The Games the Earl Plays_Heirs of High Society_A Regency Romance Book

by Eleanor Meyers

Mary Frances continued, “Margaret Nicholson had been standing outside the gate and had waited for the king to dismount from the carriage before she attacked.”

  The story had enraged England, but no one could deny that hero of the tale had been Mary Elizabeth Best.

  “Beth saw the woman unsheathe her ivory-handled dagger and moved to stop her,” Mary Frances said. “In the struggle, the woman was apprehended. Not a finger was laid on the king.” She shook her head. “Nicholson was pardoned, and Beth became a hero.”

  “She should have been knighted.” Alicia placed her hands back on the chair’s arms.

  Mary Frances nodded in agreement. “But Beth didn’t want glory. It wasn’t her way. She’d never cared to be a countess. She’d simply loved Lord Bonham and her king and country. Her one request had been for help funding Best Homes, and that is where it all started.”

  “Yes,” Rose whispered. That was when it all began. In less than a decade, Mary Beth had built a legacy, turning one building in the worst part of London into three homes in different parts that not only cared for children but trained and educated them so that they could be strong members of their communities. She’d made friends with the ton and had left her mark on the world. Twenty years after her death, the church ensured that she would never be forgotten.

  That was probably another reason why Alex had been so easily accepted. While the ton had turned their backs on Mary Elizabeth during her first appearance in Society, they’d never done so again, especially not after getting the king’s seal of approval. King George had favored her for her strong morals and Christianity.

  “Did Lord Bonham ever speak to Miss Best again?” Rose asked a moment later.

  Mary Frances thought for a moment and then said, “I once saw them speaking in a garden a few years after the event, but only Beth knows what was said during those precious few minutes.”

  Rose found herself thinking about what she could expect at Gerard’s party. A few of the ladies already knew her from her association with Alex, but that didn’t mean they’d treat her as an equal during a month-long party, and she wasn’t even engaged to an earl.

  The party would likely be dreadful, but there was nothing she could do about it now. She would go and, if all else failed, she’d occupy her time with books and discovering more about Mary Beth and Mary Frances’ past.

  Mary Frances called Liz then. “Go to my jewelry box and bring me the two keys in the last drawer.”

  Liz left and returned moments later. Mary Frances handed the keys to Rose. “One key will get you into the house. The other will get you into the attic.”

  Rose placed the keys in her pocket. She’d not forget.

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  6

  CHAPTER

  SIX

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  As Christmas entered Rose’s room, there was a fleeting moment she thought him to be Gerard. How odd. Whatever would Gerard be doing in her home? Still, Christmas and Gerard held similarities in stature, color, and bone structure. They both had dark wavy hair and light brown eyes, though Gerard’s were lighter.

  She blamed her active imagination on missing Gerard. It had been an entire week since she’d seen him. Since then, her every waking hour had been between fittings with Alex and Alex’s sisters-in-law, Lady Selina and Lady Lucy-Ann, Best Home to read books to the children, and the library. When she’d informed Mr. Tash that she would be gone for a month, the man had looked frightened. Rose had never been gone from the library for more than a week at a time, and only when she was in bad health. Never was she away for so long, so she’ tried her best to put as much of the library’s stock to rights before leaving.

  And while she’d worked, she’d debated on whether she should send Lord Stonewhire updates on her reading, since he’d not be around to discuss her books. Was writing the marquess appropriate? Did he even care? In the end, she decided she would write him one letter and make it as formal as possible. If he responded in a way that indicated he wanted her to write more, she would.

  She prayed he would.

  Christmas came in with Reuben and Nash. She frowned at seeing their somber faces and stood from the trunk she and the maid had been bent over. “What’s wrong? Is it Alexandra?” Her worry grew instantly.

  Christmas lifted a hand. “It’s not Alexandra.”

  “It’s you,” Reuben accused with narrowed green eyes.

  Rose straightened. “Me? What did I do?”

  Nash crossed his arms, the muscles strained in his jacket. “You’re leaving the city for a month without any of us accompanying you. How are we supposed to protect you from so far away?”

  Rose stared at them and then smiled. “I’ll be all right. Justin will be there and so will Lord Obenshire. Nothing will go wrong.”

  Christmas pointed to the table and chairs in the corner of the room. “Sit.”

  Rose pouted her lips but did as she was told, falling into the chair with little grace. She then straightened herself as she’d been practicing since realizing what she was about to attend—a party meant for the ton. Had she lost every trace of reason? Love had ruined her thinking.

  She stared up as Christmas and the others circled her. Meeting their eyes forced her to strain her neck. “Avon Park is only a few days’ ride away, and I swear to write to you.”

  “Every day,” Reuben told her.

  “Every day,” she agreed.

  “And if ever you find yourself in trouble?” Nash began.

  “Or wish to leave?” Christmas continued.

  Rose fought not to roll her eyes. “I’ll call for you.”

  “Immediately and without delay,” Reuben warned. “I regret that I can’t attend, even though I was invited.” He was needed by the king, but for what, Rose didn’t know.

  Nash scoffed and shook his head. “This is ridiculous. Maybe I should go. I can always get invited with Iverstone’s son.” The Duke of Iverstone was Scottish and owned the boxing club that Nash managed. His sons were larger than usual and great boxers, but one of them was more violent than the others.

  Rose gasped. “Which one of Iverstone’s sons is attending?”

  Nash met her eyes and smiled. “Manas.”

  No.

  “Aye,” Nash replied in a Scottish brogue as though reading her thoughts.

  Manas was the worst of Iverstone’s sons and Nash’s closest friend. They’d met in Newgate, of all places, though the authorities hadn’t known that Manas was the duke’s eldest son at the time.

  The ton had nicknamed him Menace. That said it all. She was surprised Gerard would invite Manas, but then again, she wasn’t that surprised. Parties always included a great number of married and unmarried lords and ladies. She could only hope that Manas found a woman to interest him while there so that she could slip away to be with Gerard.

  Nash must have read the look on her face because he grinned, his handsome blue eyes sparkling. “I’ve already asked Manas to look after you. I’m sure he’ll do well.”

  She held back a loud groan. “Are we done here? Alexandra and Justin will be here any minute to take me far away from you all.” She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms in a pout.

  “That was only the first part. Here is the second.” Christmas waved someone into the room and a footman placed a beautiful jewelry box on the table. It was porcelain-white with gold details.

  Rose found herself leaning forward before she knew what she was doing. She stilled and looked up at her brothers. “What is this?”

  “Open it and find out,” Nash told her.

  Rose shook her head even as she felt tears filling her eyes. Earlier that morning, she’d found a copy of Emma on her bed and had wondered how her brothers knew she’d not finished it. She’d not even told Alexandra that she hadn’t. But a book was the sort of gift her brothers would give her.

  Jewels were different.

  She had some jewelry.
Christmas had given her a string of pearls for her eighteenth birthday, and Nash had given her a hairpin with emeralds, but she rarely wore them. She’d had no occasion to until last year. Still, she’d never been one to indulge, but with Alexandra’s help this last week, Rose now had a wardrobe that put anything else she’d ever owned to shame.

  She reached out and opened the precious box. Inside was not one item or even one set of jewels, but three. Emeralds, sapphires, and amethysts wrapped in diamonds and gold. Bracelets, necklaces, and hairpieces to make other ladies envious. Strange how they were the exact stones that Alex commented would bring out the blue of her eyes.

  She stood and wrapped her arms around each of her brothers. “Thank you.” She didn’t even bother to refuse the gifts. She’d never insult them in that way, though she did wonder how they could afford so much.

  Christmas owned London’s best toy store, but Rose had no clue how much that sort of business made. Nash managed the boxing club, but Rose was sure that his work for Iverstone extended in other ways. Just that year, Reuben had been given a title by the king for his efforts in the war against Napoleon. There were even whispers that he’d found the French warlord himself. He was now the Viscount of Eastridge, but while the title came with land, did it also come with wealth?

  It didn’t matter. She loved them all the same. “Thank you for the jewels and the book.” Nash and Reuben smiled in return. Christmas did not, as it was not his way to smile for any reason.

  “We didn’t get you a book,” Christmas told her.

  Reuben and Nash shook their heads. They’d not given her the book? Then where did the book come from?

  Still, she kissed their cheeks for what they had given her and had just finished when Alexandra walked into the room.

  “What’s this about?” her sister asked.

  Rose showed Alexandra her collection of gifts, which prompted Alex to give out her own hugs and kisses before both women saw Rose's things onto the carriage and were underway to Avon Park.

  Inside the carriage, everything hit Rose at once. She was going to see Gerard again. She’d be living in his home for an entire month. She had little money to call her own but had new clothes. She had jewelry to accompany them. She was sitting next to her best friend in the entire world, but she had yet to tell Alexandra her plans to make Gerard fall in love with her.

  And she wasn’t sure if she should. How would Alexandra react to such a thing?

  Justin sat across from them. “If we encounter no trouble, we should be there in three days. It’s one reason I agreed to go to the party. My own family estate is a little farther than that. I don’t want Alex in a carriage for that amount of time.”

  Rose had never traveled for more than a few hours in a carriage, and that was only due to traffic. It seemed the adventure would start early for her.

  Alex sighed. “I’ll be all right, Justin. There is no need to worry, and I want to be there when the ton meets Harley. I’m glad Gerard trusts me to help him host.”

  Rose had not met Lord Wint yet. Between her hours at the library and at Best Home, she’d not had time. Then Wint had gone to see the estate he’d inherited before planning to join the party and she'd not had the opportunity. Alex had promised that Rose would like him, but Rose was just glad that Alex liked him. Alex had a blood relative, which was more than Rose would ever have.

  “Are the Padmore Darlings coming?” Rose asked. It was what the ton called Lucy-Ann and Selina as a joke, because the girls were more ghoul than angel. They had the power to make old men regret the day they’d been born.

  “No.” Justin crossed his arms and grinned. “As it so happens, they were invited to another party being held by another young lord.” Lucy-Ann was being courted by the second son of a marquess and everyone was glad for her, especially since the young man seemed capable of handling himself where she was concerned. “They plan to join us at Chantenny once our party is over.”

  “Did you give me a copy of Emma?” Rose asked the couple.

  Alex shook her head. “No, I thought you’d already read it.”

  It had to have come from Gerard. How sweet.

  For the first leg of the trip, they were fine, but over time, the carriage’s rocking became too much for Alex and the three-day trip became five. Rose’s fascination with the changing landscapes and the beauty of England slowly faded. She was glad when Avon Park came into sight. They’d managed to arrive two days before the rest of the guests, which Rose hoped would give her enough time to settle in and a chance to be alone with Gerard.

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  7

  CHAPTER

  SEVEN

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  They were two days late, and Gerard wondered why. Had Rose changed her mind during the journey and demanded she be returned home? Had something happened to Alexandra? Maybe it had been Justin who’d changed his mind. His friend had been very concerned for his wife, but Gerard had assured him that the best minds would be meeting in Avon Park. Gerard had not been surprised to learn that many of his guests had planned to attend the lectures before receiving Gerard’s invitation, which meant that Gerard’s party had only changed their accommodations and added a few activities to their schedule.

  Avon Village was more like a city with a number of inns, clubs, baths, and schools. Lord Grant had his own estate east of Gerard’s and only ever left the city to travel to Cambridge where he also lectured. He never came to London, however, which forced anyone who wished to hear him to go to Avon Village.

  But Gerard didn’t care about Grant or his many followers. He’d be a horrible and grumpy host if Rose didn’t come.

  “Lord Chantenny has arrived,” his butler said.

  Gerard rose from his desk and nearly ran from the room. “About time.” He managed to slow his steps as he made it to the foyer and allowed his eyes to fall on Rose first before forcing them to move away.

  Still, her image was burned in his mind.

  She looked different.

  He absentmindedly hugged Justin before glancing her way again.

  Rose wore a small smile, and her direct gaze seemed to hide mischief. He wondered at her thoughts and would have given his fortune to know them.

  He kissed Alexandra’s cheek as though they were old friends and then bent over to do the same to Rose. Why not? The only people present were Alex and Justin, and they knew he and Rose were nothing more than friends.

  He inhaled her flowery scent, and her small gasp set his blood on fire. He only dared to brush her cheek with his lips before he pulled away. “Thank you for coming,” he said to her before turning to Alex and Justin. “Mr. Darrow will show you to your room.”

  “Good, I want Alex off her feet immediately.” Gerard only noticed then how bothered Justin seemed.

  Alex simply smiled and allowed her husband to hurry her away.

  Once they were around the corner, Gerard took Rose’s hand and started for his office.

  Rose’s laughter filled his halls and washed away his weariness. “Gerard, slow down. My legs are not as long as yours.”

  He turned and grinned at her. “Are you sure? Perhaps I should inspect them.”

  She laughed again and shook her head. Her eyes softened as she gazed silently at him. “How is your father?”

  “Let’s discuss something else.” He did not want to think about his father.

  She nodded. “Well, aren’t you going to show me your home?”

  He didn’t want to. There were too many servants about with more servants arriving tomorrow in preparation for the party. “I’d rather we were alone.”

  She frowned. “For what purpose?”

  He chuckled but then struggled to find a reason why they should be alone. So that he could what? Kiss her? Actually inspect her legs to discover their length?

  Where had those thoughts come from?

  He couldn’t kiss Rose. She was Rose. />
  He let her hand go and laughed again to hide his nervousness. “You’re right. We’ll do a tour of the property while you tell me what scandals broke in London while I was gone, and then I’ll show you to your room.” He extended his arm to her and she took it.

  She smiled. “Shouldn’t Justin and Alex be with us for such a grand tour?”

  “Justin has been here plenty. He can give Alexandra a tour just as thoroughly as I.” He started slowly down the hall and showed her the first floor, stopping at every room so that Rose could get her fill.

  And while she did that, he filled her in on London. Nothing of note had occurred.

  She was clearly impressed by Avon Park, and he found himself enjoying simply watching her every expression. He wanted to memorize them and think about them later, fall asleep with the picture of her brilliant eyes and those dark lips that reminded him of crushed roses. He wondered how’d they feel...

  What was wrong with him?

  “What?” She turned to look at him and he wondered why her eyes seemed so much bluer, her lips more red.

  “Your eyes,” he said. “They seem different.”

  Hers widened. “Oh, that’s because of the color of my traveling dress.” She looked at the light gray ensemble before finding his gaze once more. “There’s blue woven into the fabric. It’s done to purposefully emphasize my eyes. Alex picked it out. I’m glad it’s working.”

  It was working very well, but he wondered why she’d thought to do it. Her eyes didn’t need emphasizing… and neither did her figure. Yet the gray—which would have been ghastly on anyone else—made her more attractive than ever.

  Not that she hadn't been attractive before. She’d always been beautiful. She was the most beautiful woman…