A Graceful Swan for the Fearless Marquess: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance

by Fanny Finch

  “Yes, father. I understand. I shall do as you say. Nevertheless, I do hope I never have to. I happen to have my eyes set upon some fine gentlemen, myself. I have put my caps out for them.”

  Rothwell smiled at that, knowing that Nora meant every word.

  Taking her face in his hand, he tucked a stray strand behind her ears and kissed her forehead.

  “I have no doubt that you shall make father proud, dear one.”

  The moment was gone quickly, as Rothwell noticed from the side of his eyes, that Longcross and Liliana were beginning to return. Breaking away from Nora, he spoke.

  “We must go below stairs now. They return from their walk.”

  No more words were said. Quietly, they descended the stairs and were waiting by the door when the couple returned. It was Longcross who spoke first.

  “Uncle! I was going to come to meet you in your study. I did not know you were out already.”

  “I thought to stretch my leg, is all. I hear you visited the gardens. I do hope you enjoyed your time there?”

  “Very much so, uncle. Thank you. Lady Liliana is such a lovely company.”

  “Ah, that she is.”

  Longcross went ahead to greet Nora then, and after the pleasantries had been exchanged, he cleared his throat.

  “Uncle, I have declared my wish to take the lady Liliana to the theatre in two days from now. I wish to see a lovely play with her. It would appear, we share our love for literature. It would gladden me so if you would grant me the permission to come for her.”

  Rothwell beamed, glad that things were indeed, going according to plan.

  “Certainly. You have my blessings, Longcross. Only, on one condition.”

  Longcross’s reply was swift. “Anything, uncle…”

  Rothwell smiled. The young man was truly eager.

  “You must bring Nora along with you. I would also love for you to bring a friend who would escort her. I would regret for her to be without a companion while you enjoy the company of her dearest sister.”

  Longcross’s smile was warm, happy.

  “I have a friend who would be glad to join us, uncle. Reuben Woodpecker, earl of Thamford. He shall be my lady’s escort.”

  “Very well, then. It is settled. Thank you for calling, Longcross. We look forward to receiving you again.” He remembered something then, and paused as he retrieved a piece of paper from his pocket.

  Arms outstretched, he handed it over to the young man. “Here, the names you requested for.”

  Longcross received the list eagerly and tucked it into his breast pocket.

  “Thank you, uncle. Be rest assured, I shall call often from now on.”

  The way he looked upon Liliana as he said those words, put more joy in Rothwell’s hearts. His cousin had been had, for certain.

  Farewells were said and soon, Longcross was on his way. When it was certain that the marquess was long gone, Rothwell turned to his second daughter.

  “Keep him interested, Liliana and soon, you shall become Mrs. Leighton, marchioness, and future duchess of Widmore.”

  Her response was simple, swift, and left no room for more discussions.

  “Yes, father.”

  Chapter 15

  “Do put your foot on the pedal, Nora. The men are certain to be here in no time. I would hate to keep them waiting. The play starts in an hour's time. I do not want to miss the slightest bit of it.”

  Liliana tried to speak as calmly as she could, but her impatience hung at the edges of her voice. Nora had been fretting with her appearance all evening when Liliana had been ready before long.

  Liliana understood that her sister wanted to look her best for the earl of Thamford. The matter was, Nora already looked lovely- perfectly so, in fact. Liliana could not simply fathom what the fuss was about.

  “Pshaw, Lilly. We still have plenty of time to make it. You would not miss a thing, I promise. Not to mention, sometimes, it's a good thing to keep these men waiting. It keeps them on their toes, I tell you. Have you forgotten our courting lessons so quickly?”

  Liliana frowned at her sister’s indifference to her anxiousness.

  “I remember every lesson quite well, Nora. I simply do not care for some of them. Particularly the one about a lady keeping a gentleman waiting. It is rude to keep anyone waiting, much more, a guest.”

  Nora giggled at this. A sweet, carefree laugh that had Liliana forgiving her in an instant.

  “Oh dear sister, you are too reasonable for your own good. That rule doesn’t hold in courtship. You see, gentlemen like to be teased! It keeps them wanting more.”

  “Huh. I’m certain. Nevertheless, I shall pass on this.”

  “Ugh. You’re such a bore!”

  “You would be surprised, dear sister,” Liliana muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes for effect.

  “What was that?”

  “What? Oh… nothing. Simply thinking out loud,” she ended with a big smile.

  Buying it, Nora went back to fretting over her looks in the mirror. Liliana sighed, realizing that there was nothing more to do than wait.

  She had feared this when stepfather had announced that Nora had to accompany Longcross and herself to the play. However, she had been unable to oppose it.

  Her stepfather was a very kind, but firm man. His word stood, always. It was either Nora came with them, or Lilly went nowhere. She had known that. So, she had simply chosen the latter and held her peace.

  “Ah! All done, Lilly!” Nora chimed, cutting off Lilly’s thoughts as she spun on her feet. “I told you not to worry. Now, we shouldn't have to keep the gentlemen waiting.”

  The sweet wave of relief washed over Liliana and she smiled up at her sister, admiring her handiwork. Nora had chosen a green dress for the night. It was the green of spring and it looked very lovely on her.

  When Liliana’s eyes rested upon her sister’s face, she felt the strangeness that came with seeing herself in her, all the time. It did not matter that they had both had years to grow accustomed to it.

  Liliana supposed one never fully got over the fact that there was another human in the world, who looked just like them.

  “Bless the virgin Mary,” Liliana said, giving in to the urge to roll her eyes.

  Nora ignored the gesture and came to sit by her side, flighty as always.

  “Speaking of gentlemen, I have been meaning to ask you, dearest sister. Now that it is certain his lordship is smitten with you, how do you hope to ensure that he remains that way?”

  The question was unexpected and it threw Lilly off. “I am not sure I get your meaning, Nora.”

  “Oh, but of course you do! His Lordship is everything many women want. You must have seen the way they were all over him at the ball. Mothers and daughters alike, all setting their caps for one of the most eligible bachelors of the season. The marquess is a fine man, we can both agree on that. Noble, easy upon the eye, a gentleman through and true. Beyond that, he is wealthy. Father says he has wealth, whose extent, he is yet to be fully aware of. You have to secure a marriage to Longcross, Lilly. No matter the cost.”

  “If Longcross wishes to marry me, then he shall. If he does not, I doubt there is anything I can do to change his mind on the matter.”

  “Oh, Lilly! You cannot be so naive, can you? Of course, there are things to do to change his mind. Although, I believe that the lord is very much interested in offering a proposal. You simply have to make certain that he does not change his mind about that.”

  Liliana was no longer confused. She knew where this was coming from and where it was headed. The talk stepfather had had with them, had indeed gotten to Nora. Oh, if only her sister would understand that she was not one of those women.

  Given, she fancied the marquess and she believed he fancied her in return. Nevertheless, she could not force his hand into marriage.

  “I do not know how you intend for me to do that. However, you must know that I do not intend to force anyone’s hand into marriage with me. Yes,
the marquess is an admirable man, but there are many other gentlemen who are just as wonderful.”

  “With wealth, status, name, power?”

  “All of those matter naught to me, dear sister. You should know this.”

  “Hogwash!” Nora exclaimed, not letting her finish. “Of course, they should matter to you! Have you not realized the difference in the life we have lived since Lord Rothwell took on in, from the one we had with father? We were poor, Lilly. We lacked. So many things. Mother could not wear the finest of dresses, she scarcely owned any jewelry and we, we were no more than commoners. Lord Rothwell changed all of that. That is what a man of status, power and wealth like Longcross gives to you. Do you not love the life of comfort? Do you not want to keep enjoying it for as long as you live?”

  The side of Liliana’s head was throbbing now. Why wouldn’t Liliana let it be?

  “The man I shall marry may marry me for reasons best known to him, but I shall marry for love, before comfort or convenience.”

  “I shall like to see how well your love would hold when you cannot afford the finer things in life. If I were you, Lilly,” she leaned in for a conspiratory whisper. “Damn righteousness. I shall give the marquess the push he needs so he acts soon. I wouldn’t let him go.”

  “Nora!”

  “What? Why act so shocked? You must know, Lilly. You and I view the world entirely differently. I have no use for silly notions such as that of love. I have my cap set for the best of men in the ton and by the end of the season, I shall have well become the wife of the one who manages to win my fancy. Marriages are hardly ever done on basis of love in these times, Lilly. Bring your head out of your romance novels and become aware of your surroundings. This is the real world, not some play!”

  “Mother and Father were in love,” Lilly muttered softly. Their love had borne that fiery need in her heart to find someone who would love her as perfectly as her father had loved her mother, and to love him just as perfectly in return.

  It was not the books like Nora surmised. It was in fact, the love which she had seen in the real world. Only a child, she might have been, but she had known, anyway. Felt it in her heart. Love so pure and true.

  Nora scoffed, then went quiet for a moment. With a resigned sigh, she whispered, “Look what good that did them.”

  Liliana’s eyes widened at the words she had barely caught. She was about to respond when a knock sounded on the door, and one of the maids walked in.

  “My ladies, his lordship says to tell you that the gentlemen have arrived, and wait to be graced by your presence, below stairs.”

  The ladies nodded. It was Liliana who answered.

  “We shall be down in a bit, Sophia. We shouldn't keep them waiting for too long.”

  Pleased by her response, Sophia curtsied and took her leave.

  When they were alone once again, Liliana turned to look at Nora.

  “We must get going.”

  With those words, she rose, unwilling to continue the discussion any further. She could not fathom what had come over her dearest sister, but she would not let her night be ruined by their silly disagreement.

  It would not be the first time they would opine differently on a matter. For how identical they were, they were just as different in persons. Every now and then, they had clashed, but they always found their way around it.

  She was aware of Nora’s presence behind her, following just as quietly. They had almost reached the top of the stairs when Nora put a hand to her arm, stopping her.

  Liliana halted and turned slightly, so she would face her twin.

  “Lilly, I apologize if I was hard on you and if I disrespected mother and father’s memories. I know you were closer to them, but I loved them too. I was out of turn. Forgive me.”

  An uncomfortable weight shifted off her chest, and Lilly felt her lips curve up in a smile.

  “Pshaw, it’s nothing. You were simply passionate about the matter, is all. I too apologize if I had spoken out of turn. I was simply carried away in the moment.”

  Nora’s smile mirrored her own, her similar eyes twinkling. “There is naught to apologize for. This one is all one me. Good thing we have it past us, now. Come, come. It is rude to keep guests waiting and I would hate for you to miss a moment of your play.”

  Relieved that the night was back to being beautiful, Lilly placed her hand over the arm that Nora had slipped into hers and together, they bounded down the stairs to meet the man of her dreams… and his companion.

  Chapter 16

  He looked as charming as she had only ever seen him. Impeccably dressed in royalty and fine clothing, he stood tall, the man of her dreams.

  Her cheeks began to curve in a smile as her eyes settled upon him. Nora and herself had just reached the foot of his stairs and there he was, in all his glory, his friend who was just as handsome by his side.

  Lord Rothwell stood in the hall too, but anyone who looked at him could see that he was not dressed for an outing, unlike the men.

  She felt those cheeks warmed as his eyes widened at the sight of her, taking all of her in, as they swept over her from head to toe. The appreciative gleam in them was all she needed to know that the Lord approved.

  It was just as well. She had taken care to look extra lovely tonight. Just as Nora had.

  Walking so gracefully, it felt as though she was in fact floating, she found herself no more than three feet away from the marquess, before she could blink. Sinking into a curtsy, she greeted.

  “My Lord, it is such a pleasure to see you once again.”

  As she rose, he stood forward to take her hand and bring it to his lips.

  “My lady, it is my heart which merry for the sight of you, bring gladness to it.”

  “Starting the night with flattery now, are we?”

  “No, my lady. Simply the truth.”

  He held her gaze as he kissed her hands, once again, his voice and the slow, intense manner in which he had said those words, washing over her until all of her felt as warm as her cheeks.

  He stepped away from her then, moving on to her sister. Nora and Sebastian exchanged a greeting so polite, it was near amiable. It made Liliana happy to see.

  If she would marry the marquess, then he must become friends with her twin sister. After the greeting was over, he finally introduced the man by his side.

  “My ladies, you must meet my friend, his lordship, earl Thamford, Reuben Woodpecker. Woodpecker, her lady Nora, and her lady Liliana.”

  It was the first time Liliana allowed herself to take a careful look at the man. The marquess had captured her attention since the moment she came down the stairs.

  Oh, but he was handsome. Just as tall as the marquess, though he had chopped blond locks that fell to his brows, where the marquess’s were dark. He also had a side beard and a mustache that added to the definition of his features.

  His eyes were easy, as the smile on his face. They were green. Not an uncommon color for a blonde man, and his smile, it was small and warm. Although, she suspected he nursed a secret one for Nora.

  It was her hand he took first.

  “My world, my lady… I heard of your beauty, and I thought the tales, high praise. Now, I am aware that they do not do you justice. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”

  Liliana almost rolled her eyes as she saw her sister gleam from ear to ear. In the time since they have arrived in London, they must have heard those words from a hundred gentlemen.

  It would appear many tales had been told of them indeed, or the men had simply learned to say those words in some sort of courting club.

  Nora, sweet and demure this evening, swept into a deep curtsy from which she rose with the gracefulness of a Gazelle.

  “My lord, your words honor me, I thank thee. I wish I could say I have heard tales if you too. Nonetheless, you are more charming than I had imagined you would be.”

  It was Longcross who spoke.

  “Reuben does not fancy society. He tries to stay away
from it as much as he can.”

  That was interesting to hear, Liliana thought to herself, as she continued to observe the exchange, interests piqued.

  “Oh, truly? That is a refreshing difference, my lord. I do believe there is a reason for that. Perhaps, I shall come to learn before the night is over?”

  His smile remained easy and warm as he replied, “Perhaps.”

  He stepped away from Nora then so that he could greet Liliana.