Rosalind: A Regency Romance (The Four Sisters Series Book 1)

by Audrey Harrison

  “And your mother?” Peter persisted.

  “She would probably enjoy the visits and attending some of the balls, but she would hate to be so far in the country. London would be the place to see mother, but I am not about to uproot the family just to offer entertainment to her,” Rosalind responded tartly, her tone showing how little filial affection there was between mother and daughter.

  “Oh,” Peter responded, surprised at the fire in Rosalind’s tone. “I didn’t want you to think they would not be welcome.”

  “I would never think that of you,” Rosalind said, although she admitted to herself as having thought at the start of their marriage that Peter was the lofty aristocrat. “Though I would like to do more for Annabelle than we have so far, if you have no objections.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Peter asked.

  “Some entertainments at home, and I wondered if there were any Assemblies that we could attend?”

  “There is one that occurs in Preston once a month. It is a grand affair; Robert never missed it,” Peter replied. The journey would take a few hours; but the Assembly was usually planned for nights of a full moon, so there would be no real difficulty in transporting them to the venue.

  “Did you never attend?” Rosalind asked. She was fully aware that her husband would always be in demand from the ladies, even when he was the second son: he was handsome and was a considerate dance partner, a perfect combination.

  “No, not when I left Sudworth Hall,” Peter admitted a little sheepishly. “The journey was quite restrictive, but the reality was that I was happier out on the land, and entertainments like that just got in the way.”

  “Ah, my farmer Duke,” Rosalind teased. “Will we ever make you civilised?”

  “I doubt it,” Peter responded with a smirk at Rosalind’s laugh.

  Chapter 15

  Over the coming weeks Rosalind ensured that Sudworth Hall would be ready to greet visitors at a ball she hoped to hold for Annabelle. Wallpaper was hung, rugs and curtains replaced and furniture re-covered. It was a major upheaval, but as each room was completed, the place seemed to come to life a little more, and it began to feel like home.

  Rosalind admitted to herself that it was the happiest she had been for a long time. Her evenings and nights were spent with Peter; his presence always made her heart beat a little faster, and his smile never failed to warm somewhere deep in her stomach. During the nights, he was at his most relaxed, and she loved to hear the sound of his laughter, especially when his breath was on her skin because of their closeness.

  Neither of them had spoken about their feelings; they just enjoyed being together. Rosalind was sure that she loved him: a feeling that she had never expected to experience when she had started in the marriage, but aspects of her life still worried her. She should try and speak to Peter to clear things up, but for once she chose the easy way: to enjoy what she had and let the future happen without worrying about it.

  She spent much time with Annie and Annabelle during the day. Morning visits lost their tension since Lady Joan left the area. Miss Latimer and Mrs Adams tended to be the last visitors each day and very often they stayed longer to join in whatever activities Rosalind and Annabelle planned.

  Rosalind was keen to encourage the friendship between Annabelle and Miss Latimer. There was more chatter and laughter from the young lady once her difficult friend no longer influenced her. Annabelle seemed to like Miss Latimer, and they started to spend most of each day together.

  Rosalind also encouraged Annie and Mrs Fisher to join them when Miss Latimer and Mrs Adams were present. She felt it was important that Annie meet more people, and introducing her slowly to trusted friends was an easy way to achieve this.

  All the ladies gathered when the modiste visited. She had been told of Annie’s nature in advance of her visit. Annie was excited about having new clothes and seemed to shake off her usual reticence in a stranger’s company.

  “We need day and evening wear that is suitable for a young lady of Annie’s age,” Rosalind instructed the modiste, as fabric was spread out on the dining room table. “I think erring on the demure side would be most appropriate.”

  “Of course, Your Grace,” the modiste responded. The ladies, Annie and the modiste all gathered around the dining room table, picking up fabric and either discarding it, or putting it forward as a consideration. Even Mrs Adams was laughing and being silly without her usual cutting remarks. It was obvious she adored Annie and approved of Rosalind’s gentle encouragement of the young girl.

  Rosalind stood back, intending to ring for refreshments, but she paused with a smile on her face. Annie was chattering away to whoever was in her vicinity. There was no shyness, and she was happy to agree or disagree to suggestions being put to her. There was a lot of noise and laughter, something that the young woman had been short of since her mother died. Rosalind rang the bell; there would have to be more excuses for days such as this she thought to herself. The house needed noise.

  *

  The evening of the Assembly finally arrived, and Annabelle was excited. “I hope that I don’t sit out with the wallflowers all night,” she said when joining Rosalind in her bedchamber.

  “You didn’t sit out at Lord Kettering’s ball, and some of the same people will be attending tonight. You will always have Peter’s dance anyway,” Rosalind said reassuringly.

  “Yes, once he’s finished gazing into your eyes for the first two,” Annabelle replied, not missing the opportunity for teasing her sister. “Who would have thought the great Duke would be smitten with my big sister?”

  “I wouldn’t go that far!” Rosalind laughed modestly. “But with the backing of the Duke and Duchess of Sudworth, you will hardly have time to sit!” she laughed, showing that she still had not come to terms with her high rank in society.

  Both ladies waited for Peter in the hallway. He smiled as he walked down the marble staircase. He was accompanying two beautiful women, one of whom belonged to him. Rosalind wore a gold silk dress, with scalloped edges, which showed a paler gold fabric underneath. The edges of the dress were trimmed with gold flowers, matching the paler material perfectly. Her headdress was a delicate golden turban, the two fabrics intertwining for the best effect. She wore pearls around her neck and over her gloves, at the wrist: the contrast with the gold, working to good effect.

  Annabelle wore a cream satin; she might be two and twenty, but she was still a debutante. Her dress was embroidered with tiny crystals that glimmered as she moved. Her hair was positioned high on her head with a complex pattern of plaits, criss-crossing to create an intricate pattern. Crystals adorned her hair, while a small crystal clip finished off the ensemble.

  Peter smiled, and Rosalind smiled back at him. She was a beautiful woman, and he could hardly believe his luck. He had never experienced the feelings that she brought out in him: it was a heady mix of lust, protectiveness, and something that he was not quite sure of. It was more a feeling of wanting to keep her close, of never wanting to let her go.

  Rosalind placed her hand on her husband’s proffered arm. She was proud to be connected to him. There was no doubt that she would be the envy of every woman in the ballroom, and she was thankful that he was hers. He stood tall, his stove top hat adding even more height, his deep blue frock coat contrasting perfectly against the gold of his waistcoat, which was made of the same material as Rosalind’s dress. His breeches were a rich cream while the white of his stockings stood out against the black of his shoes. Yes, she felt very lucky indeed.

  They arrived at the Assembly, and Peter took his wife into the ballroom after introducing her to a few people. Annabelle had seen Miss Latimer and stopped to speak to her, so Rosalind was free to enjoy her dances.

  Each movement that Peter and Rosalind made seemed to promise of other more intimate movements. Each touch caused her insides to fizz with pleasure. Every look was filled with meaning and want. It was the same each time they danced whether it was at a ball or at a dinner
party that introduced an impromptu dance. To Rosalind, it was a heady mix.

  During the second dance, Rosalind noticed that Annabelle was dancing further down the set, with a gentleman Rosalind did not recognise. “Who is Annabelle’s partner?” she asked, when she passed Peter on the turn.

  Peter turned his head and his expression turned to surprise when he realised who the gentleman was. “She’s dancing with Lord Stannage. I haven’t seen him in a long time.”

  “Oh?” Rosalind asked, curious about the expression on Peter’s face.

  Peter did not offer anything further until they stood at the top of the set. “He usually doesn’t like socialising very much; he has an affliction that makes him the brunt of jokes. I’m surprised he’s at such a large gathering.”

  Rosalind looked down the set, trying to see more of her sister’s partner, but the crush on the dancefloor gave her only the briefest of glimpses. She wondered what his affliction was; there must have been five hundred people in the room, certainly not the place to be if one wanted to hide. “Is he looking for a rich wife?” she asked.

  “Stannage? No,” Peter responded confidently. “The family is very rich; he is no fortune hunter.”

  The dance eventually ended, and Rosalind moved through the crush to meet Annabelle. Peter was engaged to dance with Annabelle for the next dance. She saw her sister being escorted to the side of the room where Lord Stannage stayed with her. Rosalind noticed a stiffness in Annabelle’s posture and tried to hurry.

  “Stannage, how are you?” Peter asked as the two pairs met.

  Lord Stannage turned with a smile to Peter. “Gilbert, good to see you; I’ve not seen you in an age, not since Robert was alive. I was sorry to hear of your loss.”

  “Thank you,” Peter said. “I would like to introduce you to my wife. I see you have already met my sister, Miss Johnson.”

  “Your Grace,” Lord Stannage said, bowing formally to Rosalind. “Yes, I was fortunate to be speaking to Mrs Adams when Miss Johnson and Miss Latimer passed by. Mrs Adams was kind enough to perform the introductions.”

  Rosalind curtsied in return but, because her husband was leading the conversation, she had the opportunity to observe the man before her. He was smaller than Peter but still stood at around six feet tall. He had rich chestnut hair, which was curled into the latest fashion. His dress was of the finest, black frock coat, pale blue waistcoat and moleskin breeches. His neckcloth was tied with many intricate knots; overall he looked every part the gentleman he was.

  He was a handsome man, Rosalind thought, but what took her, and everyone else’s attention who met him for the first time, were the colour of his eyes. One was a clear blue, the other a deep green. Rosalind had been prepared because of Peter’s words that there would be something amiss with Lord Stannage, but she had never seen anything like it in her life. It was a little disconcerting, but it was obvious that Peter did not find anything amiss as he chatted.

  “You shall have to excuse me,” Peter said as the music started again. “I am promised to my sister for this next dance.” He bowed and led Annabelle out onto the dancefloor.

  “Your sister is extremely pretty, Your Grace,” Lord Stannage said.

  “Thank you. I think so, but I am slightly biased,” Rosalind smiled in return. “Did you travel far?”

  “I have a place near to where Gilbert’s farm was. I’d known him prior to him moving there, but we became quite close whilst he was living in the area. It was good to have a good friend so close.”

  “Are your family living with you?” Rosalind asked, interested in the new acquaintance.

  “No, I am originally from Carlisle; I inherited the title from an uncle. I spend my time between the two places. I miss my family when I am here and miss my sanity when I am with them,” Lord Stannage said with a smile.

  “Yes, I feel like that some of the time with my sisters,” Rosalind smiled in return. “Do you know Mrs Adams well?”

  “I think everyone knows Mrs Adams,” Lord Stannage said with a slight smile, “Whether they like it or not.” His words were affectionate rather than rude, and Rosalind laughed.

  “I have known her only a short time, but I can say that your words do not surprise me. Would you do me the honour of taking me to her? I didn’t expect to find her in this crush,” Rosalind said easily.

  “It would be my pleasure, Your Grace,” Lord Stannage said, offering his arm. The pair walked around the edge of the ballroom, dodging, squeezing and pushing through the throng of people.

  As they moved, Rosalind noticed how many open mouthed looks Lord Stannage received. It was also obvious that people were talking about him and laughing at him in some circumstances. Rosalind felt herself bristle; she was very much the outsider to this society and did not like it when another was being ridiculed.

  Eventually they reached Mrs Adams, and Lord Stannage bowed and made his excuses, leaving the two ladies together. Mrs Adams watched the retreating figure. “He must be getting lonely; he only comes into society once in a while: it’s been a long time since we saw him last,” she said.

  “Why does he hide?” Rosalind asked, although she had guessed the answer.

  “You know how our society can be cruel. The likes of Lady Joan and the tenth Duke made his life hell. He could never hide his affliction; it is always the first thing that someone notices.”

  “He seems a pleasant gentleman,” Rosalind said honestly.

  “He is; he’s a decent man, but he can take only so much and then he buries himself away for months at a time. It is a great pity; he would have been a good match for one of your sisters.”

  “I would not want any of them to be hidden away for months at a time, whatever the reason,” Rosalind said with feeling.

  Annabelle and Peter eventually found Rosalind and Mrs Adams. Annabelle was once again suffering from the heat. “Why are ballrooms always so excessively hot?” she asked, fanning herself vigorously.

  Mrs Adams laughed, “You should dance only the more sedate dances instead of ones that have you almost running.”

  “They all require skipping and quick footwork,” Annabelle countered. “If I avoid all those types of dances, I would sit out the whole evening!”

  “Let me accompany you for some refreshments,” Rosalind offered, linking her sister’s arm. They walked away and, when they were out of earshot, Rosalind brought the conversation around to Lord Stannage. “You have danced with two handsome partners tonight Annabelle.”

  Annabelle laughed at the lack of subtly of her sister. “One is married, and the other made to feel uncomfortable by the stares and comments he receives,” she said.

  “Society can be cruel sometimes,” Rosalind said; there was nothing gained for pretending it was otherwise. “Did you dislike him?”She had seen Annabelle’s stiff posture.

  “Well no,” Annabelle admitted, feeling embarrassed at needing to try and brush over her obvious reticence towards any man she did not know. “His eyes were very strange: I was quite unnerved by them at first, but he seems a perfectly nice man.” She hoped that Rosalind would not probe further.

  “Mrs Adams says that he is a decent man,” Rosalind continued. Annabelle was usually so outgoing and friendly; she wanted to reassure her of her new acquaintance.

  “He probably is, but he brings a lot of attention with him,” Annabelle explained. “My first dance at my first large assembly, and I’m the centre of attention because I’m dancing with a man with different coloured eyes. It was not the inconspicuous entrance that I’d hoped to make.”

  “It is not like you to be so reticent Annabelle,” Rosalind said.

  “I know. Trying to pick out a potential husband is more difficult than I’d thought; there are so many pitfalls I could fall into. I’m not sure I’m up to the task!” She could not explain that, every time she was close to a man, she was overwhelmed with fear and not sure how she was going to overcome it.

  “There is no real hurry: you are with me now; even if father write
s to hurry you home, I can ignore his letters!” Rosalind smiled.

  “I hope you do, although the longer I take in choosing a husband, the longer Grace is still at home. It is a pity that she can’t join us,” Annabelle said with feeling. “I feel the added pressure that she is still there while I am here, thinking: I must find a husband, I must find a husband!”

  Rosalind frowned, Annabelle’s words were so unlike her. “There is no real hurry, Annabelle,” she reassured her. “And you have danced with a handsome man tonight,” Rosalind.

  “He is handsome, I admit,” Annabelle said.

  “And other handsome men may have seen you because of your conspicuous dance,” Rosalind said playfully.

  “I don’t think it has done me any good; they aren’t exactly queuing to dance with me are they?” Annabelle replied.

  Unfortunately it was true; Annabelle danced only twice more, once with Peter and once more with Lord Stannage. It was obvious to Rosalind that her sister was being entertained by the gentleman; she was laughing and chatting although not as unreserved as she normally was with people, either male or female. Rosalind did not suppose that her affections were in danger of being affected. In some respects Rosalind wondered about her sister’s reaction to the worry of getting married: she was never one to panic over something their father was imposing on the single girls; she must really dislike Mr Wadeson. Rosalind determined to enlist Mrs Adams’s help in introducing more eligible gentlemen to Annabelle.

  When the group were seated comfortably in the carriage some hours later, Peter raised the subject of a ball. “Do you think two weeks is enough to prepare for the ball at Sudworth Hall?” he asked.

  “I would think so,” Rosalind replied, stifling a yawn; the thought of reaching her bed and sleeping in Peter’s arms was far more appealing than talking about another ball at this point in the evening. “In effect, we’ve been preparing for it while the alterations have been underway. Once I’ve spoken to Mrs Dawlish and Cook, I can’t see any problems.”