Page 48 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
She exchanged a look with Rose, and the two women laughed heartily.
“Darling, are you blind?” Rose asked. “This house is a wreck. It looks like a hurricane has passed through it.””
“And the last one destroyed half the inside of the mansion,” Blanche added.
The two women laughed again, but Edward’s blood boiled.
“I suppose I see a completely different manner than you, Aunts,” he said. “Because I see one that is near perfect. Miss White does exceptional work, especially considering the condition in which she found this place.”
Rose rolled her eyes.
“No matter,” she said. “More work can always be done in time. A wife would quickly see to that.”
Edward’s mouth fell open.
“A wife?” he asked.
Blanche nodded, having stuffed a large bite of food in her mouth.
“Yes,” she said, promptly spitting the food into her napkin and making a face. “A wife will get this place in order in no time. And a wealthy bride from theton, like Lady Alice, would be most beneficial to you.”
Edward blinked, his mind spinning. He had more still he wished to say to them about insulting Miss White. But now, they were speaking of him marrying, as though they had a right to do so.
“What?” he asked, briefly wondering if he was having a nightmare.
Rose grinned, and it made Edward’s flesh creep. It was almost evil.
“Lady Alice,” she said, as though Edward should know. “She is the daughter of our dear friends, Lord and Lady Carteret. You must marry her to get out of the estate’s financial difficulties. She has an enormous dowry, and she is beautiful.”
“And she can certainly help you to get this house up to par,” Blanche added. “Far better than that little housekeeper of yours.”
“Leave Miss White alone,” Edward hissed, preparing to give them a piece of his mind. “And I will not agree to marry a woman I have never even met.”
“We will see to all the wedding arrangements,” Rose said as though he had not spoken. “You can start making more progressive repairs on the estate, since her dowry will more than cover the expenses.”
Edward stared at his aunts, dumbfounded. Who did they think they were, moving in without permission, being critical of the servants, and trying to take over his life? And why did they think he should marry just because they said so?
They were right, of course. A wife with a large dowry would save the estate financially. And he knew he had been thinking of marriage for that very reason. But after Caroline married before he came home, he had abandoned the idea of marriage. And even with the promise of a wealthy bride, Edward would not even entertain the idea. But why?
“You must host a ball,” Rose was saying when Edward returned from his thoughts.
“I beg your pardon?” he asked, incredulous.
Blanche clapped, grinning.
“Yes, a ball,” she said. “We can invite Lady Alice and her family. You can meet her, and then ask her father for his blessing to marry her. Oh, it will be perfect.”
Edward’s mind reeled. He could not believe the events of the day, and part of him still thought it might all be a cruel dream. Deep down, he knew it was not, however. And since his aunts were family, he had no grounds to insult or reject them. If only his mother was not so ill. Perhaps she would know what to do.
“Very well,” he said, just wanting the meal to end so he could escape their overbearing bossiness. “We will host a ball. And I will consider a match with Lady Alice.”
His aunts heard him say that part, conveniently.
“Oh, wonderful,” Rose said. “You shan’t regret it.”
I already do,he thought bitterly, stabbing at food on his plate that he no longer wanted. He looked around at the many nice touches Miss White had brought to the room. He doubted he would have the same kind of connection with Lady Alice as he did with the housekeeper.
He sighed, imagining what it would be like to kiss Miss White. He already knew that just being near her made his heart race and put a smile on his face. She was the reason his mother had spoken again after so long, as well as the reason why the manor was coming back to life. What would a life shared with her be like?
