Page 9 of The Baron’s Perfect Match (Twist of Fate #1)

London

A udrey moved closer to the candle to better see the tiny pearls she was sewing on the silk gown.

Her mother’s old modiste, Mrs. Beaumont, had taken a chance on her when Audrey asked for some piecework.

Audrey had been afraid to approach her before now, thinking she didn’t have the talent to be hired, but the modiste was pleasantly surprised at her skill with a needle.

Now Audrey had more work than she could ever finish, but she kept at it diligently, trying to finish this particular dress this evening.

They could definitely use the extra funds, as the larder was growing bare.

“Here you go. I found another candle. Is that better?” Grace asked, lighting the candle and placing it on the table beside Audrey.

“Oh, Grace. That’s just what I needed. Thank you.”

“Are you done for the evening yet?” Mia asked, walking into the parlor.

“Almost, dearest. One more row of pearls, and I’ll be able to deliver the dress to Mrs. Beaumont in the morning.”

Mia knew that interrupting Audrey’s progress would only cause her to work longer into the night.

“Perhaps I can help with some of the sewing,” Grace said.

“I’m nearly finished with this one, but there’s a blue day dress that needs a few repairs. Do you think you can handle that?”

Grace nodded. “Of course. No one will ever see where the dress originally ripped.”

“That would be most helpful, Grace. The dress is on the chair in my bedchamber. Then we shall get paid for both of these dresses tomorrow.”

“I’ll fetch it. Be right back,” Grace said as she sailed out of the parlor.

“Audrey, are you happy?” Mia asked, taking a seat on the sofa beside her.

Audrey looked up from her work. “That’s a strange question. Why do you ask?”

“You seem so sad of late. Do you still wish you had a Season? Is that what’s bothering you?”

Audrey shook her head. “No. I’m afraid there will be no Seasons for us. That dream was gone when Mama passed. Now I just want us to be warm and well-fed, with perhaps a little left over to pay Mrs. Culbert and Beckwith. That will make me happy.”

“I’m five and ten and could certainly help more if you’d tell me what you need. ”

“Mia, I know how hard you try, but at the moment, your stitching is not quite up to what Mrs. Beaumont is looking for. Continue with your lessons and practice your needlework and the pianoforte. In the meantime, I can teach you how to run a proper household. I’ve started teaching Grace, but it’s time you were included as well.

Every woman needs to know how to run a household. ”

“Really? I can have those lessons too?”

“Of course, dearest, but make no mistake, there’s nothing glamorous about running an efficient and well-maintained home. Learning how to manage a less-than-stellar budget is the hardest thing you’ll ever have to figure out.”

“Well, I’m excited to find out how to do it. Thank you, Audrey, for not treating me like a child.”

“My darling girl, you’re no longer a child, but a beautiful young woman on the cusp of taking on the world. Heaven help us all,” Audrey said with a giggle.

That made Mia laugh as well.

“What’s so funny?” Grace asked, walking back into the parlor.

“Audrey is going to teach me how to run a proper household,” Mia said.

“Oh, I see. Well, I can tell you there’s not much to giggle about, especially trying to spend our meager funds in the most appropriate places. like buying coal or food.”

“So Audrey was telling me.”

Grace sat down in the chair beside the sofa so she could share the double candlelight. “This tear is quite extensive. What was the lady doing to cause this?”

“Grace, it’s not our place to question things like that. We’re paid to repair any damage, not gossip about how it happened.”

“Understood. It will take a bit of fussing to fix this, though.”

“Do what you can, and if you get stuck, I can finish it,” Audrey said. “I’m almost finished with these pearls.”

222

Jacob Stanford was ever so grateful to finally see London come into view.

He’d been on the passenger ship from New York to London for the last six weeks.

They had endured some treacherous March storms on the high seas that had threatened to capsize the ship, and he was more than eager to walk on solid ground again.

It took more than an hour for him to disembark, collect his belongings, and hire a hackney to take him to the solicitor’s office. When they reached the address, he stepped out of the carriage and turned to the driver. “Please wait. I shall not be long.”

The driver frowned and started to protest until Jacob flipped him a gold coin, which he grabbed out of the air. “My pleasure, mate. Stay as long as you like.”

No matter what country he was in, money spoke volumes.

As he looked at the solicitor’s building, a shiver ran down his spine.

His hands were clammy, and his heart was beating nearly out of his chest. He had no idea why, all of a sudden, he would get a case of nerves.

It’s not like this meeting was going to change his life.

He was merely here to understand this whole inheritance situation.

Jacob walked into the solicitor’s office and was greeted by the young man at the front desk.

“May I help you, sir?”

“Yes. I’m here to see Mr. Haggerty.”

“I’m not aware of any appointments for Mr. Haggerty today.”

After traveling for six weeks, Jacob wasn’t about to be turned away. He reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out the letter he’d received from Mr. Haggerty, and handed it to the clerk. “I do believe he’s expecting me.”

The young clerk read the text and blanched. “Oh, I’m so sorry, my lord. I’ll let Mr. Haggerty know you’re here.”

Jacob nodded and watched the young man scurry toward the back of the office. It didn’t take long for an older gentleman with graying hair and a bit of potbelly to greet him.

“Lord Fletcher, I’m so pleased you were able to make the journey. There’s much to discuss. Would you care for some tea?”

“Coffee, if you have it,” Jacob said.

“Of course. William will see to it.”

The clerk nodded as Jacob and Mr. Haggerty made their way to the solicitor’s office.

“How was the crossing?”

“Long and tedious. ”

“I can imagine, although I have no direct experience with that myself,” Mr. Haggerty said. “Please have a seat, and I’ll get the file.”

“I still don’t understand how you’ve concluded that I’m the heir to the Fletcher title,” Jacob said.

“We’ve been looking for a long time and had to go back several generations to uncover the connection.”

“My father never mentioned anything about us being related to the aristocracy.”

“He probably didn’t know. These connections can be quite complicated.”

“Can you explain how I’m related?”

“Of course. Your great-great-grandfather was the second son of the baron, and evidently, he wanted more out of his life than merely waiting around to see if his brother died without an heir. So he moved the family to America for a fresh start. I don’t have any information on how his name became Stanford unless there was a recording error when they first arrived in America. ”

William brought in a steaming cup of coffee and set it down in front of him.

“Thank you. This is much appreciated.”

William nodded and exited the office.

“Well, that is interesting, as no one in the family had ever mentioned that my relatives originally came from England.”

“These things happen, I’m sure. Would you like to hear what the estate entails?”

“Yes, I’d like to know everything you can tell me. As you can imagine, this is an unusual situation for me.”

“Of course, my lord. Here we are,” Mr. Haggerty said, opening the file. “The country estate is located just outside Reading in Berkshire county, about a two-day journey from London. There’s a lovely stone house, Dandridge Manor, that’s currently unoccupied.”

“Has the house been left to rot?” Jacob asked with a frown.

“No, not at all. There’s a skeleton staff maintaining the inside of the house and an estate steward who’s in charge of any issues that may arise with the land. He also oversees the grooms taking care of the horses.”

“There are horses on the estate?”

“Yes. From the last report, there are still six horses being cared for. I believe there are a carriage or two there as well, but I have no idea of their condition. There are also a number of tenants working the land.”

“Tenants? How many?”

Mr. Haggerty shuffled some papers in the file. “Oh, here we are. From the last report from the steward, there are currently ten families working the land.”

“Farmers?”

“Yes, although last year’s harvest wasn’t the best because of the drought. The income was significantly decreased because of it.”

“I don’t need the income.”

Mr. Haggerty cleared his throat. “Um…the income has been given to the former Lord Fletcher’s daughters to live on while the search for you was ongoing. ”

“Daughters? How many?”

“Three—Miss Parker, Miss Grace, and Miss Mia.”

“You mentioned the manor house is empty at present. Don’t these women live there?”

“No. They live in a modest house on Gracechurch Street here in London. I’m not sure they have ever lived at Dandridge Manor. From what I understand, the former Lord Fletcher didn’t enjoy the country.”

“Well, I see no reason why the Parker sisters cannot continue to receive the income. As I said, I don’t need it.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not how things work. Now that you’ve been found, all income will go directly to you. The women are now your responsibility as the new Lord Fletcher.”

Jacob let out a long-suffering sigh. Not only did he have an estate and tenants to manage, but now, he discovered, he was the guardian of three young women.

What did he know about taking care of them?

He’d been on his own ever since he was eight and ten and had never had to think about considering others in the decisions he made.

“I see. What exactly does this guardianship entail?”

“It means you’re responsible for their well-being, making sure there’s enough food in the larder and enough coal to heat their modest home.

If Miss Parker, the eldest daughter, desires a Season—with your approval, of course, she will need an entirely new wardrobe befitting a young debutante.

If she is successful in securing a marriage proposal, it will be your responsibility to negotiate the terms of the marriage contract.

This will pertain to the other Parker sisters as well when they’re older.

It’s at your discretion whether you’re willing to finance a Season for any of them. ”

Marriage contracts?

“How old are these women?”

“Miss Parker is nine and ten, Miss Grace is seven and ten, and Miss Mia is five and ten. Miss Parker is certainly of an age to have a Season, but there’s been no money for such an extravagance and no one to chaperone her.”

“A Season? Chaperone? I’m confused. What does all that mean?”

“I understand all these customs are new to you. Let me see if I can explain it in simple terms. The Parker sisters are daughters of the former baron and thus members of the aristocracy. When young women reach a certain age, usually eight and ten, they’re launched into Society.

You’ll need a respectable lady who is willing to act as Miss Parker’s chaperone during the various society events.

Her debut signals her availability on the marriage mart to the gentlemen of the ton . ”

“The marriage mart? Are these women sold?”

“Oh no, that’s not what it means. The marriage mart consists of a series of activities that allow young people to get to know each other. It’s all very regimented, especially for young women, and any misstep could result in a scandal that could ruin her chances of securing a desirable match.”

Missteps ?

Scandal?

Jacob was certainly aware of the society in New York, but he had no clue how any of it worked. He was not high society and had never thought he would be, so his knowledge was confined to what he read in the papers.

“How would I find a chaperone if Miss Parker wishes to participate in a Season?”

“I can make some inquiries for you. Usually, young ladies are sponsored by an older lady who knows what a Season entails. If this becomes necessary, please let me know so I can start the process of looking for someone to help you.”

Jacob’s head was spinning with all the information the solicitor had bombarded him with. He needed time to think about everything. “Mr. Haggerty, I find myself quite fatigued. Perhaps we can finish this discussion tomorrow.”

“Of course, my lord. Whatever you wish.”

“Where do you recommend I stay while we figure this out?”

“Mivart’s is London’s most fashionable hotel. It’s located on the corner of Brook and Davies Streets. Shall I call you a hackney?”

Jacob stood and extended his hand. “No need. I have one waiting outside.”

Mr. Haggerty shook Jacob’s hand. “Very good, my lord. Shall I set an appointment for you to meet the Parker women tomorrow as well?”

“If you think that’s necessary. ”

“Absolutely necessary, my lord. I can have them meet you at the hotel.”

Jacob nodded. “That will be fine. Have them come for luncheon.”

“Of course. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good day, Mr. Haggerty,” Jacob said as he left the office.

After giving the new destination to the driver, Jacob settled back against the squabs and thought about everything the solicitor had told him.

It would seem the circumstances of his being the heir to the Fletcher estate were not merely a financial transaction to be taken care of as he’d originally thought.

There were three other lives he was now responsible for, and that thought terrified him.

He knew nothing about women’s needs and certainly nothing about English Society.

His na?ve assumption that this situation would be resolved quickly loomed large in his mind. He was afraid nothing would be simple from here on out, and that thought terrified him.