Risking it All for a Lady's Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Aria Norton

  This was undoubtedly a change of tune. The man was tight-lipped but a moment ago, what has changed his mind?

  “Oh, indeed? And why would that be?”

  “You must understand that I am not a man who wishes to speak ill of anyone, Mr Salisbury. I choose to see the good in everyone, including those who have displayed an unsavoury character of themselves.”

  "Do you mean to tell me that Lord Blackmore is an unscrupulous man?"

  The man laughed. “No, no, nothing like that. Do not misunderstand me, please, I beg of you. All I wish to say is that he has not had a good record of partnerships; the Marquis works better alone. All those who venture into business with him do not have happy endings and with matters the way that they are..."

  Nash's forehead creased as he heard the underlying message in the cobbler's words.

  “Pray tell, what matters are these? Has something happened to Lord Blackmore?”

  The man chuckled once again. “Mr Salisbury, you read far too much into a humble man's friendly warning. I only speak from what I have seen. It is based on this knowledge that I can inform you to be careful. Do business if you must, but ensure that you are not left with nothing- that is all. Good day to you.”

  With that said, the man moved away from him, his walk confident and quick. Mr Down soon disappeared into his workshop, the building looking no different than it did ten years ago. He has given me a warning because he knows more than what he has shared with me. Nash had also taken note of the man's clothing, surprised at the quality. While they had been dirty, the materials had been of a fine texture, better than what Nash wore. A simple and humble cobbler? He must spend a fortune on his attire judging by his outfit. Shaking his head, Nash put his thoughts away and focused on seeing his father. A quick rest to help his leg and then he would be off.

  ***

  “Father, I have spoken with a great majority of the people on your list, and I have safely ruled them out. I am clearly missing vital clues, and I need you to fill in those gaps. Have you not perhaps angered a person to the extent of threatening you?”

  Nash watched his father pace the length of his study, the man's face thin and pale. This matter has taken its toll on him, but he refuses to admit it. No one can remain strong at all times. The Marquis stopped, absentmindedly picking a book from the shelf.

  "No one who has dealt with me in the past would dare do such a thing, Nash. I may have stepped on a few toes here and there, but business is business, and one cannot bring their emotions into the equation. There truly is no one that comes to mind."

  What a peculiar thing to say! He refuses to admit that he has angered a great many people, myself included.

  “Are you absolutely confident of what you are saying, Father? The town's people have painted an entirely different picture of you.”

  His father waved his hand. “Do not pay them any mind, Nash, they do not think as we do. What can you expect of the lower class? They expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter, but what they do not understand is that we have superior minds to them.”

  Nash fought the urge to roll his eyes. He has false beliefs of grandeur. 'Tis no wonder that these threats have made their way to him! Father does not hold an accurate view of himself, and frankly, it is rather disturbing. When he thought to respond to the Marquis, a short knock sounded at the door.

  “Enter!” his father snapped.

  A footman appeared holding a folded piece of paper in his hand, his hand slightly trembling.

  “'Twas addressed to you, my Lord. I found it at the front gate and thought that I must bring it to you.”

  Nash's father snatched the paper out of the footman's hand, any remaining colour in his cheeks draining out. The Marquis staggered, his hand flying out to clutch the edge of his desk. Alarmed, Nash flew out of his seat and led his father to a chair.

  “Sit, Father, you look as though you may fall at any moment. What has caused you to react so? Is it the note? What is written there?”

  The Marquis handed over the paper wordlessly, his fingers twitching as Nash took the note from his hand. Nash read it, his eyebrows rising higher by the second.

  “This is another threat, Father.”

  "Do you not think that I can see that? Someone has come to afflict me, there is no other explanation. Perhaps it is jealousy? Not everyone will be happy to see me amass such a fortune while they remain poor! Nash, are you certain that you spoke to every person on the list?"

  “I have spoken to ninety percent of the people listed, Father, the last ten I intend to talk to tomorrow once I have gained vital information from you.”

  “Vital? From me? What else could I possibly have to tell you?”

  “The truth, Father.”

  “The truth?” the man spluttered, spittle flying everywhere. He stood up. “But I have told you the truth!”

  Nash took a deep breath. “Father, you have just received a note stating that you must halt any business in Alfriston. Now, who would do such a thing? Have you properly read the note, Father? It says that you can no longer do any business in this town, and under no circumstances will you be allowed to in the future. This person has thought this through, this is a person who knows you well.”

  “Nash, questioning me will not bring you any closer to this fool who thinks that he can threaten me in this manner! How dare he? Stop all business in Alfriston forever? Never! How shall Blackmore Estate function if I cannot do anything in my own town? No, I do not accept this threat in any way, shape, or form, do you hear me? This is absolute nonsense! It is ludicrous! I shall have this person swinging from a noose for daring to come against me.”

  His father was positively incensed. More than that, Nash knew that he was petrified of what the letter meant for him. For all the Marquis' bravado, he understood the danger he was facing.

  “Father, this is your life that we speak of here. We cannot simply ignore these threats and continue business as usual. At least give the impression that you have heeded the words in this note until I am able to find the perpetrator. What will a few days hurt for a man as wealthy as you are? And I am sure that Blackmore can survive a few days before needing anything from the town.”

  His father threw himself into a chair, resting his elbows on his desk as he covered his face with both hands. Nash had never seen his father look this distressed, he was accustomed to seeing the Marquis' stern and cocky nature.

  “Father, are you all right?”

  “Leave me, Nash, I wish to be alone.”

  “But, Father, how shall we resolve this issue? We must work together to free you of these threats.”

  “Leave this room, I wish to be alone.”

  Frowning, Nash stood up. “Very well, I shall be at the Black Horse once you are ready to speak again.”

  The Marquis said nothing, his eyes still covered by his hands. For the first time in his twenty-three years of life, Nash felt sorry for his father. The man had done much harm not only to him but countless others, but at that moment he looked like an old man with the world's worries on his shoulders. He left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

  ***

  This made no sense to Lord Blackmore. Who could hate him so much that they would wish him dead unless he met the perpetrator's demands? This was not some crime novel, this was his life! Sighing, he rubbed his face, wincing when his ring pulled at his bushy eyebrows. William ripped the ring off his finger, flinging it to the corner of the room.

  “The nerve of this fool! Who is he? Who is he!”

  Stop all business in Alfriston? He could not do that, there just was no possible way for him to do as the threat ordered.

  “It would be the end of me in this town- this could ruin me.”

  William was a businessman, so it was not uncommon to have people who carried feelings of jealousy towards him. Was that not part of the reality of being a man in his position? But for someone to send him letters threatening to harm him? Surely that was taking it a step too far?


  "Not only is Carbunckle not able to find anything on the perpetrator, not even my son has managed to find any useful information. He says that he still has people to question, but how long will he spend questioning people when the letters are becoming more life-threatening? I need this person found now!"

  Could he possibly know the person sending him the death threats? Perhaps I have not been as honourable as I should have been when conducting business with other parties, but all is fair in the quest to gain money. Icy shards of comprehension shot through him, making him sit upright in his chair.

  Money, the person wishes to get me out of the way to get money! What else can it be?

  Who was his competitor in this town? He scratched his sideburns, his eyes narrowing as he contemplated the thought. No one in Alfriston was on a par with him when it came to business, but that did not mean that they would not be once he was out of the way. With him out of the way, it would leave a clear and wide gap for someone else to step in and take over.

  “That is what the person wants! Son of a gun!”

  A begrudging thought made its way to his mind, one that he would not accept. This was not punishment for his crooked ways; this was simply another greedy fool looking to take him out of the way. An upstart at best, a low-class scum who wished to play with the high league. William would not give in to the man's demands, no, he would not give so much as a sliver of pleasure to the fool.

  “He will soon see that I am not a man to be trifled with, mark my words.”

  William did not know how he would find the person behind the threats, but find him he would.

  ***

  Monday morning ushered in the beginning of a life that Freddi would have never imagined for herself. She drew her gloves on, grimacing at the hole on her little finger.

  “It is rather a small hole, no one should notice it.”

  But she would know that it was there. These were her best gloves, she had no others to replace them. Freddi sighed. She would just have to forget about that small detail and focus on the bigger picture.

  “Mama always said that it is the little things that matter, but without any money, I can hardly do much, can I?”

  Mr Down would just have to forgive her. Freddi swept her hair up, tucking it under her outdated bonnet. She was not one to keep up with the fashions, but perhaps she should have thought about it as she was about to present herself as marriage material to the cobbler.

  “I cannot believe that I am thinking such things! Am I to truly marry a man old enough to be my father?”

  How far had she sunk into this wretched world? To think that this would be her only way of survival was not easily digestible, not at all. Freddi had run out of options, and the reality was that she had no means of taking care of herself. Mr Down's offer was all that was left to her, and indeed it was a decision that she still had not come to terms with. The only man she had imagined herself to marry had been Nash, but that had simply been a young girl's dream, not an impoverished woman's reality.

  "Life has dealt me a heavy blow, but to continue living, I must do that which I do not wish to do."

  If only she had been able to find work! Why did Lord Blackmore have to speak such deceitful words about her? Was it not enough that she would no longer be in his employ?

  No, he wished to so thoroughly destroy me that I would have no other option but to take what has been given me.

  She was a dog waiting for scraps from the table, or a pig waiting for slops. No, these animals are still treated better. I have been shunned, and the only one who has given me a glimmer of hope is Mr Down. Dull hope.

  But what of it? I can only make the best of my situation.

  Freddi left the cottage, taking her time to reach the town. What would she say once she arrived at the cobbler's workshop?

  “Mr Down, I accept your marriage proposal. Straight to the point, yes?”

  This was an arrangement that would benefit him as well as her. He needed a wife to take care of his home, and she needed a roof over her head. Never mind the fact that he was aging much faster than she was.

  I shall be taking care of an old man, and he will be my husband.

  Freddi stopped walking and looked to the heavens. Why? What had she done to have deserved her lot in life? This was hardly fair! She tightly closed her eyes against the sunlight, only to see the man that never remained far from her thoughts.

  “Freddi?”

  Freddi's delicate brow creased. Was she hearing him as well?

  “Freddi, are you all right?”

  Her eyes popped open to see Nash staring at her with great concern. Oh, he is here before me.

  “I did not hear you approach me.”

  “No, you seemed taken with whatever you were thinking about. What or who is on your mind that you could not hear a man with a walking stick?”

  “I am on my way to see Mr Down.” “The cobbler? Has he given you a job?”

  Freddi bit her lower lip. What would Nash think about her marriage to the cobbler? Would he care? Everyone will soon hear of my betrothal, I suppose I could inform him of it.

  “No, I have accepted his marriage proposal.”

  “What?!”

  Freddi pulled her head back a bit. “Why are you yelling? I daresay the town over could hear your shout.”

  “Never mind my yelling, Freddi. What do you mean that you have accepted the cobbler's marriage proposal? When did he propose to you? And why have you accepted it? Do you not know how old he is?”

  Nash fired his questions at her at speed, his hands flying everywhere. Whatever has gotten into him? Who is he to ask me anything when I have only recently seen him for the first time in ten years? Did he once think of me during that time? I doubt it.

  “I think that you should lower your voice, Nash, this is hardly proper.”

  "Proper? You speak to me of proper when you wish to get married to a man old enough to be your father?"

  Freddi's right eye twitched. It was the only reaction she allowed herself.

  “'Tis none of your concern what I wish to do with my life.”

  “Do you love him?”

  “I beg your pardon? How dare you ask me that question?”

  "I dare to do so because I am concerned about you, Freddi! What can possess a woman as beautiful and intelligent as you are to give up their life to marry a man who is clearly not ageing well? I saw him for myself just yesterday, and I tell you that he is hardly a man worth marrying."

  Freddi looked away. “I resent your words, Lord Salisbury. That is my future husband that you have so carelessly demeaned.”

  “Stubborn as always, I see. I know that you do not love him, so I gather this has to do with your lack of employment and a place to live. Am I right?”

  Freddi was not impressed with his words. Who is he to interfere and throw in my face all that which I already know? Does he think me a simpleton? And must he ask questions that he has answered already?

  “Forgive me, Lord Salisbury, but I must be on my way.”

  He stepped closer to her. “Just a moment, Freddi.”

  She took a step back, a little fearful of his intentions. Nash would never hurt me; I am behaving like a silly woman.

  “What is it, my Lord?”