Simon's Brides (13 page)

His former life. He tried to picture one of his ships gliding through the blue waters of the Atlantic, the sails whipping in the wind. However, for the first time in his life the call of the sea was muted.

“Let’s go back,” he demanded, displeasure sharpening his voice. All of this was getting to him, and he couldn’t let it. Maybe he could talk his aunt into having the ball a week early. And, a manager. He needed one yesterday.

~ * ~

“I’ve no idea what’s wrong with him,” Amy told Beth and Caro. “We were riding over the fields, and I pointed out the different herds. All of a sudden he ordered we turn and come back home.”

“It doesn’t make much sense. This estate is doing well. Harold wasn’t here long enough to destroy the farms,” Caro offered.

“You don’t suppose he’d be angry because he doesn’t like it here,” Beth offered.

“I don’t know.” Amy hung her head in despair. She wasn’t going to tell either Beth or Caro about the kisses she and Simon had shared. She wondered if he realized he shouldn’t be kissing someone he intended to offer to another man.

Not possible, she decided. If his anger was because of their kisses, then he would have been seething from the moment she remounted. Instead, his anger appeared long after he had kissed her. It had to be something about the prosperity of the estate that caused his disgust. But, that made no sense either, for he wanted to oversee an estate that could support itself. She gave a heartfelt sigh. Nothing about Simon Warner made any sense.

Their discussion was cut short when Agatha waltzed into the room.

“Oh, there you are.” She cut off their retreat and Amy glanced at her sisters. They weren’t going to be able to avoid Agatha today.

“Might as well get it over with,” Beth whispered.

Amy caught Caro’s slight nod. Once again Beth had the right of it. “Yes,” Amy muttered, “Let’s get this over with.”

So, for the next two hours, the girls offered answers to Agatha’s questions. Finally, just before tea time, Agatha declared the plans for the ball finalized. Amy frowned as she noticed the unhappy look on both Beth’s and Caro’s faces. They didn’t like the idea of strangers invading their home any more than Amy.

She turned prepared to seek her bedroom.

“Amy, a moment of your time.” Simon called to her. “I need to talk to you.”

She made her way down the stairs. As she faced him Simon murmured, “Let’s discuss this in the parlor.”

She relaxed. At least this interview would be conducted openly.

“I want you to talk to your sisters,” he began.

“I speak to them every day. Is there something specific I’m to say?” For a moment she tensed. “Has someone seen Harold?”

He looked startled. Frowning, he cleared his throat. Shaking his head, he said, “No. Harold seems to have vanished. However, this has to do with the responsibility your father gave me. I need some idea of what your sisters desire in husbands. I need to know what you might want in a mate.”

“I have no intention of ever marrying,” she snapped. How many times was she going to have to repeat herself before he understood she would not marry?

“All right. We will discuss what you want at a later time. However, I wonder if you could ask your sisters what kind of spouses they would prefer. I do take your father’s instructions, to see you all happily wed, as a serious duty. I want them to be happy with my choices. Therefore, I need to have some idea what kind of men they would consider good mates.”

Amy frowned. His request seemed genuine. If he thought their happiness paramount, he would need to know what each sister thought desirable. And, she could stress how important it was for her sisters to marry older, settled men, men who would take them away from this place and the curse. She nodded.

“I’ll ask,” she assured him. “Is there anything else?”

“Not at the moment.” His brow furrowed, he turned and walked away.

She jabbed her fists on her hips. Could it be that finding husbands for them was not to his liking? If Simon accepted his responsibility, then why was he frowning? Was it her? Or the fact that she asked if he needed anything else?

She should have pointed out again that she wouldn’t marry, but his possible displeasure with her brought a lump to her throat.

Amy started for her own chamber. She would make a point to speak to each one of her sisters about their ideal spouses, but she doubted they would offer any suggestions. None of them had ever verbalized any specific desires to her. She couldn’t remember talking about marriage and husbands with any of her sisters. Was it because she refused to think about marriage herself?

She shook her head and started to grin. This could be fun, or at the least, interesting. She’d start with Caro.

Amy found Caro returning from her visit to the stable.

“He wants to know what?” Caro demanded.

“He wants to know what you want in a husband,” Amy grinned at her. Caro stopped as stunned as Amy knew she would be. Caro stared back at her.

“I’ll have to think about this. I want someone who’s at least as tall as I am and taller would be better. But, for the rest, ask me in a month or three.”

Amy laughed and followed Caro through the side door of the house. “I know it sounds silly, but do think about it. Simon wants to match you with someone you can like.”

“That’s considerate of him,” Caro announced, sarcasm dripping from her tones.

“Let me know when you’ve decided.”

“How soon do I have to have my list of qualifications ready?” Caro asked.

“He didn’t say. Now, I’m going to ask Beth if she has any idea what kind of a man she might want.”

Caro chuckled. “I want to hear this.”

The women found Beth in the family parlor, working on a tapestry. She took the request much more seriously than Caro had.

“I haven’t thought about it much. I do know I don’t want to marry a farmer. Aunt Agatha’s choice is not mine.”

“So, you don’t want a farmer. Well, then, what do you want?” Caro questioned.

“I want someone I can like. I don’t care how old or how wealthy. That isn’t important.” She laid her needlework aside. “But, someone soft spoken, someone who wants to help people. Those kind of men are gentle and considerate.”

Amy nodded and smiled. At least Beth wanted someone older, someone settled. “I’ll tell Simon, unless you want to tell him yourself.”

“No, you can tell him. Is this question for all of us? Are you going to ask Dora and Ellie?”

“I told him I’d speak to each of you. Do you want to come along with Caro and me?”

Beth stood and straightened her gown, “I’d like to hear the kind of man Dora’s interested in. I’ll wager the gentleman’s appearance will be important to her.”

Caro and Amy laughed and the three women started for Dora’s room.

“Oh, no.” Dora grimaced then added, “You can’t be serious. I have no idea. I haven’t given it any thought at all. I suppose, if I had my choice, I’d like a man dedicated to the soil. And, he’d have to have a terrific sense of humor. A man who can’t laugh at himself would be a bore. I rather liked that friend of Philip Anderson’s, the squire.”

“I’ll tell Simon, unless you want to tell him,” Amy offered.

“I’ll tell him. But, I would love to see how he explains to Aunt Agatha that I’m interested in the man she picked out for Bethany.” She grinned at her sisters. “Are you asking each one of us? Is Ellie next?”

When all three nodded, Dora rose from her chair. “Well, let’s go find her and ask what kind of a husband she wants.”

Caro led the way, commenting over her shoulder, “I’ll wager our little sister wants a title.”

“Oh, surely not,” Beth whispered.

“I have a feeling Caro’s right,” Dora said bringing up the rear.

Ellie wasn’t in her room. She wasn’t in the music room, nor with Aunt Agatha.

“If it were Dora or Beth, we could look in the library,” Caro said.

“Let’s try there anyway,” Amy suggested.

Surprisingly, Ellie sat at the writing desk in the library.

“What on earth are you doing?” Amy asked as she watched Ellie check a piece of paper then the vellum under her pen.

“I’m addressing invitations to the ball.”

Caro marched up to the desk. “You can stop for a moment, can’t you? Amy has a question for you.”

Amy asked the question and waited.

“Well,” Ellie tapped the shaft of the pen against her chin. “I figured I was a bit young to be thinking about a husband. I suppose it’s time though. If you have to tell Simon something, tell him I want a husband with property, and someone who lives in London. And, a tall, good looking man. Philip Anderson seemed nice enough and you have to admit he had the demeanor of a gentleman. He also lives in London and he is rather handsome.”

“And, you’d have Aunt Agatha for an aunt,” Caro reminded her.

“She isn’t so bad, not really. She just likes to talk a lot.”

“She doesn’t want anyone else to say anything,” Dora offered.

Ellie shrugged. “Tell Simon what I said.” She turned back to the pile of invitations.

Amy cringed. Of all the men Philip Anderson was the youngest. Was he settled enough to offer Ellie a home, to take her away from Kirkley Manor? Amy shivered and tried to distract herself from the thought of bearing any man’s child. She glanced at the pile of vellum envelopes. “Has Simon checked the list?”

Ellie smiled. “First thing this morning.” She held up a piece of paper with thick broad marks over some of the names. “See, this list has the names he crossed off.”

“But, Ellie, you are sending invitations to them anyway.” Caro stood holding one of the envelopes Ellie had just finished addressing.

“Yes, I am. Aunt Agatha told me to go ahead and ignore Simon’s list. She said if Simon had his way, the only men at the ball would be ancient, decrepit, and all with titles. She wants us to have what she called ‘young blood’. She’s furious because Simon crossed off her nephew, and the vicar.”

“Oh, dear. I don’t want to hear any part of this,” Beth murmured.

“Ellie, don’t you say a word to Simon about addressing these envelopes,” Caro added.

“Aunt Agatha assured me she would endure any of what she called his male squalling.” Ellie giggled, “Can’t you just imagine Simon squalling.”

They all dissolved into laughter.

At a sharp rap on the door of the library, Amy, Dora and Beth whirled around to stand in front of Ellie and the desk. Caro answered the door, “Oh, Bolton! What can I do for you?”

“Miss, oh, you’re all here. Good! The dressmaker and her seamstresses have arrived. Agatha, er--Lady Benson wants you all to come to her rooms, now.”

“Thank you, Bolton. You can tell Lady Benson we will be there directly.”

Amy turned to her youngest sister, “Ellie, this task has come to an end. We are needed upstairs.”

“One of these days,” Ellie announced as she stored the list and announcements in the bottom drawer of the desk. “I’m going to find myself a hiding place where no one can find me. Then, I won’t have to endure anymore of these bloody fittings Aunt Agatha wants.”