Enticing the Earl (19 page)

Lucy entered the bedchamber as Simon moved to the salon to give them privacy. Lucy closed the bedroom door.

“I picked out the rose silk.”

“Isn’t that too fancy for dinner?”

Lucy laughed. “Oh no, my lady. Since all the family is here now, dinner will be a formal event.”

“Lucy, how will I ever get used to all this?” Mia whispered.

Lucy tied her stays. “You are doing perfectly, my lady. In no time, this will be second nature to you.”

“I hope so.”

The conversation waned as Lucy worked at getting her dressed and performing magic with Mia’s unruly hair. By the time Lucy finished, Mia barely recognized herself in the mirror. With a beautiful silk gown and upswept hair, she at least looked the part of a countess. Hopefully, his family would realize that too.

The bedroom door opened and Simon stopped at the threshold. He leaned against the door frame, staring at her. “You look almost perfect.”

“Almost?” Insecurity attacked her. Had she forgotten something important?

He walked closer and then spun her around. Cold metal touched her neck and chest. “Now, you look perfect.”

Mia turned to glance in the mirror. A gasp escaped her lips when she saw the most incredible diamond necklace lying against her skin. “I—I cannot wear something so valuable.”

Simon’s dimples deepened. “Of course you can. You are my wife. My countess. These are my grandmother’s diamonds. She was the daughter of a duke and was given these when she came out.”

Oh dear, Mia had completely forgotten that his grandmother would be here too. Would she be upset to see Mia wearing her diamonds? “Does she know I’ll be—”

“Not quite. She heard I had brought my bride so she sent these over for you to wear tonight.”

So the dowager countess had no idea who her grandson had married. Now Mia had to worry about his mother and grandmother disparaging her. Of course, perhaps they’ve had the last three hours to come to terms with Simon’s decision. Caroline must have told them all that Mia was here.

“Ready?” Simon asked.

She would never be ready for this. “Yes.”

Simon laughed. “No, you’re not, but thank you for putting on a brave face.”

They walked together down the stairs. Voices rose from the blue salon as they approached. Mia’s body trembled with every step they took. They entered the room and the conversation halted.

“Oh my God!” his mother exclaimed before rising out of her chair. “You married that wise woman whore!”

S
imon’s anger swiftly elevated at his mother’s reaction. Mia clutched his arm. He could feel her trembling next to him. “Mother, this is my wife and I expect you to treat her with all the respect she deserves.”

His mother stalked them both. “Deserves? She is no one. And she is wearing your grandmother’s diamonds! She can’t help you with...”

Thankfully, she stopped before telling everyone of his financial woes. “That is enough. It is done.”

“I rather think she might be just what he needs,” his grandmother finally said from the sofa. Slowly, she stood and ambled over to them both. She looked at Mia with a critical eye. “I haven’t seen you in three years, my dear. How are you?”

“I am very well, my lady,” Mia replied softly.

“I have missed our conversations.”

Simon and his mother stared at them both in disbelief. “Conversations?” Simon asked with a quizzical eye to Mia.

“Of course,” his grandmother replied with a smile. “Mia and I would meet near the pond at Hartsfield Park and discuss many things.”

“Such as?” Simon couldn’t contain his curiosity.

“Literature. History. And of course current events, fashions. All the things women speak of when they are together.” His grandmother stepped closer. “Now come give me a hug.”

His frail-looking grandmother brought Mia into a strong hug.

“Simon, I would like to speak to you in the library,” his mother demanded.

“Will you be all right?” he asked Mia.

“Of course, she will, boy,” his grandmother said. “Now go get your scolding from your mother.”

Mia nodded with a smile to his grandmother. “I believe I shall be fine.”

The pair walked into the room where Caroline introduced them to her family. Simon turned and faced his mother with a scowl. “Let us talk, Mother.”

Her face paled slightly in the dim light. Once in the library, Simon closed the door. “What were you thinking attacking my wife like that in front of all those people? Do you have any idea of how terrified she was to meet everyone tonight? Explain yourself.”

Putting his mother on the defense softened her attitude... slightly. “Simon, you took me by surprise. I was shocked that you would think to marry someone so far below your station in life.”

“Mother, I love her.”

“I know that.”

“You do?”

His mother laughed. “Of course, I do. It’s been evident to anyone who has ever seen you speak with her. You can’t take your eyes off her the moment she walks in the room.” She sighed and sat in a wingback chair. “But it doesn’t change the fact that she can’t help you with your financial difficulties. A wealthy wife would have put your monetary situation to rights.”

“Actually, Mia is extremely well versed with finances. She looked over my books and found errors that I had made.” He glanced away from his mother’s prying stare. “She understands my difficulties with numbers.”

“But you could have married a wealthy woman and kept—”

“Do not say I could have kept Mia as my mistress,” he warned with a glare. “I never would have disrespected my wife or Mia with such an arrangement.”

“I know, you have too much of your father in you for that.” His mother shook her head. “This is such a disaster,” she bemoaned.

“I am working with Mia to solve my money issues. Would it have been easier to fix it if I had married a woman of means? Yes. But it is too late for that.”

“Simon, she has made no secret of the fact that she has had lovers.”

“I know that, Mother. I am the one who rescued her from the last one. But I also know that she will be faithful.”

Her blue eyes widened. “Did she seduce you and tell you she was with child?”

“No, Mother. In fact, she wouldn’t give me an answer to my proposal until after her monthlies had arrived. She was not about to saddle me with another man’s child.”

“Oh.” She sank into a wingback chair with a sigh.

“She is a wonderful woman who helped save your life. Why are you so against this marriage?”

“I only want what’s best for you, son. I just don’t believe Mia Featherstone is that woman.”

“She is the Countess of Hartsfield now. I expect you to treat her with as much respect as you would any woman of the
ton
I might have married.”

She sighed deeply. “As you wish. I will try.”

“That’s all I can ask for. I believe we should get back to the salon.”

They walked back in silence. As much as his mother had said she would try, Simon knew there would be strain between them for some time. Perhaps when Mia produced his heir, then his mother would be happy with his choice in wife.

As he reentered the room, Simon almost laughed. His grandmother sat next to Mia and made sure she was included in the conversations. He scanned the room and noticed James standing near a window glancing outside.

He walked over to his brother. “James, it has been far too long. How did you manage to get away?”

“I was overdue for a short holiday so I thought I would come up for a few days. I never expected this commotion, though.”

“Neither did I.”

“Why Mia, Simon?”

“Why not Mia, James?” God, he was getting tired of this line of questioning.

“No need to get defensive with me. I only want to know if you love her.”

He should have known better than to question James’s motives. “Yes, I do.”

“Good,” James said with a smile. “Then I can welcome her to the family with no qualms.”

As if on cue, Mia approached them. “Mr. Blakesworth, how are you?”

“You are now my sister, Mia. I expect you to call me James.”

“Of course, James. How is your parish?”

“Small but devout. I am quite happy down there despite being so far from my family.” James sipped his sherry slowly.

“It makes me glad to hear you are happy,” Mia said. “Have you married?”

“Not yet. I’m certain that’s why Caroline insisted I attend. She wants to introduce me to one of her friends.”

Simon had never been so happy to be married. There would be no matchmaking mamas after him now. “Good luck.”

“I may have to marry just to stop all the interference from Mother.” James smiled slightly. “Have you heard from Charlie?”

“He left Hartsfield Park right after the wedding,” Simon replied.

“He was at the wedding?” James frowned.

Sensing James was upset about not officiating, Simon said, “He just happened to be there. He said Caroline had sent him to force me to attend the party.”

James scowled but said nothing more on the topic.

 

Even though Simon had imparted all sorts of etiquette on the drive down here, Mia still felt unsure at the dinner table. Simon had been seated several chairs away so she couldn’t ask him. Instead, James sat next to her so she waited for him to pick up a spoon before trying her soup.

Mia finally picked up the same size spoon as James and tasted her soup. The incredible flavor of potato soup washed over her tongue. This was nothing like the potato soup she and her mother would make.

As dinner progressed, she made polite conversation with those around her but her gaze constantly went to Simon. He was seated next to Caroline’s sister-in-law and Caroline’s husband, Richard. Simon appeared to have no issues speaking with those around him. Nor did he look uncomfortable with the number of people in the room. A quick count revealed eighteen people at the table. So perhaps his reticence had to do with more people in the room.

Two-and-a-half hours later, dinner was finally finished. This only brought another type of fear to Mia. Now it was time for the women to retire to the salon while the men stayed and drank brandy. She rose out of her chair slowly to follow the women. Simon gave her a smile for encouragement as she walked away.

She had no idea what women spoke of when ensconced in the salon with no male company. Would they gossip about women she didn’t know? She quickly discovered the topics ran the gamut from how to handle a difficult husband to child rearing. Having no experience with either, she spent most of the time quietly observing the women.

Simon’s mother hadn’t said anything to Mia since her conversation in the library with him. Mia couldn’t wait to have a moment alone with her husband to find out what had been discussed. She was still taken aback by his mother’s venomous attitude toward her.

Caroline was the perfect hostess, making sure all her guests were comfortable and had tea or sherry. She then joined in the conversation regarding morning sickness. Mia hadn’t realized she was with child again.

“Caroline, some peppermint tea might help with the sickness,” Mia suggested quietly to avoid drawing too much attention to herself.

“Thank you, Mia. I shall try that.”

“Drink it before you get out of bed in the morning. As soon as you awaken.”

“I will try it tomorrow. I didn’t have this problem with Nicholas,” Caroline commented.

“Perhaps it will be a girl,” Caroline’s mother-in-law remarked. “That would be wonderful.”

“Or perhaps she should accept the fact that most women have morning sickness and understand that it will pass when God wills it,” Caroline’s mother said sharply, staring at Mia.

“Mother!” Caroline exclaimed.

It was so odd that Simon’s mother would say such a thing after all Mia and her mother had done to help her when she was ill. But Mia couldn’t hold her tongue on this topic. “I have never understood why someone would want to suffer needlessly. There is no cure for morning sickness save having the baby, but there are some herbs that can calm the symptoms.”

“I believe I shall retire. Good night.” Simon’s mother left the room in a huff.

“Silly old bat,” his grandmother commented after she left. “Never understood what my son saw in her.”

The other women in the room stared at Simon’s grandmother with gaped disbelief. Thankfully, the awkwardness departed when the men joined the women for cards and games.

“How did you make out?” Simon asked as he sat next to her.

“Oh, I do believe your mother might never speak to me again.”

“Lucky you,” he whispered with a chuckle.

“Simon,” she said, swatting his arm.

“Caroline and her husband would like us to play cards with them.” He rose and held a hand out for her to grasp.

“What are we playing?” She had a very limited scope of card games.

“Whist.”

“I have never played before,” she admitted.

“If it makes you feel better, I’m not much of a card player.” Simon’s cheeks flushed at the admission.

“The numbers?” she whispered.

He nodded and then escorted her to a small table in the corner. “And that is why we are playing at this table and not one closer to the others. Caroline’s idea in case you didn’t know how to play and to keep me from embarrassing myself.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank Caroline. It was her idea.” Simon pulled out a chair for her.

Once seated, Caroline quietly explained the rules and then they played a trial game. After a couple of games, Mia felt as if she was starting to enjoy it. She and Simon even won a hand. Watching her husband’s face, she could see he struggled with the numbered cards. Many times, she would see his lips move as he counted the suits.

“I believe I am done for the night,” Caroline said, stifling a yawn.

“Good night. And don’t forget the tea,” Mia said.

“Thank you again for the suggestion.”

Simon and Mia also decided to retire. Once in their room and finally alone, Mia asked, “So how was the conversation with your mother?”

Simon rolled his eyes as he removed his jacket. “It was interesting,” he drawled. “I do understand my mother wanting me to marry a wealthy woman after that business with Burton. But I don’t understand her vehemence against marrying you in particular.”

“I have been wondering the same thing all night. Your mother has always been very kind to me and my mother.” Mia turned her back so Simon could unbutton her dress and untie her stays. “Perhaps she truly feels I am not worthy to be countess because of my birth.”

“Yes, except she was hardly from the highest of birth, yet my father married her.” Simon stripped off the rest of his clothing before slipping under the covers with her.

“She wasn’t?”

“No. She was a country squire’s daughter from the Midlands. Nothing more. They had money but no connections in Society.”

“Indeed? I would think that would make her far more compassionate to my situation,” Mia commented. She snuggled up to her husband, resting her head on his chest.

“That’s what I would have thought too.”

“Should I try to speak with her about it?” At this point, Mia didn’t think his mother would stay in the same room with her unless she had no choice.

“Give her some time. Right now, she is angry that she was caught off guard. I suppose that is my fault. I should have sent a letter to her when I knew we would marry.”

Mia nodded against his chest as she yawned. “As you wish.” But before she drifted off to sleep, she decided to have a conversation with Caroline about her mother. Perhaps another woman could give her some insight.