Extraordinary Tales of Regency Love: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance Collection

by Fanny Finch

  “Her family was little better off last year than they are this year, it is my understanding.” His mother stood up and took a few steps toward the fountain. She stood still, clutching her hands together in front of her chest, her back turned to her son.

  Leander looked up at his mother’s rigid body, wondering what she was thinking. Was she very upset at the news that Leander was interested in another woman? Was she more upset that the woman he wanted had no money?

  The Countess of Coventry did not turn around when she spoke but Leander could hear her voice clearly.

  “When I was told I would be marrying your father, I had the same doubts you do now about Miss Drusilla,” she said.

  Leander thought that was doubtful. His father and Miss Drusilla were nothing alike.

  “And I stayed in my room for several days, thinking about the changes my life would have after I was married. I thought about the children, the house, what I would do with my time. I had doubts, Leander, but it was something I could not change.”

  She finally turned and looked at him with pleading eyes. “You must consider the family before anything else, my son. I know you are a stubborn man and when you set your eyes on something you desire, you will pursue it. You are like your father in that.”

  Leander dropped his eyes to his hands, which he clasped in front of him when he sat forward. He rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the grass beneath his feet.

  The countess came back to him and stood in front of him. She placed one hand on his downturned head and patted his dark hair. “Leander, when I was having my doubts about your father, I considered running away. And I talked to my mother about it. She told me this and I’ve never forgotten it to this day. When a man has the time to grow to truly love a woman, he will love her with everything he has and never stop.”

  Leander’s first thought was how much he wanted to grow to love Hestia with everything he had in his heart.

  “You must think of both women when you are making your decision, Leander. Ultimately, it will be up to you to decide between the women.”

  “Mother, I do not know that there is a decision left to be made. You know I do not feel I am compatible with Miss Drusilla. And Lady Hestia’s presence captivates me. I do not have a decision left to make.”

  “Oh, but you do.” His mother sat where she had been and leaned forward to look at his eyes directly. “You may know which woman you would prefer to be with but you have to decide between your family’s well-being and what you want to do. That is a very important decision.”

  “Mother, I do not want to disappoint you and Father.”

  The Countess of Coventry nodded. “Then you realize the importance of this decision. I do wish for your happiness, my son. There are certain sacrifices we all must make in life. You must keep that in mind.”

  “Yes, Mother,” Leander replied, his voice low. He stood up. “We should go back inside. We will see what happens at the party this weekend. I will make a decision by that night if I can. Please, if you would, do not say anything to Father about Lady Hestia. I would like to be the one to talk to him about it when the time is right.”

  His mother stood and put one hand on his lapel. “See that you do, son. I would hate for the decision to be made for you. In the end, there can really only be one choice and you are the one who must live with it.”

  Leander followed his mother back down the trail to the front veranda. He opened the door for her when they went in. His chest felt tight with apprehension. His father was not going to back off his point of view.

  There must be a way to change his mind, Leander thought, following his mother to the door of the parlor. He stopped at the door and touched his mother’s elbow. “Mother, I am going upstairs to rest. I will talk with Father later, when I have thought more about this.”

  The Countess of Coventry nodded. “That is a very good idea, Leander. I will inform him.”

  “Thank you, Mother. I do appreciate you coming out to speak to me.”

  She smiled up at him. “I do love you, son. I hope you make the right decision.”

  As she passed through the doorway and the door closed behind her, Leander turned away, wondering what she meant by making the right decision.

  For him, there could only be one path to happiness. Convince Hestia to allow him to court her as a lady. That might mean returning to her home and forfeiting her job. He was not sure she would be open to such a suggestion.

  He was certain her independence meant a great deal to her. If it did not, she would not be employed in a station below what she was due.

  He went to the stairway and looked up. He could picture Hestia walking down the steps, dressed elegantly, a beautiful smile on her face.

  That was what he wanted to see. That was what he hoped for.

  Chapter 20

  Hestia stood back while the Viscount and Viscountess of Culross called out orders to the people catering and working at the party. She was still waiting for Lady Eugenia to come down. She was taking her time this morning.

  Hestia swept her eyes over the decorations on the front lawn. Everything looked so white. The tables had been covered by white cloths that reached the ground on every side. The tables were adorned with white decorations, twisted ribbons of white, and white plates and utensils. Even the cups were white and the pitchers that sat in the middle of each table holding lemonade, tea, and coffee, were white.

  To the Callows’ credit, there was a touch of color added to each table, where brightly colored flowers were laid about at random.

  Overall, Hestia thought the garden party was beautifully decorated and she was impressed.

  “Hestia. Good morning.”

  She turned when Lady Eugenia’s voice drew her attention. She smiled and leaned in for air kisses on each cheek, which she returned at the same time.

  “Good morning, Eugenia. Did you rest well?”

  “Not particularly. It is strange. I had dreams last night that… they did not make sense to me. And they seemed so real. It kept waking me up.”

  “Nothing too frightful, I hope.”

  Lady Eugenia shook her head. “No. I am just a little tired. I will be fine.”

  The Viscountess of Culross turned and looked directly at her daughter. She had cut off her sentence midway to do so. “Eugenia. Did you say you are tired? You did not sleep well? How are you feeling?”

  The viscountess, tall and slender, came over to stand next to her daughter. She lifted one hand and pressed it against Lady Eugenia’s cheek. “You do not feel hot.”

  Lady Eugenia smiled at her mother, putting one hand over her mother’s. She pressed it against her cheek. “I am fine, Mother. I just had troublesome dreams.”

  Hestia watched the exchange, pushing down a bit of jealousy. Lady Callow, in her weakened condition, was worried about her daughter, when she was pushing herself to the limits. She had agreed to the party at Lady Eugenia’s behest. Hestia was sure of it.

  The woman would go the extra mile for her daughter. Even though she herself was sickly.

  Hestia’s parents would not have been so nurturing, so loving and supportive. She did not let the feeling of jealousy last for long. She wanted happiness for Lady Eugenia, just as her friend wanted happiness for her.

  She would do her best as Lady Eugenia’s companion. She could not imagine it would take long to find a good man for such a lovely young woman.

  Lady Eugenia gently pushed her mother back toward her father, nodding and murmuring soothing words. Her mother finally turned around, assuring herself one more time that Lady Eugenia was all right.

  Lady Eugenia looked at Hestia with a knowing smile. “She is so worried about me all the time. When she is bedridden, I will go in and talk to her, maybe read a book of poetry with her. And she is always asking me how I am doing.”

  “I wish there was a way to cure her illness. I do not understand what is making her so weak. She looks so frail, yet she is still such a pretty woman.”

  “T
hank you, Hestia. You are sweet. I will tell her you said that.”

  Hestia smiled.

  “We are going to have a good night, Hestia, I just know it.”

  Hestia looked around at the decorations. “It is beautifully laid out.”

  “Yes, but you know that is not what I meant.”

  Hestia giggled. “I know. You have planned this so that I will have an opportunity to speak to Lord Price.”

  “I really believe the two of you would be a good match.”

  “You do not know the concept of a companion, do you?”

  Lady Eugenia laughed softly. “I know the concept of a friend and that is good enough for me. I do not devalue myself by matching you with one of the gentlemen of the season. I know he is not for me. If he is for you, which it does look obvious to me he is, you should take that opportunity with both hands.”

  Hestia liked the way her friend put it. “I will. I will take whatever opportunity presents itself. If he allows himself to be involved in a conversation with me.”

  “Of course he will! I imagine he was very excited to receive the invitation. I only wished I could have added a note that Miss Drusilla was not invited.”

  “Do you not feel bad about that, Eugenia? She is well known in society and has been seen only so far in the presence of Lord Price. How will it look for him to be here without her?”

  “I cannot remember everyone in the ton, Hestia!” Lady Eugenia used a mocking insulted tone. She lifted one side of her lips in a half-grin. Hestia thought how pretty it made her slender face, how much she looked like her mother, with naturally dark lips, eyelashes and hair framing a porcelain white face.

  Lady Eugenia and her mother both looked like they never saw the sunlight. Hestia was glad she had some color to her skin.

  They turned their eyes to the end of the path leading up to the house. Several carriages were heading up, their horses kicking up small dust clouds around their feet.

  “My lord, my lady, the guests have begun to arrive.”

  All four of them turned to look at the footman, who bowed to each of them from the waist, keeping his arms rigid at his sides.

  Hestia looked quickly at the Viscount of Culross when the man said, “Why yes, we can see that, Fisher. Please stand at the ready and have everything in place.”

  “Yes, my lord, everything is ready for the festivities.”

  “Thank you, Fisher.”

  The footman turned after bowing to the Viscount of Culross. He walked briskly from the side veranda where they were standing. The Viscount of Culross crooked his elbow in his wife’s direction.

  “Shall we greet our guests, my dear?”

  “That would be fine, my lord,” the Viscountess of Culross replied. She slipped her thin hands around his elbow and held on, even though he was somewhat shorter than her. They walked to the edge of the veranda and stood, looking elegant and relaxed in the sunlight beaming down on them.

  When she recognized the people in the first carriage, the Viscountess of Culross lifted one hand and waved it in the air, calling out a woman’s name.

  Hestia looked at Lady Eugenia. “Your mother is so happy to be having company. Why, she is almost glowing!”

  Lady Eugenia smiled wide. “Yes, it is wonderful to see, is it not? I do adore it when Mother has a good day.”

  “I have been with you for some time and I have never seen her looking this good.”

  Lady Eugenia reached out and grasped Hestia’s folded arm, giving her a frantic, excited look. “Let us go stand with Mother and Father. That way, we will know when Lord Price arrives and set up a meeting between you two.”

  “Do you think this is proper, Lady Eugenia?”

  “Oh, it is fine. I want you two to think of yourselves this evening. This will be a turning point, surely.”

  Hestia’s heart thumped nervously. If this truly was the night, she could be courting Leander by the end of the evening.

  Or she might have her heart broken.

  She knew which one she would choose.

  Whether she was courting Leander by the end of the night or not, she would still be in the same position the next morning. She was losing nothing by giving it a try. And if it worked, she would gain everything she ever wanted.

  “You look lost in thought,” Lady Eugenia leaned over and stood on her tiptoes to whisper in Hestia’s ear. Hestia looked down at her and smiled. “I bet I know what you’re thinking about… or rather, who…”

  Hestia giggled with her, covering her mouth with her hands. They were standing a few feet behind the Viscount and Viscountess of Culross. When the viscountess turned to give them an inquiring look, both girls wiped the grins from their faces and attempted to look serious.

  The viscountess grinned. “You two need not hide your excitement. I know how much you are looking forward to this party. I have heard the excitement in your voices for days.”

  “Thank you for agreeing to the party, Mother,” Lady Eugenia said, her voice a little higher than usual. “We hope for good things tonight!”

  The Viscountess of Culross just nodded, turning back to the approaching guest. She opened her arms wide and received the air kisses of her old friend.

  Hestia and Lady Eugenia curtsied and nodded to the guests as they entered.

  When Leander’s carriage came rumbling up the pathway, Lady Eugenia grabbed Hestia’s hand so tightly it was a little painful. Hestia looked where Lady Eugenia’s eyes were directed, noticing the carriage.

  She released her hand gently, nodding at Lady Eugenia. “I see it, Eugenia. He is coming.”

  “I knew he would come,” Lady Eugenia said in a proud voice. “I just knew he would; after seeing me with you, how could he ever decline the invitation?”

  Hestia waited rather impatiently for him to get to the front of the house and depart from his carriage. When he finally did, she noticed how grand he was dressed, how handsome he looked in his greatcoat.

  “He is looking so nice tonight,” Lady Eugenia whispered, leaning over so she was the only one who would hear.

  “Yes,” Hestia was afraid to say more, should she be overheard.

  Both young women waited with tense bodies and focused eyes as Leander got down from the carriage and began to ascend the steps to greet the Viscount and Viscountess of Culross.

  The viscount was extremely welcoming. Hestia was happy to see that Leander looked so pleased to see her. l

  Leander came toward the two girls, smiling.

  Before he could say anything, Lady Eugenia took a step forward. “Lord Price? I would like you to meet Lady Hestia Stalwood. I am not sure if you remember meeting us before?”

  Leander raised his eyebrows, taken aback by the second introduction. He looked closely at Lady Eugenia and then, seeming to understand her motives, he bowed to Hestia, saying, “It is good to meet you, Lady Hestia.”

  “We were about to enter the parlor, Lord Price, if you are interested in joining us?” Again, Lady Eugenia took the initiative.

  Leander nodded. “I would be delighted to escort you both into the parlor.”

  He offered his elbows to both girls and they each took one, smiling at each other.

  Hestia felt a chill of nervous excitement when she wrapped her small hands around his arm. She could feel the muscle underneath and it made her feel warm throughout her body. He seemed so strong to her, powerful.

  If he were her husband, she would fear nothing. He would take care of any intruders, animals, anything that posed danger.

  She was sure of that.

  “I suppose we can take our normal spot, Hestia,” Lady Eugenia said. She glanced at Leander. “There are several chairs, small tables and a beautiful large window that looks out over the garden, which I have had redone in the last few days.” There was a hint of pride and satisfaction in Lady Eugenia’s voice that Leander immediately caught on to.

  “I will make it a point to look at the new garden, Lady Eugenia,” he said, drawing admiring looks from both women.


  He brought up the rear as Hestia and Lady Eugenia walked to the other side of the parlor and stepped behind a half wall that made a small hallway to the door. On the other side of the door was another hallway with an arched ceiling that led to another part of the mansion.

  It was a rather large hallway, almost creating another room. The Culross interior designers had placed four burgundy, high-armrest chairs along the wall in front of the huge window that ran behind each one.

  Two tables separated the four chairs from each other, two chairs to a table.

  Leander continued when the ladies stopped. He went to one of the tables and pulled out a chair for Lady Eugenia. The young woman sat down, smiling up at Hestia. Leander then pulled out the other chair and waited for Hestia to sit.