To Love a Marquess (The Winters Sisters) (Regency Tales Book 21)

by Regina Darcy

  “You care for her, do you not?”

  “For Lady Hedley?”

  Opening her eyes, she nodded, forcing herself to keep his gaze. “You need not deny it.”

  The Marquess sighed and shook his head.

  “I care nothing for her,” he replied softly. “Lady Hedley has long been an acquaintance and I confess that she has sought to be more to me than that. Of late, she has been more overt in her advances but, much to my own surprise, Ann, I have discovered that I do not wish to accept her offer.” Reaching out, he touched her clasped hands, Ann did not move. “The day you saw me speak to Lady Hedley in the park, I was confirming to her that there could not be a furthering of our acquaintance.”

  “But you met her there,” Ann said, her brow furrowing. “You went to the park with the express –”

  “I met her there entirely by accident,” he interrupted, softly. “She has been dogging my heels of late and I found myself growing frustrated with her constant presence. I had to make it clear to her that there was to be nothing more to our acquaintance and that even our friendship, as it stood, would have to end.” He smiled down into Ann’s eyes, and Ann felt her heart turn over in her chest.

  How much she longed to believe him!

  How much she longed to allow her hopes free!

  “You may ask your sister if you wish to confirm it,” the Marquess finished, now so close to her that she had to tip her head back to look up into his face. “She heard me speak harshly to Lady Hedley before I came in search of you. She has come to trust that my heart is yours, Ann. Now if only you could do the same.”

  Ann closed her eyes, too overcome with all that she felt to answer immediately. Taking in a long breath, she let it out slowly and settled her shoulders, her stomach swirling and her mind confused.

  “I have loved you since the very first day I saw you, my lord,” she told him, her eyes fluttering open. “I thought you to be the most wonderful gentleman, saving a young lady from such disaster. I ignored the fact that you were nothing more than a rogue, believing that when you set eyes on me, something would change within you.”

  “And it has,” he said, firmly, now grasping her hands with both of his and holding onto her tightly. “I have never loved anyone before, Ann. My heart has been entirely selfish, caught up with my own longings and desires. I thought my life to be wonderful, just as it was. But now that the prospect of you leaving my side is upon me, I find myself lost in darkness, terrified that you not believe a single word I speak and, therefore, will leave me completely alone.”

  He stopped, his jaw clenching and Ann felt herself awash with astonishment.

  “I love you, Ann,” the Marquess said, fervently, his hands tightening on hers. “I would have you know that. My heart is yours. I care for no other. I have no intention of allowing anyone to take up room in my affections other than you. I am changed, Ann. I am changed completely and it is only because you have stolen my heart and made it yours.”

  Ann closed her eyes and felt tears run down her cheeks. She was desperate to believe him, desperate to trust him and to allow her heart to feel all the fullness of her own love for the Marquess all over again, but something still held her back. Could a gentleman such as the Marquess truly have a change of heart?

  If Theodora has come to trust the Marquess, then surely that must mean that he is genuine in all that he says.

  “Even in my anger and my despondency, I have never been able to forget or throw aside the love that dwells in my heart,” she whispered, trembling slightly as his fingers gently brushed her tears from her cheeks.

  “If you are genuine in all that you say, my lord, then I cannot help but tell you that my heart is yours also. It has been yours since the very first day I saw you. I love you desperately, my lord. I would wish to be your wife, if you truly wish it to be so.” Her heart lurched as she spoke these words aloud, her trust beginning to form again and washing away the hurt and the pain that had been lingering within her soul and kept her so despondent.

  “I truly wish it to be so,” the Marquess murmured, wrapping his arms about her waist as he repeated her words back to her. “Oh, my dear Ann, you cannot know the relief and the joy that floods my soul at this very moment. You have given me such happiness that I can barely breathe because of it.” Lowering his head, his lips caught hers and Ann leaned up into him, pressing her arms about his neck and allowing her fingers to twine through his hair. Her own heart was so filled that it felt as though happiness was pushing through every part of her, making her want to weep and laugh in equal measure.

  “Come, my love.” the Marquess’ breath whispered across her cheek as he lifted his head. “We shall be wed at this very moment.”

  She stared at him, seeing the smile on his face. “What can you mean?”

  “I wanted to prove my devotion to you,” he told her, grasping her hand and leading her towards the door. “It is all arranged. We shall be wed this very day, if you will have me.” Opening the door, he led her through it and Ann saw not only her sister Theodora but the Duke, Caroline, Beatrice and her Papa. And also all the staff. They were all waiting for her. Her eyes filled anew with tears.

  “Your gown has been chosen by your sisters and is waiting for you in the guest bedchamber. Within the hour we shall be standing side by side, ready to make our vows to each other. I cannot go another day without having you as my wife, Ann.” He turned to her lead her back to the study, closed the door and leaned down to kiss her again. “Today I surrender willingly to the love I feel for you. I yearn for the shackles of marriage, as long as that marriage is with you. What say you, my love?” he whispered, as Ann blushed furiously. “Will you give me your promise this day? Will you be my wife?”

  It was more wonderful than Ann had ever thought possible. Her heart was his and, in return, the Marquess had given her his love.

  Their marriage would be one of joy and contentment, lost in each other’s affections and growing closer with every day that passed. He had changed from a rogue to a devoted gentleman, with eyes only for her. Her answer could not have been more ready to jump to her lips.

  “Of course I shall wed you, my dear Marquess,” she told him, seeing his eyes glow with happiness. “It has been my greatest wish. I can hardly believe that this day, my dream of being your bride is to come true.”

  The End

  PREVIEW: THE ARRANGEMENT

  PROLOGUE

  “I say, old man, how is that daughter of yours?”

  Viscount Longford smiled as he thought of his daughter, with her dark brown curls and sparkling green eyes that so often reminded him of his late wife.

  “She is doing very well, Dunlop, thank you.”

  The Earl of Dunlop, Viscount Longford’s long-time acquaintance, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “She’ll be coming of age soon enough, won’t she?”

  “She ought to already be out,” Lord Longford replied, with a slight grimace. “The truth is, Dunlop, things have been so bad with the estate that I’ve not been able to take her to town for the Season. If her mother had still been alive – God rest her soul – then I would not have to worry about such things but, as it stands, Teresa has had to remain at home. The only reason I have come away from there is to see my solicitor, although I am glad to have the opportunity to see you again. It has been a long time.”

  Lord Dunlop chuckled, his eyes still thoughtful. “I still remember what it was like when we were both young men, out in London looking for our brides. How fortunate we were.”

  “Indeed,” Lord Longford murmured, his heart still filled with a love for his dearly departed wife. “I had hoped for a good match for Teresa but since I have been unable to take her to town, I may have to consider other means.”

  Lord Dunlop nodded. “Well, as it happens, I do have a son.”

  Lord Longford paused, looking over at his friend who was busy pouring them both another brandy.

  “Your son and heir, I presume you mean,” he said, slowly. “I would have tho
ught he might have married now.”

  Shaking his head, Lord Dunlop handed Lord Longford his glass of brandy and sat back in his chair. “Not yet. It appears he is not as enamoured with the London set as he thought he’d be. He shows no interest in any particular lady despite my encouragements to find someone who is a suitable match and I am beginning to wonder if an arrangement might suit him just as well.”

  “An arrangement, you say,” Lord Longford murmured, taking a sip of his brandy and letting it spread warmth through his chest.

  “Tell me about Teresa,” Lord Dunlop continued, waving a hand. “Does she know how to run a household?”

  “Of course,” Lord Longford replied, quickly. “that is what she’s been doing ever since her mother passed away. She is well mannered, genteel, articulate and knows exactly what is expected of her.”

  Lord Dunlop chuckled. “Wonderful. Hugh is, of course, fully aware of his duties when they should come to him – not that I have any intention of creeping into my grave just yet!” Lord Longford laughed, feeling much the same sentiment.

  “Hugh is a rather sensible fellow, for which I am grateful,” Lord Dunlop continued. “he has no particular vices I am sure, and everyone speaks well of him. If you are amenable, we could make a very good match for them both.”

  Lord Longford though quickly, wondering about his daughter and how she would feel at an arranged marriage. To his surprise, the idea took hold quickly, making a sense of satisfaction rise in him. After all, he reasoned, he had not been able to take Teresa to London when she was of age, which meant that soon society might think her on the shelf. He did not want her to live her life alone, aware that he would one day leave this earth and, in doing so, leave her behind.

  “I think Teresa would be amenable to the match,” he said, slowly. “What of Hugh, however?

  Lord Dunlop shrugged. “He will not take much convincing if any. He is more than ready to settle down and, just so long as his wife is what he requires from such a companion, I am certain he will accept her with gratitude. After all, it takes all the difficulty out of finding a match for themselves!”

  “Indeed, it does,” Lord Longford agreed, a smile fastening itself to his face. “I could bring Teresa to London for a few short weeks so that they can become acquainted and then marry by Season’s end.”

  Lord Dunlop lifted his glass in a toast. “Capital!” he exclaimed, a broad smile settling across his face. “Then it is settled. My son shall be betrothed to your daughter and, in so doing, we shall join our two families together. A wonderful idea, if I may say so.”

  Lord Longford chuckled, amused that his friend was congratulating himself on his own wisdom. “A very good idea, Dunlop.” He raised his glass and tapped it against Lord Dunlop’s, feeling a deep sense of happiness begin to settle in him. “To our families uniting,” he finished, before taking a long sip of his brandy. “My goodness, I can hardly wait to get home to tell Teresa.”

  ONE

  “Teresa?”

  Looking up from her book, Miss Teresa Jamieson rose to her feet as her father, Viscount Longford, entered the room, walking somewhat stiffly as he came towards her.

  “Papa,” Teresa replied, a trifle concerned. “Are you quite all right?”

  “Yes, yes,” he stated, waving her concerns away. “Sit down, my dear. There is something I need to discuss with you.”

  Teresa’s heart dropped to her toes before racing up to her throat, leaving her feeling distinctly unwell. Looking at her father steadily for a moment, she slowly sank down into her chair, aware of the sudden tension that filled the room. Whilst she enjoyed talking with her father on occasion, there had never been a time when he had struggled to look at her in the way he was now. In fact, he was deliberately avoiding her gaze and that told her that all was not well.

  “My dear Teresa, I am aware that the time is now well passed for your debut into polite society.”

  Surprised by the topic at hand, Teresa’s eyebrows shot into her hair.

  “Had your dear mother not passed all those years ago, then it would have been she who arranged for you to go to London and the like but, alas, it was not to be so.” Sadness dripped into his tone as the corners of his mouth tugged downwards. “She would have chastised me terribly for neglecting you in the way I have done.”

  Teresa’s throat ached with sudden pain. “Papa,” she murmured, gently. “You have not let anyone down. I quite understand that you were not able to take me to London these last few years.”

  The truth was, Teresa had been very upset to learn that she would not be able to go to London for her coming out, but she had deliberately hidden her upset from her father so that he would not see it. Being a viscount meant that there was a great deal for him to do in terms of his estate and Teresa had tried her best to understand. What had not helped had been the three poor harvests, one after the other, that had bled away her father’s coffers so that he had been forced to put as much time and effort into managing the estate as he could. Thankfully, there had been a better harvest last year and it appeared as though everything was now looking up, but it had been a difficult time regardless. Teresa had known that she could not complain to her father about his inability to take her to London when he had been in the midst of such a trying time, but it had pained her to know that she would not have the come out she’d always dreamed of.

  There had been no balls, no card parties, no recitals. There had been no gentlemen to dance with, no hopes to cling to, no sudden dream of matrimony. All there had been for Teresa had been a slow acceptance that this was to be her lot in life. Whether or not she ever made it to London, she would no longer be that fresh-faced young debutante. She would be a young lady who would soon be on the shelf unless she found herself a husband quickly and that would not exactly endear her to the gentlemen of the ton! Teresa could have, of course, allowed herself to wallow in her misery but she had chosen not to do such a thing. She had held her head high and chosen to find happiness in what she could instead of regretting what she could not have. Her place was here, with her father. She had put everything she had into helping him run the estate, into supporting him however she could and that, she had told herself, would be enough for her.

  “You have always longed for such a thing, I know,” her father continued, breaking into her thoughts. “I have been unable to take you to London and you have borne that burden with grace and understanding. I know that you cannot remain here for the rest of your days, not when the house and title will one day pass to your cousin.”

  Teresa gave her father a wry smile, aware that while her cousin would run the estate admirably, it would mean that she could not remain in the place she called home. It was not something she often gave much thought to, considering it to be far too far into the future to worry about but the truth of it still lingered. She would not always live here. There would be a time when she might have to call on her cousin’s goodwill in order to live in some comfort and, whilst her cousin was a considerate gentleman, she did not know how well he would accept her presence.

  “He is a good man but that is not the future I had ever intended for you, Teresa,” her father continued, slowly. “As you know, I was away on business last week and, as it happens, I met with an old friend. We have come up with a proposal that I think you will find very agreeable.”

  “And what is that?” Teresa asked, her whole-body rippling with tension.

  “I do not want you to be lonely, Teresa,” her father said, gently. “Therefore, I have found you a match.”

  Her whole world shrank in on her in a moment, her stomach tightening.

  “I know this man comes as something of a surprise, but it is an arrangement made only last week with the Earl of Dunlop. We found ourselves discussing our children – I talked of you and he talked of his son and heir, who is yet unwed and shows little inclination to find himself a match whilst more than open to the suggestion of marriage. We arrived at this cracking proposal to unite the two of you.” Lord Longfo
rd looked at his daughter with excitement in his eyes. “The Earl of Dunlop’s son and heir is to be your husband.”

  Ice formed over Teresa’s heart, her eyes welling with sudden tears of shock as she tried to take in this news.

  “Oh,” her father muttered, suddenly getting to his feet. “I thought I rang for tea. I must have forgotten.” He made his way to the bell pull, giving Teresa a few moments to regain her composure. Whether or not her father had done such a thing deliberately, she was not certain, but he had never been a man who could manage her tears. He preferred to turn away, to allow her to cry alone rather than see them form in her eyes. Teresa, knowing this well enough, tried her best not to let any fall to her cheeks, looking up at the ceiling and blinking furiously.

  “Are you quite all right, my dear?”

  Her father’s tone was kind and Teresa tried her best to smile as he came to sit down again.

  “I am just somewhat overwhelmed, papa.”

  “With happiness, I hope,” he replied, softly. “I know that you have often wondered about your future and I am glad to say that now, finally, it is presented to you. The Earl of Dunlop is a very good friend of mine and I know his son will treat you with respect and consideration. It will be a very contented marriage, I am sure.”

  Teresa wanted to say that she did not want a contented marriage, that she would much prefer to find her own husband or, at the very least, be given the opportunity to do so before she was thrust into an arrangement such a this, but seeing the happiness in her father’s eyes, she chose to keep her mouth closed and her thoughts entirely to herself.

  “The gentleman in question, I am told, is both handsome and wealthy. He has no particular vices – for my steward made sure to discover as much about him as he could – and appears to be both amiable and kind.”

  Teresa sniffed quietly, managing to look at her father without feeling the urge to burst into tears.