Secrets of Scarlett Hall Box Set: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance Collection

by Jennifer Monroe

  John, who had just taken a sip of his drink, erupted in a choking cough. “Sorry, it went down the wrong way,” he managed to say. He cleared his throat and set the glass on the table before him. “These things a man must do in order to find a bride are such a cumbersome burden. But in truth, I have not found a woman to my liking.” And that was the truth, for although many women sought his attention, and he theirs, he could never seem to dedicate himself to just one. Each woman had something to give that he enjoyed, but he had yet to find that one woman who possessed it all.

  Laurence gave him a thoughtful look. “I thought I would remain alone,” he said. “That is, until I met Isabel. Many women in this world possess strength, and a man is fortunate when he finds one.”

  “I truly am happy for you,” John said, glad the conversation had moved on to a new, and safer, subject. “Perhaps you two shall provide the influence Hannah needs this season. When she sees your happiness, she might just put her wild ways behind her.”

  “That is our hope,” Laurence replied. “However, she will need convincing from someone other than ourselves. If she could see that the season is indeed a festive time to celebrate…” his words trailed off and a smile came to his lips. “John,” he said with a thoughtful look, “might I ask a favor of you?”

  “Of course,” John replied. “There is nothing I would not do for you.” Laurence was the kind of man who had more than once given John aid, and if doing this man a favor meant John could spend the season with him and leave behind his troubles in Cornwall, he would do anything the man requested.

  “Hannah. Would you make her feel…wanted?” Laurence shook his head. “My choice of words is poor. What I mean to say is…that is…”

  “You are asking your handsome cousin to feign interest in her?” John asked with a grin. “Perhaps give her a boost of confidence so she will be more willing to accept further invitations from other men?”

  Laurence laughed. “Yes, exactly that. I was hoping to say it in a more, let us say, delicate, manner.”

  “I would be happy to assist you in this endeavor,” John said as he raised his glass as if to toast. “For the first few weeks, the woman will believe I cannot breathe unless she is in my presence. Her spirit will be lifted to such heights, every eligible man will gaze to the sky in order to see her.”

  Laurence shook his head. “You certainly have a high opinion of yourself.”

  “Not at all,” John said with a chuckle. “I am simply the pedestal on which Miss Hannah will stand in order to be noticed by someone more…appropriate. I am handsome for a reason, after all.”

  “You have never been modest concerning your appearance. If it serves you well, then I believe you have the right to brag.”

  Although on the outside John wore a smile, inside he trembled. His handsomeness, as it were, was exactly the reason he was in his current predicament; it had caused him more problems than good as of late.

  “You must understand one thing,” Laurence said, taking on a serious note. “Isabel and her sister’s happiness mean everything to me. You must not allow Hannah, or Isabel for that matter, to learn of this arrangement. It is crucial that Hannah find a suitor this season, for Isabel and I both fear she may try to avoid doing so once again.”

  John lifted his glass once more. “Have no fear. There is nothing with which to worry concerning Hannah. She will suspect nothing, and, with my help, I may even be able to guide her to a gentleman worthy of marriage.”

  “Thank you,” Laurence replied. “You have no idea how much relief this gives me.”

  The two men raised their glasses, and as John took a sip from his, his mind began to wander. It would not be difficult to get this Hannah under his spell, for all women were easily prone to it. Yet, there was more to gain than the gratitude of his cousin. Although he would honor his word and find her a gentleman by the season’s end, he would also have the woman pay him for his generosity.

  And as the plans began to develop in his mind, his smile widened all the more.

  Chapter Three

  Hannah sat on Juliet’s bed listening to her sister explain to their cousin Annabel how she had injured her ankle. It had been Hannah’s intention to seek advice for her dilemma with Albert and the upcoming season, but she was interested in how the girl—no she was now eighteen, no longer a girl but a young woman—had ended up in bed rather than readying herself for her first season.

  Although Juliet did not admit why she had been in the stables, Hannah suspected it had something to do with the stable hand, Daniel. A blind man could see that her sister was enamored with the young man; although she denied that fact whenever anyone asked. However, it was Juliet’s way; all extravagant tales and dramatics that Hannah had to admit aided her in the story she was writing. That story that had yet been completed.

  “It was then, my dear cousin,” Juliet was saying to Annabel, “that Daniel was too afraid to climb up into the loft.”

  Hannah rolled her eyes, but Annabel gasped. “But you suspected a highwayman had taken refuge there from the storm!” she cried. “Did you not fear for your own safety?”

  Juliet gave a dramatic sigh and pulled her long black hair over her shoulder. She lay propped up on numerous pillows, her swollen foot wrapped in bandages and lying on a stack of blankets. “When the safety of one’s family is in peril, a woman must take charge. Even when a cowardly stable hand is nearby and refuses to lend aid.”

  “You are brave,” Annabel breathed. She took Juliet’s hand in her own. “Such bravery is rare among men and unheard of in women.”

  “That is true,” Juliet replied with a shake to her head. “Although, I will be the first to admit that I am no ordinary woman. I have been blessed with both beauty and courage.”

  Hannah rolled her eyes again. It was true that Juliet was beautiful, perhaps the loveliest of the three sisters, and Juliet, herself, would be the first to say so. She spoke so often about her own handsomeness that she tended to bore those around her.

  “What happened next?” Annabel asked, clearly caught up in the story. “Did you see the man?”

  Juliet sighed. “Unfortunately, he was not there. In fact, I found no trace except this bottle of wine.” She lifted the pillow beside her, and Hannah could not help when her eyes widened in shock. “I wanted proof of an intruder, so when I reached out to grab the bottle, I slipped on the rung of the ladder whilst calling out for help.” Juliet wiped at her eyes although Hannah saw no tears. “Daniel, the fool, could not move he was so frozen with fear, and therefore I fell and injured myself.”

  Annabel shook her head. “To think that man stood and watched you fall. Does he have no honor? No dignity? Is this what I must endure next year when I attend my first season? Men with no backbone?”

  Hannah wished nothing more than to leave so she would not be forced to listen to any more of Juliet’s foolishness, but she still needed to speak with both Juliet and Annabel. The only way to do that was to remain patient until Juliet was finished with her story.

  Juliet sighed again, but this time with less dramatics as before. “I suppose I should not lie further,” she said. “Indeed, Daniel was consumed by fear, but I cannot say he is without honor, for last night, he came into my room and gave me the bottle of wine.”

  Hannah could not stop the gasp that sprang from her lips. She may not believe all the stories Juliet told, but it certainly explained how the bottle came into her possession. Highwayman, indeed!

  “At first I thought he meant to have his way with me,” Juliet continued, “for uncivilized men are prone to such actions. Even more so with women who possess my beauty, for it is exceedingly rare. I was afraid, for who would hear my cries for help?” Juliet gave a sad smile and Annabel patted her hand. “However, to my surprise, he offered the wine and then his life.”

  “His life?” Hannah asked. “What do you mean?” Advice or no, she was nearing the peak of her patience.

  “My dear child,” Juliet said, and Hannah wanted to slap
her. The girl was younger than she by a year! “Daniel realized how dishonorable he acted when he allowed me to fall, so he came to bid me farewell. He said he would prove his honor by walking to the top of the hill behind our house and take his own life by falling on the end of a sword.”

  The manner in which her sister said this was so serious, Hannah was unsure whether to believe her or not. Daniel was kind, and she could imagine him being honorable, but enough to take his own life? That was suspect.

  “He said that the guilt he carried was great and that no matter what he did in life, he would live in shame. Therefore, he asked if he could borrow Father’s sword so he could die with honor.”

  Annabel wiped at her eyes. “That is so beautiful.”

  “It is,” Juliet replied. “And so, I thought, what is the greatest honor? He, the foolish stable boy, taking his own life? Or me forgiving him for his shortcomings?”

  Annabel gasped. “You forgave him?”

  “I did. Of course, the man thanked me and said he would now dedicate his life to reclaiming his honor and to lose his fear. I took pity on him and have decided to teach him to read.”

  Hannah might not believe everything Juliet said, but she did find the last kind on her sister’s part, and she told her as much.

  Juliet smiled and put the bottle to her lips and took a drink. Then she held it out to Hannah and Annabel. “Ladies?”

  “It would be best if I did not,” Annabel said. “Although…it is tempting.”

  Juliet offered the bottle to Hannah, who shook her head. “No, I am in enough trouble as it is.”

  “I know,” Juliet said. “I heard the echoes of your anger last night; they disturbed me from my sleep.” She sighed and took another sip before hiding the bottle under her pillow. “Much like the ghost who kissed me.”

  “A ghost?” Annabel gasped.

  Hannah considered taking away the wine bottle and drinking it herself.

  “Oh yes,” Juliet replied. “I hear noises in the night, and I have lain in bed whilst the ghost tells me I am beautiful. More than once he has kissed me.”

  Hannah hoped her sister would keep these stories to herself. If anyone outside of the family were to hear them, their family name would be tarnished for generations to come. ‘The mad Juliet’ they would say.

  “However, that story can wait for another time,” Juliet said, repositioning herself on the pillows. “Now, tell me, dear sister, what happened with Mother that caused me to awaken in the dead of night?”

  “That is why I am here,” Hannah replied with a sigh. “We made a pact to help one another in times of need.” Both Juliet and Annabel nodded. Hannah smoothed her skirts in order to delay what had to be said. “You know I do not wish to attend the London season?”

  Annabel nodded, but Juliet frowned. “I still do not understand why. Here it is, my first season, and I am stuck in bed with an injured foot. I should be going with you. I have waited my entire life for my first season.” She sat with her arms crossed and a pout on her lips.

  “Yes, yes,” Hannah said. “But I believe I have found a way to not be forced to attend, but it requires me to…”

  The door opened and Hannah drew in a breath before she realized it was Isabel, who stopped at the end of the bed and gave each woman a glare.

  “With each report of trouble, I never find one, but three of you,” she said. She walked over and placed a hand on Hannah’s shoulder. “We must speak.”

  Hannah nodded. “I understand. If I am to tell you, then I may as well tell you all, for I need your wisdom in this matter.”

  Isabel looked about the room and then joined the three on the bed. This, of course, caused Juliet to beam.

  “Tell us what made you decide to sneak out of the house last night.”

  This brought about gasps from the other two girls, but Hannah ignored them. “The very thing that caused me to leave the first time, a year ago, and many times since,” she replied as she wrung her hands in her lap.

  Isabel snorted. “And what would that be?” she demanded.

  “The chance to have my dreams come true.”

  ***

  Hannah drew in a deep breath in order to control her emotions. “You all know I have always wanted to write a novel.”

  The others nodded and offered smiles Hannah found encouraging.

  “I learned of a society that consists not only of men, but also several women, who meet in secret every Thursday. So, one day, I found the courage to leave Scarlett Hall late at night and go to this meeting place.”

  “Was it a cave?” Juliet asked in clear awe. Leave it to her to bring a mysterious cave into the story!

  “No, it was not a cave,” Hannah snapped. “They meet in a small cottage belonging to a sheep farmer by the name of Albert Moore.” An image of the man kissing her the night before sent a shiver down her spine. “In his home, I found women like myself—women who love to not only read but also to write stories. It was that love of the written word we shared that had me returning as often as I could.” She turned to Isabel. “I am sorry for causing you distress. It was not my intention.”

  “It is not me about whom you should be concerned,” Isabel said. “It is Mother. She is troubled by your behavior, and I believe it has frightened her. And rightly so.”

  Hannah sighed. “She does not understand. I tried reasoning with her last night; to make her see what I do is worthy of my time despite that it is unbecoming of a lady.”

  Juliet shook her head. “You are not telling us everything,” she said in light admonishment. “I heard your voice last night, and you are not one to yell.”

  “I did not yell,” Hannah replied defensively, although she could not help the shame that bubbled up inside her. “I merely raised my voice…” Her words trailed off, and she thought of what she had said to her mother before returning to her room. They were cruel words, and she regretted them. The truth of the matter was she should apologize to her mother, but she could not face her again. Not yet.

  “What happened last night?” Isabel asked. “Mother said she would not reveal it to me, for the secret is yours to tell.”

  Annabel reached over and took Hannah by the hand. “We are sisters,” she said, “bound by our love and the pact we have made. You may tell us if you wish, without fear of any judgment.”

  “Yes, Annabel speaks the truth,” Isabel said. “We are here to help. Speak your heart, and we will do what we can to assist.” Juliet echoed agreement, and the four women once more joined hands, as was common whenever they made such vows.

  Hannah could not stop the rush of love that welled up inside her. These women had always been there for her, and she had to trust them. “The man who runs the group, Albert, he is a kind man and loves books as much as I. He is also aware of my pain.”

  “What pain is that?” Isabel asked.

  “The season. To marry.” A great sorrow overtook the love in her heart at the thought of the expectations for her. “Do you not see? If I attend the season, there is a chance that I will meet a man. What if I fall in love?”

  “Oh, Hannah,” Isabel said with a light squeeze of her hand, “you should not be worried about falling in love. It is a new experience, but I promise, it is wonderful.”

  “But it is not only that. What man will allow his wife to write? To seek a way to have my novel published? That is my dilemma. If I go to London, I will be forced to say goodbye to that which I love—my writing.”

  She was surprised how quickly the room fell silent. What she had expected was to hear Isabel with her ready advice, but instead it was Juliet who spoke first.

  “How does this man, Albert, find himself in your troubles? You said he knows your heart? Has he somehow offered you a solution?”

  “He has,” Hannah replied. “And that is what is causing the majority of my confusion. He offers to allow me to write, yet I do not love him. Nor do I find him handsome, if I were honest.” She sighed. “I know it sounds cruel, for the man is by no means ugly,
but I feel nothing for him, even when he…kissed me.” The last was spoken in a whisper, but by the collective gasp from the other women, they had heard the words quite clearly.

  Then Juliet put her head back and laughed. “Forgive me,” she said after several moments of guffaws. “I do not mean to make fun, but you must understand. You? My sweet innocent sister engaged in a kiss with a boy?”

  Hannah gave a derisive sniff. “He is no boy. He is forty years of age and has asked for my hand in marriage.”

  The gasps this time were not as pronounced as before, but her sisters’ eyes grew wider. And, for the first time in recent memory, Juliet seemed to have no words to say.

  “I know you think me a harlot, but I was not expecting a kiss. In truth, I did not want it, not from him nor anyone else. However, if his proposal allows me to pursue my dream, I may have to endure them to obtain what I want.”

  Isabel released her hand and stood beside the bed. Had she upset her sister so much that she could no longer bare to look at her?

  “Isabel,” Hannah pleaded, “do not hate me.”

  “I could never hate you,” her elder sister replied as she rounded the bed to pull Hannah into her arms. In the comforting embrace, Hannah could not stop the flow of tears. “You are no harlot, and even if you were, nothing could break our bond.”

  “Thank you,” Hannah whispered. “Will you help me? Help me find a way to escape this torment Mother inflicts on me. I cannot go to London!” If anyone could find a way to get her out of the mess she had made, Isabel could.

  “I do not like to defy our mother,” Isabel said. “However, in this case, I believe I shall make an exception. I will not have my sister marry a man she does not love. Now,” she pushed back a strand of Hannah’s hair, “sit and I shall tell you what I know.”