Regency Romances

by Grace Fletcher

"How many have stayed overnight?" she asked.

  "About twenty-two." The butler smiled.

  The dog gave a woof.

  "And what is this charming fellow's name?" Christina asked.

  "Ah, that's the master's favorite. Custard." The butler smiled. "I'm surprised he's taken to you, My Lady. He doesn't usually venture beyond the sight of his master's feet."

  "He handed me this branch." Christina smiled, giving up the holly branch to the Butler.

  "Oh, actually, I told him to take it to you for a wake-up call." Custard's master himself appeared at the railing. "Good morning, Lady Christina. I trust you had a restful night?"

  In truth, she had barely been able to sleep after that conversation with Layla, but Christina smiled and nodded. "A very Merry Christmas to you all." She said.

  "I've asked Father Brown to come lead us in prayer at noon." The earl said. "I hope that you will be joining us?"

  "Is there a church in reasonable proximity?" Christina asked.

  "We have a family chapel within the castle." The earl replied. "Comfortable enough for about thirty."

  "It truly is a magnificent castle," Christina said as he led her to the breakfast table. "Thank you again for showing us about yesterday."

  "I only regret that I was not able to engage you in more conversation, My Lady." The earl said.

  "I understand," Christina said. "You had a most delicious distraction."

  "Delicia?" The earl raised an eyebrow. "Is that jealousy I detect, My Lady?"

  "Jealousy? Of course not." Christina laughed. "In fact, as I was telling Layla, a person must be free to marry whom he chooses."

  "Despite the objections of his friends and family?" The earl smiled. There was something about the way he said it with a secretive laughter underneath the apparent sombreness of his expression. Seeing that sly twinkle in his eyes, Christina suddenly exclaimed. "Why you have no intention of marrying her, do you?"

  The earl laughed, but did not reply.

  Christina searched his face, trying to find the truth in his eyes. "Yes," she said. "You have no intention of marrying Delicia! Why are you bothering to trifle with her, then?"

  "In case you didn't notice last night, I do my best not to encourage her." The earl said.

  It was true. When Christina thought about it, she realized that even though Delicia spent the better part of the evening throwing herself on him, the earl had been nothing but cordial to her. There had been no flirtation in his voice when he talked to Delicia, nor was there that intimate look that he seemed to reserve for Christina alone.

  Her heart gave a happy leap, and good cheer seemed to fill her. In a second, it was drowned out by dread. This could not be, she should not feel this way. Desperate to escape from her own emotions, she asked him, "But why? Why deceive your family into believing you mean to propose to her?"

  The earl paused. They were walking down the stairs now, and he leaned against the banister. Biting his lip, he looked away from her, his expression growing cold as memories flooded through his mind. Despite herself, Christina leaned forward to put a hand on his arm. He shook it off, clearly unwilling to receive her sympathy.

  "Do you really wish to know?" He asked.

  "I…yes, I do." Christina nodded.

  "Very well. A year ago, I almost married." He said. His mouth contorted as if he were tasting a particularly sour fruit. "I say almost, because two days before the wedding, my betrothed chose to elope instead of facing me."

  Christina could barely breathe. Her face was hot with shame, and she clung to the banister so that her weak knees would have support. Her fault. All of it.

  "I was subject to much ridicule, as you can imagine." The earl said. "And as for my family and friends, they seemed most insistent just a month later that I should find myself a bride. I wished only to be alone, but my well wishers were hounding me to choose another woman. Well, at about that same time, Delicia began throwing herself at me, and I decided to let my family and friends see that no bride was better than a bride like that."

  Christina gasped. "Goodness! So you have no intention of marrying her?"

  The earl shrugged. "I have always been polite to her, but I have never implied I cared. You see, the worst of the gossip bearing my name was carried out by Delicia herself, according to my sources. She made me the laughing stock of all London."

  "Then you are looking for revenge?" Christina gasped.

  "No such foolishness." The earl said. "I never consciously carried out a plot against her. However, when Delicia was determined to make a fool of herself at my expense, why, I was very willing to let her."

  "That's cruel," Christina said in a small voice.

  "Is it?" The earl asked. His deep blue eyes were frosty, his jaw set. "Do not misunderstand me, my good lady. I have never once, not with one word or action, implied to Delicia that I would be willing to marry her. After all the gossip she spread about me, I was surprised that she wished to marry me. But I suppose it was sour grapes that made her gossip in the first place. So when she made a fool of herself, I was willing to string her along. As to her heart being broken, the more cloying she is, the more I realize that it is simply my money she will grieve for when she inevitably finds out I have no interest in her."

  His coldness was like a slap. For the first time, Christina realized that his anger was not just flame, it could turn into an icicle, stabbing anyone who dared displease him. Yet she was forced to admit that he wasn't really doing anything fallacious since he wasn't encouraging Delicia in any way. He simply wasn't rejecting her as he should, which spurred her on, and would eventually make her look like a bigger fool.

  Still, Christina was unhappy. "You shouldn't." She said.

  "Why?" The earl asked. "Do you really wish me to pity the woman who spreads lies about me?"

  "Yes." Christina's voice broke. "It's... it's cruel to make someone hope that they have a chance with you when they really don't. You haven't encouraged her in any way, but you haven't rejected her either."

  "I will." The earl said. "Eventually."

  "Do it now. " Christina said. "My Lord, the thing about evil is that it slips into our hearts very easily, with the tiniest of excuses. Once it is in, all the efforts in the world will not root it out. Love and kindness are the solutions, not hatred or anger. No matter what she did you must be the bigger man."

  The earl stared long into her eyes, his expressions changing from stubborn to... something else. Slowly, he bent his head forward, coming closer to her. Christina's heart doubled it's beat, drumming in her chest. The world seemed to hold it's breath as he bridged the distance between them.

  No! Christina pleaded with herself. She mustn't kiss him. She mustn't! She had to tell him now about her past misdeeds, no matter what the consequences, he deserved to know. Before her lips could touch him, she must tell him the truth.

  But it was too late. With one hand, he had drawn her closer and dipping her back just a little, his mouth descended on hers. With a little cry of protest, she tried to struggle away for just a moment before her treacherous body betrayed her by drawing him closer, and returning the kiss.

  Then, with a cry, she had shoved him away, and ran up the stairs back to her room, leaving him standing with an unreadable expression on his face.

  Chapter 8

  Revelation

  "Stop." Before she could reach her room, he had caught up to her. "My Lady, please. Forgive me. I overstepped my bounds. I beg your pardon for what just happened."

  "Please, don't…" Her eyes were blinded by tears, as she tried to move away.

  "I realize you feel a debt to me for what I did on the night of the accident." The earl said in a rush. "I simply wish to give you my most sincere promise that my bold actions weren't... I wasn't... Oh, Christina, I wasn't trying to make you do anything you didn't want to. Not out of debt to me."

  "I didn't kiss you back because I felt indebted to you," Christina said. Even with her heart breaking, she could not bear to lie to him
about it, not when he apparently felt so guilty.

  "Then why did you kiss me?" He asked.

  She looked away. It was impossible for her to disclose her secret. What could she say? Could she say that it was because, in the course of only a few days, she had managed to fall in love with him? Could she say that it was because despite every part of her brain screaming at her not to do it, her heart had decided to follow its own chart? The truth was that she wanted the earl with every fiber of her being and she knew with certainty that she could never have him.

  "Why did you kiss me, Christina?" He asked again. His voice was lower, smoother this time. There was a smile in it.

  "My Lord. I beg you to leave me, and let me be alone." She said. "I cannot bear to be around you right now."

  "Is that what you really wish?" He asked.

  She nodded. "It is." She said.

  Immediately, he let go of her hand and stepped back. She would not know what this little gesture cost him, for every fiber in the earl's body wanted only to draw her to him, and rain down kisses on her forehead. Yet he was protective of her, and he realized that at this moment, it was him she needed protection from.

  With a stiff bow, he retreated, his eyes glowing with emotion. "We will speak again." He said, and this was a promise.

  In despair, Christina made her way to her aunt and uncle, hoping that they would give her advice on what to do. Perhaps they would see a solution or more likely, they would advise her to leave the castle immediately.

  Aunt Emmeline was lying in bed with her leg raised on a pillow, while Uncle Roger read snippets from The Times out loud to her.

  "Oh look who it is." Aunt Emmeline smiled. "Tell us all about the party yesterday, my dear. I'm so sorry I wasn't able to chaperone you, though I'm told that Layla was present, so I assume it was satisfactory. Did the earl look very handsome? Was the food magnificent? Did…"

  "Aunt Emmeline, we have to talk," Christina said. "Could we talk alone please?"

  Uncle Roger harumphed. "Well, I think I hear someone at the door of the suite," he said, and walked out, shutting the door of the small room behind him.

  "Whatever is the matter, my dear?" Aunt Emmeline asked. "But first, help me sit up. Layla very kindly provided me with some very good crutches, with which I'll be able to attend breakfast."

  Obediently, Christina helped her aunt first sit, and then stand. Her aunt moved around the room with the crutches for a few minutes, then gave Christina a triumphant smile. "Now if I'd only thought of this yesterday, I would have been able to attend the ball as well! Never mind, my leg will be as good as new soon enough."

  "Aunt Emmeline, there's something I must say to you," Christina said.

  "Tell me." Aunt Emmeline sat on a chair and clasped her hand. "You have my undivided attention."

  "It's..." Christina paced around the room, wondering how she could possibly say it. "It's the earl and me…"

  "Oh, is he attracted to you!" Aunt Emmeline clasped her hands together. "I must tell you the truth, Layla paid me a little visit and disclosed that she was hatching a scheme. I was most delighted! She seems to think the two of you are a perfect pair, and after hearing what the earl did to that disrespectable Thomas Tummings, I'm inclined to agree. The earl very definitely likes you my dear if one may use as simple a word as like."

  "The earl was engaged to be married to my cousin Janina," Christina said harshly. "Just one year ago!"

  "Oh..." Aunt Emmeline nodded. "Yes, I remember. Your mother's favorite niece, isn't she? Well, one mustn't dwell too much on the past. Yes, the earl has had his share of dalliances, but…"

  "You don't understand, Aunt Emmeline. She eloped!"

  "I know that." Aunt Emmeline said. "I told you about it, remember? She chose that Viscount Randolf Smythe over the earl. What a little fool. The earl is a far finer man in every way. Then again, sometimes the heart cannot be controlled."

  "The heart is a fool, then!" Christina exclaimed.

  "But Christina," Aunt Emmeline said. "Surely you're not jealous of Janina just because she was engaged to the earl? That is no reason to reject the earl outright."

  "Who said I'm rejecting him?" Christina asked.

  "No one need say anything when it is so obvious." Aunt Emmeline said. "None of us will force you to marry the earl, child, but you might at least get to know each other better. By all accounts, he is an admirable man, who apparently thinks the world of you."

  "I don't want to know him better," Christina said. "In fact, if possible, I'd like to depart from here as quickly as possible!"

  Aunt Emmeline's eyes gleamed as she sat up straighter. "Why?" She asked. "Has he said something? Worse, has he behaved in an ungentlemanly way?"

  "No," Christina said. It was true. Perhaps some would consider him uncivil for kissing her, but she had lost control of herself too and kissed him back. The memory of the kiss sent a little shiver up her spine. She hadn't known it was possible to feel that way as if you were caught in the embrace of a million stars as if you were floating and at once, tied down to earth.

  Aunt Emmeline, however, looked thoroughly confused. "What is it, child?" She asked. "I'm most worried, now. You must tell me!"

  "The truth is, I… Oh Aunt, I did a dreadful thing," Christina said. "If the earl ever found out, he'd hate me forever!"

  "What did you do?" Her Aunt asked.

  "I.. I.. I was Janina's bridesmaid," Christina said.

  "I know, child. What of it?"

  "She told me that the earl had a terrible temper. She said that her father was forcing her to get married." Christina said. "I didn't know what to do so I hatched a plan to help her elope with Viscount Smythe."

  Aunt Emmeline's eyes widened. "What!"

  "Yes." Christina hung her head. "I have been the cause of endless pain to the earl. Because of me, his enemies could mock him and jeer at him. If he ever found out what I had done, I would be ruined. Oh, Aunt. I was her bridesmaid, and I fabricated her entire elopement. If it weren't for me, the earl and Janina would be married!"

  There seemed to be a crash outside. Aunt Emmeline was startled, and Christina leaped up. With a single bound, she had flung open the door. A horrorstruck Layla and Uncle Roger stood outside. She could tell by the way Layla edged away slowly that she had heard every word.

  Before she could say anything more, Layla had fled down the hall, leaving the three of them alone and unhappy.

  Chapter 9

  Impossible To Forgive

  T he earl's valet was busy in the act of tying his master's bow-tie when Layla burst into the room.

  "Layla." The earl smiled as he saw her. His smile quickly turned into a frown as he saw her clear distress. "What is it?" He asked, grasping her hand and sitting her down on an armchair. "Take a deep breath, dearest."

  "She's devious!" Layla exclaimed. "Horrible!"

  "Now, now." The earl smiled. "Relax, Layla."

  "I can't!" She said. "Brother, to think I was planning on marrying you off to…oh, my dear brother!"

  "Delicia?" The earl raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid that's over, Layla. I've been to see her just now, to tell her very clearly that I have no intention of marrying her. It was about time she stopped trying so hard to woo me."

  "What?" Layla gaped at him. "But we all thought…"

  "I know I let you think that I planned to marry Delicia." The earl said. "However, I had no such intention. You were fooled because she kept pinning herself to me, and I let her. The truth was, I despise her. She was the one who spread so much hurtful gossip about me. I wished to punish her, in a way and I'm afraid it was an ungentlemanly act. So I offered today, that if she would like to be spared the dishonor, she could have her revenge by rejecting me very publicly. However, I made it clear that I had no intention of marrying her even if she continued to pursue me."

  "Brother!" Layla exclaimed. "Why would you do that? What changed your mind."

  "An angel." He smiled. "A beautiful woman who made me see the error of my ways. Oh, La
yla, I'm so happy. I think she…"

  "Is it Christina you're talking about?" Layla asked coldly.

  "Yes." The earl looked surprised. "What's the matter? I thought you were fond of her."

  "I was," Layla said, looking away. "I liked her a lot, in fact. She seemed so sweet and so honorable. I thought... I thought she'd be perfect for your bride."

  "Well, it'll please you to know I happen to think the same." The earl said. "I frightened her a little earlier, but I think I'm going to go around now and do things the right way. I'm going to tell her uncle of my intentions."

  "You'll do no such thing!" Layla exclaimed harshly.

  The earl frowned. "You must remember that ordering me about has never worked, Layla."

  "Well, I won't need to order you when you've heard what she did," Layla said. "She's a horrible, horrible person!"

  "What has she done?" The earl asked.

  "She was Janina's bridesmaid," Layla said.

  "What!" Dread filled his heart. It couldn't be, had she somehow…

  "She initiated the entire elopement!" Layla exclaimed. "No doubt she somehow orchestrated the accident too, and attempted to entrap you! I wouldn't wonder if it wasn't her intention all along to make you fall for her. She's devious, I tell you! How could she have persuaded a woman to leave you virtually at the altar!"

  The earl was silent, but his fist clenched until his knuckles were white. "No," he said.

  "It's true," Layla said. "I heard it myself! She was boasting to her aunt. She was saying, "I was her bridesmaid, and I fabricated the whole elopement! If it weren't for me, the earl and Janina would be married.""

  "She said that?" The earl's eyes, so deep blue, seemed to turn darker with rage.

  "She did." Layla nodded. "You must cast her and her family out of here immediately, brother! I can't stand to have her here one moment more!"

  ***

  Aunt Emmeline was still frozen in shock, as was Uncle Roger. "We must go to them." Aunt Emmeline said. "We must explain…"

  "No." Christina raised a hand. "I'll go myself. I'll speak to Layla alone. Perhaps she will decide not to tell her brother."