The Ladies’ Secrets: A Historical Regency Romance Box Set

by Ayles, Abby

  Natalie nodded.

  “Perhaps it is that they are engaged for love before you because they obviously cared for other people. They listened and cared and did not think only of themselves. It shows, you know. People can tell.

  “I have not met a woman as beautiful as you. Nor, I am sure, are there many women more popular than you are. But a beautiful woman does not necessarily make a good wife. And a woman who is popular at the ball is not necessarily the woman you want to spend your quiet hours with in your home.

  “If you were to show more people that you genuinely cared for what they had to say…if you put their needs before your own…then, I think, you would find yourself feeling truly fulfilled.”

  Natalie thought on that. It was quite a lot to take in. “I…yes. Perhaps.” She paused. “And perhaps if you did not see things in such black and white terms…if you were to relax your own judgment and make an effort to show that you cared, others would be more gentle with you in turn.”

  “I am rather severe, aren’t I,” Lord Ridgecleff mused. As if the idea was entertaining to him.

  “Just a little bit,” Natalie replied. She smiled a little, unable to help herself.

  She liked the banter, the teasing, that they seemed capable of. She only wished that she could figure out how to make it like that all the time instead of them at one another’s throats.

  There was a pause, a lull in the conversation. Natalie was not quite sure how to proceed. Lord Ridgecleff seemed to be at a loss as well. Should she apologize again?

  “When is your sister’s marriage?” Lord Ridgecleff asked at last. “Miss Elizabeth, the one just after you. I believe she is to be the first married?”

  “She is to be married first, yes,” Natalie confirmed. “And she is to have it in London in a month’s time.”

  “The season will be starting then as well.”

  “Yes, that is the plan. To marry at the start of the season so that she might spend it as a married woman. Regina’s will be not long after, I suppose.”

  “Then let us make that our test.” Lord Ridgecleff turned to face her. “We shall have a month here in which to get used to one another. Then we can attend your sister’s wedding and see if we are truly suited for one another and can withstand society.”

  Natalie thought on that. It sounded fair to her. After all, if they could not handle one another in such isolated conditions such as this then there was no point in continuing this engagement.

  But, if they did handle one another well, then it would be fair to test it out in society. Society, where there were temptations and trials and the opinions of others to contend with and distract both of them.

  Yes, it sounded like a fair plan to her.

  “I accept the proposal,” she said. “I think it is a good one.”

  “Very well then.”

  They looked at one another, and for a moment it felt like they were conspirators together. Planning something. United. There was something that looked almost like mirth dancing in Lord Ridgecleff’s eyes. It made Natalie want to smile at him.

  “Pardon my interruption,” Louisa said, closing the distance. “But your sister, my lord, met with me as I was hanging back. It seems your father is looking for the both of you.”

  Louisa’s intrusion had broken the moment. In truth, Natalie had forgotten that her elder sister was hovering there just out of earshot.

  Whatever she had been sharing with Lord Ridgecleff—whatever that moment had been—it was gone now.

  He turned and bowed to Louisa. “Thank you. I shall hurry to the house—you two may join when you arrive. I shall not make you rush.”

  He walked quickly back in the direction of the house.

  Louisa looked at Natalie and offered her arm. Natalie took it.

  “I don’t suppose that you heard any of what was exchanged,” Natalie asked, her voice low. She felt she should apologize to Louisa. She had been such an awful sister.

  “I heard bits and pieces. Your voices rose,” Louisa admitted. “But I did my best to refrain from trying to purposefully make out what was being said.”

  “I’ve been an awful fool, Louisa,” Natalie admitted. “Simply the most awful fool.”

  She told Louisa of the entire conversation and all that had transpired.

  “What must everyone think of me?” she asked. “What was my reputation truly back home, or in London—was I not thought of as the most awful creature?”

  “You were thought of as the most entertaining woman at the ball,” Louisa said carefully. “People did truly enjoy your company. But I think that nobody wished to be your close friend. You were amusing as an acquaintance and as someone to invite to larger gatherings.”

  “You are being kind,” Natalie accused her. “You have always been far too kind where others are concerned.”

  “If you wish to have a harsh estimation of someone, including yourself, then you may ask Elizabeth,” Louisa replied. “I do not see how good can come of scolding you. Especially when you have already been scolded quite well enough by your intended.”

  “I scolded him quite well in return,” Natalie pointed out for the sake of her pride.

  “That you did,” Louisa acknowledged, smiling slightly.

  “But tell me, Louisa—have I been a bad sister? I feel I must apologize to you. And to our other sisters as well.”

  “Regina, I think, is the one you need to apologize to,” Louisa admitted. “But Elizabeth has her own fair share of apologizing to do to Regina as well. Bridget I think you need only apologize to for giving her such stress.”

  “Elizabeth?”

  “Elizabeth always gave as good as she received from you. I think you’re well matched in one another’s temper and quite even as far as insults and injuries are concerned.”

  “And you?”

  Louisa turned and brought her free hand up to gently cup Natalie’s cheek. “My sweet sister. You have no need to apologize to me.”

  “But…” Natalie could feel the tears finally springing free. “But I have been most wretched. And selfish. And rude.”

  “And it is all forgiven,” Louisa told her gently. “Forgiven was bestowed before you even asked for it. The moment you gave me injury, it was forgiven and forgotten.”

  “You are too good,” Natalie warned her. “Too kind. See to it that others do not take advantage of it. I’m certain that I have in the past.”

  Louisa pulled her in for a hug. “You are my sister. My darling sister. I will always forgive you.”

  Natalie cried, just a little bit, into Louisa’s shoulder. It felt good to get those tears out. Like she was shedding who she was and becoming someone new. Someone who, hopefully, thought more and better of others.

  She pulled back, allowing Louisa to gently wipe the tears from her face and pinch her cheeks to bring color back into them.

  “I must look a fright.”

  Louisa laughed gently. “As always, you look the picture of loveliness. Now, come along. Your fiancé and future father-in-law await you.”

  “I’m sure that my fiancé would rather wish I never showed.”

  Louisa got a knowing gleam in her eye. “I think, perhaps, he thinks more highly of you than even he realizes.”

  Chapter 22

  That had not at all gone the way that John had expected.

  He had expected one of two things to happen. Either Miss Natalie would throw a temper tantrum like a child, or she would be all contriteness.

  Instead, she had given as good as she had gotten.

  She had taken the whole thing admirably well. John had hated to insinuate to her what he knew of Cleary’s past actions. It was not right to speak to a young lady of such things. But how was she to guard herself against them if she did not know what to guard against? Or that there was anything to guard against in the first place?

  But aside from accepting his criticisms of her, she had pointed out criticisms of her own.

  She was right, John had to admit that. He’d bee
n dismissing her from the beginning. He had been thinking only of himself and how he was to protect his reputation.

  A woman was a wife and a mistress of a house. As such her behavior reflected upon both her husband and the household. But was it not the same the other way around?

  Was a husband’s behavior not just as bound to his wife and his home? Was he not as owing to Miss Natalie as she was to him?

  He had been worrying about her only in regards to himself. He had not been thinking about Miss Natalie for her own sake. It was as selfish of him as he was accusing her of being.

  It seemed that they both had made transgressions, and both had much to learn in this endeavor.

  He would have to try and do better both for his own sake and for Natalie’s. He would have to pay more attention to her.

  Perhaps that was why she was so inclined towards light entertainment and gossip and meddling. Being the middle child in a large family of women she must have had to compete for attention.

  It made sense that, as the prettiest one, she would start to notice how she got attention. That people would laugh with her and look at her if she said something witty or knew the latest gossip.

  That men would flock to her if she flirted and if she played coy. If she was the fun one in the room.

  Was it any wonder that all of it had fed her ego to the point of making her selfish?

  He would have to help her to get rid of that. To see that true relationships could only bloom when one person truly listened and cared about the other’s wellbeing.

  It seemed he had to remember that as well.

  What had he come home for, after all? Not for his father’s illness. Not for his sister who missed him so. Not for his brother who longed to be free of the burden of the estate and to travel.

  No, he had come home only for himself. To save his own inheritance. Not for his family.

  It was a wickedly selfish way for him to behave. He should have come home long ago. He had made excuses—sowing his wild oats, his father did not want him—but they were just that. Excuses.

  He should have returned home to his family. He should have thought of their needs and not his own desires.

  Now he was here. He had a chance, thank God, to change all of that. He could do better. Fate had offered him this second chance. A way to redemption in the eyes of himself and his family.

  He was going to take it.

  And Miss Natalie—perhaps they could help one another. She had shown admirable spirit in pointing out his own flaws. He should have expected it of her with her quick wit. It suggested a high intelligence and a boldness to go with it.

  Most women wouldn’t have dared to call him out. He was a man and a powerful one. But Natalie had not hesitated to show him that she might be in the wrong, but so was he.

  He would have to find a way to thank her properly for it. And a way for them both to grow together. Become better people.

  John quickly walked to the study where his father was staying. Father was always in his study when John was growing up. He was constantly dealing with the business of the household.

  Sure enough, Father was in there now, going over papers. He looked up as John entered.

  “Ah. Come in, come in. Where is your lovely young lady?”

  “She is coming in from the gardens with her sister. I hurried on ahead. I did not wish for them to exert themselves needlessly.”

  “No matter, no matter.” Father looked again at his papers. “I suppose the dinner last night was ghastly as usual.”

  “Father. There is no need for rudeness.”

  The earl snorted. “I am glad that my illness has allowed me a permanent excuse to beg off those things. Cleary is as rakish as ever. Hunsford is all right but dull. And Mrs. Hapson has been a thorn in my side for twenty years.”

  “Mr. Hunsford is an admirable man.”

  “Emma can do better,” Father said at once.

  John sighed inwardly. He wanted to argue for Mr. Hunsford but with the man tied up because of his sister there wasn’t much point. If he had been planning on proposing to Emma it would be different.

  As it was, John had no desire to get into another fight with his father. Especially not when Miss Natalie and Miss Louisa might walk in any second.

  “What do you propose we do about Emma, then?” he asked, since they were conveniently on the subject. “May I bring her to London in a month for the season?”

  Father squinted at him. “Nonsense. She shall do much better here at home.”

  “She will never meet any other eligible men here at home. There is no one about. Unless someone miraculously moves here. She must go to London before she loses her chance at marriage.”

  “She will lose nothing. I wish to keep her nearby.”

  “I know that she reminds you of Mother—”

  Father glared at him. “You watch carefully what you are saying, John.”

  “I’m saying that keeping Emma here because she reminds you of Mother is selfish. Women do not have the luxury of taking their time with marriage as men do.

  “You will live for a long time yet. To keep her here for all of that time will only condemn her to spinsterhood.”

  “You dare to tell me how I, a father, should care for his own children—”

  “Oh, goodness, it is far too dark in here!”

  Miss Natalie’s voice rang out loudly. John suspected that it was on purpose.

  He and Father both turned. Miss Natalie was standing in the doorway, her sister hovering behind her.

  “Come, let us draw these curtains, Louisa. I dare say that all this darkness is not improving any man’s temper. Wouldn’t you say, my lord?” Miss Natalie said, looking at John.

  She had definitely overheard the beginnings of their argument then. John felt a rush of gratitude for her interruption.

  Miss Natalie opened the curtains with her sister’s help and then approached the earl. “If I may, my lord, I’ll just fluff your pillows. My father’s back always used to ache after so long at a desk with his papers.”

  The earl allowed Miss Natalie to fuss over him. She did it with such cheer and a touch of playfulness that it seemed impossible to resist her.

  “You were sorely missed at the dinner last night, my lord,” Miss Natalie went on. “Do you play bridge?”

  “On occasion, yes,” the earl replied.

  “Well, we must play a game tonight. My sister is quite good as is your daughter. I cannot speak as to your sons. But I think I should quite like to play against you. Your eldest son’s wit comes from you, I dare say, and I’m sure you’ll make a fine opponent for me.”

  “Do you play well then?”

  “Oh, yes, very well. I’ve beaten out everyone in London, nobody will play me anymore.”

  John suspected that Emma had been the one to tell Miss Natalie that his father used to love playing bridge and was quite good at it. It was smart of her to appeal to that and to challenge his intelligence. Father enjoyed that kind of challenge.

  She had a rather deft hand with him, despite having known him for so short of a time. John appreciated that. He had thought that no matter what woman he brought home his father would intimidate the life right out of her.

  Not so with Miss Natalie, it seemed. The flirtations she handled so well in a ballroom were now being used to easily handle the difficult elder gentleman.

  As she came around to stand behind him, Miss Natalie looked up at John. She smiled at him conspiratorially.

  “My lord,” Miss Natalie said. “I was wondering, as your future daughter-in-law, if I might ask you a great favor.

  “My other sister is getting married in a month’s time, and of course your son and I shall be attending the wedding. I dare say they have put the banns up already.

  “I was wondering if perhaps I might beg you to allow your daughter to join us as a guest? I should greatly enjoy it if she could meet my family. Your other son will of course be welcome to join us as well, but I expect you must want him to s
tay home and manage things while your elder son is gone.

  “It would be only a week of us being gone. Would it be possible for me to impose such a favor upon you?”

  “A month’s time, you say?” the earl pondered the request.

  Miss Natalie crouched down in front of him. She looked rather sweet and innocent in such a pose. Like a child, almost. “I would be quite grateful. I fear this particular sister will not be able to come to my wedding to your son. I should love for my new sister to meet my old ones.

  “But of course,” Miss Natalie added with a sigh, “I know how dreadfully fond you are of her.” She stood up, looking forlorn. “Your son has often spoken to me of what a favorite of yours she is. I can well understand if you would not wish to part with her. Even for such a short time.”

  John almost gaped at her for her boldness. Yet it seemed to be working. The earl was smiling at her indulgently.

  “I am glad to know that my Emma finally has a proper friend. There are so few ladies about here in this small area. I am certain that it will be good for her to meet your family. And of course, you may invite your sisters down at some time if you wish.”

  John was astounded. Father hated guests.

  “Oh, forgive me, I’m thinking only of myself. What was the matter that you wished to speak with us about?” Miss Natalie asked.

  “Ah, yes.” Father nodded. “I wished to ask the both of you when you would like to hold the wedding. There is much that I must instruct John on in the matter of the estate. I would prefer that be done before the wedding.

  “However, I know how difficult a long engagement can be. If you would like to get married sooner rather than later we can arrange that.”

  “Oh, it is no trouble to me at all when we get married,” Miss Natalie said. “My two sisters are getting married as well. I would not wish to impose upon their time. We can get married in a few months if that is what will suit you.”

  The earl nodded. “You are a most accommodating young woman.” He looked over at John. “I can congratulate my son in at least one aspect of his life then it seems.”