Last Chance for the Charming Ladies: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance Collection

by Fanny Finch

  “A husband might drink too much. A family may be desperately in debt. The mother might be dying. There could be any number of things that would force a person out of their good humor.

  “Therefore, I always try to give the person the benefit of the doubt. I try to be kind to them. To show them that I am truly paying attention to them. Sometimes all that people need is a little good honest attention.”

  Edward smiled at her, feeling incredibly fond of her. “You are too kind of a creature. I shall have to make certain that nobody takes advantage of it.”

  Miss Worthing blushed and turned back to her drawing.

  Edward realized, suddenly, that all that Miss Worthing had said could also apply to him.

  He had lost his father. And while he did not get on with the man, he had loved him.

  Part and parcel with his father’s death came the duchy. And then that meant he also had to get married. Suddenly, he was the most eligible bachelor in all of England.

  And he had allowed it to make him, as Miss Worthing had put it, ‘prickly’.

  He had fallen into the very trap that Miss Worthing had described. And he expected everyone to understand and put up with his issues while he had no sympathy for their own.

  “Miss Worthing,” he said, “I do believe that you have shown me the error of my ways.”

  “As you know, my lord,” Miss Worthing replied, intent upon her sketch, “that is my greatest joy in life.”

  Edward laughed.

  They spent an hour or two at the park and then packed it all up to return home.

  Georgiana was full of praise for the novel she was reading. Apparently, she felt quite a kinship to one of the main characters, the sensible elder sister.

  Miss Worthing was more than happy to listen to Georgiana talk on. Edward, however, was still dwelling upon his conversation with Miss Worthing regarding human nature.

  He did not see Miss Worthing or his sister for the rest of the day. He had to hole himself up in his office in order to take care of some estate business.

  He did wish that the women trying to earn his affections would understand that. Their profession, so to speak, was earning a husband. The balls and dinner parties and house calls were their offices.

  However, he had to maintain his social obligations as well as go to the banks and the gentlemen’s clubs, attend meetings, and send letters and go over accounts.

  He had to do both things and so he could not always have his mind completely on the social aspects of his life. When he sometimes wanted to talk business with the other gentlemen at the ball, the women acted as though he were committing a great crime against humanity.

  When he could not join on the morning calls, however, both his sister and Miss Worthing nodded in understanding.

  “I hope that your business goes well,” Miss Worthing said quietly. She looked almost shy.

  Edward could feel a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It felt like a natural reaction to her. Miss Worthing was present, and therefore that was reason to smile.

  “Thank you. I hope that your morning calls are pleasant.” He suspected that she needed all the luck and well-wishing that she could get on that front.

  Since he did not see her until they were ready to depart for the ball, he had not truly spoken to her either since their brief exchange that morning.

  Miss Worthing was quiet on her way to the ball. But then, they all usually were. Except for his sister when she was giving Miss Worthing last-minute instructions and reminders.

  “Keep your head up,” she would say. Or, “remember to keep your hands light, as though they are floating.”

  This time, Georgiana was silent. She seemed to think that now was the time for Miss Worthing to sink or swim on her own. No reminders would be able to replace the actual training in Miss Worthing’s mind.

  Edward hoped that the ball tonight would go better than the one last night. He would have to seriously intercede if Miss Worthing was treated in such a manner again. No matter what Miss Worthing and Georgiana thought of the matter.

  He wouldn’t stand by while an innocent girl was treated like dirt. Especially when it was inadvertently his fault.

  They were invited to the dinner before the main ball once again. Edward held his breath as they entered the dining room. Would Miss Worthing be able to handle herself?

  They all sat down. Georgiana was across the table from them but Miss Worthing was just diagonal to him, on his left side.

  Hopefully he could at least then have a chance to head off any insults at the pass.

  Miss Hennings, he noticed, was unfortunately in attendance. She looked at Miss Worthing the way that Edward had seen falcons look at a mouse.

  Everyone settled down, and conversation began. Miss Worthing, he noticed, seemed unusually nervous but also determined.

  The conversation started, and it was not long before Miss Hennings saw fit to try and take it over.

  “But of course,” she said, “not all of us can be so fortunate as to our upbringing. Why, there are those who did not even have the benefit of a governess!”

  It was a dig at Miss Worthing, of course. Her mother had brought her up, and after her mother’s death there had been no further education for her in the department of manners.

  “And yet,” Miss Worthing replied, “there are some who manage to behave in such a manner despite having the best governess afforded.”

  Edward nearly dropped his spoon. He stared at Miss Worthing. There were two spots of color high up on her cheeks, not her usual blush.

  He was torn. On the one hand, he wanted to congratulate her on the comment. On the other hand, it was so unlike her. It was unkind, and he had never known Miss Worthing to be unkind in all the time that he had known her.

  Then he saw the gleam in Miss Hennings’ eye, and silently groaned.

  Now, it seemed it was an actual war.

  Chapter 13

  Maria could see that her comment had only angered Miss Hennings further.

  Well, that was no matter. She would find a way to best her. She had to show that she could hold her own among these people. That she could dish out just as well as they could. Otherwise, how else was she to prove that she had the social ability worthy of a duke’s wife?

  In response to the remark about the governess, Miss Hennings insulted Maria’s mother.

  “What is the saying, that the apple does not fall far from the tree?”

  Maria winced, as if in sympathy. “Well, at least I am certain that I did come from that particular tree.”

  Miss Hennings’ face went quite pink. Maria had heard from the older ladies that there had once been a rumor that Mr. Hennings was not, in fact, Miss Hennings’ true father.

  It was owing to the fact that Miss Hennings looked nothing like her father, while her two brothers very much did. Personally, Maria did not care one way or another. But it was most certainly a sore spot for Miss Hennings.

  Lord Reginald looked quite odd. He did not seem to be proud, or impressed, as Maria had hoped.

  She did not quite understand that. Why should he not be pleased at her wit? Surely he would be happy that she was finally scoring a hit against the woman who had treated her so cruelly?

  Perhaps he was merely in shock. Maria pressed on, determined.

  It felt as though she were in a sporting match of some kind. Only their equipment, their weapons, were made of words.

  Maria saw quite a few guests looking as though they were trying not to laugh when she would say something particularly clever. She had to stifle her own smile of triumph.

  You see? she wanted to say to Miss Hennings. Two can play your little game.

  She tried not to look at Lord Reginald too much. After all, she had just been accused of having feelings for him. If she paid him too much attention now Miss Hennings was sure to seize upon it.

  As it was, Miss Hennings seemed to feel that Lord Reginald was too dangerous a subject to approach. It could have been that she worried
that if she brought him up to insult Maria, that Maria could then throw Miss Hennings’ own pursuit of him back in her face.

  So long as Lord Reginald was not addressed, Maria did not care so much for the reason why.

  She was feeling quite triumphant by the time that dinner ended. For the first time, she was one of the witty ones at the table. She was no longer the subject of the jokes—she was the one making the jokes.

  It was intoxicating, in a way. No wonder people strove to be the most entertaining person in the room. The attention and praise she could feel on her went to her head faster than wine ever had.

  But then dinner ended. And she stood up, and turned.

  And saw Lord Reginald’s face.

  He was not happy with her. He was not proud, or impressed, or pleased.

  He looked thunderous.

  Maria could feel her stomach knotting terribly. She had never seen the duke look like this before. He was staring at Maria as though he did not even know her. As though she were a stranger, and an unpleasant one at that.

  She swallowed. It struck her, suddenly and horribly, that she had taken a misstep. At some point, she had done something wrong.

  As they all started to file out into the ballroom, she saw Georgiana try to give her brother a warning look.

  Lord Reginald did not seem to see it. Instead he walked up to Maria and took her arm.

  “We,” he said, “are having a small talk, Miss Worthing.”

  Maria looked over at Georgiana, who just looked upset.

  Seeing no other option, she allowed the duke to lead her into a private corner. Knowing the entire time that she had, somehow, just messed everything up.

  Chapter 14

  Edward could hardly see, he was so full of fury.

  What sort of behavior was that? What kind of—who had kidnapped Miss Worthing and taken her place as an imposter? It was the only possibility that he could think of as to why she had suddenly become as awful as the women who had tormented her.

  To bring up that old rumor about Miss Hennings’ parentage! And then to keep going, as if that was not already crossing the line.

  He had no tender feelings for Miss Hennings. If he never had to endure another evening with that woman, it would be too soon. But that was most decidedly crossing the line.

  Of course, Miss Hennings had and would cross the line. Goodness knew all the things she had insinuated about Miss Worthing as well as any woman who had dared to speak to Edward.

  But he had not expected the same from Miss Worthing. He had expected better from her. No matter who was saying it or who it was directed at, such things went too far. They were too unkind.

  Miss Worthing seemed confused and frightened. As though she were unaware of how she had so badly messed up.

  Well, Edward would be sure to educate her.

  He turned her to face him once he was certain that nobody was paying them attention. Georgiana had looked worried but had the good sense not to follow them.

  He was far too upset and would not stand for anyone’s interruptions or interference. Not even from his sister. And he did not wish to sour the evening more by snapping at Georgiana.

  “Care to explain your behavior?” Edward asked. He did not care to make his tone gentle. He was angry, and Miss Worthing ought to know it.

  Miss Worthing stared at him, eyes wide, face pale. “I—I am not certain as to what you mean, my lord.”

  “Your behavior,” he said. “At dinner, just now. What on earth was that about? What were you thinking? Are you at all the girl that I have come to know?”

  Miss Worthing seemed to be at a complete loss. She stared at him, uncomprehending.

  Did she really have no idea how badly she had just behaved? How frustrated with her he was? How ashamed of her?

  If she did not understand, then he would make her understand. She had to know that what she had done was completely outside of the bounds of propriety.

  “The way that you behaved and the things that you said were so outside of the realm of what is considered proper that I cannot even find the right words,” Edward told her.

  He knew that his tone was harsh, but he could not find it within himself to care. He was almost shaking with the force of his disappointment.

  Yes, that was what he felt—disappointment. He had faith in Miss Worthing. He had loved how unlike everyone else she was. How kind and thoughtful. How honest and plain.

  Now she was behaving exactly like the rest of them.

  “I had put my trust in your character,” he told her. “I had faith in your honesty and your forthright manner. I appreciated how genuine you were.

  “And now I see that you are as bad as the rest when you feel the occasion calls for it. Tell me, which is the real Miss Worthing? The one who claims to believe the best in people? Or the one who airs a sordid rumor in front of everyone at dinner in order to humiliate a woman?”

  Miss Worthing’s eyes shone bright with unshed tears. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but Edward did not want to hear her excuses.

  “If you are ever to behave in such a manner again, I shall not be escorting you,” Edward told her. “I shall either stay at home and you can make do with another man or on your own. Or, you are welcome to stay at home while I go out with my sister.

  “I will not tolerate such behavior, not now and not ever. I do not know what has come over you but I never wish to be privy to it again.”

  “I have said nothing that has not been said in some manner towards me!” Miss Worthing burst out, sounding terribly upset.

  “And that makes it all right for you to dish it back to them?” Edward replied. “Where do you have the right to be on the moral high ground? Why is it all right for you to say such things but not for them?”

  “I only—”

  “You were not thinking, that is what you were doing,” Edward replied. “You let your baser emotions get away from you. Your anger and your pettiness.

  “Before today I had not even thought that you were capable of such feelings. I rejoiced in it. I wished that all the world could be as you are. Or as you were, rather.

  “I hope that I shall never see such behavior exhibited from you again. I cannot help but associate with the people at these gatherings. I must, and so I do. But I can choose who I escort and who I let under my roof.

  “I will not allow myself to be so closely associated with someone who behaves as you have just now. I cannot even begin to express the depth of my disappointment.”

  Miss Worthing really did look as though she were holding back tears. Edward had to give her points for maintaining her composure as best she could when she was so clearly upset. Miss Worthing was not the sort of person who was good at hiding how she felt. Normally he would have been proud of her for holding herself together so well.

  Not so this evening.

  Edward knew that he had to leave or he would only continue to rant at her. He did not see how that would help her any. His message had been delivered, loud and clear.

  “I shall be going into the ballroom now. You may enter as well or you may not. I do not care. But the next time I see you, I shall expect the conduct to which I have become accustomed.

  “That is, I shall expect the compassionate and thoughtful person that I have come to admire. Not whatever mean-spirited shallow girl that I have been presented with tonight.”

  He took a deep breath, steadying himself. “I bid you good evening, Miss Worthing.”

  He left her standing there and went on into the ballroom.

  Chapter 15

  Maria almost couldn’t breathe.

  And not in the usual way. Not in the breath-stolen-by-charm sort of way. That was for when Lord Reginald was smiling at her or winking or making her laugh. Or simply, well, being himself.

  No, this was in the awful stomach sinking sort of way.

  She wanted to crawl into a corner and be forgotten there for all eternity.

  Oh, she had been such a fool. Such an awful wretch
. She had only been trying to show that she could handle herself around Miss Hennings and the others.

  And now she had alienated the one person that she was trying to impress. The one person whose opinion mattered above all others.

  She wanted to burst into tears.

  But she could not. She still had the ball to endure. Oh, how could she be expected to handle the dancing and conversation when all she wanted to do was disappear from existence?