Marriage to a Mister (A Daughters of Regency #1)

by DeAnne Cherry

  As she walked below the upper veranda, not far from the ballroom doors, she could hear the boisterous yelling and laughing of the young men above. They were talking animatedly and smoking cigars, and she wondered if it was the card room as it seemed to be rowdy enough and there were no ladies present.

  She was just about to make her way back to the main door stairway when she felt something slam into her from behind, knocking her down to the ground and her breath away from her. Dazed, she looked up into dark eyes just before all hell and the devil broke loose.

  ***

  Evan stormed through the halls of the Brockhursts' home before finding an exit to the side yard, needing a brisk walk and the cool night air to clear his anger. What had he bloody said back there? Frightened Fleur? Good Lord!

  He had been a complete arse – no, he was worse than that, he was the one who was frightened. If any other man had dared to be cruel to Fleur in the manner he had just been, he would have drawn his cork right then and there.

  Shamed, he stopped and threw his back against the wall as he leaned and looked up into the night sky, trying to understand himself. He saw her standing there with her sister, his wish of finding her coming true, and before he knew it, Nathan had walked up to the girls before he could stop him.

  In that moment he felt uncontrolled and unrelenting jealousy. It had overwhelmed him, and thinking back on it, he couldn't say whether it was the thought of her marrying Edward or the scene of her speaking so easily to Nathan that did him in. Any and all good sense he had gained over the years left him and all he knew was he wanted to lash out at her.

  He had repeated past mistakes without even a pause or a second thought, and the knowledge of it made him cringe. Like so many times before, he had let his emotions run away from him, and he exploded before running from her, leaving her to pick up the pieces he left behind. Would he never learn from his past mistakes?

  He was distracted from his sulking when he heard laughter come from above. He lifted his gaze and saw Lord Brockhurst's youngest son teetering on the edge of the veranda in his drunkenness, only the railing keeping him upright. He snorted when he saw the man barrel into a few of the potted plants situated on the railing, sending them into a spin. His eyes couldn't help but travel to see where the plants would fall and what he saw made his blood run cold.

  Evan looked back up just in time to see two of the pots sway dangerously. Without even stopping to think, he ran. He ran faster than he thought possible and blindly jumped a hedge. Just before he heard two loud crashes, he flung himself at Fleur, knocking them both spectacularly to the ground in a tangle of skirts and limbs.

  When Evan lifted his aching head, completely disoriented from the hard landing, he couldn't tell what happened first. The ladies screaming around them, or the loud promises to kill him that came from above, or the shocked murmurs that he could hear from just inside the ballroom as people gathered at the door. He started to come around and shook his head trying to clear the fog when he heard someone cry out Fleur's name.

  He looked over and saw Lady Julia with no fewer than three other ladies, as a small crowd started to form around them. To his right he saw his father's pale face and the Duke of Norfield barreling towards him with a face so red he thought the man might be choking. He followed everyone's eyes down in confusion only to meet a wide blue gaze.

  It was then that Evan finally noticed he was lying right on top of the lady with her legs tangled about him and his hand so far up her skirts, he was touching the bare thigh above her stockings.

  Evan whipped his hand out of her skirt and jolted backwards, falling onto his backside in the grass. He saw Fleur's face, burning with deep embarrassment, not unlike his own as he stood and backed further away.

  Once he moved, Charity Preston and Julia ran towards her to set her skirt to rights. He didn't see much more, however, as a fist came sailing through the air, hitting him squarely in the jaw.

  "Norfield, stop this. Julian, no!" Evan heard his father say. He touched his hand to his lip, blood seeping through his fingers and looked up to see his father and brother holding steadily onto a very angry duke.

  "Papa, please stop. It's not what it seems," he heard Fleur say, trying to cut through her father's angry fog.

  The duke looked her over, and satisfied she wasn't hurt, began his tirade. "Not what it seems? Then what the devil was it that gave him cause to have you on the ground screaming?" he asked before turning to his own father. "I'll have your whelp's answer by God, Blackburn, or I swear I'll slap my glove in his face right now and meet him at dawn!"

  "I say, Norfield," a blustering Lord Brockhurst interrupted. "Let's get the lady inside and then we can all discuss this rationally."

  "Yes, Julian, let's all go inside. Think of your daughters, look how you've frightened poor Fleur." Evan heard his mother frantically say.

  Lord Brockhurst broke up the small whispering crowd, sending them all back into the ballroom while Lady Brockhurst escorted them into the library, away from the onlookers and the gossip that was surely already brewing.

  They were all there -- his parents and brother, and of course her father and sister. Even his cousins Felix and Dom were standing off to the side with a clearly upset Nathan. Evan looked over to the door when he heard it open, and Lord Brockhurst came in, breathing heavily from walking briskly, the excitement likely the most exercise he had in decades.

  "Now, let's all stay calm and see what's happened, shall we?" Brockhurst asked, as the duke continued to glare at Evan.

  Even knew what it looked like he was doing, he knew he should be careful with his next words, but that had never stopped him before, not when he temper was so far gone.

  "Your brat is what happened, Brockhurst," he said angrily. "He was doing a drunken dance on the veranda and whilst doing so he knocked over two pots from the railing. I only reached Lady Fleur in time. One more second and they could have struck her on the head and killed her."

  "Oh, I say." Brockhurst said, his mustachioed face puffing up as his wife ran over to comfort a shaken Fleur .

  "Oh, you poor dear!" Lady Brockhurst exclaimed. "I shall make sure the gardener removes every pot from the railings, to think you could have been killed!"

  Evan threw his hands in the air before placing them on his hips to pace the room. The absurdity of the situation made him even more agitated.

  "Why the devil did you not say as much outside?" the duke asked. "And did you have to knock her clear down to the ground, her skirts above her ears for all and sundry to see?"

  Evan stopped and glared at the duke while the ladies gasped at his words. "Why yes, you are absolutely right, your grace," said Evan, "Next time I'll just let the pretty little pot fall on her pretty little head while I decide how best to save her, shall I? Would that have suited you better, Lord Norfield?"

  Fleur burst into tears then and buried her head in her sister's shoulder. He started to go to her, but the duke threw himself in front of her. Evan opened his mouth to argue again but his own father stopped him.

  "Evan, that's enough," his father commanded. "Julian, it's clear that Evan was saving your daughter, not debauching her, and as you can see she is fine, though understandably shaken. I suggest you take her home, and tomorrow we can discuss what is to be done. In the meantime, Felix and Dom, along with the Brockhursts, will spread around the story, making sure to bury any suspicions of impropriety."

  Edward moved from the side of the room towards him, speaking for the first time. "Evan, I think you should go home. I'll come fetch you when it's time to meet tomorrow. Nathan, you will escort him, won't you?"

  "Yes of course —"

  "I don't need a damned guard, I can take myself off!" Evan yelled at Edward, storming past him and yanking the door open. Nathan apologized to the ladies for his friend for what seemed like the hundredth time that day and quickly followed after him.

  "Come, Fleur, Julia, we are leaving. I'll see you in the morning, Blackburn." Julian escorted his daug
hters out of the room, followed by the Brockhursts.

  Lady Blackburn paced the room, much as her son had earlier. "Charles, what a ghastly nightmare. How could things have possibly worsened since this morning? I must go and find Lady Brockhurst. I love the dear but I need to know she is saying the right things. The woman could talk the ears off an elephant," she said before walking towards the doorway.

  Felix stepped towards her, grasping her hand in his own. "No, Aunt, let Dom and I handle this. If you walk out there now you'll be ... just let Dom and I," he said, trying to calm her nerves and spare her the hurt she was surely to feel if she went out into the fray. "We will go and try to control some of the damage in the ballroom, and later we will even go around the clubs to make sure all is well and nothing untoward is spreading. I'm sure you will be announcing their betrothal on the first night of your house party, so why don't you let Uncle and Edward escort you home."

  "But I really must —"

  "Madeleine," said Charles, the use of her full name breaking through and drawing her attention. "Felix is right, we must let them handle it the best they can. If you were to arrive now they would pounce on you, demanding to know what your announcement would be and as we don't know ... that is to say ... we can't be certain of anything now, we need to talk to Julian first."

  "But, Charles, what if we can't make this better for her?" she asked, gripping his arm, her small hands shaking from the force.

  Edward stepped forward. "Mother, nothing has been done that we can't remedy later. Let us take you home and we can discuss it."

  Madeleine nodded and took a deep breath. "Felix," she said, looking over to him and Dom. "You always were a good boy, you and Dom both. I know I can trust you not to get carried away. Don't confirm anything, just remind them that the duke and his daughters are close friends of ours, it's not so strange she would be in the gardens alone with Evan ..."

  She trailed off, her own bravado failing. "Just do what you can."

  She took Charles' arm, and he escorted her out of the room. The three younger men somberly followed, expecting everything to go as planned, hoping the ton would find a new scandal to gossip about by morning.

  ***

  Felix meandered through the clustered crowd, silent but observing. As he looked across the broad room, not one person was dancing, though music played, barely heard over the multitude of voices. All were gathered around the ballroom, all speaking rapidly in false hushed tones, as they all wanted to be heard. All about Lady Fleur.

  "Lady Blackburn did say there would be an announcement this very evening. It's a shame the Osborne girl had to ruin her moment of triumph, she was surely announcing an engagement, oh how disappointed she must be," He heard Mrs. Tildon say.

  "Apparently she was alone with him before it happened, she was seen sneaking off to the side of the house ... alone," Ms. Ashton replied.

  "I don't believe it," said Lord Crowley. "The younger girl, yes, I would believe it of, but not Lady Fleur. Never was there such an affable and steady girl, I just don't believe it," he said once more, shaking his head.

  Felix looked back towards his brother when he heard his name being called.

  "Felix," said Dom, jerking his head to the side towards an empty room. The both rushed inside and once over the threshold, Dom shut the door with a heavy sigh. "This is much worse than we feared, the gossip ranges from an innocent stroll to, and you won't believe this, Lady Fleur planning to run away and elope with Evan. Apparently her father found out and chased them down, attacking Evan to stop them. They aren't even trying to remember the particulars of what actually happened out there."

  Felix closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. Of course they aren't. The truth isn't near as interesting as an imagined anvil wedding. "An elopement, you say? Of all the nonsense to invent."

  "What do you want to do?" asked Dom.

  "Damn Osborne and his temper, if he hadn't ... but no matter, what is done is done. You go on home, I want to stay here for a time longer."

  "What about the clubs?"

  "Do you think it will be any better than this?" asked Felix, sighing. "Go home, there is nothing that can be done here.

  Dom nodded and walked towards the door before he stopped and turned to look at his brother. "Felix, don't do anything stupid," he said, giving him a look before leaving.

  Felix smiled and followed at a more sedate pace thinking about what Dom had said earlier. An elopement between Fleur and Evan. The thought made him smile.

  As he walked amongst the crowd, people were dancing again but there were a few still going on about the incident. He walked over to the refreshment table, pretending to peruse the items as he listened. He could see Lady Brockhurst with a group of young ladies accompanied by their chaperones. She was floundering.

  "An elopement? No, no, my dears, you have it all wrong, Lady Fleur was simply walking in the gardens when a great pot nearly fell on her head! Mr. Woolf saved her, it was quite heroic of him."

  "Oh, come now, Willhemina, that is too absurd," said Lady Dudley, fanning herself. "Falling pots and murderous plants?"

  "We know Lord and Lady Blackburn planned an announcement tonight, is that true, Mrs. Brockhurst?" asked a young indistinguishable girl in white.

  "Well, I don't know —"

  "Of course you know," Lady Dudley prodded again. "It is your ball, you must know."

  Felix saw Mrs. Brockhurst's face pinch and decided it was best to intervene.

  "My goodness, ladies," said Felix, walking into the group, his signature smirk slanted across his face. "You have it all wrong."

  Mrs. Brockhurst looked relieved as the rest tittered. "Really, Mr. Woolf? Then pray, tell us, what is your take on the situation?" asked another girl, in another shade of white.

  Felix thought quickly. Really, there was only one thing to be done, and considering what Edward had told him earlier about his upset with Evan, maybe this would be the best solution.

  "Lady Fleur was simply walking in the garden, as Mrs. Brockhurst said, but you are correct, she wasn't alone. Her fiancé escorted her."

  Gasps made their way around and Felix waited for everything to fall into place.

  "Fiancé? You mean to say that Lady Fleur is to marry Mr. Evander Woolf?" asked Lady Dudley, her brow arched as the puzzle pieces came together for her. "And the announcement was to be made this evening, how awful that this ruined their special night."

  Lady Brockhurst quickly looked between Lady Dudley and Felix, no doubt wondering what he was doing.

  "Indeed, a tragic loss, what girl doesn't look forward to her engagement announcement?" he asked, smiling at the young girls as they nodded. "And you know, Mr. Woolf is quite the hero, as Lady Brookhurst mentioned. Why, she might have been killed, or worse." Felix looked around the room and then leaned in to whisper, his audience intrigued and ready, "She could have been maimed."

  It was all Felix could do not to scoff and place his head in his palm. The ladies predictably gasped in sympathy for poor Lady Fleur. They then took up with the story and ran away with it. Words of congratulations, romance and of heroics abounded as a wedding between two prominent families would take place, and in the excitement of being the first to tell others all had forgotten that just a few short hours before, the head of one family had punched the supposed groom of the other.

  Felix watched and knew his job was done. By morning everyone would know, now he just had to figure out how to tell his own family without receiving a punch of his own.

  WOLVES IN LONDON

  Julia sat in her own room the next morning giving instructions to the maid about her packing. They were to leave for Blackburn Hall the next day and Fleur had shuttered herself in her room, refusing to come out since the night before and leaving her to deal with the house.

  Pointing to another round of bonnets to be packed, she told her maid she would return and walked to Fleur's room to make her come out. Slamming open the door, she stopped just inside and eyed Fleur. Her hair was a mass of dark
disarray around her head, her nightgown twisted around her legs. She gripped a pillow in her hands, raising it before slamming it down on her own legs.

  "Uh, Fleur? Dear? You look a little unhinged, it's quite frightening as a matter of fact."

  Fleur turned to her sister with the most pitiful look she had ever given, and Julia could not help but laugh, then wince. "Forgive me, I did not mean to laugh."

  "Oh, Julia, it's not funny. Honestly, I want to die."

  Julia straightened up and cleared her throat as she walked towards Fleur. "It's not that bad, really," she said, petting Fleur's head and trying to tame some of the curls.

  "Not that bad?" she asked disbelievingly. "Half of England saw my garters and it's not that bad?"

  "Well ... it could have been worse ... perhaps?"

  Fleur took her pillow and raised it suddenly, pressing it to her face.

  "Stop that, for heaven's sake, Fleur," said Julia, taking the pillow from her.

  Fleur leaned back onto her headboard and sighed. "How can I ever show my face in society again? I'm a disgrace."

  Julia clucked her tongue. "You could never be a disgrace, not as long as I'm around. Give me till next season, I'll be sure to outdo your scandal, and then no one will remember this day."

  Fleur giggled and then became dreadfully serious. "You better not."

  Julia smiled. "Come now, you must rally, and you certainly must get out of this bed and do something with that hair."

  Fleur huffed and shook her head.

  "Papa will be home soon, and don't you want to know what has happened at the Blackburns?"

  Fleur didn't answer and just looked to the side of her room, pushing her hand in her hair before sighing.

  Julia watched her, and her suspicions grew. "Are you thinking about him?"

  "No," said Fleur, whipping her head around to meet her sister's disapproving look.

  "You are, and why, I have no idea, since he's the very reason you're in this predicament in the first place."