Regency Hearts Boxed Set

by Jennifer Monroe

  “Come, let’s go inside,” he said with a wide grin. He exuded a confidence she had not seen in him before, and it excited her on various levels.

  However, as she took her first steps toward the doors that led inside, Marianne could not help but feel a heaviness in her legs. He opened the door and they were barraged with loud, boisterous laughter and a pungent smell of old ale and unwashed bodies. It took everything in Marianne not to cover her nose from the stench, but it would have given her away in little time.

  William, however, took a deep breath. “There’s no place like a pub,” he said, his hands on his hips as he surveyed the large room. “Can you hear the happiness?”

  Happiness? Granted, there was the laughter, but it was not laced with happiness but rather held a harshness that made her shiver. Cursing resounded from all corners of the room where men stood drinking, and rather than simply speaking to one another, they shouted! At one table, a woman sat in a man’s lap, laughing at something he had said in her ear. her silk skirts were pulled up and hooked into a belt around her waist to show her petticoats underneath, and her bosom was close to falling out of the neckline. Although Marianne knew love had no boundaries, the woman appeared of an age of Marianne; however, the man on whose lap she sat had to be thrice her age!

  In another corner sat two men surrounded by a deep darkness that seemed to emanate from them. Not far from them, a man sat alone hunched over his ale in a drunken stupor. Marianne suspected that if she were to touch the man, he would fall over onto the floor and not even notice.

  William had to raise his voice to be heard. “Follow me.”

  She followed William to a long counter made from a massive log that had been cut in half and varnished to a high sheen. It was not to say it was clean, but it was the cleanest place in the entire pub, and she was glad to be there.

  Behind the bar stood a round man with a thick mustache. He was cleaning a mug with an apron dirtier than his shirt, and she hoped beyond all hopes that he would not offer that same vessel for her to drink from.

  “Two of your finest ales,” William called out merrily to the man.

  The man narrowed his eyes at them. “I need to see yer coin first,” he said in a voice that sounded as if it were being pulled across a washboard.

  Marianne could not believe the audacity of the man, but William did not seem offended as he pulled out several coins and placed them on the counter. The barkeep gave a single nod and went to pour their drinks.

  As they waited, Marianne took a moment to study the remainder of the room. It was dark, to be sure, with a low ceiling and heavy beams. A few candles sputtered in mirrored sconces on the walls, but they did little to light the room. She imagined that if they were to wash what she suspected was years of coal dust from the windows, there would be no need for the candles, at least during the day.

  There were not as many people there as she first thought, perhaps a dozen at the most, and what she had mistaken as evil laughter was in all actuality hearty. Along a far wall, half a dozen men sat around a large table playing a game of cards, a small pile of coins in the middle of the table.

  She was unsure how much time had passed, but a drink was thrust into her hands, and William leaned in to say, “There, in that corner. We’ll sit there.” He pointed a now grubby finger to an empty table that sat between the card players and the shadowy men.

  Marianne took the chair he indicated but did not pull out for her. Of course. He would not do that for another man, which she was supposed to be. The uneven wood on the seat ground into her bottom, but she made no complaint. This was William’s chance to show her his world, and she would not be rude.

  William took the chair across from her and lifted his mug to his lips. When he brought the mug back down, he smacked his lips and sighed. “Ahh, nothing like a good pint.”

  Marianne looked down at her ale. She had never had ale before, not from a pub, and she lifted the mug to her lips and took a sip. The taste was better than she expected, good in fact, and without thinking, she took a second drink, this time for much longer.

  “I have never had ale before,” she said, keeping her voice low as to not give away her disguise. “I find it…wonderful!”

  He chuckled at her words. “One of the finest drinks there is,” he said. “Oh, how I miss having a nice pint. Brandy is nice enough, but nothing can take the place of a good quality ale. I’ve had my fair share of the cheaper ales, of course, when times were lean, but this is definitely the better.”

  Marianne nodded, although she did not truly understand. One of the men at a nearby table looked her way and she looked down, terrified someone she knew would recognize her. Then she giggled. It was highly unlikely anyone she knew frequented such a place as this.

  “You see those people?” William asked with a nod toward a table in the corner. “None of them care who you are, or rather they don’t care about a person’s station. They only care to enjoy themselves. It’s quite different than what you’re used to, I’d bet.”

  She frowned. “My friends like me for who I am,” she said acidly. “And I realize I come from a different background than you, but I assure you that, in many ways, we are very similar.”

  “Forgive me,” he said, his head low. “I did not mean to insult you. What I meant to convey was that no one will judge you here or look twice at you. So, enjoy yourself.” He raised his mug in a toast. “To friends.”

  She gave him a wide grin. “To friends,” she said, tapping her mug against his. She took another drink and looked around the pub. They had been there only a short time and already she was started to relax. Before she knew it, her mug was empty and William had left only to return with two new pints.

  “I should be careful,” Marianne said, though she took the drink in both hands and took a large sip. “This will be my last lest I risk drinking to excess.”

  “Is there anything wrong with that?” William asked with a grin.

  “Yes,” she replied with a jut to her chin. “I am a lady, and although I can enjoy myself at times, it does not mean I should become drunk. Wearing these clothes is ghastly enough.”

  William laughed so hard, his head reared back and almost slammed against the wall behind him.

  Marianne felt her face ignite in embarrassment. “I see I amuse you yet again with my words,” she said. “Tell me, what do you find so amusing?”

  “Did you know your eyebrows rise when you’re angry?” he asked. “I laugh because you have run off with a Duke, dressed in men’s clothes, and are now drinking with what society deems the lowest of the classes. Yet, in all that, you find some way to remain a lady. I laugh because you are steadfast in your ways.”

  “And there is something wrong with a woman being steadfast?”

  “Not at all. In fact, it is a trait I admire. There is no doubt you are a lady above all ladies. It has been an honor and a privilege to have met you.”

  Marianne stared into the amber liquid in her mug. “Thank you,” she whispered. Then she looked up at him. “May I be honest with you?”

  “Of course. You should always be honest with me.”

  She took a deep breath and looked at the ale once more, which she suspected was loosening her tongue more than it should, but she could not have stopped herself from speaking if she had tried. “When I first met you, I did not believe that you could become the Duke society needs. However, you have proved me wrong.”

  The smile that erupted on his face told her all she needed to know, that what she said made him happy. And sitting there with him in this place that was strange to her, she realized that he made her happy, as well.

  ***

  The stew that William had ordered for them from the small kitchen at the back of the pub was unlike anything Marianne had ever eaten, and she found herself scraping her spoon against the side of the bowl to catch every last drop of its thick gravy before pushing the bowl away. She felt giddy as she sat back in the chair and grinned at William, who grinned back at her. S
omewhere deep inside, she hoped she did not appear as featherbrained as he, but in all reality, she cared not.

  “Last drink,” he said, his words slurred in a strange manner as the barkeep set two more mugs of ale in the middle of the table. She shook her head, but the room swam around her, and she had to grab the edge of the table to steady herself. Two men had come in some time ago, one with a flute and the other with a violin, and began to play all sorts of music, none of which Marianne had ever heard before. The sound was not quite on key, but it was fun regardless.

  “Thank you,” she murmured. Her inner self advised against accepting one last ale, but her happy, outer self told her, ‘What harm could one more do?’, so she picked up the mug, held it in both hands, and toasted, “To ale!”

  “Here, here!” the woman in the dirty silk dress said from across the room.

  Marianne sat down with a thud and then leaned in to whisper to William. “I thought the man earlier was her husband.” She laughed at the ridiculousness of a man so much older to be married to one so young before glancing toward the woman again and saw that she sat on the knee of yet another man, this one closer to her age but not by much, and she was shocked at where the man had placed his hand. “She must have many husbands.” She laughed again and found that she could not stop herself, which only made her laugh all the more.

  “This is a wonderful song!” William shouted. “We sang this very song almost every time I went into my old pub!” He shot her a mischievous grin, and before she could respond, he stood with his drink and went over to where the men played—which happened to be close to the table where the woman sat in her embarrassing state—and William beat his hand on the table quite out of time with the music being played.

  The woman, taking notice of William, pushed away from the man with whom she had been spending her time and walked—no, the woman flounced as far as Marianne was concerned—toward William, a smile on her painted lips.

  Hot anger spread through Marianne as the woman walked up to William and put her arm around his waist in a much too intimate manner. William glanced down at the woman, and the smile he had for her only fueled Marianne’s anger that much more. Then the woman whispered in William’s ear, and he let out a laugh that jabbed at her skin like tiny needles. He lifted his mug and downed the rest of his ale, but Marianne would not allow him to leave with this…this…hussy!

  She pulled herself from the chair, steadied herself, and then walked over to the group. William smiled at her and brought his arm around Marianne’s waist. The feeling was the most wonderful thing she had ever experienced and she hoped her legs would be able to hold her upright.

  The other patrons began singing, and she joined in when the chorus was sung.

  Through the days, we will work till night

  Not caring or given to fright.

  We ask our friends if they would be fools,

  Tell me, my friend, do you break any rules?

  With the last words sung, the pub broke out in laughter and cheers, and Marianne laughed as she had never before. This was truly the adventure of a lifetime, and looking up at William, she could no longer deny what was in her heart. Her feelings for the man had changed sometime during their time together, an affection that she knew was unacceptable, but regardless she wished she could tell him. Yet, this was not the time or place to have such a conversation. Perhaps she could get him alone outside.

  However, before she was able to speak, the other woman spoke to William. “You are a very good singer,” she said in an overly sweet voice. “And such a handsome man, as well.” Her hand moved to his chest and traced over it as if it contained a babe in swaddling clothes.

  Marianne’s eyes widened in shock. How could a woman do such a thing in public? It was beyond anything she had ever seen in her life.

  William removed the woman’s hand with a polite smile. “Thank you,” he said, “but I need to go.”

  Marianne felt her giddiness return, accompanied by a healthy dose of relief. As they turned, however, they stopped short and looked up—even William had to crane his neck somewhat—to find a man glaring down at all three of them, his back hunched as he tried to keep his head from hitting the ceiling.

  “Margaret! Who is this man with you?” he demanded, his voice booming.

  “Quick!” William said, taking Marianne’s hand. “We need to leave or this man just might eat us!”

  Marianne burst out laughing as William pulled her toward the door, the patrons of the pub laughing and cheering them on.

  He pushed her through the door and they ran down an alley across the muddy road.

  “Oh, my!” Marianne said breathlessly when they finally came to a stop. “I thought he would come after us.”

  “You speak too soon,” William said, just as breathlessly. “Look!”

  Marianne followed his finger and saw the large man come out the door they had just exited. Without another word, they took off again, winding around the various narrow side streets of the village until they ended up behind the pub, Marianne in a near-panic as she looked around to see where the man had gone.

  “There, the stables,” William said, and they ran into the stables, peering around the corner to see if they were being followed. “I think we lost him.” He called out to the stablehand, “You, boy, ready our horses.”

  “Yes, Sir,” the boy said with eagerness when William tossed him a copper coin. “Right away, Sir.”

  Soon, the horses were saddled and Marianne and William were mounted, ready to return to Silver Birch Estates.

  Marianne’s heart still skipped a beat with every sound heard, and as they eased their way from the stables, a loud voice shouted, “I’ll teach you boys a lesson about putting your hands on another man’s woman!”

  “Oh, no! We must go,” Marianne said.

  With a snap of their reins, they rode off, kicking mud up behind them as the last rays of the sun dipped below the horizon.

  ***

  With the horses returned to the stables at Silver Birch Estates, the stablehand not taking a second glance at her as she dismounted as easily as any man, Marianne walked to the house with an easy gait. The sky had already darkened, and she felt a hand take hers.

  “Look,” William whispered as he pointed up at the sky, “the constellations.”

  Marianne tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach as she looked up at the stars twinkling above them.

  “There are thousands of them,” William said.

  “Yes,” she replied, loving the warmth of his hand in hers. “I have never paid them much attention before I met you. Thank you for sharing them with me.”

  “Not only have a shared them with you; they are my gift to you. All of them are now yours.”

  In that moment, Marianne’s heart beat so hard, she thought it might burst from her chest. Looking into his eyes, she wanted nothing more than for him to press his lips to hers. Yes, it was a deed that was beyond anything the woman at the pub had done this night, for it would finally seal her last bit of grace. However, the thought was tempting, and as William’s hand came to her waist, she found the wanting tormenting.

  “Marianne?”

  “Yes?” she said, her voice as quiet as his. Would he pick her up and hold her against him first, or would the kiss come alone? Or would it be that he would spin her around like they did in the romance books she had been forbidden to read? In her mind, he would do that and then as he set her down, he would press his lips to hers, and she would be lost in that kiss.

  “I fear I have kept you out late enough,” he said as he pulled away. “We should head back inside before anyone sees us.” He looked her up and down and smiled. “Perhaps you should use the back entrance.”

  She glanced down. She had forgotten the clothing she was wearing, and she blushed. “I suppose I should,” she replied, but she could not stop the feeling of disappointment from building in her stomach. The man truly was a gentleman, and she was glad to be saved from embarrassment. However
, they still had several more weeks together, and there was plenty of time for them to grow closer. She would see to that.

  Chapter Ten

  As the weeks passed, Marianne found it difficult to spend any time alone with William. From early in the morning until dinner, they busied themselves with his lessons on comportment and societal rules. After dinner, he was sequestered away with Mr. Ludlow learning about his businesses and the empire that were now his. Not a single moment presented itself where Marianne could speak with him alone, and this only frustrated her all the more.

  For something else had begun to change. She found the old William, the shy, gentle man she had met in their first visit to Silver Birch Estates, the man who had taken her to the old pub in the village of Blackwater, was being replaced by a new William, a Duke in every sense of the word.

  It was the smallest things she noticed. His tendency not to talk as much as he once had. His now reserved nature. But above all, his laugh had changed. Gone was the boisterous laugh they had shared that night in the village. Now his laugh had a more serious note to it, as if it had lost its mirth and was replaced by the subtle sound of the ton.

  Marianne could not help but worry for him. She had told him to be true to himself, but did he need to be reminded of those words again?

  All of the work Marianne and her mother had done with William was nearly complete, and tonight they would do a practice of his introduction to the ton. The evening had begun quite well with William meeting Marianne and her mother at the bottom of the stairs. He greeted them with the utmost respect and offered them his arm in turn, walking first Mrs. Blithe to the dining room and then returning for Marianne. Even Mr. Ludlow was there in the place of a guest.