* * *
Lucy and George did not get their walk by the river. As soon as Beaumont and Miss Priscilla made their exit, the Duchess demanded that the family meet in a closed session. And that most definitely did not include Lucy or Harold.
Matthew was seated at his desk in his study. The Duchess was so wrought up she stood next to her husband facing the children. George lounged by the fireplace while the three daughters were seated in chairs before their father’s desk.
“What was that? What was THAT?” Her Grace demanded to know. “Mr. Goodwin took Lucy aside for an extended conversation. What was that all about?” she asked again as if someone might be privy to Mr. Beaumont’s thoughts. She then turned her attention to Betsy. “And Mr. Harold? Betsy, what exactly is going on there with you two? Are you courting?”
Betsy blushed and stammered, “I… I… we… I do not know. He… I…”
The Duchess turned to her husband. “Did you know about this?”
“No, my dear. My relationship with Mr. Brighton is strictly professional. He is an excellent manager and an invaluable colleague. And I know him to be of sterling character. That is the extent of my knowledge. I leave the intricacies of romance to you ladies.”
“But husband, can you possibly countenance a union between Mr. Harold and our Betsy? He is the son of atenant.”
“But my dear, he is educated, connected, and with a substantial fortune. Do you mean to say you would let a minor accident of birth prevent a union with such a gentleman?”
Her Grace looked horrified. “Accident of birth? Remember your accident of birth. Do you mean to say you would diminish your proud heritage with the addition to your line of a farmer?”
This subject directly affected George’s relationship with Lucy, and he stepped forward and spoke up, “I might remind you mother that despite our title,ourfamily’s roots go back generations as farmers. It is an honorable profession and one which King Richard chose to recognize when he made our line a noble one.”
Ann had been agitated during this discussion and could hold back no longer. “What does this have to do with anything? What about us? We have had expectations that Mr. Beaumont would soon ask one of us to marry him. But he has just disgraced himself by lavishing his attention on that Lucy person. What is to be done about that?”
Then Charlotte began to speak at the same time as Betsy, Ann, and George. No one could understand what anyone was saying.
Finally, Matthew raised a paperweight and pounded it on the desk and then stood up. “Stop! Stop all of this clatter at once. This turmoil is getting us nowhere. You are behaving like petulant infants.”
Her Grace clasped her hands together in front of her, lowered her head, and frowned, casting her angry gaze over all her children. “Matthew—children, we have a crisis that needs to be addressed and solved. It is no good shouting at each other. We must get to the bottom of this turmoil and sort it out.”
Matthew sighed and sat down in his chair. He turned to his son. “George, you seem to have the coolest head amongst us. What is your take on all of this? How do you see these issues being resolved?”
“I think we need to take one issue at a time. First, Betsy.” He turned to her. “You recently let me know that you have romantic feelings for Mr. Harold and that he might hold the same for you. Is that correct?”
She blushed again. “Yes.”
“And Father, you said Harold is an honorable and upright gentleman, and you would accept him as a possible match for Betsy. Is that so?” His father gave a slight nod of his head. “Then you, as head of this family, should be the final authority on the suitability of the Brightons as possible matches for this family.”
Her Grace was not about to just accept that. “This is untenable,” she insisted.
“Mother, we already know your position. But if we do not accept a final authority, then we shall go around and around on these matters ad infinitum.”
Matthew roused himself, “Yes, Son, I agree. Let us settle this and be done with it. This whole mess is making me weary.”
George spoke up again. “Good. That is decided. Then it is agreed that Harold and Lucy are considered suitable matches for this family.”
Ann stood up and scowled. “Lucy? Suitable? I think not. She was but a lowly servant a few days ago. And now you say she is suitable for this family? What? Are you thinking of marrying her?”
George smiled and said. “And if I did, would that not take her out of the picture with Mr. Goodwin?”
Ann and Charlotte looked at one another and smiled. “What a brilliant solution,” Ann said. “Would you do that?”
“I would, and I am announcing right now that I have had feelings for Miss Lucy ever since I can remember and was only restrained by the thought of the family’s disapproval. So, let it be known that I intend to ask Miss Lucy for her hand in marriage. And I want your blessings.”
Chapter 27
George was excited to meet with Lucy and ask her to marry him. However, he wanted the setting to be just perfect and the moment to be memorable. The first thing he wanted to do was to find his paternal grandmother’s engagement ring. It had been given to him by his father for his future bride when he had turned of age. At the time, he had no use for it and put it somewhere safe. So safe he had forgotten where he had put it.
He rummaged through the drawers of his dresser. He looked in a box of keepsakes he had collected as a boy and smiled when he found the ribbon Lucy had given him when he had done splendidly on an exam Mrs. Wilkes had made him take. He had done so well; Lucy drewfirst placeon a hair ribbon, tied the ends together, and placed it around his neck.
