Love Regency Style

by Samantha Holt

  “Don’t you think so? Tell me, Edward, just what do you think of Miss Berkley?” Jules asked doubtfully.

  “You don’t want to know.”

  “But I do,” Jules answered on a frown. “I value your opinion.”

  “First of all, you shouldn’t be asking. A man in love shouldn’t give a fig what another man thinks. Sometimes, to their detriment. I should have listened to my inner voice and when I didn’t, I made a terrible mistake and crossed the line, Jules. I crossed the line.”

  Jules eyed him for a moment, “Yes, you did, but it is over and done with. Now, tell me your true opinion.”

  “Right, my opinion shouldn’t matter if she is who you want. However, since you have asked, I will tell you, I don’t think she is the sort to make you comfortable. She will lead you a tiring dance. Yes, she is a beauty, possibly an incomparable beauty. Her features are perfection, her eyes most…but she is an imp of a woman, full of mischief. I repeat, you Jules, you would never be content with such a wife. You say you don’t know yet if you shall enter Parliament, but I think you shall. You need someone who shares your interests, for there will be political functions and you will need a woman who will enjoy being your hostess. You need a woman who will be pleased to be part of that world. From what I can tell, Star has no interest in politics.” He saw his friend about to answer back and put up his hand, “Hold, you asked me, I answered and I will tell you another thing, I like Miss Madison. She is a lovely creature…very full of mystery and elegance, don’t you agree?”

  Dumbfounded, Jules did not deem to answer. Instead, he stalked off toward the stables putting distance between himself and his friend. Sir Edward looked after him and shook his head. Jules was making another mistake if he thought Star Berkley would make him a good wife. The wayward Berkley chit, lovely to be sure, was not for such as a man as Jules. Why couldn’t Jules see that? For the same reason you thought the Lady Babs wanted you to abduct her and run off…because a man often forgets to think with his brain when the hard rod in his breeches tries to do the thinking for him.

  Chapter Six

  A DAY HAD passed and Vern, though better, was still not up and about. His sister had entered his room to find him propped up against his pillows, looking glum. He eyed her as she smiled at him and ruefully put down his book and told her, “If I was just a bit stronger, I think I would hurl this piece of boring nonsense across the room.”

  She laughed, “You should read the book you gave me…” She pointed, “I left it there for you on your nightstand. It is funny and romantic and naughty.”

  “Female nonsense,” he grimaced with a wink.

  “Not at all. I think you would like it,” she returned and sighed.

  He eyed her for a moment. His sister for all her country ways and easy style was looking lovelier than ever. She was his baby sister. It was his duty to see that she had something of a season, even if it was only here in the country and not in London as he had hoped. He was inadequate to the task of truly providing for her and he felt like a fiend. A frown descended over his face.

  “What is it, darling?” she asked for she immediately saw the change of mood flit over his features.

  “The Sefton Ball. I had hoped I would be well enough and… I see that I am not, but I won’t have you missing it because I am sick in bed. Can you not go with Georgie and enjoy yourselves without a chaperone? After all, it is ludicrous that you two should have to miss it just because you don’t have a chaperone.”

  “Never mind,” Star shook her head, “You know it would be frowned upon and Georgie’s mother is not up to the task. We shall stay here with you, play at cards and bother you to give us a lively time.” She had taken a place on the edge of his bed and bent forward to touch his arm, “Stop worrying yourself over it. There will be other balls.”

  A breeze soft and warm wafted through his open window and she said, “Ah, isn’t that lovely—has all the scents of summer.”

  He nodded absently and said, “But Star, what if…”

  “You know, I think I will take my old Butch and ride over to visit with Georgie and her mother.” She cocked a brow at him and her dark eyes twinkled. “If you can spare me?”

  “I am heartily sick of your ministrations. Off with you!” he rallied and once again was struck with how dear she was to him.

  “You will miss me,” she countered on a laugh.

  “I shall thank the heavens for a few moments to myself.”

  “Then lad, so be it.”

  “Yes, but Star, I may have a solution…”

  “Later,” she answered and was off.

  He watched her go and silently grumbled. He did not have a solution. He tried getting up and out of bed once more. He was able as he had before, to stand and take a tour of the room, but it swam before his eyes. He wasn’t right yet. Could he somehow just manage to get to the ball, find a chair and sit? He had to find a way to get his sister and Georgie to the ball—he simply had to.

  *

  It didn’t take long for Star to don an old but pretty pale green riding ensemble, plop a light straw chip bonnet on her waves of corn-silk hair and make her way to the stables. It was warm, but her clothes were lightweight and the breeze was lovely.

  Jeffries helped her tack up her horse and a few moments later saw her taking a shortcut through the woods. It was a glorious summer day and the air, sweetly scented with honeysuckle and wild roses was seductive. Star’s imagination was always at work and she found herself daydreaming happily.

  She loved riding and Butch was a reliable old chestnut gelding who knew exactly where they were going. She didn’t even have to guide him. He took the deer path through the woods with ease. She slowed as she approached an oval-shaped pond ornamented with rich ferns and wildflowers and smiled to herself.

  Beautiful, it was all so beautiful, like something out of a painting. She watched a mother duck lead her ducklings into the pond when something, she didn’t know what, made her turn in her saddle.

  Sir Edward astride a large and flashy Gray came toward her. Her heart began to flutter so wildly that she almost put a hand to her chest to keep it from taking flight.

  She was intimidated and excited all at once. She was anxious and thrilled. She was…oh my, she was absolutely losing her mind, she told herself.

  “Miss Berkley,” Sir Edward said as he approached, with an inclination of his handsome head. “Are you here…alone?”

  She heard disapproval in his voice and sat up straight and defensively. His tone whipped her back into shape and she found the voice she had been certain was lost, was right back where it should be. “Hallo, Sir Edward, and yes…I am quite and thankfully alone.” She eyed him with a challenge, “After all…I am still on Berkley land.” She couldn’t help but notice that he looked dashing in his dark blue riding coat and pale breeches. His Hessians were brightly polished, his top hat slightly angled, and his steed was completely prime. As Star’s love of horses overrode all else, she was able to look the animal over with great admiration and offered, “He…” she said with some show of surprise, “did not come from Jules’ stable.”

  Edward laughed. “No, Prancer is my own. My staff arrived at Jules’ estate yesterday with my coach and Prancer in tow. The trip from Brighton was good for him, took off his edginess. I am afraid he doesn’t much care for London or Brighton. He likes the wide open.”

  “Well, I am in sympathy with him on that score. He certainly is special. Do you hunt him?”

  “With great pleasure.” Sir Edward smiled at her and his smile for some inexplicable reason brought the heat to her cheeks. “We hunt the North country—no easy sport there.”

  “Meaning the South—here is easy?” she said, her chin up.

  He laughed with genuine amusement. “Do not take affront, Miss Berkley. All I meant was that we have some rather interesting banks and walls to fly when on a chase, which…” he cocked his head at her in some show of superiority, “you don’t encounter in this area.”

&nb
sp; “Perhaps not,” she conceded reluctantly. “But then, we have marsh, streams, and all manner of obstacles that you lack in the North. He was an arrogant specimen and needed some taking down, she thought. Why was he looking at her so keenly…and so thoroughly as though seeing her for the first time?

  He cleared his throat and asked, “Do you ride anywhere in particular or are you just exercising your…” he looked at her animal with undisguised disdain, “…horse?”

  Star took instant umbrage. She adored her Butch. Indeed, he wasn’t a showy horse and he was nearly fifteen years old, but he was dear and honest. Her free hand went to her hip. “Butch here takes me safely over my fences, even when I err. He hunts and manages to stay right with the hounds. He has served me willingly and lovingly for years and years and I shall thank you to respect that which counts as much as flash ever could.”

  He went quiet and Star could not read his thoughts, but he inclined his head and said, “Touché, Miss Berkley. I do believe you are quite right.”

  “As to where I ride, I am going to visit Miss Madison,” she told him in one of her formal accents.

  “Oh?” he said apparently unaffected by the cold shoulder she was giving him. “I thought the Madison estate was northwest of here…closer to Berkley Grange.”

  “Indeed, it is,” Star answered without explanation.

  “And yet…here you are?”

  “If you must know, I veered off a bit to simply enjoy the day, but I am now, if you will excuse me, about to make my way to Madison,” she said moving her horse forward.

  “Would you mind a little company?” Sir Edward asked.

  “Yours?” she returned ruefully and admitted to herself that while she did want his company, she didn’t know why she should. He seemed at odds with her, so why then prolong the agony. She was very sure he did not like or approve of her. It was a sobering thought that dashed her hopes.

  He laughed openly. “I rather deserved that.” His eyes found hers.

  Star found herself nearly mesmerized by his glance. She had to get control over her nerves. Why should such an arrogant, proud man have such an effect on her? He was obviously worldly and she was not. He was also most obvious in his disapproval of the manner in which she conducted herself. She should not allow his good looks to sway her at all. He was certainly not her sort. No doubt he was simply amusing himself at her expense.

  “You did deserve that and probably a bit more,” she answered. “You should also know that my Butch here, though aged, is a champion full of heart.”

  He put up a hand, “Acquit me, I spoke like a dolt and do beg your forgiveness. I have a horse, now out to pasture, that I rode to the hunt and in the steeplechase for years and years. He had French blood in him and although big, his Roman nose was too Roman, his roan coat too spotted and we took a great deal of abuse from my friends because of his looks. However, he too, was a champion in his day. I should have known better than to judge a book by its cover.”

  His little speech was disarming and his smile devastatingly charming. Was he simply telling her a story? She eyed him doubtfully, “Is that true?”

  He chuckled, “Why would I admit to such a thing? Not an impressive tale at all, is it?”

  “Well, for one thing, I don’t think you care about impressing me and for another, I can’t imagine you sitting anything less than Prancer.”

  “So there you are, Miss Berkley, you don’t really know me,” he answered quietly. “I should like you to…as I would like to get to know you.”

  She dimpled, and ignoring the flirtation in the words said, “Right then, is Prancer all flash and no go?”

  “Shall we put him to the test for your edification?”

  She beamed, “Oh, I would love to see him in action,” she nodded at the fence line. “I’ll bet he is a sweet goer.”

  They had reached the clearing with the pasture ahead and he said, “What about right now?” He then quietly asked his horse with scarcely more than a squeeze to bound forward.

  Star watched for a moment, admiring his gait and then said, “Come on Butch, let’s catch up and take the fence.”

  The old horse charged forward and was less than five feet behind when she watched Prancer take Sir Edward flying over the line fence.

  It was a lovely picture for both man and horse were in fine form. She let Butch take her to the fence, for he too was a wonderful jumper and up and over they went.

  Breathless and happy she pulled up along Sir Edward who sat his horse watching her.

  “Such good fun, thank you. He is certainly prime,” she said.

  “Thank you,” he answered and arched a look at her. “I have to admit, I am impressed with your horse as well.”

  She beamed, “Now, I wanted to tell you that I was naughty the other day when I teased you. If you are indeed recovering from a broken heart, then it was not kind of me to poke fun.”

  “Why do you say it as though it is impossible to believe?” he frowned at her.

  “Well…for one thing, look at you!” she answered as their horses fell in step beside one another.

  “A difficult task out here, as I have no looking glass,” he teased. “Is something wrong with the way I look?”

  “No. Quite the opposite. You look perfect,” she returned. This time there was no mistaking the slight derision in her tone.

  “Now, why do I feel as though I should apologize for being the object of your very flattering compliment?”

  She looked at him sharply before her sense of humor tickled her and she said, “Oh, I didn’t mean quite anything by it…only just… well… you are what Vern would say is top sawyer material, a rogue of sorts…and if you weren’t so large, perhaps even a Bow Street Dandy.”

  “Oh now, I do object!” he said with some heat. “A dandy, indeed!”

  She laughed. “No, no. Of course not a dandy! Everything about you is a shade too sporting for that, in spite of your fashionable cut.” She eyed him, saw that his thighs were muscular and his shoulders broad, she realized what she was doing and looked away. “You are, however, not the sort…I just can’t see you pining away for some woman. You don’t have the look of a man who has lost the love of his life.”

  He smiled at her, “Don’t I? What should a man look like when he has lost the love of his life?”

  “Ah, a good question. I have a dear friend…actually a friend of my brother’s and when he lost Lucy to consumption…he couldn’t eat, drink or even smile. He almost withered away before Vern and his friends were able to get him through it and it took months upon months. Of course, he was only a few years older than Vern at the time, but it made a lasting impression on me.”

  “Perhaps I just am not the sort that pines in that way?” he returned thoughtfully.

  “Indeed. Even so, you just don’t appear to be quite totally devastated. Thus, I can’t say you look as though you have a broken heart.” She eyed him and added, “No, it doesn’t make sense. Any of it. Tell me why she wouldn’t accept your suit, for you are quite handsome, sporting, titled and from the look of you, well able to take care of a wife…” she sighed and stopped herself.

  “Ho, although I am enjoying all this flattery, I hear a but coming.”

  She smiled, “Indeed, I am curious…you are all these things, but…your lady actually still said no?”

  “Love is a peculiar thing. She loved someone else and I didn’t realize it in time. I did an outrageous thing…unspeakable…” he still couldn’t believe that he had actually abducted Lady Babs.

  “Oh? I wonder what that unspeakable thing was?” she said curiously. “However, I fear you aren’t quite ready to speak of it yet, so tell me, who was your rival?” Star asked with sympathy lining her words.

  “Ah, suffice it to say that he was quite a catch.”

  “I see. Still, I find it hard to imagine that she did not fall in love with you and all your charms.”

  He laughed, “Again, I am not sure if you are baiting me or complimenting me. Baiting m
e no doubt.” He sighed. “No, to answer you, she never allowed my charms as you say to overcome those of my rival.”

  “He must have been someone very special indeed…at least to her,” she said almost to herself.

  Sir Edward laughed with genuine appreciation, “Why, thank you, and yes, I suppose one might think a duke quite special indeed.”

  “A duke?” she returned with interest. “How exciting, you lost out to no one less than a duke, but tell me, who…which duke?”

  “Ah, some things I must keep to myself,” he answered softly.

  “Does that mean you will never tell me?”

  “Probably not.”

  “Not even when you know me better?” she pursued.

  “If instinct serves me, there will be even less chance of my telling you when I get to know you better.” He grinned broadly at her and reached over to flick her nose.

  She liked his touch. She smiled softly and told him, “That is most disagreeable of you, but never mind, I shall work on it.” Her eyes twinkled, for they had reached the small pasture behind the Madison stables. Star was all too aware that she didn’t want these moments with him to end.

  “Here is where we part company, for that is Georgie’s place,” she said.

  “Tell me, do you attend the Sefton Ball tonight?” he asked curiously.

  Star sighed heavily. She had wanted to go to this ball above all things, even more so when she realized that Sir Edward would be there. He was entertaining and conversation with him was easy and lively.

  In addition to that, she and Georgie had helped one another with their gowns. They had taken their mother’s beautiful ball gowns, adjusted, trimmed, cut, sewn and come up with masterpieces. How sad to think they would not get to wear them.

  “I am afraid not,” she said sadly.

  “Oh?” he was surprised. “Jules tells me it is the grandest affair of the summer. I am sadly disappointed. I had hoped you would be there and liven up the evening.” His hazel eyes were brightly lit.

  He was teasing her again, but she didn’t mind. She saw reluctant affection deep in the recesses of his eyes and sighed. No doubt he liked her, but thought her no more than an amusing schoolgirl, in spite of the fact that she was over twenty years old.