The Earl's Marriage Bargain (Liberated Ladies)

From the expression on the old man’s face he was not interested in hearing expressions of sympathy—or of making any, come to that, Ivo thought. His grandfather had offered him no words of consolation on the loss of his father, but then he was probably all too aware that there had been a yawning gap of mutual indifference between the two of them.

‘I see your point. But I am not in the army now, sir.’ Ivo still thought his grandfather was being pessimistic, but the loss of his elder son, however much the pair of them fought, must have been a shock to the old man. He wondered if he should say something, however unwelcome, then told himself it would be hypocritical. His father had been a distant figure, almost a stranger, and he had no idea what words might help the Marquess.

‘So, are you?’

‘What?’

‘Betrothed! Or promised or entangled? Because if you are not, then I’ve just the girl for you. Tredlestone’s middle girl. Fine healthy stock, good bloodlines, sisters married well and they have all got boys. She’ll have an excellent dowry. I’ve not sounded out Tredlestone—nothing said, you know, just hints and nudges, but he’ll be a happy man if you offer for her, I can tell you.’

And what will Miss Tredlestone be? Happy to be married off to a man she has never met? I have only to show the slightest interest, pay a visit and that will be that, thanks to the old devil’s hints and nudges. I’ll chose my own bride, thank you very much, sir.

He just had to put his grandfather off for a while, gain some breathing space. He must marry, he knew that, but it was too soon, he felt too raw and, even after what she had done, some foolish part of him wanted Daphne. Still loved her, however impossible that seemed. It would not be fair to another woman to begin a courtship, even if he could find the heart for it.

‘No... Not exactly betrothed, no,’ Ivo said slowly, pushing all thoughts of Daphne away as he searched for a delaying tactic. ‘There’s a young lady I met very recently for whom I have, I suppose, developed feelings.’

Very simple feelings—mainly a desire to box her ears or have her locked up for her own good. Or kiss her until her toes curl.

‘We have spent some little time getting to know each other. Nothing has been said, there is no commitment, but I find I cannot forget her. I certainly do not feel it would be honourable to pay court to Miss Tredlestone with my feelings for another lady so...unresolved.’

What was largely unresolved was whether he should go to Batheaston, locate Cousin Violet and make sure Jane had arrived safely. And then decide what to do about her hare-brained scheme to set herself up as a portrait painter in Bath. What he should do, he was well aware, was to put a stop to that. That was what her parents would want.

‘Who is this young woman? Good family?’

‘Not as good as Miss Tredlestone. Gentry. Respectable, prosperous.’ At least, he supposed so. Jane’s travelling dress had been well made and was in the current fashion, her luggage was of excellent quality and her parents could afford a post chaise. ‘But intelligent, lively, pretty enough. Firm-minded,’ he added. Stubborn as a mule. ‘Artistic.’ Eccentric.

‘Hmm. Perhaps an injection of solid gentry blood would do no harm. Look at my other grandsons: good breeding hasn’t done much for them. What’s this girl think of you, though? Interested, is she? She would be a fool not to be.’

Ivo did not take that as a personal compliment. Any young woman would be expected to look more than favourably on the heir to a marquessate who was under seventy, had his own teeth and was not noticeably debauched. Her mama, having failed to identify an available duke or ducal heir, would be in ecstasies—which was dangerous. He would have to tread very carefully so as not to raise expectations in either breast—Jane’s or Mrs Newnham’s.

‘She considers me to be too staid.’ He ignored the old man’s rasp of amusement. ‘I have reason to believe that she does not find me actively displeasing.’

She wanted me to kiss her, after all.

&nbs

p; ‘But I am not at all certain she wishes to settle down at present. As I said, I have not resolved in my mind what action I wish to take in respect of her.’

All I do know is that I would have to be all about in the head to fall for such a difficult female in reality.

‘You had better make up your mind, then, hadn’t you? Miss Tredlestone will not be sitting on a shelf waiting for you.’

‘Quite.’ Thank goodness.

‘Where does this young lady live?’

‘Not far from Bath. I may call in a day or so when I have settled in,’ Ivo said casually, waiting for an interrogation about any other plans, aspirations or interests he might have.

Instead he got a dismissive wave of the hand. ‘I have got papers to attend to. I will see you at dinner. The entire East Wing’s yours, I’ve had them move the clothes you left behind in your old rooms into the dressing room there. Do what you like with it—just don’t hold rackety parties that keep me awake half the night.’

‘No, sir. I can undertake not to do that,’ Ivo said to the top of his grandfather’s bent head. The once thick dark hair was all white now and there were glimpses of pink scalp beneath. He swallowed his irritation. This was an ageing man who had received a hard blow with the loss of his son, however he might pretend otherwise. He would do what he could to make life easier for the Marquess—provided that did not involve having his marriage arranged for him.

* * *

‘The village is as charming as I remember it.’ In the early afternoon, two days after her arrival, Jane strolled along the High Street, arm in arm with her cousin. ‘But it seems very small.’

‘We have scarcely two hundred inhabitants,’ Violet said with a chuckle ‘So you soon learn to recognise everyone. I cannot pretend that it has the most varied and stimulating society—there is the church, of course, and the Ladies’ Gardening Gathering and there are perhaps fifteen families with whom one might dine. But there is always Bath. As you can imagine, a new face is always welcome and I am sure your arrival will stimulate a positive flood of invitations.’

They walked on a few yards and Jane admired some of the gardens—clearly the Ladies’ Gardening Gathering had enthusiastic members.