‘I am pleased to hear it. Anyway, I do not think you will have time to stray for Flick will keep you on your toes. You are welcome to her and I hope you have better luck than I have had. I cannot wait to get her off my hands for I have not the power to influence her nor the desire to curb her spirit. The sooner you are married the better as far as I am concerned.’
‘Do not worry. I have what it takes to handle Flick. Her spontaneous spirit is what I love about her most. She just needs to be nurtured and nudged in the right direction. The trouble is you have the misfortune of being the same age and I have heard that there can be a special bond with twins, an affinity that could only have served to make your life more difficult. I am older; Felicity and I will deal well together as equals.’
‘Yes,’ Richard sighed. ‘We are very close even though we quarrel constantly but it is never malicious. I can never be angry with Flick for very long but she seems to tumble from disaster to another and lately she has been worse.’
Richard did not have time to say any more for the door opened and Felicity came in followed by a servant with the tea tray. He apologised profusely for the delay and advised them that breakfast would still be another five minutes. He proceeded to lay the covers, apologising once again but as it was still early and they had needed to arouse the cook.
Alex thanked him, explaining that he realised it was an uncommonly early hour and they were extremely appreciative of their efforts.
Once the servants had left Felicity walked over to her brother and gave him a hug. ‘I do not know what Alex has said to you but at least you no longer look like a bear with a sore head. I am glad you are in a better humour. Your brooding looks do not suit you Richard.’
The three sat down to a hearty breakfast and discussed what they should do next. They had the whole day ahead of them and there was some discussion as to whether they should continue on to Lealholme Manor, which was a matter of only thirteen miles away or return to Stansfield Park a much longer journey. It was decided that Richard and Felicity should return to their own home where Richard could recuperate properly from the injury to his ankle. Alex was naturally invited to return with them but as he reminded them, someone had to return to reassure their mother that all was well, besides which he was anxious to collect his horse from the Unicorn Inn. Alex promised to escort the Countess back the following week or if she desired earlier. The Duke and Dowager were also welcome to visit if they so desired. All being agreed the three prepared to go their separate ways.
Alex accompanied them to the Blacksmith to retrieve Artemis and they made their farewells in the blacksmiths yard. With a tear in her eye, Felicity reached up to give Alex a kiss on the cheek and Richard shook his hand.
Alex nodded, ‘until next week then, I shall return with Lady Ellingham and to claim my bride and make arrangements. I shall also arrange to put the announcement in the paper.’
‘And Tiber,’ Felicity added, ‘you will remember to bring my little dog when you return? I hope he is not fretting but I could not bring him with me. I left him whining and with such sad doleful eyes.’
‘I expect I shall have the little mutt under my feet for the next week moping and wondering where you are, yes I will fetch him if I do not strangle him first,’ he joked.
He climbed up into the saddle but Richard put his hand to the bridle and detained him. ‘I need to ask you a favour,’
‘Anything Richard, name it.’
‘Can you let Jenny know that I have had to return home early than expected but I shall return to visit as soon as I can? I will be sure to call on her.’
Alex nodded, ‘consider it done.’ He gave Felicity one final fond glance and turned his horse to face south. She suddenly reached up and grabbed his arm indicating for him to lower his head so that she could whisper something in his ear. He gave a knowing smile in acknowledgement, one final wave and he was off. ‘Well what was all that about,’ Richard enquired curiously. Felicity just tapped her nose. ‘You will just have to wait and see won’t you,’ she teased. The pair watched his diminishing figure as he rode out of the square and down the lane until he was no longer visible.
Felicity suddenly felt deflated and turned to climb up on her beloved Artemis. ‘Come on,’ Richard encouraged her, ‘it is time to go home. Do not look so gloomy, after all it is only a week before he returns.’
Chapter 19
Alex claims his Bride
A few days later, Richard received a note from Alex advising him that his father had accepted his kind invitation and the Dowager was so pleased at the news of the impending wedding, that she was prepared to endure the rigours of the journey to attend as well. He continued to read ....
At Felicity’s final request on parting, I have invited the Allons’s and their daughter Jennifer, although they will be making the journey separately. They did not wish to put you to any trouble and were happy to stay at the Black Lion at Richmond. The Countess would not hear of it and has issued them a direct invitation from her own mouth to add to yours and insisted they stay at Lealholme Manor. So you can expect a party of six persons, not of course including your mother. We will be arriving on Thursday at approximately 5pm Regards Alex
Richard put down the note. So, that was what Felicity had whispered into Alex’s ear on the morning they had parted. Most of the time he could strangle her beautiful neck but sometimes she managed to get things right. The thought of the arrival of Jennifer Allon filled Richard with renewed vigour. His ankle was healing well and by Thursday, he would be in a far better position to assist with entertaining his guests. Richmond offered so much, the Castle overlooking the beautiful river Swale, the magnificent views of Richmondshire from the castle keep and the quaint little Georgian theatre. It was smaller than the Georgian Theatre in Harrogate but much more homely.
Thursday arrived and the party already knowing each other very well settled down immediately. Richard had arranged for a visit to the castle on Friday with a stop off for luncheon and the Black Lion.
Felicity wrapped up in a warm pelisse of cherry red velvet strolled along on Alex’s arm, enjoying the delights of the river Swale as they ambled along the castle walk. Richard walked ahead escorting Jenny. Felicity nodded toward them; ‘I think we did the right thing don’t you?’ she smiled rather pleased with herself.
‘I think you did the right thing,’ he acknowledged, ‘I discover you are a romantic.’
‘Oh yes,’ she sighed and isn’t this a lovely place to be romantic in? But sad to, have you heard of the story of this castle and the little drummer boy. Not so very long ago some soldiers found the entrance to a tunnel under the castle keep and they wanted to know where it led. The tunnel was too small so they sent down a drummer boy. He was asked to walk along beating his drum and the soldiers would walk above ground following the noise, but after three miles, the noise stopped just short of Easby Abbey. They believe the tunnel was an escape route for the Abbot and the canons if the Scots attacked them. The drummer boy was never found and no one knows to this day what happened to him. Some people say that on dark winter nights you can hear the faint sound of his drumming, just where he is believed to have fallen. Is that not rather sad?’
‘Indeed it is Flick, but do you suggest we creep out it the dead of night to discover whether we can hear the sound of the drums? The rumour might be true you know,’ he suggested mischievously.
Felicity glanced up at him and he noted the excited, expectant look in her eye.
‘Don’t even think it Flick, Richard would have my head.’ After gaining a much better understanding of her precipitate nature, Alex was worried that he may have just put an idea into head. ‘You are to promise me that you will not go on your own. We will go together some other time when we are married. Promise me!’
‘Ah well,’ she sighed, ‘I promise. I should like that very much. Enough of sad tales, possibly we should think of something a little more jolly. Where shall we live once we are married, are we to return to Stansfield Park? I will
be so comfortable to live with your wonderful Grandmamma.’
Alex looked aghast, ‘No my love Stansfield Park is my father’s seat and although my Grandmother would be delighted, I want you all to myself. No, I have my own seat in Thorndale, it is not so very far away and Grandmother can visit all she would like. We will live there, unless of course you would prefer to live in London.’
Felicity looked dismayed, ‘Oh no, not London! I feel so cooped up there and people are so censorious. It is lovely to go for part of the season and I do love the balls and the theatre, but I could not live there. Oh I think I would die.’
Alex observed her alarm with slight amusement. ‘You will probably find it very different as a married Lady Flick but as you wish, you will have all the freedom you want at Thorndale Park. You can gallop the hills and dales as much as you please. I just needed to know, because I need to prepare a little, that is all. Once we are established there you can do what you like with the place.’
Felicity was moved and tears sprung to her eyes. ‘I do not know what I have done to deserve you. I did not know that such a man existed. You are nothing like the stuffed shirts that have offered for me in the past.’
‘You would have driven them to an early grave Flick, but I am not so easily put out. I think we will deal very well together, a partnership of equals.’ Felicity chuckled, ‘it is just as well as you have already put the announcement in the gazette and I have arranged a small engagement celebration. I have organised a supper and small country dance and I have invited some close friends from the neighbourhood.’
‘Lord have mercy,’ croaked Alex as he patted the hand lying across his arm. ‘How have you arranged that so quickly? My life is never going to be the same again.’
Felicity gave a mischievous grin, ‘Oh, it was not difficult. There is nothing like a party to cheer you up in the dead of winter and my friends and neighbours are always up for a treat at such short notice.’
The members of the small house party entertained themselves admirably throughout the weekend. Considering such short notice, the party was a remarkable success. Alex could only be impressed at Felicity’s organising skills, especially not having the assistance of her mother, and during his stay; he was able to make final arrangements for the wedding.
The wedding took place six weeks later at the end of January in the parish of Richmond. It was a large affair with family and friends amounting to at least two hundred persons. The reception was held back at Lealholme Manor in the extensive ballroom on the second floor and the Countess had put on a marriage feast in fine style. During the reception, it was possible to get lost in the crowd and Alex surreptitiously weaved his way toward his bride. He whispered conspiratorially in her ear. ‘I have something for you Flick come with me,’ and while no one was paying attention, he took her hand and led her up to the bedchamber he had been allocated as a guest. Pulling her in, he gently closed the door behind him.
Felicity stood in her wedding dress and watched curiously, as he walked over to the dresser and pulled out a small square case of luxurious deep blue velvet. ‘Come here,’ he beckoned as he opened the case to reveal the Stansfield necklace nestled in its proper setting, together with the earrings and broach arranged neatly beside it . Alex turned Felicity around, lifted her hair from the nape of her neck and put the necklace on securing the clasp gently. He bent over her and kissed her neck, relishing the fact that she was actually his wife.
She turned to look at him, fingering the necklace, ‘Oh it is beautiful,’ she murmured as she turned back to face the mirror.
‘It is if it was made for you,’ he smiled, ‘it brings out the wonderful beauty of those violet blue eyes. It is yours now.’
Felicity looked astounded. ‘But, but your Grandmamma, it belongs to her surely?’
‘The old Duke had it specially commissioned for her and now she hands it down to you with her blessing,’ he answered with pride.
Felicity was speechless, not so much for the gift of the necklace but at the Dowagers generosity. She looked back into the mirror as the light from the window bounced off the sapphires and diamonds. She swallowed with emotion. ‘You know in all the time I had it in my possession, I never once tried it on. It felt like contraband in my hand and I could not wait to return it to you. How can something that is so beautiful cause so much trouble and so much joy?’
‘It is just as well you felt guilty my little housebreaker, for it will stop you from committing such a folly again. But now it is sitting where it belongs. She turned to him. ‘Oh Alex I was such a fool to do something so hen witted as to steal it, but sometimes I cannot help my impetuosity. Oh I do hope that you will never regret marrying me.’
‘Yes very hen witted,’ he agreed, ‘but as for regret, no never! Your madcap personality is what I love about you most. Life in your company will never be boring. With me, you will have the freedom you desire. The world is our oyster so what will it be my love, Brussels, Rome or Paris?
Alex reached out and drew her to him, brushing his lips along her soft silky collage and moving up until he found her willing ready lips. She found herself drowning in a surge of overpowering passion. He raised his head and looked into her melting violet blue eyes as innocent as they were expectant. ‘Yes Paris I think the city for lovers.’ He kissed her again fervently drinking in her the sweetness of her body and they melted into one, a tempting promise of things to come.
Reluctantly he moved away and sighed. ‘I could stay here forever but unfortunately we have guests downstairs and we shall soon be missed.’ He gave her one last lingering kiss, ‘Tonight my love, I cannot wait. We have a lifetime of adventure before us.’
The End
Coming Soon
Langthorne’s Honour
Returning from a long exile Lord Alastair Langthorne, the somewhat arrogant Marquis of Thorndale returns to England to clear his name and find a bride. He has only been in London for two weeks when his eyes alight on the beautiful Lady Helene Fairchild the daughter of the Earl of Beresford. The Earl however is hardly enamoured of the match and what is more, despite her obvious attraction Lady Helene will not have him. The Marquis is prepared to wait for as long as it takes but then fate intervenes. The Old Duke dies threatening to disinherit him in favour of his dissolute cousin Sir Tristram unless he restores the family name and marries within three months. The Marquis has to resort to desperate measures to succeed and win his bride and all in the face of the malicious attempts of his cousin to thwart him. A tale of duelling, kidnap, betrayal and romance all set in the backdrop of Regency England.
Lady Ellingham and the Theft of the Stansfield Necklace: A Regency Romance Page 22