The Way to Capture a Marquess's Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Bridget Barton

  “Mama, Papa, I gladly accept Mr Norton's request.”

  As hands were shaken and backs slapped, Alice realised that a courtship for her sister may prove to be beneficial to her situation. Mama and Papa seemed happy about it. Perhaps their focus would now shift from her to the budding romance between Violet and Mr Norton. They may forget the fact that they wished for her to find a wealthy suitor, which would undoubtedly work in her favour.

  While her parents spoke with the men, Alice and Violet were able to slip away to discuss the news. They took to the stairs, only needing to go up several steps to be out of earshot.

  “Alice, can you believe it? I thought my heart would stop beating when Papa told me what Mr Norton had asked.”

  "Surely, you will not call him Mr Norton now?"

  Violet giggled. “No, I shall call him Gregory, of course.”

  “He must have been quite taken by you to have landed on our doorstep the very next day.”

  Violet held her cheeks. “I can hardly believe it myself. I had hoped that he would eventually ask to court me. But this is amazing. It is as though you could see in the future, Alice, for you were the one to suggest that he might come soon to do this very thing.”

  They became very still when Luke and Gregory came into view. They were being taken to the door by their father, who could not stop shaking their hands.

  “Papa looks happy, does he not?”

  “Yes,” Alice agreed. “He must like Mr Norton.”

  Alice held her breath as Luke looked to the stairs, smiling at her when he saw her. He gave her a slight nod before walking out of the house. She could not help but feel disappointed that he could not have stayed a little longer. She had been hoping to speak with him a little, but she could not begrudge him for leaving. She waited until her father returned to the parlour before continuing with their conversation.

  “Well, I am glad that I was right. I can only imagine what he has planned for you. He seems like a romantic man, but he will have to bear with Mrs Jersey as your chaperone.”

  Violet's face fell. “Oh, I had forgotten about that. Do you think that Gregory will mind terribly?”

  "Vi, I am sure that he is well aware that you must be accompanied by a chaperone to protect your honour. I would not fret over it."

  “Look at me, I am gushing about my courtship when I have not asked you about Lord Shore.”

  “Why would you need to ask me about Lord Shore?”

  Violet shrugged. “Well, how do you feel about him being in our house?”

  “Do stop beating about the bush and tell me what you wish to say, Vi.”

  “It is just that Gregory is here to court me, and Lord Shore...”

  Oh, she could see where her sister was going with this. She was worried that Alice may feel put out. She may even think that her sister was hoping for a courtship from Luke, which was ridiculous. She hardly knew the man! And she was not looking for a courtship.

  “Violet, as I have said before, Lord Shore and I are just friends, nothing more. I do not expect anything but friendship from him, and I know that he feels the same way. Now, stop worrying about me and focus on this wonderful occasion!”

  Her sister surprised her by suddenly hugging her around the waist. “Thank you, Alice.”

  “Why are you thanking me?”

  “For always being there for me, and as you said, if you had not run away yesterday, I may have never met Gregory.”

  “Well, if you put it like that, then you are most welcome.” Alice squeezed her back, only letting go when Mary called them downstairs.

  “Miss Campbell, Miss Violet, your parents wish to see you in the parlour.”

  “We will be right down, Mary. Thank you.”

  “Oh, Alice, I feel as though I might faint when I see Gregory!”

  “If you do, at least you know that he is a physician.”

  “We have never had one of those in the family, have we?”

  “I do not think so.”

  Alice did not wish to say that the profession was not seen quite as honourable as Violet believed, but someone would do so at some point. Then they would deal with it then. But right now her sister deserved to be happy.

  ***

  Alice entered the parlour arm-in-arm with her sister, but when she saw their parents, she let go and ran to hug them. “Mama, Papa, I am so happy that you have allowed this courtship. Gregory is a wonderful man.”

  Alice noticed that her father looked somewhat suspicious. Heavens, what was going through his mind?

  “Tell me something, Violet. Was yesterday truly the first time that you and Mr Norton met?”

  “Why, of course, Papa. You may even ask Alice.”

  Alice nodded. "Yes, Violet nor I have met him before."

  “Well then, you must have made quite the impression for him to come and request a courtship. He must be a man of action, and I respect that. What do you think, Helen?”

  “I agree, Dougie. He must be quite taken with our Violet.”

  “Yes, but we hardly know anything about him. I was thinking that we should invite him for lunch tomorrow.”

  “That is a splendid idea, Dougie. What better way to get to know him than a lovely lunch?”

  “Oh, Papa, really?” cried Violet. “Thank you!”

  “It is nothing, my dear. After all, we must get to know him better.”

  While her parents and sister made plans for the following day’s lunch, Alice found that she could not stop thinking about Luke. He had looked handsome in his morning suit, but then he looked handsome in anything. Was he also happy for his friend? He must be because he was here to support him. Alice wanted to see him again, and what better way than the lunch tomorrow? No one would think anything of it if she were to speak to him as he would be a guest. She certainly did not want Mama or Papa getting ideas about the marquess for she would not see him as anything but a friend.

  “We should invite Lord Shore as he is the one who came with Mr Norton.”

  All three of them looked at her, their eyebrows lifted.

  “Why yes,” her father agreed. “That is a good idea, Alice. I shall ensure that the invitations are sent this afternoon.”

  “Good, I shall return to my painting. Mama, I am nearly done with the garden scene, I know that you will love it.”

  “I look forward to it, my dear.”

  “And I shall write a letter to my friends back home,” Violet added. “I am sure that they will be excited about my news.”

  Alice left the parlour with her sister, both parting ways once they got to the stairs. She knew that Violet was excited for tomorrow, but her own excitement may have rivalled her sister's.

  ***

  Lord Campbell wondered if his plan was working. Was his daughter showing an interest in the duke's son? “Helen, what did you think of Alice's suggestion?”

  “About Lord Shore?”

  “Yes.”

  “I am not sure what to think of it, Dougie. If I take her words at face value, then it only makes sense to invite the marquess, as he is good friends with Mr Norton. However, there is the possibility that she may like him.”

  Dougie nodded. “When you told me that they had arrived together to see to Violet, I must say that I became hopeful.”

  “The question is whether or not Lord Shore is interested in her as well.”

  His wife was right. Even if Alice should like him, it would be useless if he did not feel something for her in turn. “I believe that there is something happening between them, but they might not realise it yet.”

  “It would be lovely if both our daughters were to get married, Dougie.”

  It certainly would as that would solve all his money problems. Having a debt hanging over his head was a stressful thing, and with the duke always reminding him about it in subtle ways, he was bound to always remember it. Dougie did not understand why he felt the need to gamble when he was clearly unlucky. Drinking and gambling were not a good match, but he found himself doing bot
h. He could tell that Helen was still angry with him, but she thankfully was not the nagging type.

  “My only worry is their dowries. While it may not be a great concern for Alice, Mr Norton is but a physician. I agreed to the courtship, but I do believe that Violet could have done better.”

  “She seems happy with Mr Norton, Dougie. Also, I am sure that there is more to him than what meets the eye.”

  “I certainly hope so, or I may have to think twice about their courtship.”

  It may hurt his daughter, but he needed to think about her financial future. Love was not the begin all and end all in his eyes. Rather, it was a feeling that could come later on in a marriage but was not that necessary. Financial security and respect were the most important aspects of a marriage, that was why he had married Helen. Theirs had been an arranged marriage, and if it were up to him, he would have arranged his daughters' marriages as well. However, his wife drew the line at that. She wanted their daughters to at least try to find love before going down a loveless route.

  “Dougie, do not become a meddling father. Let us observe what happens, and if we feel the need to step in, then we will do so.”

  “Very well, but I am afraid that Alice's fate has been set in stone.”

  His daughter did not know this yet, and he hoped that she never did.

  Chapter 7

  Mr Frederick Banks was a shrewd man, it was how he had accumulated his wealth over the years. And while he would not precisely call himself a thief, there were many who probably would. But that was only because they were foolish enough to do business with him.

  There was no business venture that he would go into without first seeing if he stood to make more money than the other party, or if he could change the terms and conditions of the deal. As far as he was concerned, people liked to be fooled so that they could cry the victim at the end of the day and gain the sympathy of those around them. However, the fantastic bit about being a shrewd man was the ability to keep an air of mystery about yourself, and never allowing the other person to know that you are the culprit for their financial woes. It was the survival of the fittest, a principle he had learned very early on in life. His poor mother never got the opportunity to see him as he was now, a wealthy man who would soon enter into society one family at a time.

  And why shouldn't he be a part of the Ton, as he was the illegitimate son of a baron? He laughed. No, he might as well have not been born for all the good it had done him.

  No one knew of his family background, and he wanted it to stay that way. No one needed to know that his mother had been a young servant in his father's household, had succumbed to his charms and was kicked out of the house when his wife discovered that she was pregnant. His mother was fortunate enough to marry a man who took care of her, but the man made sure to let him know that he was illegitimate and not his own son. That had fuelled an anger within him, which had then driven him to want to become successful by any means.

  And look at him today. He was wealthier than most of these fools that lorded their titles over everyone else. He had made sure of it. But now his attention was not so much on growing his wealth, but a beautiful woman who reminded him of a girl he had fallen in love with many years ago. She had married another, a titled man, but Frederick had never forgotten her. Miss Rose Charpentier was even lovelier than his lost love and far more interesting. It was too bad that she had set her eyes on another, but that did not dampen his desire to be near her. He would suffer anything just to be able to speak with her, to have her count him as her friend.

  Getting her attention had not been easy, but once he had it, he needed to find a way to keep it. While she had believed him bothersome at first, he had managed to convince her of his ability to help her in her endeavour to ensnare the Marquess of Shore. Now he had to deliver on his promise, and he was not yet sure how to. Two days had passed since the garden party, and he had nothing. He must find something out, or she would think him a fraud.

  From the corner of his eye he spotted the Baron of Leeds. The man looked happy as he walked up Ryder Street, twirling a walking stick in his hand rather than using it. He knew him from somewhere, but where? Hadn't he heard about the same baron losing a good chunk of his money to the Duke of Richley? There was a connection there. Rose had surely said something of it to him.

  Frederick wracked his brains trying to think about the conversations he had had with her, having a distinct feeling that meeting this man would be valuable. Unless he thought of something quick, he would lose sight of the baron. His lips stretched into a wide grin when he recalled what Rose had said to him.

  He was the father of her competition. It would be worth getting to know him. Perhaps he could speak to him under the pretence of doing business with him. If he gave him the scent of money, he may come running.

  Frederick increased his pace, catching up to the man in little time. "Good day, Lord Campbell! How fortuitous that I find you en route to my destination."

  The man stopped, his face a mask of confusion. “Do I know you?”

  “No, but I know you, Lord Campbell. And I must say that I am quite impressed to have met a man of your status.”

  The baron's body language became more relaxed as he rested both hands on his stick. "My good man, I have not had the pleasure of meeting you, and yet you know me. But I feel as though I have seen you before. Pray tell, where have I met you?"

  “I was a guest at the Duke of Richley's garden party.”

  “Oh, so you know the duke well?”

  The man looked interested in this. If he said no, he may lose him. But if he said yes and he discovered that he was not as acquainted as he probably believed, then he would be seen as a liar. Bearing in mind that he had said to Rose that he knew the duke and his family well, he would have to make the lie a truth soon.

  “Yes, I do know him. In fact, I am thinking of doing business with him. Although I would much rather do business with you. Being a businessman myself, I have heard of your prowess in the business world. You are a force to be reckoned with, Lord Campbell.”

  “Oh, well. People do like to exaggerate at times. But I have been a businessman for some time.”

  "I would love to learn from such a great man as yourself, Lord Campbell. It would be a tremendous honour and privilege for me."

  “Well, if you put it that way, my dear man. Tell you what, I am having a lunch tomorrow, and I insist that you attend.”

  And this was why he always won at what he did. It had hardly taken three minutes, and the baron was already inviting him into his house. Rose, my darling, he thought. You will be happy once I tell you just where I am going. Hadn't she said that she wanted to find out more about Miss Campbell? But he must not seem overly eager or smug about it, or the baron may grow suspicious.

  “Oh, no, Lord Campbell. I can hardly impose on your family. What would your wife think of you inviting a stranger?”

  "Come, come, now. You are hardly a stranger. And my wife is obedient to me. She will not go against my wishes."

  “You are a man amongst men, Lord Campbell. Thank you.”

  “You are most welcome,” he said. He let out a sudden gust of laughter. “Good gracious! We have spoken for some time and yet I do not know your name, good man. What be it?”

  Frederick smiled. “Banks, Lord Campbell. Mr Frederick Banks.”