An Unconventional Countess, page 20
‘I know, but she’s been miserable, too, and she’ll be even more miserable if you force her to leave.’
‘I’m sure she has family she can go to.’
‘A family who call her a failure.’
His expression relented slightly. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Because she never provided her husband with an heir. They’ve made her feel like a disappointment so much that she’s afraid to go back to them. I think a lot of her anger has been about that, not you.’
‘That doesn’t make it all right.’
‘No, but think how much worse they’ll treat her if she goes home and admits the truth.’ Anna took a step closer. ‘I’m not defending what she’s done, but there are reasons. I think she was desperate after the funeral and didn’t really know what she was doing. Then she didn’t know how to stop it.’
‘None of which is my concern.’ His jaw clenched again. ‘Whose side are you on?’
‘It’s not a question of sides.’
‘But you think I ought to just forgive and forget? I put my life on hold for months and she was lying the whole time!’
‘I know.’
‘All to stop me from inheriting! Because she thought I was the same as my father, just like...’ He stopped, a pained expression passing over his face.
‘Samuel?’ Something about that expression made her want to wrap her arms around him.
‘Like all the rest of my family,’ he finished saying, twisting his face to one side.
‘She thought she was fulfilling her husband’s wishes, but she’s sorry for it now.’
‘She even convinced her servants to keep secrets from me.’
‘Yes.’
His shoulders slumped as the anger drained from his face suddenly. ‘And sending them away won’t make me feel any better, will it?’
‘No. Or her. She’s spent the last few months feeling angry and bitter and scared. Now she needs time to grieve properly.’
‘All right. Tell her she can do whatever she wants.’ He let out a heavy sigh. ‘You know, I never really let myself believe it would actually happen. I kept telling myself that she’d have a son, that it wouldn’t be long until I’d be free, but there’s no escaping all this now, is there? I don’t have a choice.’
‘No.’ She reached a hand up to his face, turning it gently back towards her. ‘But you’re not the man your family thought you were. You’re better than them.’
He tipped his cheek into her palm, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again with a look of determination. ‘Then I’ll do my duty. I’ll do it properly and prove them all wrong, be the Earl my father could never have been. I’ll find a way to belong at Staunton, too.’
‘I know you will.’
‘But I’ll need my Countess by my side.’ He clasped his hands around her waist. ‘Come with me to Scotland, Anna. We can go to Gretna Green and be married tomorrow.’
‘Scotland?’ She stiffened at the suggestion. ‘But why rush? We might have to delay our immediate plans, but we can still be married in Bath. Nothing about that needs to change.’
‘Everything’s already changed.’ His grip tightened. ‘We’ve spent too much time together. If we don’t marry soon, then people will talk.’
‘I don’t care what people say.’
‘But I do.’ His tone was too vehement, his gaze too bright, in the grip of some new fervour. ‘I want to do everything right from now on, start as I mean to go on. Besides, there’s no reason for us to return to Bath now. Your mother’s already here and I’m going to have a mountain of estate business to attend to.’
‘Ye-es, but...’ She bit her teeth into her bottom lip, trying to think of a reason to stall. He was right. If he was the new Earl, then Scotland was a far better idea from a practical perspective. They could be there and back in a matter of days. There was no reason for him to return to Bath except to see his grandparents, but since he didn’t know about his grandfather’s ill health there was no impetus for that. She’d sent a letter to his grandmother asking for permission to tell Samuel, but as yet she hadn’t received any answer. All she knew was that she had to tell him before they were married.
‘Anna?’ He frowned when she didn’t answer.
‘It’s just... I need to go back to my shop. I can’t do anything until I’ve settled things there.’
‘Why not? We can do all of that later.’
‘But it’s my responsibility. It matters to me. Please, Samuel, I want to be married in Bath. We can get a common licence there and...’
‘You’ve changed your mind?’ He dropped his hands from her waist abruptly.
‘I never said that!’
‘Then prove it. Come with me to Scotland today. We’re already packed and the carriage is waiting. We can leave right now.’
‘No.’ She took a step backwards, annoyed by his dictatorial tone. He sounded as if he were issuing orders, as if he were turning into an arrogant aristocrat right before her eyes. ‘I told you, I want to settle my affairs first.’
‘You’ve changed your mind.’ His whole face seemed to shut down as he spoke, his eyes looking paler and sharper than she’d ever seen them, like jagged shards of glass.
‘That’s not true, but I won’t be told what to do. Just because you’re an earl doesn’t give you the right...’
‘If you love me, then you’ll come with me now!’
‘If you love me, then you won’t insist!’
‘I should have known you’d take their side, too.’ He gave a harsh laugh and turned away, heading towards the bridge. ‘Goodbye, Anna.’
* * *
Samuel sat in a corner of the taproom at Staunton’s somewhat dilapidated alehouse, his forearms resting on the table in front of him, staring broodingly into a tankard. He hadn’t drunk more than a few mouthfuls, tempted though he was to drown his sorrows, but now that he’d finally calmed down after storming away from Anna, all he felt was empty.
Lady Staunton’s deception had come as a shock to say the least, but the sight of Anna at her side and defending her had made it even worse, making him feel as though the anchor he’d been holding on to had come loose. Her following him to the water gardens afterwards had given him new hope, briefly allowing him to imagine that doing his duty and becoming the consummate Earl in defiance of his family’s expectations might ease the crushing sense of entrapment, but then Anna had distanced herself again. Maybe suggesting an elopement hadn’t been the best idea, but he’d wanted to make everything official and to do it all properly, to start his new life with her at his side. On top of that, he’d needed to know whether the fact of his inheritance had changed her mind about marrying him and to his horror, it had. If she’d truly wanted to marry him, then she would have agreed to go to Gretna Green instead of making up some excuse about needing to return to Bath. He’d thought that they’d come to an understanding. He’d thought that he could trust her, too, but as it turned out, her prejudices were stronger than her feelings for him. And he’d been a damned fool, falling in love with the one woman most likely to reject him. It had been madness to think that they might belong together, that they might make a home at Staunton, either. Of course she denied going back on her word, but what else would she say?
On the other hand, a tiny part of him argued, Clarissa’s deception had been a shock for Anna, too. Maybe he ought to have given her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he shouldn’t have been quite so demanding, either...
‘You look like you’ve been in the wars.’ The voice of the innkeeper came from close by. ‘Trouble with love, I’ll wager?’
Samuel looked up, assuming the comments were addressed to him, surprised to find them directed at a young, fair-haired man sitting at the next table instead. In the mostly deserted taproom he hadn’t noticed the man’s presence before, but now he had the uncanny impression of looking into a mirror. The other’s position, even down to his expression of brooding melancholy, was remarkably similar to his own.
‘Aye...’ The man sighed. ‘Dora says she can’t marry me. Her father will never agree.’
‘Old Turner? No, he’s a funny one.’ The innkeeper gave a sage nod. ‘You’d best watch he doesn’t catch you wi’ her either or he’ll have your guts.’
‘Then what do I do?’
‘Find yourself someone else.’
‘But I don’t want someone else!’
‘Why won’t her father agree to the match?’ Samuel interjected, unable to contain his curiosity.
The man gave him a swift glance and then heaved a sigh. ‘He says I’m just a farmhand and that I’ll never amount to anything.’
‘Then make something of yourself to show him he’s wrong. If she loves you, then she’ll wait.’ He frowned at the words. Wasn’t waiting exactly what he’d just refused to do for Anna?
‘And how am I supposed to do that when them at the manor do nothing but put up rents and never help us with—? Ow!’ He stopped as the innkeeper gave his chair a none-too-subtle kick.
‘This gentleman might know them at the manor.’
‘Oh.’ The man’s expression turned to one of alarm. ‘Pardon me, sir, I didn’t know I was talking to a gentleman. Too much ale.’
‘I shouldn’t have been eavesdropping in the first place.’ Samuel picked up his tankard and stood, the similarity in their situations making him doubly curious. ‘Do you mind if I join you?’
‘If you want, sir.’ The man exchanged a dubious look with the innkeeper.
‘Thank you. Now...’ Samuel took a seat again opposite ‘...does she love you, this woman?’
‘Dora? She says she does, only she won’t go against her father. She said our last kiss was goodbye.’
‘You’ve kissed her?’ The innkeeper gave a low whistle. ‘You’d better hope Turner doesn’t find out.’
‘I don’t care if he does.’
‘You will when he pummels you. He’s twice your size and then some. I once saw him flatten—’
‘Maybe I can help?’ Samuel interrupted before the innkeeper could go into any more lurid detail.
‘How?’
‘Tell me what it is you need to prove yourself. Your own farm?’
The other man stared at him suspiciously for a moment and then burst out laughing. ‘Aye, that ought to do it. I don’t reckon there’s any lying around spare, though.’
‘Maybe not spare, but there must be something we can do.’ Samuel nodded at the innkeeper and then gestured at their tankards. ‘Two more of these and one for yourself. Then we can put our heads together and think.’
‘Th-thank you, sir.’ The man looked confused. ‘But if you don’t mind my asking, who are you?’
‘Me?’ Samuel took one last mouthful of ale before answering, ‘I’m Captain Samuel Delaney, the new Earl of Staunton.’
Chapter Twenty-One
‘Lady Staunton?’ Anna found the Countess where she’d left her in the drawing room, lying on a sofa and weeping.
‘Oh.’ Clarissa pulled herself up with an effort. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just that now I’ve started crying, I can’t seem to stop.’
‘Oh, dear.’ Anna came and took a seat beside her. ‘It’ll be all right, I promise.’
‘He said I have to leave.’
‘He didn’t mean it.’
‘He didn’t?’
‘Well, yes, he did at the time, but now he says you can go or stay as you like. He was just upset.’ She gave her a meaningful look. ‘It might be a good idea to stay out of sight for a few days.’
‘I will.’ Clarissa nodded eagerly. ‘Where is he now?’
‘I’ve no idea.’ Anna leaned back against the cushions with a sigh. ‘He stormed off when I said I wouldn’t go to Scotland with him. He thinks I’ve changed my mind about his proposal.’
‘Have you?’
‘No!’ She was surprised by the strength of her own conviction. ‘I love Samuel. I want to marry him, no matter who he is.’
‘Thank you for defending me.’ Clarissa looked genuinely grateful. ‘I know I didn’t deserve it.’
Anna pursed her lips, the words causing her a sharp pang of guilt. She’d handled the whole situation badly. She’d been trying to help and be conciliatory, but maybe she’d jumped to Clarissa’s defence a little too quickly. In Samuel’s eyes, it must have looked as though she’d been siding with her over him. Going after him to the water gardens had been a mistake, too. She ought to have given him a chance to get over the shock and calm down first. Perhaps then he wouldn’t have been so adamant about Scotland.
‘You deserved having someone to stand up for you.’ Anna smiled reassuringly. ‘No one should be made to feel the way you have, especially not by their families. You need a chance to work out what to do with the rest of your life.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You’ll want to do something, surely?’
‘But there’s nothing to do.’ Clarissa sounded confused. ‘Nobody will want to marry me now, especially when I tell the truth. They’ll think that I’m barren.’
‘There’s more to life than marriage and babies. You’re free to do whatever you want.’
‘But my family won’t approve of my doing something.’
‘I’m not suggesting you take to the stage...’ Anna rolled her eyes ‘...although that would be quite exciting. As for your family, they don’t get to decide, especially after the way they’ve treated you. It’s your life, Clarissa, you should decide how to live it.’
* * *
It was all very well, Anna thought, pacing up and down the hallway some time later, her telling Clarissa that she was a free agent. If only she could say the same! Instead, she’d spent the past three hours twisting her hands together, anxiously awaiting some sign of her fiancé’s return. She hadn’t bothered with luncheon, since Clarissa had gone to lie down and the continued worry meant that she’d lost her appetite anyway.
Finally, she couldn’t bear the pacing any longer, scooping up her bonnet and cloak and marching back out of the house instead. If Samuel wasn’t coming back, then she’d have to go and find him, if only to make sure that he was all right. Hopefully then she could reassure him and maybe hint a little about his grandfather, as much as she could anyway. Not the exact details, but the fact that she’d been sworn to secrecy. Maybe then he’d understand that her reticence about Scotland wasn’t because she’d changed her mind.
She strode determinedly across the lawns and through the woods to the water gardens, crossing the bridge and following the path he’d taken that morning. It was still early afternoon and she found herself wishing that she’d had something to drink before leaving. The sun was high in the sky and she was getting thirstier by the minute. If memory served, however, the path led to the village less than a mile away, which fortunately proved to be correct. As she approached the houses, she saw the welcome sight of a tavern on the outskirts. There were loud voices coming from inside, but surely she could get a quiet glass of water, too?
She entered the tavern by the side door, making her way along a dark, wood-lined corridor into a taproom. The voices were coming from around the corner, where a group of men were singing at the top of their lungs. From what she could gather it was a kind of sea shanty, a not particularly polite story about a young woman called Kitty...
Her jaw dropped as they embarked on the chorus and not just because of the lyrics. A sea shanty? They were more than a hundred miles from the sea. Why would they be singing one of those unless... She crept around the side of the bar, her heart stalling at the sight of a familiar face. Samuel? To her horror, he was standing in the middle, his arms draped around two other men’s shoulders, swaying from side to side and making enough noise for a dozen drunk sailors.
She stiffened, grinding her teeth at the sight. The only positive was that at least he didn’t look angry any more. On the contrary, he seemed completely relaxed, a broad smile on his face as if he hadn’t a care in the world. And after she’d been so worried about him, not to mention the guilt! She hadn’t expected the transformation to happen so quickly, but apparently it didn’t take long to change from responsible sea captain into debauched aristocrat!
She took a few steps backwards without looking and collided with someone coming the other way. There was a muffled exclamation, followed by commotion as a tray of drinks fell to the floor with a clatter.
‘Anna?’
She looked up as she heard Samuel call out her name, their eyes meeting briefly before another voice bellowed from the direction of the front door and a large man, flanked by two only slightly smaller, younger men, burst into the taproom, towing an extremely nervous-looking woman behind them.
‘You!’ The large man lunged forward at the same moment as one of Samuel’s singing companions lowered his head and charged and then all hell seemed to break loose. Fists started flailing, chairs flew through the air, wood splintered and more cups clattered onto the flagstones. Anna didn’t wait to see how it would end, fleeing out onto the street and back towards Staunton.
How could he? Tears blurred her vision as she ran across the fields and through the woodland. It had been barely four hours since Samuel had inherited the title and already he was drunk and brawling. So much for not wanting to follow in his father’s footsteps! So much for honourable behaviour! The scene was everything she’d been afraid of and worse. He wasn’t the man she’d thought he was and she’d been tricked again! Well, he’d accused her of changing her mind about his proposal and now she had—and she had no intention of staying around to discuss it with him, either. She was going to go back to Bath and her shop as quickly as possible and forget any notion of being a countess. It had been a ridiculous daydream from the start! She would be Mrs Etton instead, the person she might have been already if she’d been using her common sense. If she’d only agreed to his proposal in the first or second or even fourth place then she would never have spent any time with Samuel, never been so foolish as to trust him, never fallen in love or felt as wretched as she did now.
