Loving the Marquess (11 page)

“I’m having a very difficult time picturing you falling
prostrate at the feet of a woman, then turning around and asking her to marry
you.” Kerrick shook his head at the image. His demeanor became somber, though,
as he continued. “I know you don’t want me to speak of it, but surely you can
find someone who can help you with this illness.”

Nicholas shook his head. This was a subject he hated to
think about.

“Both my father and my brother consulted all the leading
physicians and no one knows what this illness is. Apparently they’ve never seen
anything like it. The only thing they do know, and even that was a guess after
my brother fell ill, is that the condition is inherited.”

“What do you need me to do?” Kerrick asked after a moment of
silence.

“Before I continue, I need you to promise you’ll hear me
out.”

“You’re beginning to make me nervous. Just tell me what you
need.”

Nicholas nodded and pushed away from the desk. He walked
around it, pulled out his chair, and sank into it heavily. “Overlea needs an
heir.”

“I presume that is why you are marrying.”

“In part. My recent bout of illness, however, did make me
realize one thing. I cannot risk having a child of my own.”

Kerrick was clearly confused by his words.

“If you are not intending to father children, why are you
marrying? You already have an heir.”

“No,” he said, his tone emphatic. “Edward cannot inherit.”

Kerrick leaned forward. “You’re not making sense. I can see
why you don’t want Manning to become the next marquess, but the only way to
avoid that is to have a male child of your own.”

Nicholas shook his head.

“Not quite. It is my wife who will produce the heir.
Everyone need only assume that the child is mine.”

Kerrick sat back, stunned. “You would do that?”

“I have no other choice.”

“Yes, Nicholas, you do. You are speaking nonsense. You
actually want your wife to pass off someone else’s child as your own? When it
is not even certain that you would pass on your illness to your children?”

Nicholas laughed, the sound bitter. “That is not a chance I
am willing to take. And the father wouldn’t be just anyone. It would be someone
of my choosing. Someone with impeccable bloodlines himself.”

Nicholas knew the moment Kerrick understood what he was
saying. His expression changed from confusion to incredulity, then anger. He
stood abruptly, moved to the desk and leaned over it, his face mere inches from
Nicholas’s own.

“You are insane. Does your wife-to-be know you plan to whore
her out to some other man? To me?”

The words were calculated to make him cringe and they hit
their mark. He’d been careful not to think about what Louisa Evans’s reaction
would be. Unlike Kerrick, however, she would have no choice in the matter after
she signed the marriage contract and promised to provide him with an heir.

“Have a care what you say.”

“The hell I will,” Kerrick said, pushing himself away from
the desk.

Nicholas had been expecting the disbelief. He’d even known
Kerrick would be angry. What he hadn’t expected was the flash of disgust he’d
seen on his friend’s face. He said nothing as Kerrick paced across the room.
For a moment Nicholas thought he was going to storm out the door, but instead
he turned abruptly and stalked back to the desk.

“I won’t do it,” he said, his mouth a grim line.

Nicholas had expected his refusal, but he was certain he
could make Kerrick see reason.

“Then I will find someone else.”

Kerrick’s jaw tightened. “Who?”

Nicholas shrugged, pretending a casual indifference he was
far from feeling.

“I am sure there are any number of men who would gladly do
the deed. I would have preferred it to be someone I knew could be counted on to
keep his mouth shut, but…” He shrugged again as he allowed his voice to trail
off.

“Don’t do this, Nicholas. Think of the scandal if word were
to get out”

“It matters not. You know there will be rumors anyway after
Louisa and I marry so quickly, but her position as marchioness will serve as a
nice buffer against those rumors.” He braced his arms on the desk and leaned
forward. “My heir will survive those rumors. He would hardly be the first
by-blow to assume a title. Overlea, however, would not survive Edward as the
marquess. He would drive the estate into the ground. And you’ve heard the
rumors that are swirling around town about him. From what I’ve recently
learned, I daresay most of them are true.”

Kerrick sank into his chair again and buried his head in his
hands. It was almost a full minute before he looked up.

“Have you so little regard for this woman you are to marry?
From what you’ve told me, she may have saved your life. You probably wouldn’t
have survived a night out on the road, not in the condition you were in.”

“She won’t be happy. In fact, I expect her to be furious,
but she is a practical woman. She will do what needs to be done. And when I die
she will give thanks every day that she will never have to watch her own child
and grandchildren succumb to the same illness. Grandmother has already lost a
son and a grandson to that illness. Soon, she’ll have lost two of her four
grandchildren. Louisa Evans will not have to suffer that same fate. Better she
should think me a bastard now than suffer what my grandmother has.”

Kerrick had stilled during his speech. Without conscious
thought, Nicholas had risen at some point. He had never before spoken so
passionately about what was to come. He had always avoided the subject of his
eventual death.

He turned and stalked to the window, trying to get his
emotions back under control.

Neither spoke for what seemed a very long time, the two men
locked in a silent battle of wills, neither willing to admit they might be in
the wrong. In the end, Kerrick approached Nicholas and laid a hand on his
shoulder.

“I can make no promises,” he said, “but I will return with
you to Kent.”

Nicholas closed his eyes in relief. Everything was going to
work out as he’d hoped.

The morning of the wedding dawned
and Louisa was surprised at the calmness that had settled over her. She’d been
overwhelmed at first by all the wedding details, but just as he’d promised,
Nicholas’s grandmother had taken care of everything.

Lady Overlea had already arranged to have most of the Evans
family’s personal belongings moved to Overlea Manor. John had been sullen and
silent during the last weeks but he hadn’t protested, and for that Louisa was
grateful. That night her brother and sister would be sleeping in their new
rooms at Overlea manor. She knew Catherine, at least, was very excited by the
prospect.

She, on the other hand, would be spending the night here
with her new husband. Before leaving, Nicholas had informed his grandmother
that he wanted privacy after tonight’s ball, and since some of the guests would
be spending the night at the manor house before departing on the morrow, it was
decided they would get that privacy only by retiring to the Evans cottage. A
group of servants were there now, preparing the house for her honeymoon night
with her new husband.

She shied away from thoughts of the upcoming wedding night.
She had expected to see Overlea at some point during the last week, but he’d
sent word that he was delayed in town. A part of her had half expected to learn
he’d changed his mind and that there would be no wedding. She’d been relieved,
therefore, when he’d sent her a second note apologizing for his delay but
promising to arrive last night.

She stood now in front of her mirror as the housemaid Lady
Overlea had sent over flitted about her, adjusting the folds of her wedding
gown and adding a pearl necklace and ear bobs. Louisa could only stare in
wonder at her reflection, barely able to recognize the elegant woman in the
mirror. Since the wedding was to be a small family affair, they’d chosen a
simple white dress. Louisa had worried that with her fair skin and hair she’d
look pale and colorless, but the silk fabric had a subtle rose undertone that
brought out a hint of color in her cheeks and complemented her gray eyes. A few
tendrils of her normally straight hair had been cut and now curled becomingly
around her face, and flowers she didn’t recognized had been woven into her
hair. Louisa knew Lady Overlea and Catherine had enjoyed picking them out from
the flowers that grew in the conservatory at Overlea Manor.

An abbreviated knock at the door was her only warning before
Catherine burst into the room with an excited flourish. Louisa could only stare
in wonder as her sister twirled in front of her, showing off her pale rose gown
and the elaborate upsweep of her hair. She dismissed the maid and greeted her
sister with a hug.

Catherine drew back with a laugh and looked her over.

“You are beautiful, Louisa,” she said with a sigh.

Louisa smiled. She hadn’t had had any doubts, but seeing
Catherine so happy and excited about the future reaffirmed that she was doing
the right thing. She wouldn’t be able to feign the excitement her sister was
feeling, but at least she’d banished her nerves. If only she’d been able to
speak to Nicholas one more time before the wedding. It seemed like such a long
time since she had last seen him.

“I spoke to John,” Catherine said, “and I warned him not to
scowl today.”

“I’m sure that once everyone learns Overlea has married
someone he barely knows and who is so far beneath him, tongues will start
wagging in earnest. What is a frown or two from a disapproving relative after
that?”

Louisa aimed for levity, but in truth she tried not to think
about the ball that would be held later that night. Lady Overlea had explained
that everyone thought Nicholas was going to be announcing his betrothal
tonight. The news that he had already married would come as a surprise.

“Yes, well, I told John that I would never speak to him again
if he ruined your wedding.”

Her sister’s vehemence surprised her.

“Don’t worry,” Catherine said. “I probably wouldn’t last
more than a couple of days without speaking to him. I don’t want him to know
that, though.”

Louisa couldn’t help but laugh. At some point in the last
three weeks her sister had taken on the role of champion of her upcoming
wedding. She knew Catherine was looking forward to her upcoming Season next
spring and hoping to have a similar wedding in the not-too-distant future.

“I am trying not to think about John,” Louisa admitted.
“He’s been so quiet these past few weeks and rarely speaks to me anymore.”

“He loves you, but he thinks he has failed us. Just when he
had determined he would sacrifice his education for the well-being of the family,
you snatched that away from him with your own sacrifice. His pride is a little
put out.”

Louisa could only stare at her sister in amazement. “When
did you grow up and become so wise?”

Catherine smiled fondly at her. “I have had a very good
teacher.”

Louisa dabbed at the tears that sprang to her eyes at her
sister’s words, which caused Catherine to frown at her.

“There’s to be no crying,” she said, waving a finger in
front of Louisa in mock admonition. “Today is a day for happiness only.”

Louisa took a deep breath and gave her sister a weak smile.
“I will do my best.”

Another knock sounded at the door and her heartbeat sped up.
It was foolish, but she wondered if Overlea had come to see her. She was
disappointed when the maid entered and announced that the carriage was ready to
take them to the chapel.

 “Is my brother ready?” she asked.

“He has already left and asked me to let you know he would
meet you there.”

Louisa nodded and turned back to Catherine. “Are you ready?”

Her sister’s haste in leading the way was answer enough.

The drive to the chapel was blessedly quiet. Normally
Catherine liked to fill any silence with chatter, but she must have sensed
Louisa’s need for quiet. As the carriage came to a stop, however, Catherine
reached across the seat and squeezed her hand. “Everything will be fine.”

Louisa smiled, relieved that for once she could sit back and
allow someone to give her comfort. It was clear she no longer had to worry
about her sister.

A footman opened the carriage door and held out a hand to
help first Catherine, then Louisa, down. It was a perfect fall day. The air was
crisp but not too cold. The leaves were beginning to change color and she
couldn’t help but note that she, too, was changing. Her old life was dropping
away, soon to be replaced by a new one. She only hoped she would not have to go
through a barren, metaphorical winter before that happened.

She looked up at the chapel. It was a small country church,
a fact for which she was grateful. Given his position in society, the Marquess
of Overlea could have insisted they have their wedding in a London cathedral in
front of heaven only knew how many guests.

 “Aside from your brother, everyone is inside, my lady,” the
footman said.

Louisa spotted John then. He’d been waiting at the side of
the chapel and was coming around to meet her. This was the first time she had
ever seen him dressed in formal attire, and it made him appear older than his
eighteen years. He stopped when he was a few feet away.

“If you are determined to do this, I would like to give you
away.”

Profound relief swept through her and she closed the
distance between them to embrace him. A sense of peace settled within her.
Everything was going to be fine now.

The small group followed the footman into the chapel. Louisa
and John waited in the vestibule while Catherine was shown to her place. John’s
expression was intent as he searched her features, and she knew that her
brother was looking for any sign of doubt. She smiled at him and took his arm.