apologize, Ellen,” he replied with a smile. “I can’t stand my sister myself, you know.”
“But how can you let your daughter marry a mere soldier, James? The captain seems a fine man, but…”
“He is the heir to the Marquess of Thorne,” replied the earl.
“How can this be true? Why does no one know?”
“The Richmonds are a family of eccentrics, my dear, and have been out of the public eye for years. And his aunt and uncle do not spend much time socializing when they are in London. His aunt is known as the ‘Methodist Marchioness,” said the earl with a twinkle in his eye.
“Oh, my goodness, James, she goes around giving out some sort of religious tracts to…to…”
“To whores? Yes, I know,” said the earl with a smile. “Actually, I think they are pamphlets of a more practical nature. Information on the prevention of disease.”
Mrs. Denbeigh blushed a deep red. “Does Arden know about this?”
“That her future aunt gives out pamphlets to ladies of the night?”
“No, no, that Captain Richmond will be a marquess.”
“I don’t believe so. And I don’t want her to know until after the wedding.”
“But why?”
“I want her to have a taste of real life, Ellen. Her rank and her pride and you, I might add, much as I appreciate your care, have protected her from her own humanity. We are all the same when we are dying, after all. I have seen enough of death to know that.”
“Perhaps you are right, James. I have seen no one else who could match her this Season. The young men laugh with her and encourage her or are unable to look her in the eye. Someone like Heronwood, wonderful as he is for Celia, would never do for Arden.”
“Speaking of young Heronwood, he is probably ready for Bedlam, we have been keeping him waiting so long. Go and get Celia, Ellen, so we can put him out of his misery.”
Chapter 11
Arden returned from a shopping trip that morning to find her aunt and cousin ecstatically planning a wedding. Heronwood had requested Celia’s presence immediately after he received the earl’s consent, and the earl and Mrs. Denbeigh had left them alone to seal their betrothal with a kiss. More than one kiss, actually, for though shy, neither Celia nor Heronwood suffered any lack of ardor, and their betrothal began very satisfactorily for both of them.
Arden had guessed the proposal would soon be made, and was very happy for Celia. She entered into the plans wholeheartedly, and was happily planning the young couple’s visit to Stalbridge, when it became clear that Aunt Ellen was planning to live with the newlyweds after their honeymoon.
“You will be at Heronwood, then, Aunt Ellen?” she asked quietly, breaking into a conversation.
“Why, yes, Richard has kindly invited me. Not that I intend to interfere, of course,” she protested, “but it will be hard to let Celia go, so I will be happy to have a long visit with them.”
Ellen and Celia suddenly looked uncomfortable. “I understand that you will be going to your Aunt Millicent’s, Arden,” said Celia hesitantly.
“When hell freezes over I will,” said Arden furiously, and suddenly quit the room, leaving behind a stunned aunt and cousin.
“Well, this will certainly help James’s plan,” muttered Mrs. Denbeigh to herself.
“I beg your pardon, Mother, what plan?”
“Nothing, dear, nothing. Arden is bound to be upset. This is a big change in all our lives. Are you sure you want me with you, Celia?” asked Mrs. Denbeigh, wondering if she should return to Stalbridge with her niece after all.
“Yes, Mother,” replied Celia firmly. “You have been guardian and housekeeper for long enough. I am so happy that I can share my good fortune and happiness with you. After the Little Season and the holidays, we can discuss whether you wish to stay on in the Heronwood dower house or return to Stalbridge. But surely Arden could find another companion and stay in her own home?”
“James wants her settled
“But how can you let your daughter marry a mere soldier, James? The captain seems a fine man, but…”
“He is the heir to the Marquess of Thorne,” replied the earl.
“How can this be true? Why does no one know?”
“The Richmonds are a family of eccentrics, my dear, and have been out of the public eye for years. And his aunt and uncle do not spend much time socializing when they are in London. His aunt is known as the ‘Methodist Marchioness,” said the earl with a twinkle in his eye.
“Oh, my goodness, James, she goes around giving out some sort of religious tracts to…to…”
“To whores? Yes, I know,” said the earl with a smile. “Actually, I think they are pamphlets of a more practical nature. Information on the prevention of disease.”
Mrs. Denbeigh blushed a deep red. “Does Arden know about this?”
“That her future aunt gives out pamphlets to ladies of the night?”
“No, no, that Captain Richmond will be a marquess.”
“I don’t believe so. And I don’t want her to know until after the wedding.”
“But why?”
“I want her to have a taste of real life, Ellen. Her rank and her pride and you, I might add, much as I appreciate your care, have protected her from her own humanity. We are all the same when we are dying, after all. I have seen enough of death to know that.”
“Perhaps you are right, James. I have seen no one else who could match her this Season. The young men laugh with her and encourage her or are unable to look her in the eye. Someone like Heronwood, wonderful as he is for Celia, would never do for Arden.”
“Speaking of young Heronwood, he is probably ready for Bedlam, we have been keeping him waiting so long. Go and get Celia, Ellen, so we can put him out of his misery.”
Chapter 11
Arden returned from a shopping trip that morning to find her aunt and cousin ecstatically planning a wedding. Heronwood had requested Celia’s presence immediately after he received the earl’s consent, and the earl and Mrs. Denbeigh had left them alone to seal their betrothal with a kiss. More than one kiss, actually, for though shy, neither Celia nor Heronwood suffered any lack of ardor, and their betrothal began very satisfactorily for both of them.
Arden had guessed the proposal would soon be made, and was very happy for Celia. She entered into the plans wholeheartedly, and was happily planning the young couple’s visit to Stalbridge, when it became clear that Aunt Ellen was planning to live with the newlyweds after their honeymoon.
“You will be at Heronwood, then, Aunt Ellen?” she asked quietly, breaking into a conversation.
“Why, yes, Richard has kindly invited me. Not that I intend to interfere, of course,” she protested, “but it will be hard to let Celia go, so I will be happy to have a long visit with them.”
Ellen and Celia suddenly looked uncomfortable. “I understand that you will be going to your Aunt Millicent’s, Arden,” said Celia hesitantly.
“When hell freezes over I will,” said Arden furiously, and suddenly quit the room, leaving behind a stunned aunt and cousin.
“Well, this will certainly help James’s plan,” muttered Mrs. Denbeigh to herself.
“I beg your pardon, Mother, what plan?”
“Nothing, dear, nothing. Arden is bound to be upset. This is a big change in all our lives. Are you sure you want me with you, Celia?” asked Mrs. Denbeigh, wondering if she should return to Stalbridge with her niece after all.
“Yes, Mother,” replied Celia firmly. “You have been guardian and housekeeper for long enough. I am so happy that I can share my good fortune and happiness with you. After the Little Season and the holidays, we can discuss whether you wish to stay on in the Heronwood dower house or return to Stalbridge. But surely Arden could find another companion and stay in her own home?”
“James wants her settled
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