Regency for all Seasons: A Regency Romance Collection

by Mary Lancaster

  “Hell, yes.”

  *

  Romulus propped his shoulder against one of the columns in the rear of the impressive Royal Society hall, a magnificent, white marble homage to the great civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome. Violet stood in front on a stage that must have been erected for another function but appeared to serve perfectly for the charity recital.

  He listened to the soft trill of her voice, amazed by how effortlessly she reached the high notes. He felt a deep stir of pride in his heart when she sang one of the songs chosen for the recital.

  It was as though the melody floated across the room on angel’s wings.

  He heard the magic in her voice. Felt its gentle beauty flow through his body.

  Others responded the same way. Within moments, workers and visitors began to wander in to quietly listen, their eyes wide with enchantment, knowing they were hearing something quite special.

  Violet’s eyes were closed as she sang.

  She had no idea of the effect her voice had on others.

  Despite his instinctive dislike of Forester, Romulus had to give the man credit for recognizing Violet’s gift of song. He’d shown more faith in Violet than he had. Indeed, he was disappointed with himself, for he had quickly dismissed it as just singing, albeit excellent singing.

  He was wrong.

  Her gift was so much more.

  Violet opened her eyes when her song ended and was taken aback by the crowd that had gathered and the cheers now filling the great hall.

  She blushed and gave an embarrassed bow.

  Her gaze sought his. It wasn’t hard for her to spot him leaning against one of the columns. Braydens were tall. He was no exception.

  Relief shone in her eyes when she saw him, and her smile was as sweet as melted sugar.

  “I love you,” he mouthed, hoping she could read his lips.

  People began to come up to her to offer their compliments.

  Romulus was uncertain about the steadiness of the stage, so he plowed his way forward to be close to Violet should matters get out of hand. Forester came up to him, a wry smile on his face. “You married the little songbird, I hear.”

  Romulus nodded.

  “I ought to be insulted. I wasn’t invited to the wedding even though Violet’s family and mine have been friends for decades.”

  Romulus decided to be civil to the man. “It was immediate family only, and many of them could not be present on such short notice either. We wanted to keep it a small affair.”

  “Ah, I understand. She’s delectable. Turned out quite beautiful, although she showed none of that promise when she was younger. Obviously, you were caught in a compromising position. What was it? A mere kiss? Or did you manage more?”

  Romulus curled his hands into fists. Why had he bothered to be civil? “Nothing at all like that,” he said, speaking calmly although he wanted to knock out a few of this scoundrel’s teeth. “It was a matter of love at first sight. Why delay when you know it’s right? She felt the same. We married.”

  The crowd had now started to disperse, so Romulus climbed onto the stage to stand beside Violet, knowing he was responding like a possessive arse, but he did not like Forester anywhere near her. Nor Forester’s sister, for that matter. Where was she? He’d noticed her earlier, so there was no question she was around.

  As he surveyed the hall, he saw her slip back in from a small door off to the side. To his surprise, Finn strode out after her. Perhaps they’d been discussing the donations and where within the Royal Society offices they were to be held for safekeeping until deposited in the bank.

  After all, the recital was to be an evening affair, a time when all banks were closed.

  Finn had an odd look on his face. Had he been doing something more than merely discussing bank deposits with Lady Rawley?

  Romulus was no hound, but he had far more experience with women than Finn had, and certainly more experience with women like Lady Rawley. She was not to be trusted. Blessed saints! He hoped Finn had more sense than to be swayed by her kisses.

  Forester had also climbed onto the stage and now followed his gaze to where Finn and Lady Rawley stood. “Ah, I see my sister has been amusing herself with your cousin.”

  “Are we through here? Violet and I have things to do today.” Such as undress and have wild, baboon sex in bed. Or on the floor. Or on the table.

  Lord, he thought Forester was depraved. How was he any better? The thoughts he had of Violet would make a pirate blush.

  However, he was going to speak to Finn first. His cousin was a wizard with investments, but a dolt when it came to women. In truth, it was quite possible Finn was still a virgin. If so, it was even more important they speak, for Lady Rawley was not the right woman for his first experience.

  He knew her sort, bitter about her lot in life. Never satisfied. Ready to blame everyone for the poor choices she’d made. Felicia was much the same. These women had married for the title and were now bored out of their minds. Not even widowhood and the freedom it afforded, satisfied them. Felicia was proof of that.

  But Lady Rawley was still married, albeit unhappily.

  He did not care if the dalliance was consensual. The last thing he wanted was Finn involved in a scandal, called out by a humiliated husband.

  How were he and Finn to have this discussion in front of Violet? Obviously, they couldn’t. But neither did he wish to let Violet out of his sight. He glanced around. There were still a few of the Royal Society Fellows milling around the hall. He could steal outside with his cousin for a few minutes. “Finn,” he said, hopping off the stage and striding toward him. He gave a nod to Lady Rawley and then impolitely hauled Finn away, “I wanted to ask about your mother. Lady Miranda did not look well yesterday.”

  “She didn’t?”

  Gad, Finn was even more naive than Violet. How had the wildebeests failed in looking after their own? “No, not at all. She looked quite yellow.”

  He marched his cousin outside so that they now stood on the steps leading into the hall. The air was cool and crisp, and the sun shone down on them. Finn was immediately defensive. “What’s this about? My mother has never been sick a day in her life.”

  “What were you and Lady Rawley doing just now?”

  “Nothing.” But a blush shot into his cheeks.

  “I knew it. Did she try to kiss you?” Romulus ran a hand through his hair in irritation. “And you let her?”

  “Christ, Rom. I’m not a three-year-old. So what if she kissed me? It isn’t as if I made the first advance. It didn’t mean anything. There was no more to it than that. She’s married.” He shrugged. “What was I supposed to do? Push her away? Blubber and wail like an infant? Declare she offended my delicate sensibilities?”

  Romulus frowned.

  “Fine,” his cousin said, sighing heavily. “I’m not proud of kissing a married woman. I never would have considered it. She surprised me by throwing herself at me. I was caught unprepared. And don’t you dare repeat any of this to anyone.”

  “I won’t. I give you my oath on it. But you must watch out for her, Finn. She and her brother are up to something shady. I think they’re after the donations.”

  “What?” Finn shook his head and gave a dismissive laugh. “Why? Is this because you’re convinced no woman would want to kiss me unless she had an ulterior motive?”

  Damn it. Now he’d insulted his cousin. “No. Don’t be daft. I don’t give a fig about your experience with women. This is about avoiding a disaster for Violet. I don’t trust Forester or his sister. Keep alert. Don’t let her seduce you into doing something stupid.”

  “When have you ever known me to do something stupid?”

  “Never,” Romulus muttered. “But men go mindless when sex is involved. Just be careful if she offers you more than kisses. You aren’t the prize. Those donations are what she’s really after.”

  Finn folded his arms across his chest. “Are you through insulting me in every way possible?”

&n
bsp; Romulus winced. “Yes. I’m sorry. Truly. But this is important. Violet will be devastated if those funds don’t get to the orphanage. I hope they do. I hope I’m wrong about all of it, but I feel this pair is up to something. I dare not even discuss it with Violet. She thinks they are her friends. Now it is your turn to give me your word. Please say nothing about my suspicions to Violet or anyone else, for that matter.”

  “What about our cousins?”

  He sighed. “Fine, you can tell the wildebeests. But only if it proves absolutely necessary.”

  Finn nodded. “We’re good then. You have my word. I’ll keep it between us for now. I’ll let the others in on it if I sense danger.”

  “Thank you. I’d want the family looking out for Violet, especially if I’m called to duty and can’t be here for the recital.”

  His cousin gazed toward the door. “You had better go inside. I’m sure Violet will be missing you, although I can’t imagine why. You’re just a big pain in the arse.”

  He cuffed Finn. “Just keep your breeches buttoned.”

  He strode back inside.

  The hall was empty.

  His heart shot into his throat. Where was Violet? She had been out of his sight for less than five minutes. Damn it, she wasn’t a toddler. But it wasn’t merely that she was missing. It was that she and the Foresters were missing together.

  Since she hadn’t gone out through the main doors, she must have– “Violet! There you are. What happened? Where did you go?”

  She hurried to his side and rolled her eyes. “Ugh! Can you believe those old fossils who run the Royal Society? Jameson and Valerie were late for another appointment so they hurried off shortly after you left. Their carriage was waiting for them in the alleyway outside the hall so they ducked out the back way. I went in search of a ladies retiring room. I finally found it behind the relics room.” She pointed to the small door through which Finn and Lady Rawley had earlier emerged. “It’s a tiny chamber near where they store their musty artifacts. Obviously, comforts for the ladies were added merely as an afterthought. Men!” She grunted in disgust, then smiled at him. “I like you, though.”

  He laughed in relief and kissed the tip of her nose. “I like you, too. Shall we go home?”

  His heart was still in a rampant roar. He hadn’t been able to calm himself down yet, even though Violet was perfectly fine and nothing untoward had happened.

  “I’m a little hungry. Blakney’s Confectionery is not far from here. It’s a wonderful little sweets shop. They make the most heavenly pies. Do you mind if we stop there first?”

  He nodded. “Sounds perfect.”

  Blakney’s was just as Violet had described it to him. Cozy. Cheerful. Wrought-iron chairs painted white and colorful linens in vivid red. He ordered an apple pie with cinnamon topping. Violet ordered a lemon tart. He had just finished his first slice and was about to dig into the second when Violet cleared her throat. “Would you mind terribly if we dined at Uncle John’s and Aunt Sophie’s tonight?”

  He froze with his mouth open and his fork raised.

  “You see, my cousins, Honey and Belle, are expected, and I thought it would be nice to see them.”

  He lowered his fork, sparing only a glance at the tempting chunk of baked apples sitting on the gleaming tines of silver. Those warm, savory apples should have been rolling in his mouth and preparing to slide down his gullet. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I thought we’d…”

  She blushed. “Yes, of course. If you insist. It isn’t as if I must see them today.”

  “But you’d like to.” He laughed silently, realizing his wife was not quite so guileless as he suspected. She’d lulled him into this state of glutted satisfaction—Lord, those pies were good—before asking him to agree to more hours out of their bed, her exquisite body achingly out of his arms. “I don’t mind. We’ll go if it means that much to you.”

  She placed her hand over his. “Thank you, Romulus.”

  He’d warned Finn to keep his wits about him, but Romulus knew he ought to have taken his own advice.

  Violet left him witless.

  He would jump through fire if she asked him.

  He had no idea how severely marriage could turn a man’s brain to pudding. He’d thought that particular idiocy occurred before marriage, stupid boys doing stupid things with the wrong sort of woman. The institution of marriage was supposed to sober a man. Make him responsible. Respectable. Wise. One sowed one’s wild oats before entering into said permanent arrangement, got the stupid out of one’s system.

  Completely wrong when dealing with love marriages. Making love to the woman one loved was a bountiful harvest of delights, but it left one’s brain soft-boiled.

  He kept hold of Violet’s hand, not caring that they were gathering stares. She tried to slip her hand away discreetly. He wouldn’t let go of it. “We’re married. We can do this.”

  She smiled at him. “I know. And I do love holding on to you. But I would love another bite of my lemon tart, and I can’t while you have my hand.”

  He chuckled and released her. “Gad, you have me wrapped around your little finger, and we’ve only been married a day.”

  “You have the same effect on me. Isn’t it exciting, Romulus? I feel so lightheaded. I’m still tingling all over from this morning, and giddy with delight at the prospect of what comes next.” Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she spoke. “I know where you’d rather be right now. Your gaze is hot enough to burn through the wrought iron of our table. I would rather be home with you, too. But I also like being out and about in town with you, being seen with my new husband.”

  “Is that so?”

  She nodded. “I’m not perfect. Indeed, I know I’m being quite prideful right now, wanting to show you off. Wanting to shout out loud, this man is the handsomest man in the world! This is my husband.”

  “Well, all right then. I’m feeling quite proud myself. This beautiful songbird is mine. How the hell did that happen? I feel I was rewarded for my bad behavior.”

  “It wasn’t so bad. You did the honorable thing and asked me to marry you. Which reminds me of another thing we ought to do.”

  “And that is?”

  “Stop by Lady Withnall’s townhouse and personally thank her.”

  He sank back in his chair and groaned. “Gad, Violet. Now you are going too far.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Another messenger awaited them when they returned home, this one for Romulus. “It’s from the Admiralty.” He looked at Violet in dismay. “I’ve been summoned.”

  Her hand tightened on his arm. “No,” she said in a broken whisper. “It’s too soon. We’ve only had a day.”

  “I know, love. It’s probably just a preliminary meeting.”

  She gazed at him with hopeful eyes. “Do you think so?”

  “Yes.” Although he wasn’t as certain as he made it appear. Still, he did not think it likely he would be sent off without a few days’ warning. “I had better go with the messenger. I’ll meet you at your aunt and uncle’s for supper.”

  Violet nodded. “I’ll go over there early and see if my Oxfordshire cousins have arrived. My other cousins may also be there, Dillie and Daisy. We were going to discuss the charity recital.”

  He gave her a lingering kiss. “It will be a wonderful success. You affect people, Violet. You are amazing.”

  She blushed. “Hurry home, Romulus. You have a wanton for a wife, and she is hungry for you.”

  “I will, love.” Romulus kissed her and then hurried to the Admiralty. The sooner he learned what this message was about, the sooner he could return to Violet.

  The late afternoon sun was bright and glistening upon the murky Thames water as he rode to meet the First Lord Admiral. In the distance rose the mighty Tower of London. It was not long before he strode into the massive stone Admiralty building that housed the naval administration offices and climbed the stairs to what looked like a war room of a sort.

  The wood-paneled cham
ber was filled with maps set upon a long conference table. The First Lord Admiral was seated at the head of the table. He knew the man, Viscount Melville, and gave him his due respect. Several high-ranking naval officers and a few politicians were also seated, apparently in wait for him.

  He recognized most of the men, a powerful lot who could make or break a man’s career.

  “My lords,” Romulus said, taking the nondescript seat offered to him. He was a mere captain, fairly low in the order of precedence among those at the table. Indeed, possibly the lowest. Yet, the Lord Admiral spoke to him first. “The Cornwall pirates have struck again, Brayden. Quite serious, this time. They’ve sunk one of our best ships.”

  Romulus frowned. “How did it happen? Captain Ashcroft is an experienced–”

  “Captain Erskine was put in command,” said a man he recognized as Lord Marbury, Marquis of Chester. Not a man to have as one’s enemy.

  Oh, bollocks. This was going to be a mess. Erskine also happened to be a nephew of the marquis, who presently looked as unhappy as a man could look and not be in tears…or raging. Romulus drew in a breath. “It was Erskine’s frigate that sank?”

  The marquis nodded.

  Which meant Erskine was in danger of losing his commission. It was standard procedure for a captain to stand for court-martial if he lost his ship. Is this what they had planned for the poor man? It wasn’t Erskine’s fault. The Admiralty was to blame for putting this inexperienced nephew of the Marquis of Chester in charge of an important command. “What happened to Ashcroft? Was he reassigned?”

  The Lord Admiral cleared his throat. “He’s still there, of course. Erskine ordered him to take their fleet and give chase to a pirate wolf pack.”

  “He ordered Ashcroft to lead the charge? So where was Erskine when he lost his ship?”

  The air became thick with tension. Finally, the Lord Admiral spoke up. “He stayed behind in Port Isaac. His frigate was moored in the harbor. Pirates burned it.”

  “Christ, he remained alone in Port Isaac? How many casualties on our side?” His heart ached for the men who’d had no chance to escape the burning vessel.