A Merchant's Extraordinary Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Aria Norton

  Aurora grabbed the flowers, not looking at what she was doing. She was probably adding leaves to the mix, but the cook would just have to forgive her this once. Eyes narrowed and flashing, she watched the house, waiting to see if the man would appear. Fool! He has no notion of what I am capable of. It would be easy to panic and run away, but she was no coward. But I’ll make one of him yet.

  ***

  Surprisingly, no one called her to meet her supposed husband-to-be, but they did expect her at lunch. Aurora didn’t know what angle the man would take in the situation, so she kept her guard up. For all she knew, they could be plotting some way to lock her in her room and prevent her escape. I have three ways out of my chamber, and only two are known by the servants. No one knew of the loose floorboards beneath her vanity table.

  She was just small enough to fit through it and fall onto the couch directly beneath. Fortunately for her, the room she would fall into was her mother’s private parlour, a place her father rarely ventured into but was regularly cleaned. If her father and that merchant were to try to hold her hostage, she could slip through the space, and out of the parlour window into the woods. Let them look for me there!

  Staring into her mirror, she tilted her head, nudging at said floorboards. She was grateful she had never mentioned them to anyone, not even Nanny.

  “I haven’t the slightest inkling why I remained silent about them. Perhaps in the recesses of my mind, I believed it a link to my mother, one that no one was privy to.”

  Whatever the reason, it would serve her well if an occasion for her escape ever arose.

  Pinching her cheeks to enhance their colour, she wondered if she should leave her hair loose or plait it. It was rather a bothersome mass of waves that would tangle easily if given the chance. No, plaiting it would achieve the look she was going for this afternoon. She needed to be the picture of propriety, the epitome of an English rose with nothing but sweet words in her mouth.

  “This pink muslin dress seems perfect enough, although I could do without the bows at the arms. Why do some women insist on such frilly additions? I much prefer lace.”

  Aurora plaited her hair, taking care to weave some heather into it. Once done, she stood up, pleased with her appearance.

  “Mr Fernandez will not have the slightest inclination that his life is about to become interesting. He will think that I have given into this ridiculous idea of marrying him and becoming his little wife.”

  It was all pathetic, really. She couldn’t understand how it was that men ruled the world when –

  “Aurora?” called Nanny, disturbing her thoughts.

  “Come in!”

  The woman who had been like a mother to her walked into the room, her grey eyes widening at the sight of her.

  “My! How lovely you look, dear!”

  Aurora did a little twirl, smiling prettily. “Do you like it?”

  “Like it? I adore it, child.” Her wise eyes quickly narrowed. “Why are you dressed like this? You do realise that you shall have lunch with your father and Mr Fernandez?”

  “I am aware of that, Nanny. Is there a problem with looking presentable?”

  “Only if ’tis you. What do you have up your sleeve, child? This must be a form of war dress.”

  Aurora laughed. “You know me too well, but ’tis best that you know as little as possible should Father question you. I do not wish you to be embroiled in my little plan.”

  The woman shook her head. “See if I do not grow more grey hairs before the day is out. I know nothing I say will change your mind, so we might as well go downstairs. Lord help that man.”

  “The Lord help him? I think not! He intends to marry me within a week and then take me away from everyone. I think it only right that I do everything to drive him away, starting this afternoon. Whatever happens, will only be right.”

  Mr Fernandez had spent some time in her father’s study while Phineas, their groundskeeper, had taken the merchant’s male servants on a tour of the property. The three maids who had accompanied him were in the kitchen, trying their damnedest to be a part of the household. My father has forgotten that the walls have ears. I already know of their plan to have our household servants infiltrated with those of Mr Fernandez.

  When no one was looking, she had approached the study door and listened with a watchful eye on the stairs, ready to hide should someone come near. Aurora had heard the merchant discuss his plans, and her father agree to everything as though he hadn’t a mind of his own. He thinks he will marry me in one week, but I shall have driven him away in just five days, three if I’m lucky. The man was certainly more stubborn than the other suitors, but Aurora saw that as a challenge.

  “Come dear,” said Nanny. “Your father awaits you in the dining room.”

  “With pleasure.”

  “How is your food, Mr Fernandez?” Aurora asked. “Netty is a splendid cook. The pea soup is particularly delicious today.”

  She watched the man’s face, keeping an innocent smile locked in place. She could see that the man was struggling, but he uttered not a word. I wonder if he will finish his soup? While both men had been occupied by the commotion of a servant screaming about a spider, she had stretched across the table and heavily salted his soup, taking care not to make a sound. Thank goodness, Tommy’s diversion at the door grasped their attention long enough to implement the first part of my plan.

  “It’s delicious. My compliments to the cook.”

  Aurora studied him, disappointed by his lack of expression. Perhaps I didn’t salt it enough? No matter, the next course is still to come.

  “I take it that you have your own cook, Carlos?” her father asked.

  “Yes, although my mother does prefer to cook. She rarely pays me any heed when I command her to stay out of the kitchen, but I find that women will do as they please.”

  Her father struggled to keep his bushy eyebrows in check as they rose in surprise. Really, I do not know why he is shocked when the man is a commoner. It goes without saying that his mother will do common work. She had no issues with it as she also tended to potter about in the kitchen whenever Netty allowed her entry.

  “Your mother sounds like a, uh. .. a handy woman,” her father said. “Of course, you cannot expect my daughter to cook. She was not brought up in that manner.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to argue that he had had no say in how she had been brought up and that she actually enjoyed cooking, thank you very much, but this wasn’t the time to argue. Aurora was acutely aware of the cockroaches she had bundled into a handkerchief and hidden in the folds of her dress. Once the next course was served, Tommy would create another diversion, prompting her to release the cockroaches into his food. That should turn his stomach. I will have to bury them in his food and let his fork reveal them.

  “Aurora will not have to lift a finger, My Lord,” the merchant assured. “I have ample servants to attend to her every need. As we speak, my mother is interviewing women for a handmaiden position.”

  He seems too sure of himself. There was clearly not a doubt in his mind that she would marry him, while she was infinitely confident that she would not. ’Tis only a matter of time before the victor is crowned.

  “Good, good,” her father said, nodding his head. “Shall we move onto the next course? I hear that Netty has prepared a suckling pig with root vegetables. ’Tis my favourite, although Aurora is none too keen on meat. She has a soft spot for animals, you see, and would rather not eat meat at all. However, she is a Stafford, and thus a lover of meat. ’Tis in her bones.”

  Aurora was surprised her father knew that about her. It was true that she would rather survive on vegetation alone if she could, but the lure of meat could not be denied. Perhaps there is truth in what Father says about Staffords and meat.

  “It seems that my fiancée has a tender heart,” the merchant commented, looking at her.

  Her hands curled at the word ‘fiancée’, wishing that she could say something to wipe that grin o
ff his face.

  “Anyone with a heart would not enjoy killing animals, Mr Fernandez.”

  “Call me, Carlos, please. A man and wife must learn to be more familiar with each other.”

  I have several words that I would rather call you. “’Tis improper to be familiar with anyone until they are bound in holy matrimony. Is that not right, Father?”

  Her father readily agreed. “Quite right, dear. Carlos, I ask you to respect my daughter and not suggest anything until your vows have been taken.”

  “I didn’t mean anything by my words, My Lord, only that I wished Aurora to use my name. Was that wrong of me?”

  Her father looked between them, seemingly cornered and distressed. Trying to please everyone does not work, Father.

  “No, no, you are not wrong at all. However, give my daughter time to grow accustomed to the idea of being your wife. This has been sprung on her rather suddenly.”

  Startled by his uncharacteristically thoughtful words, her spoon missed her mouth, spilling its contents onto her lap.

  “Oh, dear me!”

  Her first reaction was to stand up and shake her dress, but she remembered the cockroaches hidden there. Instead, she shifted a little, her hand feeling for the wriggling creatures. A little dampness will not hurt.

  “Have you burned yourself?” the merchant asked.

  “Not at all. Father, I think the next course is needed.”

  The merchant gave her an odd look then, almost as though he were both puzzled and wary. You have not seen anything yet, Mr Fernandez, or should I start calling you Carlos? Perhaps not out loud. She did like his name, but she would not admit that for all the world.

  The second course was served, and just in time for the next diversion. A harmless snake was let loose in the servants’ quarters, causing feminine screams to erupt. I would bet my last pound that some of those screams belong to grown men. Both her father and Carlos left the room to see what the commotion was about, giving her a window of opportunity.

  “Two or three cockroaches? Perhaps two. I need to hide them beneath the mound of meat carved on his plate, and they are rather large. I’ll add a little more sauce to cover up any evidence of fiddling with his plate.”

  It didn’t take long for the men to return, immediately tucking into their meal with gusto. Aurora kept her eyes down, slowly cutting into her meat, patiently waiting for the moment Carlos noticed the insects in his food. When she saw a leg peeping out from under the gravy, she nearly let out a squeal of laughter. She bit her bottom lip instead, clearing her throat. Goodness me! Find the bloomin’ things already!

  Finally, Carlos seemed to notice that something was amiss when his carrots moved without his help.

  “Uh ... should my food be moving?” he asked.

  “Moving?” her father questioned.

  “I assure you that everything on your plate is dead, Mr Fernandez,” she said. “Perhaps you need some rest after your journey.”

  The man frowned at his food. “I suppose you are right.”

  How she wanted to laugh, but she managed to keep her composure. I might feel some satisfaction if he crunched into one.

  Some moments passed by with Aurora still carefully observing Carlos’ plate. Are they dead? She couldn’t see any movement at all. Cockroaches are hardy creatures; almost nothing can kill them. Her question was answered when one of them climbed out from under the last piece of meat left on his plate, its feelers moving this way and that. Time to act.

  “Cockroach!” she screamed, pointing at his plate.

  She pushed her chair back in mock horror, her utensils clattering to the floor. Her father jumped as well since he was a squeamish man, his face pale as he stared at the offending creature.

  “Dear me,” he said, swallowing hard. “How on earth did that happen?”

  He called for the servants, not getting a word out once they arrived because he ran out of the room himself, holding his hand to his mouth. Carlos remained sitting, his face expressionless.

  “I wonder how this could have happened?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “These things happen, Mr Fernandez. More might happen if you continue to stay in this house.”

  “I see.”

  “I’m glad you do. Excuse me, please.”

  Aurora was mightily pleased with herself when she left the dining room. For the next two days, she continued to plague the man with various pranks, trying to get a rise out of him. His tea was often replaced with bathwater, his little tea cakes littered with sand, his bed strewn with ants, and his clothing regularly went missing. However, the man seemed to take each trick as calmly as the last, which was why she was currently on her way to her favourite hiding spot on the estate.

  “Let them think that I have run away! It would serve them right.”

  She had hidden her clothing in a trunk in her mother’s parlour to give the appearance of a runaway bride, taking only what she felt she would need. Tommy had thoughtfully snuck some food into a sack and hid it in the stables. Whatever else she needed, she could easily get from the woods. Aurora was an excellent forager and would not starve even if she should hide away for a month.

  “Although I do not expect to be there too long. Just enough to make that man lose his patience and end this engagement.”

  Worried that someone might be following her, she took various turns to mislead them, putting on nearly an hour to her destination. It usually only took her twenty minutes or so, but she could not take any chances.

  The sun was just about peeping over the trees, giving her some warmth. Leaving before first light had been necessary as Carlos’ servants were keeping a close watch on her, observing her every move. She could hardly sneeze without one of them popping up somewhere.

  Arriving at the chosen barn, she climbed the wooden ladder to the hayloft right at the top, moving bales of hay around until she had sufficient place to sleep while keeping a look out. Yawning, she lay down, pulling a smaller bale closer to her.

  “I think I shall sleep a little while to make up for my hours lost. Playing tricks on the merchant is no easy feat.”

  Aurora fell asleep rather quickly but seemed to awaken soon after with the odd feeling of being watched. Opening her eyes, she looked into the dark gaze of the last person she expected to see.

  “You!”

  Chapter 11

  Carlos didn’t want to leave his room, not when he knew that Aurora would probably be waiting for him with yet another prank.

  “I cannot stay here either. Breakfast is ready, but I cannot stomach what else that woman will do to me.”

  He must have dropped a few pounds in the last two days from the little food he had been able to ingest before Aurora managed to get hold of it. She was nimble, too, continually taking him by surprise.

  “I cannot sleep in peace; neither can I eat in peace. She is driving me insane!”

  He couldn’t decide if he was dealing with a child or a crazed woman. Carlos had prided himself on being quite the trickster as a young man, but Aurora was making him rethink his prowess.

  “Mother might be happy to know that I have finally met my match.”

  In more ways than one. The young woman was his ticket to getting close to his father ... if she didn’t make him lose his mind. Today was the third day he would stay at Aurora’s family home, leaving four more days until their wedding ceremony.