Page 33 of The Viscount's Pearl
Frances sighed. “I hope he leaves soon.”
In the dining room Lord Hosmer and Lord Lilley drank port and puffed on cigars, speaking mostly of estate management and politics until Lord Hosmer made a startling change of topic.
“Your youngest daughter is still unmarried, I see.”
“Yes, it’s a damned thing. She’s odd in her ways,” said Lord Lilley, allowing himself to be frank, since he was speaking with a member of the family. “But not peculiar, you know, just won’t mind her tongue and speaks her mind far too often for polite society. Probably spoilt her, being the youngest,” he added, taking another gulp of his port. “Can’t be helped now, will just have to find some chap to take her off our hands or give her up as a bad job and have a spinster in the family. Her older sisters were never this tricky, easy enough to marry off.”
Lord Hosmer coughed. “Perhaps I might be so bold as to offer for her hand.”
Lord Lilley choked on his cigar, then regained control of himself. “Frances? My dear chap, she’s forty years younger than you if she’s a day.”
Lord Hosmer shrugged. “No matter. Young enough to bear children. Old enough to be taken in hand. Perhaps what the girl needs is a firm husband. I can assure you she’d be well provided for, both while she’s my wife and in the event of her being widowed. Never managed to get an heir so far, it’s a regret of mine. But there’s still time, if I have a young wife.”
Lord Lilley was silent for a few moments, pondering this extraordinary offer. The reality was, Frances was not going to attract any other proposals of marriage, he was fairly sure of this. His wife’s resigned air after the house party had beenobvious even to him and here was Lord Hosmer, a marquis and part of the family, asking to marry her, undaunted by her odd ways. Why, Frances would actually be marrying upwards and have the opportunity to provide an heir to a decent estate, even if it was in the darkest depths of Wales. Certainly, there was a considerable age difference, but perhaps Lord Hosmer was right. Perhaps, being the youngest, the girl had been spoilt and a husband who would impose his will on her would be more successful than her parents had been in making her fit for society. Lord Hosmer was known for disliking parties and other social gatherings, which might actually suit Frances. And if she should dislike her husband, well the truth was he was likely to die while she was still young and she would likely be left with children and a goodly estate and income to provide for her. He, Lord Lilley, could certainly make sure of that through the marriage contracts that would be drawn up. She would also have her marriage portion, which was ample and would mean she would not be reliant on Lord Hosmer for her own wants, should he turn out to be tight-fisted. The notion had seemed absurd at first, but he could see the benefits of it. It was worth considering.
“I will discuss your offer with Lady Lilley,” he said.
Lady Lilley spluttered into her morning hot chocolate, but slowly came round to the idea. Lord Hosmer was not the husband she would have chosen for Frances, but then Frances wassodifficult and perhaps, as her husband suggested, an older husband would be right for her. She was not enthusiastic with her consent, but her consent was given nonetheless. All that remained was to inform Frances.
“No!” Frances, appalled, got up from her chair in the morning room and began to pace the room, heart pounding.
“But consider,” said Lady Lilley, “Lord Hosmer is titled, he is amarquis. You will be a marchioness. Think of that, you will rank higher than your mother!”
“I don’t care! He is old. And ugly. And he smells.”
“Frances, really!”
“It’s the truth. Tell me that’s not true.”
Lady Lilley opened her mouth before closing it again. She took a fortifying sip of tea before trying again. “Lord Hosmer has a delightful castle in Wales –”
“Wales? I am not living in Wales!”
“There are beaches in Wales,” tried Lady Lilley weakly. “I am sure you could collect shells there…”
“He has already told me that he thinks shells only fit for children!”
“Ah, children,” said Lady Lilley with some relief. “Yes. Lord Hosmer is very keen to have children, so you will have children to care for, with whom you can of course gather shells and so on. You enjoy spending time with your nieces and nephews, do you not?”
“Yes,” said Frances reluctantly.
“Well then, think what a joy it will be to be a mother.”
“Not if Lord Hosmer were my husband.”
Lady Lilley sighed. “Frances, it is not a choice. Lord Hosmer has offered for your hand and we – your parents – have given our blessing.”
“You would force me to marry Lord Hosmer?” She could not believe what she was hearing, could not believe her matrimonial choices had suddenly been taken away, replaced with an unthinkable certainty.
“It is notforcing–”
“I do not wish to marry him. You say I must. That is forcing.”
“Well then so be it,” said Lady Lilley, standing up, her voice wavering. “Frances. You are to marry Lord Hosmer. There willbe no more said about this. I have a headache. I will be in my bedchamber.” She swept from the room.
Frances sat for a few moments, before she was startled by a tap on the door. “Enter,” she said without thinking, then hurriedly rose as Lord Hosmer entered the room. “I was just…” she began, seeking an escape, but Lord Hosmer closed the door with a firm motion, then advanced on her.
“Miss Lilley, I would like to speak with you on a matter of importance.”
