Enchanted Summer: (Regency Romance)

by Gay, Gloria

  “It would not matter,” said Robert, “because this time we would be leaving together.”

  “You know, Robert,” said Celia, “the next day, after that wretched day when Nellie went to my room to give me the sketch book that you had returned, I asked what you had said to her. She was quick about it, for it was the day of the ball and everyone was very busy, but she repeated that phrase: “Give this to Miss Celia, will you,” and off on your horse again. I must have repeated that phrase of yours a thousand times and always with the same sinking feeling…”

  “I had gone there with the intention of giving it to you in person but my heart failed me at the last moment. I feared another rejection that would slice my heart.”

  “Oh, my dearest,” said Celia as Robert leaned to kiss her and ran his tongue along the underside of her lower lip. He got up and locked the door. It would be weeks before they were married and on their way to their honeymoon. But meanwhile, their thirst for each other could not wait, not when they had gone wanting for so long.

  Robert twirled a strand of Celia’s honey hair in his fingers. ”I dreamt of your beautiful hair every night, my love,” he said when they lay close together in one of the upstairs beds. “When I wasn’t dreaming of your lovely mouth and your eyes that are like the bottomless sea. He kissed her again and Celia sighed deeply. His lightest touch sent waves of tingles that pooled in her belly and made her mound throb. He kissed her again and again until they were gasping for breath.

  She leaned into his arms as his hand ran lightly over her breasts, perking her nipples into tight rose buds and sending shoots of tingles clear down to her toes. He leaned down and suckled one breast and then the other. Then his hand found her throbbing mound, and his touch sparked sensation until she reached a climax. They lay still for a while, his groin pressed against Celia’s leg. She touched him, too, shyly at first and then with more confidence because she wanted to give him the same pleasure he gave her. His moan told her she was on the right track and she continued on this way until he reached a climax.

  They couldn’t consummate their union until the vows were read, so they stayed in each other’s arms and fell asleep thus, as close to each other as they could be, their arms tight until sleep slackened them and they drifted into dreams of each other as Robert whispered endearments in Celia’s ear. They had yearned for each other so often that lying tightly in each other’s arms was a heaven they could not yet get used to.

  Afterwards they sat in conversation for a while as the hours sped as if they were minutes. And when the sun was blazing hot about the cottage they went back to the house, for although they would have liked to stay alone in the little wood for the rest of the day they were too conscious of convention and what was expected of them to change the rules.

  But the afternoon was delightful and the picnic which included the kindly Mrs. Bundy, a great success and since she was there to chaperone them the two couples were able to sing and laugh and talk well into the night.

  * * *

  Celia awoke later than usual the following morning to the sounds of stirrings in the courtyard and became wide awake when Nellie entered the room with the news that Uncle Worth and her cousins had arrived late the night before.

  “Late?” Celia brushed the vestiges of sleep from her eyes. “How late, Nellie?”

  “Nathan says at midnight, and they’re asleep now. Most probably Miss Caroline and Miss Sylvia will not be up for many hours. They get up late even after a regular night’s sleep.”

  “And Uncle Worth, is he still asleep?”

  “Yes. Mr. Liddell came by to say good-bye to Miss Bella and when I told him she was still asleep he wrote her a quick letter for me to give her. In any case, he said he had already said good-bye to her last night but that he thought he would stop by just on the chance she might still be up.”

  “What time is it, Nellie?”

  “It’s half past ten, Miss.”

  “So Late! We did stay up until late last night, with the excuse that Mrs. Bundy was with us.”

  “Mrs. Bundy left early this morning. Her carriage came by for her. She said to tell you that she had many things to do at home, packing and the like. She was in high spirits, Miss Celia.”

  “I’m glad. She’s a dear lady.”

  “I brought you some tea, Miss. I thought I might let Miss Bella sleep some more, seeing as how she’s been ill of late.”

  “Yes. We’ll let her sleep for as long as she likes. After my tea I’m going to go out to the little wood again.”

  Celia did not venture farther than the little wood for she was anxious to talk to her uncle and wanted to be at hand when he was up.

  She was returning from the wood and walking across the garden two hours later when she saw Nellie running toward her.

  “Miss, oh Miss! Mr. Delaney and Miss Caroline are desiring of your company. They have finished breakfast and sent me to fetch you.”

  “Is Bella up yet?”

  “No, Miss.”

  Celia remembered that Robert was to call that morning and braced herself for the meeting with Caroline and her uncle. What the urgency meant she had no idea but although she had no wish to see Caroline, now or ever, she did feel warm anticipation at the meeting with her uncle for she had missed him during her absence.

  “They’re waiting for you in the library, Miss Celia.”

  Celia knocked at the library door and Worth opened it and with an exclamation of delight embraced Celia with the same affection he had always shown her. Above his shoulder Celia saw Caroline. She had her back to them.

  “Dearest Uncle,” said Celia as they separated, “there is much to talk about.” But as she looked into her uncle’s eyes she saw a troubled embarrassed look.

  “Perhaps…” he began, turning to his daughter, who walked back from the window,

  “…this talk might wait for a later time—”

  “No, papa, it cannot wait.” Caroline said through clenched teeth.

  “I’m sure the same can be said later as now,” countered her father. “I’m certain Celia has much to tell me about her stay with the Epsons and—”

  “It will be done at once. Now.” Caroline’s face was now chalk white with suppressed rage.

  “What should be done at once?” asked Celia.

  Worth looked flustered as he ran a hand over his face.

  “Caroline feels, Celia, that certain things have happened while I was away that need to be discussed without delay, though I swear I don’t see the need for such haste.”

  “I’m interested to hear what Caroline has to say, Uncle Worth, just as much as she appears to want to say it.”

  With her arms crossed Caroline looked to her father to begin. However, Worth did not, and managed only to look extremely ill-at-ease. He avoided Caroline’s eyes. Caroline shook her head and said:

  “The reason we have called you here is because we can no longer continue to have your family disgrace us—”

  “Caroline—” Worth interrupted.

  “Let me speak, Papa. This talk is long overdue.”

  “Pray continue,” said Celia.

  “Your sister has disgraced us by dragging the family name through an elopement—”

  “Which you planned, in detail, Caroline,” Celia interrupted.

  “How dare you accuse me!” Caroline glared at her. “And not only that, but your brother challenged my cousin Jack to a duel, for an elopement your sister Bella talked him into, for everyone knows that penniless as you are, you and Bella cannot hope to marry except by tricks and wiles. Under the circumstances, you cannot expect to live here anymore. Bella and Fred have disgraced themselves.”

  “The only person who has disgraced herself is you, Caroline,” said Celia, “and it has not brought you one step closer to your object.”

  Caroline was stunned into silence by Celia’s words. Then Celia turned to her uncle.

  “It’s a fact for which there is ample evidence and witnesses, Uncle Worth that Caroline plann
ed and executed the elopement by manipulating Jack. Jack disclosed to us before a group of people that Caroline planned the elopement. You are welcome to ask any of the men who were at the duel. I shall have their names for you at your request.”

  Worth shook his head sadly.

  “My sister Bella was plunged into pneumonia as a result of this for which we have had to stay in London these past weeks,” Celia went on. “And as for the fact that we are no longer welcome in this house, Caroline,” she added, “that is now irrelevant. Sir Hugh died three weeks ago. Farley Hall has now passed to my brother Fred and it is now my family’s home.

  “And as for assuring us that you no longer welcome us, Caroline, we have never had a single second of welcome from you since the moment we arrived. There is no fresh news in that disclosure.”

  Celia looked into her uncle’s eyes. “I’m certain, Uncle that you are not in agreement with Caroline. I shall always hold you dear, and visit you as much as you like. Under the circumstances,” she added with a glance at Caroline who was glaring at her, “we shall leave tomorrow morning.”

  “Surely you don’t have to rush…” Uncle Worth shook his head.

  There was a knock at the library door.

  It was Nellie. “Lord Merrick has arrived, Miss Celia. He’s in the drawing-room.”

  “Lord Merrick is here?” Caroline glanced at her father. “Ask him to come here, please,” she ordered Nellie. There was a triumphant look in her eyes.

  “Robert, dearest,” Caroline gushed as Lord Merrick walked into the room. “I have missed you this age that I’ve been in Bath!”

  “Good morning, Caroline,” Robert said and looked beyond her at Celia. He walked a few paces and took Celia’s hand in his own.

  Uncle Worth walked toward them.

  “Sir,” Robert said, “I’m glad you were the first to hear our happy news. “You have told them?”

  “Told us what?” Caroline’s voice came out strangled.

  “Celia and I are betrothed,” said Lord Merrick. “We shall be married in three weeks’ time.”

  “That’s not—that’s not poss—” Caroline looked from one to the other in disbelief and in seeing their locked hands she shot a poisoned look toward Celia, turned on her heel and ran out the room and up the stairs, stumbling in her haste to quit the room.

  Caroline did not leave her room for the rest of the day and Celia could only surmise what was going on in her mind. But for the rest of them the day was spent in a similar manner to the day that had preceded it. Robert stayed for the whole afternoon and was invited to remain for dinner by Uncle Worth. And if Worth had once entertained hopes of the Earl’s son marrying his daughter Caroline, there was not the ghost of it on his face as he addressed Robert and conversed pleasantly with him.

  Worth appeared anxious to dispel the memory of Caroline’s abominable treatment of Celia and her family and if Caroline existed upstairs, locked sullenly in her rooms, it was not apparent in the mood of either Worth, Tom or Sylvia.

  Mrs. Bundy had also been asked to dinner and the little party was a lively one, talking well into the night.

  “I shall make the journey to Farley Hall myself in a few weeks,” said Worth, “for I want to congratulate Margaret on her change of fortune, I’ll only leave you enough time to settle in for I’ anxious to the Hall for myself.”

  “May I go with you, Papa?” Sylvia asked with a shy glance at Celia.

  “Certainly,” said her father. “I’m sure Margaretta and her family will welcome us.”

  “Mama and Fred will be so glad to see you again,” Celia assured them.

  * * *

  The following morning the little group left Rook’s End and headed toward the highway that led to Surrey County. Robert, Celia, Bella and Mrs. Bundy in one carriage, while in the luggage carriage, the servants followed.

  Celia sighed and gave not a backward glance at Rook’s End.

  She and Robert were to be married at Farley Hall with just their few close friends and family. She glanced at the heirloom engagement ring in her hand and then at Robert. Robert took her hand in his and kissed the ring finger. In his eyes the love that was also reflected in her eyes.

  * * *

  A few weeks later, Celia returned with Lord Merrick to Shelton Hall, as his wife.

  “I have a surprise for you, Lady Merrick,” Robert said to Celia with a wide smile as his eyes sparkled with excitement and he leaned to kiss Celia’s cheek and hug her sideways.

  “A surprise?” asked Celia. “But you have already given me so much, Robert. I love my engagement ring and wedding band. The emerald brooch is lovely and I shall treasure it always as my very own non-heirloom piece.”

  “This is a different kind of surprise,” said Robert, leading Celia down the hall to the north end of the second floor.

  When he reached double doors he opened them wide and stepped aside for Celia to enter the room.

  “Oh!” Celia’s glance swept the wide and long room and a thrill went through her.

  “Am I in a dream?” she asked. Smiling widely at her reaction, Robert took her hand and walked around with her.

  “Your very own atelier, my love,” said Robert.

  It’s incredible,” Celia said as Robert led her around. Long, slanted studio windows had been installed and all around the room there were cabinets.” Several wonderful tripods with built-in stands for paints and brushes had been placed around. Above the cabinets were hooks ready to display framed paintings and inside and over the long counters were jars with brushes in all sizes, boxes of paint powders in all colors imaginable and oil, spatulas, watercolors, boxes of charcoal sticks and pencils.

  Celia walked around as in a dream. She and Robert sat on a visitor area with a small sofa and two adjoining chairs and tables.

  “You can have tea here with visitors,” Robert said, leaning over to kiss Celia’s tears of joy.

  “I will be one of those visitors, my love,” he added, “when you call me in to look at your latest painting!”

  “Oh, Robert,” Celia said, wiping at her tears. “I don’t know what to say. “No has ever encouraged me in my art as you have.”

  “I have a beautiful and very talented wife,” Robert said, “and I’m very proud that you chose me.”

  “You couldn’t have given me a finer gift than this, my love,” she said, a lump in her throat.

  – The End –

  ENCHANTED SUMMER

  About the Author

  Author Gloria Gay’s love of painting and writing has always been entwined in her life. Her debut novel, First Season, earned a four-star review from Romantic Times Book Review and she went on to publish Forced Offer, Canceled Courtship and Known to All. Recently, Boroughs Publishing Group published her Regency historical romances, Scandal at Almack’s and Lovely Little Liar.

  Gloria recently published, with Kindle Direct, a new edition of Canceled Courtship, under the title, KISSED IN THE DARK and a new edition of First Season under the title, LOVE IN A DANGEROUS SEASON.

  Gloria is grateful for the time you spent reading ENCHANTED SUMMER and would appreciate your thoughts in a review at a site of your choice.

  Gloria and her husband Enrique, an architect, have three grown children and six grand-children and they are lucky to have them all living near them in San Diego, California. She can be reached at gloriagay.com, if you would like to be included in her mailing list for future books.