How can you turn him down when you havent even seen the man? he asked her now. Hes an earl. You would be a countess! Just think how pleased Elizabeth would be. As soon as shes feeling not so under the weather, Im going to tell her all about it. She will be thrilled.
I am sure she will, Miranda replied dryly. Her stepmother, Elizabeth, herself English, was even more enamored of the idea of Miranda marrying British nobility than Joseph was. She had come from a good family herself, she was fond of telling whoever would listen; and the improvident, impetuous husband who had brought her to New York, then committed the final folly of catching a chill and dying, leaving her stranded in the New World with a baby daughter, had come from a family even higher up the social scale. Her dream was for her daughter Veronica, now fourteen, to live in the world of British aristocracyto have her coming out, to hobnob with the members of the Ton, to marry a suitably noble husband. The easiest method of accomplishing this dream, she had decided, was for Miranda to marry into the aforesaid aristocracy and then bring Veronica out in a few years.
You know how fond I am of Elizabeth, Miranda went on. She is the only mother Ive ever known, and she has always been quite kind to me. Possessed of a kind, easygoing, and rather lazy nature, Elizabeth had never mistreated her stepdaughter or tried to take away control of the household from her. Indeed, Elizabeth much preferred letting someone else handle all the troublesome details of keeping a large house with numerous servants running, for it allowed her to concentrate on her various illnesses. And I love Veronica, too.
I know you do. Her father beamed at her. Youve always been like a little mother to that child. But that doesnt mean, Miranda went on firmly, that I am going to marry someone just because Elizabeth wants Veronica to make her debut in London society.
Thats not the only reason, Joseph protested. Theres a grand estate in Derbyshire. And a housenot a castle, grant you, but almost big enough to be one. Darkwater. Now theres a name for you. Doesnt it conjure up history? Romance? The Earl of Ravenscar. My God, girl, is your heart dead?
No, Papa, it is not. And I will be the first to admit that its a very romantic namealthough, I might point out, a wee bit spooky.
All the better. There are probably ghosts. Her father looked delighted at the thought.
Happy thought.
Yes, isnt it? Joseph Upshaw was immune to irony at the moment. His eyes sparkled and his face positively glowed as he began to talk about the house he had spent the evening before discussing with Lady Ravenscar. The house was built by one of Henry VIIIs closest friends and supporters. He built the main hall during Henrys reign. Then, when his son inherited and grew even more prosperous during Elizabeths rule, he added two wings onto it to form the classic E-shaped Elizabethan mansion. Its grand, but its falling into complete ruin. Rot in the woodtapestries in shredsstone crumbling. He related the problems of the house with zest, ending, And we can restore it! Can you imagine the opportunity? The house, the grounds, the estate. We could rebuild it all.
It does sound delightful, Miranda agreed truthfully.
Real estate was one of her primary interests. During her fathers years of dealing with John Jacob Astor, she had had many conversations with that shrewd gentleman, and she had wisely followed his advice and had invested much of her fathers profits in real estate in Manhattan. The risks had already paid off handsomely, and Miranda was sure they would provide even more income in the future. The speculation of buying land to sell at a future date for high profits was fun, but what she truly enjoyed was developing projectsbuying land and building something on it that she could then rent to someone, or investing in anothers plan to build or expand or create.
So the thought of restoring a grand old house to its former glory did appeal to her, and she had lived with her father for too long not to have absorbed a great deal of interest in British history and architecture. But she did not want to renovate an estate so much that she was willing to marry to acquire it.
With the look of one delivering the coup de grace, her father went on proudly, It even has a curse.
Miranda raised her eyebrows. A curse? That would be splendid, Im sure.
Oh, it is indeed. Tis a wonderful curse. There was a powerful abbey in Derbyshire, you seeBranton Abbeyand during the Dissolution, when Henry VIII seized all the monastic lands and goods, he took this abbey and gave it to his good friend Edward Aincourt. Well, the abbot at Branton was a tough old coot, and he didnt go easily. As they dragged him out of the church, he cursed the king and he cursed Aincourt. He cursed the very stones of the abbey, saying that nothing would ever prosper there and no one who lives within these stones shall ever know happiness.
He looked at her triumphantly.
Well. That is an impressive curse, Miranda admitted. She knew her fathers love of drama and romance too well to be surprised to think that he would find a ruined, cursed house the perfect spot for his beloved daughter to live. To Joseph Upshaw, such a place would be a treasure.
Isnt it? They say that Capability Brown did the original gardens. Mirandahow can you pass up an opportunity like this? It isnt only the house and grounds that need restoring, you know. Apparently the whole estate is also a financial wreck. You could rebuild that, as well. It could be one of your projects.
Miranda chuckled. That all sounds very delightful, Im sure, but there is still the fact that in order to get my hands on the house and the estate and all that, I would have to marry a complete stranger.
He wouldnt have to be a stranger by the time you married him, Joseph pointed out. You could have a long engagement, if you wish. We could start to work on the house in the meantime.
Miranda smiled at her father and shook her head. I am not marrying, Papa, just because you are bored. Talk about wanting a project
But this would be the project of a lifetime! And its not just because Im bored since I sold out to Mr. Astor. You know Ive wanted to get my hands on a grand old house like that for years. He paused, considering her, then went on in a wheedling tone. Anyway, Miranda, my love, Im not asking that you marry the fellow tonight. All I want is for you to meet him. See what hes like. Consider the possibilities.
Yes, but then youll be asking me about how I feel and couldnt you just give the man another chance and wanting me to go to this Darkwater place to see it, and
Her father put on a shocked face. Miranda! You do say the most terrible things about me. As if I would badger you
Miranda quirked an eyebrow at him, and Joseph had the grace to smile. Well, all right, I do badger you sometimes. I admit it. But not this timeI promise. Just meet the man. It will be nothing but going to an elegant dinner party and making polite conversation and taking a little look-see at him. Couldnt you do that much for Elizabeth and me?
Miranda sighed. Oh, all right. I guess I can meet the man. But Im not promising anything. You understand?
Of course, of course! Joseph agreed happily, coming over to his daughter and enveloping her in a bear hug.