Annabelle Enchants the Rejected Earl: A Historical Regency Romance Novel

by Hanna Hamilton

  “And he’s a terrible brute for making me wait so long.”

  “But there were money issues, weren’t there?” Susan asked. “He wanted to be certain he could support you, yes?”

  “I’ve got a modest living to offer.”

  “But Katherine, you must remember a gentleman’s pride—particularly with a fine man like Roger. He wants to feel he’s supporting you.”

  “True.”

  Katherine leaned back in her chair and gazed up at the sun speckling through the leaves of the tree.

  “Any idea when you might have the wedding?” Susan asked.

  “Oh, no. We’ve not gotten to that point yet. But your darling sister’s wedding is coming up quickly now, no?”

  “September. Nice time for a wedding.”

  Katherine tread carefully, but had to ask. “And how do you feel about it?”

  “Delighted, why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Well… there was that episode with Simon a few years back. And that reminds me, any further thoughts on Sir Jasper?”

  Susan bowed her head. “Oh, Katherine, I just had to finally say no.”

  Katherine leaned forward in her chair. “You didn’t. And how’d he take it?”

  “He was a perfect beast. He stormed off without even saying good-bye. And good riddance, I say.”

  “Were your parents furious?”

  “I think my father took it in stride, but Mamma nearly capsized with disappointment.”

  Katherine laughed. “Well, at least you’ve got Louisa’s event coming up. Maybe you’ll meet just the right gentleman for you at her wedding.”

  “I wouldn’t count on that. For now, I’m quite content with teaching my kids.”

  “But Susan…” Katherine looked at her with just the faintest hint of pity.

  “Now, don’t be horrid, Katherine, there is absolutely nothing wrong with spinsterhood,” Susan said with a wry smile.

  “Never, never. You are too gifted and charming to go long without a suitable gentleman calling.”

  Susan sighed. “The tea was delightful and the pudding cake a marvel, however, I must be going.”

  “If there’s anything I can do to help with Louisa’s wedding, please let me know.”

  “I’ve nothing to wear. Perhaps you might help me with that.”

  “Ah… Let’s walk to Howell and Barton’s. They have a new shipment of French fabrics in. Let’s select the perfect materials, and we’ll construct you the perfect dress for the wedding.”

  Katherine picked up the tea tray and they headed back toward the house.

  “Brother Daniel has written to say he’ll have shore leave in the next month or so. I’ll be so happy to see him. It’s been over two years.”

  “And that is navy life for you.”

  “Did I say he’s been made a captain?”

  “Really? No, I don’t believe you told me that. Your parents must be very proud.”

  Louisa’s wedding was just a week away. The activity in the Wilton household could only be described as frantic. The Duke of Lennox had RSVP’d that he’d attend the wedding with his Aunt Clarissa, which they’d not expected, after the debacle with Simon. And the fact that he was attending put added pressure on the family to be sure the wedding planning was just perfect.

  Mamma appeared to be in a tizzy, but everyone knew she was reveling in the chaos of the wedding.

  Susan was helping however she could, but she was still haunted by the fact that Louisa’s wedding was going to be held in the same church where Susan had been jilted those few years ago. And she couldn’t help but worry that Simon might show up as well—even though he’d not been invited. But Susan brushed away her few lingering concerns and focused her entire energy on helping make the wedding as happy as possible for her sister.

  One afternoon there was a knock at her bedroom door.

  “Yes?” Susan called out.

  “It’s me.”

  “Come in, Louisa,” Susan said, as she sat on the edge of her bed.

  Louisa came inside. “May we chat for a moment?”

  “Of course.” Susan patted the bed. “Come, sit with me.”

  Louisa paced the room for a moment before she sat.

  “Susan, I’ve spoken to Mamma, about… you know…”

  “The wedding night?”

  Louisa looked down shyly. “Yes.”

  “And she’s not answering your questions to your satisfaction.”

  “Exactly. What can you advise me?”

  “Well, as you know, I’ve not yet been married, so I’m, perhaps, not the best person to ask.”

  “But you’re older and wiser, and a teacher. Surely you know more than mother’s willing to tell me.”

  Susan sighed. “What’s she told you so far?”

  “She assembled a carrot and a melon and attempted to do a demonstration, but she became so flustered she ended up throwing her hands up in the air, tossing the carrot into a soup, and running out of the kitchen with the melon in her hands, going who knows where.”

  Susan nodded and laughed. “Yes, I had the same botched demonstration. And when I asked Papa, he turned beet red, and kept blowing his nose until he too had to leave the room.”

  “Can you help me?”

  “I’m quite certain you must know the mechanics by now, Louisa. You’re twenty years old, after all. But what’s really important, are the emotional aspects of your relationship with your husband. And you must certainly have some inclination of how he may behave with you. No?”

  Robert is such a caring man. I believe he’ll be sensitive and patient with me.”

  “Robert Tunbull is a wonderful man from my experience. I’ve been teaching with him for quite a few years now, and I can attest to his many fine qualities. But to be quite honest with you, I’m not experienced in the arts you’re asking me about. What about asking your friend, Matilda? She’s been married for over a year now, and should be much more useful as a resource than I am.”

  Louisa considered the suggestion. “Yes, that’s an excellent suggestion. I’ll speak to her tomorrow when I’m in the village. Thank you.”

  Chapter 2

  The groom’s parents were hosting the wedding breakfast. Robert, the groom, greeted the Wiltons when they arrived at the Tunbull household.

  “Greetings. Welcome,” he said, as he embraced Louisa and gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek. She blushed.

  “Should you be seeing the bride on the morning of the wedding?” Mamma asked, suddenly concerned that a jinx would befall all of them.

  “She’s not in her wedding dress yet,” Robert’s mother said, as she shook each guest’s hand.

  “I guess that’ll do,” Mamma said, ready to concede the issue.

  The Tunbull household was even more rambunctious and chaotic than the Wilton’s.

  Robert was a strawberry blond with freckles and a winning smile. He was short, but still a little taller than Louisa and no one seemed to take issue with the fact.

  There were children running throughout the house. There were brothers and sisters. Sister and brothers-in-law. And so many various people wandering the house that Susan never caught any of their names.

  The breakfast was jovial but chaotic and Susan just smiled, engaged in anonymous conversations, and tried to keep her center in the turmoil around her. But she could see that Robert’s family would be congenial in-laws.

  Louisa still needed to get back home, get dressed, made-up and ready for the wedding. As bridesmaid, Susan kept urging the family to return home so they would have enough time, and eventually, she got her reluctant family back into the carriage and on the way back to their house.

  Susan couldn’t help but remember her own preparations for her wedding as she helped Louisa get ready.

  Louisa looked up as Susan was working on her hair.

  “Are you all right?” Louisa asked. “You’ve been very quiet all morning.”

  “Someone has to keep this wedding on track. Mamma has been her usua
l frantic self and Papa has been less than useless through the whole wedding planning. Someone has to keep us all on track. Guess it fell to me.”

  Louisa reached up and patted her sister’s hand. “You’re such a good sister. Thank you.”

  Susan smiled and leaned in and whispered. “Did Matilda give you the information you were searching for?”

  Louisa looked up at her and nodded. “She was very helpful.”

  “Good.”

  Mamma suddenly burst into the room. “Are you nearly ready? We’re late. And with His Grace, the Duke, attending we can’t afford not to be there to welcome him.”

  “Mamma, it was you who had the second helping of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, and insisted we stay longer at the breakfast,” Susan said.

  Mamma waved her hands as though shooing flies. “Never mind. Never mind. We need to go now. Is she ready?”

  “Yes, she’s ready,” Susan said, as she offered her hand to help Louisa stand.

  “You look lovely, my dear,” Mamma said as she pushed Louisa forward and out of the bedroom.

  The four were herded into the carriage. Jacob, Amy, and their young son, Kevin, had gone ahead in their own coach.

  Susan couldn’t help herself—she reflected back on this same journey on the day of her disastrous nuptials. Had it only been five years ago? It was pointless to reminisce about that horrible day. But unlike the fair weather that had blessed the party on that day, today the sky was ominous with a storm brewing over the channel that might strike at any point during the morning. Susan just hoped it would be delayed at least until they all got safely inside the church.

  However, in the carriage, Mamma was chatty and Papa held tightly on to Louisa’s hand, about to lose his youngest—and Susan suspected—favorite daughter. And Susan just stared out the window at the same landscape she’d studied before.

  They did arrive on time, although the groom’s party preceded them into the church. There was, as yet, no sign of the Duke and his aunt.

  Jacob directed the family to the bride’s side of the aisle, while Louisa, Papa, and Susan once again sought refuge in the vestry until the ceremony should start.

  Louisa seemed nervous and fidgeted with her wedding gown. Susan went over to calm and reassure her.

  There was a knock at the door and Katherine peeked in.

  “Susan, do you have a moment? There’s someone I want you to meet.”

  Susan glanced at Louisa who nodded it was alright to go. Susan went outside.

  “And look who’s joining us today,” Katherine said, taking the hand of the young man beside her.

  Susan was astounded. “Daniel, is that you?”

  Standing before her was Katherine’s brother—strikingly handsome in his crisp, dark blue, frockcoat uniform with gold buttons and holding his bicorn, captain’s hat, folded into the crook of his arm.

  “Do you remember me?” Daniel asked.

  Susan laughed nervously. “You were so young and skinny when you went off to sea. I laugh because you’ve changed so much.”

  “For the better, I hope. I was such a raw lad when I left, wasn't I?”

  “But not now,” Susan said, smiling.

  How the young man had filled out. He was strong, with blond curls and a ruggedly handsome face, tanned by life at sea. His eyes matched the color of the ocean on a sunny day, and his smile was far too dangerously becoming.

  Susan turned to Katherine. “Your mother must be happy to have him home.”

  “We all are. Our lost boy returns—and looking like a prince, doesn’t he? Even Father closed the shop for the day when he arrived.”

  Susan hesitated but needed to get back to Louisa. “It’s a pleasure to see you again,” she said, turning away slightly but turning back. “Perhaps we can chat more later, at the reception.”

  Daniel saluted and nodded. “I look forward to it Miss Susan.”

  Susan took a deep breath and returned to the vestry.

  “Have all the guests arrived?” Louisa asked. “The storm seems to be brewing even now. I hope no one gets wet.”

  “It looked to me like all the guests have arrived.”

  “Even the Duke,” Papa asked.

  Susan thought about that. “I didn’t see him.”

  “Here he comes now,” Louisa said as she gazed out the window. “I recognize his coach.”

  “And the groom? Has he arrived as well?” Papa asked.

  Susan wondered if he was referencing the last wedding when the groom did not arrive but decided it was an innocent enough question.

  “Yes, he’s standing with his best man at the altar waiting for you, darling sister.”

  “Then shall we?” Papa asked.

  “I think we need to wait for the Padre, Papa. He’s the one to tell us when to go out.”

  “Very well.”

  And it was just at that moment that the Padre did appear.

  Susan noticed the Duke and his aunt seated at the back of the congregation as they left to proceed down the aisle. Susan looked lovely, as the bridesmaid, in the dress she and Katherine had constructed together.

  The ceremony went without a hitch. There were all the requisite tears and sighs from the families, and just as the couple was vouching their “I do’s,” a tremendous thunder clap cut through the sanctuary, startling everyone.

  Mamma gasped as the heavens let loose and it began to pour torrents of rain. “Oh, my, the reception—the inn is too far,” she said.

  Susan went over to the family. “We’ll just need to wait it out. It’s far too fierce to try and get to the carriages with the rain like this.”

  Some of the guests had come forward to congratulate the bride and groom, and some of the guests were gathered at the church door watching the violence of the storm.

  Katherine came up to Susan. “We’re not going anywhere soon with this going on. Come visit with some old friends we’ve not chatted with in a while.”

  Susan and Katherine went over to visit with their friends. Daniel gave her a generous smile as she approached.

  “You were a stunning bridesmaid,” Daniel said. “You almost outshone the bride.”

  “I did not,” Susan insisted. “She was much prettier than I was.”

  Daniel cocked his head. “I guess that’ll depend on who you ask.”

  Several old friends engaged Susan in conversation and she got caught up in the visiting until she looked up and saw the Duke and his aunt standing alone near the entrance looking anxious to leave.

  “Excuse me,” Susan said and went over to greet the Duke.

  “Your Grace, and I’m sorry, I don’t know your aunt’s name.”

  “Mrs. Clarissa Darlington,” the Duke said. “Aunt Clarissa, this is Miss Susan Wilton, the sister of the bride.”

  Susan wondered if the Duke remembered her from the previous unsuccessful wedding.

  “Such a pleasure,” Mrs. Darlington said. “What a shame about the storm. We’ll all get muddy feet, even just going to the carriage.”

  “I believe the drive in front of the church is graveled, Mrs. Darlington.”

  “Ah, perhaps that’s so.”

  “We’re so pleased the two of you could attend the wedding. It’s such an honor to have you both.”

  Aunt Clarissa smiled. “How nice of you to say so. I’m afraid I get out little these days with all my duties at Haverford House, and I know few in the local community.”

  Susan turned to the Duke, “Your Grace, I’m sorry we couldn’t order better weather for you.”

  The Duke laughed. “Even his Royal Highness can’t do that. And please call me John. I think we’re well enough acquainted to be able to use Christian names, may we not?”

  “If it pleases Your Grace. Sorry—John.”

  “Will you be attending the reception?” Susan asked.

  John thought for a moment. “I think not. Aunt hasn’t been feeling too well, and I think it best if we return home so she may rest.”

  “Of course.” She t
urned to his aunt who was looking a little pale. “May I get you anything? Would you like to sit while the storm passes?”

  “Thank you, dear, I would. I am feeling a little faint.”

  Susan turned and waved to Katherine to come over.

  “Please sit.” She led the aunt to an empty pew.

  Katherine arrived. “Do you need something,” she asked.

  “Yes, could you find some water, please? Mrs. Darlington is feeling a little faint.”

  “Of course,” Katherine said, and turned to search for assistance.

  Susan sat down next to Aunt and took her hand. “We’re looking for some water. It shouldn’t take too long. Are you feeling any better?”

  “I am a little. Yes, thank you.”

  “And how are you related to the Duke?” Susan asked.

  “I’m his father’s sister. Widowed some years ago and since then in charge of the Haverford household. It keeps me busy and I’m still near family.”

  “It must be a comfort, Mrs. Darlington.”

  “Please, call me Aunt Clarissa.”

  “I will,” Susan said smiling.

  Katherine returned with a glass of water. “Here you are, and the Padre said there’s a sofa in the vestry you might lie down on if you wish.”

  Aunt drank the water. “Oh, no. I’ll be just fine now.”

  “Can we get you anything else?” Susan asked.

  Aunt shook her head.

  By now the rain was letting up and a few rays of sun created shafts of light in the neighboring fields. The Duke’s coach approached the entrance.

  “Aunt, we can go now, if you like. The carriage is waiting for us.”

  “Oh, yes. I should like that.”

  Susan helped her up and led her toward the church door.

  “Thank you, dear, you have been most kind,” Aunt said.

  “My great pleasure,” Susan assured her.

  As they were leaving, John turned to her and said, “A most pleasant wedding. Unlike the last one which ended so shamefully on my family’s part.”

  He did remember. Susan nodded. “I’m pleased you enjoyed yourselves.”

  “Your sister and her husband’s wedding present will be arriving at your family home in the next day or two.”