Regency Romances for the Ages

by Grace Fletcher

  “It’s Winchester now. But you can call me Chester, seeing as you’re an old friend.” Chester shook his old friend’s hand. “My God, I never expected you to be back in England. I thought you were still fighting in France.”

  “I’m on leave. I thought I’d come home and surprise my former comrade.” Ryan stepped back and surveyed Chester. “So, a man with a title now. I didn’t expect that of you. Not yet, anyway, seeing as your father was fighting fit.”

  “Well, we can never tell.” Chester went to the dresser and poured out a glass of whisky for both him and Ryan. “It’s good to see you, Ryan.”

  “Same here.” Ryan paused. “Although from what I heard just now, I didn’t think you were up for company.”

  “Ah.” Chester sighed. “You heard that, did you?”

  “From the street.” Ryan took the glass offered to him, frowning at his friend. “What happened?”

  Ryan was going to think him silly. Chester knew he was going to make Ryan laugh. But he needed another perspective right now. Urging Ryan to sit down opposite him, Chester explained. He told Ryan all about Clementine and their childhood, seeing each other again and the letter. Ryan was silent the whole way through. He didn’t laugh or smile, just sat there listening intently. When Chester finished, Ryan shook his head in wonderment.

  “It sounds like you’ve fallen head over heels for this girl. Something I never thought I’d see happen to you.”

  “I never thought it would happen to me myself. At least, not with Clementine Cowell.” Chester had been trying to process his emotions for the last three days and now he was beginning to understand then. “When we were children, I didn’t care much for her at all. She was a silly little girl. Now…things have changed.”

  “I can imagine.” Ryan sipped his drink. “But now she’s refusing to talk to you because of what happened in France with Vincent?”

  Chester nodded miserably.

  “I said she could contact me when she’s ready to talk but it’s been three days now. And I’m going mad not hearing from her.”

  “Women do take a while to make up their mind. It does take longer than three days.”

  “Not with Clementine. She’s a decisive woman.”

  That was what Chester liked about her. Once you got past the nerves, Clementine Cowell was very steadfast in her opinions and made snap decisions when needed. Once the confidence was there, there was no stopping her.

  “Would it be better if I spoke to her?” Ryan asked. “I was there…”

  “No.” Chester held up a hand. He was surprised it was still steady after all the whisky he had poured down his throat. “It wouldn’t do any good. Let her decide herself.”

  He didn’t like it but he wasn’t about to push Clementine into something.

  That’s what Chester wanted to think. In reality, he hated the waiting.

  ***

  Clementine was miserable. The last three days had been awful for her and she had no idea what to do about it.

  Jethro and Maisie seemed to understand she wanted space and left her alone for the most part, only conversing with her during meal times unless Clementine wished their company. But Clementine kept herself to her room for fear if she spoke to them about Chester she would burst into tears.

  Chester had killed a man, and he hadn’t denied it. If he had and said it was a load of lies, Clementine wouldn’t have had trouble believing him. But to hear it had happened, despite Chester’s declaration of self-defence, gave her pause for thought. She had met a lot of people over the years who said one thing and she had been steadfastly loyal to them, only to realize they were lying all the time and she had been taken in.

  She didn’t think Chester was like that. But Clementine wasn’t sure and didn’t want her heart completely shattered. It was cracked as it was. If she had believed him and found out later he had committed murder…she wouldn’t be able to recover from that.

  On the third day, Jethro was fed up with Clementine moping around the day and urged her out the door for a walk, making her take Maisie. He refused to listen to Clementine’s protests, telling her the walk would do her good.

  And he was right. Clementine hadn’t had any fresh air beyond an open window for three days and she could feel the cool air filling her lungs. It felt good. It didn’t help her mood, but it did feel good to be outside.

  Maisie was singing off-key as they walked along the path in the park opposite the hotel. She plucked up a couple of flowers and arranged them in her hair, all the while singing. Clementine watched her in bemusement.

  “What’s got into you?”

  “Nothing.” Maisie beamed at her as she wound a strand of hair around a flower stem. “I’m just in a good mood.”

  “Any particular reason why?”

  Maisie and Clementine’s relationship in the last two weeks had become strained. Suddenly, Maisie was acting like a spoiled, sulky child, refusing to converse unless she absolutely had to. It was as if she was withdrawing away from Clementine and Jethro.

  She didn’t draw away from Chester though. If anything, she had shown him more attention, attempting to get in the way whenever Chester and Clementine walked out together. Jethro intercepted her all the time but Clementine had wondered. Maisie had never done that before. Chester had found it amusing but Clementine hadn’t been sure what to make of it.

  Maisie couldn’t be jealous, surely. She was too young for Chester. But it was like she was in adoration of Lord Winchester. Clementine didn’t know what to make of it.

  “Miss Clementine Cowell?”

  Clementine turned. A tall, thickset man with blond hair and a red face from the sun wearing a uniform was striding towards her.

  An army uniform. Clementine let Maisie go on ahead, turning to face the approaching man. This wasn’t anything to do with Chester, was it? He had been in the army. If it was, Clementine was going to head him off at the pass; Chester was not going to enforce her to do anything.

  “I’m Clementine Cowell.”

  “Forgive me for bothering you.” The man took off his hat and bowed. “My name is Sergeant Ryan Mayers. I used to serve with Lord Winchester.”

  Chapter 9

  Reputation Restored

  S o he was here because of Chester. Clementine squared her shoulders, schooling her expression to blank.

  “Did he send you here to talk to me?” She asked stiffly. “Make me see sense about his crimes?”

  “Actually, he didn’t want me to see you.” Mayers paused. “He said he wanted this to go at your pace. But he’s tearing up, Miss Cowell. He really misses you.”

  He wasn’t here at Chester’s request. Clementine deflated a little. She didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. She swallowed and tried to keep her composure.

  “I still don’t know what to do about it, Sergeant Mayers. Killing during his serving time, I can handle. Killing while off-duty…I don’t know. I wouldn’t know if he was telling the truth.”

  “Chester is more devoted to the truth than anything else. I learned that when we served together.”

  “But he never told the truth about this!”

  “Did he say it was self-defence?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then he did tell you the truth.” Mayers sighed. “Listen, Miss Cowell, I was there the night it happened. Will you let me tell you my side? Then you can make up your own mind?”

  Clementine was torn. She wanted to know what really happened, but she didn’t want to go to Chester to find out. This was something she needed to hear.

  She nodded.

  “Walk with us. And then when we get back to the hotel, you can tell me there.”

  ***

  Maisie was confused as to why the walk was cut short and even more confused to Mayers’ appearance. Clementine gave her no explanation, and they walked back in silence, Maisie sulking.

  Jethro joined them in the foyer. One mention of Mayers’ name and connection to Chester had him backing away, saying he would make sure
they weren’t disturbed. Clementine led the way into the parlour room, which was empty. She sat by the roaring fire, hands in her lap and her shoulders back. Then she looked up at Mayers, who moved to stand by the mantelpiece.

  “What happened?”

  Mayers leant on the mantelpiece and stared into the fire. The light from the flames flickered across his face.

  “Daniel…Chester…and I were off-duty in Calais. We were relaxing, having a good time. And a member of our regiment, another lieutenant to Chester, decided to start on him. He was drunk and, from what I had gathered over the time we served together, deeply resented Chester.”

  “What about?”

  “Something to do with his sister and how Chester wouldn’t make her his wife despite her obvious love for him. This sister, apparently, was madly in love with Chester – had been for a long time – but he kept pushing her away. I never met the girl but Chester said he didn’t care for her at all. The brother didn’t care for his sister much, either, but you know what it means with family honour.”

  “Even with the hatred, you protect the family’s reputation.” Clementine said quietly.

  “Exactly.” Mayers straightened up and went to the opposite couch, sitting on the edge. “The brother thought Chester was playing with his sister’s heart and that would never do. They had an argument about it, mostly throwing insults at each other. Chester and I decided to go back to our regiment and left the public house. The lieutenant followed and attacked Chester from behind with his dagger. It went into Chester’s back…”

  “Wait a minute there.” Clementine’s heart momentarily stopped. “Chester was hurt? He never said anything about that.”

  “He doesn’t like to make a fuss over it. It was just a flesh wound.” Mayers looked down at his hands for a moment before looking up at Clementine. “Chester fought back. Managed to get the knife out and tossed it away. They swung some punches and wrestled before falling to the ground. The dagger was stuck in the mud, blade sticking up. Our lieutenant…” Mayers swallowed. “He fell on it. The blade went through his back and stuck out of his chest. He was dead instantly.”

  Clementine let this sink in. She felt sick hearing Chester had been hurt. He hadn’t said a word about that.

  She might have blindly believed Chester but her emotions made it difficult. To hear it from another source…

  “So it was self-defence.”

  “You didn’t believe him?”

  Clementine swallowed, aware she was blushing.

  “I didn’t know what to believe. I was so confused, Sergeant Mayers. I wanted to believe it but I didn’t want to be proved wrong and he was a murderer later on.”

  Mayers watched her thoughtfully. Then he smiled.

  “You love him, don’t you?”

  Clementine almost denied it. Mayers may have known Chester but, to her, he was a stranger. But she couldn’t lie. She nodded, gnawing at her lip.

  “Yes. I do.”

  “You’re a sensible woman, Miss Cowell.” Mayers sat back, looking visibly relieved. “Much more than Calloway’s sister.”

  “Pardon?” Clementine sat up. “Calloway? That was the man who died?”

  “Lieutenant Vincent Calloway. His sister Ann has been determined to become Chester’s wife for years, even more so after Chester gained his father’s title.” Mayers’ eyes narrowed at her. “You’ve met her, have you?”

  “I have. She pretty much threatened me off Chester. But I haven’t seen her in a few weeks.” Clementine couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Ann Calloway had been related to the man Chester had killed? She had never mentioned anything about it. “But why would she want to marry Chester after what happened to her brother? Wouldn’t she hate him for that?”

  “She could’ve loved Vincent even if he hated her.”

  “From my experience, Sergeant, hate often runs both ways.”

  “That’s true.” Mayers shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure. But the only person, other than myself, who knows what happened, is Ann Calloway. She was there when Chester was acquitted, representing the family.”

  Clementine felt as though she had been hit over the head. What was going on? Did Ann Calloway send the note to her? What did she hope to gain when Chester had clearly shown he didn’t like her?

  She felt sick. Clementine rubbed her stomach.

  “I need to see Chester.”

  “First thing’s first.” Mayers smirked. “I think he’s having a visitor over as we speak. They have some serious talking to do.”

  ***

  Chester wasn’t sure this would work. But after talking it over with Ryan, he knew they needed to address it.

  Ryan had hurried out earlier, claiming the need to run errands. Chester wasn’t sure what to make of his attitude and could only wish he was there to witness it. But this would work better if it was just him. He wouldn’t raise his hand but he was sorely tempted.

  To think that note could have lost him the woman he loved, the woman he wanted as his wife. Chester was going to make sure the writer had made a serious mistake.

  He was writing a letter when his butler knocked and entered.

  “Miss Calloway is here as requested, my lord.”

  Chester didn’t even look up.

  “Send her in.”

  He still didn’t look up as Ann came in, her skirts swishing about her legs. She came to stand before his desk but still Chester kept writing. He was going to make her wait. After what she had done, Chester was in no mood to pander to her.

  After a few moments, Ann coughed loudly.

  “You wanted to see me, my lord?”

  “One moment, Miss Calloway.”

  Chester took his time finishing his letter. He signed it, folded it up and put his seal on. Then he put it to one side and finally looked up. Ann was standing before him, hands folded in front of him with a look of displeasure on her face. Chester knew she hated to be kept waiting. Men jumped to attention when she snapped her fingers and Chester was not going to do that.

  “I did want to see you, Miss Calloway.” Chester sat back, resting his elbows on the arms of his chair. “I want to know why you sent a note to Clementine Cowell about what happened in France.”

  Ann blinked. She looked taken aback.

  “What?”

  “Don’t play the innocent act with me, Miss Calloway.”

  “I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. I thought we were here to discuss something else.”

  She honestly thought they were going to discuss their relationship. Chester could see it in her eyes. He scowled at her.

  “Ann, there are only three people who knew what happened with your brother. You, me and Ryan Mayers. I wouldn’t send something like that to the woman I’m courting,” Ann blanched at that statement, “Ryan hasn’t got a vested interest in keeping Clementine away from me. Which leaves just you and you’ve shown your displeasure about my relationship with Clementine since the beginning.”

  Chapter 10

  Reconciled

  H e thought he was going to get more denial and accusations but there was none of that. Ann’s face went from white to red, her mouth twisting into a hard line. She almost growled at him.

  “Clementine Cowell is a nobody! Why should she be allowed to be your wife when I’ve always been there for you?”

  That was easier than Chester expected. Ann was good at denying things. This was very open, something Ann would never do. She really had been caught in a corner.

  “First off, nobody said anything about marriage. I’ve told you from the start that I will never marry you. And second, Clementine is an innocent in this. A nobody to you but a somebody to me.” Chester stood and stalked slowly around the desk. “You had no right to send her something so malicious and slander my name.”

  “It’s not slanderous. You did kill Vincent!”

  “And I was acquitted in a French court of law. I didn’t get a court’s martial, either. Saying that I murdered someone when everythin
g proves otherwise is slander.” Chester towered over Ann, who backed away, her face paling. “But what I don’t get is why you still want to marry me even after Vincent died?”

  For a split second, Ann looked like a frightened deer. She had clearly never seen Chester’s barely contained rage. Then she bit her lip and her eyes narrowed.

  “I hated Vincent. You knew that. He was a…” She huffed. “I loved you and I wasn’t going to change my feelings because you killed a man I despised.”

  “He was your brother. Family is more important.”

  “He wasn’t going to be anything.” Ann snapped. “But you were.”

  Chester couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Ann sounded mad. He turned away in disgust and moved to the couch, putting distance between them.

  “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. You do realize you could’ve cost my relationship with Clementine?”

  “She doesn’t love you like I do.” Ann started towards him, hands outstretched to him. “I deserve you!”

  Chester grabbed her wrists before she could touch him, gripping them tightly enough for Ann to cry out. The door opened and Lady Winchester hurried in.

  “Chester, what on earth are you doing?”

  “Be quiet, Mother.” Chester didn’t look away from Ann, whose expression was changing. She was beginning to realize she had messed things up badly for herself. “You deserve nothing, Ann Calloway. And you certainly don’t deserve me.” He shoved her away, causing Ann to stumble. “Get out of my home. Get out of my sight. I don’t want to see you again.”

  “But, Daniel…” Ann started but Chester snarled, silencing her.

  “My name is Lord Winchester. You are not permitted to call me that. Go!”

  White-faced, Ann burst into tears and hurried out of the room. Lady Winchester watched her go in bewilderment. She turned to Chester, who turned his glare on to her.

  “And if you mention her name ever again in my house, you’ll be gone, too.” He growled. “Do you hear me, Mother?”

  The countess opened her mouth and then closed it. Swallowing, she nodded. Then she gave him a quick curtsy and hurried from the room.