Page 11 of A Suitable New Year’s Revenge (Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society #42)

It had been a dream, Helena was certain of it. It had to have been.

Helena climbed out of bed the following morning feeling rather off-balance. Could it have been real? Was she truly going to marry Pine? The thought sent tingles of happiness from her chest straight down to her toes.

She wondered as she dressed whether she should tell her father. She decided not to—just in case it had a been a dream or was simply too wonderful to come true. She couldn’t destroy his hopes if it didn’t come to pass.

It was just half-past nine, and Helena was attempting to coax her father into having just a little more broth when she heard the knocker on the front door. It was soon followed by the muffled sound of women's voices.

Lord Cumnor had already fallen back asleep when she turned back toward her father. Who knew being harangued to eat for half an hour by your daughter could be so exhausting? With a little smile at her silly thoughts, Helena went down to see who had come.

She found Lady Hazelton, Lady Blakemore, and Lady Welles all standing in the drawing room speaking softly amongst themselves.

"Good morning, my ladies," Helena said to get their attention.

"Oh, Miss Lawson. Good morning," Lady Blakemore said.

Lady Hazelton turned around and beamed at her.

"Congratulations," Lady Welles said, coming over and taking her hand. "I can't tell you how happy I am that this has all worked out."

Helena gave an embarrassed little laugh. “Well, this certainly wasn't at all what I had expected when I paid that call on the Ladies' Wagering Whist Society. I had merely hoped one of you might know of someone willing to take on an overeducated governess.” Helena gave a little laugh.

Lady Welles and Lady Blakemore both chuckled appreciatively.

"You clearly don't know the Wagering Whist Society very well," Lady Welles said. "But we don't have a great deal of time to stand here chatting, Miss Lawson. We must be on our way. We'll wait while you get your hat and coat."

Helena was confused. "Are we going to Lady Blakemore's to plan the wedding breakfast?"

"We shall, but first we have an appointment with my modiste. I've already sent round a note, so she'll be expecting us," Lady Welles told her.

"Your modiste?" Helena asked.

"We are assuming you don't have anything appropriate to wear tomorrow? Are we wrong?" Lady Hazelton asked.

"To... oh! To the wedding?" Helena asked, feeling like a fool. "I haven't even given a thought as to what I might wear," she admitted.

"Which is why you have us. Now do hurry or we'll be late," Lady Welles said, guiding Helena to the drawing-room door.

Two hours later, Helena had the most beautiful pale-blue velvet gown, and Lady Pemberton's daughter was going to have to wait an extra few days for the gown she'd ordered. Helena felt terrible, but the modiste waved away her concerns.

"She won't give a thought to it. I'll tell her we had to wait for the ship from Brussels to arrive with the lace. That it was delayed due to weather."

Helena gave a little laugh and thanked the woman once again. They all, then, piled into Lady Blakemore's coach to return to the lady's home. There, they met the other members of the Wagering Whist Society who were already beginning their planning.

Pine couldn't have been more grateful to Lord Blakemore. He'd written a note that had allowed Pine in to see the archbishop's representative immediately. Upon hearing why Pine needed the special license, he was so kind as to give it to him right away. It now lay tucked securely in his pocket. The vicar at St. George’s had also been accommodating. Apparently, Helena was a regular attendee, and the man knew her and her father's circumstance.

Now all Pine needed was to speak with Lord Cumnor. He hoped the gentleman was up for a visit.

Pine entered the gentleman's bedchamber to find a gray-haired man peering up at him from beneath thick gray eyebrows. It was clear the gentleman had been tall and broad-shouldered, but his body had now wasted away, nearly to skin and bones. His blue eyes—nearly the exact color of Helena's—were piercing. Although the man's body was failing him, his mind was still sharp as ever.

"Well," the man wheezed. “Wondered when... you'd show up."

Pine hid his smile as he bowed. "I do beg your pardon for my tardiness, my lord.”

The man nodded and then looked pointedly at the chair next to his bed. "Sit."

"My father sends his regards," Pine lied.

A smile twitched on his lordship's lips. "Doubt that. Can't... can't wait... till I'm dead... according to Helena," he said slowly, inhaling every few words.

Pine didn't quite know what to say to that. He couldn't contradict Helena and would be lying if he did. He decided to change the subject.

"The reason I am here, my lord, as I'm certain you know, is to ask for your permission—" A knock on the door interrupted Pine.

"My lord, Mr. Fitzsimmons is here as you requested," the butler said before showing a tall, slender man into the room.

"Good timing," Lord Cumnor said. He struggled to sit up higher on his pillows. Pine immediately jumped up to assist him.

His lordship nodded his thanks. "Fitzsimmons, this is Mr... Teviot. My... daughter's fiancé."

Pine turned a surprised look on to Lord Cumnor who waved it away with a hand. "My solicitor," he said, finishing the introduction. "Figured you'd be… here either today… or tomorrow," he told Pine. "Wanted to be prepared."

Mr. Fitzsimmons came forward and tried to hand some papers to Lord Cumnor. He indicated Pine, and the man handed them to him instead.

"Er, the marriage settlement you requested, my lord." Mr. Fitzsimmons said.

"Can't read easily. You look them over… Teviot. Tell me… what you think."

Pine accepted the papers and read through them, his eyes widening the more he read. When he got to the end, he looked up. "That is more than generous, my lord."

Lord Cumnor nodded. "Your father is… rich enough. He doesn't… need more money. He'll also get… all the property. Helena is a treasure. Treat her well. With that, the two… of you should… be able to live comfortably."

"Indeed, sir," Pine agreed. He couldn't help but wonder whether the figures were accurate, however, considering the state of the drawing room and the lack of servants in the house. From what he could see, there was only the aging butler and a maid.

"You are thinking too hard," his lordship said.

"What? Er, no. I beg your pardon," Pine said,

“Wondering if I really have that much?" his lordship asked with a twitch of his lips. "Don't let appear… ances fool you."

Pine widened his eyes, astounded that the man knew exactly what he'd been thinking.

"Much of that… is from Lady Cumnor's marriage… portion, which was… invested well," his lordship explained. "It was kept aside… for Helena, not… that we ever told her… or anyone else, for that matter. We… have always lived… off whatever… the estate brought in. Not much, as you can see." He gave a slight lift of one shoulder. "It was enough."

"Barely," Pine said under his breath.

"I will sign that… and then you take… it to your father."

Pine sat up straighter. "I have attained my majority, my lord. I can sign for myself."

"I'm sure you can. But… your father should… know. If he has… done any research into… my finances—and I'm certain he has—he… should be aware that… you are getting the bulk… of it. It's not… that I don't want… him to have it… It's that you will need it more—at least… until you inherit. But… as you see, when you do…, whatever remains will… go into a trust… for your children. Please… make sure there's… something there," he said, eyeing Pine.

"Oh, there will be, sir, I promise."

"Good." The man sighed and seemed to shrivel a bit. "Give me… a pen. I shall sign. Then… you both… will leave me… to rest."

Pine was relieved to see his father at dinner that evening. He hadn't been home when Pine had returned, and he did need to speak with him. Lord Cumnor had specifically told Pine to let his father know about the marriage settlement. Pine only hoped his father wouldn't be too angry Helena's father was giving so much of what would have been Lord Hazelton's inheritance to Pine.

His siblings were expected that evening, but for now, it was just him and his parents.

As they sat down to dinner, he debated whether he should speak of it now or after dinner, privately in his lordship's study. One look at the determined way his father cut into his meat and Pine decided this was a conversation best done in the company of his mother. She somehow had a calming effect on her husband and even a bit of control—not that either of them would admit as much.

"I met with—" Pine started.

"I would like to—" his father said at exactly the same time.

They both stopped.

"Pine, listen to what your father wants to say, and then you can give us your news," his mother said, breaking the silence.

"Of course." Pine looked to his father.

The man nodded but didn't say anything right away. He seemed to be assembling the words in his mind. He looked at his wife, who gave him an encouraging nod.

With a sigh, Lord Hazelton said, "I have decided to give you Cumnor's townhouse as a wedding gift."

Pine's mouth nearly dropped open, and his brows rose. His father was silent, clearly expecting Pine to say something. "Er, that is very generous, Father," he started.

The man nodded, either in agreement or because Pine had said the right thing. "But you don't have to," Pine continued.

"Yes, he does," his mother said. "It is the right thing to do." She gave a pointed look at her husband.

He sighed and nodded. "I don't need it. We have this house, which is much bigger and—" Lady Hazelton cleared her throat.

"Er, and your mother has decorated it just the way she likes it," his father continued, not looking at his wife.

Pine caught her lips twitch with a small smile, but she controlled it.

"Thank you, Father, but—"

"Just say thank you and leave it at that," his mother advised.

Pine knew that with the dowry he would be getting, he and Helena would be able to buy their own house in London. On the other hand, this was a grand gesture on his father's part, and he would be the worst sort of cad to throw it back in his face. Also, Pine was certain Helena would be happiest if she would be allowed to stay in her own home.

So, Pine nodded. "Thank you, Father. That is very kind, and I know it will make Helena very happy."

His father just gave a little humph and went back to eating his dinner.

"What was it you were going to tell us, Pine?" Lady Hazelton asked.

"Oh, er, I went to see Lord Cumnor after I got the license," he told them. In a flash, he decided to keep the information he shared to a bare minimum. "We discussed the marriage contract, and his solicitor even joined us."

"Really?" His father's attention was caught once again.

Pine gave a little smile as he remembered the interview. "The gentleman had anticipated everything," Pine told them. "He already knew I wanted to marry Helena."

"Well, I suppose she'd told him of your proposal," his father commented.

"No, she said she hadn't. She'd thought it all a dream and was waiting to see what happened before raising her father's hopes. At least, that's what she told me and the ladies this morning," Lady Hazelton said.

Pine gave a little laugh. “She thought it a dream?"

"What did he say about the settlement? Do you need my help negotiating the contract?" his father asked, keeping the conversation on track.

"Oh, no," Pine said. "Er, I agreed with everything he suggested."

His father lowered his eyebrows. “It sounds like he's a bit of a miser—at least from your mother's description of his household—two servants and a shabby, threadbare drawing room?"

Pine gave a little shrug. "He told me they've only been living off the income from his estate. He said that he never touched the dowry Lady Cumnor brought to the marriage, so it was that which he would be passing on to me."

"Lady Cumnor's dowry?" Lord Hazelton asked, frowning. "I don't recall who her family was. Is it enough?"

"Yes," Pine said. "Most definitely enough. And I agreed to move it into a trust for my children when I inherit Hazelton."

His father nodded. "That sounds perfectly reasonable. You won't need much more than I give you, especially with the house."

"So, everything is signed?" his mother asked.

''Signed and in the hands of the solicitor," Pine told her.

"Excellent.” She smiled. “Then all is in readiness for the day after tomorrow."

The day after tomorrow. Pine resisted the urge to gulp. This all happened so fast. Then Helena's face came to his mind.

The day couldn't come soon enough.