“Are any of the gentleman’s daughters married or engaged?” Edwin glanced toward Habtage, curious as to the reasoning behind his question.
“Sadly, no.” Lady Brookshire released a heavy sigh, as though personally affected by the marital status of the Baron’s daughters. “The youngest is but fifteen, so still too young. Her older sisters are well into marriageable age, however. Miss Unity, the second born, I believe is eighteen, and the eldest Miss Walters is one-and-twenty.”
“Have there been no prospects for the young lady?”
Edwin could not understand his friend’s sudden fascination with the Walters sisters. What did it matter to them if the ladies were married or not? He had not come to the country to find a wife. He had come to the country to escape such topics, not pursue an innocent country girl who had no experience with London high society.
“Oh, there have been plenty.” Lady Brookshire appeared to be warming up to the topic. Edwin guessed she was among the most prolific of the county’s gossipers. “The eldest Miss Walters appears to have no interest in marriage whatsoever. Truly, she seems uninterested in much of what we of the fairer sex hold dear. She has turned down every offer for her hand that has come along.”
Edwin felt a grin tug at his lips. He was not sure why, but he found Miss Walters’s apparent aversion to marriage amusing. It was very unusual for a young lady to actively avoid the institution, especially one who seemed to have no difficulty securing a husband if only she gave one poor bloke a chance. She sounded like a very interesting individual indeed.
“My Lords, I almost forgot! Have you yet heard about the soiree Lord and Lady McKenzie are hosting this Saturday?”
Of course we have not. We have only just arrived in the area, after all.
Edwin did not continue to listen to the lady’s incessant chatter, leaving the responsibilities of polite socializing to Habtage. As he sipped his tea, his mind wandered back to the Walters sisters. Particularly the eldest Miss Walters. Something about what the Countess had said about the lady held his interest. Most ladies he knew could think of little else but marriage and frivolous things, like fashion and pretty ornaments.
To meet a lady whose mind was not consumed by the pursuit of a wealthy husband could be a very refreshing change of pace.
* * *
“Lady Brookshire was a rather pleasant hostess, do you not think?” Habtage asked later as he and Edwin rode back to Cantham from Brookshire estate.
Edwin scoffed. “I think she enjoys the sound of her own voice a great deal.”
“Do not be so unkind. She was merely excited to have two new neighbors to entertain. I am sure most everyone else she knows already has heard all the gossip she possesses.” Habtage could not stop the chuckle that burst from his lips.
“I am sure she was very excited to get to know the two wealthy bachelors taking up residence next door. Mark my word, Habtage, now we shall be bombarded by ambitious mothers and their daughters seeking introductions. We will have no peace whatsoever.”
“I suppose we will have to reinforce the gate,” Habtage said drily, casting a grin toward his friend. “Prepare the servants for the imminent invasion of perfume and silk.”
“You jest, but I saw how the Countess was looking at you. She was already sizing you up for wedding clothes and planning your future with her granddaughter.”
Habtage’s eyes went wide in mock horror. “Then my fate is surely sealed. Do not try to free me from my shackles, my friend! I am a lost soul. You must save yourself!”
Edwin shook his head but could not help smiling at his friend’s teasing.
“Habtage, if you are not careful, you will one day find yourself married to a lady who nags you until your ears bleed.”
“Would that truly be so terrible?” his friend asked, his curiosity genuine. “Are you that opposed to marriage, Morrington, that the very idea of it seems like a prison sentence?”
Edwin sighed and shook his head. “No, in truth I am not. I would actually like to marry one day, I believe. The steadfast companionship is very appealing, and I understand my responsibilities in producing heir for my family line. I simply do not like being pressured into marriage. Should I enter the institution, I want to do so of my own free will with a lady of my own choosing, one whom I can care for.”
“I had not known you were such a romantic.”
Edwin rolled his eyes. “Romance is hardly the issue. Compatibility is the key in a lasting marriage, as well as mutual respect and admiration.”
“You are right. That does not sound romantic in the least.”
Shooting a glare toward his friend, Edwin replied, “And what of you? Are you so eager to love your spouse that you rush headfirst into any match presented to you? Are you not the least bit discerning?”
“Of course I am,” Habtage answered with a shrug. “I just do not see the benefit of dismissing every option that comes my way.”
“I have noticed that most of your options tend to be young widows,” Edwin pointed out. “You do not appear to engage with many young, innocent ladies.”
Habtage shot Edwin a cocky grin. “I suppose I find the heartiness of widows a more appealing characteristic than the shyness of the innocent.”
Edwin knew his friend all too well and knew his interest in young widows had much more to do with the ease in which he could sneak into their beds. Habtage was a good man and a loyal and true friend, but he readily indulged in his desires in a way that even Edwin sometimes found gluttonous.
Though his words gave the impression that he eagerly sought a wife, Edwin knew deep down his friend was as tired of the matchmaking schemes of the ton as he was. No lady pursued them because they cared for the gentlemen themselves. All they saw were titles and fortunes. It was enough to make even the most romantically inclined jaded.
“I pray you find your match, Habtage, if only to keep you from running afoul of an angered brother, father, or son.”
Habtage threw his head back and laughed.
“And I pray you find yours, Morrington, if only to erase those scowl lines between your eyes.”
The two continued on, talking and laughing, until they reached Cantham. Leaving their horses in the care of waiting grooms, they entered the manor and were immediately greeted by Corbin.
“Welcome back, My Lords,” the old butler said with a bow. “I hope your outing was an enjoyable one?”
Edwin nodded. “Indeed, we both found it exceedingly entertaining.”
He exchanged a look with Habtage, who grinned mischievously in return.
“Lord Morrington, a letter arrived for you while you were out, delivered by private messenger.” Corbin held out a sealed envelope. Edwin took it, a bit surprised to be receiving messages so soon upon his arrival.
“Thank you, Corbin. That will be all.”
“Very good, My Lord.” The butler bowed again and turned to leave Edwin and Habtage alone.
Once the butler was out of sight, Habtage asked, “Who is it from, Morrington?”
The seal was a plain lump of wax with no distinguishing markings. Turning the letter over, he saw only his name written on the front, though the hand was familiar. Breaking the seal, he opened the letter. Glancing at the signature at the bottom, he frowned.
“Morrington? What is it? Who sent you this letter?”
Edwin did not answer immediately, as he tried to make sense of it all.
At length, he finally said, “It…it is from the Countess of Pimperton.”
Habtage stared at him in disbelief. “Merciful Lord, what has happened now?”
Edwin was afraid to find out.
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Also by Olivia Bennet
Thank you for reading For the Lust of a Rogue!
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Some other stories of mine:
Improperly Enticed by the Rascal Earl
Lured into Sin by the Wicked Earl
A Seductive Lady for the Scarred Earl
A Vixen for the Devilish Duke
Guilty Pleasures of a Bluestocking
Tempting the Ruined Duke
* * *
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Olivia Bennet
About the Author
Having obtained a degree in Journalism, but with an affinity for literature and creative writing, Olivia Bennet knew from a young age that her future lay in the romantic ideals of the past. With a fascination for the Regency era and a good romance, she started her career as a historical romance author the old-fashioned way: with pen and paper.
Born in rural Devon, Olivia draws inspiration from the vast farmlands of the British countryside and the people living in the surrounding villages. An avid artist, she takes her sketchbook everywhere with her and captures the beauty of nature, which she then incorporates into her books.
Allow your conscious to be carried away on a wind made of letters and words, of love, mystery and the magic of the Regency era. Start your journey and allow Olivia’s pen to guide you!
For The Lust 0f A Rogue (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 31