Chapter Fourteen
“How are my animals?” Nash groaned at the first words out of Arabella’s mouth when they entered Clarendon Townhouse. They had stayed overnight at the Duck and Swan Inn, which had left them with only three hours on the road that morning. He had pushed Arabella to rise before dawn to finish their journey. He’d been anxious to get started on his finances.
After visiting with other tenants, he had determined his money problems were easily solved by hiring a new steward.
The younger Jones had never been located, but after confirming his suspicions, he had notified the magistrate to hold him when found. He also passed the word to all tenants that there would be a new steward, and they were no longer to deal with Jones. Once he settled his affairs in London, he would go back to Suffolk and meet with the tenants as a group and get all matters, including the so-called rent increase, straightened out.
“I believe one of the footmen has been caring for them, my lady.” Quinn greeted them with his usual aplomb as he took Nash’s hat, gloves, and cane.
“Thank you.” Arabella hurried to the back of the house.
Nash shook his head as he watched her skirts flying down the corridor. Right now, he had more important matters on his mind. “Quinn, please have Cook send in coffee and a bite to eat. I’ll be in my library most of the day.”
“You have the Kendall ball this evening, my Lord.” Andrews descended the stairs. “Please allow yourself time to dress.” With those ominous words, Andrews marched past the two men and headed out the front door to continue supervising the unpacking of his lordship’s trunks.
A sinking feeling landed in Nash’s stomach. The Kendall affair would be the first time he and Arabella appeared in public since their hurried-up wedding. There was nothing to be done for it, though. They had to eventually face Society as a married couple. Hopefully, Arabella would present herself in a dignified manner. Aside from her indiscretion in rescuing the kitten at Blossom’s farm, she’d done quite well in the country, but Town could be as dangerous as a battlefield, and just as bloody. Gossip, rumors, and innuendoes had never affected him before now, but he knew women, for all their softness and delicacy, were as vicious as the top commanders in the military. Except their weapons were their tongues, as sharp and dangerous as any saber.
If word of his countess’s continued activities with injured animals reached the ears of some of the ton, it would be a social disaster for them both.
“Send for my solicitor, Mr. Manson.” Nash nodded at Quinn and entered the library. He sat behind his large wooden desk and surveyed the room. Perhaps it was his marriage giving him a sense of settling down, perhaps not, but he found himself wishing to be back at Clarendon Manor.
It had been good seeing his tenants again and catching up on local gossip. Arabella seemed content there, as well. Of course, once they returned there after the Season, she would be sure to keep at him to build a larger kennel for her animals. Pushing all those matters aside, he removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. Pulling the large ledger book from the bottom drawer of his desk, he opened it, frowned at the numbers there, and set to work.
Nash impatiently brushed away Andrews’s hands. “Enough. I am ready to go.”
“My lord, this is your first appearance as a married gentleman. You do not want to disgrace Lady Clarendon.”
Nash snorted. He would be lucky if Lady Clarendon didn’t disgrace him by talking about her animals and the surgeries she’d performed. With his help, no less. Or perhaps a mouse would make its way into the ballroom, and she would find it necessary to crawl under furniture to retrieve it, her lovely bottom up in the air for all the men to admire.
He studied himself in the mirror. Black evening coat and breeches, with a silver and white waistcoat covering the stark white of his shirt. His intricately tied cravat made the freshly shaven skin on his face appear darker, swarthier.
He passed through his dressing room and gave a slight knock on Arabella’s door. He stopped just inside the entrance, his eyes flickering from the top of her well-coiffed head to the dainty pink slippers peeking out from under her gown.
Arabella certainly looked the part of her ladyship, the Countess of Clarendon. Head held high, her eyes glimmered with what he could only surmise was determination. Was she ready to face the ton? She appeared to be.
“You look lovely, sweeting.”
He pushed back his hair from his forehead and approached her. “Turn around, I have something for you.”
She did as he bid. “These are the family jewels that rightfully belong to the current countess.” He fastened the latch and kissed the back of her neck, his warm breath causing gooseflesh to rise where his lips touched. “They look beautiful on you.”
He held her shoulders and turned her so she faced him. He stood so close, he could smell her faint aroma of lavender and lemon. As he gazed down at her, her sparkling hazel eyes smiled more than her lips. Lips that urged him to kiss her. Warm, soft, moist. She opened her mouth at his slight nudge, and he entered, sweeping along, touching sensitive spots.
Arabella’s tongue tangled with his, and he pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist. His muscles tensed as he held her. Slowly, his hand came up, and he cupped her face, moving her head so he could take the kiss deeper. Her fingers wrapped around his arms, holding on.
Nash released her mouth and stepped back, his eyes eating her up. He ran his fingers down her cheek. “So sweet.”
She closed her eyes at his gentle touch, and he reached into his pocket and took her gloved hand. After sliding a ring on her finger, he added a bracelet to her wrist, as well. “These are all part of the set, including these.” He held up a pair of ruby and pearl earl bobs that matched the necklace, ring, and bracelet perfectly.
Taking the earrings from him with shaky hands, she slid them onto her earlobes. “It appears we are ready.” She drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out, as if she were about to face her executioner. Perhaps that was how she felt.
He extended his arm, Arabella took it, and they left the room together, descending the steps to where Quinn held Nash’s belongings. Once they were settled in the carriage, facing each other, Arabella began to fidget with the fasteners on her pelisse. “Since this is our first public appearance since the Ashbourne ball, I must admit to a small case of nerves.”
“Understandable. However, we’ve nothing to be concerned about. We are married now. You are my countess. You wear the family jewels. My mother approves of you. No doubt, after the first few minutes of gossiping, all attention will focus on the next scandal.”
His jaw tightened. “However, please remember this is Polite Society, not the backwoods of my estate. No rushing to rescue an animal.”
“That is the furthest thing from my mind right now. I do not like being the current scandal.” She twisted her hands in her lap, staring at his shoes before turning her attention to the black sky outside the carriage window. “Do you intend for us to remain in London the entire Season?”
“I have my Parliamentary duties to see to. With the wedding and our trip to Suffolk, I am afraid I have missed a couple of important votes. I feel as though I need to be two people. One for Parliament, and one for Lord of the Manor. So, to answer your question, for the most part, yes.”
Arabella nodded, lips tight, almost as though she knew that would be his answer. The ride continued in silence for a few minutes, the clopping of the horses’ hooves bringing a rhythm that did not seem to soothe his wife.
“Arabella.” Nash extended his hand to her. “Come here.”
After a slight hesitation, she rose and moved next to him. He took her hands in his. “Even through our gloves I can feel how cold your hands are.”
“Being the center of attention alarms me. Prior to now, I spent most of the Season courted by old men selected by my mother, fading into the background as much as I could otherwise.”
“You are a beautiful woman, Arabella. It confuses me as to why your mother would push older men on you. Certainly, you would have had no problems attracting a young man.”
“There were one or two that showed interest, but Mother felt an older man would ‘take me in hand’ and—I hate to say this, not live long, so I would be free to pursue my interests.”
Nash’s brows rose. “But you turned down those who offered. Had you no intention of ever marrying?”
“Oh, I knew, given my station, it was inevitable, unless I wished to be left afloat. I have no relatives who would have been willing to take on a spinster. A governess or companion might have solved that issue, but what of Mother?”
“You might have continued on at your country home. You mentioned the new earl was willing to allow you and your mother to stay.”
“For how long? We have recently ascertained he is a single man with a duty to his new title. He would have needed to marry, and few new wives relish the idea of sharing their household with another woman. No, there was never a doubt I would one day wed, I merely wanted a couple of years to take my time.”
He chuckled and squeezed her hand. “Instead you got three days.”
“Yes. As did you.” She gave him a soft smile. It seemed the conversation had relaxed her a bit.
The slow queue their carriage had been stuck in finally moved forward, and the vehicle rolled to a stop. A footman opened the door, and Nash stepped out, turning to assist Arabella. He placed her hand on his arm, and they made their way up the stairs to the Kendall townhouse. Arabella continued to take deep breaths, making him wonder if her stays were laced too tight. Lord, he hated those things.
Just as they arrived at the doorway to the ballroom, he leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Relax, sweetheart. ’Tis just another ball.”
Arabella raised her head, and her lips lifted into a semblance of a smile. Once announced, they descended the stairs together. As expected, heads turned, whispers began behind decorated fans, and eyebrows rose. The muscles in Nash’s arm tightened, and he tugged her closer, covering the hand on his arm with his own.
The life they all led was ridiculous in so many ways. He and Arabella had been observed together in a dark library doing nothing more than conversing. Yet, she would have been a ruined woman who no gentleman would consider for his wife if he hadn’t agreed to marry her. So foolish, but nonetheless the life they had been born into. And yet, now that they were married, they were still the object of gossip and idle chatter.
…
Arabella continued to grip Nash’s arm as they made their way through the crowd, stopping to chat with various people. Most of them were Nash’s friends, since he was a much more social person than she. Although a few ladies she had a passing acquaintance with did offer felicitations on her marriage.
What bothered her more were the number of young ladies and young matrons who stepped into their path to speak with Nash. For the most part, they ignored her, but more than a few seemed especially friendly with her husband. Not that she cared or was jealous, of course. It just made maneuvering around the room more awkward.
“Lord Clarendon!” Lady Walthrop, the young widow of the very aged Earl of Walthrop, waved to them as they moved away from a cluster of young ladies who’d spent most of the Season dropping their handkerchiefs at Nash’s feet. Arabella tamped down her annoyance and put what she hoped looked like a smile on her face.
Lady Walthrop was beautiful. There was simply no other word. Golden-blond hair and the peaches-and-cream complexion so envied by the women of the ton. She’d been the Incomparable the year the Earl snatched her off the marriage mart, and he’d attempted for six months to get her with child before he dropped dead at his club. Rumor had it he’d found a footman in his wife’s bed the night before. “Why, my Lord Clarendon. I hear you are married.”
My Lord Clarendon?
Arabella gritted her teeth and smiled at the woman. At least she hoped it looked like a smile.
“Yes, allow me to present my countess.” He turned to Arabella. “Lady Walthrop is an old friend.”
Before Arabella could respond, the witch tapped Nash’s arm with her fan. “Oh, please don’t introduce me as an old friend.” She tittered loud enough to draw attention, and Arabella wanted to stamp on her pretty satin slippers.
“You are right, my lady. Please accept my apologies. No one would consider you old.” He smiled warmly at her, and Arabella wanted to gag. Instead she snorted, loud enough for Nash and the Incomparable to hear. But ignore.
The orchestra started a waltz, and Nash turned to her. “My dear, would you honor me with a dance?” He held out his hand.
Her stomach did a tap dance of glee as Lady Walthrop frowned. “Be sure to save a dance for me, my lord.” The forward woman lowered her lashes like the sweet little debutante she no longer was.
Nash took her into his arms, and she relaxed for the first time since they’d entered the aballroom. “So, Lady Walthrop is an old friend?”
He studied her, the light from the many candles casting shadows on his strong features. He pulled her closer than what was considered proper and murmured in her ear. “To be perfectly frank, the woman scares me.”
Arabella smiled. He didn’t need to say any more.
“Trollop!”
The word had been whispered, but loud enough that both Nash and Arabella heard it—as well as anyone within ten feet of Lady Grace, standing alongside the edge of the ballroom, fanning her face furiously. Her red cheeks and tightened lips marked her as the accuser.
Arabella stumbled, and Nash caught her. “Ignore her.” He pulled her even closer and stared into her eyes. “Ignore her, sweeting,” he repeated. “Hold your chin up. No one else here believes that.”
“I am sure there are more than a few who do.” Her attempt at humor fell flat.
“It doesn’t count.” He moved them so they were no longer within hearing, but Arabella saw the girl’s mouth moving, her stance and demeanor telling.
Attempting to distract her, he said, “I found the trip to Suffolk less than satisfactory.” He turned them to maneuver around another couple. “While you were charming my tenants, I had some serious conversations with the men. It is troubling that the elder Jones has gone to his daughter’s home and his son is nowhere to be found, except to collect rents. I feel the need to make a return trip to Suffolk in a few weeks.”
“Will we both be making the trip again?” What of her animals? She’d barely been able to check on their welfare before she’d had other duties to attend to, including a discussion with Mrs. McGregor. It amazed Arabella that so many issues had arisen in their short absence that had required her attention.
When Arabella had asked if the housekeeper had consulted her mother on the problems, she’d received a silent rebuke in the form of a sniff and a curt, “Lady Melrose is not my employer. Besides which, her ladyship has kept the staff busy with preparations to take up residence in Bath.”
That had been news to Arabella. Perhaps it was for the best that Mother had taken Nash’s suggestion that she might be happier in Bath. Having two women in the house could be difficult, and based on Mrs. McGregor’s tone, she already viewed her mother’s presence as problematic.
The final notes of the waltz came to an end. “Yes, we will both be traveling to Suffolk. I was under the impression you enjoyed your time there.”
“I did. I was concerned for my animals.”
His lips tightened, and he took her by the elbow. “I suggest we take a walk in the gardens to clear our heads.”
Nash guided her toward the French doors leading to the patio. The air was sweet and cool and felt wonderful on her flushed face. They strolled the area, stopping to chat with couples also enjoying the evening air. So far, except for a few whispers when they’d entered, no one seemed to think there was anything untoward about the earl and his new countess.
Some of the guests had not received word of the marriage—hence they hadn’t known about the potential scandal—but did seem confused seeing the two of them together. No doubt more than a few had been aware he’d been courting Lady Grace and had expected a betrothal announcement with her.
As they moved past Lord and Lady Mullens, Nash asked, “Would you care for some refreshment? You appear a bit flushed.”
“Yes, I believe I would. I am rather parched.”
After Nash left her for the refreshment table, Arabella wandered near the balustrade and gazed out upon the garden, with torches burning to light the pathway through the flowers. She realized her previous worries and anxiety had left her. Nash had been right. After the initial mumblings, smirks, and remarks cast in her direction at their entrance, she and her new husband had been relegated to the “no longer of interest” category. Most of the guests who had stopped them to chat had offered their felicitations and even extended invitations to events Arabella had never been invited to before.
“Lady Clarendon.” It took Arabella a moment to realize someone was addressing her. She turned to Lady Lovell, who approached on the arm of her husband. The couple had been newly married a few months ago. Arabella and the then Lady Helen had come out the same year. “It is so nice to see you. Lovell and I have been in the country and just now returned to Town. And what is the first thing I hear but Lady Arabella is now Lady Clarendon!” Helen smiled at her. She had always been one of Arabella’s favorite people.
“Yes. We are married a bare two weeks, in fact.”
Lord Lowell looked around. “Where is the groom? Surely he has not abandoned you to the card room.”
Arabella laughed at the condemnation in his tone. “Not at all. He is off to bring me a drink.”
Helen regarded her. “No wedding trip?” Apparently, her friend had not heard the story of Arabella’s disgrace. “No. But Clarendon and I have just returned from his country estate in Suffolk.” At least that made it appear they’d had some type of wedding trip.
Lady Lovell’s bright blue eyes lit up. “I intend to have my first dinner party in a few weeks, and I so wanted to include you. And your husband, of course.” She lowered her voice as if groups of guests were listening to her party plans. “I will be very nervous, as you can imagine, so having you there would do much to calm my nerves.”
“You will be fine, my dear.” Lord Lovell patted his wife’s arm. “It is not seemly to get yourself all worked up.” Arabella smiled, thinking how lovely for Helen that her husband was so solicitous of her welfare. But then, theirs had been a love match.
“It seems some of the issues that arose while we visited the tenants have caused Clarendon some concern, and he plans a return trip sometime soon.” Seeing the disappointment on her face, Arabella hurried on. “However, I will see if my husband can make our trip either before or after your dinner party. Just send the date around.”
“My dear, I believe the next dance has started up.” Lord Lowell addressed his bride then turned to Arabella. “I wish you and Clarendon well.” He smiled and took his wife’s hand, casting Helen a look that brought a smile to Arabella’s face, and a bit of sadness to her heart.
She told herself she did not want that type of marriage. No feelings like that for her husband. Once that happened, all her freedom would be lost. She would begin following him around like one of her lost puppies, “yes, my lord” and “no, my lord” the only words on her lips.
As she watched the couple stroll away, Arabella’s attention was caught by the sound of a female’s voice uttering her name from the other side of the stone wall dividing the patio area from the garden.
“Oh, do not fool yourself, Diana. Lady Arabella and her mother set the entire thing up. I had personally witnessed Lady Arabella eying Lord Clarendon for some time. Apparently, she was unable to bring anyone up to scratch, so she and her devious mother decided to force the poor man into matrimony with her.”
Arabella was unable to hear the response to Lady Grace’s comments, since the person to whom she had spoken those untrue, vile words apparently faced the other direction. Lady Grace continued, “Not that it matters to me at all, you understand. I have had several offers and am contemplating one at this very moment. I have no regrets, nor had I intended to accept Lord Clarendon’s offer, anyway.”
Mumbling followed her words once again. Then, very clearly, Lady Grace’s voice rang out. “Perhaps Lord Clarendon had been forced to marry her because she had granted him favors and found herself in a delicate condition? Not that I am saying that, you understand. But there have been rumors…”