Lessons for His Bride (Regency Matchmaker Book 3)

by Celeste Jones

  For as long as she could remember, Seraphina had felt like a burden to those around her. She had never known her father, and in fact, until the fateful day when Colonel St. Clair had located her and informed her of her father’s passing, she had never believed her sire had been identified. Just an unknown man in a sea of men. Seraphina’s mother had been a prostitute, a doxy, a lightskirt. No matter how you said it, her mother had been a woman of ill repute. And Seraphina was her bastard child.

  Life had not been easy for her by any stretch of the imagination.

  Her mother had died several years ago, and Seraphina had continued on at Mrs. Hartpence’s establishment doing odd jobs to earn her keep. She had, at least temporarily, avoided becoming one of the girls who worked at Mrs. Hartpence’s house of pleasure.

  However, she knew her time was coming, and Mrs. Hartpence had special plans for Seraphina. One of her innocence was a rarity, and she lived in daily fear of the time when Mrs. Hartpence would make good upon her intentions to recoup the costs of Seraphina’s upkeep in the most profitable way.

  There was also that other man, Lord Alfred Ross, who had shown a particular interest in her. Mrs. Hartpence was determined Seraphina become his courtesan. A fate worse than death, as far as Seraphina was concerned.

  Words could not describe the sheer unbridled joy Seraphina had felt when the handsome Colonel William St. Clair had arrived out of the blue. In addition to the sad news of the death of her father, Colonel St. Clair had announced he had promised her father he would look after her.

  She ought to have objected to the high-handed manner in which Colonel St. Clair had declared himself her guardian, but she had sensed in him the kind demeanor and inherent trustworthiness which gave her ease in making her decision. Furthermore, he had arrived in his uniform adorned with various medals and ribbons which had been awarded to him. And not only that, but the carriage in which he had ridden was the finest Seraphina had ever seen. It did not take long for her to determine the wiser course for her was to leave with Colonel St. Clair and see what path her life would take.

  Little could she have imagined the events of recent weeks. Although Colonel St. Clair and Lady Calliope had their own lovely townhouse in London, they spent a great deal of time at Primrose Park, the Knox family estate where they were able to indulge in one of Lady Calliope’s favorite pastimes—spoiling her granddaughters. Over time, Seraphina had naturally gravitated to Lady Tempest so when Lady Calliope and Colonel St. Clair returned to London for short visits, Seraphina had simply remained at Primrose Park.

  Upon her first arrival at the stately country home, she had great difficulty in not gawking at everything she saw. Although she had often seen the exterior of grand homes, she had never been admitted to see the sights on the inside. People really lived in such opulence? And, in the case of the Knox family, only Lord and Lady Knox plus their two small children lived in the main part of the house, the servants, who easily outnumbered the residents, were housed in lesser locations in the large home.

  Admittedly, Mrs. Hartpence’s house had been grand and fashionably decorated, at least those areas which were frequented by the high paying guests. Behind the facade, life was often difficult.

  More than the beauty, Seraphina marveled over the abundance. Food. Heat. Kindness. All were heaped upon her in large measure and she could scarcely believe her blessed good fortune, particularly considering she had barely known her father, though she did recall a few hazy visits from a kindly man in uniform who brought her small toys. His visits usually lasted until he and her mother got into an argument and then he left.

  They were not married.

  In all honesty, a growing certainty had come over her that she too would have to earn her keep in the same sordid manner. For, what option did the illegitimate daughter of a whore really have? She had guarded her virtue, as had Mrs. Hartpence, though no doubt for different reasons. For Seraphina, her purity represented the one thing of value which was all her own and she refused to allow anyone to take it from her.

  For Mrs. Hartpence, it was an investment as many a wealthy man would pay handsomely to be the first to breach her chastity.

  However, with debts and other pressures mounting, Seraphina knew she had not much time remaining before Mrs. Hartpence demanded she capitulate and turn over her virginity.

  With each passing day, Seraphina had become more and more desperate, racking her brain for a solution. For a girl of limited means and connections, the options were quite dire and hope dwindled.

  Until Colonel St. Clair arrived, like a knight in shining armor, an answer to a prayer and a fairy godfather all wrapped up in one well-pressed uniform.

  “I think,” the Colonel had said once they were safely ensconced in his carriage, “it might be best if we do not share all of the details of your situation with anyone else. You are my responsibility now and I intend to see to your welfare.”

  Although he had already told her he had sought her out in order to provide for her as he had promised her father, Seraphina still could not believe it to be true. What stranger simply arrived at your front door—particularly when said front door belonged to a brothel—and swept a poor orphan girl off into a new life?

  Colonel William St. Clair, that’s who. He had asked few questions about her past, calmed her worries with his steadfast demeanor and regaled her with tales about his wife, the irrepressible Lady Calliope. Before they arrived at the London home he shared with his wife, he arranged for Seraphina to be freshly outfitted, bathed and coiffed. They had also agreed upon a backstory, choosing to stick as close to the truth as possible: she was an orphan (true), Colonel St. Clair had served with her father in the army (true) and she was now in his care, also true. Where she had been and what had happened to her in the past, they had agreed was to be discussed and thought of no more. If pressed, she was to feign great sadness at the recollections of her past which should, in the case of most genteel persons, cause them to refrain from further inquiry.

  What Colonel St. Clair had not been able to eradicate were her deplorable manners.

  That task had been undertaken by the Ladies Tempest and Calliope with great vigor and high hopes. And, to their credit, as well as their pupil’s, progress had been made.

  Under the care and attention of the Knox and St. Clair households, Seraphina had blossomed into a generally cheerful and agreeable young lady. She had worked hard to improve her posture and comportment. A multitude of salves and creams had been applied to her work-worn hands until they were soon indistinguishable from those of the most high born of young ladies.

  There remained only one matter which they had all come to fear might be incurable—the girl was prone to swearing like a drunken sailor.

  Seraphina knew it was wrong and wished with all her heart to be rid of the colorful, but shockingly impolite, words which often flew from her mouth. As with her other training, she had worked diligently and had made progress. It was only in those unguarded moments when she was surprised or unthinking that her tongue betrayed her less than stellar upbringing.

  True to his word, Colonel St. Clair had not even told his wife or Lord and Lady Knox of Seraphina’s true origins. Seraphina had happened upon a discussion amongst her hosts and had paused outside the door to eavesdrop when she heard her name mentioned. They had not broken her of all bad habits, and she made sure not to linger any longer than necessary, but she felt it imperative she hear what they said about her. After all, her very existence was in the hands of the four occupants of the room.

  “Are you sure her father was not a sailor rather than a soldier, Colonel, for she has the distinct vocabulary of one who has spent too much time around the docks,” Lord Knox’s voice had carried from the room. Though he was a good man, Seraphina knew he had the least patience of the group and her unrefined ways had been a particular trial for Lord Knox.

  “I can assure you,” Colonel St. Clair said, “the facts are exactly as I reported them. Her mother died several years ago. Her
father was under my command and asked me to look after her. It was his dying wish and I felt honor bound to comply. Moreover, I am glad I did. She is a delightful young woman and I am pleased to have been able to offer her a better life.” Seraphina had to cover her mouth with her hand so as not to gasp. Never had anyone, particularly a man of Colonel St. Clair’s stature, come to her defense. Her heart swelled with pride and she swore eternal devotion to the man who had been more like a father to her than any other.

  “Now, Jimmy,” Seraphina tried not to giggle when Lady Calliope used the diminutive nickname for her son, “it would do you good to show a bit of compassion for the poor child.”

  “Yes, Jimmy,” Lady Tempest said, no doubt enjoying the opportunity to tease her husband, “she has made great progress. Let us not underestimate her efforts.”

  “Very well, I am fond of the girl. For all her rough edges, she is endearing. I suppose she reminds me of another hooligan who showed up at my door.”

  Even through a closed door, Lord Knox’s love for his wife was evident in his words and tone. Dared Seraphina to hope that someday she would be equally beloved?

  Since childhood, Seraphina had dreamed of having a husband all her own. A handsome gentleman to love her, and care for her, and she would happily do the same for him. For despite all the things that happened during her life, Seraphina was a young woman who had much love to give. Her heart was open. She held no grudges and always wished the best for others.

  “Here we are!” Lady Calliope announced as the carriage came to a stop. “Oh, how I adore Lady Ambrosia.” She squeezed Seraphina’s hand. “I am sure you will come to adore her as well. She is simply lovely.”

  Seraphina looked forward to meeting Lady Ambrosia, though she had heard about Lady Calliope being asked to perform cartwheels in order to assist Lady Ambrosia in the selection of a husband for her. She feared to consider what havoc might be wrought were she to attempt any sort of tumbling feats.

  With a smile of encouragement from Lady Tempest, Seraphina exited the carriage.

  3

  The air crackled with excitement as Seraphina, Lady Calliope and Lady Tempest made their way to Lady Ambrosia’s front door.

  “I shall never forget my visit to Lady Ambrosia. I would never have met James, or either of you.” Lady Tempest squeezed the arms of the women on either side of her.

  “And I would have never been reunited with William,” Lady Calliope said. “Oh, what might have happened to us if not for Lady Ambrosia?”

  “Now the same happiness awaits you, Seraphina. Right on the other side of this door.”

  They had stopped and Seraphina stared at the bright red door.

  Lady Ambrosia, Matchmaker To The Discerning

  A shiver ran up her spine.

  It was truly happening. Soon, she would have a husband. And not just any husband, but a husband selected for her by Lady Ambrosia, Matchmaker To The Discerning. Though she was not sure what discerning meant, Seraphina was certain it was what she wanted more than anything.

  “Go ahead,” Lady Tempest said, “you should knock. This is your appointment, after all.”

  With a shaking arm, Seraphina raised her hand and reached for the knocker but before her fingers made contact with the shiny brass, the door swung open and a unique personage who could only be Lady Ambrosia stood on the other side, a wide smile on her friendly face.

  “You must be Seraphina,” she said, taking the girl by the hand and pulling her into the house. “I hope you do not mind me using your Christian name. I had quite a vision earlier about you and I feel as though I know you quite well.”

  Lady Ambrosia kept a firm grip on Seraphina’s hand and led her through her house, Lady Calliope and Lady Tempest following close behind.

  The rooms of Lady Ambrosia’s home were filled with all manner of knickknacks, books, papers, plants and possibly several cats, though Seraphina could not be absolutely certain, for every time she felt she had seen a pair of eyes glowing from beneath a settee or stack of pillows, they seemed to disappear immediately.

  What else could it be but cats?

  Despite the clutter, the house was tidy. It was organized disorganization and there appeared to be distinct patterns to the items piled on every surface and most of the floor.

  The path through the house was rather narrow and since Lady Ambrosia seemed disinclined to let loose her hand, Seraphina found herself pressing up against the statuesque form of Lady Ambrosia as they made their way through particularly narrow passages.

  Unconcerned by the close quarters, Lady Ambrosia kept up a stream of conversation while Lady Calliope and Lady Tempest hurried to avoid being left behind.

  “How delighted I am to see all of you today. How are your two darling daughters, Lady Tempest? I look forward to selecting husbands for them, when the time comes.”

  “How kind of you, Lady Ambrosia,” Lady Tempest said, with a slight laugh. “It is rather hard to imagine either of them being of an age to be anyone’s bride.”

  “The time will go faster than you expect,” Lady Calliope said. “I can hardly believe my little Jimmy is old enough to be a father, but of course he is.”

  By this time, they had arrived at a flower filled solarium and Seraphina gasped at the unexpected warmth and sweet aromas which filled the space. In the center of the room, a round table filled with sweets awaited.

  “Oh, Lady Ambrosia, you spoil us!” Lady Calliope said, taking a seat nearest the tall tower of scones.

  Seraphina had never seen such a display of confections, not even the elaborate meals at Primrose Park could compare. However, despite the allure of the sweets, Seraphina was too excited about her future, if unknown, husband, to have much of an appetite.

  However, a cup of tea was poured for her and Lady Ambrosia herself filled a plate and set it in front of Seraphina. “You have a busy day ahead, my dear. You will need your strength.”

  Lady Tempest and Lady Calliope both let slip some excited giggles. “Ohhh, Seraphina. Tonight, will be your wedding night,” Lady Tempest teased, and Seraphina felt a heated blush cover her face.

  “What can you tell us about Seraphina’s husband?” Lady Calliope asked, her mouth full of cake.

  “All in good time, ladies,” Lady Ambrosia said, “all in good time.” She topped off each of their cups of tea and refilled her plate. Seraphina marveled at the way she had made the sweets disappear.

  Though she was extremely eager and anxious, having Lady Tempest and Lady Calliope along gave Seraphina confidence in Lady Ambrosia. Once her nerves settled a bit, she enjoyed the refreshments. After all, she needed to keep her strength up, though for exactly what activities, she remained in the dark, though the thoughts of being alone with her handsome husband—of course he would be handsome—sent a winding spiral of desire through her body and her toes curled up oh-so-slightly in her shoes. What a day this was going to be.

  Seraphina, Lady Tempest and even Lady Calliope finished their tea and sweets, but Lady Ambrosia would not be hurried. Her three guests exchanged looks around the table, but none dared say anything. Lady Ambrosia operated on her own time and in her own way and so they waited patiently. Or as patiently as any of them could.

  Finally, Lady Ambrosia dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin and then tossed the white linen square on the table like a flag of surrender. “My, how tasty.” She looked around at her guests. “Shall we begin?”

  “Yes!” they chorused.

  Lady Ambrosia adjusted her chair so she sat facing Seraphina and took hold of her hands. A hum of warmth reverberated from where her hands touched Lady Ambrosia’s and spread through her entire body. It felt as though every nerve in her body had come to life and jingled with excitement.

  “You have things in your past which you fear,” Lady Ambrosia said.

  “Y-yes,” Seraphina said, hoping she did not have to elaborate in front of Lady Tempest and Lady Calliope. The other two women leaned closer, hanging on every word.

  �
�You must be cautious, for the threat is not entirely gone,” Lady Ambrosia said, and Seraphina’s excitement began to shift to dread. “However, your new husband will vanish that threat once and for all.”

  “Really?” Seraphina let out the breath she had been holding and looked up at Lady Ambrosia eagerly. “What else can you tell me about him?”

  “Yes, is he handsome?” Lady Calliope interjected.

  Lady Ambrosia smiled at Lady Calliope indulgently. “There is more to a man than whether he is handsome, Lady Calliope.”

  “My apologies, Lady Ambrosia, you are absolutely correct. I should not have interrupted.”

  “Apology accepted,” Lady Ambrosia said with a wink. “And, he is exceptionally handsome.”

  Lady Calliope and Lady Tempest squealed with delight while Seraphina simply smiled.

  “Even more important than that,” Lady Ambrosia continued, “he is a man of great empathy and strong character. He is the man who will heal your painful past.”

  Seraphina could hardly catch her breath. How was such a thing, or person, even possible? Did she dare to believe Lady Ambrosia’s words?

  “Look into my eyes and count backward from one hundred,” Lady Ambrosia instructed, squeezing Seraphina’s hands tighter.

  “One hundred, ninety-nine, ninety-eight…”

  “Lean back and relax, my little wife.” Seraphina had gone from sitting in Lady Ambrosia’s solarium to the center of a dimly lit bedchamber. She had never seen this room before, yet she felt utterly content and happy to be there.