He read the note over several times to assure himself that he had read it correctly. If she was suggesting what he thought she was, their lives would be changed forever. It would be wonderful and frightening, daring and joyous. No matter what they encountered, he did not care. If they could be together forever, he would do anything and everything he could to make it happen.
Chapter Twenty-One
The following evening, Matthew waited at the Grosvenor Gate of Hyde Park, his carriage parked nearby. He had been waiting for some time and was anxious about the meeting. He had arrived early not quite certain when the sun would be going down. Not missing the sunset was of the utmost importance.
Of course, he was not even sure what he should be looking out for. Someone on foot? Or perhaps a carriage? He did not know. With as much circumspect that he could manage, he had examined each person and every carriage that had passed near the gate.
His worry rising, he pulled the note from his pocket and unrolled it to read once more.
My dearest Matthew,
I fear that my father will all never agree to our marriage. If you still wish it and have faith in me, I know we can find a way for us to have the blessed and wonderful life we both dream of.
Please meet me tomorrow evening at sundown near the Grosvenor Gate at Hyde Park.
Until tomorrow,
Diana
Even knowing the logic of it, he still worried that Miss Diana had changed her mind or even worse, had been found out and prevented from coming. The thought made his heart stop and his stomach to churn.
The past two days had been so tumultuous, Matthew could not imagine what he would do should she not be there to meet him. He supposed that he would simply be forced to do what he had planned to do before—go back to Castborough and then on to Whitehall. Alone.
He had barely rolled the note up again when a carriage pulled up and stopped at the gate. The door opened and a woman got out wearing a dark blue hooded cloak. She looked around cautiously her eyes stopping at him and she pushed back the hood. Although he had been thoroughly convinced it was Diana he was utterly relieved to see her face smiling at him. She hurried to him and he was amazed by her beauty and overwhelmed by his feelings for her.
“Matthew! You came. I was so afraid you would not want to see me.”
“Why would you say that?”
“My father was so awful to you. I worried you would be put off permanently by his deplorable behaviour.” She looked down and frowned. “I would not have blamed you.”
Matthew shook his head. “All is well. At least I hope it is.”
She nodded. “I said horrible things to you. It broke my heart to speak in that manner, but I knew my father would not falter nor concede. I feared talking to him further would have only caused the circumstance to be more troublesome.”
“I am glad you know him well enough to see that. I still had hope I could convince your father otherwise,” Matthew confided.
“So you forgive me for telling you to go?”
“They were the most painful words I have ever heard. Though once I read your note I understood completely.”
“I cannot apologize enough. I was so very worried that you would throw the note away in anger without even reading it.”
“I very nearly did,” he admitted with a grin.
She gasped and covered her mouth, "Oh goodness."
“Yes, I returned to Remington house and I was quite upset. I had not even looked at what you had put into my hand. When I discovered it still in my hand I was afraid it would say the same things that you had said to me in your father’s library. I was about to throw it across the room when I remembered you had come into the room upset at your father and wanting to speak your mind. I trusted that you had been defiant when you wrote the note and that you would not be saying goodbye to me."
"I cannot tell you how happy that makes me to hear these words."
"Your note brought me a lot of joy as well. But Diana, as much as I want to marry you, I do not want you to regret your decision. It will likely be a decision that will sever ties with your family. I think you should be certain before we move forward."
Diana smiled up at him and took a deep breath. "If you are still wanting to marry, I would be so very happy to travel to Gretna Green with you to do so."
Chapter Twenty-Two
Diana held her breath waiting for his answer.
"Are you really sure?” He winced as he watched her smile falter.
"Matthew, of course. Yes, I am sure."
"Please do not misunderstand me. I only ask because I do not wish to make you choose between myself and your family." He frowned. "I would hate myself forever if I made you unhappy and then you lost your family, too."
She smiled again. "That is precisely why I could not be more sure. It is because of my mother and father I have been forced to choose. They care only about what they want with no regard for my wishes. But you, Matthew, you are altogether concerned about my feelings without a care for your own. That is how I know for certain what I want right now."
Matthew took both of her hands in his. "Diana, will you make me so very happy and marry me?"
"Yes! Yes, of course, I will." Diana was so overjoyed, she could barely breathe.
Behind them, the door to the carriage opened and Diana felt Matthew stiffen. She squeezed his hands. "It is all right. It is only my Aunt Grace."
"She is assisting you?"
"Yes. She was the one that helped me see I had to follow my heart. She also showed me that I could be creative to find a way to do that.” Diana watched his face go from surprise to complete shock to understanding in such a brief amount of time. “Did you not tell anyone of your plans to meet me?”
“I left a note for Henrietta. I should think she will receive it when she returns from Almack’s.” He squeezed her hand and then rushed over to help Aunt Grace out of the carriage.
"Thank you, Mr Repington,” Aunt Grace said straightening her skirt.
"It appears that I should be thanking you." Matthew smiled and nodded. “Diana says that you have been a great help to her—and ultimately to me.”
The older woman waved him away with a laugh. "I only reminded Diana that it is her life, not her father’s."
"Still, it was something I needed to hear." Diana stepped over to her aunt and hugged her warmly.
Aunt Grace pointed into the carriage. "Diana’s valise is in front of the seat, there."
Matthew leaned forward and brought out Diana’s travel bag.
"You two need to leave soon. Diana, I can hide your absence until tomorrow night or perhaps the next morning but after that, I cannot guarantee your parents will not have found out that you have gone."
Diana looked at Matthew who spoke up to say, "At that point, it will not matter. We will be far enough ahead of them that they will not be able to catch up with us."
Night had fallen and she was delighted to know that they would soon be on their way. She was happy to hear that Matthew was confident that they would reach Gretna Green without interference from her parents. She knew the journey would not be easy and that it would take several days but she knew it would be well worth any discomfort. After all, it was the beginning of her new life with Matthew and that was worth it all.
“I am glad of that." Aunt Grace turned to Diana. "I will go collect your watercolors and canvases in the morning while your mother is out. I have the rest of your belongings at my residence and I will keep them safe until you can return to London or I get the opportunity to come visit in Whitehall."
"Aunt Grace, we cannot thank you enough." Diana hugged her aunt tightly and wiped away a sentimental tear.
"Diana is quite right. You have done so much for us. I cannot thank you enough. I do hope to see you in Whitehall often." Matthew took Grace’s hand and squeezed it gently.
"Oh, hush, both of you," Aunt Grace said dabbing at her eyes. "The biggest thanks you can give me is to make it to Gretna Green safely. Be happy togethe
r." She hugged Diana again and then pulled Matthew in as well. " Now go quickly!"
Matthew picked up Diana's valise in one hand and took her hand in his other and they ran across the street to his waiting carriage. He opened the carriage door and then turned to Diana. He looked into her sweet face with a sparkle in his eyes. "My love, are you ready to start our lives together?"
"Yes, I certainly am. I love you, Matthew Repington. So very much."
"And I love you, Diana." He dropped a kiss onto her cheek before helping her into the carriage and they rode off into the night. To their future and their life together.
A Lady’s Favour - Preview
The Repington Chronicles - Book 6 - Henrietta’s Story
"Have you been to many recitals so far this Season?"
Henrietta Repington shook her head and turned to her friend, Lady Amelia Sedgwick. "I have not. Although I did decline two such invitations. I had other engagements to attend but I must admit that I was rather relieved as it was quite probable that it would not be an enjoyable time."
"Yes, that seems to be the case, more often than not. Although I do believe that Miss Hannah will prove that wrong today."
"Oh yes, I believe she has a very lovely voice. Quite refreshing, indeed."
Henrietta had been to many recitals in previous Seasons. Most of them were not too terribly awful but there were some that had been somewhat torturous to sit through. She had gone to one recital that the singing was so shrill that the hunting dogs had begun barking and the footmen had to be sent out to quiet them.
Henrietta had been happy to attend this recital, however. It was well known that her friend, Miss Hannah, had a lovely voice and her younger sister played the piano forte quite beautifully. It promised to be an enjoyable event.
"I see that Mr St. Clair is in attendance this afternoon," Lady Amelia pointed out.
Henrietta could not help but smile, Mr St. Clair had been paying quite a bit of attention to her in the last several weeks. Henrietta had been rather happy about it as he was one of the most fashionable gentlemen of the Season.
He had attended nearly all the most important balls and parties. Henrietta looked forward to seeing him at any social event. He was quite entertaining and seemed to always be kicking up larks. She thoroughly enjoyed that he never seemed to be serious about anything.
"Oh, is he here?" Henrietta asked innocently.
Lady Amelia laughed. "As if you did not notice him the moment that he arrived. You do not fool me at all."
Henrietta laughed along with her friend. "It is quite difficult to not notice him. He seems to always be smiling or laughing."
"And surrounded by people," Lady Amelia added.
"Yes, he does seem to be quite popular. I must say that I am pleased that while he always seems to be up to something, he does not seem to thrive on gossip that so many others seem to partake in."
"That is quite true," Lady Amelia agreed. "It is most unusual, but a good thing indeed."
Henrietta watched Mr St. Clair. as he moved through the drawing room greeting the other ladies and gentlemen who had already arrived. He was fairly tall and impeccably dressed in the latest fashion. His light brown hair was long enough to curl near the collar of the dark green coat that had been tailored to fit his fashionably thin frame. Henrietta was still watching him when he looked across the room. His eyes swept over her and he smiled. Henrietta smiled back and then swiftly turned away.
"Are you suddenly feeling shy, Lady Henrietta?" Lady Amelia asked her.
"Certainly not." Henrietta opened her fan and covered her face as she giggled. "But Mr St. Clair does not need to know that now does he?
"Certainly not," Lady Amelia repeated and laughed as well.
"Good afternoon, Lady Amelia," Jonathan Webb said walking over to join them. "Lady Henrietta."
Henrietta was neither surprised nor annoyed at having Mr Webb join them. He and Lady Amelia had been entirely enamored with each other for quite a while, only having just started an official courtship in recent weeks. Henrietta had seen him arrive shortly after Lady Amelia had asked about Mr St. Clair. "Good afternoon, Mr Webb. How are you this afternoon?"
"I am well. Thank you for asking." He turned to her friend and asked, "Lady Amelia, are you enjoying yourself?"
Lady Amelia’s cheeks reddened slightly but she smiled demurely. “Yes, it has been quite a lovely afternoon.”
Mr Webb glanced around the room. “I have rather glad that I was able to attend.”
“I am, as well,” Lady Amelia agreed.
Henrietta hid her smile behind her fan. It was truly a joy watching her two friends begin their courtship. It had been more than obvious to everyone around them that they were perfect for each other, even their awkward moments and seemingly uncomfortable silences seemed right for them. Propriety dictated that the two of them could not be alone, but Henrietta was sure that if they had gotten the chance to talk longer than two minutes by themselves that they would have been betrothed already, quite possibly last Season.
After having a hand in her brother’s recent marriage, she was beginning to think that she might have to do something to aid in Lady Amelia and Mr Webb’s path to the altar. She was still thinking about that when she heard someone behind her.
“Hello, Lady Henrietta,” Jeffrey St. Clair said sweeping a magnificent leg. “I am so very elated to see that you are in attendance.”
“Good afternoon, Mr St. Clair.” Henrietta stifled a giggle as he bowed dramatically in front of her. He was always doing or saying something amusing.
“I am pondering whether I shall get up and dance during the recital. Perhaps a jaunty jig,” he suggested hopping on one foot.
In response, she fluttered her fan for a moment and then snapped it shut giving him her haughtiest look. “I will not listen to your fustian nonsense today.”
She turned away from him as though she were intent on what Lady Amelia was saying to her brother, Timothy Sedgwick. Henrietta was trying to keep her face solemn but the corners of her mouth were threatening to give her away. Not that Mr St. Clair would think she was serious, since he never thought anything was serious.
“Today?” He asked turning his head as though he had not heard her. “Only today?”
“Mr St. Clair, I…” she started but did not finish as the door to the drawing room opened and Miss Hannah entered followed by her sister, Clara and their mother.
“I suppose we shall take our seats,” Lady Amelia suggested. “It appears the recital shall start rather soon.”
“Quite right,” Henrietta said an agreement.
Several rows of chairs had been set up on the far end of the drawing room and Lady Henrietta followed Lady Amelia and Mr Webb as they took their seats.
Henrietta tried to ignore where Mr St. Clair had gone to, fighting the urge to scan the room to see where he had taken his seat. They had only been seated a moment when she heard him say from a chair behind her, “At least I can enjoy the view, if not the music.”
Henrietta stole a glance at Lady Amelia to see if she had heard the comment. Her friend’s smile was proof that she had indeed heard what had been said by Mr St. Clair.
Miss Clara had sat down at the piano forte definitely a sign that the recital would be starting soon. Lady Amelia gave Henrietta’s hand a quick squeeze before returning her attention to the two sisters getting ready to perform. Henrietta looked forward to speaking with her friend when they had a chance to be alone.
Tap here to find out more about A Lady’s Favour - Book 6 in The Repington Chronicles Series.
About Kelly Anne Bruce
Kelly Anne Bruce has loved the Regency era of English culture since her teenage years. The country estates, London city happenings, and lovely wardrobes are part of the allure.
But the people of that time are what draws Kelly in. The hierarchy in society is fascinating. A sense of pride in who they are and where they come from matters even if the person isn’t from nobility. Their concern over pr
opriety while behaving less than properly gives plenty of opportunities to tell a tale.
Kelly Anne is an American, married to an Englishman. They live in Cambridge, which happens to be her favourite city in England. Their two cats and a dog run the household remarkably well!
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The Jilted Earl
The Duke’s Heart
Their Second Chance
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