by Karen Lynne
Uncle Wilson made the arrangements to have the banns read the following Sunday. They had agreed to be married in their home parish at the end of February. Letters were sent out, and Lillian’s cousins and Heather acted as her attendance, and Lisabet and Annalynn carried flowers.
Lillian was saddened that Lady Faden wasn’t able to attend, but she had invited Rose to come home with them and Lady Faden would act as Rose’s chaperone. Isabella and Lord Egerton would bring her with them when they returned.
Mrs. Dalton was still surly, but Lillian didn't mind, Benjamin adored her, and Mr. Dalton heartily approved, although after meeting her new son-in-law, Lord Egerton, Mrs. Dalton let all who would listen, know how fortunate her daughter was to have married the handsome earl.
The coach pulled up to the coaching inn in the late afternoon. It had taken two days with a delightful stay at the Kings Arms, a quaint little inn along the way, for Lillian and her new husband to make the trip home.
Benjamin wrapped his arm around her waist. “It is a short walk, and then we shall be home, and I will have you all to myself for a month.” He whispered in her ear.
Lillian giggled and took his arm, pulling him closer, not caring that they were in public.
A short walk later, Benjamin stopped in front of the wrought-iron gate of the house on Middling Street.
Lillian’s eye’s widened. “You bought the house?”
“Yes, do you approve?”
“Oh, Benjamin, I love it.” Lillian stepped through the gate.
“I thought you would. The home is not so big, and we will only need a small staff. The laundry can be done in town. The home large enough to raise a family.” Benjamin opened the door, letting Lillian step inside.
The table in the front parlor was laden with gifts. Lillian fingered a large silver candle stand, a gift from Lady Faden. Benjamin stepped up from behind and wrapped his arms around her running his lips along her neck, sending a thrill up her spine.
“Isabella’s gray mare is in the stables. She has consented to let you have her until you find a horse of your own.” Benjamin whispered in her ear. “But for now, we have but a week before the horde of callers will descend and interrupt our paradise.”
Lillian turned and snaked her arms around his waist. “Remember, next month we travel to London. Lord Egerton has given us the use of his townhome so that we may sponsor Rose and Heather for the season.”
He groaned as he nuzzled her neck. “Then let us not waste any more time.”
“But what of the staff?” Lillian giggled as his lips explored her shoulder.
“Ah, they will not be arriving until next week.”
“Perfect.” Lillian cooed, drawing him closer.
Benjamin touched her hair tenderly before bringing his lips to hers, awakening the fire within her once again.
Sneek Peek Taming Sophia
Chapter One
Sophia paced outside her father’s room, he was dying, she could feel it. She had failed them, and Sophia didn’t know why. Now it was too late.
“Sophia,” Her mother emerged from the bedchamber her parents shared. “Your father wants to speak with you, we are losing him, Sophia, what will we do?” Her mother's tears began to flow again as Sophia moved past her into the sickroom.
Her father looked so small propped up against the headboard, his eyes closed, his pale skin, shallow under the flickering candlelight. She and her mother had been in Bath for the Season and had stayed a few weeks longer waiting for her latest beau to come up to scratch. But he slipped away without a proposal, so they had returned home only to find her father had suffered a stroke the week before.
“Sophia?” Her father’s speech was broken and unrecognizable. She leaned in close to better understand his weak voice.
“Yes, father, I’m here.” Sophia reached for his hand and gave it a comforting, gentle squeeze.
He lifted his hand with hers, slowly tapping it against the bedcovers, his other hand immobile by his side. He mumbled as he tried to speak, the words not coming.
“It’s fine, father.” Sophia tried to give reassurance she didn’t feel, her mother’s soft sobs echoed across the bed.
“No, no.” He whispered. “I have failed, I tried so long. But it will be well, I have made arrangements.” He took a breath. “You may stay in the house.” His sigh escaped, and he was still.
“Father?” Sophia laid her hand on his still chest.
“Reginald?” her mother moved to the bed. “Oh, my dear.” her mother sobbed, laying her head on the covers.
It was the first time in ages that Sophia had heard her mother utter her father's name. Her mother always called him Lord Moore, only using his Christian name when they were alone. Sophia stood and slipped out of the room, leaving her mother to tell her good-byes in private.
“He’s gone,” Sophia informed the doctor.
He nodded. “I will inform the solicitor.”
“So soon, can’t it wait a few days?”
The doctor gave her a sympathetic look. “I am afraid it was your father’s wishes.”
She was too tired to argue. It didn’t matter anyway. She would find out on her own as she made her way downstairs. Sophia entered her father’s study. His large mahogany desk dwarfed the room. Her father always liked to live large. She scanned the shelves for the familiar account books, but they were not in the usual place. Sophia went to the desk and opened the drawers.
Nothing.
She looked everywhere, but they were missing. What did this mean? Father, what have you done?
Captain Charles Rutley finished dressing. He was to enjoy an evening with his friends James, the Earl of Malmesbury, and Sir William. It was their wives’ monthly ball at the assembly rooms in town, and he promised to be there.
The week before, Lord Moore had fallen ill with a stroke and wasn’t expected to live. He’d spent the time signing papers to protect Lord Moore’s family. It would be good to relax and think of something else.
Charles left his rented rooms on foot and walked to the assembly hall. The soft glow of the gas lamps lit the windows as carriages dropped off their occupants. The master of ceremonies welcomed him, and Charles picked up his dance card before skimming the ballroom looking for his friends.
William signaled from across the hall, his wife Eliza smiled as he neared.
“Charles, you came.” Eliza smiled up at him.
“Yes, my lady, I promised.” Charles bowed over her hand.
“We haven’t seen you since you skipped out on Abby’s wedding luncheon.” William gave him a nudge.
“How is Lord Moore? Father said he suffered a stroke.” Eliza’s brow wrinkled. “Joanne said they haven’t been able to reach Lady Moore and his daughter.”
“I am afraid it’s not good. The doctor doesn’t expect him to live. I just hope his wife arrives in time. The solicitor thinks they are traveling home from Bath.” Charles had no other information to impart. He’d been meeting with the solicitor all week. Mr. Pratt had been unable to get a response from Lord Moore’s family.
The orchestra had started to play, signaling the dancing was to begin. James and Lady Susan approached their group.
“Gentlemen, it’s time you did your duty and help fill up the lady's dance cards.” Lady Susan smiled nudging her husband.
“Well, it’s time, Charles, William.” James bowed over his’s wife’s hand and led his friends off to begin the dancing, leaving Eliza and Susan to watch.
Charles danced every dance until the intermission when the musicians took a break. There were a great many ladies, most of them pretty in attendance at these functions Lady Susan and Eliza organized. They had become the pillars of the county and did much good and charitable works and managed to do some matchmaking on the side. It was the main reason these balls were held every month. Charles was supportive but preferred to find a wife on his own.
He had one in his sites for the past few years. He hoped Lady Sophia Moore made it back from Bath i
n time. He reached for a glass from a passing footman to quench his thirst, joining James and William in the card room.
“Well, gentlemen, I think we can relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.” Charles joined James and William in their regular corner away from the dance hall.
“To our wives and future wife.” James raised his glass, tipping it toward Charles.
“I like that, future wife.” Charles chuckled, sitting in a chair beside his friends. “William how are your sister and her new husband? I am sorry I had to leave before the wedding luncheon.”
“Abby forgives you under the circumstances. I only wish Lord Moore was doing better.” William replied. “You can imagine Eliza’s sister Joanne is very worried.”
Charles nodded. “As am I.”
Vicar Grant was Eliza and Joanne’s father, and had performed the wedding for William’s sister Lady Abigale, and Sir Andrew of Bathwick, just before Lord Moore suffered his attack. He and the vicar had been called to Lord Moore’s bedside shortly after the ceremony.
“Charles, I didn’t know you were so well acquainted with Lord Moore. He hasn’t been seen in Society for years.” James said.
“We became acquainted a few years back when he sought some advice about investments,” Charles replied.
His friends nodded. He might as well tell them they would find out when Lord Moore died. “You might as well know he and I have been discussing a marriage contract between his daughter Lady Sophia and myself. His illness complicates things.” Charles waited for his friend's reaction.
“Why haven’t we heard of this. Joanne is Lady Sophia’s best friend, and she hasn’t said a word. How long have you been courting? you sly dog.” William patted him on the back.
“We haven’t been, I signed the contract this week, Lord Moore was supposed to tell his daughter, but if he dies before she returns, the solicitor will inform her,” Charles explained.
James whistled. “She’s a beauty, but I hear she has a temper. You sure do things the hard way, Charles.”
“Does Lady Sophia know you are wealthy?” William asked.
Charles shook his head.
“If you had only told her, you would have been married by now. Why all this cloak and dagger?” James asked.
“I didn’t want her to marry me for my money,” Charles replied.
James and William laughed.
A footman approached. “A message for you, Sir.” He handed the note to Charles. He opened the letter while his friends chuckled at his expense. Shaking his head and read. Charles stood and shoved the paper in his pocket. “I must go, Lord Moore has died.”
Sophia Moore, a beautiful young lady on the edge of womanhood. Vivid green eyes without a trace of hazel in a carefully sweet heart-shaped face that hid a turbulent, willful lust for life at odds with her decorous demeanor. Manners had been imposed upon her by society and the careful admonitions of her mother. A pretty child deeply loved by her parents, born of ease, waited on hand and foot since infancy, spoiled to the bone, Sophia was used to getting what she wanted until now as she faced the unpleasantness of life. Her heart was breaking as reality stared her in the face at the unexpected death of her beloved father.
It had been a year since she found out her father’s fortune had diminished, threatening their standing in society as well as her way of life. Determined to save the family, Sophia began looking to marry into a wealthy, titled family, but she’d run out of time.
She had searched into the early morning for her father's account books, but to no avail, they were gone. The solicitor must have them. Her father’s steward had been let go the year before.
A knock sounded; Sophia raised her head from her father’s desk.
It was the butler. “My lady, the undertaker, is here, but her ladyship refuses to leave his lordships bedside.”
Sophia’s eyes burned from unshed tears. “I will talk to her.”
“Very good, my lady.”
Of course, her mother didn’t want to leave her father’s bedside. His body would be taken, it would be a finality that he was really gone.
Gone from their lives forever.
Her body resisted, but Sophia finally raised her tired limbs from her father’s chair and started toward the master bedchamber.
The undertaker stood outside the door, wringing his hat in his hand. Sophia wondered how they will pay for the funeral. It would be another bill piling up with the rest. Everyone will finally know their shame.
“My lady, I need to prepare your father for the viewing, he will be laid out in the front parlor. Your father arranged everything before his death.”
“I will talk with my mother, come back in an hour.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Sophia opened the door. A single candle burned by the bedside. Her mother lay halfway across the bed, her head down, holding her father’s cold hand while Ellen, her faithful lady's maid, slept in a chair. Sophia touched her mother softly on the shoulder.
“Mother.” She whispered.
Sophia nodded to Ellen. “I will stay with father now. Ellen is going to take you to your room so you may rest.”
Her mother shifted, moving into Ellen’s embrace. “Don’t leave him, Sophia, I don’t want him to be alone.”
“I won’t, mother.”
Sophia watched her mother leave, the grief that enveloped her was but a small portion of what her mother must be feeling. She pulled a chair close to the bed and sat, waiting for the undertaker to return.
“What are we to do now, father?” Sophia whispered.
Coming Spring of 2020
About the Author
As Karen Lynne, I write sweet historical romances, regency period being my favorite. Encouraged by my daughter Johanna Evelyn a clean contemporary romance author to write my own stories, so I decided to write my first series. I love history and have been reading hundreds of romances since high school. Timeless authors where the hero and heroine are virtuous with sweet happy endings.
When I am not writing, I enjoy time with my sweetheart, my children and grandchildren and long lunches with my two reading buddies. You know who you are.
Gardening vegetables and fruits in my garden and living in our 1863 stone cottage set in the Rocky Mountains. Life if good!
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