An Earl's Wager: Regency Romance (Gentlemen and Brides)

by Joyce Alec

  “Who are they from?”

  Jane looked over the top of one of the letters to see Margaret and Beatrice both watching her. She smirked. She knew from the looks on their faces that they were watching her face carefully for any reactions she may have, in hopes that they would give them some sort of clue as to who had sent the letters.

  “This one is from Lord Greenshire,” she said calmly, turning it over to the other side.

  “The duke’s son?” Even her mother was interested.

  Jane nodded, feeling her heart beat a little faster.

  “What did he say?” Both of her sisters were staring eagerly at her.

  Jane flipped the letter back over to the front and read it out loud for her sisters and mother.

  “Dear Lady Jane, I hope this letter finds you well. It has come to my attention that you and your family will be attending the ball that my parents are holding this coming weekend. I wished to send my well wishes to you ahead of time and let you know how pleased I am that you will be there.”

  Her sisters’ eyes grew wide, and they blinked expectantly at her.

  “That is all?” Beatrice said.

  “Of course not,” Jane retorted.

  “Well, then keep reading!”

  Jane rolled her eyes. “I hope you will allow me to show you the gardens at my parents’ estate. The rose garden is in full bloom, and I hope that you find the flowers as fragrant and delightful as I do.”

  Sounds of glee and childish laughter escaped her sisters. Apparently, Margaret had forgotten her bitterness in the anticipation of Jane’s letter.

  “I am sure that many men will wish to dance with you, but I do hope that you will save at least one for me. Sincerely yours, Lord Greenshire.”

  Beatrice and Margaret giggled like children.

  Her mother smiled gently. “Well, isn’t he just the most wonderful man?”

  Jane smiled as well. “He is quite the gentleman.”

  “You are going to dance with him, aren’t you?” Beatrice asked.

  “Of course I will,” Jane answered.

  “And with every other man that asks her,” Margaret teased, some of the bitterness in the undertones, but almost indiscernible.

  “And what of the other letter?” her mother asked, eyeing the other letter on the table in front of her.

  Jane unfolded the letter, and with everyone’s eyes on her, began to read.

  “To my dearest Lady Jane.”

  I already know who this is from, she realized.

  “It is my greatest pleasure to write to you; I think of it often. Your beauty is more radiant than the sun, and your smile more lovely than the stars.”

  She felt her own cheeks flush as she read these words out loud. It was most likely written to be read in private, but she had begun to read it out loud, so she continued.

  “It has been far too long since I have seen you, and I do hope that I may gaze upon your smile soon. The days are long without your presence. I will be attending the ball at the Duke of Kirkland’s estate in a fortnight. I do hope that you will be attending. Perhaps we can spend the evening dancing beneath the heavens together. I think of you fondly, and remain humbly yours, Lord Hays.”

  “The baron?” her mother asked, her brow furrowing once more. “The one who we were introduced to last winter?”

  Jane smiled as she folded the letter carefully. “The same, Mother.”

  “Well, he sounds awfully…colorful.”

  Jane had to agree in her own heart.

  “Oh, he’s the handsome one, isn’t he?” Beatrice asked, her eyes wide as she looked at Jane. “The one with the red hair and the beard? And those bright green eyes?”

  Jane felt her cheeks warm again. “Yes, that one.”

  Margaret rolled her eyes again. “Oh, and what of Lord Greenshire? Did you forget about him all of the sudden?”

  “Not at all,” Jane said.

  “He’s quite handsome as well,” Margaret said indignantly. “Tall with dark hair and those steely blue eyes? Besides, Lord Greenshire will one day be the Duke of Kirkland.”

  Their mother said. “I know which of the two I would choose as well.”

  “The obvious choice would be Lord Greenshire, of course, mother,” Jane said, detecting her mother’s thoughts in her tone. “He would be able to provide me with a life as I have always had.”

  “And his parents are well respected members of society,” the duchess remined Jane.

  Jane flinched as the same thoughts, in the exact same words, had passed through her own mind. Her mother nodded her head as if there was nothing more to discuss.

  Jane huffed. “Yes, yes, he is ideal; I understand.”

  “You don’t seem to understand what ideal truly means, daughter,” her mother said, with a raised eyebrow as she looked at Jane.

  Jane held up her hands defensively. “I never disagreed with you, dear Mother.” She shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “He is handsome, and he would provide well for me. I also understand Lord Greenshire outranks Lord Hays. I understand all of these things, but the baron…” she smirked, and tapped the top of the table thoughtfully. “There is just something so very intriguing about him.”

  Her mother looked surprised, and her sisters looked amused.

  “You are to tell me that you would turn down a marquess for a baron? Have you lost your senses?” her mother asked. She was not angry, just genuinely surprised.

  Jane shrugged her shoulders. “If he was the right man for me, Mother, why should it matter if he is a baron or a marquess?”

  Margaret laughed out loud. “Who are you, and what have you done with Jane?”

  Beatrice nodded her head. “I do not believe my ears. The perfect picture of what a woman in high society should look like, and you would even consider a lowly baron for marriage?”

  Jane glared at them all. “I never said that I would be marrying the man,” she retorted. “And I never said that I was dismissing a marquess. I simply said that the baron is an intriguing man. That is all.”

  “And he is extremely handsome,” Margaret repeated. “That certainly does not hurt matters.”

  “And look at all those lovely things that he said,” Beatrice added. “Who could resist a man with such honeyed words?”

  Jane’s sisters broke down in a fit of giggles again, and their mother shook her head. “All right girls, that is enough. I think it is time that we returned indoors. Your father will be wondering where we are.”

  They all rose from the table, and their mother immediately walked gracefully towards the house.

  “It is more like she wonders where father is and why he did not join us out here,” Beatrice said, with a wink at Jane.

  Margaret and Beatrice also made their way inside with their heads pressed together, no doubt discussing the letters that Jane received.

  Jane remained out at the table to enjoy a few moments of quiet, with both of the letters in her lap. She took one letter in each hand. The weight of them both settled over her shoulders as she sat out there alone with them. They were both agreeable men. Her upbringing and her pride told her that Lord Greenshire was indeed the obvious choice. And she liked him, she really did. But Lord Hays…there was something so enticing and charming about the baron. He was very handsome, and he knew exactly what to say to make Jane feel special. She had yet to find a man like that, who could draw a smile from her and allow her to forget for a moment about her role and her place in the world around her. She was aware of his charms, though, and was sure that there was nothing he could do to completely ensnare her. At least, that was what she believed.

  2

  A Man in Such High Standing

  The family arrived at the ball an hour late, but Jane's mother teasingly told the girls that it was because they were just so excited about the ball that they had spent extra time preparing. She was not wrong, Jane realized. Both she and her sisters had spent far too much time perfecting their hair and choosing the perfect jewelry to match their g
owns. Margaret threw an absolute fit when Beatrice chose the red ribbons that she wanted to wear, and it set them back fifteen minutes while they attempted to calm her down.

  Jane chose a midnight blue dress that she adored, and the duchess was quite disappointed that Jane had not worn the new dress. Jane promised her mother that she would wear it in the spring, since she felt the light color would suit her more in the springtime.

  The Duke's house was bustling by the time they arrived. Her father muttered about being stuck making introductions now that they were late instead of being able to just blend into the crowd in the drawing room. Jane's mother huffed and casually glanced out the window of the carriage at all the activity.

  Jane appreciated balls more than even her sister Margaret, who made it her primary prerogative in life to be aware of all the latest fashion and gossip. Jane loved the people, the elegant attire, and most of all, the best and brightest that society had to offer.

  After arriving, Jane quickly located some of her dear friends, Lady Sarah and her sister, Lady Louisa. Standing with them was Lady Violet. They all embraced politely and immediately. Lady Violet filled Jane in on all of the goings-on at the ball. Jane patiently listened to who had already danced together, as well as who had been recently engaged.

  This was part of the reason that Lady Violet had been such a valuable friend for Jane to choose. She had seemingly endless knowledge of anyone of noble birth, and her information was frighteningly accurate. She was not a simple woman either; on the contrary, she was very bright and kind. Even though she was aware of everyone's business, she still cared about a lot of them and was often a great source of comfort to many of them as she was able to recall their trials and tribulations. It was an interesting gift, and Jane appreciated her.

  Lady Louisa nodded along with everything that Violet said, her brown eyes wide.

  "Now, this is the interesting part," Lady Violet continued, her auburn hair in tight curls fastened tastefully against her head with silver pins. "I think you will find this most interesting, Jane. Lord Greenshire has remained in that corner, over there, since we arrived, looking like a lost little lamb."

  Lady Sarah said wistfully. "Oh, he is just so handsome. Jane, you are so fortunate to have captured his attention."

  Lady Louisa shrugged her shoulders. "I would like to meet a man who she has not captivated.” She winked at Jane, a wide smirk on her pretty face.

  "Oh, you flatter me too much," Jane replied piously.

  "He must be waiting for you," Lady Violet said, grasping Jane's arm fervently. "He must be. He has eyes for no one aside from you."

  "Dear Violet, that is not the first time that I have heard you say that."

  "Nor was I wrong about it then," Lady Violet responded, but grinned. "Come now, you cannot tell me that you have absolutely no interest in a man like Lord Greenshire."

  "I never said that," Jane said, and all her friends stared intently at her.

  "I know you like to keep your feelings to yourself," Lady Louisa began, "But you must tell us now. Do you intend to pursue anything with Lord Greenshire?"

  "You mean to allow him to pursue something with me?" Jane asked, and the girls all laughed together.

  Yet they still gazed at her expectantly.

  "You know that a lady's business is her own to share when she pleases," Jane began. "But you are my friends."

  She looked around the room towards the corner where Lord Greenshire was, in fact, standing alone. He did not look the least bit displeased to be there. Instead, he stood tall and proud, gazing around the room for what she assumed was herself.

  He had dark hair, well styled, not the least bit untidy. It was hard to tell from where she stood, but she knew his eyes to be a wonderful shade of blue, almost the same shade as her dress. He had a strong build and almost perfect posture. He looked noble. She would be proud to be married to such a man.

  She looked back to the other ladies.

  "Lord Greenshire is indeed a desirable match, and I believe that we could be a good pairing. He would be able to provide a life for me that my father would approve, and my mother is just as infatuated as you are, Louisa."

  Louisa flushed pink, but she smiled. "I only wish that I could have gotten to him before you did, Jane."

  "But what of Lord Newton, Louisa?" her sister said, gently poking her in the arm. "He is a marquess as well, and I believe he is to inherit almost as much as Lord Greenshire."

  Louisa looked over her shoulder at Lord Greenshire. "Yes, but he is not as handsome."

  "According to you, perhaps," Lady Sarah teased.

  "Good evening, ladies."

  They looked up to see Lord Greenshire had appeared, an easy smile on his handsome face.

  The other three women began to giggle as if they were young girls, and all looked at Jane.

  Jane simply smiled calmly in return, ensuring that her feelings were not apparent on her face. She felt delighted that he had come over to see her, and also felt frustrated at the other girls for being so foolish.

  “How is everyone this evening?” he asked, looking between them all.

  “Wonderful, Lord Greenshire. How kind of you to ask,” Lady Violet said, her face a pale pink, her hands clasped together tightly trying hard not to fidget.

  “And you, Lady Jane?” he asked, his deep blue gaze shifting to her.

  She felt as if she could get lost in his eyes, and the feeling surprised her. She nodded her head respectfully. “Quite well, my lord. Thank you. And how do you do this evening?”

  “Much better now,” and his smile widened.

  His words were met with knowing smiles from the other women.

  “I should think that we have somewhere else to be, don’t we, ladies?” Lady Sarah said, grabbing her sister’s and Lady Violet’s hands. “If you will excuse us, my lord. Perhaps we shall see you again later this evening.”

  Without another word, Lady Sarah pulled the other two women with her out from between Jane and Lord Greenshire and back out toward the foyer, all of them chittering away excitedly.

  “My, they are quite excited this evening, aren’t they?” Lord Greenshire said pleasantly, his hands clasped behind his back as he took a casual step toward Jane.

  Jane nodded her head. “Indeed they are, my lord. Though I feel there are few moments in which they are not as excited.”

  “How long have you been friends?” He asked, looking down at her.

  Jane noticed, not for the first time, that she only came up to his shoulder, and she was not considered a short woman. She returned his gaze.

  “For many years, my lord. We met before we were introduced to society, and we take every advantage that we can to spend time with one another.”

  Lord Greenshire grinned again. “I find that most admirable. I myself have few friends, but I believe it is different for men.”

  “I believe that is true,” Jane agreed.

  A moment of silence passed between them as they both gazed around the room together.

  “What do you think of the ball this evening?” Lord Greenshire asked, raising his hand to gesture around the room. “Is it pleasing to you?”

  “Your family always holds the most elegant affairs,” Jane said. She meant it; there had not been a ball that she had attended there that was not fit for the royal family themselves. “I love the red and orange hues that the duchess chose as colors for decorations this year.”

  Lord Greenshire smiled at her. “Yes, she felt that embracing the coming of autumn was an appropriate way to allow everyone to enjoy themselves to the fullest this evening.”

  “Your mother is a very wise woman,” Jane agreed.

  “She certainly believes so!”

  The two of them laughed together.

  “I received your letter,” Jane said, looking back up at him. “I was very pleased to receive it.”

  “I am very glad that you did,” he said, his face brightening.

  “I certainly was looking forward to seeing you
this evening,” she replied, not dishonestly. “And I believe that you are quite the flatterer and also one of the kindest gentlemen that I have had the pleasure of knowing.”

  If she did not know any better, she would have thought that his cheeks colored.

  “And of my offer?” he asked, after clearing his throat.

  “To which are you referring?”

  “Why, to dance with me, of course,” beamed Lord Greenshire.

  She smiled a genial smile. “Lord Greenshire, how could I ever live with myself if I were to decline?”

  He bowed his head toward her. “You honor me, my lady with your acceptance.”

  He offered her his hand, which she accepted gracefully.

  Her heart began to beat faster as his fingers closed around hers, and he looked happily down at her. She knew that many eyes were on them as they walked across the room toward the area where they were to dance, and she felt proud.

  She felt proud of herself for being able to find such a man as Lord Greenshire, and also for the fact that it was she who was to dance with him. She knew that many women would have sacrificed all of their inheritance in order to marry him, or even to be noticed by him. She took immense satisfaction that she was able to remain calm and collected as they crossed the room.

  She was indeed worthy of marrying a man in such high standing.

  “My Lord Greenshire,” came a voice that had suddenly appeared beside them.

  “Yes, what is it?”

  Jane felt a flicker of fury deep inside her. She steadied her features as she peered at the man who had stopped them. She recognized him immediately as the house butler, and he was bowing low.

  “My apologies, my lord, but your father is looking for you.”

  “Please tell him that I will see to whatever it is that he needs as soon as I have danced with Lady Jane,” he said, holding their clasped hands aloft.

  The butler bowed even lower. “My lord, I do apologize, but he insisted that you come now. Apparently your mother is in a right fit, and he cannot calm her.”