Regency Romance: To Love A Viscount (CLEAN Historical Romance)

by Jessie Bennett

  “I am sorry for intruding on you like this,” Francis felt the urge to say, “But I really have to tell you something about Jonathan Green.”

  “Please, Francis, if you want to continue to be my friend stop talking right now,” Emma left her work on the table and looked at him in desperation. “I thought that we already talked about this.”

  “We did, but something new happened,” Francis said. He stepped closer and sat in front of her. “I heard Mr. Shepherd saying to one of his friends that Captain Jonathan Green is opening the mail of local young women so that he can learn their financial positions. Captain Green is not an honest man, Emma. Everyone is saying that he has done the same thing in other towns.”

  “Are you saying that Captain Green is after my money?” Emma asked quietly, her voice trembling.

  Francis continued to narrate what he had heard in the bank. Emma listened to him silently, tears rolling down her cheeks. This time, she did not argue. Her pain was silent and heartbreaking. She waited for him finish before raising her eyes and speaking quietly.

  “I know that what you are saying is true,” Emma assured him. “Thank you for coming to me even after I treated you so badly last time.”

  “You are my friend, Emma,” Francis smiled reassuringly. “I will never let something as little as our arguments make me forget that.”

  “Now that I’ve listened to you, I realize that everything that happened makes sense. Captain Green appeared from nowhere, and he immediately singled me out. He managed to convince me that I was special in his eyes and even made me doubt my family. Do you know that when I told him about my argument with my sisters, he told me to forget them and to listen only to him?”

  “I cannot believe that people so evil exist,” Francis exclaimed, “But I noticed how good he is at making people trust him and do things for him, even when it goes against their character.”

  “I am so sorry, Francis,” she fell into his arms and started crying. Francis held her close to his chest, surprised by her emotional reaction.

  The lady cried in his arms, her body trembling with exhaustion. “Do you need something to drink? I can call the maid to bring a glass of wine.”

  “No,” Emma sobbed against his jacket. “There is nothing anyone can do for me right now. I feel so stupid for not trusting the people I have known all my life and instead listening to a man I know nothing about.”

  “He is an expert in deceiving people, Emma,” Francis whispered in her hair. “Neither of us suspected what he was doing. Mr. Shepherd said that all his victims were helpless because of his charm.”

  Slowly, Emma raised her head and looked into his eyes. At that moment, she felt an overwhelming rush of love towards Francis. The feeling was so strong and unexpected that she didn’t know how to interpret it. “You would never do something like that. I know it,” she said and smiled sweetly at Francis.

  They were so close that Emma could feel his breath on her face, his eyes looking into hers with sweet urgency. Emma watched him lean toward her, his eyes never leaving hers. And then his eyes moved down to her lips. That small movement told Emma all she needed to know – Francis was going to kiss her.

  When their lips met, Emma felt like the entire room was shaking. There was nothing like that feeling, that powerful emotion that filled her being when Francis kissed her. The kiss lasted for only a few seconds, and it was a simple touch of lips to lips, but Emma’s entire world turned around.

  She suddenly remembered all those times when Francis Turner was there for her, always ready to help her, to support her. She remembered the long conversations they had in the past, the moments of tenderness they shared.

  How could I be so blind? Emma asked herself after the Viscount left the house, promising to visit her again soon. He was always by my side, and I always loved him. How could I let someone else make me forget who is really important in my life?

  Once again, Emma waited for the morning to come so that she could go and visit her sisters. Talking to her parents about the matter of Captain Green seemed too uncomfortable to her, and Emma really needed her sisters’ support at that point in her life.

  As soon as the breakfast was over, Emma asked for the carriage to be prepared for her, and she rode towards Charlotte’s house after asking Jane to come with her. In less than two hours, all three sisters were sitting in Charlotte’s living room, drinking tea and waiting for Emma to gather the courage to speak.

  “I came here today to apologize for what I said to you the last time we met. I should have been more open to what you were saying, especially after all the times you have given me great advice about my life.”

  “We all have difficult moments in our lives, as well as times when we refuse to listen to reason,” Charlotte said with a reassuring smile. “Emma, we will always be here for you.”

  “I know that. I have always known it,” Emma answered. “I simply lost my way for a while. Captain Jonathan Green is not the man I believed him to be. He lied to me and tried to use me for his own personal gain.”

  “Oh, dear,” both of her sisters exclaimed.

  “What did he do?” Jane added.

  “Last evening, Francis Turner came to see me, and he told me about the Captain’s plan to track down a wealthy lady so that he could take care of his debts,” Emma started explaining. “He had been intercepting letters and reading them so that he could learn more about the local people. I remember now that the letter with which the solicitor informed me about my inheritance seemed to be tampered with. I did not pay any attention then, but now that Francis told me, I realize that Jonathan Green has used me this entire time.”

  “This is horrible,” Jane cried out.

  Both of Emma’s sisters seemed to be horrified by what Emma was telling them.

  “Yes, it is all true,” Emma confirmed. “Francis heard Mr. Shepherd, telling his friend about it and after thinking carefully about the Captain’s behavior, I confirmed it myself.”

  “What are you going to do now?” Jane asked, always concerned with the practical side of the situation. “That man needs to be exposed so that no one gets hurt by him again.”

  “I am not sure yet of what I will do, but what I came here to say is that I am sorry for not listening to you,” Emma said, looking at her sisters pleadingly. “This will never happen again.”

  Jane and Charlotte exchanged a look and then the younger of the two went to Emma. “We were never angry at you, dear sister,” Jane said to her. “There is nothing to forgive.”

  Charlotte joined them on the sofa, and the three of them had a long conversation about their family and the critical things in life. It was hard for them to face the reality, but together they knew that nothing was going to stop them. In the end, just before leaving her sister’s house, Emma told them about Francis and her real feelings towards him and was surprised to find out that both of them already knew about it.

  25

  .

  .

  .

  “You should find someone to love, Charlotte had told her.”

  .

  .

  .

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  A HAPPY REALIZATION

  “There is one thing, Emma, which a man can always do if he chooses, and that is his duty; not by maneuvering and finessing, but by vigor and resolution.”

  Jane Austen, Emma

  Empty thoughts. No words, no color, nothing. Jane turned in her bed again, desperately trying to get some sleep. Her fingers gently stroked the white cotton sheet, and she turned again. When did her life become so complicated? Only a few days ago everything was so simple, with Jane considering only herself. But now, life had taken a sudden turn, tying her down to uncertainty and trepidation. Such a contrast from what Jane envisioned her life to be.

  Emma was her only best friend and Jane was used to tell her everything. In this situation, it was complicated. How do you tell your friend and sister that you are having doubts about a handsome Marquess? Having been ma
rried for one year, Charlotte had some experience with married life. In fact, Jane had managed to extract benefits from Charlotte’s personal experience from time to time, like how to interact with a gentleman. Apparently, Jane still had a lot to learn about it.

  Jane continued to turn and toss in her bed until it was morning. Finally, giving up on sleep, Jane sighed, got out of the bed, and looked out the window. The morning in the country was magnificent, especially when watched from her bedroom window. The morning dew covered everything in a thick wet coat, making the world look clean and perfect. Jane opened the window, and the cold air slapped her face, making her shudder. Her long hair danced in front of her face as if playing with the wind. She tried in vain to pull it behind her ear.

  Smiling softly, Jane remembered the only time James touched her hair, helping her to take a few fallen leaves out of it. The feeling had been lovely, and Jane remembered it with warmth, but then James was the one who said that her hair was the color of ripe wheat. Don’t think about that, Jane, she told herself. She needed to stash those thoughts in the deepest corners of her mind and then forget them. Maybe even lock them up and pretend that they had never existed. That was what she should do.

  Jane washed up and dressed in her usual everyday dress, arranging her hair in a simple bun. During her morning ritual, she continued to wonder how her life would go. The feeling of the unknown scared her. A nagging feeling crept into her mind, but she still wasn’t sure what the feeling was, although the uncertainty was apparent in her demeanor. Jane felt transparent. She thought that one could look at her and decipher her emotions. The new feelings were affecting her. And she longed for control over her unpredictable and abnormally complicated life.

  Jane remembered how Charlotte had come to their home with an excited and flushed face. She remembered how Charlotte had told her that she had fallen in love and how happy she was.

  Jane was reserved. After the troubles they had with their cousin, Jane had locked herself inside her mind and indulged in small things to keep her distracted. It worked. She barely thought of that dreadful experience. She couldn’t completely erase it from her life, though. Something so important couldn’t be easily forgotten. That was the worst part. It wasn’t that she missed the outside world, no, it was more like a sensation that she was missing something.

  You should find someone to love, Charlotte had told her. And Jane had thought it would be easy. Marquess James Bunting had been the perfect candidate for her to be with and not long after that first meeting, Jane had fallen in love with him. Now, she was ready to admit that. Her love had been making slow and straightforward progress, with both of them sharing the same ideals and wanting the same future. And if Jane sometimes dreamed about something different, she guessed, in time, she would see that James was offering her everything in life.

  Still very confused, Jane did her morning chores and went to help her mother before breakfast. Her mother commented on her sad face and Jane tried hard to pretend that everything was okay until she couldn’t anymore.

  “Mother,” she spoke carefully. “How did you know that father was the one for you?”

  The older woman looked up from what she was doing, surprised, but didn’t speak immediately. “Do you have feelings for someone, Jane?” she asked finally.

  “No,” Jane said quickly. “I was just wondering…”

  “Look, Jane,” the Baroness caressed her cheek. “Love is never simple, but if you want to find it, you need to give it a chance.”

  “I know, Mother. I know,” she agreed, but her doubts about James didn’t disappear. She was still wondering about her life and whether she should give him a chance. She was struggling with her mixed feelings and emotions. Love and family were important to her, but what Jane wanted to know was if her feelings for James were genuine.

  “Do I really love him?” she asked herself again and again during the day, wondering if she was just settling because that was what everyone expected of her.

  The same evening, when everybody went to bed, Emma knocked on Jane’s door and went to sit on her bed. “Jane, are you feeling better now?” she asked her sister.

  “Yes, Emma. Thank you.” Jane sat up on the bed and gently leaned against her little sister in search of comfort.

  “You should know, Jane, that I am always here for you,” her sister said into Jane’s hair. “You are about to make the most important decision in your life. No one is going to judge you for having doubts, but you have to trust in God and ask for his help.”

  Because of Emma’s encouragement, Jane was able to sleep well during the night and in the morning she woke up with a smile. The breakfast was already served when Jane walked into the room, and everyone greeted her with a smile.

  “Did you have sweet dreams, dear sister?” Emma teased her, as soon as it was only the two of them in the room. “I am sure that after your talk with Marquis James the other night, you must be very happy.”

  “What are you talking about, Emma?” Jane asked shyly. “We just talked about general things.”

  “But you like him, don’t you?” the younger woman insisted. “I can see it written all over your face.”

  “Fine, fine,” Jane smiled too. “He is a real gentleman and I like him.”

  The two of them continued to joke about James and Jane, and neither of them saw the Baron and the Baroness standing near the door and listening to them.

  “This is unexpected,” the Baroness commented once they walked away. “However, Marquis Bunting is a proper gentleman, and I am sure that he will make our Jane happy.”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself, my dear,” the Baron tried to calm her enthusiasm. “Let them make their own decisions.”

  “Fine, but we could invite the Marquis to dinner,” his wife insisted. “We are neighbors and friends. There is nothing wrong with inviting him.”

  The Baron nodded, knowing that there was no point in arguing with his wife. If the Baroness wanted to invite him to dinner, there was nothing he could do.

  Bunting Manor

  James woke up with a small cry, the dream too vivid and real. His dream was all about a lady... a lady he had never considered before. Miss Jane Roberts had surprised him the previous night with her outspoken opinion and logical mind. He simply couldn’t believe that there was a lady out there who thought and felt the same way he did.

  It seemed that he was so impressed with the young lady that even his dreams were obsessed with her. James remembered how she looked with her blond hair and beautiful brown eyes. In his dream, Jane sang to him in her sweet voice. That night, lying in his bed, James realized that he was in love with Jane. He realized that he had been fond of her for a very long time and that they must be together.

  “I cannot believe that it took me so long to realize this,” James spoke into the empty room and slowly sat up in bed. “I have to see her.” He climbed out of the bed.

  With the help of his servant, he washed, shaved, and dressed for breakfast before running down the stairs. His mother and Lady Sarah were already sitting down for breakfast.

  “Good morning, Mother and Lady Sarah,” James greeted them politely. “I am sorry for being late.”

  “It is fine,” the Marquess dismissed his words. “And we have another dinner invitation. Baroness Roberts invited us for dinner tonight. I am not very willing to go, but if you want to…”

  “Yes,” James jumped with joy. “I would very much like to go to their house for dinner. Please, Mother, write back to Baroness Roberts and accept her invitation.”

  “Fine,” the Marquess agreed without much enthusiasm. “Lady Sarah, the invitation extends to you as well. Are you going to join us?”

  “Oh, no,” Lady Sarah whined. “I am tired of all these country dinner parties. I would much prefer to stay here and rest tonight.”

  “As you wish,” James said without any regret.

  Back at Moreland House, Baron and Baroness Roberts received the answer to their invitation. They were very excited
to welcome the Marquess and his mother into their home.

  “I really hope that the relationship between Jane and the Marquess will blossom,” the Baroness said in a dreamlike voice. “There is nothing like first love.”

  “Please, don’t get your hopes too high,” the Baron said, trying to calm her down.

  The Baroness agreed and spent the day preparing for the dinner. Just in time, their guests arrived, and the dinner started. Their places around the table were carefully designed by the Baroness, who had made sure that Jane and James were seated side by side.

  From the very first moment, it became obvious that they couldn’t take their eyes off each other, and Jane shyly tried to look away. She was dressed in a beautiful evening gown that showed her perfect figure without being too revealing. Her hair was loose, falling down her shoulders in soft curls.

  “Your house is nice,” Marchioness Bunting said in her usual superior voice. “I really like how you have decorated the dining room.”

  “Thank you, Lady Eleanor,” Jane’s mother answered politely. “We like our home to be comfortable, but also beautiful.”

  “If you say so,” Lady Eleanor answered. “But if I were you, I would change the curtains... and the carpet needs to be cleaned properly…”

  The Marchioness was very rude about the house, its decoration, and even about the grounds. She was belittling and degrading. James was mortified and tried to control his mother, but to no avail. The woman continued to talk and criticize.

  “Miss Jane,” she turned towards her when the dinner was almost over. “I hear that you are of an age appropriate for marriage. Do you have many suitors?”

  “I…” Jane stuttered.

  “My daughter is currently not being pursued by anyone,” Jane’s mother answered firmly.

  “I am sorry,” James whispered beside her. “My mother can be a bit hard when it comes to the feelings of other people.”