Regency Romances

by Grace Fletcher

  Selina felt sorry for Mr. Batten. She and Patricia were longtime friends, but a few things about her were disagreeable.

  “When are you to visit him?”

  “Next week.” Patricia declared. “It’s for the rest of the summer.”

  Selina faltered, her hands pausing in their twisting of her hair.

  “But we decided that I would visit here for the summer, remember? What about me while you’re away?”

  Selina couldn’t go home as her parents had gone to Cornwall to help her mother convalesce. They didn’t want Selina with them. That suited Selina as she didn’t want to go, either. Her parent’s friends in Cornwall were old gossips, and Selina didn’t like probing questions into her marriage prospects and the obvious set-ups with odious grandsons. Not for her. Coming to Patricia’s was like a godsend.

  “You’re coming with me.”

  Patricia sounded sure about that.

  “I don’t see your uncle agreeing to that.”

  “He will. See here.” Patricia held out the letter and pointed at the relevant paragraph. “He says I can bring a friend along so I wouldn’t be lonely with a boring old man. I want to bring you along, anyway, so I’ll have someone to talk with.”

  “Bore you?” Selina blinked. “But your uncle is anything but boring.”

  Patricia snorted.

  “Well, you can bore at times, so he’s perfect for you.”

  Selina said nothing. Although they were good friends and loyal to each other, Patricia poked a little too much fun at Selina. As they became young adults, they grew apart in their thinking. Selina knew they would soon turn their backs on each other for good.

  She wanted to hold on for a little longer.

  Selina sighed and fixed her plait to her head with her leftover pins.

  “Not everything should be about money and fortune, Patricia.”

  “Maybe it should be.” Patricia’s response was blasé. She grinned as she looked at the letter again. “He also says the son of an old friend will visit as well. Harcourt Egerton.”

  “Harcourt?” Selina couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that really a name?”

  “Silly, isn’t it? That’s why we always called him Harry. But, anyhow, he’s coming to stay, and Uncle Henry remembers us getting along as children. He’s in his thirties and unmarried.” Patricia’s face suddenly brightened. “Hey, do you think I could become an earl’s wife?”

  “Harcourt Egerton’s an earl?”

  “Yes. He’s slightly older, though. I think he’s three-and-thirty…”

  “That’s not old, Patricia.” Selina pointed out. Patricia rolled her eyes.

  “Whatever. That is old. Other than that, he sounds like the perfect husband.”

  Selina wasn’t sure about that. She didn’t think it was a good idea. Patricia looked excited with the sudden notion of becoming the wife of an earl. Selina sighed.

  “How about meeting him again before you consider your options? He might have changed since you last saw him. The grown-up version may be disagreeable.”

  Patricia shrugged.

  “As long as he’s nice to look at and he’s got money, I’m happy.”

  ***

  Harcourt Egerton, the 9th Earl of Newark, raised his glass with a grunt.

  “Cheers.” He mumbled before he took a deep swig of wine. His father, the 8th Earl of Newark, and Henry Batten had for years been the best of friends. Mr. Batten, whom he had always thought of as an uncle, raised his eyebrows at him.

  “How many have you had?”

  “It’s only my second one.”

  “You could’ve fooled me. You’ve been knocking them back all day.”

  Newark scowled. He might have had several glasses of wine, but he felt sober. He was feeling grumpy and morose, but he wasn’t inebriated. “I’m fine.” He mumbled, sipping his wine.

  Henry Batten snorted and put his glass down on the coffee table.

  “You may be able to handle your alcohol better than many I know, but you’re not fine.” He sat forward, elbows on his knees. “What’s troubling you, Newark?”

  Newark was tight-lipped. He was in this situation through no one’s fault, but his own, and now he had to deal with it. Henry had warned him at the start he needed to do something about it, but the earl had been young and foolish; he believed he could deal with it.

  Now he wasn’t so sure, and he sought after Mr. Batten’s advice. This was not the first time he had appealed to his father’s old friend for sage advice.

  He sighed heavily and slumped in his chair.

  “I’m panicking a little,” He said gloomily. “Pa’s stipulation in his will has me very concerned.”

  He didn’t need to say more. Henry knew all about his friend’s will. He hadn’t been happy about it, either, but it couldn’t be changed.

  “Ah. The final deadline is coming near, is it not?”

  “I will be four-and-thirty next month. Thirteen months to go.”

  Thirteen months to find a wife. It sounded like a reasonable deadline, but Newark knew it would be really difficult, at least for him. He wasn’t one to go around wooing women, and his experience with them was working against him.

  If he wasn’t married by five-and-thirty, Newark would lose the title of earl his father had passed on to him. His wealth and title would pass to his brother, an undesirable outcome.

  “Why didn’t you do as I suggested years ago and look as soon as you heard the condition?” Henry asked.

  Newark shrugged.

  “Stubbornness, partly and you know about my experience with women. I am terrible at talking to women when I was the son of an earl. Now I’m an earl, and there seems to be an overabundance of woman interested in becoming Lady Newark.”

  The earl deplored that women found his wealth appealing. How would he now be able to learn their genuine feelings?

  “That is a problem.” Henry pursed his lips. “You may never find the honest article among all that. But your confidence talking to women has improved in thirteen years, surely?”

  “It may have, but if this keeps going on, I will have to turn the title over to my younger brother, Peter.”

  Peter Egerton who was eight-and-twenty years, more preferred gambling and cavorting with women of ill repute than running an estate. Their parents had all but given up on him. Peter had talked recently about the money he would inherit so he could settle with the debt collectors. Newark would just be handing the carrot to the donkey.

  “Peter doesn’t deserve the title.” Henry didn’t look happy at the prospect of Newark’s undeserving brother getting the earl title. “You know the whole estate will go to ruin with him in charge.”

  “I agree, and I resolve that will not happen.” Newark pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. “He was just a child when Pa died. If I’d known he’d turn into a gambler as an adult, I would’ve married at once. But now…”

  Now it was almost too late. The earl was close to losing what was rightfully his. He didn’t know why his father ever put the stipulation in, but it hadn’t worked so far.

  “Well, we might clear this up.” Henry grinned. “I’ve invited my niece Patricia for a few weeks; my brother Joe’s daughter. She’ll be here any minute.”

  Newark sat up to pay attention. This was news to him. He did not understand they were having guests. He narrowed his gaze at Henry.

  “You have arranged nothing with her, have you?”

  “No, I haven’t, but she’s a possibility to leave out there for your perusal.” Henry chuckled at Newark’s shocked expression. “I thought you were fond of her at one point.”

  Newark groaned.

  “She was eight and a brat. I was fifteen. I tolerated her. That’s somewhat different from being fond of someone.”

  He had cared little for Patricia, who had followed him around with an adoring look back when they were children. She had made it clear she thought he was the bee’s knees and Newark had always been uncomfortable with that adoration
.

  Would she still be that way?

  Henry smiled and reached for his drink.

  “Well, according to Joe, she’s a real beauty now. She’s bringing a friend she’s known since childhood, a Selina Musgrove. I’ve met Selina before, and she’s a lovely young lady. Maybe she could be another possibility.” He shrugged. “Don’t close them off until you’ve met them.”

  Newark wanted to disregard the thought of having two women paraded in front of him. It didn’t sound very appealing. He adored Henry and respected his judgment. He would try to keep his mind favorable to new possibilities. Newark was willing to see what happened if his Henry was behind it.

  “I’ll see.” He sighed heavily and gave Henry a pointed look. “I promise nothing, though.”

  “I’m not asking you to promise to anything.” Henry settled back and crossed his legs. “Just see what you think. No harm in that.”

  Chapter 2

  His Ideal Wife

  “O h, look!” Patricia squealed, bouncing on the window seat like a little girl as she patted Selina’s knee vigorously. “He’s looking over this way again!”

  Selina could see that. Earl Egerton was glancing over at them for the fifth time in ten minutes. She was aware they both were casting glances back and forth, but she wasn’t about to say anything.

  Chances were he was looking over whenever Patricia bounced about.

  “Honestly, Patty, you’re acting like a little girl.”

  “Well, can you blame me?” Patricia raised her glass to her lips, looking over the rim at Egerton, who had turned back to talk to Uncle Henry. “Even at his age, he could make anyone weak at the knees.”

  “Would you stop going on about his age?” Selina wanted to hide her face in embarrassment. “If you say it any louder he will hear you.”

  That was a distinct possibility since the room was quite sparse.

  “My apologies,” Patricia lowered her glass and sighed. “But he’s so handsome. He was handsome years ago, and now he’s even more handsome.”

  Selina didn’t know about when he was younger. But she couldn’t argue with that description of him now. Tall and slim, broad-shouldered with jet-black hair cut short but not short enough to get rid of the curls, rugged features, and piercing blue eyes. He wore his clothes like he was the prince regent, but there was a quiet air about him that softened this look somewhat.

  When Selina had first seen him, she hadn’t been able to stop staring. She had seen a fair share of handsome men, but Earl Newark was different. Selina warmed up to him.

  It seemed he was as affected by her as she was by him. The earl had simply stared at her when Henry introduced them. Patricia had been gushing, greeting him like an old friend, but he hadn’t stopped staring at Selina. Newark bowed but said nothing.

  He had said nothing since the day before when they arrived. He spoke briefly with Patricia and had long conversations with Henry. But, whenever Selina was mentioned, he seemed to clam up, blush and look away. It was as if she was fearful in his eyes.

  Selina almost laughed at the thought. But Earl Newark, as was the proper way to address him now, was avoiding her. What else could it be?

  This was getting depressing, so she forced the thoughts away.

  “Can we talk about something else, please? It’s distressing enough that I have to face embarrassment over my social status in this room without you gushing over the Earl of Newark every five seconds.”

  Patricia frowned at her.

  “What’s wrong with you? Uncle Henry’s been lovely towards you.”

  That was true enough. Henry Batten had a soft spot for Selina, and the feeling was mutual. He was easy to talk to, and Selina laughed at his bad jokes simply because he was a fun, caring man who paid her attention. Any other man of his status would tolerate her and then ignore her. Henry didn’t do that; he made sure Selina was respected and made her feel welcomed.

  “I know he has, and he’s a true gentleman.” Selina glanced across the room. “I’m talking about the Buxton’s.”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Buxton?”

  “More Mrs. than Mr,” Selina grunted.

  Jason and Eleanor Buxton was a couple in their early forties. They were friends of Henry’s and came over to see him often. Jason was an overweight, red-faced jovial man who was very pleasant. Eleanor, on the contrary, was something else and she made Selina uncomfortable.

  “She’s a nice lady.” Patricia protested. “A little overbearing, I admit, but she means well.”

  “She’s constantly asking about my family.” Selina looked over at Eleanor, who had tapped Henry on the arm from her position on the sofa, to ask him something. Her husband was now talking to Earl Egerton. “Even after I told her about them and how I grew up, she’s still talking about my life. I don’t like that, it feels like a faux pas.”

  Selina was not proud of her origins. She loved her parents, and they did well in raising her, but she wasn’t keen on discussing them when she was mingling with people of a higher social status. Patricia was in that group, but she didn’t care who Selina was as long as she talked to her and was her friend. Henry didn’t care either; he treated his own servants like personal family friends.

  Eleanor Buxton, while pleasant, seemed to be the busybody who liked to gossip and Selina disliked those people.

  Patricia giggled and patted her arm.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll head her off at the pass. Don’t fret so much. Enjoy yourself. Talk to Uncle Henry if you feel left out. Talk to Mr. Buxton; he seems to like you.” Patricia grinned and winked. “Maybe you can gain information about Newark that I can use?”

  Selina groaned.

  “I see. You’re blackmailing me? I find out what I can on this earl so you can trifle with him and you’ll keep Mrs. Buxton off my back.”

  “No blackmail. Just a simple exchange.” Patricia shrugged. “We do something for each other. Nothing to it.”

  Selina knew it for what it was. It was blackmail. She sighed.

  “Sometimes, I wonder why we’re friends.”

  ***

  Newark snuck another look at Selina as she sat on the window seat. Patricia sat beside her, bouncing about like a little girl whenever he looked over. It was cute on both their parts but Newark wished he could approach them instead of staring.

  Patricia had developed nicely. She was almost as tall as he was and willowy in stature. Her hair was golden blonde and pinned up on her head in the regular Regency style. Her dress was fashionable and cut to her body; she was most definitely an attractive woman. It was unfortunate her behavior hadn’t matured.

  Selina was a different story entirely. Petite, slight but with a good figure, she had a light tan as if she spent lots of time in the sun. Dark brown hair held up over a slim, graceful neck. Her eyes, when he first met them, had snared him to the spot.

  She was gorgeous. Earl Newark had met handsome women before, but they didn’t have that special quality that Selina possessed. Staring would not help him either.

  He hadn’t been able to talk to her at all. Whenever he got an opportunity, his mouth dried up, and he didn’t know what to say.

  From the look on Selina’s face, she thought he must dislike her.

  That was far from the truth.

  “Well?” Henry nudged him and nodded towards Selina, who was in deep whispering conversation with her friend. “What do you think?”

  “She’s beautiful.” Newark knew he wouldn’t be able to hide anything from his mentor. “And there’s a sense of grace about her.”

  Henry raised an eyebrow as he sipped his sherry.

  “I’m not sure about the grace, but I’m sure that’ll come as she gets older.”

  Newark frowned. Henry knew a different person to the one he had met. But, then again, he hadn’t spoken to her yet.

  “She’s got grace already. I don’t think you need to change much about her, Henry,”

  Henry paused, giving the earl a curious look.

  “I
feel we’re talking about different people. You’re not speaking about Patricia at all, are you?”

  He thought Newark was talking about Patricia? The earl held back a laugh.

  “No, I’m not. No disrespect considering she is your niece, but Patricia is a little brash for my liking. I’m sure she’ll be fine once I get to know her more and I have a soft spot for her, but there’s nothing there.” He shook his head. “I can’t see me married to her for fifty years.”

  When other beautiful women paraded themselves in front of him, Earl Newark was more and more put off marriage, even when he knew it was the only way to keep the title and wealth away from Peter. But now he looked at Selina, and he could see it becoming a possibility.

  If he could only stop getting so tongue-tied whenever he needed to talk to her.

  “But you can see yourself being married to Selina for fifty years?” Henry intoned.

  “Don’t question my logic, Henry. I didn’t ask to find myself drawn to her when they came into the room. That, I wasn’t expecting.”

  Seeing Selina for the first time had taken his breath away. Newark was very inexperienced in dealing with women, but he knew attraction when he felt it. And Selina had grabbed hold of him.

  “She’s not of the same social class, I must warn you of that. People would disapprove.” Henry shrugged. “Be true to your heart. She’s a lovely young lady, and I can see her being Lady Newark. At least you’ve got a person you would like to make your wife.”

  “Well, you say that,” Newark grunted. He nodded at Selina, who looked like Patricia had just suggested something distasteful to her. “I’ve just got to talk to her properly. She keeps looking at me as though I’ve crawled out of a pond.”

  “Probably because you keep staring at her and won’t go near her.” Henry chuckled. He nudged the earl’s arm. “Come on, stop being so shy.”

  “It’s not shyness.” Newark protested.

  Henry rolled his eyes and patted his arm.

  “Well, talk to her then. You can do this.”