Chapter Seven

 

Holden had finally come to an understanding of what he needed to do to please his father. He had called on four different women since the party, and Miss Skylark proved to be the one in whose company he found the greatest enjoyment.

When he had informed his father of this fact, the man had given him a broad smile. That coupled with Holden’s attempts at working on the books for the family businesses, the old man had been happier than Holden had seen him in a long time.

The issue of ignoring his requirements when it came to matters of business had nothing to do with his abilities, for he was quite good with numbers. He could balance the books without much thought, and with few mistakes, and his ability to charm prospective investors was a gift.

What bothered him was that those tasks took him away from what he enjoyed doing, which had nothing to do with making money, but rather spending it.

What Holden learned, however, was that, if he spent a portion of his time on his responsibilities and continued to speak highly about Miss Skylark, his father refrained from browbeating him. This, in turn, gave him more freedom to do what he wanted during his times of leisure.

Looking down at the ledger in front of him, he tallied the last column, checked his work, and replaced the quill in its holder, pleased by his work. It was only two in the afternoon and he had completed enough work for the day to make his father happy. At least, that was what he hoped. The man could be a right cutthroat when he chose.

His thoughts were interrupted when the object of his aggravation entered the study. Holden went to stand, but his father raised his hand to indicate he could remain seated.

“Have you completed the ledgers?” he asked as he walked over to the desk. He had the most perfect posture Holden had ever seen, and his long strides had him standing before the desk in no time.

“Yes, Father,” Holden replied, motioning to the stack of books beside him. “I have worked on this all morning. Did you wish to inspect my work?”

“No,” his father replied. “I know your skills in mathematics are impeccable, a trait you inherited from me.” He stood all the taller as he said this. “It appears you have taken my advice and have now become the son I have expected you to be. Your work ethic has improved tenfold, and you wake well before noon. Tell me, what has brought on this new change in you?”

“It is quite simple, really,” Holden replied. “I do not want…” He clamped his mouth shut. He had almost revealed that he no longer wanted his father criticizing his every move! Clearing his throat, he continued with another response. “I do not want to be seen as the foolish son of a respected baron. Although I still enjoy some of my previous activities, I have taken your advice that work must always come first.”

When his father nodded, Holden almost sighed with relief. He had been uncertain if his father would believe he had truly changed.

An awkward silence fell between them before his father responded. “Is there another reason?”

So, his father had not accepted his excuse after all. The man never was one who could be easily duped, and Holden suspected the old man had caught onto his ruse. Fear overtook him and he found he could not find the words to respond. It was as if his mind had turned to mush!

“Does it have anything to do with a certain Miss Skylark?” his father asked with a sly grin. “I would bet my left foot that it does.”

This time Holden did sigh with relief, although he attempted to cover it with a nervous laugh. “I am not able to hide anything from you, even today,” he said. “Indeed, Miss Skylark has been the motivation behind many of my changes. I have found her to be a great beauty, and as you have said on many occasions, ‘great beauties do not want foolish gentlemen’.”

His father fell back on his heels and laughed. “I knew it! There are women out there who can bring out the best in a man.” He sighed. “Your mother was just such a lady.” The old man shook his head and the smile returned. “That does not matter. This Miss Skylark appears to be just what my son needs. You must do whatever it takes to make her happy and keep her interested in you. You do not want another gentleman to come in and whisk her away right under your nose, now do you?”

Holden shook his head as he rose from his chair. “No, I would not want that. I will try my best…”

“No, you will make her happy.” Gone was the exultation, replaced by his typical tyrannical tone. “You may call over again a few more times and then you will ask to court her.”

Holden stared at his father in shock. “Court her? Should such matters not be approached at a more respectable pace? I do not wish to scare her off.”

His father snorted. “You will not scare her off. However, if you wish to remain in my good graces, and perhaps receive an advance on your inheritance, courting should be your main objective when it comes to Miss Skylark.”

This caught Holden’s attention. “Advance?”

His father grinned and clasped Holden by the shoulder. “Indeed. One day you will take over my title and wealth. Perhaps I can allow a small advance, beyond your current allowance, if you are able to court a woman such as Miss Skylark.” He looked Holden up and down. “Of course, you will need new clothes and enough money with which to entertain her. I may even throw in a new hunting dog and a hunting trip as incentive.”

Holden could not believe his luck. “Yes, Father, I believe you are right. I will continue to do what I can to make her happy and soon ask permission to court her.”

“Very good,” his father said. “Now, David is waiting for you in the drawing room. I believe you have earned time with a friend.”

“I forgot he was calling today,” Holden said. He went to walk around his father, but the man placed a hand on Holden’s chest to stop him.

“Make certain you enjoy his company. Drink as much as you want, and if you desire to go out for the evening, you may. You have earned it. And, as long as you continue to please me, you will continue to earn such privileges.”

Holden felt like he had just returned from school with high marks. His father rarely encouraged him to do what he enjoyed. The old man claimed it was Holden who had changed when in fact it was he who had changed, and Holden would use it to his advantage. All he had to do was feign interest—beyond the obvious physical attraction he had for any woman of her beauty—and he could do whatever he wanted.

At least it would not be too difficult to do, for she was easy to look at. He did enjoy her company, as well, even if she was a bit mundane in her conversational abilities. Well, enjoy might be too generous a term. He could tolerate her company, much more so than some women with whom he had the displeasure of spending time. If he earned himself a kiss in the process, all the better.

“I will not disappoint you,” Holden said before hurrying to meet David and tell him the good news.

***

The Gentleman and the Hound was perhaps one of the most respectable public houses one could find outside of London. With its ornate oak carved chairs and tables and a bar polished to such a sheen one could almost see his reflection, it was a cynosure of male gathering for the most affluent in and around Rumsbury.

Holden had been to the establishment often and now sat beside David, their glasses raised in a toast.

“To the men who once were,” David said with a wide grin, “for a new generation will soon take control over Rumsbury and do away with such drab traditions of old.”

With a loud “Here, here!”, Holden tapped his glass against David’s and downed his brandy in one gulp. Familiar faces surrounded them, including several Holden recognized as acquaintances of his father. Then his eyes fell on Lord Thrup, father to Miss Caroline Thrup.

“It appears Lord Thrup wishes to escape his life, as well,” Holden said in a loud whisper. “Do all men feel the need to drink as we do? Perhaps we are not all that different from the previous generation after all.” He chuckled as if to say he was jesting, but the idea that this was true was much more unnerving than he cared to admit.

David did not see the humor in his words whatsoever, and he reared back as if Holden had offended him. “Do you truly need to ask such a question? Of course men must escape. We are the ones who provide for the family, and do we receive our due thanks? Not at all. I do not expect my wife to understand me. All she must do is do as I please.”

“Are you saying you plan to marry soon?” Holden teased, knowing full well his friend would rather remain a bachelor if he was given half the chance.

“Hardly,” David said with a snort. “Although I am getting far too old to remain unmarried for too much longer. Father has been reminding me of that fact quite a bit as of late.”

Holden rolled his eyes. “Mine has been just as annoying,” he said. “Although, there is a benefit of courting Miss Skylark.”

David signaled to the barkeep for new drinks. “And what is that?”

“An advance on my inheritance if you can believe that. My father believes Miss Skylark has somehow changed me, and he told me today that, if I am able to court her, that will be my reward. He did not mention I had to marry her, thank heavens.” He laughed at his father’s shortsightedness.

“I wish your father was mine,” David said with a grimace. He glanced at Lord Thrup. “Nevertheless, it does not matter. I will ask to court Miss Thrup or my father will disown me outright. No promises of incentives from that man.”

“Caroline Thrup?” Holden asked in shock. “You have never shown any interest in the woman before. Was it because I asked you to intervene at the party that made you change your mind?”

David roared with laughter.

“And what do you find so humorous?”

“You, Bradshaw,” David said as the barkeep placed new glasses on the table before them and removed the old. “Only you would believe that you can change the mind of another.” He wagged a finger at Holden. “Do not look at me like that, my friend. I did not mean it as an insult. No, it had little to do with you. I am simply tired of bickering with my father. It is about time I figured out what I want in life, and by considering what I want, I came to the conclusion I must court her in order to receive it.”

Holden took a sip of his brandy before realizing that he saw more than one glass before him. How many had he drunk thus far tonight? He shrugged. It did not matter; he had his father’s blessing, so he pushed away any concern before it took hold and brought down his mood. “I admit I am a bit confused. Why do you hope to court her?”

David snorted as he glanced toward the man at the bar. “Her father is a bumbling fool, but he has many business connections. If I do eventually marry the woman, I would then be able to increase my investments through him. He has no heir, after all.”

“Many women exist with fathers in the same position. Miss Thrup is no different from them.”

“Ah, but that is where you are wrong,” David said, his words slurring now. “Miss Thrup is desperate for attention—any attention. I see the same in your Miss Skylark, actually. Both women are quite pedestrian, and although they are a pleasure to look at, they have yet to attract a man of worth, which says a lot about them. They will be doomed to marry some drab fool like Parkinson.”

Holden nodded. Gunther Parkinson was a year older than he and David and often spent his days reading. They had even caught him reciting poetry of all things! If a man could be a wallflower, Parkinson would be the showpiece, the doltish sap.

“We are nothing like Parkinson,” Holden said.

David sighed. “It is a simple matter, Bradshaw. We are by far the handsomest and most dashing men in all of Rumsbury, are we not?”

Holden could not argue that fact. “We are.”

“Miss Skylark and Miss Thrup must know that their futures lie with men such as Parkinson. Now, if we are the ones to court them, they will feel honored that men such as we have chosen them. In that, they will be so desperate to keep us they will not refuse whatever we request of them.”

“Request?” Holden asked, downing the rest of his brandy. “What request? To kiss them?”

David laughed. “Not just kiss but to take them to our beds, of course. They are the type of women who will allow us to pursue whatever we wish once we are married, and with their approval, no less.”

This time it was Holden’s turn to laugh. “No woman would ever agree to such an arrangement. At least not with their knowledge beforehand. Why do you think most men keep secret what they do when they are away from home?”

David gave him a nod of acquiescence. “That is true, but is that not the ways of old? You must remember that a new era is upon us, an era where women such as Miss Thrup have been made more aware of the things men do. Yet, we must be certain they will not make a fuss about it even when they are aware of what we do. My plan is to prove a man can marry and still retain his dalliances, all with his wife’s approval.”

“And how will you do that?” Holden asked. “Will she not refuse to marry you?”

“Ah, but that is where the genius of my plan comes into play,” David said with a chuckle. “You see, I will court her and then take her to my bed. If she speaks of marriage, as women often do, I will then explain my expectations to her. If she agrees, then I will marry her.” He shrugged and drank down the remainder of his brandy. “If not, I will continue on to the next woman until I find one who sees the benefit of my way of thinking.”

Holden was uncertain what to think of this tactic. He had no true feelings for Miss Thrup, or for Miss Skylark for that matter. Granted, she annoyed him no end, but the idea of taking a gentlewoman to bed through trickery did not sit well with him. To use a woman for one’s own pleasure and think nothing of dismissing her did not seem right, not when said woman was not aware of the agreement beforehand. Every woman he had bedded, be she of the aristocracy or the lower class, had come to him willingly. Never had he tricked a woman to get what he wanted.

“It appears you are indeed stuck in the ways of old,” David said. “I knew telling you my plan would upset you. Perhaps you should spend time with Parkinson so you may read poetry to Miss Skylark rather than fill your needs.”

Holden’s temper flared. “I am not a weak man,” he growled. “And Miss Skylark is a handsome woman, well worthy of my bedchamber. In fact, I will have her there soon enough.”

As soon as the words left his lips, shame washed over him. He wanted to kiss the woman, that much was true, but he could not imagine taking it any further without her unmitigated consent. However, David was a good friend, and Holden could not allow the man to think him weak.

David smiled as he placed a few coins on the table. “I will be hosting a party next month. Father will be out of town on business, and my guest rooms will be vacant. Do you catch my meaning?”

Holden nodded. “I do,” he said as he forced a smile on his lips. What David planned was terrible, yet Holden could say nothing without demeaning himself. He continued to feign interest in what the man had to say about Miss Thrup, all the while wondering if he could truly go through with such a dare.