Chapter Seven
Stacey didn’t see or hear from Lord Whitney until the next day. He sent a missive, asking her when it would be a good time to pay her a visit. Along with the question, he offered an apology for not staying to speak with her after he talked to her father. He didn’t explain why he hadn’t lingered around. He’d just said he was sorry for it.
If she was right, his conversation with her father hadn’t been pleasant, and that had been why he hadn’t talked to her. Lord Whitney hadn’t matched up to her father’s expectations. Her father had only allowed the marriage because there had been no other offers. Why her father didn’t simply arrange a marriage, she couldn’t explain. But she was glad for it. She’d much rather have the choice than to be stuck with someone he matched for her. That kind of marriage would probably end up just as miserable as the one her parents had.
Of course, this arrangement with Lord Whitney wasn’t going to lead to marriage. That was only a pretense. In exchange for helping him, he was giving her and her mother money so they could go to America and finally be free of her father. She just prayed it wasn’t too late to save her mother. Her mother had never been overly happy, but she’d been gentle and sweet to Stacey. It hadn’t been until she suffered the stillbirth of Stacey’s little brother that she closed herself off to the world.
Stacey forced back the tears that threatened to well up every time she thought of the way her mother used to be. She didn’t think her father ever loved her mother, but he had at least been civil to her prior to the loss of her brother. Now, she was stuck in limbo. She could walk, eat, and use the chamber pot. But her mind was elsewhere. If she could get her mother out of here, it might bring her back.
So much hinged on Lord Whitney. Since Ladies of Grace was unraveling at the seams, he was the only hope she had. God willing, her father wouldn’t do anything else to deter him from keeping with the plan they had agreed on.
In order to prevent another confrontation between Lord Whitney and her father, she chose a time when her father would be gone. That way, things would be pleasant. Also, it would afford them an opportunity to speak freely with one another.
Lord Whitney came by the following day at the time she had specified. She knew it was a small thing, but she was relieved to note he was right on time. It’d been a difficult morning as she waited, wondering if he would have second thoughts at the last minute and decide not to show up.
“What kind of tea do you like to drink?” she asked him as he came into the drawing room. “And would you like something to eat?”
He glanced at the butler, who stood nearby, before turning his gaze back to her. “Whatever you want will be fine.”
She had to think over what to get. Usually, she was told what to drink or eat. After a moment, she asked him, “Do you like black tea and biscuits?”
He nodded. “Those are fine.”
“Please bring those,” she told the butler.
Once the butler left the room, she gestured to the settee, thinking it might be better if they sat close together. Then they could talk in low tones so the servants wouldn’t overhear.
Lord Whitney went to the settee but waited until she sat before settling beside her. “I hope you’re not upset that I didn’t stop and talk to you the other day when I was here.”
“No, I’m not upset. I figured my father was unpleasant. I was afraid you would change your mind and choose someone else to play the part of your betrothed.”
“No, I had no intention of choosing someone else. I like you. Granted, we hardly know each other, but I thought you were sweet when I talked to you at the ball.”
He thought she was sweet? Besides her mother, she couldn’t recall a time when someone extended a compliment to her.
Lord Whitney glanced at the doorway. “Is your father here?”
“No. I thought it’d be best to have you come over when he was gone. He’s discussing another book idea with his publisher. He’s not the least bit happy with how things occurred between Lady Eloise and Lady Youngtown at Hyde Park. He wants to write a book instructing ladies on how to behave in public.”
“What happened at Hyde Park?”
“You didn’t hear about it?” she asked in surprise.
He shook his head.
She thought everyone had heard about it. The rumors were spreading like wildfire through London. “I was there when it happened. Lady Eloise wasn’t happy because a lady in our group was late to a social engagement.”
“Your group?” His eyes lit up. “Oh, yes. The group you’re talking about is Ladies of Grace, correct?”
She nodded. “Lady Eloise formed the group. Anyway, after the unpleasant exchange between her and Lady Youngtown over whether or not a mother’s priority is to the group or her child, most of the Ton sided with Lady Youngtown. Lady Youngtown was in favor of the mother staying with her sick child.”
She paused as the butler came into the room. He set the tray on the table then left them alone.
She poured tea into their cups. “I wished I’d said something because I did feel sorry for Lady Aston.” She cleared her throat. “I was too afraid to do it.” And she hated that. But how could she know her father wouldn’t have been upset with her if she said something?
“Who’s Lady Aston?” Lord Whitney asked.
She handed him his cup and took a sip of the soothing liquid. “She was the lady who was late to the social engagement. She was new to the group. I don’t know much about her.”
“Given the way your father is,” Lord Whitney began, “I understand why you didn’t speak up during the social engagement.”
She took another sip. “My father either likes someone or he doesn’t, and he’s frightening to be around if he doesn’t like you. I hope you can bear with him until we’re done with your plan.”
“I’m not afraid of him.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re not?”
“No. I’m not fond of him. I don’t think he and I will ever get along, but I’m not afraid of him. He reminds me of Queen Jezebel.”
“Queen Jezebel?”
“She was a ruler in Israel. A lot of people were afraid of her. If she didn’t like you, she killed you. And sometimes it was for the pettiest of reasons. She killed a man just because her husband wanted his vineyard and he wouldn’t sell it to him.”
Her jaw dropped. “Did that really happen?”
“Yes. You’d be surprised by how many things happened in the past, both good and bad. One thing I’ve learned from studying various nations of the past is that no matter what the time period is, human nature stays the same. That’s why there’s much to learn from it. What has been will be again unless we take the lessons to heart.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”
“No one does. That’s why I’m peculiar.”
“I don’t think you’re peculiar. I think you’re knowledgeable.”
He chuckled. “I’ve heard people say that about me many times. The problem is, no one thinks knowledgeable is interesting.”
“Well, I think it’s interesting to learn that a queen killed someone for a vineyard. It’s a horrible story, but it’s still interesting.”
“Most of human history is tragic. Too many rulers have killed for pride and greed. They don’t just go after innocent people. They cause wars between nations. Many have died because of the decisions they’ve made. But there are times when people have to fight back. If good people don’t oppose the bad, then evil will run rampant, and if that happens, people lose their freedoms.”
“I hadn’t thought about it that way before.”
“This is the kind of thing I think about when I read about past civilizations.” He took another drink of the tea then cleared his throat. “Despite all of the talking I’ve been doing about the past, I did want to ask you a question about the future. Specifically, about this upcoming Wednesday. I was wondering if you’d be able to join me in going to a dinner party at Lord Edon’s residence. His wife will be there, of course. He’s also bringing Mr. Robinson and his wife, too.”
Lord Edon. Her father was well aware of that particular gentleman’s reputation, and she knew he wouldn’t be pleased to find out she was going to one of his dinner parties. But she had made a promise to help Lord Whitney in exchange for him getting her and her mother free from this place. Maybe she could go without her father finding out.
“I’m able to go,” she told him. One definite advantage to being engaged was that she didn’t have to go to countless other social engagements in order to secure a husband. “I hope you don’t mind not mentioning the dinner party to my father. He’s not very fond of Lord Edon.”
“I hadn’t thought about your father. He wouldn’t want to chaperone us at a dinner party, would he?”
By the expression on his face, she could tell he didn’t want that anymore than she did. He did, however, make a good point. Even if she’d never been invited by a gentleman to attend a dinner party, her father had acted as her chaperone to other social engagements, unless she attended something with Lady Eloise’s group.
“I don’t think so,” she said. “He doesn’t like to waste his time.” She winced. Considering how much Lord Whitney wanted to impress Lord Edon, she hurried to add, “I don’t mean that spending an evening at Lord Edon’s for a dinner party would be a waste of time to me. It’s just that for him...” She paused. Was she only making things worse by rambling?
“I met your father. I understand. Is there someone else who can be your chaperone? Maybe your mother?”
Her mother definitely couldn’t do it. She could ask one of the ladies in Ladies of Grace to go, but she didn’t care much for Miss Wilmington or Miss Webb. “You said Mr. Robinson will be there. I don’t know Mr. Robinson’s wife, but would she be willing to act as my chaperone? Mr. Robinson’s reputation is good enough to satisfy my father. Also, since his wife will be there anyway, it might be easier.”
“I’ll ask Mr. Robinson the next time I see him. I’m sure his wife will say yes.” He smiled. “Lord Edon and Mr. Robinson are interested in meeting you.”
“They are?”
He picked up a biscuit and offered it to her. After she accepted it, he took another one. “They want to know what you’re like. I don’t know why, but married gentlemen seem to take an interest in other gentlemen who are either betrothed or married. Ever since I came up with the betrothal, it seems like Lord Edon and Mr. Robinson want to be friends with me.”
“And because they want to be your friend, they are curious about the kind of lady you’ll be marrying.”
“Yes, that’s exactly it.” He bit into the biscuit and waited until he swallowed before he added, “You said it better than I could have.” He gestured to the biscuit. “This is good, by the way.”
She nibbled on her own biscuit and smiled at him. “Cook does an excellent job.” She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I’m glad you’re making some friends. It sounds like your plan is working.”
“Better than I hoped. It’s nice not to have to feel so alone anymore.”
She was tempted to tell him she understood that particular feeling all too well, but she didn’t want to burden him with the things she experienced. This was about him, and it’d be best to focus on that.
He finished his biscuit then wiped his fingers on the cloth napkin. “You are a very amiable lady. I don’t know why, but I feel compelled to let you know that. It’s not your fault that you haven’t secured a marriage. Your father has a way of dissuading gentlemen from pursuing you.” He drank the rest of his tea then smiled at her again. “I promise that I will do right by you and your mother. Your father wants us to read the banns. I was thinking that just before we get to the last reading, I’ll find safe passage for you and your mother on a ship heading for America. Then I’ll give you enough money so that you will live very well for the rest of your lives.”
“When that time comes, I will do something to publicly humiliate you,” Stacey whispered. “Since you’ll still be in London, I don’t want people thinking ill of you. Everything we’re doing should benefit you long after my mother and I are gone.”
“I think the fact that you ran off for America to avoid marrying me will be enough.”
“But people may think it’s because of something you said or did that made me run. I don’t want to tarnish your reputation.”
He held his hand up to stop her before she could continue. “I appreciate that, but you shouldn’t do something contrary to your nature. That wouldn’t be fair to you. You will quietly run off, and I’ll let the Ton say whatever it wants.”
“But what about your friendships? Won’t they suffer for it?”
“I don’t think so. Lord Edon has done some scandalous things in the past, and Mr. Robinson and Lord Erandon don’t worry so much about gossip. In fact, they might like me all the more for it.”
“What the Ton might say doesn’t worry you?”
He shook his head. “I’ve done everything to please the Ton from the moment I started my studies, and I never belonged in London. Approval is meaningless if you don’t have friends. Lord Edon might be the contempt of the Ton, but he has gentlemen lining up to be his friend.”
He was right. She’d done everything exactly as her father wanted, and she had no one she could confide in when she needed someone to talk to. Lord Whitney didn’t realize it, but she could appreciate why he regarded friendship more highly than the Ton’s esteem.
He folded the napkin and set it on the tray. “I won’t keep you any longer than I have. I’m sure you have more important things to do than listen to my ramblings. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me, and thank you for agreeing to go to the dinner party. I’ll send you word about Mr. Robinson’s wife once I find out if she’ll be a chaperone. I’m sure she’ll say yes, but I’ll let you know for sure.”
He rose to his feet, and she set the rest of her biscuit down. “I had an enjoyable time.”
Though she said the words, he didn’t seem to believe her since he offered her a smile that indicated he thought she was only being polite.
How curious. She thought all gentlemen soaked up praise. Lord Whitney didn’t seem to think he deserved any of the kind words she’d said about him.
She walked with him to the entryway and watched him as he headed down the steps of the townhouse. He was an unusual person. She’d never come across anyone like him before. He was courteous, respectful, and kind. And he didn’t think he had any notable traits about himself that would draw others to him.
“Is there anything you need, Lady Stacey?” the footman asked.
Realizing she was standing in the doorway, she shook her head and let him shut the door.
Wednesday was only four days away. She’d get to see Lord Whitney then. She tried to tell herself that the spark of excitement she experienced was only because she was about to get her and mother out of London, but, deep down, she suspected there was more to it than that.