To Warm A Wintered Heart (Regency Romance)

by Deborah M. Hathaway

  Rather than dwelling on her sorrows, Charlotte pushed aside her own feelings, feelings she had yet to even acknowledge, and instead placed a smile upon her lips just as the carriage rolled to a stop in front of the Bosville’s home.

  The three of them entered the grand house together, and within a matter of moments, they had been announced, welcomed, and introduced.

  Mrs. Worthington was soon pulled away with the Bosvilles, and Charlotte was left to stand next to Gabriel alone.

  She scanned the faces before her, knowing she ought to excuse herself to greet the others around the room, however, the discomfort she felt due to Miss Bosville and her visiting cousin, Miss Filbee, glaring in her direction, as well as stares sent her way by Mr. Cropp, a stocky man Miss Bosville had become acquainted with in York, caused her to remain where she stood.

  She averted her gaze from all three unsettling pairs of eyes and sighed, grasping her hands together in front of her as she looked instead to the fire crackling in the hearth, all the while praying the evening would end faster than it had begun.

  Gabriel stared at the darkened window to the side of him, curbing his desire to speak with Charlotte as they stood together in silence, for he feared conversation might cause their relationship to strengthen.

  Would an improved friendship with Miss Rosebury be so terrible? he asked himself.

  When Charlotte sighed next to him, he looked down to see her empty expression, her cheerless eyes focusing upon the icy stares she received from Miss Bosville and her cousin, and suddenly, Gabriel’s desire to return her smile overcame his thoughts of caution.

  “Do you dislike dinner parties as much as I, Miss Rosebury?”

  “I normally enjoy small gatherings such as this,” she replied with cast down eyes, “however I feel rather uncomfortable here, for one reason or another.”

  He paused. “I do hope your discomfort is not due to my abrupt departure from the stables yesterday.”

  She shook her head. “No, it is not you causing my discontent.”

  A wave of relief washed over him at not having offended her again before he continued. “Then perhaps your unhappiness stems from half of the party seeming to send invisible daggers in our direction.”

  “That is a plausible reason. I cannot imagine why they feel the need to do so.”

  “Perhaps they are still offended with you sharing with them your vast knowledge of Shakespeare and his writings.”

  A faint blush spread across her cheeks, and he smiled at her beauty before pushing aside his dangerous thoughts.

  What is so very dangerous of thinking my friend is beautiful? he asked himself.

  “I suppose that is why they frown at me,” Charlotte responded, “however, I wonder now at their frowns in your direction.”

  Gabriel looked to see the women across the room whispering behind their fans, their pointed gazes upon him.

  “I am certain they stare because of my handsome features.”

  Charlotte laughed next to him, her smile once more brightening her face, and his heartbeat quickened.

  “Your laughter would have me assume you do not agree, Miss, Rosebury,” he said, his brow raised. “Do you not find me desirable?”

  “Of course I do, Mr. Worthington,” she replied, but her eyes widened. “Well, of course, I meant some might think so. I, for one, would not know.”

  Gabriel smiled. “Come now,” he said, moving to hold his hands behind his back. “I may be handsome, if not the handsomest gentleman you have ever come across, but we have known each other for some time now, and there is certainly no need to feel uneasy around my noble features.”

  Charlotte shook her head, though her smile grew. “You are far too vain, sir,” she said.

  “Indeed?”

  She nodded. “In fact, in an attempt to quell your vanity, I might say I have crossed paths with handsomer gentlemen than yourself.”

  “You and I both know dishonesty is a sin, Miss Rosebury.”

  Her dimples deepened as she grinned, her eyes twinkling with mirth, and his heart pounded in his chest, for in that moment, he could not help but admit his desire for more than a simple friendship with Charlotte Rosebury.

  As the last of the guests arrived, the party moved to the dining room, and Charlotte’s mood, having improved considerably due to Gabriel’s attention, remained light when she discovered she was to be seated next to him during their meal.

  Taking her seat, she glanced around to notice Miss Bosville staring across the table at her and sitting next to Miss Filbee, who smiled in Gabriel’s direction. Mrs. Worthington sat next to Mr. Bosville near the head of the table, and at the opposite, far end sat Mr. Cropp, watching Charlotte with a smile that caused an uneasy feeling to arise within her.

  She glanced away, and as the meal began, she determined to no longer look toward him for the rest of the evening.

  Charlotte was pleased when Gabriel’s attention focused solely upon her, including well into the second course when he asked concerning her sister in France.

  “She is well, thank you,” Charlotte replied, flattered with his question. “I believe she is enjoying her time whilst there.”

  “Is this all she has shared with you?” Gabriel asked. “Has your sister changed her ways so suddenly, or do you merely hide what she truly thinks of her holiday?”

  Charlotte smiled. “Very well,” she said before lowering her voice. “She has written to me in her last letter of the many gentlemen she has observed.”

  “Ah, yes,” Gabriel said. “This sounds far more like your sister. And what has she to say of them?”

  “Only that they are far too feeble for her liking,” Charlotte said, smiling as she thought of Julia. “Therefore, she has expressed her desire to meet with a handsome gentleman of large stature with a swoon-inducing smile.”

  “I see,” Gabriel said with an amused look. “Well, perhaps if she travels enough she may find a gentleman with such amiable qualities. However, I—”

  “Oh, Mr. Worthington?”

  Charlotte and Gabriel both looked to Miss Filbee as she flashed a smile toward him, her dark eyebrows raised high upon her pale forehead as she continued.

  “My cousin tells me you own an estate just west of here.”

  Gabriel nodded. “Indeed,” he responded before turning back to Charlotte. “I must say, though, your sister—”

  “Is it a large estate?” Miss Filbee interrupted again.

  Charlotte tried to hide the disgust she felt at her interruption and probing of Gabriel’s status of wealth.

  “Greyston Hall does sit upon a fine piece of land, yes,” he responded.

  “Well, I shall have to see it for myself, then,” Miss Filbee said, fluttering her dark eyelashes once more at Gabriel, though Charlotte was pleased to see his gaze had already moved to focus upon his plate of food.

  During the rest of the meal, Charlotte and Gabriel conversed as much as possible, despite Miss Filbee’s constant attempts to pull Gabriel’s attention to herself, until the women stood to make their way to the drawing room.

  “Do try your best to keep safe amongst the wolves in there, Miss Rosebury,” Gabriel said softly. “I should like to see you alive and well again.”

  “I will do my best, sir,” she said before lowering her voice. “Although, I feel I ought to protect myself. Did you happen to see a sword lying around, or, perhaps, a spade?”

  Charlotte felt as if she could die of happiness as Gabriel laughed.

  “I will keep a watchful eye, Miss Rosebury,” he said, and after they shared another smile, she departed from his side.

  After Charlotte left him at the table, Gabriel sat down with the other gentlemen, missing her company at once, and as the others spoke about the port, he listened half-heartedly until their conversation turned to the woman herself, and suddenly, his attention returned.

  “Miss Rosebury is a happy little thing, is she not?” Mr. Proddle said.

  “Oh, indeed,” another agreed. “Always
smiling, that one.”

  “Yes, she is quite the pretty creature,” Mr. Cropp commented before taking a swig of the dark liquid in his glass, and Gabriel looked up at him.

  “Ah, but you must be careful, Mr. Cropp,” Mr. Proddle said, holding his hand in the air, “when speaking in such a way about Miss Rosebury, especially in the present company.”

  Though Mr. Proddle’s eyes fell upon him, Gabriel remained silent as he leaned back in his chair.

  “Am I to understand she is attached to a gentleman here?” Mr. Cropp asked, and Gabriel watched him finish his drink before signaling for a refill of his glass.

  “Indeed, Mr. Proddle,” said Mr. Reydon, a man who lived in a neighboring estate to Greyston Hall. “Do you mean to say Miss Rosebury has an understanding with Mr. Worthington here?”

  “Mr. Worthington,” Mr. Bosville piped in, “attached to another? I think not. The man could not be attached to any living soul more than his horses.”

  Laughter followed, but Gabriel smiled, already accustomed to such mockery.

  “Have you nothing to say on the matter, Worthington?” Mr. Proddle asked. “Are you attached to the young woman or not?”

  Gabriel glanced to Mr. Cropp, who seemed to be hanging on to every word spoken.

  “Miss Rosebury and I have become very good friends,” he said, “that is all.”

  “Only friends?” Mr. Cropp asked.

  “Indeed,” he responded with narrowed eyes.

  “There you have it,” Mr. Bosville said, tapping his hand against the table.

  “Well, if they be merely friends,” Mr. Cropp said, “I am certain Mr. Worthington has no say if any number of us approach the woman. Be we single, of course.”

  And for reasons Gabriel could not concoct, his stomach churned as laughter sounded throughout the dining room once again.

  Charlotte remained by Mrs. Worthington’s side for the next half an hour away from the gentlemen, and when Gabriel finally entered with the others, not even Miss Bosville’s and her mother’s frowns in her direction could diminish her smile when he approached her without hesitation.

  “You survived,” Gabriel said when he reached her.

  “Only just.”

  They shared a smile before Gabriel glanced away. “I have been meaning to apologize to you, Miss Rosebury,” he said, “for not taking time to see the horses with you this morning. I should have informed you I had business to attend to.”

  A wave of relief rushed over Charlotte to hear she had not been the cause of the man’s absence, but she released an exaggerated sigh.

  “How unfortunate,” she said, “for I had hoped you had given up on me so I might be rid of your constant commands.”

  “I would never accept defeat so easily, Miss Rosebury,” he said. “No, we shall continue with our lessons until you are comfortable around horses, and that is final.”

  “Comfortable around horses?”

  Charlotte forced a civil smile upon her lips, though she would have much rather cringed when Miss Filbee stood swiftly between her and Gabriel, interrupting their conversation.

  “Did I hear correctly?” Miss Filbee continued. “Miss Rosebury is not comfortable around horses?”

  Charlotte noticed Gabriel taking a furtive step away from the woman before glancing silently to Charlotte.

  “No, she is not,” Charlotte answered for herself to Miss Filbee’s back until the young woman looked over her shoulder.

  “I see,” she said, “so Mr. Worthington is teaching you to ride?”

  “I know how to ride,” Charlotte responded.

  “Truly?” Miss Filbee questioned, staring dubiously at Charlotte, whose smile faltered.

  “Miss Rosebury is uneasy around the animal,” Gabriel said shortly. “She and I are spending time together so her discomfort might be alleviated.”

  Miss Filbee giggled. “Horses frighten you, Miss Rosebury?” she said with a look of derision upon her face. “Why, I have never heard of such a thing. A lady frightened of horses. What an idea.”

  “It is not so uncommon as you might assume,” Gabriel said, his frown growing at the same rate as Charlotte’s blush.

  “Fearing horses is common?” Miss Filbee said, her dark brows pulling together. “I am afraid you could not be more mistaken. Cousin?” she paused, calling for Miss Bosville, “Cousin, come. You must hear what I have just discovered. Miss Rosebury is frightened of horses!”

  Miss Bosville approached them with an arrogant smirk.

  “Frightened of horses?” she repeated. “However could you be fearful of such pathetic creatures?”

  Charlotte bit her lip as her face grew warmer.

  “Indeed, cousin,” Miss Filbee continued. “I would never fear such a thing.”

  “Nor I, to be sure,” Miss Bosville agreed.

  “You see, Miss Rosebury,” Miss Filbee said with a haughty smile, “your fear is entirely unfounded. You shall have nothing to worry about if you make use of your riding crop, for the animal shall then know its place.”

  “Fear of horses,” Miss Bosville carried on. “I half-expect you to fear lambs now.”

  Gabriel frowned. “Miss Rosebury is not—”

  “My goodness, cousin,” Miss Filbee interrupted, “look at the blush upon the girl’s face. She is as red as a rose from her brow to her chin!”

  Miss Bosville giggled. “Your name certainly matches your blush, Miss Rosebury.”

  Charlotte glanced away, praying Gabriel might not notice the embarrassing shade of red upon her face, but he shook his head beside her.

  “Her blush is quite—”

  “Mr. Cropp,” Miss Bosville said, cutting him off with a wave in the stocky man’s direction, “come and hear what we have just discovered about Miss Rosebury.”

  Charlotte averted her gaze as the short man strode toward them, Miss Bosville continuing once she wrapped her hands around Mr. Cropp’s forearm.

  “Miss Rosebury is afraid of horses,” she said. “Can you believe such a thing?”

  Mr. Cropp chuckled, and Charlotte’s lips twitched with aversion to the man with whom she had never even spoken.

  “What a silly thing to be frightened of, Miss Rosebury,” he said with an amused expression.

  She glanced to Gabriel, fearing a smile upon his own lips, but when she saw him frowning unreservedly at Mr. Cropp, dislike obvious in his eyes, her heart fluttered.

  “That is just what we said, Mr. Cropp,” Miss Filbee said, “very silly, indeed.”

  Laughter broke out amongst the three of them as Gabriel shook his head again.

  “It is not so silly,” he said, however, Charlotte shook her own head softly toward him, and they both remained silent until the laughter around them quieted down.

  “I am happy to have provided the three of you with such entertainment this evening,” she said, staring straight-faced at the women and avoiding Mr. Cropp’s gaze altogether, “however, as I have not received the same enjoyment from your own company, I shall leave you. Excuse me.”

  She left the group with her head held high, though her heart grew heavy as she listened to Miss Filbee continuing to speak behind her.

  “Now, Mr. Worthington,” she said, “why must you waste your time teaching a frightened girl how to ride a horse when you could be enjoying yourself with a woman such as myself? You see, I am quite an adept rider, just ask my cousin. It takes a great deal of…”

  Miss Filbee’s voice faded away when Charlotte reached Mrs. Worthington’s side, her smile weak when the woman noted her presence.

  “Whatever is the matter, Miss Rosebury?” Mrs. Worthington asked after excusing herself from Mrs. Lacey and Mrs. Proddle. “You look flushed.”

  “I am quite all right,” she managed to say, though she glanced to Gabriel, who remained where she had left him, a frown still apparent upon his face.

  Loud laughter came from Miss Bosville and her cousin, and Charlotte’s ears burned again when they exclaimed, “A fear of horses, what a silly idea!�
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  “I see,” Mrs. Worthington said, her eyes upon the small group. “Well, worry not, my dear. Their opinions are of no importance.”

  “Perhaps,” Charlotte said, looking to the floor, “though I must admit, one of their opinions does matter to me.”

  The words escaped her lips before she could stop them, and she looked to Mrs. Worthington with uncertainty.

  However, Mrs. Worthington smiled and patted Charlotte’s hand. “Do not think for one moment my son agrees with them, my dear,” she said. “Now, why do you not join me in speaking with more pleasant company?”

  Charlotte agreed with a grateful smile, and she stood by Mrs. Worthington’s side, happily noting when Gabriel left the laughing young women, before Mrs. Bosville called for entertainment for her guests.

  Her daughter was quick to seize the opportunity to present her talent with the pianoforte, playing twice in a row before Miss Filbee jumped forth, revealing her own ability to play the instrument with three pieces of her own.

  Before she could play another, however, Mrs. Proddle spoke up, her tight ringlets trembling as she spoke.

  “Why do we not allow Miss Rosebury the chance to play?” she suggested, and a murmur of assent traveled throughout the group.

  “Oh, thank you,” Charlotte said as her cheeks reddened, “but I am certain we would all wish to hear another’s performance.”

  “Oh, ple—”

  “There, you see?” Miss Filbee interrupted. “She does not wish to perform. I suppose I had better continue on.”

  And Miss Filbee did just that, resuming her position behind the pianoforte before playing yet another piece.

  Charlotte, though dreading having to sit through another song with Miss Filbee’s nasally voice, felt relieved, and she leaned back in her chair with a satisfied sigh.

  “Miss Rosebury,” whispered a voice from nearby, and Charlotte glanced back to see Gabriel standing behind her, “why did you not favor us with your playing? You might have saved us all another headache.”

  Charlotte smiled, grateful they were behind the others so their conversation would go unheard.

  “I do apologize, Mr. Worthington,” she said, “but you must know already the words I would receive should I perform for them.”