London Temptations: Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Joyce Alec

  “I am very relieved to hear it,” she replied as he let go of her hand. “I thank you for being so understanding, Lord Wiltshire. I did fear that it might be a little too much to explain, that you might consider the burden of it to be not at all worth the trouble, given that our acquaintance is of such a short duration.”

  “I should not turn away from you,” Phillip replied fervently, catching sight of Lady Crampton slowly returning to them, her steps almost faltering in her eagerness to let them both continue their discussion. “Our acquaintance may be of a very short duration indeed, but I am convinced within myself that it is of the greatest importance.”

  There was no time for Miss Williams to say more, for her aunt returned and she was left to merely smile up at him, her cheeks now a dusky pink and her eyes bright with evident relief and gladness. Phillip smiled back at her, his heart filled with the awareness that he had a good deal of emotion within him when it came to Miss Williams. Yes, their acquaintance had been of a very short duration indeed but there was already a sense of urgency with his intentions toward her, as well as a growing need to protect her from the cruel hands of both Lord Astley and, it seemed, her father. Quite why Lord Swinton was throwing her toward someone such as Lord Astley, Phillip could not understand, but at the very least, he was relieved to know that the intention to force Miss Williams into matrimony was gone entirely.

  I shall wed you, he vowed silently as Lady Crampton spoke quietly to her niece for a moment. If you shall have me, Miss Williams, then I shall make you my wife.

  Normally, such a thought would never have come into his mind but with Miss Williams, it felt quite a natural consideration. Yes, they would have to court and yes, he would have to approach Lord Swinton at some point to express his intentions, but such thoughts were already in Phillip’s mind. Tomorrow would be afternoon tea and, thereafter, he would tell her directly that he wished to court her. Having no doubt that she would accept, Phillip permitted himself to think of what it would be like to have her on his arm, to present her to others as his betrothed. Such a happiness stole over him that it snatched his breath away for a moment, leaving him gasping for air and clearing his throat in an attempt to hide it.

  “Are you quite all right, Lord Wiltshire?” Lady Crampton asked as two sets of eyes looked up at him with concern. “You are unwell?”

  “Not at all, not at all,” he reassured her, gesturing to a footman to bring him something to drink. “I am only considering all that Miss Williams has expressed. I am, of course, very grateful to be informed of what has occurred, Lady Crampton. It means I shall not have any sort of jealousy swarming within me when I see Lord Astley speaking at length with Miss Williams.”

  Lady Crampton laughed although Miss Williams grimaced at the thought.

  “I am very relieved to hear it, Lord Wiltshire,” Lady Crampton replied with a warm smile. “I look forward to welcoming you into our house tomorrow afternoon. However,” she continued, now looking a little irritated, her smile gone and replaced with a tightness that had not been there before, “I must now take Miss Williams to be introduced to Lord Astley. Her father will expect it and I cannot allow it to take place at the very end of the evening for fear of upsetting things all the more.” Her smile returned for just a moment and she settled one hand on Phillip’s arm, clearly rather pleased that all had gone as well as it had. “Until tomorrow afternoon, Lord Wiltshire.”

  He inclined his head. “Until tomorrow, Lady Crampton.” Looking back at Miss Williams, he felt himself reluctant to part from her and, from the small frown forming on her forehead and the slump of her shoulders, it appeared she also felt much the same.

  “Good evening, Miss Williams,” he said, reaching to take her hand once more and allowing himself to bow over it. “I look forward to speaking with you again tomorrow.”

  Her blush returned in an instant. “As do I, Lord Wiltshire,” she answered quickly. “Do excuse us now, will you not? Even though I am quite sorry to be taking my leave of you so soon.”

  “But of course,” he said, releasing her hand and taking in a deep breath. “I wish you luck, Miss Williams.”

  Her eyes twinkled. “Luck?”

  “That the introduction will not be as bad as you fear,” he told her, making her smile. “And that it will be over very quickly indeed.”

  This made her laugh and it was with a broad smile on her face that she stepped away, leaving him to stand alone. In an instant, Lord Hoskins was back at his side, either having been watching all that had gone on in his absence or having only just extracted himself from a particular lady’s attentions.

  “Whatever did you do, Wiltshire?” Lord Hoskins asked angrily, his brows knotting together and a hard glint in his eye. “What did you do?”

  Frowning, Phillip looked back at him. “What do you mean? Miss Williams and I had a most excellent conversation and—”

  “I mean as regards Lady Warren and her infuriating daughter!” Lord Hoskins snapped, now looking quite angry indeed. “She has been hounding me this last half hour and has not once let me alone. For whatever reason, she keeps thrusting her daughter toward me, as though I have not already taken note of her and made it quite clear that I am not at all interested in deepening my acquaintance with her any further.”

  Phillip grinned, turning his attention away from Miss Williams as she was being introduced to Lord Astley, knowing that he could not be seen watching them with such fervor in his eyes. “Lady Warren believes that you are inclined toward matrimony,” he said with a small shrug. “I could not correct her, for I feared I might break her daughter’s heart. She is, I believe, quite taken with you, Hoskins.”

  The look on Lord Hoskins’ face, a look that was somewhere between shock and disbelief, made Phillip chuckle.

  “Consider this a little taste of what you have been dealing out to me,” he continued as Lord Hoskins’ jaw began to work furiously. “I shall not say another word such as I have done to Lady Warren, I assure you, so long as you bring your nonsense to an end also.”

  Lord Hoskins said nothing for a few moments, his jaw clenched tight, and then, much to Phillip’s surprise, he threw up his hands and laughed.

  “I suppose I should have been expecting such a thing,” he said as Phillip rolled his eyes at his friend’s quick recovery. “Yes, I confess to being a little too mirthful over your swift acquaintance and interest in Miss Williams. And yes, I have been a little less than discreet when it has come to stating such things aloud within hearing of others.” He shook his head and sent Phillip a rueful glance. “And now you have your revenge, it seems.”

  “A lesson, that is all,” Phillip replied, his grin still firmly in place. “I am glad you are so eager to learn it, Hoskins.”

  “You do know,” his friend said with a shake of his head, “that Lady Warren will tell her friends about what you have said or suggested?” He ran one hand down his face. “I shall have almost all the eligible young ladies seeking me out in the hope of securing me.”

  Phillip chuckled. “That is not something I believe you will be in any way ungrateful for,” he said, and Lord Hoskins began to laugh also. “In fact, I think you might be very glad for it.” Seeing his friend shrug, Phillip went for one last suggestion. “Perhaps, in the midst of it, you may find your own ‘Miss Williams’.”

  Lord Hoskins’ smile dropped immediately. “What do you mean?”

  “It is merely to suggest that you might discover an interest in a particular young lady, just as I have discovered it with Miss Williams,” Phillip replied, no smile on his face now. “You were the one to suggest it at the first, Hoskins, and I hope that it shall occur for you very soon.” The corner of his mouth lifted, a genuine smile beginning to spread. “For I believe that such a feeling and such an eagerness to be all the better acquainted with one particular lady is truly the most wonderful thing in all of the world.”

  7

  “Good evening, Lord Astley.”

  Lucinda curtsied carefully, knowing t
hat her behavior and her conduct would be under strict examination by her father. She rose but said nothing more, looking at the gentleman with a steady gaze.

  He was not smiling.

  Instead, he wore a dark frown which, she considered, appeared to be so much a part of his features that she wondered if it ever lifted from his brow.

  “Good evening, Lord Astley,” Lady Crampton said, curtsying quickly. “I am very glad that we have been able to secure a proper introduction.”

  Lord Astley’s frown grew a little darker but neither Lucinda nor Lady Crampton reacted to it. Instead, they simply stood together quietly, whilst Lord Swinton cleared his throat in a slightly awkward manner, perhaps aware of the tension that was growing between them all.

  “An excellent evening thus far, do you not think?” Lord Swinton said, his manner a little too cheerful for Lucinda’s liking. “Perhaps, Lord Astley, you would wish to—”

  “It is a tolerable evening,” Lord Astley interrupted, his gaze still fixed to Lucinda even though he spoke to Lord Swinton. “I do find such soirees and gatherings to be rather dull. That is, unless there is a card game to be had.” At this, he glanced meaningfully toward Lord Swinton who, for whatever reason, laughed in response.

  Lucinda did not understand it.

  “I find this evening to be very lovely indeed,” Lucinda found herself saying, using the courage that came from knowing that Lord Wiltshire would not think any worse of her for being introduced to Lord Astley and for remaining in his company for a time thereafter. “I do enjoy soirees.”

  A small snort came from Lord Astley, as though her opinion was utterly worthless and meant very little indeed.

  “As do I,” Lady Crampton added firmly, making Lord Astley glare at her as if she had spoken out of turn or said something quite untoward. “An excellent evening here thus far, I think.” She looked to Lucinda, who gave her a small smile back in response. Lord Astley was not about to intimidate them and she herself was quite prepared to continue in such a vein if it was required. Knowing that she would not have to continue her acquaintance with Lord Astley, knowing that nothing could bind her to him now, gave Lucinda all the confidence she needed to speak with courage and determination. Her father might think Lord Astley to be an excellent gentleman and encourage her toward him, but nothing he did or said would make Lucinda think that Lord Astley was at all suitable. Not when she had Lord Wiltshire to compare him to.

  “You were speaking to another gentleman at length, Miss Williams.”

  Startled, Lucinda looked up into Lord Astley’s face and took in his grimace, his thin lips, and his dark eyes watching her carefully. Her stomach tried to tie itself in a knot, anxiety pushing itself into her heart, but with an effort, Lucinda controlled both.

  “I was, yes,” she said without any defensive note in her voice. “I was speaking with Lord Wiltshire.” She lifted one shoulder. “I do not think that there was anything untoward about such a thing, for I know a good few gentlemen and ladies here this evening.”

  Lord Astley shook his head. “You shall not do so again.”

  Lucinda’s brow lifted. “I beg your pardon, Lord Astley?” she said as Lord Swinton moved away for a moment to speak to another acquaintance. “Are you forbidding me from speaking to those I am acquainted with?”

  “That is it precisely,” the gentleman replied firmly, lowering his head so that he might glare into her eyes. “If we are to court, then I will not permit you to do such a thing.”

  Blinking rapidly, Lucinda tried her best to think of what she was to say in order to put such an idea to rest at once.

  “Lord Astley, there is no promise or suggestion that you and Miss Williams will be courting.”

  Relieved, Lucinda looked at her aunt, who was speaking to Lord Astley with a firmness in her voice that brooked no argument.

  “You cannot forbid a mere acquaintance from behaving as she wishes,” she continued, and Lucinda took in a deep breath, relieved that her aunt was able to speak in such a manner whilst she herself was struggling to find a way to respond. “I do not know what it is my brother has said to you, Lord Astley, but I must tell you now that my niece will be conversing, dancing with, and perhaps even courting others. There is nothing that you can say that will prevent that.”

  “That cannot be,” Lord Astley retorted angrily. “I have been assured—”

  “There is nothing of importance between us, Lord Astley,” Lucinda said firmly, drawing confidence from her aunt’s demeanor. “My father has given me the choice and I intend to make it entirely on my own. Yes, our acquaintance may linger for a short time, but I have other gentlemen interested in courtship also. I will not turn away from them for the sake of you.”

  This did not please Lord Astley or calm him in any way. Instead, he seemed to rise up before her, his shoulders rounding and a hardness appearing in his expression that frightened Lucinda somewhat. Had her father forced her into matrimony with this gentleman, then Lucinda knew she would have been both distraught and terrified of what her future would hold.

  “Lord Swinton.”

  Her father was back in a moment, seemingly summoned by Lord Astley’s furious voice.

  “Is it as your daughter and your sister say?” he asked, throwing a contemptuous look toward Lady Crampton. “You stated that I was to wed your daughter, but now it seems that it is not as you agreed.”

  Lord Swinton lifted his chin and did not cower before Lord Astley’s wrath. “I said that I thought the match an excellent one,” he replied as Lucinda glanced over her shoulder, afraid that other people in the room would hear this rather loud conversation. “But my daughter has others who are eager, it seems, to court her and it would be foolish of me to have her throw such choices away. Therefore, I have allowed her to make her own decision.”

  Lord Astley’s jaw worked furiously and for a moment, Lucinda feared he might strike her father. Quite what had been agreed upon and why Lord Astley was so angry about such a thing, she did not know. Surely he could wed anyone he chose, for there were many gentlemen with daughters eager to marry without being particularly interested as to who their husband should be, as long as they were titled and wealthy.

  “That is not as we stated,” Lord Astley said, his voice rasping with anger. “You know very well, Swinton, that given what will come to her, that—”

  “Come and we shall speak at length elsewhere,” Lord Swinton interrupted, putting one hand on Lord Astley’s shoulder. “Perhaps such things can be altered, Lord Astley.”

  Lucinda did not know what to make of this remark, her eyes widening as she glanced at her aunt, who was now beginning to frown. Did her father mean that the arrangement that had apparently been made between Lord Astley and himself would somehow be changed? Or was it meant to suggest that she herself could be somehow convinced to change her mind so that she would then consider Lord Astley rather than Lord Wiltshire?

  There was no word from either of the gentlemen as they stepped away, no indication of whether they were to return. Instead, Lucinda and Lady Crampton were left simply to stand together, watching the gentlemen depart from them.

  “That was a most unpleasant encounter,” Lady Crampton said stiffly, clearly still quite angry over what had been said by both Lord Astley and Lord Swinton. “Although I will confess, my dear niece, that I must wonder at what had been arranged between your father and Lord Astley.” She turned to face Lucinda, her eyes filled with questions, and Lucinda felt her stomach twist.

  “What do you mean, Aunt?” she asked, trying to keep herself calm. “It is obvious that my father promised Lord Astley that we should wed and evidently has not yet told him otherwise, but beyond that, I cannot see what else might have been discussed.”

  Lady Crampton continued to look thoughtful. She had never been one to hold back from Lucinda, speaking her mind and stating exactly what she thought without any hesitation. It was one of the qualities that Lucinda appreciated about her, given just how difficult it was for her to disce
rn her father’s behavior.

  “I think that there may be more to this matter than your father is willing to reveal,” Lady Crampton said quietly. “Do you remember when he first spoke to us of that particular arrangement? When he was quite determined for it to go ahead as planned? When first I and then Lord Crampton asked him why he was so determined for Lord Astley to wed you, given that Lord Wiltshire might be a better prospect in terms of his wealth and character, your father could not find anything to say save for the fact that he considered the gentleman to be quite excellent and more than suitable for you. Nothing more was said which, to my mind, leaves the possibility that he is determined to keep the truth of the matter from us—from you, Lucinda.”

  A sense of foreboding wrapped itself around Lucinda’s heart. “You mean to say that you believe Father will still encourage me toward Lord Astley? He may yet force the match?”

  “I do not know,” Lady Crampton replied slowly. “Let us just hope that, very soon, Lord Wiltshire will express his desire to court you. Once he has done so, I am sure that all will come to rights.” Her smile brought no warmth to her eyes but instead there remained a good deal of concern. “Whatever your father has arranged, Lucinda, I am certain you can be protected from it. I am determined that you shall not wed Lord Astley, that odious, obnoxious gentleman.” Her expression grew determined and she slipped an arm through Lucinda’s, turning her back toward the other guests. “Let us set Lord Astley from our mind for a time, Lucinda, dear. Instead, let us consider what is to occur tomorrow when Lord Wiltshire comes to call.” Her eyes were bright as Lucinda smiled back at her, the thought chasing away the dark frustrations and fears that lingered in her heart. “I am sure it will be a most excellent visit.”

  “I am looking forward to it,” Lucinda replied as her aunt beamed at her. “I must say, Aunt, I find myself rather confounded over the strength of feeling that I have for Lord Wiltshire at present.” She did not even think to hide what she felt from her aunt, knowing that she could speak openly and without any hesitation. “It is a very short acquaintance, I know, but it appears that we are both very drawn to each other.” Catching sight of him, Lucinda felt heat sear her cheeks even though he was not even looking in her direction. “It is most extraordinary.”