Regency Romances

by Grace Fletcher

  "No, no!" she exclaimed frantically, "I do not want to know how to skate anymore."

  "You do," Bedford countered immediately.

  "I do not," she shook her head, "I lost all my passion for it just now. I would be happier if I just watch you and the other skaters while I sit on a bench."

  Bedford didn't seem to hear her because he said. "Right now, I'm going to hold your arms out so that you can... "

  "No, no!" she exclaimed frantically.

  "I will not let you fall," he reassured her.

  For the first time, Inese stared into those eyes. She often found it hard to trust people, and not even her parents did she trust absolutely. However, standing there and staring into his eyes, she felt different. She felt like she could absolutely trust him.

  Reluctantly, she released her tight hold on him. He held out one of her hands, and then the other. He then smiled warmly.

  Inese looked down.

  "Don't look at your feet. Look at me then push with your right leg."

  Inese did as he had instructed her.

  "Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Now, do the same with the other."

  She tried it yet again and gasped with excitement.

  "I'm really skating," she cried, ecstatic.

  "Don't forget to always look at me," he told her, "you can now skate all by yourself, aye?"

  "No!" Inese exclaimed, but it was too late.

  Bedford had already let go of her hand. Frightened, Inese started to whirl with her arm in panic. Before long, she began to lose her balance. Bedford got behind her and put a hand on her back to help steady her.

  "Slow and steady," he breathed against her.

  This seemed to calm her down, and she soon found her balance again. When she finally did, he let go of Inese completely.

  The feeling was ecstatic, and Inese couldn't help but laugh out loud. She was actually gliding, her arms out for ballast and her legs wide apart. She couldn't believe it. She had always wanted to learn to skate, and now, it was a dream come true for her. She gave another laugh of joy, and it almost threw her off balance. She was, however, quick to regain her balance with a little more frantic whirling. She continued to skate, pushing with one leg and then the other.

  She was so caught up with this happiness that she didn't realize in time that she was heading straight for a group of people who had their hands linked. She panicked when she realized that she had no idea how to turn.

  "Inese, turn to the right," Bedford shouted, having noticed what was going on.

  "I have no idea how to do that!" she exclaimed, her voice frantic from panic.

  "Turn to the right!" he said yet again as though he couldn't hear what she had just said.

  The group was so engrossed with their skating and had no idea that a skater who had lost control was hurtling towards them. She was just a few feet away, and she would have collided with them if Bedford hadn't grabbed her at the last minute and turned right.

  Inese heaved a sigh of relief. She could not even begin to imagine what could have happened to her if he hadn't been fast enough to come to her rescue. She could have been injured or worse.

  When he finally guided her to the shore, he sat down, laughing. "Are you okay?" he asked, still laughing.

  "I think I am," Inese shrugged.

  "I can see that," Bedford said and continued to laugh.

  "Why are you laughing?"

  "Miss Strupule, you might be the best dancer in the whole of Europe, but, you, madam, are the most wretched skater in all of Europe."

  Inese sulked. "I guess we have you to blame for being a terrible teacher then. You could have instructed me on how to stop and turn."

  "Well, I planned on doing that, but you waited for no instruction before you started skating around," he said. "Now let us teach you how to stop and turn.”

  Inese groaned. She thought she was done for the day, but alas, her teacher was having none of it. Inese was just getting up to her feet when she felt a pair of small hands grabbing her skirts.

  "Madam, race with us."

  "Race with us please, Madam."

  Bedford's hands fell away from hers, and her eyes widened as she thrust her arms out to balance herself.

  Crawford took one of Bedford's hands while Bedford held out the other to Inese. "Be prepared, madam. We have been challenged."

  Inese improved over the next hour. Her entire body, however, ached from exertion. When she could take it no longer, she begged to be allowed to sit at the shore, and they obliged her.

  She was soon joined at the shore by Bedford, and they both sat, watching the other skaters.

  "So, did you enjoy the experience?"

  "It was...” Inese couldn't quite get the perfect word for what she felt as she skated, "it was refreshingly thrilling."

  She turned to look at him and felt a sharp pain in her muscles. She hissed with pain.

  "I'm sorry," Bedford looked concerned, "I didn't warn you about that. It will pass, but you will feel the pain from the physical exertion for a while."

  "Thank you very much, Bedford. I've always wanted to skate ever since we were in Germany, but my father never agreed to it. According to him, it was way too dangerous a sport for his daughter to venture into. He finally gave me the permission to go skating because you talked to him. For that, I'm really grateful."

  "You just called me Bedford?" he said and looked pleasantly surprised.

  "Yes. Do you have any objection to it?"

  "No," he shook his head, "not at all. My close friends and family call me that. I thought you should know."

  Inese smiled. "I take that to mean that you consider me a close friend then?"

  Bedford also broke into a smile. "I believe that is right."

  He turned his gaze back to the skaters, and she did too. The boys were presently trying to outrace each other, but they have managed not to collide with anybody so far.

  "We might just practice skating some more so I can master my moves perfectly well," Inese said and made to stand up.

  Another wince of pain brought her sitting back on the bench. Her hips and legs were on fire.

  "Oh, No!" Bedford groaned, "I should not have allowed you exert yourself so. Your father would probably call for my head now."

  Inese laughed.

  "Trust me, you can do no wrong in my father's eyes."

  "I certainly hope so," he said.

  Inese couldn't help but smile again as she put her hand in his while he closed his fingers around her hand and helped her up.

  Chapter 2

  Lady Freya’s Visit

  "Lady Freya Bradley," the butler announced at the door of Inese's salon.

  "Thank you," Inese replied and rose to her feet as Freya walked in into the salon.

  "Freya!" Inese said, happy to see her friend.

  "Inese," Freya said happily.

  Freya was one of the few friends that Inese first made when her parents moved to London, and they had remained friends ever since. She was a beautiful lady with striking gray eyes and beautiful red hair.

  "I'm sorry to hear that you were under the weather for a while," Freya said.

  "Indeed. I was under the weather for a few days, but I am much improved now," Inese smiled as they both took their seat.

  "If I had not heard from you myself, I would not have believed. You are the perfect picture of health, and since you seemed healthy enough to skate with Bedford, I did not quite believe at first."

  Inese looked up. She could not remember telling Freya that she had gone skating.

  "How did you know that I went skating?"

  Freya laughed. "You have stayed long enough in London to know that news travel rather fast. A little bird told a bird that told a bird that told me."

  Inese also laughed. "I can never understand the ways of you Englishmen," she said, shaking her head.

  "You have no choice but to understand it now. Especially since you would soon be betrothed to an Englishman," Freya said.

  Ine
se blinked, confused. "What do you mean? I am not betrothed to anyone."

  Freya touched her lightly on the shoulder. "You don't have to pretend with me. After all, we are friends."

  "I am not pretending. I really do not know what you are talking about," Inese insisted.

  "How then is it possible that you do not know of your own betrothal? I heard that your parents have finalized plans to get you betrothed to an Englishman," Freya said in a conspiratorial tone.

  "What?" Inese was genuinely shocked. Her parents wouldn't do that. They know how much she did not want to marry an Englishman.

  "That was exactly what I heard. You know that I'm quite in tune with the gossips that fly around."

  "My parents wouldn't do that. They know quite well that I have no desire to marry an Englishman."

  "I heard that they would not be doing it directly. They plan on matchmaking you and the Englishman so that you would fall in love with him then you would have no choice but to marry him," Freya continued.

  Inese shook her head. "I will not fall in love with any Englishman," she assured herself.

  "Are you quite sure of that?" Freya asked, her brows raised as though she knew something that Inese did not know.

  "Yes."

  "Then, pray tell me you are not in love with the Earl of Bedford."

  "Bedford?" Inese's heart skipped a beat, and she could not but blush, "I do not love him."

  "The rest of London would find that hard to believe. You were both seen skating together days ago, and you danced only with him at the last ball. People are watching. You know that, right?"

  "I do not love him, and he has not shown interest in any way either. I enjoy his company because he's quite witty and funny, but that is all there is between us. My father—knowing how much I wanted to try skating—told him to teach me, and I found it quite enjoyable. In fact, I would be seeing him later today because my father invited him to dinner today to thank him for teaching me how to skate."

  Freya's eyes widened. "That is it!" she said as though she had just solved a puzzle. "How did I not think of that before?"

  "What?" Inese was getting more confused by the moment.

  "Bedford is the one your father wants you to marry," Freya whispered.

  Inese shook her head. "But that is not possible. Bedford has never shown an interest in me, and I do not love him either. He is just an acquaintance of my father, and he also wants us to...” Inese’s voice faltered off as she thought about it. What if Freya was right? In fact, the more she thought of it, the more she realized that Freya could be right.

  “I take your silence to mean that you have also been able to figure the ploy out?"

  Inese nodded and shook her head vehemently.

  "I don't think my father would want to do that to me."

  "There is a way to know if indeed he is trying to get you to marry Bedford," Freya said.

  "Really? How do I know then?'

  "Ask yourself this question: have you been thinking more and more about the Earl of Bedford ever since your father made his acquaintance? Also, have you found yourself having a special affection for him too?"

  Inese was dumbfounded. She didn't have to think about it, for she knew the truth. Her thoughts were filled with Bedford, and the fact that she found him extremely attractive made it even worse. She was beginning to have a special affection for him, and she knew that if she didn't curtail her emotions, she was going to end up falling in love with him.

  Inese shook her head vigorously. She could not afford to fall in love with Bedford. He was an Englishman.

  "I... I..." she stuttered, unsure of her feelings.

  "You do not have to tell me what you think. However, I'm sure that you know if truly your parents are trying to get you to marry an Englishman or not. Also, I am quite sure that you now know if their ploy is working or not."

  Inese opened her mouth and closed it again. She was confused.

  "Inese, I hope you have not forgotten my party which is coming up in few days," Freya said, moving on to another topic.

  Inese was grateful for the change of topic since the topic of her love life made her extremely uncomfortable, especially since she was so unsure of what was truly happening.

  "Of course. How could I ever forget your party? The last ball that you threw was attended by the most important people in society. It was also the talk of the whole town for a very long time."

  Freya blushed. "Thank you. I plan for the next ball to be even more interesting. Please, arrive on time, and I definitely trust you to wear one of the best fineries to my party."

  Inese smiled. For a lady who was not born in London, Inese had managed to warm her way into the heart of many in the social scene. Her beauty, coupled with her good manners and grace, had earned her a place in the heart of many. She was a regular face at the balls and parties in London, and she was popular and very well-liked.

  Freya and Inese continued to talk about the next party, and soon enough, Inese had wholly forgotten what Freya had earlier discussed with her.

  ***

  "The Earl of Bedford," the butler announced.

  Inese and her parents rose to welcome their guest. Dinner was meant to start in a few moments, and he was right on time.

  Bedford walked in, looking as magnificent as he always was. His hair was well-coiffed on his head, and his choice of clothing suited him just fine. It was safe to say that he cut a fine figure.

  "Welcome, Bedford," Hans, Inese’s father said.

  "Thank you for honoring our invitation," Adelheid, Inese's mother also said.

  "Thank you, Master Strupule," he said to Hans, "Lady Strupule, there is nowhere else I would rather be."

  "My lord," Inese said quietly.

  "Miss Strupule, you look beautiful," he said, and his eyes told that he meant every word of what he had just said.

  As they settled to eating and made small talk, Inese couldn't help but notice that Bedford was paying more attention to her than the dinner that he had been invited to.

  "What do you think about the food, Bedford?" Adelheid asked.

  "I've never eaten any German delicacy before, but this is definitely tasty," he said with enthusiasm.

  Adelheid beamed.

  "I haven't had the opportunity to thank you for agreeing to teach Inese how to skate. Thank you very much," Hans said.

  Bedford shook his head. "I enjoyed Miss Strupule's company, so it was quite worth the trouble. Also, asides a few times when she almost fell, she was such an agreeable student and fast learner."

  "Our Inese has always been a bright girl right from childhood," Adelheid said, beaming with pride.

  "I'm glad you both are getting along quite well and that you two are friends now."

  Inese's face colored. "Father!"

  " Bedford himself told me that you are getting along fabulously," Hans said.

  That hit Inese. Has her father and Bedford been having conversations about her behind her? What were these conversations about?

  "Have you been talking about me to Bedford, Father?" she said, all smiles erased from her face.

  Her father didn't seem to have noticed her change in countenance because he laughed.

  "Of course we've talked about you, and I can't wait to see your friendship blossom into something more."

  Inese gasped. Her fears had been confirmed. Freya was right. Her father wanted to marry her off to an Englishman, and he was intentionally making sure that she developed affection for Bedford.

  "Do you mean something better like marriage, Father?" she had abandoned her food at this point.

  "What greater friendship could you both possibly have if not a union that involved marriage?" Hans said, took a swig of wine and laughed happily.

  "Mother, is this what you think too?" she wanted to be sure of those who were part of the ploy.

  Adelheid turned to face her daughter. "Lord Bedford is a fine gentleman, and there is sincerely no better man in London."

  She turned to Bed
ford, "You knew about this too?"

  "I wanted to make your acquaintance and become friends with you before showing my interest," he replied while Inese took a sip of the wine.

  "Now that everything is out, I believe that you also feel the same way about Bedford," Hans said happily.

  "No, I don't." she set the class of wine a little too hard on the table.

  "What?"

  "What do you mean, Inese?"

  "I do not have any special affection for Bedford," she said again even though her thudding heart told her that she was lying.

  "Father and Mother, you have always known that I do not want to marry an Englishman. I've always said it that I want a German and a German only."

  "But that is not possible," Hans muttered, looking crestfallen, "we are in England, and very few German men are here."

  "If I would have to go back to Germany to get a suitable German man, I would gladly do it."

  Adelheid took her hand. "Why trouble yourself, my darling? You have Bedford here, and he is willing to marry you?"

  "I don't want him!" Inese said with a loud voice.

  She rose abruptly to her feet.

  "What do you think you are doing, Inese?"

  She turned to face her father. "I could never have thought you capable of something as treacherous as trying to make me fall in love with a man that I do not want." She faced her mother, "Mother, I thought you cared about me."

  "I have made it known multiple times that I do not want an Englishman, yet you both planned to have me fall in love with Bedford by having him in my presence at all times. I do not want this, and I want you to stop trying to marry me off to an Englishman."

  She then turned to Bedford, who had a bemused expression on his face. "My lord, I do not want to be married to an Englishman. Now, that you know that, kindly leave me alone. Your company was quite enjoyable, but I would not have you think that I'm encouraging you in any form. Therefore, I will no longer be honoring any invitation from you. I would earnestly implore you to leave me alone."

  Having finally given them a piece of her mind, Inese didn't seem to want to proceed with the dinner anymore.

  "I would like to be excused from dinner. I have lost my appetite."

  Without waiting for her parents to respond, she made for her chamber.