The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor) (9 page)

“No and Jack will do.”

“Good. I’m Sam and this is Gray.” Sam nodded. “Any female relatives at all? Cousins or something?”

“No.” Jack shook his head. “Just my mother.”

“Then you have no real experience. And they’ve never had anything approaching a brother.” Sam and Gray traded glances. “What do you think?”

“Oh, he’ll definitely need help,” Gray said.

“Help?” Jack laughed. “For what?”

“Navigating, negotiating, simple survival really. They will, each and every one, try to take you in hand,” Gray said. “And you’re not married?”

“No.”

“Pity you let that be known. Even worse, you expressed something that could be construed as interest in Teddy.” Gray shook his head. “Lady Briston might well take that as a challenge.”

“A challenge?” Jack stared. “What do you mean?”

“Probably nothing.” Gray shrugged. “But marrying the next earl off to a nice Englishwoman from a good family, a woman she is exceptionally fond of, would certainly take any sort of sting out of the earl’s being American. In fact, now that I think about it, marrying you off to any acceptable female subject of Her Majesty’s would work quite nicely. Secure Millworth’s future for at least another generation and that sort of thing. With any luck, this hasn’t even occurred to Lady Briston yet but from the look in her eye, I doubt it.”

“She said she didn’t interfere.” The barest hint of unease sounded in Jack’s tone. It was one thing to engage in innocent flirtation during an equally innocent dance and quite another to be led down the aisle to marry a woman he hadn’t even been introduced to. And then there was Lucy to consider, even if she did seem like a minor consideration given all she had said to him. And hadn’t he just escaped from a mother trying to run his life?

Sam scoffed. “I suspect your mother would say the same. I know mine would.”

“I suppose,” Jack said slowly. And in his mother’s case, it would definitely be a lie. His mother had interfered in his life since before he was born.

“I’ve only recently met the lady but if she’s anything like her daughters . . .” Sam shook his head. “As one American who will soon join this family to another who has already become a part of it, just know I’m willing to lend my help if you need it.”

Gray nodded. “As am I.”

Jack looked from one man to the next. Surely they weren’t serious about any of this. “I appreciate the offer but—”

“Are you gentlemen coming?” Camille called from the doorway.

“We’re right behind you,” Gray said, then turned back to Jack. “Welcome to the family, Jack.” He started after his wife.

“I wouldn’t worry about it.” Sam shrugged. “We probably shouldn’t have said anything.”

“I’m not worried,” Jack said with a confidence he didn’t quite feel. “I thought this meeting with the family went well.”

“So did I,” Sam said thoughtfully.

“Too well?”

Sam hesitated, then scoffed. “Of course not. There’s no such thing as too well.” He grinned. “Come on, we should join the others.”

“Yes, of course.” Jack nodded and followed his fellow American toward the door.

It really didn’t matter if his aunt was already plotting a match for him. In fact, it might keep her too busy to consider other matters. He shuddered to think what any of them would say if they knew there was so much as a question about whether he’d chosen life as an earl or return to the only life he had ever known in New York. His father was obviously hoping for the former but was wise enough not to press his newfound offspring.

It was clear that his uncle Nigel saw him as not only a miracle but a savior as well. Jack had no desire to be anyone’s savior but he didn’t know what he did want. His entire life had been turned upside down. He had a father he had never known and a heritage he had never expected. Still, there was no need to decide anything tonight.

For now, he would follow his father’s advice and take this one step at a time. Even if he had no idea where those steps would lead.

Teddy closed her bedroom door behind her and started down the long corridor to the main stairway, heading toward the dining room for a leisurely late morning breakfast. She had slept later than usual this morning but then she always did sleep soundly the night after a successful event. Besides, she had no desire to be engulfed by the chaos and bustle surrounding today’s departing guests.

Millworth had been filled with assorted relatives and distant friends, some of whom had arrived at the manor as early as a few weeks ago. Most of them intended to leave today and with luck Teddy had missed those departures. Camille and Grayson did not intend to take any sort of wedding trip until the spring and Teddy planned to stay a few more days to assist Camille with cataloguing those gifts that had arrived in the past few days.

Then Teddy would return to London to resume her life. No, she amended that thought. To start her new life. Already she was going over a list in her head of upcoming events and a second list of how to increase and expand business. If she was going to be an independent woman of business she was going to be a brilliantly successful one.

The ball had wound down in the wee hours of the morning with Teddy on hand to make certain the additional staff she had hired began the task of cleaning up. She hadn’t stayed long. Clement had insisted she retire for the night and assured her he would oversee the work. As the butler’s nose was more than a bit out of joint that Teddy had seen fit to hire outsiders in the first place, she graciously and gratefully accepted his assistance and turned this last task over to him. She did plan to surreptitiously check on the ballroom after breakfast to make sure all was in order although she had no intention of allowing the butler to know she did so.

Hopefully she would see Dee at breakfast. She’d only spoken to her in passing last night. Her friend had said she had a great deal to tell Teddy, most of it quite astonishing, but it was best to speak in private so they wouldn’t be overheard. Teddy suspected it had to do with Sam. Yesterday morning, Dee wasn’t certain he would even appear at the wedding given the discord between them, although he and Grayson were good friends. Obviously, he had come around and just as obviously, given her observation of her friend dancing in the arms of the American at the ball, he and Dee had resolved their differences. Teddy wasn’t sure she’d term that
astonishing.
In truth, she would have been quite shocked if they hadn’t worked things out between them as Dee was so clearly in love with the man. And he was so obviously in love with her.

Teddy didn’t catch sight of her mysterious American again, which was something of a pity. He had been most intriguing and there had been something . . . It scarcely mattered really. She had no wish to be distracted by a man in her life right now. Even if he was handsome and charming with an endearing smile and compelling blue eyes. It was probably for the best that she didn’t know his name and would more than likely never see him again. Her heart twisted slightly at the thought. She ignored it.

Teddy reached the foot of the stairs, avoided the large gathering of departing guests at the front entry, and headed toward the dining room.

“There you are.” Dee appeared from the front parlor. “I was wondering when you were finally going to make an appearance.”

Teddy nodded toward the entry. “I was trying to avoid the crush of departing guests. Have they all gone now?”

“Most of the relatives have left, I believe. Frankly, we were glad to see them go. The last thing we need at the moment is distant relatives hanging about. And I think those American friends of Grayson’s that were staying here have all headed toward London. Business and that sort of thing. One or two might be lingering though.”

“Is there anyone still at breakfast?”

“I don’t know, I’m just headed to the dining room myself. I do know Mother is making Father help her bid good-bye to the departing guests. He wasn’t especially pleased about it but she said it was the least he could do. I suspect Father understood exactly what she meant by that. Lord knows, the rest of us did. I was just about to go and find you. You never sleep this late.” Dee’s assessing gaze swept over her friend. “But you do look tired.”

“So good to know, thank you, Dee,” Teddy said wryly. “But I usually sleep a little later on the morning after a successful event.” She cast her friend a satisfied smile. “And it was successful, wasn’t it?”

“Oh my, yes.” Dee nodded. “It was everything Camille wanted. Why, it was practically perfect.” She lowered her voice in a confidential manner. “In fact, I think it was even more perfect than Camille’s first wedding although I would never say that in front of Mother. Believe me, Mother certainly made that a grand affair.”

“More perfect because of the festivities?” Teddy smiled. “Or because of the groom?”

“Both.” Dee grinned, then drew a deep breath. “You will plan mine as well, won’t you?”

Teddy widened her eyes as if she had no idea what Dee was talking about. “Your what?”

“My wedding.”

“To . . .”

“To Sam, of course.”

“Mr. Russell?” Teddy adopted an innocent tone. “Why, the last I heard you were sending him home to America to live his life—”

“That was the day before the wedding.” Dee smiled in a slow, wicked sort of way. “The day after the wedding is another matter entirely.”

Teddy arched a brow. “Then you and he . . .”

“We have a contract.”

“A what?”

“A contract, you know. The sort of thing where he agrees to certain terms and I agree to various conditions.” Dee thought for a moment. “One might call it, oh, a compromise I suppose.”

“A compromise?” Teddy stared. “You?”

“I know.” Dee sighed. “I find it hard to believe myself.” She grinned. “But quite, quite wonderful.” She hooked her arm through her friend’s and they started for the dining room.

“It is wonderful and I’m very happy for you,” Teddy said. “Although I’m not sure I would call it astonishing. Quite honestly, I would be astonished if you and Sam had not reconciled.”

“As would I. Both of us can be quite stubborn and—” She pulled up short and stared at her friend. “Oh, but this isn’t what is so astonishing although I suppose one could say—”

Teddy laughed. “Goodness, Dee, what are you talking about now?”

“We agreed we wouldn’t mention this, at least not yet, but you are practically a member of the family.”

“Now, I am curious.” Teddy studied the other woman. “Well?”

“Well . . .” Dee glanced from side to side as if to assure herself they would not be overheard. She leaned close and lowered her voice. “Uncle Basil is married.”

“The colonel?” Teddy gasped. “Why, he’s always struck me as a confirmed bachelor as well as an outrageous flirt.” Teddy shook her head in disbelief although admittedly Colonel Channing was still a fine figure of a man. He and his brother had passed their fiftieth year and yet Lord Briston looked every bit his age whereas the colonel appeared somewhat younger. Apparently, abandoning your responsibilities for a life of freedom took a greater toll on a man than choosing a life of adventure with no encumbrances. She did hope the colonel hadn’t married an extremely young woman. While Dee and her sisters had married older men, and indeed, it was not at all uncommon, Teddy had always thought it vaguely unseemly and rather a shame for the young woman. Although, in the colonel’s case, Teddy could well understand the attraction for a woman of any age. “When did he marry and, I suppose more to the point, whom?”

“The answer to whom is an American woman although I daresay we’ll never meet her.” Dee wrinkled her nose. “Nor do any of us particularly care to, I suspect.”

Teddy stared in confusion. “Why on earth wouldn’t you want to meet her?”

“Because there’s much, much more. Although Uncle Basil didn’t say it outright, it’s apparent she broke his heart. As to the when . . .” Dee paused in the manner of an expert storyteller.

“Don’t stop now. When did he marry?”

“Thirty years ago.” A smug note sounded in Dee’s voice.

“Good Lord! And he’s just now getting around to mentioning it to his family?” Teddy drew her brows together. “Rather inconsiderate of him I would think.”

“Not at all. You see, he didn’t know. He just recently discovered this.”

“How could he not know he was married? That sort of thing is usually hard to miss.”

“Don’t be absurd.” Dee scoffed. “He knew he had been married. What he didn’t know is that he was still married. His wife never told him.”

Teddy shook her head. “As usual with your family, this makes no sense at all.”

“Uncle Basil thought his wife, Elizabeth, I think, had returned to America to have the marriage annulled a bare week after they were wed. Her parents were completely against the marriage. But she didn’t.”

“Didn’t return to America? Or didn’t have the marriage annulled?”

“Oh she returned to America but she didn’t have the marriage annulled.”

Obviously, Dee was enjoying telling her story far too much to get to the point.

“Why not?”

“This is where it becomes really interesting.”

“I thought it was interesting enough already although I do wish I didn’t have to drag every detail out of you.” Teddy huffed an impatient sigh. “Go on.”

“Well, she didn’t pursue an annulment because . . .” Dee paused in an overly dramatic manner. She had obviously missed her calling, the woman could have gone on the stage. Still, it was most effective. And annoying.

“Out with it, Dee.”

“Because she was going to have a child,” Dee said with a flourish.

It was all Teddy could do to keep her mouth from dropping open. “Colonel Channing has a child?”

“Uncle Basil has a son.” Dee smirked.

“And this was thirty years ago?”

Dee nodded.

“Then the son . . .”

“The son is just turned thirty . . .” Again Dee paused for effect. “And he is my father’s heir. An American is the next Earl of Briston.”

Teddy stared at her friend. “You’re right, this is astonishing.”

“Isn’t it though? No one had any idea. Uncle Basil had never mentioned his marriage to anyone, not even my father. We’re all quite shocked about it.” She thought for a moment. “But pleased for the most part. Father is ecstatic. A nephew is the next best thing to having a son of his own. He had no desire to have his title go to a distant relative.”

“I can certainly understand that.” Teddy understood better than most.

It was the nature of the world they lived in and, as such, had to be expected despite the appalling unfairness of it all. Upon the death of Teddy’s father, his title and their family’s ancestral estate had gone to Simon Winslow, her father’s second cousin’s son. Fortunately, her mother had managed to retain ownership of a house in London she had inherited from a great-aunt so Teddy and her mother were not left completely homeless. Still, it was harder than she had expected to see her heritage go to someone she barely knew even if Simon was a decent enough sort. She studied her friend closely. “And you’re not bothered by all this?”

“It has never seemed fair that we had to forfeit our home because we were born female but there was nothing anyone could do about it. I long ago accepted that, because Father had no sons, Millworth would end up in the hands of Cousin Wilfred’s son. It would have been quite distressing and very sad but it’s a fact of life.” She paused. “I will admit the idea of an American being the next earl was disconcerting at first but Sam pointed out that, as his father is English, he really would be considered more English than American. I thought that was an excellent way to look at it.”

Teddy raised a brow. “Another compromise?”

“So it would appear.”

“What has happened to you?”

“Apparently I have been quite thoroughly corrupted by yet another American.” Dee grinned, linked her arm with Teddy’s, and once again they started for the dining room. “Uncle Basil gathered us all together during the ball to announce, well, the birth of his son. But, as we were in the middle of Camille’s wedding celebration, we didn’t have a chance to do little more than meet the man and welcome—”

Teddy stopped short outside the door to the dining room and stared at her friend. “He’s here?”

“Oh my, yes.” Dee’s eyes widened. “Didn’t I tell you that part?”

“No, you failed to mention that rather important point.”

“Well, there were so many other important points.” Dee shrugged. “But yes, he was one of the Americans at the wedding and at the ball afterward. Although I don’t think he returned to the ballroom after Uncle Basil’s announcement. He and Uncle Basil and, oh, and they invited Sam as well, escaped to the billiards room and Father joined them after the festivities ended. Father is very eager to know his new nephew better and they stayed well into the night.” She sighed. “Entirely too long.”

“And Sam discussed all this with you this morning?” Teddy asked with feigned innocence.

Dee grinned. “Yes, let’s say that, shall we?” Dee shook her head. “It’s amazing how quickly things change. Barely a day ago I was quite miserable and now . . .”

“Now, my dear friend.” Teddy took the other woman’s hands. “Now you have reconciled with the man you want to spend the rest of your life with.”

“I know.” Wonder shone in Dee’s blue eyes. “And I’m happy, Teddy. Truly, truly happy.” She grinned. “I suppose it is astonishing at that.”

“Not at all,” Teddy said staunchly. “It’s no more than you deserve.”

“You’re absolutely right. I do deserve it.” Dee laughed and the women stepped into the dining room.

The room was nearly empty. Colonel Channing and Sam sat at the table finishing their breakfast and engaging in quite an animated discussion about something. Probably Sam’s horseless carriage—or rather
motorwagon
—as that did seem to be the one thing that created such enthusiasm with nearly every gentleman who came near it. Although admittedly it was quite remarkable. As the colonel hadn’t arrived at the manor until the day before the wedding, he hadn’t seen the vehicle before Sam had had it transported to London.