Chapter 2
“There you are.” Nora made a tsking sound. “I told your father you were likely wandering about, sketchpad or not. Now, come along. We’re already late. Lord Todson is expecting…” Nora’s lips immediately pinched.
Lord Todson.
“Who is Lord Todson, Mother Nora?”
Her stepmother cleared her throat and kept moving forward, eyes averted from Nora. “A friend of your fathers who will be in attendance at the house party. He’s asked to meet you.”
“Why?” Muriel stopped, not allowing Nora to pull her any farther. “Why would Lord Todson ask to meet me? I’ve never even heard his name before.”
Nora tried to tug her along, but Muriel refused to be moved.
“Fine.” Her stepmother turned to face her. “I did not wish to have this conversation in the courtyard of a coaching inn, but you’ve forced my hand. Your father and I agree—Todson is a good choice.” Nora sputtered. “Now, come along.”
“A good choice,” Muriel whispered as she followed. “Please tell me you didn’t.” Nora and Father had arranged…a match for her. That was what this entire house party was about. She should have known. Pausing before the coach, she wondered how far she would get if she just sprinted into the trees.
Not far. You don’t run well. You’d trip over your skirts. The end result would be the same.
“Todson will make you a good husband, won’t he Lord Allred?” Nora said to Father as she climbed into the coach. “The two of you will suit admirably.”
“We will suit admirably? I don’t even know Todson.”
“Yes, but you will. Over the course of the house party. He was generous enough to ask Savorton to extend an invitation to us. Which we’ve obviously accepted.”
“Don’t be difficult, Muriel,” Father sighed.
“Difficult?” Her voice raised an octave. “You want to wed me to a man I haven’t even met.”
“I’m sorry, Muriel. But you left us little choice. I’ve presented you with dozens of suitors.”
“Not dozens,” she objected, feeling quite ill.
Father rapped on the roof of the coach, signaling the driver to start for the Savorton estate and her already decided future. “I gave you plenty of time to settle on a young man of your choice, which you refused to do.”
“How do you know? You were too busy forcing Habersham on me.”
“Habersham was the last straw.” Father drew in a breath. “I have indulged you for far too long, allowed you to entertain your ridiculous thoughts of traveling to Florence to study art.”
“It isn’t ridiculous,” she insisted.
“You don’t even paint anything resembling a human being, daughter. Just outlandish portraits with caterpillars for eyebrows.”
“I was experimenting.”
“Todson will suit. You require a steady influence. A husband who will not tolerate your nonsense. Todson is well-respected and of good family. He has told me of his need for a wife since inheriting the title, and we’ve come to an agreement. You’ll be quite happy, I’m sure.”
This was intolerable. “When were you going to tell me that Lord Todson awaited me at the Savorton house party?”
“We hoped…to ease you into the situation over the course of the week. If you suit— ” Father said.
“And you will,” Nora declared.
“Todson will officially offer for you before we return to London. I think it a foregone conclusion,” Father finished.
No. No. No.
Muriel sat up. Squared her shoulders. There was only one way to stop this invasion of her life.
“I can’t possibly marry Lord Todson,” she declared. “My affections are already engaged.” It was the first desperate thought that popped into her head. “Surely, you wouldn’t force me to wed when I have found a suitor of my own.”
Nora and Father both stared at her for some moments before bursting into peals of laughter.
“Oh, Muriel,” Nora sputtered, dabbing at her eyes. “Goodness, but you can be amusing. You haven’t had a gentleman caller in ages, dear. At least, not one I didn’t somehow encourage to call upon you. I fear only that long dead Italian painter holds your heart.”
“It’s true,” Muriel insisted, refusing to back down.
“Then give us a name,” Father eyed her. “And I will call off the arrangement with Todson.”
Muriel turned away. “We are not ready to announce our intentions. My suitor is incredibly reserved and private in nature.”
Father snorted. “Just as I thought. Unless your mysterious—”
“Nonexistent,” Nora thoughtfully interjected.
“—suitor appears out of thin air to court you, you’ll wed Todson. And I will forgive you for concocting such an outlandish tale.” Another laugh bubbled forth.
“He’s real,” she insisted. Pity Buxton wasn’t attending the Savorton house party. She was reasonably sure she could convince him to help her, but even so, Muriel would find a way out of this situation.
Somehow.