The Marriage List

Ella Quinn

FIRST WALTZ

“My dance, I believe.” Montagu’s tone was warmer than she had heard it before.

“It is.” Eleanor placed her hand on his arm.

“I have been waiting all evening for this.” The look in his blue-green eyes caused her breath to stop.

“As have I. My partner for an earlier waltz was not nearly as skilled as you are.”

The frissons that started when he placed his hand on her waist were even stronger than before. That was a surprise. She had come to the conclusion that the only reason she had had a reaction to Montagu before was because it was her first waltz with someone she had not known most of her life. The first waltz with the other gentleman had caused no feelings at all, except the desire to take care of her toes. Obviously, that was not the case. Carefully, she touched his waist, and almost jerked her hand back.

“Is anything wrong?” He appeared concerned.

“Nothing.” Steeling herself, she took his hand. It was firm and warm.

John gazed at Eleanor’s tightly pressed together lips quiver in suppressed mirth and wanted to kiss them. He had not particularly wanted a love match. Yet, he had the distinct feeling that if he wanted Eleanor, that was what it would take....

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Books by Ella Quinn

The Marriage Game
THE SEDUCTION OF LADY PHOEBE
THE SECRET LIFE OF MISS ANNA MARSH
THE TEMPTATION OF LADY SERENA
DESIRING LADY CARO
ENTICING MISS EUGENIE VILLARET
A KISS FOR LADY MARY
LADY BERESFORD’S LOVER
MISS FEATHERTON’S CHRISTMAS PRINCE
THE MARQUIS SHE’S BEEN WAITING FOR

The Worthingtons
THREE WEEKS TO WED
WHEN A MARQUIS CHOOSES A BRIDE
IT STARTED WITH A KISS
THE MARQUIS AND I
YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST EARL
BELIEVE IN ME
THE MARRIAGE LIST

The Lords of London
THE MOST ELIGIBLE LORD IN LONDON
THE MOST ELIGIBLE VISCOUNT IN LONDON
THE MOST ELIGIBLE BRIDE IN LONDON

Novellas
MADELEINE’S CHRISTMAS WISH
THE SECOND TIME AROUND
I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
THE EARL’S CHRISTMAS BRIDE

Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.

Title Page

The MARRIAGE LIST

THE WORTHINGTONS

ELLA QUINN

All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

Copyright Page

ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

ZEBRA BOOKS and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

ISBN: 978-1-4201-5446-7

ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-5447-4 (eBook)

Dedication

This book is for everyone trying to find the perfect match for them. Albeit the list Eleanor, Alice, and Madeline wrote is a bit old-fashioned for today, the concept is sound. When we were dating some forty years ago, I told my husband any man I married had to be able to cook, clean, and take care of babies. The baby is grown, but he still cooks and cleans.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Anyone involved in the publishing process knows it takes a team effort to get a book from that inkling in an author’s head to the printed or digital page. I’d like to thank my beta readers, Jenna, Doreen, and Margaret for their comments and suggestions. To my agents, Deidre Knight and Janna Bonikowski, and my wonderful editor, John Scognamilgio, for helping me think through parts of this book and for their advice.

Again for John, who loves my books enough to contract them for Kensington. To the Kensington team, Vida, Jane, and Lauren, who do such a tremendous job of publicity. And to the copyeditors who find all the niggling mistakes I never am able to see.

As sad as it was, I had to add two new Great Danes due to the death of Duke and Daisy. As they always do, members of my readers’ group, The Worthingtons, came through. Thank you to Michael Ransom and Chasity Parrish, who thought of the perfect Zeus and Posey respectively.

Last, but certainly not least, to my readers. Without you, none of this would be worth it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving my stories!

I love to hear from my readers, so feel free to contact me on my website or on Facebook if you have questions. Those links and my newsletter link can be found at:

On to the next book!

Ella

CHAPTER ONE

February 1821, near Birmingham, England

Lady Eleanor Carpenter gazed out at the ice-covered hedgerows and pulled her fur-lined cloak tighter around herself. The day was bright but bitterly cold. She was returning from a visit to her elder sister, Charlotte, the Marchioness of Kenilworth. Across from Eleanor, Mrs. Parks was knitting. One of the Kenilworth neighbors, she had been glad of the invitation to accompany Charlotte on her journey back to Worthington Place, her home.

Eleanor’s view of the hedgerows was suddenly interrupted. She pounded on the roof. “Stop the coach!”

“My lady, what is it?” Mrs. Parks’s voice was a mix of worry and astonishment.

Eleanor glanced over her shoulder as she opened the door. “Small children on the side of the road. Here in the middle of nowhere.”

Families of all sorts were experiencing horrible conditions, but who would leave children on the side of a road?

“You cannot be meaning to—”

The carriage had barely stopped when Eleanor jumped down. She strode to the children, who were standing in front a woman lying on the ground. “Good day.” She lowered herself so she was at eye level with them. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

A boy, who appeared to be the oldest because of his height, shook his head. But one of the two girls gazed up at her as if she had seen a savior and nodded. “Our mum can’t walk.”

In fact, the woman looked as if she might be dead. “I can take care of her. If you tell me where you live, I will take you there.”

“Got no home,” the lad muttered. “Mum said we had to go.”

“Your da?” Eleanor thought she knew the answer but had to ask.

Two fat tears rolled down the little girl’s thin face. “They kilt him.”

She would have to discover the whole story later. Right now, she needed to get them all warm. “In that case, there is really only one thing to do. You and your mother will come with me.” She signaled to her footman. “Turner, please carry their mother to the second coach. I’ll bring the children.”

“Is she still alive?” He looked at the body on the ground and whispered.

“I hope so.” She slid a quick glance at the woman. “We will find out soon.”

The mother lay limp in his arms and made no sound as he carried her to the carriage.

“Lady Eleanor.” Mrs. Parks stood in the carriage doorway. “I must protest. Your sister and Lord Kenilworth would never forgive me if something happened to you.”

How could anyone not help these people? Eleanor gave her companion what she hoped was a reassuring smile. She was certain everyone in her family would agree with her decision. “Everything is perfectly fine. We will be on our way momentarily.”

As she approached the second coach, the door opened. “Jobert, I need your help. Turner is bringing their mother. She is unconscious.”

“Yes, my lady.” The maid began clearing off the backward-facing seat. “He can put her here. The seat is large enough to hold the children too.”

Eleanor became increasingly worried about the mother. Her skin was almost blue. “Get her warm. If I am not mistaken, we will come to the Wheelwright Inn in about an hour, maybe a little longer. We can order a hot bath for her and fetch a doctor.”

“That’s a good idea, my lady.” Jobert helped settle the children with blankets as Turner handed them up.

Eleanor waited until they were ready before going back to her carriage. Thank God Matt, her brother-in-law, had insisted she take the large servants’ coach. The second footman assisted her into her carriage.

“You ready to go, my lady?” the head coachman asked.

“I am. We will need to stop at an inn. I think the woman might require a doctor.”

“Leave it to me, my lady.” A second later, they were moving again.

Mrs. Parks wrung her hands. “I do not know what your sister and his lordship will say—”

There were times when Eleanor forgot that not all people were interested in helping others. She stifled the urge to lecture the older lady. “Mrs. Parks, I appreciate your concern. But I know they will say that I did the right thing.” Eleanor picked up the book she had brought with her. “We will be able to refresh the bricks when we stop.”

An hour or so later, she was still staring at the book, but hadn’t read a page. The only thing she could think about was the plight of the poor mother and her children. What if she had not happened by? Would they have been left to freeze to death? Eleanor glanced surreptitiously at Mrs. Parks. She would not have stopped. Even her maid had sniffed and failed to assist Turner and Jobert in making their guests comfortable. And what had happened to them that they were out in this sort of weather? Eleanor closed her book. Surely they would be at the inn soon. She looked out the window. A light snow had started earlier, and now it was coming down much more heavily. That probably meant an unscheduled stop for the night. She blew out a breath. It would be fine. If she was capable enough to wed, she was capable enough to deal with this situation.

Sometime later, they drove into the well-kept yard, and Eleanor glanced out the window. The familiar sign in the shape of a carriage wheel swung from the arm of a large white inn.

One of the outriders rode up. “My lady, Lord Kenilworth made arrangements for us to stop here if we ran into weather. I’ll go in and notify them we have arrived.” He glanced at the other carriage. “What do you want done with the family?”

“Arrange a room, baths, and food for them. They will not want to be separated.”

The outrider bowed. “Of course, my lady. I’ll explain the matter to the landlord.”

And be told no. “Get Jobert. Mrs. Parks”—Eleanor waited for the woman to acknowledge her—“you shall accompany me.”

Her companion gathered her knitting into a bag. “I have been thinking about what you did, my lady. You were right. Your sister would have done the same thing.”

Eleanor gave Mrs. Parks a genuine smile. “I know. But now we will probably have to deal with a recalcitrant innkeeper.”

“I have no doubt in my mind that you are equal to the task.” Mrs. Parks smiled back.

“Ah, here is my maid and footman. Let us make an impression.” Eleanor gathered her dignity around her like a shield as Turner helped her down the coach stairs. Another footman assisted her companion, and the head outrider ran to the door and opened it, bowing as she strode in.

A tall, thin man of middling years with a shock of brown hair mixed with gray waiting next to a desk bowed.

Behind her, Turner said, “Lady Eleanor Carpenter. Sister to the Marquis and Marchioness of Kenilworth.”

“Name’s Claiborne.” The landlord bowed again. “I received a letter from his lordship asking us to set aside rooms for you.”

She inclined her head and gave him a polite smile. “We will require one additional room for a family. A mother and three children had some trouble, and I have taken them up.”

A shadow passed across the landlord’s face as he looked in the direction of what must have been the common room, and for a moment he hesitated. “Yes, my lady.”

“Good.” Resisting the pull to glance in the same direction, she raised her chin slightly. “They will require baths, meals, and a doctor. Mr. Whitmer”—she indicated the outrider with her hand—“will assist you if need be.”

“Thank you, my lady.” Mr. Claiborne gathered several keys and slid a look toward the common room again. “If you will follow me, I’ll take you to your chambers.”

“Turner,” Eleanor whispered. “Something is wrong. Get the family and take them around to the back.”

“Straightaway, my lady.”

“I’ll have Whitmer wait for you.”

Turner nodded and backed toward the main door. Eleanor’s brain whirled with the possibility of danger. She had heard about the things that had happened to her sisters and Dotty, but Eleanor had never really expected to experience them herself. She followed the landlord up the stairs. The first thing she must do is assess from where the problem was coming. That should be relatively simple. Someone was obviously in the common room looking for a family. He was not the woman’s husband. Who was he, and why did he pose a danger? Her footman would be happy to attempt to find out, but Whitmer wasn’t wearing livery and Turner was.

The landlord showed Eleanor her rooms. Jobert, who was carrying a satchel, immediately entered.

“I have beds for your coachmen over the stables,” Mr. Claiborne said.

Eleanor nodded. “Our ladies’ maids will sleep in Mrs. Parks’s and my respective chambers. I trust you have trundle beds for them?”

“We do, my lady.” Between their rooms and the backstairs, he unlocked the door to another chamber. “Here is one big enough for a family.”

Eleanor surveyed the area. There was one very large bed, a table, and a few chairs. “This should do. I would like a hot bath delivered as soon as possible. I want my footman on this floor if you have an empty chamber.”

“Right next door. I’ll have to get the key.” Obviously, the man was not happy with her request, yet he dare not refuse. Kenilworth’s family gave the inn a fair amount of custom.

“Thank you.” Eleanor gave him a gracious smile. Once the landlord left, she turned to Whitmer. “Turner should be at the back door with the family. Please show him to this chamber. After that, could you see who is in the common room?”

“I’d like the other outriders to go with me,” Whitmer said. “I saw the look on the landlord’s face too.”

“Very well.” This might be a more interesting night than she had thought it would be.

Eleanor changed from her traveling gown to a walking gown. While she had been washing her face and hands, she had heard the children speaking softly. “Jobert, I am going to assist our guests. I should like you to come with me.”

“Of course, my lady.” The maid collected some scented soap and two of the towels they traveled with, as well as one of her nightgowns. “I’m glad I packed extras.”

Eleanor did not know how her maid felt about giving a nightgown to a stranger. “You may give her one of mine, if you like.”

“No, my lady. I’ll wager she will feel more comfortable in this one.”

Because it did not have all the ruffles? “I will replace it.”

“As you wish, my lady.” Jobert bustled out of the room, and Eleanor followed.

A fire had been lit in the chamber, warming it nicely. The children were huddled around their mother. Jobert was assisting the barely awake woman when a knock came on the door.

“The bath you ordered,” a maid said.

Eleanor opened the door to find two young men with the servant. “Please, enter.”

The woman bobbed a curtsey, and the men bowed. They brought in a bathtub and started filling it.

Once they left, Eleanor helped Jobert get the mother into the tub, then turned to the children. They were all painfully thin. “I am Lady Eleanor Carpenter. May I know your names and that of your mother?”

The boy gazed up at her. “I’m Billy. This here”—he put his hand on his taller sister’s shoulder—“is Sally, and the youngest is Lizzy.” He took a breath. “Our ma is Lottie.”

Short for Charlotte. Eleanor’s sister’s name. “What is your surname?”

“Ward.”

Eleanor took his rather grimy hand in hers and shook it. “It is nice to meet you.” A moan sounded from the tub, and the children turned as one. “I hope that means your mother is coming around.”

“We do too,” Sally said.

Once Mrs. Ward had finished bathing, she was dressed in the nightgown and put in bed. A knock sounded on the door. “Who is it?”

“Mr. Patterson. I’m the doctor.”

She opened the door and was pleased to see that he was relatively young. Probably not much older than Matt. “Please come in. I sent for you out of caution. Mrs. Ward was half frozen when we found her and the children.”

Eleanor stood back while he examined Mrs. Ward. A few minutes later, he glanced at the children. “When was the last time you ate?”

Billy shrugged. “Yesterday or the day ’afor?”

“Feed them all broth and bread. Nothing heavier until tomorrow. How long are you here?”

She looked at her maid, who went to the door. “We will go to my home in the morning.”

“Try to keep Mrs. Ward as warm as possible. If you had not found her when you did, she could have died. You should also know that she is with child.”

“I understand.” A thought occurred to Eleanor. “You do not seem surprised by any of this.”

The expression on his face was grim. “You might not have heard about the miner uprising in the area. Several men were killed, and their families as well as those of some of the organizers have been left to the mercy of the mine operators. I am not surprised. I wish there were more people like you to help them.”

Con Kenilworth, her brother-in-law, got all the newssheets; this could not have occurred more than a few days before. “Thank you for coming. How much do I owe you?” The doctor appeared uncomfortable with her question. “Perhaps you would like to send the bill to Worthington Place, near Kettering.”

“Thank you,” he said in a relieved tone. “I must admit, I have never taken money from a lady.”

Jobert slipped back into the room, followed by a servant carrying a large tray with bowls of soup, bread, and a pot of butter. When the doctor left, she whispered, “Whitmer said to tell you there’s a man in the common room looking for a family by the name of Ward. He said they belonged to him.”

Belonged to him? “There is no slavery in England.”

She nodded. “That’s what he told the man. He said he and the other outriders will take turns sleeping by the door, inside if the family didn’t mind.”

“Does he think the landlord might tell this man they are here?” Jobert shook her head and shrugged. “Let the landlord know I will match what that scoundrel is paying him and tell Lord Kenilworth how he helped us.”

A rare grin appeared on her face. “That should do it, my lady.”

That was what Eleanor had thought. “I still think we should take precautions.”

“Yes, my lady.” The maid left the room again.

Eleanor turned to find the children eating greedily. “Slow down or you will be sick.” All three looked mournfully at the bowls. “I did not say you could not eat your soup. You just need to eat more slowly.”

“Yes, my lady,” the two older ones chorused.

She waited until one of the outriders knocked and entered the room. “I shall see you later.”

Mrs. Parks chose to dine in her room. Eleanor ate a very good dinner of roasted chicken with several removes of vegetables, followed by a slice of warm apple pie and a glass of claret. When tea was served, she asked that Whitmer join her.

He entered the parlor a few minutes later. “My lady.”

“What is the name of the man who is searching for the family and how much danger are they in?”

“Dobbins, my lady. I’d say he’s a bad one. I wouldn’t want him to get his hands on them.”

She sipped her tea as she considered what the outrider said. “We will leave as soon as it is light enough to travel.”

“Yes, my lady. I’ll tell the coachman.”

The next morning, her party broke their fast while it was still dark. The children did not look as worried, and Mrs. Ward’s cheeks were more pink than blue. Eleanor was glad her guest was on the mend. As she watched the family settle themselves in the coach, she felt the hairs rise on the back of her neck and turned around. A man bearing a strong resemblance to a weasel stood across the road, tapping his hand with the broad side of a knife.

That must be Dobbins.

Eleanor met his glare with one of her own until he glanced away. She would not allow Mrs. Ward or her children to be harmed. “Turner, tell everyone to keep an eye out.” Climbing in the coach, she tapped on the roof. “Let us be off.”

April 1821, Worth Market Town

“Eleanor.” Her twin sister nudged her arm. “You will miss the entire service day dreaming.”

“I was thinking about the day I found her.” She glanced at the woman standing before the altar—Mrs. Ward, soon to be Mrs. Johnson—and another image came to Eleanor. One of a sharp-faced man tapping his knife on her hand, trying to stare her down. Dobbins. The children and their mother had been afraid of him. She gave herself a shake. All was well now.

“I knew that.” Alice grinned. “I am your twin.”

As much as they had included Madeline Vivers, their sister-in-law, in all things, the bond Eleanor shared with Alice was closer and more profound and probably always would be. “You are.”

“Pay attention.”

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” The vicar beamed at the newly married couple. “May God bless you with a fruitful marriage.”

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