How to Wed an Earl (7 page)

“I would certainly appreciate that, madam. Please, lead on.”

“This way, m’lord earl!” the woman shrieked.

Lucas resisted the urge to grimace. The poorly trained servant confirmed what he’d learned about the Walkers this afternoon after he’d received the ridiculous note his fiancée had sent to him. The chit had actually suggested a few lines of dialogue for him to consider as preparation for supper with her stepfamily, along with the warning that under no circumstances was he to mention their bargain to her stepfather.

The maidservant opened a door, and Lucas went through it when he was motioned to do so. He’d scarcely taken a step inside the room when the door was firmly shut behind him. The drawing room was long rather than wide in dimension, with two sitting areas, one by the hearth and another at the opposite end of the room by a big window that looked out over the manor’s gardens. Lucas paused behind a column, a few steps from the sitting area by the window where the Walker family was too engrossed in their discussion to notice him.

“I have yet to talk to Polly about this,” a man Lucas assumed was Dr. Walker said in a low voice.

A blonde woman Lucas recognized as Penelope’s mother, Lady Eleanor Maitland, gave an indelicate snort. “What is there to talk about? We’ve always known he would claim her one day. You knew that when we married.”

“Not like this … I didn’t know he would just walk in here and take my little girl — ”

“Papa, Polly’s twenty-five,” a boy of about fifteen pointed out. “She’s hardly a little girl. She’s not even a
young
girl anymore.”

“
Shut up
, Colin,” Penelope and a blonde young woman sitting beside Colin chorused.

“And you,” Dr. Walker raked a hand through his graying light hair and rounded on the boy called Colin, “I don’t know if it was you or Sarah who drugged my tea this afternoon, but when I find out — ”

“It was Sarah,” Colin readily answered, pointing an accusing finger at the young lady beside him.

“It was
not
!” Sarah denied hotly.

“My lord!” Lady Maitland cried, an uneasy smile fixed on her lips as she stood up, turning everyone’s attention. “It’s such a pleasure to see you again, after so many years. Please forgive our failure to welcome you formally to Highfield Manor. Gertie was supposed to announce your arrival.”

“Lady Maitland,” he murmured, bowing in front of the older woman.

“I am Mrs. Eleanor Walker now, my lord,” Penelope’s mother informed him with an affectionate smile. She proceeded to introduce the rest of the Walkers to him.

Lucas felt oddly bereft when Penelope ignored him even as he sat next to her on the sofa.

Dr. Walker broke the expectant silence that had begun to fill the room.

“I suppose you heard our family meeting, my lord,” he grumbled. “I apologize. You weren’t supposed to witness it.”

He noticed Dr. Walker neither apologized nor tried to deny what the family meeting implied, only that Lucas wasn’t supposed to have seen it.

Now he knew where Penelope’s straightforward manner came from. “Please call me Lucas. Or Ravenstone, if you prefer. I don’t see any need to be so formal, now that we’re going to be family soon.”

Very
soon, if Lucas had anything to say about it. He’d been guilt-stricken about his behavior that afternoon, but since then he’d gleaned some information about the Walkers, the most interesting of which was that they were in dire straits, indeed.

Which meant they needed
him
.

The knowledge went a long way in banishing his remorse. A man in Lucas’s position had to do what needed to be done, and he couldn’t afford weakening with feelings like guilt.

He offered a tight-lipped smile to everyone as the uncomfortable silence stretched in the room. The ladies fidgeted with their skirts, Colin appeared impatient, and Dr. Walker was looking at him suspiciously. It seemed Lucas would have to work to get on the Walker family’s good side.

Very well, if that’s what he needed to do, then by thunder, he would do it.

He was convinced of the rightness of marrying Penelope. After all, he was only doing what was best for everyone. He’d overreacted to their shared moments of passion, failing to realize its advantages. For what was better than having a wife who also had the ability to make his blood run hot with lust by doing nothing more than sit silently beside him, making him itch to uncover every inch of the luscious female curves under that prim blue gown?

Good God, even sitting here in front of her damned family, he already craved another taste of her sweet mouth. And another, and another …

You just want to bed her
.

Lucas stiffened at the insidious thought. He couldn’t deny it. It was how heirs were made, after all.

He wondered how anyone could prefer an angelic blonde to the exotic nymph beside him. He’d certainly never experienced this burning hunger with a simple kiss. He’d merely had one little taste of her and already had the undeniable need to claim her as his. Her effect on him would have been troubling if he didn’t know she wanted him, too. He was certain of it. Penelope was too innocent to feign her eager responses to his touch.

He stole a glance at his betrothed, and possessiveness surged through him. She belonged to
him
, even if she didn’t realize it yet. Even if her own father didn’t realize it. If he had to, he’d prove it to her over and over, until she was convinced. He realized his hands had clenched into fists and he forced himself to relax.

“Lucas,” Dr. Walker began, the man’s brown eyes regarding him quizzically. “I believe you are here to make your intentions known.”

He grabbed Penelope’s hand, making her jump. “Yes, sir. I’m here to marry my fiancée.”

Dr. Walker rounded on him. “And you could not even be bothered to ask me for her hand?”

“Her father already gave me her hand,” he pointed out, ignoring Penelope’s warning squeeze.

“I may not have sired her,” Dr. Walker was shaking with fury, “but
I
brought her into this world.
I
raised her, and
I
have been more of a father to her than Lord Maitland ever was!”

“Calm down, Robert,” Eleanor admonished. “His lordship is not leaving you out of the equation. That is the reason he is here.” She faced Lucas with a gentle smile. “I was sorry to hear of your parents’ demise, my lord. I was acquainted with your mother. You must miss Vivian very much.”

His hold on Penelope’s hand tightened. “My mother died in childbirth two years before my father did.”

Eleanor winced. “I know, but as with your father’s death, I found out about it long after the fact. Maitland rarely came home and when he did, he never told me any news from London.” Eleanor looked at him with sad eyes. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when your parents passed.”

Hell, she looked like she was about to cry. “It was a long time ago, madam.”

“Of course.” Eleanor gave a suspicious sniff. “Excuse me. I will go check on supper.” She left the room with her head bowed.

Penelope finally joined the conversation. “How is Lady Olivia?”

She knew about Olivia?
She seemed to know a lot more about him than he did of her. “My sister is preparing for her first Season, and she’s excited to meet you.” He gave a faint smile, relieved to be talking about something other than his mother.

“And when will that meeting be?” Dr. Walker asked, eyeing their entwined hands.

“As soon as possible. I procured a special license before leaving London, and I have brought it with me in the event that Penelope agrees to marry me.”

“She hasn’t agreed?” Colin asked, his eyes curious.

Everyone looked at Penelope, their expressions all asking the same question.

Lucas saw the dangerous spark in Penelope’s hazel eyes, and he acted swiftly to prevent her from causing any sort of mischief. “She told me she deserves to be courted properly, and I completely agree,” he said, reciting one of the lines of dialogue Penelope had suggested in her note. “That means we’ll also have some time to get to know each other a little better before we marry.”

“Well, it would certainly be nice for you to get to know us, son,” Dr. Walker intoned. “But we already know all there is to know about you.”

Dr. Walker grinned when he gave a start. “You didn’t know that, did you? Our Polly has researched you as thoroughly as she does our medical cases. Of course, that was years ago, when we all believed you were going to come for her.” Dr. Walker scowled. “You are very late, Ravenstone.”

Lucas felt an odd sense of loss when Penelope let go of his hand.

“Really, Papa,” she said. “That comment is hardly appropriate for polite conversation.”

He claimed Penelope’s hand again, knowing it would be advantageous to show a united front. Besides, he liked holding her hand. But he owed her stepfather an explanation. He gave it now without hesitation. “I apologize for not coming here sooner,” he said sincerely. “If I had known I would be welcome here, I would have come years before.”

“Years before?” Dr. Walker echoed. “Don’t you mean before you became known as Raving Ravenstone?”

“Papa!” Penelope burst out. “That is enough. I would not have you or anyone refer to his lordship by that horrible name. I’ll have you remember he’s our guest here.”

At that moment, Eleanor reentered the room. “Supper is ready,” she announced with a smile. “Ravenstone, why don’t you escort Penelope?”

“I would be honored, Mrs. Walker,” he murmured as he helped Penelope to her feet. He waited for everyone to begin entering the dining room before moving. “Your stepfather does not seem to be fond of me,” he whispered to her.

“He’s a good man,” she whispered back. “He’s just been working really hard the past couple of years, and he’s always tired.” She glared at him. “Besides, he didn’t say anything untrue. You did take much too long to come for me.”

“I know, my dear,” he admitted. “But I am here now, and I pity any fool who would try to take you from me.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Is that supposed to be a romantic vow or a threat?”

He chuckled. “Take it whichever way you wish, sweetheart.”

If her family thought it was odd that Penelope entered the dining room frowning while his shoulders shook with mirth, they seemed to have finally found their manners and did not comment upon it. If things progressed as smoothly as they had tonight, his inheritance and the future of the Ravenstone family line would be secured.

• • •

Supper with the Walkers had been less awkward than Lucas anticipated, due in no small part to Penelope’s remarkable conversational skills. She listened attentively to those who spoke to her, then gave witty replies, which consisted of a combination of intelligence, subtlety and frankness.

The Walkers, for their part, apparently had expected Lucas to come for Penelope, and now that he was here, seemed willing to forgive and forget the length of time it took him to do so. Even Dr. Walker seemed to bend enough to offer a desultory comment or two to the dinner conversation.

When the ladies and Colin departed to let the gentlemen have their port in the dimly lit library, however, the uncomfortable silence returned.

Lucas took a sip from his glass, looking around the room for an inspiration to break Dr. Walker’s reticence. His gaze took in the shelves filled with books lining the moss green walls, then wandered to the faded rug and the equally faded rose-colored furniture that he and the doctor sat on opposite the hearth. He noticed the shiny suit of armor standing at the end of one of the bookshelves.

“A family heirloom?” he asked, tipping his head toward the coat of mail.

Dr. Walker followed his gaze and sighed. “No,” he answered. “That came with this house, which my father won in a game of cards.” He gave Lucas a direct look. “I apologize if I seem less than honored to have you in our house, my lord, but I cannot pretend this situation is normal.”

He nodded, accepting the apology. He had little choice but to accept it. “I understand.”

“I’ve tried to take care of my family as best I could, but I have no doubt you’ve already surmised we are in a somewhat difficult situation at the moment.” Dr. Walker paused to take a healthy swallow of his port. “I will not deny it. My father was a gambler. It was his occupation, don’t you know. His winning streak paid for my education and provided us with this house. As a rule, however, a winning streak is called that because it is supposed to end. You’ve seen our house. I am afraid repaying my father’s gaming debts when he died meant I could not provide a dowry for my daughters, nor keep my son in school.”

Penelope’s stepfather put his glass down and looked at his hands, held palm up in front of him, like a man who knew he was defeated but was valiantly refusing to give up fighting.

“I would work all day and all night if I could, to bring my family out of this mess. But I know in the end we would still be in debt. I am stuck in this situation.” The doctor sighed. “I work, and I work hard, answering summons across the county. Meanwhile, my children are growing up. I am deprived of seeing the smiles and tears that constitute their lives. I will continue to be deprived, if I want a better life than this for them.”

Dr. Walker rose to pour more port from the decanter. “I’ve no doubt you have your opinions about the way I have provided for Penelope, my lord, but I assure you she has been educated and raised as befits her status. Do not judge us by the current condition of our dwelling.”

“Dr. Walker,” he replied, putting his glass down on the low table in front of the settee. “Let me make one thing clear to you. I did not come here expecting Penelope to have a large dowry, and I do not need her to have one. My family has had its share of financial difficulties, and I understand the consequences of such a situation. All I ask is to be given the respect due me as your stepdaughter’s fiancé, and we shall get along nicely.”

The man looked surprised and then distinctly suspicious. “I thought you’d forgotten about my Polly. I don’t know what game you are playing, Ravenstone, but if you hurt my stepdaughter in any way, you will deal with me.”