Chapter Twenty-Two #2
Mr. Tompkins went to speak to Lord and Lady Pebble. The couple nodded solemnly, and then Lord Pebble said, “Mr. Tompkins would like to address our group.”
She saw sadness permeate the former tutor’s face. Then Rowena felt Con take her hand, threading his fingers through hers. She appreciated the gesture of comfort.
“I have just received word that my father has passed,” Mr. Tompkins told them. “I knew his condition was serious and had been unchanged for several weeks. It was Papa who urged me to come to this house party and not constantly sit at his bedside.”
Mr. Tompkins swallowed. “He passed peacefully in his sleep less than half an hour ago. There had been no change in his condition. No warning which would have had the staff summon me home.”
The new Lord Rowland’s gaze fastened upon Miss Lawson.
“I wrote to Papa yesterday morning, thanking him for urging me to come to this party at Pebblestone.” His features softened, and he smiled gently.
“I told Papa of you, Miss Lawson. Of your sweet nature and innate goodness. I wrote that I would offer for you once I became the Earl of Rowland. I am doing so now. I do not know exactly when we might wed if you accept me, but I am asking for you to wait for me. Will you do so, Miss Lawson? Will you become my countess?”
She closed the distance between them, coming to stand before him.
“Yes, my lord. I would be happy to accept your offer of marriage. And I will wait as long as is necessary.”
He took her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing it tenderly. “Thank you, my lady.” He then gazed about the room. “In a short time, I feel as if I have come to know everyone within this room well. Thank you for your friendship.”
Lord Rowland left the drawing room. Con squeezed Rowena’s fingers and then released her hand.
Lady Pebble said, “In light of the earl’s passing, I believe we should dine and then forgo any entertainment in the drawing room afterward. Shall we go into dinner now?”
Con slipped her hand through the crook of his arm and escorted her to the dining room. Rowena found her name card next to his and was grateful for his nearby presence.
The soup course had only begun when Lord Cramer came to his feet.
“Lady Jewell, may I speak with you privately for a moment?”
Lady Jewell looked surprised by his request but said, “Certainly, my lord.”
Lord Cramer pulled out her chair and helped her to her feet. They exited the dining room.
“I wonder what that is about,” mused Lady Pebble.
But Rowena knew. Her suspicions were confirmed moments later when the couple reentered the room, holding hands.
Lord Cramer said, “With the passing of Lord Rowland, I did not want to waste another moment. I am happy to announce that Lady Jewell has done me the honor of accepting my offer of marriage. Although this is a sad time and it does not seem fitting to celebrate, I could not let Lady Jewell slip from my grasp.”
Con spoke up. “Lord Rowland would be the first to congratulate the two of you. Life is for the living, and you and Lady Jewell will have a good one together. No one begrudges you for speaking up and offering to make Lady Jewell your countess. My heartiest congratulations to you,” he told the couple.
Dinner continued, Miss Bailey beaming at her niece throughout it.
“Will you take your new husband to India to meet your parents?” Miss Bailey asked.
Lady Jewell shook her head. “Things are changing in India, Aunt. That is why Mama sent me to England. To start a new life.” She looked at her new fiancé. “I think Lord Cramer and I will be happy staying right here in Dorset.”
“Will you make it a triple wedding?” Lady Pebble inquired. “That would be a sight to see.”
“A triple wedding?” asked Lord Cramer, clearly confused.
“Perhaps I spoke too soon,” the viscountess apologized.
Ollie said, “Since the banns are being read the same three Sundays for Miss Tweedham and me, as well as for Lord Howell and Lady Sarah, the ladies have come up with the idea of our holding a joint ceremony.”
“Just as Tia and Dilly did,” murmured Con in Rowena’s ear. His lips brushed against her lobe as he did, sending a thrill rushing through her.
“Yes, we were discussing it before Lord Rowland was called away,” Lord Howell said. He looked to Lady Sarah, who nodded. “And it seems as if my fiancée and I have agreed to this.”
Miss Tweedham said, “We have decided to wed on the same day after the last calling of the banns. Lady Sarah and I are good friends and will remain so, especially since we will be living close to one another after our marriages.” She looked to Lady Jewell. “Do not feel the same obligation, my lady.”
Lady Jewell looked adoringly at Lord Cramer. “I only wish we could wed sooner.”
“You could purchase a bishop’s license,” Con volunteered.
“There is a small fee associated with it, but it allows you to wed in either the bride’s or groom’s local parish church without the calling of the banns.
The other alternative is to purchase a special license in the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury in London.
It gives you the freedom to wed wherever you choose.
In a church. A townhome. Whatever you find convenient. ”
Lord Cramer asked, “What is your wish, my lady?”
“I would prefer a church wedding,” Lady Jewell said. “It is what Mama and Papa would want, too. But the idea of the bishop’s license is appealing to me. Could you get us one of those, my lord?”
Gallantly, the earl said, “I would ride to the ends of the earth for it, my lady. I can leave tomorrow morning and return by late evening at the earliest or by the next day.”
“Please do that,” Lady Jewell requested. “I know the house party ends the day after tomorrow. It would be lovely if we could end it by having everyone attend our wedding.”
They all agreed it was a wonderful idea.
Lord Pebble volunteered to go and speak to the vicar tomorrow morning to arrange for the ceremony to take place the following day.
The ladies all decided to forgo tomorrow’s ride and would decorate the church.
Miss Lawson said she would be happy to provide the music for the ceremony.
Dinner ended, and Con said, “Your cousin is headed your way. I will come to you in an hour.”
Rowena nodded. “I will see you then.”
Ollie said, “It is good to see you looking healthy again, Rowena. What do you think of this double ceremony?”
“I think I will witness two couples who are very happy to be coming together in marriage,” she replied.
“Are you ready to return home?”
“Yes.”
She promised Lady Pebble that she would return for breakfast tomorrow.
“Lord Pebble will go see the vicar after we eat,” the viscountess said.
“Then we should be given access to the church so that we might decorate it for the wedding ceremony. You have a way with flowers, Rowena. You will have to tell our gardeners which blooms to cut, and then we can use them to fill the church. To think that our little house party has had four betrothals coming out of it. Why, I will be the talk of the ton come next Season.”
“I suppose you will need to hold an annual house party, my lady, since you have done such an excellent job of making matches at this one.”
“Selfishly, I am happiest for Miss Lawson,” the viscountess shared. “Lord Pebble and I worried about her coming to this house party because of her extreme shyness. To think she will soon be a countess will make her parents very happy.”
Rowena and Ollie bid their hosts goodnight and went to his carriage.
“I hope you do not mind that I asked the carriage to bring me to Pebblestone,” she told her cousin.
“It was due to return for me. I am glad you made use of it.” He paused. “I am sorry that you come out of this house party without a betrothal, Rowena. It must sadden you when you see the other four ladies so very happy.”
She was not ready to reveal anything to Ollie yet, especially because she did not know how Con would react to what she had to say to him.
“I am a firm believer in fate, and these four couples were obviously meant to be. I am very happy for you and Miss Tweedham, Ollie. I think you will build a wonderful life together.”
He dropped her at her cottage, and Rowena waved goodbye. She entered and knew she had less than an hour before Con appeared.
And decided her own fate.