Chapter Nineteen
An Engagement Is Announced
Fiona opened her mouth to protest, but Richard squeezed her hand tightly, and she bit off the words. Her predicament was painfully clear, and it wasn’t pretty.
To be discovered in such a compromised position would destroy any chance for an advantageous match. It wasn’t just that she had been caught kissing the Earl of Seldon…she was half undressed, for goodness’ sake.
Lady Sefton and Mrs. Drummond-Burrell continued to stare, awaiting confirmation of Richard’s statement. His fingers gripped hers like iron. There was no escape and barely time to think, and at that moment, she detested him for backing her into a corner.
“Well, my dearest?” He looked down at her. “Shall we make the announcement?”
She was probably the only one to recognize the steel in his voice. “I…I’m sorry to have caused you discomfort, Mrs. Drummond-Burrell, Lady Sefton. Of course, we intended to tell you earlier of our plans.”
“Indeed?” Mrs. Drummond-Burrell did not sound entirely convinced, but Fiona knew she would never challenge the Earl of Seldon’s word.
Her face must be quite red. The explanation sounded ludicrous even to her ears, but Richard displayed no loss of aplomb. He lifted her gloved hand to his lips, then tucked it firmly under his arm. No doubt he feared she might bolt at any moment, and to tell the truth, she might.
“I apologize, Lord Seldon, for my harsh words.” Obviously, Mrs. Drummond-Burrell saw the advantages of such a situation—the biggest revelation of the Season would be announced at her modest musicale. “Of course, we will overlook such…impetuosity…in light of your pending marriage.”
“How lucky we are to be the first to know,” Lady Sefton said, somewhat drily. She took her fan and snapped it open, fanning herself with an expression that said she didn’t believe a word.
Richard’s color heightened the smallest bit, but his considerable address was intact.
“No need to apologize. I trust we can all forget an unfortunate lapse in judgment on my part.”
Both ladies nodded, and Fiona released a pent-up breath of relief.
“How should we proceed with the announcement, Mrs. Drummond-Burrell?” her fiancé asked.
She thought for a moment, then clapped her hands in delight. “At the piano, of course. What could be better?”
“Indeed,” Fiona muttered and Richard surreptitiously pinched her arm.
“What an excellent idea,” he agreed. “Might I have a word with Miss Rafferty? We’ll rejoin you promptly.”
Lady Sefton looked pointedly at Fiona’s disheveled hair and bodice. “Certainly you should take a few minutes, Lord Seldon. Why don’t we gather the guests, Clementine?” She closed the fan sharply and led the way to the door, Mrs. Drummond-Burrell close behind.
Once they were alone, Richard deftly removed a few pins from Fiona’s topknot, tidying the loose ebony curls and readjusting the ribbon that secured her coiffure.
“I realize you have experience doing this, but I think I’m capable of the rest.” Fiona snapped, smoothing the seafoam silk of her dress and putting the bodice to rights.
“How could you put me in this position, Richard? I had no choice but to agree with this farce.” When he didn’t respond, she stamped her foot in frustration.
“I don’t love you,” she hissed. “And I certainly don’t wish to marry you. ”
He walked to a mirror, calmly adjusting his cravat and cuffs, then replaced his gloves. “You have already volunteered that information in no uncertain terms, Fiona, but there’s no other option.”
“Richard,” she begged, “please don’t do this. I can’t marry you. If you announce our betrothal, I will simply break it later.”
He raised an eyebrow, a gesture that particularly annoyed her. “So, you wish to be on your own in London, tainted with scandal, and no prospect of marriage?”
She had no answer and stared down morosely at her aqua slippers.
Richard held out his hand. “Come, Fiona. I am sorry, but we shall make the best of it.”
“How can we be betrothed if banns have not been read?” she asked hopefully. “Someone of your stature cannot be married without posting the banns. People will know there is something amiss.”
He took her hand and placed it in the crook of his elbow. “They’ll be published by tomorrow evening. There will be some surprise at the haste of things, but my reputation will survive any gossip.”
“I’m glad that you are so sure of that. You really are insufferable, Richard Merrick.”
He had the temerity to smile at her. “You’ll never convince society it’s a love match with such a poor attitude, Fiona.”
She opened her mouth to make a sharp reply, but they were in the drawing room. Instead, she flashed a brilliant smile at him for the benefit of those watching.
Not to be outdone, he tenderly lifted her fingers to his lips and escorted her into the room.
The announcement of their marriage went as well as could be expected.
Lady Amelia and Valentina were excellent at hiding any astonishment they may have felt and embraced her with genuine happiness.
Richard did not falter in his address, and she had to admire his control of the situation.
Fiona glanced at Mrs. Drummond-Burrell, who looked satisfied as a cat with a saucer of cream.
The remainder of the evening passed in a flurry of good wishes. Beside her, Richard met congratulations right and left, answering questions in his calm way.
“I intend a fairly short period of engagement. We wish to take advantage of the Season to hold the wedding.”
“Why, St. James’s, of course.”
“Miss Rafferty and I share a genuine love of music, which brought us together.”
“Unfortunately, she has no family left in Ireland to attend the ceremony.”
He orchestrated things as smoothly as if they all were puppets on a string.
If anyone had suspicions, no one dared to make a peep.
She was exhausted and on edge and hurried away to find a breath of fresh air while he was still occupied with congratulations.
Lady Amelia intercepted her with a concerned look.
“You are very pale, my dear. This has been a stressful evening between your performance and the announcement. Shall I ask Richard to have the carriage brought around?”
“Yes, please,” she mumbled.
Meanwhile, Sir William Denton slipped through the thinning crowd. “Miss Rafferty.” His face was grave, and she wondered if he minded that she shared the news earlier. “Allow me to offer my felicitations on your engagement.”
“Sir William, forgive me that you only heard the news tonight. I—”
Before she could try to explain, Richard was standing at her side.
“Sir William,” he said, nodding briefly. “Come, Fiona, the carriage is waiting.”
“Of course,” Sir William murmured and bowed before taking his leave.
As they reached the door, she rounded on him angrily. “Just as I feared…it’s beginning already.”
“And what might it be?”
“You are acting as if you own me, and it’s just moments since we became betrothed.”
“Were you not about to make some excuse for our engagement to Sir William Denton? Perhaps you don’t grasp the fragility of our escape.”
“I would not have told Sir William. But he is my friend, and I’m concerned that I might have offended him.”
His lips tightened as a footman held the doors open for them.
She looked for the black coach carrying the Merrick crest, but he signaled to the sleek curricle waiting at the curb.
“I have charged Jerome with seeing my mother and sister home. My groom will remain with us.”
Lifting her skirts, she extended her hand for his assistance into the high carriage and sat stiffly, staring straight ahead.
The vehicle dipped as he settled into the seat beside her and took up the reins, waving away the footman who held the heads of his superbly matched bays. His groom settled a lap rug over them and jumped onto the back step.
He flicked the whip expertly and the horses picked up a smooth trot. It was a mild night for mid-March, and traffic was light.
“Come, Fiona…I know a marriage between us is not your first choice, but we are reasonable people. Surely, we can find a way to make it work?”
He ruined this conciliatory speech by raising one dark eyebrow in his usual arrogant manner.
“I wish you would stop doing that,” she muttered.
He frowned. “Doing what?”
“Raising your eyebrows at me. It is a very vexing habit, condescending and imperious all at the same time.”
“I will try to control myself.” She had the impression he was amused, although he didn’t smile. “I brought Octavia home, you know. She is anxious to see you.”
“Octavia’s home! Oh, I have missed her. The house has been very quiet without her exuberance.”
“Really? I would have thought the excitement of the past week more than sufficient.”
He settled the pair, who skittered at a chimney sweep emerging from the shadows. Fiona watched the man cross the street, his very tall broom in hand.
“Do you drive, Fiona?”
“Indifferently, I am afraid.”
“That is how you described your riding, but it is quite beyond the pale.”
“I never said I couldn’t ride, only that I did not enjoy it. We practically lived on horses in Barbados.”
“What happened then?”
She deliberately looked away, but he didn’t press her, and she sighed in capitulation.
“While riding out on the plantation, a wild pig came out of the brush. My horse reared, and I had a messy fall. I struck my head on a fallen limb and fractured an arm. I have never forgotten it, no matter how I try.”
He nodded. “A good horse like Della will help, but it takes time. I’m happy to give you driving instruction should you desire to learn.”
“Really? A notable whip teaching a novice? I am amazed.”
“You know, Fiona, I am not quite the ogre you paint me to be.”
She had the grace to blush. “It’s nothing personal, Lord Richard. I just don’t wish to be married to you.”
“Richard, please,” he corrected. “And I consider that to be very personal. You agree marriage is inevitable in your future, Fiona, yet you don’t find my offer worth consideration. May I ask why?”
“Because we are so completely different. You thrive on order and custom, and I find such things stifling. I am accustomed to independence, and cannot bear someone telling me what to do, or how I must behave.”
“Is there nothing about your life in London that pleases you?”
Fiona squirmed in the comfortable seat. It would not be truthful to say she entirely disliked her new life. How could she admit she wanted a more tractable husband who would let her do what she liked?
“It certainly took discipline to develop your musical skill. I’m told you practice three, sometimes four hours a day.”
“It’s not the same thing at all. Music is freedom of expression. It is the very definition of living.”
“And you think I would stifle that? That, once married, I would try to stamp out your creativity, to oppress you? Why? Do you see the other members of my family so sorely abused?”
She glanced at his set profile in dismay.
“Now I have offended you,” she said miserably. “I didn’t mean to.”
“It does not matter.” He urged the horses to a faster trot. “Our engagement is announced and it cannot be undone. We shall be married by Easter.”
“So s-soon?” she stammered. “Impossible…no one is married within a month—not even you.”
“You are wrong. I shall bully people and manipulate circumstances as is my custom in your eyes, and it will happen.”
The short distance that remained passed in uncomfortable silence. When they reached Merrick House, he remained in his seat as the groom came forward to assist her from the curricle. When she stepped clear, Richard called to Hansen, who stood at the door.
“Hansen, please see Miss Rafferty safely inside. You may inform Lady Amelia that I am going to my club. I will return late and answer any questions in the morning.”
He raised the whip and the bay pair trotted briskly away.