The Lost Love of a Stunning Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Bridget Barton

  “The truth is that you went to war to escape a broken heart and to be seen as a gentleman. Consequently, you thought it would make you good enough, in Marie Hancock’s eyes, to maybe talk to her precious Mimi.”

  “I thought Marie Hancock was a friend of yours, Mother.”

  She sniffed. “Marie Hancock thought she could get something from us. Namely, she had her eye on you as a husband for Mimi. But then Duke Hertford made an appearance, and Marie seemed to have gone mad. Suddenly she upped the ante, so to speak. First, she wanted a gentleman for her daughter. Now she wants her daughter introduced only to gentlemen of the ton. She’s mad.”

  “Mad? How so?”

  “She truly believes Hertford is in love with Mimi,” Mr Warren supplied.

  “She’s become most difficult to be around, I’m sorry to say. I invited her to tea, luncheon, and dinner a number of times in the first year after she and Mimi came back to London. She rarely accepted, and on the few occasions she did, something came up to prevent her attending. I was surprised to see her at the Wynnes’ tonight. But, then again, Hertford was there. She’s certainly making quite a fool of herself chasing the man with her daughter in tow. She, of course, has no idea that people are talking. But they are. The ton finds her antics ridiculous too.”

  “Well at least she’s being gossiped about in high society.” Mr Warren chuckled.

  “Do you know she didn’t even wave to me tonight? I was most shocked at her rudeness. I wonder if something happened to her mind after she lost her husband.”

  “It could be, Lavinia. But I have the feeling that what has happened to Marie has been that her true colours are showing. She loved Joseph, so she behaved in a manner that would encourage him to move up. It was as much, or more, for herself and her daughter, but she restrained her efforts for seventeen years. She is currently running amuck, it seems.

  Now, she is ambitious for Mimi. It seems to me that she will stop at nothing, even if it means giving her daughter to the Duke. She’s desperate to marry her daughter off to someone with a title and money. And that, consequently, makes her daughter less attractive. It’s quite sad if you ask me.”

  “Now the two of you are acting like the hypocrites,” Richard blurted out. “How can you blame Mimi? How can anyone blame her because of her mother’s ill-timed manoeuvres?”

  “You’ve just informed me you want to move from our home to a better neighbourhood. Everyone in London wants to move up. If you ask me, every single person who lives here is a hypocrite. It’s vile, and it disgusts me.” He knocked on the ceiling of the carriage compartment, and the horses slowed to a stop.

  “What are you doing, Richard? Where are you going?”

  Richard held the carriage frame and hopped down onto his good leg to exit the carriage. “I’m going to get a hackney if you’ll excuse me. I’ve had enough talk of high society for the evening.”

  “Now, Richard. Don’t be like that. Your leg is acting up fiercely. You shouldn’t try to get home alone.” Mr Warren extended his hand to help his son back into the carriage.

  “I will see you at home, Mother, Father.” He nodded and very noticeably limped away from them.

  *******

  “I saw you and Richard talking at the party tonight, mon ange.”

  “Mmm hmm.” Mimi sat at her dressing table removing the combs and golden ribbons from her hair.

  “How long has he been back from the war?”

  “He said just a couple of weeks. I was surprised Lavinia didn’t alert us. I would have had that we’d gone to visit.”

  “Well, I would have had that we didn’t.”

  “What do you mean? Mother? Maman?”

  “I only mean that I knew your paths would cross sooner or later. Why make a big deal of it?”

  “Why make a big deal of it? Maman, I was in love with Richard Warren. And you took me away to Paris.”

  “There were too many memories here, Mimi. After your father ... I told you that.”

  “Yes. And Duke Hertford was in Paris. You didn’t tell me that.”

  “My dear. I fear I do not like your tone. You are speaking to your mother, remember yourself.”

  “Why? Why should I remember myself? How can I? I fear I don’t know who I am anymore. Why should I grant you the respect that you have not granted me? You think Duke Hertford is so wonderful, do you? He tried to get me to go out into the Wynnes’ back garden with him tonight. Alone. He told me every woman at the party, including you, I might add, would love to go to the garden and walk with him.”

  “What did you do? You went, did you not?”

  “Maman! How could you say such a thing? Something like that would ruin me.”

  “Not if he married you.”

  “I fear that’s a rather large if, Maman. Do you wish me to risk my reputation? Your reputation?”

  “Well if you were discreet, no one would have to know. Certainly no one is going to consider His Grace’s actions. So it would only have been for you to be discreet.”

  “You are not listening to me, Mother. You are not listening at all. I cannot behave like that. I will not. I will not take the chance of ruining myself by acting in such an unladylike manner. Slander and gossip will never touch the Duke like it would touch me. Do you understand? I could be ruined. How then would you ever move up to your precious high society?”

  “How, mon petit chou? I’ve told you. The only requirement is discretion. Discretion from you and discretion from me.”

  “Discretion? Did you have discretion with your comte when you were fifteen, Maman? My father told me you had few prospects for marriage after you gave yourself to the comte, thinking he would marry you.”

  Marie’s eyes narrowed. “The comte loved me.”

  “So much that he left Paris without a word to you? Or a note? If it wasn’t for my father, you would have been ruined. But my father loved you. He saved you. He saved your life, and he saved you from disgrace.”

  “That was a long time ago. Your father had no right to tell you that. But I loved your father. I … I grew to love him. I loved him very much.” She looked at Mimi with tears in her eyes.

  “Don’t Maman. Please don’t cry. You’re right. It was a long time ago. I had no right to bring it up. I’m sorry.”

  “I only want what’s best for you, my daughter.”

  “I know. We’ll speak of it no more.” Mimi cut her mother off from speaking another word.

  “ Giselle, are you in the hall?”

  Giselle bustled into the bedchamber. “Yes, Mademoiselle Mimi.”

  “Thank you. Please help me with my frock, will you?”

  “Yes, of course. Madame, shall I come to your chamber to assist you when I’m finished here?”

  “No, Giselle. I’ll ask Nancy to help me. Thank you, though.” Marie stood from where she’d been sitting on the bed and walked towards Mimi. She leaned down and kissed her daughter on the cheek. “Bonne nuit, mon ange.”

  “Good night, Maman.”

  Marie left the room, closing the door behind her.

  “How was the party, Mademoiselle?”

  “It was fine. A bit strange, but fine. I suppose. Everyone but Bella and Mr Bond, it seemed, acted most peculiarly. I felt ill at ease the whole evening. Giselle, Richard was there.”

  “My goodness, Miss. When did he come back?”

  “A few weeks ago. He acted the most strange of everyone. He was curt with me. He barely smiled. He was most disagreeable.”

  “That’s unfortunate, Mademoiselle.”

  “Well he didn’t seem at all like my friend. The Richard I loved.”

  “I’m sorry. Does he have a betrothed, per chance?”

  Mimi gasped. “I hadn’t thought of that. Oh my. Giselle, do you think he does? Have you heard anything? You know, gossip? Maybe she lives in the country.” She frowned and chewed her lip. “You know he didn’t dance with anyone. There wasn’t a woman with him. In fact, he’d arrived with his parents. You know he was almost rude
in his manner, though. It was most strange.”

  “War can change a man, Mademoiselle.”

  “I suppose I’m not being as understanding as I should be. It’s just that between Maman, Duke Hertford, and Richard, I cannot find which way is up. It’s all so confusing.”

  *******

  Richard had ended up taking a hackney back to Jermyn Street. He noticed all the lights in Mimi’s house had been lowered. Everyone must have been asleep. Richard sighed. Mimi had looked so beautiful at the Wynnes’ house. He was as in love with her as ever, but she’d behaved oddly.

  Whatever the case, he knew he would never measure up to the Duke in any capacity. It seemed to Richard that Marie and Mimi preferred the Duke to him. Or any man with a title. He had tried to approach Marie, but she had studiously avoided him all evening. After the third attempt he’d made to speak to her, he’d given up. She’d made it clear, that for whatever reason, she had nothing to say to him.

  Once Richard had got home, he sent Blackmore down to the cellar to fetch a bottle of port, and then he proceeded to drink the entire bottle. Port or brandy were the only things that seemed to help him sleep, although he hadn’t yet tried laudanum. He intended to call on the doctor the following day to discuss a way in which the pain in his leg might be assuaged.

  He slept the deep and dreamless sleep he craved, and in the morning, he felt quite a deal better. He rang for Blackmore who arrived, shortly, with coffee, rolls, cheese, and fruit on a tray. There was also a tankard of ale.

  Pain was no stranger to Blackmore. His own father had suffered from the complications of a leg ulcer. He had often begun the day with ale. So Blackmore thought to give the option to his master as well.

  “The coffee smells delicious, Blackmore. Did Camille make it?”

  Blackmore chuckled. “No sir. That would be Nancy’s department. She does make it wonderfully though. Camille says that Nancy makes better coffee than any French coffee she has ever had.”

  “Wonderful.” Richard took a piece of cheese and popped it into his mouth. “Mmm. Delicious. Open the curtains, Blackmore. Let the sunshine in. I think I may have a bath.”

  “As you wish, Sir. But, uh, what about …”

  “My leg?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “My leg may get wet. Indeed, hot water makes it feel so much better.”

  “Well then, let me prepare for it, Sir.”

  “Thank you, Blackmore. And ask one of them in the mews to saddle up Tilly for me. I intend to go for a ride today. I need to strengthen the rest of my body. I nearly had an accident last night, and I realised how tired and weak I have become.”

  “I’m happy to hear of your plan, Mr Richard. However, please be aware to not overdo it. It wouldn’t do for you to hurt yourself some more.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Blackmore. I’ll be just fine.”

  “Well, if you’re sure, Sir. I would hate for something else to happen to you.”

  “Blackmore, this isn’t like you. What is going on in your mind? What are you afraid of?”

  “Nothing, Sir. I … I just would like my groomsman to be able to stand by my side as I get married, Mr Warren.”

  “Groomsman? Blackmore, you spoke to my father?”

  “I did, Sir. And just as you said he would, he consented. And now I wish to ask you to stand beside me as I become a married man. Camille will have Giselle stand with her.”

  “That’s wonderful. I would be most honoured, Blackmore. I will be proud to assist you. So it’s all settled. I am very happy for you. I will be one of your groomsmen.”

  “Thank you, Sir. You will be the only one. Now, I will go to heat the water for your bath.”

  “Very good. I will have my ride first. Thank you, Blackmore.”

  Camille and Blackmore to be wed. Well at least something good had come from the friendship between the Hancocks and the Warrens. Now that the mutual friendship of the two families seemed to be over, Richard found himself wondering about Lizzie Stevens. He’d seen her at the party, but she’d been occupied with dancing for the entire evening. He thought to send her a note. Possibly he could call on her tomorrow.

  Chapter 10

  Mimi was dressing for another party. Somehow, Marie had become friends with a lady of the landed gentry. She had no title, her name being Mrs Hudson, and her husband owned an estate outside of London. Marie had informed Mimi that instead of going to Cromer in August, they would be retiring to the country and the Hudsons’ home.

  The Hudsons also retained a residence in London on Wimpole Street. They were of the new set. New money, new conditions, new traditions. It was the nature of the changing scene in London. The ton didn’t like it, but the nouveau riche were infiltrating their highly guarded clubs and salons. And the Hudson family was at the top of that list.

  It was an absolute certainty that Duke Hertford would be at the Hudsons’ dinner, and Mimi was almost sick with worry about it. Her mother, for the last hour, had been flitting in and out of the bedchamber as Mimi executed her toilette with the help of Giselle.

  “You’re wearing the new jonquil silk, is that right mon ange?”

  “Oui, Maman.”

  “Very good. Very good, indeed. I love that colour on you, my daughter. Oh, I absolutely cannot wait until His Grace sees you. If he is not in love already, he’s sure to be by the end of the night.”

  “Maman, s’il te plait. Please. Stop that. It’s been over a week since the Wynnes entertained. Not only did the Duke not say goodnight to me when he left, he did not say goodnight to you either. And he has not called, nor even sent a note to me. Mother, men like Hertford use women like us. I am not marriage material for him. He can, literally, have just about any woman he wants. You know that. He uses women, and then discards them.

  “I’ve done some of my own research into the traits of his character. He does not impress me. I spoke to a young woman, really no more than a girl. Sixteen, Maman. The Duke tried to get her to do things. Things she oughtn’t. When she refused, he went to the ton and told a vicious, made up story about her. It very nearly ruined her. She’s a dressmaker. Many of the rich ladies who were friends with Hertford boycotted her business. Imagine. How low of the man. Why be so callous?”

  “Mimi, mon ange. How do you know this story is true? Could it be that a little shop girl made eyes at the Duke. When he didn’t respond the way she’d hoped, she made up a story, How do you know it wasn’t something like that?”

  “Hmm. Well, I suppose that could be possible. I must admit he is a very charming man. I dare say women must think they fall in love with him all the time.” Mimi smiled.

  “But there can be only one that will be his wife. Or mistress en titre. The number one mistress. When I was a girl, it was all the rage to be the first. After the wife, that is. There was no stigma to being the mistress of a rich, powerful man. In fact, when the men tired of them, the mistresses often made good marriages for themselves.”

  “Is that what my grandmother hoped for you and the comte? Did she push you the way you are pushing me?”

  “What did you say, Mimi? I’ll ask you to remember who it is you’re speaking to.”

  “You must stop, Maman. I insist. I cannot live this way. Always scheming, carrying on some sort of double conversation where what isn’t said is what is important. Trying to always guess what those unsaid words are. Always competing with my friends and others. It’s got to stop. I cannot. I will not do it, I say.” Mime burst into tears, much to her mother’s horror.

  “Mimi. Stop crying this instant. I refuse to apologise for or to explain my actions in trying to attain the best possible life for you.”

  “Who are you to attempt controlling me in this manner? Maman, it is my life. You are trying to get me the best possible life for you. I need no apology from you or an explanation, actually. I want you to stop. I need you to stop. This is my life, Maman, not yours.

  “Your life was interrupted. You had a choice to go to Belgium or England. Your comte l
eft you. That’s the only reason you married my father. Your desperation. You were desperate to live. Love had to take second place to life. Now, you want to achieve your dashed hopes and dreams through me. It is not fair.”

  Marie’s face was as white as a sheet. “I did nothing wrong in my youth. I was a girl. I was in love. Like Lavinia Warren having been an actress, there are some episodes of youth that must be left behind and forgotten. Never spoken of. Or, if need be, rephrased for the sake of posterity. It is the distance that must be created and maintained when we choose to move up in society.”