The Mysteries of A Lady's Heart: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance Collection

by Abby Ayles

  Noelle couldn’t say that this idea displeased her entirely. They ordered up more oysters than she’d ever be able to eat on her own and the gentlemen partook of their wines, all while keeping a close watch so that they didn’t consume too much of any one thing.

  She exchanged a look with Mr. Edwards’s mother, who smiled back at her and seemed to be in relaxed enough spirits, all things considered.

  “I must say that it’s all well and good for my sister and I or Lord Drake to be out here enjoying the eating houses on Brydges Street, but isn’t it an awfully long journey home for you and Mr. Edwards?”

  The older woman thought about it and then leaned in a little so she could be heard over the din of the restaurant. “We shan’t be out much longer, but it has been such an enjoyable night spending more time with you, my lady.”

  Noelle blushed at the compliment. The Edwardses really did make her feel so adored. She believed that they were sincere and it made her so happy; she didn’t have to act so prim and proper around them in order to be appreciated.

  “We shall really have to find another excuse to see each other,” she said with a nod and a smile. “We needn’t always depend on these gentlemen in order to do so either.”

  Mrs. Edwards laughed. “That is to be sure,” she agreed. “Why should they have all the fun of planning these get-togethers?”

  Before long, they had finished their meal and they were back out on the sidewalk. Noelle looked at Mr. Edwards and gave a sad sort of smile – sad only because it was the time that they must part ways. She felt quite guilty for it, but she truly was saddest of all to be bidding adieu to that gentleman.

  He took her hand and gave a quick bow of his head, smiling at her as he gazed into her eyes. “I hope that we shall see each other again soon,” he said to her. “At your invitation.”

  She blushed as she realized that he’d overheard her brief conversation with his mother. “Yes,” she replied. “That would be nice.” She glanced over and, to her delight, noticed that Kitty was chatting happily away with Lord Edwards.

  If the marquess was put off by this, he didn’t convey that. He stood there talking not-unpleasantly with Mr. Edwards’s mother. Noelle was put somewhat at ease to see him behaving himself.

  She and Catherine climbed into their hired carriage and they were soon off on their way home to Grosvenor Square. Catherine was very chatty but all that Noelle wanted to do was relax in her bed and think about the occurrences of the day. It was quite a lot to go to an opera and dine with people.

  For once, she was feeling how Emily must feel all of the time.

  As soon as they arrived back home, since it was quite late, Noelle went straight to her bedchamber and prepared herself for sleep. She hoped that their mother would not yell at them too much for the late hour at which they returned, but she knew that there wasn’t much to be done about it.

  In the morning, she met Catherine in the hall as they went on their way downstairs to breakfast. Noelle stopped her sister with a gentle touch of her arm. She went into Catherine’s room with her and shut the door so that they could talk in private.

  “What?” Catherine asked her, still quite groggy from staying out the night prior. It hadn’t really been that late, but the Duke of Salisbury’s daughters were not accustomed to late evenings. Noelle felt tired as well, but she knew that she would get over it.

  “I want to talk to you about what happened last night,” she said to her sister. “You confused me quite a bit, carrying on the way you did with Lord Drake while Lord Edwards was right there next to you.” She hissed out these words in order to keep from yelling them.

  She didn’t wish to alert the entire household about it. The last thing either girl needed was their mother barging into the room and asking too many questions. As far as Noelle was concerned, this could stay between her and Kitty, provided that Kitty went along with it.

  Catherine crossed her arms in front of her chest, clearly annoyed by her sister’s questioning so early in the morning. “Is it so wrong that I find the man charming?” she asked Noelle, sounding indignant. “He’s going to be a duke someday, and he likes me.”

  You don’t have to rub it in, Noelle thought, smiling at her sister. She couldn’t believe that Kitty had the good fortune to have stolen the hearts of not only Lord Edwards but apparently Lord Drake as well.

  “I wouldn’t get too ahead of yourself if I were you,” she replied. “Anyway, what happened to your darling Lord Edwards? You two make such a sweet match… and he truly dotes on you.

  “Are you really going to throw all of that away just because a future duke offers a higher title? He’s not even a nice person. He’s all show, no actual feeling.”

  Catherine gasped at Noelle. “How dare you say such a thing? Lord Drake has been completely gracious, inviting us along to things and being so friendly. And not least of all to you even though you’ve been so ungrateful, spending all of your time flirting with Mr. Edwards, who I remind you hasn’t even got a title.”

  Noelle tried to contain her temper. “The only person Lord Drake has been gracious towards is you, which you might’ve noticed if you weren’t so self-centered. His flattery has gone to your head and you’re not thinking clearly.”

  The rest of the family was surely downstairs in the dining room by now. They were likely expecting the two ladies to appear any moment, though.

  Nevertheless, Catherine stared at her as if she’d just been most scandalized. “How dare you?” she cried again. “I am not self-centered; I’m apparently the only one in this family who cares about continuing noble lines.”

  She moved to the door and made to open it, but Noelle put her hand on the knob and stopped her, staring into Catherine’s eyes. “I warn you, sister. You must respect the bond that you’ve already entered into with Lord Edwards.

  You don’t wish for everyone in London to be talking about the Duke of Salisbury’s disloyal daughter, do you?”

  Noelle satisfied herself now, as Catherine suddenly appeared crestfallen. It was evidently all well and good to do as she pleased as long as she didn’t think about their poor, sweet father’s reputation. That was a relief; Noelle had begun to wonder if she had no care at all for the family’s wishes anymore.

  “You and Lord Edwards look so well together and I know that you shall make each other very, very happy.” Lord Drake is supposed to be matched with me. It’s what Mother wants, it’s what Father wants, it’s… It’s what I want.

  Catherine looked thoughtful. Then she smiled a little. “He does dote on me, doesn’t he?”

  Noelle nodded, smiling. “He does, very much so. I am so happy that you two found each other, and in such a natural sort of way.”

  Her sister continued to appear thoughtful, but she nodded her head as well. “Yes, I think we really do go well together. He is such a dear soul.”

  Noelle inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that her sister was still of an age where she was a bit impressionable and easily swayed, so she was relieved to see that Catherine was seeing reason after this brief little spat of theirs.

  “You know I only argue like this with you because I care about you, right?” Noelle asked her. “I care because I love you, my precious little Kitty.”

  Catherine hugged her sister, nodding her head still. She smiled. “Yes; and I love and appreciate you all the more for it.”

  Their argument at an end and their issues seemingly resolved, Noelle and Catherine headed down the staircase together, arm-in-arm. Their family was happy to receive them there at the breakfast table, where they could regale them all with stories from the night before; from the fabulous opera to the fun afterward at the oyster room.

  Noelle was relieved indeed to not receive any scathing looks from her mother when they spoke of Mr. Edwards’s cordiality. Their mother visibly brightened at the news that Lord Drake had been quite complimentary to the eldest sister; a story that wasn’t exactly a lie.

  Chapter 20

  After wat
ching the ladies ride off in their carriage, Alphonse turned to Rodrick with a bit of a smirk and asked if he would be permitted to stay with him or his cousin for a few nights. “I’ve been in a bit of a spat with my father; you know how it is.”

  No, Rodrick thought. I really don’t know how it is. He hadn’t had a father for years now, and if he still had him, he didn’t think that they would ever fight as often as Alfie and his own father did. The Duke of Cumberland was always portrayed by his son as some overbearing brute, but Rodrick had to wonder if any story Alfie told was even true.

  “I see no reason that you cannot,” he said to his friend, smiling and trying to remain good-natured towards him even if Alfie chose to misbehave. Part of the reason he shouldn’t mind keeping him in his home for a bit was so he could keep watch on him.

  James nodded his head approvingly. “I say, this will be quite nice. Do be sure to stop by Westwood during your stay as well and pay a visit to my father. I do believe that he likes you more than I do.”

  Rodrick laughed a little. He knew that his cousin meant to compliment Alphonse, but his wording could easily be construed as if James did not like the man but his father did. “Oh yes,” he said, saving himself from scrutiny, “the old earl will love having a fellow huntsman at his home again for a while.”

  Alphonse grinned and clapped Rodrick on the back. “Then tally-ho! Let’s go back to Wildhill. I have enough ale in me now to sleep an entire night.”

  The four of them returned to their carriage and Rodrick helped his sleepy mother in first. As soon as they were off, Rodrick couldn’t help but lean his head against the window frame and doze off for a bit. The journey home wasn’t so long if he could sleep through it.

  There wasn’t much time to prepare the guest room at Wildhill for the marquess, but Alphonse wasn’t too concerned about the appearance of the room. Once they arrived at the home, he more or less fell into bed, giving Rodrick’s butler no need to find extra blankets for him.

  James returned to the estate house with the promise of visiting the following day. Rodrick wished to confer with him about the ladies and the events of the day. Once both of his companions were off to their own beds, and his mother was safely in her bedchamber as well, Rodrick went into the confines of his room.

  Upon the following morning, none of the gentlemen rose at an early hour. By the time Rodrick emerged from his chamber and arrived at the breakfast table, his mother was there smiling at him. She was clearly well-rested with the added help of her nap in the carriage the night before.

  “Good morning, Rodrick,” she said to him brightly as he took his seat at the table. The cook came in at once and placed some sausage and eggs onto his plate. “I wondered when you would come out of your room.”

  “Good morning, Mother,” he replied, still in a bit of a sleepy state which he thought would be aided by the cup of coffee that was there before him. “Where are the others?”

  Eleanor giggled a little, covering her mouth. “Lord Drake I have not seen since last night, though upon my word there was quite a bit of snoring coming from the guest room. And Lord Edwards – dear James – I have not seen either.”

  Rodrick had to wonder if they had not all been given the malaise that often occurs from too much drink… His head hurt something fierce, so he gladly sipped at his coffee. “I suppose that they shall be along later; I have much and more that I wish to speak to them about, especially Alfie.”

  He felt guilty for eating breakfast without his friends, but he supposed that it was all right since they clearly wished to sleep in. He hungrily ate his eggs and sausage, drinking cup after cup of coffee in order to wake up and alleviate his headache. “Did you have a good time last night?” he asked his mother.

  “Oh yes! Such a wonderful performance, and of course the Fletcher ladies are so kind and friendly. I’m so glad to enjoy more time with them as well.”

  Rodrick smiled at her. It usually went without saying that he would invite his mother along to anything he was going to. He was an inclusive sort of fellow. And in this instance, it was necessary for her to be there with them.

  He’d finished his breakfast and was working on drinking his last cup of coffee when Alphonse appeared in the doorway of the dining room. He smiled at him and rose from his chair in greeting. “Good morning, Alfie.”

  Alphonse eyed him a bit and then nodded, smirking. “Good morning, Rodrick. I’m sorry that I slept in so long; I think I enjoyed the spirits last night even more than I thought I did.”

  Before long, James came over and joined them at the table as well. Rodrick was no longer eating breakfast, and he traded his coffee for some refreshing orange shrub, which was a nice breakfast beverage on a warm day. He appreciated the company of his friends, even if he was cross with one of them.

  He knew that it probably was not the best idea to lay into Alphonse in James’s presence. He didn’t wish to somehow embarrass James about what had occurred. He didn’t believe that it had gone unnoticed by his cousin, but he didn’t wish to bring it up and make him feel sad or awkward.

  “Why don’t you fellows come over to Westwood in a while?” James invited, seeming to somehow sense that Rodrick had something on his mind that he wanted to share with the marquess. “My father knows that you’re in town again, Lord Drake, and he’d like to see you again.”

  Rodrick nodded his head at his cousin. “That’s a good idea. Today’s a nice day for a stroll around the estate, or maybe even a horse ride, eh, Alfie?”

  Again, he felt that he sensed his friend bristling. But perhaps Rodrick was misreading his friend. Alfie was acting so unusual…

  James left them and Eleanor left the table as well, going off to continue her needlework or whatever else she chose to do to keep herself entertained. On her way out of the room, she placed a hand onto Rodrick’s cheek and smiled at him.

  Now that they were alone in the dining room, Rodrick turned his full attention to his friend. “I daresay that you enjoyed yourself last night. Did you find everything to your liking?”

  Alphonse looked at Rodrick and gave him a knowing look. He nodded his head slightly, smiling in a way that was a bit devilish. “I do always enjoy time spent with Lady Catherine and her sister.”

  “I noticed that you paid rather more attention to Lady Catherine for the duration of the play than you actually paid to the performance.”

  The marquess raised an eyebrow and the wicked smile remained on his lips. “Did you?” he asked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about; I enjoyed the show rather a lot.”

  “I am glad to hear so, sir,” Rodrick said sincerely, but then he leaned towards his friend a little in his chair. “I merely wish to caution you, Alfie. You really must try to adhere to the wishes of the duke and his family… and James.”

  “Pah,” Alphonse said, waving a hand. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. Lady Catherine likes me; what am I supposed to do, ignore her?”

  Rodrick shook his head slowly at his friend. “I don’t think you should ignore her, but there’s giving her friendly attention and there’s what you’ve been doing… I’ve noticed that you haven’t been giving an equal amount of attention to Lady Noelle.”

  Alphonse stared at him. “I haven’t been ignoring her. It’s just that, well, she doesn’t interest me as much, Rodrick. Especially not when I’ve been more or less told that she is the one for me.”

  “But it isn’t only you who is involved,” Rodrick pointed out. “There is Lady Noelle, but there is also the family as well as James. You know that James is smitten with Lady Catherine.”

  “Couldn’t it possibly be, Rodrick – and I don’t mean that it is – that this lady simply isn’t as interested in James as he is in her?”

  “I hadn’t thought about it that way,” Rodrick replied. The lady had seemed so interested in James before, but he supposed that she was young and not obligated to be with anyone at the present time…

  They set out together a little later on tow
ards the estate mansion and Lord Edwards. James was quite happy to receive them and his father, too, was waiting there to convene with them and discuss the latest news. To Rodrick’s great relief, the older gentleman pressed Alphonse for a tour of the fields beyond and a bit of hunting practice.

  As soon as he and James were alone, Rodrick cleared his throat. “Did you enjoy your time last night?”

  James smiled and nodded. “Yes,” he said shyly. “Although, I didn’t want to say before, but… I was a bit upset that Lady Catherine spent so much time speaking with Lord Drake and not me.”

  I knew it, Rodrick thought, feeling sorry for James at once. “Yes, I spoke to him about that. He told me that he would try to do better to follow the wishes of the lady’s family. But did you not speak with her as well?”