Page 34 of A Marriage is Arranged

In a dark long-tailed coat with a white waistcoat and satin breeches, the Earl was dressed with perfect propriety. But as always, his muscular shoulders and broad chest were not made for formal dress. His tailor had done his best, but it was impossible to make him look other than what he was: a man better suited to the boxing ring than the ballroom.

But to Louise he looked wonderful. She would have run to him and thrown her arms around his neck had there not been other people in the room. As it was, she just rose with a smile. The two dressers curtseyed and left the room.

Gareth kissed his grandmother’s cheek with a greeting then went up to his wife. “Gran told me the other day you have no jewelry, Louise,” he said, “so I brought these from the bank vault.”

The inevitable protest came from the Dowager. “How many times have I asked you not to call me that, Gareth. Louise, please don’t listen to him!”

In fact, Louise wasn’t listening. She had opened the proffered square box and was stammering, “Oh!”

Inside lay a pair of diamond drop earrings with a matching bracelet. They were of an old-fashioned design, but the brilliant stones were set in a rose gold that glowed at its heart.

“They’re lovely! Thank you, Gareth!”

She knew he didn’t like gushing females, but she couldn’t stop herself. She ran to him and stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek .

“There is a necklace that goes with it, but I thought it too large for your, er, neck,” he said. “You will have to come with me to the vault and look at all the family jewels. There may be some pieces you can use, though they are in the taste of a different era. My mother didn’t wear them, or at least, she took none to China. I suppose we should be glad, or we would have lost them all.”

There was a moment of silence, then the Dowager said, “You made a good choice, Gareth. You’re right about the necklace. It would never do, but the earrings will be perfect. I’m not sure, though, that the bracelet will look to advantage with the long sleeves of that gown. It would be better over gloves.”

“I think it’s beautiful and I’m going to wear it anyway,” said Louise, putting it around her wrist and struggling with the clasp.

“Allow me.” The Earl took her hand and turned it over, doing up the bracelet. His warm hand on her wrist made her pulse race. She looked up into his eyes. They were deep, dark, and inscrutable.

“Thank you.” she smiled up at him, and saw a look come into them that made her tremble.

Her heart beating, she went back to her mirror and with shaking fingers screwed the earrings onto her lobes.

“Turn them till they pinch, then loosen a quarter turn,” instructed the Dowager. “You don’t want to lose them.”

The Earl shifted from one foot to the other and then said abruptly, “I think I’ll go down and make sure Lisle isn’t going to poison us with the wine.” He bowed slightly to the ladies and left.

“What was that about?” the Dowager looked at Louise enquiringly. She explained and Lady Esmé laughed.

They walked along to collect Mrs. Grey and the three ladies went downstairs. Louise reflected ruefully that now she had not only a mother but a grandmother who was far better looking than she. Her ladyship was dressed in her favorite lavender, but her gown was trimmed with fully six inches of white lace along the bottom and around the sleeves. It matched the frivolous scrap of lace she was wearing as a cap on her gold and silver hair. Louise looked at her, thinking how youthful and pretty she looked. But Véronique had said no lace, frills, or furbelows for her. So that was that.

The ladies walked around downstairs. The public rooms looked beautiful, the candles lit, the flowers perfuming the air. A row of footmen stood on either side of the top steps outside and into the hall. They would accompany the guests upstairs and hand them over to Lisle who would announce them at the ballroom entrance. The Earl and Countess would receive them as they passed into the room.

Louise took her mother and grandmother-in-law into the garden. The sun was setting and the men were lighting the candles. The effect was magical. Even the working men, who usually hailed each other heartily, spoke in hushed tones.

“Thank you, my dear,” whispered the Dowager with a choke in her voice. “It does my heart so much good to see the old place with a mistress who truly appreciates it.” She took the tiny handkerchief from her reticule and dabbed her eyes with it. Louise squeezed her arm.

“I really do understand the responsibility and the honor of my position,” she said quietly. “I promise I will always do my best for the family and the Earl.”

“There you are,” said Gareth, walking towards them and breaking the silence. “We’d best go up, Louise, the carriages are beginning to arrive.”

The Countess took her husband’s arm and together they mounted the stairs to receive their guests.