by Regina Darcy
Table of Content
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
BONUS CHAPTER 1: A GAME OF CHANCE
KEEP IN TOUCH!
Copyright © Regina Darcy 2019
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher and writer except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a contemporary work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously.
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ONE
Miss Charlotte Cadogan carefully adjusted her spectacles, making sure they sat neatly on her nose. Her long chestnut hair was tied back into a severe boring bun.
She wore a long, grey dress with a high neck and unadorned sleeves to hide most of her curves.
Yes, that would do quite nicely.
Giving herself a final look, Charlotte walked briskly out of her room and towards the dining room, ready for breakfast. Her uncle, Lord Edward, and his wife were not present, but her sister, Theodora, was already breaking her fast.
“For goodness sake, Charlotte!” Theodora exclaimed the moment Charlotte greeted her. “Are you intending to go to a funeral today?”
Charlotte frowned, glancing down at herself.
“No. Why do you ask?”
Theodora sighed dramatically.
“Your outward appearance is becoming more and more plain! I am quite sure someone will mistake you for an ancient aunt, or even a governess if you keep this up.”
Trying not to roll her eyes disparagingly, Charlotte filled her plate with various items and took it over to the table. She did not want to get into yet another argument with Theodora over how she looked.
“At least remove those ridiculous spectacles,” Theodora begged as she poured both herself and Charlotte a cup of tea. “You know you do not need them when I am around.”
Realising that this was, indeed, true, Charlotte obliged and set the glasses on the table—only for Theodora to reach across and seize them at once.
Letting out an exclamation of frustration, Charlotte held out her hand to receive them back again, but Theodora shook her head.
“No, Charlotte, I shall not let you wear these ridiculous spectacles any longer! You have taken this charade too far.”
“Theodora,” Charlotte replied warily, noting the spark of anger in her sister’s eyes. “Give me those back this instant.”
Theodora shook her head, her expression grim.
“For too long you have dressed up as an old dowd, determined to hide your beauty.” Her eyes ran over Charlotte’s hair and dress. “And I shall not allow you to take it to any more ridiculous lengths!”
“That is not for you to determine!” Charlotte exclaimed, growing angry. “Theodora, stop this nonsense at once!”
Seeing the determination on her sister’s face, Charlotte gasped in shock as Theodora rose from her chair, threw the spectacles on the floor, and proceeded to stamp on them.
Glass flew in every direction, the metal twisting beneath Theodora’s feet. Charlotte could find nothing to say, suddenly mute as Theodora gave her a satisfied look.
“There, you see?” Theodora murmured, taking her seat gracefully as though she had not committed the most outrageous action.
“That is much better. You shall be quite presentable when we take our walk this afternoon.”
Charlotte could not lift her eyes from the mess of metal and glass on the floor. That had been part of her protection… of her disguise, and now it was gone. Taken from her and discarded by the sister she loved.
“I am tired of you hiding your loveliness,” Theodora said softly, as though she knew Charlotte needed to comprehend why she had done such a thing. “You were wronged once, but that does not mean that every man is a cad,” she added as she lay her hand on her shoulder.
“How dare you?” Charlotte whispered as she tore herself away, her anger bubbling over. “How dare you do this to me?”
“I am trying to help you!” Theodora exclaimed, her cheeks turning pink. “Charlotte, as my beloved sister, I care for you a great deal and wish you all the happiness in the world—but that will not occur if you continue to hide in this way.”
“It is up to me what I do and whether or not I hide myself away,” Charlotte replied, getting to her feet and slamming her fists on the table. “You cannot understand, Theodora, nor do I ask you to, but what I do ask of you is respect!”
Theodora shook her head. A small, sad smile crept across her face. “Charlotte this has to stop,” she whispered, distress colouring her features. “You cannot continue to refuse to allow any man to see you as you truly are.”
“Do not feel sorry for me, Theodora!” Charlotte exclaimed, her anger only mounting. “This is my life and my decision! You do not have to involve yourself.”
“And what do you intend to do, exactly?” Theodora asked, looking up at her. “Remain here? Live off our uncle’s charity for the rest of your life?”
Charlotte did not know how to answer. The thought had crossed her mind on more than one occasion, but she had never given it too much consideration. For the time being, she was content with her life. The future would make itself known soon enough.
“Our uncle and aunt may be childless, but that does not mean they can pass their fortune on to you, Charlotte,” Theodora continued, idly playing with her fork. “If our inheritance is tied up until we are wed, then you must, at some point, find yourself a husband. You do not want to be a poor spinster, do you?”
Charlotte felt her anger begin to cool, and she finally resumed her seat, the fight gone from her.
“No,” she murmured, not able to look at her sister. “No, I do not. But I cannot bring myself to trust another man.”
Theodora sighed heavily, reaching across the table to pat Charlotte’s hand. “I cannot imagine the pain and suffering you have gone through, my dear sister, but my heart hurts for you. There must be more for you than this!”
Charlotte shook her head. “I will not stop dressing as I do,” she answered quietly. “Do not try to dissuade me.”
“But you will not buy more spectacles,” Theodora replied in a voice that brooked no argument. “Swear it to me, Charlotte.”
Finding a small smile on her face, Charlotte sighed heavily. “Very well, Theodora. So long as you promise not to interfere in how I choose to present myself any longer.”
Theodora grinned, the anger and frustration were gone.
“Of course I will not,” she promised with a lift of one eyebrow. “Not unless you buy yourself a cap. Then I shall certainly have to intervene again!”
“I swear I will not buy a cap,” Charlotte murmured, shaking her head. “I am not that far gone, Theodora.”
Her sister neither agreed nor disagreed, but instead rose to her feet, came around to kiss Charlotte on the cheek, and quit the room with a somewhat satisfied smile on her face.
Charlotte sighed once more, putting her head in her hands. Theodora could be quite impossible sometimes.
She wished she would let her be instead of trying to force Charlo
tte to fall in line with what she thought was best.
That was because Theodora had never gone through anything like what Charlotte had been forced to endure. Show a gentleman who you truly are – poppycock!
Closing her eyes, Charlotte tried not to allow the swirl of pain and hurt to creep into her heart once more. It had been two years since the incident and still, she had not quite managed to drown out the pain and humiliation.
Two years since she had last donned a beautiful dress, had her hair styled in an intricate fashion, pinched her cheeks, and smiled at each and every gentleman she could. Her uncle and aunt—their guardians since Charlotte’s parents had passed away when she was only five years of age—had been so proud of her. Theodora had been out too, of course, but it was Charlotte who caught everyone’s eye. She had been so proud to be named a diamond of the first water, not realising just how problematic such a thing could be.
It was well known amongst the ton that the Cadogan sisters had a rich inheritance that would come to them when they wed, but Charlotte had not thought too much about it. She had been so naïve, believing that the gentlemen who asked her to dance or who called upon her all had the best of intentions. She clenched her fists.
How foolish she had been.
The familiar feeling of nausea which had been her steady companion since the incident washed over her.
Lord Wallace Barker.
At the thought of his name, the nausea increased.
Lord Barker had been handsome and kind, with a steely glint in his eye that had sent butterflies into Charlotte’s stomach whenever he looked her way. He had danced with her very often and had even called upon her, making his intentions to court her very clear.
Charlotte had been head over heels in love with him almost immediately, hardly able to get enough of his company and conversation. Then he had proposed marriage, and Charlotte had agreed immediately, dreaming of a happy future with him. Of course, there was the important part of speaking to her uncle, which he assured her he would do at once before it became public…and that was where her dreams had ended.
Her uncle had called her into his study three days later, a resolute but sad expression on his face. He had sat her down and carefully and kindly told her what he had discovered about the man she loved, the man she wished to marry.
Lord Barker had nothing to his name. He was a terrible gambler and had frittered almost everything away, even having to lease out his country estate.
How gentle her uncle had been in trying to speak to her about what he had discovered about Lord Barker, making her realise that the man was only after her wealth as opposed to her heart.
Her uncle and aunt were a love match, and Charlotte had always wanted the same for herself. She had let herself believe that Lord Barker and she were such a match. That he truly felt something for her. To hear her uncle describe Barker’s gambling habits shattered her illusions of love and happiness for the future.
Her uncle had stated that he would turn away Lord Barker as soon as he called upon them, but Charlotte had refused.
She needed to hear the truth from his lips herself.
Needed to reject his suit herself.
It had not been a pleasant conversation.
Pressing a shaking hand to her head, Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to think of what had occurred, but still the memories flooded through her mind.
Lord Barker appeared astonished at first. When he’d realised that Charlotte did not believe his charade, he had turned into a man she had not recognised. His anger and frustration had terrified her, and he’d pushed her against a wall in an attempt to force himself on her so that they would have no choice but to wed.
Thankfully, Charlotte’s uncle had been just outside the open door, refusing to allow his niece to deal with such a man alone, and he had come hurtling in with the butler. Lord Barker was unceremoniously thrown out of the house.
She had never seen him again.
From that day on, Charlotte had seen herself in an altogether different light. Her beauty was a curse, her inheritance a plague. She had allowed Lord Barker to use his pretty words and handsome face to invoke feelings of love and affection. Had her uncle not looked into the man in greater depth, then her life could have taken a different turn—and she would have been left to struggle for the rest of her life.
“That is why Theodora will never understand,” Charlotte said aloud, reaching for the china teapot to pour herself another cup. “She can never understand how I feel.”
Picking up her cup, Charlotte settled her elbows on the table and held the cup in her hands as her gaze drifted to her reflection in the mirror above the mantelpiece. She clenched her jaw, her resolve reaffirmed.
Yes, she would continue to dress in a way that hid as much of her beauty as possible.
No man would ever get the better of her again. Her heart had been broken once, and she would not allow it to break again. Love was only for the few and for the blessed. It was not for her. Absentminded she started twirling a curl that had escaped her strict bun. Her mind continued musing.
If she had to, she would eventually marry. This would, release her inheritance and allow her to live quietly. It would be with a man of her own choosing, a man who would not know of her wealth until she was forced to tell him of it.
It did not have to be a love match, but Charlotte knew it had to be someone. She could not live here alone for the rest of her life. On that account, Theodora was quite correct.
Sighing heavily to herself, Charlotte sat back in her chair and drank her tea, her mind clearing from the despair and pain it had recalled. She would not allow herself to ever be in such a situation again, nor would she allow Theodora to endure it either. Men were not to be trusted, and love was a fairy tale. Her sister would learn that sooner or later.
TWO
“Where did you say we were going again?”
“A stroll, that is all.”
Charles, the Marquess of Astor, eyed his younger brother carefully. There was something that he was not telling him, Charles was quite sure of it. “William, what is this?”
His brother blinked innocently.
“I have no idea to what you are referring, Charles. Must you be so suspicious?”
“You cannot fool me, brother,” Charles replied with a knowing smile. “I can always tell when you are keeping something from me.”
William shrugged.
“You need not accompany me if you do not wish to. I simply thought a stroll in the afternoon air might do our constitutions some good.”
Charles could not help but laugh aloud, slapping his younger brother on the back.
“Now you have me most intrigued! No, I shall not miss out on this at all. I shall come along and see exactly what you have intended for this stroll in the park.”
Charles made his way to the front door of the townhouse in search of his hat and greatcoat, leaving his brother feebly protesting his innocence.
There was something of a nip in the air, but given that Bath was surrounded by River Avon, that was quite common. Charles pulled up the collar of his coat.
Charles, as marquess, spent most of the year at his estate, but during the late summer months, he enjoyed taking a brief holiday in Bath where his younger brother resided. Neither of them particularly enjoyed the Season so they did not travel often to London, but lately his brother’s letters had suggested that he was beginning to consider matrimony. This would require a more frequent visit to the capital, especially during the high season.
Charles was quite sure that this had something to do with whatever stroll it was they were going on today. He had no intention of tying the knot himself. He firmly believed that a wife could be more trouble than she was worth. Of course, being the Marquess meant he had a duty to wed, but that could come much later in his life. He would marry and produce a successor, and then his responsibilities would be at an end. Although, that being said, it was probably best that William married in the near future
as well and produced his own brood of children, just in case the worst should happen to Charles.
With that less than cheerful thought, Charles stepped outside into the fresh air and drew in one long breath, delighted with the freshness of the day. William joined him within a few minutes, still muttering under his breath, and together they began to walk towards the gardens in the middle of the city.
“So,” Charles chuckled as William walked in silence. “You are still not going to tell me the truth of where we are going?”
“I have told you,” William replied firmly. “I just fancied a quiet walk in the park.”
“Is that so?” Charles murmured, seeing his brother glance from left to right as they entered the park. “You are not looking for anyone in particular?”
“No, of course not!” William exclaimed distractedly. “Come now, hurry up.”
Charles grinned as William hurried forward, trying and failing to look entirely nonchalant. His steps were rushed; his eyes glanced from left to right. Clearly, despite William’s protests, he intended to have a ‘chance’ meeting with someone.
“Ah-ha!” William exclaimed, a trifle too loudly, as a young lady rounded the corner accompanied by someone, whom at first glance looked to be an older aunt of some kind. However, as Charles drew nearer, he realised that this was no older aunt but a young woman.
She had her hair tied back severely, her dress was grey with a high neck, and she wore a wary expression. However, Charles was not fooled by the garments the lady wore. It was clear from her delicate features, flawless skin and hourglass physic that in other garments she would be quite stunning.
He let his eyes roam over her.
Her cheeks glowed pink from the cool wind.
Her eyes were bright, albeit sharp and assessing, and her mouth reminded him of a rosebud. Charles stilled…yes she was quite lovely.
His gaze moved to note that his brother was making eyes at the other lady in question. A few years younger than the first, he guessed, but clearly quite head over heels for his brother. At least, that was the impression she was giving!
