Lords to Be Enamored With: A Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Bridget Barton

  Charlotte smiled slightly. “It is a long story, Di. I am so very sorry that I worried you both.” She stared at them. “If we sit, I shall explain everything.”

  They all sat down. George grinned at her. “You have led us all on a merry dance, Lottie. I am so relieved to see you safe and sound.”

  Charlotte nodded, tears springing into her eyes. “Sebastian told me that you both defended me to Miss Drake. Not that I am surprised in the slightest.”

  She watched them turn to each other, a little surprised at the familiar use of his’s first name. “He found you,” said George slowly. “He said that he would. Where were you?”

  She took a deep breath. “I left the ball,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “I was distraught, after what Miss Drake said to me.” She took a deep breath. “I wasn’t thinking clearly, I am afraid, and I fled into the night, trying to make my way home.”

  They both looked stunned. “You walked?” Diana breathed. “By yourself in London, at night?”

  She nodded. “I did. But it was raining heavily, and as I crossed a bridge, I slipped and almost fell into the river below.” She paused. “Sebastian found me and rescued me.”

  If they had looked stunned before they were shocked now. George was shaking his head, as if he couldn’t believe it, and Diana had paled further, her blue eyes wide.

  “We should leave immediately,” said Diana faintly. “We need to get you home and into a warm bath and dry clothes, before you catch your death of cold.”

  Charlotte shook her head vigorously. “I cannot yet, Di.” She hesitated. “For I have not told you the rest of the story. Sebastian rescued me, but that was not all. He declared his love for me, and I declared mine for him.”

  They both reeled, digesting the information. For one moment they were both silent. Then Diana slowly smiled and George was grinning again.

  “It is as I thought,” said George, delightedly. “I knew he was in love with you. And you have finally seen the light, Lottie, and realised that you love him too?”

  She nodded, feeling so happy that she could burst. “That is why I cannot leave yet. He was most insistent about approaching his father now, to ask for his consent, to marry me.”

  Diana’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, my dear! This is felicitous news, indeed.” Her smile widened. “Miss Drake’s plan to discredit you has worked quite the opposite.”

  Charlotte nodded. “It would appear so. I was resistant at first. I admitted what is wrong with me, and all the brutal symptoms of it, but he declared that he did not care, and that he would take me exactly as I am.” She paused, her voice trembling. “I am the luckiest woman in the world.”

  George beamed. “Mama and Papa will be over the moon. You shall have no resistance from them.” He stared at her. “Not when their daughter shall become a duchess, no less!”

  Charlotte frowned. “I know. It is not them I am worried about.” She bit her lip. “It is the duke and duchess. Will they accept me and give their blessing to our union?”

  Diana nodded vigorously. “Of course they will. How could they not? You are a catch, Lottie, even though you have never believed it. You are the daughter of an earl, not some scandalous opera singer that has caught the marquis’s eye.”

  Charlotte smiled. But inside she still worried. Sebastian might claim that the duke could be persuaded, but the duchess was entirely different. Briefly she remembered her disapproving gaze that day at Hyde Park when they had interrupted their picnic and her pointed questions, claiming that she had never heard of her. And she was close with Lady Hastings. They were always together. There was no doubt as to who the duchess desired as a daughter-in-law.

  She trembled, thinking about it. They had declared their love to each other, but was it destined to wither on the vine? Would she indeed become his wife?

  ***

  Alicia felt her heart skip a beat as she descended the staircase. She gripped Percy’s arm tighter, gazing up at him, almost pleadingly. She didn’t want to be at this ball any longer. She wanted to retreat to her bedroom and for the awful night to finally be over.

  Percy smiled down at her. “Remember what we talked about,” he whispered to her. “Courage, Alicia. You can do it.”

  She bit her lip, still hesitating. Suddenly, she saw her mother in the crowd, staring straight at her. Her gaze was so venomous that Alicia reeled back, as if she had been struck. Lady Hastings pushed her way through the crowd, until she was standing right in front of them. Her eyes flickered over Percy stonily.

  “I would like to speak to my daughter alone, my lord,” she said.

  Percy bowed, his eyes cold. “Madam.” He turned to Alicia. “Will you excuse me?”

  Alicia nodded, knowing there was nothing she could do. She watched him walk away, desperately wishing he would come back.

  “What is the meaning of this?” hissed Lady Hastings. “Where have you been? I’ve been searching everywhere for you.” Her eyes narrowed. “The marquis vanished as well, straight after Lady Charlotte. But he’s back now, and I saw him talking with the duke out on the balcony. You have to go there, right this minute, and salvage this.”

  Alicia took a deep breath, staring straight into her mother’s eyes. “I am afraid that I cannot do that, Mama,” she said, with a steady voice. “I am no longer willing to play your game. The marquis doesn’t love me, and nor do I love him. There will never be a marriage between us.”

  Lady Hastings stared at her, as if she were mad. “Don’t be ridiculous! I order you to go there, now.” She kept staring at her, then her tone changed. “Think of our situation, Alicia. Your duty to save us from certain ruin.”

  Alicia’s gaze hardened. “You cannot manipulate me anymore, Mama. I have seen through it all, and I choose to be a better person.” Her voice was contemptuous. “If you are displeased with me and disown me, then so be it.”

  Her mother’s face reddened to an alarming shade of beetroot. “I will not be spoken to in such a way. By my own daughter!”

  Alicia’s face was stony. “And yet, I have spoken so.”

  She saw the marquis pressing through the crowd, almost urgently. She squared her shoulders again.

  “I must go, Mama,” she said slowly. “There is something that I must say, to both the marquis and Lady Charlotte.” She started to walk away, but her mother grabbed her, pressing her fingernails into her arm like a vice.

  “Alicia,” she said faintly. “My darling daughter. I beseech you ...”

  But Alicia shook off her hand as if it were a bothersome fly and kept walking. A strange feeling was overwhelming her. She felt liberated, as though she could breathe for the first time in her life. She could see the marquis, heading up the stairs. Hopefully she would find them both, wherever he was heading.

  She felt eyes on her and turned. It was Percy, standing in the crowd. His eyes were shining with pride. She felt her own fill with tears as he walked slowly towards her.

  ***

  Charlotte was just beginning to give up hope when the door slowly opened. Sebastian stood there gazing at her as if he had not seen her in years.

  She stood up slowly, feeling her heart begin to beat faster.

  “Lord Castlereagh,” he said slowly. “Lady Diana. Can I have a word privately with your sister? I promise that I shall not keep her long, and then you may take her home at long last.”

  George and Diana both nodded, smiling broadly, and drifted out of the room.

  He walked towards her, until he was standing so close she felt his warm breath on her face. He took her hand, gazing at her solemnly.

  “It is done,” he said slowly. “I have talked with the duke. He has given his blessing.” He took a deep, ragged breath. “Charlotte, we can be married. All that I must do now is seek your father’s permission, which I will do first thing tomorrow.” He stared at her almost nervously. “He will think me a suitable suitor?”

  She laughed, feeling giddy with happiness. “Oh, I should say he will think you
more than suitable. A future duke, no less, knocking on his door requesting the hand of his daughter? He will be delirious, as will my mother.” She stopped laughing, and gazed at him, her eyes shining with tears. “I cannot believe it, that your father gave his blessing …”

  “Believe it,” he said, his own eyes shining with tears. “He had no objections, especially when I told him how much I admire and love you. I think he was just happy that I had chosen someone, at long last. I swear he thought I would die a bachelor and the dukedom would fall, from lack of an heir.”

  “Your mother?” She held her breath.

  He frowned slightly. “I have not spoken with her, but she cannot overrule my father. And if she is displeased then I shall wear it.” He paused. “Do not worry, Charlotte. She will come around, once she sees I am determined. And, after all, she desires me wed too.”

  He took her hands, squeezing them tightly. They gazed into each other’s eyes for a long moment. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

  They both turned, releasing their hands. “Come in,” said Sebastian.

  The door opened and Miss Alicia Drake was standing there. Charlotte gasped in shock. Just behind her she could see Sebastian’s brother, Lord Percy, hovering almost nervously.

  Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “I think your work is done here tonight, madam. You shall not get close enough again to fill the air with your poisoned words.”

  Alicia paled. Percy stepped into the room, staring at his brother. “I think you should listen to her, old boy.”

  Sebastian frowned. “What have you to do with it, Percy? You don’t know what has occurred.”

  “Actually, I do.” Percy’s voice was steady. “I promise there will be no further harm to Lady Charlotte.” He stared at her, his eyes beseeching. “Madam, could you please give this lady a chance?”

  Charlotte’s heart started to hammer. She didn’t want to be in the same room as Miss Drake, but Percy was staring at her pleadingly, and Alicia’s face had crumpled, close to tears.

  She took a deep breath. “I shall listen.”

  Sebastian shook his head. “No. She is just playing you, as she has played all of us.”

  “I swear I am not,” said Alicia, her voice trembling. She stared at Charlotte. “Madam, I have done you a grievous wrong and I wish to atone.” She took a deep breath. “It was never my plan to hurt you. My lady mother pushed me to it, as she pushed me to pursue the marquis.”

  Charlotte stilled, gazing at her. “Go on.”

  Alicia took another deep breath. “I went along with it, because I saw no other way. My mother was determined that I should become a duchess one day, and she was ruthless in the pursuit.” She paused. “She sent my maid to your house, to gather information, which could hurt you, and made me confront you tonight with it.”

  Charlotte felt her heart thump harder.

  “I am not proud of myself,” continued Alicia slowly. “In fact, I am heartsore that I have caused such distress. Please, will you forgive me?”

  “You did hurt me,” said Charlotte slowly. “You used my most private life against me.” She paused. “But if you are sincere in your apology, then yes, I can forgive you, Miss Drake.”

  Alicia gasped, and a tear ran down her cheek. “Thank you, Lady Charlotte. Thank you. I promise that I am no longer under my mother’s thumb, and I shall not interfere in your affairs any longer.”

  “Mind that you don’t,” said Sebastian sharply. Then his gaze softened. “I appreciate your apology too, Miss Drake. It doesn’t make what has happened here tonight go away, but it helps.”

  Alicia smiled, her eyes misty, curtseying. Then she turned to Lord Percy. Her eyes were filled with a bright light and Charlotte saw him gazing at her with deep emotion. What was going on between them? They were obviously very fond of each other, and yet she had always thought Miss Drake indifferent to him.

  Lord Percy took Alicia’s arm, and they both left the room.

  “Well, well, well,” said Sebastian slowly, staring at the door. “Wonders will never cease. You think she was sincere?”

  Charlotte smiled, staring up at him. “I think that she was.” Her smile widened. “It has been a whirlwind of a night, my lord, and I think I should depart, at long last.” She gazed up at him. “I do believe that both Miss Alicia Drake and I could never have foreseen how unexpectedly it would turn out.”

  Chapter 30

  Charlotte tweaked the lace curtain on her bedroom window, staring down at the carriage that had just swept through the front gates. Her heart started beating faster, as she watched Sebastian step down from it. A moment later, another man stepped down, carrying a large black bag. They both gazed around for a second, as they waited for the butler to receive them.

  Then he looked up. His green eyes softened as he saw her. She kept staring at him, her heart beating quicker still.

  “My lady!” Dulcie’s voice was cross. “I haven’t put the final pin in your hair. Come away from the window.”

  Charlotte dropped the curtain, turning to her maid. “Oh, Dulcie, you cannot scold me on a day such as this.” Her voice was tremulous. “He is here. He has arrived, just as he said he would.”

  Dulcie’s face twitched and then a slow smile crept across it. “Of course he is here, my lady. I never doubted it for a moment, and nor did you.” Her smile broadened. “Your father has been waiting in his study for over an hour, you know. I don’t think I have ever seen him prouder. And your lady mother is done up to the nines and ordered the best china tea set, along with her finest tea.”

  Charlotte laughed. “It is not every day that a duke’s son comes to ask for my hand in marriage.” She paused. “Oh, Dulcie, I am so happy that I could burst!”

  “Mind that you don’t do that,” said the maid tartly. “You shouldn’t over exert yourself, my lady. Especially after all that you suffered last evening.” She ran an expert eye over her. “Are you feeling quite well? No cough, or shivers?”

  Charlotte shook her head. “Nothing.” She smiled. “I feel in the best of health.” She held up her left hand. “Look, no tremors either. I fear that the fine physician that his lordship has brought to see me shall think me a fraud.”

  The door opened and her mother came in, followed by Diana. Charlotte’s smile widened. Dulcie hadn’t been exaggerating. The countess was wearing one of her favourite gowns, and expensive, if understated, jewellery. Diana was dressed up, too.

  “He is here!” announced her mother, her eyes shining. “He has already gone to your father’s study. He didn’t even want tea in the parlour. He just marched straight in there, like a man on a mission.” She gazed at Charlotte. “My dear, I am so happy for you. You shall have a good life with a man such as he. He will be a duke one day, but that is not the reason I say it. I can tell he is a fine man in the way that he saved you last night. He loves you, daughter, and I could not hope for anything more.”

  Charlotte swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat. “I love him, too, Mama. More than life itself.”

  Her mother’s eyes filled with tears. “If only your Aunt Eliza could be here to see this. She would be so proud of you, Lottie.”

  Diana cleared her throat, smiling. “Mama? The physician?”

  “Oh yes.” The countess smiled. “Dr. Jackson is waiting for you in the parlour, Charlotte.” She paused. “He is the Duke of Richley’s private physician, you know. Usually he only consults the family. You are very honoured.”

  Charlotte took a deep breath. “I know.” She stared at them all. “How do I look?”

  “Like an angel,” said Diana, smiling broadly. “I am so happy for you, dearest.”