Regency Engagements Box Set

by Charlotte Fitzwilliam

  “Oh?” Miss Burton’s eyes had widened in surprise.

  “Indeed,” Angelica sighed, spreading out her hands. “I am being pursued by one Lord Redmond, who is quite intent in his quest to receive my attentions in exchange for his – whereas I am not at all inclined towards him.” Sighing, she allowed herself a small roll of her eyes. “Although why he believes he will be successful when I have already told him that he will not be so is quite beyond me.” Tilting her head, she looked at Miss Burton. “The beginnings of a friendship are already between us, I think, Miss Burton, if you would be glad to continue with it?”

  “I would, very much,” Miss Burton declared, her eyes now clear of tears. “Thank you, Lady Landerbelt.”

  Feeling a little more satisfied and certainly less irritated and angry than before, Angelica rose to her feet and smiled as Miss Burton did the same. “Very good, Miss Burton,” she said, warmly. “Now, let us return to the ballroom, and I promise to keep you either beside me or in my gaze throughout the rest of the evening.” She did not ask why Lord Musgrave was so persistent in his attentions nor why Lady Bainbridge, the girl’s mother, was not doing as she ought and paying close attention to her daughter’s whereabouts, knowing that such questions would come later. For the time being, Angelica allowed herself to feel a little happiness as she walked towards the door with Miss Burton by her side. She had inadvertently managed to prevent something quite disastrous from occurring this evening and somehow, from that chance meeting, had come the beginnings of a new friendship—and that, Angelica considered, might be just what both she and Miss Burton required.

  1

  “Lady Landerbelt.”

  Ivy winced at her mother’s cool tone as she greeted Lady Landerbelt, having been introduced to her on the night of the ball some two days ago. She curtsied beautifully before sitting down, a little ashamed of how her mother sniffed with evident disdain at Lady Landerbelt’s presence. Why she should think so poorly of the lady, Ivy could not understand.

  “I do hope you have recovered from your difficult episode at the ball some two nights ago,” Lady Landerbelt said, with only genuine kindness in her tone. “Miss Burton tells me that you often are struck down with such troubles.”

  Ivy watched her mother keenly, all too aware that she believed that Lady Bainbridge’s fainting fits were more to do with her mother than any genuine malady. She had fainted only a few minutes after being introduced to Lady Landerbelt at the ball and, of course, had required a good deal of attention and encouragement to come back to herself. It had prompted the gossip mongers to begin speaking of Lady Bainbridge’s fainting fits, which for some reason, Lady Bainbridge seemed to be quite content with.

  “I am much improved, I thank you,” Lady Bainbridge replied, with a small sniff as she looked away from Lady Landerbelt. “I am often struck down by such things, unfortunately, and they do take me a day or so to recover from fully.”

  “I quite understand,” Lady Landerbelt said, sympathetically. “That must be very trying for you.”

  Ivy frowned, as she trained her gaze on Lady Landerbelt. The lady in question was sitting quite elegantly in her chair and speaking to Lady Bainbridge with all concern and sympathy in her voice, but there was a hint of something in Lady Landerbelt’s expression that made Ivy believe there was a little more to Lady Landerbelt’s remarks than first met the eye.

  “It is very difficult indeed,” Lady Bainbridge replied quickly, shaking her head sorrowfully. “And yet it is my trial to bear, and bear it I must.”

  “And you do so with such grace and dignity,” Lady Landerbelt replied. Her compliments seemed to buoy Lady Bainbridge’s spirits, for a small smile appeared on her lips and her chin lifted a notch. “I am quite in awe of you, Lady Bainbridge.”

  Ivy narrowed her eyes just a fraction, as her mother lifted one shoulder in a small shrug, sighing heavily as she did so. Her mother was playing on this supposed illness with all of her might, whilst Lady Landerbelt seemed to be taking it all in without hesitation. It was very odd indeed, for she had considered Lady Landerbelt to have a sharp mind and clear intelligence, which made it all the more unusual for her to speak in such a sympathetic and compassionate way.

  “You are very kind,” Lady Bainbridge replied, with another smile, shaking off the last of her disdain. “Not everyone is as understanding nor as sympathetic, Lady Landerbelt. Truly, I find it quite wearying and very often, very difficult indeed to continue through the Season with such a malaise as this.”

  Lady Landerbelt smiled, but her gaze slid towards Ivy. With a barely perceptible change in her expression, Lady Landerbelt continued to speak, her eyes returning to Lady Bainbridge.

  “I do hope to make your burden a little easier, Lady Bainbridge,” she said, in a clear voice. “I have struck up something of a friendship with your daughter—Miss Burton.” She sent a quick smile in Ivy’s direction. “I should be glad to accompany her to any entertainment, soiree, or ball that you find much too burdensome.” Her smile remained fixed, but Ivy noticed, for the first time, a steel in the depths of Lady Landerbelt’s eyes. “Even to afternoon calls, for walks in the park, or visits to the shops in search of a new bow or ribbon.” Her smile remained warm, her voice quietly encouraging. “I should not like you to make your malady worse and would be glad to do what I can for Miss Burton.”

  In a sudden flash of understanding, Ivy realized what Lady Landerbelt was doing. In encouraging Lady Bainbridge to speak openly of her supposed malaise, she was ensuring that Lady Bainbridge spoke words that she could no longer take back. The expressions of sorrow that she was required to force herself to go out into society for Ivy’s sake, for the descriptions of how she had to sometimes take days of rest in order to recover from one episode, and even how she had expressed appreciation for Lady Landerbelt’s understanding – it all now came back forcefully onto Lady Bainbridge’s head. She could not easily refuse Lady Landerbelt now, not when she had made her own suffering so very clear.

  A thrill of anticipation ran up Ivy’s spine. She had never spoken to anyone of the burden that rested on her shoulders when it came to her own mother, thinking herself almost wicked to have such feelings of irritation and disdain when it came to Lady Bainbridge. But…to consider that she might be free of her mother for a short time was nothing other than wonderful. Swallowing hard, Ivy pressed her hands tightly together as she held them in her lap and did her best to keep her expression impassive.

  “You wish to take over some of my duties?” Lady Bainbridge asked faintly, the smile gone from her face as she looked back at Lady Landerbelt with astonishment etched over her features. “In order to–”

  “In order to be of assistance to both you and to your daughter,” Lady Landerbelt said easily, interrupting Lady Bainbridge. “After all, to hear of such a burden resting on your shoulders, one can hardly simply shake one’s head and refuse to do anything other than express sympathy!” She laughed and shook her head. “That would be most uncharitable of me, particularly when I have very little else to do—other than entertain my own desires throughout the Season!”

  Ivy could not wait any longer, speaking before her mother could do so .

  “You are most considerate,” she said quickly, as Lady Bainbridge almost rounded on her, her eyes blazing. “Thank you, Lady Landerbelt. I am sure my mother would be very glad of your assistance.” Fully aware that this would, no doubt, bring down some kind of consequence onto her own head, but knowing that her mother could not refuse to permit her to do so now that such a thing had been said, Ivy smiled at Lady Landerbelt, who returned it with one of her own.

  “Excellent,” Lady Landerbelt said, swiftly rising to her feet. “Then might I suggest, Miss Burton, that since your dear mother will need time to rest before this evening's soiree – or whatever it is you are to attend – that we might walk into town for a short time? There is a new bookshop that I would very much like to peruse, if you have the time and inclination?”

  Ivy did not even wait f
or her mother to grant her permission to do so. Rather, she stood up at once, glancing at Lady Bainbridge but ignoring the look of growing anger on her mother’s face.

  “I should be glad to,” she said quickly. “If you will excuse me for a few moments, Lady Landerbelt, I shall get everything I require and join you by the front door.”

  “You are very kind, Lady Landerbelt.”

  Lady Landerbelt laughed and shook her head. “I confess, Miss Burton, I did not know how you would react to such a thing,” she said, honestly. “I believed that, from what you said previously, you did not accept that your mother’s fainting fits were a true malady.”

  “I do not,” Ivy answered starkly, as Lady Landerbelt gave her a considering look. “My mother is very beautiful indeed, Lady Landerbelt, which I am certain you have noticed. However, over the last two years – and, I should say, I have been present for both the Season and the little Season – she has begun to have such fits, as though she is aware that time is slowly marching forward and that she is unable now to prevent it from doing so.”

  Lady Landerbelt hesitated, then frowned. “You mean to suggest that she finds it increasingly difficult that the ton is less interested in her than before and that, instead, she is seeking to gain attention another way?”

  Ivy paused, considering this, then nodded. “I believe so,” she said, slowly. “My dear father, kind though he is in his character, is less than attentive to my mother or to me. The only person he ever considered or spoke well of was – and is – my brother, who has done precisely what my father expected of him.” She twisted her lips at this, finding very little to like about her obsequious elder brother, who had never once had a good word for her. Without realizing she was doing it, her hand reached up and her finger traced the small scar that ran from just underneath her eye towards her ear. That had been her brother, albeit a good many years ago. Deep down, Ivy wondered if she still held an anger for him over what he had done to her as children.

  “I suppose that, by that, you mean that he is already wed, settled, and has produced an heir to the title.”

  “Two,” Ivy corrected, rolling her eyes and glad to pull her thoughts from the past. “No sooner than his wife had produced the first, then she was expecting the second! Both healthy sons, I think.” A small stab of guilt entered her heart. “That is not to suggest that I am not glad they are both so well; I am truly grateful that they have not been taken by some illness nor were too weak to thrive.”

  Lady Landerbelt smiled. “But of course,” she said, gesturing to the bookshop. “But it is quite difficult when one’s own parents have very little interest in what one does.” Keen eyes looked into her own as Lady Landerbelt stopped just outside the bookshop door. “Might I ask if that is why Lord Musgrave was so eager to chase after you?”

  Heat crawled into Ivy’s face. “Lord Musgrave is a gentleman who is eager to get whatever he wishes,” she answered, quietly. “I believe that I am seen as nothing more than a bit of sport to him.” Her words became bitter. “I am scarred, Lady Landerbelt, and as such, not quite perfect – which is what all such gentlemen require, I think. Therefore, given that my mother pays very little attention to me and given that I have this scar, Lord Musgrave believes me to be a very simple conquest.” Swallowing hard and refusing to allow herself to give in to tears simply at the memory of what he had tried to do, Ivy cleared her throat and gave Lady Landerbelt a watery smile. “I have refused him, of course, but my mother has said nothing to Lord Musgrave to prevent him from pursuing the matter. Therefore, he has done whatever he can to try and take from me what he desires.” She shuddered, despite her attempt at courage, closing her eyes as she did so. “My continued refusal only seemed to encourage him until he had no other choice but to trick me. If you had not arrived, Lady Landerbelt, I dread to think what he might have done.” Opening her eyes, she saw the anger in Lady Landerbelt’s eyes and knew that she understood. “I do not want to even draw near to him again, and yet I know he will be waiting for me at every occasion we attend together.”

  “And little doubt he will brag of whatever conquest he makes to his companions,” Lady Landerbelt muttered, shaking her head before turning around to push the door of the bookshop open. Ivy, glad that they had spoken of what had occurred, followed after her quickly, looking all around the bookshop and drawing in a lungful of air, allowing the smell of the old and dusty books to pervade her nostrils.

  “Good afternoon, my lady.”

  Ivy turned, a small smile on her face, as she made to greet the man she presumed was the proprietor. “Good afternoon,” she replied, as the man looked back at her steadily from under thick, dark eyebrows that hid hazel eyes that swirled with browns and greens. “You have only just opened, I understand. A new bookshop in London is very exciting.”

  The man chuckled, spreading his hands wide. “I suppose it must be,” he answered, with a small grin that sent Ivy into a flurry of embarrassment, fearing that she had said something that now made her look quite ridiculous, even though she was of much greater social standing than he. “Although I would not claim to own this particular bookshop.”

  “Oh?” Ivy did not quite understand what the gentleman meant, only for Lady Landerbelt to suddenly reappear, her eyes fixing on the gentleman and then, to Ivy’s surprise, curtsying quickly.

  “Lord Sutcliffe,” she murmured, although no smile crossed her lips. “Good afternoon.”

  Realizing that she had made some sort of dreadful mistake, Ivy curtsied quickly also, biting her lip and praying that her face would not burn too hot with mortification.

  “Good afternoon, Lady Landerbelt,” Lord Sutcliffe said easily, glancing back at Ivy for a moment. “I did speak to you as you entered, but I fear you did not hear me speak to you.”

  Ivy dropped her head and turned away just a little, realizing that the “Good afternoon, my lady,” she had heard had been directed at Lady Landerbelt rather than at her. Little wonder that he had grinned at her as she had said such foolish things! She ought to have been able to tell by the cut of his clothes that he was a gentleman.

  “I did not,” Lady Landerbelt replied, although there was no warmth in her tone. “You have returned to London for the Season, I presume?”

  “I have indeed,” Lord Sutcliffe answered, throwing a quick glance towards Ivy, who did not make any attempt to catch his eye. “I could not stay in my dreary, old estate over the summer months now, could I?” He chuckled and a shiver ran down Ivy’s spine, as though there was something of a warning in that sound. “Not when there is so much companionship and company to be found here in London.” Again, his gaze slid towards Ivy, as if he expected her to blush and bat her eyelashes at him – but she did not do anything of the sort. Instead, she simply lifted her chin and turned her head away, thinking quietly to herself that she did not want to know any gentlemen who would not only speak to her in such a manner but look at her in such an expectant manner. It was just the same as Lord Musgrave, she considered, wondering if it would be very rude indeed just to step away.

  Throwing a quick glance towards Lady Landerbelt, she managed to catch the lady’s gaze. There was a clear dislike in Lady Landerbelt’s expression, and Ivy, in that moment, chose to do something she knew would bring this gentleman a good deal of irritation and upset, but that would bring herself a sense of contentment and strength. Without even glancing at him or murmuring a word of excuse, she stepped away from him and began to wander through the bookshop, leaving Lady Landerbelt and Lord Sutcliffe behind.

  The sense of triumph in her chest grew steadily as she heard Lord Sutcliffe say something in a less than friendly tone, to which Lady Landerbelt merely laughed. Ivy smiled to herself and picked up a book, looking down at it but concentrating solely on what Lord Sutcliffe and Lady Landerbelt said. Lord Sutcliffe sounded most displeased, but Lady Landerbelt did not try to call her back nor encourage an introduction between the two. Had it been Lady Bainbridge present, then no doubt she would have insisted that Ivy retur
n and not only greet Lord Sutcliffe but apologize for her rudeness. With Lady Landerbelt, it seemed that she knew all too well that an introduction to Lord Sutcliffe was not worth her time, and for that, Ivy was grateful. There was something about Lady Landerbelt that made Ivy’s heart lift with happy contentment. Perhaps it was the lack of urging towards propriety, or the certainty of character that impressed Ivy so much. Whatever it was, Ivy felt quite sure that the beginning of their friendship would grow into something wonderful.

  “Lord Sutcliffe is not a gentleman worthy of your company,” Lady Landerbelt murmured, as she came to stand beside Ivy, looking without interest at the books in front of her. “I know that it is expected that one makes an introduction and is then permitted to converse, but I feel that in turning away from him, you have spared yourself what could only be a very disagreeable connection.” Blue eyes looked into hers. “He is a rake, Miss Burton. He enjoys stealing whatever affections he can from whomever he can and, given his reputation, I thought it best to keep you from him. I hope you do not mind.”

  Ivy laughed softly, turning to see Lord Sutcliffe glowering at them both before turning on his heel and striding out of the shop. “Do I mind?” she repeated, with a twinkle in her eye. “No, indeed, I do not! I will not pretend that I did not make a rather foolish remark to him at the first – believing him to be the proprietor – but I am very glad indeed that there was no introduction between us both.” She smiled, and Lady Landerbelt chuckled.

  “Then I am very glad indeed that you stepped away in such a fashion, despite the rudeness of it,” she said, firmly. “You will find, Miss Burton, that I am not at all inclined towards behaving ‘properly’ when there is so much else to be considered.” Her smile faded just a little. “Some may find me quite rude, but I confess that I do not particularly care.” Her eyes became a little sad for a moment. “One of the blessings of being widowed, I suppose.”