Stranded With The Marquess (Regency Stories Book 1)

by Catherine Mayfair

  When she went to speak, to apologize, he held up his hand to stop her. “Please, let me say what needs to be said.”

  She nodded as she drew in and held her breath. The admonishment would hurt, but it was well-deserved, and she would take it like the woman she was.

  “When I first met you on the ship, I must be honest, you took my breath away. Never had I seen a woman so beautiful in all my life. Like now, you are a prize to behold. Your beauty is greater than anything under heaven.”

  Amelia’s legs grew weak. Never had a man spoken such words to her before.

  “When we dined together,” he continued, “I realized just how fortunate your Harold must be, to have a woman such as yourself ready to accept his hand in marriage.” His cheeks reddened. “In that, I admit that I grew jealous.”

  “Jealous?” she asked in astonishment. “I do not understand.” None of what this man said made any sense at all. She was not this woman of which he spoke, nor was she one a man would have reason to be jealous.

  “I lied to you, Amelia. I do not love Elizabeth, nor have I ever, not in the way a man would love a wife. We have been friends for many years, and mother thought it would be a good match, which is why she commissioned the locket I kept in my pocket.”

  “I…understand,” Amelia said, though she truly did not. He did not love that woman, yet he was still to marry her? Why would he torment her this way?

  “No, you must let me continue. By some miracle, Elizabeth has chosen to marry another, and I wish her all the happiness in the world. For that is what life is about, is it not? Happiness?”

  Amelia nodded. Tears welled up in her eyes as the realization hit her.

  “I have upset you again,” he said with a sigh. She went to speak once again, but he stopped her. “Let me say my piece, or I will never be able to again.” She nodded silently, and he continued. “Our first night on the ship, I told you of my dreams as a child, but because of my pride, I could not tell you everything. You see, like you, I would often wonder what it was like to be happy. This thought consumed me for many years, and I had given up such a life, believing it to be only fiction. However, once I met you, I realized what it could be.”

  “Oh, Matthew,” she said, wiping at her eyes.

  “I will never be able to build you a home or hunt for food for our survival,” he said with a small smile that made her giggle. “But I need you in order to survive, Amelia, for the world without you is a dark place. You see,” he placed his fingers under her chin and gazed into her eyes, “I love you.”

  Her heart swelled at his words, and she found herself unable to speak.

  “May you and Harold have a perfect life together,” he said in a sad tone that pulled at her heart.

  As he turned to walk away, Amelia found her voice at last, for she could not allow him to leave her again. “Wait!” she cried out.

  He stopped and turned around, his brows scrunched together. “There is no Harold and me. Today he asked for my hand, and I learned that he loved another. I sent him away to find his happiness with her.”

  “Oh?” he asked, a smile forming on his lips.

  “Yes. You see, I, too, lied. I did not have the courage to tell you the truth at the time for I was embarrassed by it. However, now I will share what is true with you. You cannot build a shelter, nor can you hunt for our food. However, none of that matters, for when I am with you, I am safe.” She chewed at her lower lip to keep the tears at bay lest she become a blubbering mess. “When you held me on the ship, when you brought me to safety on the shore, when you held my hand, and when I kissed you—for it was me who did the act,” she thought her face would ignite right there and then for her brazen behavior, “I realized something, as well.”

  “Tell me,” he said, taking her hand in his own.

  Her entire body warmed at his touch. “That my happiness is with you,” she said with a smile. “Whether it be a home made from branches from the forest floor or one made of bricks and stone, it matters not. What matters is that I love you, Lord Matthew Albright. Nothing else matters in this world but that.”

  “Never again will I lie to you,” Matthew said as he pulled her closer to him. “Losing you is an experience I never wish to live through again.”

  “Nor do I,” she promised in a whisper. “You are everything to me.” She let out a sigh and slipped her arm through his. “I believe we should go inside and talk to my parents. They must be wondering what we are doing.”

  “It appears they already know,” Matthew said with a chuckle as he looked up at the house.

  Amelia turned and saw her parents peering out the window. She and Matthew laughed in unison and then headed inside.

  ***

  The fact that her parents had invited Lord Albright into the parlor for tea did not surprise Amelia, at least not completely. However, she did find it odd the interest they had taken in hearing the story of their shipwreck and then subsequently finding themselves on a then-unknown beach, for they had heard it all from Amelia before. Yet, here her parents sat in complete awe, listening to the story now from Matthew. Though, she had to admit that his telling was much more entertaining than hers had been.

  “It was Amelia who said that we should venture into the forest and seek help,” Matthew said as he finished his tale. “I know now that an hour later, we would have realized our mistake if those two men had not come by to find us.”

  Everyone gave a polite laugh, and Amelia could not help but smile. When she glanced at her mother, and the woman gave her a knowing smile. Apparently, she now understood Amelia’s fascination with this man. In all honesty, Amelia wondered how the woman had not seen it when she had met him previously, but yet she had to have been so beside herself with worry to have taken much notice of anyone besides Amelia.

  “Lord Albright,” Amelia’s father said, “again, I must thank you for saving my daughter.” Her father had offered great praise for Matthew by the time the story had reached their time on the beach, but now he was beside himself with it. “There is no price I can pay to show my gratitude, but you are welcome here at any time. If there is ever anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Matthew said. “Knowing that Amelia is back home with those who love her is reward enough.” Then he glanced at Amelia, and that glint in his eye returned. “Yet, perhaps it is bold of me, but I would like to make a request of you, and Mrs. Browning, of course.”

  Amelia lowered her head to hide the smile that blossomed on her face.

  “By all means, my good man,” her father said, leaning against the fireplace mantle.

  Matthew returned his teacup to its matching saucer on the table. “Next Saturday I wish to explore the village of Rotherfield, though I am afraid that I am not all that familiar with it. May I have the honor of having Miss Browning accompany me to show me the best places to see—in Mrs. Browning’s company, of course.”

  Amelia was so nervous as she waited for her father’s response that she pressed her hands against her legs to keep them from bouncing. It seemed an eternity before the man gave an answer.

  “I don’t see why not,” her father replied with a wide smile. “Mary? What do you think?”

  Her mother rose and looked at Amelia, a tiny smile playing on her lips. “I believe we are all in agreement. Unless you have other obligations, Amelia?”

  “Oh, I have no obligations,” Amelia replied too quickly. Then she turned to Matthew. “I will await your arrival.”

  “I look forward to it,” Matthew said, before walking to the door. “Again, your hospitality has been overwhelming. Thank you.” He returned her father’s bow with a nod and then turned to leave, but then stopped. “And to you, Miss Amelia Browning, thank you again for saving me.”

  She giggled, and her parents gave her a questioning look, but she said nothing.

  As her father walked Matthew to the door, her mother came to stand beside her. “How is it that my child can go from expecting a marr
iage proposal from a simple man to accepting being courted by another man who happens to be a marquess all in the span of two days?”

  “I have no idea, Mother,” Amelia replied. “I am as baffled as you.”

  “Well, I have come to realize that my daughter has lived quite the adventure, and I suspect that it is far from over.”

  “I believe you are right in saying so,” Amelia replied, her heart now thinking of Matthew. “It is most certainly far from over.”

  Epilogue

  Three days following the grandest wedding the village of Rotherfield had ever seen, Amelia set off with her new husband to enjoy some time alone.

  “Matthew, you must hear this,” Amelia said as the carriage made its way down the well-used road. In her hand she held a letter sent to her from Harold.

  “Amelia, It was wonderful to hear that you and Lord Albright were married, and I wish you all the happiness life can bring for the years to come. Tabitha and I are set to wed in a month’s time, and our future looks brighter than ever. Please, give my best to your new husband. He has married a wonderful woman, and I know he will, and should, cherish you. Sincerely, Harold Stockton.”

  “Did you hear that?” she asked as she folded the paper once again and looked at the man she loved more than anyone in the entire world. “You married a wonderful woman.”

  Matthew laughed as he brought his face close to hers, that mischievous grin she recognized from that first time they met aboard The Topaz not six months earlier. “I am quite aware of the wonderfulness of my wife,” he said in a low voice as he placed a hand on her cheek. “How could I resist a woman with the amount of stubbornness you possess?”

  Amelia gasped in mock indignation. “Well, I never!” she said, though she could not stop the corners of her mouth from lifting ever so slightly.

  “You never what, my dear?” he asked. “You’ve never kissed a man?” He pressed his lips to hers. “I find that hard to believe. You seem quite skilled at kissing.”

  Now she did gasp in indignation. “You, Lord Albright, are a rogue and an insufferable husband.”

  “Am I?” he asked with equal indignation. “You are the one who kisses like she has had plenty of time to practice.”

  She leaned in and kissed him. “Indeed, I have,” she said with a giggle. “I have learned much in these past three days.” She could feel her face heat up just at the thought of them together as they had been every night—and several times during the day—since their wedding.

  “Well, how can I complain about that?” he said in agreement. “You are simply too irresistible.”

  Amelia laughed and put her arms around his neck. “And how can I resist a man who can hunt with a spear?”

  This sent them both into another burst of laughter until he pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly, so thoroughly that neither realized the carriage had come to a stop until the door opened.

  A man cleared his throat and Matthew winked at Amelia before stepping from the vehicle. She followed behind, the wondrous saltiness of the sea mixing with the smell of fish that made her wrinkle her nose.

  “Let us hope he is here,” Matthew said as he offered her his elbow.

  “Look! There he is now” Amelia said as she pointed at George, who stood on the gangplank of Matthew’s new ship, The Islander. He no longer wore the tattered uniform of the ship’s captain, though he did not appear too bothered by the fact.

  “Miss Browning,” he said with his sweeping bow that only he could achieve, “or should I say ‘Lady Albright’?” This made Amelia giggle. It still sounded strange to her ear, but she nodded acceptance of this new address. “Well, it’s an honor to serve you once again.”

  “And it is good to see you again, George,” she said kindly. She lifted her skirts and gave him a light curtsy, turning his cheeks a bright red and forcing him to put his hands in his pockets and appear a wrinkled twelve-year-old boy.

  “It makes me happy seeing you two together,” he said as he kicked at a rock. “You’ll be so happy now that you’re husband and wife.”

  “Do you think so?” Amelia asked.

  “Of course I do, Miss. These eyes,” he said, pointing to his crossed eyes, “never lie. The moment you two met, I saw the looks you had for each other. I’ve seen lots of looks in my time, but none that were so strong.”

  Amelia wanted to hug the old man for his warm words, but before she could, he turned and marched up the gangplank.

  Matthew gave her a wide grin and then offered her his arm once again. “Are you ready, Lady Albright, to embark to France?”

  “Yes, my love,” she replied, the glint in her eye matching his, her heart filled with passion. “I am.”

  ***

  Amelia sat at the writing desk at the Grand Hôtel in Paris, France and reread the letter she had penned to her friend Patricia. Her honeymoon had gone as she would have expected. In between the shopping and dining, Matthew had gotten them lost three times, and she forgot her coin purse in one of the cafés. Even more mortifying was when she caught her dress in the door of a shop, tearing the skirt to the point everyone around her could clearly see her petticoat. However, in the eight days they had spent in the city, she had realized more wondrous days than bad ones, so her feelings toward traveling to France were not nearly as hostile as they had been on her trip to Calais.

  Matthew snorted in his sleep, and Amelia stifled a giggle. Six months earlier, she had come to this country and had experienced many of the same misadventure. However, this time was different. A new light had been shed, for it did not matter if you were clumsy, forgetful, or did not know how to build a shelter. What did matter was that you experience those things with the one you loved, and she did love Matthew Albright, and he loved her.

  And that, Amelia realized, as what happiness was all about.

  A Note from the Author

  The bawdy song ole Captain George Lawrence sang while making his trek to find his crew and see to getting them rescued from their ‘island’ comes from a book titled The Merry Muses: A choice collection of favorite songs from many sources by Robert Burns to which are added two of his letters and a poem, never before printed. Yes, that is the complete title of the book! If you have ever been acquainted with books from long ago, you know that they typically contained a main title and then a short, descriptive subtitle, which was also a part of the overall title. I suppose you could say that you knew exactly what you would be reading! This particular book was printed in 1727 and held the tagline “Not for Maids, Ministers, or Striplings”. That should be warning enough to those of you with weak countenances and who are prone to the vapors!

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