Love in the Moonlight: A Regency Romance All Hallows' Eve Collection: 7 Delightful Regency Romance All Hallows' Eve Stories (Regency Collections Book 6)

by Arietta Richmond

  Gus coughed.

  “You see, that is the very thing I need to…” he paused and took a deep breath. “Anna, I love you. Not as a friend, not as a sister. I love you, and I want you to be my wife.”

  Anna gasped. She could see that he was sincere. He was too nervous to be anything but honest ad sincere. She wished that he had said something weeks ago, when she could have accepted him, when his love could have been welcomed and cherished. Because Georgina was right, as she always was, Anna cared deeply for Gus, even though she had not realised it until the other night, by the stream. He had always been there, a part of her, as important to her as breathing.

  “I cannot marry you,” she breathed. “Oh, Gus. I am so sorry, but I am already betrothed.”

  “You’re what?”

  “I am already affianced, have been for weeks. We are to announce it tonight.”

  “To Crawford, I presume?” Gus asked.

  Anna nodded. “I am so very sorry, Gus.”

  She fled, tears pouring down her face. She could not bear to see the hurt in his eyes, or the pity that she was sure he would feel for her, knowing that she had tied herself to Crispin Crawford for the rest of her days when she could have been beloved and happy, a part of the Smithwood family and cherished by the kindest and most generous of men. The thought made her feel sick to her stomach.

  Chapter Ten

  Somehow, Gus managed to calm himself enough to return to the Ball, and even managed to present himself to Anna for their first dance, just before supper. She looked pale and unhappy, and his heart broke at the very sight of her.

  She might be affianced, but she was most certainly not happy about it. He began to wonder what Crawford was holding over her, sure that she had not taken such a decision lightly, or for reasons of passion. He wished she had confided in him, or in Georgina. Both of them would have given up everything they had to assist her if they had only known of her plight.

  But Anna had always been proud, so Gus did all he could. He did his best to make her laugh by reminding her of amusing things they had done together as children.

  “Do you remember the three-legged race we won at the county show?” he asked her.

  Anna smiled up at him wanly.

  “I remember them all. And we always won, didn’t we?”

  “Oh no. You must be thinking of another person you did them with,” Gus joked, trying to lighten her mood. “Because I remember falling quite often - especially after I started to grow so much taller than you.”

  “I am rather small,” Anna said quietly.

  “At least you aren’t as short as Lily,” Gus said, nodding over to where his youngest sister was dancing with his best friend. “By the way, did I tell you that Christopher has let me know he is quite smitten with her. I am hoping that will lead to something more permanent between them. A good match, they are.”

  Anna looked over at them and smiled. Gus was glad he had found the right thing to say to distract her.

  “They do look rather enamoured, don’t they?”

  They watched as the pair lingered over the hand holds, and held one another’s gaze without even noticing that there was another soul in the room around them. It was endearing to watch them so happy together.

  Anna and Gus danced in silence for a few moments. Gus could sense that Anna was in turmoil, and he wished there was something, anything, that he could do to help her. He would challenge Crawford to a duel if necessary, though he knew Crispin to be an excellent shot.

  “I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, Gus,” Anna said finally. “That is the last thing in the world I would ever want to do. If I had only known sooner, things would have been different.”

  “You mean you would have considered me?” Gus asked, not sure if he should be overjoyed, or even more downhearted.

  “I would, I would,” she said sadly, nodding slowly.

  “But why, Anna? Why would you settle for Crawford?” he asked, unable to contain his frustration at the situation.

  “I had no choice,” Anna said, and broke from his arms and rushed from the room.

  ~~~~~

  Georgina’s heart was thumping madly when Duncan took her hand and led her to the dance floor. They had little time to talk as they executed the fast-moving steps, switching partners and promenading from one end of the room to the other.

  Georgina found herself gasping for breath when the dance concluded. Duncan led her towards a table, where Clementine and Honora sat, sipping cups of fruit punch.

  “You look flushed. What a shame since the night has only just begun,” Honora said with a sneer when Georgina sat down.

  “Honora, you are rude,” Duncan said to his sister in a gruff voice. “Would you prefer to sit elsewhere, Georgina?”

  “No, Duncan, I am happy to sit here with you, and your sisters.

  “Honora, Clementine, I fear I must ask you something,” Georgina said, leaning toward the two women. “I know that we have not always gotten along well—"

  “When have we gotten along at all, Georgina?” Clementine interrupted her.

  Georgina ignored the question and continued, “I simply wanted to ask you why you think it is that we have not gotten along? What is the problem between us?”

  Clementine lifted her nose in the air. When Honora saw her older sister’s reaction, she did the same.

  “We are not trying to be rude, Georgina,” Clementine answered. “We are simply not, well, we just aren’t the same type of people, now are we?”

  “What makes you say that?” Georgina asked.

  “You have never been in our crowd of people,” Honora said, looking puzzled that Georgina did not seem to understand her.

  “Why ever would you say such a thing?” Duncan asked his sister, looking quite aggrieved at her blunt candour.

  “It is simply this…” Clementine began.

  “What my sister is trying to say is that we do not feel a great deal of friendship for you,” Honora finished and pursed her lips.

  Georgina thought that was the most polite insult she had ever heard. And it was spoken with sincerity and almost a hint of regret.

  She tried not to smile. “Might I continue to press you a little and ask why it is that you have invited Anna to London? Does she fit better into your type of crowd?”

  Clementine leaned forward, a vicious grin on her face.

  “Do I sense a hint of jealousy, Georgina? Why do you think we have invited Anna on the trip to London with us?”

  “We did not invite Anna along,” Honora said abruptly. “Crispin invited her. We did not want her to come. He insisted.”

  “Crispin insisted? I must ask these questions because I care deeply for my best friend and sister of the heart. You must realize this.”

  Clementine gave Honora a knowing look. Georgina looked between the two of them, wondering what it was that they knew that she did not. It was clear that they were party to something.

  “Well, it would be difficult for them to be wed if Anna was not present, would it not,” Clementine said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “What do you mean, for them to be wed?” Duncan demanded, as Georgina tried to gather her thoughts and take in the news that had been dropped into conversation in a manner that had been intended to shock.

  Honora’s eyes moved to Duncan. She looked afraid.

  “It is not our place to say,” she said, scowling at her sister. Clementine merely smiled maliciously.

  Duncan leaned toward Honora, a look of anger flashing across his face.

  “Crispin has mentioned nothing of this to me, or to Father. Tell me what you know, or I will be very angry. You know I am not quick to anger, but by all things holy, I want an explanation. And I want it this instant.”

  Honora nodded, chastised and almost in tears.

  “Crispin said he intended to marry her, that is all we know, you must believe us,” she said, stumbling over the words.

  “I think we should find Crispin and have him explain,”
Duncan said to Georgina, and offered her his hand.

  They rose from the table, and Duncan glowered at his sisters, who were almost in tears. Georgina could take no pleasure from it though, when she thought of what future might have in store for her beloved best friend.

  Chapter Eleven

  “He isn’t here,” Anna said, as Georgina and Duncan found her sobbing in the lobby.

  “What do you mean, he isn’t here?” Georgina said. “We saw him arrive. He must be somewhere in the building or at least on the grounds.”

  “I have looked for him everywhere. He must have left,” Anna said, not knowing if she should be happy about it, or sad. It meant that he was not able to make the announcement, but the damage was already done. The people she had most dreaded telling now all knew, even if they did not know her reasons for doing so.

  “My brother is not one to leave a party,” Duncan said.

  “He isn’t on the grounds, either,” Gus said as he joined them. He pushed his hand through his hair, his face showing signs of strain. Anna wished she was not the cause of such anxiety for everyone.

  “I should go home,” she said. “I don’t feel like dancing, and I think I should tell my parents before they hear all of this from someone else.”

  “You have not even told your father?” Georgina cried. “But surely Crispin has asked for his permission to take your hand?”

  Anna shook her head. “The wedding was supposed to be a secret. We knew that everyone would try and talk us out of it.”

  “Then, why did you let my sisters know? You know how spiteful and rude those two can be.” Duncan asked, curiously.

  “We didn’t mean for them to know,” Anna said. “They overheard us, and have been using it to their advantage ever since.”

  “Is that why you let Honora take the gown?” Georgina asked.

  “No, I let her take it because I could never have afforded it, anyway. Trying it on was nothing but folly and wishful thinking.”

  Gus knelt down beside her.

  “Come,” he said, offering her his hand. “I shall take you home.”

  “I can’t put you to such trouble, not after what I have done.”

  “Don’t be a ninny,” Georgina said, putting an arm around Anna’s shoulders. “You are still my best friend, whoever you are unfortunate enough to have agreed to marry. I would not like to see Crispin Crawford get between us.”

  “You don’t mind?” Anna said, feeling utterly foolish.

  “Of course, I do,” Georgina said. “Oh, not about taking you home, but your choice in husbands, of course,” she added, teasing Anna gently. “But there is little we can do about it now, though there is nothing to stop you jilting him if you so choose.” She laughed nervously, and Anna tried to force a smile.

  “I cannot. I gave my word and I also need the match for my family,” she said sadly, and winced as she saw the look of pain that crossed Gus’ face.

  “Come, we shall all take my carriage,” Duncan said. “I can take you all to Havering House, and we can drink hot chocolate and give you our support as you tell your papa.”

  They raced through the night, not one of them sad to have left the Ball. It should have been such a pleasant affair, but had not been able to live up to its promise. Anna clenched and unclenched her fists anxiously, wondering when Georgina would reach the point where she could wait for an answer no longer.

  It did not take long, they had barely travelled a few yards before Georgina spoke.

  “Anna, why would you agree to marry such a rotten creature?”

  “Oh, Georgie, you wouldn’t understand.”

  “Georgina, Anna does not need to explain anything to us, she is free to wed whoever she chooses,” Gus said, but his eyes were filled with confusion and pain. Anna wished she could do something to ease his hurt.

  “Of course, she is,” Georgina said. “But, that does not explain why she didn’t tell me, her best friend. That I had to find out from those two hyenas!”

  “Georgie, I am sorry,” Anna said. “I never meant it to happen like this. But I had no choice. I had to do it Crispin’s way. He held all the cards, was going to pay Papa’s debts, fix up the house. I had to do what I could for my family.”

  “You were marrying my brother because he promised to pay your Papa’s debts?” Duncan asked curiously.

  Anna nodded, her eyes filling with tears as she tried to find the words to explain why it had been her only hope.

  “But, Crispin doesn’t have that kind of money,” Duncan added. “Father keeps him on the most minimal of allowances because he can’t be trusted with money. If he found out how Crispin has treated you, coercing you into marriage then I would imagine that he would cut him off without a farthing.”

  “So, how is Crispin going to get the money?” Gus asked.

  “Maybe he thinks he can win it at the tables, he is quite a good piquet player. But, he has more losses than wins because of his arrogance,” Duncan said.

  “Once you are safely at home, I could go and find Crispin,” Gus offered, clearly anxious that he was unable to do anything more useful. “I could demand that he tell us where his money is coming from, to pay the Earl of Havering’s debts.”

  “Crispin will turn up. Sadly, he always does,” Duncan said wryly. “I have to say, even for him he has outdone himself this time. A secret betrothal, a mythical fortune, and his mysterious disappearances late at night in recent weeks.”

  “He has been disappearing at night?” Georgina asked, her eyes narrowing. Anna looked at her, wondering what she was thinking. “Was he out of the house last Thursday evening?”

  “The night we saw the light?” Anna said, as she realised what Georgina was thinking. “You don’t think that he could be mixed up with the smugglers, do you? Could he be our ghost?”

  “I am certainly beginning to wonder,” Georgina said. “It would all fit, wouldn’t it?”

  When they arrived at Havering House, Anna was surprised to see lights blazing from so many rooms.

  “Whatever is going on?” she wondered out loud. They hurried inside.

  Papa was talking animatedly to a smartly uniformed young captain. Anna smiled. It had been a long time ago that her father had been a soldier, but Mama always spoke of how dashing he had been, and how many medals he had won. It was clear that the officer was taking his advice most seriously.

  “Lights have been seen on the path up the cliff,” Papa explained, turning to them and beaming. “We are discussing the best way to cut them off.”

  “We can help, sir,” Gus said eagerly, pointing first at his own chest, and then at Duncan’s.

  “The militia is a regiment of highly trained men, Gus. They know exactly what needs to be done,” the Earl said, and turned back to finish his discussion with the captain.

  “But there must be something we can do to help,” Anna said. “Papa, we think we know who might be responsible.”

  “You do?” the young captain asked. “Who?”

  “Crispin Crawford,” Georgina said. “Everything fits, it has to be him.”

  She gushingly filled them in on all of the details. Papa looked at Anna sadly when Georgina revealed the secret engagement, and she could barely bring herself to look him in the eye.

  “Do you know where I might find him?” the captain said.

  They shook their heads.

  “He was at the Ball, but he disappeared.”

  “Then it is likely that he is with his confederates, if he is indeed involved,” Papa said briskly. “And Anna. We will discuss all this when these miscreants are put away.”

  “Yes, Papa.”

  Anna continued to look away from her father and the others in the room. Her embarrassment was nearly too much to bear.

  Chapter Twelve

  A clattering in the courtyard outside alerted the quartet to the arrival of a number of men on horseback. The captain and the Earl went out to greet the soldiers. It was impossible to hear what they were speaking of, as they spoke
in low voices. Georgina watched as the soldiers then disappeared silently into the gardens.

  “I’ve heard that the Earl has had a bit of a problem with the drink?” Duncan whispered in her ear as they stood at the window. “He seems utterly sober tonight.”

  “I think that this entire business has made him realise what he has, so he no longer needs to dwell on what he believed he had lost,” Georgina said wisely.

  “Will you ever realise what you have?” Duncan asked her, his eyes sparkling with mischief, pressing an unexpected kiss to the tip of her nose. Georgina was taken aback.

  “Whatever do you mean?” she asked.

  “Well, you have my undying love and affection, but you push me away because you don’t want my name.”

  “Duncan, this isn’t the time for such a discussion,” Georgina said, pushing past him and moving towards the fire, where Anna sat, looking utterly forlorn.

  He caught her wrist as she passed him. She turned. His eyes were dark with passion.

  “Oh, I think now is as good a time as any other. After all, I am sure that, if you asked Gus if he wished he’d told Anna how he felt about her, weeks, even months ago, he’d say he should have done so, and held on to her tightly, so that she would never think of another man.”

  “Duncan, I cannot marry you,” Georgina said.

  “I hadn’t asked you yet, Georgina. It is customary to at least wait for a man to do so before you reject him out of hand.”

  Georgina blushed.

  “I promise we can talk about this tomorrow, please Duncan, don’t press me tonight. My mind is awhirl with so many things, and I don’t want this, us, to be caught up in it all.”

  He nodded.

  “Until tomorrow. But no longer, Georgina,” Duncan said firmly.

  ~~~~~

  Gus perched on the edge of a worn and tatty chaise longue, waiting for the Earl to tell them everything. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the older man.

  “Well, where to start,” he said thoughtfully.