Betrothed to the earl

chapter 7

Rose sent a message to her friends that said a threatening emergency have happened and in less than one day they were all gathered by their secret place, Celeste had a hidden cottage far into the end of Stonehenge, it was their favorite place on earth to escape the world. Their own secret lair.

Mabel was the first to break the tension in the air when Rose did not speak, she was busy trying to figure out a way to say the words scared she would choke on it, she could just not say hey just so you know I am getting married.. and not with anyone but an earl a bloody brute caveman, ''It can't be this bad for you to not be able saying any word'' Mabel started and observed the rest who also nodded in agreement, Celseste grabbed Rose cold hands and squeezed in comfort, ''My dear sister there is no problem we can't face and you know---'' Finding it easier to just spit it out rose exactly did, ''I am getting married''

The silence after her announcement came to an end when Felicity laughed and they all followed like her with chuckles of their own as if her words was not a life threatening situation, ''My dear you have far much experience to not find a way out of marriage for example Lord Colson, Matthews, Astington, Edwards and more oh and let's not forget Lord Aldrich who courted you and is still set on marrying you but they all haven't succeeded'' Felicity stated the fact and Rose scoffed humourlessly,

"Because I had a choice, this matter is much more complicated—'' She winced seeing their expression only than realizing the sensitive topic she entered, ''You have no choice? As in—No I won't allow it'' Celeste felt like she would break something, her anger, all of the lady's anger off what can never happen... what can never be repeated.

Rose clenched her fists behind her gown glancing briefly at her raging friends, she explained the whole story behind that blasted agreement, there was a pregnant silence that could last for ages in the cottage. They were all in disbelief hearing Rose she indeed thought it was best to not add that Nicholas was the same man from the lake, her friends would have an heart attack on place ''Lets vanish the face of earth and never come back, we talked about this'' Celeste said impulsively

They had no children and responsibilities after all Rose being the eldest and Amelia the youngest at seventeen. But Rose knew running were not a solution, this was for heavens sake an alliance, ''He is a man with no interests but sitting behind a study and accounting numbers, he sees me as nothing but another part of his work,'' She told assuring them it is completely the opposite of what they are thinking, ''What do you mean by that?'' Mabel asked

Rose for the first time smiled smugly, ''I will be bloody free that man has far too much on his hands to keep a track on his wife in an agreement only, he talked as if I was one of his business partners''

Amelia nodded, ''And then he will never notice you leave''

Rose agreed, ''If I leave before the matrimony and all the blasted public gatherings all our plans will be wasteless to only be found and guarded for the rest of our lives'' she pointed out and they all appeared to be in their own thoughts

''I believe that sounds reasonable but if I so much see a string of hair or anything different about you, I will personally strangle that man earl or not'' Celeste warned, and Rose knew she was capable of that no doubt. .

Miles away Nicholas was back in Carnarvon, his brother and sisters who stood on the front porch of the house was the first thing he saw as the carriage came to halt, Stacy ran first making Nicholas shake his head at how she never listens, ''Stacy what have I told you about running'' He scowled at his nine year -old sister and she thought her bother was in a foul mood so she halted In her tracks.

But he could never be in a bad mood when it came to his siblings even though they drove him mad, ''Come here you little brat'' he smiled as she jumped in his embrace, two weeks of being away with only the servants guarding his siblings not that Sebastian could not take care of his younger siblings with the age of nineteen, but he never took responsibly even though he greatly respected his brother it was rather hard to change his behavior so he hasn't earned the trust yet.

Lorelai his sixteen-year-old sister greeted him briefly, ''Welcome brother''

Nicholas nodded gratefully at his maid Genevieve who worked for the earl a good decade her old age never being a problem for her to stay, ''My lord'' she greeted as he walked past and when he observed nothing was out of ordinary at the house , he headed towards his study finding Philip Hawkins a good friend of him and an well trusted employee. "No need to stand up tell me what's in the news for today'' Nicholas asked before loosing his tie and popping the front buttons open as he took the seat in front of his desk.

He grabbed the cigarette from Philip as he started informing him about work such financial agreements that came to term, he nodded puffing the cigarette, ''Sir you just. you just— '' Philips thought he was merely delusional when the earl smiled but indeed his lips curved up like he found something amusing, the earl cleared his throat, ''Just what?''

''You're looking like something is amusing, mind you sir I have never witnessed something amusing in speaking of work,'' Philips slowly trailed off making Nicholas have a hard time believing his thoughts could be read that easily. he indeed was not amused by paperwork.

Rather a thought of a lady with the bluest eyes and most infuriating behavior came to mind and he was suddenly biting back a smile, but he will be damned to let his employee know what came to his mind so he threw him a sharp glare that made any man shrink in fear but Philips shook his head in amusement, ''I will act like I saw nothing sir, but before I do that can I ask you a question?''

  ''Spit it out'' The earl said annoyed that he knows exactly what Philips is about to ask, ''Has the trip to Stonehenge to do anything with your rather Joyful—I mean pleasant mood?''

Like the gossip town Carnarvon is it did not have to take a long time for the town to know the earl is betrothed, but it was nothing anyone expected to have such a positive effect on the earl, ''Do not be ridiculous I am merely happy to be back, cease those thoughts that's on your mind Hawks'' Nicholas told curtly making Philip stop asking further.

Nicholas buried himself with work not wanting to look any more out of his mind than he already is , just the words from Philips showed him. The time got very late, after all the piles of work was signed and written he stood by his balcony noticing how huge the house what but had nothing to the touch of colour, it almost looked dull comparing to the Hamilton's, his garden was huge all green with a fountain in the middle, no flowers or color whatsoever.

He suddenly imagined her living here.. Would she change their home? bombard it with colour like the one she lived in?.. That thought should've frigehten the earl but he found himself feeling anything but frighten,

There weren't many people he need to share getting married with besides his siblings, he did not have many relatives besides a few uncles who lived in London. The most people who were getting invitation sent out  was the businessmen and formal high ranked people in society, so Nicholas thought preparing the matrimony would not take a long time.

He could only imagine what the little minx would do when her father tells her she is going to live in Carnarvon, in fact she shall be here by less than a week.

Oh he could not wait for it.