Harry was beside himself with joy as he raced back to Creassey. He had to tell Maria of his good news. Then he suddenly remembered that Anna had said something about Maria and Percy.

He pulled up in front of the house, dismounted, and handed his horse over to the groom before dashing up the steps to the house.

“Maria!” he shouted at the top of his voice. He stood in the entryway awaiting her response. But it was Daniels who came running from the dining room.

“Your Lordship, is something wrong?”

Harry laughed. “There is absolutely nothing wrong. But I have some wonderful news for Maria. Do you know where she is?”

“News? Might I know?” Daniels asked.

“Shortly, but first I must tell my dear sister.”

“I believe she has been looking for you as well. I did not know where you were, and she told me she wanted to see you as soon as you returned.”

“Do you know where she is?”

“She and Mr. Percy are having tea in her sitting room.”

“Thank you,” he said as he ran up the stairway and to her rooms.

“Maria,” he shouted as he burst into her room.

She stood and looked terrified that something terrible had happened. “Harry?”

Harry rushed over to her as Percy also stood and asked, “Harry, are you all right?”

“More than all right. I am engaged to marry Anna. What do you think about that? My Anna. My sweet, darling Anna.”

Maria hugged Harry, then took a step backward, put her hand to her mouth. “But how is that possible?” She cast a look at Percy. “I thought she loved Percy?”

Percy replied, “I thought she did too, but apparently not. Harry, when I told Anna I did not love her and could not marry her, she was not in the least bit upset. I do not know what happened, but it was clear she no longer had feelings for me. That was when I came right over and asked Maria to marry me. She is my love—always has been, and always will be.”

Harry was astonished by this announcement as he had been by Anna accepting his proposal. “Then we must celebrate.”

“Not quite yet,” Maria said, placing her hand on Harry’s arm. “Come sit. Percy and I need to talk to you. Yes, Percy has asked me to marry him but there are complications.”

“Oh?” Harry said as he sat with them.

Maria, very sensibly and very clearly, explained Percy’s problems with his father and with his future.

Harry listened thoughtfully and then stood and paced as he thought through the situation. Finally, he turned back to them.

“I am very sorry for your distress with your father, my friend. But I also congratulate you on your fortitude in facing him down. Your father is a brute, as witnessed by his foul attack on my cattle and his non-existent remorse when discovered.”

“Thank you, Harry. But that does not solve our problem. I must find a way to support Maria and myself. Maria thought you might have some suggestions for us.”

“Hmm. It is not easy, my friend, you have only a partial education, no work experience, virtually no land and no capital. What are your thoughts on how to solve this dilemma?”

Percy and Maria explained what they had discussed.

“Hmm. I have an idea for you, but first, I must talk to Anna.”

“Harry, we must still celebrate your good news. Would a bottle of champagne be inappropriate?” Maria asked as she stood and rang the bell for Daniels.

“How can I refuse?”

Percy went over to his friend and clapped him on the shoulder. “I am so happy this has worked out for you, old friend. And I cannot tell you what a relief it is to be free of Father’s domination. Whatever happens for me now, I feel I am a free man.”

“Oh, please stay out the week, darling Christopher,” Dorothy pleaded at breakfast the next morning.

“Perhaps.” He glanced at Anna. “Would it be an imposition if I stayed that long? After all, I am Dorothy’s slave and I must obey.”

Anna laughed. “I wonder how long that will last. Of course, you can stay as long as you like. After all, we are soon to be family.”

Christopher turned back to his fiancé and said, “But I must go back soon. Now that all of our business is out of the way I want to get to work on renovating our wing of the house. It is going to take some time.”

Dorothy pouted. “I know, but I am going to miss you so very much. It is going to be decades until I see you again.”

“It will be just a few months, my dear. Do not exaggerate.”

She suddenly brightened. “Maybe I can come to visit before the wedding. I would love to see what is being done on the wing.”

Anna tapped the table. “Dear Sister, we have a wedding to plan, unless you forgot. And I do not want to do this all by myself.”

Dorothy laughed. “No, there is more than one wedding to plan for now.” And she got up and danced over to Anna and gave her hug. “I cannot believe we are getting married together. How wonderful is that!”

“It has not been decided just yet. Harry and I are to meet this morning to go over the details. We have not discussed anything about our wedding plans yet.”

“Oh, but you must. I want us to walk down the aisle together—our two delightful husbands waiting for us at the altar.”

“You are so fanciful, my dear. But we shall see. I will discuss it with Harry.”

Then Dorothy danced over to Christopher and squeezed him from behind and layered the top of his head with kisses.

Anna was in her study when Harry arrived. She was sorting through her drawings for the well house.

Harry burst into the room grinning, with an armful of the last of the summer roses from the estate garden.

“I have missed you already,” he said, as she opened her arms to welcome him.

“And I you. Is this really happening?” she asked, as she came around from behind her desk and embraced him—roses and all.

Harry stood back after the hug and just looked at her. “You are so very beautiful my dearest. And I am the happiest man imaginable.”

“I think Christopher might challenge you on that statement,” she said laughing.

He handed her the flowers, and he went to her desk and picked up her drawings. “We have yet to discuss the well house. Is it still something you want to do?”

“Why not? And now that we are to be married I will pester you endlessly to build many more projects.”

“How can I refuse you, my dear, you know my heart is yours and I can deny you nothing.”

“It is a good thing you are marrying someone as practical as me, for I shall never take advantage of you.”

Harry smiled slightly as he said, “Anna, there is something I need to do that I was unprepared for yesterday.”

“Oh?”

Harry reached into his waistcoat pocket and pulled out a ring. “This was my grandmother’s and I want it to be yours. This will seal our engagement.”

He took her hand and placed the delicate ring on her finger. It was a modest but beautiful white gold set with a ring of small diamonds around a larger central pink diamond.

She held it up to examine. “Oh, Harry, it is so very lovely. Thank you.” She leaned forward and they kissed—her heart filling with love and tenderness. After the kiss, she laid her head on his chest and felt his heart beating and the soft comfort of his breath.

Releasing him, she stepped back and said, “Harry, we need to talk about the wedding.”

“Actually, there is something very important I need to speak to you about, as well.”

She offered him her hand and they went to a cozy window seat that overlooked the estate park.

“You first,” she said.

“Very well. First, I have some news for you. Percy has proposed to Maria and she has provisionally accepted.”

Anna clapped her hands together. “Oh, Harry that is wonderful news!” Then she hesitated. “But why has Maria only provisionally accepted?”

Harry laid out their dilemma and the obstacles that must be overcome before they could marry.

“Hmm,” Anna mused. “Have you suggested a solution?”

“I have several ideas, but I wanted to discuss them with you first.”

Anna stood up. “One moment, please,” she asked. She wandered the room touching familiar objects as she was thinking. Finally, she returned and sat opposite Harry again. “I have an idea.”

“I would love to hear.”

“As you may or may not know, Dorothy and Christopher had a little spat while we were in Dorset.”

“I did not know.”

“But it has been mended. Christopher arrived the other day to plead with her not to forsake their love. And she, unsurprisingly, agreed the marriage should go forward.”

“Then there are to be two weddings now. Well, three if Percy and Maria can sort out their difficulties.”

“And that is the issue I should like to address.”

“I am listening,” he replied.

“As you know, Dorothy and I are the only heirs to our father’s estate. There are no other relatives near or far. And with Dorothy marrying and moving to Dorset, and you and me soon to marry, there will be no one left to run or live at Repington—assuming you and I are to live at Creassey.”

“That was my thought. As the Earl, I must maintain my estate and there is now an established business there. But how do you feel about that?”

“I am in complete agreement with that decision. And this is what I am thinking. Hear me out.”

“Willingly.”

“What if… I hired Percy and Maria to run the Repington estate? He and Maria could then marry and manage it together. Maria is well qualified to be a co-manager, as she has done so with you at Creassey. She would be able to make up for any shortcomings Percy might have as a beginning manager while he is gaining experience. I believe he is bright, willing, and capable. It would solve their problem, and Dorothy and my problem of what to do with Repington. We would not need to sell it.”

“What an elegant solution, dear Anna. I think they would willingly embrace that solution.” But Harry had a further thought. “But there is another matter.”

“And that is?”

“Maria’s dowry is quite small. Percy has nothing of his own and I was hoping to be able to increase her dowry so that they would have a good solid bedrock starting out in their marriage. Yes, they will be getting an income from running Repington, but I should like them to also have something of their own.”

“Then increase her dowry.”

Harry grimaced. “Ah… you see, I am unable to increase it at this time. I have put all of my resources into the cattle, and while it is a growing business, I am unable to take out any capital right now.”

Anna shrugged. “That is not a problem. I am bringing a considerable fortune with me to our marriage, Harry. Please, use what you think is necessary from that to increase Maria’s dowry. After all, she is also a great friend of mine, and I want for her to be well settled.”

Harry hesitated, “My dear, are you certain? I do not want you to think I am taking advantage of you in any way.”

Anna laughed and kissed Harry. “Not at all. I love you both, and as I am fortunate enough to have this wealth, I wish to share it.”

“Then I expect there will be three weddings. Shall we have them all at the same time?”

Anna clapped her hands. “Oh yes, let us do that. It would be very festive.”