A Brooding Christmas Promise (Christmas Matches of Worth #2)

Chapter Six

Lord Trenton lifted an eyebrow as Samuel climbed into the carriage. “Good afternoon. Remind me where it is we are to go this afternoon?”

“To speak with Miss Charlotte Millerton and her sister, Lady Amelia Hesterway,” Samuel answered, as he rapped on the carriage roof to tell the coachman to make his way onward. “Goodness, it is bitterly cold today, is it not?”

“It is.” Lord Trenton shivered, his gloved hands clasped tightly in his lap. “I am sure we shall be given a warm welcome, however.” He tilted his head just a little, searching Samuel’s expression. “You danced with Miss Millerton last evening.”

Samuel nodded. “I did. That is the reason that we are both calling on her and her sister today.” Seeing the confusion on his friend’s face – for Samuel had not explained everything the previous evening when he had asked Lord Trenton to accompany him – he began to speak of what had happened. “Quite by chance, I saw the lady that I had overheard speaking with her sister at your ball. What shocked me was that another lady reached out and yanked her hard, by the arm, dragging her back towards her rather than permitting her to leave which was clearly what she desired.”

Lord Trenton’s eyes flared. “Goodness.”

“It was Lady Foster,” Samuel continued, quickly. “I am not acquainted with the lady myself but in conversation with Miss Millerton, came to understand that there was some difficulty there. We danced, indeed, for that was the reason I gave for interrupting their conversation, and thereafter, she asked if I would come to speak with her in order to inform both Lady Hesterway and her about Lord Foster and what I knew of him. I suggested that you attend also, given that you know the fellow a little too.”

Lord Trenton’s lip curled. “I wish I did not know him,” he muttered, a little darkly. “Might I ask why they wish to know about them both?”

Samuel opened his mouth to respond, only to close it again and shake his head. “I cannot say, I am afraid. That will be for the ladies themselves to share, if they so wish it. All I will say is that there is clearly some difficulty being brought to them by Lady Foster, if not by her husband also, and given that they are not very well acquainted with either of them, they now desire our help.”

“Which, of course, I am glad to give,” Lord Trenton said, quickly, as the carriage came to a stop. “It is good that you were able to intervene. How dreadful for Miss Millerton to have been treated so by the lady, particularly in front of all the other guests! Did she not think of the gossip and the like which the ton might then throw at her?”

Samuel winced as the door was pulled open and cold air rushed in. “I do not think, given Lady Foster’s scarlet face, that she cared very much about who could overhear her,” he said, gesturing for Lord Trenton to hurry out. He recalled the moment that he had seen the lady reaching out to grab Miss Millerton’s wrist, remembering the fire of indignation which had rushed up through him. He had wanted to speak to Lady Foster, had wanted to demand to know what it was she thought to be doing to the young lady but had, at the very last moment, changed his mind and stepped in simply to take the lady out to dance. He was glad to have made such a choice, aware that things could have been turned out very poorly indeed had he chosen to speak with harshness.

Climbing out of the carriage, both he and his friend climbed the steps to the house and were shown in at once. Much to Samuel’s delight, the drawing room had a fire blazing, warmth rushing towards him as he walked inside, bowing first to Lady Hesterway and, thereafter, to Miss Millerton. Miss Millerton, he noted, appeared to be a little pale though she was smiling, her expression filled with welcome. Had something more happened with Lady Foster? Or was it that she was merely fatigued after yesterday’s ball?

“How very good of you both to come to call,” Lady Hesterway said, just as the door opened to reveal Lord Hesterway, whom Samuel was already acquainted with. The gentlemen all shook hands, Lord Hesterway poured them a drink while the ladies settled to a tea tray and, once a few minutes of conversation had passed by, Samuel turned his attention to the matter at hand.

“Miss Millerton, I do hope that you are quite all right after your ordeal last evening?”

Miss Millerton smiled at him, then reached for her tea. “I am quite well, I thank you.” She picked it up and took a small sip but Samuel continued to study her, taking in the paleness of her cheek, her green eyes a little more vivid than they might otherwise have been. “It was something of a shock, indeed,” she continued, perhaps aware of his scrutiny. “I did not expect Lady Foster ever to treat me in such a way.” A sidelong glance towards her sister stole Samuel’s attention for a moment, looking instead to Lady Hesterway who had reached out to press her sister’s hand.

“I have explained to Lord Trenton what I witnessed and what I did,” Samuel added, before nodding to his friend. “He and I are more than willing to tell you as much as we can about Lord and Lady Foster.”

“That would be very helpful.” Lord Hesterway cleared his throat but shook his head. “This is a most unsettling business and not at all helpful for Charlotte, of course!”

“I can imagine.” Lord Trenton sent Miss Millerton a small, encouraging smile which the lady returned, and something pinged in Samuel’s chest. Confused, he frowned and then dismissed it, looking instead to Lady Hesterway.

“I believe that you are both acquainted with Lady Foster but do not know her in any way?” he asked, as Lady Hesterway nodded. “Though all the same, there is some difficulty there, yes?” Seeing the ladies look to each other, he quickly dropped his head. “Pray, I do not mean to pry.”

Miss Millerton let out a sigh and spread out her hands. “There is no need to apologise. Yes, there is a great difficulty there, which I am all too aware that you have overheard and now witnessed, Lord Crestwood. I am sorry for that but I am, as you know, very grateful for what you did to protect me. Lady Foster was very angry indeed and, to be truthful, I was a little worried.”

“She was certainly angry,” Samuel murmured, picking up his glass. “I thought her most improper.”

There was a brief silence, only for Miss Millerton to again look at her sister, before giving her a small nod as though to suggest that she had decided something. “Lord Crestwood, Lord Trenton, I am more than willing to be honest with you, if you should be willing to hear it! It might help you understand why it is that we desire to know as much about Lord and Lady Foster as we can.”

Samuel glanced to Lord Trenton and then returned his gaze to Miss Millerton. “If you wish to explain all to us, I would be happy to hear it.”

With a brief smile – though it did not reach her eyes – Miss Millerton took a sip of her tea and then set it back down on the China plate. “Lady Foster is sister to our stepmother. Some years ago, our father remarried – our mother passed away when we were both very young, you understand, though my father did not ever seem to think of remarrying at that time.”

“I have often thought that he must have cared for our mother very dearly,” Lady Hesterway put in, making Miss Millerton smile gently. “However, the lady that he chose to wed, while she was pleased with the match, was not pleased to have two stepdaughters. That was not made clear in all its fullness, however, until our father passed away.”

“I am sorry for the loss that must bring to you both,” Samuel said quickly. “My own parents both passed from this life to the next when I was very young. My uncle raised me instead.”

Miss Millerton’s expression softened as she looked back at him. “Then you understand the pain of losing a parent,” she said, quietly as Samuel nodded. “However, the sorrow was made all the greater as we learned just how much our stepmother disliked the two of us.” She shared another look with her sister whose lips pulled into a thin line, obviously recalling something displeasing. “Amelia had to wait to marry given that we were then in mourning. However, on the day of her marriage, our stepmother, Lady Barcsay, informed me that I could never hope to be as she was.” A light pink touched her cheeks as she looked away, making Samuel frown. Whatever did she mean by that?

“That is to say, Charlotte has, by request of our late father, decided that she must devote her life to the care of our stepmother,” Lady Hesterway explained, quickly. “Lady Barcsay stated that, in our father’s will, he made it clear that he desired for Charlotte to remain unwed and, instead, to be Lady Barcsay’s companion.”

Samuel blinked quickly, surprise rattling through his chest. “Why…” he began, only to close his mouth and shake his head. He had no reason to ask such a thing, no need to say anything about that. He did not need to know why a gentleman would lay such a heavy burden upon his youngest daughter even though, to his mind, it was the most extraordinary – and unfair - burden to place upon her shoulders. Why should she not have the chance to marry? Why should she not have that choice?

“It did come as a surprise,” Lady Hesterway continued, her voice soft. “However, it was Charlotte’s decision to align herself with our father’s desire, even though I myself might not have thought well of it.”

“It was not forced upon you, then?”

In answer to Lord Trenton’s question, Miss Millerton shook her head. “No, it was not demanded but requested of me. However, how could I refuse my father’s last wishes?” Her eyes glistened gently and a heavy weight settled on Samuel’s heart. “He was my father and very dear to me. Therefore, I cannot imagine setting that aside to follow my own heart and my own desires.”

Samuel winced inwardly and pulled his lips to one side. It was clear by what the lady said that she had no real desire to remain loyal to her stepmother, to be her companion for the rest of her days but duty and honor required it of her. Indeed, there was a good deal to be admired there but, at the very same time, Samuel felt his heart grow sorrowful for her. To have been denied even the chance of finding her own future surely must have been very difficult for the lady.

“This still does not explain our questions as regards Lady Foster, I am aware,” Lady Hesterway continued, looking a little embarrassed. “Forgive us. It is a long explanation and there is much to say still.”

“I do not think you need to apologise, my dear.” Lord Hesterway rose to his feet and, settling a hand on his wife’s shoulder for a moment, smiled down at her. “Lord Trenton and Lord Crestwood are clearly willing to listen.”

“Of course, of course,” Samuel said quickly, finding a slight hint of envy edging down through his heart at how tenderly Lord Hesterway spoke to his wife and how sweet the smile was that she gave him in return. Was there something about that interaction he wanted for himself?

“I thank you.” Miss Millerton spoke again, though the pink in her cheeks remained – and for the first time, Samuel found himself distracted from the conversation and, instead, noticed just how pretty the lady was. The hair he had thought was only a mere brown now appeared to be copper as the light shone on it, the color in her cheeks adding to his awareness of her. It was only as she began to speak that Samuel realized he had not been paying even the smallest bit of attention to her words.

“Therefore, when my sister extended the invitation to me to join her here for Christmas, I accepted, despite the fact that my stepmother did not want me to do so. It is not as though I have left her alone for the festive Season, however,” she added, speaking a little more quickly now. “My brother and his wife are to share the festivities with her at their estate.”

“However,” Lady Hesterway added, reaching to pick up her teacup again, “our stepmother has now involved her sister in this scheme of hers.”

Samuel frowned. “Scheme?”

Lady Hesterway nodded. “It is clear to me that our stepmother, greatly displeased at Charlotte’s refusal to do as she was expecting and staying with her at the Dower house, has now determined to make Charlotte’s time in London as miserable as possible. And thus, she has involved her sister in it.”

It took a moment for Samuel to make the connection, though Lord Trenton slapped his knee just as Samuel understood. “You mean to say that Lady Foster is Lady Barcsay’s sister?” he asked, as Samuel looked intently to Miss Millerton, seeing her nod. “And Lady Foster, therefore, has agreed to do whatever has been asked of her by Lady Barcsay?”

“Yes, that is it precisely.” With a slight sadness about her, Miss Millerton took a sip of her tea and then set down the cup again, though there was a roundness to her shoulders which Samuel had not noticed before. “Lady Foster has stated that she intends to be my shadow during my time in London.”

“Your shadow?” Samuel repeated, frowning. “For what purpose?”

“To supposedly make certain that Charlotte is doing as she has promised and not permitting herself to be courted or the like,” Lady Hesterway interjected, flapping one hand in Samuel’s direction. “It is foolishness, is it not? I think that if my sister finds a gentleman whom she… well, that is not my place to say, is it?” She shot a glance towards her husband who, while she had been speaking, had cleared his throat gently. A flush trickled into her cheeks as she turned her attention to Miss Millerton though Samuel felt himself agreeing entirely with all that Lady Hesterway had not only said but had been about to say. “Charlotte has the freedom to live as she wishes and she has already said that she will agree to abide by our father’s wishes. However, whilst Lady Foster avers that she shall act as Charlotte’s shadow to ensure she adheres to her declarations, I am convinced that such a proclamation has been made— and will be executed— solely out of spite.”

“In order to make your time here in London miserable,” Samuel murmured, as Miss Millerton dropped her head for a moment, her shoulders rounding all the more.

Lady Hesterway exchanged a look with her husband who, with a nod, looked back to Samuel and Lord Trenton.

“Anything you can tell us about the character of Lord and Lady Foster would be of great help,” he said, firmly. “It is not that we wish to cause them harm in any way but rather that we seek to make certain that we know the sort of people we now face in this situation. I have every intention of doing all I can to make certain that Charlotte has an excellent festive Season, despite this, but that can only occur if we are able to work through these difficulties and somehow, find a way to fight back against this threat. If Lord Foster is of a determined sort, that will make it a little more difficult, whereas if he is not a gentleman with a great deal of strength in his character, then it will be easier for us. I do hope I make myself plain.”

Samuel nodded quickly. “Of course. I confess that I do not know Lady Foster – though I have formed an opinion of her character already based on what I have seen – but of Lord Foster, I can say something, as can Lord Trenton.”

His friend took Samuel’s lead and began. “Lord Foster is a gentleman who has something of a weak character, I would say, though a willingness to enter into all manner of wickedness and foolishness. He is very easily pushed into things and unfortunately, if he desires something, will demand it most vehemently until, either, he is convinced otherwise or it is given to him.”

“I would agree with Lord Trenton in that,” Samuel added. “In playing cards with him very recently, he imbibed far too much, gambled foolishly and then produced a vow rather than the coin required. As yet, I have not received payment.”

Lord Hesterway’s eyes flickered with interest. “Then do you think he is soluble?”

Samuel shrugged. “I am afraid I could not say whether he has the funds he states or not, only that he has not paid me as he said he would.”

“It may be that he has forgotten about it, given how much he drank,” Lord Trenton suggested darkly and Samuel had to nod and agree. “He is often imbibing too much brandy and the like, becoming loud and raucous which is most displeasing in good company. I have seen gentlemen go out of their way to avoid him and I find that desire within myself also.”

“Then you do not think that he is a good sort,” Miss Millerton said, quietly. “He is not good company.”

With a nod, Samuel offered her a slightly rueful smile. “I am afraid that my impression was that I should avoid his company wherever possible. However, given what I have seen of Lady Foster, might I suggest that she is determined where he is not? Where he may be more inclined to liquor and foolishness, she may be more sharp eyed and quick witted.”

“But yet also willing to be led by her sister,” Lady Hesterway added. “She may feel loyalty to Lady Barcsay as her sister and has accepted all that Lady Barcsay has said to her as regards Charlotte.”

Samuel paused for a moment, considering what he wanted to say and hoping that he would not cause any lady to feel insulted. “If I might be so bold, I would base your opinion of Lady Foster on what you know of your stepmother. I believe that they might very well be of the same character and that, unfortunately, Lord Foster is either too weak willed to care about what his wife is doing or is encouraging her in it. Either way, Miss Millerton, you must be cautious.”

There came a short pause and, for a moment, Samuel became afraid that he had injured Lady Hesterway and Miss Millerton in some way by speaking as he had done about Lady Barcsay, only for Miss Millerton to nod slowly.

“Yes, I think you are right. Lady Foster has already proven herself to be determined.” She glanced at him, then looked away. “I pray you will not think ill of me for this, but she came to call and my sister stated that we were not at home. I told the footman to state that we were out walking in St James’s Park, despite the fact that it was bitterly cold.”

A flicker of delight spread across Samuel’s expression. “And she went in search of you?”

Miss Millerton blushed furiously but nodded. “That is why she was so angry,” she explained, as Samuel fought, unsuccessfully, to hide his chuckle. “I did remind her, however, that I was not responsible for her decision to walk through the park. She was searching for me and that was entirely her own doing.”

Lord Trenton slapped his knee and let out a guffaw, making Samuel snort with laughter. It was a welcome relief after the strain and the heaviness of what they had been speaking and, as that very same relief spread across Miss Millerton’s expression, Samuel smiled directly at her.

“I think that you may have to show the same sort of shrewdness in your future dealings with Lord and Lady Foster,” he said, making it plain that he did not think poorly of her in the least. “And if I can be of aid to you in any way, then I would be glad to be of help.”

Miss Millerton smiled back at him. “You are very kind. It may be that I shall simply have to do my best to escape Lady Foster’s presence whenever and however I can! In a way, it is good that I am of age now to not constantly require a chaperone when I am around other people though, no doubt, she will use that against me should she see me alone.”

“I am sure that both Lord Crestwood and I will do whatever we can to be of aid, though we must hope that Lady Foster does not behave in the way she did with you at the previous ball,” Lord Trenton put in, sending another kick to Samuel’s heart – a kick that he still did not fully understand. “I heard what took place. Utterly disgraceful on her part.”

“I quite agree.” Lord Hesterway shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Disgraceful. I will, of course, be throwing a ball very soon and will make certain that the Fosters are not invited.”

“As will I.”

The words were out of Samuel’s mouth before he could stop them, garnering a curious look from Lord Trenton, no doubt wondering why he was saying such a thing when, previously, he had made it quite plain that he had no desire to be involved in society in any way. “I am sure that I can host a soiree or another evening of some sort. I have not sojourned in London for quite some time, and my abode most certainly longs for the company of genteel folk once more after this extended interval. That way, you will have some events and occasions to attend where you will not need to look over your shoulder, Miss Millerton.”

“That is very kind of you. You need not feel any obligation, however,” she said, her cheeks still a little pink. “We are barely acquainted and – ”

“I am glad to, truly,” Samuel said, interrupting gently. “After what I witnessed from Lady Foster, I feel it my duty to make certain such a thing does not happen again.” He hesitated for a moment, then spoke his mind. “Miss Millerton, you must not let Lady Foster ruin your time in London. Instead, you must simply ignore her, show her that what she intends will never come to pass and, instead, throw yourself into as much enjoyment as you can.”

Lady Hesterway reached to take her sister’s hand. “You see? This Christmas Season shall be quite wonderful for you, after all.”

Miss Millerton nodded, her eyes shining gently. “It seems that, with such kindnesses shown, it shall be,” she said, a slight wobble in her voice which spoke of her emotions. “Thank you, Lord Trenton, Lord Crestwood.” Her eyes closed for a moment. “Thank you all.”