His Impassioned Proposal (The Bridgethorpe Brides) by Aileen Fish Page B
Authors: Aileen Fish
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after the night of your return when I hoped you would fail, I was certain you would gain her affections. What keeps her from considering you? Surely not that foolish proposal.”
“No. At least not directly. But I don’t have her permission to share her concerns, so forgive me if I remain vague.”
David rubbed a hand over his hair. “I understand. So you will enter the Marriage Market with the rest of the poor saps?”
“I will. And I am not pleased at the prospect. I do not plan to drag the decision out over more than one Season.” He glanced at his cousin. “You wouldn’t be able to make any recommendations, would you?”
Holding his hands up, David stepped back. “I am not about to become involved in any decision as important as that. Ask me about horse flesh and I’ll be quite forthcoming. But you are on your own when choosing a wife.”
Stephen had to laugh at how pale David appeared. “But you will be there, won’t you, with Hannah?”
“Don’t remind me. Knightwick has taken on some of Father’s responsibilities with the Bridgethorpe estates, so I will be on hand when he can’t be.”
“Well then, if we happen to be at the same assembly one evening, perhaps you might see fit to make some introductions.”
David grimaced. “I’d forgotten you haven’t met the important matrons. If you can wait until after the Spring Meeting, I can spend a few days in London. We’ll make some calls and see that you are invited to a few of the early assemblies.”
“I am grateful, cousin. A few of the men in my regiment will be in Town, and I will call on them also. Perhaps they have sisters in need of a husband.”
They grew quiet as Triton passed in front of them. Stephen wished he could spend the Season traveling to the races and put off any decision-making for another year. But the losses he’d seen in the past year had made perfectly clear how brief one’s life could be.
For the next week, Stephen put his team through their paces on the tracks at Fernleigh. His confidence at the reins was growing. He might not be a winning driver yet, but he could maneuver his way through the crowds in Hyde Park without tossing a young lady off the seat. After putting away his team, he went into the cottage to clean up. He reached the first landing on the staircase before David caught him.
“There you are, Stephen. Sir Perry arrived about an hour ago and is waiting for you in the study.”
“Sir Perry? How odd. Did he say why he’d come?”
“No. He’s in Newmarket for the race, but he didn’t state what business he has with you. As he’s such an old family friend, I didn’t press the matter.”
“Of course not. I’ll go to him as soon as I wash off the horse sweat.”
“Not that he’d be offended by the smell of horses, but I understand your wish to appear at your best. I’ll have Thackery let him know he can expect you shortly.”
Stephen found Sir Perry gazing out the window that overlooked the stables. “Sir Perry. I was surprised to hear you’d stopped by. Is something amiss? Are Lady Marwick and Miss Marwick well?”
“They are both well, and arriving in London on the morrow. That is the purpose of my call.”
“Is there some matter I may assist you with?” Stephen stopped a few feet from the man.
“Yes. You’ll go speak with my daughter and put a stop to all this nonsense once and for all.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Sir Perry waved his meaty hands, something he only did when flustered, a state Stephen rarely had seen him in. “You will go to Jane and convince her it’s time the two of you marry.”
Stephen raised a hand to comb his fingers through his hair and caught himself before he could tangle with the eye patch ribbon. “She made it perfectly clear she wished nothing of the sort. I’m reasonably certain the matter is closed.”
“You’re a man, open it again. The girl doesn’t know what is good for her. You are good for her.”
“She no longer agrees. She asked
“No. At least not directly. But I don’t have her permission to share her concerns, so forgive me if I remain vague.”
David rubbed a hand over his hair. “I understand. So you will enter the Marriage Market with the rest of the poor saps?”
“I will. And I am not pleased at the prospect. I do not plan to drag the decision out over more than one Season.” He glanced at his cousin. “You wouldn’t be able to make any recommendations, would you?”
Holding his hands up, David stepped back. “I am not about to become involved in any decision as important as that. Ask me about horse flesh and I’ll be quite forthcoming. But you are on your own when choosing a wife.”
Stephen had to laugh at how pale David appeared. “But you will be there, won’t you, with Hannah?”
“Don’t remind me. Knightwick has taken on some of Father’s responsibilities with the Bridgethorpe estates, so I will be on hand when he can’t be.”
“Well then, if we happen to be at the same assembly one evening, perhaps you might see fit to make some introductions.”
David grimaced. “I’d forgotten you haven’t met the important matrons. If you can wait until after the Spring Meeting, I can spend a few days in London. We’ll make some calls and see that you are invited to a few of the early assemblies.”
“I am grateful, cousin. A few of the men in my regiment will be in Town, and I will call on them also. Perhaps they have sisters in need of a husband.”
They grew quiet as Triton passed in front of them. Stephen wished he could spend the Season traveling to the races and put off any decision-making for another year. But the losses he’d seen in the past year had made perfectly clear how brief one’s life could be.
For the next week, Stephen put his team through their paces on the tracks at Fernleigh. His confidence at the reins was growing. He might not be a winning driver yet, but he could maneuver his way through the crowds in Hyde Park without tossing a young lady off the seat. After putting away his team, he went into the cottage to clean up. He reached the first landing on the staircase before David caught him.
“There you are, Stephen. Sir Perry arrived about an hour ago and is waiting for you in the study.”
“Sir Perry? How odd. Did he say why he’d come?”
“No. He’s in Newmarket for the race, but he didn’t state what business he has with you. As he’s such an old family friend, I didn’t press the matter.”
“Of course not. I’ll go to him as soon as I wash off the horse sweat.”
“Not that he’d be offended by the smell of horses, but I understand your wish to appear at your best. I’ll have Thackery let him know he can expect you shortly.”
Stephen found Sir Perry gazing out the window that overlooked the stables. “Sir Perry. I was surprised to hear you’d stopped by. Is something amiss? Are Lady Marwick and Miss Marwick well?”
“They are both well, and arriving in London on the morrow. That is the purpose of my call.”
“Is there some matter I may assist you with?” Stephen stopped a few feet from the man.
“Yes. You’ll go speak with my daughter and put a stop to all this nonsense once and for all.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Sir Perry waved his meaty hands, something he only did when flustered, a state Stephen rarely had seen him in. “You will go to Jane and convince her it’s time the two of you marry.”
Stephen raised a hand to comb his fingers through his hair and caught himself before he could tangle with the eye patch ribbon. “She made it perfectly clear she wished nothing of the sort. I’m reasonably certain the matter is closed.”
“You’re a man, open it again. The girl doesn’t know what is good for her. You are good for her.”
“She no longer agrees. She asked