Regency Romances

by Grace Fletcher

  “Treat others how they treat her,” Warwick commented.

  “Exactly,” Boyd nodded. “My daughter is upset she shot someone, but she is angry that you’re laying all the blame on her. If you hadn’t come onto our land…”

  “Next time, why don’t you dig a trench and put up a big sign?” Gloucester sneered.

  “Gloucester, enough.” Norfolk laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder and shot him a frown. He turned to Boyd. “I apologize for my friend’s behavior, Lord Boyd.”

  “Don’t apologize for me…”

  “It’s understandable.” Boyd ignored Gloucester’s outburst. “I will be speaking to my daughter about her actions. But she is not the only one in the wrong here. Both the earl and Juliana need to answer to what happened.”

  “I already am,” Gloucester snapped, gesturing at his leg.

  Boyd gave him a look before turning on his heel and leaving the room. Gloucester sat back, simmering. He could see where Juliana Boyd got her disrespectful behavior from.

  “You need to stop this attitude, Gloucester,” Norfolk warned. “The Boyd family are going to be your nursemaids.”

  “No way are they going to nurse me back to health!”

  “Well, you’re not coming back with me.” Norfolk indicated his friend’s leg. “Not when you’re like this.”

  They were going to leave him here. With that despicable woman. Gloucester couldn’t believe his friends would do this to him. He scowled.

  “And you’re supposed to be my closest friend.”

  Norfolk grinned.

  “You don’t like it, you can pick different friends.”

  “I might just do that.”

  Chapter 3

  Tending to the Injured

  “You’re doing what?” Juliana cried. “No, he can’t stay here!”

  She couldn’t believe her ears. Extending her courtesy towards the man so he could get a doctor to see to his leg was one thing but having him stay in their house while he was recuperating? Juliana thought her father had gone mad.

  George Boyd stood by the window in the parlor. Mabel Boyd sat by the empty fireplace, her head bowed as she concentrated on her sewing. But Juliana knew she was paying attention. Her mother never missed a thing.

  “He’s in no shape to be moved, Juliana.” Boyd turned to face her. “The doctor said he needed to stay put and rest his leg.”

  “But here? Why?”

  “You were the one who brought him here, dear.” Mabel didn’t look up as she spoke. “There’s no one to blame but yourself for that.”

  Juliana spun around and glared at her mother.

  “And I suppose I’d better blame myself for shooting him as well?” she demanded. “He charged in front of me!”

  “And that was his fault but now he’s injured.” Mabel looked up and gave her a pointed stare. “An injured earl. He needed to be tended with the best care and we can do that.

  “Why not at the Duke of Norfolk’s place? He’s that man’s friend. Why doesn’t he go there?”

  Boyd shook his head.

  “I’ve spoken to Norfolk, and he’s happy with Gloucester staying here.”

  She was penned in from all sides. Juliana couldn’t see a way out of this. A simple accident had turned into a nightmare. Now the brash, rude man who made the title of earl a joke was up in their guest room cursing and shouting at everyone.

  “Great,” she huffed. She stormed towards the door. “Don’t expect me to be hospitable.”

  “You’re going to have to be hospitable,” Boyd said sternly. “Because I don’t remember you giving the earl an apology.” He glanced at Mabel with a smirk. “And you’re also going to be his nursemaid.”

  That last bit had Juliana tripping over her own feet. She spun around and stared at her father. What had he just said?

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “You’re going to tend to his wounds. Make him comfortable. Take him his meals.” Boyd folded his arms. He looked like he was enjoying himself. “Sit with him for company.”

  “No!”

  “You shot him, Juliana. You’re going to tend to his care.”

  Now Juliana was beginning to panic. She couldn’t be anywhere near that awful man. One of them would not end up leaving that room alive. Her parents had to see that. But Boyd’s expression said he wasn’t about to be argued with and Mabel had ducked her head, purposefully focusing on her needlework.

  This was not fair. But Juliana knew she wouldn’t get anyone's sympathy. Gritting her teeth, she folded her hands in front of her and fixed Boyd with a hard stare.

  “Yes. Sir.”

  ***

  This shouldn’t be happening. Juliana was practically fuming as she climbed the stairs with the tray. Why did she comply with her father’s order? He always let her do whatever she wanted. George Boyd treated his daughter like the son he didn’t have. Why was he making her tend to the earl when it was his fault he got shot?

  If he was still as unpleasant as the upstairs maids had said when they helped to change him into a nightshirt and put him to bed properly, this wasn’t going to go well at all.

  Juliana managed to open the door with the tray in her hand, hoping that the earl was asleep. But Gloucester was awake, reading with a grimace on his face. Whether it was from his leg or the book, Juliana didn’t know. But that meant she couldn’t get into his room and out again without being noticed.

  Gloucester looked up. His eyes narrowed when he saw Juliana and he sneered.

  “Come to apologize?”

  Juliana didn’t react as she drew a small table over and put the tray down.

  “What should I apologize about?”

  “For giving me a gammy leg.”

  “You’ll live.” Juliana sat on the bed and unceremoniously pulled the covers aside. The bandages were blood-soaked and clearly needed changing. “As long as you do as the doctor says.”

  She soaked an old rag in the bowl of water and began to unwind the bandage swiftly. Before Gloucester could react, she had the oozing wound open to his view—the bullet had gone clean through—and she was dabbing at it with the wet rag. Gloucester almost jumped off the bed.

  “Ouch!”

  “Keep still!” Juliana snapped, barely blinking when Gloucester nearly kicked her in the face. “You’re going to do the wound more damage if you move.”

  “Do you think I care right now?” Gloucester growled. “What is that you’ve got? Acid?”

  “It’s water. I’m cleaning the wound and then I’ll change the dressing.” Juliana rolled her eyes as Gloucester’s leg jerked. “Stop it! You’re worse than my cousin. He takes this like a champion.”

  “Do you go around shooting your cousin as well?”

  “He’s three. He has a tendency to trip over his own feet and graze his knees.” Juliana glanced up at him. “But he barely makes a whimper.”

  “Charming,” Gloucester grunted. “So, you’re going to be my nurse, huh? I’m not sure if I should have you touching me.”

  Juliana didn’t look up, focusing on her task. If she could do this quickly, she could leave. The less time with the insufferable man, the better.

  “Don’t worry. If I wanted to kill you, I would’ve done it out in the fields and run off.”

  She finished cleaning the wound and reached for the roll of bandages and gauze. She placed a clean folded cloth over the wound and urged the earl to raise his knee, doing the same to the other side. Then she undid the bandage roll and began to wrap it around his thigh. For a nobleman he certainly had good muscle tone. Juliana wasn’t sure she liked being this close to a man in a state of undress; her fingers were tingling just touching bare skin.

  “Why do you wear men’s apparel?”

  Juliana started at Gloucester’s sudden question. The man was watching her closely. Why did he have to be so handsome? Dark-haired, goatee and moustache, and dark eyes that pierced into her. He looked regal although the paleness of his complexion was saying he was feeling less tha
n that.

  The handsome ones were always the nasty ones in Juliana’s experience.

  “Because it’s comfortable.” Juliana realized she had stopped turning the bandage and went back to wrapping his leg. “I can’t go out shooting rabbits in dresses. And before you say anything, I do wear dresses when there’s a social engagement or we have visitors. But when it’s just myself and my parents, I wear whatever I want.”

  Gloucester arched an eyebrow. He looked bemused. Intrigued. Juliana didn’t want anything from him other than keeping his mouth shut.

  “I’m surprised your father lets you do it.”

  “He doesn’t care as long as I’m comfortable and I’m happy.”

  “He should have a tighter leash on you.”

  Juliana paused. She wasn’t about to have her father’s parenting insulted, not have this man assume she was like an animal.

  “I’m not a dog, Lord Gloucester.”

  “Really?” Gloucester snorted. “You act like a dog.”

  Juliana started. Had he really just said that?

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Well, women don’t go out in men’s attire shooting. They don’t go out shooting at all.”

  Juliana knew several women in the area who went out shooting with their husbands and parents. She wasn’t the sharpest shot in the county by a long way. The earl was lucky he hadn’t come across any of them. She tugged the bandage a little too tightly and tied a knot.

  “So, what are women supposed to do?” she demanded, hearing Gloucester grimace of pain with some satisfaction. “Sit inside sewing, looking pretty while they drink tea and talk about the latest fashion? Talk about who’s courting who and whatever little gossip they can find? I can do all that but it gets boring after a while. It’s not what I want to do all day.”

  She finished the bandaging and sat back as Gloucester lowered his leg. He sneered at her, looking over her attire. Juliana was wearing a simple white dress and her hair was loose, her natural curl making it fall about her shoulders. She wasn’t about to get dressed up for an earl, especially not one as rude as this man.

  “At least they are refined ladies,” Gloucester sneered.

  “Just like your fiancée?” Juliana shot back. “I know you’re getting married soon.”

  “She’s very refined. She’s beautiful and knows exactly what’s needed.”

  That didn’t sound like an exciting person. Juliana knew about Edith Lennox and thought she was incredibly boring. Beautiful but boring.

  “Good for her if it works. But that’s not for me.”

  “You’ll never get a husband like that.”

  Chapter 4

  Fire Against Fire

  “If all men are as arrogant and disrespectful as you, I don’t want to be married.”

  “Well, no one wants to marry a wild, eccentric little wench.”

  Juliana wasn’t about to stand for that. She could take jabs at her appearance, but this was going too far. Taking a deep breath, she stood and smoothed her hands down her skirt.

  “Your wound is dressed now. I’ll come back later to check it.” She picked up the tray and then the glass of water from the bedside table. “I almost forgot. You need this as well.”

  Then she chucked the contents into his face. It was almost full, and it soaked his hair, dripping off his beard and soaking through his nightshirt.

  “Hey!”

  Gloucester was caught completely off-guard. It was a moment before he recovered from the shock of having water chucked into his face. Juliana placed the glass back on the table and gave him a sickly sweet smile.

  “Just be thankful I don’t carry my gun around the house, my lord.”

  Then she swept out of the room, smirking as she heard Gloucester cursing behind her.

  ***

  Juliana would have been glad not to go back into the room and entertain the earl again, not after he insulted her. But her father head about what she did, and he wasn’t impressed. He ordered her to go back and apologize, then she was to sit there for the rest of the day.

  Now Juliana was beginning to wish she had taken the head shot.

  Gloucester was asleep when she went back. Juliana found herself standing over the bed and watching him. He looked youthful sleeping, his expression softer. Almost approachable.

  Juliana didn’t pity Edith Lennox for being engaged to this man. She wouldn’t want to be engaged to an insufferable arrogant noble who looked down his nose at her.

  Knowing she was in for a long wait, Juliana had found her knitting basket. There were a few things she was planning on making so she had something to do. Her little cousins would be delighted with their new blankets. Juliana loved them and liked to shower them with presents. You couldn’t help but smile when they stared up at her with big cheeky grins on their face.

  Time passed quickly as Juliana dove into her knitting. She found it calming and soon her frustrations were soothing, her needles flying about as she carried on with the blanket she was making for her six-year-old cousin. This would be a good present for Christmas, especially in their part of the country; snow was more frequent up in the north.

  “Did you get frog-marched back here again?”

  Juliana almost dropped a stitch. She looked up and saw Gloucester frowning at her. His face was pale, and he was sweating, the front of his nightshirt wet. Juliana then realized how warm it had been getting and put aside her knitting.

  “I’ve got nothing better to do and I don’t feel like talking.” She stood and went around the bed towards the window. “You were the best option, and you weren’t complaining about someone using the room.”

  Juliana was sure she heard the earl chuckle as she opened the window, letting a cool breeze through the room. She turned back, but the earl wasn’t looking at her.

  “Is that better?”

  “Much.” The earl swallowed, still staring at her knitting basket. “Are the curtains open?”

  “No.”

  “Please, could you open them? It’ll let more air in.”

  Juliana obliged. She often liked sleeping with the curtains open along with the window during warmer nights. Gloucester barely looked up as Juliana came back to her chair in the corner.

  “I didn’t think I’d see you do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “Knitting.”

  “Of course I knit. It’s relaxing.” Juliana sat and picked up the blanket, speaking as she started knitting again, her fingers barely pausing. “I also make rugs, fix the curtains and do my own alterations to my clothes. My maid Jasmine helps me out but I do it all.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.” Juliana caught the man’s shocked expression and barked out a laugh. “Just because I saunter about in men’s attire doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do to feminine things.”

  Gloucester grunted, casting an eye over her dress.

  “At least you’re more presentable than you were out in the fields.”

  Juliana sighed and lowered her work.

  “Are you always this rude to women?”

  “Only those who shoot me.”

  “I’m surprised you haven’t been shot more often with an attitude like that.”

  Gloucester sniffed, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

  “Some women have some dignity.”

  Juliana bristled.

  “It’s nothing to do with dignity. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. Why bother asking a man for help when I can do it myself?”

  Gloucester laughed. Even harsh, Juliana felt a warm shiver down her back at that laugh. Why did he have to be handsome even when he laughed? It was not fair.

  She wished he would do back to sleep.

  “You’re not going to have any marriage prospects with talk like that,” Gloucester sneered.

  “I’m surprised you managed to get a marriage prospect with behavior like yours,” Juliana shot back. She raised her eyebrows. “Or do you get by on your good looks and hope the lady won�
�t notice you’re a rude, mean old man?”

  “Who’s old?”

  Juliana burst out laughing.

  “You noticed that part but not the rude or mean bit?”

  Gloucester made a face and scowled at her. He shifted up onto his elbows. Juliana was surprised he had any energy; the man was clearly exerting himself.

  “Besides,” Gloucester wheezed, “Edith is a paragon among women. She’s perfect. You can’t beat her.”

  “I don’t want to,” Juliana snorted. “And she must be perfect if she’s able to put up with you.”

  Any woman who agreed to marry the Earl of Gloucester had to need their head checked. His title wasn’t worth his behavior and demeanor. Edith was going to be in for a rocky marriage if she thought she could even attempt to change this man into something he wasn’t. Juliana wouldn’t attempt to change him; his bite was probably as bad as his bark.

  “Edith makes heads turn,” Gloucester said proudly. Even unwell he was still trying to look regal, tossing his dark hair back. “And she chose me. That’s saying something.”

  “Yes, it does,” Juliana said dryly. “It says that she’s probably as mean and rude as you.”

  “She would never be described as mean.”

  “Oh, really? But she would be considered as rude.” Juliana sat back as Gloucester floundered, placing her knitting in her basket. “And how would you describe yourself if not mean?”

  Gloucester looked confused for a moment. Then his eyes narrowed at her.

  “A better person than you.”

  “A better person than me?”

  It was so ludicrous that Juliana burst out laughing. She couldn’t believe he had attempted to go there.

  “Are you serious, my lord? You’re a better person than me?”

  “Much better.”

  “How? Just tell me how?”

  “I don’t go around shooting women.”

  They were back at that again. Juliana had a feeling he would never let her forget it. If that was the case…

  “You make it sound like I make a habit of shooting people.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “And if we’re going to go back to that, I don’t go onto other people’s land without permission or no warning.”