Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
It was unfair of Caroline to string Mr. Dennison along once her mind was made up. She had given Tristan the same courtesy, informing him when she had decided to marry someone else. Only, he had opted not to heed her.
It turned out to be a very good thing he didn’t.
In the case of Mr. Dennison, though, he deserved to set his sights elsewhere. Caroline was firm in her decision to marry Tristan, and even if she was not, it was clear she would not be happy as Mrs. Dennison. Her happiness mattered. Father would, hopefully, agree.
She waited for Lottie to put in the last of her pins. “It’s raining outside, miss.”
“I don’t think the weather recalls that we are nearly entering summer.”
“No, it must not.” Lottie looked to the window, the gray overcast light shining on the golden curls peeking out of her cap. She slid the last pin in and stepped back. “All finished, miss. I can help you dress now.”
Once Caroline had donned her pale green walking dress and heavy pelisse, she arranged her bonnet in place and tied the ribbon.
A knock came at her door and she crossed to open it. Mama stood there, pulling on her gloves. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” Caroline drew in a shaky breath.
Mama glanced up. “You’ve nothing to be nervous about. He will be grateful to be cut from your hook.”
They did not agree on that score, but the task needed to be completed anyway.
After Caroline had escaped to the ladies’ retiring room at the ball, her mother had found her leaving it, and the entire ordeal had spilled from Caroline’s lips.
She didn’t know the best way to handle her father nor Mr. Dennison nor the economic future that lay ahead of her, but she felt confident in her choice in husband, and she was gratified when her mother seemed to share that opinion.
“Shall we hurry and complete this task?” Mama asked.
“Yes.”
They found James in the entryway, accepting his hat from Pomfrey. He placed it on his head, the ends of his golden hair peeking from beneath the brim, and looked in the mirror to ascertain he was happy with it. He was dressed sharply, his brow steady in concentration.
“Where are you off to?” Mama asked.
James’s mouth quirked into a smile. “To convince Mr. Fielding to give me his blessing.”
Her head tilted to the side, emotion clouding her eyes. “Oh, darling. You will do splendidly.”
James didn’t appear as confident. “And you ladies? You look ready to arm yourselves for war.”
“Our errand is much less pleasant,” Mama said.
Caroline wrinkled her nose. “I am off to give Mr. Dennison a hint that he might want to look elsewhere for a wife.”
“That’s good of you, Caro. No use in letting the man dangle after you.”
“There’s been no dangling.”
“Not anymore, at least.” James flashed a smile. “I shall find a hackney. Good luck.”
“I would say the same to you, but I have a feeling you will not need it,” Caroline said.
James fairly bounced as he left.
Caroline and her mother took the carriage to Mr. Dennison’s house in Brook Street and found themselves in his small drawing room not twenty minutes later. It was tastefully decorated in pale blue and cream—likely the work of his mother.
When he entered the room, it was with heavy breathing and a harried expression. His tall, lanky form was dressed in simple day clothes and riding boots. “Forgive me—I was not expecting company.” He bowed. “Would you like tea?”
“I’m afraid we cannot stay long.” Mama gave Caroline a speaking glance. “Caro had something to discuss with you.”
His brow furrowed. “Oh?”
“This fire screen is most becoming.” Mama started toward the far side of the room. “I think I should like to admire it more closely.”
Mr. Dennison watched her walk away with confusion, then looked at Caroline. “Please, be seated.”
She obeyed, perching on the edge of a blue tufted chair. Once Mr. Dennison had sat across from her, she clasped her hands together on her lap. “It is no secret now that I am not fond of horses.”
His frown deepened.
“I believed it would not matter. I could still marry you and put my attention into the house and all it entailed. But it has become clear to me in recent weeks that while that is certainly possible, it is not the way I would like to live.”
Mr Dennison watched her, waiting for her to continue.
“If you will forgive me, I thought it best to inform you that your efforts in courting would be better served elsewhere.”
“A pretty speech, Miss Whitby,” he said dryly.
“An honest one, if it is not pretty,” she countered.
He glanced at her mother, then back at Caroline, his frown deepening. “I appreciate your candor. I cannot say it is unexpected, nor that I am happy to hear it, but I will accept it graciously.”
“Thank you, Mr. Dennison.” She hesitated, then added, “I do hope you will find someone quite as horse mad as you are.”
His answering smile was indulgent. “As do I.”
“I hope you don’t mind,” Mama said later that day, coming into the parlor to find Caroline reading. “I invited the Shepherds to tea.”
“Mind?” She closed her book. “That’s wonderful news. Has James returned from the Fieldings’ yet?”
“No.” Mama let out a worried sigh. “He’s been gone so long, I fear it cannot be good news. He might be off at his club, drinking his disappointment away.”
“Or the Fieldings are celebrating together,” Caroline offered. “And he remained with them.”
“Perhaps.”
“When are the Shepherds arriving?”
“In an half hour. I thought you might want a warning.”
Caroline stood. “I shall look through my gowns.”
“You look lovely, darling. That shade of green becomes you well.”
Caroline pressed her hands to her cheeks. “Thank you. Still, I would like Lottie to look at my hair.”
Mama appraised her, laughing slightly to herself.
“What is it?” Caroline asked.
“You have never once cared for your appearance before greeting a guest in as long as I can recall. Not even for Mr. Dennison.”
Caroline blushed, recalling how tightly she used to lace her stays for him. Never once had she altered herself for Tristan. “This feels important.”
“It is, but you’ve nothing to worry about. It has been obvious for many weeks how enamored he is with you.”
“You must say that. You are my mother.”
“I think I showed great restraint, standing back and letting you decide for yourself which of the men suited you better. For my part, I always liked Tristan for you more.”
Caroline pulled her mother in for a hug. “We must hope Father feels the same.”
Mama lifted one sleek eyebrow. “He will not stand in the way of your happiness.”
Whether that was a promise or a threat, Caroline could not tell. She shook her head. “I will hurry back.”
Once she left the parlor, she rounded the banister and started up the stairs. A door opened down the corridor, and a familiar voice bled out of Father’s study, causing her to grow still. She leaned against the wall, straining to hear what Tristan was saying, but the voices were too soft.
She debated her options, then snuck up a few steps. Once the voices grew louder, she walked down the stairs as though she had no notion anyone was walking her way.
“Is that you, Caroline?” Father asked.
She peeked over the railing as the men walked down the corridor toward her. “Oh, this is a nice surprise.”
Father let out a sigh. “Indeed. I think you will be very pleased to hear what Mr. Shepherd has to say.”
That could only mean one thing. Father had given his blessing, allowing Tristan to offer for her. She recognized it would mean a life of careful economy, but if she was doing so beside Tristan, she could only be happy.
She stared at her father, surprised he seemed happy by this.
The twinkle in his eye was unmistakable, but he had wanted Mr. Dennison for her.
Indeed, he was interested in the match that would bring in the most money.
Taking a step closer, she shook her head.
“I do not understand. You did not seem supportive before.”
Father glanced away, dipping his head almost bashfully, before dragging his attention back to her.
“It is obvious some of my choices recently have been less than ideal. For that, I am sorry.” He swallowed, waiting to see if his words had sunk in before continuing.
“I am sorry for all I’ve put you through.
When it comes to your happiness, Caro, how could I be anything but overjoyed that you are loved by such a good man? ”
Her stomach clenched. She could do nothing but nod, accepting Father’s apology with grace. A weight lifted from her shoulders.
“May I have the privilege of speaking to you privately, Miss Whitby?” Tristan asked.
She glanced at her father for permission.
He gave a single nod. “You may speak in the study, if you’d like. I believe your mother would like to see me in the parlor.”
“Thank you, Father.” Caroline hoped he understood the many things she was thanking him for—his change of heart, his apology, his blessing. He winked at her, leading her to believe he did.
Caroline exhaled deeply, marching toward the study the men had recently vacated. She pushed the door open, inhaling the familiar leather and tobacco smells permeating this room. The fire was built up, the warmth nearly overbearing.
Tristan closed the door with a quiet thud. He remained there while Caroline stood beside the plush red chairs set before the fire. His eyes sparkled, raking over her face with naked adoration.
“Your father gave his blessing,” he said needlessly. “Now that I am facing you, I have trouble knowing what to say.”
Caroline took a step toward him. “I might be able to help you along.”
“How so?”
She approached, taking his hand in both of hers. Neither of them wore gloves, and she ran her fingers over his palm, looking at it. “I would tell you I’ve long admired you. Since we were children, in fact, though you never looked at me.”
“I was forced to on occasion,” he argued. “When we would play games in the fields.”
“Exactly. I was never an equal. You, however, have always been above my touch. Until we both grew up, and I learned what a shocking flirt you could be.”
Tristan’s smile grew. “Ah, but that is where you are wrong. I do not flirt with every woman I speak to. I am complimentary, yes, but flirting? I save that for those I have a decided tendre for.”
Her heart picked up its pace.
“I would like to flirt with no one else but you for the rest of my life.”
Caroline’s body erupted with warmth. She could not contain her smile. “Forever?”
“Indeed.” He pulled her closer. “There are no others but you, Caroline. You have, for over a month now, lived in my mind and taken up the whole of it.”
“What of your wager?”
“What wager?” he countered, grinning. “It matters little. If I could not have you, I was prepared to lose it.”
She leaned against him.
“Will you marry me, Caroline? Even though I am not a toad?”
She laughed. “I will.”
Tristan crushed her in an embrace that nearly lifted her feet from the floor. He tilted her chin up and kissed her with aching sincerity, sealing their promises to one another.
“It is a good thing I’m a fine hand at economizing,” she said.
Tristan leaned back to better see her. “That won’t be as necessary as you think.”
“If you mean to sponge off James’s new fortune—”
“Of course not. James and I have gone in together on an investment. It’s the mill in Manchester I told you of, and it might take time to see rewards, but I have a feeling it will serve us well.”
She tensed. “That sounds as though it has great risk.”
“It does. James and I put in the majority of our personal capital, so we will fail or succeed together.”
“Except he will soon have a rich wife,” Caroline said.
“And I have an expectation of five thousand pounds once I inherit my house.”
“Five—” Caroline choked. “What do you mean?”
“My parents have been keeping it a secret, but it has been set aside for me for nearly all my life.”
Caroline felt her body relax. All the things she had been prepared to sacrifice, to live without, would have been reasonable. She did not need all that they had. But the security of knowing an inheritance was in their future provided her with an added measure of relief.
“Things have a way of working out,” she said.
“My friend Andrew Langford said that very thing to me. I wondered how he could feel so confident, but I see now that as long as we love one another, the rest hardly matters. We will find a way.” He ran the pad of his thumb over her chin, cradling her face in his hands.
“Together, we can think of it as an adventure.”
“I like the idea of going on an adventure with you.”
Tristan kissed her again. When they broke apart, he gave her a rueful look. “Though it might have to wait a moment. I have an errand to see to with James first.”
“Are you not staying for tea? I’m told your parents are due to arrive within an half hour.”
“And be in the way as you and my mother and your mother all discuss wedding plans?” He wrinkled his nose. “I promised James I would go with him. Now that he is engaged to Kitty, he has something to take care of.”
“Engaged!” Caroline said, grinning. She had a sneaking suspicion she knew what the errand was, but she chose to keep silent on the matter. If it was the first thing James wanted to do now that he was engaged to Kitty, that was within his rights. “Be safe.”
Tristan’s dashing smile did not inspire the confidence he probably felt it ought. “I will return before you have time to miss me.”