Chapter 1

“Merope!” cried Mrs. Felicity Robbins, bustling out of the kitchen and drying her hands on her apron. She stood in the hallway of the Robbins Inn and looked towards the staircase that led upstairs. “Merope! Go and fetch the mail! After that, I will need you to go and inspect the rooms and make certain they are clean!”

Merope gently closed the front door of the inn behind her. She was dressed simply, in a plain muslin, with a white apron. Her blonde hair was pinned in a simple bun. Her mother whirled around and looked at her. “Oh! There you are. Go and fetch – ”

“I have it right here, Mother,” she said, holding up several folded, red-sealed letters. “I’ll go upstairs and inspect the rooms in a moment, but you may want to know that there is a note from Worthington among this stack of letters.”

“From Worthington! From the earl and the countess?” Mrs. Robbins snatched away the stack of letters and took them into the kitchen, where two servants worked to clean the dishes before starting the day’s baking for the patrons of the inn.

She sat down at a small table in the corner and Merope took a chair across from her. “It’s still hard to believe that the earl married that little servant girl,” said Merope. “Grace Miller, wasn’t it? She’s come a long way from living in a cottage at the far end of town.”

Mrs. Robbins shot her a quick glance even as she sorted through the letters. “Whatever her name was, it’s Lady Worthington now, and she’ll never be a servant ever again.”

Merope sighed. “If Earl Worthington can marry a coachman’s daughter and maid-of-all-work, I suppose anything can happen. Now, what is in the letter?”

“Here.” Her mother allowed the note to fall to the table. “You may look at it and see, perhaps it is a dinner invitation.”

“I suppose that would be nice,” said Merope, reaching for the note, “but I am not sure there would be any reason for me to go. The earl is no longer in search of a wife.”

“And what does that matter? Does he not have male friends? Cousins? Acquaintances? There could be any number of very respectable and very well-to-do young men attending the events held at Worthington.”

Mrs. Robbins gave her daughter a very stern expression. “There is far more at stake here than you simply getting a husband. This inn – this source of income for you and me both – requires you to have a husband who can put his name on the deed, since neither you nor I can do so.”

“Yes, yes. I will do my best I can to find a husband, but I am not willing to marry just anyone.”

“Of course and since you do wish to marry well, you have every reason to prize an invitation to the home of the earl and the new countess.”

Carefully, Merope broke the dark red wax seal that held the folded letter together and opened it up. “Hmm,” she said, reading silently.

“Well, girl, what is it? An invitation? Or something else entirely? Tell me!”

“It seems to be,” said Merope, “an invitation. To – a picnic.”

“A picnic?” Her mother sounded a bit disappointed, but then could wait no longer and snatched the letter from Merope’s fingers. “It is indeed a picnic,” she murmured as she read. “It will be held on Midsummer, the twenty-first day of June. Won’t that be nice?”

“Oh, yes, just ever so nice.” Merope did not bother to hide the boredom in her voice. “Another of the same old picnics, like so many I have attended before. Are you certain you can spare me from my duties here?”

“Merope! No doubt, there will be many fine young men in attendance!”

Merope just nodded. Felicity Robbins had been running the Robbins Inn herself for many years, ever since the death of her husband when Merope was very young. If anyone knew the details of everyone who lived in the entire county, it was her.

“I see. So I suppose you want me to go to this picnic.”

Mrs. Robbins peered at her daughter over the top of the note. “You suppose I want you to go? Of course you should go! What better place than a gathering at Worthington to find a man who will propose to you!”

Keeping her temper under control, Merope placed her hands flat on the table and closed her eyes. “Mother, I am nineteen years old and I have never received a single proposal.”

“Yes, but – ”

“You will not be able to run the inn forever, especially if you are alone here with only a couple of servants to help you – servants who could leave at any time. You need me here. If I married, I would be expected to live with my husband.”

Mrs. Robbins drew herself up. “I appreciate your kind concern, Merope, but I am quite capable. I have been running this inn since you were barely able to walk. I am sure I can continue to do so for many years to come, if need be.”

“Yes, if need be – but perhaps you should not have to carry such a burden alone. I can help while I am here. Anyway, I cannot marry as long as I stay in this sleepy little town that has virtually no prospects.”

“But – there are fine young men here. Farmers, merchants – ”

She held up one hand. “But if I can do better, shouldn’t I try for better? Though I do not wish to boast, it is simply a fact that I am one of the best catches in Birdwell. Men say they like blonde women with a little height to them. I am well read and capable. You have taught me to manage this inn, and so I could certainly manage a home. I am well worth a proposal. But I do not see how I will ever get one unless I can somehow leave this unchanging little town.”

“Merry, please. I know you are desperate to go to London for a season, in hopes of finding a man more to your liking.”

“A man who enjoys the city. A man who thrives on the variety and sophistication it has to offer. Not to mention, such a man might have an interest in business, and the running of an inn in a small town.”

“Yes. I do understand. But I have explained that the cost is far too dear for you to go to London any time soon and will be for some time. There was the new oaken floor in the dining room, the replacement linens for the beds upstairs – ”

“I know about all that, Mother. I know, but that will not get me married. I must find a way to get to the city, at least for a time. I am not going to find the right man at a little country picnic, even if it is a picnic at Worthington. The sort of man I want, the sort of life I want, is in the city. My kind of man will not want to be out here in the country, or have to do anything with this inn.”

***

Somewhere in London

There was a tremendous pounding inside of James Brookford’s head. Or maybe it was someone beating on the door of his room. Or maybe it was both.

“Innkeeper! Open up!”

Very slowly, groaning to himself, James sat up. He was in a rumpled bed, which sat beneath the one high window of his small room at the inn. Light poured in from the window above and made him close his eyes tightly. The room stank of unwashed bodies, filthy clothes, old food, vomit, and . . . worse.

The pain in his head only got worse with every move he made.

There was a quick rustling from either side of him. Blinking, James watched two women quickly sit up and get out of the bed.

“Thank you, dearie!” one of them called, gathering up her cloak.

“Got the payment last night!” said the other, hastily pulling on her half-boots. “Call us again anytime!”

The two women were only half-dressed in ragged clothes but did not seem to care; they pulled the door open and pushed past whoever was knocking on the other side. James closed his eyes again, partly from the ongoing pain in his temples, and partly from the sight of those two women.

The pounding continued, even with the door open. He must have made a particularly valiant effort at drowning his sorrows the night before. “Just – just a minute,” James muttered, sliding his feet down to the floor and noticing with some relief that he was still dressed. “I’ll be there directly.”

He managed to stand up and then stumble over to the door, to find the tall heavy form and scowling face of the innkeeper.

“Enough’s enough, Brookford,” the man said, shoving a long piece of paper at him. “I want this paid today. Then I want you gone!”

James reached out for the paper. His eyes weren’t focused enough to read it, but he knew it was a list of charges for several weeks’ worth of rooming, food, ale, and wine. “All right,” he said, attempting to fold the paper and slip it inside his linen shirt. “All right. Give me an hour. I will pack up – and then I will be gone.”

“An hour. No more,” growled the innkeeper. “If I come back and you are still here, I’ll sell anything of yours that’s still in this room – and you can take these too!”

A handful of folded papers fell to the floor. Some had bright red wax seals on them. “I’ll pay it,” James said, awkwardly bending down to gather up the sealed papers. “I can have gold, in an hour.”

“Good! Don’t make me – ”

James threw the door shut, though he could not blame the man for wanting to be paid. It was true that he had stayed in this room for far too long and spent far too many weeks trying to forget about the games that women played . . . and the game that one woman in particular had played on him.

After making every effort to forget, all he had done was sink so low, that now, here he was waking up, ape-drunk, with two examples of some of the lowest of Haymarket’s wares to be found in his bed, and now his debts were running up so high, he could hardly guess the amount.

Sitting down on the edge of the bed with a heavy sigh, James tossed aside the list of charges. The sealed and folded papers looked to have been sitting for weeks, for he had never called at the desk for any messages.

There had been no reason why he should. Until some two years before, he had been living north of London at Albany, his family’s small estate. He had been quite comfortable there, enjoying the peace and beauty, and left only to go to Cambridge University to obtain his degree in law. As soon as that was done, he returned home at the age of twenty-six and soon asked Angela, a beautiful girl from the little nearby town of Birdwell, to marry him.

At the thought of Angela, James nearly reached for the bottle of gin that still rested on the small table beside the bed – but then stopped. He had escaped to London with the sole purpose of never thinking of her again. Instead, he reached for the stack of letters that the innkeeper had brought him.

The first was from his cousin, Thomas Worthington, who was also the Earl Worthington. He lived on the grand and beautiful family estate of the same name, just north of the town of Birdwell. It was some eight miles from James’s home of Albany and he fondly remembered visiting Thomas and his family when they were boys.

My dear cousin;

It has been a very long while since I last wrote, but I have much good news. The Teeswater cattle that I told you about when last I wrote has been progressing well. The herd is growing steadily.

My mother is well. She has stepped back from her duties and into the role of Dowager Countess, with her usual grace. She has been enjoying herself.

I must tell you of my joy: I have recently wed Miss Grace Miller. She is an absolute angel, and I have never been so happy in all of my life. We would all be very pleased if you would come and visit Worthington. I want you to meet my wife.
Not to mention, hunting season is just around the corner, and my friend, Simon Clarke, whom you know well is becoming serious about breeding Thoroughbred horses for both racing and the hunt field.

Please write back soon, so that we can make the proper arrangements for your arrival.

All the best,

Thomas, Earl Worthington

It all sounded lovely and perfect, which was always how the Worthingtons had lived their lives. Though it was true that he would not object to seeing Thomas again . . . and his new wife . . . and his mother . . . and enjoy their fine food and good wine and brandy . . .

But all James managed to do was vomit copiously into the sheets this time, before sitting up again and trying to catch his breath.

Sitting in the ruined mess of his room – and his life – James decided that the time had come – to go back to Albany and Birdwell. He knew that his family missed him and he was beginning to miss them, too. There were some painful memories there, but home was home.

A quick glance in the mirror showed James’s disheveled dark hair, his unshaven, pale face. The dark circles underneath his hazel eyes.

It could hardly be worse than this.

Chapter 2

Merope rose to her feet and stood behind the kitchen chair. “Here in Birdwell, it’s always the same thing, with the same men, over and over again. All the games and machinations and scheming and devious planning. No one ever tells the truth.”

Her mother sighed. “Well, dear, I’m afraid that neither woman, nor man, ever tells the whole truth in matters of love. Surely you are not pretending to be shocked by this.”

“No, Mother. I am not shocked by it. But I am very tired of the games men play. I want – ” She paused for a moment, thinking. “I want an honest man. I am tired of men who only tell me what they think I want to hear. I would far prefer brutal honesty to pretty little words that mean nothing and fade away faster than snowflakes.”

She thought her mother might snap back, strong as she was; instead, Mrs. Robbins only sat quietly at the table. “You have grown so cold, Merope,” she said, her voice very soft. “I worry for you. Serenity is a fine thing in a woman, but a cold and uncaring heart is very different. I especially began to see it after the earl married Grace Miller last year.”

“The servant girl.”

“Yes, the servant girl, who is now Lady Worthington, and even before that – ” She looked closely at Merope. “Even before that, there was the matter of your friend Sally Henson and her suitor. What was his name?”

Merope raised her head and for a moment was not going to answer, but she soon relented. “Daniel Bird.”

“Yes. The steady young man from one of the farms out towards the Viscount of Albany’s estate. You made him think you cared for him, when he learned of your game, he took an apprenticeship on a farm some fifty miles away and has never been back since.”

Merope felt her annoyance rising, but there was a small sense of triumph to go along with it. “There is no proof that I ‘stole him away.’ He seemed to like me, and I considered him for a time. That was all. We had no understanding between us at all. Sally Henson and I remain friends, and from what she has said, he intended to leave for his apprenticeship anyway. You may ask her about it when next you see her, if you wish.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed, however. “You knew how devoted Sally was to him. I can only tell you to be careful with such things, Merope. They can burst into flames in an instant and burn you before you know it.”

Merope kept her silence, and then after a moment sat down again at the table and folded her hands.

For just an instant, her mother covered Merope’s hand with her own. “I know that for you, still being young, love and marriage are simply games to play. You have never been in love. No man has broken your heart, though I believe you have broken a few yourself. Do not think it cannot happen to you. It can happen to the strongest of us.”

Merope realized that her mother was looking at the small portrait of her late husband, Ezra Robbins. That little painting was Merope’s only real memory of her father, for he had died when she was very young. She was well aware of how hard her mother worked, and how she had no one to look out for her save her daughter. Merope had made certain that she herself had the strength to get both of them through whatever troubles they might face, what with trying to run their own property in a world run by men.

She smiled and patted her mother’s hand in return. “I understand. There are many ways to lose someone. I am sure it is just as painful, no matter how it happens.”

Abruptly, Mrs. Robbins withdrew her hand and stood up. “Now, then,” she said briskly, with a deep breath. “I have no wish to argue with you. I will just say that there are always new guests at any event, even at a picnic in Birdwell. New friends, new cousins. Will you agree to accept Lord Worthington’s invitation?”

“I suppose I have little choice.” Merope remained at the table, frowning. “If I agree to go, will you at least consider sending me to London?”

Her mother hesitated. “If you go to the picnic,” she finally said, “I will make every effort to get you to London sometime next year.”

She raised her hand to halt her daughter’s protests that that would not be soon enough. “And to help make up for having to wait, I will get you a new dress and bonnet to wear to the earl’s picnic.”

Knowing she would get no better arrangement today, Merope nodded briefly and stood up. “I will go to the picnic and wear my new dress. But I hope to find a man there who will simply tell me the truth, whether he actually loves me or not!”

“All right then, Merry. Tomorrow we will go over to Fabrics, Feathers & Fineries and have you fitted with something new.”

Mrs. Robbins shook her head. “I can arrange to have a set of clothes made with no trouble. But I fear that finding an entirely honest man is not something that is in my power to give you.”

#

It took James several more days to get out of London – days spent at the townhomes of scattered friends, and once or twice, sleeping in the straw at the rear of some small back-alley stable. But he did, finally, escape the city and make his way home to Albany. At the sight of the large, but modest home, he thought that the sight of Heaven itself would never move him so much.

The fresh air and grass and trees seemed to make him whole again. Some six weeks after waking up in the squalor of the inn for the last time, James sat down to breakfast with his father and his mother—the Viscount and Viscountess of Albany. His appetite had returned with a vengeance and James had asked for generous portions of boiled eggs and fried sausages to be added to his plate.

“So,” his father, Matthew Brookford, Lord Albany, began, as he watched James eat. “It is well that all the wheat and oats and rye we grow did not fail this year. I think all of the profit at our little mill has gone to your breakfasts!”

James paused for a moment, before once again lifting another big spoonful of boiled egg to his mouth – but then saw his father smiling. “It’s all right, my son. We are both glad to see you well. You used to eat the same way as a boy.”

“Don’t worry about that, James,” said his mother, Mary Brookford, Lady Albany, pretending to be flustered by his father’s words. “It has been lonely here with just the two of us. We only end up giving leftover food to the Bird family’s hog farm down the road, and we would surely rather give it to you!”

“Well, I’m glad to hear it,” James said. “I should hate to think I was the cause of my parents’ bankruptcy simply due to overeating at breakfast.”

His mother laughed and then picked up a red-sealed letter from the small silver tray beside her on the table. “This arrived earlier today. It has your name, so I think you should open it.”

James glanced at it while slicing up the hot sausages. “An invitation?” He lifted the large chunk of sausage to his mouth with the fork, chewing and then swallowing before going on. “You should open it, Mother. I don’t care much for socializing. There is plenty to do here, so that I can earn all this food I am devouring. All those acres of corn to plant, not to mention supervising the grinding at the mill – ”

“It’s from Worthington. It is addressed especially to you.”

James sighed, finishing up the bite of sausage, and then cleaned his fingers on a linen napkin before breaking the seal on the note and unfolding it.

“A picnic,” he murmured, as his mother poured him some more tea and place the little bowl of freshly ground sugar beside it. “At Midsummer.”

“A picnic!” said Lady Albany. “How lovely. James, it would be the perfect event for your reintroduction to all the folk of Birdwell.”

He frowned a little, reaching for the hot cup of tea. “I suppose. But I will admit, I have grown accustomed to quiet days and peaceful nights, with only a few other people around. I am not certain that I would enjoy such a gathering.”

“It’s only a picnic,” said his father. “Held out in the open on an enormous estate. How crowded could it possibly be?”

“It does not matter so much where it is held. There will still be many there that I do not know.”

“Or that you do know, but have not seen in a very long time.” Lady Albany poured herself a little more tea. “And who will undoubtedly have many questions for you.”

“I am sure they will. I know they are curious. But I have no desire to inform a group of strangers and distant friends about things that are entirely personal to me.”

His parents just looked at him in silence. James knew very well that they had seen him fall into debauchery and dissipation some two years ago, and also knew, that they had been quite distraught when he had left for London in such a state. His mother, especially, was very relieved and happy simply to have him back. She would probably have let him do almost anything he pleased as long as he did not begin to slide inside a bottle once again.

“I do not see that you are obligated to tell them anything, beyond that which the most basic courtesy requires,” his mother said. “You might simply say that you decided to live in London for a time, following your commencement at Cambridge. Many young gentlemen would do the same.”

“I know that. And I had considered it. But most of them will know that that is not the whole story and I don’t think their curiosity will ever go away. I don’t want to be the subject of gossip all over the county.”

“James, my dear,” his mother said, “I am afraid it is far too late for that. You might as well go and face it, because it will never go away until you do.”

He set down the teacup and folded his hands beneath the table, feeling his temper rise. She was right, of course, but that did not improve his mood any. “I should have known.”

“They are just curious, and they do want to know that you are well now. Many of them have known you all your life. You were missed and they will be glad to see you again.”

James tapped his finger on the table. “All of them?”

“Of course, all – ” Lady Albany paused when her husband touched her arm and turned to look at him.

“I think I see the trouble now,” said Lord Albany. “She is gone. You will not see her at Worthington, or anywhere else in England.”

James looked closely at him, not sure he understood. “You are sure? Angela will not be attending this picnic?”

“She will not,” his mother said. “As your father told you, she is no longer in England.”

“How is that possible?”

“It is possible,” she went on, “because the former Miss Angela Stone moved to France with her husband.”

“With her husband.”

“Yes.” His mother nodded.

“France?”

“And they will not be coming back,” his mother assured him.

“I see.” James closed his eyes, not knowing if the news made him feel better or worse.

Lord Albany spoke up. “Even if Miss Stone did return – and I’m sorry, I don’t know what her married name is, and I care even less – that part of your life is over with, James. Isn’t it?”

He nodded, just slightly at first and then with more conviction. “Yes. It is over. Done.”

“Then you must stop letting it steer your life. You must decide to either live for yourself or die for her – a woman who cared so little for you that she married a wealthier man at the very first chance. Which do you want?”

“I think – I want – ”

His father leaned forward. “Choose! I should have demanded that you do so before you left for London. I didn’t then, but I am demanding it now. Which do you want?”

James had never seen his father so angry and determined over anything. Even his mother was very still, just looking up at him.

“I – no, I do not want to die for her.”

“Good.” His father sat back in his chair.

“But neither do I know how to live for myself,” James went on. “Not any longer.”

“Oh, James – I don’t understand,” said his mother, and he could hear the pain and confusion in her voice. “You are a good and intelligent gentleman. You can have any sort of life you choose. What are you talking about?”

“The life that I planned is no longer possible.” He had wanted to settle down with Angela. Perhaps, breed race horses, like Simon Clarke.

“But surely, you still wish to marry,” said his mother. “There are any number of fine young women right here, who would be honored to – ”

“No. I certainly do not wish to marry any time soon. Perhaps never.”

His parents fell silent. “All right,” said Lord Albany. “You will have to make some sort of decision before long. You don’t want to live in the city, yet you say you do not want the country, either. There is not much in between.”

James closed his eyes. “I do not mean to sound so entirely selfish. I am well aware that Albany has no other heir besides myself. I do not want you to have to find some long-lost cousin to inherit our home and our land . . . someone who may not care for it as we do. I truly do not want that.”

“I know you do not,” said his father.

“That is why I will, indeed, agree to at least try to find a suitable wife.” James could hear his mother’s sigh of relief. “And if either of you can tell me where I might find a woman or some lesser lord’s daughter who will be nothing but honest with me – I will be happy to go and meet her.”

There was a shocked silence. “I am sorry, Mother, Father – but I mean what I say. I have no trust left for females and their games.”

“I suppose not,” Lord Albany finally said. “But you are asking for a guarantee that no one could ever give you.”

“That is very true,” his mother said, nodding. I can only tell you something that I myself learned long ago: It is not so much a matter of trusting others. It is a matter of trusting yourself.”

James just gave her a sideways glance. “I am not marrying myself. Finding a woman who will be entirely honest with me, at all times, is what I do not know how to do.”

“There is no need to make this so difficult.” His father was beginning to lose patience. “The first one did not work out. So try again! Find another. You will find nothing if you cease to search.”

“I suppose so.” James looked away from them, glancing towards the bright windows. “Even though I rather enjoy the countryside myself, I recall what happened the last time when I thought I had found the ideal wife out here. I sometimes think – I sometimes think I should return to the city where there are far more eligible women.”

“But you just spent two years in the best parts of London,” his father complained. “What sort of women did you find there, in all that length of time? Any honest ones, as you say you want?”

He had no answer for that.

“Just so,” his father said. “Then perhaps your easiest course is to make a slow start. Simply go to Worthington in ten days and attend the picnic. It is but a small social occasion among friends and family. I am sure you will find no difficulty there.”

“I think that is a splendid idea,” said Lady Albany. “You have been going there all your life and your aunt and your cousin are quite fond of you. Perhaps remembering them, and the fine times you had there in your youth, would help return you to the proper path.”

“Besides, my son,” his father said, “in the two years that you have been gone, who knows what you will find among new neighbors who may have arrived during that time? And think how interesting it could be to see which young ladies might have grown up considerably.”

“That’s right,” said his mother, in a firm voice. “The Dowager Countess – your own Aunt Maria – knows that you have returned, and wants very much to see you. The very least that you can do is to visit your aunt.”

“There’s no denying that they are your family, after all.” His father’s voice was quite firm as well. “Your cousin Thomas is now married, and you have never met his wife.”

He sighed, knowing that both of them were right, and there was really no way to avoid this. “I suppose you are right. Perhaps I could go, even if I did not stay for long.”

Lord Albany frowned and started to speak, but his mother only brightened. “There, now. That’s the spirit! I’m sure they simply want to see you again and introduce you to the new Lady Worthington. You can stay for as long – or as little – of a time as you like.”

His father seemed about to speak again, but then thought better of it and simply reached for his own cup of tea.

“All right, then,” said James, surrendering for the moment. “Midsummer Day it is. I hope I can recall how to get to Worthington.”

“Just allow Vireo to take you. I’m sure he remembers,” said Lord Albany. “He’s galloped with many a hunt over the earl’s grounds.”

“I’m sure he does remember, Father,” said James, with a tight smile. I’m beginning to wish that he did not.

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