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

by Bridget Barton

  “Richard? What is that?” Mimi had reined in Ed and listened with rapt attention.

  “Unless I’m mistaken, it is someone in as great a rush as we, or we are being pursued.”

  Mimi gasped and pulled her pelisse tighter to her.“Highwaymen?”

  “I dare say no. They are much too noisy for that. I reckon it might be the Duke.”

  Mimi gasped. “The Duke? But why? Why would he come after us?”

  “Presumably to get you back, my darling.”

  “But I am your wife, now. What should we do?”

  “We will try to avoid His Grace. There is a small bridge we just crossed. Come. We shall hide beneath it.” He took her reins and dismounted to lead both horses down the incline to the area under the bridge.

  The sound of the hooves was coming closer. Within minutes, every board clattered as the horses crossed the bridge and continued on. Richard could see the riders through the cracks in the boards. It was, indeed, the Duke’s men in hot pursuit.

  As soon as they’d passed by, Richard and Mimi went back up to the road and turned south again. They kicked the sides of their mounts and urged the horses to move faster.

  As they came to the first turn in the road, they reared up the horses. The way was blocked.

  “Well. Fancy meeting you here. Miss Hancock. Mr Warren. So did you reckon you could get away from me so easily? Did you actually think I wouldn’t figure out that you’d make your way to Scotland? How romantic. Gretna Green. How positively declasse.” The Duke threw his head back and guffawed. “It’s quite amusing.” He sat his horse in the middle of the road surrounded by more of his men.

  “You have no business with us, Your Grace. We have already visited the blacksmith. Mimi is now Mrs Warren.”

  “How charming. And if I were to kill you, Mr Warren? In a duel, perhaps?”

  “I refuse. You cannot challenge me. I have done nothing to offend your honour, Your Grace. Mimi came with me of her own will.”

  “And you expect that I will just let her go?”

  “You have no choice, Your Grace. She is a married woman. Legally married.”

  Once more the Duke laughed, and two of his men rode towards Mimi and made to take the reins from her.

  “That will be enough.”

  Everyone looked towards the sound of the voice that came to them.

  Marie Hancock and Kirby’s horses stood side by side. There were a number of red coated soldiers behind them.

  The Duke raised his eyebrows. “You’ve brought the army to subdue me, Marie?”

  “It’s Mrs Hancock. And I have. You have no right to interfere here, Your Grace. This is a legally married couple you are trying to separate. I will not allow you take my daughter from her husband by force.”

  Hertford looked around at his men, and they all chuckled. “Pardon me,” he spoke in French, “but are you not the daughter of a seamstress, Mrs Hancock? Do not give yourself airs by attempting to tell me what you will and will not allow me to do.”

  Marie smiled sweetly. “May I speak with Your Grace privately?” she said in French.

  Hertford rolled his eyes. “Very well. Let us make this quick.” He walked his horse to Marie’s, and together they moved to the side the road.

  “What foolishness are you about to embark upon, Marie?”

  “No foolishness at all, Your Grace. I thought you might be interested to know that the only other available Duke in London is to be married next week.”

  “That old maid in breeches? Who, pray tell, would marry him? And what has this to do with anything?”

  “His choice of a bride might surprise you. Speaking of seamstresses, Your Grace.”

  “Surely, I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “Do you remember the young dressmaker Your Grace pursued some time ago? This was, of course, before you became enamoured of my Mimi. But the young girl was very nearly ruined. By you. Do you remember her now, Your Grace? She would not give in to your demands for her to act as less than a lady would. And you told vicious lies about her to everyone who would listen. She was almost put out of business as a result.”

  “I ask you again, Marie. What has this to do with anything?”

  “Why she is marrying into the ton, Your Grace. It seems the dear elderly Duke of Shetland has finally fallen in love. He no longer wishes to marry for money. He is marrying your little, um, cast off.”

  “How wonderful.” Again, Hertford rolled his eyes. “The girl is attracted to overweight toads, obviously.”

  “The girl is in love. As is the Duke. The twenty-five-year age difference seems not to matter. And, it turns out the lovely little dressmaker is acquainted with my daughter. And Duke Shetland has become quite close with the King, you know. Quite close.” Marie batted her eyelashes and looked innocently at the Duke.

  “Are you saying that this … this dressmaker will speak ill of me to the King?”

  “I noticed His Highness did not condescend himself to appear at your nuptials, Your Grace.”

  “What has he been told?”

  “Oh, only that he wasn’t welcome at your wedding ceremony at the behest of Your Grace.”

  “But that is not true.”

  “No, it isn’t, Your Grace. And if you wish to make peace with the King, I believe it would behove you to let my daughter and her husband go in peace. You know how fickle the ton is, Your Grace. There are some rumours that can never be put to rest.”

  The Duke inhaled sharply. “Very well. But mind. You play a dangerous game, Marie.”

  “We shall see, Your Grace.”

  “So we shall. Your game is blackmail, and if you believe you can use any actions or words of mine to poison the ton against me, you are very sorely mistaken.”

  “Oh, I play no game, Your Grace. You do not threaten me. I do not float in the same circles as one the fates have blessed as they have blessed you. You have no power over me. Your Grace.”

  “Oh? And what do you think your Mr Carnaby would think of your less than blessed existence before your daughter began making eyes at me?”

  “This is not about my past, Your Grace. This is about your future. You are only a step away from royalty. Is that why you believe you can tear my daughter from her husband? What would the haut ton say about you if you were to live in sin with a woman? A married woman you had kidnapped?”

  “Mimi had agreed to marry me. I have done nothing untoward. You of all people, living off my charity the way you’ve been, should know that.”

  “I know what I see, Your Grace. And I have just happened upon you attempting to kidnap my daughter. Now, you can ride away in peace. Or I shall ask these lovely soldiers to question you. As it is, it’s going to make for some Heavenly gossip. Would you make it worse by involving the soldiers? Would you have yourself become the laughing stock of the beau monde? Your Grace?” Marie smiled. She knew she’d won. She was aware that the Duke would never want to appear as a cuckold.

  The Duke’s jaw was grim and tight. Marie noticed he breathed slowly, deliberately, in and out. He glanced at the soldiers then looked her dead in the eye.

  “Quite clever, Marie. I relinquish this battle to you. But beware. I, too, know how to play dangerously.” He reared back on his mount, glanced briefly at Mimi, and abruptly turned at a gallop down the middle of the road. The cavalry soldiers parted to make way for him, many of them bowing their heads as he passed.

  “Good day, Your Grace,” Marie called after him.

  *******

  In a couple of hours, the smells of the wharves began reaching them. It was still twilight, so they were sure their ship was still in port. Deciding to skip breakfast, they headed straight for the docks. They didn’t want to take any chance of missing the ship’s departure.

  Richard had bought two one-way passages on the ship. They would be in New York in less than a month and then in Savannah less than a week after that.

  They found the ship, and Richard handed the horses over to the boy who would car
e for them in the hold during the journey. Richard then gave the passage tickets to the first mate.

  “Do I have time to get some supplies for the journey?” Richard eyed the mate who nodded. “Very good. Will you see my wife on board? I shall return in about a quarter of an hour.”

  “Yes, very well, Mr Warren. Come this way, Ma’am.”

  Mimi looked worriedly at Richard as she stepped into the rowboat that would take her to the ship.

  “Don’t fret, love. But we must have some food for the journey.” With that he was off in search of purveyors who would sell him the dry wheat biscuits that would last for the entire journey. Dried cod and salt pork and a good amount of dried peas were necessary also. And he would need some oats to make porridge.

  In the rowboat Mimi was quiet. There was so much activity in the port. People were walking and hurrying to and fro. Men were lifting huge trunks filled with the personal items of those who were sailing for a new life. Still others unloaded bales of cotton and ropes of twisted tobacco. There were individuals yelling to one another and others who sang as they worked. It occurred to Mimi that she was very blessed. She felt so grateful that she and Richard had been able to find each other again.

  She patiently waited as the rowboat was hoisted up to the deck of the ship. Another young sailor helped her aboard, and she thought to herself how very brave Camille had been to take this journey on her own.

  The rowboat Richard was in approached. Mimi observed as the same ritual was performed over again to get other passengers on board the ship. Richard stepped onto the deck and smiled at her.

  “This is the answer to my prayers, my husband.” Mimi was beside herself with emotion.

  “Yes, mine as well.” He took his wife’s gloved hand. “I am blessed to have you in my life, Mimi, and I am blessed to finally have you as my wife.”

  “And I am blessed Richard. Very, very blessed.” She broke down finally in tears, and he wrapped her in his arms and brought her hand to his lips. He kissed her fingers. She felt a delightful chill go through her entire being.

  *******

  Since they were both aboard, they went to the small berth Richard had rented below deck. Mimi had never been on a ship before, and her nerves were getting the best of her. She found herself fighting off every kind of fear.

  What if pirates should apprehend them? What if a huge storm came in and sunk them, her and Richard floating down and down to a watery end? What if disease should break out on board? They might never make it to the United States. She swallowed hard and tried to appear cheerful.

  She was inordinately happy but also frightened. She removed her bonnet and slippers. She hung her pelisse on a hook.

  “Darling, are you feeling well?” Richard could see that his new wife was nervous.

  “Oh yes, I am well. I do feel quite tired, though. Would you mind if I just went to sleep and skipped supper? You go ahead and eat.”

  “Would you care for a glass of claret? It will help you to relax.”

  “No dear. I am exhausted. I will sleep with no trouble.” She smiled. “I must ready myself for bed now.”

  Richard turned his back to her as he poured a glass of claret for himself and downed it in one gulp. Mimi slid out of her frock and under the covers in the little bed. When Richard turned back he was surprised that Mimi was already asleep. He left the tiny cabin to go to the galley and cook some peas and salt pork in the galley kitchen. He was sure to make some oat porridge as well. That way they had food prepared for a couple of days.

  When the food was done, he took the two cooking vessels, he’d bought back to the berth cabin. When he went inside he lit the lantern and proceeded to eat. Mimi could have something when she awoke. In the meantime, Richard stretched out in the wooden chair and rested his head against the back of the chair.

  There was still much going on with more passengers arriving. He looked at his watch. It was already eight o’clock. There were the noises of the crew and the thump thumping of heavy cargo being loaded aboard, the creak of the ship’s body, far off conversations, and the slosh of water alongside.

  When he’d left their tiny cabin to cook the food for Mimi and himself, he’d first gone down to the hold. Tilly and Ed had been brushed, fed, and watered. They stood quietly and whinnied softly when Richard entered the stable. He had made a note to himself to give a hefty tip to the boy taking care of them.

  When his mental inventory was through, Richard sighed and closed his eyes. Soon he was as sound asleep as his wife.

  ********

  Three weeks later, Mimi and Richard stood on the deck of the ship looking out over the sea. In the distance, a dark line bisected the horizon.

  The Captain strolled over to them.

  “It won’t be long now. Maybe six or seven more hours.”

  Mimi squeezed Richard’s arm. “I’m so excited, darling!”

  “We’ll stay in New York for a few days. I want to take you shopping especially since you left everything you owned at Temple Abbey. We can relax for a few days in a nice hotel. Then we’ll sail down to Savannah.”

  “How wonderful, Richard. I am so happy. I can’t wait to see your big farm; I mean your plantation? Is that what you call it? A plantation? Am I correct?”

  “You are, except for one fact.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “It is our plantation. Our home. The place where we will raise our children. The place we will grow old in.”

  Mimi clasped her hands in front of her heart. Her eyes shone. “I can think of nothing I would prefer. Oh, darling Richard. I love you so.”

  “As I love you, Mimi.”

  “Let us go down and ready our belongings, dear. I am of a mind to disembark as soon as we’re in port. Does that suit you?”

  “It does, Mimi.”

  “Land Ho!” The call had come down from the bird’s nest when the thin line had become visible. It came again.

  Richard and Mimi climbed up to the deck. “Oh look, Richard!”

  The docks were as alive and teeming as they’d been in Liverpool, and Mimi looked here and there, taking in all the action. They stepped into the lifeboat, were lowered down to the water, and they were rowed to the dock.

  “Let us find a hackney, dear, and make our way to the hotel. The young man from the ship’s hold will take the horses to the hotel’s stable when I send word where.” Richard put his arm around his love and led her out to the road as she gazed around in excited awe.”

  Chapter 26

  After seven days of rest, good food, and taking in the sights of the city, the couple were ready to sail to Savannah. Mimi had been excited about seeing New York, but she’d also been somewhat surprised at the lack of order in the city. She found herself not knowing if she should be appalled or amused at the plethora of animals that freely roamed the streets. Pigs, chickens, dogs, even horses walked here and there as if they were in their own farmyards. The smell was worse than any of the busy areas of London Mimi had been in.

  The whole city was new and different. Many different languages were spoken everywhere, and Mimi came to the conclusion that all port cities must have something in common.

  Mimi and Richard were all packed up and ready to leave for Savannah. They went down to the stables to check that the horses had been taken to the ship. Then they went on to the ship themselves and found a place to sit and enjoy the sunshine.

  As the sun rose high in the sky, the couple went down to the berth they had and took time to nap. They would be in Savannah in a matter of days, and Mimi wanted to be well rested when she met her new friends and the servants at Richard’s house. She also couldn’t wait to be reunited with Camille.

  ********

  After their naps, they stood on the deck again enjoying the fresh salty air.

  “So tell me about your farm, Richard, I mean your plantation. Do you remember telling me all those years ago that you would build a fine house, and you would call it Warren Heath? Oh, remember Richard? We had so mu
ch fun that summer. Before my papa, well, things were so different then.” She gazed out over the water.

  “It’s called Warren Hall as there is no pine heath nearby. And I did not build it, but came upon it in the most unusual way which, I’m happy to say, turned out to be a good outcome for all involved.”

  “Do Camille and Blackmore live nearby?”

  “They do. They are about ten miles away. We go to the same Church. Camille has most likely given birth by now.”

  “Given birth? I did not know Camille was with child. She didn’t tell me. How wonderful.”