"Grandmother … " ground out Marchford.
"Do not ‘Grandmother' me with such a tone," rebuked the Dowager Duchess of Marchford. "After all I am only trying to help the family of your betrothed. You know that Eugenia's presentation was less than optimal."
Marchford raised an eyebrow. "Less than optimal indeed."
"You needn't be cruel," chastised the dowager. "We must do what we can to help the family. If she can form an attachment soon, her reputation can be salvaged."
Marchford nodded his head in understanding. "How do you two pick these young men to the slaughter? I beg you would indulge my curiosity."
"We try to find young men who showed an interest in Miss Talbot or at least spoke to her," said Penelope. "We look for men who are respectable, appear to have the qualities of a good husband, and might appreciate the dowry she brings. Also, considering her debut, a gentleman who lived primarily in the country might be a good fit."
"I should not have asked. It is quite a business for you, is it not?" asked Marchford.
It was more business than he realized, but Penelope said nothing more. She was generally honest to a fault, but several years in Town had taught her to keep her own counsel when the situation called for it.
Penelope had expected a large fight over the lapse in the dowager's funds, but she was mistaken. In person, the dowager and her grandson were perfectly civil and polite. They certainly never gave the servants any material for gossip. After the unfortunate incident where her rant was overheard by Lady Bremerton, the dowager had not spoken about money again. She had, however, exchanged a series of written messages with her grandson that often resulted in her exclaiming "bah!" and throwing the missive in the fire.
"I cannot be a bridegroom for Miss Talbot. Perhaps you can make my excuses," suggested Marchford.
"I certainly cannot!" declared the dowager, placing a strainer over a teacup. "How would it look if Louisa were to come to dinner and you not be here? Besides, it will give you an opportunity to speak with her. A date must be set." She poured the tea into the cup, straining away the tea leaves.
Marchford accepted a cup of tea from his grandmother and took a slow sip. "I recognize the understanding between Lady Louisa and the Duke of Marchford is of long standing, but even you must concede that the lady does not appear interested in the relationship. Would it be unacceptable to end the betrothal?"
"James!" The dowager clanked the teapot down on the table. "This marriage has been planned since before you were born. Louisa has been waiting for your return for three years. You cannot back out now. You are honor bound!"
"Even though the relationship would cause misery to the parties involved?"
"Misery? How could it cause misery unless you make it so? If you are displeased with the relationship, change it. Be charming. Crumpet?"
"Yes, please," replied the duke, accepting the buttered crumpet. "She does not appear interested in my charm, such as it is."
"What would you suggest? Can you imagine any situation in which you could honorably dissolve the understanding between you?"
Marchford took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. His posture diminished slightly, the only sign that he had been defeated. Penelope watched the pair of aristocrats from her vantage point over tea and cake. Although she was new to the dilemma, one thing was perfectly clear-it was not within Marchford's power to end the contract.
"Have another slice of seed cake." The dowager offered Marchford the platter. "I also had cook make some ham sandwiches. I know you often get hungry before dinner."
Marchford accepted the sandwich but not without suspicion. "What is it you want?"
"Can I not offer refreshments without accusation? Are you going out this afternoon?"
"Yes, I am going with Grant to Tattersall's. Our trip yesterday was postponed."
"Good, then you won't mind delivering this finalized guest list to Lady Bremerton."
Marchford finished his tea. "I should have known I could not enjoy a ham sandwich without the expectation of repaying the favor."
"I am merely giving you an excuse to visit Louisa. Did you not suggest you needed to charm her?"
"As you wish." Marchford accepted the list.
"And another thing," continued the dowager in a businesslike tone. "I was thinking about why Louisa might be put out. You know you have made her wait for marriage three long years. She is considerably past the age where most girls are wed. You need to make a formal announcement, set a date, and hold a ball to celebrate."
Marchford eyed his meal. "That is a lot to ask for a sandwich."
"James, it is time to commit."
Marchford was spared making a reply by the announcement that Mr. Grant had arrived. Marchford bowed out of the room and met his friend in the foyer. Grant appeared less than his normal resplendent self. His hair was out of place, his cravat sadly crushed.
"I have been tasked to give this to Lady Bremerton. Would you mind stopping by on our way to Tatt's?" asked Marchford.
Grant groaned.
"You mind telling me what is wrong?"
The men climbed onto Marchford's curricle and Grant proceeded to tell him how he had acquired a child. The story was so remarkable, prompting Marchford to ask multiple questions, that Grant was unable to complete the tale before they arrived at the Bremerton household and were required to make an appearance.
Marchford discharged his duty, handing Lady Bremerton the guest list. Naturally they were invited to visit, and naturally they obliged. Despite the presence of Miss Talbot and Lady Louisa in the parlor, Lady Bremerton dominated the conversation. "I hear you are considering making some changes to your garden," said Lady Bremerton.
Marchford acknowledged this was true.
"Why don't you take a stroll through our garden, so you can get some ideas? Louisa has been instrumental in the placement of our new rose bushes."
It was a clear ploy to get Marchford and Louisa to spend time together, but despite the apparent disinterest from either of the primary parties, the plan was accepted. Lady Bremerton bowed out of the excursion and so the young people went out into the garden.
The garden was quite beautiful with straight, manicured shrubs in neat lines and occasional rows of flowers, also neat and well manicured. After a few prods from Grant, Marchford took the hint and became more verbose, asking Louisa about the garden and describing his plans for his own garden expansion. Louisa responded infrequently, with hardly more than monosyllabic replies.
Genie and Grant held back to allow the betrothed time to foster their relationship, such as it was.
"I must thank you for encouraging Marchford to develop an acquaintance with his future wife," said Genie when the dubious couple was out of hearing range.
"I believe the honor of this visit belongs to the scheming of the dowager duchess and Lady Bremerton."
"Then I thank you for being one of the party. I am anxious to know how things are going with little Jem."
Grant knew she would ask him and he was going to have to make a reply. He took her gloved hand and led her to a stone bench where they both sat down. He should release the dainty hand, but he did not, holding it loosely for fear he might crush her hand.
"Jem is quite a scamp. A more incurable heathen I have never met, which is saying quite a bit since I was educated at Eton," added Grant.
Genie shook her head. "That is very bad. One can only hope he grows out of it."
"Maybe he is growing. It would explain the appetite. Despite being fed here, he declared himself hungry and has been eating almost without ceasing. Must be hollow inside. He may beggar me on his board alone."
"I do apologize for getting you into this predicament. I will certainly reimburse you for any expenses you incur in his upkeep."
"Certainly not! Besides, the situation may be resolved, though perhaps not to your liking."
"Has he caused any problems?"
Grant smiled. "My entire staff from the housekeeper to the cook threatened to quit if I did not find a new home for him."
"Oh! That is very bad. Whatever did he do?"
"I put the lad in the charge of my housekeeper."
Genie nodded in approval.
"Apparently, this morning, they tried to give him a bath."
"Very reasonable," said Genie in agreement. "He did appear to be in need of it."
"He disagreed. A housemaid was bit, a footman has a black eye, and apparently the bath water was flung on François's soufflé."
"That is terribly bad!"
"Quite! You should have seen François. He brought me the soufflé, which had fallen something awful, and he was soaked through. The only one who did not take a bath today was Jem." Despite the commotion it caused in his mother's household, Grant could not think upon the incident without a smile.