A Marriage is Arranged

Regency

Karen Blayne

Contents

A Marriage is Arranged - Regency by Karen Blayne

Oh by the way red tape first.

Be warned these short stories contain mature content or naughty bits and as such may corrupt you if you’re under 12, 16, 18, 21 or 25 depending where you live thus they are not suitable for you so put them back on the shelf and let them age for a year or two.

They were sort of scribbled for fun. They were first posted on asstr.org. If you’ve paid money for this book just be aware the author has not received any payment. In fact no one has permission to charge money for this book and copyright is retained by the author. ©2015 All copies must be of the complete document. Asstr.org accepts donations if you’re feeling rich or even if you’re not.

Luv Karen

Jocelyn wondered into the library and caught sight of a one of the maids curled up with a book. "Hello and who taught you to read?" "My sister sir." She said panicking thinking she was about to be turned off. "Well if you've done all your tasks who am I to complain." "Thank you sir." She got up and tried to slip away. "What's your name?" "Eliza sir." "Well Eliza be a good girl and fetch my steward and a pot of coffee will you?" Yes sir, at once sir." She slipped away as fast as not actually running would allow.

"Well what do we need to do to increase profits?" The steward stood nervously before him. "Well with the sickness there's two farms that aren't being farmed properly the tenants having died but I don't like to put the widows and children out." "You're too soft hearted that's your trouble. Which are they then?" "The Hanshaw's place and the Caplin's place. Mrs. Caplin is quality like, but Mary Hanshaw is just a good woman." "Prendergast's wife died didn't she?" "Ay, well then go and break the news to him and Mary they're to be wed or they'll both have to leave the estate. They can have their choice of farms but I'll be wanting to rent the other out. As to the Caplins, I'd best have them in for dinner and look them over. See what they'd like to do but there no room for sentiment these days."

He dismissed his steward and rang for his nephew's governess. "Right lass, Martin's a big boy now and you've prepared him well, in the autumn he'll be off to school so have a think about your own future will you. I've noticed the squire seems taken with you." "Unfortunately I can hardly ask him to marry me though can I?" "True enough but if he asked?" "I doubt if he will." "You could do a lot to improve the lot of his estate workers though." "As long as he had his hunting I could do as I like I suppose. Perhaps we could get him drunk one evening?" Jocelyn filed the idea away for future reference.

Relax, buy something in the country she said, well the price had been right but the estate was near ruin. Still there wasn't the smoke and fumes and his nephew was already breathing easier. Riding now that was the thing, he'd try his hand at riding across the estate, there couldn't be that much to it if all the local nobs did it. He walked round to the stables where he found young Derek, Mrs. Caplin's son, grooming Beth, he looked a likely lad. Sam, the groom sent him on his way and soon had the cob saddled. "What's the lad like then?" Jocelyn asked Sam. "Bright enough but misses his dad." Jocelyn mounted slowly from the block and sat on the horse resting for a while before the next part. Sam looked nervously at him wondering if he should mount up and tag along behind. Still Beth was all they had these days and she wasn't nearly as frisky now as she had been ten years earlier. Jocelyn and Beth ambled out of the stables and Beth sensing her rider didn't seem experienced decided which way she preferred to go and gently headed in that direction.

"Hello you must be the new owner." He glanced at her perched on a horse that looked very muscular. "What gave it away?" "Oh easy, I watched you ride up here on Beth, you're obviously no horseman and the new owner is reputed to come from up north and you have an up north look about you." He grinned at her. "I hear you've put the cat among the pigeons and are asking how to improve profits. Mind you if you think your estate is bad you should look across to old Pye's on the left. His steward has difficulty getting money out of him for seed and even I know you the newer seeds give better yields." "Well it would seem we're still doing things the way great grandfather did and that's not my way." "Do you know what the latest farming ideas are?" "No but I'm sure I can find out." "My sister's having a house party shortly for a couple of weeks, I'll arrange an invitation for you then you can talk to their steward, he's full of ideas. I'm Elizabeth by the way, or rather Miss Sutton as I'm now the eldest girl at home." Elizabeth whirled her horse away and galloped off into the distance.

Well he wasn't getting very far at the moment, a couple of weeks away would serve to distract him if nothing else. Now what to do with Mrs. Caplin?

The governess met him at the door. "If you please sir my brother has been wounded in the war and I wondered if we might find room for him whilst he recovers." "Is he married?" That sounded like an odd question, "No sir." "Best write to him then and tell him to come." "I'd like to but I don't really know where he is, he wrote to say he was coming home and since he doesn't know that father died and we have a new parson he'll be coming to the parsonage thinking to recover there. I'll mention to the parsonage to send him along when he arrives."

Mrs. Caplin dressed in black arrived for dinner. She was a bit uncertain what was to happen to her but hoped for the best, her young son was the most important thing. Jessie smiled at her reassuringly as she served the meal. After dinner they sat round the table drinking coffee. "Now then Mrs. Caplin have you given any thought to your future?" "I thought I might hire some workers and continue with the farm." "If you were to be married that might work but honestly can you see any workmen taking their orders from you? They might verbally agree but then go off and do whatever they felt was best." Mrs. Caplin mentally agreed remembering the times when she'd needed to involve her husband to get something done properly. "Have you any suggestions? Are you looking to get married yourself?" asked MaryEllen mischievously. "Well your brother should be here shortly, he's well educated so he's a possibility. As wedding present the estate will pay for your son's education and I'll let you off the farm rent for a year, if you decide to do something else I'll remind you the rent is due after the harvest this coming year." Mrs. Caplin drew her breath, well it was better than nothing she supposed. MaryEllen looked shocked at first then thought about it. She hadn't given much thought to her brother's future but Mrs. Caplin was a friend and the farm would give them both a reasonable living.

MaryEllen's brother turned up a week later lain down on a hand cart together with a fellow officer who'd lost his leg, gently propelled by a sarjent and two swaddies together with the sarjent's wife. Mrs. Caplin was soon fussing over Lieutenant Newton, thinking he was not bad looking and if he died her prospects were looking grim. Sarjent Honeywood and two swaddies made themselves useful round the farm and hoped they would be employed, Mrs. Honeywood carried on nursing Lieutenant Newton as she had been doing since he was wounded.

Jocelyn travelled in Miss Sutton's family coach, much more comfortable than the common stagecoach had been. They arrived mid-afternoon and after some refreshments and showing him his room Elizabeth shuffled him off to see the steward whilst she caught up with all the gossip.

The steward first questioned him to find out how much he knew and what Jocelyn could tell him about the estate. Then he started with the basic basics whilst Jocelyn took notes. It was much later that the steward mentioned it was time for his evening meal and probably time for Jocelyn to get changed for his so Jocelyn stepped upstairs where he was surprised to find a maid hanging his clothes up. She curtsied, "I'm Turner sir, Miss Sutton thought you could do with a hand getting dressed and since we're a little short staffed with the house party and we don't have any spare valets I'm afraid you have me. I've ironed your shirt, and socks and pressed your trousers so if we can just get you changed I can get back to my normal duties." "Ironed socks?" "Certainly sir you're going to need all the amour you have when you dine. I'm sure they'll be allsorts of inquisitive questions asked and speculation about you, as well as well as Miss Sutton and her earl." "You mean I'm to help bring him up to scratch?" "Such words would never pass my lips sir." she said primly "But I want to make sure you look your very best."

After dinner the card tables were set up and Jocelyn was manoeuvred to a table for two by Sir Pye who had already dealt the cards. "Just a friendly game a penny a point to start with." Jocelyn hesitated "I don't have my purse with me." "Oh that's not a problem." Elizabeth smiled to him, "You can use these." She fished inside her reticule and dropped a pile of paper in front of Jocelyn. He picked one up, IOU he read. Sir Pye blanched as he caught sight of one. A couple of interested spectators drifted over. "Are they worth anything?" asked Jocelyn politely. "There's over eighty one thousand pounds worth there all signed by Sir Pye so there shouldn't be any problem with him accepting them." "Any gentleman ought to pay his gambling debts, debts of honour." The remark drifted from behind Jocelyn somewhere. "Well if he'd just sign this bill of sale in return for his IOUs I'm sure Mr. Rivers would accept that in full." Under duress Sir Pye signed away his estate but Elizabeth wasn't finished yet. "Oh I must have missed this one, still its only for a hundred guineas so perhaps he can settle it in cash." "I'm afraid I don't have by purse with me." "Watters?" Watters produced Sir Pye's purse on a silver platter. "Here it is sir, I thought you might have need of it this evening." Sir Pye's purse just happened to contain one hundred sovereigns but Jocelyn graciously forgave him the odd hundred shillings.

"Now I'm curious as to why Sir Pye attempted to bribe Watters to place a particular pack of cards placed on this table. When Watters mentioned it to me I thought we'd substitute a second pack that look similar. Now looking at his hand it would seem there are cards from two different packs in it." The spectators swooped, two aces in the hand were from a different pack, Sir Pye was found to have a number of aces and court cards in his pockets. At which point Elizabeth's brother-in-law had his footmen show Sir Pye the door even though it was late at night and raining heavily.

Afterwards Jocelyn spoke quietly to Elizabeth, "Remind me never to get on the wrong side of you. What did he do to you? And where did all the vowels come from?" "Sir Pye did nothing to me but he tried to compromise one of my close friends who happens to be a heiress. I thought the sight of a northern mill owner would tempt him to expose himself thinking you weren't very bright because of your accent and that's one reason I got my sister to invite you. The vowels, well pater's man of business happened to mention that Sir Pye's man of business was offering a shilling in the pound for his vowels, so I got in first with my pin money and got pater's man of business to offer of one and sixpence in the pound so the only cost me about six thousand pounds." "You devil you mean you brought his estate for a mere six thousand." "Certainly not, a young lady like myself couldn't possibly lower herself to such a sordid commercial transaction besides what would I do with a run down estate?" "I'd better pay off your pater's man of business then hadn't I?" "I'm glad you mentioned that, pater doesn't actually know we used his money so if you could, it would save any slight unpleasantness."

He retired shortly afterwards and when he walked into his bedroom he caught sight of Turner hanging some dresses up in his wardrobe. He raised his eyebrow "Why are you hanging female garments up in my wardrobe? Have I been moved?" He heard the door click behind him as it was quietly closed. "No you haven't been moved but Turner thought it might cause less comment if I had a dress on when I left in the morning and you couldn't possibly expect me to wear the same dress twice without giving raise to speculation." "Lady Henshaw, how nice to see you, but won't your husband object?" "I don't see why, he's got one of the chambermaids to warm his bed tonight. I was married at sixteen, I gave him his heir well before I was eighteen so now its time for my pleasure as well. These days we go our own way and I wanted to show my gratitude properly for getting rid of that horrible little man in a way that Elizabeth couldn't. Now don't be tiresome, if you say anything you'll only discommode our hosts and you won't want to do that now would you? Turner could you help him get undressed please."

She stepped forward and kissed him on the lips whilst Turner carefully undid his buttons, starting with his fly buttons and lowering his trousers first before undoing his shirt buttons and allowing Lady Henshaw to run her fingers through the hairs on his chest. "Now you could always follow my mother's advice and close your eyes and think of England but you never know you might even enjoy it."

The next morning at breakfast time most of the men had decided to go out shooting but before he could make a move to join them Juliana slipped into the seat besides him. "I understand you wouldn't object to some riding lessons this morning." "Well anything to make riding more comfortable." "Oh I think we can manage that."

After a substantial breakfast she led him out to the stables and there walked down inspecting each horse in turn to find one most suitable for a beginner. "Right let's have you up on Altus, he knows more about riders than most riders know about horses. Now always mount from the left and use a mounting block when you can, it puts less stress on the stirrup leathers." "Hold the reins in your left hand and slide your right leg over the horse's back."

A week later she was satisfied that he knew the basics at least. "Now this morning we'll go a little further afield and visit Newton's horse farm and see if we can find you a suitable mount."

As they entered the farmyard Newton himself came out. "I've some really nice hunters if you'd like to cast your eye over them." He weighed up Jacob as a new rider who wouldn't be very knowledgeable about horses, then he caught sight of Juliana and hoped Jacob wouldn't defer to her. "We're after something to hack more than anything else." announced Juliana. Jacob catching sight of a team of Shires added "I could do with some farm horses as well, two teams of four my steward mentioned." Newton's hoped were first dashed then raised again, eight Shires he could manage, and he'd taken an twelve year old in as a trade in on a new hunter this very morning perhaps not as young as some would like but she was steady and still good for a spot of hunting if need be. He had the grooms bring out his less expensive stock and take them through their paces. Juliana pointed out the good and not so good points on them as they came out. Lupus he had brought out third and surprisingly Juliana didn't comment on her but passed Jacob an apple to feed her.

"May I make so bold as to ask you how you're finding the house party sir?" Turner was being usually talkative, speaking without being spoken to. "Well not quite what I was expecting, by the time I've spent an hour or two with Juliana learning to ride a horse then its half a day with the steward finding out what to look for and how to run an estate followed by being careful not to get caught by Elizabeth's earl, he's shot me a few darkening looks this last week, and then delightful as Lady Henshaw and yourselves are I do feel as if my time is full at the moment although I must say having someone to look after my clothes and comfort has been very pleasant." "Have you thought about employing someone to do that yourself sir?" "Don't tell me you fancy a change from being a lady's maid?" "I'm a dresser sir and no not myself but if you'd care to interview Maud sir?" "And who pray is Maud?" "A recent orphan sir but she's of an age to become a maid if you please sir." "But why my maid?" "She was born out of wedlock which wouldn't have mattered except Mrs. Bellinghan made it her business to let everyone know about it when her mother died recently so no one dare hire her sir." "Well arrange for her to come and see me." "Would now be convenient sir?" Jacob nodded and moments later a tall slim girl was ushered into his room.

"She's been well educated and can read and write sir. Her father was a married man who gave her mother an allowance until she died." Maud blushed with embarrassment to hear herself described in such as way. "Well she looks comely enough are there no young men about?" "Mrs. Bellingham stirred up a ruckus thinking to drive her out of the parish so she wouldn't become a charge on the parish. So her options are very limited. She's too good looking to be taken on as a governess or maid in the normal way so its either you or someone's mistress." "Just who is Mrs. Bellingham anyway?" "One of Sir Pye's tenants, I think it was Sir Pye behind it all thinking to get me into his bed. His steward and one or two others were involved as well." "Make me a list of their names, Elizabeth motioned an enclosure act on Sir Pye's estate and I think its time we encouraged a few to emigrate to Canada, its just the right time of year." "But it coming up to winter?" "True enough and in the summer there are the mosquitoes. I'll tell them I'm sending twenty tons of stores on the ship with them. They're going to my agent of course, he'll lend them the money to get started and for the first four years they'll work hard felling trees and clearing the land but when the fourth harvest is in they'll suddenly find their land reprocessed for the debt. It's a hard life over there to be sure." He grinned, "Now not a word to anyone about this mind." Maud looked more cheerful than she been when she first arrived. "You're evil but I like it."

Lady Henshaw took one arm, Juliana took hold of the other. "We fancy a romantic stroll in moonlight." Jacob had seen some of the machinations at the house party and was suspicious. "I'm not going to be compromised am I?" "Certainly not." Juliana exclaimed indignantly. "We would just feel safer with a male escort." "You never know what sort of wild animal might be in the gardens." They stepped away form the veranda out into the gardens. Rounding a curve in the path they suddenly saw a man kissing someone. "I do hope that's one of the house maids Lord Carrington." Remarked Lady Henshaw. Lord Carrington attempted to straighten up but got pulled back down for another kiss, "He was just about to ask me something." "I was?" he got pulled back for another deeper kiss. They heard the words marry me murmured and then more clearly "Of course my darling." Juliana turned him back, "See you weren't compromised at all now where you?" "But who was?" "Oh just Elizabeth bringing her Earl up to scratch." "It's not as bad as it sounds, his valet mentioned that he was to afraid to ask for her hand in case he got rejected." "And if he hadn't offered?" "Well Juliana and I wouldn't have said anything nor I think would you so her reputation was safe enough, but it had to be at least three of us to make him think he had to offer."

"You've a deputation to see you." Jacob grimaced "Show them in then." Maud opened the door and allowed two girls to enter. They stood silently before him. "Well go on then ask him he won't bite you." The two girls who were obviously sisters exchanged a look. "Are you quite sure?" she asked. "Well he doesn't normally bite people, now ask him about Canada." "What would you like to know?" "Well its my Bill he's been talking about it ever since those tenants of Sir Pye's went off." "And we were wondering how much the passage is, we've saved nearly twenty pounds would that be enough?" "To make a go of it in Canada you'll need at least a hundred pounds cash for each couple and two hundred would be better." "But the land's free isn't it?" "True but the land in a land grant has to be cleared of timber, then ploughed and you've a cabin to build. You either need credit or have cash to get you through the first three or four years and credit is expensive and from my correspondences its very cold in winter and very hot in summer." "But Bill's set his heart on owning his own farm."

Maud interrupted, "But some make it don't they? Someone has to be making money. How much did you pay for the others to go to Canada?" "Some do so yes there's hope and since I own a ship it didn't really cost me anything to ship them off to Canada." "But them twenty tons of stores must have cost something." "But they were shipped to my agent for sale." "You mean." Jacob nodded, "Well my Tom thought it was right queer you being so generous when everyone knows that lot were right cruel to Maud and her being so close to you as you might say." The two sisters looked dejected. "So that's that then."

"Not quite." Maud stepped closer to Jacob and knelt by his chair. She undid his flies and took his hardening rod in her hand and caressed it gently. "You could make them a loan to carry them through the first few years." "I could, tell me about Bill and Tom what trades do they have if any." "Well Bill's just served his time as a blacksmith's apprentice and Tom as a farm labourer." "Pity they don't have any book learning." "I keep the books on the family farm, its just with my brother getting married there isn't room for two women of the house." Maud looked at Jacob's thoughtful expression. She signalled Rosalind, the younger to come and take over caressing Jacob's crotch.

She led her sister Katherine to the rug on the floor and started to undress her much to Katherine's surprise. "You want Bill's dream to come true don't you? Now just lie back and relax." Maud dived between Katherine's legs Rosalind was so shocked she almost stopped caressing Jacob.

"There's always droit du seigneur." "That's a bit mediaeval isn't it?" "Well you could update it, say a few days after the wedding they could spend the day here. It wouldn't be quite so obvious and would save on candles." "But how would we explain any benefit?" "I've a mind to send some breeding stock say four young Shires over to Canada, looking after them on board would cover your food and fare. I could give you a letter of credit for say five hundred for a loan payable at 2% interest no repayments for the first five years then equal repayments over the next fifteen years." "You could send some trade goods with them so they could open their own store and split the enterprise half and half." "They'd better be very good for that." "You'd make a decent profit on the trade goods." Jacob gave Maud a look, "Good enough, a wagon on the ship as well then they can haul the trade goods on the other side. If you mention to Bill or Tom you have a letter of credit if they want to use it once you get to Canada but you'll be paying interest on it I think they'll accept it and not be too suspicious. Just remember the farms will probably need every penny in the first few years so don't go spending it on pretty bonnets." Rosalind put her tongue out at him. "and I'll have to figure out how much the wagon can haul."

Hearing the rattle of a horse drawn carriage Maud glanced out of the window to catch sight of an elegant travelling coach complete with outriders and postilions. She dashed to the library at the rear of the house "You aren't expecting visitors are you arriving in state?" Jacob got up from studying the books and came into the hall just as the door knocker was used. "Must be someone who has lose their way." He stepped up to the front door and opened it to see an elderly gentleman stepping down from the coach. "I've come to see me granddaughter." He announced, "There she is behind you." Maud stepped forward, "Aye you've the look of your mother alright." "I think you'd better come in my lord." Jacob guided him into the library as it was one room that had a fire lit at least. The old man settled himself down gingerly. "Now then having never seen me before in your life you must be worrying who I am and what all this is about." "Well yes but first let me get you some refreshment." Maud scurried out the door and away to the kitchens returning with a tray of tea and cakes.

"Just the ticket, just the ticket. Now let's have a look at you gal." Maud approached him and he looked closely at her. "You'll do. Now then first I have to tell you that your uncle died whilst out hunting a month ago. The second is your mother's husband died before you were born, I daresay you didn't know she was married, but she was a few months before you were born but all in good time. His brother was the eldest but when he died a year ago he had no issue, so since the title is one of those rare ones that may have a female holder you become the new baroness. I've only recently found out from the lawyers and established your claim." "But I thought my mother was unmarried." "Yes well I didn't want scandal did I so when your mother found herself with child and your father was married to someone else Henry was at hand, he wanted a commission some gal or other had turned him down. The deal was he married your mother and I paid for his commission. I took a special licence with me and the chaplain and we drank a good deal with the meal. Afterwards the chaplain performed the marriage ceremony but your mother bless her was a bit down after finding out your father was married and after a glass or two of wine might not have been completely aware of what was happening but the deed was done in front of witnesses and I kept a copy of the marriage lines just in case I ever needed to scotch a scandal. Now then with a title and an estate I thought you might like to do the season and go for a more illustrious title. Not that it matters your child will take the title of baron or baroness anyway. Mind you you'll get my estate when I'm gone now that my son Charles has done for himself. Still I said to myself you've still got Maud to carry on the family tradition as long as you marry of course. I hope you weren't thinking of joining a nunnery were you?" This last came out in a more serious tone. "Oh and whilst I think of it your dad, that is to say your natural father hasn't been blessed with children and his wife died of something or other recently so dangle a grandchild on his knee and you'll collect when he dies as well." Maud looked thoughtful and then at Jacob. "Haven't you anything to ask me?" "Well.." "On bended knee perhaps?" Jessie slipped a bunch of sweet peas she'd gathered quickly from besides the kitchen door into his hand.