A Lady by Chance (Historical Regency Romance) (6 page)

When two weeks had passed, Anna found herself running to the window with each clop of horse hooves, checking to see if Haverstock had arrived. With every breath she took, she thought of him. And cursed herself for doing so.

With an armed Morgie standing watch, Haverstock met with his French contact at a farm house on the outskirts of Bordeaux. The meeting went well. Monsieur Herbert presented Haverstock with several pages of dates and descriptions of shipments to troops in the Peninsula as well as their locations. In exchange for the information, Haverstock handed over the fifty-thousand pounds.

"My necessity for the money grows urgent," the fleshy Frenchman said. "Soon, I will be forced to leave France."

Haverstock cocked a brow. "How so?"

"Our government has been informed that a traitor is passing information to the British. As yet, no one knows my identity."

"I have told no one your name," Haverstock said.

"Are you aware that someone who works in your Foreign Office is a spy for the French?"

Haverstock experienced a sinking feeling. "Are you sure?"

The Frenchman nodded. "Just as he does not know my name, I do not know his. But I must warn you to be very cautious."

During the journey home, Haverstock was thankful he could keep busy reading, translating, and memorizing the documents. For the first time since he left London, he was too busy to think of his strange marriage and the unwanted attraction his devious wife solicited in him.

He was pleased to learn some of the documents even sketched out battle plans and enumerated French troops. All in all, England had struck a good bargain by paying Monsieur Hebert for the information.

Near the end of the journey, Haverstock translated a great deal of the information into code and burned the originals, keeping the coded papers on his person at all times.

As he and Morgie approached London, Haverstock faced a dilemma over whom to see first: Anna or his mother. He had written to Anna that he would see her immediately upon his arrival, but he also wanted to smooth things out with his mother before bringing Anna home.

In the end, his impatience to once again look upon Anna won out. Was she really as lovely as he remembered? He could still remember how it felt standing before the cleric holding her slim gloved hand within his own and placing his signet ring on her finger. Her recalled how small her voice had sounded when she recited her vows. And he would never forget the picture of her sitting in the bed, attempting to cover her exquisite body while declaring her innocence in a shaky voice. Most of all, he remembered the feel and smell of her naked body against his own. As he drew near Grosvenor Square, he felt like a schoolboy in the flush of his first flirtation.

Chapter 6

Morgie accompanied Haverstock to Anna's house. Haverstock brought his friend along to prevent himself from raising her skirts and taking her on the floor of her parlor. For when it came to Anna, he was consumed by lust.

When Perkins answered the door, Haverstock said, "Please announce me to my wife."

Perkins showed the two gentlemen into the parlor, and a few minutes later Anna glided into the room. Haverstock's mind had not embellished her extraordinary appearance. If anything, she was even more beautiful than he remembered. He had not seen her by the light of day before. She wore a soft white morning gown sprigged with violets, with purple velvet ribbands at the edge of the three-quarter sleeves and at the flounce at the hemline. Her skin above the low-cut bodice was as smooth and white as he remembered and her face as flawless. In the sunlight he could see deep brandy-colored highlights in her rich brown hair.

He took her hand and kissed it. "I trust you have been well these past sixteen days, Anna."

Her face colored ever so slightly when she assured him she had enjoyed good health.

Remembering his companion, Haverstock indicated Morgie and said, "You remember Mr. Morgan, my dear?"

Morgie swept into a deep bow. "Your servant, Lady Haverstock."

"Do sit down," Anna told them as she sat on a rose brocaded settee, "and tell me of your journey. Where did you go?" Haverstock took a seat on a French chair that looked much too small for his large body. "We had to check on various investments around the country."

"The investments you needed the money for, my lord?" she asked.

He pursed his lips and frowned. "Have I not instructed you, my dear, not to address me as
my lord
?"

"I am sorry, Charles," Anna said.

"Yes, my dear, we needed the money for the investments."

"Have you seen your mother?" she asked.

"No. I came here straight away. How soon can you be ready to move to Haverstock House?"

"I am ready now. I have made arrangements to let this house."

"Very good," Haverstock said. "By the way, has my mother called?"

"No, but I did not expect her. I cannot blame her for being disappointed in the match. She has no doubt decided I am completely unsuitable," Anna said in a confident voice. "Beside your mother, who else is in your family?"

"I have five sisters and a brother. I bought James colors, and he is now in the Peninsula." He shook his head. "Worry like the devil over him." Sighing, he added, "My sister Mary married last year and lives in Cornwall. The sister closest to me in age and in temperament is Lydia. She's thirty and has no prospects of marrying. Unfortunately for her, she resembles me very much. I fear she is much too tall and too broad to attract suitors – which is a loss for them for she is quite the most agreeable woman I have ever known. But, then, I might find her so because she thinks and acts more like a man."

"Bruising rider," Morgie added. "And a capital whist player."

"It's easy to see that Lydia is your favorite," Anna said.

Haverstock thought for a moment without responding. "I suppose you're right. Lydia, too, is probably the most loyal to me, because of the closeness of our ages, I expect."

"What about the other three sisters?"

"I'm sorry to say they are a pack of empty-headed females who will all marry quite well. They are tolerably good looking and think of nothing except the latest fashions and hair arrangements."

"And what are their names and ages?"

He thought for a moment. "I am not particularly good at remembering that sort of thing. I know Charlotte is the youngest. She's seventeen and will come out this next season." He skewered his face in thought. "Let me see, Cynthia came out last season and turned down several offers. I believe she's holding out for a peer. I think she's nineteen. Then there's Kate. She's a year older than Cynthia."

"The three youngest seem very much of my own age," Anna said.

"And I am sure they will adore you, for you possess that which they hold above all else – an enviable wardrobe."

"Then outfitting them in all new clothes will be very enjoyable for me."

His eyes narrowed. "I told you I don't want your money, Anna."

"In most matters, my lord, I will abide by your decisions, but when it comes to my money, I will spend it as I like, and providing your sisters with beautiful clothes will give me great pleasure."

He rose and paced the room. With his back to her, he said, "I go to make sure Haverstock House is ready for you, madam. If all goes well, I will collect you later this afternoon."

She offered her hand first to Morgie, then to her husband, who kissed it softly before he took his leave.

Lydia was the first to meet him when he entered Haverstock House. She wordlessly pulled him into the morning room and spoke quietly. "I don't need to tell you how distressed Mama has been over the news of your marriage. She's taken to her bed. What's come over you? You've never done a rash thing in your life."

He placed his hands on her broad shoulders. "When you meet her, you'll understand."

"Knowing you as I do, I cannot believe you would enter into a gross misalliance. I will endeavor to make your wife welcome in every way."

He kissed his sister on her cheek. "You are the best of sisters." Then he swept from the room, mounted the stairs and found his mother in her bed in the marchioness's chamber.

His face flushed with anger, he said, "This room was supposed to have been made ready for my wife, Mother."

Tears seeped from her eyes. "I have been much too upset over your marriage to do anything."

"You have had sixteen days to get over the shock. You are to remove yourself at once from this bed. My wife moves in this afternoon."

"Charles, you are heartless."

"I am not throwing you out on the streets. You will merely move down the hall. I am thirty-two, Mother. Did you think I would never take a wife?"

She sniffed. "It is just that I thought bans would be posted and I would have more time to prepare for the changes." Bursting into fresh tears, she said, "And I never in my wildest nightmares thought you would marry so far beneath you."

"My wife is the daughter of a duke, and her mother was a member of the French aristocracy. I hardly think that is beneath me."

"Her mother was a  – -"

"You will not speak ill of my wife or her mother," he interrupted angrily. "Ever! Is that understood?"

"Can I not even hope that you will change your mind about the marriage?"

"No, you cannot."

"Then the marriage has been consummated?"

His jaw stern, his lips a straight line, he replied, "Indeed it has."

She observed her first born. "You are exactly like Steffington. He was totally obsessed with the de Mouchet woman. Just because she possessed an extraordinary beauty. Is the daughter also beautiful?"

"You will have to judge for yourself. I am of the opinion that her beauty is unrivaled."

She shook her head. "You're breaking my heart just as Steffington broke my poor sister's heart."

"Aunt Margaret is dead," he said sternly. "Steffington is dead. Annette de Mouchet is dead. You need to put the past behind you, Mother. Don't blame Anna for the circumstances of her birth. And let us hope she does not blame us for the cruelty she and her mother received from Father."

Late that afternoon, the Haverstock women gathered in the salon to meet the new marchioness. Anna had selected an impeccably cut dress of deep gray wool with matching pelisse. The pelisse was trimmed in claret velvet and a claret-dyed ostrich plume jutted from the fashionable gray hat which sat askance on her head. She carried a huge fur muff dyed in the deep claret and wore gray leather boots. She felt rather like a fine horse being trotted before bidders at Tattersall's as Haverstock escorted her into the salon where the awaiting females unabashedly took in her every feature and cast envious glances at her exquisite attire.

One by one, Haverstock introduced her first to his mother, who offered a cool greeting, then to each sister before taking a seat beside his wife on the sofa.

Haverstock strongly resembled his mother, Anna thought. The dowager was a large woman, more in height than in weight, though she carried a good bit of matronly padding. And, like her son, her eyes were black and her hair still a dark brown.

Lydia shared the coloring and stature of her brother and mother, and Anna thought she looked even older than her thirty years.

The three younger sisters bore little resemblance to the others, though they looked remarkably like each other. They were small, though not as small as Anna, and were fair and blonde.

"I understand you have a rather large staff," the dowager said to Anna.

"I bring only my abigail with me," Anna answered. "She has been with me my entire life and with my mother before that."

Anna noted Haverstock's mother stiffened at the mention of her mother.

"I suppose I should have checked with you these past two weeks to determine how many you would bring so we could ready quarters for them, but I have been indisposed," the dowager said.

Lydia got up and rang for a servant. When the butler entered the room, she told him to instruct servants to ready a room for Anna's maid.

"Thank you, Lydia," Anna said gratefully.

Awkward silence followed before Cynthia asked Anna, "May I inquire as to who is your modiste, Anna? That is quite the most exquisite outfit I have ever seen."

Anna smiled. "If it is agreeable to you, I will take you girls there tomorrow and have Madame Devreaux design gowns for each of you."

"My wife is possessed of a great fortune which – above my objections – she is determined to shower upon my family."

"I do not find that objectionable at all," Kate said, grinning.

Her mother cast a disapproving glance at Kate. "I think not tomorrow, girls. Remember, there's a rout at the Abernathy's tonight and you will not get to bed until very late."

"Then the day after," Anna interjected authoritatively. She had decided to exert her authority from the start. The dowager would not be given the opportunity to undermine her.

Her face grim, Haverstock's mother turned her attention to her son. "You and your wife will accompany us tonight?"

Anna noted her mother-in-law had refrained from referring to her by name.

"I think not, Mother," he said. "I wish to enjoy a quiet evening at home with my wife. You forget, we have been apart for over two weeks."

Chapter 7

The two of them sat before the fire in Anna's chamber and partook of a light dinner in near total silence. After the servants took away the dishes, Haverstock poured two glasses of brandy he had brought back from France, giving the snifter to Anna, then sitting beside her on a settee in front of the fire.

She took a sip and grimaced. "I have never had brandy before, my – -, Charles."

His eyes flashed mischievously. "What! A French woman who does not appreciate excellent brandy?"

"I am not a French woman," she said defiantly. "My mother held a great bitterness for her country, and her greatest desire was that I be thoroughly English. I was baptized in the Church in England, my mother spoke only English to me – though Colette spoke only French – and my sympathies in this awful war are entirely with the English, I assure you." Her chest tightened as she ruefully remembered her husband did not share those sympathies.