The Spinster Bride (17 page)

“But you, my lady, have not met the conditions of our arrangement,” he said coldly. “Unless your brother has found twenty-four thousand pounds in his back pocket?”

“I hate you.”

He lowered his gaze, then gave her a mocking bow. “I'm certain you do. You will be gratified to know that I will likely ask Lady Caroline for her hand before the end of the season. And then you will be rid of me. Good day, my lady.”

“Good day,” she choked out, feeling tears threaten.

“Oh, I nearly forgot. I'm attending the May Ball tomorrow evening.”

Of course he would be there. As would she. Her mother would never miss attending that grand event. She didn't answer, but walked past him without looking up, fearing he might see the unshed tears in her eyes.

T
he next day, she, along with her brother and Miss Lilianne Cavendish, visited Katherine in her suite at Brown's Hotel for tea. Any doubt Marjorie had about affection between her brother and Miss Cavendish was quickly relieved. She was a quiet, composed creature, with brown hair and brown eyes, wholly unremarkable except when she looked at George. Never did Marjorie believe that anyone could love her brother as much as she did, but she was beginning to think it was possible.

On the way to Brown's, the two of them pored over a book describing the architecture of an Egyptian pyramid, gushing about secret chambers and massive dimensions. George had clearly read the book prior to this, and continued to recite facts and figures about the pyramids. Even Marjorie, who was used to this tendency, was slightly annoyed, but Miss Cavendish was more bemused than anything. And when George started to repeat himself, she would gently insert a comment into the conversation, stopping his monologue. She had a way about her that was both gentle and strong.

Brown's Hotel was located in the heart of Mayfair, a grand, four-story structure of light stone, and Marjorie, given her belief that Avonleigh was strapped for cash, was surprised they were staying there. Still, he was a marquess and a marquess certainly could not stay in one of the seedier hotels.

Katherine greeted them as they entered the hotel with her usual exuberance. She wore a gown Marjorie recognized from the previous year, a forest-green creation with cream lace and pale yellow collar and cuffs.

“I thought after tea we could walk to Green Park. That's why I'm wearing green,” she said, laughing. “Very clever of me, I know. Besides, it's so lovely and not nearly as crowded as Hyde. I've been cooped up in this hotel for far too long. Graham has been busy meeting with lawyers and investors, and I'm about to go mad from boredom.”

Marjorie looked over to the young couple and immediately agreed. There were very few activities when a couple could be alone but also closely chaperoned, and a walk in the park was one of them. She wanted to observe the pair a bit longer, just to assure herself that Miss Cavendish wanted George and not his title.

“That's a lovely idea.”

The four walked to a small restaurant within the hotel and were immediately ushered to a table. Marjorie looked around, nodding to Lady Cartwright, an elderly woman who was friends with her mother, and her recently widowed daughter.

“Oh, my, there's Jennie Jerome and her mother,” Katherine said, apparently delighted. Marjorie shook her head; she didn't know the girl.

Katherine leaned forward. “You know, she caught the eye of Marlborough's son, Lord Randolph. I'd go say hello, but we really didn't run in the same circles. Still, she is an American . . .”

“Yes, now I recall,” Marjorie said, remembering reading something about the American heiress and Lord Randolph. “Aren't they engaged?”

“Yes, much to both their parents' horror. I do sympathize with what they've been through.” Katherine hesitated, then rose and walked to the table where Jennie Jerome sat with an older woman. They chatted briefly, then Katherine returned, smiling.

“What a charming girl,” Katherine said.

Marjorie eyed the other American girl warily. “Please don't be insulted,” she began, then stopped, pressing her lips together. The influx of American girls with money coming in and marrying British titles was a bit disconcerting, particularly for an unmarried British lady.

Katherine waved a dismissive hand. “Don't worry,” she said with a laugh. “We won't take all your men. Only the
poor
titled ones.”

Marjorie couldn't help but laugh at her outrageous friend. “And you are happy, are you not?”

“Terribly happy,” Katherine said. “That was all my father needed to see to give us my dowry. But I do believe we would have been happy without it. Truly I do,” she added when she saw Marjorie's skeptical face.

“If one is going to be happy, it is better to be rich and happy than poor and happy.”

Katherine laughed. “You sound like such a snob when you talk like that. But I still adore you.”

After tea, the foursome walked to Green Park, just down Albemarle and onto Piccadilly, where the park entrance was.

“I like this park better than the rest,” Katherine said as they walked through the massive gates.

“And why is that?”

“Because it's just grass and trees and flowers. It's so natural.”

“It also used to be a leper colony and a haven for thieves,” Marjorie said, looking around the green expanse.

Katherine wrinkled her nose. “Can't you just enjoy a place without knowing every detail of its history?”

“And Queen Elizabeth was nearly assassinated right over there,” Marjorie said, ignoring the admonition and pointing toward Constitution Hill. She stopped her history lesson to smile at George and Miss Cavendish, who were walking ahead of them, heads close together in animated conversation.

“I do believe I've made at least one successful match this season,” Marjorie said.

“They certainly do seem taken with one another. I'm glad.”

“As am I,” Marjorie said feelingly.

“And what of you? How goes your matchmaking adventure?”

Marjorie frowned and looked away from her friend, momentarily surprised how much it hurt even to think of Charles. “He seems quite taken with Lady Caroline. Their families are close so it's almost certain that he'll propose before the end of the season.” She tried to keep all emotion from her voice, but she must have failed.

“I'm sorry,” Katherine said, touching her arm.

“Whatever for? I've been successful. Now George's debt will be cleared and Mother need never know of how foolish he was. But I do blame my cousin in part. He had no business bringing George into such a high-stakes game. Finding Mr. Norris a suitable bride is what I wanted.” She could not look Katherine in the eye, so she kept her gaze on her brother as she lied. She stopped walking and looked down at the gravel path beneath them. No, she couldn't lie to her friend any more. “Of course, it's not what I want. You know that.”

“Oh, Marjorie. I suspected as much.”

Marjorie swallowed, refusing to give in to the emotions that were swarming to the surface. She could not allow herself to show the depth of her despair in such a public place. And so she smiled. “There's nothing to be done. I cannot disobey my mother and he has no interest.”

“I can't believe that's true. I've seen the way he looks at you.”

Marjorie felt a small spark of anger. “And have you seen how he looks at Lady Caroline? I daresay his smiles are more brilliant than when he looks at me. He's a cad, really. Boorish and loud. I haven't the faintest idea why I like him at all.”

“Men can be confusing,” Katherine said.

“Confusing? Confounding!” Marjorie felt a rush of tears and quickly dashed them away.

“What is wrong, Marjorie? Tell me.”

Marjorie swallowed heavily, trying to get her emotions under control. “I must tell you something,” she whispered. “If I don't tell someone, it will fester inside me and kill me for certain.”

“Go on.”

“We've kissed,” she said on a rush. “More than kissed, actually.”

“How much more?” Katherine asked cautiously.

Marjorie gave her friend a look of apt misery. “Quite a bit more. And it's my fault.”

“You didn't,” Katherine said on a gleeful rush. “Oh, and after all the lectures you gave me. Shame on you.”

Marjorie was momentarily confused before she realized what she'd said. “No, no. We didn't do
that
. But we came very close.” She let out another gusty sigh. “I went to see him to discuss Lady Caroline.”

“Alone?”

“I brought my maid, of course. But I didn't only go to discuss Lady Caroline. That was merely the pretense of my visit. His servant brought Alice to the kitchens for tea and then led me to his study and he was, um, rather unclothed.”

“He was
naked?
”

“Very nearly so. He wore only his drawers. And his injury, it's just awful, poor man. I should have left, but I didn't. And then, well, his thing, his man thing, it was . . .”

“Big?”

Marjorie buried her head in her hands and nodded, mortified beyond all being that she was having such a conversation. But there wasn't another person on earth she could tell this to.

“You're not going to believe what I did, what I said. I still can't believe it. It's so unlike me. So against everything I've been brought up to be.”

“What did you do?” Katherine said breathlessly, and Marjorie could tell she was caught between horror and curiosity.

“I asked to see it.” Marjorie looked up at the blue sky and shook her head. “Can you believe I would say such a thing?”

“No,” Katherine said with a small laugh, “I can't. And did he? Let you?”

“No, not at first. He demanded his trousers. He was in such pain he was unable to get them himself. They were across the room, you see. I got them and wouldn't give them to him.” She said this last in a mortified whisper. “Then he did as I asked. Quickly. I called foul and he, well, he dropped his drawers so I could get a better look. Odd things, aren't they?”

“Men?”

“No, their man parts.”

“Oh, yes, quite,” Katherine said, blushing.

“Then things got a bit out of hand and we kissed and . . . other things. The next day, I accompanied him and Lady Caroline to the zoo and he acted as if nothing had happened between us at all.”

“He is a cad.”

“I know!” Marjorie walked a bit farther, hands fisted by her sides, before spinning about to face her friend. “And even though I know he's a cad—and believe me I do know it—I still find myself thinking about him and wishing he felt even the smallest bit of what I feel for him.” She crossed her arms angrily. “I love him. I love a cad.” She threw her arms up in surrender. “To make matters worse, my mother wants me married this year. To Lord Shannock.”

“Who is Lord Shannock?”

“My father's old friend and neighbor. He's onerous. And old. He's in his
fifties
.”

Katherine touched her wrist. “Can your mother force you to marry a man you don't wish to?”

“Of course. She can throw me from the house, and then where would I go? And don't you dare say to you.” Katherine snapped her mouth shut. “Besides, I don't like going against her. She has been so patient with me. I'm nearly twenty-four and have had all kinds of opportunity to marry. Now I fear it's too late.”

Katherine let out a laugh. “Yes, because you are so ancient and pruney.”

Marjorie couldn't bring herself to laugh. “Most women my age are well married and mothers by now. You're married and you're younger than I. Don't think that didn't stick in my mother's craw. My unmarried state is something my own mother points out to me daily. I see girls like Lady Caroline and they seem so very young.” She looked at her brother and smiled sadly. “I didn't think I'd ever marry. I was convinced of it. But now . . .”

Katherine followed Marjorie's eyes. “If George marries, there is nothing to stop you from marrying. Is that it?”

Marjorie nodded. “I suppose I thought he wouldn't find anyone who understood him as I do. But I do believe he's found someone who understands him more.”

The young couple turned just then, their faces alight with pure happiness, and waited for Marjorie and Katherine to catch up to them.

“Marjorie,” George blurted, “I'm going to talk to Lilianne's father this very afternoon. We hope to marry.”

“That's wonderful,” she said, grabbing her brother's hands and giving them an affectionate tug. Then she did the same with Miss Cavendish. “How wonderful it will be to have a sister.” Miss Cavendish gave her a shy smile before looking at George, and it was more obvious than ever that she adored him.

“May I speak with Miss Cavendish privately a moment, George?”

Marjorie could have asked her brother to jump over the moon and she had no doubt he'd at least attempt it. She'd never seen her brother so utterly happy.

Marjorie continued down the path, Miss Cavendish by her side. “I love my brother wholeheartedly, Miss Cavendish, and I would not ever want anything to hurt him.”

“I would never hurt your brother, my lady. I love him. And please call me Lilianne.”

“Yes, I can see that you do. How do your parents feel about this courtship?”

“They approve,” she said, with just enough hesitance that Marjorie's worry grew. “They know George is a bit different from other men his age. But they trust my judgment. I think they fear for me, that I will regret my decision, that I don't know my own heart. That what I feel for George is the same as I would feel for a poor, wounded puppy. But it's not like that at all.”

Marjorie wondered if the girl was just fooling herself. “George can be difficult at times. He's very set in his ways and can spend hours working on his research. You will not be able to pull him away and it can be frustrating.”

“I understand him. I'm very much like him in many ways. I think that's why we suit. I have never felt comfortable with girls my own age and I'm frightened to tears of most men. But when I met George, it was like meeting the second half of myself, as if he were this missing piece of me that fell into place.”

Marjorie's eyes burned from unshed tears and she impulsively grabbed Lilianne's hand. “That was beautifully said. There are very few of us who find that person. I'm so happy for you and George that you have.”