The Incorrigible Mr. Lumley (16 page)

“I had an audience with Northcotte this
afternoon,” Sir Frederick said.

“How lovely.” And how little she cared what
he did.

“He agreed to let me pay court to you.”

Her left foot caught on the heel of her
right, and she would have tumbled to the floor if Sir Frederick
hadn’t caught her by the arm. When she regained her balance, she
uttered, “He said nothing to me on the matter.”

“Perhaps he was not aware I was attending
the same assembly as you this evening. I didn’t know myself until I
saw you with your aunt.”

Robert had said she would have until the end
of the Season before he would choose for her. How could he ever
believe this man suited her? “How lucky for you to see me amongst
all these people.”

“I’ve a knack for finding you in a crowd.
Once we are betrothed, I won’t have to search, for you will always
be on my arm.”

“Sir, you are presumptuous. I’m certain
Northcotte didn’t agree to a betrothal without hearing my feelings
on the matter.” She prayed that were true.

“I’ve all confidence he’ll find my offer
agreeable when the time comes. This matter of paying court is a
courtesy to you. He thought you should be allowed to enjoy your
full Season.”

“If you wish for me to become fond of you,
you are going about it wrong. I enjoy neither my Season nor your
company when you speak of such things. It’s quite intolerable.”

The large room seemed suddenly small, the
other guests crowding her, stealing her air. She needed to escape
to the garden, but not on the arm of Sir Frederick. Her two friends
were still dancing, and her aunt engaged with Sir Jasper. Joanna
was trapped. “I would like a glass of punch before our dance. If
you’ll escort me back to my aunt, I shall wait upon you there.”

She was unable to confide her dread to
anyone until three dances later, when she and Amelia awaited their
partners for the supper dance. She whispered her plight. “I fear my
brother has accepted an offer from Sir Frederick. Northcotte agreed
to let him court me.”

Amelia gasped. “Are you certain he agreed to
it? I would not be surprised if that man was not fully
truthful.”

“He seemed too assured to lie about
something I could easily check out. And he knows I would do just
that.”

“How will you escape him?”

Trey arrived at that moment. “Is something
amiss?”

Amelia blurted out, “Lady Joanna’s brother
is allowing Sir Frederick Aldwen to court her.”

Joanna grasped her friend’s hand. “Please,
keep your voice down. If it’s true, I want to keep it from the
gossips as long as possible. This could ruin my chances with any
other gentlemen.”

Trey shook his head. “This can’t be true. I
thought you and my brother had an understanding.”

Looking around them to see who might
overhear, Joanna whispered, “You are mistaken. I’ve no
understanding with any gentleman.” She wondered how he had come to
this conclusion. Had his brother said something to make him think
so?

“We can’t let you marry that man,” Amelia
said with a shudder. “We must think of something.”

Joanna frowned. “What can we do? Hire a man
to pretend to court me? And what happens when he doesn’t make an
offer? Sir Frederick will be free to make one, or if he already
has, my brother will accept it.”

“What if we invited you to so many outings,
you had no time for Sir Frederick?” Trey offered. “My sister and
Miss Clawson could easily fill your afternoons, and your aunt could
make certain you had no evenings free.”

“We should find a place to eat our supper
and worry about this later, in a more private setting,” Joanna
said. “I appreciate your concern, both of you. Amelia, when Sir
Richard finds you, come sit with us, and we can talk about our
plans for the next week. Please, don’t speak of this to
anyone.”

Joanna took Trey’s arm and they followed the
crowd to the refreshment area. It was too bad he was so very young.
She would not be averse to marrying a kind-hearted young man such
as him, if she didn’t already have such strong feelings for his
brother. If only she could find a way to convince David Lumley to
propose. That would be the best solution she could imagine.

Chapter Twelve

Sitting in the soft glow from the coals in
the fireplace of Robert’s study, Joanna listened for the sound of
his carriage below. The moment she’d arrived home from the ball,
she’d sent word to her maid not to wait for her to come to her
chamber. She had no idea how late her brother might be, but she was
determined to speak to him before sleep softened her anger. His
actions, if true, were intolerable.

The sight of a brandy decanter in one corner
tempted her. The burn of the drink would replace the burn of her
emotions, but she didn’t care for the taste. A glass of port would
be nice, but she would not bother the servants to ask. Instead, she
let herself stew while deciding precisely how to get her point
across.

As it were, her words were simple when she
met him in the small entry of the town house. “Do you hate me as
much as this?”

Robert’s sigh carried the weight of his
guardianship. “What have I done now?” He removed his hat, coat, and
gloves, handed them to the butler, Starley, and dismissed the man.
He then strode to his study as if secure in the knowledge she would
follow. Or in hopes she would not.

But she did. Her hands shook with the effort
of refraining from pounding on something. “I thought we had
discussed this already, yet just this evening, Sir Frederick
informed me we are betrothed. How could you do this to me? I
thought you wanted my happiness.”

He motioned for her to sit in a chair, but
she wrung her hands and paced instead. She couldn’t sit when the
rest of her life lay in stock and chains.

After pouring a brandy, Robert sat behind
his desk. “Nothing has changed since the last time we spoke.”

“Then I am not engaged to him?”

“Nothing has been drawn up and agreed to,
and will not be, for as long as I can put it off.”

Her jaw slackened, but she kept her mouth
closed. A lump formed in her throat, the pain making it difficult
to swallow. “I am to marry Sir Frederick.”

“No, I just said you are not. He has made an
offer but I haven’t accepted it, nor have we talked settlement
terms. When that time comes—
if
that time comes, I’ll bring
my solicitor into the discussion to assure you are properly taken
care of.” His voice was so calm, his tone level, she wondered if he
realized how important this was.

“I cannot marry that man.” Her voice
cracked. “I do not love him. I cannot even tolerate his company.
Father would not have wished me to marry this man.”

Robert sighed and rested his elbows on his
desk after shoving aside a stack of opened correspondence. He
kneaded his temples in silence. Finally, he sat back in his chair,
his gaze landing on the papers. “Father wished for many things that
didn’t come to pass. You are correct, however; he would not want
you to be unhappy. My situation is a difficult one, Joanna. I am
not in a position to promise you something I cannot give you. I can
only say this…if you do not wish to marry the man, find yourself a
husband. Soon.”

“It’s not as easy as that. I cannot place an
advertisement in the papers suggesting all suitable, eligible men
apply here.”

“That would make the task easier.”

She gasped. “It isn’t done! You are not
being helpful.”

“I’ve never sought a husband, so I don’t
claim to know the specifics. And I don’t wish to learn them now.
Believe me when I say Father left a large amount of work for me to
resolve. I will get it done, one way or another, and with as little
pain to you and Mother as possible. Your only job is to find a
husband and marry him. You will do this, I know, because you have
always done what is expected of you.”

“But—”

He raised a hand. “Perhaps Aunt Ophelia
would be better to advise you in this. I can send a note to Sir
Frederick and ask him not to speak of any of our dealings until we
are ready to read the banns, but that is all. You simply must work
harder at finding a husband.”

He reached for his brandy, a signal their
discussion was at an end. She sat there, watching him sip his drink
and avoid her gaze, not certain if she should be frustrated by or
in awe of the way he turned her anger back on her. She slowly rose.
“Thank you for speaking with me. I shall call on our aunt
tomorrow.”

She was halfway up the first flight of
stairs before the tears hit. Afraid the night footman was lurking
nearby, she drew in a deep breath to hold them at bay. Only when
she was safe in her room did she curl up on her bed and let the
painful, wracking tears fall freely.

Find a husband. Soon. But how?

Aunt Ophelia looked rested and content
pouring tea for herself and Joanna in her parlor. Joanna felt the
complete opposite. She’d barely slept, feeling time slipping away
and taking her chance of a happy future with it.

“I’m surprised you came calling this early,
Joanna. Did we have plans I’d forgotten?”

“No, Aunt. I was eager to speak with you and
took a chance you’d be up and receiving callers already.”

“You know I’ll receive you, no matter the
hour. Now, what brings you here? Something must be amiss. Is it
your mother?”

Joanna shook her head. “No, mother is
unchanged. It’s Robert. Or something he said.”

Aunt Ophelia took a sip of her tea and set
down the cup. “Oh?”

“He insists I find a husband. Soon.”

“I thought that was the purpose of your
Season. How does this cause you distress?”

“He’s made some sort of agreement with Sir
Frederick Aldwen that I am to marry him.”

“Without asking your opinion on the matter?
That doesn’t sound like Robert. Perhaps you misunderstood?”

“No. He said my only alternative is to find
a man who’ll agree to marry me before Robert and Sir Frederick have
the settlement drawn up.”

“Oh, dear. Does your mother have anything to
say on this?”

“I haven’t said anything to her. How can I?
She isn’t there anymore, if you understand my meaning. She’d tell
me she’s certain Robert knows what’s best, and go back to staring
out the window. I don’t know what to do, Aunt. I don’t know what to
do.” Joanna’s breaths grew shaky. “I cannot marry that man.”

“What of the man you’ve gone riding with
several times? Mr. Lumley. He has escorted you about at many
assemblies, it must mean he is fond of you. A few of my lady
friends have mentioned his obvious attentions. Has he said anything
to suggest he had feelings for you?”

“No. He doesn’t speak of feelings beyond
those he has for his horses.”

“Well then, I say he is perfect for you. Now
you must make him aware of this fact.”

Joanna raised her hands. “But how, short of
throwing myself at his feet and completely destroying my
reputation?”

“If he falls for you after a show like that,
he’s not the man you need. No, we need honey to catch this fly. We
must work quickly. I shall arrange a card party, small of course,
almost last minute. Next week. I’ll check my calendar. We’ll invite
your friends, and the sons of a few of my friends who are of the
right age but not yet seeking a wife. Their attentions should show
your Mr. Lumley you are desirable. Although how he hasn’t noticed
already is beyond me.”

She continued, barely pausing to draw a
breath. “A new dress is in order, not too formal or too casual. A
pale green would suit you and flatter your hair color. Some
elaborate braiding around the neckline to draw his attention to
your better features—”

“Aunt Ophelia! You said throwing myself at
him was not the way to win his heart.”

“Correct, but displaying yourself in a
favorable manner simply lets him realize how strongly he feels
about you. Why do you think young ladies are asked to perform on
the piano or harp, or sing for a group of people? If you don’t
place yourself in an advantageous light, how is a gentleman
supposed to see you?”

“But I don’t play an instrument, and you’ve
heard me sing.”

Aunt Ophelia tapped a finger on her chin.
“Hmm, there is that. In Mr. Lumley’s case, he’d probably prefer a
woman whose talents involved a horse, but I refuse to bring any
large animals into my parlor.”

“He’s seen me ride quite often. In fact,
when we met I had ridden down his runaway stallion.” Joanna smiled
at the memory.

“And he didn’t propose on the spot?”

“No. Now that I think on it, once he
realized who I was, he became curt and rode off. I never expected
the man to speak to me again.”

Pursing her lips, Aunt Ophelia said, “And
you are certain this is the man you wish to marry?”

“He has been quite pleasant company since
then, sometimes even flirtatious.” Butterflies fluttered in
Joanna’s stomach, thinking of the nicer things he’d said. “I
believe he might have been embarrassed at being rescued by a lady.
I enjoy his company, and truth be told, I feel he’s the only man of
my acquaintance who might allow me to continue working with the
foals. I cannot imagine my life without my horses.”