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

by Bridget Barton

  “One last question, though.”

  “What is it, Ma’am?”

  “May I see the lady?”

  “Oh no, Ma’am. That would be unseemly. Mrs Limonseaux would tan me good if I was to let you see her.”

  “Suppose you were to make it look like an accident? Tell me where the fitting room is.”

  “I’ve said too much already.” The girl looked around, and Camille removed another shilling from her reticule.

  The girl lowered her voice to a whisper, “It is the last door on the left on the second floor. The steps are right next to this alcove. You could hurry up them. No one would notice.”

  “Thank you. And here’s another coin to keep this conversation a secret. Do you understand?” Camille pressed two more shillings into the girl’s hand as she stood and then moved towards the steps.

  *******

  “There you are. Can we get on with this? I need to be home before supper.” Mimi was nervous. She felt she’d been waiting too long in the dress shop. Every minute that passed caused her to fear she might run into someone who knew her. Someone who would tell the Duke that she’d left Temple Abbey.

  She watched out the window, her back was to the door, and she whirled around as she heard the click of the latch.

  She gasped, the gloved fingers of one hand going to her chest. “Camille,” she whispered.

  “Yes. It’s me. And we must hurry. There is not a lot of time.”

  “What do you mean? Camille, what are you talking about? How did you find me here?”

  “I saw you come in. Your face was shielded by your bonnet, but I would know your walk anywhere. I have something to tell you.”

  “What is it? Are you well, Camille? Do you need money? I can help you. God knows money is the only thing I can help you with. I’m a virtual prisoner in my home. A home that does not belong to me. I am to exist in a loveless marriage. The Duke has fallen in love with me, as planned, though he is jealous and possessive.”

  “I know you are at the Duke’s mercy. And I’m glad to find that you are not in love with him.”

  “Ha! Love! I barely like him. I have done what I’ve done to satisfy my mother. She will marry her rich suitor soon, and I will give birth to an heir, sooner I dare say than later. My marriage is to be at the end of May.”

  “What if I had another option for you?”

  “What other option is there? My life is over. I am to exist in a marriage that is loveless. I take solace in the idea that my children will comfort me.”

  “You can be done with him, Mademoiselle.”

  “You talk nonsense, Camille. But it is good to see someone who really knows me. Someone who hasn’t based their opinion of me on slander and lies or obsequious compliments. Someone who is family.”

  Camille brought her lips close to Mimi’s ear. “Mademoiselle, tomorrow morning I set sail for America.”

  Mimi sat as still as a stone. Then she looked at Camille, her black eyes shining. “What are you saying, Camille?”

  “My husband, Blackmore. He is in Georgia. It’s a part of the United States. He has bought a farm and a great house, Mademoiselle. He is of the landed gentry there.”

  “The gentry?”

  “It is possible and requires only enough money to buy one of the grand farms that are called plantations in America. It is possible to easily rise above one’s status. For people such as us, it is the way to become part of the higher echelons of society. The Americans love money. They don’t care if it’s old or new. My husband has had the opportunity to better himself. And tomorrow, I shall embark on the journey to meet him.”

  “Surely, I am very happy for you, Camille.”

  There was a knock on the door to the room. “Miss? There is one more dress. Are you ready?”

  Camille’s eyes were fixed on Mimi’s.

  “Give me one moment, girl. Silly me, I’ve caught my hem on my shoe.”

  “May I help you, Miss?” The girl’s voice spoke through the door.

  “One moment.” Mime opened a large chest against the wall under the window. It was empty, and she raised her eyebrows. Camille fought to hold back her laughter but climbed inside. Mimi closed the lid.

  “Come in.”

  The last fitting was the most involved. For twenty minutes, Mimi fretted while being pinned and told to hold her arms out to her sides or to stay still. Finally, it was finished, and the girl took all the frocks away after helping Mimi back into the morning dress she’d arrived in.

  “That will be all. Thank you. I can see myself out.”

  “Are you sure, Miss?”

  “Yes. Now, off with you. I’m sure you have other customers.” She gave the girl a coin and closed the door, latching it.

  She went to the chest and opened it. Camille popped out. “I thought that was going to take forever,” she breathed. “Now, you must listen closely to what it is I’m about to tell you. As I said, there is not much time.”

  *******

  “Ah. There you are.” Blackmore stepped out onto the upstairs porch their host referred to as the veranda.

  “Yes. I bought the land that adjoins your new farm, uh, plantation. I reckon we need to familiarise ourselves with the vernacular here in America.”

  “I reckon we do. I received a letter from Camille. She was able to get it off in the post two days before she left London. The letter came yesterday. I expect to see my dear wife in a matter of weeks now, if the weather favours the sailors.”

  “So we both have a reason to celebrate.”

  “We do.” Blackmore poured a brandy and handed it to Richard. “I could certainly become used to being a gentleman.” He smiled and poured a brandy for himself.

  “Well, that’s good, because you are one. Now.” Rodgers joined them, and the three men raised their glasses in a toast. “I’m looking forward to meeting your Camille, as is my lovely wife.”

  “Wonderful, Rodgers. I will be taking my leave of you and your wife’s gracious hospitality on the morrow. I want to have The Cedars ready for Camille when she arrives.”

  “Wonderful plan. And Richard, congratulations to you. I have my builder coming round in the morning to speak to you about drawing up plans for your new home. As it stands, you are welcome here, you know that. I must say I’ve been spoiled having male companionship after supper each night.”

  “Then you should maybe get to starting a family. You need some boys.” Richard laughed.

  Rodgers looked down sheepishly. “Well, I must tell you, I have something to celebrate. My dear wife Sophie, well ...”

  “She is with child?” Richard’s eyes shone. “How wonderful.”

  “Yes. She is.”

  “Congratulations, Rodgers.” Blackmore slapped his new friend on the back.

  Once again, the three men raised their glasses toasting to the future and all the wonderful experiences yet to come.

  “To the future!”

  Chapter 19

  Camille hurried down the stairs and out the front door of Mrs Limonseaux’s dress shop without anyone noticing her. Mimi waited a moment or two, and then followed.

  Jones stood outside the side door of the shop waiting, and when Mimi made her exit, she turned to him excitedly.

  “Jones, there’s been a change in plans.”

  “Very good, Miss Mimi. Will you be dining in town after all?”

  “No. Um, yes. I mean things have changed drastically. We are not going back to Temple Abbey.”

  “I’m sure I don’t understand, Miss.”

  Mimi gestured to Camille who was standing near the corner, having dismissed the groom from Jermyn Street.

  “I have run into Camille. You remember Camille, do you not? Don’t wave or smile, just tell me if you remember her.”

  “I do, Miss.”

  “Very good. Now, assist me into the carriage. I am going to feign illness. You get in the carriage with me. Let the boy drive. We will go around and pick up Camille.”

  “Miss, she is stand
ing right there at the entrance to the alley. Just over there.” The man was about to point when Mimi interrupted him.

  “Do as I say, Jones. Tell the boy I don’t feel well.”

  “Very well, Miss.” Jones placed one hand on the carriage door and gestured the young groom to get up on the box. Mimi liked the youngster. He did what he was told and didn’t ask questions. More importantly he kept his mouth shut.

  Once Camille, Jones, and Mimi were inside the carriage, Camille laid out the plan she and Mimi had devised upstairs at the dress shop.

  Mimi would go to the Jermyn Street house that still belonged to Richard Warren. Bobby would take the carriage back to Temple Abbey with a note saying Mimi was not feeling well and was staying the night at Jermyn Street with Camille whom she had run into.

  Jones would stay in London and the next night would escort Mimi back to Temple Abbey in a hackney. The butler nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.

  It was a perfectly believable story, and there was no reason to worry about anything. Marie had been so caught up in her own romance, lately, she’d been lax as far as Mimi was concerned. One month ago she would never have allowed Mimi to go to London without herself as a chaperone.

  The ship that Camille planned to be on was to leave port at five the following morning. It was Mimi’s only chance to escape her mother and the Duke for good. She was fortunate, indeed, to have worn the dress with the coins sewn in.

  The women shared the plan with Jones knowing that he would be confidential. Knowing that he would want to go with them. The girls were thrilled to have a chaperone. “Come with us, Jones,” they’d had to say only once.

  Mimi’s only regret was that she wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to Bella or Giselle. Or Marie.

  Mimi had left things on a bad note with her lady’s maid, but she would write to both of her friends once she got to America. Marie would be a different matter. She might never forgive Mimi.

  When the plan was etched in their brains and ready to be put into action, everyone decided to get some food, then sleep.

  Mimi was too tired to eat, but as soon as she laid her head on the pillow, she couldn’t sleep for the excitement racing through her heart. In a matter of weeks she would see her love again. Her true love. Richard.

  *******

  “What do you mean she’s in London?” Duke Hertford had just arrived at Temple Abbey with the intention of spending a couple of days in the country. He wanted to talk to Mimi about the changes that would take place in her life once they were married. He wanted to have children straightaway.

  If the child was a girl, everyday events in the Duke’s life would stay pretty much the same. But a healthy boy would be different. The Duke would want to take an active part in the raising of his heir. He would want to spend much more time at the Abbey. And he wanted Marie married and living elsewhere by that time.

  “For what reason did Mimi go to London? She is to stay here in Isleworth. She knows that.”

  The new housemaid being questioning stood stock still, tears glistening in her eyes and saying nothing. All servants knew that the wrong words could seriously affect their own lives. Hertford knew why the girl acted the way she did. He was sure that the maid either knew nothing or she knew everything.

  “Your Grace?” Marie bustled into the drawing room. “That will be all Caroline.” The girl curtsied and ran from the room.

  Marie held a notepaper in her hand. “Oh, Your Grace. First, please let me apologise for the stupidity of my daughter. She went into London to be fitted at Mrs Limonseaux’s dress shop. Apparently, our dressmaker had no one to send here for the fitting.”

  “So Mimi took it upon herself to disobey me and go to London?”

  “It appears so, Your Grace. Disgraceful.” Marie was prepared to blame Mimi for the entire episode. Hertford felt he’d been disobeyed.

  The Duke was frowning. He stood with his forearm resting against the window frame, his eyes gazing at the grounds outside. Without taking his eyes from them he said, “Very well. I am here now. I’ll wait for her return.”

  “Ah, that’s just it, Your Grace. According to this note, that only now has arrived, my daughter took ill at the dress shop. She is spending the night with a friend, a former servant, in London. Nothing to fret about, she is already ensconced in Camille’s home and will return tomorrow night, so as not to be seen in the daylight.”

  “It matters not if she’s seen now, woman. I know she has gone against my will. Surely she hid only so that I would not find out. Disrespectful wench.”

  “Your Grace. I dare say my daughter meant not to disrespect you. But, the frocks needed fitting. Surely you won’t hold it against her? It was foolish, I know, but please understand she wants only to please Your Grace with her beauty. She wished to have the new frocks for your next visit.” Now that Marie realised just how angry the Duke was she tried to cover for Mimi.

  The Duke cleared his throat. “Please have Jones see to my bedchamber. I wish to go to my sitting room for some supper.”

  “Um, Jones, Your Grace, Jones is in London. He acted as chaperone to my, uh, to Mimi. He is staying in London to escort her back tomorrow night. Bobby, the groom came back with this note.”

  “I will wait until she arrives back. Have someone send a note to her that I expect her earlier than tomorrow evening. In the meantime, I do not wish to be disturbed except for meals which I will take in my chambers. Send someone to assist me; I left my man in London. Good night, Mrs Hancock.” He bowed with a flourish and left the room.

  Marie could tell that Hertford was very angry. It made her uneasy. She had to marry her gentleman suitor Thomas soon. She wanted to be away from the surly Duke.

  ********

  At three o’clock in the morning, Camille and Mimi woke and dressed as house maids. No one would question them out and about on the London streets at four a.m. They could be going to a day job, or they might want to be early at the market to get the freshest produce. They might be in from the country to pick up packages to take back to a great country estate house.

  Jones had decided to stay in London, and with Mimi’s blessing and fifteen of the twenty pounds she’d saved, he had smiled and thanked her for her wonderful manner towards him all the time he’d been in service to the Hancocks. He said not a word against Marie, but his desire to leave her employment had made much clear to Mimi. She and Camille wished the former butler well, and the three parted ways.

  Whatever was thought of them and by whom, the young women didn’t care. They both were near to giddy with thoughts of rejoining their beloveds across the ocean.

  “Will the journey take many weeks, Camille?” Mimi was excited and quite nervous.

  “Blackmore wrote that it would take seven or eight weeks depending on the weather at sea. If it is all smooth sailing, we may arrive in Savannah even a little sooner. There, Blackmore will be waiting for our arrival and to take us to his plantation.”

  Mimi’s eyes shone. She was happier than she’d been in months. It had been over a year since she’d last seen Richard. She knew she had to see him again. Even if he didn’t want her, at least she would be away from Hertford. She could stay with Camille and Blackmore until she found a way to live in the United States. She reminded herself that she could sew. She could look at a dress and copy it from memory if she had to. And she might, indeed, find it necessary. As it was, she decided to put her worries and fears to rest. Soon her life would begin again. She would be with Richard, and all would be well. She squeezed Camille’s arm.

  “And you’re sure the captain will allow me passage?”

  “Yes. My husband included a note to the man, and he sent more than enough money for my passage.”

  Mimi lowered her voice. “Well, I have the five pounds left and,” she looked around, “I have some jewellery.”

  “Do not worry about anything, Mademoiselle. You will be accommodated. They will make room for you. Blackmore wrote that this captain moves those who are escap
ing unhappy situations. It is a clandestine service. His cargo is limited. There is always room for another because the captain will remove the amount of cargo equal to the weight of the passenger. He will then have it assigned to another vessel. It is lucky we have a connection with him. He only takes those who have been referred by someone he knows.”

  “It seems untoward, Camille.”

  “You never know who might need to escape what, Mademoiselle. Look at yourself. My husband desired me to take this ship because he personally knows Captain O’Malley. He felt I would have protection knowing the captain. And now you shall share in it.”