Lady of Mischief: Historical Regency Romance
Page 18
Though Eliza had known Sebastian for almost her entire life, she had never been to Campden Hall. He had always come to them. They were never invited there. His parents, the late Lord and Lady Dain, had thrown few events in their later lives, though Eliza hadn’t questioned it. She did then, wondering why they would have shirked their responsibilities as parents, as members of the ton. She was too nervous to ask Sebastian, as they rode away from Colchester Manor as a newly married couple.
As the carriage pulled up after their wedding, it was the first time she’d ever seen it. It was an imposing sandstone façade, with three stories of glittering windows that had a warm glow from within.
She allowed him to escort her to the sleek, black painted door, where the butler opened it for them. He bowed low. He was an older man, with silver hair.
“Lady Dain, welcome home,” he said.
“Thank you, she murmured, getting a good look at the entryway. A sweeping staircase led up to the third floor. The foyer was open, all of the way to the ceiling, where there was a pergola, upon which was painted a blue sky with golden stars and a thin slice of crescent moon.
There was a shining black and white tile floor, and the cream-colored walls had golden accents, which brought a tight focus on the lush oil paintings that hung there. She did her best not to gape, for Colchester Manor was not nearly so fine. After all, her brother’s Barony was modest.
I hadn’t realized just how well-off Seb is, she thought, swallowing nervously at the thought of how well-off she then was by association. It was all new to her. So utterly new.
Sebastian turned to her.
“I have had the butler arrange for your things to be placed in your bed chamber,” he explained. “It is on the other side of the house from mine.”
“We won’t share a marital bed?” she asked, her stomach feeling like it had dropped to the floor. She had, at the very least, expected him to consummate the marriage—so that then no one at all could question that they were wed, properly.
“No, my darling. You know the bargain which we struck,” he said.
Eliza could only stare at him. She felt as if she’d been struck herself. She sighed, nodding. She glanced down at the fine white gown she wore.
“I will allow you to settle in.” He bowed to her, then strode away, into the depths of the house. Eliza turned toward the butler, who lead her away, to her solitary room. She sank down onto the mattress, still dressed in her gown.
She felt horribly sad and lonely as she looked around at the fine room. It was decorated specifically for a lady. It had a delicate cream wallpaper, with a pattern of roses emblazoned across it. The furniture was dark hardwood, and the bedspread was thick, a soft cream to match the walls. She kicked off her dancing slippers, to bury her toes in the carpet.
Any other bride would have been incandescently happy on her wedding day. But Eliza was not a normal bride. She had married in order to right the wrong that Lord Wyhurst had committed. She felt as though she were living someone else’s life.
She stood, walking over to the wood dressing table, where there was a ceramic vase, filled with fully bloomed cabbage roses, which had most certainly been bought from a hot house. She looked around at all of the fine things and felt despair.
I’ve married the gentleman of my dreams, she thought. But it’s all wrong. He couldn’t care less.
Eliza yearned for her husband, his caresses, closeness. She wanted, to make something of this spontaneous marriage of convenience, to convince Sebastian that they could be partners, lovers, and everything else. To be Lady Dain in name, marchioness in title, but never Sebastian’s wife in spirit or heart—that could never be enough for her.
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Lisa Campell is an American author specialising in Steamy Regency romance tales. She decided to realise her lifelong dream of becoming a writer at a relatively mature age, after an inciting event taught her that it’s better late than never. Transferring the intricate storylines of her boundless imagination to ink and paper has been her passion ever since.
Her historical fiction novels have been distinguished for their intriguing plots, their well-situated characters and the attention to detail level they display.
Lisa lives in Santa Clara, California, together with her dear husband. They are the parents of two children. Before devoting herself to Regency romance, Lisa split her time between being a mother and working as a travel clerk. She now finds her youthful spirit to be revitalised every time she brings one of her stories to life.
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