Page 34 of A Gifted Earl

“Mother, are we sure that there is nothing else we can sell?”

“Nothing – unless, that is, you want to start selling the furniture We’ve already sold the few paintings which were worth anything.”

Venetia sighed, sadness and fear filling her.

“There must be something we can do…”

“Nothing that I have been able to think of. And I’ve tried my hardest…”

The image rose in Venetia’s mind of the least offensive of the three men who had suggested marriage.

She swallowed – it was time to at least talk to her mother about that possibility.

“I… I could always write to Lord Peterley. He, whilst old, and a lecher, was the least horrible of those who seemed willing to marry me. I suppose that marriage to him would be better than us starving, and losing everything… And, to be horribly pragmatic, he is also the oldest of them – I believe he is well into his eighties, even if he seems sprightly. Surely that means that I would not have to suffer the marriage for too many years?”

Lady Hardenwell shuddered, so strongly that she nearly dropped her cup.

“No! Don’t even consider it – we will find a way, somehow, that doesn’t involve you giving yourself to someone like that. Anyway – he’s not especially wealthy, and I have no idea whether he would even be willing to assist me – men that old can get obnoxious and stubborn.”

“If you’re sure… But I am practical about this – if Twelfth Night comes, and what funds we have are near gone, then we must consider this idea again – even though it is the last thing I want to do.”

Lady Hardenwell nodded slowly.

“You are right, much though I desperately wish you weren’t. Let us pray that we are granted a miracle before Christmas.”

*****

“My potential guest list is rather lamentably short, Mother. Perhaps you can help me add to it?”

His mother looked up from her embroidery with a smile.

“Of course – show me what you have so far.”

Morgan passed her the sheet of paper on which he had noted the names of people he thought he could bear to have at a house party.

Most of the men were tolerable, although he wasn’t sure that he truly liked many of them. As for ladies, the only ones on that list at this point were Lady Venetia and Lady Hardenwell.

“Hmm, I see what you mean. There are probably enough young gentlemen here, but the list of ladies needs definite expansion – although I do approve of what you have so far.”

There was amusement in her voice, and Morgan almost squirmed on his seat, knowing full well that she realised that he was interested in Lady Venetia.

“Kind of you… but who else can I invite? I don’t know many of the young women well – you most likely know their mothers, which is why I am asking you.”

She nodded, and rose, going to the small escritoire which sat in the corner of the large parlour. She brought out a pen and the ink pot from its storage, and set about adding names to the paper. After a moment, she looked up at him.

“Morgan, I could just choose well known young women - there are many out this year who would be suitable, although I suspect you’d find most of them rather dull. But I have an idea. In the same way that you chose to converse and dance with the wallflowers, the ones who were not generally noticed, perhaps you should continue that kindness by inviting those young women to your house party. In a closed environment for a week, with none of the acknowledged beauties present, surely some of them will manage to draw the attention of the better young men?”

He considered it for a moment, and was sure, as he did, that it was a stroke of genius. Whilst he had not found most of the wallflowers especially appealing, they had all been far more genuine people than the feted beauties.

“Indeed, I like that idea, Mother. If you know the names and direction for the ladies and their families, let us certainly add them to the list. If we make the numbers of younger men and women somewhat equal, then no one should lack for conversation and company.”

She spent a few minutes writing, adding names to the list, then looked up at him.

“I know most of them, and can obtain the direction of the others through people I do know. Let us draft a suitable invitation, and then you can write it out for each one.”

“Just one thing, before that – a few of the gentlemen I have on that list I do not know particularly well, and I wondered if you thought I had chosen the right sort of people?”

She looked at the list again, a tiny frown appearing on her face as she thought carefully, then shook her head.