Chapter Twenty-Four
Upon arriving in London, Con had Benchley send off the letters he had written to his sisters, Ariadne, and Val.
He had written to his mother while in Dorset and posted the letter to her from there since she was in Sussex, and it was much closer to Dorset than town.
He had told her to rent a post-chaise and return to town immediately if she wanted to see him wed.
He left for Doctors’ Commons, seeking the special license which would allow Rowena and him to wed once everyone arrived in town.
He assumed they would do so at the Aldridge townhouse, especially if Ariadne volunteered to host the wedding breakfast. It took almost three hours’ total to be seen by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s assistant, fill out the necessary documents, and pay the substantial fee for the license.
It did not matter. He would give his last guinea to see Rowena as his countess.
Once he returned to the townhouse, he asked Adams to assemble the staff. They gathered in the foyer, and he stood a few steps from the bottom in order to be able to see them all.
“I wanted to let you know that I will wed within the week. Make whatever preparations are necessary to welcome my wife.”
His staff gave a rousing cheer, which touched Con. He had not been back inside the townhouse since he had left to carry his father’s body home to Marleyfield. It still seemed slightly odd that he was now the earl.
Mrs. Adams approached him. “My lord, shall I remove Lady Marley’s things from the countess’ rooms? Or would you rather wait and have her maid do so?”
“I trust you will do an excellent job,” he told the housekeeper. “Move my mother to the blue room.”
“Yes, my lord.”
He thought Mama would prefer that room, which was the largest of the guest bedchambers.
He would prefer her be located in it because it was at the opposite end of the hallway from his own rooms. Con intended to have Rowena sleep in his bed each night, something Val had shared that he and Eden did.
Con had liked the idea and knew his bride would approve, as well.
This way, they could be as noisy as they wished during lovemaking and not disturb anyone, least of all Mama.
Going to his study, he wrote to Seward, the Marleyfield butler, informing him that he was taking a wife and wanted Mrs. Seward and the staff to prepare for the new countess’ arrival, saying they would be coming to Marleyfield in about three to four weeks’ time.
That would allow Rowena and him to attend the double wedding at Mossleigh before returning to Somerset.
He also instructed Seward to prepare the dower house for his mother and decide which servants would be going with her.
Knowing she was opinionated—and vocal about her opinions—he did not wish to have the servants’ loyalties divided between the new countess and the dowager one.
This way, Mama could have the run of the dower house, and Rowena would be in charge of his household.
The next morning after breakfast, he sent word to Mr. Badham that he would like an appointment sometime that day. He received a message to come to the solicitor’s offices at one o’clock, and he was on time for his appointment.
Mr. Badham greeted him and led him to his office, where Con informed him, “I am to be married, Mr. Badham. I will need you to draw up the marriage settlements for me. My bride is Miss Stanhope, daughter of the late Viscount Samuel.”
“Why, Lord Samuel was a client of mine, as is the new viscount.”
“Yes, we discovered this once Miss Stanhope agreed to wed me. Since you will not have to meet with another solicitor, the marriage contracts should be easy enough for you to draw up quickly.”
Con handed over a list. “These are my requirements. Please read over it and see if you have any questions for me.”
Mr. Badham took several minutes to do so and then said, “You are being most generous, my lord. Are you certain this is what you want?”
“It is—or I would have not set my requests down on paper,” he said brusquely. “See that you write these up as I have requested. Miss Stanhope is of legal age and will sign the marriage contracts herself.”
The solicitor studied Con a moment. “You must care for Miss Stanhope a great deal, seeing how well she will be taken care of, my lord.”
“I love her. I would give my life for her.”
Mr. Badham looked taken aback at his bold declaration. “I will see to this at once, Lord Marley. Shall we meet the day after tomorrow to review them? I should have the completed documents by then.”
“I will come to your offices once Miss Stanhope has arrived in town. That should be in the next few days.”
“Very well, my lord.”
Con set out for Surrey at nine o’clock the next morning, planning to stay overnight.
He knew his letters had arrived yesterday and hoped that Lucy and Ariadne would be waiting for him when he arrived at Beauville, as he had requested.
He had decided to meet with everyone at Beauville so that he might see the estate and steal a few minutes with Beau.
When his carriage pulled into the drive in front of the house, he saw two other carriages standing in place. Dru and Perry stood waiting for him, and his sister flew into his arms the moment he disembarked.
“Oh, Con! I am so happy to see you,” Dru exclaimed. “It seems as if it has been forever. Mama wrote and said you would be in town and were coming to visit us, but we received no letter from you until yesterday. And what is this family meeting all about?”
He kissed her cheek. “All in good time, little sister.” Turning to Perry, he offered his hand. “I am happy to see you but even more eager to meet my nephew.”
Perry chuckled. “You mean the most beautiful babe in all England? The best natured and best eater? The one who—”
Dru punched her husband in the arm. “Hush, now. I cannot help it if Beau is perfect.” She slipped her arm through Con’s.
“Come inside. The others are waiting for you in the drawing room. Penelope and Elizabeth came with their parents, and they are in the nursery now, so you will also get to see them as well.”
“I am looking forward to seeing all three of them. And having some tea.”
As they entered the foyer, Dru told the butler to have tea sent to the drawing room. They went upstairs, and soon he was embracing and kissing Lucy and Ariadne and shaking hands with Judson and Julian.
“It is so very good to see you all,” he told the group. “I know the Season was only a few months ago, but I have missed everyone.”
“Please sit,” Dru asked, and they took seats, everyone eagerly facing him.
“What is this announcement that you had us gather for?” Lucy asked.
“Why, don’t you know?” Ariadne asked, a knowing smile on her lips. “Look at Con. Can’t you tell? He is in love.”
His sisters started talking at once, throwing questions at him. The three husbands sat, smirking at him.
Ariadne got their attention. “Let Con tell us about Miss Stanhope. Then you can ask him whatever questions you would like.”
Surprise filled him, then he realized he should have known that Ariadne would have guessed.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “It is true. My fiancée’s name is Miss Stanhope. Ariadne and Julian met her at a ball this past Season. We supped with them, Val and Eden, and Tia and Hugo.”
“Miss Stanhope is an excellent conversationalist,” Julian said. “Quite bright.” He grinned. “And pretty.”
Con could not wipe the grin from his face. “That she is. We danced at Tia’s request, and I found myself quite drawn to Miss Stanhope. In fact, I had asked if I could call upon her the next afternoon, but—”
“You never do that, Con,” Lucy interrupted. “That alone tells me Miss Stanhope is special.”
“Unfortunately, I had to break my promise to her because we lost Papa so suddenly. By the time Mama and I took him home to Marleyfield and buried him, I realized I had not let Miss Stanhope know the circumstances of why I did not call upon her.”
Dru chuckled. “I am surprised she agreed to see you, Con.”
“I came to town to do that very thing, but I learned she was in the country. Her father had also recently passed, and she had returned to Stanfield, the family’s country estate.” He paused. “I also learned she would be attending a nearby house party.”
“Oh, a house party is such a good way to truly get to know someone,” Ariadne said.
“It is. If you are invited to it, that is.”
Lucy gasped. “You showed up without being invited? Con!”
“I took the place of a gentleman who had received an invitation. It took some quick thinking and fast talking on my part, but Lord Clay allowed me to take his spot on the guest list.”
“Who was the hostess?” Judson asked.
“Lady Pebble.”
Judson nodded. “Ah, I know her husband. Lord Pebble is a good sort.”
“Lady Pebble suspected a bit of subterfuge on my part, but she was gracious enough to allow me to attend, especially after I pointed out to her that the numbers would be skewed with Lord Clay now absent.”
“Oh, a hostess always strives for balance,” Lucy said. “But you are fortunate she did not send you away, Con.”
“Enough of how you got there,” Dru said. “Tell us about Miss Stanhope and how you fell in love with her.”
“She is far more intelligent than I am. In fact, she has advised her cousin, who served as her father’s steward, for many years.
I will probably be learning from her about how to run Marleyfield.
Rowena is also well read. She is kind to everyone she meets.
Others would call her a bluestocking, but I admire the depth of her knowledge. ”
“And she does love you, too, doesn’t she?” Dru asked anxiously.
“It is a love match,” he shared.
For the next hour, Con told them about the house party. How the various couples began pairing off. How he and Rowena had won partnering at cards and lawn games.
“She actually took off her slippers and stockings to play battledore and shuttlecock?” Ariadne asked. “Oh, I thought I liked her before, but now I truly think she is an original.”
“She had decided not to wed,” he told them. “The ton has mistreated her.”
“For being a bluestocking?” asked Lucy anxiously.
“Yes. What is important is that neither of us could deny our feelings for one another. I have already purchased a special license, and I have sent word to Mama to come to town as quickly as possible.”
“What of Val and Eden?” asked Julian. “They are close enough to make it to town for a wedding.”
“I did write to them and ask them to come if they could. I know the other cousins are too far away, and I am in a hurry to wed Rowena.”
“Love does that to a man,” Perry said, and the other husbands nodded in agreement.
“Well, all of us will certainly pack and come to town to be a part of your special day,” Ariadne said. “I hope you will also allow Julian and me to give the wedding breakfast.”
“I was counting on it,” Con told her. “It is tradition for those who wed in town.”
“Are there any particular foods you wish served?” she asked.
“I will leave that to your discretion, but Rowena is terribly fond of sweets.”
“Leave it to Cook and me,” his cousin assured him. “You will not be disappointed.”
“Will you leave town and go straight to Marleyfield, or will you take a honeymoon?” Dru asked.
“We actually have a double wedding ceremony to attend in Dorset.”
Con explained how each of the couples at the house party had become betrothed and that they had already witnessed Lord Cramer and Lady Jewell’s wedding before he departed for town.
“Rowena’s cousin and Miss Tweedham are having the banns read at the local church, as well as Baron Howell and Lady Sarah.
They plan to wed on the Sunday of the last reading, so we have decided to stay in town for a week or more after our own wedding and then travel down to Dorset for that ceremony.
We do not know when Lord Rowland and Miss Lawson will wed, due to the recent death of his father. ”
“Well, it sounds as if it was a most successful house party,” Ariadne said. “Lady Pebble must be walking on air because of all the betrothals which occurred during its course.”
“May I go to the nursery now?” he asked. “I have yet to meet Beau, and I heard that Elizabeth and Penelope are also at Beauville today.”
“I will go with you,” Dru volunteered. “Everyone else can stay here.”
He accompanied his sister to the top floor, where the nursery was located. Penelope, at nineteen months, was toddling about with self-assurance. Elziabeth, who was seven months, was on her hands and knees, rocking back and forth.
“She is on the verge of crawling,” Dru said. She went to the crib and leaned over, caressing the cheek of the babe lying there. “And this is my Beau.”
The babe was a couple of weeks younger than his cousin Elizabeth. He stirred then, stretching his arms and legs, yawning widely.
“You may hold him if you wish,” Dru said.
Con lifted the babe from his bed and placed Beau’s head in the crook of his arm.
“It is Uncle Con, Beau,” he told the babe, who looked at him curiously. “We are going to be great friends.”
He wound up on the floor with the three children.
Beau had learned to sit up and sat next to Con.
Elizabeth continued to rock back and forth, still determining whether or not she wanted to move forward.
He took turns holding the two little ones, and then he gave a ride to Penelope, allowing her to climb upon his back as he crawled about the nursery on hands and knees.
“You are going to make for an excellent father, Con,” his sister predicted, tears misting her eyes. “I cannot wait to see you with children of your own.”
He had Penelope climb down, and she went to play with some blocks as he said, “You seem happy, Dru.”
She sighed. “I have never been happier, Con. I seem to love Perry more with each passing day. It is marvelous to be only a few minutes away from Lucy and Ariadne.” She frowned. “I hate that you will be so far from us, though.”
“That is what the Season is for,” he reminded her. “For our families to come together and enjoy one another. For our children to spend time together and grow to love and cherish their cousins.”
“You are right,” she agreed. “We will always have the Season.”
He grinned. “I am always right. I am your big brother.”
Con leaned over and kissed Dru’s brow.
“I cannot wait to meet Rowena. If she stole your heart, she must be very special.”
“Oh, she is, Dru. She most certainly is.”