Romantically Enchanted: A Twisted Fairytale Collection

by Madeline Martin

  “Yes, my lord,” Beasley asked.

  “What do you know about the lady that lives in the manor west of here?”

  “Lady Shelburne?” Ryan had met her a few times in town. He hadn’t realized she was such a close neighbor; however, he didn’t encourage her to talk much either. That was Lady Annalise’s grandmother’s name? So she wasn’t the duke’s mother. That meant she would be her maternal grandmother. That was interesting—though not entirely surprising. Saltford wasn’t the home of the ducal seat. Why would the duke have chosen to live most of the year in the area his wife had grown up though? That was odd in itself and worth investigating.

  “Yes, Lady Shelburne.” He nodded. “What can you tell me about her?”

  “Not much, my lord.” Beasley tilted his head to the side. “She’s a widow. Her son inherited the title some years back. The former Shelburne estate is owned by the Duke of Wolfton. Some scandal around that—the young viscount lost it in a game of cards or something. I’m not certain of the details. She resides in the dowager house.”

  “It wasn’t entailed?” Most lords made sure that their property remained entailed with the title to keep the estates intact. It was odd that Shelburne hadn’t.

  “The house or the manor?” Beasley inquired.

  “Either,” he prompted.

  “It wasn’t renewed before the old viscount died, so nothing was entailed. The young viscount, at the time, had tried to offer the dowager house instead, but alas the person who won the wager refused.”

  The duke had played the shiny new viscount. Ryan didn’t doubt that for a second. Perhaps it’s time he became more familiar with the dowager viscountess. Through her, he might learn more about Lady Annalise. He still wasn’t certain he wished to court her. He did know he wanted to become more acquainted with her, and he’d made a promise to Estella. Either way, he’d be seeing more of Lady Annalise whether she liked it or not.

  CHAPTER 8

  ANNALISE SAT in front of her vanity as Bess, her maid, brushed her hair. She dreaded the evening ahead of her. Her father had nearly bitten her head off as he yelled at her earlier and his teeth had stood out as he growled numerous times—an oddity, even for the duke. His nostrils had flared with regularity and Annalise winced every time she had looked at him. She’d decided it was best to avoid him as much as possible after that. Unfortunately, dinner had to be attended. He’d informed her that they would have guests for dinner and the next fortnight. She’d have to be on her best behavior whether she liked it or not. All she wanted to do was go stay with her grandmother and forget the misery of her father’s household.

  “How would you like it styled, my lady?”

  She’d rather it be something simple, but her father would disapprove. “Can you do something elaborate and beautiful?”

  “You don’t have anything specific in mind?” Bess dragged the brush through her hair once more.

  “No,” Annalise replied. “I trust you to use your own judgment.” She didn’t want to have to make that decision. Not that she’d ever let the maid take the blame if her father berated her later, but she had other things on her mind. The hairstyle she donned for the evening wasn’t even a consideration.

  Her maid twisted Annalise’s hair until it was in an intricate chignon. It seemed all right, and she couldn’t see any cause for alarm. Hopefully her father wouldn’t pay her much mind with guests to entertain. She wished she knew who he’d invited. Where her father was concerned, a surprise should be avoided if at all possible—they were never good. Annalise had a horrid feeling in the pit of her stomach that the night would leave her in complete despair.

  “There,” Bess said. “I’ll assist you into your dress now. We shouldn’t keep your father waiting.”

  Annalise stood so she could step into her gown. It was simple dinner dress of green silk and gold thread embroidered through the bodice. Her father chose everything she wore. He wanted to make sure she wasn’t dressed as a common whore. She didn’t understand why he believed she’d pick inappropriate gowns, but she stopped arguing with him years ago. Bess tied the laces on the back with efficiency.

  “All done, my lady,” her maid told her. “I’ll be waiting for you after dinner. Is there anything you will need?”

  She shook her head. “I’ll probably be tired and wish to rest as soon as possible. No bath tonight.”

  “Very well.” Bess curtsied. “I’ll attend you then.”

  She exited the room, giving Annalise a few precious moments of privacy. She stared at herself in the glass on her vanity. The green dress almost matched the color of her eyes. She’d give her father credit—he did have good taste in ladies’ clothing. It was time to face her father and the individuals he invited.

  She left her room and walked slowly down to the sitting room. They would all gather there before going into dinner. Her father would offer the ladies sherry and the gentlemen brandy. He hadn’t even mentioned how many people he’d invited. Would they have even numbers?

  Laughter floated out of the sitting room. At least one lady was in there. Maybe her father had decided to marry again. His first two marriages had left him a widower, so maybe he was lonely. If he had a wife to occupy his time, he’d notice Annalise less. It was horrible of her to wish her father on another woman, but she desperately wanted to escape his household. She entered the room and stopped short. There were three ladies and one gentleman, besides her father, in the room.

  “Something in there frighten you?” a male said from behind her.

  She spun on her heels and nearly squealed with excitement. “Marrok,” Annalise said happily as she hugged him. “I didn’t know you were coming in from London.”

  “Easy, sprite,” he said. “You’re squeezing me to death.” He complained in a good-natured manner and then hugged her back. “Father summoned me. You know I can’t ignore him as I’d like to.”

  Unfortunately, she did. “I’m sorry. It would be nice if he’d leave you be.”

  “Who are the ladies in there?” He peeked over her shoulder. “I’m not sure I recognize them.” Marrok frowned as he scanned the room. “I don’t know the gentleman either. He must be one of father’s cronies; he looks around his age.”

  Annalise didn’t care. Marrok being there made things better. Father must have a reason for it though, and she didn’t like it one bit. That dreaded feeling increased with the knowledge her brother was in for the surprise too. “We might as well go in and find out.”

  They stepped into the room together. Everyone turned as they strolled in at a leisurely pace. They’d walked this path many times and had learned a long time ago to take their time. There was no reason to face their executioner sooner than needed. That may be a morbid way of viewing a meeting with their father, but it seemed apt considering how horrible he could be.

  “Good, you are both here.” Her father stood and then approached them. “Before we go to dinner, I have some news for you.”

  “Oh?” Marrok lifted a brow. “It must be huge for you to require me to come in from London.”

  “It is,” the duke said, then joined the two of them. He slapped Marrok on the back. “I’d like you to meet Lady Penelope Everly and her daughters, Mirabella and Delilah.”

  Something about the three ladies seemed familiar. Lady Penelope was lovely and near her father’s age, much like the other gentleman—perhaps they were married. It would explain their presence a little. Though nothing her father did every made sense. Lady Penelope had black hair and blue eyes. Delilah was a younger version of her mother, but Mirabella didn’t resemble them much. She had auburn hair and brown eyes.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Annalise curtsied. She couldn’t help noticing the numbers were off. With her brother there, that made it three gentleman and four ladies.

  “This is the Earl of Kildare,” her father said meeting Annalise’s gaze. “I’ve signed a betrothal contract and you’re to marry him.”

  Her mouth fell open, and she wasn’t sure what
to say. He wouldn’t? She closed her eyes for a brief moment and counted to ten. There wasn’t a chance in hell she’d marry a man twice her age. Her father had gone too far this time. She’d find a way out of this mess, but it wasn’t going to happen tonight. It would be far better to play her father’s game for now. She pasted a smile on her face. “Forgive me. I’ve been terribly rude. What a lovely surprise.” That she didn’t gag on her words was a testament to her strength of will.

  Marrok stared at her as if she’d grown two heads then turned to face their father. “Thought you’d find a better match for her.”

  “Be grateful I’m giving you a choice,” the duke said as he glared at Marrok. “You have the privilege of picking between Lady Penelope’s daughters. Inform me of your choice before they leave in a fortnight.”

  Marrok’s gaze turned murderous, but he held his tongue. Though she wasn’t sure if he would have if they weren’t interrupted by Lord Cinderbury...

  “Please accept my apologies for my tardiness,” the marquess said congenially. Once he entered the room, he was all Annalise noticed. “I was unfortunately delayed.” The marquess stopped to take in the room and froze. His eyes seemed to turn colder and harder than she’d ever seen in her life—it was quite similar to how Marrok’s appeared. He’d seemed jovial enough until he noticed the other three ladies in the room. They, in turn, appeared to gloat in his presence—as if they’d known how he’d react to finding them there.

  He hadn’t paid any attention to Lord Kildare or her father. Both of the older gentleman had been sequestered in a corner as they nursed a glass of brandy. They’d been too deep in whatever they’d been discussing to pay the marquess any mind. But Lady Penelope and her daughters had. She’d be willing to bet they had something nefarious planned. Sadly, Annalise doubted she could stop whatever it was, but maybe she should try. She hated any form of injustice. It was why she’d helped Estella and Warwick find their way back to each other.

  Her father had invited Lord Cinderbury to dinner for a nefarious reason. She didn’t know what it was, but she’d figure it out before the night concluded. One thing she did believe—he hadn’t included the marquess to even their numbers or out of the kindness of his heart. The duke didn’t work that way…

  DINNER THE NIGHT before had been hell. The last three people he expected to find there were his stepmother and stepsisters. He’d actively avoided the three of them at all costs. As far as he could tell, Delilah and Mirabella had turned out to be as wicked as their mother had been. Whoever they ended up marrying would regret it, and if he understood correctly, Lady Annalise’s brother, the Marquess of Sheffield, had to choose between the two of them. He didn’t envy Sheffield. He was exactly the type Lady Penelope would target—fortune, a title, and a future duke at that. If she could have pulled it off, she’d have tried to marry one of them to Ryan. She probably regretted that his father died before inheriting the title. She would never be a marchioness or a duchess, but she could try to snare those titles for her daughters.

  He’d almost walked out of the duke’s house before they sat down for dinner. The reason he hadn’t was because of Annalise. He’d wanted to make sure she was all right. After sitting through an entire meal, he’d determined she couldn’t be farther from it. That evil bastard of a father had betrothed her to an old man. She hadn’t met his gaze once after her father toasted to their upcoming marriage. Ryan didn’t understand any of it. Which meant he had one choice—he had to visit Viscountess Shelburne…

  The afternoon sun shone brightly in the sky. The blue sky was filled with big fluffy clouds and showed no indication of rain. Ryan decided to walk to the viscountess’s house. It would give him time to think and decide how to approach her. When he reached the door, he rapped the knocker once. A butler opened it after several moments. He bowed to Ryan. “Welcome, my lord. Lady Shelburne is expecting you.”

  He jerked his head, surprised at the butler’s pronouncement. “She is?”

  Instead of answering him, the butler motioned for Ryan to follow him. He led him down a hallway and into a sitting room that was bright and welcoming. An elderly lady sat at the far end on a settee. She had silver and white hair and a kind face. “Come in, Lord Cinderbury.” She gestured toward a nearby chair. “Sit, we have much to discuss.”

  Ryan did as she suggested more out of curiosity than anything. “I didn’t realize we had an appointment.”

  “Nothing so formal as that,” she reassured him. “But I knew you’d come, nonetheless.”

  “How?” He couldn’t have predicted his own actions. What information did the viscountess have that he didn’t?

  She smiled serenely and poured tea into a cup, then handed it to him. “I’d offer you something stronger, but I don’t keep it in the house. It leads to bad habits.”

  Ryan took the tea and sipped it. The warm liquid coated his tongue and slid down his throat. He hadn’t even realized he was thirsty. “Thank you.” He set the cup back on the saucer. “Do you know why I’m here?” Maybe she’d at least answer that question.

  “You’re concerned about my granddaughter—as am I. She sent me a note this morning with the horrible news.”

  “You don’t approve then?” He lifted a brow. “Is there anything you can do?”

  “No.” The smile fell from her face briefly. “But you can.”

  She was betrothed to another man. There wasn’t much Ryan could do to prevent that. Her father seemed hell-bent on the match. He wanted to save her, but he was no white knight. The duke also had the three people Ryan hated most staying at the estate. He’d much rather avoid the manor as much as possible.

  Lady Shelburne sighed. “You’re confused. I can tell.”

  “You’re right,” he agreed. “I don’t see what I could possibly do to help her.”

  “Well, my lord,” she replied. “Annalise loves you, and nothing you say will convince me that you don’t love her too. Maybe neither one of you realizes that yet, but a love that noticeable won’t be destroyed. It’s up to you to fight for her.”

  Ryan didn’t think he loved her. He’d been fascinated by her from the start, but that didn’t mean he’d developed tender feelings for her. The old lady was hoping for something that didn’t exist. “I’m incapable of love.”

  “No,” she disagreed. “You’re afraid of it. There’s a difference. But you’re in luck; I’m going to help you find your heart.”

  Ryan didn’t think that would be possible. He’d humor her though because maybe somewhere in her scheming there was a way to rescue Lady Annalise from the fate the duke had planned for her. “What do you have in mind?”

  “The duke is having a masquerade ball in a few days. I’m going to make sure you have an invitation. Do you have the proper attire?”

  “I have formal wear…”

  “Then I’ll procure your masque too.” Her eyes nearly gleamed with excitement. “It’s in three days. You must find a way to get Annalise alone. Do you think you can do that?”

  She’d be wearing a masque too. How was he going to determine that? He’d find a way… “Yes,” he answered.

  “Good.” She smiled and then explained the rest of her plan. She was a devious old lady and the more she talked, the more he liked her. It’s probably because she reminded him of Lady Annalise. When he left her home, he had a good understanding of what he needed to do. He had to find a way to convince Lady Annalise the wisdom of his plan or rescuing her would become inherently more difficult.

  CHAPTER 9

  MUSIC ECHOED through the room with an enticing melody. Candles in the chandeliers and sconces on the wall illuminated the room. The ballroom was filled to capacity. Any member of the haute ton that had relocated to Bath or the near vicinity had been invited. The ball was meant to announce the betrothal of Lady Annalise Palmer to Lord Kildare. Ryan hoped to prevent that announcement, or at the very least, delay it.

  He adjusted the black, leather masque that Lady Shelburne had delivered to him earlier in the d
ay. It nearly covered his entire face, wrapping around his eyes and diving downward to hit his chin. Pieces of leather had been carved out of it, leaving holes near his cheekbones, above his eyebrows, and over his eyes so he could see. The viscountess had instructed him to dress entirely in black. She’d even sent over a dyed shirt to ensure he followed instructions, along with a pert addition to her note that she trusted he had enough sense to have black evening wear and didn’t dress like one of those dandies in the ton. He’d never understood the men who found so much color appealing. He much preferred black…

  Ryan searched the room, hoping to discover which of the elegantly clad ladies was Lady Annalise. They had all gone aboveboard with their costumes. A variety of masks of every shape, color, and adornment could be found. A lady almost entirely in red caught his attention. Her dress was the color of a bright ruby, and a hood of the same shade covered her hair. He started in her direction, curious. His Annalise had worn a red cloak. Perhaps she had an affinity for that particular color. As he neared, he noticed the dress was outlined in black in the front and encrusted with tiny red gems along the seam. The lady turned and gave him a glimpse of the bodice—it too had black lace trim that crisscrossed downward and cinched at the waist. He glanced upward and met her gaze. Her face was covered in a black and red masque that appeared to made of crushed velvet, silk, and feathers. The latter rose upward, covering her forehead. The result of the concoction was that only her mouth was completely visible, but somehow, he knew it was the lady he sought. When he closed the distance between them, he bowed. “May I have this dance?”

  She placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead her to the floor. The strands of a waltz filled the room. He slid his hand to her waist and twirled her around the floor. Neither one of them spoke. Ryan became lost in the moment with her. The touch of her hand on his and the warmth enveloping him made him forget everything else. For several heartbeats, he enjoyed holding her and allowing himself to believe in a happily-ever-after. He wanted desperately to believe he could have that with Lady Annalise. She was the one that made him feel anything akin to bliss.