Page 50 of A Marriage is Arranged
“So where are those papers, then, Gran?” said the Earl, coming into her elegant bedroom at nine the following morning. He had important business in the House later on, so had breakfasted quickly and early and was there by nine. He knew she was awake by that hour, though she usually didn’t rise until later.
“Good morning, Gareth,” she replied pointedly. “Don’t you know not to visit ladies so early? We need a chance to prepare ourselves.”
Since his grandmother was wearing a very becoming nightcap with a jaunty bow by her ear and a lovely peignoir with deep lace trim, his lordship was not fooled.
“Nonsense! You are obviously entertaining that lover we were talking about yesterday. Where is he? Hiding under the bed? Should I have brought a sword to run him through?”
Lady Esmé trilled a laugh. “Silly boy! And you know there are no papers either. And if you call me Gran one more time I’ll have a fit and die. Then you’ll be sorry.”
“No I won’t. I should be rid of the most persistent thorn in my side.” He kissed her cheek.
“Perhaps, though from what I hear, you have another thorn. And if I’m not mistaken, instead of dealing with it gently as Nanny would have done, you’ve ripped it from your side and left a gaping hole.”
The Earl sighed and sat down on another of the spindly gold chairs he so disliked. “I collect I am to have a peal rung over me, Grandmother , but for God’s sake speak plainly. Enough of these riddles! What have I done, or not done, now?”
“Very well. I’m of the belief your wife wagered the Shrewsbury bracelet in a card game with Barnstable but you got it back. I will not ask how, though whatever you did to that cad he richly deserved. But instead of being happy with its return, you are treating your wife like a criminal. Why?”
“Damn it, Gran! Oh, excuse me! How you know these things beats me. You’re right, of course. But you don’t expect me to thank Louise for the opportunity to be of service to her, do you?”
“No, I expect you to forgive her, dry her tears of repentance, kiss her, and get about making that great-grandson I want to hold before I die.”
“But she’s been treating me like a stranger for weeks. Even before this whole fiasco she wouldn’t let me kiss her or… the other thing.”
“You mean she rejected you from the beginning, on your wedding night?”
“No!” The Earl thought for a moment, then decided to tell the truth. “That’s just it! She seemed, well, keen. But then all of a sudden it was No!”
“What happened?”
“Damned (sorry! sorry!) if I know. She seemed vexed with me for some reason.”
“Have you been seeing the Courtland woman?”
“No! She couldn’t wait to replace me, and I broke with her. She was getting on my nerves anyway.”
“So when did Louise start saying no?”
“After the Ball.”
“Didn’t you ask her why?”
“Of course not! I’m not going to argue with a woman who makes it clear she doesn’t want me.”
“Hmm. That’s odd. Just before the Ball began, she said I promise I will always do my best for the family and the Earl. That was when she was proudly showing me and her mother the lanterns in the garden. But yesterday when I mentioned the garden she shuddered visibly. Is it possible something happened there to make her angry? Angry enough to reject you and lose the Shrewsbury bracelet in a wager?”
“Nothing happened anywhere at the Ball! It was a great success. You said so yourself!”
“But Diane Courtland was there. I suppose she prevailed on that silly little Youngbrough to take her. God knows I didn’t invite her. Did Louise see you alone together?”
“No! We were never alone together!”
But as he said it, he remembered. They had been alone together. The meeting in the garden! Could Louise have seen them there? Then he recalled her red eyes and the story about her walking into a tree branch. Was that it? Did she see them and somehow get the wrong impression? But how? All he did was tell Diane it was over.
“Damn it all! Why today of all days?” he exploded. “There’s the last reading of a Bill I sponsored and the vote will be close. I can’t miss it. I don’t have time now to go home and have it out with her.”
“You will not go home at any time and have it out with her !” cried his grandmother. “Just listen to yourself! This is your wife we are talking about. The future mother of your children, God willing. You will go home after whatever nonsense it is you have going on in the House, take her by the hand, explain the mistake and beg her forgiveness. You will not scowl and frighten her.”
“She’s not frightened by my scowls.”
“Then even more reason to make love to her. She must be the only woman in London who isn’t. I tell you, Gareth, I like Louise. I’ve liked her from the start. Trust you to make such a mull of it.”
“ I ? I make a mull of it?!” The Earl was incensed. “She gives away an irreplaceable piece of family jewelry and I made a mull of it?”
“Yes. Just like a man. But she’ll forgive you if you ask her nicely.” His grandmother smiled at him sweetly. “Aren’t you late for your vote in the House? Off you go. You may kiss me.”
And she proffered her downy cheek.