said, with a smile at the governess. “Better than a tour guide.”

I was irate. I had been forced to sit indoors being polite to strangers while Maria and Evan were having fun at the Tower!

Evan, completely ignored my scowl and began to eat the cold meat that had been set upon the table. 

Maria said apologetically, “I would have asked you, Julia, but you were busy with company.”

Evan said calmly, “Stop sulking, Julia. It doesn’t become you.”

Everyone around the table stopped breathing.

I narrowed my eyes. “When you made me come to London, you said that you would take me to see the sights. I distinctly recall that discussion. And then, the first place you visit, you leave me behind!”

We stared at each other.

Still nobody breathed.

He said, “As I believe I’ve told you before, I always keep my promises. I’ll take you and Lizzie to the Tower another day, when you are not engaged.”

“And you said we would go to Astley’s!”

“We will go to Astley’s when it is convenient for Aunt Barbara to let you go.”

I turned to Aunt Barbara, my eyes narrowed, daring her to deny me. Evan said mildly, “When do we have a free afternoon, ma’am?”

“I believe tomorrow would be acceptable,” she said, looking down her nose at me.

“Very well. I will get tickets for tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” I replied, a little haughtily.  I was still annoyed that he had gone to the Tower without me.

Evan turned to the governess. “Would you care to join us, Miss Dixon?”

“That won’t be necessary, Evan,” Aunt Barbara said. “I’m sure Miss Dixon can find something to do at home.”

Miss Dixon’s eyelids flickered but otherwise her expression didn’t change. 

Poor girl, I thought.  How rotten to be treated like a servant. 

I said, “There’s nothing Miss Dixon has to do that can’t be done some other time, Aunt Barbara.” I turned to the governess. “Do come. It will be fun.”

Before the governess could answer, Evan said, “That’s settled, then. I’ll get the tickets.” His eyes caught mine for a brief second before he said gravely, “Would you care to come with us, Aunt Barbara?”

My aunt was so stunned she couldn’t immediately answer.  Finally she managed, “No, Evan, I do not wish to go to Astleys.”

She said the word as if it were Hades.

I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling.

“Then that is settled,” Evan said. He turned to Lizzie, “What are you doing this afternoon?”

“Julia and I are going for a ride in the park with the Duke of Morton and Mr. Winston,” she replied.

Evan said to me, “You’re taking Ty into the park with all that traffic? He’s not ready for that. You could get hurt.”

I ignored the blue glare that was directed at my face. “We galloped hard this morning. He’ll be too tired to act up. It will be fine.”

The blue glare didn’t change.

Aunt Barbara said, “I do hope you are not going to fall off and make a spectacle of yourself, Julia. That would be most embarrassing.”

“I never fall off,” I said. This was not true, of course. No one could ride for as long as I had and never fall off. But I was quite confident that I would not fall off Ty in the park. He might rear a little … buck a little … but I would not fall off.

Evan wisely changed the subject, “Julia and I saw that Byron fellow as we were coming home from our ride this morning. I guess they’ve finally moved in across the street.”

“You saw Lord Byron?” Miss Dixon said, surprised into speech.

Lizzie turned to her. “Yes, he’s taken the house across the street. Isn’t that exciting? Have you read his poetry, Miss Dixon?”

“I have.” The governess’ face was bright with enthusiasm. 

“’The Corsair,’” Lizzie said, clasping her hands dramatically at her breast.

“Wonderful,” Miss Dixon enthused.

Evan and I looked at each other. 
Terrible poetry
I mouthed at him.

He nodded in agreement.

“Enough of Lord Byron,” Aunt Barbara said.  “I think I have found a music teacher for Maria.  His name is Heinrich Gruder. He was a pianist attached to the court of one of the German states – I forget which one at the moment. He’s been in London for a few years now and he will take a student if the student has enough talent. He is coming later this afternoon to hear Maria play.”

Maria looked even more enraptured at this announcement than Lizzie and Miss Dixon had looked about Lord Byron. 

“Oh Aunt Barbara, thank you!” A little of her joy dimmed. “But. .. what if I’m not good enough for him?”

“Just play your best,” Aunt Barbara replied briskly. “You are very good, Maria. You must know that yourself.”

When Maria didn’t answer I put in, “Of course she knows it. We all know it. This German pianist will love you.”

“Aunt Barbara is right,” Evan said. “Just play your best. And if this fellow doesn’t want to teach you, we’ll find someone else who will.”

Maria’s radiance returned. “All right.” She looked at her aunt. “If you don’t mind, Aunt Barbara, I will go practice.”

Lady Barbara smiled her acquiescence. 

Miss Dixon also stood. “I will go upstairs and finish tidying up the schoolroom.”

“I’ll come with you,” I said. “We can take inventory of what books are there and you can tell me what else you think you need.”

“That would be very kind of you, Lady Julia,” the governess said in her soft pretty voice. 

“Don’t forget we’re going to the park at five,” Lizzie said. 

“I won’t,” I promised as I left the dining room with Miss Dixon.

Chapter Twenty-four

Evan spent the afternoon with the American Minister discussing America’s future.  John Quincy Adams’ vision for the United States was ambitious and visionary.  He saw it stretching all the way south into Florida (presently owned by Spain), then west, through the Rocky Mountains and on into California (also owned by Spain).  From ocean to ocean the nation would grow, he prophesied grandly.

It was a heroic dream, and a dream Evan thought was attainable.  After all, the United States had already doubled its size by Jefferson’s purchase of the Louisiana territory from France.

Although Evan agreed with the minister, he did his best during their time together to suggest tactfully that perhaps it would be best for Mr. Adams not to share this glorious vision with the English government just yet.

When Evan returned to Althorpe House, Julia and Lizzie had just come in from their afternoon ride.  He scanned Julia from head to toe and demanded, “Did Ty behave himself?”

“He was fine,”” she said airily. “A little skittish on the way to the park perhaps, but once we got there he behaved himself admirably.”

Evan turned to Lizzie for confirmation. She assured him, “I wouldn’t ride Ty for a million guineas, but Julia handles him beautifully. He really is a lovely horse. Everyone was looking at us.”

“He’s gorgeous,” Julia said complacently. “He moves like an angel.”

“Well, I’m glad it went well,” Evan said. 

“It was a successful afternoon. Julia even approved of Mr. Winston’s horsemanship,” Lizzie said with a laugh.

“Oh?” said Evan, uncomfortably conscious of his own failure in that department.

“Yes,” Julia said. “He has perfect balance in the saddle. He was riding a borrowed horse because his own horses are back in Leicestershire, but even on an inferior animal I could see how well he rode.”

“That’s nice,” Evan said woodenly.

Julia shot him a look, then said to Lizzie, “Ty is marvelous, but I think the reason people were looking at us was because you
were riding with the Duke.”

“I guess this Duke really is a big deal,” Evan said. “What do you make of him, Lizzie?”

“He’s nice,” Lizzie returned.

“He liked Ty,” Julia said, offering her stamp of approval.

It was such a Julia remark that Evan and Lizzie both smiled. 

Evan surveyed them both.  “Well, you look very nice in your new riding clothes.”

“I hate breaking in new boots,” Julia said gloomily. “I wish Aunt Barbara had let me keep my old ones.”

“You’re not the only one who feels like that,” Evan returned. “This coat is too tight across my shoulders and this neck cloth is so starched it scratches my skin.”

“But you look splendid, Evan,” Lizzie said.  “At Almack’s you were by far the most handsome man in the room.”

“That is kind of you, Lizzie,” he said with faint amusement.

“You were,” Julia put in. When he looked at her in surprise she added, “You’re the image of the first earl, and he was considered the most handsome man of his day.”