A Lord's Flaming Return: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Henrietta Harding

  Benedict’s eyes widened. “Love? Are you sweet on a young lady?” He grinned, feeling a slight sliver of joy for the first time since he had left Lambeth House. “You sly fox! Why have you not mentioned this before?”

  Ralph shrugged self-consciously. “I have not known myself where it would lead,” he replied. “And I am still unsure if the young lady feels the same way about me.” He paused. “Besides, you have been so very absorbed with your feelings about Emmeline.”

  Benedict felt an upsurge of guilt. He had been too selfish, wallowing in his own problems.

  “Do not feel that way, Ben.” Ralph laughed, watching him closely. “I am not complaining. As I said, you have helped me in so many ways.” He paused. “I will miss you when you leave, cousin.”

  Benedict swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. “As I will miss you. Even though I should be heartily sick of your face, after so many years stuck together.”

  They both laughed.

  “I will leave you to it,” said Ralph, walking to the door. At the last moment, he turned back, gazing at Benedict solemnly. “Just promise me that you shall at least think about fighting for her.”

  Benedict nodded. His cousin left. He was alone again at last.

  He drained the whisky, setting down the glass. His eyes filled with sudden tears.

  This day had not gone how he had expected. He had thought they would be engaged by now, that he would be the happiest man in the world. Instead, Emmeline was lost to him. Forever.

  Chapter 24

  The tailor’s shop on Darnell Street was teeming with customers when Benedict and Ralph entered the small shop in Farnstoke the next day. Benedict stopped abruptly, turning to his cousin.

  “Perhaps we should return when they are less busy,” he muttered. The last thing he felt like doing was waiting for hours in this stuffy space for a jacket fitting.

  Ralph sighed. “Yes, it is rather crowded at the moment. I thought it would be quiet at this time of the morning.” He turned to his cousin. “Perhaps we could have a spot of tea in those nice tearooms further up the street and return later?”

  Benedict’s lips tightened. “Tea? I feel like something rather stronger than that.”

  Ralph gazed at him sympathetically. “I know. But it is still only ten in the morning, Benedict. The Roxborough club hasn’t even opened its doors yet.”

  Benedict sighed painfully. “Very well. But if it is still this crowded when we return, then I shall just leave. I do not need a new jacket for this ball quite that desperately.”

  Ralph nodded. They turned and walked out of the shop, back onto the cobblestone street. Benedict glanced around. All the shops were bustling, making the most of the fine weather. Some shopkeepers were sweeping the steps of their stores, calling out greetings to one another. If he had been in a better frame of mind, he might have been charmed by the quaint scene.

  They set off down the street towards the tearooms. Benedict glanced sideways at his cousin. He knew that Ralph had only suggested this trip to the shops to distract him from brooding about Emmeline. But it wasn’t working. All he wanted to do was climb back into the carriage and head to his rooms at Derby Hall, shutting out the world entirely.

  He was so busy contemplating his misery that he didn’t even notice the two ladies walking towards them until Ralph let out a gasp.

  “Oh, Lordy,” whispered his cousin. “It is the Vaughan sisters.”

  Benedict’s heart stopped for a moment. He gaped at the ladies approaching them. It was far too late to swivel around and retreat in the opposite direction. He watched as Emmeline’s eyes widened in distress as she realised the same thing.

  He swore underneath his breath. Why did this have to happen?

  His eyes swept over her automatically, almost against his will. She was wearing a pea-coloured muslin morning gown, with a very high empire line, and a matching short jacket. Her glossy nut-brown hair was just visible beneath a green and cream bonnet. She looked so painstakingly lovely that his heart lurched violently in his chest.

  “Ladies,” said Ralph nervously, bowing. “What an unexpected pleasure.”

  The ladies curtseyed. There was an awkward silence.

  “And what brings you into Farnstoke today?” continued Ralph, a bit desperately.

  Benedict stared at Emmeline, waiting for a response. She refused to look at him, keeping her eyes firmly on the ground.

  “We are about to peruse some bonnets at the milliners, My Lord,” said Olivia, smiling tightly. She looked as uncomfortable with the situation as they all did. “And then we may take a stroll in the botanical gardens. It is such a fine day. It seems a pity to waste it.”

  “Indeed,” said Ralph, coughing into his hand. “Well, have a pleasant day, ladies.”

  They curtseyed again before walking away. Benedict watched Emmeline. Her back was ramrod straight, and she didn’t look back once.

  His heart tightened. So, she would not even talk to him any longer. She had acted as if he was a stranger to her. Only days ago, he had held her in his arms … he had made such sweet love to her … and it was as if it had never happened at all.

  “Come on, old chap,” said Ralph gently. “Let’s have some tea.”

  Benedict roused himself. “Of course.”

  The bell above the shop door chimed merrily as they walked into the tearooms. Benedict gazed around the shop in a lacklustre way. There was an elderly lady having tea by herself in one corner, slurping at her teacup. And in the other corner sat two ladies, who were gazing at the new arrivals avidly.

  Benedict swore underneath his breath. It was Lady Henrietta Wynn, of all people, and her best friend Miss Adelaide Colby. This morning was going from bad to worse. Why the devil had he ever agreed to this infernal shopping trip?

  Lady Henrietta stood up, waving at them. “Come and join us, gentlemen! There is plenty of room.”

  Benedict grimaced. But there was no choice, of course. It would appear abominably rude to refuse the lady.

  He glanced quickly at Ralph. His cousin didn’t look any happier at this situation than he felt. But they both walked over to the table, bowing to the ladies, before sitting down.

  “What fun!” said Lady Henrietta, her green eyes sparkling. “I was just saying to Adelaide that it seems an age since I have seen you, Lord Montagu. Positively years.”

  Benedict smiled slightly. “Hardly, My Lady. The house party we both attended was only a week ago.”

  “I know,” said Lady Henrietta, smiling at him archly. “But it does seem that way. It has been so utterly dull since then. I have not been able to amuse myself at all.”

  The waitress came to the table, taking their order. After she had left, Lady Henrietta turned back to Benedict, inspecting him closely. He squirmed a little beneath her ardent gaze.

  “And what brings you both to Darnell Street this morning, gentlemen?” she asked suddenly.

  “The tailor, madam,” Benedict replied. “A new jacket for my uncle’s ball. But alas, the shop is crowded, so we thought we would wait here for a short while.”

  Lady Henrietta clapped her hands together in delight. “Oh, yes! Lord Montagu’s annual ball! It is quite the event of the season. I have already secured my gown for it.” She glanced sideways at Benedict. “But I shall not spoil the surprise, My Lord. You shall have to wait for the evening to see me in it.”

  Benedict nodded. He was barely listening to her. All he could think about was his encounter with Emmeline on the street. The way she had refused to even look at him, never mind talk to him. His heart clenched once more. Why had she turned so cold towards him? It was still so utterly baffling after the fierce heat of their reunion.

  He dejectedly gazed out the shop window. He needed to get away from this district entirely. He simply could not wait for this ball to be over so he could make his escape. Perhaps once he was back home, he would start to finally make sense of it all and heal.

  “Did I just see you talking with the Vaughan sisters on t
he street?” asked Lady Henrietta suddenly, fixing him with a piercing gaze.

  He jumped to attention. “Yes. They are out shopping, like the rest of us.”

  Lady Henrietta laughed shortly. “Miss Emmeline did not look very well from what I could see of her,” she said, in a slightly scornful voice. “She is always a pale little thing, but now she looks rather like a ghost. I do hope that nothing has happened to upset her since the Vickers’ house party.” She sat back, looking smug.

  Benedict stared at her, at a loss what to say. He did not want to discuss Emmeline with this lady. Not at all.

  “It is Miss Olivia, who is the beauty of the two sisters at any rate,” continued Lady Henrietta, her eyes glittering. “Miss Emmeline has always suffered by comparison. I rather think she will end up being an old maid. That is what everyone says.”

  “That is a rather unkind thing to say,” said Ralph, staring at the lady sharply. “I think that Miss Emmeline Vaughan is perfectly lovely as well as being amiable.”

  Lady Henrietta pursed her lips. “I did not mean to cause offence. It was only a casual observation.”

  “I like Emmeline,” piped up Adelaide. “She is always so kind and thoughtful towards me.”

  “You like anyone who pays you attention, dearest.” Lady Henrietta laughed. “You are the most undiscerning creature I have ever encountered when it comes to people – in the most endearing way, of course. Rather like a pet dog.”

  Adelaide pressed her lips together. She looked wounded.

  Benedict stood up. He couldn’t sit and listen to the lady for one second longer. She might be a great beauty, but her character was simply appalling. He had no idea why Miss Colby was even friends with her. He had quite enough of Lady Henrietta Wynn for one morning.

  “Ladies,” he said, through gritted teeth. “I am sorry, but I have just remembered a pressing appointment. It quite slipped my mind.” He turned to Ralph. “Cousin?”

  “Oh, yes,” said Ralph hastily, rising to his feet. “That appointment. It quite slipped my mind as well.”

  They bowed to the ladies before quickly departing the tearooms. He could almost feel Lady Henrietta’s eyes boring into his back.

  “Thank the Lord,” muttered Ralph, gazing back at the tearooms sourly. “I do not think I could have endured another moment in that lady’s company.” He turned to Benedict. “Why on earth did you ever encourage such a creature?”

  Benedict shrugged helplessly. It baffled him too. But he had done it, and now he must endure the consequences of it. Lady Henrietta still held a flame for him. It didn’t seem that anything now could douse it.

  Thank goodness he was leaving the district soon. Lady Henrietta was just another reason why his escape was imperative.

  ***

  Ralph stared thoughtfully at the cobblestoned street as they strolled back towards the tailors. He couldn’t quite put his finger on why he felt so perturbed.

  Lady Henrietta was a nasty individual, he reflected. The way she had torn into Emmeline like that. And she had done it very deliberately with her eyes firmly fixed upon Benedict the whole time.

  Abruptly, he stopped walking. He would bet his last gold coin that the lady knew – or at the very least strongly suspected – what was between his cousin and Emmeline Vaughan. He could pick a jealous woman a mile away. And Lady Henrietta Wynn was seething with envy. Practically bright green with it.

  “Ralph?” Benedict gazed at him curiously. “What is it?”

  “Nothing,” said Ralph hastily. “Just a thought that arrested me for a moment. Let us continue.”

  Ralph frowned as they kept walking. Benedict was distracted by grief over Emmeline and could not see the forest for the trees. But he could see through it. And he just knew that he should watch Lady Henrietta closely. He didn’t know why … but the feeling pressed upon him so strongly it could not be ignored.

  She had said she was attending the ball. He would watch her intently there and see if he could find out anything. He had no idea what he was looking for, but he knew he must do it. For Benedict’s sake.

  His cousin was heartbroken and about to leave the district. He had said he would not fight for Emmeline. A decision which Ralph thought was regrettable. Hadn’t Benedict loved her all these years? And it was his fault that Benedict had been separated from her. It was his fault that his cousin had lost his great love. The guilt gnawed at him like a mouse on a wheel of cheese.

  Ralph took a deep breath. The least he could do was try to help them find their way back to each other. Benedict might be too heartbroken and defeated to fight for Emmeline at the moment. But if Ralph could hand him some ammunition … well, all that might change.

  Chapter 25

  Benedict adjusted the sleeves on his new jacket as he stood in the foyer of Derby Hall. The night of the annual ball had arrived at long last. His uncle had insisted that he stand with him and Ralph as they greeted the arriving guests.

  His eyes swept around the foyer. It was festooned with flowers and candles, as was the rest of the house. It looked magical, like an enchanted fairyland. He couldn’t help admiring how much effort his uncle had gone to. The place was utterly transformed from its usual dark, dour appearance.

  “The house looks magnificent, Uncle Richard,” he said, turning to his uncle. “A job well done.”

  His uncle smiled wistfully, gazing up at him from his wheelchair. “Eliza always made sure that the house was spick and span for this ball,” he replied. “Your aunt had an eye for decoration and always wanted to make a good impression. I make the same effort for her sake.”

  Benedict smiled. He had fond memories of his aunt and knew how much his uncle had adored her. Uncle Richard hadn’t been the same man since she had passed away. He had gone from a robust vibrant man to an invalid almost overnight.

  The power of love, thought Benedict sadly. It gives and it takes away.

  He stiffened. There were new arrivals sweeping through the front door. Emmeline and Olivia, side by side. His heart flipped over in his chest. He could not believe they had decided to attend after all that had happened. Why were they even here?

  “Ladies,” said Uncle Richard, casting an approving eye over the pair. “Welcome to Derby Hall. You both look positively radiant.”

  Benedict couldn’t stop himself. He felt like his eyes were glued to Emmeline. His uncle said the same thing to all the ladies as they arrived, but in this case, it was true. Emmeline did look radiant in her ivory white ball gown with tiny white flowers scattered like raindrops through her shining brown hair. As if a light had suddenly flickered to life in the room.

  His heart dropped. She was still refusing to acknowledge him. She wouldn’t even look at him.

  The ladies curtseyed. Pleasantries were exchanged in a polite way before they made their way off into the crowd.

  Benedict gazed after her disconsolately.

  “Do not torture yourself, cousin,” whispered Ralph gently, at his elbow. “It does no good.”

  Benedict sighed deeply. “I know. I will try.” He paused. “Why is she even here? Why has she attended? Does she wish to torment me?”

  Ralph blinked rapidly. “I do not know, but you must try to handle the situation as best you can.”

  Benedict cursed underneath his breath. “I am counting down the hours until I am away from this district,” he muttered. “It cannot come fast enough, Ralph. Seeing her is like having a longed for possession dangled beneath my nose then snatched away. I simply cannot endure it.”