The Dark Earl (22 page)
“You are a wise woman,
Mademoiselle Rachelle.
Just make sure that Lord Butler worships the ground you walk on before you agree to marry him.”
Mademoiselle Rachelle.
Just make sure that Lord Butler worships the ground you walk on before you agree to marry him.”
“You’ll be able to observe that for yourself. I invited him to dinner tonight.”
“Oh, Rachel, I will be intruding on your privacy.”
“Not at all. If you hadn’t arrived, I would have had to ask my brother John and his wife to act as chaperones. Even though I’m a bit long in the tooth, it would be scandalous of me to entertain a gentleman if I were alone.”
“Society’s rules are utterly preposterous. I am often tempted to do something scandalous, and I warrant you are too. The closest we ever came was showing our legs at the queen’s masquerade ball. How excessively daring of us!”
“What about your tattoo? That was certainly throwing caution to the wind.”
“I’ve worn long sleeves ever since because I don’t have the courage to reveal it.”
“But at least you had the audacity to act on an impulse. I tend to live vicariously through the characters I write about, who often invite scandal. On paper, I am fearless.”
“Tonight, as soon as dinner is over, I shall withdraw to the library so that you may spend the evening alone with the dashing Irish captain.” Harry drained her glass.
“Amour toujours!”
“Amour toujours!”
“Harriet has a passionate interest in great houses and castles, and never tires of hearing about them,” Rachel told James Butler.
“Your family deserves a great deal of credit for restoring Kilkenny Castle to its original medieval appearance. Ireland has far too many ruins,” Harry declared.
“So many deserted Ireland during the years of the famine, and numerous tenanted estates fell into rack and ruin. Kilkenny has over twenty thousand acres, but we managed to keep our tenants,” he said proudly.
“What did you do differently from the other Irish landowners?” Harry asked.
“We didn’t collect rents from our tenants for a period of five years.”
“Oh, James, that is so commendable.” Rachel reached out to touch his hand.
They have eyes only for each other.
Harry pushed back her chair. “I promised Father I’d search for some books he thinks might be in Campden Hill’s library. I’m sure you’ll both excuse me.”
Harry pushed back her chair. “I promised Father I’d search for some books he thinks might be in Campden Hill’s library. I’m sure you’ll both excuse me.”
Lord Butler jumped up immediately. “Good night, Lady Harriet.” His warm brown eyes told her how much he appreciated her thoughtful gesture of withdrawing. Now he and Rachel could enjoy a few hours of privacy.
Harry made her way to the library and lit the lamps.
There are so many fascinating books here, I could be occupied for weeks.
Her maternal grandfather, John Russell, the Duke of Bedford, had been a bibliophile and his favorite collection of botany books, with their colorful illustrations of magical herbs and plants, took up an entire library shelf—some were more than two hundred years old.
There are so many fascinating books here, I could be occupied for weeks.
Her maternal grandfather, John Russell, the Duke of Bedford, had been a bibliophile and his favorite collection of botany books, with their colorful illustrations of magical herbs and plants, took up an entire library shelf—some were more than two hundred years old.
Out of curiosity, she searched for the books that her parents had bought at the Shugborough auction more than a decade ago. They had bought the entire library from William Anson, Earl of Lichfield, and quite a few of the books had found a home in Campden Hill’s library.
Harry spied a book by Rousseau and took it from the shelf. It was a novel entitled
Julie, or the New Heloise
, written in 1761. A folded note fell from the book, which she opened and read.
Julie, or the New Heloise
, written in 1761. A folded note fell from the book, which she opened and read.
This explains why Rousseau’s books were in Shugborough’s library. The author sent his hero on a fictitious voyage around the world with Admiral Anson, and when Rousseau came to England, he visited Shugborough Hall.
Harry speculated that Admiral George Anson had written the note a century ago. It said that Rousseau was delighted that Shugborough Hall Park was a place where wild animals were free from shooting and hunting. The knowledge warmed her heart.
A few lines of a Rousseau poem had been translated into English:
Oft let me wander, when the morning ray
First gilds thy groves and streams, and glittering towers,
And meditate my uncouth Doric lay . . .
Harry’s memory flew back to Shugborough. She recalled the eight soaring Doric columns that graced the front of the enchanting house. Her fingers stroked the little green snake coiled about her wrist, as she smelled the jasmine and honeysuckle in the walled garden. Again she heard the music in the Tower of Winds and saw the magnificent sculpted centaurs. Harry shuddered.
I mustn’t think of Thomas.
I mustn’t think of Thomas.
She put the book back on the shelf and knew she must find something to read that would occupy her thoughts. She needed a novel that would divert her from the sadness of the Durham disaster, which still haunted her.
Harry glanced at the desk and noticed a book lying open. She picked it up and read the title:
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
, by Henry Fielding.
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
, by Henry Fielding.
I can’t believe my luck. I’ve heard about this ribald novel, but never dreamed I would ever get my hands on a copy.
She turned to the first chapter and realized with glee that Rachel had underlined all the naughty bits. She sank down in a comfortable chair and began to read avidly.
“In a very few minutes they were both naked. . . .”
She turned to the first chapter and realized with glee that Rachel had underlined all the naughty bits. She sank down in a comfortable chair and began to read avidly.
“In a very few minutes they were both naked. . . .”
At midnight, Rachel made her way to the library and found Harry engrossed in a book. “James just left. Thank you for giving us privacy. It was so generous of you.”
Harry saw that Rachel’s face was delightfully flushed, and guessed that her aunt was in love. “I have been thoroughly entertained reading about the wicked adventures of Tom Jones. Just reading the passages you underlined has enlightened me about the relationships between males and females. I intend to read it from cover to cover. I expect it will give me an invaluable education about human nature.”
“The first time I read it, I was shocked to the core. But it is so titillating, I soon began to enjoy his adventures vicariously.”
“I think it’s rather sad that we can only enjoy them vicariously. Aren’t you tempted to indulge in some of these naughty escapades with your virile captain?”
“Tempted beyond belief.”
“Then why didn’t you, Rachel? Tonight you had every opportunity.”
“I held back because I hope that Lord Butler will ask me to marry him. However, if he has no intention of making me his wife, I would gladly become his mistress.”
“Bravo! Henry Fielding would be proud of you.”
Rachel shook her head. “Whatever would he have thought of Victorians?”
“He would have laughed till he peed himself. Fielding would have pointed out that virtue is its own punishment!”
“I was under the impression that when a bill is passed in Parliament, it becomes the law of the land. Why aren’t laws obeyed?” Harry was sitting on the verandah of Holland House with her uncle.
“People do not change when we tell them they should; they change when their circumstances tell them they
must
. To which bill are you referring?” Lord John Russell asked his niece.
must
. To which bill are you referring?” Lord John Russell asked his niece.
“The Mine Workers Bill that made it illegal for women and children to work down the pit. I’ve heard you mention how long it took to get it passed.”
“You would think that women and children working in coal mines would be an abomination in any civilized society. But do you know what finally got enough votes to pass the bill and make the practice illegal?”
Harry shook her head.
“Puritanical outrage—not outrage over the heavy drudgery, or the danger, or the brutalizing environment for children, but outrage that some of the miners worked naked.
“Public decency was concerned that the result of the sexes working together underground would increase the rate of illegitimacy.”
“Society has peculiar ideas about what is moral and what is immoral, I’m afraid. When classical Roman sculptures must be draped for fear that they offend sensibilities, it shows how shallow our values have become.”
“The government makes the laws, but they are often impossible to fully enforce. The colliery owners are greedy for profits. Inspectors are few and far between, and who is to know if they take bribes? The owners swear they obey the law and that no male younger than twelve is employed, but they continually pass ten-year-olds off as being older.”
“How naive of me to think you could stride onto the floor of Parliament and demand that the law be enforced. I am only just learning about the County of Durham and how important coal is to England.
A few days ago, there was a mine disaster. I learned about it from the women at Langham Place. I was horrified when they told me of all the dangers the miners face down the pit. I immediately confronted D’Arcy Lambton, fully expecting he would rush up there and do something for the workers.”
“The Earl of Durham is caught between the devil and the deep.”
“Yes, Father explained his position to me. D’Arcy hopes to be appointed lord lieutenant of Durham, which would give him greater authority
. If
he were so inclined to use it,” Harry added uncertainly.
. If
he were so inclined to use it,” Harry added uncertainly.
“Lambton is one of the wealthiest nobles in England. As lord lieutenant, he would be in a position to promote better safety standards in the mines, and raise the standard of living for the workers of Durham County.”
“D’Arcy wants me to marry him.”
He searched her face. “Will you accept his proposal, Harry?”
“I am persuaded that I should.” She gave him a tremulous smile. “Just think of all the good I shall be able to do as the Countess of Durham, and I’ll have even more influence as wife of the lord lieutenant. It is such a worthy cause—how can I even consider saying no to D’Arcy?”
“You are not asking my advice, so I hesitate to give it. But if you are in love, you must let nothing stop you, Harry.”
“I am packing tonight so that we can go riding in the morning. Riley won’t be here until after lunch.” Harry pointed to the book beside her bed. “May I borrow
Tom Jones
? I promise to take good care of him.”
Tom Jones
? I promise to take good care of him.”
“Of course you may borrow the book. It will make you laugh out loud.”
“I have so enjoyed my visit, Rachel. It has given me a muchneeded respite from the social pressures of the Season. You have provided me with the peace and quiet I needed to come to a definite decision about marrying D’Arcy.”
“Will you accept his proposal?”
Harry smiled. “Yes. You see before you the future Countess of Durham.”
Rachel embraced her. “Darling, I wish you every happiness.”
Harry set out her riding habit for morning and finished her packing. She undressed, got into bed, and reached for
The History of Tom Jones.
The History of Tom Jones.
Just before dawn, Harry began to dream.
She was standing on a pedestal being fitted for her wedding dress. Over a tight steel corset and lace-trimmed white muslin drawers, she was wearing three starched petticoats reinforced with whalebone. When her sisters helped her don the cream satin wedding gown, it had so many flounces and ruffles that it measured ten yards around.
“I would like something simpler.”
“That’s out of the question, Harry,” her mother declared. “You must have a magnificent wedding gown that befits the Countess of Durham. Your bridegroom is one of the wealthiest nobles in the realm. He expects us to spare no expense in providing you with an elaborate trousseau that will make you the envy of every lady in England.”
The large chamber overflowed with dozens of ball gowns, and scores of day dresses. As Harry counted more than thirty pairs of shoes, a wave of guilt swept over her. “Such extravagance is immoral,” she protested.
“Nonsense! You will be living in a castle. As Countess of Durham, you will be expected to entertain the nobility—perhaps even royalty. Your first event will be to act as hostess for the annual Lambton pheasant shoot. You and D’Arcy will preside over the banquet in the high-ceilinged great hall. This golden velvet gown, trimmed with sable fur, will be perfect for the occasion.”
Other books
Thong on Fire by Noire
Not As Crazy As I Seem by George Harrar
Yield Not To Misfortune (The Underwood Mysteries Book 5) by Suzanne Downes
Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada
A Notorious Love by Sabrina Jeffries
Consigning Fate by Jacqueline Druga
Devall's Angel by Allison Lane
The Dishonored Dead by Robert Swartwood
When He Fell by Kate Hewitt
Fruits of the Poisonous Tree by Mayor, Archer
