A Courtship to Remember: A Historical Regency Romance Book

by Bridget Barton

  She finally looked in the mirror, taking note of the damage her crying had done.

  Ugh, red splotches. She looked as though she had been stung by a bee.” Her eyes, nose, and mouth were swollen, and her cheeks were a bright pink. And what on earth had happened to her hair? It was a tangled mess. Mama would not be pleased. This would not do – she could not go downstairs in this condition.

  She plunged her face into the water, hoping that the coldness would take some of the swelling and redness away. When she could no longer hold her breath, she came up for air, spluttering slightly. Looking in the mirror, she tried to see a difference, but there was none. She plunged her face in for the second time, this time making sure to take a deep breath. The second immersion yielded more results, so she started on her hair, wincing as the brush came into contact with knots. Thick hair is both a blessing and a curse.

  Elizabeth could vaguely hear a carriage draw up to the house and stop, but she paid it no mind as she knew that the postmaster often arrived at this time to deliver mail. A quick plait of her hair, a smear of face cream, a spray of perfume, and she was ready.

  Ceci could not say that she had not put in an effort to look more presentable. Satisfied with her appearance, she put on a brave smile and made her way downstairs.

  *

  Cecilia could hardly contain her excitement as she skipped down the stairs. All was going as she had planned, now it was for Anthony to come and take over. She paused on the last step, composed herself, and continued the rest of the way to the parlour. There she found her aunt and uncle in playful conversation. They both looked up when she entered the room.

  “How is she?” Aunt Deborah asked.

  “As can be expected, but she will be coming down shortly.”

  “Poor thing, to be rejected so early in the courtship,” her uncle commented.

  Cecilia longed to tell them that everything would be resolved soon, but she had given her word to Anthony. Besides, this was fun. Finally, she was doing something meaningful for her sister. Cecilia was aware that she and her sister were miles apart in personality, but that did not mean that they could not be as they were before their differences drew them so.

  “I believe that everything will work out in the end.”

  “Scoundrel,” Uncle Noah exclaimed. “Leaving our Elizabeth for that Jezebel.”

  “Uncle!”

  “Is it not true?” he continued. “I may be old, but I have heard things about that Diana Lambert, her father too. That man is a fool to choose her over our Elizabeth.”

  Cecilia smiled. “Uncle Noah, do you listen to gossip?”

  “Gossip?” he asked. “Not me, child. It is information to me.”

  Aunt Deborah laughed. “Tell the truth, Noah dear. You are quite the gossiper.”

  Uncle Noah picked up his tea, mumbling as he did so. This only made them laugh harder. A knock at the door had them all turning as a maid entered.

  “A Lord Cavendish is here to see Miss Ramsbury.”

  Uncle Noah suddenly sprung out of his chair, making them jump.

  “Noah dear!” her aunt cried. “Your back.”

  "There is nothing wrong with my back, my dove. What is wrong is that man thinking that he can come in here and expect to see Elizabeth after he publicly rejected her. That she-devil did it to him, and he would do it to our Elizabeth? I shall not allow him into my house, or my name is not Noah Shepherd!"

  Cecilia looked at her uncle. She had never seen him so heated before in her life. He was usually a calm man, one who would laugh sooner than become angry. Her aunt looked shocked herself, her face one of worry and a bit of excitement. The situation would surely escalate quickly if she did not step in, so she stood up, clearing her throat.

  “Uncle Noah, Aunt Deborah, it is all right. Anthony is here for a special reason.”

  “A special reason?” her aunt asked. “Do you know something?”

  “I do, but I cannot speak of it yet – it is a surprise. Please, let Lord Cavendish in.”

  Uncle Noah narrowed his eyes. “Let him in? Do I look as though I have taken leave of my senses? I shall tell that young man what he can do about his surprise. Where is he?”

  He looked at the maid whose eyes were enlarged.

  “He said that he would remain at the door until he was allowed in by the master of the house.”

  He marched forward, Cecilia running after him. Her aunt followed, crying after them.

  “Noah!” her aunt cried. “Think of your heart.”

  “I am as strong as an ox, woman! Do not deter me from teaching that scoundrel a lesson!”

  “But you will be hurt,” Aunt Deborah countered. “He is much younger.”

  “But I have experience.”

  Cecilia realised then that she had to say something or things could turn ugly.

  “Uncle Noah, he is no longer with Miss Lambert. He is here to propose to Elizabeth.”

  Everyone stopped.

  “What is this?” her aunt asked.

  “Yes, it is true,” she insisted. “He asked me not to speak a word of it, but as you both had become quite... excited, I realised that I had to say something.”

  However, Uncle Noah was not yet satisfied with her explanation. “Oh, so he has had second thoughts? I see, Miss Lambert was not treating him well? It has only been a day – a record in my old eyes.”

  Her aunt went to him and laid a hand on his arm. “Noah dear, let us hear what Lord Cavendish has to say.”

  “Lord Cavendish?”

  Cecilia heard her sister's stricken voice behind them. They all turned to look at the stairs where Elizabeth stood frozen.

  “Yes,” Cecilia said. “He is here to see you. Will you accept his visit?”

  Her sister remained silent.

  “You do not have to see him, child,” Uncle Noah said.

  "Noah," her aunt whispered. "Do not interfere. Allow the children to deal with this."

  Cecilia looked at her sister, worried that she would deny him. Finally, she spoke.

  “I shall see him in the parlour. Will that be acceptable?”

  “Of course, dear,” her aunt replied.

  Her sister nodded her head, but there was something in her eyes that Cecilia felt the need to reassure her.

  “Eliza?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Everything will be all right.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “You have said that already.”

  Cecilia watched her sister walk to the parlour, her back straight but her head down. Then she turned to her uncle. “Uncle Noah, please open the door. It is rude to keep our visitor waiting. What would people say?”

  “When did I start caring about what people say? But I shall open it – God help him if he hurts her again.”

  “We will have to see,” she replied.

  The door was opened, letting in the man who would either be her sister's happiness, or her pain.

  *

  Elizabeth's palms were sweating. Why should Anthony wish to see her? They had said all they needed to say yesterday.

  Against her better judgement, she felt her hope rise. Was there a small chance that he had decided that Diana was not the woman for him? She became still when the door opened. Her back was turned, but somehow she knew that it was him.

  “Why are you here, Anthony?”

  “I have made a terrible mistake.”

  Could it be...?

  She took a deep breath, exhaled, and turned to face him. Her breath caught in her throat as soon as she saw him. How could her treacherous heart still beat wildly for him?

  “And what mistake would that be?”

  Her voice was surprisingly level, but she could not mask the emotions running through her. He opened his mouth to speak but seemed to change his mind. Instead, he walked to her, dropping down to his knees before her. With his head bowed, he spoke.

  “Forgive me, Elizabeth.”

  She found that she could not move, but she could speak. “What do I need to forgi
ve you for? You have done nothing wrong.”

  He looked up. “I have hurt you and hurt myself in the process. Going back to Diana was the worst decision I could have made, but even worse was letting you walk away from me.”

  Elizabeth closed her eyes, hardly believing what he was saying. “I do not understand,” she whispered.

  “Please, my love, look at me.”

  My love? Silent tears started to stream down her face, but she did as he asked. On one knee, he held a beautiful ring to her. But she could not let herself give in to her feelings, she needed to know what he wanted from her.

  “What is this? Why are you doing this?”

  “Elizabeth, every moment spent with you has left an impression upon my life. From that moment at the balcony, I knew that there was something, but I could not understand then that my heart had begun to link itself to yours. Every smile, every laugh, every word you have uttered I have stored in my memory to think over when I am alone. Even when I am not with you, I think of you, planning when I might see you again. At first, I explained it away by saying that it was all part of the plan, but the heart does not lie. Yesterday at the fountain, I wished to tell you how I felt, but I believed that you did not feel the same way, so I remained silent. When I saw Diana, I shall admit that I did not know what to do. But when you walked away from me, I could feel my heart lose the peace and joy you had brought to my life."

  “Why?”

  "Because you were made for me. Elizabeth, I have adored your sharp wit and tender heart, the way in which you care for others. I never thought to meet a woman who would love music or the opera as much as I do. In fact, your skill on the pianoforte is far greater than mine, and yet we were able to complement each other and perform a perfect duet."

  She smiled. She too had had the same thoughts, but she had been trying to banish them since leaving the garden party.

  “Elizabeth, I do not wish to stifle your dreams and creativity. I want you to grow, but I wish for you to grow with me by your side. I shall hire many servants to make sure that you are free to do as you wish – you needn't give up who you are when you are married to me.”

  This was truly happening. Anthony was speaking about their future together, but he had yet to ask the question.

  “What are you trying to say, Anthony?”

  He stared deeply into her eyes. “Elizabeth Ramsbury, I love you with every fibre of my being. I love who you are. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

  These were the words she had longed to hear but never hoped to. She responded by cupping his cheeks. "Perhaps the mundane responsibilities of marriage will not be so terrible if there were love and joy involved."

  He looked at her hopefully. “Is that a yes?”

  She nodded. “Nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with the man I love with every fibre of my being.”

  She held her hand out to him, letting him slip the ring on her finger. Elizabeth yelped with surprise when Anthony stood up, picked her up, and spun her around with a shout of laughter.

  “Anthony!” she gushed.

  He stopped, but he did not release her. Instead, he looked down at her, his eyes confirming everything he had just said. When he brought his head low, she closed her eyes, knowing instinctively that he was about to kiss her. As his lips touched hers, she felt her body start to tremble. Elizabeth felt his arms wrap around her, bringing her in closer. His scent, warmth and the meeting of their lips were a heady combination. She felt as though she were both melting and floating, not altogether sure that her feet were still on the ground. Elizabeth felt him pour out his love for her in that single kiss, his tenderness her undoing. When the door was suddenly opened, they leapt apart, both smiling guiltily at each other as Cecilia burst into the room.

  “Oh, this is what I had been hoping for! I am so happy!”

  Her sister ran to them, embracing them both. Elizabeth could not help but feel a little embarrassed for having been caught kissing, but Cecilia did not seem to mind. It was not long before her aunt and uncle entered the room, their eyes still suspicious as they looked at Anthony. It did not take her long to explain to them what had happened, eventually receiving their approval as well.

  They were granted some time alone, and as she sat beside him talking, a part of her still did not believe that Anthony had come back for her, but here he was, staring adoringly into her eyes.

  He loves me, he truly loves me. And to think that had I not come to London, I would have never met him. I shall have to thank Father for forcing me to come.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

  “I need to thank my father for insisting that I come here. Had he not done so...”

  “Then I must thank him as well. Indeed, I am indebted to him.”

  “Do you think we should tell him of how we came to be?”

  He chuckled. “I doubt that your father would approve of our method.”

  Elizabeth smiled. She would always be grateful that the plan did not go according to their initial desired end.

  Who knew that a false courtship would lead to true love?

  Epilogue

  Elizabeth concentrated on the keys before her, knowing that her husband was doing the same. This particular piece of music was one of the most challenging to date, but she relished challenges. She gave Anthony a side look, smiled at the adorable frown on his brow, and returned her gaze to the instrument.

  They had been married for a little over a year, and she could not be happier. Of course, the beginning had been a tad tense, what with coming clean about the false courtship. Both her and Anthony had decided to reveal the truth about their whirlwind romance as many questions had been raised about it. People wished to know why he had rejected her in favour of Diana, only to reject Diana as well within a day.

  It had been quite the scandal when the truth surfaced, but it did not negatively affect them, which had surprised her. If anything, people thought it was the single most romantic thing to have taken place during a season. It read like a story, a love story with a happy ending. But it may have ended terribly had Cecilia not stepped in and changed the course of their lives by her bravery. Now her sister was also happily married and pregnant. Their babies would only be a month apart, with Cecilia having hers first. Elizabeth felt the baby moving around in her belly as though responding to the music. Her pregnancy was going relatively well, but she was still nervous about being a good mother – her sister seemed more prepared for motherhood than she was. Ceci had surprised her with how effortlessly she stepped into the role of the perfect wife and soon-to-be mother. Although Elizabeth had also been happy, it had been quite the adjustment.

  Becoming a baron's wife was no small thing either. Elizabeth had never imagined the responsibilities that a having title would create. But unlike most husbands, Anthony had helped her transition into her role as Lady Cavendish. He indeed had been a loving husband, and perhaps more paranoid than she was concerning this pregnancy. Even walking down the stairs was a worry for him, afraid that she might become light-headed and fall. While she had been dizzy for most of her pregnancy, she hardly thought it necessary to take measures such as convert one of the downstairs parlours into a bedroom for them. But Anthony had insisted, and as she loved him, she had given into him.

  A sudden hard kick on the left of her swollen abdomen had her leaving the keys to rub her belly.

  “Oof! My, but you are a busy little bee this day.”

  “What is it? Has something happened? Must I call the doctor?” Anthony had also stopped playing, his eyes fearful as he stared at her.

  She shook her head. “There is no need for a doctor, my love. This baby has been wriggling about for quite some time now. He or she must like this piece that we are playing.”

  His look of relief was quite comical. He was devoted to the baby and to Elizabeth and she could not have asked for a better husband and father.

  “Then our baby has an ear for music,” he replied. “The
re may be the next great composer in your belly just waiting to come out and amaze the world. Right after you, of course.”

  "That would certainly be lovely. However, for now, I am concerned about him or her coming into this world as healthy as can be."