The Baron in Bath - Miss Julia Bellevue: A Regency Romance Novel (Heart of a Gentleman Book 4)

by Isabella Thorne

  “The child is not mine,” he said.

  Julia released the breath she found she had been holding in a sigh of relief. She believed him. “Good,” she said. “Then I shan’t have to try to forgive you.”

  “You would have forgiven me?” Lord Fawkland’s face was aghast.

  “I would have tried. I do not think I would have succeeded.” She admitted sheepishly.

  Lord Fawkland laughed and the sound of it was like music reverberating inside of her. She wanted it to go on and on, but he folded his hands steadying himself. “You are an intelligent woman, Miss Bellevue. It is as you surmised. It was Cedric who fathered the child. He was still young and I, being the foolish older brother, wanted to protect him from the scandal. I have always protected Cedric.”

  “You are kind,” Julia said with a wry smile.

  “Too kind. I provided Cedric with his own apartments in London. The girl I sent away to a cottage by the coast, and provide her with a monthly allowance. I thought that was best.” Lord Fawkland frowned. “I foolishly stopped by when I had a trip to Brighton. That is when all the rumors began. I didn’t mean for it to happen. I just did not think.” There was a spark of anger in his voice as he told the story and she could not understand why he continued to go along with the ruse rather than repudiating the rumors.

  “But why do you protect Cedric after all of this?”

  Lord Fawkland’s answer was simple. “He is my little brother. Some misguided sense of loyalty, I suppose. I have always envied the comradery of the Beresford brothers or even the companionship you share with your own sister. I wanted such a feeling between us. Cedric and I have never had much of a brotherly bond.”

  Even though she had once thought that she and Jane were not truly sisters, she had always loved her like one. Perhaps that was enough. Perhaps love was all that was needed. It was certainly more than what Cedric and Lord Fawkland shared. She put her hand on is in solidarity. Perhaps it was forward on her, but she didn’t care. He closed his own hand over hers and they just sat together, hand in hand.

  Lord Fawkland was silent for a time.

  Finally he cleared his throat, hesitantly and looked at her. “I want you to know that when I approached your father, years ago, and asked him when the time came, might I be permitted to court you, it was not on a whim. I know his will has moved the matter more to the forefront. I did not want to press you, but I do want you to one day be my wife.”

  She supposed he was waiting for some response from her, but she wasn’t sure what to say. Her pulse was racing and thoughts fluttered about her head and would not settle so she could choose one to say. He had asked her father about her? This proposal wasn’t about the house in Bath or out of pity to somehow makeup for what Cedric had done. He had noticed her before. Before everything. Her eyes were wide. “You asked my father to court me? And you want me still? After all that has happened?”

  “I will not pretend that Cedric’s character does not force me to speak,” Lord Fawkland said at last. “Though he is certainly not the only reason. I was older than you, but that did not mean I did not notice you. You were so strong, so poised, even as a child. As I grew older the other women of the Ton seemed silly little girls when compared with you. You stood apart from their petty games; head and shoulders above them in all areas.”

  Julia was surprised. Everything she thought wrong; everything she thought to change about herself was the very reason he cared for her. He did not think she was too large and not feminine, or too blunt, or awkward.

  “Miss Bellevue, the more I saw of you, in Bath, the more you enthralled me. I did not wish to pressure you and in my delay I feared I would lose you to my brother. I was quite elated to learn that you had refused him, and that I may be granted another chance to prove my sincerity. You would not have been happy with my brother because he is selfish and cruel and because he would not find joy in your spirt as I do. I know it is hasty, and that we barely know one another,” he said.

  “It is hardly the proposal I would have wished, but it is not without reason. I wish to marry you Miss Bellevue, not to save your reputation or mine,” said Lord Fawkland, “But because every minute I have spent with you has caused me to resent the minutes we have spent apart. I have fallen in love with you, Miss Bellevue. My life is brighter with you in it, and I have become irrevocably addicted to your smile. I intend to see to it that it never leaves your face. If we should follow you father’s will and marry; if you will accept me, I shall endeavor to make you the happiest woman on God’s earth.”

  He was so eloquent; she did not trust herself to speak, though it was not his words that lead her to know his sentiment was true; the truth was so clear in the anguish on his face when he had thought she might rebuff him. It did not lift until she could make her mouth move at last.

  “Yes,” she said with her usual articulateness. “Yes,” she repeated as he brought both of her hands to his lips and kissed them. “I believe I have fallen in love with you as well, Lord Fawkland and no amount of reason could compel me to refuse you. I trust that my father knew me better than I knew myself.”

  Lord Fawkland pressed her gloved hand to his cheek. She brushed her fingers along the rough stubble there, tracing the strong line of his jaw. Let people think what they would. If she was a wanton woman, it was only for this man.

  He reached up and touched the loose curls that fell over her shoulder.

  “I see you have made your decision,” Jane said, proving that she and Keegain were still there and noticed how close together she and Lord Fawkland had become, but there was no censure in Jane’s voice.

  Julia had nearly forgotten about them.

  Nonetheless, Lord Fawkland dropped his hand.

  “So little sister, have you found yourself a husband?” Keegain asked as he and Jane approached, proving they had heard at least some of what was said.

  “Yes, I believe I have,” Julia said with wonder.

  “So be it then. I had wondered what folly overtook you that you would turn down a baron.”

  “Do not tease, Keegain,” Jane began but Julia answered his jest.

  “Because a marriage without love is no marriage at all,” she said thinking of Lavinia.

  Keegain’s smile broadened as he gave his wife his arm. “A smart girl, no doubt, just like her sister.”

  “Oh Keegain, this is just what she needed.” Jane said gaily. “Look how bright her face is! It pleases my heart to see my little sister happy. I am overjoyed for you,” Jane pulled Julia into a tight hug.

  Julia squealed. You will crease our dresses,” she said.

  “You would fret over creasing that dress?” Jane asked and for the first time Julia realized that she had worn one of her oldest and most comfortable dresses instead of a beautiful one on this evening, the most happy evening of her life. Oh, she was engaged!

  “Oh, I do not care a wit about dresses today,” Jane said. “My little sister is in love!”

  Julia giggled. Heady with excitement, Julia looked at Lord Fawkland and marveled that he wanted to wed her.

  “Let me be the first to extend our congratulations,” Keegain said holding out a hand to Fawkland, who took it gingerly. Fawkland shook hands with Lord Keegain.

  “Come,” Keegain said. “Let us go back into the parlor and break out some wine, or brandy. I am afraid this deuced war has made champagne hard to come by.” At the doorway, Keegain paused, thinking. “You would have left Bath just after breakfast?” he asked.

  “Actually, Sir, it was near midday, but I was too nervous to eat before I left.”

  Julia realized he had ridden most of the day without food. She immediately rang for the maid.

  Jane went into action, asking for the earlier requested tea and sandwiches to be brought to the parlor, but Keegain rejected that thought. “No. We will go back into the dining room,” he said. “Bring out the cold pigeon and beef. Some cheese and bread too.”

  “The tea sandwiches are fine,” Lord Fawkland said humbl
y.

  “We cannot have you wasting way before the wedding. Look at the size of you. Skin and Bones.” Keegain said, looking up at Lord Fawkland with a grin

  “Thank you,” Lord Fawkland said, and Keegain patted him on the back.

  “I shall be gaining another brother,” he said. “For my fourth little sister.”

  After they had a bit of snack, supper for Lord Fawkland, Keegain sat back in his chair and laced his fingers over his midriff. “There are matters to discuss in regard to this marriage,” he said to Fawkland.

  Julia felt like she was buzzing. It was impossible to sit still. Only Keegain could return to business when everything was entirely too exciting for that.

  “Though the conditions in the will said Julia must be married by summer’s end, according to my solicitors, I am also certain a formal engagement will do, to allow you both time to get to know one another, due to the fact that Julia is indeed following her father’s will and not marrying another.”

  “That is perfectly acceptable,” Lord Fawkland said. “Preferable even.”

  “Now you will be her husband and the property in Bath will therefore be yours,” Keegain continued.

  “I will gift it to her,” Lord Fawkland cut in. “That is clearly how her father wished it. The house in Bath is hers, to do with as she pleases.” He looked at her. “Does that suit you, Miss Bellevue?

  “Yes,” Julia said, still somewhat dazed. “That will suit me fine.”

  “Then I shall send word to the servants still in Bath and tell them they can stop packing,” Keegain said.

  “Oh,” Julia said. She had completely forgotten about the house in Bath and the servants packing it.

  “I hinted my hopes to Harrington,” Fawkland said, “But a message would not go amiss.”

  “Now, what of your brother?” Keegain asked. “I do not wish to inject turmoil into the happy occasion of your engagement, but I would have the matter of Cedric settled.

  Julia looked at Godwin. Yes, what of Cedric? If he was so angered as to engage in fisticuffs at the ball, what would he do when her engagement to Lord Fawkland was formally announced? What would he do after they were wed? She knew Cedric. She knew his deviance. She had even participated in it as a child. Now she put herself on the other side. She would be married to his brother. Cedric would now be her brother as well. If she were truly a lady, she should love Cedric as a brother. She was not sure she could do that. She found she wanted him out of their lives. She struggled with the feeling.

  “You needn’t worry about Cedric,” Godwin said. “I have closed his accounts and have seen to it that he will be enlisted with Captain Hartfield into His Majesty’s Service.

  “You do not think he will feel you are sending him away?” Julia asked.

  “I no longer care what he will think, but I hope he will embrace it. Cedric always loved adventure. I gave him a choice of the Army or the Navy. He chose the Navy. He has charisma, and will do well leading men, and perhaps service to his country will teach him some responsibility. What could be better than that?” He looked at Julia imploringly. He truly seemed to want her approval.

  Julia laid a hand on his arm. She nodded. “I think it is a good strategy,” she said. They would be free of Cedric’s influence and she hoped that Cedric himself would be happy.

  Lord Fawkland nodded his eyes soft upon her.

  “I think he will do well,” Lord Fawkland said decidedly. “Cedric wanted to join the Navy after I came home, but Mother discouraged him. With the war, she wanted to keep him close.”

  “I think she just wanted to keep him safe,” Jane said. “It is a mother’s prerogative.”

  “Oh pish posh, Jane,” Keegain said. “For all his faults, he is a man, not a child. You cannot keep him caged.”

  Lord Fawkland nodded. “You are right; it is time I stopped protecting him and let him learn to be his own man, with something he can be proud of and something he can call his own.”

  Julia had realized as Lord Fawkland was speaking, as much as she loved the townhouse in Bath, she already had something to call her own and it was far more precious to her than any house. Home could be a person too, she thought. She felt the contentment filter down to her bones as Lord Fawkland put his hand on hers.

  ~.~

  Chapter Seven

  Julia was up early the next morning, in spite of the lateness of her retiring last night. Keegain had, of course, invited Lord Fawkland to stay. They had spent the evening talking and simply enjoying each other’s company. It was a pleasant night filled with quiet comfort.

  When Julia went down to breakfast, she was informed by the staff that Lady Keegain had chosen to lie in and take breakfast in her rooms. Julia remembered yesterday, Jane had been slow to rise then too. That was unusual. Her sister loved breakfast and was often awake before Julia herself. Julia wondered, was she ill?

  Concerned, she went to Jane’s room and knocked on the door. When Jane bid her enter, she hesitated. Keegain was in her dressing room as well, and Julia did not want to intrude, but Jane waved her in. “Come,” she said. “Sit with us.”

  “I could take breakfast in my room if you would prefer privacy,” she said aware that they had ceased their conversation because of her. They seemed very cozy.

  “Nonsense,” Jane said. “Sit. Would you like to share our news?” she asked her husband with a smile.

  “No,” he said cupping her hand with his. The clink of crystal continued as tea was served.

  “Yes. That’s fine,” Jane told the server. “That will be all, Lucy.”

  “Yes. Mi’lady.” When the maid had left, Keegain said, “I think it is fitting that you tell your sister first.”

  Julia’s heart leapt in her chest. She knew suddenly what Jane was going to say. She remembered her sister had looked wan look in the mornings and the way she was tired when Jane had always been a font of energy. She never got tired of balls and todos. She was the last one to leave any affair, and yet, the past week in Bath, Jane had been anxious to be home and to put her feet up.

  “Jane?” Julia said looking at her sister. She did have a certain glow, but she wondered about The Earl present in the room. She could not speak of pregnancy in front of a man, albeit that he was the father of said child.

  Jane smiled at her, and spoke. “I had thought to wait to tell you. You, being so unhappy upon our return from Bath, but that was before Lord Fawkland’s arrival. And now that you have your own glad tidings, I feel I can share mine. I told Keegain yesterday and you are the second to know. I believe I am with child,” she said.

  “Oh!” Julia got to her feet to hug her sister. “How wonderful! That is why you were so interested in Connie’s baby. And why you told Mister Poppy that you may be leaving Bath before Michaelmas.”

  “Yes,” Jane agreed. “I invited Constance and her husband to visit here later in the summer when her youngest is able to travel.” Jane was smiling ear to ear.

  “Oh.” Julia inwardly groaned thinking of the house being full of the boisterous Poppy family and Constance’s husband, Mister Nash. Although having an infant and a three-year-old in the house in addition did not seem so terrible. She smiled.

  “When is the happy event to be?” Julia asked trying not to think of the dangers of childbirth.

  “Near Christmas, I think,” Jane said.

  “Will you return to London for the Season?”

  “I may return home for the holidays with a midwife in attendance. I wished to speak to Constance about hers.”

  “A physician,” Keegain corrected. “You will have a physician. Only the best for my wife.”

  Jane grew quiet.

  Julia thought she would prefer a woman at such a time. It would be very uncomfortable to have a man who was not even her husband in attendance while she was in such a state.

  From the look on Jane’s face, her sister seemed to agree. The Earl must have sensed his wife’s reticence as well.

  “It will all go according to plan,” he said �
��You will see.”

  Jane glanced at Julia. She nodded and picked up her tea cup again, but Julia had the feeling that her sister was not silenced on the subject. Though this was certainly not the sort of discussion she should be in the middle of.

  Jane deftly changed the topic. “First, we must have a dinner party to announce Julia’s formal engagement to Lord Fawkland.”

  “I truly would rather not have a big announcement,” Julie argued but Jane insisted.

  “Nonsense. Your fiancé is a baron. You cannot hide away here in the country.”

  “Very well, then. Just a small party,” Julia agreed.

  “A small party,” Jane said, “With those who are truly our friends.”

  ~.~

  Chapter Eight

  Epilogue

  The announcement event was meant to be only a few close friends, but it had spiraled out of control. Married to an earl, Jane moved in higher circle than her sister. Julia felt out of her depth as a young marquess came her way and congratulated her. She did not remember him, but they must have been introduced. Otherwise he would not have spoken to her. There were two dukes and a number of earls in attendance. Although Julia had to admit the guest list had been chosen with an eye toward friendship rather than society. It seemed the only individuals of Julia’s acquaintance who were not at the party were Cedric, and Lavinia’s love, Captain Jack Hartfield. The two had sailed out on the same ship just the week before. Captain Hartfield promised to keep a special eye on Julia’s soon to be brother-in-law.

  Julia gravitated to a corner where the music and conversation were not too loud. Lavinia and Charity came to fetch her. “You cannot hide away in a corner,” said Lavinia.

  “Especially since it is your engagement we are celebrating,” Charity added.

  Julia voiced her reluctance to mingle and Charity’s solution was to place another glass of wine in her hand. Julia let the drink and the presence of her close friends fill her with their warmth. Social flowers like Lavinia and Charity might not understand but Julia was celebrating. She was content to observe the gaiety of the party guests, happily plied with food and wine rather than join with them. She carried her own joy in her heart.