The Wild Passion of an Eccentric Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Emily Honeyfield

  “You essentially lied to me,” Simon said, anger still coursing through him. “I gave you my whole heart, and you demolished it.”

  “That was not my intention,” Lady Susana went on. “I wanted to be there for you. I wanted to give you my heart. Please understand that life isn’t as simple as it seems.”

  “I think that love should be simple,” Simon said, still standing. He liked the feeling of overpowering Lady Susana in that way. Power had been stripped from him because of what she did, and now, he was holding onto every last drop of power that he could find.

  “Love is never simple,” Lady Susana replied, knitting her brow. “In fact, love can be a great burden.”

  At that moment, Simon knew exactly why it was that he could never love Lady Susana ever again. Simon could never be with a woman that claimed that love was a burden. It made perfect sense, looking back on things. Perhaps Lady Susana had been in love with him and ran away because of it. If that were the case, then Simon thought that perhaps everything transpired as it should. Lady Susana was not the woman for him. Emilia was.

  Simon marvelled at the fact that the plan had come to full fruition. At least his end of the plan. The very thing that he had wanted was happening at that moment. Simon thought that perhaps he would feel joy because of it, but instead, all that he felt was dread and anger. Lady Susana had hurt him like no other. He was confident that Emilia would never hurt him in that way.

  It made him love her even more. But what troubled Simon was that on Emilia’s end of the plan, things had gone horribly wrong. The fact that Lord Pendergast was courting Rose was the worst possible outcome. Had he failed Emilia because of this? Simon had promised her that everything would be all right, but it seemed that calamity had struck, and Simon didn’t know what to do.

  It occurred to Simon at that moment that even with Lady Susana begging for his love right before him, all he could think about was Emilia.

  “Why won’t you speak?” Lady Susana asked, noting that Simon was lost in thought.

  “As I said, there’s much on my mind.”

  “Share it all with me,” Lady Susana said.

  “I do not wish to.”

  “Simon, I’m in love with you!” Lady Susana proclaimed. “I can find a way to get out of my marriage arrangements. I want to give myself to you and you alone.”

  “Don’t say such things,” Simon said in frustration.

  “It’s the truth.”

  “It’s too late.”

  “How can it be too late? I know that you love me, as well. I know that you’re merely afraid to admit to it.”

  “Stop this!” Simon said, getting up from his seat and walking over to the window, leaning his elbow upon the pane. Simon didn’t wish to look at Lady Susana for another second. In fact, he secretly wished that she’d leave the room. It was then that Simon took a breath, realizing that he still needed to be respectful, despite his anger.

  “I merely want you to speak to me,” Lady Susana went on. He could sense that she had got up from her seat and was walking towards him. Then, he could feel her close, and Lady Susana rested her head upon his back. Simon’s entire body froze. What was he to do? Restrain her?

  Simon had the mind to do it. There was no ounce of pleasure in feeling Lady Susana’s head there. He wished that it was Emilia gently resting her cheek upon his back. Instead of taking action, Simon remained frozen, waiting for Lady Susana to get the hint that his body was not going to respond to hers in any way. Neutrality was what was going to help him endure.

  Then he smiled to himself. Weeks before, to feel Lady Susana so close would have filled him with amorous thoughts, but not anymore. He was a changed man, and it was Emilia Spencer that had changed him.

  “I know that you want me, Simon,” Lady Susana said, and he could feel her bring a hand to his back, resting near her cheek.

  “Lady Susana, I do not wish to offend.”

  “You will not offend if you speak the truth.”

  “The truth is not something that you want to hear.”

  “I know the truth!” Lady Susana said with a start, removing her head and coming around to face Simon. She looked into his eyes intently. “I know that you still love me,” she added, bringing a hand to his cheek. It was all too much for Simon to bear, so he reached up to remove the hand.

  He held Lady Susana’s wrist, anger threatening to overtake him. Perhaps that was just what she wanted, to get a bit of emotion out of him. Simon would not relent. He gently put Lady Susana’s hand down, and as he did so, Lady Susana leaned in for a kiss. Simon turned his head, not wishing to comply. There he remained until he felt Lady Susana pull back, her tears returning.

  “We still have time, Simon,” she said. “We can make a decision this very morning. You can end your engagement, and I’ll end mine. We can be with one another.”

  “Don’t you understand?” Simon said, the frustration of Lady Susana flinging herself at him unbearable. “I want none of this business. I’m content with my engagement.”

  It seemed as though Lady Susana could not hear Simon’s words. “The whole world can be ours! I’m no longer concerned with money. I can live a simple life with you. I know that you have remarkable potential as a man.”

  That was the last straw. Simon knew that he had more than just potential as a man. Lady Susana’s words were insulting, at best. Simon was a man, and a provider. It occurred to him that perhaps Lady Susana had no respect for him at all.

  “Lady Susana, I strongly advise that you leave here at once. I have nothing in my heart for you.”

  “These are lies. You’re lying to yourself!”

  Simon went silent. Cleary, there was no getting through to the woman, and he thought of how to proceed. So many circumstances were in his hands that made him feel powerless. He couldn’t get through to Lady Susana; couldn’t even get her to leave the room. Lord Pendergast promised to court Rose, and Simon himself promised Emilia that he would prevent it. It was enough to make Simon’s head spin.

  “Lady Susana, I strongly advise you to leave before I do something that I might regret.”

  “Kiss me?”

  “My God, woman!” Simon replied, the tone of his voice heightened. He didn’t wish to raise his voice, but Lady Susana was getting on his last nerve. “I beg of you to leave here at once.” Simon managed to get hold of himself and instruct Lady Susana gently. He watched as she frowned to herself.

  “I shall go,” Lady Susana finally said, and Simon heaved a sigh of relief. “I’ll allow you to think things through.”

  “I thank you,” Simon replied, and watched as Lady Susana composed herself before exiting the studio. Finally, silence. Simon had never known such relief. The woman was positively vexing him to no end. It wasn’t long before Simon heard feet coming up the steps and was greeted by Kingsley.

  “All these distressed women coming to Montgomery House,” Kingsley said, shaking his head. “It makes a man ponder things.”

  “She begged for my love,” Simon said, still in disbelief.

  “And did you give it to her?”

  “How could I possibly?”

  “She was the object of your affections not too long ago,” Kingsley went on.

  “Things have changed. Drastically.”

  “I hope that you were kind,” Kingsley said.

  “I did try my best, but I must admit that the woman infuriates me now.”

  “Ha!” Kingsley said with a laugh, returning to his stool. “It’s always remarkable how the heart can change so quickly. I saw you when you were in love with her, and now I see you in love with another.”

  It was not surprising that Kingsley knew of Simon’s love for Emilia. The artist knew of the plan, but Simon had never said in so many words that Emilia had captured his heart.

  “I must do something about Lord Pendergast. The man is a true villain, and I can’t let Rose suffer the way that Emilia has.”

  “So, it’s worse than I thought?” Kingsley asked.
r />   “Far worse,” Simon said, finally sharing his burden openly.

  “It is a rather difficult situation, is it not?”

  “So difficult that I don’t know the means by which to fix it. And there is more,” Simon went on, taking the letter from his pocket and handing it to Kingsley. He never expected that he would do such a thing, but in light of recent admissions, Simon thought it best for Kingsley to know the truth. It was the threatening letter that Lord Pendergast had sent.

  “My word,” Kingsley said, shaking his head in disbelief.

  “I did not know whether I should keep it from you or not.”

  “And it is from . . . ?”

  “The Duke of Westmoreland.”

  “Everything is now becoming clear,” Kingsley said, seemingly unfazed.

  “You are not afraid?” Simon asked.

  “I do not feel fear any longer. In the earlier years, I felt fear every day. Now I realize that there is no preventing what will happen in the future. If I’m found out, then I’m found out. I cannot live in fear. In fact, I have lived a good life, and I’m grateful for that.”

  Simon could see Kingsley’s honour and nobility shining through. He was a man of immense character, despite what he was doing as a profession. Simon felt deep respect for the artist all over again.

  “Still, I fear that this man needs to be prevented on several fronts. He has threatened you and the Spencer family. This is not something that I can abide.”

  “No, I understand your deep concern,” Kingsley went on, bringing brush to canvas. “And I thank you for all that you have shared.”

  “You know that I share everything with you,” Simon said with a smile.

  “I am grateful to you for that,” Kingsley went on. “It’s never dull in your company.”

  The two men shared a laugh. It was exactly the kind of relief that Simon needed. What would have become of his life had it not been for Sir Gregory Kingsley? Simon shuddered to think.

  “Now then, let’s clear our minds for some time,” Kingsley said, “and that will help us to tend to the problem at hand.”

  “A sound idea,” Simon replied, seating himself in front of his own canvas. He didn’t know how he was going to fix the situation, but Simon was still confident that he would find a way.

  Chapter 20

  In the Spencer household, things were sombre at best the following morning. Emilia was downcast and worried, and even Rose was not behaving like herself. The two girls knew why they were so upset, but it seemed as though Dominic was oblivious to their suffering. In fact, at the breakfast table, their father seemed to be in a rather cheerful mood.

  “No sunshine yet again today, but we shall make the best of it,” Dominic said, buttering his toast. The girls did not respond at first, and he looked to each of them in confusion. “Has the weather made you glum?”

  “Merely tired, Father,” Emilia replied, looking down into her tea.

  “I can understand why you would be after such a successful evening. I am rather tired myself from all the excitement.”

  “Thrilling,” Rose said sarcastically.

  Emilia and Rose had not conferred since the evening before. It was customary for them to get together and discuss everything that there was to discuss, but the previous evening, it seemed as though both Emilia and Rose needed their space. Words could do nothing. They were each at a loss.

  “We shall have a fine meal this evening in celebration,” Dominic went on.

  “We had a fine meal last night,” Emilia said, not wishing for her father to be extravagant during a situation that felt like catastrophe.

  “We need to cherish these moments in life if you ask me. Both of my girls marrying remarkable men.”

  “You don’t know that I shall marry him, Father!” Rose protested. It was the first time that Emilia had ever heard Rose speak up so.

  “But his intentions are sound,” Dominic said, confusion written on his face. “He told me so in his own words.”

  “That means nothing,” Emilia said under her breath.

  “A man’s word is a man’s word,” Dominic said assuredly. “I know this to be true. Particularly as it pertains to the Duke of Westmoreland.”

  Silence followed as Emilia didn’t wish to explain the truth to her father over breakfast. In fact, she never wished him to know the full, horrid truth of Lord Pendergast. Emilia wished to save him from it, but considering that Rose’s life was on the line, Emilia felt that the time might come where she would have to reveal all.

  Just then, Clyde entered the room. “A letter for you,” he said, placing it before Emilia.

  “I thank you,” Emilia replied, and instantly her heart soared. What if it was from Simon? The notion of it put a smile on her face.

  “Open it,” Rose said.

  “Now?”

  “Yes, now,” Rose added.

  Opening the letter and looking at the penmanship, Emilia knew at once that it was not from Simon. In fact, it was from Lord Pendergast.

  Lovely Emilia,

  Such a pleasure seeing you last night in all your radiance. We never had the time to speak privately, but there’s something that I wish to convey to you. As you know, I am to court your sister, but this is not my innermost intention. I still want you for a wife, Emilia, and I’m confident that you want the same. You ran from me; that much is plain.

  Never before has a woman done such a thing, and it’s my desire to have you now. You have stirred something within me that I have never felt before, and I wish to see our marriage come to fruition. When I approached your father, I expressed my desire to have your sister in order to ingratiate myself to him. I hope you understand. We all have our methods.

  As pertains to Kingsley, know that I have been aware of his unlawful ways for some time and have done nothing. There is clear evidence of his lies, and these I can present to the world if I am provoked. Please know that that would not only ruin the reputation of the artist but also your charming fiancé.

  All of this can be amended, Emilia, if I can take you as my wife. I’ll leave your sister and artistic friends alone. This is the only way.

  Expect to hear from me shortly,

  Lord Pendergast

  A wave of nausea came over Emilia as she put the letter down in front of her. “What is it?” Rose asked, noting the change in Emilia’s expression.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Emilia said, removing herself from the room. Emilia went straight to the parlour so that she could have a moment to herself. Tears threatened her eyes, but Emilia managed to keep them at bay. She needed to think, and to breathe. Her end of the plan had gone frighteningly wrong.

  In fact, it was the very opposite of what she had hoped. What was she to do now? Lord Pendergast wished to court her again? To Emilia, it was utter nonsense. Clearly, the man’s ardour was about power and nothing else. Simon had won her, and now the Duke of Westmoreland wished to do the same.