Chapter Twenty-Five
Rowena and Ollie arrived in town, and she sent Con a message to let him know.
Since it was Ollie’s first time in London, she told him she would give him a tour of his residence and also town.
The townhouse tour had barely begun when the new housekeeper Rowena had hired approached, telling them that Lord Marley had arrived.
Smiling at her, Ollie said, “Why don’t you let Mrs. Jones give me the house tour in your stead? I know how eager you are to see Lord Marley.”
“Thank you,” she said, hurrying downstairs to the drawing room.
The moment she caught sight of Con, it was as if her heart erupted in song. Rowena found herself in his arms. He kissed her enthusiastically.
“I know it has only been a handful of days, but it has felt like a lifetime apart from you,” he told her.
“I feel the same way, Con. I never want to be apart from you again.”
“How was your journey to town? Did Lord Samuel accompany you?”
“He did. The housekeeper is now showing him his London residence since he has never seen it before.”
“All but Mama has arrived in town as of this morning, and they have gathered now in my drawing room. Would you and your cousin come to meet them?”
Knowing how much his family meant to him, she said, “We would be delighted to.”
They collected Ollie and went outside to Con’s carriage. He told them it would only be a short drive. When they pulled up at the townhouse, Rowena thought how grand it was.
And soon, it would be one of her homes.
As Con handed her down, he said, “I hope so much of my family being present will not overwhelm the both of you.”
“I have already met a few of them. I am looking forward to knowing your sisters most of all.” She grinned at him. “And hearing stories of what you were like as a boy.”
He laughed. “I am sure they will bend your ear with plenty of those.”
He introduced her to Adams, and the butler led them upstairs to the drawing room.
When they entered, Rowena was taken aback for a moment by so many smiling, eager faces.
She was quickly welcomed by the Duke and Duchess of Millbrooke and Lord and Lady Aldridge, whom she had supped with at the Purlington ball.
Then Con introduced her to his two sisters, both younger than he was.
Lady Huntsberry was a few inches over five feet, with tawny hair.
Lady Martindale was several inches taller than her sister and had the same tawny hair her sister possessed.
Both had the amethyst eyes of their brother, and Rowena couldn’t help but want a child or two of theirs to also claim the unusual eye color.
The Marquess of Huntsberry and the Earl of Martindale, husbands of Con’s two sisters, were also very friendly, and she and Ollie couldn’t have received a nicer welcome from the group.
Lady Huntsberry said, “It is as if we are gaining another sister in you, Miss Stanhope.”
“Enough of these titles,” Lady Aldridge declared. “The cousins in our family have always been informal when we are in private. You must call us by our Christian names. I am Ariadne.”
“I am Rowena,” she told them. “And my cousin is Ollie. Con has told me all about the historical names the cousins were given, so I already know what some of your given names—and nicknames—are.”
“There are so many of us here,” Con said. “I think I would like to give Rowena a chance to get to know the women of the family. Would that be to your liking, love?”
She nodded. “I am already comfortable in everyone’s presence,” she assured him. “But it would be nice to focus on the ladies.”
“Then we gentlemen shall leave you ladies to it,” he told her. “We will take Ollie with us and introduce him around at White’s since he is new to town.”
“Thank you, Con,” she said quietly, knowing Ollie would be in good hands with her fiancé and the other members of his family.
Once the men left the drawing room, Ariadne rang for tea, and Rowena got to know her future sisters-in-law, as well as Eden and Ariadne, much better.
These women were all kind and made her feel a part of the family.
She learned more about the orphanage which Ariadne and Julian owned as well as hearing about how Eden was the former governess to Verina and Justina, two of Con’s Fulton cousins.
All four women also were fairly new mothers, and they spoke at length about their children.
Rowena could see the love and pride they held for their offspring, and they assured her Con would be a wonderful father to their children.
In turn, she talked a little about the Ladies Literary Book Society she had created, and Lucy thought they should continue it every Season when they came to town.
“A family book society,” Eden said, laughing. “What a marvelous idea. The former governess in me is all in favor of this.”
“I hear that each of you will bring your children to town when the Season is in progress,” Rowena said.
“It was Ariadne’s idea,” Eden told her. “We all love our children so much. I cannot imagine leaving William at Millvale for months at a time. He is already cutting teeth at six months, and I wish to see every tooth erupt, as well as all the other milestones in his life, from crawling to walking and talking.”
“We are a large family,” Lucy said. “We enjoy one another’s company immensely. I hope you will agree to bring your children to the Season, Rowena.”
“I have never attended the Season,” Dru said.
“I wed Perry before I made my come-out and did not travel to town this past spring because I was as large as a whale. I gave birth to Beau in July, but I am eager to come to next Season and see what all the fuss is about. Perry and I will go to some of the events, but I think a majority of our time will be spent with family.”
“I came out three years ago,” Rowena shared. “I have had my fill of the Season. The ton is not kind to bluestockings such as myself.”
“Well, I think you are delightful,” Ariadne proclaimed.
“You must go to a few events with Con, though. He is very proud of you and will want Polite Society to see his countess. Julian did not grow up in Polite Society. He worked on the London docks. We attend a few select events, but we mostly come to town to visit with my cousins and their families.”
“I rather like the idea of focusing more on family than social affairs,” she said.
“I know Con is a bit sad that his sisters are living on the other side of the country from Marleyfield. Coming together each spring during the Season will give us an opportunity to catch up with one another and enjoy time together. As well as meet any new babes,” she finished, thinking that would include her own children someday, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Ariadne spoke up. “I hope you do not think it too presumptuous of me, Rowena, but I have a modiste waiting upstairs. I did not know if you had already chosen a gown for your wedding, but Madame Laurent is here to measure you in case you might like something new to wear to the ceremony.”
She had worried about what she would wear, not thinking she had anything suitable. Tears welled in her eyes.
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Ariadne. I would be happy to meet with your modiste, but how could she finish a gown so quickly? I know we will wed in a few days.”
“Now that the Season has ended, Madame’s dress orders have dropped drastically. She has already been told that time is of the essence, and she and her assistants will make certain to finish your gown in time for the wedding.”
Rowena and Ariadne excused themselves to meet with Madame Laurent.
The modiste already had a few sketches of what the gown might look like.
With Ariadne’s guidance, Rowena chose one as well as the fabrics to use.
Madame and her assistant quickly took her measurements and said work would commence immediately.
“We are staying at Lord Marley’s townhouse, Miss Stanhope,” the modiste told her.
“We assumed you would be here frequently over the next few days. This way, there will be no traveling in traffic back and forth to my shop for fittings. It will save time. The gown you have selected is elegant, but simple, so it will not take long for us to create it.”
“Thank you, Madame,” Rowena said, returning with Ariadne to the drawing room.
She was entertaining them with stories from the recent house party and describing how five betrothals had come from it when the doors to the drawing room opened.
A tall, confident woman entered, making her way to them.
Rowena recognized her future mother-in-law from having seen Lady Marley at various ton events in the past. The countess was at the center of every activity of Polite Society.
She was a most impressive woman, her skin still unlined at her age, her abundant gray hair piled high atop her head.
They all rose, and Lady Marley came to stand before her, the countess’ eyes traveling up and down as she assessed Rowena. Thank goodness she wore gowns these days which fit her much better than those she had donned in the past.
“I know little of you, Miss Stanhope,” the countess said. “Other than you are known for your intelligence. But my son would only wed for love, as his two sisters have, so I know you have captured his heart.”
“I do love Lord Marley a great deal,” she told the older woman.
“Then that is enough for me. Constantine is not easily satisfied. In all his years in Polite Society, he has never called upon a single woman. For him to have gone to a house party he held no invitation to merely to be in close proximity to you speaks a great deal of the affection he holds for you.”
“You know of that?” she asked, bewildered how the countess would have learned of Con slipping into Lord and Lady Pebble’s house party without an invitation.
“I received quite the letter from my son,” her future mother-in-law revealed.
“He usually keeps his thoughts to himself. For the first time, he poured out his heart to me. I know he wormed his way into the house party only because of your presence at it, Miss Stanhope. You must be quite an interesting lady for him to pursue you so fervently.”
“I am fortunate to have gained his love, my lady.”
Lady Marley sniffed. “I believe you to be quite formidable, Miss Stanhope. I would say my son is the fortunate one to have you as his future countess.”
Soon after, the large party of gentlemen returned from their time at White’s.
Rowena quickly put given names with faces and remembered which husband belonged to which wife.
She was thoroughly entertained by the stories they shared and knew she would no longer dread the approach of the Season each spring.
Instead, she would celebrate it because she would be with family.
Her family . . .
She and Ollie wound up staying for dinner, as did Lucy and Dru and their husbands. The more she was around Con’s sisters, the more she liked them. Lady Marley was not as friendly and open as her daughters, but Rowena knew she had the countess’ approval.
Before she and Ollie left for the evening, Madame Laurent asked if she might take a few minutes for an early fitting.
Several hours had passed since she had first met with the modiste, and she was amazed at the progress already made on her wedding gown.
She now felt fully confident that the gown would be finished in time for their wedding.
Returning downstairs, they said their goodbyes and went out to her fiancé’s carriage, Con again escorting them to Ollie’s townhouse.
Once inside, Con said, “Now that Mama has arrived in town, would you be amenable to the wedding taking place the day after tomorrow?”
“I think that would be lovely,” she told him.
When they arrived at her former home, Ollie quickly bid them goodnight and exited the carriage, allowing them a few minutes alone for some stolen kisses.
“My sisters love you, just as I knew they would,” he told her. “It seems you have taken to them, as well.”
“They were so warm and welcoming to me. Ariadne and Eden, as well. You were right. Ariadne has offered the use of her townhouse for the wedding and the breakfast afterward.”
“What did you think of Mama?” Con asked.
“She is much as I thought she would be. Lady Marley is not as open as the rest of your family, but I believe I have won her approval.”
He brushed his lips softly against hers again. “I am so glad you finally arrived in town. It has been awful waiting for you. Tell me we will never part again, Rowena.”
“You will be hard pressed to be rid of me, my lord,” she said pertly.
Laughing, he kissed her again, hard, and then said, “I will see you inside. If I do not do so now, I will be lifting your skirts and making you scream my name.”
“Don’t tempt me,” she said. “It is not every day a handsome lord offers to ravish me in a carriage. I believe I would rather like it.”
His palm cradled her cheek. “I will do that very thing—once we are wed. It will give us something to look forward to.”
Con saw her to the door, kissing her tenderly one final time. “I will see you tomorrow. And the day after, we will be joined as man and wife.”