Her Grace in Disgrace (The Widows of Woburn Place) (32 page)

Lord
Saybrooke’s incredulous expression remained. “Oh, I do. I just never thought
that you…”

“People
are constantly underestimating me.” Lady Joanna shrugged. “Here is my question:
it is from the gospel of St. Matthew, the 18
^th
chapter. You know the
bit where Peter asks Jesus if he should forgive someone who sinned against him
seven times. And Jesus says, no, not seven, but seventy times seven. You know
which bit I am speaking of?”

“Quite
well, yes. Your question?”

“Well,
it is simply this. Is it a literal seventy times seven? My governess believes
that if a person sins against one 490 times one must forgive them, but on the
491
^st
time, one need not forgive. I argued that it would be unlikely
that someone would sin that many times against one and even more unlikely that
one could keep an accounting of that many sins. I know I should lose count
after fifteen or so. I feel it is much more the spirit of the thing. To always
be forgiving, you know. What is your thinking on the matter?” Lady Joanna
cocked her head to look at Lord Saybrooke, her green eyes full of mischief.

“I
would agree with your understanding, Lady Joanna, and commend you for your
perspicacity.” Lord Saybrooke could not help admire this saucy little baggage.

“Miss
Kennilworth said that I would enjoy discussing philosophy and religion with you
and she was quite right. She usually is you know.” Lady Joanna bestowed a
beguiling smile on Lord Saybrooke. The dance ended and the orchestra began the
strains of a cotillion. “Oh, my, time for the next dance already? I have promised
Mr. Smythe-Bennington that I would stand up with him for this dance and here he
comes now. Thank you so much for conversing with me Lord Saybrooke. I like it
so much better than dancing.” Lady Joanna was swept away by her gangly partner leaving
Lord Saybrooke mystified.

“A
conversation usually involves two people Lady Joanna,” he muttered to himself.
“You just gave me a sermon!”

He
walked outside to get some air. Isobel. No matter what he did, no matter what
she
did, he could not forget her. Despite their fits and starts, he loved her and
wanted her by his side. Lord Saybrooke did not need Lady Joanna’s less than
subtle hints to know that he should forgive Isobel. What the young lady did not
know was that he had already forgiven her. He was working on forgiving himself
for his own shortcomings.

Lord
Charles Aiken stood outside the Doncaster’s Grosvenor Square Mansion with the
assistance of Renfrew, Griffin and two wooden crutches that Renfrew managed to
obtain. Though he was dressed in a flawless navy frock coat of Weston’s design,
a subtle patterned waistcoat in two shades of gray and a faultlessly tied neck
cloth, the effect of the crutches on the ensemble was regrettable.

“Alright,
just help me up the stairs and make yourselves scarce. I can only hope that
Lord Doncaster’s study is on the ground floor.” Charles grimaced as a jolt of
pain ran through his injured leg.

“Perhaps
I should accompany you, My Lord,” Griffin offered, sincerely.

“Don’t
be daft, Mr. Griffin,” answered Renfrew for Lord Charles. “He’s going to pop
the question. He don’t need his valet mincing around while he’s doing it!”

Griffin
sniffed in disapproval. Lord Charles, amused, attempted to unruffled the
valet’s feathers. “Good of you to offer, Griffin, but this is something I must
do on my own. I will manage.”

The
two servants assisted Lord Charles up the grand stone stairs that led to the
imposing home. With a nod of his head he dismissed them and lifted the knocker,
his stomach in a knot. A very proper, very tall butler answered the door and
looked askance at the temporarily crippled Lord in front of him.

Lord
Charles, nevertheless, was admitted readily and the butler confessed, though
grudgingly, that Lord Doncaster awaited him in the library. Lord Charles was
relieved to find the room was indeed on the ground floor. He hobbled behind the
butler and into Lord Doncaster’s inner sanctum.

“Lord
Doncaster, thank you for seeing me.” Lord Charles made a valiant attempt at a
respectful hauteur, though his insides felt like blancmange. His leg hurt, his
ribs throbbed, he was lightheaded and he felt himself begin to sway. Lord
Doncaster’s abrupt manner did nothing to calm him.

“Sit
down, Lord Charles. You make me nervous wobbling to and fro like that.” He
impatiently gestured to a chair. With a good deal of difficulty and no help
from Doncaster, Charles sat. Doncaster offered no refreshment and very little
good humor. He sat at his desk and faced the hapless suitor. “We both know why
you are here. You need not go on and on about how much you love Joanna and how
honored you would be to make her your wife. All that is fustian. The essentials
are this. You are below the hatches to the tune of almost ten thousand pounds.
You own an insignificant estate in Derbyshire that at present only produces a
thousand pounds per annum. You have been a rakehell and gambler and your
behavior is reckless, as witness your injury. How in Hades did you end up in
the Rookery in the first place?” He paused only to draw breath and continued.
“Never mind. I do not care to know. The point is that Pelton is in every way
superior to you and yet my wife and daughter think I should entertain your
suit. Joanna is a sore trial, but the fact is I dote on her and want her to be
happy. So, I will allow you to make your case.”

Charles
felt his hopes slip away. Heard it put like that, he did sound like a wastrel.
But he would not give up quite yet. He had a few surprises up his sleeve.

“First
of all, Lord Doncaster, I thank you for you indulgence in allowing me to come. I
know that you have said that I should not rhapsodize about my love for Lady
Joanna. And I will not do so, but forgive me, I must affirm that I do indeed
love and respect her. As to my past, I cannot dispute you, but it is my past. I
am determined my future will not bear any resemblance to it. And while it is
true that I own an insignificant estate called Hidenwood, I have great plans
for this estate that Lady Joanna helped me to conceive. I must correct you on
one point. As of this morning, I am no longer in debt. My family in the person
of the Duchess of Warwick has seen fit to believe in me and give me a fresh
start by paying my debts. It is true that I come with no balance on the
positive side of the ledger, but I also have none on the negative side either.
As to Lady Joanna being a trial, I must concur with you on that as well. She is
willful and oppositional, forward and flighty and I find that the prospect of
life without her at my side bleak and insupportable.” Lord Charles was drained.
His leg hurt like the devil and his ribs ached like a rotten tooth. He had no
more to say and so he waited.

Lord
Doncaster picked up a pen and began to scribble on a piece of paper in front of
him. He dipped his pen in the ink from time to time and continued to write, his
face a study in concentration. After what seemed like hours, but was closer to
ten minutes, Lord Doncaster finally spoke.

“As
I indicated to you earlier, I feel Lord Pelton’s suit is much stronger.”
Charles cringed at Doncaster’s words, but the Earl continued. “However, I
cannot like the man. He smiles too much. Not to mention, and do not mention
this to Lady Joanna or her mother, I find myself swayed by their faith in you.
My wife is an excellent judge of character.” Charles held his breath; there
truly was hope!

“And
so, this is what I propose.” He looked up to see a much transformed young man
before him. Lord Charles was grinning from ear to ear. “Do not be too
optimistic, Lord Charles, you may not like the terms. But here they are: As of
the day we sign the betrothal agreement you will be given half of Joanna’s
dowry of twenty thousand pounds, which is ten thousand pounds in case your
arithmetic is inferior. You will take that money and invest it in Hidenwood, be
it a dairy farm or whatever else you might put your hand to. You will be given
one year from the date of the signing to make a success of the property. Our
lawyers can draw up the specifics, but I suggest that you double the current
income, at least. If you can do this and if at the end of one year Joanna still
wishes to marry you, I will bless the nuptials and release the second half of
her dowry. If you fail in your endeavor, you will then owe me ten thousand
pounds with interest. Such will also be the case if Joanna chooses not to marry
you at the end of that year. Oh, and the engagement must remain a secret. I will
give you some time to think about it and…”

“I
do not need time. I accept,” agreed Lord Charles hastily.

“Young
man, these are not easy terms.” Doncaster gave Lord Charles a hard look.

“I
understand, Lord Doncaster, but I have had weeks of inactivity to research and
write to friends who know the dairy business. I have found a good steward, who
is experienced in dairy farming and cheese making. If I cannot make this work,
I do not deserve Joanna.”

For
the first time during this difficult interview, Lord Doncaster thawed. He stood
and walked around his desk and extended his hand to his future son in law. They
shook hands vigorously and Lord Charles felt every movement in his aching ribs.

“Normally,
I would have you talk to Joanna in the drawing room, but I am averse to asking
you to move any more than necessary. I will send her down to you here.” A faint
smile brushed his lips and he exited the room.

Lord
Charles did not have long to wait. A fretful Joanna ran into the room, her face
full of concern. Charles struggled to stand, but found it tough going. “Oh,
Charles never mind trying to stand, just tell me!”

He
obeyed and sat back in the chair. “Tell you what, my betrothed?” Joanna’s countenance
transformed into a full faced grin and she let out an ear splitting squeal. She
ran to Lord Charles, threw both of her arms around his neck and squeezed. He
let out a squeal as well, though much lower in pitch. “I am as happy as you, my
love, but my ribs cannot bear your weight.” Lady Joanna released him,
apologizing profusely. “How about a kiss instead?” he suggested. “My lips are
fully healed.”

The
kiss was an awkward one, with Lady Joanna bending at the waist and leaning in,
her arms encircling his neck. Charles was correct, his lips were fully healed,
but his nose was not and the kiss could not be accomplished without
discommoding that appendage somewhat. But the couple did not seem to mind the
discomfort for they continued kissing for quite some time.

After
they had pulled apart, Charles explained Lord Doncaster’s terms to his intended.

“A
year! A whole year? No!” Lady Joanna protested.    

“But,
love, it is completely understandable. We can make this work, I know we can,”
assured Lord Charles gently.

“But
I want to be there! To help! I want to pick out the cows and help you make
plans,” pouted Lady Joanna.

“There
will be plenty of time for all that. Meanwhile you can get your trousseau ready
and since we are engaged, though it will be a secret, we can write. You can
read enormous manuals on cows and cheese and write me all about it.”

He
pulled her into another long kiss. When she finally had breath again, a little
smile began to steal over her face. “My papa thinks that I will forget all
about you. He thinks I am but a silly flibbertigibbet. But I will show him! We
will marry and live happily ever after!”

“Indeed
we will. Now come here, you little imp before your parents arrive.” They
commenced their awkward kissing once again.

*****

Lord
Charles arrived at Wren House a short while later and with the assistance of
Jem and Griffin, hobbled to the door. He was bone weary and in pain, but he
would not put off this visit. Sloane opened the door to him and he was ushered
into the Blue Parlor. It was still early for morning callers, thank heaven and
Lady Warwick, with her black dress, black hair, and black eyes, greeted him
warmly, and then ordered tea. Before Sloane had even left the room, Lord
Charles spoke.

“Your
Grace, I have come to tell you that Lord Doncaster has accepted my suit and
that I am now betrothed to Lady Joanna Temple.” Lord Charles’ pleasure at this
announcement was evident. He related the gist of his visit and the terms of the
betrothal. “Despite the wait, for I would gladly wed her today, I am very
happy. And I have you to thank.”

“I
thought I was to be Adriana, Charles. And I beg to differ. It was on the
strength of Miss Kennilworth’s recommendation that I agreed to pay your debt.
She felt Reginald would have done so and I agree. You have proven yourself a
reformed character. Reginald would be proud of you.”

“I
hope that I am reformed.” He realized that he did not sound very convincing and
continued. “Believe me, I do feel that I have changed and am looking forward to
making my way in the world with Joanna by my side. We have great hopes for
Hidenwood.”

Lady
Warwick smiled. “While it saddens me to see Hidenwood change, for I hold the
place quite dear just as it is, I am pleased to see you make the most of it.
Thank you for coming to tell me. I am so glad.”