The Marriage List

Book 1: Worthington Brides

by Ella Quinn

Genres: Regency Romance; Historical Fiction

Synopsis

Regency England's beloved extended family, The Worthingtons, returns in the first in a sparkling new spin-off series from Ella Quinn, as three sisters embark on their first Season, each determined to find her perfect match . . .



As part of a large, rambunctious family, Lady Eleanor Carpenter has gained some knowledge of what makes a successful marriage. She's even compiled a list of essential qualifications in a potential husband. John, the Marquis of Montagu, seems of good character (check), with money enough to support a family (check). But what of the many other requirements on her list?



Montagu, meanwhile, believes the key to a comfortable life lies in marrying someone quiet and docile. Yet the one lady who captivates him could hardly be more different to what he envisioned. Lady Eleanor is as opinionated as she is lovely, determined to improve working conditions for coal miners, even at risk to her own safety.



From evenings at Almack's to carriage rides in Hyde Park, this Season will contain many pleasures—and a few surprises that compel both John and Eleanor to rethink their expectations. For one thing is certain: love will not be defined by any list . . .



Contains mature themes.

Release date: December 27, 2022

Publisher: Zebra Books

Print pages: 320

Sample

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.”

Everyone in the church laughed at that. The new Mrs. Johnson was round with a child from her late husband, who had been murdered at Cinderloo in a mine protest. Mr. Johnson, a well-off gentleman farmer, took her arm with one hand and ruffled the hair on his new son’s head with the other, smiling at the little girls.

“They will be happy.” Eleanor sent up a prayer of thanks she had been there to help the family and that her family had supported her decision, and the housekeeper had played matchmaker for Mrs. Ward and Mr. Johnson.

It’d taken Dobbins weeks to find the woman, and he wasn’t about to give her up. He’d left last night on the stagecoach and hired the wagon to carry her and her brats back. At least the oldest could be put to work. He drove into the yard of the Worthington Arms and came to a stop.

“Do ye want me to unhitch ’em?” a lad asked.

“Ain’t plan’in on being here long.” Dobbins climbed down from the wagon. “I’m look’in for a Mrs. Ward.”

The boy looked away. “Don’t think she’ll see ye today. She’s pretty busy.”

He followed the lad’s gaze, where a large group of people were standing outside of the church. Others were setting up tables on the green. “Got a something go’in on over there?”

“Ye might say that.” The boy grinned. “She’s get’in married. We’re hav’in a cel-ebra-tion.”

Married? What the hell was he supposed to do now? Ever since he’d seen her, he’d wanted her bad. He’d even made sure her husband was killed during the mine protest. Dobbins was sure he’d have his chance after that. She’d need someone to take care of her and her brats. Then she’d run off. He’d found her at an inn, but some young mort took her up. He’d finally found her again and now this.

“Lady Eleanor planned it all right and proper.”

Who the hell was that? “Lady Eleanor?”

The boy pointed to a group of young morts across the street. “Lady Eleanor Carpenter. She’s Lady Worthington’s sister. They’re go’in to Lundun soon.”

Dobbins peered at the women. One of them turned and laughed. That was the same mort who’d got in his way before. He’d come all this way for noth’in.

Meddling bitch. If there was a way to get revenge on her without get’in hanged, he’d do it.

Just then the mort who’d spoiled his plans glanced over. Her eyes narrowed, and she signaled to a footman. He had to get out of there quick.

On the way back, he stopped at the inn he’d planned to take Mrs. Ward to. Noth’in fancy. He couldn’t afford that, but it was clean and the ale was good.

Dobbins had just sat down to dinner when another man took the chair across from him. “I ain’t seen you in a long time.”

He smiled at his childhood friend and waved to the barkeep for another ale. “Mitchell, it’s good to see you.”

“You look like you got somethin’ sour on your mind.”

The pint of ale arrived, and Dobbins told his friend about the trouble he’d had with the Ward woman, leaving out how he helped her dead husband to his grave. “Just when ye think yer going to get what ye want, someone comes along and ruins it.”

“Damn grandlings.” Mitchell scowled. “Think they own the world. I’d stay around and help put a scare in her, but I got ta get back ta Lundun.”

“Lundun?” Dobbins stared at his friend. “Is that where you’re liv’in now?”

Mitchell puffed out his chest. “Fer the past two years. Got a good job there.”

“That’s where Lady Eleanor’s go’in to be.”

“Well, now.” He took a long drink of ale. “It looks like I can help ye after all. Been in Lundun for a few years now and got no love for those aristocrats. We ought to have us our own revolution. Like the Frenchies did.”

It was too much of a risk to do real damage to the woman, but . . . “Scare her real good. So she’s always looking around her.”

“Easy enough to do. It’s a busy city. Anythin’ can happen.” His friend grinned. “It’ll be a real pleasure helpin’ ye get back at her.”

Early morning, Hyde Park, London

Lady Eleanor Carpenter rode to the left of her sister, Madeline, with Alice on the right. Six years ago, Madeline’s brother, the Earl of Worthington, married Eleanor and Alice’s eldest sister, Lady Grace Carpenter, thus combining all eleven of the brothers and sisters into one family. Early on, all of them had decided they would refer to each other as brothers and sisters without regard to last names or blood ties. Without any discussion needed, Eleanor and Alice had decided they and Madeline would be triplets and included her in everything they did. Still, Eleanor’s bond with her twin never lessened. Shortly thereafter, Charlotte, Dotty, her closest friend, and Louisa, Madeline’s eldest sister, wed.

Breathing in the early spring air, Eleanor spotted bulbs sprouting from the edges of the Park. The forsythias had already bloomed, showing off their bright yellow flowers. “I cannot believe we are finally here.”

“We have been here for years.” Alice used the dry tone she had been perfecting in preparation for their Season, along with a regal demeanor. It was all a hum. Granted, they were not nearly as silly as they had been in the schoolroom, but none of them were grandes dames . . . yet.

Madeline rolled her eyes. “You know what she means. We are finally making our come outs. It seems as if we have been waiting for years.”

“We have been waiting for years.” Eleanor grinned. “So have Matt and Grace.”

Alice gave her a doubtful look. “You mean they have been dreading it for years.”

That was probably true. Eleanor met Alice’s gaze and knew they were both thinking how things would change for them.

“At least we will not be without assistance,” Madeline commented brightly. “For a very long time, Matt has been saying that it is ‘all hands on deck.’”

She had mimicked his stern command so perfectly, Eleanor and Alice chuckled.

Indeed, the past week had seen a steady stream of their older married sisters and family friends arriving in Town. The only ones missing were their sister Augusta, now Lady Phineas Carter-Woods, her husband, Phinn, and their older brother Charlie, Earl of Stanwood.

Eleanor guided Adela, her Cleveland mare, to the right, knowing the other two horses would go the same way. They all had Cleveland mares from the same breeder who were trained together. It was not only the mares that had trained together. Eleanor and her sisters had, for the past six years, done everything from getting into trouble, to studying Latin, French, and German, to learning what they would need to know to be married ladies together. It was odd to think that after this Season they might not live in the same house any longer.

Madeline glanced around. “Why are we turning?”

“I am hungry.” Eleanor’s stomach growled, adding emphasis to her statement. “By the time we are home, we will have just enough time to wash before going to breakfast.” She glanced quickly toward the gate and saw two men entering. For some reason, the one on the black horse caught her interest. “I wonder who they are.”

“Where?” Madeline peered around Eleanor.

Alice leaned forward and looked as well.

“Do not stare. They could see us.” When the other two straightened, Eleanor said, “There were two gentlemen riding just off to the side. They were galloping.”

Madeline leaned forward to see. “What did they look like?”

“They both had reddish hair, but of different hues. Well dressed. One rode a black horse and the other horse was gray.”

“I wonder if they are the type of gentlemen who will be introduced to us,” Madeline mused.

“Only time will tell.” Eleanor took the lead through the gate. They had discovered early on that once the carts, wagons, and drays were out, they could not ride three abreast.

They made their way toward Berkeley Square, where Worthington House was located. It seemed strange that by the end of the Season it would no longer be her London home. Nor would Worthington Place be her home. She had never thought it would bother her to leave home. None of their older sisters had minded having their own houses and estates. Still, the thoughts kept popping into her mind.

Suddenly, a boy ran out into the street, waving his hat and shouting at something. Eleanor’s mare shied, but she was able to maintain control. What in God’s name had that been about?

“Eleanor, are you all right?” Her twin was at her side, and the boy was nowhere to be seen.

“I am fine.” A small tremor shook Eleanor’s hands.

Alice’s brows drew together and Eleanor shook her head. There was nothing they could do without questioning the lad.

Jemmy, her groom, rode up. “That weren’t no accident, my lady. He was standing quiet until he saw you.”

“Thank you, Jemmy. You have confirmed my thoughts. Come, Adela, let’s go home.”

The horses’ hooves clattered to a stop outside the house, and their grooms came forward to take the mares.

“Good morning.”

Eleanor glanced around to see their sisters, Charlotte, Marchioness of Kenilworth, and Louisa, Duchess of Rothwell, strolling toward the house holding their children’s hands. Charlotte, Louisa, and Grace all had children in the five-year-old range.

“You must be joining us for breakfast.” Eleanor leaned down for kisses from the children.

“We’re going to spend the day with Gideon and Elizabeth,” Constance, Charlotte’s daughter, informed them.

“I still think they should be our cousins and not our aunt and uncle,” Hugh, Constance’s twin grumbled.

“You are just being silly,” Louisa’s daughter, Alexandria, opined. “It doesn’t matter. We are all friends.”

“I agree,” Madeline said, taking Alexandria’s hand. “Let us break our fast.”

“I am not sure where Grace is,” Eleanor said as the children raced up the stairs to the nursery. “Or the dogs.”

“Her ladyship and the Danes are with the twins in the babies’ room,” Thorton, their brother’s butler, informed them.

“We will go to her,” Louisa said. “Alexandria loves Posy.” Sadly, Duke and Daisy, their old Great Danes, had died three and two years ago respectively. Pets never lived long enough. Now they had Zeus and Posy who were wonderful Danes with their own personalities.

“We will see you in the breakfast room.” Eleanor followed Alice and Madeline to the back of the house, where they had separate bedchambers as well as their own parlor.

Jobert was waiting for her when she entered her room. “We are going to have a full table this morning.”

“So Mrs. Thorton, the housekeeper, said.” The maid had already laid out Eleanor’s clothing for the morning.

She heard her dresser moving around the room as she washed off the horse smell. “It will be almost like when we first came to Town.” Matt and Grace had met within days of them arriving and had married three weeks later. But even before they had wed, the whole family began breakfasting together. “I wish the boys and Augusta were here.”

“Mrs. Thorton said Masters Walter and Phillip would be here for Easter.”

“Augusta had better arrive soon,” Eleanor muttered to herself. Her sister had been off traveling for the last three years but had promised to return for their Season.

Jobert helped Eleanor don a pretty sprigged muslin day g. . .