Chapter Three #2
Lord Durham followed the butler to the dining room, where Lord Edgerton sat reading a paper and eating plum cake. The man was as thin as his wife was round. Lady Georgina leaned toward her father’s build.
He waited as the butler caught her father’s attention. “Lord Durham, my lord.”
Lord Edgerton slapped down the newspaper and rose, a smile on his face. He strode from behind the table and held his hand out. “Lord Durham, it’s a pleasure to see you again. Please join me.”
The greeting, so opposite that of Lady Edgerton, took Philip by surprise. “Lord Edgerton.” After he shook the man’s hand, Philip followed Lord Edgerton to the table. The older man was quick in his movements as he set his paper aside and sat.
“Coffee?”
Though he’d already had his share, Philip didn’t think it wise to decline. “Please.”
Lord Edgerton picked up his own cup, then halfway to his mouth set it back down. “Have you seen Georgina? She did say she was willing, did she not?”
Pleased that the man was as anxious to get to the heart of the matter as he was, Philip nodded. “She is, and so I’m satisfied.” It was the one condition he’d dare make upon receiving the letter from Lord Edgerton offering his daughter for a tidy dowry.
“Good. Very good. She’s a biddable girl, but a bit scattered. Never seems to stay upon a topic long. Very odd. Would you like a veal pie? Our cook makes the best.”
“No, thank you. I have recently indulged. I hope you don’t mind.” He had a sensitive palate and found veal pie overly spiced. Instead, he took a sip of his coffee, but finding it very bitter, he added sugar, something he rarely did.
“Now, you said something about a courtship. I must tell you that my wife is quite anxious to be rid of the girl as soon as possible—in, of course, the most respectable way. No Gretna Green or anything. But I believe the Duke of Northwick might be put upon to ask the bishop for a special license.”
Philip wasn’t quite sure of why he took pleasure in thwarting Lady Edgerton’s plans, but he thoroughly did.
“No. I wish to have the banns read and wait the three weeks. Not only will this undermine any possible gossip about your daughter, but it will also allow us to get to know each other better. We didn’t have many conversations while at the Ferncrofts’ Twelfth Night event, so we have much to discuss. ”
Lord Edgerton looked up at the ceiling for a moment then returned his focus to the conversation. “I do see the wisdom of that. Perhaps you could have them read in your parish?”
“I will talk to my vicar posthaste.”
“Good. Very good. Now I believe all we need do is sign the contract.”
“Actually, my lord, it appears there is more negotiation needed.”
“There is?” The man frowned. “I was quite sure we’d covered everything.”
It was a gamble to request a larger dowry, but it was clear now that the family would do anything to be rid of their daughter.
Though Philip felt sympathy for her, he knew not if they had good reason beyond her lack of judgment in a blackguard’s intentions.
“Yes, we had, but your wife brought up a few issues that make this enterprise even riskier.”
Again, the older man looked toward the ceiling before commenting. “My wife is a smart woman, so I’m sure they are valid. Please share your thoughts.”
“She informed me that Lady Georgina cannot keep her ruination to herself. This means that I must be by her side every moment she is in Society, as I was given the impression that Lady Edgerton had no interest in escorting her daughter.”
Lord Edgerton sighed heavily. “It’s true. I don’t think Georgina intends it. She simply talks so much that information often comes out that is better left unsaid.”
Now that sounded like Lady Edgerton. “I’m also to understand that she has a tendency to wander off to watch birds and is highly energetic, two qualities I was not prepared for.”
Lord Edgerton frowned, his demeanor serious. “I didn’t notice that, but I do see now why you would wish for a better financial foundation. She is going to be difficult to maintain. Did you have a figure in mind?”
Not a little surprised that he’d already convinced the man, and taken retaliation on Lady Edgerton at the same time, Philip named his price. “Twenty thousand pounds.”
Silence followed his statement, so he lifted his coffee cup to take a sip, not wanting to show how much the money meant to him.
Lady Georgina was clearly not wanted by her parents.
From what her mother said, he could understand how difficult it could be to be her parents, but in his presence, she’d been quite typical of other ladies.
Though her pink dress did not complement her dark brown hair, or do anything for the paleness of her cheeks, her round, light brown—possibly amber—eyes were quite extraordinary.
Her face was a bit long with her hair pulled back so tight, but her nose was thin and her forehead not particularly high.
Overall, fairly attractive, which must have been her downfall.
“And for this additional amount, you will marry my daughter in three weeks?”
Brought back to the topic at hand, Philip set down his cup. “I will.”
“If I agree to this, I must add one additional item to the contract.”
“That would be fair.”
Lord Edgerton took a bite of plum cake before replying. “Since I will be adding such a substantial amount of money for the care of my daughter, I’d want an assurance that it would not be wasted. Therefore, I will agree to your request if you agree to never place another bet.”
Philip stiffened, his immediate reaction to rescind his own request. He didn’t appreciate anyone telling him what he could or could not do. It wasn’t that he couldn’t live without another bet. He’d bet on hardly anything until after his father died. His father hadn’t even—
No, if he wanted to pay his penance then this was better. Not only would he have a wife he didn’t want, but he’d be unable to participate in the very pastime that brought him to this point in his life. It was perfect. It was fitting.
“I agree. I will place no bets with any man in any establishment from this day onward.”
“Lord Durham, I’m impressed with your focus on your future. You shall have what you request. I will add the additional amount and the new requirement to the contract and send it over to you.”
Philip finally relaxed. “That will be acceptable. If you don’t mind, I will return tomorrow to take Lady Georgina for a ride in Hyde Park. We shall get to know each other more, and it will allow others to see that we are on quite close terms.”
“Excellent idea. She won’t have much opportunity to speak to others that way. You’re a shrewd man. I shall enjoy having you as extended family.”
At the idea of being related to the hoyden in the nearby room, Philip covered his grimace with his napkin, then rose. “I shall return on the morrow.”
At Lord Edgerton’s nod, a footman showed Philip out. Once inside his coach, he relaxed into the cushions, relieved he would now keep his estate as it currently functioned and had additional funds beyond the ones he’d bet and lost.
He tapped his thumb against his two middle fingers.
He just had to get through the next three weeks without his betrothed telling anyone the truth, which meant he would need to decide on a number of outings that limited her social interaction.
As for her penchant for birds and always being on the move, his estate would be just the place for her… once they were married.
This was actually the perfect challenge for him.
It was just punishment that he must attend upon a lady he barely knew and pretend to be smitten.
Part of him was disappointed that he would not be forced to raise another man’s child as his own.
That would have been fit penance for what he’d done to his own father.
On the other hand, it would have been an insult to his father. It was best this way, and a baby boy with brown hair and amber eyes was an intriguing possibility.