The Suitable Bride (The Emberton Brothers Series Book 2) (10 page)

“Then that is where you must begin, with that compassion in your heart.”

“What do you mean?”

“Edward, it is possible that Frances has suffered much by her father and that she genuinely loves you and wants to marry you.”

Edward turned and frowned grimly. “Richard, you are not in full possession of the facts.”

“Then fill me in!” Richard splayed his hands and leant back in the chair inviting Edward to tell all.

Deeply, Edward sighed and closed his eyes. His mind travelled back to the beginning of the story. He knew he had to tell Richard
everything
. His brother was the one person he could trust and confide in. His mother, he knew, was too emotionally involved to help. Richard’s calm and objective thinking was precisely what was required. Edward poured out his heart and soul to Richard. He did not see that he had any choice in the matter. He must marry Frances. It was either that or say goodbye to his career as a politician. If he chose the latter, what would he then do? He had no other profession. He was for politics and politics alone. It had been his only passion for most of his life, and he did not want to stop now.

Richard waited patiently and listened attentively to all that Edward told him about Frances’ past, Lord Davenport’s hand in it all, and how he truly felt deep down inside. When he finished, Edward looked up expectantly at his older brother.

“I am glad you have confided in me, Edward. It took a lot of courage to tell me everything you have today.”

“I need your advice, Richard. I need it badly.”

Richard considered a moment and said, “It seems to me that you must ascertain Miss Davenport’s affection for you. If she does, then you have something to build upon. Regardless of what she may or may not have done—I do not wish to enter into that debate because I am on your side and your side alone—the fact remains that you two are to be wed. Therefore, you have to talk. You must find some common ground, something on which to base your relationship.”

Richard considered a moment, then leant forward and clapped his hand upon Edward’s shoulder. “My advice to you, brother, is to go to Miss Davenport and go to her quickly. Take her to your house for the day, entertain her as though none of this nastiness exists. It doesn’t matter what I think, what Mama thinks, or even what Lord Davenport thinks. From here on out, Edward, you must think about yourself and Frances. If you do not concentrate on creating a strong, stable, and lasting relationship with her, then everything that you must endure side by side from now on can and will bring your marriage crashing to the ground. Give it the best chance of survival that you can by making it as strong as it can be from the beginning.”

Edward stared at his brother dumbfounded. “When did you become so wise?”

Richard laughed. “Wise?  I don’t know about that. I just know that a fresh pair of eyes on a situation often can see more than the one in the middle of it.”

“Yes,” Edward nodded. “You are right.” He was glad he found the courage to confide in Richard. Now he knew precisely what he had to do.

Chapter Thirteen

“I feared I would never
see you again.” Frances looked at Edward through her lashes. She knew full well the effect she had upon him.

“Your father can be very persuasive.”

She watched as Edward tried to muster a smile but failed. “I think he had plenty of motivation.”

Edward arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow at her. “What do you mean by that?”

“I know…” She bit her bottom lip in thought. “I know that I have not had a perfect or unblemished past. I am also painfully aware that I am not the ideal choice for you or your family, and I am not oblivious to the things that are said about me in society. All that aside, Edward, I have become sincerely attached to you in the short time that we have known each other.” She inched closer to him. “And I believed, I still do believe, that you feel the same way.”

Edward’s face remained impassive, tearing at Frances’ heart. She wanted to see some flicker of emotion pass across his face, something to indicate that her presumption was correct. There was nothing.

“I was so distraught after our last conversation,” she pressed on, “that even my father sat up and took notice. He is not a man to pay attention to such things. The depth of my grief at losing you was so profound that my father decided he had to take matters into his own hands and do something about it for the good of us all.”

It was now that Edward reacted, but not in the way Frances hoped. He let out a short sharp laugh, shook his head, and rose from the chair to begin pacing in front of the fireplace at Sandon Place. “Forgive me, Frances, if I simply cannot believe that you were so profoundly affected by our breakup.” He continued to shake his head in utter disbelief.

Frances began to feel desperate. Somewhat foolishly, she had assumed everything would be fine and, when Edward invited her to visit him at his home, that she would run lovingly into his arms and he would confess his undying love to her. Inwardly she kicked herself for such silliness. She knew as well as he did that her father was forcing them together. And under such circumstances, it was extremely difficult to be affectionate. She would have to learn patience. She would have to hope that in time Edward would come to renew his feelings for her. She never expected to fall deeply in love, but now that she was, she wished it did not hurt so much.

“I do not want our time here together today, Frances, to be spent in petty recriminations, finger-pointing, and blaming. You can be in no doubt whatsoever of how my family feels about this match, in particular how my mother feels about it. Your father has made his feelings very plain indeed.” Edward closed his eyes and splayed his hands. “He threatened my career and my family's reputation. I presume you are aware of that.”

Frances’ heart sank. “I am familiar with the methods my father uses to persuade others.”

“Then you know, or at least you must understand, how difficult this is for me, how difficult this is for all of us.” When Frances made to speak, Edward held his hand to stop her. “I now know you also are finding it difficult. Frances, I want you to know I am not oblivious to that fact.”

Relief flooded her body, and she managed to smile weakly at him, seeing a small ray of hope shine through his words.

“We cannot alter the fact that we’re both in this situation and cannot get out of it. We must rally. We must…” Edward sighed and shook his head, running his hand through his locks. “I just don’t know what we must.”

Inside, Frances was growing stronger. She rose from the chair and walked in careful measured footsteps toward Edward. Tentatively, she reached out and placed her hand gently upon his sleeve. “We must try to continue as before, as though none of this has happened. I love you, Edward, and I believe that you loved me once. Perhaps the seed of it is still in your heart somewhere…”

Slowly, Edward turned and looked into her eyes. Then he did something that truly ignited Frances’ hope. He smiled. “Of course I still love you. I never stopped loving you.” Reaching up a hand to her temple, Edward toyed with a strand of her hair. “I think,” he continued huskily, “I would always love you, Frances, no matter what passed between us.”

The joy Frances felt at the sound of those words made her step closer and reach out. She had never felt about any man the way she felt about Edward. She wanted him to hold her in his arms.

Edward made the smallest of movements away from her and the moment was gone. He looked into her eyes sadly. “In time things will improve, Frances. I promise they will.” He stroked the soft, milky skin of her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “We all need to become accustomed to our new situation, and you and I have a lot of planning to do, do we not?”

The question caught her unprepared. “We do?”

Edward laughed, a deep throaty sound that made her feel warm inside. “Yes, we do. According to your father, we need to plan a rather lavish wedding. In London, as I recall.”

“Yes,” she replied, still wishing she could turn back the clock a little and have him hold her.

“I suppose we should set to it.”

As Edward stepped away from her, Frances halted him with one look. “There is just one more thing you ought to know about us Davenports.” The look that passed across Edward’s face told her that he feared there was something worse about them that he did not as yet know. “My father is a fiercely loyal man. If he says he will do a thing, you can be assured it will be done.” The expression stayed firm on Edward’s face, and Frances knew it was tinged with fear. “I am not repeating the threats my father made to you, Edward. I just wish you to know that if we are on your side, we are fervently on your side. I vow to you the same as my father. I will do everything I can to help you. I promise.”

Edward smiled weakly and nodded rapidly. “Thank you.”

“My father says your aim is to climb to the upper echelons of power in this country. Not only can he help you with that, but so can I. The wife of a politician is an expert in hostessing, manipulating, and persuading all for the benefit of her husband.” Frances could not know what affect her words would have upon Edward; she could only hope he would have some idea of her fealty to him.

“I appreciate your candour, Frances. You are right; I will indeed need your help.” The corners of his mouth lifted in a genuine smile. “Yes, this is a good beginning.”

* * * *

With the advent of September came the arrival of the newest member of the Emberton family. Richard George Emberton was born early one Sunday morning to hearty cries and the congratulations of all the family, who were anxiously assembled at Emberton Hall.

The little chap weighed nine pounds, and Grace was exhausted after seventeen hours of travail.

The rest of the family celebrated downstairs, as quietly as possible whilst upstairs Grace slept. The mood was so jubilant that Edward dared to mention Frances occasionally. When there appeared to be no opposition at having her name spoken out loud, he thought he might try his hand at mentioning the wedding.

Unfortunately for Edward, what he had not counted on was his mother’s anger burning so hotly for so long.

“Edward, you can stop right there. I do not wish to hear about your upcoming nuptials, neither do I wish to hear any of the details concerning the ceremony or the arrangements you have made for afterwards.”

The look upon her face was so stony that it took Edward by surprise. He did not believe his mother could be this way.

“You have offended us all, and I have not been able to forgive you. You put at risk everything your father, his father before him, and Richard have worked so hard for. You do not seem remorseful, nor are you apologetic.”

His mother’s words knocked the wind out of his sails. “Mother, there is nothing for you to reproach me with. I am also an injured party here. Were you not there when Lord Davenport arrived and demanded, nay, blackmailed me into marrying his daughter? I may have made a grave error in judgement in falling for a girl that was not approved by you. I most certainly did not seek your advice when I had previously promised I would. I am guilty, yes, of following my own heart and my own desires alone in this matter. But that is past now. What we are presented with is the cold, hard fact that I am to marry Miss Davenport whether you approve or not. Mother, nothing can be done about it now. If I do not marry Frances, then, yes, everything Grandfather, Father, and Richard have worked hard for will be destroyed. I promise you that.”

With his own words, Edward’s strength and courage returned. He straightened himself up and stood at his full height. “I require your assistance, Mother. I ask that you stand with me now. Regardless of how you feel about me and my actions, will you stand with me?”

The question hung in the air heavily. It was not so much a request as a demand. Edward was asking his mother to set aside all her feelings, all that her intuition told her about Frances Davenport, and all that society said about Edward’s future wife and to stand with him and even help him. He watched as tears filled her eyes, knowing full well that a battle raged within her between what she knew to be right by society and what she knew to be right by her son. Edwina lifted her chin proudly, but the love for her son showed through her tears unmistakably. Her choice was clear.

“Thank you, Mother.” Edward rushed forward, knelt down beside her, picked up her hand in both of his and kissed the back of it. “You have always been, and ever shall be, the best of women. I thank you again. I cannot do this unless you’re with me.”

Edward watched as his mother swallowed deeply, then slowly extricated her hand from his and stood. “You will excuse me. I suddenly feel the need to lie down.”

Once their mother was gone and Richard and Edward were alone, Richard turned to his brother. “Well done. It must have been very difficult to say to mother.”

“Yes, Richard, it was. But it needed to be said, you must agree.” Edward sank back down onto the settee, spent.

“We all need to be part of this. If we are to convince Lord Davenport that everything is well, we all need to participate. Do you think everything will go smoothly now?”

“I do not know. On Lord Davenport’s part, I cannot guess. I spoke with Frances, though, and she seems as much enamoured of me as before. In fact, I believe it to be genuine affection.”

“And you are you still enamoured of her?” Richard asked.

“My feelings are dampened now compared to what they were. The reality of who Frances is has poured water on the fire of my passions, I admit. The coals smoulder yet. Yes, I am still enamoured of Frances.”

“Then what to do about Mama?”

“She has indicated that she would stand with me, so when she returns, I will ask for her assistance. The Embertons need to be on display and out in full force for this wedding. Lord Davenport is sparing no expense. We have to keep up our side of the arrangement.”

“Agreed.” Richard took a deep breath. “I would suggest that, given Mama’s state of mind today, you return to Sandon Place and let me deal with her. I will get her to do her part. She will not let you down.”

Edward knew he could leave the matter in his brother’s capable hands and stood to leave.

“I will call upon you in a few days’ time.”

“Thank you, Richard.” Edward embraced his brother and set off for home.

* * * *

Frances heard the front door bell and knew a visitor had arrived. She did not bother to descend the stairs to see who it was because most often anyone who came to the house came for her father.

Half an hour later she was told her presence was required in the drawing room. At first merely curious, she was now aghast at the sight that greeted her. James Kirby was sitting with her father, drinking his finest port. Her anger rose and she wanted to demand an explanation for his presence in their home. Good training prevailed, and she bit down her ire, held her tongue, and politely said, “Good evening.”

Her father chuckled. Frances shot him a scornful look. “I believe, my dear, that you are
acquainted
with Mr Kirby.”

The way her father emphasised the word “acquainted” made her cringe inside. She replied lightly, “I am.”

“And I believe you can be in no doubt of why I have asked him here this evening.”

“Not at all, I assure you,” she replied, in the same light tone, playing the game as well as he did.

Again her father chuckled. “Very well. Have it your way.” Slowly he brought his glass of port to his lips and drank from the glass, savouring the dark liquid and prolonging Frances’ agony.

“I have asked Mr Kirby here so that we might make a little business transaction together.” He paused and studied Frances’ face. She remained motionless, not gracing him with a reaction. “Apparently, and according to Mr Kirby here,” he indicated with his free hand the man sitting at his right, “he was under the impression that the pair of you had an understanding, an understanding that you were to be his wife.”

Frances wondered what her father was playing at. This was information he was already in possession of, and yet he was speaking to her as though this were a new revelation. She narrowed her eyes at her father, her stare unwavering.