Page 9

"Ah, Miss Harwood, just the person I was waiting for," Lady Katherine said as Laurel entered the drawing room. She hesitated, wondering why Lady Katherine was being so formal. Then she noticed a gentleman rising from his seat.

Not just any gentleman, but the man she had seen in the park. A quick glance at his trousers confirmed her suspicions because they were smudged with dirt, though the patch over his left eye was proof enough. That was hardly a popular fashion accessory.

But what was he doing taking tea with Lady Katherine? And why had no one informed her of his presence or the reason for it?

"Lord Julian Ashford, Earl of Strathmore, may I present Miss Laurel Harwood?" Lady Katherine said, making the introductions. Lord Ashford looked as surprised as Laurel felt, which was strangely comforting to her.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Harwood," Lord Ashford said with a bow.

"And you as well," she replied with a curtsy. "Though I will admit that I saw you earlier, assisting a young boy in the park. You were most kind."

Lord Ashford seemed surprised by her admission, though he did gesture toward the dirt on his pants.

"Yes, that is the reason my pants are not as pristine as I would like and I apologize for that.

However, there was no time to correct the matter for I did not wish to keep Lord and Lady Winchester waiting when they had been so kind as to invite me to their home. "

"A bit of dirt is of no concern," Laurel said, finding herself warming to her new acquaintance.

"I believe I saw you at the park as well," Lord Ashford said. "You were feeding the squirrels a crust of bread."

Laurel felt herself blush. "Indeed, that was me. I also fed a few brave birds," she added with a small smile.

Lady Katherine observed this exchange with a rather self-satisfied expression on her face. If she was miffed over the fact that Laurel had gone out unchaperoned, she did not let it show.

"Please, won't you both be seated? Miss Harwood, I have prepared your tea just as you like it.

" Lady Katherine handed Laurel a cup and saucer which she took, still trying to come to terms with what was happening.

Strange though it all was, she felt somewhat relieved that her sense that something mysterious was happening was correct.

However, the matter of what precisely was the mystery remained to be determined.

She sipped her tea and forced herself to wait calmly for all to be revealed.

"Now," Lady Katherine said, setting down her own cup and saucer and smoothing the skirts of her gown before looking directly at Julian and then Laurel.

"Although I have only just met Lord Ashford, my husband is acquainted with his grandfather and has full confidence in his good character.

And based on your own observations, you are aware that he is a man who is kind to strangers, an admirable quality indeed. "

"Indeed," Laurel said, noncommittally, glancing first at Lady Katherine and then at Lord Ashford, wondering what Lady Katherine had in mind.

"It was not so grand a gesture," Lord Ashford said. "I am sure any gentleman worthy of the name would have done the same."

"Ah," Lady Katherine said. "Therein lies the issue. Many men who have that title are not gentlemen at all."

Lord Ashford opened his mouth as if to argue the point and then thought better of it. "Sad to say, Lady Winchester, but I must admit you are correct."

Lady Katherine smiled with satisfaction, as though there could be any doubt that she was correct.

"Is Lord Winchester going to be joining us? Or Cass—excuse me," Laurel glanced at Lord Ashford, "Miss Primrose?"

"They are otherwise engaged at the moment," Lady Katherine said, as though that made perfect sense. "Besides, I wish to speak to the two of you alone."

Despite their good manners, both Laurel and Lord Ashford glanced at each other before returning their gazes to Lady Katherine.

"It is my understanding," Lady Katherine said, "that Lord Ashford has come to London with a specific purpose in mind, before he goes back to Hazelden House where his sister and grandfather reside."

Laurel nodded as though this all made perfect sense to her.

"How old is your sister, my lord?" She turned to Lord Ashford.

"My sister Lady Penelope is sixteen. She is looking forward to her first season next year, though my grandfather and I are ill-prepared for such a feminine undertaking."

Lady Katherine explained, "Lord Ashford and his sister are without parents and were raised by their grandfather, Lord Ebersole, who is a friend of my husband and myself."

"I see," Laurel said with another nod.

Try as she might, Laurel could not maintain her composure and simply wait for Lady Katherine to reveal whatever scheme she had in mind. "I beg your pardon, Lady Katherine, but I am utterly perplexed by your desire to speak with Lord Ashford and myself together."

"My apologies," Lady Katherine said, then turned to Lord Ashford. "If I may be frank, Miss Harwood was recently jilted."

Laurel stiffened in her seat and bit her lip.

"Her brother was arrested on the morning of her wedding."

Lord Ashford perked up. "I believe I read about that." He turned his gaze to Laurel. "That must have been quite shocking."

"Yes, it was." What more could one say about such a humiliating experience? "Though I would like to correct Lady Katherine, if I might. The man who was arrested was my step brother. He is much older than me and we have very little to do with one another. Even less, now that..."

"Of course," Lord Ashford said. "I read about his sentence." His gaze softened as he spoke to Laurel and somehow she found it comforting rather than the usual annoyance she felt when it seemed people were looking at her with pity. Lord Ashford seemed too practical for pity and she appreciated that.

"Needless to say, Miss Harwood is in a precarious position, if I might again speak bluntly. She has no funds, her home has been seized to pay the debts of her stepbrother and despite being utterly delightful in my opinion, her reputation is in tatters."

"You do speak your mind," Lord Ashford said, with a nod to Lady Katherine. "I am very sorry for your troubles," he added, with a glance at Laurel.

"Thank you."

"However," Lady Katherine continued. "It seems to me that the two of you could be quite helpful to each other."

Laurel turned to Lord Ashford. "If you are looking for a governess or companion for your sister, I am sure I would be delighted to meet her."

Lord Ashford's brow furrowed and then smoothed as he seemed to have a bolt of inspiration of which Laurel had no understanding.

"I believe," Lord Ashford said, glancing at Lady Katherine who gave him a nod of approval to continue, "that Lady Winchester is proposing something a bit more.

..permanent. You see, my grandfather owns a copper mine which I have been running for him on the assumption that he would turn the mine over to me in due time.

Recently, my grandfather informed me that unless I am married by his seventieth birthday, which occurs very soon, he will turn the mine over to my cousin. "

Laurel gasped. "That seems unfair, if you have indeed been running things all this time."

"Yes, it strikes me the same way. However, my grandfather is nothing if not determined."

Laurel shook her head slightly. "I still do not see how I can be of any help.

I am desperate to get out of London so that the Winchesters and my friend Miss Primrose may recover their reputations, as well as to save myself the humiliation of more social snubs.

If what you are offering is a position in your household, far from London, then I would most gratefully accept. "

"The position I am offering," Lord Ashford said, "is as my wife."

Lady Katherine smiled broadly. "Oh, Lord Ashford. I am so grateful that you understood my meaning and are agreeable to my plan. It will suit both of you quite wonderfully and if I do say so myself, I believe your surreptitious observations of each other just this very afternoon are a sign that this is a match that will be most pleasant for all involved. Lord Ashford will be able to satisfy his grandfather’s demands, Miss Harwood will have a home and protector.

And once some time has passed, you may both live your lives as you see fit.

I believe that it is good to enter into marriage as clear-eyed as possible.

Lord Winchester and I will be attending your grandfather’s birthday fête, so once the mine has been properly turned over to you, we can bring Miss Harwood back to London with us.

By then, the gossips will have surely moved on to another topic.

" Lady Katherine smiled at both of them, rather pleased with her plan.

Laurel sat in stunned silence.

Lady Katherine reached for the pull cord to call the butler. "This calls for champagne."

"Wait. Please, Lady Katherine. Stop. I have not agreed to... any of this."

A hush fell over the room and Laurel watched as sadness and disappointment filled Lord Ashford’s face.

"I believe," Laurel said, feeling exceptionally bold, "that perhaps Lord Ashford and I might speak alone for a moment?"

"Of course," Lady Katherine said. "Marriage is not an institution to be entered into lightly, even if it is strictly a business arrangement."

Their hostess left and the door closed with an ominous snick. Laurel and Julian turned to look at each other.

Without saying a word, he reached up and removed his eye patch.

"If you agree to the terms laid out by Lady Winchester," he said, giving her a hard look with his one good eye, "then you will be agreeing to marry a man who is scarred beyond repair, with only one useful eye.

Additionally, I spend long hours working at the mine and am unlikely to recite poetry or bring you flowers. "

Laurel did not look away but took a moment to study the scars which ravaged the side of Julian's face and marred his left eye. It was a jarring sight, to be sure, but she realized she was more intrigued than repulsed.

"I have no money. My only relative, if you can call him that, is a stepbrother who is in prison. My reputation is in ruins." She touched her hair, trying to smooth it out. "And I have hair which has been described as the mark for the devil."

She thought for a moment. "The terms which Lady Winchester has outlined certainly seem advantageous to both of us."

"Yes," Julian said, "I will have a bride to satisfy my grandfather's demands and you will have the security and protection of a husband. A new name and a new start far from London."

Laurel gave her head a small shake. "'Tis nearly too much to comprehend."

"And now, assuming you agree to the arrangement, you will have a fine London home as well as grand lodgings at Hazelden Estate where I spend most of my time. If you find country life is not to your liking, you may take up residence in the London home with no interference from me."

"I can hardly wait for that to happen," she said.

Julian winced. "Is the idea of being able to get away from me so appealing?"

Laurel gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "No, I did not mean that at all. What I am saying, though making quite a hash of it, is that we can work together and both achieve our goals."

"All we have to do is agree not to fall in love," Julian said. Retrieving the patch for his eye, he tied it around his head.

"I can assure you, sir, I have no more intention of falling in love than you do."

"Then we have a deal? You will become my bride and once the mine is in my name, we shall go our separate ways." Julian held out his hand to her, but she hesitated.

"If you do not mind," she said, watching him closely to judge his reaction. "I believe I would feel better if we wrote out the specifics so there can be no misunderstanding of the terms of our agreement."

Julian paused for a moment then smiled. "A very wise idea," he said. "Would you like to do the drafting? My handwriting is rather deplorable."

Pleased that Julian had not simply ploughed over her with his own intentions and poo-pooed her suggestion of memorializing the terms, Laurel nodded. He was much more modern-thinking than she would have ever expected. A man of surprises.

He nodded toward a small writing desk in the corner. "Perhaps that would suffice?"

Laurel sat at the desk and Julian moved to stand behind her. Loomed, more like. She felt his presence though he stood no closer than was proper. She forced her mind to focus on the task so as not to allow anxiety to cause her hands to shake as she wrote.

The desk was well-stocked with paper, ink and quill pens. Drawing out a piece of paper, she smoothed it on the desk blotter and perched the pen at the top of the page.

"I suppose I ought to start with the date," she said.

"Yes, that would be a good idea."

Laurel continued, her hand moving across the page as Lord Ashford suggested the wording to use. When he stated the amount of her allowance, she gasped and swung her head around to stare at him. "Surely you are not in earnest?" she said.

"Oh, is that not enough?"

"It is an amount I can barely imagine being able to spend. Thank you."

"Whether we are sharing a home or not, you shall still be my wife, Lady Ashford, the Countess of Strathmore. I should like to know you will be provided for appropriately."

"A countess by contract," Laurel said softly as she finished writing out the terms.

She passed the paper to him to read over.

"Thank you," he said. "I am confident this will work out perfectly." He placed the document on the writing desk and then, leaning so close to her that she could see the curve of his dark eyelashes, he added his name to the bottom of the document with a flourish.

"Your turn," he said, straightening and offering the pen to her.

She added her name below his.

"It is customary," Lord Ashford said, holding his right hand out to her,"to shake hands upon the completion of a contract."

"Of course," she replied. "I am unaccustomed to such transactions, but that seems proper." She rested her palm against his and he assisted her to stand. Somehow her throat chose that moment to become exceedingly dry and breathing became difficult.

"We have a deal," Julian said, gazing at her intently.

He placed a gentle kiss on top of her fingers. "To the future Lady Ashford."