An Earl for Edith Read online

  “Oh there you are, miss.” the innkeeper’s daughter proclaimed as she hopped up the stairs laden with supplies. “Let me help you get cleaned up in your room.”

  Miss Wilson nodded and followed the woman down the corridor to a room just a few feet away. Miles watched her leave with dismay. She at least was able to calm her irate mother down. Now he was all alone with only his cousin for support. “As I was saying, Countess Camden, my mother hosts a ball every year around Christmas.”

  Mrs. Wilson gasped and put her hand to her heart. “Wait, did you say your mother is the Countess? I thought your cousin holds the title.”

  “No, my cousin,” Miles pointed at George, “is Mr. Stirling, and I am the Earl of Camden. I misled you earlier. Which now makes me doubly sorry, Mrs. Wilson. Can you forgive me?”

  The woman leaned forward and examined him from head to toe with a calculative glance. “That depends on what you were about to say, Lord Camden.”

  What could he say to stop her from pressuring him to propose? He needed time to think of a plan. A way to avoid marrying Miss Wilson because her mother was sure to use either his lies or his actions against him. The ball. Yes, an invitation would show that he wasn't running away from his culpability, and would give him time to come up with a better plan.

  “I would like to see you and your daughter again to make sure she heals properly. With Christmas being just a few months away, I am inviting you and your family to Avonview Manor for the holidays.”

  “I can’t say you're fully forgiven, but you’ve made a good start. I should go check on Edith. Shall I see you two at breakfast?”

  “Of course. We wouldn’t leave without saying farewell.” Miles plastered his well-rehearsed fake smile on his face.

  “Then we shall see you both downstairs and at Avonview, Lord Camden,” Mrs. Wilson said with a smirk.

  When the lady finally turned around and left, Miles released his breath and began to breathe normally. George laughed. “Well, that was interesting. I bet you’re wishing we traveled through the storm now.”

  Miles slunk back into his room and sat down on his bed. What was he going to do? George followed him and sat down at the desk.

  “That woman will have you married to her daughter come new year should she have even the smallest bump on her face. Blimey! She might even break the poor girl’s nose herself to bag an earl.”

  “Hold your tongue. I already know that, and I don’t need you making me feel worse. I need a plan. An escape from the parson’s trap, because I’m never going to marry again.”

  “Then start thinking. What could make her turn down a very rich, titled gentleman?”

  “She could always die,” Miles quipped.

  “Be reasonable.”

  Miles tapped his foot and ran his hand through his hair as he thought. “Love. All we need is someone to distract her away from me. I doubt Miss Wilson has ever been truly courted. Who do we know, who would be willing to sweep her off her feet?” Miles asked.

  “There are two problems with your plan. Miss Wilson is neither pretty nor rich. Plus, she doesn’t seem the type to believe in false lip service,” George said.

  “With the proper incentive she could be pock faced and penniless and we’d still be able to find someone willing to romance her. Now stop trying to come up with reasons why this won’t work and help me overcome the problems.”

  George laughed, “Fine, so how exactly are you going to get someone to pursue her? Are you going to offer money?”

  A memory escaped the vault he’d tried to lock. Louisa’s blue eyes full were of disappointment as he held their baby girl up for her to see. Her shudder, as she refused to touch their daughter. “No, money isn’t enough. What we need is to make it more interesting. A bet. We need to find someone who loves to gamble, and then we put his pride on the line. That would do it.” Miles exclaimed. His brain hadn’t failed him yet, and he wouldn’t follow Miss Wilson down the aisle of doom.

  “And I know just the person,” George said. “Archibald Lancaster.”

  “The baronet?” Miles asked.

  “Yes.”

  Miles had only met the man once, but he didn’t trust him. “I heard he murdered his second wife.”

  “That’s just a rumor, and he loves to gamble. Last summer he spent a month searching for a four-leaf clover because someone bet him he couldn’t find one.”

  “Keep thinking, surely we can come up with a few more candidates.” His future hung in the balance and while he wanted more options he’d take anyone he could get.

  Chapter 3

  “Edith. Edith, are you listening?” Mama asked. “The one who hurt your nose is the earl.”

  Edith was in shock. She’d heard her the first time, but she couldn’t stop thinking of all of the things she’d told Mr. Sin...Lord Camden the night before. She’d actually said that she was planning on trapping him into marriage. Or that Mama was.

  “That means,” Mama’s voice interrupted her thoughts, “you're going to marry a rich titled man. Just think of what it would do to his reputation if others found out that he walked with you alone in the woods, and if your nose doesn’t heal properly he’ll have to take responsibility for you. Aren’t I the best mother? Are you not grateful I convinced you to come to his hunting lodge?”

  “Mama, stop.” Edith’s head was pounding and her nose throbbed as she stared horrified at her. “I’m not forcing that man to marry me.”

  “That’s what you said about my scheme yesterday, but look how well it turned out,” Mama said.

  Edith wanted to scream, but trying to convince Mama she was wrong was as pointless as trying to stop the sun from setting. “You said he invited us to his country home for Christmas?”

  “Yes. Just think, with a proposal in December, you’ll marry in March or April. It will be a beautiful spring wedding.”

  “For now, we need to go eat breakfast and go home,” Edith said. That’s right, I’ll just take things one moment at a time, and when we return I’ll convince Papa to talk Mama out of this. Edith nodded to herself, took one last look at her swollen nose in the mirror and headed downstairs for food. This time she stayed on the side of the corridor farthest from the doors now that she knew they swung outwards. Why hadn’t they made the door swing into the room? Someone ought to complain. Though it wouldn’t be her; Edith hated conflict.

  Once she reached the bottom of the stairs, the smell of hot sausage and freshly baked bread hit her senses. Her stomach started to grumble, thankfully the only people nearby were far enough away that they couldn’t have heard her.

  “You must be hungry, Miss Wilson. Did you eat dinner last night?” a familiar voice said from behind her on the stairs.

  Edith carefully wiped the grimace off of her face before turning around and smiling at Lord Camden. “We were too late for a full meal, but the staff was kind enough to provide us with a simple snack of bread and cheese.”

  “Then we should make haste to the breakfast table and make sure you fill your plate this morning,” Lord Camden said. His face was calm, but there was a gleam in his green eyes that hinted at amusement. Did he not realize the danger he was in? They were alone in an inn together. Where was Mama? Edith had been sure Mama was following her, but she hadn’t checked. She’d been too lost in her thoughts to notice.

  “Haste would be appropriate. We wouldn’t want anyone seeing us here.” Her words took the excited glint out of his eyes and he stepped back, stumbling as his foot hit the next step. Edith automatically hopped up to steady him before he fell. Her left hand on his shoulder prevented him from a spill, but it also reminded her of yesterday. Just a few hours ago they’d been walking and their roles reversed. She’d never been this close to a man, let alone twice in a row. His arm was firm and his scent woodsy. His green eyes so close she could see his individual lashes and she couldn’t help but remember how soft his skin was when she’d kissed his cheek.

  “You may let go, Miss Wilson. I’m steady now.”
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br />   Edith jerked back. “Of course. You know what, I think I forgot something in my room. Why don’t you go down to breakfast and I’ll join you, with my mother, in a moment.”

  He nodded, and they brushed past each other in the narrow hall as she went back up the stairs in search of her chaperone. How would she ever be able to face him? she wondered as she walked. If I have any guardian angels watching, please help me avoid Lord Camden till I’m old and gray.

  Edith opened the door to her room. Mama was lying down in bed. “What are you doing?” she asked. “I left the room and you didn’t follow. Do you want me to be compromised that badly?”

  “Oh, did you leave? I thought we were going to rest for a moment before eating.”

  “You know very well that I am hungry and ready to be home. Why didn’t you come?”

  “Did you see the earl?” Mama asked.

  Edith wanted to lie and say no, but instead she compromised. “I did see him, from a distance. He’s at breakfast now.”

  Mama sprang up into a sitting position. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? We must go down before he leaves. Though it would have been better if you’d gone down to eat alone. That way the staff would have seen you with the Earl of Camden. Really, Edith, you have no sense.”

  “Some would say a level head is a good quality in a woman.”

  “Yes, boring old ditties who have no joy in their lives. You’ll thank me later, dear, for how else could I find you a suitable husband?”

  How about letting me have a season or telling me I’m pretty enough to attract a man into marriage?

  “If we don’t make haste, the earl will be gone.”

  Mama glided to the door and Edith waited until Mama left the room to make her exit. She followed just two steps behind, careful not to lose Mama should she try to sneak away. Lord Camden and his cousin were at the table eating as well as two other men and a woman in cotton clothing. Probably servants to the very well dressed elderly woman at the end.

  Lord Camden and Mr. Stirling stood as they entered and Mr. Stirling introduced them to Baroness Vandemeer. Edith sat next to the baroness and ignored Mama’s glare of disapproval. Luckily enough the older woman was a good conversationalist, on her way back from visiting her newest grandchild.

  Halfway through their meal, Humphries arrived. He looked exhausted from searching for them, but at least now they wouldn’t owe any more favors to the earl for renting them a carriage because their coachman had “fixed” theirs.

  Edith curtsied and bid farewell to Lord Camden, Mr. Stirling, and Lady Vandemeer. Mama made sure to mention that they wouldn’t be apart for long as they would be reunited at Lord Camden’s Christmas ball.

  On the ride home, Edith watched the scenery and ignored Mama’s chatter. The last two days had been the most awful of her life. She couldn’t wait to be home where she could lose herself in a book or a piece of embroidery. Yes; calm, quiet work would ground her to reality and help her forget this horrible trip.

  As soon as the carriage reached the lane to their lovely cottage, Edith felt a wave of peace. She was home. Their maid, Gretchen, was busily washing windows and turned to greet them with a welcome smile. “Welcome back, Mrs. Wilson, Miss Wilson. The place was awfully quiet with only Miss Lucy at home. How was your trip?”

  “Very successful, Gretchen. Now help us get out of these dirty clothes so we can finally be comfortable. You know how much I hate to travel.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Edith followed Mama inside and was surprised by a flash of pink, as her sister hopped out from behind a wall. “Boo,” Lucy yelled as she pushed Edith’s side.

  “You’ll have to do better than that if you wish to make me jump,” Edith said.

  “You’re no fun. Felicity would have run screaming up the stairs,” Lucy pouted perfectly. Her blue eyes were round saucers and her dark chestnut hair curled around her cherubic face. At sixteen Lucy had three times more womanly curves than Edith. She looked like an innocent angel but acted more like a hoyden.

  “Yes, but I am not Felicity. Is Papa back yet?”

  “No, he wrote that he would be staying at the Hastings for two more days. So he should be back sometime tomorrow,” Lucy explained.

  “Thank you, Lucy. I’m going to go change, but what would you like to do tonight?”

  “I’m in the middle of reading a gothic novel and I must know what is going to happen next. You should read it when I finish. It’s written by that author you introduced me to last year, Ann Radcliffe. It’s utterly ridiculous and dangerously romantic.”

  “Bring it to my room when you’re finished with it. I’ll read tonight as well and then we can compare books after dinner.” Edith hugged her little sister then went to her room. Not caring how dusty and dirty her dress was, she flopped down onto her comforter and breathed a sigh of relief.

  The next day Papa returned mid-morning tired but happy. At lunch, he dominated the conversation with talk of geese, grouse, and pheasant. He also expounded on the topic of hunting hounds for over an hour. Once the meal was over and Papa was nicely settled down, Edith went to talk to him personally. She was about to knock on his mahogany door when she paused. Asking Papa for help would mean giving up on pleasing Mama. Her stomach churned and she began to pace in the corridor.

  She wanted Mama to love her and praise her, but she didn’t want to hurt Lord Camden either. How could she please everyone?

  “Edith? What are you doing?” Papa asked. His door open. Edith bit her lip. What should she say? “I heard you walking about from my desk. What’s wrong?”

  Her eyes watered. Edith hated crying but clenching her fists didn’t help. The floodgates opened. “I don’t know what to do.”

  Papa came and put his arm around her shoulder and offered her a handkerchief. “Take your time and tell me what’s going on. Through her tears, the story slowly came out of her.

  “I feel terrible about what we did and I know I should have made Mama stop, but I just cannot do it. I can’t refuse her. How can I get out of this without marrying the Earl of Camden?”

  The door opened behind her and Lucy came rushing into the room. “I knew Mama was up to something.”

  “How much did you hear?” Edith blew her nose and wiped the last of her tears away.

  “Everything. You haven’t been the same since you returned from your trip, and I knew you’d talk to Papa as soon as possible. You always go to him first.”

  “As she should,” Papa said.

  “Perhaps, but this time I have the solution,” Lucy crowed.

  “Tell us your idea,” Papa asked.

  “Well, about two months ago Felicity told me in a letter she’d bumped into Aunt Margaret in London and that got me thinking. Aunt Margaret has money and no children of her own. Why couldn’t she help Edith have a season? So I wrote to her a few weeks ago and she replied yesterday. She said she’d love to help as long as Mama doesn’t mind.”

  “It will never happen,” Edith sighed. “Mama can’t stand Aunt Margaret. They’ve had some sort of rivalry or feud for decades.”

  Papa stood and started pacing back and forth across the oriental rug. The two sisters looked at each other and waited. Papa rarely stated an opinion without contemplating on the matter first.

  After three or four minutes of silent pacing, he stopped and patted Edith on the head. “I have an idea. It won’t be quiet around here for a few days, but I’ll get your mother to agree. I’m not sure how many days it will take, but it will happen, so you might want to start getting packed and ready. I won’t let my precious Edee be forced into a loveless marriage. You’ll have your season and you’ll either fall in love or come back home to me. Either way, your happiness is more important than money or pride.”

  “How? What could you possibly say or do to convince her not only to give up on having an earl for a son-in-law, but to also deign to ask Aunt Margaret for help?” Edith asked.

  “Some things are better left between husband and wife. Just gi
ve me some time, darling. Now, why don’t you two go for a walk while I talk to your mother. I know she isn’t the easiest person to be around and that she is more direct than kind, but she does love you.”

  Edith felt a huge weight lift off of her shoulders. She would be fine, she would have a lovely season and a proper chance at romance before settling on the shelf. That’s all she’d ever wanted, a chance for change and love. For she was romantic enough to want those things, yet practical enough to know there was a very large probability she would never marry.

  Edith went to Papa and kissed his cheek, as she had done hundreds of times before. It was so natural that it wasn’t until after she left the room that she thought of the ruggedly handsome Earl of Camden.

  Lucy followed her outside to the garden. They linked arms and talked of trivial things as they circulated the well-groomed path around the duck pond. They spoke of buying dresses and haberdashery and the best colors for their complexion. Edith had always been closer to Lucy than Felicity. While both of her younger sisters were extremely beautiful, Lucy didn’t let it go to her head and was so genuine that Edith could never stay mad at her for long. Felicity was very similar to Mama in personality, and whenever she tried to do something kind it always went wrong. Though, she had seemed to change after meeting her barrister. Perhaps she just needed some time away from Mama.

  “Are you excited for your season?” Lucy asked.

  “Yes, I think I’ll enjoy it immensely. Though I’m sure that there will be plenty of whispers about me coming out after Felicity, and I will be twenty-two next month, which won’t help me stand out in a crowd of eighteen and nineteen-year-olds.”

  “I disagree,” Lucy interrupted. “There are plenty of fine gentlemen who won’t be able to connect to girls so much younger than themselves. You’ll stand out in a good way because of your gentle nature and kindness.”

  “You are an optimist of the first order, Lucy. Which is precisely why I love you so much. Are you disappointed you won’t be coming out this year?”

  “Heavens no. I’m not ready to be married. I haven’t even kissed anybody yet.”