An Earl To Remember (The Yorkshire Downs Series - Love, Hearts and Challenges) (A Regency Romance Story)

by Jasmine Ashford

  “I would have far more fun if you were with me,” Toby continued, as if he had not noticed. “If you're not there, I'll just have Uncle Horace and all his banking friends...”

  Liam grinned at him.

  “I am almost convinced.”

  “Good.”

  They both laughed. Liam sighed. He did not mean it. He was far from convinced. The thought of facing the season in London, with all the crowds, the balls and parties, the staring eyes...

  I cannot face that! Toby knows the truth of it.

  “Brandy?”

  Liam pulled a face as Toby produced a bottle of amber-brown fluid.

  Toby chuckled at his friend's expression. “It isn't poisoned, you know!”

  “It's pretty vile,” Liam replied, mouth twisted in a smile.

  “You just don't know a brandy when you taste one,” Toby said, looking affronted. “You people just drink whiskey...And I'm damned if I'm doing that again!” He laughed.

  Liam cuffed his shoulder playfully. “Are all Englishmen as insufferable as you?”

  “No. Just most of them,” Toby grinned. The fire played softly on his auburn curls, its light casting his face in black shadow and red. Liam grunted and lowered himself to his knees and they poured the drink into two glasses, produced from Toby's pocket. Liam closed his eyes, savoring the drink. They sat in silence for a while. Liam wondered if he could broach his latest worries with Toby. At length, when the silence had stretched out awhile, he decided to try.

  “Toby?”

  “Mm?”

  “What would you do if you had just... upset a girl?”

  “I don't know,” Toby admitted after a long pause. “I've never known one long enough to know.” They both laughed at that.

  “Really?” Liam asked.

  “Yes,” Toby agreed strongly. “When would I have had the time? I've been touring the world with the King's Army, like you, or stuck up North tending to the estates...”

  Like Liam, Toby had inherited responsibilities despite his young age. Lord Edwin, Toby's father, was still alive, though very ill and Toby more-or-less managed the family estates without the title to accompany it.

  “I suppose,” Liam agreed. “So. You know about as much as me, then.”

  “Probably,” Toby admitted. “I have a sister, which helps. When I upset Georgette, I usually apologize. As soon as possible. So, that seems to me the best course of action.”

  Liam grinned wryly. He had met Toby's sister – a woman with delicate blonde curls and soft gray eyes and a temper like iron. He would also apologize to her smartly.

  “I wish I could, Toby,” he sighed. “But I don't exactly want to broadcast myself about the neighborhood, presenting myself at Newgate, so how can I apologize?”

  “Why not?”

  “Don't be daft,” Liam snapped, feeling wounded. “You know why.”

  “No,” Toby said evenly. “I don't. She must have seen you, or why do you need to apologize?”

  “It was dark,” Liam snapped. “The first time I saw her, anyway. And just because she doesn't seem to notice does not mean her family would not. And if they took against me, what would I do then?” turned to his friend, putting his face close to Toby's, so that he saw the scar in all its stark horror.

  “You have a large scar,” Toby commented blithely. “No, it's not pretty. But nor is it as disfiguring as you think. Lord Boswell only has one eye. Does that stop him?”

  Liam snorted. “Lord Boswell is older than my father – he is not courting young ladies for marriage.”

  “If that's true, someone should tell him,” Toby said levelly. “Last time I saw him, he was surrounded by three of them.”

  Liam had to laugh. It was true – the lord in question was a complete ladies’ man, almost never without female company. Toby has a point! No one seemed to find his eye repugnant, and it was a wound from a duel the man had lost. It was not a particularly honorable wound. It was not, in his mind, as shameful as his own.

  “I don't know, my friend,” Liam sighed. “He's not... like me.”

  “No,” Toby said gently. “I know. He's not a complicated fellow like you. But he is happy, in his way. You should be, too.”

  “Happy?” Liam snorted.

  “Yes. It's not a bad word, Liam,” Toby said, knocking back a brandy. He coughed.

  “What the deuce do they make this stuff out of?”

  Liam laughed. “I did warn you...”

  Toby smiled. “Indeed. I believe you now. And you should trust me. Apologize to this girl, whoever she is. And come with me? I am asking you for myself – I shall go mad with tedium if you do not oblige me!”

  Liam chuckled. “I'll think about it.”

  “Do that,” Toby said. “I'll be riding up with the Drostys from next door. I believe they will be going early tomorrow?”

  At the mention of the neighbors on Newgate Park estate, Liam felt his heart freeze. What if she's with the party? I cannot go with them. But... she will be there! In London. I could talk to her again. What other chance will I have to apologize?

  “I will not ride with the main party,” Liam said slowly. “But I think I'll come with you, Toby.”

  In the darkness, he did not see Toby's smile.

  “Good,” he said.

  Liam leaned back on the mantel, feeling his heart fill with a tranquility he had not felt in days.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  SURPRISE NEWS

  SURPRISE NEWS

  Newgate Park was lit with lamps, a jewel glowing in the dusk of evening. The air within was warm despite the chill of the falling dusk, and it rose and fell with the sound of muted voices, conversing.

  “We are so pleased you're safe!” Henriette said again.

  It was the evening after Ada's day with Oscar Ridlington, and the family had yet to recover from the shock of her near-demise. She had found her way back to the estate in complete darkness, riding up the path to pass her horse to an anxious groom before collapsing at the doorway.

  “I am pleased, too,” Ada said noncommittally, and looked down at her hands.

  She was sitting with Henriette in the sanctuary of her bedroom, pleased for the closeness of the silk walls, patterned with firelight, that kept the sadness and darkness at bay, at least a while.

  “You could have been killed!” Henriette said again, dramatically, and took her hand, holding it close.

  Ada smiled wanly. Oscar had told Roderick her horse had bolted, carrying her to the next estate, a story which Ada was happy to perpetuate, since it saved them both some embarrassment. When she arrived at the manor two hours later, pale but unharmed, the family had embraced her and taken her upstairs to bed at once.

  “Poor Lord Oscar!” Henriette said dramatically. “He assured us he was doing everything to find you. Roderick was still cross, mind... but I am sure Lord Oscar understood. It's natural for an older brother to be so protective...” Her voice trailed off.

  Poor Oscar? Ada thought, affronted. He offended me! She wanted to say something, but knew anything she had to say would sound petty confronted with the story of brave, distressed Oscar. She held her tongue.

  “I am pleased to have returned safely home,” she said instead.

  “Oh, as are we all,” Henriette said sympathetically. “I should have called Dr. Hugh, but Oscar assured us he would send his own physician were you to need any assistance.”

  “I needed no physic,” Ada said sadly. I would, if there was something to mend hearts. She could not rid herself of the memory of Liam, looking at her with hurt in his eyes. It made her own heart ache.

  “Well,” Henriette continued, “at least you are returned and can rest tomorrow. For the next day, we shall set out for London.”

  Ada looked at her, eyes wide with shock.

  “London?”

  “Yes!” Henriette declared. “I thought Roderick had already told you! I know Alicia's party planned a later departure. We decided to set the trip sooner by a few days. Lord Oscar's party is
traveling up this morning, and we wanted to have as much overlap with his visit as possible. Is that not nice?” She smiled, with sisterly delight.

  “I...” Ada looked at her hands, feeling like she would cry. If they left tomorrow, that meant she would have no chance of seeing Liam! No chance of addressing the events of the previous day, or asking what she had done to vex him.

  “Oh, but I understand you are tired, my dear,” she said sympathetically. “Come, you must rest. I will call Priscilla to help you change. You should rest after your ordeal...”

  Ada sat at her dressing-table, distressed. Around her, the tall walls with their silken covering glowed softly in the sun's light, making her bedchamber a tranquil refuge, but she could not find peace.

  I wonder what I did to upset him so? And now I cannot even remedy it!

  It was the morning of their planned departure for London. Any ill-will between her and Lord Liam would have to wait.

  She should be excited, but could not stop thinking back over her ride with Oscar Ridlington, and all that followed.

  “I was a fool,” she thought, biting her lip. “I shouldn't have ridden away. If I had just finished that ride with Lord Oscar, nothing would have happened.” For all her rebuking, she knew she would do no differently again. The man distressed her deeply and she could not help that.

  “And Liam...” Lord Liam already held her interest more than anyone she had met, and his reaction saddened her. Why did he ride away like that? What did I do?

  The expression on his handsome face still tortured her. She had hurt him deeply, and had not meant to. And, after that, would he ever wish to see her again? I hope so.

  “Ada!”

  “Yes?”

  “Are you ready? Alors!” Henriette appeared in the doorway, cream muslin gown billowing in her haste. “I need Trent to take the cases downstairs, and Medora and Margaret have not finished packing... and we need to leave soon!” She fanned herself with her hand.

  Ada breathed out. “Do not panic, sister. I am finished. Minette can help the girls pack, and I will oversee the loading of the carriage.” Minette was Henriette's personal made. “I'll go down now, as soon,” she added, “as I have finished my hair.”

  “Oh, my Ada!” Henriette breathed. “What would I do without you? Always sensible and wise...” She sighed and kissed Ada distractedly on the head, smiling at her in the mirror. Ada smiled back. Henriette squeezed her fingers affectionately and then rushed out again. Ada watched her go in the reflection from the mirror, and then resumed her brushing of her hair, lost in thought.

  She could not stop thinking about Liam. She did not want to leave without settling this matter. The thought of leaving town without saying goodbye to him was painful. She did not want to leave with him thinking ill of her. And part of her wished she could see him again. What if that is the last time I see him? Ada shook her head at her own fancifulness. He is not going to disappear just because you go to London! She reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, securing it with a pearl-ended pin. She adjusted the muslin gown she wore, its cloth patterned with sprigs.

  A small part of her wished she knew if he was coming with them. It would be so tedious to attend balls and parties if he were not there. He was the only man who interested her. And he looked at me as if I am beautiful.

  She smiled. The thought set delicious butterflies flying in her abdomen and made her heart race. No one had looked at her like that! No one had made her smile like he had, that first day in the woods. Just his presence made her heart thaw, like snow in springtime, and filled her world with color and light.

  “How can someone do that to me?” Ada asked herself. She grinned. She was still preoccupied with Liam. The way his smile curved, the light in his eyes when he spoke...

  Chiding herself for her distraction, she finished arranging her hair and pulled on a white bonnet, tying the silk ribbons under her chin, glancing at the clock.

  “Come on, Ada!” she said briskly.

  She turned once before the mirror and walked lightly downstairs, where she almost collided with Roderick, who was rushing up the other way.

  “Sorry,” she said quickly. She had been lost in thought and hadn't even noticed him. She blushed, realizing that she had been having a mental conversation with Liam and had not been thinking of where she was at all.

  “No harm done, sister,” Roderick said, heading on up the staircase. Dressed in dark blue velvet, he was tying back his hair with a riband as he ran. He stopped and looked more closely at her. “You look well,” he added, smiling with surprise. “It is good to see you with some color in your cheeks!”

  “Thank you, brother,” Ada said, feeling surprised. Did she really look that different? It must be because I was thinking about him... Smiling a little guiltily, Ada hurried downstairs.

  “Ada! Merci!” Henriette said, putting her hand dramatically on her heart. “I was just coming to search for you. Do you know where Mrs. Travis keeps the keys?”

  “I do,” Ada said briefly, already on her way to the cupboard in the hallway where the housekeeper stored spare sets of keys.

  “Thank heavens!” Henriette exclaimed. “What would I do without you?”

  “You would be just fine,” Ada said, distracted, as she reached into the cupboard past Henriette. “You are an estimable housewife – I hope I could be like you one day!”

  “Oh!” Henriette smiled, catching the dreamy look on Ada's face. “I do hope you will be, my dear, and soon. I do lean too much on you... especially now, when you are planning your own future.”

  “I wasn't,” Ada said hurriedly. She did not want Henriette to pry into her feelings, especially not when she felt silly about them herself. And especially not when she was probably making assumptions about herself and Lord Oscar.

  “No, but you should be!” Henriette exclaimed. “Oh, but my dear... it is a wonderful thing to be in love! Especially with a noble and handsome duke...” Henriette's voice trailed off, and she stroked Ada's hair.

  Ada turned away to hide her stricken face, biting her lip. I am right. She thinks I am in love with Oscar! She said nothing, not sure how to respond.

  “No need to be ashamed! It is just you and I,” Henriette admonished gently. “It will stay our little secret,” she added, dropping an eyelid in a friendly wink.

  Ada felt her heart sink, and wished she could think of something to say. But Henriette seemed so happy to assume she was being courted by a duke, and Ada was not sure enough of Liam to consider him as a possible suitor. She said nothing.

  “Now,” Henriette continued, following her into the hallway, “our first step should be Lipmann's, in the town, to buy new dresses! And then, I had thought we should visit Hewlett's, or maybe Casterly's, for the best dish of chocolate...”

  Ada made enthusiastic noises, glad that something had happened to distract Henriette, and herself, from the topic of courtship and noblemen.

  “Ada! Auntie...”

  The girls appeared on the stairs just then, two high-speed balls of dark hair and unbridled delight. They cannoned down the marble-stepped staircase toward Ada, almost knocking her off her feet.

  “We're ready to go!”

  “How exciting.” Ada smiled and embraced them both, stroking their soft hair, relieved by their distracting and joyful presence. “It's so nice to see you... oh! Don't jostle so, or I shall fall...” Her voice trailed off in giggles as she stumbled back, catching herself on a pillar.

  “We're dressed like ladies, Ada,” Medora said, eyes wide.

  “Yes! Look at my gown,” Margaret said shyly, stepping forward for Ada to see.

  They were both wearing muslin gowns of the high-waisted style worn by adult women, the skirts reaching down to the tops of their lace-up white boots. Both dresses were of sprig muslin and Medora was wearing a bonnet beribboned in pink, Margaret a blue one.

  Ada smiled. “You look beautiful, my lovelies.”

  “Now, ladies!” Nanny Immett exclaimed, appearing
in the hallway. “You shall crease your new gowns... to say nothing of poor Miss Ada's!”

  Ada smiled, adjusting her bonnet, which had all but toppled off.

  “I am sure my gown will not spoil,” Ada said gently, seeing two crestfallen faces looking up at her. Stupidly, their dark eyes made her think of Liam's, which hurt. “And their gowns look just perfect,” she added, making both girls smile. She was surprised to feel a tear run down her cheek as they looked up at her with those dark eyes.

  They blushed and Medora spun in a circle, hands clasped together. Margaret just went pink.

  “Come, girls... to the carriage!” Nanny Immett said.

  “Will we ride with you?” Margaret asked.

  “Please?” Medora smiled winningly at Ada.

  Ada looked rather helplessly at Henriette, who nodded.

  “Of course, girls! Beautiful ladies who wish to marry princes must learn the best manners! And what better way to learn than by practicing being ladies? Lead the way, ladies!” Henriette declaimed, waving them out the door to the carriage.

  The girls scrambled out excitedly. Ada smiled and Henriette made a face.

  “What else could I say?” She lifted her shoulders.

  Ada nodded and walked to the door, pleased that the girls would be with them. They would distract her from her confused thoughts.

  At the coach, Mr. Trent, Roderick's manservant, was helping to load the carriage while their coachman checked the harness for the long trip. There were boxes and cases of luggage everywhere, and a bustle of activity.

  “Up we go, Miss Margaret,” the coachman was saying, helping Margaret up. Medora followed, cooing with delight. Henriette was at the foot of the stairs talking distractedly with Priscilla, her personal maid, a young Frenchwoman who would accompany them in the second carriage. Roderick was giving their retainer some final instructions.

  In all the action, Ada felt a little spare, and stepped back to be out of the way. As she climbed back up the steps she heard the horses whicker and turned to where an open coach had just rolled in along the drive.