Page 7 of A Marriage is Arranged

The betrothal of the Earl of Shrewsbury and Louise Grey was announced in The Times a week later . The wedding was to be at the beginning of June. It caused surprise in nearly every household in the ton , for though most mamas had different ideas, their daughters thought him very poor husband material and were astonished he’d found anyone to take him. In the home of one Diane Courtland there was angrily voiced dismay. She had been the Earl’s inamorata for several months and had begun to entertain real hopes of becoming a Countess. She knew none of the girls in their first or even second season would even look at him. Besides his off-putting appearance, he had a reputation for being cold and distant. That a man as proud as the Earl would not marry a woman with a past did not occur to her. She was confident of her charms.

Gareth visited his betrothed again, to bring her the engagement ring he had removed from the bank vault in which the family jewels were kept. The ring, featuring a large square-cut emerald surrounded by diamonds, was reputed to be Egyptian. When the Earl gave it to her, Louise received it with warm, but not effusive, thanks. In fact, she was delighted, but she thought a dignified demeanor would appeal to her future husband more than loud exclamations of joy. However, her heart, which had given its accustomed leap when she saw him arrive, lurched in her breast again, for it had not occurred to her she would be the recipient of family jewels. She had not agreed to marry the Earl because she wanted a great position, but because she wanted the man.

His lordship was pleased with her gratified but subdued response to the ring. Here was a girl who would not fill his life with drama. Louise curtseyed and lifted her eyes to his with a smile. He surprised himself by leaning forward and kissing her on the cheek. Then he bowed and said he could not keep Jupiter waiting in the cold.

“Of course not,” murmured Louise.

They parted, he thinking he had made a wise choice, and she, placing her hand where his lips had been. From the tall drawing room windows she watched him leave, her burning cheek pressed against the cool pane.

The Grey household was surprised, a few days later, to receive a visit from the Earl’s grandmother.

Louise was in her mother’s bedchamber discussing her wedding gown. Her parent was in the habit of thinking herself purse-pinched, although from what Louise knew of their affairs, they were quite well provided for. Her mother certainly kept herself modishly dressed though she had long ago given up trying to bring her daughter up to snuff. Louise didn’t care what she wore. It wasn’t worth spending any money on clothes for her.

Mrs. Grey had her dresser unpack her own wedding dress from twenty years before. It was an enormously elaborate affair, the voluminous skirts meant to be worn over a wicker pannier that held the gown wide at the sides. She sighed over its faded loveliness.

“Just look at the four-inch lace around the sleeves alone,” she said. “I daresay you couldn’t find that today for under fifty pounds! And there’s acres of silk in it. What if we get Wilkins to cut it down for you into more modern lines?”

“If you wish, mama,” said Louise. “I have no objection, if you think a refurbished gown is quite the thing for a society wedding. I’m a nobody, but the Earl is very well known. You have seen how proud he is. He might not like it.”

“Then it’s a pity you didn’t ask him for money for bride’s clothes. He’s rich enough to buy an abbey and wouldn’t even miss a few hundred pounds,” said her mother.

“Oh, mama, I could never have done such a thing! Anyway, just think how paltry it would have made us look!”

At that moment there was a discreet knock at the bedroom door and her mother’s dresser came in.

“The Dowager Countess of Shrewsbury has come to see you, Madam,” she announced breathlessly. “Brewster has shown her into the drawing room.”

When Louise’s betrothal had become known to them, she and the other members of staff had looked the Earl up in Debrett’s and they were all well informed of the other members of the family.

“She is the Earl’s grandmother, you know,” she said now.

Mother and daughter looked at each other in shock. Louise was the first to collect herself. “I’ll go down, mama. Take your time.”

“But you are looking so dowdy!”

“Am I? Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure the Earl has described me. She won’t be surprised. But you will want to look your best.”

Her mother was already patting her coiffure into place and wondering if she should change her gown when Louise slipped from the room and ran lightly down the stairs.