A Lady's Prerogative Read online

  “My lord, would I be correct to assume your valet is expected later today with your baggage coach?”

  The earl slowed the pace of their steps and turned to look at her. “I haven’t employed a valet for years. A waste, if you ask me. Damned ridiculous if a man can’t dress himself.” His expression betrayed his annoyance that a mere girl would take it upon herself to harangue him about his attire. Natalie did not allow him to alter her intent.

  “I will speak with my mother. We’ll assign one of the servants to valet for you,” she suggested confidently. She already had a candidate in mind. Marcus would kill to valet for somebody, anybody.

  “My dear lady”—his voice conveyed acute irritation—“I shall hardly require the services of a valet for a few weeks of hunting and fishing. I am here for a quiet holiday and some sport, nothing more.”

  Halting their progress, Natalie removed her hand from his arm and turned to face him. She steepled her hands in front of her lips and looked skywards seeking the right words to get her point across. Men! They really could be foolish in the extreme!

  “My lord, are you aware my mother is hosting a house party?”

  He raised one dark eyebrow. “And this concerns me how? I’ve no plans to participate. I requested to bunk in the bachelors’ lodgings, but the countess insists I reside here instead. I do not expect, nor wish, to be included in any events.”

  Natalie drew in a deep breath. His bluster did not intimidate her. In fact, she found his scowl rather endearing. But oh, how this man needed her assistance!

  “My dear Lord Hawthorne, whether you wish it or not, you are being presented with a unique opportunity—especially for a gentleman in your…er…present circumstances.” Without thinking, she placed one of her hands over his. Yes, he was an earl, and yes, he possessed a certain rugged appeal, but his circumstances were somewhat pathetic. “My mother is very good friends with the highest sticklers in the ton. And under this roof, for the next two weeks, several of them are my parents’ honored guests.” She squeezed his hand with a sense of urgency. She didn’t know why it mattered, but for some reason it did. Perhaps if she were to focus on another person’s troubles, she could forget her own for a while. She put her words together carefully; this rake would not take kindly to pity.

  “My parents are showing these people that they trust you in their home, amongst their family and guests. For heaven’s sake, your room is on the same floor as their only daughter’s! This is an opportunity for you to impress upon these people that you are not your father. This is a chance for you to have doors opened to you that have been closed for years. Doors that may never open for you again due to present scandals.”

  Her tirade, an attempt to persuade the earl to put forth his best efforts, seemed to anger him instead. He pulled his hand away and stepped backward.

  “Dammit!” He snapped his head to the side as though to gather himself, or perhaps because he was too disgusted to even look at her. “My apologies, my lady, but if I am expected to—You cannot have the slightest idea as to how repugnant your suggestion is. I did not come here for this.” His eyes looked pained, but his expression revealed barely controlled fury. “I shouldn’t have come at all. I will collect my belongings and return to my estate.”

  Natalie’s eyes went wide. Obviously, she had gone too far. Stone would never forgive her if his friend left because of something she’d said. And after she’d promised to be on her best behavior no less! “Oh, no, I’m not saying you are required to put forth some sort of effort on your behalf! I’m merely saying it is an opportunity for you. What you wish to do with it, of course, is up to you.”

  She watched his face as her words settled into the charged atmosphere. Dark circles were etched under his eyes, and for just a moment, she felt sorry to berate him so. He could not really turn around and leave. To do so would offend both Stone and her parents. And really, the man was in no position to offend anyone who befriended him right now. “I beg you to reconsider. You are most welcome to spend your time however you wish.” She winced before adding, “Stone will have my head if you leave because of something I’ve said.”

  Natalie held her breath and awaited his response. A full thirty seconds must have passed before he relented.

  “There will be no valet”—he spoke between clenched teeth—“as I have no need.”

  Natalie watched his profile. The tensely corded muscles of his neck and his broad shoulders gave away the tension within him. He gave her the sense of a wild animal, trapped but not defeated. His voice was firm as he spoke again.

  “I will not give in to this occasion by licking anybody’s boots.” He looked at her crossly. “Nor by having a servant polish my own.”

  Natalie fluttered her lashes and tilted her head to the side. “So you will stay then?” At her obvious ploy, he seemed to relax and then rolled his eyes heavenwards.

  “Are you going to show me where this damned nuncheon is being served or not?”

  Natalie could not help but laugh in relief. This was the rogue she had been expecting. Relieved she hadn’t scared him away, she took his arm and gestured toward the back of the house. “Right this way, my lord, right this way. If you prefer to carry on as an uncouth brute, then so be it. But later, when you realize how wrong you are, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Chapter Four

  With a languid stretch, Garrett leaned forward and rested the fishing pole on a carefully selected rock. He and Stone had been sitting by the lake for over an hour. They’d each caught a few good-sized fish but released them, for future sport. Under some very large oaks, they sat partly in sunshine and partly in shade. The strain of the past month began to ease away as he leaned against a smooth boulder.

  Stone’s voice broke the lazy silence. “I cannot believe Joseph, the youngest of us boys, was the first to get himself leg-shackled.” He chuckled. “He’s even beaten Natalie to the altar.”

  Agreeing with his friend’s sentiment toward marriage, Garrett grinned. “Perhaps all the Spencer brothers will wed before her. You and Darlington have dodged the matchmaking mamas easily enough, though. How did you manage to escape the responsibilities of the Season?” Garrett could hardly fathom that Lady Ravensdale had allowed her two oldest sons to forgo the marriage mart so easily.

  “Not much choice in the matter.” Stone’s eyes turned serious. “We’re having labor issues at our few estates up north. Father required our presence there. The Corn Laws have done nothing but create dissension.” He grimaced. “Things are going to have to change here in England if we wish to avoid taking the same course as France. Many workers have already taken flight to America. What choice do they have when they cannot afford to feed their families? It’s a difficult role we play. We are landlords and yet also sympathizers. There is only so much one family can do.”

  Garrett knew Lord Ravensdale opposed protectionism. The earl had not been born into wealth and position but inherited his title after establishing a lucrative career as a barrister. The man had not forgotten the challenges of laboring for one’s living.

  Stone groaned. “Unfortunately, I don’t see the situation righting itself anytime soon.” He glanced sideways at Garrett. “How are matters at Maple Hall?”

  “It’s odd.” Garrett rubbed his chin. “Until last week, it had been over ten years since I was last there, and yet, even with the manor burned to the ground, it feels like home. At the risk of waxing poetic, I believe I have something of a connection with the land itself.” An old memory stirred to life. “My grandfather’s old steward, Mr. Pinyon, most certainly is responsible.” Idly chewing on a stem of grass, Garrett stared across the water. The last time he’d gone fishing was before his father sent Mr. Pinyon away.

  “He taught you estate management?” Stone asked.

  “More than that.” Garrett pulled his knees up and rested his arms upon them. “He made me feel as though I belonged. He introduced me to people—taught me that one person alone does not own the estate. The land,
the crops, the workers, and the tenants—they are all a part of it, dependent upon one another to produce and sustain their families.”

  “That poor man can’t have lasted very long with your father.”

  “He didn’t.” Garrett had long ago buried such memories. “I trailed after him every chance I could. And then when I returned from school one holiday, I discovered Father had sent him packing.” Garrett had been devastated.

  “There must be some satisfaction now,” Stone finally said, “in that the management of the estate falls to you.” The two men fell silent again. Garrett contemplated the twinkling reflections created on the water as a breeze stirred the hot air.

  “I can only hope the bastard didn’t wait too long to die,” Garrett murmured. The task at Maple Hall was a herculean one. “Many fences need mending now, both literally and figuratively.”

  Stone set his pole aside and sent Garrett a pointed stare. “Are you through gadding about, then? Are you done living life to spite your father?”

  Garrett considered taking offence with his friend’s statement. But this was Stone talking, after all. They’d never dissembled with each other, so why be offended?

  And yes, the time for change was upon him. As the new earl, with hundreds relying upon the estate for their livelihood, he could no longer deny his birthright.

  “To some extent.” And then he let out a cynical bark of laughter. “Your sister believes my reputation can be restored and that this damned house party is the place to do so.” He looked sideways at Stone. “You did not tell me half of London would be here when you invited me. Not well done of you, my friend, not well done at all.”

  Stone merely chuckled. “Well, I’ve just returned myself. Had I known of all this hullabaloo I would have planned to meet you elsewhere. And I suppose I could have carted your crates and trunks to Maple Hall myself…” Pulling a pastry out of the basket Mrs. Winston sent along with them, Stone took a bite and then a long drink from his flask. “Natalie said that, eh? Be careful, she may make you into one of her projects. She’s bored silly and will do anything for a diversion.”

  Garrett shook his head, mentally recalling the lady in question. “I can hardly comprehend her jilting the Duke of Cortland. Your father must have been livid.”

  “He very nearly had her under house arrest in London, from what I understand. Now that she’s here, she is forbidden to attend any house parties or assemblies. We’ll see how long she stays out of trouble. I think she’s less content than my parents would believe. She had more than one reason, I am certain, for breaking off her engagement, but she doesn’t talk about it. Simply says she didn’t love him.” He laughed. “Women.”

  Garrett pondered this. Why does any young woman throw a man over? It ought to be plain as day—she wants something else, or someone else. “Lady Natalie and your parents were more than kind to me during nuncheon,” Garrett said. “They made it obvious they expected the same behavior from their guests.”

  “I saw that. Perhaps Natalie is on to something.”

  Dammit. The chit may just have been right.

  Upon entering the dining room with her, seeing some of the all-too-familiar faces he had left London to avoid, Garrett had braced himself for unpleasantness. His first thought was that Stone had betrayed him. His second was to turn on his heel and arrange for his departure. But Lady Natalie had stood beside him with her hand tucked neatly into his arm.

  “Father,” she had said brightly, “look who I found! Lord Hawthorne graciously offered his escort when we met in the corridor upstairs. Mother has prepared Joseph’s chamber for him. With all the guest rooms occupied, I thought that very clever of her.”

  The Earl of Ravensdale had risen from his seat and approached Garrett with an outstretched hand.

  “Welcome, Hawthorne. Josephine and I were both delighted to hear you were joining our little house party. My beautiful countess has planned several activities, but I hope we can find time to discuss business as well.” The earl’s eyes had been friendly and his handshake hearty. The countess also came forward to greet him personally and yet very publicly.

  After seeing their esteemed host and hostess receive Garrett so graciously, the other guests were given no choice but to welcome him as well. And, although reserved, none had condescended to him in any way.

  Even Lady Eleanor Sheffield did not shun him outright. It had been her niece Garrett’s father kidnapped and then attempted to murder. If anyone were to object to his presence, this lady in particular had every reason to do so. But she had not. She had watched Garrett closely. She was curious, likely, and with ample justification, guarded.

  The nuncheon had not been the ordeal he expected, and by the end of the meal, he realized he’d been extended equal courtesy to every other guest. Not one failed to meet his eyes.

  By God, it seemed he was going to have to take advantage of his time here after all.

  Garrett stared out at the lake, not really seeing it but, instead, remembering the moment Lady Natalie smiled at him in the corridor outside his bedchamber. In the past, he’d watched her smile or laugh from across a crowded room, but he’d never experienced the full force of her charm directed at him. When she did just that, earlier this afternoon, he’d found himself momentarily—and nauseatingly—smitten.

  Lady Natalie was perhaps the most beautiful of all the debutantes to grace the ton for the past two seasons. She was tall, but not too tall, with long elegant limbs. Classically beautiful, delicate, and symmetrical features graced her flawless complexion. Her blue eyes sparkled behind long lush eyelashes. Her hair, like golden sunshine. She was perfect in every way.

  Perhaps that was why, in the past, he’d done his best to irritate her. She was untouchable by the likes of him, but he’d wanted her notice, nonetheless. Hell, he’d demanded it that day in the park.

  And yet today, she’d taken his arm and allowed him to walk with her. And she championed him when they entered the dining room. She must have known he would not be comfortable wading in by himself. Or perhaps…

  Perhaps she had simply wanted to save them all from the embarrassment of his turning around and leaving.

  Under the warmth of the sun, he ought to have enjoyed the rarity of doing nothing but wait for a fish to take his bait, but he was ill at ease. Trusting such a quick change in regard and attitude from these people was difficult. More so, from Lady Natalie.

  Her words continued to prod him. This is an opportunity for you to impress upon these people that you are not your father. Should he take it? Even if he did not completely trust it, he would be a stubborn fool to not take full advantage of the goodwill these people were extending.

  So, it seemed, he would not have a fortnight of relaxation and escape. Instead, he had work to do. The type of work he’d avoided for years. Ah well…It was time.

  ****

  The very enthusiastic manservant waiting in Garrett’s room later that evening should not have surprised him.

  A quick look around told him the servant had already unpacked and brushed out the few items of clothing Garrett thought would suffice. He did not recognize, however, the evening dress laid out for a formal dinner.

  “Lady Ravensdale instructed me to valet for you, my lord.” The young man bowed. “I am Marcus. She also instructed me to utilize any of Mr. Joseph’s wardrobe left behind, since you were unaware of the house party.” Perhaps sensing Garrett’s disposition, his new valet hesitantly gestured to the ensemble laid out upon the bed. “I hope these will be acceptable, sir…my lord,” he corrected himself.

  Garrett closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This is an opportunity for you to impress upon these people that you are not your father. The time had come.

  “Marcus, eh? Let us hope young Joseph has grown since the last time the two of us met. He must have been no older than twelve or so, at the time—a skinny lad, a full foot and a half shorter than myself.”

  Marcus smiled in relief. “Oh, he has, my lord. I believe even your siz
e of shoes is similar. It is fortuitous, is it not? I have taken the liberty of preparing a bath. It is behind the privacy screen, sir, and when you are ready, I can take care of your beard if you please.”

  Rubbing the whiskers on his chin, Garrett laughed. “And have you any experience with this sort of thing, Marcus? Shaving and whatnot?” His valet could not have practiced upon himself. The young man had not yet graduated from soft peach fuzz to actual whiskers.

  “Oh, yes, sir. My father is the earl’s valet. I’ve been training for this sort of thing my whole life!” In his earnestness, the servant looked to be barely seventeen. Ah, so acting as a valet was a promotion of sorts.

  Garrett stepped behind the screen and began undressing, tossing his discarded clothing onto the divider. Marcus, showing a mindfulness of Garrett’s privacy, carefully removed the items so he could tend to them. “And who have you been practicing on, Marcus?” Garrett asked once he’d relaxed into the tub.

  “To be frank, my lord, anybody I can get my hands on. My pa, of course, and Mr. Winston, the butler. On occasion, I get a hold of some of the footmen. More and more of them let me shave them now that Pa and Mr. Winston are sporting fewer nicks.” The young man’s voice rose and fell as he entered and exited the adjacent closet.

  “But that’s nothing, my lord.” Garrett was startled as the young man peeked around the screen to address him in the tub. “Wait until you see how I can tie a cravat!”

  Chapter Five

  Lady Ravensdale did not forgo elegance and expense when she hosted a summer house party, and this evening’s dinner was no exception.

  Gathering promptly in the drawing room for drinks and conversation, the aristocratic guests mingled while waiting for supper to be announced. A conservative group of lords, the men wore formal attire, mostly black and white. The ladies were much more colorful, donning bright gowns along with feathers and plumes in their elegantly styled coiffures. The more ripened the lady, the more embellished the plumes.