The Honorable Marksley (14 page)

Richard heard Hoskins’ soft “milord” as the Penham
butler removed his wet coat. He had heard Geneve’s
wail as well, but he would not quite have believed it
without the butler’s instant and ominous confirmation.

He reached for his aunt’s shoulders and the shaking
letter at the same time, holding the grieving woman
steadily while he scanned the message. But it was
Hallie Ashton to whom he looked.

“It seems my cousin’s quest was successful,” he told
her flatly. “He found an excellent hunter-who helped
him break his neck”

Geneve shook beneath his arm as she wept, but
Richard could not seem to look away from Hallie
Ashton’s face. Tell me what you are thinking, he found
himself demanding silently, tell me what he meant to you. Apart from shock at the unexpected news, Richard
could read nothing more in her gaze than compassion
for Geneve.

“Come, aunt,” he said, taking Geneve’s hands in one
of his. “You must sit down at once. Miss Ashton, please
be good enough to join us”

She still looked troubled but composed. Or was she
secretly suffering? Could it be that her heart was breaking? He frowned as he led his aunt into the drawing
room and settled her by the fire. Then he turned to pour
them a brandy.

“It is impossible,” Geneve cried. “I cannot believe it.
Richard, there must be some mistake. You must send to
Ireland at once and ask for the truth of it. They must
have made a mistake.”

Richard sighed. “There is no mistake. This is uncle’s
agent in Kildare. I had written him to locate Reggie.
The good man has taken it upon himself … that is, he
has already arranged for Reggie’s return. I am sorry”

Geneve wrung her hands. “But he … you … oh,
this cannot be!”

“My lady,” Hallie Ashton said softly. “You have had
a shock. You will need time-”

Geneve turned on her almost savagely. “None of this
is your concern now, miss. You can know nothing of
my … of our grief.”

Richard’s lips firmed. “You are undoubtedly distraught, madam. But you forget yourself.” He had noticed
Hallie Ashton’s pallor and suggested she take a seat as well. Still damp from their earlier carriage accident, they
both could have benefited from hot baths and a change of
clothing. But the fire would have to suffice for the
moment. He remained standing stiffly at the hearth.

“Have you told uncle?” he asked.

“The steward, that Mr…. Mr…

“Appleby,” Richard supplied.

“… was to go up to him,” Geneve said. “I simply
could not. Ah, I fear this will be the end of him! Our
own dear boy! Dear Reginald!” She bowed her head as
her body trembled.

Hallie Ashton sat quietly, her hands clasped in her lap.
Given the rejection of her earlier offer of sympathy, her
silence was understandable, but Richard had expected
something else … that she should need comfort as well.
What inanity-to presume that she should need him!

He directed his attention to Geneve.

“My dear aunt,” he told her, “I cannot console you.
But I can assure you that I would never have wished this.”

Her watery blue gaze focused on his face. “He was
born and bred to this, Richard. It was his birthright.
And now you … well,” she dabbed at her eyes with a
linen square. “It is impossible that he is gone. That you
should replace him. All this-to you! We must hope
you can make do”

“I shall endeavor to be worthy” He might have
pointed out to her that he was more “born and bred” to
this than his departed cousin. But Geneve would
believe what she would; mere facts had never hindered
her assumptions. And Hallie Ashton had no need to know of his parents’ unfortunate history. He certainly
felt no pressing desire to enlighten her. There was, however, another matter that begged to be addressed. He
had considered it immediately, and with grim purpose.

“The marriage must go forward,” he said.

Geneve looked up and fixed him with accusing, redrimmed eyes. “This is not a time to jest, Richard.”

He let his gaze survey Hallie Ashton’s rebellious features before he responded. “I am quite serious, ma’am.
Although it comes so soon after Reggie’s passing, a
wedding must not be put off. There is now no reason for
delay, and no choice.”

“And why, sir,” Geneve demanded, “do you say so?
It is appalling to contemplate a wedding. And to contract a union with this-with such as Miss Ashton now
is outside of enough. Why, were you to do so now, people would only believe you had to marry. I should shudder to be seen in society! Such a misalliance. It is
unseemly!” She turned to the tight-lipped Miss Ashton.
“I am certain you must agree, Miss Ashton. A future
Earl must look much higher. It is your obligation to
society, to your family, to step aside now and let
him-”

“My dear aunt,” Richard interrupted. “You did not
appear to find the circumstances unseemly this past
week. I remind you that even then I was a member of
this family. I regret my cousin’s demise in more ways
than you can imagine. But the misfortune cannot alter
my purpose in this. We must simply beg your forbearance in suffering the association.”

Geneve began to weep. “But … we would all be
wearing mourning.”

“Which would be only too appropriate. I do not propose a celebration, aunt. While our state of mourning is
regrettable, it is not prohibitive. We cannot wait six
months-or even one.”

“Too cruel, Richard! Have you no sense of decorum,
no delicacy, no sympathy? No thought of what is owed
to those who raised you?”

“Remember your promise,” he reminded her darkly.

Geneve drew a ragged breath, but pressed on, her
hands nervously working the linen of her kerchief.

““Tis not as though you were ever obligated since it
was Reginald after all who compromised the girl.”

“The truth of that is unmistakable. But as the argument did not signify when I made it last week, it cannot signify now.”

“I never thought you vengeful, Richard.”

“I am not vengeful, aunt. This is not a matter of
vengeance. It is quite clearly one of honor. It did not
matter much before. Indeed, it had certain farcical
aspects,” he shot a glance at Hallie, whose color was
rising, “but it matters a great deal now. What would you
have said of the family? Reggie may have compromised
Miss Ashton before, but I have compromised her since.”

Hallie Ashton’s complexion now warmed radically.
Richard could not have explained his satisfaction in the
effect. But his attention returned abruptly to Geneve’s
wide eyes.

“You need not look so horrified, madam,” he told her. “We have done nothing unwonted. We have merely acted the parts you directed us to play, as an affianced couple. But if I were to cry off now, Miss Ashton
would most certainly face disgrace. Her uncle would
have every right to sue for breach”

Geneve turned her furious attention to Hallie Ashton.
“I have no doubt, miss,” she hissed, “that this has all
been your doing. That you set your cap for my darling
boy and drove him-drove him!-to his death. He
would not have gone to Ireland at all had you not
imposed yourself! And now you will cling to Richard
and drag us all down into the gutter. Oh-that Cyril’s
heir should so condescend! Such a woman as you are!
I know not what to call you. You will forever be no
more than dirt in my eyes, you … you-”

“Enough,” Richard snapped. “Miss Ashton will
shortly belong to this family, as the Viscountess
Langsford, and as such you will treat her with civility.”
Hallie Ashton had the misfortune at that moment to
sneeze, which reminded him that they both needed dry
clothing. “You know full well, aunt, that nothing you
have said has any merit whatever. I shall try to understand. You have suffered a terrible loss. You are in
shock. Your judgment is unsound. But have a care” He
glanced again at Hallie Ashton’s face. “And now, if you
will excuse us, we suffered a carriage accident this
afternoon. If Miss Ashton is not immediately attended
to, she might well fall ill.”

Geneve’s glare expressed her unspoken desire for
that very eventuality, or worse. She rose with an exag gerated swish of her elegant silk skirts, although her
flushed, ravaged features robbed the display of the dignity she would have wished.

“I shall not argue, Richard. You know I disapprove.
Forgive me if I leave your wedding plans in your eager
hands. I shall find arrangements for the funeral of my
son to be trying enough. But I shall never forgive you,
Richard. I know you do this to spite me”

“No, ma’am,” Richard said as pleasantly as he could.
He made her a slight bow. “I do this in spite of you.
There is a world of difference.”

With a toss of her head and another bitter glance at
Hallie Ashton, Geneve left them together.

“I … feel for her,” Hallie Ashton said. “She must be
suffering.”

“Your sympathy does you credit, my dear. But let me
promise you that she will pull through. I have known
her many years”

“Still … with such a shock-”

He smiled grimly as he examined her. “I assure you
that she lacks your sensitivity. I apologize for anything
she may have said that offended you.”

“She cannot offend me”

“Cannot? Brave words, Miss Hallie. The countess
has offended me on innumerable occasions.”

Hallie Ashton rose to her feet and attempted to
smooth out her wrinkled skirt. “Then you must have
cared more than you own … and tried to please her.”

Richard eyed her thoughtfully. “You are remarkably
wise, my dear. For such an innocent.” Her flush deep ened. “But I see now that I have offended you” He
smiled, but she did not take up his challenge.

“The wisdom you commend, Mr. Marksley, was
Tolly’s. He thought it a waste to spend one’s life
attempting to please another. Perhaps he learned early
that my uncle cannot be pleased. Neither did he believe
in unmet expectation-in living on dreams alone. Tolly
was always one for making his own way”

Tolliver Ashton, by Jeremy’s report, had lived as he
thought-as a young man of purpose and action.

“Then I drink to the wise philosophy of your late
cousin Tolly,” he said, toasting Hallie Ashton before
letting the brandy warm his throat and chest. “Do you
feel nothing at all then?” he quizzed her.

“I … do not understand you”

“Do you feel nothing upon the death of my own
cousin?” He watched her very closely. “Your dear one
will not be visiting anyone ever again. You expectation
of his return,” he paused, “will never be gratified.”

“I have told you before. He was never dear to me”

“What attraction did he hold for you, then?” Despite
his best effort he knew his voice betrayed his frustration. “What did he have that you could possibly have
wanted?”

“Nothing. Nothing but a name.”

“A name? I see” His lips firmed. “I see that my aunt
comprehends you”

“No. She does not”

“How very cryptic, Miss Ashton. Given your fondness for apt sayings, one might accuse you of purpose ly speaking in some peculiar code of your own” To his
surprise, she smiled. A shy, secretive smile that, to his
irritation, fascinated him.

“You had best see to your warmth,” he said sharply,
turning from her to place the brandy snifter carefully
on the mantel. “No matter the circumstances, my aunt
is punctilious about the dinner hour. Though it seems
unlikely she will desire it, I would prefer that she have
our company.” But when he turned, prepared to
acknowledge Hallie Ashton’s relieved departure, he
found her instead observing him with some concern.

“Is it possible, my lord, that you feel more in this
instance than you would have anyone know?”

“Indeed I do, Miss Ashton. But my feelings are all
entirely selfish-and have much to do with your very
proper use of `my lord,’ as you said it just now.”

“It is … expected”

“Yes.” And then, because she still stood there, and
perhaps because the brandy had loosened his tongue,
he said, “Much as I disdained him, my dear departed
cousin served one very useful function. He was the
Viscount Langsford, heir to the Earl of Penham, and I,
within limits, could do as I chose” He turned back to
the mantel and idly ran a finger along its edge.

“But Jeremy-forgive me-Lord Jeremy told me
that your own father was once the Viscount Langsford”

He turned to her in surprise. “That is true, yes. But
my father lost the title before I was born. I have never
regretted it nor anticipated its restoration.” He paused. “Jeremy is perhaps too familiar with family histories.
And too free with mine.”

“Yet you would have me be part of it. That is, if you
are serious.”

“Oh, I am serious, Miss Ashton. We no longer have
an option. The two of us shall spend the rest of our days
paying for the transgressions of a selfish boy, one who
was denied nothing in life … except its continuance.”

Hallie Ashton shivered, whether with dread at the
prospect or not, Richard could not have said. He had,
he realized, actually been enjoying her company. But
now, with Reggie’s death and the burdens ahead, sparring with her no longer afforded an amusing, if strangely strained, game. The situation was now quite suffocatingly serious. She had best be aware of that fact.

“You are cold,” he said. “You should retire.”

“Yes, only … Is it true, then? That you do truly
believe marriage is our only course?”

“Of a certainty, my dear. Unless another suitor lays
claim to your affections?” As she slowly shook her head,
he added, “Reggie was to be our savior. I fear no additional eager prospects have presented themselves. And
you and your uncle deserve more than mere purchase”

At that she blanched, which made him feel a brute.

“You will find that a good reputation does matter in
life, Miss Hallie. More so, unfairly so, perhaps, for a
young lady. But preserving one’s good name provides a
measure of freedom as well-that is, if one has any intention of living as anything other than a hermit. I cannot pretend it is an optimal arrangement, but, speaking from
my relatively lofty experience, it can prove sufficient.”