A Lady's Taste For Temptation (Historical Regency Romance)

by Emily Honeyfield

  “Men who became my friends, I believe,” Myles said. “Although for the life of me, I could not remember their names right now.”

  “Do not stress yourself,” Lady Emily said, gently. “I am sure that it will come to you.”

  “I hope so,” Myles answered. “Now that I am well, of course, I should leave you to your…”

  “You can’t leave!” Lady Emily cried, surprising all of them. Lord Reginald looked to her.

  “Why can’t he leave?” he asked her. “He can walk, and talk, and he seems like an independent man.”

  “No,” Lady Emily said, ignoring Lord Reginald. “You cannot leave because you are not well. You do not even remember your name. You cannot simply go wandering the streets.”

  “I…” Myles paused. “I appreciate that. But of course, I do not want to be a burden”

  “You are not a burden,” Lady Emily assured him. “Is he, Father?”

  Her father stared at her for a long moment, and then sighed.

  “No,” he said. “Of course, you may stay as long as you need. At the very least, until you remember your name and the business you have in this country.”

  Myles wanted to object, because he was truly an independent man, but the thought of going out into a strange country with no idea who he really was or what he was doing here did frighten him.

  “You mentioned to me that you were a silversmith,” Lady Emily said, gently, after a moment. “Do you think that was part of the reason you came?”

  “I don’t know,” Myles said. “Maybe I am looking to expand my business?”

  “Is your business funded by your family?” Lord Reginald suggested. “And perhaps you are coming to ask them for more money?”

  “No,” Myles said, quickly. “I’ve never been here. And I do not think I have any family here.”

  “I am sure we will get to the bottom of this,” Lady Emily said, quickly.

  “I am sure we will,” Myles said, and stood up, carefully. “Until then, I believe I shall retire to my room.”

  “Are you feeling unwell?” Lady Emily asked, concerned. “Shall we send for the doctor again?”

  “No, no,” Myles tried to reassure her with a smile. “I believe I just need more rest. Thank you again for all your hospitality.”

  He moved towards the door and then stumbled slightly. Lady Emily was able to catch his arm, and he smiled at her gratefully

  “Thank you,” he said, in a soft tone. “For saving me.”

  She wasn’t sure whether he was referring to right this moment, or to saving him from the ship. Either way, she was touched by his openness, and met his eyes with a smile. It seemed to go on for a moment too long, and she felt a flush rise through her body that she had never felt before.

  “Good day,” Myles said, after breaking the spell, and then left the room. Lady Emily’s eyes darted away from him and landed on Lord Reginald’s face.

  “I don’t believe,” Lord Reginald said, quietly, “that he is a gentleman.”

  “What are you talking about?” Lady Emily asked. “He does not know a thing about himself. He could be a gentleman. He’s had such a bump on the head, he hardly knows his own name.”

  “Perhaps it would be excusable to forget his own name, or his purpose here,” Lord Reginald said. “But a true gentleman would have been born into a waistcoat and cravat. He would know how to greet a lady, or what to do with his hat. Did you notice that he forgot it twice in the short time he was in this room? He does not have the manners ingrained into him. He is no gentleman”

  “I do not think we should be so quick to judge,” Lady Emily said. “I believe that he is a book, waiting to be read, and we are all impatient.”

  “Oh my,” Sir Preston said. “You always were quite the wordsmith, daughter.”

  “I am serious,” Lady Emily said. “This is not very Christian of any of us.”

  With that, she left the room. Surprised, Catherine scurried after her.

  “Emmie!” she cried. Lady Emily paused by the window and waited for Catherine to catch up. “Emmie, I’m so sorry if I offended you.”

  “No Catherine,” Lady Emily shook her head. “It had nothing to do with you. It is the men in whom I am disappointed.”

  “He did seem rather out of sorts,” Catherine said. “Perhaps he will remember more of his past.”

  “I am certain he will,” Lady Emily said. “In the meantime, we must do our very best to treat him with the upmost kindness and respect”

  “Well, of course,” Catherine said.

  “Including helping him get ready for the Truro ball,” Lady Emily said, and her friend reacted in surprise

  “The ball?” she said. “But that is a fortnight away!”

  “Yes,” Lady Emily said. “But these types of injuries can take a long while to heal. And it would be rude of us to be all swept up in the preparations and not include him.

  “I...suppose,” Catherine replied. “But… what if he is out of place?”

  “He won’t be out of place,” Lady Emily said. “For I will teach him everything that he needs to know.”

  “That is quite an undertaking,” Catherine said in surprise, and Lady Emily smiled.

  “Perhaps,” she said. “However, I am prepared to dedicate the time.”

  “Do you mean because you’d rather do that than speak to Lord Reginald?” Catherine asked, and Lady Emily smiled.

  “Now we understand each other,” she said. Catherine sighed.

  “Well, I can see why you might be upset with him after today,” she said, and Lady Emily sighed.

  “It is more than just today,” she said. “Even on days when I am not upset with him, I am just not interested. I have taken everyone’s suggestion and given the situation time, but time is not making it more appealing.”

  “Your father seems quite set on the deal,” Catherine said, and Lady Emily gazed out of the window.

  “I know,” she said. “However, I am sure he will see my side of things soon enough. In the meantime, Catherine, will you help me? With Myles?”

  “I suppose,” Catherine said. “What do you need help with? As long as it is proper, I don’t see a problem.”

  “Well, if he’s forgotten everything, then it is likely he does not know how to use the proper soup spoon or tie a cravat,” Lady Emily said. “I would be happy to teach him.”

  “Wouldn’t it be more proper for the gentlemen to teach him that?” Catherine asked and Lady Emily shrugged.

  “Perhaps,” she said. “But I have the time, and besides, no one will object if I teach him in the parlour.”

  “That is true,” Catherine said. “But I have a feeling that Lord Reginald will not enjoy you dedicating so much time to this man.”

  “Perhaps he will not,” Lady Emily replied. “But I do not mind what he thinks, at this moment. Besides, if he is our guest for the Truro ball, we cannot have him improperly dressed or confused. I do not want anyone speaking ill of him.”

  “You mean of your family?” Catherine asked, and Lady Emily nodded.

  “Yes,” she said. “That is what I meant, of my family.”

  “Of course,” Catherine said, although she sounded like she didn’t believe her. Lady Emily, however, didn’t mind that Catherine didn’t believe her and she didn't particularly care whether Catherine assisted her or not. She was convinced that Myles was a gentleman. She couldn’t explain why, aside from the fact that she perhaps hoped he was. He had a beautiful smile, and such an enchanting accent. He was by far the most interesting person she had ever met.

  The next morning, she was delighted to see Myles downstairs. He hadn’t come down for breakfast, but he was lingering in the dining room before lunch, and she saw her opportunity. He was staring at the table setting and she could see the look of confusion in his eyes.

  “Hello,” she said, as she came into the room.

  “Hello,” Myles said, and his face lit up when he saw that it was her. “How are you this fine day?”

&nb
sp; “I am well,” she said. “And you?”

  “I am much better than yesterday,” he said. “And twice as better as the day before.”

  “I am glad to hear that,” she said, even though she realized that she was secretly not as glad as she should be. She didn’t want him to recover too fast, because she was afraid he would leave before they really got to know each other. “Have you remembered your surname?”

  “Uh...no,” he said, and she smiled.

  “It is all right,” she said. “I am sure it will come in time. There is no rush.”

  “That is very kind of you,” he said, and then looked at the table. “I was...marvelling at how much cutlery you had.”

  It was such an odd thing to say, and it made her smile.

  “Well, yes of course,” she said. “We will have lunch soon, so the table needed to be set.”

  “But with all of this?” he asked, and picked up the outer fork. “Why do you need several?”

  “Oh my,” she said, with a chuckle. “It seems that you have hit your head harder than you thought.”

  “Perhaps,” he said, as he spun the fork around.

  “Here, sit down,” she said, and indicated he should take the chair in front of him. He looked at the chair and then up at her. In a flash of inspiration, he pulled out the chair for her and indicated she should sit first. She smiled. “See, I knew you were a gentleman Thank you.”

  Once she sat, he sat beside her. One at a time, Lady Emily went over the different spoons and forks. Myles seemed to have a little trouble holding on to the information, and she had to repeat some of the instructions.

  “This one is for soup?” he asked, and she reached her hand out to get the correct one.

  Their hands brushed, and Lady Emily felt a shock go down her spine. She looked up to meet his eyes, and saw him staring back at her. She smiled and so did he, and pulled back her hand perhaps a bit more slowly than was proper.

  “This one,” she said, with a smile.

  “Ah, that’s right,” he said. “You must think me a dunce.”

  “No,” she said. “You are ill. Besides, we still have a fortnight.”

  “A fortnight?” he asked. “Until I must leave?”

  “Oh, heavens no,” she said. “We still have a fortnight until the Truro ball.”

  “What’s that?” he asked, confused.

  “Only the most important ball of the season,” she said. “Everyone attends, and it’s usually considered the time to show off the grandest dresses, and the finest foods. I have been attending since I was little more than a child, and I believe it is the highlight of my year.”

  “It sounds fancy,” he said.

  “Of course it is,” she said. “But it is also a great deal of fun. They have the best musicians, and everyone is in a wonderful mood. The dancing in my favourite part.”

  “Hmm,” he said. “I have never been much for dancing. Steven, he was always the dancer.”

  “Steven?” she asked. “Who is Steven?”

  “Well, he’s…” Myles looked confused and then he spoke, almost as if the words were not his own. “Steve is…my...neighbour. We were raised like brothers.”

  “You remembered something!” she cried out, happily. He chuckled.

  “I suppose I have,” he said, and she leaned forward.

  “Can you remember anything else?”

  “I...Steven is a good dancer?” he repeated. “And I always wondered how he did it.”

  “Oh, dancing is not skill,” she said. “It’s all about how good your teacher is.”

  “Oh, Steven didn’t have a teacher,” he said. “I suppose there must be a dance teacher somewhere in America, but neither of us ever met one.”

  “Perhaps things are done differently there,” she said. “Tell me more about America. Is it very cold?”

  “Sometimes,” he said. “I am from New England…”

  “New England?” she cried in delight. “And now you are in old England. How funny.”

  “Indeed,” he said. “Do you have snow here?”

  “Not usually,” she replied. “Perhaps a light dusting now and again, but nothing much to speak about. Do you have snow in America?”

  “Not in all parts,” he replied. “But in the part where I am from, we certainly do. When the winter comes, it brings piles of snow higher than my head at times.”

  “Goodness!” she cried. “How do you survive?”

  “With very warm coats,” he answered, and she laughed.

  “Of course,” she said. “I suppose you do not go for many turns in the garden then.”

  “No,” he said.

  “Do you have a garden?” she further enquired, and he shrugged.

  “I am afraid I cannot remember,” he replied. “I wish I could. It’s very...disconcerting to have no idea.”

  “You will remember, before the week is out, I am certain,” she said. “Besides, today you remembered Steven and where you are from. That is something.”

  “I was wondering,” he said, and reached into his jacket. “Do you know a Mrs. Konrad?”

  Out of his jacket pocket came a letter, that was soaked by seawater. It was stained and the ink was running, but she could see that it was indeed addressed to a Konrad.

  “No,” she said. “No, I am afraid I don’t.”

  “It’s all right,” he said.

  “Who is she?” Lady Emily asked. She realized that her heart rate had risen, and she was afraid that this Mrs. Konrad was actually this exciting young man’s wife.

  “I don’t know,” Myles admitted. “I found this letter in my clothes, and while I can barely make it out, it seems to be to a Mrs. Konrad. I’m not sure...who that is, or why I have it.”

  “Is it possible that you wrote it?” Lady Emily asked and Myles looked baffled.

  “I mean, I suppose at this point, anything is possible,” he replied. “But I do not think I wrote it. The handwriting isn’t familiar to me.”

  “Perhaps I can ask around?” Lady Emily asked. “I know a great many people in the area, but there are always some that I don’t.”

  “Of course,” Myles said, and put the letter back in his pocket. “That would be lovely.”

  “Do you think that letter is the reason you are here?” she asked him, as she searched his face.

  “Maybe,” he replied. “But if it is, I would be very disappointed in myself. I did not take very good care of it.”

  “You were in a shipwreck!” Lady Emily said. “It is a miracle that you are here to tell me about that letter at all.”

  “I suppose,” Myles said, and smiled at her. “You always have the most wonderful thing to say.”

  “Oh, my friends would disagree with you,” Lady Emily said.

  Myles raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps they are not really your friends then,” he said. “Or perhaps they do not know how to appreciate your talents.”