A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Henrietta Harding

  His father would come in from the cold, happily displaying the meat he’d been able to capture that day. He was the village’s best hunters and had often been commissioned to help with local hunts or even lead them for all the lords in the neighbourhood.

  But when his mother had died of a terrible cold, his father seemed to lose all the life in him. He hunted less, and made less money. Therefore, when William was old enough, he went to work. And when his father had captured a winter cold, William had been terrified he to lose his father, as well. But now, his father seemed plagued with a cough that never got better nor got any worse.

  “I’d best be off, Grendel. Thank you again for all that you do,” William said as he stood from the dining table and set his plate in the dry sink. He’d take care of the dishes later. “I have to get back to the manor and dress for the dinner party.”

  “I know it’s work, but try to have fun, William. You must fill your soul of good tidings and not worry so much about filling your pockets with coins.”

  “I will do my best,” William offered as he left the cottage, making sure the door was securely shut behind him. The other families in the village knew his father was sick because he was heavily relied on to provide local meat to the village’s butcher. It made William nervous leaving him alone with Grendel. She wasn’t much protection against thieves or robbers. Not that they had much to offer such men.

  William saddled up his gelding once more and head back towards the Earl’s manor. He took the back way as he approached the grand house, following the trail only for servants. There was a separate stable, separate entrance, and private men’s quarters for all the footmen.

  He went the way he’d gone for the last three years and quickly collected his uniform from the wardrobe before he found his assigned room and changed. Though he rarely used the room, he still kept it clean and tidy, leaving his non-working clothes folded on the bed for when he’d return later, change, and head home once more.

  The moment he stepped out into the hallway and locked the door behind him, Mr Westley was walking by in a hurry. “Come along, William,” he said over his shoulder. “We must prepare for the guests.”

  William didn’t respond but simply trailed after the butler, trusting the man to lead him in the right direction. He soon followed the older man into the common room for the servants. There, meals were served, and the servants of the household were able to gather for important meetings to understand the daily happenings of the household.

  “Now that we are all assembled,” Mrs Franklin, the housekeeper, said once Mr Westley and William had entered the common room, “Lady Goldman is hosting a dinner party this evening with many families traveling in from town. Seems like it’s their way of enjoying the Season.”

  William chuckled with the other servants at the comment, knowing how much the elite families loved to enjoy the Season to flaunt their wealth and status for all to see.

  “Guests shall be arriving within the hour. Footmen are needed at the courtyard to help the guests inside and lead them to the drawing room. William, that means you.”

  “Yes, Mrs Franklin,” William replied with a swift nod.

  “Refreshments will be served, followed by dinner, followed by dancing and more refreshments. ‘Tis the same old, same old, so I don’t feel I need to repeat myself,” Mrs Franklin said with a sigh. William smirked, knowing how much Lord and Lady Goldman loved to host dinner parties. But William also understood that as the household’s favourite footmen, he’d be expected to be present for every part of the evening. He mentally prepared himself for a very long and exhausting night.

  ~*~

  Caroline stood in her mother’s dressing room, waiting for her to ready so they could go down together. It had been her mother’s idea that they attend all social functions in this manner. It made Caroline feel dreadfully bored, because her mother always took her time readying and she was eager to go down and become lost in the drawing room amongst so many. Her parents would become distracted by who was in attendance, and she would be free to wander without needing to talk to anyone. She disliked these social functions immensely and thought the only good thing that would come of it is that she’d be able to see William and find ways to somehow become close to him throughout the evening.

  “What has your thoughts so preoccupied?” Lady Goldman asked, causing Caroline to look up at her mother and see her eyes through the looking glass. She was seated in front of it as her lady’s maid fixed her hair into gorgeous curls.

  “I was only thinking of this evening,” Caroline said as she forced a smile onto her face. “We will get to dine with several families that we don’t often get to see.”

  “That is true,” Lady Goldman said with a chuckle. “Lord Canton, the Earl of Humdinck’s son, will be dining with us as well.” Caroline looked away from her mother’s reflection then, her heart pounding at the mention of the older man. Her parents had mentioned Lord Canton several times in the past as a possible match for her. She’d had no idea that he would be in attendance that evening. Did that mean something particular that she was unaware of?

  “I’m looking forward to speaking with Miss Madeline and Miss Tera. They are wonderful young ladies my age that I do enjoy speaking with,” Caroline said, wanting to push the conversation away from Lord Canton.

  “Yes, they are amiable enough ladies. But compared to you, they will not likely receive any offers. Your beauty surpasses most, and yet you are still so young. I dare say that you shall be married before you are sixteen.” Lady Goldman smiled happily at herself in the mirror, and Caroline was thankful because her mother couldn’t see the scowl on her face at the idea of marrying anyone but William.

  It was a relief when her mother was finally ready. Together, they departed her dressing room in elegant gowns made of rich silk. Caroline liked the feeling of her new gown, a dark sapphire colour that brought out the blue in her eyes. Her mother was dressed in a lavender-coloured gown that made her dark brown hair seem lighter. Caroline had inherited her father’s features, and it made her wonder if it ever bothered her mother that her daughter looked more like him than her.

  As Caroline walked down the hallway in her house slippers, she could hear the dinner guests talking below. She held onto her gown and raised it a bit so she could walk easily down the polished wooden stairs, their colour a dark mahogany. The one thing about her home that was true from room to room that it was smartly designed.

  The first-level floors were cut from marble and polished to a point that she could see her reflection. Candles illuminated the house from chandeliers, candelabras, and even wall scants. The house glowed with candlelight as though it was midday instead of evening when the sun was mostly departed below the horizon.

  “It sounds like splendour in there,” Lady Goldman said with excitement, her pace hurrying. Caroline didn’t try to keep up and instead took her time, not as eager as her mother to interact with others. As they neared, footmen stood at the ready outside the door with platters of refreshments. She spotted William in the line but did not smile at him or look at him for longer than what would be appropriate. If she did, it would be too obvious, and the servants would all chatter about her attachment.

  As Caroline walked past him, she mentally wished him all of her love. She longed to be in his arms once more, pressing her mouth against his luscious lips. But for now, she would guard her heart against any other man in the drawing room and hope the evening would pass with a quickness.

  Chapter 3

  It didn’t take William long to discover why Lord and Lady Goldman had hosted this dinner party. As he served refreshments to all the lords and ladies, a kind smile always on his lips, he saw Caroline sitting amongst the throng with her mother by her side.

  Her father was with the other married gentlemen in the room, while the eligible gentlemen seemed to swarm Caroline like she was a fine piece of cooked venison. It made William sick to his stomach since he knew Caroline was only sixteen. All these gentlemen were
much older, and very repulsive in comparison.

  William tried not to stare at Caroline for too long throughout the evening. But when he did look, he saw the permanent smile plastered onto her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes. He could tell that she was putting on a show for these men, but in reality, she wasn’t loving the attention. In fact, he knew personally just how much she disliked social gatherings and being the centre of attention, even though her mother often craved it.

  “Aren’t you a handsome devil?” came a young lady’s voice.

  He looked over to see a woman approaching him. He lowered the silver serving tray towards her and smiled kindly.

  “Thank you.” She took one of the small tarts and popped it into her mouth, never taking her eyes off of him. William was used to such flirting from the women that often came to the manor to attend such dinner parties. He’d been given all sorts of offers in the past but had remained loyal to the Earl.

  When she was finished, he turned from her and continued on through the room till he was summoned to serve others. All the while, he remained cordial to all and kept eye on Caroline. How he wished to steal her away from everything she disliked and provide her with the life she desired. A simpler way of life, she had explained to him. One where she could focus on what she wanted most in life, which was to someday have a large family. Since they were both without any other sibling, they both desired this same thing.

  “William, will you return to the kitchen and replenish this tray?” asked Marcus, one of the other footmen. He seemed to be concerned about something, by the way his eyebrows were furrowed together and sweat beaded his forehead.

  “What’s wrong?” William asked in a soothing voice.

  “I dearly need to use the privy,” Marcus explained. William sighed as he took the man’s tray and followed him quietly from the room through the servant’s door. As soon as they were free of the room, Marcus took off down the servant’s hallway while William hurried to gather another silver tray.

  “Hey there, William!” Cook called as he came into the kitchen. “You don’t usually make runs.”

  “Yes, I know. Marcus needed a hand so I’m here to take back another to the drawing room,” William explained.

  “Well, don’t be gone for long,” Cook encouraged. “Everyone knows you’re the favourite footmen.”

  She chuckled as she returned to the stove. Her many assistants bustled around the kitchen and William made sure to stay out of their way. They were all busy preparing the seven-course meal, and the last thing William wanted to do was disturb the flow of the kitchen.

  As William carried the full tray back to the drawing room, he took a deep breath. He was grateful for the well-paying staff position, and he often laughed at the idea that his good looks did so well for him. But the one thing that was really starting to aggravate him were these dinner parties, where Caroline’s parents placed so many eligible men before her. William decided that tonight he’d have to think up a plan, or he could very well lose the love of his life.

  ~*~

  Caroline knew she should be grateful. She was in a lovely drawing room with plush green carpets, elegant floral paper covering the walls, and the latest designed furniture from France. She sat comfortably on a settee with her mother as she chatted happily with all the gentlemen that had positioned themselves around them.

  She smiled and talked with them all, especially when she was specifically addressed. But on the inside, she hated having all this attention on her. She knew these men were only trying to convince her that they were the best in the room, the most desirable option.

  Sitting in the chair next to her was Lord Canton himself. He was an older man, perhaps even her father’s age, with hair the colour of coal. He was smartly dressed in a fine dinner jacket, black with black embroidery.

  His clothes, the cuffs on his muslin shirt, the shine on his boots—this was all a testament to his wealth, and soon to be even greater wealth when his father passed the earldom to him. Lord Canton had a smile for Caroline every time she looked his way, but the look did little for her.

  “Lady Goldman, when do you think you and your family will come to town for a Season?” Lord Canton asked. Caroline watched him carefully, wondering what the question would imply. It seemed to be the only thing that really kept her focus during a social gathering. She loved to figure out what a person meant by their statements, what underlying motive they might have. After all, the elite always had a motive for everything they did.

  “Well, my daughter is but sixteen. Perhaps in a year or two she will be better prepared for a Season,” Lady Goldman replied with a bright smile.

  “It’s hard to imagine that Miss Goldman is so young,” Lord Canton said as he looked towards her, a smirk on his lips. “She is a vision of beauty and has such a good disposition.”

  “That is very kind of you to say,” Lady Goldman spoke. This was one of the things Caroline hated most—how everyone would talk around her about her, but never to her. She was respected hardly more than a horse being sold at auction.

  Caroline looked across the room as the gentlemen talked around her, addressing her mother more than she. Caroline spotted the other young ladies sitting together, most of them leaning towards one another as they whispered. She saw their eyes on her and she wondered what they thought of her.

  Did they envy her, or were they all displeased that she was getting all the attention while they were forced to sit alone? Caroline would give anything to be sitting with them and allowing one of them to choose who would be best to be subjugated to these men’s practically pawing eyes. They saw only her beauty and nothing more.

  Only once did Caroline dare to find William in the crowd. As their eyes locked, her heartbeat seemed to still for that one moment. She wanted to rise to her feet and flee with William, despite how scandalous it would be or how furious her parents would become. She wanted to be happy and with the man she loved.

  Caroline watched as one of the ladies, the wife of a viscount if she remembered correctly, approached William and broke their eye contact. William smiled down at the woman as he served her, like he was trained to do. After all, he was only serving in the drawing room because he was the favourite footman. But Caroline noted the way the woman batted her eyelashes at William and appeared to be flirting with him. Joy soared in her chest as William eventually turned away from her to serve another, as though unaffected by the advancement. She truly knew that William was in love with her and would have eyes for no one else.

  Eventually, dinner was served, and Caroline got a break from all of the attention. She enjoyed the short walk from the drawing room to the dining room as she followed after her parents. But when she went to sit down next to her mother, her father suggested she sit across instead.

  “Lord Canton wishes to sit next to you for the meal,” Lord Goldman explained. Caroline stared at him for a moment but eventually moved to the other side of the table. There, she would be pinned down by her father on the right as he sat at the head of the table, and Lord Canton on the left. She thought it was the most intolerable way to dine, since one of her close acquaintances had sat down on the other side and she did dearly wish to sit next to her and enjoy a bit of female conversation with someone closer to her own age.

  “How have you been enjoying your evening?” Lord Canton asked as he took to the seat to her right. The idea that he was going to bother her with conversation all evening didn’t settle well with Caroline.

  “It’s been a pleasant evening,” she replied as others came into the room and were seated. And the moment they were all sat, the footmen came forward to serve the first course. Caroline looked over her shoulder and saw that William had taken the position of serving her that evening. She felt delighted to have him close to her that night and could dearly use his strength in getting through the rest of the evening.

  “You know, you don’t have to lie to me,” Lord Canton said, leaning in close and speaking rather softly.

  “What
ever do you mean?” Caroline asked in the same tone as she picked up her spoon and began to prepare herself a sip of the bone broth with lentils.

  “I can see the way you smile, how it’s forced. You do not love all the attention that has been bestowed upon you,” he said, his voice sounding amused. Caroline considered his words for a moment and wondered if she should respond at all.