“Why don’t you just let me die?” she asked, causing Luke to almost snort.
“Why should I? You will answer to the magistrate. I want to know where you got your information from.” He did not dare to relieve pressure on her wound, for fear that she would bleed to death. Even though her voice sounded surprisingly strong for someone who was wounded, he did not want to take any chances.
“It was a coincidence, nowt more,” she said and grinned. The remains of her foul teeth told him more about her life than he cared to know. Poverty, bad nutrition, and too much alcohol, went hand in hand in the slums of London. “My old man and I, we heard how the fine lady and that stuck-up prick were arguing… shortly later he was dead.”
Was the solution to the puzzle that simple? An overheard conversation and greed, caused by a life of bitter poverty… Luke felt the rest of his anger dissipate.
“Took us a while to find the lady, and a few more days to find out her name. We asked a friend of Jim’s to write the letters, then we sent them to the lady.” Jim was probably her husband whom even a doctor could not help. He almost felt sorry for her, this injured woman. Even if he managed to save her, she would probably dangle on the gallows for her crimes. But something was still bothering him.
“Who shot at my brother and me?”
The woman snorted contemptuously. “Jim’s buddy Harry. One’s as useless as the other. Was there during the first meeting and followed you home. I bet he thought he’d get a bigger share if he did away with the lady’s helper.”
Her wound seemed to take its toll, because she closed her eyes and groaned softly. Secretly, Luke was glad that she had provided such a simple explanation. There was not always intrigue or dark machinations behind everything, but he, too, had been overly influenced by his father’s – and now his brother’s – work.
The door downstairs was reopened again and shortly after that, he heard steps coming up the stairs. Luke heard Hawthorne exchanging a few casual words with Felicity, before she, much to his relief, stepped back into the room. She carried a bowl of water, set it down on the floor, and then pulled the needle and thread from her jacket pocket.
“Thank you, I will handle the rest.” Cleaning and sewing the wound was not a pretty sight, and she had already done enough and experienced enough for today. Luke did not want to expect her to watch him sew the wound.
Instead of answering, she dropped to her knees opposite of him and put her hand on his arm. “I am staying.” The hint a of a smile entered her eyes. “Just tell me what you need me to do.”
It was well past midnight when Lord Layton brought her home in his carriage. Her mother was going to throw a fit. Or maybe not, Felicity thought. Perhaps her mother was already in bed, fast asleep. Felicity would not be surprised. After all, her mother expected her to be in the company of a man beyond all suspicion.
“I am terribly tired, and at the same time, I feel like I will not be able to sleep one wink tonight,” Felicity said as they reached Hanover Square. She would rather have driven through the city with him all night long, despite her soiled clothes. The bond that had first formed between them more than a year ago, had solidified tonight and would never break again. It almost seemed to Felicity that words between them were not needed. Lord Layton, too, appeared to regret having to deliver her back home, for he sighed and made no move to get out of the carriage and help her step outside.
“I feel the same way,” Lord Layton replied. He was sitting beside her, his arm draped around her shoulder, holding her as if he never wanted to let go of her again. It felt good to feel him next to her, and to know that he had not forgotten about her but had instead been hindered by an attempt on his and his brother’s lives.
“I wish this night would never end. Although” – He laughed quietly – “I am glad, of course, that Hawthorne will do everything in his power to ensure that your involvement is never known.”
Felicity looked up at him. His voice had taken on a harsh, almost metallic undertone that sent a shiver down her spine.
“I would be lying if I said that I did not care about a scandal such as this,” she said softly and glanced past him to her parents’ house. It was shrouded in absolute darkness. With a bit of luck, she would be able to sneak back in unseen, and her parents would never know what had happened.
“On the other hand, it is another secret and I do not like it. If it were not for my sisters and my parents, I would go to the Runners and confess everything.”
“I know,” Lord Layton responded. “But then your chances of marrying a clergyman would be as good as nil.”
Felicity’s cheeks grew hot.
“I will probably have to accept that I will remain unmarried,” she said. She felt, more than saw, how he turned his head towards her. It was a good thing that it was dark inside the carriage, so that he could not see just how embarrassed she was. “I shall retreat to the countryside, where I will grow old, surrounded by thirty cats,” she said in an attempt to dispel the severity of the moment. “Maybe I will start writing penny dreadfuls. After all, I now have plenty of material I could write about.”
“Stop it,” Lord Layton said with unexpected forcefulness. He was so close to her, that she could feel his breath on her face. “None of that will happen. You will marry me.”
The tears did not well up in her eyes in a ladylike manner, but instead, shot up from her throat. A rather strange sensation, half-fear and half-happiness, pressed her chest together like a tightly bound corset. Then his mouth was on hers and her fear was wiped out into nothing.
The feelings that stormed inside Felicity, were almost too much to bear. The physical touch felt foreign, but that feeling only lasted for a few seconds, and was replaced by something else that she could not name. It was as if Lord Layton was saying all that he had never said before, with this one kiss. He promised to protect her for the rest of her life, and even more... he expressed his passionate love for her. Felicity’s cheeks grew hot, but not with shame – with the pure, undisguised joy of sharing a wonderful kiss.
It was exactly that. He was not stealing a kiss from her and she was not merely allowing it. Instead they were both equals. For the first time in her life, Felicity sensed the possible beauty of sharing everything with someone, from the time they got up in the morning to the time they went to bed. Without interrupting the kiss, he took hold of her hand and pressed it against his chest. Then he released her lips and looked down at her in the darkness.
“Do you feel my heart beating for you, my love?”
The intimacy of his address passed through her body like a lightning strike and she leaned closer to him. Under her fingers, his heart was pounding, slow and strong.
Without hesitation, she returned his gesture and took his hand to lay it against her chest, on her much faster-beating heart. “And mine is beating for you,” she whispered and rested her head on his shoulder.
This was the place where she wanted to be – her head against his chest, safely held by his strong arms. Whether he should stay in London, Somerset, or wherever else, she would be home wherever he was. Today, and for the rest of their lives together.
Epilogue
Three months later
“ ’ere comes the bride!”
The moment they finally stepped out of the chapel, they heard Joseph’s bright voice. Felicity did not let go of Luke’s arm, but she craned her head to see where the boy was. Luke and she had desperately tried to persuade him to come to church with them, but he had expressly asked to wait outside, saying he had a surprise for them.
“Joseph, would you please come here,” her husband called. Felicity wondered if she would ever grow tired of calling him that. Most likely not, she thought, and looked up at his face. She had never known how much one could love another person, and how different that love was. Compared to the love she felt for her sisters or her parents, this was something entirely new. It was a miracle how everything in her life had fallen into place – no, not fallen into place... tu
rned out for the best.
There was movement in the crowd, which had gathered in front of the chapel to escort her and Luke to their carriage. At the front stood her sister Annabelle, together with Marcus St. John, who now turned and pushed Joseph towards the front of the crowd. Felicity put her hand in front of her mouth when she saw Joseph’s surprise. He was wearing a uniform bearing the colours of the Somersets, and his face was bursting with pride. His bright smile and the happiness in the face of the little man, were almost more than Felicity could bear. Her eyes glanced over to the Duke of Somerset, who was now her father-in-law. He was leaning heavily on a cane, that Luke always said he did not need, but Felicity was not so sure about that. Physically, the duke was still an impressive man, but since he had learned that his son was going to marry and continue the Somerset line, he had retreated into the background, imperceptibly at first, and then more and more clearly.
But now, Joseph stood in front of her and Luke. She leaned down to him, whilst her husband put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Does that mean that you quit your employment with my parents and that you will stay with us instead?” Felicity kissed him spontaneously on both cheeks.
He nodded, obviously part-embarrassed, part-happy by her gesture. “I can’t leave you alone, ’ence, can I,” he murmured, as timidly as he had been energetic before.
Luke wrapped an arm around her waist and assured Joseph in measured words how the boy’s presence would take a big load off his shoulders. “If I know you are looking after Lady Layton, I can relax,” he said. Felicity could hear by the tone of his voice that he was absolutely serious, and she loved him all the more for it.
Her eyes swept over the crowd and found the face of her older sister Annabelle, who unabashedly leaned against her husband and winked at her. Marcus St. John was engrossed in a serious conversation with her father, whose face had deep worried lines on his forehead. Both he and Felicity’s mother looked as if they had slept badly for several consecutive nights. The appearance of the duchess was as immaculate as ever, but Felicity thought she saw her mother’s exhaustion behind the glittering appearance. Just last night, she had asked her if something was bothering her, but her mother had just waved a hand and turned towards the stack of correspondence waiting for her on the secretary.
“Is everything all right?” Luke murmured into her ear.
“It is with me,” she replied, “but I am a bit concerned about my parents. They have been acting so strangely these past few weeks. I am sure that they are hiding something from me.”
Don’t you worry about the two – they are both adults,” Luke answered. “But if you wish, I will ask my brother and father to keep an eye on them whilst we indulge in the sweet life in Italy and Greece.” His eyes glittered auspiciously. “By the way… have I told you yet how beautiful you are?” He gave her a tender kiss. The glow in his eyes deepened.
“I have to agree, the seamstress has outdone herself with the dress,” she replied, running her gloved fingers across the precious silk. The dress was embroidered with tiny pearls along the hem and collar, as was the feather-light veil she was wearing. Orange blossoms in her hair and a simple, but precious, diamond collarette completed her fairy tale look. Felicity had felt slightly uncomfortable during the first dress fittings, because she had felt dressed up, but that feeling had passed. She just had to imagine Luke’s face and what he would say when he saw her for the first time as his bride, and she knew she could not feel beautiful enough for this unique man.
Another kiss followed. “I did not mean that, but it is true – the dress is very pretty. I talked about you, my love.” What the two kisses in public had not managed to do, his admiring words did. Felicity’s cheeks became warm. Her neck began to tingle, as if somebody were watching her, and she instinctively snuggled closer to her husband. But when she turned her head, her maid Brigid was the only one looking in her direction. Luke had not the slightest objection to keeping Brigid employed as Felicity’s maid.
“Where is Pater O’Donnell?” she asked, standing on her tippy toes in a rather unladylike way.
“Over there.” Luke nodded towards the portal of the chapel. “You cannot see him, but he is talking to your friend, Lady Blankhurst. They look as though they are hatching some kind of plan.”
“I am not surprised,” she said. “Please promise me one thing, Luke,” addressing him by his first name was still unfamiliar and came hard from her lips, “When we return home, I would like to resume my work with the pater. Would you have anything against that?”
“Not at all, but on the condition that you still allow me to step into the ring every now and again,” he replied.
Felicity was about to say that she did not like her husband’s devotion to such a dangerous sport, when she saw the corners of his mouth twitch.
“You are amusing yourself at my expense,” she determined, and closed her eyes in a playfully angry manner. He kissed her a third time, and was just about to say something to her, when Sir John joined them. Felicity’s younger sister, Rose, was hanging onto his arm, and it seemed to please her very much.
“I hope you know that you are a very lucky man,” Sir John said to his brother and released Rose for a moment to kiss Felicity’s hand. “I have told you before, and I shall gladly say it again: You should not risk angering this young lady if you care for your health.” Rose giggled with delight, which prompted Mr Hawthorne, who had joined St. John and her father, to ask after the reason for her merriment. He excused himself and stepped towards them.
“My most heartfelt congratulations, Lord and Lady Layton,” he said smoothly. Luke’s grip on her waist tightened as Felicity spoke, but he had no reason for concern. Hawthorne’s initial infatuation with her had faded as quickly as it had flared up. Suddenly, he only had eyes for Rose, whose plans for next season he now inquired about. Rose let go of Sir John, excused herself, and hooked arms with the detective, who did not even try to hide his appreciation of Felicity’s sister. As they strolled towards the edge of the small forecourt where Felicity’s adventure had begun, she heard her sister engage Mr Hawthorne in conversation. However, she did not hear the detective’s reply as Luke and Sir John demanded her attention.
“The coach is waiting in the side alley. What is the situation, don’t you two want to enjoy your togetherness for a while?”
Luke hit his brother on the shoulder and looked at Felicity, who had suddenly lost all ability to speak. Whilst the erstwhile spectators at their wedding were talking amongst themselves, Luke and Felicity looked at each other silently. Then he took her hand, led her towards the carriage and lifted her inside. The coachman gave a curt signal and the horses trotted off. For the last time, Felicity glanced at the chapel. Then she looked at the man who had helped her when there was nobody else she could have turned to. He seemed to feel her gaze, for he, too, turned away from the window. He drew the curtains shut and moved to sit closer to her.
Then he kissed her.
THE END
Dear Readers,
You have accompanied Lord Layton and Lady Felicity through the dark alleys of London’s Whitechapel. Now, would you like to dive headfirst into the next romantic adventure?
The nestling of the Evesham sisters is getting ready to find the man of her life. In contrast to her two sisters, Lady Rose does not only long for a husband, but for her first kiss. She is “An Unkissed Lady” and has a very daring and unconventional plan: She doesn’t wait for her prince, but instead, takes the initiative.
Lady Rose gets her kiss, and it turns out to be unforgettable! Never would she have thought that two lips touching could be so exciting! Her happiness could not be greater, when the lord, whom she had chosen, asks for her hand.
But this is the point where the real difficulties begin. Why is her fiancé so unenthusiastic? What is the role of the gloomy Marquess of Cavanaugh who has not left her mind since the night of the kiss?
Read for yourself about the difficulties Lady Rose has to overcome in order to
find love and happiness (and the best kisser in the world) in the regency romance titled: “An Unkissed Lady”.
Warmest greetings,
Audrey Ashwood
Book 3: An Unkissed Lady
A Historical Regency Romance
An Unkissed Lady Copyright © 2020 Audrey Ashwood
This work is protected by copyright.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Print ISBN: 9798624065543
Cover Design: © ARP Cover Design
About this Novel
It is the most wonderful kiss of her life.
But who is the man who gave it to her?
When Lady Rose decides that it is high time for her first kiss, she crafts a promising strategy to not only be kissed but also happily married.
The Three Evesham Daughters: Books 1-3: A Regency Romance Trilogy Page 40
