Not Just Lovely Laura

by Jessica Spencer

  Eight weeks later they were standing outside a mansion that did justice to Gwen’s tales.

  “I’ve brought Mr. John’s daughter from America,” Gwen informed the servant and handed him the doctor’s letter. Within no time, they were shown into an enormous room. The duchess came in after an hour.

  “Madam, this is Mr. John’s daughter, Mary,” Gwen said, leading her by the hand.

  A footman hissed in her ear. “Your Grace!”

  Gwen barely heard him. She was staring at the richly clad woman who had halted her progress with an imperious hand. She had glanced at Mary and looked away. Looked away!

  “My mistress named Mary after her mother,” Gwen said and nervously started explaining about the Yellow Fever and the voyage.

  The duchess cut her short. “She is no longer Mary but Lady Maria. A servant will see you. You may leave the child in her care.”

  And without sparing her granddaughter another look, the duchess swept out of the room.

  END OF SAMPLE CHAPTER

  NO LONGER FLIGHTY FANNY

  http://smarturl.it/FlightyFanny/amazon

  Violated at fifteen, seduced at sixteen.

  A runaway marriage and a swift annulment.

  Fanny’s life is over even before it could begin.

  As a young girl, Fanny finds escape from her unstable home by roaming in the woods and riding her mare. Free and innocent of guile, she is easy prey for a blackguard. Three years later, she attends the Season where she meets Andrew, Earl of Nethercote. It is love at first sight for both of them.

  Fanny’s nemesis, the man who had ruined her, is also in London. Furious at her refusal to yield to him, he uses his power to vilify her. Fanny loses her reputation - and Andrew’s love. She returns home and her father forces her into a repugnant marriage.

  Andrew leaves England and throws himself into the shipping business. Unable to forget Fanny, he comes back when she is widowed and tries his utmost to win her back.

  Can Fanny forgive him for leaving her? And what of the anonymous letters that threaten to destroy her if she accepts Andrew?

  Chapter 1

  England, ---County, 1816

  A stagecoach was no respecter of persons. Neither were those who habitually traveled in them. And yet, the oily faced gent in his well-worn suit tried his best not to fall against Lady Mannering when the coach bounced over one more bump on the road to London. The woman sitting from across him, a garrulous housewife who usually regaled other passengers with stories of her daughter’s employer, now sat with her mouth resolutely shut. The prosperous farmer who never journeyed without taking a nip or two every now and then squirmed in his seat. Lady Mannering’s unblinking eyes disconcerted him so much that halfway through the journey, he gave up his place to a man who was riding on the roof.

  Fanny, Dowager Countess of Mannering had no idea that her presence was inhibiting eight honest citizens of the Crown from deriving rightful pleasure in the journey. She did not notice that they held back at the stops for her to get down first. Or that they broke into chatter as soon as they entered an inn.

  Fanny had other things on her mind. Was the chamois bag secure under her petticoats? Whenever a coach came thundering behind hers, she feared it was Samuel. That he had discovered her gone and had come to intercept her flight.

  Fanny did not realize how strange she must appear, bowling down the highway without a single piece of baggage. At the very first inn, the innkeeper’s wife, Mrs. Alice, after one look at her said, “My lady, you will be most uncomfortable in these clothes. The gown will become creased beyond anything. Please allow me to find something for you to wear during the night.” Without waiting for Fanny’s nod, she hurried away to do just that.

  Fanny shut the door of the room and sat down in a stiff-backed chair. She knew she would not be sleeping a wink. Not until she was safe from Samuel’s reach. How many hours before the coach resumed the journey? Had Samuel discovered her absence yet?

  She had a head start of several hours. She had left the house immediately after breakfast, informing the butler that she would be spending the day in the orchard, sketching. The housekeeper was having her day off. She had no maid assigned to her. None of the servants would enter her chamber unless she rang. But she did not put it past Samuel to arrive home early and send for her.

  Fanny could not believe that she had managed to escape. She had climbed over the stile and walked away from the house with a vague idea of taking a coach from the next village. Luckily, the horses were grazing in the meadow. The mare she rode within the park walked up to her. Fanny petted her and hoisted herself up on the mare. She found that riding bareback was something one did not forget. Not wanting to be conspicuous, she kept to the back roads and left the mare before entering the populous village.

  Minutes later, the stagecoach arrived.

  ***

  Mrs. Alice had spent the better part of her life in the inn. She knew that the lady was in trouble. The set of her mouth and the stiffness of her shoulders spoke of a terrible strain. She was so pale it was a wonder she was still on her feet. Poor dear! So young, too. She could not be a day more than twenty. The cut of her gown bespoke a married lady. That would account for her not hesitating to travel without a maid. She was in mourning. Could she have lost her husband?

  Mrs. Alice was wrong on the first count. Fanny was twenty-five. Tall for a woman and of slender build, she did not look her age.

  “My lady,” Mrs. Alice knocked, pleased that the lady had barred the door. They kept a good house but one could never tell how a woman traveling alone would be looked upon.

  “My lady, this is my daughter, Ruth,” she said after Fanny admitted her into the room.

  Ruth dropped a curtsy, giving Fanny a shy smile. Her mother sent her out on some pretext and said, “As your maid is indisposed and your baggage lost, would you care to employ Ruth? The girl is old enough to go into service.”

  Fanny raised an eyebrow.

  “My sister lives in London. She wrote to me last week that she would find employment for Ruth if I sent her. Ruth has never left the village, my lady. I don’t want her to travel alone.”

  “You do not wish me to employ her?” Fanny asked.

  “I would like it above all, my lady. Ruth must find work somewhere. There is nothing for her here. Working for a lady would be better than working in a house with gentlemen. My sister assures me that London is the place for her but I have heard some terrible stories about young girls being taken advantage of. Ruth is a sensible girl but it worries a mother’s heart.”

  “My plans for the future are uncertain. I may set up a modest house in London or move to a village. Ruth will have to do most of the work as I have no intention of hiring many servants.”

  “Ruth is strong and a good worker, my lady. She is a great help to us in the inn. But money is tight right now.”

  For the first time, Fanny took in her surroundings. Though the room was simply furnished, the linen was freshly laundered. The noise from the taproom below spoke of a full house. The inn was clearly prospering. There was enough work for Ruth. Her mother was sending her away for a reason.

  “Is Ruth in trouble?” Fanny asked gently.

  Mrs. Alice colored. “There is the squire’s brother. He will not leave her alone. Ruth is a good girl but she is young. I thought to send her to my sister’s but she has her hands full with five daughters. Her oldest one is rather silly. Ruth will be better off with you.”

  “You are a good mother,” Fanny said, envying Ruth. How different her own life would have been had her mother bothered about her!

  “You will take her with you?” Mrs. Alice asked, twisting her hands over her apron.

  “You don’t know me.”

  “I do, my lady. You are Lady Mannering,” Mrs. Alice confessed. “My husband recognized you. Please, will you take Ruth with you?”

  “I will.”

  Matters thus settled, Mrs. Alice bustled about making preparations for Ruth to leav
e. She also procured a serviceable gown for Fanny and a nightrail. Ruth brought in a hot meal. Later, she helped Fanny undress. There was something comforting about their attention and the small, cozy room. Fanny fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

  Mrs. Alice packed the spare gowns in a carpetbag along with Ruth’s things. She dug out a trunk and packed it with a moth eaten rug and some old clothes belonging to her husband. “It does not look right for a lady to travel without luggage,” she explained.

  Fanny paid for her stay and recompensed Mrs. Alice for the extra trouble she had taken.

  “Mrs. Alice, it is possible someone might inquire at the inn about a lady traveling alone to London,” she said.

  “I shall tell them I saw you, my lady, and that you were on the coach bound for Bath.”

  Fanny smiled. “That would be lovely, Mrs. Alice. You are not to worry about Ruth. She will be safe with me.”

  “I know she will, my lady.”

  ***

  At three o’clock, a carriage stopped at the inn. As soon as the coachman came in, he was met by Mrs. Alice. She readily told him that a lady had stopped at the inn. The coachman informed his master who came in to make further inquiries. The moment Mrs. Alice laid her eyes on him, she knew she had done the right thing; she could recognize a blackguard when she saw one.

  “Speak,” Lord Mannering said, tossing a coin.

  “A woman stopped here last evening, my lord. She came on the coach going to London but did not board it when it left. She took the coach to Bath instead.”

  “Was she young?”

  “She was, my lord. She was young and beautiful. She had dark hair and blue eyes. I noticed her at once. She was Quality but traveling without any baggage and a maid.”

  Lord Mannering scowled. It did nothing to improve his looks. He was about forty with a pasty face that spoke of overindulgence.

  “She will pay for this,” he muttered under his breath and stalked out.

  End of Sample Chapter

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