Page 78 of The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins

I’d hoped to please a friend. But what I’d done instead was attract yet another suitor in want of my fifty thousand pounds.

Twenty-Three

The next morning only Hattie accompanied me on my walk, as I got up too early for Mrs. Drake, and Millicent said she would rather catch up on some letter writing.

When we returned, I proposed that we all go shopping again. Yes, I wanted to avoid being called on, but I also wanted to buy the children some new toys and games.

Mrs. Drake was putting on her shawl and bonnet when she said with a frown, “You don’t have to always be out if you don’t wish to receive callers. You can just have the servants tell your callers that you’re not at home. It is a very common practice.”

I’d rather not ask my servants to lie, even if it was a common practice, but I only said, “I have some shopping to do. But I’m well aware that we need to return in time to ready ourselves for our dinner guests.”

Indeed, I enjoyed the shopping trip and purchasing toys I thought the children would like. But every time I thought of Lord Markeley, I felt a twist in my stomach, worrying that Millicent was hurt and angry with me, and worrying that tonight would further cause her pain.

Somehow I needed to put Lord Markeley off, to convince him that I would not marry him even if he asked.

Perhaps I could find a way to tell him privately that MillicentSkidmore had a fortune of her own, for her father had dedicated fifteen thousand pounds to go to her when she married, plus an annuity of five hundred pounds. That was no small dowry. Lord Markeley could certainly do worse. But I suspected he already knew what her dowry was. Such things were usually public knowledge so that each gentleman knew what he was getting before he proposed marriage.

After an enjoyable time shopping, we arrived home just after calling hours were over. Samuel and Annabelle had gone back to Lord Brookhaven’s. “We decided the children needed a little time apart,” Gretchen said with a smile when I came upstairs.

So Sarah and Joshua were alone in their room when I brought the gifts to them. When Sarah saw one of the dolls, with its real blond hair and bright blue painted eyes, she cried out and hugged it to her chest.

“My very own doll,” she gasped.

“Yes, indeed.”

But the moment was not to last, for Joshua whooped as loud as any banshee as he fell upon the wooden rocking horse the footman brought and set down in the middle of the playroom. He immediately climbed on and held the rein with his good hand, yelling, “Get up and go, horsey!”

I stayed as long as I could, watching them play, my heart full of joy and my eyes equally full of tears, at times, until I had to get ready for our dinner party. Somehow, after the joy I’d felt at the children’s excitement, I couldn’t feel any dread about the evening, though I’d lain awake the night before, trying to plan what to do.

Lord Brookhaven was the first to arrive, followed immediately by Mr. Merritt. We sat in the drawing room. The conversation felt rather forced, but when Lord Markeley arrived, he’d obviously been imbibing in spirits. His eyes were red, and he couldn’t seem to stop talking.

“Miss Robbins, you’re looking particularly pretty this evening,” he said, stumbling over the many syllables inparticularly.

“Miss Skidmore loaned me her ribbon, and doesn’t she look fetching? I think the way the servant did her hair this evening is especially attractive.”

Lord Markeley seemed reluctant to turn his head and look at Miss Skidmore, but he finally did and said, “Miss Skidmore looks wonderfully well, as always.” He made a point to bow to her, and in doing so, he spilled a few drops of his drink on the floor.

Mrs. Drake rang for a servant while Lord Brookhaven threw down his handkerchief to soak up the wine.

“Come on, Markeley,” Mr. Merritt muttered. “Why don’t you drink some tea so you don’t end up embarrassing yourself.”

“Embarrassing myself?” Lord Markeley scrunched his face and let out a long hiss. “I’m not the one—” Lord Brookhaven put his arm around Lord Markeley’s shoulders and guided him out the door into the hall, talking quietly in his ear.

“But I’m not the one who—” could be heard growing quieter as the two men made their way away from the other guests.

Percy Allen arrived and then there was nothing left to do but pray that Lord Brookhaven could get Lord Markeley to sober up before making their way back by the time dinner was announced.

“Allow me to congratulate you on your inheritance, Miss Robbins,” Mr. Allen said, the most words I’d heard him string together at one time. “My father and mother asked me to send their good wishes for your health and happiness.”

“Thank you, Mr. Allen. Are your parents well?”

“They are, I thank you.”

The conversation was just that scintillating, until Millicent, Hattie, and Mr. Allen began to talk of their favorite music. Then Mr. Merritt turned to me and said quietly enough that no one else could hear, “Have you thought any more about my proposal?”

“I have thought about it, and I know it isn’t fair to you, but I haven’t come to a decision yet. Forgive me. I promise not to make you wait much longer.”

He was quiet, staring down at the sofa cushion between us. Finally,he said, “I believe I may promise that you will be very comfortable, very content when you are my wife.”