“Oh, sorry Lottie, but I still have to choose my gown for the evening,” said Jane with a frown.
“And my hair's a mess,” Emma added. “I need to wash it and see what hairstyle to use for this evening.”
“It is fine,” Charlotte smiled. “This will not be the first time I walk alone to the town. Just tell me if you need something from the shops.”
No one needed anything else, so Charlotte put a scarf around her shoulders and walked towards the town by herself. The weather was warm and Charlotte enjoyed the sun and the beautiful scenery along the road. Her thought unconsciously traveled back to the last ball she attended and the man who had made it so hard for her to focus on her goal.
Charlotte wasn’t sure why she reacted the way she did. George Geoffrays was handsome, wealthy, and intelligent, all qualities she was looking for in a gentleman right now, and yet she had acted cold when he approached her. Charlotte had examined her reaction and decided that she had liked him too much even from a distance, and that had scared her. She had always seen herself as an honest person, but that night Charlotte had been afraid of her feelings and had acted out.
“I have to be logical,” Charlotte whispered to herself, just before she entered the town. Her parents wanted her to be happy, but she knew that falling in love so quickly and with the right man would be too much to wish for. She needed to save her family, and she had no time to lose in doing so. A rich husband was all she needed and somewhere deep inside, Charlotte believed that it would be for the best if she had no feelings towards him. It was a marriage of convenience she searched for, and she hoped that this evening she would meet someone appropriate.
The town was as busy as always, and Charlotte was quickly distracted by her thoughts. On her way to the shop, she stopped to talk to several friends and family acquaintances. She was talking to Miss Josephine King when a gentleman on a horse stopped by her side.
“Lady Roberts, if I remember correctly,” the gentleman said, touching his hat with a slight bow. “I hope that you received my invitation to the ball that is going to be held at the Assembly Rooms this evening?”
His voice was cold, and there was no warmth in his smile when Lord Geoffrays spoke. “Yes, Lord Geoffrays, my family received your invitation, and I am sure that my mother wrote back to you, accepting it.” She made an elegant bow. “Thank you for the invitation.”
“It would be an honor for me to have your family attend the ball, Lady Roberts,” he answered. “See you later this evening.”
“Thank you, Lord Geoffrays,” Charlotte repeated again, her eyes searching his for some answer to all the questions that were bothering her. He tried to act polite, but his words came out cold and rude, filled with displeasure towards her.
Charlotte watched him ride again and despite everything, she couldn’t help admire his tall figure and beautiful posture on the horse he was riding. Her mind was replaying all the words they exchanged over and over again, making it hard for her to concentrate on the task she had come to town for.
The gentleman disappeared from view and Charlotte hurried to the shop, choosing the ribbon she needed quickly and headed back home to prepare for the ball. Her sisters and mother were almost ready when she arrived home. Jane helped her with getting dressed.
“You look magnificent, Lottie,” Jane praised her when she was ready. “Come on, let’s kiss Father good night and head towards the Assembly Rooms.”
Charlotte smiled sadly at her sister’s comment, her mind still busy thinking about the meeting she had in town.
Assembly Rooms
Charlotte watched him from a distance, admiring his perfectly tailored jacket and shining boots. He stood by the main entrance of the building, welcoming in all the guests and paying particular attention to the young and unmarried ladies that came to his ball.
The Roberts girls were among the last to arrive, so after walking into the ballroom, Charlotte saw the host come in, too. Lord George Geoffrays opened the ball by dancing with one of the most beautiful ladies in the room and then he seemed to disappear. It irritated her, but Charlotte had eyes only for him. None of the other gentlemen in the room were of interest to her.
Charlotte used the time to look around, searching for that perfect gentleman who could become her husband one day. There were many handsome men in the ballroom, some known to her and others complete strangers. Not many, however, seemed to be interested in her and so far, her dance card was still empty.
Tired of waiting and needing some distraction from what her life had become lately, Charlotte approached one of the large windows of the room and sat on the window seat, almost hidden behind a large plant. Both of her sisters were dancing at the moment, and Baroness Roberts was sitting with two of her friends, discussing the newest events in the area.
“How do you do, Miss Richards?” Lord Geoffrays suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking everyone else from view. “I see that you are not dancing. Again.”
“Lord Geoffrays,” Charlotte made a movement as if to stand up, but the gentleman stopped her and instead went to sit beside her at the window seat. They were so close that she could almost feel the heat coming from his body and she could smell the soap he had used to wash up. “It is a nice ball…” she stuttered, unsure what to expect from him.
“Yes, it is,” he agreed and didn’t elaborate any further.
“I was wondering why you acted the way you did this morning,” Charlotte went straight to the point, really wanting to understand why he was so cold to her earlier. She asked the question and then realized what she had done. “Sorry, my Lord, I didn’t mean to sound so forward.”
“Don't apologize, Lady Roberts,” the gentleman stood up and looked down at her with cold eyes. “There is nothing I have to tell you.” With a last polite bow, he turned away, leaving her both confused and humiliated.
George walked away angrily and to a certain point impressed with the attitude of the young lady that kept surprising him with her beauty and her behavior. Why did you act the way you did this morning? She had asked, as a way to scold him for his cold and superior behavior that very morning. For a moment there, he had felt like a child scolded by his mother. That was what made him leave her so quickly, without answering her questions.
And yet, it had been him who approached her on both occasions.
It took him only a few minutes to start feeling sorry for the way he had behaved. He walked back to the window seat. George lowered himself slowly beside Lady Roberts and waited another moment before speaking.
“You hurt me deeply when you refused to dance with me the night of the first ball,” the gentleman murmured, his voice sounding apologetic. “The truth is that that was the first time a woman said no to me in such a way. I am sorry now that I didn’t handle the situation better.”
“So you decided to make me feel inferior by acting cold and superior around me?” Charlotte asked, looking him in the eyes. “You know, Lord Geoffrays, I was so worried and sad that night that I didn’t feel like dancing at all. When you asked me for a dance, I would have had the same answer for anyone else.”
“I see,” the gentleman answered. “I wanted to say that I am sorry for my behavior and that it was brought up because of some personal problems.”
George was tired of trying to understand the beautiful woman who seemed to be able to trouble him by just looking his way. For a second time that night, he stood up from the window seat and saluted the lady before leaving her there. She was still angry at him due to his pride and ignorance, but George didn’t feel like fighting with her any longer, preferring to return to his other guests.
The evening was a great success for George, and he renewed his acquaintances with a lot of the young and beautiful ladies he had met during the first ball. Lady Charlotte Roberts didn’t dance that night, and George kept following her during the entire evening, pleased to see that she didn’t pay any attention to any of the other gentlemen present at the ball.
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“I will keep my promise, Father,” James said into the empty room. “I will be happy in my marriage.”
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CHAPTER TWELVE
MRS. BUNTING’S ARRIVAL
“Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.”
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Bunting Manor
The morning after the ball, Marquess James Bunting looked through the window in his study, his hands automatically letting go of the documents he had been reading. It was only eleven o’clock in the morning, but he felt so tired. It felt as if an entire day of labor had passed already. The day was memorable with the coming home of Marchioness Eleanor Bunting, James’ mother, who had spent the last few days in London.
The entire household had been working hard to clean the mansion and the large garden around it. James was not too excited about his mother coming back home, but there was little he could do to change that. It had always been hard to communicate with the Marquess, especially after his father’s death and James’ return from the war.
“My Lord,” one of the maids appeared at the door of his study. “I was wondering if Lady Eleanor will be asking for us to change the drapes in her room again?”
James let out a heavy sigh before answering the maid. “I have no idea, Rebecca,” he admitted sadly. “I never know what my mother will do next, but you don’t have to worry. She will tell us her preferences.”
“Thank you, my Lord,” Rebecca said with a small bow. “I will return to my work now.”
“Yes, thank you, Rebecca,” the Marquess looked at the closed door, thinking that even the servants were upset by the return of his mother.
Marchioness Eleanor Bunting was not someone to take lightly. The elderly, bitter Lady was used to having everything she wanted and did not hesitate to ask for it. James was accustomed to her and almost did not notice it anymore, but to everyone else the experience was a nightmare.
His mother arrived just before the lunch was served and the atmosphere in the old mansion changed immediately. For a moment, James considered running in the opposite direction, but then thought better of it and slowly walked towards the carriage, which had the family crest crafted on its doors.
“Mother,” the Marquess said with a forced smile. “It is nice to have you back.”
“The journey here was so long and hard,” the Lady complained. “I am too old to travel now.”
“That is not true,” James dutifully disagreed. “You are still very young, Mother.”
“Right, right…” she waved her hand and accepted the Marquess’ help climbing down from the carriage. “Is the lunch ready? I want to eat right away and then rest.”
James quickly threw a glance towards Mrs. Beller, the housekeeper, and carefully supported his mother on her way up the stairs. Lady Eleanor was welcomed by the entire household, but her whole attention focused on her son.
“Many of our acquaintances asked after you in London,” she said in her high-pitched voice. “I still don’t understand why you couldn’t join me there. I have never been particularly devoted to the countryside, as you know. It is your duty as a son to come and visit me more often.”
“Yes, Mother,” James agreed again. “I thought about coming to visit you, but there were too many things to take care of here, so I had to stay.”
“You always have work, just like your father,” the Marchioness said as she sat heavily on the chair. The lunch was already served. Three of the maids and the housekeeper were waiting close by to assist them through the meal. “There are more important things in life than work, James.”
“Yes, Mother,” he answered dutifully, already regretting his decision to stay.
“Fine,” the Marchioness put her fork down and looked directly at her son. “I came here to tell you that I have chosen a wife for you.”
“Wait,” James almost jumped in his chair. “Please, leave us alone.” He said to the servants and waited patiently for them to leave the room. “You know how much I hate it when you start talking like that.”
The Marchioness just turned her birdlike face at him, smiling coldly. “I already found a good match for you. You remember Lady Rochester, right? She is a wealthy heiress, and we have known her family forever.”
“Oh, God,” James exclaimed. “I don’t love Lady Rochester, Mother. I am not even interested in her.”
Lady Sarah Rochester was a very accomplished and beautiful young lady, daughter of Lord Rochester, an old friend of James’ father. He had known her all his life, and although James liked Lady Sarah as a friend, there was nothing more deep between the two of them.
“You are almost thirty years old, James,” his mother said in her usual superior tone. “You don’t have time to wait for something to happen. You need to put some effort into finding your future wife."
“And Lady Sarah is supposed to be her? I am sorry, Mother, but I don’t think so.” James could see how adamant his mother was, but he was not going to let her control his life. “I will choose my wife.”
“Fine with me, but you have to hurry. I am not going to wait for you any longer,” the Marchioness said, a small smile playing on her lips. “Now, I am going to rest. Make sure that no one disturbs me."
James almost threw the plate after her, he was so angry after hearing her words. To him, marriage was important, so important that he simply couldn’t see himself marrying just for convenience. A marriage with Lady Sarah Rochester was going to be a good business investment, but it was not going to bring him happiness. James was only twenty-eight years old, good, kind hearted and delicately handsome, as one of his lady friends had put it.
He was different from his friend, Duke George Geoffrays, who had a more stern character. Marquess James Bunting was a romantic at heart, a fact that his mother never understood. Often, the Marquess thought that his mother had never been in love. He remembered his father well, but he couldn’t remember his parents ever saying loving words to each other. The late Marquess, his father, had always respected his wife and only on his deathbed, had he admitted to his son that he had never been in love with his wife.
James had asked him then about their marriage, and his father had told him that his marriage had been arranged by their parents and that no one had asked him about his feelings. James had asked him why he told him all that, and his father had admitted that he wanted a different life for his son.
“I will keep my promise, Father,” James said into the empty room. “I will be happy in my marriage.”
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A smile appeared on the Marquess’ lips, and he felt completely taken aback by how beautiful Jane Roberts was in the morning light.
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SEEING HER IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT
“There is a monstrous deal of stupid quizzing, & common-place nonsense talked, but scarcely any wit.”
Jane Austen
Moreland House
Jane avoided everyone the next morning and managed to get out of the house without anyone noticing. The late autumn morning was beautiful with its fog and wet ground. The leaves of the trees were all differently colored, and there was a slight chill in the air, which made Jane pull the scarf tighter around her shoulders. There was a soft, milky glow in the sky as the sun began to rise.
The house quickly disappeared behind the trees, and Jane slowed her steps. The previous day had been particularly hard on her. The conversation she had with her parents was not a new one to her, but Jane still suffered every time they insisted that she should marry as soon as possible.
Jane stepped over the small hedge between the two gardens where the wall had fallen, creating an opening big enough for her to pass through. She brought her dress up around her knees, careful not to get it dirty or tear it up on the bushes grow
ing near the wall. This was her precious time alone, away from all problems, and she didn’t want to ruin it. She had almost two hours before she had to return to the house, so Jane hurried towards her favorite spot in the world.
Jane followed the old path that led to the small lake behind Moreland House. The place was a favorite of all of the Roberts sisters. She smiled tenderly at the memory, and sat on the same fallen tree they used to sit on.
Her parents had been right about one thing – she needed to marry. There was no doubt about it, although, Jane wanted to pretend that she still had a choice.
Jane looked up and watched the tops of the trees touch above her head. The lake was calm so early in the morning and apart from a few ducks and geese swimming in the cold water, there was no movement around her. Jane could see the road curling around the lake and then disappearing into the trees, looking like a big, brown snake. And it was empty, just like her heart at that moment – just a piece of cold earth.
As all contemporary women, Jane saw happiness in life only in marriage, but contrary to most, she also dreamed of something more, of a husband that was going to respect and love her for what she was.
Suddenly, she saw someone riding a horse on the other side of the lake. She was not able to see who it was, but even from the distance, she could tell that it was a gentleman. Very slowly, the man approached the lake and climbed down from his horse, continuing his walk on foot. Jane watched him with interest and soon was able to recognize Marquess James Bunting.
On the other side of the lake, James Bunting was thinking about his conversation with his mother. He needed a clear head and time to analyze the events of the last several days. Lady Sarah Rochester might look like the perfect wife for him to his mother, but James was not ready to give up his hopes of finding someone to love.
Regency Romance: To Love A Viscount (CLEAN Historical Romance) Page 6
