A Bewitching Lord of Her Own: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Lucy Langton

  At the Tristens, Ada and Flynt were introduced to Lord and Lady, as well as their three children who were all of marrying age. Ada was pleased to meet so many, and she even thought this would be a lovely opportunity for Miss Butler since Lord Tristen had two sons. But as the night progressed, Ada saw how Miss Butler only spoke with Dowager Statham and seemed to give little attention to anyone else. Ada thought it was a shame since everyone seemed to be good company.

  After dinner, when all the women were in the sitting room while the men enjoyed their evening port, Lady Tristen approached Ada with a few sheets of music in her hand. “I happened to hear Dowager Statham mention your beautiful skill at the pianoforte over dinner,” she explained. “Would you be so pleased as to entertain us while we wait for the gentlemen to return?”

  “It would be my honour to play for you,” Ada said as she rose from the ornate chair she’d been sitting in and accepted the sheets of music from the lady. She thumbed through them as she walked over to their piano, which was a bit bigger than the one she often practiced on. But as Ada sat down on the wooden bench and placed the selected music on the stand over the keys, she felt right at home with the musical instrument as she began to play the opening notes.

  All matters of life seemed to fade away as Ada became lost in the music. Her eyes were on the sheet music in front of her, but she began to feel as though she was the only one in the room. She relaxed into the music, feeling comfortable beyond words. Then, when the words to sing began, she filled her lungs with air and let the words flow right off her tongue as though she had practiced this particular song many times before.

  There were fewer things in life that gave Ada such pleasure as playing the piano and singing along with the tune. She felt as though she’d never tired of doing so and could never become exhausted from the task when it helped her feel so alive and with purpose. She enjoyed performing for others, sharing her passion for music with all those who would be willing to hear her perform. The only thing Ada could think of that made her feel equally so was when she was with Flynt.

  As the song came to an end and the melody drifted to a halt, Ada looked up at those who were applauding, and she smiled happily at the woman. In her heart, she was starting to think that her feelings were growing stronger for Flynt.

  She wasn’t sure if what she was feeling was love or not, but knowing how much she loved music and performing for others, she thought it was reasonable to think that her heart was growing for her husband as well.

  “Lady Statham, you have the talents of an expert musician,” Lady Tristen commented as Ada returned to her chair. “I may even bother you to perform once more when the gentlemen return.”

  “You are too kind,” Ada replied. “I’d be happy to play another song when our party is full once more.”

  While they waited, Ada decided to take a turn of the room as she thought about Flynt and how she was feeling towards him. The Tristens had a lovely sitting room with furniture that had been designed with patterned fabrics and dark mahogany wood.

  The white carpet was plush underneath her slippered feet. And the room was filled with plenty of light from the candlelight that reflected off the mirrored wall sconces. But all the finery around her did not contend with her thoughts about Flynt. The more Ada thought of him, the more she reasoned she was indeed falling in love with the man she married.

  Chapter 19

  Flynt was walking through the gardens with Lord Peterson during one of his visits. As they came to the fountain, the place in the gardens where they could speak openly, Flynt couldn’t help smiling as he prepared for the grand confession that had been pressing against his heart.

  “Lord Peterson, I dare say that I have fallen in love with my wife,” Flynt said with a chuckle.

  “You are a lucky man, Statham. Most men marry for convenience. Very few actually find love in their life,” Lord Peterson remarked. “Have you thought of a way to express these feelings to Lady Statham?”

  “I believe I will do so this evening. I wish to take her to the botanical gardens for their charity ball. It is there that I shall tell her and ask her to accompany me to Brighton. I think we need to try our luck at having a proper honeymoon once more,” Flynt explained.

  “I’ll be honest with you, Statham,” Lord Peterson said, capturing Flynt’s attention from the shooting water of the fountain. “You have certainly become a different man since your wedding day. I never knew you to be such a romantic.”

  Flynt laughed openly then as he nodded. “I had no idea that I could be, either. I just feel compelled to do nice things for Lady Statham when she has done so much for me,” Flynt said. “I was a very troubled man when we married, and she has borne it all well. She even listens to me when I talk about the things that I witnessed while in the Navy.”

  “I am glad to hear this. It is good that you had someone to talk to about these matters. And who better to speak openly with than your wife,” Lord Peterson remarked. “I only wish that I could discover the happiness that you have found.”

  “Perhaps it will be forced upon you like it was me,” Flynt said with a chuckle. “It was all rather unexpected, but I do say that it was the best thing for me.”

  “I wouldn’t let Dowager Statham hear you say such things. She would never let you live it down,” Lord Peterson said as they joined in laughter.

  “I suppose I should do something nice for my mother as well,” Flynt reasoned as their mirth subsided.

  “I’m sure if you father a few grandchildren for her, she will be eternally grateful,” Lord Peterson said.

  “You know, I was rather terrified of the idea of having children,” Flynt confessed. “But now that I have Lady Statham in my life, I feel like I am capable of more than I ever thought before. She even helps me with the Earldom affairs.”

  “She must be a really intelligent woman to consider such matters with you.”

  “She truly is,” Flynt agreed. “It’s been nice to have someone to rely on so thoroughly. I suppose I only wish I had opened up to her sooner.”

  “I truly wish you all the happiness in the world, Statham. The Lord knows you deserve it after all you’ve witnessed,” Lord Peterson said as he clapped him on his shoulder. “I truly mean every word of it.”

  “Thank you, for everything,” Flynt said with a nod. “Let us return inside. I’m looking forward to the evening.”

  “Yes, you have much to prepare for,” Lord Peterson agreed as they headed towards the open back door. “It’s not every day you can declare your love for another person for the first time.” Flynt smiled brightly at the statement, thinking he’d never been this excited for anything.

  ~*~

  Ada was looking forward to the outing with Flynt as their carriage rumbled down the cobblestones of Town towards the botanical gardens. She had visited them several times with the widowed sisters, but this would be her first time seeing them in the evening. Furthermore, it was an outing for just her and Flynt, which made it even more special for her.

  “I can’t believe the botanical gardens are hosting their ball so late in the evening. We shall certainly be able to dance underneath the stars tonight,” Ada remarked as she leaned forward to see out the carriage window, trying to be as patient as possible. But she couldn’t wait to glimpse the first sight of the gardens, for they were sure to be lit with plenty of candlelight.

  “This will surely be a night to remember,” Flynt remarked, resting his gloved hand on hers. She leaned back in the carriage seat that was covered in black velvet. Looking up into Flynt’s blue eyes, she saw the reflection of the streetlamps reflected in his eyes, making him appear almost magical.

  “Thank you for offering to take me to this event,” Ada said. “I know Dowager Statham must have been disappointed not to have received an invitation from you to accompany us.”

  Flynt chuckled as he said, “My mother will have to get used to the idea of me taking my wife to special events so that we may spend time together. We already do s
o much as a family that there will be times when I want to treat my wife, particularly.”

  “I am truly fortunate to have married such a thoughtful man,” Ada remarked, tilting her head up towards him. He took the opportunity to lower his lips to hers as they shared a tender kiss before the carriage came to a halt outside the opening of the gardens. Ada loved to receive Flynt’s kisses and often looked for opportunities to receive them when they had a private moment.

  Their kiss came to an end as the carriage door was opened by the footman. Ada giggled as Flynt alighted from the carriage and turned back to help Ada down from the carriage. Her pale green gown flowed around her as she walked with Flynt. She’d chosen the gown thinking it would be fitting for the garden event. Her hair long hair had been braided and pinned to the top of her head and decorated with peacock feathers. Ada would have never thought to wear such things, but now that she was married to a wonderful man, she felt more adventurous with her outfits.

  “This is all so amazing,” Ada remarked as she walked with Flynt, her arm wrapped around his. They followed the candlelit paths through the outer gardens towards the towering greenhouse that housed all of the exotic plants and animals.

  Ada could barely take it all in as she looked all around her at how the gardens had been transformed into a whimsical setting. They passed countless couples observing the splendour of it all as tall torches lit the path as they blazed into the night.

  “The museum committee has certainly outdone themselves,” Flynt remarked.

  “No doubt to convince many to make charitable contributions,” Ada replied, almost breathless as she viewed all the blooming flowers that only seemed to come out at night. She had never thought of walking the gardens in the evening and now could imagine herself doing so by the moonlight with Flynt through their own gardens around the townhouse.

  Inside the large greenhouse was even more miraculous than the outside gardens. Water ran through the middle of the greenhouse as though it was an idle river. All the animals were on display that evening, their chatter filling the air that was mixed with the happy voices of all the patrons.

  Chandeliers had been hung from above, allowing plenty of light to be shown below. It mixed with all the light from the torches and candelabras that had been placed upon countless surfaces. Ada had never experienced such a sight before and felt as though she could wander the gardens for hours.

  “Would you care to dance?” Flynt asked as they came to the portion of the greenhouse that had been designated as a dance floor. Ada smiled up at Flynt as she nodded her head, the small orchestra just then beginning their new song that rippled through the air. Taking their positions with the other dancers, Ada let the music wash over her as she focused solely on the dance and her partner. She twirled around the dance floor with Flynt as her guide, feeling shivers of pleasure race through her body as he would touch her side or hand to guide her into the next part of the dance. She felt like she could stay like this forever, stepping through the motions of the dance, listening to the wonderful music filling the air of a magnificent garden.

  “I don’t think I’ve seen you this happy,” Flynt said as the dance came to an end and he escorted her over to collect a glass of sherry from the servers who stood on the edge of the greenhouse.

  “I am truly enjoying myself,” Ada declared. “This is all unlike anything I could have ever imagined when you told me the botanical gardens were hosting a charity ball.”

  “I am pleased to hear this,” Flynt said as he took a long drink of his punch. “Let us go and see the animals. I have never seen so many different animals together in one place.” Ada nodded as she quickly finished her punch and gave the glass back to the server so she could accompany her husband. Together they viewed the monkeys that bickered with one another, causing Ada to laugh at their playfulness. And as they watched the tiger from Africa pace back and forth in his cage, Ada thought she had never seen anything so powerful in her life.

  “Ada, there is something I wanted to discuss with you,” Flynt said as he led her over to a quieter part of the greenhouse. They stood in front of a towering palm tree that produced the exotic pineapple that was much coveted amongst the elite families.

  “What is it?” Ada asked with a bright smile.

  “I feel as though we did not have a proper honeymoon to celebrate our marriage. It was as though we were travelling companions than anything,” Flynt explained. “What do you think of a trip to Brighton?”

  “That would be lovely, Flynt,” Ada was quick to reply. “I have never been there before, but I hear it is lovely to visit.”

  “Yes, it is quite a nice seaside town. There are plenty of shops because of the ports there, and we can even go down to the beaches along the cliffs,” Flynt explained.

  “Then, yes. We should prepare a trip before the weather becomes too hot,” Ada agreed.

  “I’m so glad that you are keen on the idea,” Flynt said as he took both of her hands in his. “And there is one more thing I must tell you.” Ada held her breath as she looked up at him.

  “Ada, I have come to the understanding that what I feel for you is to be love,” Flynt said. Ada let the breath she had been holding slowly escape to be replaced by another big breath. She smiled so brightly she thought her face might stay forever in that expression.

  “I love you, too, Flynt,” Ada declared. “I’ve been contemplating these feelings for some time since I didn’t want them to mingle with how I feel when we are intimate. But this feeling stays with me all day when I am with you. Therefore, I know it to be love.”

  Flynt lowered his lips to hers then, and Ada enjoyed the passionate kiss. She thought this had to be the most magical kiss in her life, for they were together in such a lovely setting, declaring their love for one another. Ada knew that her life would never be the same after this moment, and her heart would always be full as long as she was with Flynt.

  Chapter 20

  Late spring showers descended upon England the moment Flynt and Ada left Town for Brighton. Their progress to the seaside town was imposed upon by the wet roads and the mud that clung to the side of the carriage wheels. However, despite the terrible weather, their spirits never seemed to be dampened.

  “I do hope Dowager Statham will be fine without us for a few weeks,” Ada said as they had to make another stop for the driver and footman to clean the wheels of the wagon so they would not get stuck again.

  “You worry about Mother too much,” Flynt said. “You must remember that Aunt Bertie is with her, as well as Miss Butler. And, she has an entire household full of servants to aid her.”

  “I had become so used to caring for her personally, her physical and emotional health, that I suppose I find it difficult to leave those responsibilities to other people,” Ada admitted.

  “She will be fine,” Flynt encouraged. “We have an entire town to explore for the next few weeks. If Mother is in need of our assistance, she or Aunt Bertie will write to us.”

  Ada nodded, knowing her husband was correct in his statement. As the carriage began to roll forward once more, she tried to focus more on their destination and less on what troubled her as they left Town.

  As they continued on their three-day trip to Brighton, the weather finally cleared, and they could travel without much delay. The taverns were pleasant enough, Ada determined, but it did not compare to the splendour of the seaside town. As the carriage came to a stop outside the cottage Flynt had rented for their holiday, Ada was quick to alight to look out over the flowing water below the edge of the cliff.

  “I feel as though it goes on forever,” Ada exclaimed as she took a few more steps towards the water, having not contemplated the cottage itself as she saw the vastness of the sea for the first time.

  “In the middle of the ocean with no land in sight, it will make you feel rather small and as though the water’s edge will never be found,” Flynt agreed once he had joined her. “Come, let’s go inside and unpack.”

  Part of their plan
s to travel to Brighton included the fact that they hadn’t brought any of their servants with them. Wanting to be completely alone for their second honeymoon, only the carriage driver and one footman had accompanied them to assist with their trunks. But, now that they had arrived, the trunks were delivered to the common room of the cottage before the two left to be settled at the local inn for the duration of their stay.