Lady Edith's Lonely Heart: A Regency Romance (Lonely Hearts Series Book 1)

by Audrey Harrison

  “It saddens me to hear that the situation with your mother has deteriorated to such an extent. It was clear she favoured Mr Sage from almost the moment he was introduced to us,” Susan said.

  “My folly was to not realise earlier how much I objected to the thought of being married to him. I should have been more forceful against his prior hints and protestations of regard. I can’t lay all the blame at his door for his continued attentions,” Edith acknowledged.

  “Anyone with half a brain would have seen that you had no real interest in him. You were friendly, but not encouraging,” Susan defended her friend.

  “I suppose he might have thought me coy. There are many who would be. He wasn’t to know I would never embark on such scheming behaviour,” Edith said. “Added to that, I’ve no idea what my mother was saying to him, but it was almost certainly encouragement. I’m just glad there can be no doubt of my feelings, or lack of them now.”

  “I’ll be sorry to see you go. The season won’t be the same without you here,” Susan admitted.

  “I can’t stay any longer, Susan, but after the season, whether you are married, or not, you must come to visit me.”

  “I won’t be married, not unless my parents carry out their threat of choosing a husband for me,” Susan responded dully.

  “I would love to have you as my sister, but I don’t think Miles is ready to wed. He’s hinted at being damaged. I think there is a lot going on with him that we don’t realise. I doubt he would admit to anything if I tried to probe, he’s too proud to acknowledge he’s suffering,” Edith said.

  “I know and I don’t expect anything from him in reality. You know what it’s like to long for someone but know it’s fruitless. I accept he isn’t interested in me, beyond being your friend, he’s probably hardly noticed me,” Susan replied.

  “In that regard he’s a fool,” Edith smiled.

  “Thank you for your unwavering support! Have you thought what you are going to do about the letters?”

  “Oh, I have some news with regards to that,” Edith said, pulling the latest letter out of her reticule. “I admit to being a little concerned that whoever is writing to me, knows who I am.”

  “Yes. I would be, but it doesn’t sound like it’s Mr Sage. Surely he wouldn’t be so complimentary after last night?” Susan reasoned.

  “It’s all very confusing,” Edith admitted. “But I must take the next step into my own hands and write to Mr Sage and ask him not to send any more letters. I feel very confused that I could feel a connection with his words, but not with him in person. It feels all wrong somehow that I just can’t put the two people together. Yet his hints would suggest it’s him and makes me mistrust the written word even more,” Edith admitted.

  “It’s all very strange,” Susan agreed.

  “I shall take my leave of you, Susan. It’s time I was returning to ensure everything I want is packed and ready to depart early tomorrow. There’s no point in delaying further,” Edith said, standing.

  Susan also stood and the two friends embraced, promising to write and professing their regard for each other.

  Edith left the house with mixed feelings. She wished Miles could see Susan as something other than his sister’s friend, but she didn’t hold out any hope. There was no point in trying to interfere, Miles had a wall around him since his return. While Edith understood the reason it was there, she had no idea on how to go about breaching it. To try would to alienate her brother and she couldn’t risk that. Not even for Susan.

  Turning back towards her own house, she became aware that a landau and four had stopped at the side of the pavement on which she walked. The hood which covered the seats facing forward was hiding the occupants, but the other side was down.

  Edith stifled a groan when Mr Sage sat forward in his seat and opened the door himself, even though a footman sat at the rear of the vehicle.

  “Lady Edith, I’m so glad to have seen you. I was on my way to pay a call at your address,” Mr Sage said, jumping nimbly onto the pavement in front of Edith.

  “My mother isn’t seeing visitors today, sir. She’s a little tired after the exertions of last night.”

  “It was you I wished to have a word with. Could I trouble you to take a drive around Hyde Park with me? I would appreciate some time with you in which I can speak plainly without being overheard.”

  “I don’t think—” Edith started.

  “I assure you, I shall not inflict any unwanted attentions. It’s purely just to try to explain myself and to ensure we part as friends.”

  “We do part as friends,” Edith insisted.

  “Please. Indulge me in this,” Mr Sage appealed, his smile lighting up his eyes.

  “I must return home soon,” Edith said, capitulating to the request.

  “Just a little time and we shall understand each other perfectly,” Mr Sage said, pulling the step of the landau down and helping Edith into the carriage.

  As soon as he closed the door, the carriage moved off. Mr Sage seated himself next to Edith and turned to her. “I’m so glad you agreed. I was mortified the way last night turned out. I had hoped to be announcing our engagement today.”

  “I’m sorry. I do like you and have enjoyed your company but I could never agree to a marriage with you. I should have been clearer about my feelings from the start,” Edith acknowledged.

  “Perhaps, but I fixed my interest with you as soon as I saw you and I don’t easily get deterred.”

  “Mr Sage, why are we turning left onto Half Moon Street?” Edith asked, looking at her surroundings with some concern.

  “I’ve instructed my man to enter the park on the south carriage drive. Nothing to worry about,” Mr Sage said easily.

  Edith had stiffened and remained seated bolt upright. She didn’t feel at all comfortable. She’d never trusted him completely and, feeling vulnerable, she was on her guard. “Mr Sage, I’m sorry about not being more forthcoming in my wishes, but we would never suit.”

  “That is where our opinions differ, I’m afraid, Lady Edith,” Mr Sage responded. “And in this case, I’m afraid that my wishes will have to outweigh yours.”

  “I don’t understand,” Edith said.

  “I favour you above anyone else in society. I have to be honest and admit that your fortune is the main attraction, but as you come as part of a package, I’m sure we’ll rub along splendidly.”

  “Sir, I have told you we won’t be marrying. Please stop the carriage and allow me to alight. There can be nothing gained from prolonging this conversation,” Edith demanded in her coldest tone.

  “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Lady Edith, but I’m unable to indulge you in your request,” Mr Sage said with a smile, which wasn’t quite as cherubic as previous ones had been. “I’ve been looking for someone like you and I’ve invested too much time and money for my efforts to be wasted. We are on our way to the docks, where we will board a boat. There will be no dash to the border for us, we’re going to sail around the coast to Scotland.”

  “You are preposterous, sir!” Edith exclaimed. “Do you think I will comply with your scheme. Why, I have only to shout to passers-by now and your scheme will be foiled.”

  “I don’t think you should. For you’ll only be ruined, when I grab and kiss you for everyone to see and the result will be marriage to me because of your actions. If you wish a wedding surrounded by gossip, go ahead, shout and scream all you wish. A pity your mother would be made seriously ill by the scandal, her being of a delicate nature,” Mr Sage said with a nonchalant shrug. “Better that we sort everything out in a quieter, more refined way.”

  Edith was furious. He’d clearly thought everything out. They were bowling along at a fast pace, far too fast for her to be able to jump out of the carriage without sustaining serious injury, or worse. She couldn’t shout out; it would be mortifying and a guaranteed way of ruining herself in the process as he’d already pointed out.

  Come, Edith, think, she cursed inwardly. There must be a way
out of this. You can’t be kidnapped in an open carriage for goodness sake. She would not accept her situation was irredeemable, but she had to think quickly, there was limited time to act.

  As the carriage turned left down Piccadilly and closer to the Thames, she had to have something answered. Turning blazing eyes on her captor she looked at him with disgust.

  “How could you be so different? How could you write those words and yet act in such a dastardly way? It doesn’t make any sense, but I need to know,” she asked.

  “I have no idea to what you refer,” Mr Sage answered, looking genuinely confused.

  “The letters. You wrote such revealing words, expressed such emotions,” Edith said.

  “What letters? I haven’t written any letters to anyone,” Mr Sage responded.

  “You don’t know about the advertisement?” Edith asked, her heart starting to lift a little.

  “Are you crazed? You truly are speaking nonsense,” Mr Sage responded roughly. “I think it’s time you learned that I like a quiet wife and stop your ramblings. Be silent, woman.”

  Edith turned away from him and laughed with relief. It wasn’t him. She hadn’t been going mad when thinking that there were two men involved. There were. He wasn’t the one writing to her! She could have almost hugged him if it hadn’t been that there literally were no redeeming features to him, apart from his looks and she’d never really cared for those.

  The revelation had made Edith certain about one thing, she wasn’t going to be forced into marriage to this fortune hunter, whatever the cost.

  As the carriage approached the junction of Piccadilly and St James’s Street, the vehicular traffic increased and the landau was forced to slow. The driver cursed loudly at whoever was blocking their way. It was clear he was very keen to keep the speed of the horses at a brisk pace, to prevent her trying to escape.

  Edith watched carefully without making it obvious. She would only get one chance and she couldn’t let it fail. If she could get out of the carriage, she presumed that Mr Sage wouldn’t risk making a scene. Being inside a carriage with a gentleman carried some risk, which Mr Sage had depended on. She’d climbed into the carriage willingly, which would be reported by her captor. If she managed to get onto the pavement though and efforts were made to drag her into the vehicle, it would more likely look like a kidnapping. That wouldn’t be received well by anyone who observed the action. She couldn’t be condemned for making a noise to prevent her being dragged into a carriage. And she would make noise.

  The carriage lurched, Edith gasped, “Miles!” and pointed to the side furthest away from her.

  Mr Sage jumped forward to see her brother as, at the same time Edith flung open the door and jumped onto the road.

  She stumbled and fell, her gloved hands landing in the dirt of the roadway, her dress trailing through goodness knew what detritus on the ground. Not stopping to check if she’d hurt herself, or brush herself down, she jumped to her feet and hurried from the carriage. She was desperate to try to put some distance between herself and Mr Sage. She shook at the thought that there were three men who could pursue her, if the coachman and footman were called to help. Pushing terror to one side she urged herself to move forward.

  Hearing noises behind her, she knew that she was being followed; one of them at least was giving chase. The only people around were giving her a wide berth. She knew she must look a state. Trying to stop herself from running, she concentrated on walking as quickly as she could, her heart pounding loudly in her ears.

  Within a few seconds she was grabbed roughly. “Don’t be a fool,” Mr Sage hissed. “Do you want me to throw you over my shoulder and carry you back to the carriage, or do you want to walk?”

  Edith stood firm. “Unhand me, sir!” she said loudly.

  Mr Sage glowered at her, but kept a tight grip. “Come, my dear, you are overwrought.” He started to pull her towards the coach, digging his fingers into her flesh so hard she cried out in pain.

  Edith was no match for Mr Sage but she wasn’t going to go meekly back with him. Pulling her gloves off and throwing them to the floor, she wriggled, but it only meant his fingers dug deeper into her flesh. At least the footman and driver had remained on the landau, or there would be no hope for her.

  She decided it was time to take further action as no one else seemed to be willing to help her. She flung herself in front of Mr Sage and with all of her strength used her free hand to slap him across the face.

  Mr Sage stumbled backwards and instinctively let go of her as his hand went to his face. “You bitch!” he spat, but Edith was already running away from him.

  No longer caring what sort of a scene she created, Edith lifted her skirts and ran with all her might. She was covered in dirt, must look like some kind of doxy, or madwoman, but she didn’t care. Getting away from her captor was her only aim.

  A horseman pulled in at the side of her. She was aware of her name being called, but kept moving. If she stopped, he could grab her again.

  “Edith! Stop!” came the commanding voice of her brother, as he slid off his horse and grabbed her in one fluid movement.

  Finally recognising the voice of her brother, Edith sagged with relief and collapsed into Miles’ arms with a sob. “He was trying to force me to elope with him,” she said, whilst clinging to her brother.

  “The damned cur!” came a growl from the opposite side of Miles.

  Ralph flung his stovepipe hat to the ground and ran after the now retreating Mr Sage. Ralph soon caught up with the smaller man and spun him around. “Only brave near women are you?” he uttered before his fist connected with Mr Sage’s chin.

  Mr Sage went sprawling to the ground, but Ralph hauled him to his feet. “I’m going to kill you and then if I find out that you hurt her, I’m going to kill you all over again,” he said, before landing a second punch.

  Edith hid her face in Miles’ coat, unable to watch the fight. After a while, Miles shouted to his friend. “Enough, Ralph. He’s not worth hanging for.”

  “Is he not?” Ralph growled back, picking up Mr Sage who seemed barely conscious.

  “No.” Miles separated himself from his sister. “Wait here,” he said gently, standing her next to his horse.

  He approached Ralph and the now slumped Mr Sage, whose face was no longer cherubic by any stretch of the imagination. Miles leant down so his face was close to the kidnapper. “I’d advise you to leave London as soon as you can because once I have my sister settled at home, I’m going to come looking for you. My hands are tingling in the expectation of strangling the life out of you and I’d hate to disappoint them. When I’ve finished with you, I’m then going to find your friend and do the same to him. You’ve clearly been using my family and I don’t take kindly to that. Not. At. All. Do I make myself clear?”

  Mr Sage nodded, hardly able to open his eyes, even if he wanted to. The menace in Miles’ voice had terrified him more than the brutality of the beating from Ralph.

  “Good. Then there is no doubt what you’ll be receiving if you are foolish enough to remain in London, or to return during the next ten years. You aren’t going to prey on innocents whilst I have breath in my body.”

  Miles let go off Mr Sage’s frock coat collar which he’d been holding him up with and the injured man slumped to the ground. Turning to the servants, he indicated to them. “I hope you are ashamed of yourselves, helping a scoundrel like this. Get him and yourselves out of my sight.”

  A crowd had gathered to watch such a spectacle. They had been interested once the fight had started, unlike when they had seen Edith fleeing from her captor. Miles stared at those nearest to him with such a forbidding look that they turned away, shamefaced.

  When the street began to move in its more natural rhythm, he turned to Edith and Ralph. “We need to get you both cleaned up. Edith, climb up in front of me. It’s not ideal, but the quicker we remove ourselves from the street, the better. Ralph you come with us.”

  “But Mother…” Edith
started.

  “My house is just around the corner. We should go there,” Ralph offered.

  “Good idea,” Miles said. “Come.” He indicated to Edith and lifted her up so she could sit in front of his saddle, her legs dangling to the side. It wasn’t ideal, but it would cause fewer stares than if she was walking through the streets as dishevelled as she was.

  Ralph gingerly took the reins of his own horse and swung onto the saddle. He winced when closing his fists over the leather of the reins.

  “We’d best get some ice on your knuckles if you wish to move them tomorrow,” Miles said.

  “I think it might be too late,” Ralph grimaced. He flicked a look at Edith before turning his horse around and starting in the direction of his home.

  Chapter 14

  Edith entered Ralph’s home with more than a slight interest. She surreptitiously looked around the drawing room into which they were shown. It was stylish, without being too sparse; gentlemen were usually prone to keep furnishings to a minimum. She hesitated in sitting on any of the seats.

  “Please be seated, Lady Edith,” Ralph said.

  “I know most of the dirt is on the front of my clothing, but I wouldn’t wish to get any of it on your lovely fabric. I have no idea what I’m covered in, but it doesn’t smell very nice,” Edith admitted, her nose wrinkling.

  “I’ll send a message for your maid to come here and bring a change of clothing,” Miles said, moving to the door which led into the hallway.

  “Please. Don’t worry. Be seated,” Ralph said gently.

  “Do you have a cover I could use? I would much rather,” Edith insisted.

  Ralph nodded to his servant, who left the room, but soon returned with a cloth which he placed on a sofa. Edith thanked him before sinking gratefully onto the seat.

  Miles had come back into the room. “You can leave us and sort yourself out, Pensby. There’s no point delaying. I think we’ve moved beyond the etiquette of your needing to dance attendance on us whilst we are here.”

  “Of course. Please help yourself to whatever drinks you wish. Jackson here, will get you anything you need,” Ralph said. He’d been watching Edith closely, wanting to say so much and unable to do so.