Risking it All for a Lady's Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Aria Norton

  “Yes, Edwina, we must return home.”

  Freddi handed Nash his tea, her fingers brushing against his. The brief touch sent tingles down her arm and throughout her body, catching her unawares. They stared at each other for a still moment in time, their eyes communicating the words that neither of them could speak.

  “When will you leave?”

  Edwina's voice was an unwelcome intrusion, successfully breaking their connection. Freddi blinked, ducking her head as she moved away to return to her seat.

  "Today, after breakfast. The sooner we leave, the better."

  “Will I have the pleasure of seeing you both once again in the near future?”

  Freddi refused to answer Edwina, tearing a piece of bread to dip into the cold yolk of her egg.

  “I do not know,” said Nash.

  Coward. Nash had taken the easy way out, not able to give the woman an honest answer. No, Edwina, we will never see each other again because he is returning to France, and I do not know what will become of me. Freddi's eyes felt hot, an indication that at any minute she could make a fool of herself. She stood up, and, not caring what anyone thought of her, excused herself and returned to her room.

  ***

  Freddi played with a frayed piece of her mother shawl as she gazed out of the carriage window. The ride seemed to go faster than when they had travelled to London as she recognised many landmarks they had passed.

  “We are near Alfriston,” Nash commented.

  “Yes.”

  He let out a short breath. "Will you only speak to me in one-word sentences?"

  “When I have something more important to say, I will tell you.”

  “Do not be so childish, Freddi.”

  Her temper flared. “Childish? If you have not an intelligent word to speak to me, I suggest you keep it to yourself.”

  Nash laughed. "You have the tongue of a viper and the voice of an angel. An interesting combination, I must say."

  “Is there anything else that you wish to tell me, Nash? Speak it now, and thereafter leave me in peace.”

  “What bee is circling in your bonnet, O fair lady? I only wish to make conversation with you, I do not mean any harm.”

  Freddi touched her hand to her brow, sudden fatigue entering her limbs. I am tired of these constant trials. I am tired that I have to look upon failure as though it is my future. When shall I be able to live again without the trappings of my past? Nash will leave me soon, and I cannot bear it. But rather than make the best of the inevitable, I am vexed with him.

  Perhaps she was not behaving reasonably towards him, he was also enduring yet another failure.

  “Do not pay me any mind, Nash, I am only tired from this journey. Have you thought of any clue that might lead you to find the perpetrator? I know that we are near to entering Alfriston, but perhaps it is not too late to think of something.”

  Freddi put as much hope as she could into her voice, but she was well aware of their dismal reality.

  “I cannot think of anything but to question the same people I spoke to before. I may have missed something the first time around.”

  "Yes, that is a good idea. Did anyone in particular stand out for you?"

  Nash appeared to think about it, scratching his chin as his other hand tapped a melody on his thigh.

  “There are a few who seemed to have more of a reason to afflict father with the notes, although they swore that they would never do anything to bring him lasting harm.”

  “I do not think that the perpetrator would admit to wanting to harm your father.”

  “But that is just the thing, Freddi, most of them did admit to wanting to harm him, but not to the extent of the threats. A fisticuff, yes, but not seeking to threaten the man's life if he did not stop all business in Alfriston. Someone has something to gain, but I do not have the foggiest clue as to who that might be.”

  This was a puzzle, indeed. Freddi strongly felt that the perpetrator was someone who lived in Alfriston, but the person had hidden himself well.

  “What if the man behind your father's threat is the same man who killed my parents?”

  “But what would the motive be? Why kill your parents? Besides, we have not yet established that there was any foul play in their deaths.”

  Freddi had had a long time to think on her parents' deaths, and she was convinced that there was some form of foul play, but she had no evidence to substantiate her claim. They passed a wooden signpost of the town, marking the beginning of the end for them.

  “We are here,” she said quietly.

  “I cannot say that it is good to be back home.”

  Freddi agreed with Nash. There was no joy in returning home, only a shroud of uncertainty. They had come to a silent agreement to halt all further talk of the case as there was no longer any hope to cling to.

  The carriage dropped them off several steps away from Blackmore Estate, giving them time to speak with each other before they went their separate ways. Freddi took her bag from the driver, noting that it felt heavier than when she had travelled to London.

  Of course, the dresses that Nash had purchased for her were packed in there as well, although she had tried to convince him to sell them. He had refused, telling her to keep them to remember him by. I wish that I could tell him that I do not need dresses to remember him; he is tattooed upon my heart.

  “So,” he began. “This is it.”

  “Will you inform your father of your trip to London today?”

  "I reckon the sooner, the better. I should make arrangements to return to France as soon as possible."

  “Oh.”

  Freddi looked down, using the toe of her shoe to draw in the sand. What else could she say to him? I do not wish to say goodbye just yet, but there is nothing else left to say.

  “Or rather,” he continued. “I shall inform him tomorrow. There is no real rush to leave Alfriston right at this moment.”

  This would only prolong the inevitable, perhaps she should be the one to say the first goodbye.

  "London was an interesting city, thank you for bringing me along." She laughed. "No, you more so forced me to come with you, but thank you all the same. If not for you, I would have never met Edwina, or seen a greater part of our country rather than the four corners of Alfriston."

  Nash bowed. “Glad to be of service, Miss Dunn. It was a pleasure being the one to bring you new experiences.”

  “Perhaps I may come to France one day.”

  Now, why had she said that? I have never thought of going to France, not in the last five years.

  “Would you truly come?”

  Freddi needed to choose her words carefully. If I say too much, he may come to know what he means to me.

  "Who knows what the future may bring, Nash? My own is uncertain. Just think: never did I imagine that I would go to London with you, but it happened. Who is to say that a simple country girl like me cannot go to France? Anything is possible, Mama would always tell me that."

  Nash did not seem to like her answer, his attempted smile failing. Does he want me to go to France? Is that it?

  “Yes, anything is possible. Will you retire to your cottage now? I think that I should let the Black Horse know that I have returned. Hopefully they have not given my room to anyone else as I did pay them for some weeks.”

  Freddi felt dismissed. “Yes. I have a few more things to organise before I am removed from Blackmore Estate. I suppose that this is farewell?”

  He nodded. “I hope that your situation improves, Freddi.”

  “So do I. Goodbye, Nash. It was good seeing you after many years, even if it may not have seemed so at the beginning.”

  “I second that. Keep well, Freddi.”

  She smiled, quickly turning away when she felt water gather in her eyes. Do not let him see you cry, you silly woman, it will only make this all the more hard. Freddi did not turn back once; there was no longer any future for her there.

  Chapter 15

  Who on earth was k
nocking on her door at this unearthly hour? Freddi opened her eyes, her hands immediately coming up to shield her from the harsh sunlight streaming through the windows.

  “Ugh, I completely forgot to draw the curtains.”

  But if it were so bright outside, then it had to be past the hour of early morning. Freddi shot up out of bed, surprised that she had slept past her usual waking hour. She was an early riser, always had been since her childhood. Goodness! How on earth did I manage to oversleep?

  The sun surely should have woken her up, but it had not. Another three curt knocks sounded on the door, and after a brief look in the mirror, Freddi headed to the door to see her visitor. She half hoped that it would be Nash, but he would likely be arranging his trip home. He did say that he would speak to his father today, perhaps it is him after all. Freddi opened the door with a smile on her face, but it quickly fell when she encountered the stern gaze of the housekeeper.

  “Good morning, Mrs Blunt. May I help you?”

  The woman sneered. “Is this the hour that you awaken? Tsk, tsk, no wonder Lord Blackmore no longer wishes you to be in his employment.”

  Annoyed, Freddi struggled to keep her voice free of any emotion. I truly dislike this woman.

  "It is no concern of yours the time I choose to wake up. I am no longer an employee here, and I have some days before I am due to leave. Tell me, did you come to spy on me, or do you wish to tell me yet another command of his Lordship?"

  Goodness, where had all of that speech come from? Freddi was shocked at herself, she would never have imagined that such words could be delivered in a devil-may-care attitude worthy of the Prince Regent himself. Mrs Blunt's face had grown splotchy in a matter of seconds, her cheeks swelling to surprising proportions.

  “Well! Of all the things to say to me. Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?”

  Seeing as I have started this, I might as well finish it. Squaring her shoulders, Freddi stood taller.

  “No, how dare you insult me and treat me in such a deplorable manner? I do not know what you have heard about me, and neither do I care. I do not deserve your disdain and terrible attitude, and I shall not stand for it, do you hear me?”

  The housekeeper's mouth opened and repeatedly closed without a sound escaping. She looks as though she might suffer a seizure at any moment. Perhaps I went too far?

  “How dare you?!” the woman finally said.

  "I dared the minute you decided that you could speak to me in any manner that you chose. I am not some ignorant nitwit that you can treat however you choose to, Mrs Blunt. Do not make a blunder of mistaking my quiet nature for weakness. Let me tell you something: you have a large pair of shoes to fill as the housekeeper of this estate. My mother ran Blackmore like a ship and never was there a thing out of place. And what is more, she did not need to belittle anyone to do it. You may think that you have Lord Blackmore's favour, but one false move on your part and he will throw you out with no mercy offered. Take care to not anger anyone else as you have done to me, or you might find yourself ousted from these premises. Consider yourself warned, Mrs Blunt."

  A fat finger went up, pointed in Freddi's direction. “I shall tell the Master of your insolence!”

  Freddi spread her hands. “You are welcome to do so. There is nothing else that Lord Blackmore can do that will hurt me any more than he has done already. Even if he chooses to throw me off this estate today, I shall not shed a tear.”

  The housekeeper's bosom heaved, her hand lowering to her side. Without warning, she turned around and walked away.

  “Oh, Mrs Blunt?”

  The woman paused, turning her body halfway. “What is it?”

  “Was there any reason for your presence on my doorstep? I presume that you came to tell me something?”

  “I wished to measure the windows.”

  "Then by all means, come inside."

  Freddi stepped to the side, crossing her arms. Let the woman come and do as she wished, it no longer mattered to Freddi. At least I have defended myself, no one else would do so. The housekeeper appeared to think on it, likely wondering if it was worth the trouble. She will think twice before speaking to me in any manner she wishes to.

  “I will not be long.”

  Mrs Blunt marched past her, going for the first windows in the sitting room. Rather than stand and watch the woman use her string to measure along the perimeter of the windows, Freddi decided that some tea would do. The little kitchen was linked to the sitting room, an open plan that had allowed her mother to join in the conversation while she cooked.

  Currently, it allowed Freddi to keep an eye on Mrs Blunt's movements. While the water boiled, she put a spoonful of her mother's precious tea leaves into a teacup. Freddi mother had grown her own blend in the garden, gathering the leaves during harvest time and drying them, before storing them in glass jars. There was only one jar left of the precious tea leaves, a final reminder of her mother's prowess in the kitchen. If Mama were here, she would have offered that horrible woman tea. She would be ashamed if I did not do the same. Sighing, Freddi called out to the woman. “Mrs Blunt, would you like some tea?”

  The woman's expression was priceless. “Tea? Will you poison it?”

  “Have you taken leave of your senses? Why on earth would I do such a thing?”

  “You naturally wish to take my position as housekeeper.”

  “Mrs Blunt, your position does not interest me, and neither does working on this estate. I have grown used to the idea that I no longer belong here, and it is fine with me. I only wish to leave in peace, if but for the memory of my parents.”

  The woman seemed sceptical. “I was told that you were not a woman to be trusted, that you possibly had a hand in your parents' deaths, and tried to seduce the Master.”

  Freddi staggered a bit, laying her hands on the table for support. Was this the rumour? Was this the lie circulating in town?

  “Who told you this lie?”

  “Why, Lord Blackmore himself.”

  I have half a mind to march over to him and give him an earful, but he will never allow me anywhere near him. The scoundrel! How dare he do this to me? He has blackened my name with such terrible lies, no wonder people want nothing to do with me! I would want nothing to do with me as well according to those lies.

  “I would never hurt my parents, Mrs Blunt. Never. As for seducing my employer? That can never be when my heart belongs to-”

  Freddi stopped herself, placing a hand on her chest. Goodness! What had she been about to say? Was I about to admit my love for Nash to a woman I hardly know? I have not so much as admitted it to Caroline, how can I speak my heart's content to a stranger? The woman frowned at her, coming to stand by the table.

  “Are you saying that Lord Blackmore has lied? But why would a man like him lie? He has nothing to gain, but you, as a servant, do.”

  How easy it was for a powerful man to lie and have many people believe him, no matter how outrageous the lie was. But even men like him fall.