The Earl's Passionate Plot Page 3

  "I cannot see how."

  "Trust me. If we can somehow make the earl seem appealing, the heiress will have no reason to question his suitability."

  "And they will fall in love and go off to be married!" Ella chimed in as a dreamy schoolgirl might be expected to chime.

  "That is the goal," Mariah said, although for the life of her she could not imagine the earl falling in love with anyone but himself.

  Still, stranger things had happened, she supposed. And besides, it was hardly a requisite that the couple fall in love. All they needed was for the heiress not to despise the earl long enough to realize she wanted his title. Surely the concerted efforts of Mariah's very determined household could produce that simple effect.

  "So he will marry her and then go off and leave us alone?" Mamma questioned.

  "Of course," Mariah assured her. "Why would he not? It's not Renford Hall that he cares about, it's the American's and their money. We must simply facilitate his connection with that."

  "And all will be as it was?"

  "I believe so, Mamma. The earl will have what he wants, the Americans will gain their entrance to society, and everyone will leave us in peace."

  "I will have my proper coming-out, just as Papa promised?" Ella asked after digesting it all.

  "Yes, just as he promised," Mariah said.

  The clock on the mantle ticked off the seconds as Mamma contemplated their dilemma. What she was contemplating, Mariah wasn't quite sure. Clearly they had but one option and she'd just laid it out plainly. There could be nothing more to decide. Still, she was silent and let her mother come to terms with things.

  "Very well," Mamma said at last. "I will allow these Americans into my home. I will play hostess."

  "Excellent, Mamma. I'm sure they are lovely people, and how interesting it will be to meet them. I've not met anyone from the colonies, have you?"

  "No, I daresay I haven't."

  "And this heiress," Ella asked. "Do you suppose she is very nearly my age?"

  "Two years older. The earl said she is nineteen," Mariah replied. "Perhaps you will make a fast friend."

  "I think I might enjoy that. She could tell me of her life in the wilderness. I've read they have bears and other fierce creatures roaming everywhere in America!"

  "I doubt Miss Vandenhoff has seen many of them, Ella. She's from New York, and it is quite a large city, I've heard."

  "Well, I'm sure there are other fascinating things she can tell me. Yes, Mamma, perhaps this is a good thing, after all. It might be fun to have houseguests here at the Hall."

  Mamma was still unconvinced. "And the earl? I suppose he'll be staying here, as well?"

  "It would be very difficult for him to court the American if he did not," Mariah said. "But don't worry. I'm sure he will be on his best behavior."

  "For him, that might very well not be good enough. I cannot say I am happy to be in this situation, Mariah."

  "Nor I, believe me. But unless you would rather pack our things and be out on the street within three days time..."

  "Three days!"

  "Yes, Mamma. That's when the Americans will arrive."

  "Why, we hardly have time to prepare for guests in just three days!"

  "We'll be fine Mamma. You will be as charming as ever, our servants are always respectful and attentive, and the house is in perfect order to host a small party. You'll see. Before long, Miss Vandenhoff will be swooning at Lord Dovington's feet."

  "In that case, let us hope the brute doesn't trip over her."

  Chapter 5

  Three days had flown by. Mariah barely had time to catch her breath as she made sure all was in perfect order for their guest's arrival. The one guest they already had—the unwelcome earl—had been very much—and very thankfully—absent. She did not pretend to regret that. The times when he had made himself visible in the house he'd been every bit as unpleasant as he'd seemed on their first meeting.

  Clearly she would have her work cut out for her if she was to have Miss Vandenhoff swooning at the man's feet any time soon. She could only hope the young lady was of a docile, moldable nature. When the family had arrived just over an hour ago, Mariah had not been given enough time to formulate any opinion of the girl at all before she took herself up to her room for refreshing. With dinner just minutes away now, Mariah was eager for their American guests' reappearance and an opportunity at last to assess this person who was ultimately pivotal in Mariah's plan.

  "Have they come down yet?" Ella asked, poking her head into the drawing room where Mariah waited.

  "No, none of them yet."

  Ella must have doubted her for she glanced carefully around before actually entering. "Not the earl?"

  "No, he's been away all day and I've no idea when he'll turn up."

  "Good. I don't like when he's here. He's so stern and so serious all the time. And I don't like how he looks at everything in our house as if he's trying to estimate the value of it."

  "He probably is."

  "Well, not all of it is his. Some things are ours and we can take them when we go, can't we, Mariah?"

  "Of course. I've been drawing a list so there will be no question when it comes time for us to go. If it comes time for us to go."

  "You really think there is still hope that we might stay?"

  She would like to feel a bit more certain of it, but she managed to assure her sister all the same. "Of course there is hope. And now that the Vandenhoff family is here, we are one huge step closer to building that hope."

  Ella wrinkled her nose as she plopped gracelessly into the sofa. "I can't imagine anyone wanting to marry that earl, not even an American. He's terrible."

  "Hush! Would you have him walk in and hear you?"

  Now Ella looked horrified. "My gracious, no! He'd turn those dark, frightful eyes on me and I'd likely melt into the floor. Heavens, are you so sure we ought to wish him on Miss Vandenhoff?"

  "He's a titled nobleman so she'd be a countess. That's not something to dismiss lightly, even if the man is somewhat unpleasant. And you must admit, Ella, he is at least pleasant to look at, when he's not glaring or skulking or making demands."

  "I don't think I've ever seen him when he's not doing those things." Apparently the mere thought of it caused her to giggle. "Sorry, but I can't think of him as pleasant."

  "You don't think so? His features are classically attractive, and even though he does choose to dress as an undertaker, he does so with elegance."

  "But he must be all of thirty years old! Poor Miss Vandenhoff, to come all this way from America only to end up married to someone like that."

  "Thirty years old is not quite ancient, not for a gentleman," Mariah chided. "I myself will be that age before too very long."

  "You are hardly so old. And even when you are, you will not be half as unlikeable as Lord Dovington."

  "Well, I should hope not. I shall try not to turn into a withered, grumbling ogre over the next few years."

  Ella giggled, but their wicked glee ended up cut short. Once again, Mariah was frozen by that voice from the doorway.

  "I'm an ogre now?" he asked. "I suppose that is better than the tyrant I was on my first day here."

  The sound of a small mammal having its tail stepped on eeked out of Ella. Mariah, however, was beginning to get used to his lordship's annoying habit of turning up just in time to hear her speak badly of him. She simply stiffened her backbone, turned, and gave him a condescending smile.

  "I see you are returned just in time for dinner, my lord," she said. "You'll be happy to hear that our guests have arrived. They should be down presently."

  "Excellent. I shall try not to grumble or make my decrepit self particularly ogre-ish for them."

  "I'm sure they will appreciate that," Mariah replied, although the look Ella shot her clearly insisted she should have been just a bit more apologetic.

  "I trust the family was properly welcomed and has been afforded every element of hospitality?"he said which, by the
mere fact that he felt compelled to ask such a thing of her, was every bit as insulting as her words to him.

  "Of course, sir. I sent them down to the kitchens with specific instruction they be offered our best gruel and stale bread."

  "Mariah, you did not!" Ella gasped. She twisted her fingers together and blinked up at the earl. "She is funning you, sir. I promise, the Vandenhoffs have been given our best rooms and a full complement of servants to look after them."

  "Of course, Miss Renford," he replied, somehow managing a nearly charming smile for the girl. "I recognize your sister is simply teasing. No doubt the Vandenhoffs are enjoying their stay here already. But tell me, Miss Langley, what do you think of these Americans? Are they as you expected?"

  "I've never met any Americans so I'm afraid I have no expectations, sir," she said in the most civil tones she could locate. "And I'm sure my opinion hardly matters one way or another. I would so much rather hear what you think of them."

  "As I've not met them myself I'm afraid I have no judgment to offer. Ah, but I believe I hear them on the stairway now. It seems we will be forming our opinions together."

  And she was determined his would be a positive one. Miss Vandenhoff had appeared pleasing enough, if perhaps a bit plain, but no doubt anyone would seem lackluster after such lengthy travel. Mariah would make it her duty to attend to the girl's every need and have her presenting in the best possible light right away.

  "Here we are, this is the room," Mamma's voice sang sweetly out in the corridor.

  She led the Vandenhoff family into the drawing room. The earl had been filling up most of the empty space, but he stepped aside to allow Mamma and the two Vandenhoff ladies to enter. Mr. Vandenhoff followed behind, a short man whose well-fed belly proceeded him into the room, but whose demeanor had been jovial enough on their brief meeting earlier. He smiled amiably and acknowledged the party inside the room with a nod and a bow.

  "I see everyone has assembled," Mrs. Vandenhoff said with her unpolished accent. "I'm sorry if we kept you all waiting."

  "Not at all," Mariah replied, then wondered if perhaps it should have been the earl's place to acknowledge them first.

  It was, after all, his house. Since he'd never before met his own guests, though, she supposed she was in order. At least as much as any of this could be. She caught Mamma's eye and gave a tiny nod, hopefully reminding her to make proper introductions.

  Not used to playing hostess for such unusual company, Mamma seemed momentarily flustered then managed to recall herself. She cleared her throat and turned to face the earl.

  "My lord, may I present Mr. Vandenhoff, his lovely wife, and their very charming daughter, Miss Vandenhoff?"

  The earl responded exactly as he should have, politely and masterfully. There was hardly any trace of his usual scowl or leering condescension. Mariah was most impressed. So, the horrid man could behave himself, after all. Excellent. That would make her task all the easier.

  Obligatory inquiries into everyone's well-being and the course of the Vandenhoffs' recent travel, then at last it was time to go in to dinner. Mariah had fussed nervously over the preparations earlier in the kitchen until cook had finally thrown her out. Of course the meal would be excellent; Mariah had no need to worry. Their servants were more than competent. By now everyone in the household knew how important it was to make a good impression.

  Miss Vandenhoff, however, did not seem to be doing her fair part in it. The young lady had been mostly silent until they were all seated in the dining room and the first course was being brought in. As it turned out, turtle soup was apparently not to Miss Vandenhoff 's liking.

  "It is too strong," she said without ceremony, or without even tasting her bowl. "I am not one to indulge in rich meals and needless delicacies. A simple broth or a weakened porridge is more than sufficient."

  Mariah caught Ella's horrified expression and silently willed her sister to stay silent. Perhaps Miss Vandenhoff was feeling unwell after all their travels, or perhaps this was nothing more than the American way to show gratitude for the excellent meal laid out before her. She simply would not allow herself to assume the girl was being intentionally rude. No, it couldn't be that. All her hopes rested on the supposition that Miss Vandenhoff had innumerable fine qualities and that the earl would notice every one of them.

  "Perhaps some bread, Miss Vandenhoff?" Mamma offered, catching the eye of the extra footman they'd hired specifically to help tend to the needs of their guests.

  He responded promptly and offered the loaf to Miss Vandenhoff in an elegant manner. She, however, turned up her nose.

  "It is written that man shall not live by bread alone," she said stiffly. "As we all know, that includes women, as well."

  "Oh, but soup and bread aren't the only courses," Ella piped up quickly. "The remove will be here soon. Stewed eels, I believe."

  Mariah cringed as Miss Vandenhoff went painfully ashen. Ella didn't seem to notice this and she rattled on about how cook's eels were the best anyone could ever imagine. It was obvious Miss Vandenhoff had no inclination to confirm this for herself.

  Drat the girl! How on earth was Mariah going to recommend her to the world-wise earl if she could not find anything to catch her attention in some positive manner? Mariah switched conversation from food onto the scenery the Vandenhoffs must have passed through on their way. Mrs. Vandenhoff spoke in glowing terms of the picturesque cottages and tidy lanes, while Mr. Vandenhoff expressed admiration for the rich farmland around them. Miss Vandenhoff, however, commented merely that the flowers they had passed on the roadside seemed to agitate her allergies.

  Oh, but the girl was becoming insufferable. Try as she might, Mariah found herself less and less able to account Miss Vandenhoff 's unpleasant demeanor to travel fatigue. She could not credit it to the girl being American, either, as her parents were truly quite agreeable. Miss Vandenhoff, it would seem, was positively determined to be tedious and bland, if not openly rude altogether. It was as if she were a dark cloud hanging over their dinner and Mariah was helpless to do anything about it.

  The earl certainly noticed it, too. More than once she caught him rolling his eyes. Oh, he tried not to let his annoyance show, and it was a wonder Mariah had detected it considering he was such a disagreeable sort himself, but clearly he was not thrilled with the young lady's conduct. Mariah would have quite a task ahead of her to bring these two together.

  Heavens, given the worried look on Mamma's face and the irritated scowl on Ella's, Mariah would have quite a task ahead of her just getting through dinner tonight.

  Chapter 6

  Somehow they did survive dinner without anyone saying anything hugely regrettable. Well, anyone besides Miss Vandenhoff. The girl turned her nose up at nearly everything set out before her and when finally Mamma suggested it was time the ladies adjourned to the drawing room Ella nearly leapt to her feet and ran from the table. Mariah could only hope now that the meal was over Miss Vandenhoff might possibly find something—anything—positive to say.

  She nearly groaned out loud when Mamma graciously invited the girl to find yet more things to complain about.

  "So, Miss Vandenhoff, how do you find your room here? We hope you are comfortable."

  Thankfully, Miss Vandenhoff seemed to have run out of grievances. "It was quite adequate, ma'am. I look forward to passing my time there during our stay."

  Ella was noticeably brighter at that. "Oh? You plan to spend much of your time up in your room?"

  Mariah shot her sister a disapproving glare. "I'm sure Miss Vandenhoff didn't mean to imply she will spend very much of her time cloistered away."

  "Of course not," Mrs. Vandenhoff said, shooting her own disapproving glare at her daughter. "She will be in company with the rest of us whenever possible. Won't you, Mabel?"

  "I suppose so," Miss Vandenhoff replied with a not-so-subtle huff. "Whether I wish to or not."

  "We'll try not to bore you over much," Ella said, just a teensy bit too sweet to sound in
any way sincere.

  "We do have some lovely shops in the village," Mamma suggested. "Perhaps our girls will entertain themselves there tomorrow. Also, there are many pleasant walks in the area. I do hope both of you find ample ways to amuse yourself during your stay."

  Mrs. Vandenhoff seemed honestly appreciative of Mamma's suggestions. Apparently the woman very much approved of the out-of-doors and asked after the walks Mamma had mentioned. Mariah was eager to encourage this hopeful conversation before Miss Vandenhoff had a chance to express further objection.

  "Yes, the countryside is very lovely this time of year with everything just coming to life after winter. What sort of activities are you most interested in, Miss Vandenhoff?"

  "I enjoy reading," the lady replied, not surprisingly.

  Well, it was not following their discussion of out-of-doors activities, but at least it was something the girl seemed to be interested in. Mariah could work with that. She smiled at her.

  "How lucky then, as we are all great readers here. My step-father kept a large library."

  "Indeed he did!" Mamma chimed in. "We have a good many volumes on travel and gardening and other very interesting subjects."

  "We even have a fine collection of the latest novels," Mariah added quickly. "Ella might not admit it, but she spends most every night burning her candles over something gothic and frightful."

  "I do not!" Ella exclaimed, then leaned in toward Miss Vandenhoff. "Though I'd be happy to loan you the first volumes of The Orphan of Tintern Abbey. The beginning is quite shocking as we find a poor child standing over a man in the agonies of death and—"

  Miss Vandenhoff cut her off. "Improving books. I only read improving books, Miss Renford."

  Ella was clearly taken aback, not to mention disappointed. "Oh. I suppose Papa must have had some of those on his shelves, too."

  "No worry. I brought my own."

  Ella scowled and was left grumbling under her breath. "Of course you did. How silly of me not to assume so."

  Mariah was desperate to find some way to make pleasant conversation, no matter how obviously contrary the young lady might be. Mamma seemed quite at a loss in the face of such petulance and Mrs. Vandenhoff was clearly embarrassed. What a difficult young lady Miss Vandenhoff was! They all sat in silence for several seconds before Mariah came up with something to say.