A Countess of Convenience (8 page)

The earl chuckled indulgently. “Certainly not Litton."

She pointed her knife at Lord Malvern. “Start now and you could position yourself for future greatness."

He smiled indulgently.

She made a hissing sound and turned toward Prudence as if she'd just remembered her presence. “He does not take his opportunities in the Lords seriously. I hope you can influence him more successfully than I've been able to."

Prudence gaped at Lady Caroline in consternation. “But I know nothing of politics, ma'am. Is that something else I must learn?"

"No!” Lord Malvern said adamantly. “Please stay uninformed and perhaps I'll be able to eat my dinners with you in peace."

Prudence looked back and forth between mother and son, not knowing what to believe.

Lord Malvern's expression softened a bit. “Mother was weaned on politics, Prudence. Her father and grandfather were both quite active. You can hardly hope to equal her in that area. And most men are glad the topic fails to interest most women."

No doubt he thought her too stupid to equal his mother. Besides, he wanted her tucked away in the country, out of his way.

After the pineapple cream ices had been consumed, the countess suggested moving to the salon for coffee. She had taken no more than two sips from her cup when she turned to her son. “Do you know Prudence plays the piano beautifully?"

He looked surprised, but before he could reply, the countess added, “Please play for us, dear."

Prudence had become accustomed to the countess putting her on display for her friends but found being thrust under her future husband's nose disconcerting. She mumbled excuses that the countess ignored. The earl, looking amused, added his insistence, so she finally walked reluctantly to the piano. After a moment's hesitation she decided to play the simple folk tune “Green Sleeves.” It had been her father's favorite. The familiarity of the music relieved some of her nervousness and she finished with no obvious mistakes.

"Wasn't that lovely?” the countess said.

Lord Malvern nodded. “Very nice."

"Now come and finish your coffee, dear,” the countess ordered.

Prudence had barely reseated herself when the countess said, “I hope you two don't mind, but since we're traveling to Malvern Manor tomorrow, I need to retire early tonight.” She stood and started for the doorway. “Don't keep Prudence up too late, Anthony; we need to leave at a ridiculously early hour.” After she left, Malvern, his voice dripping with sarcasm, said, “Wasn't that sweet of the old girl?"

"I beg your pardon?” Prudence asked.

"Mother is giving us time alone to say our goodbyes."

"Oh.” She couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Don't look so miserable, Prudence. I won't force my attentions on you in my mother's salon, unless, of course, you want me to."

How dare he speak so crudely to her? “You seem in a particularly bad mood tonight, Lord Malvern. Have I done something to offend you?"

"Would you like for me to recite the full list?"

"I mean something recent."

"I do not like you running to your brother with complaints about me."

"I don't know what you're talking about. In the first place, I did not run to him. Neil came to see me. And I certainly did not complain about you."

"So why did he accost me in my club last night and accuse me of ill-treating you?"

She shook her head in confusion. “He asked how we were getting on, and I told him I had seen very little of you during the week."

"Did you explain that you were so busy shopping and being introduced to mother's friends that even if I'd been here every minute I would have had little opportunity to speak with you?"

"I told him Lady Caroline and I had been busy.” Prudence didn't like being forced to defend herself when she'd done nothing wrong. But she didn't want to make him angrier than he already appeared to be.

"Understand this.” His head bobbed up and down as he spoke. “Your brother is no longer my friend, and I do not want him privy to my private affairs. “

"Are you telling me to cut him from my life?” Prudence wasn't all together sure how she felt about Neil's part in engineering this marriage, but the idea that Malvern would force her to turn her back on her nearest relative stirred her ire.

Malvern stared at her with his lips pursed. That he would even consider the question was too much. Entirely over the top. Not to be born.

She stood and glared down at him, all of her resolutions to get along at any cost forgotten. “He is the only member of my immediate family left. I will not cut him from my life."

"If I insist—"

She braced her fists against her waistline and leaned toward him. “I will ignore your insistence."

He huffed angrily, and she felt a little tremor of fear. This man held so much power over her. He could marry her and make her life miserable or not marry her and destroy her reputation. But she had a strong feeling that if she bowed to him now, she would forever be on her knees.

"What do you want?” he said through stiff lips.

"I want my brother to be at my wedding."

Lord Malvern shrugged. “I've already given my permission for him to be there."

She took a deep breath to bolster her courage. “But he's having trouble arranging transportation."

Lines between his eyes relaxed a bit. “So that's why he came to see you, to beg a ride to the wedding?"

"He came to inquire about my welfare,” she said indignantly. “When I asked, he promised to be at the wedding even if he had to walk. That's the reason I think he's having difficulty."

His lips flattened into a thin line, before he began to speak slowly and distinctly, as if he thought she would have trouble comprehending his words. “He was just manipulating you once again, Prudence. He obviously hopes to worm his way back into my good graces and wants to use you to do it. Don't get caught up in any more of his scheming."

She dropped her gaze to the floor, embarrassment burning her cheeks. What more could she say? Malvern was intractable. She wanted to slink off to bed, but he wasn't through yet.

"I cannot bear to be shut up in a carriage with Neil for the hours it will take to journey from London. But I will ask one of my friends to bring him."

She looked up in surprise. “Oh, thank you."

"You're welcome.” He stood. “And now I'll take my leave.” He marched out of the room as straight-backed as one of the Queen's Guards on parade.

She stared after him in shock. What had she done? Losing her temper and being obstinate was no way to win over a reluctant husband. But it seemed to have worked this time.

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Late the next afternoon, the carriage finally turned through the stone gateposts of Malvern Manor. Prudence leaned toward the window to see her destination. The massive stone house built in the Palladian style stood at the head of a rolling park and seemed to sail serenely on a green sea.

Would this be her new home? Would she be the mistress of this great house?

Even before the carriage stopped, liveried footmen magically appeared and formed a line up the steps to the entryway. Prudence entered the house a few steps behind the countess and stopped to stare at the long line of uniformed servants that stretched down the hallway.

Lady Caroline introduced Prudence to the butler and the housekeeper, as “Miss Prudence Crump, the future Countess of Malvern.” Looking at the army of servants it took to run this castle of a house, Prudence hoped Lord Malvern didn't intend to place her in charge of it.

Since Lady Caroline's rooms were in a different wing, the housekeeper personally led Prudence and her maid to her new apartment, a small sitting room and a much larger bedroom. Footmen brought her luggage. Thanks to the new wardrobe Lady Caroline had assembled for her, the two trunks, a valise, and three hatboxes made a respectable collection.

By the time Prudence had familiarized herself with her rooms and told her maid, Janie, where to put her clothing and personal articles, it was time to dress for dinner. Prudence merely changed her long sleeved, high-necked, black bodice for a short-sleeved one with a more open neckline, but of course Janie insisted on re-doing her hair.

Prudence had always worn the same hairstyle day or night, a couple of corkscrew curls on either side of her face and a bun in the back. Now, Janie wanted to dress her hair at least twice a day. Changing clothes and having her hair dressed seemed to be an aristocratic lady's main occupation. Prudence found it bothersome.

On the way to dinner, she met Lady Caroline in the hallway. As they slowly descended the curved stairway, the older woman pointed at the gloomy portraits lining the wall. “These are some of the former earls. I like the second earl's portrait best. He included his hunting hounds, giving the picture a bit of life."

Reaching the last canvas, near the end of the stairs, Prudence asked, “Is this your husband?"

"No. My father."

Prudence looked at her, dumbfounded. “But he's wearing the same coronet as the others."

Lady Caroline smiled indulgently. “Unfortunately, down through the years, the Fairchilde family has tended to produce female children. By the time my father became the seventh earl there were no more male heirs. It appeared the title would cease.

"Then a young baron from Yorkshire began to court me. I expected my father to disapprove since Philip's linage was far humbler than mine. Instead, my father talked Philip into forsaking his family name in order to become the Earl of Malvern. The king and my father were friends so my father easily acquired a special proclamation allowing my husband to succeed my father."

"I see,” Prudence managed to say. Could she replace a countess who had literally been born into the position? And what about Malvern Manor? It had been the countess's home all of her life. Would she relinquish control of it to an inexperienced nobody like Prudence? Surely, even Malvern wouldn't expect such a thing.

"After that near-miss at extinction, I'm sure you can understand why I'm so anxious for Malvern to marry and start a family."

Prudence stared up at Lady Caroline speechlessly. Malvern's harsh remarks about her bearing an heir suddenly grew in importance. The continuance of an earldom that had lasted through eight generations now rested entirely on her ability to produce a son.

Her expression must have alarmed Lady Caroline. “Prudence? Are you feeling unwell?"

"N—no, ma'am."

The countess reached over and patted Prudence's tightly clenched hands. “Don't worry about producing an heir. You're a healthy young woman. You should have no trouble.

"Now let's go over to the east gallery and I'll show you the current family portraits."

Prudence followed her across the wide entry hall to a room that ran the length of one side of the house. Windows lined the outside wall, and aside from the two fireplaces necessary to warm the long room, portraits hung along the inside wall. “We only use this room when guests are in residence.” She pointed toward a portrait. “That was my husband."

Prudence gasped when she saw the piercing eyes and strong chin.

Lady Caroline nodded grimly. “The resemblance is startling, isn't it? The more Anthony came to look like his father, the more I feared he'd be like him in other ways. I've done everything I could to make Anthony aware of his duty to the family name. I hope you will also accept your duties to the title you are about to acquire."

Prudence didn't know how to respond, so she continued to stare at the portrait.

After a short pause, the countess continued. “You're bright and presentable and can be an acceptable countess if you'll bring Anthony to heel."

Was Lady Caroline jesting? “What do you mean by ‘bring him to heel'?"

The countess chuckled. “That's just an expression. I think it comes from training dogs. Of course there are some similarities. A husband, like a dog, is taught to behave himself through a series of rebukes and rewards."

Prudence had to force her gaping mouth shut; she could not believe a mother would compare her own son to a dog.

The countess continued walking through the room, talking as she went. “You reward by being sweet and amenable, and you rebuke by showing your anger and locking the bedroom door."

"Lady Caroline! You shouldn't say such things to me.” Prudence's cheeks burned.

The countess looked at her with a tight smile before saying, “Know all about the marital bed, do you?"

No one had ever spoken to her about this subject, and it seemed particularly improper for her future mother-in-law to do so. Prudence stared at a portrait of a much younger Lady Caroline and ignored the question.

The countess sighed. “I had hoped you'd be mature enough to accept a little heart-felt advice. I married when I was eighteen and so dazzled with my handsome husband that I never considered saying no to him about anything—a mistake I came to bitterly regret."

Prudence turned and faced the countess, knowing it had been difficult for the proud woman to make such a personal confession. Still Prudence found the conversation incredibly awkward.

Lady Caroline stopped walking and stood for a moment staring at her. “I know you and Anthony are not in love, but love can grow as the two of you come to know and respect each other. However, a man never respects the mat he wipes his boots on. Despite the gratitude you feel toward Anthony for saving you from ruin, you must make yourself known to him."

To show her appreciation, Prudence dipped a small curtsy. “Thank you, ma'am, for speaking so frankly. The relationship between your son and myself is somewhat...strained, but I hope in time we can become friends."

The countess grimaced. “Friends? Anthony has a whole club full of friends. What he needs is a wife to push him into achieving his full potential."

The butler appeared in the doorway. “Dinner is served, your ladyship."

"Thank you, Stiles. As usual, your timing is perfect."

Prudence found the pace at Malvern Manor more leisurely than it had been in London. The well-trained staff kept the manor house running smoothly. Still the countess insisted Prudence follow her around while she attended to such tasks as planning menus or checking the housekeeper's and butler's receipts against inventories.