Hello all. So I know this really isn't my usual wheel house, but this is an idea for book I am thinking of writing and I was wondering if any of my lovely followers would be willing to read it and tell me what they think. I know it's a divergence from what I normally write, there will be no Destiel I'm afraid, but it's an idea that's been at the back of my mind and something I have been struggling with so I thought I would let you have a look at it. Please let me know what you think. Pretty please.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
Gabriel Hayne, Marquess of Dare and heir to the Duke of Ravenscliff sat at the fire in his study, glass of brandy in hand as he stared into the flames. He had retreated from the family christmas, not just to the study but to his own property in a different county. As much as he loved his mother and sister, he really didn't need to listen to them talk of how he needed to think of marriage, and the continuity of the dukedom or about all the possible ladies that would make a good duchess who were going to be on the marriage mart this season. No he really did not want to hear that conversation. And even when he joined his father in his study he had had him mentioning the need to rectify his bachelor status.
At the age of 30 and the heir he knew that he needed to marry, and had in fact decided that this season he would look around, but he could not do that if all his relatives were throwing women at him left, right and centre, not counting all the marriage minded mothers throwing their available daughters in his path. There was after all not that many young and available heirs to a dukedom around. So no, what he needed was a way to look around at the possible women without having to avoid the predators of the ton that would stalk him come the being of the season if he so much as hinted at the fact he was looking for a wife. Though how he could succeed in this he had no idea.
Gabriel was pulled from his musings by the sound of the voices in the hallway and a few minutes later the door to his study was opened without preamble to reveal the silhouette of a gentleman who was as different to Gabriel as night was to day.
Where Gabriel was blonde, this man was dark. Where Gabriel's sense of dress tended towards the flamboyant, this gentleman's was more server. Where Gabriel revealed in being the centre of attention, this gentleman preferred to sit on the side lines and observe. In fact the only similarity between the two were their eyes, which while two very different colours, Gabriel's green and the others a striking blue, they both held a certain intelligence, a sharp knowledge, and the ability to make people think they were in fact a lot less than they true were. This gentleman was Major Castiel Haynes, Gabriel's younger brother.
"Please tell me you haven't also come to entice me to marry." Gabriel said as he gestured to his brother to join him by the fire with a glass of brandy.
"Well I wish you would. I would rather not be your heir you know." Castiel responded in a deep soft voice with a smile on his lips.
"Truthfully Cas, I would prefer you not to be too. I just don't want to be classed as a prize to be won." Gerbil replied with a sigh as he went back to his problem.
"Then remove yourself from the competition." Castiel replied settling himself comfortably by his brother's fire.
"You tell me a way to do that without getting married and I will happily do so." Gabriel said with a humorous tone, though there was a serious request in his voice which his brother heard and as such put his mind to it. And as a former intelligence officer in Wellington's army, he had a rather good mind when it came to deception.
"You could always get engaged." He finally replied after thinking for a few minutes.
At that sentence Gabriel looked up in disbelief. "In case you are unaware Castiel, getting engaged is usually a prelude to marriage, and there is no way that I could end such an engagement in favour of another after looking over the prospects." His honour would not allow him to behave in such a fashion.
"True. But if you found the right woman, and offered the right incentive, you could no doubt find that she would be willing to assist you in your search by pretending to be your betrothed. She would then end your agreement at the end of the season, when you have found the right woman to be your duchess." Castiel replied studying the brandy in his glass rather than looking at Gabriel making the Marquess narrowed his eyes at him.
"And just where would I find such a woman Castiel?" He asked suspiciously. He knew his brother and the fact that he wasn't meeting his eye made Gabriel think that he may well have this already planned out down to the finniest detail. And knowing his brother he wouldn't be surprised if he had. Castiel would after all never suggest such a thing without a woman in mind. Gabriel was just wondering firstly, what it would cost him and second, what his brother would get out of it. For he didn't think for a second that the answer to that was nothing. His brother, while being willing to lay down his life for his friends and family, was not after all known for his altruism. He was always watching and analysing, working out what could be to the benefit of those who currently held his allegiance, it was one of the reasons he had been so good at his job.
Castiel didn't reply straight away, he was thinking. This idea would solve a problem that had been plaguing him and his friends since there return from France after the battle of waterloo. If the woman in question would agree, of course. Though knowing his brother as he did, he knew that Gabriel would be willing to pay whatever price asked for the right woman to help with this scheme, and the woman Castiel had in mind was definitely the right one. And if it was presented to her in the right way… yes he could make it so she would agree and through this scheme he and his friends would be discharging there duty to the lady without her knowledge, and as such she could not refuse, as she had been doing up until now.
"Dryton Manor." He finally said draining his glass of brandy and turning to look into the flames.
"And just who will I find at Dryton Manor Castiel?" Gabriel asked cautiously, wondering just who it was that his brother was sending him after, and why.
"Lady Penelope Coburn, daughter of the former Viscount Simmers." Castiel replied still not looking his brother in the eye.
"And who is Lady Penelope to you Cas?" Gabriel asked trying to work out just what the situation was here.
"The sister of a man who gave his life for mine. A true hero of the war, and one that no one knows exists." Castiel replied with pain in his tone, a pain that Gabriel would do anything to remove, but he knew that there was no chance that he ever could. He had after all stayed home and was safe while his little brother went off to war. So many times Gabriel had wished that he could have joined him, but their father would not allow it. He was after all the heir. And his job was to continue the line.
"Why would a daughter of a Viscount agree to this plan of yours?"
"Because with both her father and brother dead her uncle has taken control of the Viscountcy and as such has given her and her sisters until the start of the season to leave their family home. They have only the money left to them for their dowries, and as such the uncle has suggested that Lady Penelope marriage an old goat of a man who doesn't even truly care for her. In fact it is thought that the reason the man wants to marry her is to be able to have within his control her three younger sisters who will be joining her." Castiel replied in a monotone voice, though Gabriel heard the supressed fury underneath, in fact Gabriel agreed with that fury.
"How old are the sisters?" he asked, intrigued now in this family. After all if the brother had saved Castiel then their family owned his a debt, one he would be willing to pay to the man's sister.
"16, 10 and 6 I believe." Castiel replied without thought making Gabriel realise that the situation of these ladies had been on his brother's mind before the start of this conversation.
"And if I don't agree, what do you plan to do Cas?" He asked, well aware that his brother no doubt had another plan already sorted out in his mind.
"I was going to suggest she marry me. Not that she would agree I'm sure, but I can be very persuasive if needed." Castiel replied with a smile for his older brother knowing full well that if Gabriel thought for a minute that he could save him from sacrificing himself he would do it.
"So in return for me engaging myself to her, what will she get?" Gabriel asked, there was no way he was going to let his brother enter a loveless marriage purely to repay a debt, he was the older brother and heir. All debts entailed by their family therefore rested upon his shoulders, not Castiel's.
"Well she will need to have a season, a chance to get used to the haunt ton before the wedding of course, which would give you the chance to study the field. You would need to obtain for her and her siblings a house with a respectable chaperone, but you and I know that that would not be an issue, and you would need to provide her with a suitable wardrobe. Then at the end of your agreement you could give her a property of her choosing that would be suitable for her station and family." Castiel stated succinctly all the points he had considered while thinking through the plan.
"That all Cas?" Gabriel asked with the raise of an eyebrow and a shake of his head at his brothers list of requirements, though he like Castiel knew that none of them would give him any issues.
"Yes. If you wish I know a group of men who would be willing to chip in with the expense." Castiel suggested slyly watching his brother's posture stiffen out of the corner of his eye at the idea of someone else taking the cost.
"If I agree to this Castiel, I will foot the bill. It is not like I cannot afford it." Gabriel replied in his most condescending tone.
"Of course." Castiel responded with an attempt at humility, but there was humour lacing his voice which made Gabriel frown at him, though he let it go.
"Before I can consider this I will need to meet Lady Penelope." Gabriel said instead looking at the brandy in his glass as if this was all completely hypothetical.
"Very true. My friends and I are having a get together in Dorset next week, only a few miles from Dryton Manor, you would be welcome to join us." Castiel offered graciously as if this wasn't all his plan.
"And what will Lady Penelope say to this idea of yours?" Gabriel asked, for the first time wondering about the lady, that if she did not hold up the agreement would become his wife.
"I'm sure that between us we can convince her to involve herself and her family. It would after all give her and her sisters a roof over their head for the season at least." Castiel replied with a shrug. He would convince her to do this. And he knew he would not be alone, his friends would help, for they too would see how this could benefit them all, not just the Coburn ladies they had sworn to protect on the death of another.
"Tell me of Lady Penelope." Gabriel asked leaning back in his chair. He might as well get as much information about his possible future bride as could be, though he knew that his brother would not suggest a ninny hammer thank god.
"She is an intelligent, insightful woman with a quick wit and good humour. She is kind though she also can be stern when needed."
"And looks?" Gabriel asked, he would prefer not to have to explain to the ton why he had chosen to join himself with an antidote.
"Those you will have to see for yourself." And with that Castiel stood with a smile for his brother and let himself out of the study making his way to the room that he knew his brother kept ready for him, whenever he chose to visit.
And Gabriel sitting in his study, sipping his brandy and staring into the flames thought over the plan his brother had suggested, going over the logistics, for while his brother made it sound quite simple, Gabriel knew that introducing a lady to the ton was anything but. And if he was going to be using a woman for his own requirements of a diversion, he was going to make sure that she was the toast of the town so when they ended their agreement she would have the option of marriage to another if she wished. He would not leave her without more than she had now, and while Castiel had said that all she would require was a home for her and her sisters, he was determined to find her happiness as well. And perhaps that was another difference between himself and his brother, while Castiel only sort comfort, he always sort happiness.