Regency Romances for the Ages

by Grace Fletcher

  Mrs. Seymour had always been hard on Beatrice, but she knew why. The old woman had a job to do, and as such, could not be seen to show any favoritism.

  Theirs was a uniquely interesting bond, one that Beatrice never really appreciated until now. She cannot hide the smile forming on her face, and she must hold on to Lord Porter tightly to stop herself from going up to the old stalwart, throwing her arms around her, and just giving the old woman a long and very necessary embrace.

  “Beatrice?” Mrs. Seymour is beside herself.

  “Mrs. Seymour. This is my cousin, the Lady Julia, and her husband, Lord Simon Heathrow. And this gentleman is Lord Wesley Porter.” Beatrice speaks differently. She looks different. But somehow, Mrs. Seymour knows that she is still little Beatrice. She greets them all and calls one of the servers over with champagne for these distinguished guests. Beatrice is looking around for Hudson though, and although she has no idea what she will say to him when she sees him, she really does just want to see him.

  He comes into view at last, the delicate Katherine Frampton on his arm. She remembers the conversation she overheard in the stable house and wonders why on earth Hudson protested so at this union? Katherine Frampton is absolutely beautiful. She is a tiny woman, not unlike Beatrice, with the most beautiful blonde hair that Beatrice has ever seen. She has the fullest lips, and her eyes are wide and curious, like a child’s, but not.

  From a distance, at least, she appears to be remarkably charming, and as she and Hudson move through the room, they look more and more like a couple about to be married, and less like lambs being sent to the slaughter. Beatrice can hardly breathe now when Hudson spots her and starts to make his way to where she is standing with a still-full glass of champagne in her hand.

  “Lady Beatrice Davenport…” His chocolatey baritone rings loudly in her ears so that Beatrice cannot speak for a moment.

  “Lord Carter…and this must be the Lady Katherine…” Beatrice tries to put on a smile but is unable to. She sounds civil enough and even manages to introduce her own party of guests. After the greetings are done, she needs to leave. She needs to create some distance between herself and Lord Carter.

  This is easy too, thankfully, because Hudson and Katherine are occupied with their guests, and Beatrice is caught up in conversations about her new life with the people present who are actually kind enough to talk to her. Everyone else seems to be cautious, not sure what to make of this new addition to their level, an addition that, it would seem, has surpassed even their own stations.

  Hudson, however, keeps his eyes on her, unable to control himself, and unable to keep himself from staring. He has a million questions for the young woman, questions that he needs to ask her alone. She has many things to tell him too, but this is not the time, and certainly not the place. She isn’t sure even if he would be interested to know the events that have constituted her life for the past few months.

  It has really seemed like a lifetime ago since she was here, as a servant, and she had hardly noticed any of these people, not really seeing them before,

  occupied with her duties in the house. Now, though, it appears all the attention was on her and she was starting to feel a little uncomfortable. There were a lot of congratulations, and a lot of shock, but it seemed too that there were many apprehensions, with people not knowing how to approach her, or even how to address her.

  This was to be expected, though, and she makes peace with it very quickly. She knows that it will be awhile yet before she can move with ease in these circles, and the higher circles of the almost exclusive part of society she now occupies. Beatrice does her best to be cordial with everyone, and focuses mainly on her immediate party, people she has become familiar with over the last month, and who, it seems, she shares a few genuine interests with. Hard to believe, though, that just two months earlier, her only interest was the smell of Hudson Carter’s hunting boots…

  Chapter 8

  Jealousy Erupts

  I t seems that news has really traveled fast about her new circumstance and even the events of the past few months in London. She is told of some intimate details of her experience by people she doesn’t even know, and while this doesn’t bother her, she can’t help but think that Horace, or someone close to him, could have been reporting on her progress to those in this room. It is a rather intriguing story, though, she admits to herself, so why would people not want to talk about it.

  Beatrice finds the cautious intrigue around her and her new family relations quite interesting. It actually amuses her, how people seem more than willing to discuss her, but as soon as she is close enough to hear what they are saying, they suddenly struggle for alternatives to the conversations she knows they were having. She moves through the ballroom gracefully, though, deliberately concentrating on holding her head higher, and careful not to look down at anyone. The humor of this changed situation sees her and her cousin giggle behind their hands often.

  Not everyone is cautious about what they have to say about her though. Some seem to taunt her promotion so that she hears this. Beatrice is every bit a refined lady now, though, so that she is able to ignore this, putting it off as light banter from those who really do not know her, or her family. Nobody, in fact, knows anything about the Davenports except what they have heard spoken in private dinner parties, in almost whispers. The Davenports are true aristocrats, bluebloods through and through, and so it only stands to reason that people will start inventing stories about this aloof group of privileged people.

  Beatrice knows that there is little truth behind what is being said by some at the ball, and she makes a deliberate attempt to ignore this negativity. She knows who she is, who she really is, and she is now getting to know who her family is. She knows that she is cut from the best possible cloth, and nothing that is said about her and her family here or anywhere else will change that. She is in conversation with a young doctor and his wife when Hudson finds his way to her again, so close she would just have to reach out and touch him. She doesn’t though.

  “It must have been quite a shock to you, Mr. Colborne’s visit?” the doctor presses.

  “To say I was surprised would be a gross understatement. And everything happened so quickly, my head was spinning. I don’t even remember leaving this house…” Beatrice says, looking at Hudson, who is separated from Katherine for the time being.

  “I remember that day, though, clearly. Your departure was a great loss to us…” he says, meaning it, but not sure how it sounds to everyone within earshot.

  “Sure Lord Carter, you mean a great loss for your hunting boots. I doubt you will find anyone who polished them with as much enthusiasm as I did…” Beatrice makes a joke that nobody but her cousin, her cousin’s husband, and Lord Porter laugh at. They seem unsure that it was a joke, even Hudson, who would find that she would even make such a statement amusing, in their former lives. But things were really much changed now.

  Hudson keeps his eyes on Katherine as she continues to speak to the doctor and two university professors who have made their way across the ballroom, eager for an audience with Lady Davenport. The tale of rags to riches really has sparked interest in some and sparking an outrage in others. But needless to say, Beatrice really doesn’t care.

  Hudson watches in amazement as she speaks easily with them, discussing the current day’s affairs, news from all over England that one would only be aware of if one read. He had no idea that Beatrice could read. Or had she just learned in the last few months? If so, this intrigued him even more, because it meant that she was both beautiful and clever.

  Katherine watches Hudson, watching Beatrice. She sees in his eyes a look of fondness that he has yet to bestow upon her. She makes her way across the ballroom and steals him away from the group just as Beatrice was telling them about her first fitting with a seamstress in London, a Mrs. Waterbury something or other. Everyone is laughing so hard that they don’t even notice that Hudson is gone, and nobody notices that look on Katherine’s face, a look
she throws at Beatrice as she drags her fiancé away.

  “Who is she?” Katherine asks when they are out of earshot of the other guests.

  “Lady Davenport? She was our maid until fortune smiled on her…” Hudson answers, not realizing that his face is lighting up as he speaks about Beatrice.

  “What is your relationship with her?” Katherine asks, not sure how to ask what is on her mind, not sure if she would like the answer that she gets.

  “Don’t be absurd. There is no relationship to speak of. She is now, hopefully, just a very well-connected acquaintance of my family’s. Nothing more, nothing less…” Hudson doesn’t believe a word that he is saying right now. “And don’t start Katherine, this is meant to be our engagement party. Save your theatrics for when we are alone.”

  “But we are never alone. I understand the convenience of this union, for your family. I am not naïve. But the least you can do is pretend to love me.” Katherine speaks as though she wants someone, anyone, to hear what she is saying so that they can come and speak to Hudson on her behalf.

  She actually really does have feelings for him. But, sadly, these feelings are unrequited.

  “But I don’t love you Katherine, and this is no fault of yours. We are really just put in this position by need. You know this, and I know this. Your father wants to marry you off before your younger sister, who is actually in love with her suitor and loved equally, if not more, in return. He wants to save you, the apple of his eye, from the embarrassment of being overlooked. And my family, well you know our situation I’m sure. Your father must have seen fit to let you into these unhappy details.”

  Hudson is terribly frustrated now.

  “Do you love her?” Katherine asks.

  “I don’t know…” Hudson answers, and leaves Katherine alone in the chilly winter’s night, making his way to the first tray of champagne glasses he can find…

   Chapter 9

  Pretended Happiness

  L ady Carter, Hudson’s mother, comes to find him. She seems exceptionally vexed, and pulls him away from his brother, letting him know that she needs to speak to him urgently. Hudson knows immediately what it is about, and he really isn’t in the mood for this conversation.

  “Katherine is really upset, she says that you said…” Lady Carter starts.

  “I know what I said, mother!” Hudson is stern with his mother, for the first time in as long as he can remember. He has always been careful with his mother, never wanting to offend her innate sensibilities.

  “And you also know our state I’m sure. Surely you haven’t forgotten that we need this marriage. Your father’s health couldn’t take the disappointment Hudson, you know this. Don’t do anything stupid. The last thing we need is for you to offend Lady Katherine, or, heaven forbid, Lord Frampton himself.” The desperation is obvious in his mother’s voice.

  “You don’t need to remind me of our current state mother, I am fully aware of this. And father’s ailing health is hardly my fault. So, don’t speak to me as if it is. Now, if you will excuse me, I have an engagement party to attend, my guests are waiting!” He walks back into the reception room and looks around at the people. He suddenly feels like he is drowning or choking in his shirt.

  Hudson is torn, really torn. He knows the responsibility that he has to his family, but he had always thought that he would have the time to choose a wife of his own choosing. But fate seems to have other plans for him, and he seems to have little control of the outcome of these events.

  “She might not even love you back. There is no promise that she will love you back.” Lord Frampton speaks in a monotone with a smile on his face, so as not to give away to anybody what he is actually saying to his future son-in-law.

  “There is nothing promised when it comes to love anyway…” Hudson answers him, knowing immediately that he must be referring to Beatrice, and that Katherine must have gone crying to daddy.

  “Yes…so this marriage to Katherine is as sure a thing as you’re going to get. Why do you frustrate yourself with the unpredictability of love?” Lord Frampton sips on his champagne, frowning slightly so that Hudson knows that he too is exceptionally vexed. He wonders what it is that all these people think he is going to do. He knows his responsibility.

  “I have always known that she loves me, and I think I too am in love with her. But the situation is what it is, and there really is nothing that I can do about it.” Hudson sounds resigned.

  “I don’t think I have to caution you as to the possible scandal. Your sudden interest in Lady Davenport might be seen by some to be opportunistic. I hardly think that even your solid reputation would survive this. And we all know that just a whisper in the wrong ears could perpetuate a scandal, especially one of this magnitude.” Lord Frampton leaves Hudson alone now, to think about what he has said. But he leaves him with one final promise. “Katherine comes with a great dowry, and you would do well to remember this before you do anything foolish.

  Hudson is conflicted again. He has a bird in the hand, and all he has to do is go through with this marriage, and all his family’s financial problems will go away. He hadn’t even been aware that his family was having trouble, but apparently his father had lived an extravagant life in debt and false promises. And now, with his failing health, Lord Carter’s creditors are panicking and calling in the debts. He obviously has no money to pay them back, and even his assets are not enough to settle the larger debts.

  His children have never worked, and although they have been university educated, they have done little with this education. They have instead squandered this borrowed money and lived mostly on their father’s good name. But now, his credit seems to be dried out, and the walls are fast closing in.

  There are a lot of things that Hudson has in mind, many plans that he has to bring his family back from this state. But all these plans will take time, and time is the one thing that they don’t have, not now. So, what is there to do, but to marry Katherine Frampton, and resign himself to a life of unhappiness? This is very disturbing to him, and his nature, but he really cannot afford to be disturbed now.

  Hudson looks around the ballroom, at everybody, happy, for him, and happy for Katherine. He thinks that he could pretend to be happy, but he knows that this will be very difficult for him. He has never been good at pretending and he knows that this will make his very unhappy. His happiness has got to take the back seat now, though, and he must put his family’s interest first.

  There is suddenly an urge in him to speak to Beatrice. He looks around for her, seeing her in the center of the room, surrounded by more people, people interested in her story, in her life, and for the first time, in her. She seems to have settled into her new role now, thanks to this ball, thanks to the exposure that she has had to people, for the first time really, who have no need to say nice things to her, or about her.

  He walks to her and looks at her, and she tries to ignore him for a moment, wanting to finish her conversation without the distraction that is Hudson. He seems to have something important to say to her, though, and so, after she wraps up her conversation, she excuses herself and walks over to him. Before she can ask him what is on his mind, he leans out a hand and takes her arm. He starts to move her through the crowded ballroom, towards the door that leads to the outside.

  He knows that it is cold outside, but if he doesn’t say what is on his mind now, he fears his nerve will fail him and he will never again have the opportunity…

  Chapter 10

  Alone at Last

  H udson pulls Beatrice from the ballroom, away from the gaze of the Lords and ladies in attendance. It is really cold outside, but he really needs to speak to her alone. Mrs. Seymour looks at them, trying to hide her smile, raising a handkerchief to her face and walking quickly to the kitchen. She knows that Beatrice could really become the lady of the manor, sort of, and she really couldn’t be more pleased.

  Mrs. Seymour gave the young Beatrice a hard time, but she always knew, in that place that
knows such things, that there was just something special about the girl.

  “Lady Davenport”, Hudson starts.

  “Beatrice, please Lord Carter…I’m still just Beatrice…” she says, looking at the skirt of her dress in the dark, catching the light from the massive ballroom windows.

  “Then you must call me Hudson…an unfortunate name I know, but it is mine…” he says, smiling. He places a finger gently on her chin and tilts her face towards his. Their eyes meet, and their respective gazes are now fixed on one another.

  “I think it’s a perfectly acceptable name for a gentleman…” she says, watching his mouth now, waiting for it to move. He returns her eyes to his by tilting her head a little more.

  “And every gentleman needs a lady…” he says to her, looking closely at her, wanting her to respond, but nervous about her reply.

  She looks at him, the wheels turning in her head as she tries to find an appropriate answer. Beatrice knows what she wants to say to him, but she isn’t sure if she can. Hudson and Kathrine have yet to break off their engagement, and even then, there are no guarantees. Beatrice has loved Hudson for the longest time, and now, now that it is possible for her to have him, now that he wants her, she is suddenly uncertain.

  Managing to pull herself away from him, she walks down the stairs into the garden. She hears him following her, so she doesn’t look back. She just keeps on moving, between the hedges, past the roses, and onto the open lawn hugged by lavenders. You can’t see these blossoms, but you smell them, rich and fragrant, caught on the evening breeze.