Lord Portman's Troublesome Wife Read online

  ‘Your brother is not a very diligent escort.’ He was rapidly coming to appreciate her qualities himself. She was not cowed or overawed and had a ready wit. She was also, as Ash had pointed out, not tiny as Beth had been, but strong and healthy. She was not beautiful, but she was certainly not repulsive. Those divine eyes made up for a great deal. Supposing she were to bear his children—would they have eyes like hers? He tried to imagine them and the picture was not at all unpleasant. She needed to earn a living and he could offer her something a great deal better than working for Lady Bonhaven. Could it work? According to Ash, no woman would turn down the chance to be mistress of Bishop’s Court.

  ‘Let us ignore Sir Ashley and your brother and decide for ourselves what is to be done.’ She opened her mouth to speak, but he put a finger over her mouth to stop her. ‘I will say my say, then you may say yours. Agreed?’

  She nodded, aware of the dry warmth of his finger on her slightly parted lips and had to take a firm hold on herself not to nip it with her teeth.

  ‘Good.’ With the marble Venus smiling down on them, he took both her hands in his. ‘Let us consider the pros and cons. One, I need an heir and to beget an heir I need a wife. Two, I am not disposed to fall in love again, but any wife I choose must be up to the task of being mistress of my household and being a good mother to my children.’ He stopped, realising there was an important question he had not asked. ‘You do wish for children, I assume?’

  Too bemused to speak, she nodded again

  ‘Good. Where was I? Oh, yes, point three. Health and looks.’ He regarded her face gravely as if sizing these up. ‘I am told you have never been ill in your life.’

  ‘Max,’ she said ruefully. ‘I’ll wager he did not commend my looks.’

  ‘I can judge those for myself.’

  ‘He said you required a wife that would not outshine you.’ It was said as a put-down, but it only served to make him throw back his head and laugh. It was a laugh very different from that of the macaroni. He was forever surprising her.

  ‘There is that, of course. I am indebted to your brother for that point. Now what number were we up to? Four, was it?’

  ‘Five if you take account of the one my brother furnished.’ The conversation was so preposterous, she felt herself playing the game out of amusement and curiosity.

  ‘Five, then. You must find a home and a way of making a living which, I understand, has become urgent. Is that so?’

  She nodded again, knowing she ought to stand up and walk away, but finding it impossible to do so.

  ‘We come to six. You do not care to be a companion and there is no time to develop your other ideas. Housekeeper. A wife keeps house, does she not? Embroidery. I am persuaded every lady, wife or not, does that. As for cataloguing books, if you really wish to do that, I have a library of tomes at Bishop’s Court in urgent need of arranging into some sort of order. What else was there? Oh, yes, writing a book. I have no especial dislike of that idea. You may occupy yourself in that fashion whenever you are not busy at any of the others.’

  ‘Lord Portman,’ she managed at last, ‘just what are you saying?’

  ‘Why, I am listing the advantages to be had from joining our two selves in holy matrimony. You did not think I was offering carte blanche, did you?’

  ‘I was not sure.’

  ‘My dear Miss Chalmers, if you go back to point one, you will recall I said I needed an heir and by that I meant a legitimate one.’

  ‘You are not jesting, are you?’ she said, regarding him frankly.

  ‘No, I am not jesting. Now you may, if you wish, list the disadvantages.’

  She said the first thing that came into her head. ‘We hardly know each other.’

  ‘True, but that can be remedied.’

  ‘I am in mourning.’

  ‘I think, under the circumstances, that can be overlooked. I am sure your brother, as the head of the house, would agree with that. It is a pity they have done away with Fleet marriages, but the ceremony can be a quiet one in the country.’

  ‘I am too independent and outspoken.’

  ‘That could be construed as a disadvantage, it is true,’ he admitted. ‘I will mark that one up.’

  ‘I am six and twenty.’

  ‘Then you will not be giddy and requiring my undivided attention every minute of the day. I could not abide that. Of course we should not delay too long before beginning our family…’

  ‘And if I should turn out to be barren?’

  ‘Is there any reason why you should be?’

  ‘None at all, but one can never be sure.’

  ‘True. Perhaps we ought to mark that one up too.’

  ‘I am told you already have a daughter.’

  ‘Yes.’ His bantering tone left him suddenly. ‘I see little of her. She is with foster parents.’

  ‘But she would not be, if you had a wife, would she? Supposing she does not take to me?’

  ‘She will do as she is told.’ It was said flatly.

  ‘You cannot make her love me. Love is not something you can command.’

  ‘How did we come to be talking of love?’ he demanded, somewhat put out. ‘I have not mentioned it. I hope you were not expecting me to fall into raptures and declare my undying devotion.’

  She laughed, endeavouring to lighten the atmosphere again. ‘That, my lord, would be expecting too much.’

  ‘Then I make it six to two.’

  ‘Six to two what?’

  ‘Six points in favour, two against. Rather good odds, I should think.’

  ‘You, I collect, are a gambler, my lord. I, on the other hand, am not.’

  ‘You will not be gambling. I shall provide you with a good portion, ample pin money, clothes, jewels, a carriage, the freedom to order the household as you will, and a title. What have you to lose?’

  ‘My independence.’

  ‘How much is that worth at the moment?’ He paused to look into her face. ‘Remember Lady Bonhaven.’

  She did not want to remember the lady. ‘My lord, if all that was a proposal of marriage, it is the strangest I ever heard.’

  ‘You have had so many?’ he queried, smiling at her, his head on one side.

  ‘That would be telling.’ Honesty made her add, ‘But that is neither here nor there.’

  ‘So, shall we wed?’

  ‘I am afraid I cannot view the prospect of a marriage of convenience with equanimity. How do I know we should not quarrel?’

  ‘I am not usually quarrelsome,’he said. ‘Quarrelling indicates a lack of restraint, don’t you think? Are you like to quarrel with me?’

  ‘With the life you have promised me? It would be singularly ungrateful in me to do that. But is gratitude a substitute for that tender feeling a husband and wife should have towards each other?’

  ‘Only you can answer that. But you need not feel grateful. The bargain will not be all one-sided. You will be expected to play your part.’

  She gave a dry laugh. ‘So, it is an actress you would make of me after all. I doubt I could match you in that. I have never met a man of so many parts.’

  He laughed. ‘Touché. But what do you say?’

  ‘I need to think about it.’

  ‘By all means. But do remember points one to six.’ He stood up and held out his hand to help her to rise, just as a whistle and bang heralded the first of the fireworks. ‘Let us go and view the fireworks and perhaps we shall come across your brother and Sir Ashley.’

  They left the shelter of the arbour and made their way towards the river, where cheers and more bangs, followed by brilliant colours of red, green, yellow and blue shooting high into the sky showed the fireworks were well under way. They stood close together to watch the entertainment, a most incongruous couple, the fop and the antidote, and though she was aware of it, he seemed unperturbed. A strange and unaccountable man, she decided. Could she marry him? It would not be the marriage she had dreamed of as a young girl, but she could not expect that, could she?
What would it be like to share a bed with him? To see that muscular body without any clothes? To be touched by him in intimate places? Feeling the warmth rush into her face, she dismissed such erotic questions from her mind and tried to concentrate on the fireworks.

  It was a splendid display and after the last one had died away, he turned towards her. ‘Before I knew I would meet you here, I ordered supper to be served in one of the booths near the Rotunda and no doubt we shall find Sir Ashley there with your brother.’

  They joined the crowds leaving the arena and made their way back to the centre of the garden. It was now quite dark, although the lamps strung along the paths made a ribbon of light converging on the Rotunda. Harry took Rosamund’s arm and guided her unerringly and, sure enough, they found the two missing men already sitting in the booth, waiting for them.

  ‘There you are,’ Ash said. ‘We had quite given you up for lost.’

  Rosamund opened her mouth to a scathing retort and shut it quickly when Harry said, ‘My dear Ash, it was you and Sir Max who were lost. We have simply been perambulating and watching the fireworks.’ He pulled a chair out from the table as he spoke. ‘Miss Chalmers, please be seated. I shall have refreshment brought at once.’

  Rosamund looked at Max. He was smiling like a cat who had got at the cream and it made her want to hit him. Taking the offered seat, she refused to look him in the eye.

  Now they were once again in company, his lordship resumed his role of tulip, flicking at his cuffs, picking up his quizzing glass and surveying the people passing by the booth and making humorous comments on their appearance. Max laughed hilariously at his jokes, Ash looked at him in disapproval and Rosamund was simply too bemused to react at all. Their recent conversation was going over and over in her mind…Had he really proposed marriage to her? Had he really promised her ample pin money, clothes, jewels, a carriage, the freedom to order the household, all in exchange for giving him an heir?

  A baby. A little human being, not a pugdog, not a doll, but a real live human being who needed both parents, not only for a few days and weeks, but for a lifetime of growing up. Supposing the marriage was so awful it had to be ended? What would become of any child then, especially if she had become excessively fond of it? Why had she not brought that up as a point for consideration? No, she decided, he had been jesting.

  She realised he had not been jesting the following afternoon when he called on her at Holles Street. She was in her black gown again and had done nothing to her hair except brush it back and tie it with a ribbon while she sat at the escritoire, writing notes. Janet, agog at the sight of him, forgot to ask if she were at home and showed him straight in. Flustered, she rose to receive him. ‘My lord, I did not expect you.’

  He swept her a bow. ‘Did you not, madam? I fancied we had unfinished business.’ He looked about at the bare room. There was a sofa, besides the chair she was using at the desk, but that was all. And Janet had disappeared.

  ‘Oh. Are we still acting our parts?’ she queried, making light of her confusion. ‘I had fancied the curtain had come down on that particular play.’

  ‘No, that was simply the first act. Was it not left with you saying you wished to think over my proposal?’

  ‘Did I?’ she queried vaguely. ‘Perhaps I did not wish to offend you by giving you an immediate answer.’

  ‘Ah, I see. You were the one who was offended.’

  ‘No, my lord, but I could not help but think you did not mean it and were only doing it to appease Sir Ashley in the certain knowledge I would not take it seriously.’

  ‘Now I am offended!’

  ‘Why?’’

  ‘That you should think I am so in awe of Ash that I must do as he bids. He is a good friend, but he does not rule my life. The reasons for my wanting to marry, which I expounded to you last evening, were my own, not his, and the choice of a bride is mine, not his. And I would hope your answer would be your own, not your brother’s.’

  ‘That you may rely on. If you were in earnest, my lord, then I am flattered by the honour you do me, but I cannot agree to become your wife.’

  ‘Why not? Do you hold me in aversion? If you do, I shall retire and that is the last you shall hear of marriage from me, but if not…’

  ‘No, my lord, you have been altogether agreeable, but I am constrained to wonder what it would be like to live with you day by day, when all you want me for is a breeding machine.’

  ‘Good God! You do not pull your punches, do you, Miss Chalmers?’

  ‘It is as well to be perfectly frank with each other.’

  ‘True.’ Her reluctance to commit herself, in some perverse way, made him all the keener to break down her resistance. ‘But I think your sensibilities are too nice. I hope you have not fallen into the notion that we shall be living in each other’s pockets. You will have your life and I will have mine, but in public and when we are with our children, we will, to all intents, be a happy and united family.’

  ‘You assume the children.’

  ‘That is the whole point. If there are none, then I am sure the marriage can be brought to a discreet end. You will be no worse off. In fact, you will be a great deal better off because I will make sure you are well provided for and will not need to resort to the likes of Lady Bonhaven. She is already boasting to her friends that you are brought so low she has felt obliged to take you in out of pity.’

  ‘Oh, no!’ She was aghast.

  ‘Miss Chalmers, surely what I am offering is better than that?’

  ‘Yes, but I am asking myself if it is the only alternative.’

  She turned as the door opened and her brother came in. He smiled broadly on seeing Harry alone with his sister. Such unconventional behaviour could only mean one thing and he congratulated himself on contriving it. Not only would he not be obliged to give his sister a home, but he would be related to one of the wealthiest men in the country and that could do him nothing but good. He smiled broadly. ‘Portman, I did not know you were here.’

  Harry bowed to him. ‘As you see. I am about to leave.’ He turned to Rosamund. ‘Your obedient, ma’am. If you change your mind, send me word and I will attend you again.’ And with another flourishing bow, he took his leave.

  Max watched him go, consternation writ all over his face. ‘Rosie, do not tell me you have rejected him.’ He threw himself on to the sofa and looked up at her, standing exactly as she had been all through her interview with Harry, stiffly straight with her hands clasped in front of her. ‘Are you run mad?’

  She sighed and sank back on to the chair by her escritoire. ‘You know why he was here?’

  ‘Of course. No gentleman would compromise a lady by being alone with her if he were not going to make an offer of marriage. It is the most marvellous thing. You will be the envy of the ton.’

  ‘I will not, for I have not accepted him.’

  ‘Oh, that does not signify. He expects you to change your mind.’

  ‘I cannot help thinking you have contrived the whole affair and I find it humiliating in the extreme.’

  ‘Fustian! If our father had arranged it, you would think nothing of it and as I am the head of the family, it behooves me to do what I can. All I have done is make you known to each other. Is there anything wrong in that? You do not think, for a moment, I could influence Lord Portman to do something he does not want to do, do you?’

  ‘No, I certainly do not think that.’

  It seemed she was to get no peace, for Mrs Bullivant arrived at that point. Max rose to bow to her. She brushed past him, panniers swaying, the plumes in her hat waving. ‘Is all ready?’ she asked Rosamund. ‘I thought you might need help with conveying your trunk tomorrow and came to tell you that I will put my coach at your disposal. I shall come with you and see you safely installed…’

  ‘Why, Aunt, did you suppose I would abscond?’ Rosamund queried.

  ‘She might very well do so, for she has butterflies in her attic,’ Max told her. ‘She has rejected an offer of marriage.
’

  ‘Marriage?’ queried the lady, much astonished. ‘To whom?’

  ‘To none other than Lord Portman,’ Max told her.

  ‘Portman!’ The old lady sat down heavily on the sofa vacated by Max. ‘You mean the Lord Portman I met outside Lady Bonhaven’s three days ago?’

  ‘Yes,’ Rosamund said. ‘He requires a wife and a mother for his children and apparently I have been selected.’

  ‘Good heavens!’

  ‘As you say, good heavens,’ Max said. ‘He is the answer to Rosamund’s prayers. She will have the rank and consequence of a fine lady, not to mention a generous portion and a home at Bishop’s Court. That is his estate near Isleworth, you know. I believe he has others.’

  ‘I know that,’ the lady snapped. ‘I had it from Lady Bonhaven herself, who used to be a bosom bow of his late mother.’

  ‘Oh, Aunt,’ Rosamund said. ‘You surely did not quiz her ladyship about him.’

  ‘Oh, not in that way. I simply said I had met him and found him very agreeable. I cannot believe someone of his consequence has offered for Rosamund. Why, she is—’

  ‘Past marriageable age,’ Rosamund put in with a wry smile. ‘But do you know, he said it did not signify, that it meant I should not be giddy and demanding.’

  ‘Quite right.’

  ‘Nor am I a beauty.’

  ‘Did he say that?’

  ‘He did not need to. I know it. I am to be a brood mare and give him an heir.’

  ‘So what’s to say about that?’ her aunt demanded. ‘Though I could wish you had phrased it a little more delicately.’

  ‘She rejected him,’ Max said gloomily.

  ‘Oh, you do not say so. Rosamund, whatever were you thinking of? To be sure, I arranged for you to go to my dear Clarissa, but only because I could see no other course open to you. You must accept. Just think what it will be like being Lady Portman. You will be invited everywhere. Why, I do not doubt you will receive an invitation to the coronation, if not the Royal wedding. How can you even thinking of turning his lordship down?’

  Max grunted. ‘He hopes she will change her mind.’

  ‘Then of course she will.’