The Counterfeit Betrothal (5 page)

5

Jeremy
and Edward soon arrived at Sir Osbert’s home. As they climbed down from the curricle Hastings looked about him approvingly and said, “So the girl does not come penniless by the looks of this place. Has she any sisters?”

“Both married,” Jeremy said witheringly, “and sharp-tongued into the bargain.”

“Just as well,” Hastings said philosophically. “Someone must maintain the torch of bachelorhood, but rest assured I shall lend you support at your wedding.”

“How kind of you,” Jeremy retorted with spirit. “But have a care or I’ll take my revenge by finding you a wife as well. Aye, and betroth you to her before you or she knows what you are about.”

“Just knock at the door,” Edward said derisively. Jeremy did so and they were admitted by Bailey. He, however, was unaware that Emmaline had taken refuge with her thoughts in the garden and it took Jeremy some while to find her. Indeed, his temper was more than a little frayed by the time he and Hastings tracked her down by the roses.

Emmaline had tried desperately to stifle her unease, but when she saw Jeremy arrive with a stranger, she knew it was no use. They paused, then came forward and Emmaline watched Jeremy grow paler as he approached her. She could not deceive herself that his expression held any happiness and Caroline’s words echoed in her ears. “Hallo, Emmaline,” Jeremy said with a determined smile. “May I present Edward Hastings, a good friend—in fact my dearest friend. Edward, this is my
fiancée
, Miss Delwyn.”

Hastings bowed promptly. “Delighted, ma’am. Best wishes and all that.”

“Thank you,” Emmaline said with a smile she did not feel. “Are you just come from London?”

Hastings nodded. “Read the news and had to come see what it was all about.”

“Jeremy’s betrothal being such a strange event?” Emmaline suggested cordially.

“Exactly, I—” Hastings broke off in confusion as he realized where his tongue was headed.

“It’s all right, Edward,” Jeremy said with a sharp laugh, “Miss Delwyn is noted for her quick wits.”

“Here! I say, Jeremy,” Hastings remonstrated.

It was Emmaline’s turn to laugh. “It’s all right, Mr. Hastings,” she said with a kindness she did not feel. After a pause, she added, “Jeremy, I do wish, however, that we might speak privately, for a few minutes.”

Jeremy’s eyebrows rose in surprise but after a moment he bowed and said, “Of course. Shall we go into the parlor? Edward can continue to admire your garden.”

“Wonderful garden,” Hastings agreed promptly. “Delighted to wait here for you.”

“Thank you,” she told him warmly, then led the way inside.

Once there, however, Emmaline set down the flower basket she was holding but could not seem to bring herself to speak. In the end it was Jeremy who broke the silence. “What is it, my dear?” he asked gently. “You seemed quite distressed just now, outside.”

Almost undone by his kindness, Emmaline turned away, forcing herself to be resolute. Coolly she said, “You are an excellent actor, are you not, Jeremy? Did I not know better I should indeed think you were my devoted
fiancé
. But my father has admitted to me the circumstances of—of our betrothal. How devastated you must have been to be forced into something so distasteful to you.”

Behind her Emmaline heard a sharp intake of breath. The coolness in his voice matched her own as Jeremy replied, “How unfortunate that he told you. May I ask what it is that you wish to tell me?”

Emmaline turned to face him. In a softer voice she said, “Let us speak frankly, Jeremy, shall we? You are no more happy in our betrothal than I am, are you?”

“What do you mean?” he asked warily.

Emmaline looked at her hands. She was careful to keep her voice steady as she said, “I see very well how you flinch each time anyone asks about the wedding. And as I said, my father has told me everything. I cannot help but feel our betrothal was a mistake.” Jeremy’s face darkened and she hastened to add, “I have known you almost all of my life and yet we are all but strangers to one another. You don’t wish to marry me, nor am I at all certain I wish to marry you. That does not bode well for the future, I fear.”

Jeremy stood quite still, conscious of a sense of shock. He had joked with Edward over the difficulties of finding a woman to marry him. The truth was, however, that he had never doubted that his title, wealth, and lineage would make him acceptable to any woman his choice should settle on. “I had thought you cared for me,” he said at last.

He could not guess what it cost Emmaline to shrug and say lightly, “Ah, well, it seems I had mistaken my heart, as these last few days have so clearly shown me.”

“Yes, well, what is that to say to the matter?” Jeremy asked roughly, turning away. “You say that your father told you my circumstances. We are betrothed and the reasons for that betrothal have not changed on my part. And there is still your father’s concern for you.”

“So there is,” Emmaline agreed, looking at his back steadily. “That is what I wish to talk with you about. I know you are right, but Jeremy, surely you see that a marriage between us won’t work? What are we to do? If we break the betrothal your father will cut you off without a penny and mine—” Emmaline’s voice broke and it was a moment before she could go on. “Dr. Farley has told me he believes my father has no more than six months to live, and I cannot bear to risk that he might take a turn for the worse. Or that he should spend his last months in fear for me.”

“Yes, well, at any rate we are fortunate in that your father insisted there be no immediate wedding,” Jeremy retorted. “Perhaps in time you will find I am not such an intolerable fellow, after all.”

“Long or short betrothal, it is a mistake,” Emmaline persisted gently.

There was a long silence. “What do you wish to do?” Jeremy asked stiffly.

“Well, I had thought we might pretend we were still betrothed, but not be,” she answered forthrightly. “Just until my father ... until my father dies, or you find someone else to marry. You and I would know the truth, of course, but no one else,” Emmaline concluded quietly.

“A masquerade?” he managed to ask at last.

“Yes,” Emmaline agreed. “I know it sounds absurd but I can see no other answer. My only fear is that I shall prove a poor liar and my father will read the truth in my face.”

For some time Barnett was silent, his eyes fixed on the view from the parlor window. At last he said, “He could not if you were not here. We could go to London. From there you could send back glowing reports of our betrothal.”

“I cannot leave my father,” Emmaline said with quiet dignity. “Not when he is so ill.”

Jeremy could not help but be aware of the determination in her voice, and after a moment he, said, “Give me some time to think about the matter, my dear. I promise I shall find us a solution. For the moment, however, let me go back out to the garden and find my friend before he thinks himself deserted.”

“Of course,” she said at once. “I am needed in the kitchen anyway.”

When she was out of sight, Jeremy found Hastings and began to talk urgently to his friend, putting forth a plan. Edward, with his usual amiability, readily agreed. A short time later, Jeremy was shown in to see Sir Osbert.

“Good day, sir,” Jeremy said with genuine affection.

The older man regarded him quizzically from beneath half-closed eyelids. “Hmmph. And what have you come to tell me about today? Trouble with your father again? Second thoughts about your betrothal to my Emmaline?”

Jeremy shook his head. “No trouble, sir. Just a question. Do you think Emmaline has had sufficient time to look about her before she marries?”

“What do you mean?” Sir Osbert asked testily.

Taking a seat next to the older man’s bed, Jeremy said earnestly, “It seems to me that Emmaline has led far too sheltered a life here. And forgive me, but after your death she is likely to mourn for some time. I just thought that perhaps she ought to have a taste of London, now, before we are married. I should much dislike to have her feel, in later years, that had she seen London she might I have made a different choice. When she marries me, I should like her to feel sure that that is what she wishes to do.”

For some time Sir Osbert was silent. Jeremy could not know it but his words had struck a resonant chord in the older man. He had had a good marriage, but those were indeed the words Catherine Delwyn had thrown up at her husband on the rare occasions they had been so uncivilized as to fight. In the end Sir Osbert placed a hand over Jeremy’s and said, “You are right, my boy, whatever your own motives in saying all this.”

Jeremy had the grace to blush before he went on, “I’ve a friend, Edward Hastings, whose mother would be only too happy to have Emmaline come and stay with her. If you like, you could have such an invitation in hand by next week.”

“You appear to have given this matter a great deal of thought,” Sir Osbert said. “Has Emmaline agreed?”

Jeremy looked down at his hands. “I have only broached the matter in the briefest of terms, sir. You must know she has refused to leave your side. After all these years of nursing you she cannot bear to go.”

Sir Osbert nodded. “Aye, especially since that fool of a doctor told her what he won’t tell me—that I’ve not got long to live.” He paused and cocked an eyebrow at Jeremy. “Some would say that she and I ought to spend that time together.”

Jeremy took a deep breath and met Sir Osbert’s eyes squarely. This time he spoke with perfect truth when he said, “Is that what you want, sir? Suppose the doctor is wrong? Suppose you have not six months but a year or two years? Emmaline has already given you the past three. How much more of her life is she to waste shut away in this house? I know you love her, sir. And that she loves you. And that if you die while she is in, London, she will grieve all the more. But at least she will have seen London and had the chance to dance and go to the theater and ride in the park. Would you deny her that? Hasn’t she a right to some life of her own?” He paused, then added, “She will not go unless you ask her to. Will you, Sir Osbert?”

Slowly Delwyn nodded. “You are right, again, Jeremy. Emmaline is my daughter, not my
wife. Sometimes
I’ve forgotten, these past three years, that I ought to be seeing to her needs and not always the other way round. Very well. You get me that invitation, Jeremy, and I’ll see to it that Emmaline goes to London. But you’re to go as well, mind, and see that no harm comes to her. I’ll hold you to account on that!”

“As you should, sir,” Jeremy said quietly, with a smile. “As you should.” Reluctantly he rose to his feet, “And now I must go and tell my father our plans. I fear he will not take the news as kindly as you have.”

Sir Osbert caught Jeremy’s hand one more time. “He’s a good man, your father. Just caught up in his own pain all these years.”

Bitterness touched Jeremy’s lips but in the end he nodded and Delwyn added with a twinkle in his eyes, “If he objects, refer him to me. I’ll let the old scoundrel trounce me at chess and then I’ll talk him round. You’ll have your visit to London, you and Emmaline, I promise it.”

6

Lord
Barnett did indeed storm and rant and rave at his son, but in the end, he gave his assent to the trip to London. He could not deny his old friend, Sir Osbert, this request. Still, he took care to warn Jeremy, “If so much as one breath of scandal reaches me here, I shall be in London the next day to soundly thrash you!”

“Don’t worry, sir. I shall look after him,” Hastings offered generously.

“Indeed?” Barnett said, favoring his son’s friend with a jaundiced eye. “I’m not sure you aren’t even worse than he is. But what’s done is done. I only hope we do not all live to regret this.”

Meanwhile Emmaline had her own reservations. But Mrs. Anna Colton, who had been enlisted to help Sir Osbert persuade her to go, was as stubborn as Emmaline. She was even there on the morning Emmaline was to leave for London to prevent any last-minute change of plans.

“Now don’t worry about a thing, my dear,” she told Emmaline with a smile that belied the sternness of her voice. “I shall call upon your father every day to see that he is all right and I promise to send for you at once should he take a turn for the worse.”

Emmaline, who had just been upstairs to bid her father good-bye, held her handkerchief tighter. With a forced smile she replied, “I know that you will take excellent care of him, Mrs. Colton. You have always been such a dear friend to all of us, and I know Papa will like having you about. Indeed, he told me so just now. It is just that I cannot shake the thought that it is my duty to be at Papa’s side.”

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Colton said stoutly. “This trip to London is what Sir Osbert wishes for you, and you know Dr. Farley said we are not to upset your papa. And he would be upset if you refused to go.”

Impulsively Emmaline hugged Mrs. Colton and turned to her maid, who was trying to gain her attention. “What is it, Mary?” she asked.

The maid curtsied. “The carriage, miss. It’s ready and the gentlemen are just now arrived.”

“Already? Very well. I shall be out in a moment.” Emmaline could not refrain from running lightly upstairs to say good-bye to her father one last time. He was waiting for her, propped up with pillows and with a far happier look in his eyes than she had seen for some time. “Papa—” she began.

He cut her short, saying as he held out a hand to her, “Hush, child. Go to London and have fun. That is what I wish for you. And you are not to worry about me, do you hear? I shall have Mrs. Colton to order about and bully unmercifully just as I used to do with you, so you need have no fears on my account!”

In spite of herself Emmaline laughed and retorted amiably, “No, indeed. It is Mrs. Colton I see I must fear for.” She paused to hug him then, and when she spoke again it was with a voice that was more than a lit
tl
e unsteady. “Oh, Papa, I shall miss you!”

“As I shall miss you,” Sir Osbert replied gruffly. “But I have wanted for some time to see you go off and enjoy yourself, and I tell you I shall do better for knowing you are doing so. Who knows, you may even return to find me in better health than ever.”

“I wish it might be so,” Emmaline said earnestly.

Then, afraid their resolution would fail them, her father added, “Go on now. I heard a carriage drive round some time ago and your escorts will be growing impatient. Tell Jeremy I said he is to take good care of you!”

“I shall. Good-bye, Papa.”

A short time later it was a procession of carriages that pulled away from the home Emmaline had always known. She rode in a comfortable chaise-and-four with her maid while Hastings drove his phaeton and Jeremy his curricle. Emmaline didn’t quite know whether to take offense at the neglect or give in to her relief at the privacy. In the end, her good nature asserted itself and she gave herself over to the pleasure of watching the countryside.

Mary, however, had other notions. She wished to talk about how handsome Emmaline’s betrothed was or how neatly he handled his curricle. As she did so, Emmaline’s own treacherous thoughts kept drifting back to how he had kissed her when she accepted his proposal and how her own hands had betrayed her, stealing around his neck. Nor could she forget how her skin seemed to burn whenever he took her hand and how her heart raced until her breath seemed to come in small gasps. No, better not to think of him at all or she might so far forget herself as to go back on her refusal to the marriage. And that way lay madness.

But when they stopped for a neat little luncheon at a posting house along the way, Emmaline’s heart once again betrayed her as Jeremy handed her out of the carriage. She could only hope that he did not notice, that his eyes were instead fixed with admiration upon her new dress and bonnet made of rose silk that he had once told her was his favorite color. And she could o
n
ly be grateful that she did not find herself entirely alone with him but that Hastings was there as well.

Jeremy, with his usual thoroughness, had arranged a private parlor and the dishes were ready within minutes of their arrival. Edward held the chair for her as they sat down. “Comfortable journey so far, Miss Delwyn?” Hastings asked solicitously.

Emmaline smiled at him warmly. “Oh, yes, Mr. Hastings. You and Jeremy appear to have thought of everything. And I still find it difficult to believe your mother has been so kind as to invite me to come and stay with her.”

Hastings smiled in return. “M’mother loves company. And going out and about. The happiest I’ve ever seen her was when she was bringing out m’sister. And m’cousins. Three of ’em in turn.”

“Mrs. Hastings must have the warmest heart in London,” Jeremy agreed. “I think you’ll be happy staying with her. And you need have no fear. She is wonderfully discreet, so that even if she guesses the truth of our betrothal she will tell no one.” At Emmaline’s look of distress, he added, “Don’t mind Hastings, here, he is my oldest friend and entirely discreet as well. I have told him everything.”

Emmaline hesitated, then nodded decisively. “All right. I must trust your judgment as to that. But I confess myself still troubled. To what purpose, Jeremy, have you arranged for us to go to London? For I know this must be your doing.”

“It will be far easier to convince our fathers we are happily betrothed from London than when we are right under their noses,” he answered promptly.

“To be sure,” Hastings agreed, pouring her a glass of wine. “A few letters, now and again, detailing your contentment ought to do the trick nicely.”

“Yes, but for how long?” Emmaline persisted. “Sooner or later they will press for a wedding, and what then?”

“By then I, we, shall have put a number of plans into action,” Jeremy replied curtly. “My first step shall be to consult with my solicitor to see if my father can indeed force his conditions upon me.”

“And if he can?” Emmaline asked hesitantly. “However irregular his behavior has been in not yet settling any property or income upon you, that may well be his legal right.”

Jeremy’s face was grim. “I am all too well aware of that,” he told her. “Nevertheless I shall ask. Secondly, I shall lead a model existence for the next few months and perhaps by the time we must break the truth to my father, he will consider me reformed and withdraw his conditions.”

“And if that fails?” Emmaline persisted.

For the next few moments Jeremy paid a great deal of attention to his food. In the end, however, he said with a hesitancy that did not suit him, “While we are in London I shall take you about, introduce you to everyone, and generally show you how to behave. Then, after a while, if you cannot attract a desirable
parti
I shall ... shall eat my hat. Thus your future may be assured.”

“How generous. And your own?” Emmaline dryly.

“I had thought you might look about for someone suitable for me. Someone both I and my father will like in the event that I must marry after all.”

“It may be a trifle difficult for Jeremy to go about courting anyone else while he is formally betrothed to you,” Hastings added helpfully. “Particularly as broken engagements are not much in favor just now, with Lady Charlotte’s behavior as an example.”

“I see,” Emmaline repeated thoughtfully. “So when we break our engagement I may soothe my father with another suitor already to hand and you may satisfy your father with another bride he will approve of. How simple.”

Jeremy did not miss the irony in her voice and he answered a trifle sharply, “Nothing of the sort, and I know it as well as you do. It will be the damnedest nuisance for both of us—being hampered about by this formal betrothal. But I, for one, have no other ideas unless you’ve once more changed your mind about marrying me?”

“Have you changed yours?” she countered. Glaring eyes met, and in the end it was Hastings who broke off the duel by saying, “For the moment, I wish the pair of you would simply resign yourself to having a bit of fun before you look for anything else. Jeremy will need time to consult his solicitor, and in any event neither of your fathers is likely to suddenly appear in London to demand a wedding. At any rate, not without warning.” He paused, then added thoughtfully, “It would look strange, you know, if there were an open breach right away. Wouldn’t want any scandal to get back to ’em.”

“Good God, no!” Jeremy agreed with feeling.

“I would not have phrased it precisely that way,” Emmaline said calmly, “but my sentiments are the same.” Then she added demurely, “And no doubt it will take you some time to properly school me in whom to set my cap for, Jeremy, and what dressmaker to patronize.”

“M’mother will take you to the dressmakers,” Edward said hastily. “Wouldn’t do for Jeremy to be seen taking you to such places. Not the thing at all. Besides, m’mother loves that sort of nonsense. Very hurt if you don’t let her do it.”

“No, my part will simply be snaring potential husbands to present to you for your approval. As well as seeing that you acquire some town polish,” Jeremy added kindly.

“Rubbish!” Emmaline said firmly. “However, I admit I shall be kept quite busy trying to perform the impossible task of finding a female who will meet with both your approval and your father’s. I am not even certain it is possible. Particularly as you have no doubt already met all of the eligible young ladies. This is not precisely the beginning of the Season, I know.”

“I only ask you to try,” Jeremy told her frankly. With a warm smile Emmaline replied, “And so I shall. This will not be easy for either of us but together we may contrive something that will answer.”

“Good,” Hastings said approvingly, his hands coming down flat upon the table with a loud sound. “I’m delighted that’s settled.”

Jeremy eyed his friend for a moment, then said mockingly, “So am I. Now I advise you to attend to your luncheon instead of our affairs so that we may be on our way. I should like to arrive in London before nightfall.”

“I am already prepared to leave,” Hastings said at once, rising. “Miss Delwyn is not, however, so I think I shall have a walk outside while I wait. No doubt the two of you have things you will wish to talk about anyway without me about. Miss Delwyn, you will excuse me?”

“Yes, do go,” Jeremy agreed cordially. “I assure you I shall not mind.”

Emmaline glared at her
fiancé
but politeness made her echo his words. “Pray do as you wish,” she said with a forced smile. “No doubt the fresh air will be welcome to you.”

As soon as he was gone, Jeremy once more sat facing her across the table and the last of Emmaline’s appetite vanished. “Did you—did you wish to say something to me?” she asked him apprehensively.

“That depends. Will you speak frankly with me?” Jeremy answered. “I warn you that I believe it is the only way we may come about.”

“Then of course I shall speak frankly,” Emmaline replied equably.

“Good. Will you tell me why you have never married,” he asked coolly, ignoring her gasp of shock. “Your father told me you have had offers.” Emmaline colored angrily and would have protested had his next words not forestalled her. With a kindness she did not expect he said, “I do not mean to distress you, but I cannot help you find another
fiancé
if I do not know why you are still unwed now. Come, don’t be afraid to tell me the truth.”

That brought Emmaline’s head up with a snap. “I am not afraid,” she retorted frostily. “Very well, since you will have it, I turned down all my previous suitors because they were all dead bores. I could not see myself wed to men old enough to be my father or with no more conversation to them than news of the latest hunt.”

Jeremy regarded her for a long moment with raised eyebrows, cool amusement evident upon his face. When he answered, his voice matched his face. “Ah, now I comprehend the reason you accepted my proposal! You thought I could scarcely be accused of offering boredom. Upon closer acquaintance, however, you no doubt realized there wasn’t anything the least bit interesting about me and that is why you chose to break off our betrothal. But, of course, you were too much the lady to wound me by saying so.”

With another flush Emmaline rose from the table and turned her back upon him. “Don’t be absurd,” she said angrily.

His voice came from behind her and his hands gripped her shoulders as he asked quietly, “No? Then why did you break our betrothal? I know you too well to entirely believe the reasons you have given me.”

She did not at once answer and a gentle finger treacherously began to stroke at the back of her neck. Emmaline shivered and after a moment Jeremy turned her around to face him, his strong hands brooking no argument. As her face tilted up at his, an unspoken plea strong in her eyes, something stirred within him. Almost against his will his face came closer and his lips closed upon hers. He meant to be gentle, he meant to kiss her lightly, but the kiss became something more, searing through both of them. Had his arms not slid around her waist, Emmaline’s knees would have given way and she would have fallen. Her hands stole up around his neck and she could not help but respond to his demanding lips.