Regency Hearts Boxed Set

by Jennifer Monroe

  “I hope you don’t think I’m being rude by not sitting next to you,” the Duke said as he took his seat at the head of the table, “but Charles, that is Mr. Ludlow, told me that this was where the Duke sits.” He looked down at his plate with great skepticism, but then looked back up with a smile.

  Marianne covered her mouth and pretended to cough to stifle her giggle. Then her eyes fell on a small drinking glass with a few red and yellow flowers placed in it, the stems cut at different lengths and the flowers clearly dropped in the glass, for they lacked any semblance of an arrangement.

  “I picked those myself so we’d have something nice to look at during dinner,” he said when he saw her looking at them. “Do you like them?”

  “I do,” Marianne said. “They are beautiful. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

  The Duke grinned and then turned in his chair, his arm over the back of it. “Barnsworth, can you bring our food, if you don’t mind.”

  “Indeed, Your Grace,” the butler replied. “Would you prefer that I serve the wine first?”

  “Sure, that’d be fine.”

  The man went to a small table and returned with a bottle in his hand. The first glass he poured was for the Duke.

  The Duke picked up the glass and went to take a sip but then looked first at Marianne and then her mother over the top of the glass. “Oh,” he said as he sat the glass back on the table. “Sorry. I should’ve waited.”

  “Not to worry, Your Grace,” Marianne assured him as the butler poured her glass after already pouring her mother’s, though she had to stop herself from beginning his instruction first. Observation was the only task they had at the moment.

  “Back at the pub I used to drink at, Molly, well she was a friendly woman, if you know what I mean.” He threw his head back and laughed as if he had said something humorous.

  Marianne gaped at him. The poor man had little idea what was considered appropriate for the dinner table, that was clear.

  “Anyway,” he continued, as if what he had said was of no consequence, and stood, “she would always say, ‘Life and love. Live one and chase the other’.” With that, he raised his glass in a toast and gulped the entire measure at one fell swoop.

  Marianne’s mother shot her a horrified look. It was clear she knew the hard work that lay ahead of them as much as Marianne.

  “Why are you ladies so quiet?”

  “Your Grace,” Mrs. Blithe said, “a lady oftentimes will not begin a conversation; it is expected that the man do so. Is there a topic you would like to entertain?”

  “Entertain? I’m supposed to entertain you?” The poor man had such a look of utter confusion on his face, Marianne could not help but feel sorry for him. He did have much to learn. It would be well worth it once they completed the task, but who knew how long it would take to see him ready for society?

  “Perhaps I should restate my mother’s question,” Marianne said. “Is there a subject of interest that you wish to discuss?”

  “Oh! Well, let me think.” He placed his elbows on the table and rubbed his nose. Mrs. Blithe paled to the point that she came close to matching the white on her gown. “Oh, I know! Tell me about your life, Miss Blithe. Do you like going to pubs or do you just attend fancy parties?”

  Marianne came close to spitting out the wine she had just sipped. She dabbed at her mouth with a napkin and then forced a smile. “Well, as it is, I do not go to pubs. However, I am not of the ton, so the ‘fancy’ parties of which you speak are not quite as ornate as those you will attend once you are ready.”

  He seemed to consider her words and then turned to her mother with another question.

  As the ‘discussion’ continued, Marianne stole glances at the man. He was handsome but so unrefined. Yes, a challenge was the exact word that described the road she and her mother had before them, but Marianne had no doubt they would be successful in their endeavors, if only so she could prove to her father her worth.

  ***

  Later that evening, after dinner had been cleared and the Duke had retired for the evening, Marianne and her mother sat in the parlor with Mr. Ludlow. Dinner had been an experience unlike any she had ever experienced, and with each passing minutes she began to doubt the Duke would be prepared for society no matter how much time they spent with him. She did feel a bit guilty for looking down on the man, for it was not his fault that he had been raised without consideration for his manners. Some men were simply not cut out to be gentlemen.

  “Miss Blithe, Mrs. Blithe, your assessment of the situation, if you please,” Mr. Ludlow said from his high-back chair across from where the two women sat one of three settees.

  “Well, Sir, he is a kind soul,” her mother replied. “Of course, being a Duke, it is difficult to find any fault in him.” She gave Marianne a small smile.

  Mr. Ludlow shook his head. “The standards of societal pleasantries may be dropped for now, Madam. Please, speak openly and honestly, for it is in his best interests that we know what lay ahead.”

  Her mother shot Marianne a quick glance and then sighed. “Very well, then. The man does not hesitate to speak, which might be considered an admirable quality; however, his words could cause great embarrassment. He has no concept of table manners nor of some of the most basic of societal mannerisms. I must admit that there is much work to do to get the man ready for any sort of introduction to society.”

  Mr. Ludlow nodded and then turned to Marianne. “And what do you believe?” he asked her. “Is it possible to have him ready in two months’ time when the ton begins to send out invitations to parties? I do not doubt the invitations will come, but what I fear is how they will receive him when he arrives.”

  Marianne hesitated for a moment, but her mother gave her an encouraging nod. “My mother is correct in her assessment of the man. I believe that two months may be possible, but it will be a challenge indeed in such a short time.”

  “I see.” The man rose from his chair. “I have little doubt it will be difficult; however, I believe you both are up to the task. As I said previously, this will be your home for the time being. Do not hesitate to ask for anything, especially in regards to your instruction with His Grace, but I do thankful you have accepted this challenge.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Ludlow,” her mother said as she walked him to the door. “I am thankful for your confidence in us.”

  “I have the utmost faith that you will have great success,” Mr. Ludlow said.

  “So, it is two months, then?”

  “Yes. I fear any longer would jeopardize the story of your sister’s illness, and word will reach most people of the ton very soon that he is here. I would be happier if it happened later rather than sooner, but keeping such information from the Nobility can, in itself, be a challenge.” He gave her a bow. “Good night to you both.”

  Once he was out of the room and his footsteps no longer rang in the hall, Marianne let out a heavy sigh. “Do you believe we can do it, Mother?” she asked. “Can he be ready for socializing in such a short time?”

  “We have no choice,” her mother replied. “Tomorrow, we will start with his posture and walking. That alone will take a day of practice, and then we can incorporate its practice into his other areas of instruction.” She went to the door and then stopped and turned back to face Marianne. “If you wish to read for a while, I have no issue with it. Just be sure you do not stay up too late; we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

  “Yes, I believe I will,” Marianne said as she stood.

  “Good night, my dear.”

  “Good night, Mother.”

  When her mother was gone, Marianne made her way to the library. She stood in the doorway, afraid to enter such a fantastic space. Three of the four walls were lined with dark oak bookcases with carved designs in between each. A tall ladder attached to a type of rail sat against one of the shelves, a method to reach the top shelves she had never seen but of which she had heard. To have so many books one needed a ladder was something she
had never encountered before, and the idea she might be able to read every book in this library was a whimsy at best. However, she would try her best to get in as much reading as she could during her stay at Silver Birch Estates.

  Before she could enter, however, she heard a loud sneeze come from the direction of the ballroom. Curious, she walked further down the hallway and paused just inside the door just as she had done in the library.

  The room was immense with two heavy chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Small alcoves lined two of the walls, each with deep scarlet drapes pulled back and gathered at the wall on either side. Gold gilt trimmed the domed ceiling, which had paintings of landscapes on the different panels. At one end, in the corner, sat a raised dais, more than likely meant for the musicians who played at the many parties that had taken place in times past. Several paintings hung in various places along the walls, most likely the estates’ past residents.

  For a moment, Marianne forgot why she had walked down to the room she was so taken by what she saw. It did not matter that she had already seen the room before; it still held her captive with its beauty.

  “Hello.”

  Marianne jumped, now remembering what had drawn her to the room. She grabbed her skirts and dipped into a deep curtsy. “Your Grace,” she said. “I apologize for interrupting. I heard a noise and came to investigate. I hope you do not think me meddlesome.”

  He chuckled, a pleasant sound that Marianne found friendly and kind. The man might not be cultured in any way, but he certainly was not disagreeable. “It’s fine. Come over here.”

  She walked over to stand beside him and followed his gaze at the two paintings that hung on the wall before him.

  “My grandfather and father,” he said in a quiet voice. “My father never told me he was a Duke, or that he was supposed to be Duke, I mean. Did you know that?”

  “I did not,” Marianne replied. “I understand that he has already passed?”

  “Yes, both he and my mother,” he said with a sad sigh. “I never knew her; she died giving birth to me, and Father died when I was eight. It was hard at first because I didn’t have anyone.” Then he gave her a wide smile. “But I ended up here in the end, so I guess I can’t really complain.”

  Her heart felt for the man. To have lost both of his parents at such a young age had to be devastating, to say the least, but to have no money on top of such heartache? She could not even imagine.

  “You have done well for yourself, Your Grace,” Marianne said, better words escaping her.

  “I’d rather you call me William,” he said with a shy smile. “I know I have a title now, but I miss my old name.”

  Marianne gaped at the man. Was he mad? “You must understand, you do not know what you ask of me.”

  “If I command you to as a Duke, do you have to do it?” he asked as if he were a small child making a simple request. His crooked smile was as endearing as his question.

  “Well,” she said with consideration, “I suppose that any request made of a Duke must be fulfilled. Therefore, if you are commanding me to use your given name rather than address you according to your title, I must do so. Although, you should keep in mind that my doing so when others are within earshot might lead to all sorts of gossip about our relationship. We do not want others getting the wrong impression about us, do we?”

  He laughed. “No, I guess we don’t want that at all. Then how about this? You must call me William whenever we’re alone, and if you want to call me Your Grace or His Grace or whatever Grace when we’re around other people, then you do that.”

  “Very well, William,” Marianne said with a smile, “then that is what I will do.”

  The man seemed to relax visibly and it occurred to Marianne for the first time how difficult this situation must be for him. It was not every day that someone from the lower class was thrust into society as the Duke—no, she had to think of him as William for the time being—William had been.

  “Thank you, Marianne,” he said. “Oh, you don’t mind if I call you Marianne, do you? I promise to only call you that when we’re alone; I don’t want to embarrass you more than I’m likely to do.”

  “Yes, you may call me Marianne when we are alone if I am to call you William. I suppose it would be strange otherwise.”

  His smile seemed easier this time than it had been since their first encounter, and Marianne found herself also relaxing. He turned to look back up at the portraits again. “I want to be a Duke, a good one, but I don’t want to let all these fancy titles and all that money to corrupt me like it does some people.” He motioned to the paintings, but Marianne did not understand his meaning behind the words. Perhaps another time he would explain more, but she did not feel right in asking. “Will you be able to make me a great Duke?”

  Marianne smiled. Though her mind told her such a feat would be just short of impossible, she felt the need to reassure him. “You will make a fine Duke, I have no doubt.”

  The way his smile widened warmed her heart. Even if she was stretching the truth a bit, she was glad to make him so happy. He might not become the best of Dukes, but perhaps with her and her mother’s help he would be an acceptable one.

  “I will be going to my room now,” she said, although she wished she could stay and ask him questions about his past. She found him much more intriguing than she first thought, but to be so forward with such questions was not what a woman of her standing should do. It was one thing to be commanded to use his Christian name at certain times and quite another to pry into a man’s personal life. “Good night, Your…William.”

  “Good night, Marianne.” Without waiting for her to leave, he returned his attention to the paintings.

  When she got to the door, she stopped and glanced back at the man. Perhaps two months would be enough time to ready him for society, for he had a good-heartedness about him that could not be missed. That might make his transition that much easier, or so she hoped.

  Chapter Six

  The following morning, William sat staring out the window of the sitting room thinking about the conversation he had the previous evening with Miss Blithe. No, he could refer to her as Marianne in his mind; it was not as if anyone could listen in on his thoughts. He found it laughable when the woman had finally conceded to his wish to call him by his given name when it came as naturally to him as putting on his underclothes every morning.

  In all honesty, it all was more than a bit humorous. Just over a week before, he was William the gardener, someone no one would cast a second glance at. Now, he was William Hawkins, Fifth Duke of Stromhedge, and everyone needing to do as he asked. No, it was more than that; they wanted to do as he asked.

  It was an odd feeling knowing that Marianne and her mother were at Silver Birch Estates to teach him how to be a gentleman, and although he looked forward to the weeks ahead, he could not help but be a little frightened, as well. There were so many things to learn, a list Marianne was reciting to him now as she sat on a chair across from him, her mother sitting beside the window with an embroidery hoop in her hand. He wondered why the mother was not instructing, but it was not for him to question, so he did not.

  “At the end of the first month, we shall do a practice day as a way to test all of your new skills,” she was saying.

  William gave her an absentminded nod and then studied the woman as she continued to speak. Beautiful was not a strong enough word to describe her, and although he never paid much attention to women’s dresses, the yellow dress she wore at the moment caught his eye. Maybe it was the material or the way she wore it, but deep inside, he half-suspected it was more the woman who wore it than the dress itself that had his admiration.

  He could not help but think of Miss Garvey and the numerous times she had passed him without so much as a glance his way, her nose in the air as if it was leading her down the path. Although he sensed the same social abilities in Marianne, he found her to be a kind woman, unlike the stuffy daughter of Lord and Lady Garvey, and he suspected that
had he been either servant or Duke, she would have treated him the same either way. Or maybe nearly the same, anyway. Regardless, he did not think she would have turned her nose up to him the way Miss Garvey so often did.

  “So, with that, we will begin your first lesson. Are you ready?”

  William felt his face burn. He had been staring at Marianne for so long, he did not notice her looking at him with expectation.

  “Yes,” he said as he stood from his chair. “I am ready.” He wished he had paid better attention because he had been so immersed in his own thoughts he had no idea what they would be doing. Well, he was a smart man; he would figure it out soon enough.

  Marianne smiled and then walked over to stand beside the door. “I would like you to go to the hallway, reenter the room, and walk toward me so I can see your posture and check how well you walk.”

  That was easy enough. William did as she asked, wondering what she was expecting. he had been walking since he was a young child, but, even so, he wished he had been paying attention when she was talking earlier. He entered the room, studying her face as he did so, but he could read nothing as he walked past her, her expression carefully guarded.

  “Fine,” she said when he came to a stop at the far end of the room. She came to stand beside him, took hold of his arms, and pulled his elbows back so they hung at his sides rather than slightly in front of him. “Your posture is good, which can be the most difficult to correct, and thus could make my job more difficult than it could be. I would recommend you pull back your shoulders a bit.”

  He did as she asked, feeling very much as he thought Miss Garvey might feel when she looked down at him in passing.

  Marianne took a few steps back and looked him over. “Perfect. You are a fast learner. Now, please try entering the room once again.”

  He found himself wishing to please her, and he quickly did as she asked. He studied her face once again as he walked past her. How he wished she would give him some sort of clue as to how he was doing so he did not have to wait!