The Spring Bride

by Anne Gracie

  “Treat yourself to some super reads from a most talented writer.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “For fabulous Regency flavor, witty and addictive, you can’t go past Anne Gracie.”

  —Stephanie Laurens, bestselling author

  PRAISE FOR ANNE GRACIE’S NOVELS

  The Winter Bride

  “A delightful, emotionally complex romance . . . A romantic winner, with Gracie’s typical witty charm and sweeping emotion.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Exquisitely written, perfectly plotted.”

  —Library Journal (starred review)

  “Gracie continues the charming seasonal saga of the four Chance sisters . . . with this thoughtful and tender Regency.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “The Chance sisters are living a dream, and readers will be thrilled to be there with them. Gracie has created a wonderful cast of characters, from the sisters themselves to their benefactress and servants . . . The lively dialogue and tender emotions compel readers to relish every moment.”

  —RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)

  The Autumn Bride

  “Gracie charms and entices with this launch of the Regency-era Chance Sisters series . . . Layers of secrets and deft characterization make for a deep, rich story that will leave readers starry-eyed.”

  —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  “Historical romance author Gracie is known for her nuanced, unconventional characters and rich, original plot lines. This book, first of a planned quartet, doesn’t disappoint. A complex, charming heartwarmer that celebrates love, brave heroines and the miracle of second chances.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed a book quite this much . . . I predict The Autumn Bride is going to be the book to add to the TBR list of historical romance fans everywhere.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  Bride by Mistake

  “The always terrific Anne Gracie outdoes herself with Bride by Mistake . . . Gracie created two great characters, a high-tension relationship and a wonderfully satisfying ending. Not to be missed!”

  —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author

  “Another [of] Ms. Gracie’s character-rich, fiery tales filled with emotion and passion leavened by charm and wit.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  The Accidental Wedding

  “With her signature superbly nuanced characters, subtle sense of wit and richly emotional writing, Gracie puts her distinctive stamp on a classic Regency plot.”

  —Chicago Tribune

  “Anne Gracie’s writing dances that thin line between always familiar and always fresh . . . The Accidental Wedding is warm and sweet, tempered with bursts of piquancy and a dash or three of spice.”

  —New York Journal of Books

  “Gracie takes conventions of the romance novel that have been done to death—amnesia, injured hero, heroine who does too much—and turns them into a story that is fresh and new and interesting . . . A near-perfect read.”

  —All About Romance

  “A finely crafted tale, with just the right amount of sexuality.”

  —Library Journal

  “Anne Gracie does it again: The Accidental Wedding is funny, charming and completely endearing . . . There are some authors I pick up when I just want some comfort at the end of a long day. Anne Gracie is one of them.”

  —Night Owl Reviews

  “A fairy tale any girl would love. Two people, likely to never know love, find each other to make the perfect match in this extraordinary love story. Anne Gracie’s writing is historical romance at its best . . . [It’s] a delightful and fanciful novel that is charmingly romantic and sure to mesmerize you long after you’ve read it!”

  —The Season

  “Gracie has created some of the best heroines in romance fiction . . . Nobody is better than Anne Gracie at evoking tears and laughter within a single story.”

  —The Romance Dish

  To Catch a Bride

  “Threaded with charm and humor . . . [An] action-rich, emotionally compelling story . . . It is sure to entice readers.”

  —Library Journal (starred review)

  “A fascinating twist on the girl-in-disguise plot . . . With its wildly romantic last chapter, this novel is a great antidote to the end of the summer.”

  —Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author

  “Anne Gracie at her best, with a dark and irresistible hero, a rare and winsome heroine and a ravishing romance. Catch a copy now! One of the best historical romances I’ve read in ages.”

  —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author

  “Swiftly moving . . . Appealing and unconventional . . . Will captivate readers.”

  —RT Book Reviews (4 stars)

  “There is so much I liked about this one, it’s hard to find a place to start.”

  —All About Romance

  “It was loveable and laugh-out-loud, full of heart and of memorable and interesting characters.”

  —Errant Dreams Reviews

  “One of the difficulties of reviewing a favorite author is running out of superlatives. An Anne Gracie novel is guaranteed to have heart and soul, passion, action, and sprinkles of humor and fun.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  His Captive Lady

  “With tenderness, compassion, and a deep understanding of the era, Gracie touches readers on many levels with her remarkable characters and intense exploration of their deepest human needs. Gracie is a great storyteller.”

  —RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick)

  “Once again, author Anne Gracie has proven what an exceptionally gifted author is all about . . . Absolutely one of the best romances I’ve read this year!”

  —CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

  The Stolen Princess

  “Anne Gracie’s talent is as consistent as it is huge. I highly recommend The Stolen Princess and look forward to the rest of the series.”

  —Romance Reviews Today

  “Anne Gracie always delivers a charming, feel-good story with enchanting characters. I love all of Ms. Gracie’s stories and The Stolen Princess is no exception. It stole my heart, as it will yours.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  Berkley Sensation titles by Anne Gracie

  The Merridew Sisters

  THE PERFECT RAKE

  THE PERFECT WALTZ

  THE PERFECT STRANGER

  THE PERFECT KISS

  The Devil Riders

  THE STOLEN PRINCESS

  HIS CAPTIVE LADY

  TO CATCH A BRIDE

  THE ACCIDENTAL WEDDING

  BRIDE BY MISTAKE

  The Chance Sisters

  THE AUTUMN BRIDE

  THE WINTER BRIDE

  THE SPRING BRIDE

  An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014

  THE SPRING BRIDE

  A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author

  Copyright © 2015 by Anne Gracie.

  Excerpt from The Autumn Bride by Anne Gracie copyright © 2013 by Anne Gracie.

  Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and a
llowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

  BERKLEY SENSATION® and the “B” design are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

  For more information, visit penguin.com.

  eBook ISBN:978-0-698-14301-2

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / June 2015

  Cover art by Aleta Rafton (Lott Reps).

  Cover design by George Long.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Version_1

  In memory of Winnie Salisbury (née Winnie Williams) who many years ago showed me the beautiful North Wales of her childhood and youth.

  And with thanks, as always, to my writing friends in whom I’m so blessed.

  Contents

  Praise for Anne Gracie’s novels

  Berkley Sensation titles by Anne Gracie

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Epilogue

  Special excerpt from The Autumn Bride

  Prologue

  Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.

  —JANE AUSTEN, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

  London, 1805

  “Tell us about the night you were a princess, Mama.”

  “She felt like a princess, she wasn’t really one,” Jane’s big sister, Abby, corrected her.

  Jane didn’t care. A princess was a princess. “Mama? Tell us.”

  Mama smiled. “Don’t you ever get sick of it, darling?”

  Jane shook her head fervently.

  “Well, I was just eighteen, and it was the grandest ball of the season. Everybody was there, dukes, earls, even a royal prince.”

  “And what were you wearing, Mama?”

  “You know very well what I was wearing, you’ve heard it a hundred times.”

  “Mama!”

  “Very well, I was wearing a beeeyoutiful ball gown, rose-colored silk that swished like water when I walked.”

  “And a gauze overdress—go on,” Jane prompted.

  “A gauze overdress with hundreds of tiny crystals sewn on it that caught the light—”

  “And glittered like a shower of diamonds,” Jane finished for her.

  “See, you know it better than I do.”

  “Go on. And on your head . . .”

  “On my head I wore a most elegant little headdress of pink pearls and diamonds—of course, they were paste, but—”

  “And you came down the staircase, and everybody turned to look at you . . .” Jane didn’t want to hear about paste, which wasn’t as good as diamonds—not that she’d ever seen any kind of jewelry, except for Mama’s gold wedding ring—but everybody knew a princess wore diamonds.

  “Yes, little tyrant, and everybody turned to look at me in my beeyoutiful glittery pink dress.” Mama laughed, but the laughter turned into a coughing fit that ended with her lying back on the bed, handkerchief pressed to her mouth, exhausted.

  Abby fetched Mama some water and a clean handkerchief, slipping it into Mama’s hands so that Papa wouldn’t notice the blood on the old one. Abby was always secretly washing blood out of Mama’s handkerchiefs.

  After a while, Jane asked, “Mama, why aren’t you a princess now?”

  “Oh, I’m still a princess, my darling.” Mama opened her eyes, and looked over Jane’s head at Papa, who was standing behind her, silent and grim. “That night I met and fell in love with your papa. He’s my prince, and always will be.” And she smiled up at Papa.

  And Jane could see for herself that Mama really had been a princess because the smile made her beautiful again, so beautiful, as if someone had lit a candle inside her.

  “You’ll always be my princess,” Papa said in a choked voice, smoothing Mama’s hair back and kissing her on the forehead.

  Jane loved Papa dearly, but she knew he wasn’t a prince. A prince lived in a castle, not one poky little room in a smelly old building.

  Mama was supposed to have married someone else—a rich man who did live in a castle. Papa too was supposed to marry another lady, but then they met each other and fell in love. And because they fell in love, they had to run away and get married, because their parents wanted them to marry the other people. The rich other people.

  That was why Jane and Abby had never met their grandparents, even though Abby was almost twelve and Jane was nearly six. Because they were still angry. Papa and Mama had been cast out, cut off without a penny. That’s why they had no money. Papa did his best, but there was never enough . . .

  If Mama were a princess now, she wouldn’t be a thin shadow of herself, faded, sad and sick. And Papa wouldn’t be so tight and angry and sad. Jane and Abby would be princesses too, and they’d all be living in a castle, not a cold, dark little room, where rats scrabbled behind the walls. And none of them would ever be cold, or hungry or frightened.

  “I’m going to be a princess too, when I grow up,” Jane declared. “And I’ll have a pink glittery dress and wear diamonds and—”

  “Janey darling, it’s just make-believe,” Abby began.

  “No, I will!”

  “Ah, sweetheart, no matter what you wear, you’ll always be Papa’s little princess,” Papa said, picking Jane up and twirling her around and around. And everybody laughed.

  But Jane had no doubt of it. Twirling high in Papa’s arms, she looked down at the dingy little room spinning around her, Mama lying weak and thin in her bed, and Abby crouched beside her with a clean cloth. It wasn’t always going to be like this. Everybody said Jane was the image of her mother, and that meant she could be a princess too. She just had to find a prince with a castle.

  Chapter One

  But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them.

  —JANE AUSTEN, MANSFIELD PARK

  Mayfair, London, March 1817

  “That was a lovely treat, thank you, Abby.” Jane squeezed her sister’s arm affectionately as they walked through Berkeley Square. “I can’t believe I had to wait eighteen years to taste ice cream.”

  Abby laughed. “You’ve made up for it in the last few months—is there any flavor at Gunter’s you haven’t tasted?”

  “No,” Jane admitted, “but I still haven’t decided which is my favorite.”

  Abby laughed again. “And it’s not even summer yet.” It was barely even spring. The plane trees that lined the square were only just beginning to bud and a few scattered clumps of snowdrops were in bloom.

  Jane squeezed her older sister’s arm again. “Ice cream or not, it’s lovely to have the catch-up, just the two of us. I love Damaris and Daisy—you know I do, but some
times . . .”

  Abby nodded. “Sometimes you just need to be with your big sister, I know. It’s the same for me.” She paused, then glanced at Jane. “Are you nervous about your season? Your first ball, it’s what, ten days away?”

  “A fortnight,” Jane corrected her. “And no, I’m not nervous. Not really.” She shook her head. “Well, nervous in a good way. If you want to know the truth, I can’t wait. All those years in the Pillbury Home wearing gray and brown serge and never dreaming—well, only dreaming about going to balls and parties and routs, wearing pretty dresses, dancing until dawn and going to plays and concerts and picnics, as Mama did. But I never truly believed it would happen, that one day . . .” She hugged her sister, then gave a happy little twirl. “It’s so exciting, Abby. I feel so very lucky.”

  “We are lucky,” Abby said, sobering a little. “All of us. If it weren’t for Lady Beatrice . . .”

  “I know. But she insists we rescued her, which is true too, in a way. And truly Abby, she’s enjoying this as much as any of us. She couldn’t be more delighted if we were her real nieces.”

  Abby laughed. “Good thing I married her nephew then, which makes it almost true.”

  “‘Nonsense! Your marriage to Max has nothing to do with it. If I want nieces, I’ll dashed well have ’em!’” Jane declared in an excellent imitation of Lady Beatrice, and they both laughed.

  Abby linked arms with Jane again and they resumed walking. “Oh, Jane, I’m so happy. Happier than I ever dreamed possible. You have no idea. Marriage is . . .” She gave a blissful sigh and then blushed. “But you’ll find out soon enough. You’ll meet a handsome young man—maybe even next week at the ball—and you’ll fall madly in—”

  “Do you think Damaris and Freddy will have arrived in town yet?”

  Abby gave her a sharp glance, but accepted the change of subject. “Damaris’s last letter said they expected to arrive in London today or tomorrow, so they might have, yes.”

  “Oh, good. I can’t wait to see her. Her letters from Venice contained some beautiful sketches—it seems like a magical place. I wonder if I’ll ever get to see it.”