A Marriage 0f Convenience_Historical Regency Romance

by Janet Woods

  ‘Your man left you something else,’ Jancy said.

  ‘Please remember to refer to him as Mr LéSayres.’

  It was a roll of parchment tied with a red ribbon.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I don’t know, Miss Ellis.’

  She opened it with trembling fingers. It was the poem Dominic been writing for her.

  Winter love (1)

  Love should be declared in the evening

  When fierce snaps of firelight ignite

  Scarlet rainbows in your hair and

  Mellows the bouquet of strawberries

  And wine that turns a lover’s kiss

  Into musk in our seeking mouths.

  Verse 2 follows next Sunday if you behave.

  Twenty-Four

  The Sunday that followed was similar, with Grace, squirming in her seat and ignoring Dominic as much as she was able considering the urgency she had to be with him. The banns were read. Nobody had objected, but why should anyone object … except for herself, of course?

  All the same she couldn’t help but look forward to the next verse of her poem.

  Between Sundays they had busied themselves, making arrangements for the ball, and praying the weather wouldn’t rain or snow, or do anything remotely unfriendly to spoil the New Year festivities. The three ladies’ maids were summoned, the contents of their wardrobes tossed out and different garments tried. They shopped for new ones and practised their dance steps.

  ‘What will you be wearing?’ Eugenie asked Grace one day.

  ‘I have clothing Lady Florence provided for me in her will.’

  ‘That’s day wear.’

  ‘I thought I might decorate a gown with some lace.’

  ‘Then it will look like a day dress decorated with lace sewn on to disguise it.’

  ‘It will have to do because it’s all I have. It was kind of Lady Florence.’

  With some heat in her voice, Eugenie said, ‘Nothing that woman ever did was a kindness to you. Thank goodness Dominic saved you from her scheming. If you hadn’t died from that beating, you might have died from starvation.’

  ‘Dominic grows schemes like a field grows turnips,’ Grace said, and felt compelled to defend the woman. ‘Lady Florence wouldn’t have wished, or expected, any harm to come to me. She just wanted that nephew of hers to reform. I quite liked the brigadier. He scared me a little but there was something fearless about him. He was also amusing, and had a lot of charm.’

  ‘You told Dominic that?’

  She nodded.

  ‘What did he say?’

  ‘He gazed at me as though I was a lunatic, then he pulled on his scowly face and made me laugh.’ She kissed Eugenie’s cheek, guessing that the woman’s countenance was a little dented now her small charges had grown into men with minds of their own, and that other women would take her place. ‘I do love him, Eugenie.’

  ‘Then why are you making him run in circles.’

  ‘He knows why.’

  While Eugenie inspected her wardrobe Vivienne took Grace with her to the window and examined her face. ‘Your skin has healed quite beautifully, Grace, and you have such pretty hair. You are quite a beauty, no wonder Dominic fell in love with you.’

  ‘I have a gown and accessories that would be perfect for her,’ Vivienne ventured. ‘When it arrived from the dressmaker I discovered it was too short.’

  From the depths of the book Eugenie chuckled. ‘I remember that one.’ She laughed again. ‘My goodness, Gracie, where on earth did you get this book from?’

  Giving a little cry Grace flushed to the roots on her hair. ‘It belonged to Lady Florence. Dominic packed my bag and I thought it had been left behind.’

  ‘You mean Dominic has seen it? Let’s hope he doesn’t expect you to put everything into practice when you’re married.’

  ‘I have not yet received any formal proposal, nor can I trust him now.’

  ‘Oh, stop being such a mope, Gracie.’ Vivienne pounced on the book when Eugenie let it go. Grace giggled when she turned a page and then burst out laughing. ‘Oh, my goodness, look at that—’

  A knock came at the door and the book was hastily shoved under the quilt. The kitten had been busy practising its fighting skills and had tied himself into a knot with stray ribbons. He hissed, leaped in the air, and trailing the ribbons behind him joined the book.

  Jancy opened the door.

  It was the housekeeper with a tea tray. She set it on the table, and then handed her a small package and another roll of parchment. A smile lit up her face. ‘A messenger brought it for Miss Ellis.’

  ‘Who’s it from?’

  ‘I can’t rightly say, miss.’

  Gracie knew without looking. The box inside the package contained two golden chains with tiny rubies and twinkling diamonds joining them.

  The two women crowded about her. ‘Isn’t that lovely. Dominic has such good taste, and you can wear it in a hair arrangement as well as a necklace. What does the message say?’

  She held it gently against her body. She wanted to savour it, keep every precious word for herself. ‘I don’t know, I haven’t had time to read it yet. Go away so I can.’

  ‘Come Vivienne, let’s give Gracie some privacy. You fetch the garments and accessories you were talking about, while I pour the tea. Cook has sent up some muffins, we must eat them while they’re hot.’

  Grace left them and moved to the window. Gently, she broke the seal on the parchment and unrolled it, flattening the paper in her palms.

  Verse 2

  Beyond the window moonlight creeps

  Like molten silver to kiss the naked limbs

  Of the birch, frost snowflakes on the glass

  As delicate as the lace on a wedding veil

  Crushed and discarded in disarray

  You reveal me to myself.

  ‘Oh, Dominic, you are so very worthy a man. How could I have thought you’d deceive me,’ she whispered, and tears filled her eyes. She placed the precious parchment into the drawer with the first verse. She wouldn’t read them again until she had it all.

  She couldn’t wait for Sunday to arrive, when she would see Dominic again, if only from afar.

  She avoided the places where she usually could be found, the window seat on the stairs with its view over the dreaming hills to the distant sea, the library with its smell of age, leather and dust. One night she crept down there in the dead of night and buried the Karma Sutra in the dimmest corner of the shelves amongst the dustiest books.

  Mostly Grace stayed in her chamber, where in body and mind she recovered from her injuries, due to the attention of Eugenie and Vivienne. Sometimes Vivienne brought the son of the house to visit. Little Nicholas was a delight.

  The dress Vivienne carried in later that afternoon was perfect, made from a creamy satin fabric with lace overskirt. The sleeves and bodice was sprinkled with pearls. There was also a velvet cloak with a fur trim to keep the cold at bay, a hat with a fluff of feathers.

  ‘The outfit matches your necklace perfectly,’ Eugenie said.

  Grace laughed. ‘And now you’re going to tell me it was all a coincidence.’

  The two countesses gazed at each other and laughed. ‘What else can it be?’

  ‘A LéSayres plot,’ she suggested.

  The days had slowed and shortened as winter settled in. The sound of the sea surging against the shore was a muted but ruthless grind of pebbles and sand. The wind sent up great sprays of water and she was carried away on the wings of a gull and across the sea, restless and whispering his name.

  ‘Dominic.’

  Sometimes she woke with a start and couldn’t help but wonder how the brigadier and his regiment were surviving such a restless surging of water when they were in such a small vessel.

  She was lonely despite the visits from Vivienne and Eugenie, but tried not to show it. What would she do if Dominic decided he didn’t love her any more, where would she go?

  The earl visited her on the third Sun
day. ‘Are you comfortable … is there anything else you need?’

  ‘Thank you for your hospitality, my Lord, but no, there is nothing I need, and you couldn’t be kinder.’ An outright lie and she couldn’t help but ask, ‘How is Dominic?’

  He indicated to Jancy to leave them, and then he sighed and gazed at her face. ‘There is no sign of the beating you took now; are you able to come to my table for your meals, do you think?’

  ‘Yes … my Lord.’

  ‘Then it would please me if you did. I prefer not to have my guests hiding like mice in their holes.’

  ‘Has Dominic asked you to talk to me?’

  ‘Good Lord, no! Dominic considers himself old enough to conduct his own affairs. He has been busy of late.’

  ‘Does he mention me?’

  ‘Not very often, about every ten minutes but I think you’re perfectly aware of his regard for you.’

  ‘As perfectly as knowing his patience is not infinite. Tell him I miss his company.’

  He gave a wry grin. ‘Better you tell him yourself.’

  ‘I never see him.’

  ‘He grew up here and knows every nook and cranny. We had some fine games of hide and seek.’

  ‘Are you telling me he’s been spying on me.’

  ‘Not at all, but he does have the ability to keep himself concealed if the need arises. Dom can read, pen words, out-shoot, fence and ride as well as out-think me at every turn. He said you were honest, so I’ll be the same. Do you love my brother?’

  ‘He’s the bright star in my sky.’

  Alex laughed. ‘Then I’ll rest easy until tomorrow.’

  ‘Tomorrow?’

  ‘It will be the fourth Sunday.’

  Ah yes … she had not forgotten the banns that had been read, but rather she’d put them aside as her expectations wavered back and forth. Would he abandon her at the altar as a punishment, or would she allow him to make a fool out of her by not going to church at all.

  You either love, trust and respect one another, or you don’t.

  It was that simple. His actions tomorrow would tell.

  Grace had expected to see Dominic at the breakfast table, so she was disappointed when his place remained empty.

  Alex smiled reassuringly at her, ‘Dom ate earlier because he had some business to attend to.’

  He’d been avoiding her.

  As she shook out her table napkin a familiar roll of parchment fell out. How had he known she’d be dining downstairs? Concealing it in her lap she ate a small amount of oatmeal with stewed apples, and honey drizzled over the top. It was followed by coddled eggs, a slice of bacon and some mushrooms.

  Grace heard the sound of Argus cantering off down the carriageway. Odd that she could recognize the noise his horse made. Dominic was avoiding her. She wanted to jump from her chair and chase after him, beg his forgiveness. Instead, she drank her tea and then excused herself.

  Tucking the little scroll into her shawl she changed her mind again. He hadn’t avoided her after all.

  She wished her emotions would stay at an even level instead of dancing around all over the place. Her hands shook as she unrolled the parchment.

  Final verse (3)

  Love is music of the soul. Like Beethoven

  A powerful thrust into the soaring

  Sky exposes a quivering heartstring

  Winter bright its rising crescendo

  Creates a new symphony, a new star to

  Begin its trajectory across the heavens.

  She began to tremble. She had still not seen Dominic … but his precious poem had made his regard for her quite clear.

  The following week everyone was walking around with smiles on their faces. Grace was bathed, her hair washed and prepared for her new role like a turkey ready for roasting.

  New Year’s Eve, and Grace, gowned in burnished gold taffeta that rustled when she walked, sat in the LéSayres pew.

  This afternoon at the celebratory feast she would be the bride in the virginal cream silk gown Vivienne and Eugenie had bought for her. At least, she hoped so.

  It was one of those perfect winter days, cold and crisp, and the sky so blue it made her eyes ache. A bright sun made the frost glitter.

  Again, the church was crowded. Grace saw no sign of Dominic and knew she would die from a broken heart if he didn’t arrive. This time people had come from far and wide to line the church wall for a chance to see the gentry turn out in their finery.

  The vicar in his white embroidered vestment arrived and pottered around trying to look busy. He was old and bent, white-haired and pink-cheeked, like an angel, his shoulder blades indicating where the wings were folded.

  There was a bustle at the back of the church and everyone turned to see who’d arrived. Grace knew from the smile Alex gave that it was Dominic.

  The congregation fell quiet as his footsteps strode purposefully down the aisle. Despite his confidence Dominic’s heart would be thundering in case she refused him.

  He stopped, went down on one knee and held his hand out to her. ‘I love you, Miss Ellis. Will you marry me now?’

  She couldn’t help but tease him just a little. ‘You mean now … this very instant and in front of everybody?’

  ‘Nobody can say we didn’t have witnesses, and they’ve been waiting long enough to see the outcome of my petition.’ His smile became beguiling, but nevertheless he gave a quiet little growl. ‘I love you dearly, Gracie girl, I’ve done so from the first moment I set eyes on you, and I know you love me. What better reason is there to wed?’

  She didn’t know of one, except … and she gazed at the row of faces, the earl and Vivenne, Eugenie, Mr Howard, who she had only briefly met. Suddenly she had a family of her own, and she wouldn’t be lonely any more.

  She placed her hand in his and their fingers intertwined. She kissed his cheek.

  ‘There is no better reason, my love. Of course I’ll wed you.’

  He led her to the waiting vicar whose smile was as wide, if not wider than those in the congregation.

  ‘I do like to officiate over a wedding that isn’t strictly conventional. Are you young people quite ready to exchange your vows now – and yes, young lady, I do mean now, this instant.’

  A rumble of laughter went through the church.

  They gazed at each other and smiling, said together, ‘Yes we are.’

  ‘Good, then it will be my privilege to take you through your vows. He opened his prayer book. ‘“Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony …”’