Ladies and Their Secrets: Regency Romance Collection

by Alec, Joyce

  And now, she had to remain hidden. Her father had been shot and his study ransacked. Although he had written to let Emily know he was alive, her father had not written to tell her that all was well and that the culprit had been found. She would have to remain with Lady Millington for the foreseeable future, protected by the four walls that seemed to close around her a little more each day.

  “Emily, dear? What do you think of my proposal?”

  Shame flared through her. “I do apologize, Lady Millington,” she stammered, realizing that once again she had been nothing but rude to the lady who had brought her such comfort. “What was it you were suggesting?”

  Lady Millington did not look in the least bit affronted. “I was suggesting, my dear girl, that you accompany me to the house party next week. You cannot come as my friend, of course, since we are to keep your true identity concealed, but I know that a particular gentleman is seeking a suitable companion for his new ward. You could attend the house party under the guise of companion and nothing more, which would give you a little more freedom than you have had of late.” She smiled as Emily’s eyes widened, her heart suddenly lifting from its loneliness. “It would mean you would have to act very differently from how you have been taught thus far, but since it is a house party, I am quite certain you would have very little to worry about. I have made quite sure that Lord Hatherley is not on the guest list!”

  Emily blanched, her stomach tightening suddenly. “Is Lord Hatherley in town?” she asked, her fingers twining together as she held her hands in her lap. “I did not realize.”

  Lady Millington shrugged. “It is the Season,” she explained, quite matter of fact. “Gentlemen, whether they be kind or cruel, must find themselves a wife and produce an heir. I believe Lord Hatherley intends to do so this year. But as I said,” she finished, waving away Emily’s concerns, “he will not be at the house party.”

  Nodding slowly, Emily considered the matter. “Who is it holding the house party, Lady Millington?”

  An almost dreamlike smile crossed Lady Millington’s face, her eyes sparkling as her cheeks flushed a light shade of pink. “Lord Brighton,” she replied, glancing away from Emily for a moment. “He is not a young man by any means, but he does have a particularly nice manor house only half a day’s drive from London. I am thrilled that he thought to invite me but….” She trailed off, now looking back at Emily with a slightly worried expression on her face. “I would not go should you prefer to remain here. You are my first thought, Emily dear.”

  Emily arched one eyebrow, tilting her head as she studied Lady Millington carefully. “Is Lord Brighton wed?” she asked, a little drolly. “From your flushed cheeks, I would suggest that if he is not, then it would disappoint you a great deal if we did not go.”

  Lady Millington laughed and waved a hand, although the laugh itself was a little strained. “Nonsense, my dear! I would not be disappointed.”

  “Is he married?” Emily persisted, watching with faint amusement as Lady Millington blushed all the more.

  She sighed and lifted one shoulder, as though accepting she had been found out.

  “No, he is not,” she replied with a sigh of exasperation that Emily had been so determined. “But I am speaking in truth when I state that I would not go if you preferred to remain.”

  Considering the matter for another moment or two, Emily bit her lip. To be a companion meant to be in the shadows. She would not dance, nor sing, nor perform as she was used to when in good company. Instead, she would have to linger as a wallflower might, watching everything but engaging in nothing.

  But, then again, there would be company at least. She could expect conversation, and mayhap there might be one or two ladies who preferred quieter employments with whom she could have some company. It would be better than remaining here, with none but Lady Millington for company and only the garden to walk in.

  “I think I should like to attend with you, Lady Millington,” she said slowly, seeing the beaming smile break open on Lady Millington’s face as she spoke. “But as a companion, you say?”

  Lady Millington nodded eagerly. “To keep you quite safe—for no one must know the truth of your identity in case they are acquainted with Lord Hatherley and might tell him where you are. We cannot allow that to occur, Emily, for then the man could use you in order to seek those diamonds!” She clucked her tongue, her brows furrowing for a moment before her expression cleared. “Ah, yes, as a companion. I have an acquaintance, a Viscount Pallson, who has recently been forced to take his niece under his wing for the Season.” She shrugged, pouring another cup of tea and adding a dash of milk before picking it up to take a small sip.

  “His niece?” Emily asked pointedly. “What age is she?”

  “This is her first Season,” Lady Millington replied, screwing up her face to indicate that the tea was much too cold for her liking. She rose to ring the bell for a fresh teapot before sitting back down again, her face alive with delight. “She is a quiet sort of girl, I believe, although I was only introduced to her the once.”

  Emily, who had not been granted a Season due to her mother’s ailing health some five years ago, nodded slowly. The truth was, she was old enough to be a companion since within a year or so she would be considered to be nothing more than a spinster, even though she did not feel particularly old.

  “Lord Pallson does not know what to do with the girl, I think,” Lady Millington laughed, shaking her head at some recollection or other. “I am sure he would be delighted with my suggestion to have you as her companion for the house party. It might help Miss Helen also—since she is so very quiet. You could buoy her spirits and bring her into her bloom, I am quite sure.”

  A smile tugged at Emily’s lips. “You need not try to make it sound grander than it is, Lady Millington,” she replied, as the maid brought in another tray. “I will do what is expected of any companion, should Viscount Pallson be willing to take me on. I am quite sure it will be a wonderful house party.”

  Lady Millington smiled happily, sitting back in her seat for a moment as though exhausted from their conversation. “Indeed, it will. Well, I shall write to Viscount Pallson at once, and then we must begin to consider your wardrobe—since a companion would not be as beautifully dressed as you are at this present moment.” She thought for a moment, before throwing up her hands. “Oh, and we must think of another name for you so that none will be suspicious. How does Miss Emily Thorpe sound?”

  Emily laughed, thinking that a name did not make much of a difference to her. A companion was not often brought into conversation. “That will suit me very well, Lady Millington.”

  “And you will be the sister of my dear friend, Mrs. Thorpe, who lives near the coast,” Lady Millington continued, as though she had not heard Emily and was lost in a world of excitement. “Viscount Pallson will be sure to accept you on my recommendation.”

  Emily smiled to herself and began to pour the tea for a second time, allowing Lady Millington to witter on in a bright, excited voice. She could not find as much delight in the house party as Lady Millington, but as she brought her tea to her lips, she thought that it would take her mind away from the constant worrying about her father. She would continue to do precisely what he asked: remain hidden and out of sight whilst he did his best to recover.

  What they were to do after that, Emily was not quite sure.

  2

  Joseph, Viscount Pallson, sighed heavily as his carriage pulled up to Lord Brighton’s stately house. He was not particularly fond of house parties, but it pained him all the more to have such an excited creature as his niece with him. His sister, who was ten years his senior and married to Viscount Broadhurst, had begged him furiously to take Helen under his wing, declaring that she could not leave her ill husband in order to give the girl the Season she deserved.

  Joseph was not quite certain that Viscount Broadhurst was as ill as his sister had made out, aware that she was something of a conniving woman, who had married an equally devious
gentleman. Their son, the heir apparent, was already wed and settled, and to Joseph, it appeared that neither his sister nor her husband particularly cared for their young child, Miss Helen Martin. From his considerations, and from what Helen had told him, he now believed that the story of Viscount Broadhurst’s illness had been entirely made up so that neither of them would have the bother of escorting Helen through London society for the Season.

  He could have refused, but his foolish heart could not reject the girl so easily, recognizing that if he did refuse to aid her, then it would not be his sister or the viscount who would be hurt, but rather Helen herself. And so, here he was standing in front of Lord Brighton’s manor with his niece by his side.

  “Are we the first to arrive, do you think?” Helen asked breathlessly.

  Joseph shook his head, taking in her wild blue eyes and flushed cheeks. Her very dark hair, which had been so neatly placed under her bonnet before they had set off, was now trying to escape around her ears – although she did not appear to notice. Her traveling gown was a little crumpled, but that was to be expected. All in all, she made quite the respectable picture.

  “I doubt it,” Joseph murmured, as the butler appeared at the top of the stone steps, looking a little harassed as he hurried towards them, gesticulating wildly to a few tardy footmen. “I would say we are certainly not the first.”

  “I do apologize, my lord,” the butler said, as he approached, bowing low. “We have had a little trouble with…” He trailed off, looking embarrassed. “Not that it is of any consequence. We should have been here to greet you, and I apologize for our delay.”

  Joseph tilted his head as the footmen began to climb the stairs towards the house. “I believe the Dowager Countess Alberta is one of the guests,” he said slowly, as they began to follow them. “Has she arrived?” He could not help but chuckle as the butler threw him a glance, seeing that he well understood why the footmen had been late. Lady Alberta was well known to find fault with almost everything, which, most likely, would have been the reason for the servant’s unpunctuality. “I can see that she has. Well, in that case, I think I can quite understand.”

  The butler managed a small, relieved smile. “Thank you, my lord. Davies here will show you to your room. Oh, and a Lady Millington wishes to greet you at your earliest convenience. There is a small parlor at the top of the staircase to your left, where you might wish to speak with her. I believe she is there now.”

  Glancing at his ward, who was looking all around her with delight, Joseph thanked the butler and then quickly climbed the stairs with Helen trailing after him. Lady Millington’s note last week had been a welcome one, for she had offered the services of some friend or other as a companion to Helen.

  Given that Joseph did not much want to spend his entire Season following after his niece and ensuring that she did not step outside the bounds of propriety, he had thought the suggestion an excellent one. Of course, he had not yet met this companion, but he was quite sure that if Lady Millington suggested her, she would be more than suitable. Quickly giving instructions to Helen, he hurried to his room, wanting to greet Lady Millington just as soon as he could.

  * * *

  One hour later and Joseph was still waiting for his niece. Pacing up and down the small hallway, he consoled himself with the knowledge that he would not have to do so much longer, planning to hand the girl over to this companion almost entirely.

  “Good heavens, what is taking her so long?” he muttered to himself, resisting the urge to rake one hand through his hair as he turned on his heel yet again. Thankfully, his prayers were soon answered, for his niece stepped out of her bedchamber wearing a soft blue gown and a bright smile.

  “Do hurry up, my dear,” Joseph muttered, quickly walking towards the small parlor the butler had indicated previously. “I would like to introduce you to your companion before the gong sounds for dinner.”

  Given that dinner was a good few hours away, Helen laughed softly and Joseph, despite himself, could not prevent a smile from breaking out across his face in spite of his frustrations. Walking to the parlor door and seeing that there was no one available to announce him, he stepped inside and let his eyes settle on the room.

  “Ah, Lord Pallson!”

  Lady Millington swept to her feet, her smile welcoming, as he bowed before her. She curtsied beautifully before turning her gaze upon Helen.

  “And this is my niece, Lady Millington. Miss Helen Martin, daughter to Viscount Broadhurst.”

  “Very good you meet you, my dear,” Lady Millington murmured, looking at the young lady with a slightly curious eye. “I am sure you will do marvelously well this Season. Have you enjoyed your time thus far?”

  Helen, who had managed a spectacular curtsy, nodded. “I have only been here for a fortnight, Lady Millington, but my uncle has been very good to me.”

  Lady Millington smiled. “I am certain he has been. I do hope that you will get along marvelously well with my dear friend, Miss Emily Thorpe. Miss Thorpe is the sister of a good friend of mine and was delighted to hear of your need for a companion, Lord Pallson.” She turned her gaze back to Joseph, who nodded at once.

  “Indeed.”

  “She will join us very soon,” Lady Millington continued, with a bright smile. “But now, let us take tea together, and I will get to know your niece a little better.”

  * * *

  Conversation flowed for around half an hour, during which time Joseph found himself growing a little anxious about meeting this new companion. He hoped that she would be everything that Lady Millington had said, looking forward to simply being able to relax and enjoy himself during the house party. Of course, if Miss Thorpe proved herself to be an excellent companion, then he would have no qualms in requesting her to remain with Helen during the rest of the Season. That would take the burden from his shoulders considerably!

  Even though he did not wish to consider it, he knew full well that he too would have to find himself a suitable bride at some point in the near future. After all, he had the title, but as yet no heir on whom to place it should he pass from the earth. There was his younger brother, of course, which meant that the title would certainly stay within the family line, which eased the pressure of marrying somewhat.

  “Ah, Miss Thorpe!”

  Having been lost in his own thoughts, Joseph was caught by the sudden arrival of Miss Thorpe and, scrambling to his feet, bowed at once before he even had a chance to look at the girl.

  Then, when he raised his eyes and saw the young lady curtsying with all the elegance and grace he would have expected, Joseph’s heart swelled with relief. A curtsy revealed a good deal about a young lady as far as he was concerned, and to do one so beautifully and without even the slightest fault spoke of refinement and gentility.

  “Miss Thorpe, this is Viscount Pallson and his niece, Miss Helen Martin.”

  “Lord Pallson.” The young woman’s voice was soft, as she turned her eyes towards him – and Joseph felt his own heart stop suddenly in his chest.

  Good gracious, she was beautiful.

  More than beautiful, she was…Joseph could not find the words to describe what he saw, taking in the slight flush to her cheeks, her oval face, and slender neck. She had a deep, rich red to her hair, which was neatly held in place although a few small curls brushed her temples. Her vivid green eyes held his steadily, her lips curved into a gentle smile – and Joseph was lost.

  His mouth went dry, his throat constricting. His palms grew sweaty, as he placed them behind his back, clearing his throat as quietly as he could in an attempt to get a hold of himself. There was no good reason for him to be acting in such a ridiculous manner, he told himself, but such a reprimand did nothing to prevent his heart from quickening all the more when he raised his eyes to her beautiful form once more.

  “Miss Martin,” Lady Millington was saying, her eyes flickering to him for just a moment. “Might you wish to sit with Miss Thorpe? I am sure you will find a good many things to talk
about.”

  Helen smiled brightly and nodded. “Yes, of course. Might I ring for more tea, Miss Thorpe? We have already had some, but you were not present.”

  Miss Thorpe took her eyes from his and turned them towards Helen, and Joseph felt the tightness in his chest slowly loosen.

  “Yes, I thank you,” Miss Thorpe replied, coming to sit by Helen. “Now, let me ask you how you have found London thus far. I know it can be quite overwhelming during the Season in particular!”

  Helen and Miss Thorpe continued their quiet conversation as Joseph tried his best to steady his heart. He had not expected such a strong reaction to seeing the lady in question and found himself quite at a loss as to how to deal with it. His emotions had never once been deeply stirred when it came to the young ladies of the ton, even though he had been in London for a good five or six years thus far. He had never once let his gaze settle on a lady and found his pulse racing simply by looking at her. And now here was Miss Thorpe, a companion no less, practically bringing him to his knees.

  “What do you think, Lord Pallson? Will she do?” Lady Millington was looking at him carefully, as though attempting to find the answer to her questions in his expression. She came to stand beside him so that they might survey Miss Thorpe and Helen together, and Joseph felt himself grow embarrassed, as though Lady Millington would be able to ascertain his reaction to Miss Thorpe somehow.

  Clearing his throat, he tried his best to speak calmly and without any sort of inflection. “She is younger than I expected, Lady Millington.”

  “Oh?” Lady Millington looked a trifle confused. “I thought I had made that quite clear, Lord Pallson. I do apologize. Miss Thorpe has had a Season or two, but the family grew a little impoverished of late, which is why she must serve as a companion. I do hope that is not of a concern to you. I assure you that Miss Thorpe will do very well as a companion to Miss Martin.”