Love Lost (Clean and Wholesome Regency Romance): Grace (The Stainton Sisters Book 3)
Page 17
Lady Longmoor’s gray eyes, so similar to her daughter’s, rested on John for a moment. “Archer… Are you a relation of His Grace, the Duke of Peckham?”
Aye, there was the rub. John noted Wickson’s slight flinch, but maintained a confident smile. Best to be vague and avoid the question of legitimate or illegitimate relationships altogether.
“We are quite close,” he murmured with a vague wave of his hand.
Lady Longmoor’s expression grew even more remote, but she had the grace to avoid the possible embarrassment of more specific questioning. She had undoubtedly noted his lack of a title.
Risking another glance at Lady Victoria, he was pleased to see her gray eyes alight with interest and a smile curving her pale pink lips. A frisson of excitement ran down his back. He grinned back before she dropped her gaze again.
Most definitely the one. He’d never seen more lovely gray eyes.
“Fine weather, eh?” Wickson blurted out in a loud voice. He nervously crushed the hard candy between his teeth. “Beautiful day for a walk.”
“Yes,” Lady Longmoor replied. “And we should resume ours, if you don’t mind?”
“Eh? Uh…” Wickson glanced from Lady Longmoor to John. “We would be delighted to escort you, Lady Longmoor.”
John held out his arm to Lady Victoria. She dropped her mother’s arm and stepped closer to him, only to have her mother slip a forceful hand around her elbow and drag her back.
“Lady Victoria,” Lady Longmoor murmured in a low, warning tone. She nodded sharply to John, clearly dismissing him. “Quite unnecessary. We are going in the opposite direction, and there is no need to take you so completely out of your way, Mr. Wickson. Though we appreciate the offer.” She gave her daughter’s arm a barely perceptible shake.
“Oh, yes.” Lady Victoria glanced from her mother’s face to John’s. A small, perplexed frown drew the corners of her mouth down. “It is very kind of you, but Papa will have the carriage waiting at Grosvenor Gate.”
“And we must hurry if we are not to be late. You know how your father dislikes tardiness, my dear.” Lady Longmoor smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Wickson.” She nodded again and pulled her daughter away, striding quickly in the direction of the gate before John or his friend could say anything else.
“Well, there you are, Archer,” Wickson said, watching the ladies move away with such rapidity that their skirts flapped around their ankles.
They almost appeared to be running.
The wide, pale blue silk ribbons of Lady Victoria’s bonnet fluttered over her shoulder as John studied her retreating form. “Yes,” he said.
Wickson shook his head. “I’d recommend you reconsider that wager, except I could use the one hundred pounds. Lady Longmoor has taken against you, if I don’t miss my guess. Didn’t take her long, either, to guess there was something off about you.”
“Forbidden fruit.” John chuckled and gave Wickson’s plump shoulder a punch. “Couldn’t have asked for a better introduction. Lady Victoria’ll be twice as interested, now.”
“Don’t know about that, my fine lad.” Wickson shook his head. “Parents have the last word, at least in my experience. But I won’t complain.” He patted his side. “My wallet won’t complain, either, when it swallows the fruits of your wager.”
Laughing, John led the way back in the direction of the shallow Serpentine before turning left to the Stanhope Gate. A little opposition didn’t frighten him. It only added spice to the rescue of the fair maiden from the clutches of her disapproving family.
After gazing into her brilliant gray eyes, he’d felt only the briefest moment of doubt.
No, no. There could be no doubt. He would win her over. He was nearly sure of it.
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Other Titles by Amy Corwin
The Archer Family Regency Romance Series
The Archer Family series are traditional Regency romances spiced with a mystery.
While these books do not need to be read in order, the list below presents them in the series order.
Lady Victoria’s Mistake
The Necklace (Prequel to the series)
The Unwanted Heiress
A Lady in Hiding
The Earl’s Masquerade
A Stolen Rose
En Garde, My Love
Love Across the Pond
Regency Romantic Mysteries
Regency Romantic Mysteries are sweet Regency romances with a touch of mystery. While they are stand-alone novels, they all take place in the late Regency/early Victorian period and have a similar “feel” to them.
All She Loves
Wreck and Ruin
About the Author
Amy Corwin is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America and recently joined Mystery Writers of America. She writes historical and cozy mysteries with a touch of romance, as well as paranormal romances. To be truthful, most of her books include a bit of murder and mayhem since she discovered that killing off at least one character is a highly effective way to make the remaining ones toe the plot line.
Her books include the historical mysteries, Regency romances, paranormal romances and mysteries.
Join her and discover that every good mystery has a touch of romance.
Connect With Me Online
Website: http://www.amycorwin.com