Rules of a Ruse (Regency Christmas Brides #2)

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Alden surveyed the drawing room with a sense of satisfaction. Despite the furniture and cream-colored papered walls being slightly outdated, he knew those were minor issues he could easily remedy when he decided to sell the horse farm. The manor exceeded his expectations for a small village in Scotland, with its grand architecture and well-maintained grounds.

He turned his attention towards the windows and watched the horses grazing in the distance. The scene was idyllic. It was a picturesque landscape that would undoubtedly increase the property’s value. Alden hoped the horse farm would fetch a substantial price, allowing him to reinvest in land in England, which was a far better place to live.

The long clock in the corner chimed and he sighed. What was taking this Miss Sidney so long, he thought. He didn’t have the time to wait around and be idle. He had much more important tasks to deal with, such as securing a bride in this god-forsaken village.

As he turned away from the window, a dark-haired young woman entered the room. His eyes widened in surprise. She was strikingly beautiful, with fair skin, expressive eyes and high cheekbones. She was dressed in a simple gown, which only seemed to add to her allure.

She smiled, and he fought the urge to return the gesture. It would do no good to show her that she had the advantage. “Good morning,” she greeted, dropping into a curtsy. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Miss Sidney.”

Alden allowed himself a small smile. “I am Mr. Alden Dandridge. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Gesturing towards the settees, Miss Sidney asked, “Would you care to sit, sir?”

“I would,” Alden said as he followed Miss Sidney to the settees. He waited for her to be situated before taking his own seat.

Miss Sidney’s smile faded slightly but remained polite. “How was your journey?”

“Long,” Alden responded. “I traveled all the way from London, and the roads were rather treacherous.” He didn’t want to waste his time with pleasantries, but he didn’t want to offend Miss Sidney either.

“I am sorry to hear that,” Miss Sidney said.

Alden settled back in his seat. “I came straightaway after I met with my Great-aunt Edith’s solicitor,” he shared. “Were you aware that her health is dire?”

Miss Sidney’s expression grew solemn. “I received word this morning, and I must admit that I am rather devastated by the news. Were you close with your great-aunt?”

“Not particularly,” Alden admitted, not wishing to dwell on such matters. “Did she inform you that I was to be arriving?”

“She did,” Miss Sidney confirmed.

“Good, then that should save us a considerable amount of time,” Alden said. “Great-aunt Edith informed me that you are running this horse farm.”

“I am. ”

“Well, I am here to take that burden away from you. I will take over the books at once,” Alden said.

Rather than look pleased, Miss Sidney grew visibly tense. “I do not consider running the horse farm to be burdensome. Has Lady Edith expressed displeasure with how I manage things?”

“No, but?—”

She spoke over him. “Then I propose we continue to keep things the way they are, at least for the time being.”

Alden had only just met Miss Sidney and didn’t wish to fight with her. He needed her help if he wanted to marry before the Twelfth Night. “Very well, but I will familiarize myself with the books,” he said.

Miss Sidney seemed pleased by his compromise. “That sounds fair enough.”

A maid stepped into the drawing room with a tray in her hand. She placed the tray on a table in front of Miss Sidney and asked, “Would you care for me to pour, Miss?”

“No, thank you,” Miss Sidney said. “I shall handle it.”

Rather than leave the room, the maid walked over to the corner and sat down on a chair, reaching for her needlework.

Miss Sidney reached for the teapot and asked, “Would you care for a cup of tea?”

“I would,” Alden replied.

Alden leaned forward to accept the cup and saucer and took a small sip of his tea. He needed to discuss a few things, and he knew they were rather delicate in nature. He cleared his throat. “I was wondering if you had another place to stay.”

A bemused look came to Miss Sidney’s face. “I beg your pardon?”

“Well, now that I am here, it is only befitting if I stay in the manor,” Alden replied. “It would be entirely inappropriate for you to reside with me.”

“I agree, but this is my home. ”

“It was your home,” Alden gently corrected. “It will soon be mine.”

Miss Sidney lowered the cup and saucer to the table. “It might be yours soon and I have no desire to be displaced while we wait to see. Furthermore, Lady Edith informed me that you must be married to inherit. Are you engaged?”

Alden shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “No, I am not, but I hope to be soon enough.”

“Are you pursuing someone?”

“Not at this time,” Alden replied.

A line between Miss Sidney’s brow appeared. “I’m afraid I do not understand. How are you to be engaged soon if you have no prospects?”

Alden smiled, hoping to disarm her. “I was hoping you would help with that. There must be a young woman in the village who is looking for an advantageous marriage.”

Miss Sidney opened her mouth, but promptly closed it. A myriad of emotions crossed her face before she seemed to settle on one. But what it was, he could not say. Finally, she spoke. “I will help you.”

“Wonderful,” Alden said.

“But on one condition.” She paused. “My aunt and I will continue to reside here and you will stay at a charming cottage on the far side of the property in the woodlands.”

Alden nodded. “That is more than fair.”

“Thank you,” Miss Sidney said.

A figure covered in a white sheet with eyeholes cut out entered the room and sat silently by the window. Alden glanced questioningly at Miss Sidney, who seemed unperturbed. “That is my aunt, Mrs. Cecilia Hardy,” she explained.

He lowered his voice, so not to be overheard. “What is she doing?”

Miss Sidney shrugged. “Who knows, but it is best to pretend that she is not here,” she said.

“Is your aunt mad? ”

Rather than answer his question directly, she replied, “Are we all not a wee bit mad?”

No.

What an absurd response.

Rising, Miss Sidney said, “I will inform our butler, Bryon, that you will be staying at the cottage for the foreseeable future.”

Alden stood, placing his teacup on the table. “I shall accompany you.”

“Wonderful,” Miss Sidney murmured, but there was a terseness to her words.

With a glance at Mrs. Hardy, Alden asked, “Will your aunt be all right?”

“Of course, but it is best to pretend that she isn’t here and we don’t acknowledge her,” Miss Sidney replied. “She comes and goes as she pleases.”

“Under the disguise of a sheet?” Alden inquired.

Miss Sidney bobbed her head. “It is much easier that way,” she replied before she started to walk towards the door.

Alden followed close behind and they stepped into the entry hall. The white-haired butler’s eyes softened when he saw Miss Sidney approach.

Miss Sidney came to a stop in front of Bryon. “Will you ensure the cottage in the woodlands is prepared for Mr. Dandridge?”

Bryon’s brow lifted. “The cottage?”

“Yes, the charming cottage on the far side of the property,” Miss Sidney said. “The one Mr. Warren used when he worked for us. I am sure that it will be to Mr. Dandridge’s liking.”

“Yes, Miss,” Bryon said, looking hesitant. “I shall see to the preparations at once, but it might take some time to air it out. It has been vacant for some time now.”

“Take all the time you need, Bryon,” Miss Sidney said, turning to face Alden. “That shall give us plenty of time to take a tour of the horse farm.”

“Now?” Alden asked, feeling the chill of the Scottish weather. He preferred to stay indoors, where it was warm. His stomach growled, reminding him he had skipped breakfast. “I would prefer to eat breakfast, if that wouldn’t be too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” Miss Sidney said as she led him towards the dining room. “If you tell me what you would like to eat, I will gladly tell the cook.”

“I will be happy with whatever the cook sees fit to feed me,” Alden remarked.

Miss Sidney tipped her head. “Very well,” she said, stopping by a door. “Wait here and I will be back shortly.”

Alden entered the dining room and took a seat at the long, rectangular table. He wondered why Miss Sidney hadn’t relayed the message to one of her footmen standing watch but decided it wasn’t his place to question her methods.

The dining room’s dark red papered walls and thick drapes gave the room a warm, cozy feel, a stark contrast to the cold outside. As he waited for breakfast, he contemplated the tasks ahead and wondered how quickly he could get married and leave this place.

As Elinor walked away from the dining room, Bryon approached her with a concerned look on his features. “A word, Miss.”

Elinor waved him over to the parlor door and stepped inside, knowing this was a conversation that would be best in private. “I must assume you wish to speak about the cottage.”

“Yes, I am not sure the cottage is habitable,” Bryon said. “It has been well over a year since anyone has stayed there. ”

“Just do the best that you can,” Elinor responded.

Bryon frowned. “Are you not worried that Mr. Dandridge will be upset with you when he sees the state of the cottage?”

Elinor waved her hand dismissively. “It is far preferable to him staying here at the manor. With any luck, he will have his valet pack his trunks and they will leave before the evening is out.”

“What of Lady Edith?” Bryon asked. “Will she not be disappointed in the poor treatment you are giving to Mr. Dandridge?”

With a glance at the doorway, Elinor shared, “If Mr. Dandridge fails to marry by the Twelfth Night, the manor and horse farm will belong to me.”

Bryon’s eyes shone with understanding. “This is a dangerous game you are playing, Miss, but I will support you.”

“Thank you,” Elinor said.

“Now, dare I ask why your aunt has a sheet over her head?” Bryon asked with a smile tugging at his lips.

Elinor shrugged. “I am not quite sure about that, but I am sure she has a reason,” she responded.

Bryon tipped his head. “Very well,” he said. “I will ensure the cottage gets a thorough cleaning at once.”

After the butler departed from the parlor, Elinor headed down the servants’ stairs to see their cook. She arrived in the warm kitchen and watched as Mrs. Beaton hurried about, wiping her hands on an apron that hung around her neck.

“Good morning,” Elinor greeted.

The tall, thin cook stopped what she was doing and smiled. “Guid mornin’ tae ye, Miss,” she said. “What brings ye by the kitchen today?”

“Lady Edith’s great-nephew, Mr. Dandridge, has arrived and is requesting breakfast,” Elinor responded.

Mrs. Beaton lifted her brow. “And ye had tae come doon here yerself tae tell me?” she asked.

Elinor sat down at a round table that the servants used to eat their meals. “I saw no reason to spend additional time with Mr. Dandridge.”

“Why’s that, then?”

An image of the handsome Mr. Dandridge came to her mind. Tall, dark-haired, and with a strong jaw. The way he smiled at her made it evident that he was aware of his good looks and used it to his advantage. But she was not one to fall for a handsome face. She was far too practical for that.

Elinor placed her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand. “He is rather cocky for his own good.”

Mrs. Beaton gave her a knowing look. “By the sound of it, Mr. Dandridge must be a rather dashin’ lad, aye.”

“Dashing? No, far from it,” Elinor lied. “He is tolerable, I suppose.”

“Ye cannae fool me, Miss,” Mrs. Beaton said.

Elinor did not want to be having this conversation with anyone. Her heart had been shuttered away, and she saw no reason to ever open herself up to heartache. She had come to the realization that she would most likely become a spinster. Which was fine by her. She didn’t need a man lording over her.

Mrs. Beaton must have taken pity on her because she didn’t press her. Rather, she said, “I will send up a tray tae the dining room for Mr. Dandridge.”

“Thank you,” Elinor responded before rising. “I should be upstairs anyways. I have loads of work to do.”

“Ye work too hard,” Mrs. Beaton said with a knowing look. “Why not slow doon and enjoy life?”

“I will rest when I am able,” Elinor stated.

Mrs. Beaton shook her head. “One day ye’ll heed my advice.”

Just then, her aunt stepped into the kitchen, the sheet draped over her arm. “I have an idea for supper.”

Elinor grinned. “Dare I ask why you had a sheet over year head earlier? ”

Cecilia laughed. “I was a ghost.”

“I think that was lost in translation,” Elinor retorted. “Why, pray tell, did you decide to wear a sheet over your head?”

“It was the only thing I came up with, and I do think it worked spectacularly,” Cecilia said. “No sane gentleman would force a madwoman to leave her place of residence.”

The smile dimmed from Elinor’s lips. “My uncle would.”

“Yes, well, Lord Inglewood was a special kind of man. Let’s not speak of him again,” Cecilia said. “Now, back to my ideas for supper.”

Elinor took a step back. “I think this is my cue to leave. I would hate to spoil the surprise that you have for Mr. Dandridge.”

She turned and headed up the stairs towards the main level. Once she arrived, she walked down the corridor and glanced into the dining room. She saw Mr. Dandridge was sitting at the table and she felt some guilt at leaving him alone.

Why should she care? If she had her way, Mr. Dandridge would leave at once and she would never have to see him again. But could she treat Lady Edith’s great-nephew so distastefully, especially since the woman had given her so much?

Elinor resisted the urge to groan, knowing she couldn’t leave him alone. She stepped into the dining room and met Mr. Dandridge’s gaze. “Your breakfast will be up shortly,” she informed him.

“Would you care to join me?” Mr. Dandridge asked.

No.

She would rather be doing anything else.

Elinor mustered a smile to her lips. “I would be delighted,” she said, hoping she sounded somewhat convincing.

Mr. Dandridge rose and pulled out a chair for her. She sat in the proffered chair and tried to appear unaffected when Mr. Dandridge returned to his seat. Why was she having such an unexpected- and unwanted- reaction to a man that she hardly knew?

Settling into his seat, Mr. Dandridge said, “I hardly know anything about you, but it is evident that my Great-aunt Edith trusts you very much.”

“Lady Edith has been nothing but kind to me,” Elinor said. “I am most grateful that she had faith in me to run her horse farm.”

“I must assume that you love horses,” Mr. Dandridge remarked.

A bright, genuine smile came to Elinor’s lips. “I adore horses. My mother once said that I used to pretend that I was a horse, even when guests were around.”

Mr. Dandridge chuckled. “I can only imagine how much that pleased your parents.”

“This horse farm is known for the breeding of our Galloway ponies,” Elinor explained. “They are an exceptionally fine-looking horse, have a wide, deep chest, and have a tendency to pace rather than trot.”

“That is not a common horse in England, which is where I assume you are from,” Mr. Dandridge said.

“It is true. I am from Kendal, but I no longer consider that home, not since my parents died,” Elinor responded.

Mr. Dandridge eyed her curiously. “May I ask when they died?” he asked gently.

Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes, but Elinor blinked them back. “Three years ago,” she replied.

“I see,” Mr. Dandridge said. “I apologize for broaching such a sensitive subject. If it helps, my parents are both alive, and I fear that they might drive me mad.”

She appreciated what Mr. Dandridge was attempting to do, but she didn’t see much humor in it. She decided to change the topic to something much safer. “Where do you hail from?”

“Sussex,” Mr. Dandridge responded .

“I have heard it is quite beautiful in Sussex,” Elinor said, attempting to make conversation. She didn’t truly care where he was from. She just wanted him to leave.

Mr. Dandridge nodded. “It is.”

A silence descended over them, and it was interrupted by the arrival of a servant with a tray in her hand.

“Ah, your breakfast,” Elinor said, rising. “I should go and let you eat in peace.”

Mr. Dandridge placed his hand out, stilling her. “I would prefer if you stayed. I am not used to eating in silence.”

Elinor returned to her seat. “I am,” she admitted.

“What of your aunt?” Mr. Dandridge asked as he picked up his fork and knife.

“Aunt Cecilia dines with me, but when I lived with my uncle, it was quite different,” Elinor shared. “He tended to eat at the club for his meals.”

Mr. Dandridge started eating, a thoughtful look on his face. “May I ask how old you are?”

“I am one and twenty years old,” Elinor replied.

“And you are not married?”

Elinor’s back went rigid. “That is hardly a question you should ask, sir,” she said curtly. “Besides, I could ask you the same thing.”

Mr. Dandridge smiled, no doubt in an attempt to flatter her. “I meant no disrespect. You are a beautiful young woman and I imagine you could have your pick of suitors.”

She wasn’t fooled by Mr. Dandridge’s remark, nor was he the only gentleman that thought that way. She was still too young to be considered a spinster, but she had no interest in marrying, despite the many men who had attempted to be her suitor over the years.

“If you must know, I devote all my time to this horse farm to ensure it is profitable,” Elinor said. “I do not want to let Lady Edith down.”

“I had my solicitor look into this horse farm and discovered it was quite profitable. You must be doing something right.”

Elinor watched as Mr. Dandridge ate his breakfast and she had no desire to spend time with him. If she got to know him, and he turned out to be a decent man, she would feel bad that she was plotting for him to fail at securing a bride.

She stood up. “I have much work that I need to see to. If you need me, I will be in the study, which is in the rear of the manor.”

Mr. Dandridge had risen with her. “Thank you, Miss Sidney… for everything.”

“Do not thank me yet,” Elinor said before she walked over to the door. “Enjoy your breakfast, Mr. Dandridge.”

He tipped his head. “I will be seeing you soon for the tour of the horse farm.”

“I will be looking forward to it,” Elinor said. Which was a lie. This was her horse farm, and she would fight to keep it that way.