Gail Whitiker - Improper Miss Darling

Prior to leaving for the country, Alex stopped off in Mayfair to pay a call on his parents. He hadn’t heard from either of them since making them aware of his intention to travel down to Ellingsworth and he was curious to know if they planned on attending the dinner Peter was giving to introduce his fiancée to whichever members of his family were present. Considering his father’s sentiments about the match, Alex knew better than to consider his parent’s attendance a foregone conclusion.

He found his mother seated at her desk in the Wedgwood Salon, going through a large pile of correspondence. Garbed in a morning gown of deep-turquoise silk, she looked the picture of serenity; but, upon closer inspection, Alex noticed that her complexion was pale and that she looked to have lost weight, something she could ill afford to do. He quietly crossed the room and bent to drop a kiss on the top of her dark, shining head. ‘Good morning, Mother.’

‘Alex!’ Lady Widdicombe jumped. ‘I’m sorry, darling, I was that caught up in my notes I didn’t hear you come in. How are you?’

‘Well. I’m on my way to Ellingsworth and thought I would stop by to find out if and when you and Father were driving down.’

His mother sighed. ‘I shall be leaving tomorrow, but your father won’t be joining me. He’s worked himself into such a state over this engagement, I’ve had to call in Dr Harrow.’

‘Harrow? That can’t have made Father happy. What did the doctor say?’

‘That Richard could do with losing a little weight and have one less whisky before retiring. And that he was to rest for a few days.’

‘Sage advice for any man, I suppose,’ Alex said. ‘Is he in his study?’

‘No. He wasn’t feeling quite the thing this morning so he decided to remain in his room.’

‘Then I shall go and see him—’

‘Alex, there’s something I have to tell you,’ his mother said abruptly. ‘Something you need to know before you go upstairs …’

It was bad news. Alex knew it from the way she suddenly refused to meet his eyes. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘It isn’t just Peter’s engagement that has upset your father. Last week he … collapsed, in his study,’ she said slowly. ‘Dr Harrow said it … could be his heart.’

His heart ? Alex was stunned. His father was only fifty-nine years old and as fit as most men half his age. When had he suddenly developed problems of this nature? ‘Has this happened before?’

‘I don’t know. He says it hasn’t, but you know he doesn’t like worrying us and he hates having to see the doctor.’ His mother sighed. ‘Naturally, he didn’t want me to say anything to you at all. He said there was no point in upsetting you because in a matter of days it would all be fine. And maybe it will be. But I felt you had a right to know before you went down to see your brother.’

Alex walked slowly across the room, stopping by the long window. ‘What did Harrow suggest?’

‘That we restrict your father to a light diet. Boiled fish and broths, no rich desserts or sauces. And he must be kept as calm as possible.’

Calm. With his youngest son about to marry a woman of whom he heartily disapproved. It was like telling a starving fox to ignore the rabbit jumping up and down in front of his nose.

‘On second thought, perhaps it’s best Father not come down to Ellingsworth just yet,’ Alex said. ‘At least not until I’ve had a chance to see how things stand. With luck, I’ll be able to rectify matters without Father ever having to be involved.’

‘Oh, that would be wonderful, Alex,’ his mother said. ‘I do want Peter to be happy, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned. We know absolutely nothing about this young woman. Who her people are, where she comes from, what her background is. And naturally that worries your father very much. He is afraid Peter has engaged himself to some fortune-hunting social climber.’

‘We can’t deny that the possibility exists,’ Alex acknowledged, ‘but I’ll find out what I can. And I understand if you would rather stay here with Father than travel all the way down to Hampshire.’

To his surprise, his mother shook her head. ‘There’s really nothing I can do here. Your father will be happier having Murdoch look after him. He thinks he’s more likely to get that glass of whisky. But I’ve warned Murdoch not to indulge him and Dr Harrow did say he would look in while I was gone. Besides, I promised Peter I would take care of the arrangements for the ball. Being a man, he won’t have a clue where to start. That’s what I’ve been doing this morning,’ she said, indicating the pile of papers on her desk. ‘And to be honest, I do want to meet this young woman without your father being there to glower at her. If Peter cannot be dissuaded from going ahead with the marriage, I want to know what kind of person I am going to be welcoming into the family.’ She sighed. ‘I would like to feel there is at least one area of my life over which I have some control.’

The earl was dozing when Alex walked into his room, and though only a few weeks had passed since his last visit, Alex could definitely see a change in his father’s appearance. His complexion was grey, his hands lay limp at his sides and there was a definite rattle in his chest when he breathed. Hard to equate the elderly-looking man slumped in his chair with the vital, powerful figure Alex had known all of his life. ‘Father?’ he ventured quietly.

‘Hmm?’ The earl’s head moved, his eyes slowly opening. ‘Oh, it’s you, Alex. Didn’t hear you come in.’ He tried to sit up. ‘Must be all this medication Harrow’s been forcing down my throat. Told him I didn’t want any of the damn stuff.’

‘If he’s giving you medication, it’s because you need it,’ Alex said, pulling up a chair next to his father’s. ‘And if you don’t take it, I shall force it down your throat myself. We cannot have you messing about when it comes to your health.’

‘Damnation! She told you, didn’t she!’ the earl railed. ‘I knew she wouldn’t be able to keep it to herself.’

‘Yes, Mother told me and she was right to do so.’

‘She was not right to do so and I’ll tell you now, it is not my heart! It was indigestion. Brought on by a bit of bad pork.’

‘A man does not collapse from indigestion,’ Alex said calmly.

‘Of course he does. I told Harrow as much too, the old quack! Said all I needed was a good glass of whisky!’

‘I trust he didn’t give you one.’

‘He did not. Neither did Murdoch, damn his surly Scottish hide! I’ve a good mind to send him packing.’

Alex smiled. ‘That would be a mistake, Father. Murdoch’s been with you for nigh on forty years.’

‘Yes, and he’s getting far too uppity in his old age,’ his father grumbled. He briefly closed his eyes, took a moment to catch his breath. ‘So, what are you going to do about this situation with your brother?’

‘Too early to say, but I’m on my way to Ellingsworth now.’

‘Good, Alex, good, I have every confidence you’ll be able to take care of it. And your timing couldn’t be better. You know Peter’s planned a dinner for the chit and her family on Thursday evening.’

‘I heard.’

‘Trumped-up little harpy,’ the earl muttered. ‘It was likely her idea that he hold a celebratory dinner in her honour so that she can get a taste of what her life is going to be like once she’s lady of the manor. But we’re not going to let that happen, are we, Alex? We’re going to nip this in the bud long before it gets to that point.’

Unwilling to give his father false assurances, Alex merely said, ‘I’ll do what I can, sir. I take it you’re not planning to be there.’