The Earl’s Bride (The Earl’s Unexpected Wards #1)

Chapter 1

Hilltop House

Laycock, near Bath

Miss Sofia Brotherton stood by the bedside of her dying father – her younger sisters, Colette and Lucille, were beside her.

Their Great Aunt Jemima had refused to come to the bed chamber saying she'd not liked her nephew when he was alive so could see no reason why she should sit with him when he was dying.

'How much longer will it be, Sofia?' Colette whispered.

'Hush, he might hear you,' Lucille said.

Her youngest sister was a stickler for the rules, never spoke out of turn, would have a fit of the vapours if she heard anyone blaspheme but was the dearest, sweetest soul.

'He can't hear us, sisters, and believe me I wouldn't be standing here like this if it wasn't expected of us by the staff,' Sofia said.

There was a strange noise from the shrivelled figure on the bed, a sort of choking sound and then it was over. The housekeeper, Mrs Chalmers, had been keeping watch.

'He's gone, girls, say your goodbyes and leave the rest to me.'

Mrs C, which is what all three of them had called her since they were old enough to speak, had been more of a mother to them than their own. Mama had slipped away as quietly as she'd lived ten years previously leaving the three of them to the indifference of their father.

Sofia guided her siblings from the room and didn't speak until they were safely at the far end of the passageway, each of them avoiding the snags in the threadbare carpet. They gathered in the small sewing nook at the top of the stairs that overlooked the garden.

'Thank God that's over. If you expect me to look sad, Sofia, then you're in for a disappointment,' Colette said. 'I agree with Aunt Jemima and wish I could have remained with her. I'll be the one to tell her we're finally free of him.'

'Dearest sister, you shouldn't speak ill of the dead and especially not of our own father. He might not have been a loving man, took little interest in us, but at least he didn't beat or starve us,' Lucille said.

Sofia couldn't help her snort of laughter. 'You read too many silly books, little sister. It's a constant mystery to me how you can be so pious, so well behaved and yet read so avidly any romantic nonsense you can lay your hands on.'

Lucille nodded solemnly. 'I know, it's a conundrum indeed. I'm constantly conflicted by my desire to be swept away by a handsome stranger on a big black horse and an urge to enter a nunnery and live a life of devotion to God.'

'You're talking twaddle as usual, but I love you anyway.

Do you know how we're positioned financially?

' Colette asked. She was the middle sister, a year younger than Sofia in age, was of a practical turn of mind, excellent at mathematics and all things scientifical.

Sadly, she showed little interest in anything apart from her books.

'This house and grounds are not entailed, there'll not be anyone turning up to snatch it away from us. Unfortunately, as I've told you before, I'm certain that neither is there sufficient coming in from annuities and trust funds to support all four of us.'

They were now on the window seat, their favourite place for talking, as their father rarely ventured upstairs during the day and there would be no staff eavesdropping.

'I shall find myself a job as a governess – I'd prefer to be a tutor to boys and be able to teach sensible things – but no family would employ me as such. Therefore, sisters, I shall add a few years to my age and start applying immediately.'

'You do look older than nineteen, Colette, I think you would pass easily as a young lady in her twenties,' Sofia said.

'I'll send off an application to be a companion to an elderly lady in Bath.

I too have increased my actual years by three – I think a young lady of three and twenty is more likely to be employed in that capacity. '

'I'll remain here and take care of Aunt Jemima; I'll not be eighteen until next summer, so I doubt I'd find any form of employment apart from as a nursery maid.' Lucille found their aunt difficult to deal with, Colette would be the better choice but needs must.

They embraced and agreed to regroup after the formalities had been completed, the vicar informed, and the house had been put into mourning.

Thoughtfully, Sofia headed for the study. This old house was pleasant in the summer months but cold, draughty and damp the rest of the time. Their father hadn't had the wherewithal to do the necessary repairs to the roof and windows.

Despite the fact that he'd been bedridden these past few weeks – the young doctor had said it was a canker in the chest – until now she'd not dared to venture into the forbidden sanctum of the study.

Mrs C had informed her that all the staff were paid regularly, including the outside men, and they had no complaints at all about their positions.

Sofia was sure they were all anxious about their futures now their master was deceased.

The fact that neither she nor her two sisters had reached their majority could possibly make things complicated.

Therefore, the sooner she and Colette found employment the better. This would mean not only two less mouths to feed but they'd also able to send their wages back to help keep the household afloat.

She pushed open the door and looked in. She'd never been in this room – no females had ever been allowed to visit this entirely masculine sanctum.

Even her dear departed mother had been excluded.

She was half-expecting there to be monstrous things, shocking things, and was somewhat disappointed that the study was just a study.

Everything neat, ledgers and papers where one would expect them to be, nothing out of the ordinary at all.

The ledgers were what she wanted to look into – in these she'd discover the true state of their finances.

Certainly, she and her sisters had had no pin money, their father pleading poverty, since their mother had passed away.

Therefore, their gowns were limp and colourless, patched and repaired countless times.

She was certain they were also dreadfully unfashionable but as she'd no notion what members of the ton were wearing this year, or any other for that matter, it hardly mattered.

Whoever she and her sister went to work for would expect them to be dowdy and plainly dressed.

Wealthy young ladies didn't have to work.

Laycock was a small village, more a hamlet really, and only the poorer members of society lived in their vicinity.

This made them the most important family, but as there were no others to compare with, she doubted this was actually true.

She knew they were from a good family, they didn't speak like the villagers and lived in a substantial house with a few acres of land attached.

As she perused the contents of the ledgers her very worst fears were realised.

Hilltop House was heavily mortgaged; there appeared to be very little income apart from a small annuity.

Her stomach turned. The annuity would cease now that her father was dead and then the bank would no doubt call in the mortgage and the house and grounds would be snatched from under them.

Something she hadn't shared with her sisters was the fact that there could be a relative who was now their legal guardian and might step in and take charge of their affairs.

Before she'd looked at the appalling state of their financial affairs, she'd thought the interference of an outside person would be an absolute disaster.

Now, she prayed there might indeed be a benefactor, a gentleman who might offer financial support.

Was there something in the study that might lead her to this possible family saviour?

She remained where she was at the desk for a few moments and then smiled grimly.

The will – there must be one and that was what she would search for.

Possibly Aunt Jemina could tell her more, but her great-aunt had married young to a wealthy aristocratic gentleman and only joined the family when her husband had died four years ago leaving her destitute.

He'd spent every penny of his family fortune, and the estate belonged to the banks.

Lucille came to find her at suppertime. 'This is a very boring room; I wonder why our father wouldn't allow us to come in.'

'I thought the same. I'm sorry I've been absent all afternoon, dearest, but I've been looking for our parents' last will and testament. Not only have I not located it, I can find no mention anywhere of the lawyers who might have it in their possession.'

'I'm sure things will seem less fraught after you've eaten. You can't afford to lose any weight, you're already far too thin.'

'I eat as much as either of you, it's just that I'm far more active. I ride, walk every day and swim when the weather's fine.'

Lucille, who was somewhat plump, giggled. 'Don't look so prune faced, sister, I know I should join you in your exercise regimen. However, I abhor anything of that sort and much prefer to remain stationary and do my embroidery.'

Sofia laughed. 'Read your ridiculous books, you mean. I'll eat my hat if you can show me anything you've ever embroidered.'

Tonight's meal was in the way of celebration, Mrs C was well aware that none of them, and especially their aunt, was in the slightest bit dismayed about the passing of the master of the house.

Everything they ate came from their own small estate.

They had chickens, ducks and geese so there was a plentiful supply of eggs and meat from them.

They also kept a house cow and there were always a couple of piglets being fattened up for ham and bacon.

Sam Smith, who looked after the livestock, was also an excellent shot and provided game for the larder when in season.