Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay

by Christina Courtenay

  ‘What exactly are you proposing that we do about it?’ he asked carefully.

  ‘Well, I thought perhaps we could declare a truce and at least pretend to be friends again. After all, that was our original bargain, was it not? We could try to put what happened behind us.’

  ‘Could you do that? Amelia, I swear I will never doubt you again. I am profoundly sorry for any hurt I caused you. I really wasn’t just thinking of myself, you know, but my family’s honour.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘I’m sure grandfather would say that was the first time I’ve done so, but I have never intentionally set out to damage my good name.’

  Amelia held out her hand. ‘A truce then?’

  ‘A truce,’ he agreed, clasping her hand with both his and wishing that he could take her into his arms instead. That would have to wait though, as he felt he had to somehow earn her trust again. ‘Perhaps we should take the children for a picnic this afternoon? It looks like a beautiful day and we can show them that we are friends again.’

  ‘That’s a good idea. I’ll go and speak to cook immediately.’

  Summer began in earnest and they had a few weeks of perfect sunshine, blue skies and only a slight breeze to stir things up a bit. After that first outing, they decided to take advantage of the weather and organised such trips almost every other day, sometimes alone with the children, sometimes accompanied by Lord Holt and Miss Keyes. There were plenty of things to see in the neighbouring countryside, beautiful vistas and shady forest glades, and they set out for these jaunts with picnic hampers filled to the brim by Cook.

  The children relaxed again and blossomed in this new peaceful environment, and even began to call Amelia ‘Mama’ instead of her name. This pleased her greatly, of course, and James seemed happy with this as well.

  ‘I am glad Chloe is not so timid any more,’ he commented one afternoon as they were lying side by side in the shade of a huge oak tree, watching the girls play with a ball nearby.

  ‘Yes, she seems to have come out of her shell at last. It’s strange how different they are both in looks and temperament,’ Amelia added.

  ‘It’s not really that strange,’ James said slowly. ‘They are only half-sisters after all.’

  ‘What do you mean? Were you married twice before?’

  ‘No, but I’m afraid that my former wife was not entirely faithful to me. In fact, after she produced Mathilde, we never again shared a bed, so I know for a fact that Chloe is not mine.’

  Amelia was speechless for a moment before finding her tongue again. ‘And yet you acknowledged her as yours? That was very kind of you.’

  ‘Not really. Since she is a girl, she doesn’t affect the succession of the earldom after all, and I simply could not bear to have her adopted or given to someone who may not care for her. I felt her place was with her sister and I have come to love her as much as I do my own child.’

  Amelia was amazed by his revelation. She had come to realise that he had a generous nature, but to take in another man’s bastard without ever differentiating between the children was truly noble in her eyes.

  ‘I love them both equally as well,’ she said.

  ‘I’m glad. You make a wonderful mother.’

  He was looking at her as if he wanted to make her a mother in her own right and Amelia found herself wishing that he would, but at the last moment he pulled back and didn’t so much as kiss her. Amelia sighed inwardly. These last few weeks had shown her that Miss Keyes had been right, but now she wasn’t sure how to let James know that she had forgiven him. She wanted to start afresh, but how to tell him?

  She took a deep breath and changed the subject slightly. ‘So, the scandal you spoke of, was that to do with Chloe then?’ she asked.

  ‘Oh no, it happened long before.’ James stared into the distance and sighed. ‘I thought you’d have been told by now, but either way I suppose I ought to give you my version of it.’

  ‘Please, if you don’t mind? I’ve heard nothing.’

  ‘Very well then. I was rather young when it all happened, barely twenty and a bit green to say the least. Marguerite was an émigré and very lovely, a few years older than myself, and I thought her perfect. There were rumours that she was in a loveless marriage with a violent man, although I learned much later that she’d spread those rumours herself and they were far from the truth. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I believed her to be in danger and ran away with her to the continent. Her husband divorced her and I married her because she was carrying Mathilde.’ He scowled. ‘That was the only reason, because by then I’d found out her true nature.’

  Amelia put a hand on his arm and squeezed it in silent sympathy. ‘You were not to know.’

  James shrugged. ‘I should have listened to my friends. They warned me to be careful, but I thought myself in love. It didn’t last long.’

  ‘And what happened to Marguerite?’

  ‘She died giving birth to Chloe and I returned to England soon after, although by then I was ostracized so I went abroad again. My grandfather was the only one who stood by me. Wouldn’t have a bad word said about me in his hearing.’

  Amelia smiled. ‘I can imagine. He is rather ... forceful.’

  ‘You could say that.’ James smiled back. ‘But for all that, it was your more gentle brand of rehabilitation that worked. Everyone in the neighbourhood talks to me now and it’s all thanks to you.’

  She felt her cheeks heat up. ‘I didn’t do much really, I just ...’

  ‘Yes, you did, and I thank you for it.’

  James took her fingers and brushed his lips over her knuckles. Amelia held her breath, hoping he might do more than that, but he soon dropped her hand and that was that.

  James was waging a daily battle against himself as the urge to make Amelia his in every way was getting stronger all the time. He was determined to be patient and give her time to forgive him for not trusting her, but he was becoming more and more frustrated. He thought he detected signs of her softening towards him, but he couldn’t be sure. Perhaps he should simply ask?

  As he paced his library one afternoon, wondering how best to phrase his question, a visitor was announced. It was a rather dishevelled and travel-stained Bootle, Lady Marsh’s erstwhile butler.

  ‘This is a surprise. What brings you here?’ James asked, greeting the man with pleasure. ‘Have you finally left the old dragon’s employ and come for those references we promised you?’

  ‘Not exactly, my lord.’ Bootle looked grave. ‘I’m afraid I’ve come to warn you. Sir Bernard has somehow got wind of your marriage – some army fellow he met in London let slip that he had seen you with your new bride and congratulated him on the exalted connection. He was in a rare taking, I can tell you. Ranting and raving about Miss Amelia’s duplicity, low morals and I don’t know what else besides. He has sworn to pay her back somehow, and even his mother’s strictures failed to calm him down. I’m right fearful for Miss Amelia’s safety.’

  ‘I see. Well thank you for coming to warn us. You must of course remain here until you can find another position. I’m sure you could do with a rest after coming all this way.’

  ‘Perhaps I could help you keep an eye on Miss Amelia?’

  ‘That’s a good idea. It would be best if we didn’t worry her with this news though. I’ll just take precautions so that no one can slip in unnoticed and tell the staff to be vigilant.’

  That same afternoon saw the arrival of yet another surprise visitor, this one initially not as welcome. He demanded to see Lady Demarr immediately.

  ‘I regret her ladyship is not at home, sir,’ Jamieson informed him.

  ‘Well, what about his lordship then? Damn it man, it’s a very serious matter!’

  ‘I shall inform his lordship of your presence. If you would care to wait in here?’ He showed the guest into the front parlour and went in search of his master.

  ‘Captain Marshall, what can I do for you?’ James was not at all pleased to see the man who had seemed so friendly with Amelia.
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  ‘My apologies for intruding in this fashion, my lord, but I have news of a possible threat to your wife.’ Captain Marshall grabbed James’s arm in some agitation. ‘I was greatly disturbed by an occurrence reported to me by a fellow officer yesterday.’

  ‘And what might that have been?’ James disentangled himself unobtrusively.

  ‘The man is a gaming companion of someone named Sir Bernard Marsh, who claims to be Lady Demarr’s cousin. He called her by her maiden name and told the fellow he’d been searching high and low for her. He seemed distraught and the officer, who had been told the good news about Miss Amelia’s marriage, thought to put Sir Bernard at ease by telling him. Only, it had the strangest effect – the man apparently went berserk, screaming about revenge. When the officer tried to remonstrate with him, he actually knocked him down. I thought I had better come straight here to warn you.’

  ‘Thank you, Captain, that was very kind of you. I appreciate your concern for my wife. You needn’t worry though, I had already been warned by Sir Bernard’s butler, and I’m taking every precaution in order to protect her.’

  ‘Well, thank goodness for that! Her father was a very good friend of mine and I couldn’t help but worry.’

  ‘Thank you, but I’m rather glad you didn’t catch my wife at home, because I think it best not to worry her with this. It’s better if we keep it to ourselves, don’t you think?’

  ‘Oh yes, females having delicate sensibilities and all that. Of course. I quite understand.’

  ‘Now, I’ll have Jamieson show you up to a guest room. I trust you’ll stay overnight at least? You can always tell my wife that you wanted to come and see for yourself that she was all right. I gather you expressed some concern for her in London.’

  ‘Oh, yes, but she reassured me then. Splendid idea though, thank you. Delighted to stay for a short visit and you can count on me,’ he tapped his nose with his index finger, ‘mum’s the word.’

  Although not a bluestocking in the true sense of the word, Amelia had read widely and her father had delighted in teaching her subjects that were normally only taught to boys. Consequently, she knew her understanding to be superior, and it irked her to be treated like an imbecile. This was precisely the feeling she had that afternoon.

  First, there was Bootle, telling her some cock and bull story about how he couldn’t stand Lady Marsh and her mean ways another moment and had decided to come and ask Lord Demarr for the promised reference. This was of course reasonable enough, apart from the fact that Lady Marsh’s mean ways had never affected him before.

  Next, there was Captain Marshall, with yet another strange tale of how he and his fellow officers had been worrying about her sudden marriage and had decided he had better visit her to make sure everything was as it should be. Amelia couldn’t understand why they should suddenly start to worry about her after so many weeks, when it was surely too late to do anything about it anyway. Besides, she had already told him that she was fine when they met in London.

  When she found her husband having a whispered conversation with an individual of dubious appearance in the hallway, however, she decided that enough was enough.

  ‘May I have a word with you please, James.’ Amelia crossed her arms over her chest and fixed him with a glare.

  ‘But of course, my dear, any time.’ The strange individual cast her a furtive glance, then sidled off. ‘What can I do for you?’

  ‘Who was that man?’

  ‘Oh, just one of the estate workers.’

  ‘Then why were you whispering?’

  ‘Were we? I don’t recall us doing so, we were merely discussing a small matter of a boundary.’

  Amelia was not convinced. ‘I see. I don’t suppose you know the real reasons for Bootle’s or Captain Marshall’s arrivals here today, do you? I don’t believe a word of those Canterbury tales they told me.’

  ‘Real reasons? Why, whatever can you mean?’ James’s guileless look didn’t fool Amelia for a moment.

  ‘Very well, have it your way. There is something fishy going on, but if you won’t tell me, I shall just have to get it out of Bootle. And to think I thought we were finally beginning to trust each other. You may consider our truce at an end until you are prepared to treat me as an intelligent human being.’

  ‘But Amelia …’

  She stalked off without listening to any of his protests. She knew they would be lies anyway and this put her in a foul mood. What she needed was a good gallop, she decided, to work off her frustrations, and with that in mind, she went straight upstairs and changed into her riding habit. It was not long before she was out on her favourite mare, cantering down the drive all by herself.

  ‘But my lady, shouldn’t I come with you?’ the head groom had asked anxiously.

  ‘There is no need, Hanning. I intend to ride only on Demarr property.’ Amelia wanted to be alone and having a groom tag along would only slow her down. The groom tried to protest further, but she cut him short and set off.

  She rode the horse hard for half an hour, letting the animal have her head for a good gallop on even ground, and she finally began to feel slightly calmer. The exercise soothed her and she tried to think rationally about her husband’s behaviour. He had definitely been hiding something, but perhaps she had been hasty in thinking that it must be something bad. What if he was organising a surprise for her? This thought made her feel guilty, but she shrugged it off. She would just have to wait and see.

  Trotting through a small copse, she suddenly heard the sound of hoof beats behind her and a feeling of foreboding came over her, so strong that on impulse she urged her horse into a gallop once more. She tried to look over her shoulder but could see nothing, until suddenly a rider came hurtling out of the forest to her right. Amelia’s horse swerved, but she managed to stay in the saddle and was relieved to see that the horseman was only Justin Briggs. They reined in their mounts.

  ‘Lady Demarr, are you all right? I thought your horse had bolted, so I was trying to rescue you.’

  ‘No, no, I was fine. It was just … I thought I was being followed by someone and I’m afraid I panicked.’

  ‘That’s understandable.’ Justin peered behind them with a frown. ‘Would you like me to go and investigate?’

  ‘No, thank you. If there was anyone there, I’m sure he is probably long gone now that you are here. I would very much appreciate your escort home though, if you wouldn’t mind.’

  ‘I’d be only too delighted to be of assistance.’

  ‘You won’t tell anyone about this, will you? I don’t want people to think me foolish and fanciful.’

  ‘Of course not. You have my word.’

  Amelia spent a restless night, tossing and turning. Whenever she fell asleep, she had vivid dreams of being chased through a forest by an unseen Nemesis and woke up with her heart beating a frantic tattoo. In the end, she decided to go for a walk round the gardens just after dawn. She would not get any more sleep this night and the fresh air would calm her nerves.

  She slipped out the back door and stood for a moment, savouring the birdsong and the wonderful smell of newly mown grass. As she began to walk along the well-kept paths, she felt soothed by the beauty all around her. Her steps took her further and further away from the house, but she didn’t notice. She was deep in thought, wondering what to do about the situation between James and herself.

  She wanted him to be her husband in every way.

  No matter what he had done, no matter how infuriating he could be, she knew now that she loved him. Until this latest setback, they had been getting on famously. There had been several occasions when she had thought he might kiss her, but for some reason he had held back even though she was sure she had seen desire in his eyes. Was he still unsure? Or was he just waiting for her to make the first move?

  With the early morning sunshine lifting her spirits, Amelia’s positive nature came to the fore and she decided that if she wanted her marriage to be real, she had to take the first step. If James
rejected her, then so be it, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. She would ask to speak to him in private, then she would kiss him and see what his reaction was.

  It was a bold plan, but if it worked, it would be worth it.

  Before she could return to the house to ready herself for the day ahead, a pair of strong arms came out of nowhere to encircle her from behind and a cold voice said, ‘Well, well, it must be my lucky day.’

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Amelia froze. She recognised that hateful voice only too well, the voice that had tormented her for months and which she had hoped never to hear again.

  ‘Cousin Bernard, to what do I owe this dubious pleasure?’ She tried to sound braver than she felt and hoped that he didn’t hear the slight catch in her voice. She tried to free herself from his grip, but he was much stronger than her, so her struggles were to no avail. A cold feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach.

  ‘Now, now, my dear, haven’t I told you again and again that you really must strive to be nice to me?’ he chided, a note of triumph in his voice as he knew he had the upper hand at last. ‘That was a nasty little trick you played on me, running away like that. But now I’ve found you again and this time, you won’t be going anywhere.’

  ‘Release me, my husband will be here any moment,’ Amelia hissed, continuing to struggle in vain.

  ‘I don’t think so. I’ve been reconnoitring and the last time I looked, he was fast asleep.’

  ‘You were inside the house?’

  ‘No, he’s in a chair in the library, I saw him from the window. Too much brandy last night I should think. You won’t be seeing him for a while.’ Bernard chuckled and the sound sent another frisson of fear snaking through Amelia.

  She opened her mouth to scream for help, but Bernard anticipated this and clamped his hand over it.