Page 27 of Romancing Daphne

He didn’t answer. He knew he didn’t have to.

They turned onto the street where the family home sat. It was not the most fashionable address, something Father no doubt wished to rectify by means of his heir’s marriage. If there was any justice or mercy in the world, James would yet find a way to avoid that heart-wrenching conclusion to his father’s schemes. Neither he nor Miss Lancaster ought to be doomed to a loveless marriage.

“What is he holding over your head this time?” Bennett asked.

“Does it matter?”

“Of course it matters what Father used to entrap you. This is yourentire life, James. Your future, your children. Marriage is final, irrevocable. Deuce take it, it blasted well better be worth it.”

Backing out of the courtship would have cost Bennett his landand, with it, his very future. James had placed in the keeping of the Bank of England one copy of Father’s sworn and signed promise to never deprive Bennett or Mother of their incomes or to ever force Bennett’s hand in marriage. He kept another copy in his portable writing desk. Father’s scheming and planning would stop with him.

“It was worth it,” he whispered.

“You’re not going to tell me what it was?”

And allow Bennett to feel guilty about the entire debacle?“No, I’m not.”

James could see disappointment in his brother’s eyes.

Bennett waited only a moment to light into him.“What happened to ‘the bird slipping from its cage,’ James? You have talked all these years about fighting for our freedom, of not letting Father take control of our lives. How could you let him win like this?”

“If I could have found a way around this, I would have.” James did an admirable job of maintaining his calm in the face of his brother’s onslaught. “Until and unless I stumble upon something miraculous that disentangles me, I have no choice, Ben. No choice.”

They were within sight of Techney House. A traveling carriage sat out front, servants rushing back and forth.

“Mother must have arrived,” Bennett said.

“Mother?” James could not have been more shocked. “Ourmother?”

Bennett gave him a look of annoyed impatience. “Her oldest son has, according to the post, quite suddenly undertaken a serious courtship witha young lady none of us has ever met. Of course Mother came to Town.”

Mother feared London. She had for decades. His promise to Father had brought her to Town. He could not allow her to be miserable here once again.

They hurried up the front steps. The chaos in the entryway spoke volumes of everyone’s unfamiliarity with the arrival of the mistress of the house. Trunks sat stacked whilst footmen looked to the butler in obvious confusion. A maid hovered near the doorway, her brow knit as she listened to a chain of garbled instructions from the housekeeper.

“Were you not warned of Lady Techney’s arrival?” James asked the harried housekeeper.

“We were not, Lord Tilburn,” she said, apology and pleading coupled in her tone and expression.“I am afraid she isn’t seeing us at our best.”

Had Mother ever been in residence with Mrs. Green as the housekeeper? James didn’t think she had. No wonder the poor woman was beside herself.

“I am certain you have kept the mistress’s chambers tidied.”

Mrs. Green pulled herself up quite proudly.“Of course I have.”

“And your menus are always beyond reproach,” James added.“The secret to pleasing Lady Techney is a comfortable, quiet room and soft bread with her dinner. She is excessively fond of bread.”

Mrs. Green’s expression turned very thoughtful.“Cook is a genius with breads of every kind.”

James agreed with a nod.“And we’ve already established that you take prodigiously good care of the bedchambers. I believe, Mrs. Green, you have nothing to fear in pleasing your mistress.”

A flicker of relief passed across Mrs. Green’s face before she straightenedher shoulders once more. Her air of command firmly in place again, sheinstructed the quaking maids on their duties. In the meantime, the butlerseized control of the situation and the traveling trunks were on their way tothe appropriate chambers.

James kept his further concerns to himself. The already shaken staff hardly needed to see that his faith in them was wavering. All was running smoothly for the moment. He would wait to explain the necessity of having a footman ready to send for a physician or apothecary at all hours.

Mother could settle in while James readied himself to explain to her his intention to pay particular attention to a young lady entirely unknown to her. Somehow he would soothe her fears as he always did. He would actas a buffer between his parents, keeping their unhappy relationship fromsouring further. Somehow he would prevent Bennett and Father from coming to blows. And in the midst of it all, he would attempt to unsuccessfullycourt an innocent and unsuspecting young lady.

He rather hated himself for that last part.

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