Under the Seductive Lady's Charm: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Henrietta Harding

  “Then that is what you should have if it shall make you happy,” Graham said, as if that were perfectly simple. Really was it not?

  Miss Browne shook her head at him. “You are kind, but I know nothing of society. I know nothing of how to make a match for myself aside from all of the worries of not having a dowry.”

  Graham laughed. “Well, it happens that I was coming to find you to discuss something that might just help with your lack of knowledge on society.”

  “If it is your sister scheming up a new persona for me, then I shall pass,” Miss Browne said with a firm resolve.

  Graham chuckled. “Do I honestly strike you as the person who wants you to be like his sister? No, Miss Browne. What I wanted to discuss was that I sent a letter of recommendation to a Mrs. Lennox who had been looking for a governess. If she still needs one, and I am not certain of that, then she would likely take my recommendation seriously.”

  Miss Browne stared at him with her large brown eyes. It took her a full minute before she responded to him. “I do not know what to say. That is beyond kind, Lord Easterly.”

  “Well, truthfully I hold a lot of guilt that I was not there for you after your father died,” Graham admitted. “I am merely seeking to make up for my past mistakes and set things right as I should have done then.”

  Miss Browne gave him a gentle smile. Her hands were clutched in front of her chest, holding her handkerchief as if it were very dear to her. “I do not throw my fortune at your feet, Lord Easterly. I had no idea that you thought it your fault. It is not.”

  “That is endearing of you to say, but friends should look out for each other, and I am afraid my family failed in that.” Graham drew in a deep breath. “If it would put you at ease there is one more thing that I would like to do.” She eyed him curiously. “I wish to put forth dowry for you to give you the best possible outcome, no matter what you choose.”

  Graham had not known what it was he expected, but suddenly Miss Browne was hugging him. Graham hugged the young lady back. They were friends and he knew the spirit in which she embraced him.

  Her face was light with happiness as she drew back enough to smile at him. They pulled away from each other, lingering just within the embrace for a long moment. It might have been an eternity.

  His eyes met her gaze and they stared at each other as if they were not quite sure what they wanted or what they were doing. What were they doing? Graham’s mind held no answers, but somewhere in her brown gaze there seemed to be something, if he could just grab onto it ...

  It was with a suddenness that Graham realised his hand was still on her waist from their embrace. He pulled his hand away to preserve her virtue and innocence. It was at that moment that she looked away and Graham mourned the loss of that contact more than any embrace.

  Graham felt as if he should say something. “I promise you, Miss Browne, I will always act in your best interests,” he whispered. She still kept her eyes averted from him and Graham left her to her thoughts, even if he could not decipher his own.

  *

  She sat for a long moment after Lord Easterly had left. She did not know what to do, but she felt as if she should apologise. If only she had not done something so foolish.

  What had possessed her to think she had the right to embrace him like that? He was an earl and far beyond her station. How often had Katrina taunted her for trying to be more than she was? Perhaps there was some truth in it.

  Charlotte got up finally and made her way inside. When she was finally sequestered in her room she thought back to his grey-laced blue eyes and how they had searched her gaze. What had he been looking for? Had he found it?

  She was left feeling raw and exposed. The day had been too much for her. She lay down on her bed and willed the day to be over with.

  Perhaps if she went to sleep no one would wake her. How lovely that would be? The fact was that Katrina or Amanda would inevitably come to wake her.

  She had no desire to talk to Amanda after Lord Stanhope’s visit. Charlotte could already imagine what Amanda would have to say about that. Then again, why should she allow it to bother her?

  If Lord Easterly succeeded in winning her a position with Mrs. Lennox, then she would not have to put up with Amanda’s cruel little whims anymore. The thought of that brought some hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a little light in the distance.

  Charlotte smiled. She should be happy. Lord Easterly had promised his help to find a match. So why did the idea of that not please her thoroughly? She put it down to childhood fascination. An adult love would soon wash away any lingering infatuation she might have on the man.

  Charlotte had let Amanda chide her about having to dance with Lord Easterly without comment because she could not bring herself to admit to her childhood friend that she found her brother attractive. No matter how horribly Amanda behaved, it still seemed wrong.

  There was a tap on the door then Amanda burst in as if the room were her own. “There you are. Are you sick?”

  “No. I am just tired.” Charlotte blew out a breath and sat up. “Were you needing something?”

  Amanda came and sat down on the bed. “I just wanted to let you know that your Lord Stanhope came by.”

  “I know. I saw him,” Charlotte told Amanda. She could tell that Amanda did not like having her surprise spoiled.

  Amanda recovered quickly. “Oh? Did you speak to him? He was most eager to see you.”

  “I did not,” Charlotte said honestly. “We did lie to him, after all. I thought it better not to embarrass the man.”

  Amanda shrugged. “I never lied to him. I did not tell him who you were. I think he rather forgot what he came here looking for. I do think he might want to court me.”

  “That is good for you. He would make an excellent match for you,” Charlotte said keeping her voice neutral.

  “Oh, come now,” Amanda chided. “Are you not even a little bit jealous?”

  Charlotte sighed. “I do not know the man. I met him once and under false pretenses. There is a good chance that he would not like who I really am. Why would I be jealous of that?”

  “You are so strange,” Amanda said with a grin. “Have you been crying?”

  Charlotte was amazed that Amanda had even noticed the tear stains on her face. “I was thinking of my brother,” Charlotte said. It was only a half-lie.

  “Well, do cheer up,” Amanda said. She gave Charlotte a pat on the shoulder and breezed back out of the room.

  Charlotte shook her head. “I promise I shall cheer up when I am free of here,” she whispered. She collapsed back onto the bed. Now she just had to make it until she had word from Lord Easterly.

  Charlotte thought that should be easy given how much she had put up with before this. Then again, having hope can sometimes make waiting hard. She would just have to try and keep her chin up.

  Chapter 5

  “You look as if you have eaten a sour grape, Your Lordship,” Victor said as he plucked a handkerchief and folded it deftly for Graham’s coat pocket.

  The sunlight brought in through the window by the sun peeking over the treetops set everything in Graham’s room on fire with golden light. “I received a letter yesterday from that Lord Stanhope. Apparently, he is interested in visiting with my sister again.”

  “Is that such a bad thing?” Victor tucked the handkerchief in Graham’s pocket and stepped back to admire his handiwork.

  Graham chuckled. “I do not yet know. You have swiftly got to know me better than even my steward.”

  “I know nothing. I just saw that your face looked like my uncle when he held a particular bad fruit in his mouth.” Victor began tidying the room now that they were done.

  Graham sighed heavily. “Knowing nothing is sometimes the perfect amount. However, this is not one of those moments for myself. Lord Stanhope sets my teeth on edge and I have no idea why.”

  “Perhaps it is just a brother’s protectiveness,” Victor offered.

  Graham sighed. “Perh
aps.”

  “Your sister sent her maid to ask if you would see her before you were off to business today.” Victor’s words made Graham sigh again, this time with dissatisfaction.

  Graham grimaced as he rose. “I suppose I should see what she wants.”

  “Shall you be working here at home today?” Victor waited with his hands clasped behind his back.

  Graham nodded. “That had been my plan. I need to send out some correspondences and such. That should take most of my morning.”

  “I shall bring tea to your study then.” Victor opened the door for Graham.

  Graham decided there was no reason to put things off and he left Victor with a nod of his head. As he walked along the familiar hallways, Graham wondered what his sister had to discuss this morning. He had a sneaking suspicion it would be about him setting Miss Browne up in a position more befitting her.

  His sister had the oddest ways of showing friendship that Graham had ever seen. Perhaps now that Miss Browne was away with Mrs. Lennox, Amanda would realise her folly in how she had treated Miss Browne. Graham supposed that her calling to see him was a good indication that Amanda had finally had time to think over her actions.

  He tapped his knuckles against her sitting room door. When the door opened he was greeted by Katrina, his sister’s maid. “Your Lordship,” Katrina mumbled as she swiftly stepped aside and curtseyed.

  Graham paid the maid little attention. He eyed Amanda, who was sitting imperiously as if she were waiting to pass judgment against him. “I’m here out of affection, as I’m not disposed to being at anyone’s beck and call, Sister. Why do you glare at me so?”

  He walked over and looked down at his sister as she gave him a smile. “Am I glaring? I was merely thinking how horrible it would be if someone were to snatch away your valet the way that you took my lady’s maid away without so much as a word to me about it.”

  “Honestly, you still have a perfectly suitable lady’s maid. Do you not think having two was a little indulgent?” Graham had no intention of letting his sister run over him about this. His parents had been far too lax in their dealings with her, and frankly, so had he.

  Amanda frowned. “Graham, she was my friend.”

  “She is your friend still,” Graham assured her. “Miss Browne deserves our help. Is that not what you were attempting to do?”

  Amanda’s eye twitched the way it did when she clearly did not want to do something. “Of course that was my intention. What else would it have been?” She turned her head pointedly away from him. “You always have your self-righteous eyes on me as if you can spot any wrongdoing that I might have done. For once, Brother, you are wrong about me.”

  “Oh?” Graham gave her a frown. “What was it that you think I have accused you of this time?”

  Amanda snapped her gaze around to Graham. “You know very well that you do not think me charitable and have such viewed my hiring of Charlotte as some vain amusement of mine.”

  Graham thought about that. Yes, he supposed that was a fair thing to say. He nodded his head. “I do admit that there is truth to your words.”

  “And yet you still think that?” Amanda pouted at him.

  Graham shrugged and waved off her ridiculous expression. “What have you done that gives me a reason to reconsider? I got her a respectable position where she could potentially better herself. Should you not be thinking of her, instead of whining about your loss?”

  Amanda opened her mouth then snapped it back shut. After a time she whispered, “I suppose you are right. I shall try to be better.”

  “That truly makes me happy to hear.” Graham did not know if he could give her words any true weight, but he might as well let Amanda play out her drama. After all, she would do it regardless and pushing against the tide never stopped it from coming in. “Now, I do apologise, but I have to get to work or I shall never finish before the evening meal.”

  Amanda inclined her head even if the set of her jaw did not look particularly pleased. She could hardly protest Graham wanting to work. She was eager enough to spend the family money, after all.

  “I hope your day is productive, Brother.” Amanda waved her hand over to Katrina who opened the door for Graham.

  Graham replied, “As do I.” He left before Amanda decided to try and rope him back into the conversation. It was a relief to hear the door click shut behind him.

  Once he was free of the women, he walked to his study with the day’s duties in his mind. More importantly, he knew that he needed to write to Mrs. Lennox and to his steward at the country estate. He really did hope that everything was going smoothly for Miss Browne. He had heard little from Mrs. Lennox since Miss Browne had gone to work for her.

  Graham opened his study door and was relieved to find it empty. With the season it seemed he constantly had visitors to entertain. Graham rang the cord next to his chair as he went over to his desk.

  Victor popped his head around the door a few moments later, looking slightly out of breath. “You rang, Lordship?”

  “Send Randolph to see me.” Graham set down at his desk and pulled out his writing utensils and paper.

  Victor was gone the next instant with a snappy, “Of course, Sir.”

  Graham began penning a letter to Edward to enquire after a project that he had left in Edward’s hands. The man was more than capable, but old habits were hard to break. He had finished writing to Edward and had pulled out a paper to write to Mrs. Lennox when Randolph, the recently appointed steward of the London household, came in.

  “Good morning, Randolph.” Graham waved a hand at the leather chair that set across from his desk.

  Randolph sat down and looked a bit apprehensive. “Is something the matter, Your Lordship?”

  “Not at all,” Graham said to put the man at ease. Randolph was not yet well settled into his role and still, at times, seemed to take offense where Graham never intended any. “I just wanted to check in with you. I have not seen much of you since the week we arrived.”

  Randolph bobbed his head, clutching his hat in his hands. “Yes, Sir. I’ve been kept quite on my toes by that new housekeeper. She’s been throwing a ruckus about anything that comes to her mind.”

  “You should have brought this up to me sooner and I could have stepped in,” Graham said with a frown.

  Randolph looked embarrassed. “I can handle one feisty woman, but she is a bit of a hellfire. She caused a maid to quit yesterday.”

  “I see.” Graham shook his head. “With my sister having a hand in her hiring, I am not that surprised. If she causes any more trouble, let me know. We may need to replace her. I am certain the household can run without her, as it did before, while we search for a suitable replacement. You might want to make that clear to her.”

  “I shall make sure she receives the message, Sir.”

  “Good. Now, how are we on the stable?” Graham looked at the man with interest.

  Randolph seemed to relax now that talk of the troublesome housekeeper was over. “The boys are moving right along with it. I did have to replace one or two of them because they could not be counted on to show up on time.”

  “Quite right,” Graham replied. “Keep me informed. Do we need to relocate any of the horses?”

  “It is all taken care of, Sir.”

  “Wonderful. Well, I won’t keep you.” Graham gave him a nod of his head as the man rose.

  When Randolph was off to his work, Graham looked back down at the paper in front of him and sighed. What was it he had been writing? He scanned the letter.