Page 50 of Weave me a Rope
The marquess half closed his eyes over his brandy as he considered. “I will take their pay out of your first quarter incomeunder the new arrangement,” he proposed. “They will be your servants and your responsibility.”
“If the allowance is paid in advance of the quarter,” Spen responded.
“Half in advance and half in arrears,” said his father.
“Accepted,” Spen replied.
“I’ll let my own men go in the morning,” the earl decided. “You can keep on as many of the extra servants as you wish to see to your comfort, Spenhurst. My wedding present to you.”
The marquess, not to be outdone, offered Spen the carriage and its driver and grooms that had brought him to Thorn Abbey. “You can take me back to London, Yarverton, can you not?”
It was time for Spen to return to his new wife. He thanked the reverend gentleman, who had been sitting quietly in the corner with the brandy decanter. He was into his third glass. Spen wondered if he could be trusted not to spill the entire plot, but when Spen spoke to him, he stood and swayed. “Best be on my way,” he said. “Delighted to be of service, Lord Splendid, er Spender, er…”
Mr. Morris took his arm to steady him. “I shall see him safely to the inn in Marton, my lords. Also, I shall prepare that list of estates to visit, Lord Spenhurst, and bring it to you when it is done so we might consult over a map.”
“My thanks, Mr. Morris.” Spen could not have hoped for a better advocate.
He bowed to the peers. His father nodded vaguely in return, but Yarverton grabbed his arm. “Spenhurst, you will be kind to her, will you not? My wife thought the world of her. Made me promise I’d not give her to anyone who would not treat her kindly. If only…” He shuddered. “Mumps. Terrible thing. Went right through the whole house. Lady Yarverton and my son died. Daphne and I survived, but poor Daphne… I need a grandson, Spenhurst. I know she was not fit to go on the market. Vulturesand wolves. It was like staking the poor child out. You were the only gentleman who was ever civil to her. You understand?”
“Not really, my lord,” Spen told him. “You must know it was cruel to subject her to Society.”
Yarverton shrugged. “Ineeda grandson. If my son had lived… But he died, and my wife died, and my clever, beautiful daughter might as well have died, for her mind was damaged. She looks just like her mother, you know. But that dreadful giggle. I’ve tried to beat it out of her, but she can’t seem to help it, poor girl.” He shuddered. “I can’t bear to look at her—but you will be kind, will you not?”
Spenhurst had not expected to feel any sympathy for the man. Yarverton was still a brutal villain, whose obsession could have destroyed the daughter he thought he loved. But at least he’d made a considerable effort to purchase her a husband who would not hurt her.
“I will, my lord,” he said, bowing with more feeling this time. Then, at last, he was able to return to Cordelia.
They wanted him to consummate his marriage? In that one thing, he was eager to oblige them.
Chapter Twenty-One
Both peers weregone by mid-morning, grumbling about the distance to London, and how much they had neglected because of Spen’s recalcitrance. Miss Faversham reported she had managed to use the truth to satisfy their demand for information. “I can confirm, my lords, the bride is no longer a virgin.”
The earl took with him the guards from around the house. In their absence, Fielder arrived from the village with letters for Spen from his brother, for Cordelia from her uncle, and for Miss Faversham from Lady Daphne.
Spen sent to the stables to have the carriage brought around, but then dismissed the driver and grooms. “My wife and I are going out for the afternoon,” he told them. “One of Marsh’s men will drive, and all four of them will come with as grooms and guards, so you may have the afternoon off.”
He did not want any risk their reunion with those waiting in Pool would be reported back to Lord Deerhaven and Lord Yarverton.
*
Uncle Josh hadtaken an entire floor for his party in the Welsh town of Pool. John was delighted to see Cordelia and Spen, and Lady Daphne ran into Miss Faversham’s arms.
Uncle Josh greeted Cordelia with a scowl. “Well, Miss? What do ye have to say for yersel’? Running off like that and deceiving your poor aunt.”
“I had to do it, Uncle Josh,” Cordelia replied. “Spen needed me, and our baby deserves a father.”
Her uncle turned the glower on her husband. “Lord Spenhurst. So ye’ve married my niece, have ye?”
“I have, sir, and I am grateful,” Spen said. “For your niece, for your help, and for your trust. I know I have not deserved it, but I promise you, on my honor, she and our children will never know want, and will always be my first priority.”
“Good,” Uncle Josh proclaimed. “Then ye won’t object to signing the marriage agreement I had drawn up.”
Cordelia slipped her hand into Spen’s. “We will read it first, Uncle Josh,” she insisted, and one corner of her uncle’s mouth twitched in a smile. “That’s my girl,” he told Spen.
“She has an excellent head on her shoulders,” Spen confided, and Uncle Josh’s smile grew.
“Trained her meself,” he boasted.
