Love in the Moonlight: A Regency Romance All Hallows' Eve Collection: 7 Delightful Regency Romance All Hallows' Eve Stories (Regency Collections Book 6)

by Arietta Richmond

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, blushing from her clumsiness and jerking her hand back.

  He caught her hand and held it flat against his chest so that she could feel the pounding of his heart. Madalene looked up at him questioningly, unable to move as his grip tightened on both of her hands. He lowered his head, his lips brushing her forehead at the hairline, and gently pulled her even closer to him.

  She heard the whisper of a groan from deep in his throat as he bent further, his lips now pressed against the softness of her cheek, dangerously close to the corner of her lips, moving ever nearer to her mouth.

  Instinctively, she turned her head toward him so that now his slightly parted lips were flush with her own. He released one of her hands and placed his freed hand on the back of her neck, nudging her to him as his mouth covered hers. Her knees felt weak as she experienced the sensation of his kiss for the first time.

  “My Lord, the clouds are rolling in!” shouted Maxwell, bounding around the bend towards them. “Excuse me, my Lord, but we shall certainly have a rain storm shortly. We have just enough time to make it back to the stables without getting soaked.”

  Madalene jumped back, cheeks blazing red, uncertain if the groom had seen the compromising position she had just been in with the Earl.

  Gabriel turned to Maxwell as if nothing had occurred and casually acknowledged the ominous weather.

  “So I see,” he said. “Are the horses prepared?”

  “Yes, my Lord, I shall just gather up the picnic items.” Maxwell went about packing the blanket, plates, cups and utensils into the basket while Madalene smoothed her dress and pinned her hair up as best she could for the ride back to the manor.

  ~~~~~

  Hester and Madalene were walking in the grounds of the vicarage after tea, while Madalene told her friend as much as she dared about her outing with the Earl.

  “What’s he like? Is he terribly frightening? Is the manor haunted? Did you ask him about the woman who disappeared? Where did he go after Eton for all those years?”

  Hester asked a thousand questions that Madalene either could not, or would not, answer. She believed it would be a betrayal of Gabriel to share any of the stories that he had shared with her during their afternoon together. And she was certainly not yet ready to reveal their kiss to Hester. What would she think of me?

  “He is a kind man, Hester,” answered Madalene. “but I sense that he has heavy responsibilities on his mind all the time. He is very serious. He disappears for hours at a time and then suddenly appears again as if from nowhere. But it was so lovely to see him relax and laugh a bit when we were out riding.”

  They had reached the hillside above the church, the highest point in the cemetery from which they could see Warfield Manor not far away. Madalene had become accustomed to the imposing structure, learning its corridors and halls, and could identify most of the rooms on the first and second floors, from the outside, by the appearance of the windows.

  She pointed out her own bedroom window to Hester where the white sheer curtains blew softly in the breeze. She had left the French doors open in the morning so that Matilda would be able to go outside onto the balcony whenever she wished, too feeble as she was to take the long walks that Madalene enjoyed.

  “What is the room above yours, Madalene?” Hester asked. “There,” she pointed, “where someone is looking out the window now?”

  Madalene started. There indeed did appear to be the shape of a person in a window that was directly above her bedroom.

  “Er, I do not know,” she said. “The Countess told us that the upper level of the manor is not used, and has not been inhabited for years.”

  Both girls looked again but the silhouette was no longer visible. “Perhaps it was a shadow from the sun,” Madalene said.

  But she had seen it, and she did not believe that it was a shadow.

  Chapter Five

  As the days turned to weeks, Madalene began to fall into a routine that felt like she had been living at Warfield Manor for years. She accompanied her mother and the Countess on at least one of their social visits each week, attempting to select the most interesting from among the ladies they called upon.

  She and Gabriel rode the grounds together occasionally, although they had never come close to the intimate moment of their first ride. The young groom, Maxwell, accompanied each ride and never disappeared from their view. Madalene had the distinct impression that the Earl had ensured that it was so. She was growing fond of him, despite his often sullen disposition. And she could not deny her physical reaction whenever she saw him. Butterflies in her stomach, her heart pounding, the warm tingle in her chest that traveled lower until she was blushing from the throbbing sensation in her nether regions.

  Madalene was desperate for her mother to raise the subject of marriage again, and finding her a suitable husband, so that she might test the waters about a possible betrothal between herself and Gabriel. But Pamela seemed to have forgotten all about matchmaking between her daughter and the Earl, so busy had she become with the Countess and their social visits.

  And still there was the ominous cloud hanging over the estate. Was it cursed? Haunted?

  There were many nights that Madalene swore she heard footsteps and muffled howling, like a wounded animal, above her head. Yet she had failed to find their source.

  Late one evening, as she was ascending the stairs to her room after dinner, Matilda darted up the staircase to the upper level. Madalene gathered her courage, along with the candlestick she was carrying, and followed. Matilda scratched at a large wooden door and barked incessantly as if signalling that something, or someone, was inside. As Madalene reached out to open the door, Gemma ran up behind her.

  “Miss, you must not be here,” she hissed. “The Earl forbids it.”

  “What is this room?” she asked. “I thought the upper level was not used.”

  “I don’t know Miss, but only the Earl and Mr. and Mrs. Perkins are allowed in there.” Mrs. Perkins was the head housekeeper and the wife of the steward who managed the manor. “Quickly now, we daren’t be caught up here.”

  Gemma had reached Madalene, and placed an arm around her shoulder to gently led her back down the stairs. Madalene stopped and bent down to pick up Matilda, who had finally quieted, but was still sniffing at the door.

  Afterwards, Madalene tried to ask the Earl about it on one of their rides.

  They had been returning from a visit to one of the tenants. Gabriel had invited Madalene to accompany him on occasion, knowing how she enjoyed riding, he quite enjoying her company. They had gone a long distance, and both of them were tired from the full day in the saddle, so they had been riding along in silence for some time, when they finally crested the hill where they could see the estate in the distance. Finally, Gabriel spoke.

  “Are you settling in at Warfield Manor? How do you find the village – are you making friends?”

  Madalene was thoughtful before she replied.

  “I am settling, yes. And I’ve become quite good friends with Hester. We are on the planning committee for the All Hallows’ Eve dance.” Madalene bit her lip and pondered whether she dare ask the question that was on her mind. She took a deep breath and continued. “I do sometimes have trouble sleeping, though.” She glanced sideways at him to gauge his reaction, but Gabriel continued to look straight ahead, loosely holding the reins of his stallion as they moved at a slow walk back towards the estate. “I hear noises above my head. It sounds like footsteps from the room upstairs. And sometimes wailing.” Although she was stating her concerns, not asking, the unspoken question hung in the air.

  “Nonsense,” he said flatly. “The rooms above you have been closed for years. You are most likely hearing the servants at night in a distant part of the house. They work round the clock to keep the manor cleaned and stocked. Noises carry.”

  She did not want to mention the night she wandered up the stairs, and Gemma’s revelation that he and the Perkins’ accessed the room
, lest she get Gemma in trouble. But he was hiding something, of that she was sure.

  Gabriel paused and his next words were gentler, as if sensing he may have spoken too harshly a moment earlier.

  “I’m sorry to hear you aren’t sleeping well. I shall suggest to Gemma that she bring you a tonic before bedtime.”

  He urged his horse to a faster pace. Madalene followed, and they rode the remaining way home in silence. Madalene feared that she had put a barrier between them by her prying questions, but she was determined to uncover the truth about Gabriel Hatcher and his family.

  That evening, the Earl did not join them for dinner, and the Countess seemed distracted. Madalene considered sneaking up to the upper level that night to do a little snooping, after she was certain that Gemma had returned to the servant’s quarters, but Gemma had brought her a warm cup of tea and sat with her while she drank it, causing Madalene to fall into a deep sleep almost immediately.

  ~~~~~

  The Countess and the Earl sat quietly in the parlour while Perkins set down the silver tray holding the coffee pot, sugar bowl and cups.

  “That will be all for this evening, Perkins,” said the Earl. Gabriel knew that Elizabeth would prefer to pour their coffee herself and have privacy. Perkins bowed and withdrew from the room, softly pulling the door closed behind him.

  “Any news?” Elizabeth asked her adopted son. “On either subject?”

  “I’m afraid not,” the Earl replied. “The doctor does not believe we will ever know if my father’s proclamation is true. But as long as it is possible ….” He lowered his head and allowed his thoughts to drift.

  “No, Gabriel, I shall never believe in some curse.” Elizabeth stood and crossed the room to him. “Have you considered confiding in the young lady? She will understand. I have seen the way she looks at you. There is no mistaking her feelings.” She paused as she sat down on the settee next to him. “Nor yours.”

  Gabriel gazed into the eyes of the only woman he had ever known as his mother.

  “I should know soon. I’m seeing someone this week who might be able to help. Until then, I will not lead her on, nor let her believe that we have a future together when I cannot believe it myself.”

  Chapter Six

  There was excitement in the village as the town decorated for All Hallows’ Eve. Hester could not wait for the assembly and the opportunity to dance with the young men of the village, especially one particular fellow, who she was hoping would show an interest in courting her. Poor Hester - most of the young men were intimidated by her father, the vicar, afraid that he might believe that one dance constituted a marriage proposal, so she was often left standing on the perimeter of the dance floor, hopeful but alone.

  Isabelle had finagled her way onto the planning committee, much to Hester and Madalene’s chagrin, so they were forced to spend time with her. Isabelle took every opportunity to interrogate Madalene about the Earl and the goings-on at the Warfield Estate. And if she had any knowledge of her own, she could not wait to needle Madalene to determine how much the new residents of Warfield Manor already knew.

  “The Earl was seen in town this week,” Isabelle said coyly.

  “The Earl is seen in town frequently,” replied Hester, protecting Madalene from Isabelle’s prodding.

  “Perhaps …,” she dragged out the revelation. “But I do not think he frequently visits Miss Pennywright.”

  A pang of jealousy stabbed into Madalene’s stomach. Who was Miss Pennywright? Was the Earl courting one of the ladies of the village?

  “Most of the villagers visit Miss Pennywright, at one time or another,” said Hester, her voice betraying her agitation. She turned to Madalene to explain, her voice softer. “Miss Pennywright is an astrologer. She studies the sun and moon and planets and can tell the future based on when a person was born.” Then she whispered, “My father says it is sacrilegious and not compatible with the teachings of God.”

  “Perhaps he is seeking advice for how to rid himself of the curse,” Isabelle said.

  “There is no curse, Isabelle Newton!” Madalene had had about enough of this. The Earl had been nothing but kind to her and, despite the unnatural happenings at the manor, Madalene felt that it was a private matter for the Earl and Countess, and should not be the subject of idle gossip in the village.

  “Oh, what do you know, Madalene.” Isabelle put her hands on her hips. The girl did not easily retreat from a quarrel. “You are new here. My mother has told me that a curse was placed on the late Earl and the Countess. That’s why the Countess is barren. She was never able to have her own children because she and the former Earl married long before it was appropriate to do so. They were even lovers while the former Countess was still alive and pregnant, and the Earl had her murdered!”

  “Stop it, Isabelle, that’s enough!” Hester would not allow Isabelle to upset her friend with unproven stories. “You go on home; we don’t need your help with the decorations for the dance.”

  Isabelle set down the flowers that she had been weaving into a wreath, tossed her head and started to walk away. Before she had reached the door to the hall, she turned back for one last jab. “If there is no curse, then why is the ghost of the Earl’s real mother living on the upper level of the manor? You know that the Earl forbids anyone up there. Why do you think that is?”

  Madalene gasped, but before giving either Hester or Madalene a chance to respond, Isabelle turned and flounced out of the room, head held high.

  “Pay no mind to her, Maddie,” Hester said. “She is just bitter. Rumour has it that she really did want to marry the Earl and it was her parents who would not allow it because of all that curse talk that Isabelle’s mother believes in. If you ask me, it’s her mother that is cursed, not the Earl’s.”

  “I know that she is just a trouble-maker,” Madalene replied. “But there is still something not quite right at Warfield Manor.” She turned to Hester and took her hands. “Hester, I would never confide in anyone else, but there is someone or something in that room and Gemma told me that the Earl forbids anyone access but him and the Perkins’ – just like Isabelle said. But please, do not say anything to anyone.”

  Madalene looked pleadingly at the young woman, who had become her closest friend in the short time that she had been in England. She lowered her head, afraid to ask Hester the next question on her mind, knowing that she was no better than the other villagers for listening to the gossip.

  “Why do you think the Earl is consulting an astrologer?”

  Hester led her friend to a bench and motioned for her to sit down, then sat down beside her and moved closer so that she could speak as softly as possible.

  “I shall confide something to you, and you must not tell anyone that you know,” Hester said.

  Madalene’s eyes widened in anticipation. “What is it?”

  “I overheard the Countess speaking to my father yesterday. They were discussing an impending betrothal for the Earl, and the Countess wanted to know how quickly a wedding could be arranged after the reading of the banns.”

  For the second time in only a few minutes, Madalene’s heart nearly stopped as she felt a pang of jealousy in the pit of her stomach.

  “Who… is he going to marry?”

  Her voice caught in her throat as she tried to retain her composure.

  “I did not hear,” answered Hester. “Maddie, are you alright? You’ve gone pale.”

  “Yes, I’m fine,” said Madalene. “It is just a little surprising, there has been no talk of it at the manor. We all dine together nearly every day. I have not heard a thing about his even having an interest in any lady, specifically.” The color rose in her cheeks as she turned her head away.

  Hester eyed her friend and it was clear.

  “You like him! Maddie, I had no idea. You must say something to him.”

  “I must go now, Hester,” she said, turning her head away so that her friend could not see her eyes welling with tears. “I must be home in time for supper
.”

  ~~~~~

  Madalene entered the front hall of Warfield Manor and immediately ascended the staircase towards her room, hoping to avoid seeing any of the servants or, more importantly, the Earl, Countess or her own mother.

  Just as she reached her room, and thought that she had succeeded in avoiding detection, she heard her mother’s voice.

  “Madalene, darling, I have been looking for you,” she said. “How are the decorations coming along for the All Hallows’ Eve dance?”

  “Fine, mamma,” said Madalene. She tried to slip into her room without facing her mother, but Pamela continued to follow her into the bedroom. Matilda ran excitedly to Madalene as she squatted down to gather her loyal companion into her arms, allowing the dog to lick her cheek as she stood up.

  “You must be so looking forward to the party,” her mother continued. “It will be the first truly fun event since we arrived, and I am so pleased that you and Hester have become such good friends. Shall we select your dress for the dance?”

  “I… I’m… I do not think that I am going to the dance, mamma.” Madalene said, trying without success to keep her voice from cracking.

  “Whatever do you mean, dear,” said Pamela. “You must go. You have been looking forward to it and working so diligently on the decorations. Just this morning you could not stop talking about it at breakfast. What has changed?”

  “Oh, it just does not seem so fun after all.” Madalene tried to come up with a reason for skipping the event that the entire village was talking about. “It’s that dreadful Isabelle,” she said. “She continues to speak ill of the Earl and Countess who have been so kind to us. I will not have it, so I do not care to go and listen to the rumours that will no doubt be the talk of everyone all evening.”