An Arranged Marriage

Christine and Erik were sitting in the library, each left to their own thoughts as they read. Since their first, unexpected meeting some ten days ago, Christine and Erik had fallen into a comfortable routine. Following luncheon each day, when the eligible guests would have free reign as the chaperones rested they repaired to the two wing chairs in front of the fire to enjoy the other's quiet company. They spent the entire afternoon working on sketches or reading. Occasionally they would venture into the drawing room to sit side-by-side on the pianoforte stool and play in a comfortable silence.

Christine often wondered if Erik was trying to avoid speaking to their host. She was not sure but it seemed as if the two men had suffered a blow to their friendship. As worried as she was for him, Christine could not help but be pleased at the amount of time she was able to spend with Lord Erik.

Drusilla and Warwick and Daphne and Ashlyn were strolling out on the lawns in the warms sunlight. Christine spied the two couples as she glanced up from her book, having finished the chapter. She smiled at Erik as he glanced up at her noting her movement and crossed to the window seat to watch her friend and her suitor.

The Walters were there to lend countenance to the young couple who walked arm in arm, their heads close together. Christine could not be happier to see her friend building a relationship with Warwick. Dear Dru was such a fun and loving woman, a husband and children were precisely what she needed.

A knock sounded at the door and Hobbs entered with a letter addressed to Miss Daaé on a silver tray. Christine opened the letter and let out an outraged cry as she read the missive.

Erik was on his feet the moment he heard her cry. He carefully watched her expression, wanting to comfort her, but not sure of his welcome. He watched the fury flit quickly across her face to be replaced by panic and anxiety.

"Erik!" She was in his arms before either of them knew what happened. Christine wrapped her arms tightly about his waist as she buried her face against his chest and cried.

Uncertain what to do in response to the unexpected display of emotions; Erik forced himself to act on instinct. His left hand rubbed her back soothingly, while his right tangled in her hair. When she looked up at him with tears staining her face, Erik impulsively wiped one away.

She sighed and rested her head against his chest, much calmer. She knew being in Erik's arms would have such a wondrous calming effect on her. She would go anywhere and do anything just to be with him – in his arms.

Christine sighed and wrapped her arms tighter about Erik's body. This was how Mrs Daaé found her daughter when she entered the library to discuss their return to London in two days' time.

"Lord Erik! Christine!" Mrs Daaé's startled cries brought the couple out of their comforting embrace.

"I can explain, ma'am," Erik began lamely.

He could not believe this had just happened. He had studiously avoided her determination to marry since the incident in the maze. Any avenue of escape was shattered when he assessed their state; his typically immaculate cravat was crumpled and several of Christine's pins were scattered about their feet. The fact that they had their hands all over each other could not be easily dismissed.

"Mama, this is not what it looks like," Christine said as she rushed to calm her mother. Throwing up her hands as her mother turned to their host and hostess with indignant rage. She saw Drusilla and Warwick join the ever increasing crowd growing outside the room.

"My daughter is compromised! Your guest has ruined my daughter's reputation!" She pointed an accusing finger at Ashlyn. "I would have thought that you would have selected your friends and guests more carefully, Mr Walter!"

Ashlyn stared blankly at Erik in surprise who was carefully avoiding all sets of eyes – including several members of the staff.

"And you, your lordship, what do you have to say for yourself? I cannot believe someone of your reputation would have sunk so low to compromise an innocent. Ruined!" Mrs Daaé continued. "Oh, I cannot bear to think of it."

"I will of course offer Miss Daaé the protection of my name if you believe it is necessary, ma'am." Erik knew his duty. He should have known it was too good to be true to find solitude with Christine in the library and have no concern of her reputation. He was certain Ash and his wife knew of the time he spent in Miss Daaé's company, but neither said anything.

"No!" Christine cried as she ran to Erik and gazed at him, silently begging him to withdraw his offer.

"Christine, you are emotional. Go up to your rooms, I will send Quintin to you," Maria instructed her daughter.

"Erik, don't do it," Christine whispered to him as she slowly backed away to carry out her mother's instructions. She cared for him too much and could not bear the thought of him hating her for forcing him into a marriage that he did not want, and as a result of something that certainly was not his fault.

"You had best listen to your mother, Miss Daaé."

"I do not want to marry his lordship!" Christine shrieked as she glared at her mother before rushing up the stairs, aware of Daphne following behind at a slower pace. "I would rather die!"

The last thing Christine saw as she headed for the safety of her room was Erik's injured expression.


"What happened?" Daphne asked once Quintin had settled Christine in her bed. "I do not believe your mother's claims that Erik ruined you."

Christine threw off the covers and began to pace, her lawn nightgown whipping around her legs. "He did not compromise me! If anything, I did it myself. I threw myself at him and he comforted me as I cried. It was nothing more than an innocent misunderstanding."

"What upset you? It was not something his lordship said, was it?"

"Heavens!" Christine exclaimed as she hurried to the dresser where she had left the letter she had received a half hour ago. "It is from Mrs. Otis. She says that the landlord is threatening to close the school if she does not pay the rent by the end of the week." She handed the letter to Daphne to read. "Many of the children contracted measles and she had to call Dr Haswell with money I gave her for the rent. What are we to do?"

Daphne read the letter carefully; things did look bad. They only had two days until the school would close. Then what would happen to the children?

Christine watched as her friend thought of several possible solutions to their problem. Not only did they have to find the money to pay their impatient landlord who had always been opposed to having a school in his building, they also had to find a way to have it to his bank in London. She did not have the money required; the quarter was ending and would not receive her pin money for another fortnight. For a moment, she thought of Erik.

If he was her husband, she would naturally turn to him and request the money. But he was not her husband yet. Could she ask that he assume his duty of her before they exchanged their vows?

"I will talk to Ash. We may rely on him to save our school," Daphne promised as she rose from the chaise by the window and handed the letter back to Christine. "Do you truly have any objections to marrying Lord Erik?"

Christine looked at her friend with wide eyed surprise. She wanted nothing more than to become his wife. It was his lordship who had the objections to marrying her. She had done that to save him. She had to save him from his silly male honour and save what she could of their friendship.

She shook her head, unable to hold back the truth.

Daphne smiled. It seemed that her plan to arrange a match between her friend and her husband's friend worked out better than she could have hoped. Christine felt something for him, and she was certain that Erik returned her feelings.

"Now, dear, I want you to rest. I will be back when I have some news for you." She kissed Christine's cheek before crossing to the door and heading down where Erik and Maria Daaé were in serious conversation.


Erik stood by the fireplace of the library listening to Mrs Daaé's list of complaints. She was none too happy about her little Christine – the daughter and heiress of a wealthy merchant – marrying a deformed younger son. She had big plans for her child including marriage to a marquess or duke.

"I will immediately write to the archbishop and arrange a special licence so that we may be married as soon as possible. I have to return to Renton to make arrangements with my brother," Erik said. He was already imagining the cold homecoming he was expecting from Benedict. "Before I leave, I will send an announcement to London."

Mrs Daaé found herself reluctantly impressed at the ease with which her future son-in-law arranged everything. "May we expect you in London for the ceremony or do you have somewhere else you would prefer to be married? From your family seat?"

Erik laughed mirthlessly at the question. It was typical for peers to be married at their country home, but he would never marry there; Renton was not his home. If anything, he would prefer to marry here at the Cotswolds from Ash's home. "No, I will call on you in London once all is arranged."

"Christine is a good girl, your lordship. She is quick to learn and has always done what her father told her. Despite the nature of your marriage, Christine will make you a good wife."

Indeed, Erik thought as he recalled the way she had cried dramatically she had no intention of marrying him.

I would rather die!

He could not imagine Christine behaving and acting the proper wife when she was forced into a marriage against her wishes. He could easily see her trying to injure herself as a means out of a distasteful union.

"If you have nothing further, madam, I will take my leave. My regards to Miss Daaé." Erik formally bowed as he quickly left the room to pen a letter to The Times and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Erik slammed the front door as the dressing bell rang before swinging up into the saddle of the horse Ash lent for the journey to Renton.


The more time she had to reflect on the situation, the more she realised her mother was correct. Christine and Erik had spent a significant time unchaperoned in each other's company. Anything could have happened during that time. The news of their embrace would have passed through the guests and staff alike. Christine knew she could rely on Daphne and Ashlyn to keep silent about the scene, but she could not be certain about any one else.

The bell rang to dress for dinner. Daphne had come upstairs an hour ago to inform her that Ashlyn was sending the money down to London immediately with a rider. Her mother still had not come up to inform her that she would be marrying Lord Erik. She imagined having to face Erik and –

She suddenly recalled the look of pain that had crossed Erik's face when she informed all and sundry that she had no desire to marry him. Did he think that she did not want to marry him? Would he think it was because he wore a mask or would he realise she said that so he would have a way out of their predicament?

Without ringing for her maid, she pulled out a dress from the wardrobe and began to dress for dinner.


Erik stood in the drawing room of Renton House, assessing his surroundings. His mother's favourite room which had been decorated in a dark green had been replaced by yellow walls and drapes. As much as he disliked the room he was very rarely admitted he preferred the sombre nature to the overly cheery look the new Marchioness of Renton had created. It seemed his sister-in-law was a fortune hunter enjoying her new status painting the room the most expensive paint on the market, he thought sardonically.

When he arrived at the front door some seven minutes ago, their family butler took one look at him and smiled a greeting before ushering him into the drawing room and pouring a brandy. Fagan had changed very little in the years since Erik had last been in Renton House.

Erik spun around at the sound of the door opening.

"Erik."

He swallowed at the look of disdain in his elder brother's eyes. Hidden behind him was a russet haired woman who was obviously his wife. Lady Renton obviously had not been expecting Erik's mask as she gripped her husband's arm for support with one hand while fanning herself with the other.

"Benedict," he stiffly greeted his brother.

"What brings you here?" Benedict asked as he saw his wife settled in a wing chair and standing protectively behind her.

"I have come to ask if you would be willing to sell the estate at Cornwall. I am aware it is unentailed and am willing to purchase it from you." Erik's jaw tightened as he watched his elder brother's outraged and then calculating expression.

It galled him that he had lowered himself as far as to have to ask his brother for the use of the Cornwall property. He could not have Christine living with his brother once they were married. He doubted Benedict would allow them to stay there. He was marrying Christine in a little over a week; it really was not enough time to find a house and begin the typical proceedings. At least he would have Christine's dowry to pay for the house and would be able to salvage his pride to some extent!

"I read in The Times that you are marrying. A cit's daughter, Erik!" Benedict exclaimed in mock outrage.

His younger brother had been the bane of his mother's existence, going off on his Grand Tour in the middle of the war before fighting against the French. It did not surprise him that his brother was marrying into the trade.

"Miss Daaé is an accomplished young lady," Erik said, defending his fiancée.

"Is the house for your wife?" Benedict asked to which Erik refused to respond. "You want the Cornwall estate?"

"It is the only one unentailed. I have already said I am willing to pay for it!" Erik snapped as he stood to pace the room. "What the hell do you want me to do? Allow me to buy the estate and you need never see me again!"