The Earl's Reluctant Bride: A Sweet Regency Romance (Brides of Somerset Book 1)

by Karen Lynne

  She entered the morning room only to stop. A harp sat under the window. A note tied with red silk ribbon fluttered from one of its wires.

  Her heart seized as she ran her hand down the delicately carve wood. Afraid to touch the note. A tear escaped and ran down her cheek. It was a gift from him, she knew as she strummed the strings. It was perfectly tuned. Her fingers shook as she untied the ribbon. Holding her breath, she opened it and read. James’ neat hand-writing was scrawled across the paper.

  The note swirled to the ground as she grabbed her bonnet and raced out the door. Running across the grass, her shoes soaked up moisture, but she didn’t care. She stopped at the crest of the hill. The folly she knew as a child stood amongst the copse of trees. Let him still be there, she whispered as she slowly approached the building.

  His back was turned to her as she entered. His dark hair glistened as the rays of sun hit him. Debris crunched under her feet and he turned, his crooked smile melting her insides.

  “You came” he whispered as he advanced toward her.

  “I’ve been such a fool,” Susan cried as he crushed her in an embrace, his lips claiming hers. She melted into him, vowing never to let him go again.

  He released her before cupping her cheek in his hand. “Does this mean you forgive me?” he asked, his voice husky.

  She nodded. “What took you so long?”

  “My mother.” He smiled. “She advised me to wait, to give you time to realize you loved me.”

  “Smart woman,” Susan replied as she tucked her arm in his.

  They strolled out of the folly as they headed back toward her home. “I don’t want to take any more chances of anyone else trying to steal you again,” James said as he pulled a paper from his coat.

  “What’s this?” she asked, as he handed her the paper.

  “It’s my protection for keeping you, if you will still have me.”

  “A special license,” she breathed. “When?”

  “How about Saturday?”

  Susan giggled and nodded, handing him back the letter and snuggling closer. She could see the chapel in the distance. She suddenly looked forward to church on Sunday.

  Epilogue

  Susan knew that Abby was disappointed at missing her wedding and attempted to console her. “You know I wanted you here, and I wish your father had let you come back with William. If you had not alerted James, well, I have you to thank for saving me.”

  “I would not have minded except William attended, and I so wanted to be there,” Abby complained.

  “It was a small affair and William and Capt. Rutley stood up for James, being his particular friends, as they helped with that awful Mr. Caldwell.” Susan shivered as she remembered.

  The door burst open as the very particular men mentioned entered the room after a hefty morning ride. “William!” Abby exclaimed to her brother. “I was just telling Susan you should have let me come home with you so I could stand up with Susan.”

  Her brother tickled her cheek as he passed. “I recall Father was against your leaving until the Season was finished.” William reminded her. “Besides, we had no idea there would be a wedding so soon.”

  Abby huffed as she sat next to Susan, who explained, “Lady Malmesbury stood up for me and William gave me away.” Susan wrapped her arm around Abby as she gave James an imploring look.

  “Abby, since you missed our wedding, Susan and I thought to have a house party after the harvest is in. A celebration of sorts,” James offered. “All our friends will be invited. A week of fun here at Bowood House.”

  Abby brightened. “Really? Oh, Susan I want to help you plan.” She forgot her disappointment in this new activity.

  “Would you like to know what happened to the bad men?” William asked Abby.

  Abby perked up. “You have news?” Susan looked at James.

  “Yes, Capt. Rutley located Bathurst after his leads pointed him to Brighton. It seems the coward was hiding out with his mother’s relatives,” James said as Susan handed him some tea.

  The captain helped himself to a scone and cream. “He was surprised when he was found. With a little persuasion, I convinced him to return home,” he explained between bites.

  “I also convinced my uncle it would be best to buy a commission for Bathurst. It was suggested a nice stint in the military would build his character. Under the circumstances, my uncle agreed with me.” James gave Susan a reassuring nod.

  “But what of that horrid Mr. Caldwell?” Abby asked.

  James looked to the captain. “You want to tell them Rutley?”

  “We know you can take care of yourself, Susan, by the results of your scuffle with Mr. Caldwell.” Susan dimpled at his praise. “But to save the other ladies in our society, the gentlemen at Fleet Street gave him the choice of transportation or immigration to America.” The captain paused for effect. “You will be happy to know Mr. Caldwell chose to immigrate and is on a ship, sailing across the ocean, never to harm our local ladies again.”

  Abby clapped. “Serves him well. I just worry for the colonists when he arrives.” She laughed.

  When the guests had left that evening, Susan and James enjoyed the quiet of each other’s company. “James, I’ve been thinking of what I want to do with Fyne Court.”

  He sat on the bench beside her watching the glimmer of her hair as he brushed the strands. Something he loved to do when they were alone. “Yes?” he replied as he fondled her ear, sending shivers down her neck.

  She giggled, pushing him back. “I am serious, James. I want to make it a place where women come who have nowhere to go. Proper women, ladies like me, who are being pushed into marriage for example, like I was.”

  “I think that is a fine idea,” he replied, continuing to nibble her ear.

  “You do?” she replied, her voice growing faint. She was losing her train of thought. “James, why did you help me?”

  He straightened, a faraway look descending on him as he thought. “It was along time ago when I was young.” He smiled down at her. “I was not much older than you are now. I loved a girl and she loved me. We wanted to marry.”

  “You did?” She shook down the feeling of envy as she touched his cheek.

  He leaned into her palm, turning to kiss it. “I went off to school, each of us pledging to wait for each other. Then I received a letter. Her father had arranged a marriage to an older man. She was desperate, but in the end, she married him.” He sighed as he began to brush her hair again. “It was then I swore never to marry.”

  “James!”

  He snuggled against her ear again. “Until I saw the most adorable ankles kicking above the face of an angel,” he taunted.

  “You did not.” She chuckled.

  “I did too. But when I heard you were being forced to marry, well it brought back those memories and I vowed you would have a choice.” He wrapped his arms around her, caressing her hair. “I hoped that choice would be me.”

  Susan exhaled as she leaned into his embrace. She did not know how she could love this man any deeper.

  Author’s Note

  Earl of Malmesbury is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1800 for the diplomate James Harris, 1st Baron of Malmesbury in the County of Wiltshire. The title is currently held by James Carleton Harris, 7th Earl of Malmesbury who succeeded in 2000.

  Five of the Earl of Malmesbury were named James. One Edward and One William.

  I have given my hero the family name of James but used Balfour as his sir name.

  My heroine Susan Hamilton whose childhood home was Fyne Court, in reality was Susan Harris Countess of Malmesbury married to James Harris the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury, and was the earl’s second wife. Her father was John Hamilton of Fyne Court.

  My story was inspired by these two families and I have enjoyed weaving them into this work of fiction. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing. This is the first book in my Sweet Regency Romance series.

  I hope you�
��ll join me for book two Courting Eliza coming May 2019.

  Sneak Peek Courting Eliza

  Brides of Somerset Book Two

  Eliza Grant sat snuggled in the window seat as, the crisp scent of late summer drifted in with the soft breeze, ruffling her hair. She had just finished reading her latest letter from Aunt Helena when her father, Owen Grant, entered the morning room of the vicarage, a bundle of papers clutched in his hand.

  “Is that a letter from Helena? What news does she have for us?” her father inquired.

  “The usual, Father. She wants me to come to Bristol.” Eliza let the letter drop to the seat beside her.

  “Ah, well, you know how I feel, Lizzie dear,” the vicar replied as he peered over his spectacles before retuning his attention to his papers.

  Eliza watched her father retreat to his office and sighed. Only her family called her by her pet name. She would turn three and twenty this summer and her Aunt Helena had been trying to get her to come to Bristol for the past few summers. Helena was married to Mr. Donovan Notley a shipping merchant. With only sons, her aunt was anxious to present the motherless Eliza and her sister Joanne with a coming out in Bath.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t want to visit Aunt Helena, for her aunt doted on both her sister and her. It was just that her heart lay here, in Somerset County, with a certain gentleman, and if there were any chance it would be reciprocated, well, she didn’t want to go off to Bristol while she still had hope.

  Only she knew of this tender feeling in her heart. Eliza was careful to keep it hidden, but if she didn’t take action, she might as well go off to Bristol.

  “Lizzie, I need your help with my packing. I just do not know what to bring,” Joanne complained, entering the parlour. “I do not even want to go to this party. Why can I not stay here with Papa?”

  Eliza rose and wrapped her arm through her sister’s as they returned to Joanne’s bed chamber where dresses and under clothing had been strung across the bed.

  “I promise this house party will be fun, and you need to come and mingle with people. For next year you will be of age to have a Season in Bath with Aunt Helena. Besides, if you don’t put yourself out in company, how will you be comfortable enough to have a Season? Or to meet your future husband?”

  Her sister blushed at Eliza, smiling. “Oh, Lizzie, who would want to marry me?”

  “Why, dear, you are so pretty, who would not want to marry you? Your temperament is sweet. Many a gentleman will be attending you, but only if you are there to be seen. Besides, I need you there with me,” Eliza reassured her. “Father will be fine here at the vicarage. It is only for a weekend. You do like Susan?”

  “Yes, she is very kind to me, even though she is your particular friend.” Joanne’s bottom lip extended just a bit.

  “As Abby and I have helped Lady Malmesbury plan this party, we have included your friends as well. Susan, assures me they have all accepted. You would not want to disappoint them? Now I promise, you shall enjoy this weekend immensely.”

  Her sister relaxed and began packing as Eliza helped her choose her dresses. Eliza was six years older than her sister and had taken care of her since her mother died. Joanne had been a sky child but was slowly growing out of it with Eliza’s encouragement.

  Eliza’s friend, Susan Hamilton, had just married James, the dashing Earl of Malmesbury in the spring a few months earlier. Eliza had stood up for Susan while her father performed the ceremony in the chapel. Now that summer was over, and the harvest in, a house party had been planned to celebrate with the new couple.

  Lady Abigale Phelips and her brother Sir William were their neighbors and friends. The four of them had grown up together. Susan had been so happy since her marriage to James, and Eliza was looking forward to spending time with them. Abby and William were coming in the morning to give them a ride to Malmesbury.

  Eliza ordered the trunks brought down to the front hall where they would be transported to Malmesbury before she joined her family in the morning room.

  “Now Joanne, dear, do not worry for me. I shall be fine I have my sermons to prepare and visits to make. Mrs. Baker takes care of our meals and I shall find plenty to keep me busy’” her father assured her sister.

  He brightened as Eliza entered the room. “Lizzie, dear. Do you have everything ready for your visit?”

  “Yes Father. Our trunks are in the hall. Abby and William will be here shortly. They have arranged for our luggage to be taken to Bowood House.” Eliza glanced at her sister, who was busy pushing a biscuit around her plate.

  “I will see you both in a few days.” The vicar rose and gathered the sheaves of paper he carried around, as he was constantly working on the next Sabbath’s sermon.

  Eliza’s family had been part of Montacute since she could remember. Sir George Phelips, William and Abby’s father, had given her father the living and vicarage when he was young. It provided a good living. After her mother died, her father had provided for their schooling, dance instructors, music teachers. It had been a very proper upbringing to prepare Joanne and her for a good marriage.

  “You will be at the dance, won’t you father?” Eliza asked.

  “Yes, dear,” He replied as he gave Joanne a pat on her shoulder before returning to his study.

  Eliza sat, buttering a piece of toast before taking a bite. She to a sip of chocolate. Eliza heard the clanking of harnesses and the crunch of gravel as a wagon approached. She stood and went to the window. She would need to help see that everything was loaded.

  “Joanne,” Eliza called, returning to the morning room. “The wagon has left and Abby will be arriving soon.”

  “I am ready, Lizzie,” Joanne stood and followed Eliza into the hallway. “You are such a mother hen.” She teased.

  “I know. I can’t help it. You look lovely.” Her sister’s light complexion contrasted with her clear blue eyes, ringed with black lashes. She would turn heads in a few years.

  “I have already agreed to enjoy myself this weekend,” Joanne retorted, scrunching her nose, she flipped her gloves at her sister. “So, there is no need to flatter.” Joanne slid on her gloves as she fell in step with Eliza. “Miss Sophia and I shall have great fun.” She glanced Eliza’s way; her eyes danced with merriment.

  “Along with Miss Shaw and Miss Hardgrave, I am sure you will,” Eliza flung back.

  “Now don’t you start on about my friends. I like them very much and we have great fun together. I know you do not like Sophia, but she and I are best friends.” Her fingers squeezed Eliza arm. Eliza’s heart softened at the pleading look in her sisters’ eyes.

  “I know.” Eliza covered Joanne’s hand with hers. “If it were not for her mother, Lady Moore, Sophia might be easier to abide.” Her eyes twinkled, an infectious grin softening her words.

  Joanne giggled. “Now Eliza, we can not pick our parents.”

  “No, we cannot,” Eliza agreed. Lady Moore was the town gossip, maybe the worst gossip in the whole county. It wouldn’t be so bad if Sophia did not parrot her mother so frequently. Sophia Moore had been her sister’s friend since they both were young. She had grown into a stunning beauty with dark, flowing hair opposite in every way to her sister’s personality and looks. It was surprising they had stayed friends.

  “I promise my complaints shall be between us.” Eliza wrapped her arm around her sister’s waist before giving her a squeeze. “I promise to tolerate Sophia with the upmost courtesy.”

  Abby swept into the vicarage with a swirl of pink skirts swishing around her ankles and, a pretty bonnet framing her perfect oval face, shining with eagerness. “Eliza,” she squealed, I have practically dragged my brother to be here on time.”

  “You certainly did not,” William complained as he followed in Abby’s wake. “Do not let her fool you, Eliza. We are not late, Abby, as I pointed out not once but several times.” As if to confirm his statement, he noted his pocket watch. Snapping it shut, he returned it to his waistcoat pocket with a satisfied nod to hi
s sister.

  Abby fluttered her hand at William with impatience. “It is of no consequence, for we are here now.” She rushed forward to greet Eliza.

  Eliza caught the faint glint of humour in William’s startling blue eyes as she peered over his sister’s shoulder. A wisp of toffee-colored hair fell across his brow, making her heart skip a beat. His eyebrows rose in amusement at Abby’s excited prattle.

  “I am glad you are here, and I daresay you are on time, Abby,” Eliza reassured her. “The wagon you sent has come and gone, so we may be on our way.”

  “You see, Abby, all is well.” William tweaked his sister’s cheek as she walked by.

  “William, do not provoke me so,” Abby complained, swatting at his hand playfully as they all proceeded out to the carriage.

  William graciously helped Joanne into the carriage before turning and extending his hand

  to her. Eliza caught a whiff of his scent, a mixture of spice, distinctly male. His grip was strong and steady, sending warmth throughout her. She let go quickly, taking a seat beside Joanne. Abby followed with William sitting next to his sister, facing her.

  “I never provoke, dear sister.” William stated as he looked to Eliza for conformation. His mouth turned down, pretending offense.

  “I would say you do not provoke on purpose,” Eliza ventured, “but you are a terrible tease, William, and have been since we were children.”

  “Yes,” Abby agreed, “Eliza is right. I think you only find joy when you’re causing me vexation.” Abby adjusted her skirt. “You are lucky you have no brother, Eliza.”

  William heartily protested, but all Eliza saw was the same mischievous turn of his mouth, never serious, full of fun, which she enjoyed when they were younger. But she longed for a more mature version of himself now that he was back from his studies.