Courting Intrigue: A Sweet, Regency Romance (The Bequest Series Book 2) Read online

  Lillian wasn’t sure if her aunt really wanted to know all the mundane tasks she had seen to, but she told her a little bit of it.

  “The housekeeper is still under the weather, poor soul. I’m wondering if we ought to call in the doctor to see her.”

  “Does she want him called?”

  “Of course not.”

  Violet laughed. “Well then, wait and see a couple more days. I know it’s unfortunate timing, but we’ll manage.”

  Lily smiled. Of course “they” would. She managed not to roll her eyes at her aunt’s words. “The kitchen is well stocked and prepared to manage the rest of the party. Everyone IS leaving by the end of the week, though, right?”

  “Oh, yes, no worries there. The Marquis of Abernathy is hosting a summer fete on his estate. Most of the nobility will be heading in his direction by Saturday.”

  “Are you planning to go?”

  “No.” Violet’s answer was succinct with little inflection.

  “Why not? You said everyone was going.”

  “No, I said most were going. I have no interest in being with that crowd without my Wilbur. If I were escorting you, it would be a different matter, but as it stands, I know I wouldn’t enjoy it.”

  Lily felt a spasm of worry for her aunt. She had seemed to love the socialising of the Season while her husband was alive.

  “Are you enjoying Lester’s house party?” Lily tried to get to the root of her aunt’s feelings.

  “It isn’t nearly as bad as I had expected. Of course, I know a great deal of the reason is because you are doing everything I ought to be. But the people he invited, or rather the chaperones of the people he invited, aren’t nearly as insipid as I had expected.”

  They shared a giggle over this. “The young ladies are a trifle vapid, though, aren’t they?”

  “What would you expect if they accepted an invitation from Lester?”

  “They are very young. And he is a viscount. They may not have realized what he is. And he has been on remarkably good behaviour, I must say. He and his friends confine most of their messy drinking to his library. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was actually a good idea that they invited ladies to join them. I think even such halfwits as Lester and his friends have been raised from the cradle to treat ladies a certain way. They cannot counteract that breeding so easily. Despite the work of all the extra people, it isn’t so very bad to have a house full.”

  “Am I allowing you to work too hard? I really shouldn’t let you take it all on. Why don’t you make me bestir myself?”

  Lily was torn with consternation. Part of her realized she shouldn’t allow her aunt to wallow in her grieving. But she was honest enough to admit, “I like the control, Aunt Violet. I wish I could be a housekeeper. I find I really enjoy running a household like this. Or a steward! That would be the best. But of course, no one is going to hire a gently bred woman to be their steward. Nor their housekeeper, either.”

  “Oh, Lillian, I wish you weren’t so bent on finding yourself a position.”

  “Well, I can’t really stay here comfortably, can I, Aunt? Since Lester has made it so clear how unwelcome I am, it’s only a matter of time before he follows through on his threats, don’t you think?”

  “I think he just enjoys threatening. I don’t really think he’s so very bad that he would throw you out for real.”

  Lily grinned. “But that’s just because you always see the best in everyone. And you don’t want to think that I’ll do something to rile him up and make him throw me out.”

  Lady Violet’s eyes rounded. “Would you really do that?”

  “Well not on purpose, of course. But he’s just so very easy to rile, especially when he’s in his cups. Of course, if, as you said, everyone is going to Abernathy, we shall have a respite from him for a while. Then he’ll surely go up to London for the Season, so we probably needn’t worry overly about him for a couple months after this. But I do think I ought to get myself sorted sooner rather than later. I need the next four years to be occupied, and I would rather not have to be looking over my shoulder for Lester’s wrath for the duration of them.”

  “Oh, my darling niece, don’t you realize, you’ll be looking over your shoulder for someone anyway if you take a position. You are gentry. And beautiful. It won’t be a comfortable situation for you whether it is here or elsewhere. I would much prefer keeping you here.”

  “But if I was elsewhere, I could at least draw a wage.” Lily winced over her aunt’s pained expression.

  “Yes, of course, I had forgotten about that. Perhaps I could share my pin money with you.”

  “Aunt Violet, that is a generous offer, but you know you haven’t been left so very much. That is the entire reason for Lester’s threats. You don’t have enough to support me, and he refuses to do so. Yes, I could try to stay here for the next four years, but I will be no further ahead financially. If I find a position, I will at least have a little bit to add to the ten pounds that I will receive when I turn twenty-five.”

  The viscountess’ gaze turned uncharacteristically shrewd. “Do you really suppose ten pounds is going to set you up in your bakery, Lillian? That really isn’t very much money.”

  “It’s all in your perspective, my lady.” Lily’s answer was a little stiff at first, but then she continued. “I know, I’ve seen the books here, ten pounds is spent easily on anything in a place like this. But yes, I’ve done the budget, and I’ve priced things out. Ten pounds will set me up just fine. Well, provided prices don’t rise exorbitantly in the next four years. That is why it would be so very helpful if I was to gain a little more money in the meantime.”

  Lady Violet sighed. “Very well. I will do my best to help you. I may not know anyone who might hire you, but I know someone who knows everyone. Lady Mortimer will help you. I will write to her when this party is over.”

  Lillian squeezed her aunt in a warm hug. “Thank you, Aunt Violet. I know it would be more comfortable for me to stay here, but I need to think to my future.”

  “I know, my dear, I just wished for a different future for you.”

  Lily couldn’t restrain her amusement. “Perhaps I will meet the love of my life while I’m serving some noblewoman elsewhere.”

  The countess smiled and brightened. “That’s a possibility, I suppose. Yes, I will ask Lady Mortimer to help you find a position as companion rather than governess. There’s no chance of meeting someone suitable if you’re a governess.”

  “You never know. There might be some poor, lonely widower needing a governess for his motherless children.”

  Ever the romantic, the countess didn’t notice the sarcasm hidden in Lily’s tone. “That’s true. Oh, I don’t know what’s best.” She concluded on a tone close to a wail.

  Lily giggled. “My dearest aunt, don’t worry about it. Tell Lady Mortimer my qualifications and ask her if she knows of any suitable position. If she knows everyone who’s anyone, she’ll know what’s best.”

  “Do you really think so? You’re so very brave to be even considering it. If I were you, I think I would remain huddled in my bed all day every day.”

  Lily grinned. “Lester might’ve liked me more if I had done so, I suppose. But that would have been dreadful. I am not one to huddle. And I really doubt that you are either. Just look at you – playing hostess to your ogre of a stepson and all his ridiculous friends.”

  “Do you really think they’re ridiculous?”

  Lily quirked her eyebrows at her aunt, and Lady Violet quickly agreed. “Well, yes, of course, most of them are rather silly, but what about that handsome earl, Sedgwick? He doesn’t strike me as quite the same as the others.”

  “No, you’re right, he doesn’t to me either. But I don’t know about him. There seems to be something shady about him. I meant to ask you, do you have a copy of Debrett’s handy? I wanted to read up on his earldom.”

  “Why Lillian, are you interested in the earl?”

  Lily went off in a gale of l
aughter. When she finally gained control of herself and wiped her eyes, she thanked her aunt. “I really needed that laugh, thank you so much. But, no, I am not interested in him in any sort of romantic way. I just find him suspicious. I want to make sure he is who he says he is. Debrett’s will have the listing of births and deaths of the earls. If he doesn’t seem to be the right age, I’ll know he’s an imposter.”

  She strolled toward the small shelf where her aunt’s few books were kept. Sure enough, there was the volume with the listing of the various aristocratic families. It was a little out of date, but that was just as well. She would be able to tell if the man claiming to be Sedgwick seemed authentic.

  The countess blinked at her niece, at a momentary loss for words. It quickly passed. “An imposter? But people recognize him.”

  “Do they really? Or was he just about during the Season and everyone has accepted him? How long have you known him?”

  “What has gotten into you? I’m fairly certain I’ve known the earl for years, but now that you’re asking me questions, I cannot actually say for certain. Being a younger man, he wasn’t really one of Wilbur’s cronies. But everyone at the party seems quite familiar with him.”

  Lily made a noncommittal humming noise, not willing to accept that there was nothing questionable about the earl. She was certain there was. Thumbing through the book, she finally arrived at the entry for the Sedgwick earldom. Putting her finger in the volume to hold her place, Lily looked back up at her aunt, trying to explain.

  “He watches everything and sees too much.”

  Violet grinned. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “All the other nobles only see what they want to see. No one sees me, for one thing.” She hastened to add when Violet was about to protest, “Not that I mind, I assure you. They all seem rather dreadful. I don’t know how you manage to make conversation with them all day. But he sees everything.”

  “Just like you do, my dear. Perhaps you’d be a perfect match.”

  This set Lily off into another fit of laughter. “I love you, my darling aunt. You are tenacious, if nothing else. Never mind about trying to make matches. I should let you dress, and I need to make sure the dining room is set up and ready for the afternoon nuncheon. Everyone who wanted to break their fast in the dining room has already been up for some time now.”

  Lily turned her attention back to the book in her hands. Disappointment filled her as she read the entry. According to the older version of Debrett’s, the second son of the Earl of Sedgwick was Brock Chadwick Marwood Ralston, born August 23, 1779. Viscount Marwood, the earl’s firstborn was Chester Francis George Ralston. That fit as she had heard her aunt mention the earl and his heir had died in some sort of boating accident. She heaved a sigh of disappointment. This didn’t prove anything either way. It could fit. Or he could be anyone. It wasn’t as though the book held a description of the man. He probably hadn’t even reached his majority when the volume had been printed. She slid the book back onto the shelf and turned to leave.

  “Before you go, do you really think we should call the doctor for Mrs. Parker?” Violet called to her.

  “The poor, stubborn dear refuses. Her leg is improving, but she is still not able to get around much.”

  Violet chewed her lip, indecision clearly written across her face. “Perhaps I ought to hire someone else. It just isn’t right for you to be doing her work.”

  “You could hire me,” Lily replied with aplomb, a big grin stretching her face. “That would solve our problems nicely.”

  “Lillian Susanna Shaw. You know I couldn’t do that. You should be a member of the family, not a member of the staff.”

  Lily kept her smile in place as she stepped from the room. Maybe I should be, but I’m sort of both at the moment. Getting paid would make it a little nicer. And maybe Lester would be less antagonistic if she were a member of the staff. He would feel she had been properly put in her place if she were a staff member. Of course, poor Aunt Violet was still holding on to hope that she could marry Lily to a nobleman. That would be out of the question if she were to become a paid staff member. But how is it any different if she becomes a businesswoman? That, no doubt, was why the viscountess was fighting Lily’s decision so fiercely.

  Aunt Violet considered that it would be beyond the pale. Not that it mattered. Lily didn’t have any intention of marrying anyone, nobleman or not. From what she could tell, a husband was nothing but trouble. A nobleman more so than anyone else. Just look at Aunt Violet’s situation. Yes, she was a viscountess, but along with that came a nasty stepson who gave her nothing but trouble and a huge house for which to be responsible.

  With her simple background, she hadn’t been prepared to take on such a task. While Uncle Wilbur had been alive, it hadn’t mattered much. The staff at Ashburn Place were well trained and everything functioned smoothly. But with the passage of time, things change and a firmer hand than sweet Aunt Violet could exert was needed. Lily, brought into this house at a younger age and with a much more inquiring mind, had been trained by Uncle Wilbur and was able to keep things flowing, but it wasn’t really a comfortable position for any of them to be in.

  Uncle Wilbur had considered her to be the daughter he never had. If she truly had been his daughter, it would continue to be her place to run the household. The staff were used to following her orders as they had under Wilbur’s direction, but everyone knew how precarious Lester made her position. Since he rejected her, it was awkward and uncomfortable. Not everyone was so interested in listening to her any longer. Even the steward, who she had always considered her ally, was refusing to meet with her. Lillian hoped it was merely his male pride speaking and not any actual problems with the estate.

  Lily knew wasn’t really her place to be running the household, especially since Lester had made it clear that she wasn’t welcome. If he had acknowledged her as a family member, she would happily run the household and the current awkwardness wouldn’t exist. But as things were, she only remained because of her aunt, though she wouldn’t be able to do that much longer. Lily would need to ensure her aunt wrote that promised letter.

  But first, the dining room needed to be overseen.

  “No, no, William, we need two more chairs. From what I understand from Mr. Johnson, another earl and his daughter arrived late last night and will be joining the rest for nuncheon.”

  It was a brief flurry of activity before everything was just as she wanted it. With a nod of satisfied approval, Lily admired the finished product. Of course, their noble guests would have it destroyed within minutes, but she was happy with the work they had accomplished. Everything was in its place and ready for the meal to be served. Each setting was exactly correct. The staff was perfectly trained.

  Lily smiled her thanks as the footmen drifted back to the kitchens, prepared to return when the bell was rung to serve the meal. It was time for Lillian to make herself scarce. Lester’s guests would be milling about soon. She too made her way down to the kitchen. She knew it made the cook uncomfortable if she spent too much time there, but she was hungry, and it was the only way for her to get fed. She didn’t want to spare one of the maids from waiting on the guests just to serve her.

  “It smells heavenly in here, as always, Cook,” Lily called out as she entered the high strung Frenchman’s domain. He shot her a distracted smile. Lily was not deceived. The man was as sharp as a tack. She and Violet met weekly with the man. Nothing got past him that had anything to do with the feeding of the large household. She had been meeting with him briefly each day since the start of Lester’s house party to ensure they were fully stocked and everything was running smoothly. Even though he too was unsure about Lily’s place in the household, she loved visiting his small office with all the hanging herbs he was forever drying. It smelt exactly how she imagined a spice emporium would smell. Lily grinned. She was being fanciful, but she wished she had the freedom to travel to the lands where truly exotic spices originated. She imagined it would smell
heavenly.

  She would have an herb garden behind her bakery, she resolved. She would bake savoury breads besides the sweets she planned to produce. Her baked goods would be the most popular baked items for several counties around the small hamlet where she was going to set up. The exaggerated reverie kept the grin in place as she accepted the plate of food a footman offered her. She slipped into the servants’ hall and found a quiet corner to eat. Her position of limbo made everyone uncomfortable. She was glad the room was almost empty so she needn’t discomfit too many in her efforts to keep herself nourished.

  Making quick work of emptying her plate, Lily allowed her mind to drift in fantasizing about the bakery she wanted to open. It was rather strange that this was her goal in life, when one considered her circumstances. If her parents hadn’t died and if Uncle Wilbur hadn’t died, she probably would have had a London Season as befitted a young woman born into the gentry. But those things did happen. And even before her parents had died, they had periodically joked about her opening a bakery. She and her mother had always loved to spend time together in the kitchen. Lily’s mother had been an exceptionally good cook, but Lily had exceeded her in the baking department. They’d had grand times inventing new recipes, usually to the delight of everyone around them, but occasionally they’d had their failures. Lily’s mother had always laughed it off. “That is how you learn,” she’d say as they served the concoction to the pigs. The animals never complained.

  It was the bequest that would make her dream possible. Dear Mr. Byram. He had left his small fortune to the town of Sherton and had decreed that a portion of it was to be divided up, and ten pounds was to be endowed upon each impoverished young woman who had grown up in Sherton as a dowry. His intention had been to make the young women more marriageable, but he had kindly made it possible to access the money upon the age of twenty-five, even if she were to remain single. That was Lily’s intention. She was going to achieve her goals on her own merit; she didn’t need a husband to do it for her. And she certainly didn’t need to aspire to marriage as her one goal in life.