Loving the Marquess (8 page)

Louisa shook her head.

“The marquess is not to blame, nor was his father or
brother. It was his uncle who cheated Papa.”

John shook his head, his anger only increasing the more she
tried to make him see reason.

“It matters not. He is a Manning and they are all alike.”

“Lord Overlea is
saving
us, John. After our marriage
we will never again want for anything.”

“I have already made plans to take care of us. It is my
responsibility, not yours.”

Louisa wanted to scream with frustration, knowing her
brother would never see reason on this subject. Catherine had remained silent
during their exchange, but it wasn’t hard to read her thoughts from the
expression on her face. Guilt and hope. Clearly, she could see the advantages
of her sister marrying the Marquess of Overlea would be plentiful. Ignoring her
brother for the moment, she grasped Catherine’s hands.

“It will be fine. I want to do this. We have yet to settle
the details, but the marquess has promised that you are to have a Season. Just
imagine! You will put everyone to shame. You will have the choice of any man
you desire.”

“What about you, Louisa? You, too, could have your choice of
any man.”

Louisa shook her head.

“I am five and twenty, far too old for a Season. And we all
know that without a dowry and someone’s patronage I would never secure a
match.”

Catherine was about to protest, but Louisa forestalled her.

“Overlea is not unattractive,” she said, trying to ignore
the heat she could feel creeping into her face. “I do not think marriage to him
would be a great hardship.”

John bristled at her words, but she ignored him. She had
meant her assurances to put her brother and sister at ease, but as she said
them she realized it was the truth. She remembered, again, the kiss she and the
Overlea had shared and her flush deepened. And aside from the fact that he was
a very attractive man, he had shown her and her family great kindness.

She had approached him for help and his response had far
exceeded her expectations. Rather than merely ensuring her family would
continue to have a roof over their heads, he had decided to provide her with
the means to secure all their futures. It was true that her relationship with
Overlea would be a practical one, but most marriages began in such a manner.

Their upcoming marriage would also give her what she had
most wanted—a family of her own. She had long ago given up hoping that should
would one day marry and have children, but now that dream was within her grasp.

She believed she and Overlea would get on well, despite the
niggling doubt that he had not been completely honest with her. Whatever he was
hiding, she would deal with it later. For now, she had to provide for John and
Catherine.

She turned back to her brother.

“The marquess can guarantee your entrance into any school
you desire. I’ve already spoken to him and he will see to it that you are able
to attend Oxford.”

John said nothing, but his arms were crossed and his
expression mutinous. Louisa didn’t miss, however, the brief flicker of longing
that had crossed his face at her words. Oh yes, she was definitely doing the
right thing.

She turned back to her sister. “I have already set the table
and dinner should be ready. Could you see to it while I speak to John alone for
a moment?”

Catherine cast a doubtful glance in John’s direction, but
she shrugged and headed into the kitchen with a soft “good luck” meant only for
Louisa’s ears. When she was gone, Louisa led John to the sitting room and closed
the door.

“You have already put off your education because of Papa’s
passing, and as you pointed out, you don’t want to leave us to fend for
ourselves. Now there is nothing to keep you from continuing your education.”

“The price is too high,” he said.

“I am old enough to know what I’m doing and you know I have
always been a good judge of character. If I had any reservations at all I would
never have accepted Overlea’s proposal.”

“You cannot be serious. You barely know the man.”

She tried a different approach. “Have you not thought about
Catherine?”

“What does she have to do with this?”

“You know the guilt she carries. She has always blamed
herself for Mama’s death.”

“Catherine is a child. Father is the one to blame for his
actions. He didn’t have to drink himself into the ground and gamble away the
house and estate.”

“How long do you think it will be before she throws herself
at some man who she believes will save us? She is seventeen and I’ve seen the
way some of the men in the village look at her.”

The color drained from her brother’s face and he clenched
his fists.

“I will kill anyone who attempts to take advantage of her.”

“The best course of action—nay, the only course of action—is
the one I have chosen. Once we have Overlea’s protection, Catherine’s guilt
will ease.”

“And what of you? How are your actions any different from
what you fear she might do?”

She couldn’t believe how stubborn her brother was being.

“Overlea isn’t taking advantage of me. I am no fool, John.
He needs a wife and an heir and for whatever reason he has settled on me. Ours
will be a respectable union and no different from the marriage arrangements
that are often made between families.”

“I still don’t approve,” John said.

Louisa sighed. It was clear her brother was determined not
to be swayed.

“Everything will work out. Overlea will be paying us a call
tomorrow to discuss the details of the marriage contract. You can act as
chaperone when he does and see for yourself that his intentions are honorable.”

Louisa said a silent prayer that her brother wouldn’t pick
up on her suspicion that Overlea was keeping something important from them.

The morning seemed to drag on
forever. At breakfast Louisa found it almost impossible to eat, but somehow
managed to choke down a few bites of toast while Catherine prattled on about
nothing in particular and her brother sat glowering at her from across the
table. She was relieved when he left for his studies, but he promised to be
home that afternoon for Overlea’s visit. She knew John was hoping Overlea would
change his mind, but she was confident he wouldn’t. Overlea would be there.

Catherine wasn’t surprised to hear that she wouldn’t be
present during the discussion of the marriage contract, and Louisa was relieved
when she announced she was leaving to visit one of their neighbors. It had
strained her almost to the breaking point to listen to her sister’s normal
chatter about plants and about her plans for the garden next spring. Although
she’d tried to behave as usual, she was sure Catherine could tell that her mind
was on Overlea’s upcoming visit.

It was after one in the afternoon when she heard male voices
outdoors. She groaned when she recognized they belonged to her brother and the
marquess. She dropped the mending she’d allowed to pile up back into its basket
and rose with haste, hoping to intercept their conversation before John said
something to offend the marquess.

The front door opened and she was relieved to see Overlea
follow her brother into the house. It was clear John wasn’t happy he was there,
but at least he hadn’t tried to turn him away. Her gaze locked with Overlea’s
and for a moment she almost forgot to breathe. The knowledge that this man was
actually going to be her husband struck her with renewed force.

“My Lord,” she said, dropping her gaze and dipping into a
brief curtsey.

He raised an eyebrow in silent comment at the change in her
demeanor before inclining his head in acknowledgement. She hadn’t seen his
companion until he turned to the man beside him.

“This is my solicitor, Mr. Stephens. I thought it best to
include him in our discussion since he will be drawing up the marriage
settlement.”

“We won’t be signing anything until we have someone else
look it over,” John said. He didn’t come out and say that he believed Overlea
was trying to take advantage of Louisa, but the implication was there.

“John—” she started.

“That is quite all right,” Overlea said. “I would expect
nothing less. One must be thorough when it comes to such things.”

“Especially when one is dealing with a Manning,” John said.

Louisa glared at her brother, embarrassed by his rudeness,
but the marquess didn’t acknowledge the insult.

She greeted Mr. Stephens before turning back to Overlea.
“I’m afraid we have no study. Would you care to wait in the sitting room while
I speak to my brother for a moment?”

She thought she detected a hint of amusement in Overlea’s
eyes, but it was gone so quickly she was left wondering if she had imagined it.
She watched the two men go into the sitting room before turning to walk down
the hallway. She didn’t have to tell her brother to follow.

She tried to keep her annoyance from her voice when she
faced him. “I know this is difficult for you, but you must promise to stop
being rude to Overlea. He has shown us nothing but kindness.”

Her brother’s expression, already mutinous, became darker.

“Make no mistake, John, I
will
marry him. All our
futures depend on Overlea’s generosity. You would do well to think about that
the next time you try to antagonize him.”

John remained silent and all she could do as they joined the
two men in the sitting room was hope that he would refrain from making any
further negative comments.

 Overlea was deep in conversation with his solicitor, but
they broke off and stood when she and her brother entered the room. She didn’t
miss the assessing gaze Overlea swept over her drab brown outfit and she found
herself wishing she’d given in to her impulse to wear the dress Overlea had
caught her admiring the last time he was there. She hadn’t yet delivered it to
Miss Manning and the temptation had been great to don it for today’s meeting,
especially since he had remarked on how the color suited her.

She hesitated for a moment, flustered when she saw that
Overlea’s solicitor had chosen to sit in the room’s one armchair while Overlea
sat on one end of the settee. She recovered quickly and, hoping he hadn’t
noticed, took a seat on the other end. She watched him from lowered lashes as
he resumed his seat.

Despite the fact that there was a respectable space between
them, she was very aware of how near he sat. She imagined she could almost feel
the heat radiating from his body. She hoped he couldn’t tell she was a nervous
wreck. By contrast, he seemed to be taking their situation completely in
stride. If he had any doubt about the wisdom of marrying a stranger or if he
was at all affected by her presence, it didn’t show. If they were going to deal
with each other in marriage, she would have to get over her nervousness around
him. After all, it wasn’t as though theirs was a love match. She had no doubt
that Overlea expected her to deal with him in a straightforward manner.

While his solicitor drew papers out of his case and sorted
through them, she took advantage of the delay to examine him again. She didn’t see
any sign of the weakness he had exhibited when he’d shown up on her doorstep
and she wondered again what could have caused his illness. Her gaze traveled
back to his face, where she saw that he was taking in her perusal, one brow
raised. She looked away again, cursing her fair skin as heat swept over her
cheeks.

She fixed her gaze on Mr. Stephens, who handed her a small
sheaf of papers. The meeting didn’t take as long as she would have expected.
Overlea must have met with his solicitor right after he’d spoken to her,
because the details she had discussed with him—a Season for Catherine and
provisions for John’s education—were already included. He had also settled upon
Catherine a very generous dowry, one that would ensure she made an excellent
match.

“It is too much,” she said, meeting the marquess’s gaze for
the first time since the meeting had started.

He shrugged. “It is to be expected for a member of my
family, and once we are married your sister will become my family. I will not
shirk my responsibility to her.”

Logically, she knew he was correct, but she was beginning to
feel as though she were taking advantage of him. True, she was promising to try
to provide him with the one thing he wanted most, an heir, but that was
something he could have had from any number of women. Women who would actually
bring assets of their own to the marriage.

“When is the happy event to take place?” John asked.

He’d been so quiet that she’d almost forgotten his presence.
He was leaning against a wall, but every line of his body was tense, as though
he were ready to strike out at any moment.

She looked at Overlea, unaware of the protocol for marriage
after the death of one’s parent. “Father died six months ago. Should we wait
until a year has passed?”

He shook his head. “Six months is enough if we keep the
ceremony private.”

Louisa had thought she’d have more time to adjust to the
idea of her upcoming marriage, hoping that in that time she’d get to know her
future husband better. It was a vast understatement to say he unsettled her and
left her feeling unbalanced.

She realized she was biting her lower lip when she noticed
Overlea’s gaze had settled on her mouth. She stopped, worried that he
disapproved of the nervous gesture. His eyes met hers and she blushed when she
saw the heat reflected in their depths. This time it was he who looked away
first.

“I imagine a wedding will take some time to arrange,” she
said, trying to order her scattered thoughts.

“Grandmother is planning a ball for the end of the month.
She was hoping to announce our engagement at that time.”

Panic rushed through her at the thought, for she wasn’t sure
she was ready for the whole world to learn about their engagement so soon.
There was also the fact that she had nothing to wear to such an event.