Regency Romp - Happy Christmas Mr Jones (Regency Romps) (4 page)

             
Tomas nodded but said no more.  His friend must make up his own mind, he would not push him into what might be a rash decision.  For himself it seemed that half his work was done; it was extremely fortunate that Michael’s family was invited to a ball at the Manor.  He had expected that he would have to scour the district to discover where Miss Lydia lived, but now he knew - and he would be seeing her at the ball the next evening.

             
Would she be as lovely as he remembered?  If he found that she had the same effect on him as before, he must find a way to pay court to her – even if meant extending his stay here well beyond Christmas.

‘You look lovely,’ Jane said as her sister entered her bedchamber.  ‘That dress always did suit you – and Mama’s pearls look well on you.’

             
‘Are you sure you do not wish to wear them?’ Lydia asked.  ‘They are as much yours as mine, Jane.’

             
‘Mama’s jewels are for us to share,’ her sister said.  ‘We are lucky to have the pearls, this ruby pendent I am wearing and the sapphire one, also the matching earbobs.  I wish there had been more but, as you know, most of the things she had were sold after Papa died.  Until one of us marries, we will share them…and then we shall have to decide how to split them between us.’

             
‘You like the pendants best so I think you should have them both,’ Lydia said.  ‘I prefer the pearls, but we can take turns in wearing them.’

             
‘How like you to give me the most valuable,’ Jane said and smiled.  ‘We shall share them for the moment.  If one of us marries a rich man…’  She sighed and shook her head.  ‘Perhaps it will happen for you, Lydia.’

             
‘And why not for you?’ Lydia demanded.  ‘You are beautiful, dearest.  If we have a season I believe we shall both marry well.’

             
‘Perhaps,’ Jane said.  ‘No more of this, my love.  We shall go and find the others and then go down.  The guests will be arriving soon.’

             
‘Yes,’ Lydia agreed.  ‘Do you think there will be anyone exciting  at the ball this year, Jane?  Last year I did not meet a single gentleman that I would like to marry.  Besides, most of them were already married or widowed.  I am not sure I would wish to marry an older man who already had a family.’

             
‘Beggars cannot always choose,’ Jane said and could not quite hide her sigh.  ‘I may have no choice.  Major Johns has been paying me attention for some time.  I had the excuse of my mourning to put him off but now…I know my uncle thinks I should take him.’

             
‘That is not fair.  Major Johns is so much older…and he is a little fat,’ Lydia objected.  ‘You would have much more chance of finding a man you liked if we had a season.’

             
‘But can we really expect Uncle Simeon to pay for it?’ Jane asked, looking grave.  ‘He might wish to be fair to us, Lydia, but he has his own daughters to think of.’

             
‘Surely it would not cost so very much if we were to accompany Annabel and Mary when they have theirs?’

             
‘Not in terms of accommodation or entertainment – but there are all the clothes we should need.’

             
‘Yes, they would be expensive,’ Lydia agreed.  ‘Never mind, Jane, perhaps tonight there will be a handsome and very rich lord who will sweep one of us off our feet and solve all our problems…’

             
‘Yes, perhaps,’ Jane agreed and laughed.  ‘If he asks you to marry him, my dear sister, you may say yes – and then you can introduce me into society after your honeymoon. And if I marry Major Johns I might do the same for you.’

             
‘Oh yes,’ Lydia said and giggled, slipping her arm through her sister’s.  ‘I promise you that when I am rich I shall give you a season, my dearest one – and I’ll nag my poor husband into giving you a dowry of ten thousand pounds.’

             
Jane laughed and shook her head.  ‘I think he will have to be very much in love with you,’ she said.  ‘No more fantasising, Lydia.  We must go and find our cousins…’

             
Lydia nodded but was thoughtful.  She did not wish Jane to sacrifice herself for her sake.  If she married Major Johns she would be very unhappy.  Somehow, Lydia must steer her away from making that mistake – even if she had to flirt with the major all evening herself.

             
A plan was forming in her head.  If she could make the major fall a little in love – or possibly lust – with her instead of Jane, she would receive his proposal and refuse him.  At least then Jane would not be trapped into a marriage her sister knew she would hate.

The sisters stood with their cousins and aunt until more than half of the guests had arrived, including Major Johns.  Lydia had smiled at him when it was her turn to welcome him, fluttering her long lashes.  He looked surprised, as he might well do considering she had never glanced his way before, but she saw him smile as he walked away.

             
So far so good!  Jane was a little quiet as they stood in the line to greet their guests and Lydia wondered why, until she saw Sir Justin Bentley arrive with his family.  Immediately, she could sense both relief and tension in her sister, and then she understood what had caused Jane’s sighs of late.  Sir Justin had an estate of moderate size but unfortunately, as his neighbours knew, he had made some poor investments in the past year or two.  He was not precisely ruined, for he still owned his house and land, but he was in debt and his son Michael was expected to marry a girl of some wealth to restore the family fortunes.

             
Seeing Jane glance shyly at Michael and the look that passed between them, Lydia understood that her sister was suffering the pangs of an impossible love.  Her heart wrenched for her and she was more than ever determined to foil her plans to accept a proposal from Major Johns.

             
Even when she saw that Captain Milliband was with Michael Bentley her courage did not fail her.  Captain Milliband made her heart race but she did not imagine that he would be interested in a girl like her; a man who looked as he did might have his choice of young ladies – a rich heiress or a duke’s daughter would not be beyond him.

             
Once she entered the ballroom, gentlemen she had known all her life, immediately surrounded Lydia, begging for the favour of a dance.  She laughed and handed them her dance card.  It was passed from one to another and when returned to her there were only three empty spaces.  Lydia could not help but be flattered, though she would have liked more free dances in case…but of course he would not…

             
‘Miss Lydia, may I beg the favour of a dance?’

             
Lydia smiled at Major Johns, giving him another dose of the fluttering lashes that had seemed to please him earlier.  ‘I should be delighted, sir,’ she said and handed him her card.

             
‘Thank you.  I shall secure the dance before supper and then I may take you in.  I must say that I have never seen you look more charming, Miss Lydia.  You quite outshine all the other young ladies this evening.’

             
Lydia’s cheeks felt hot as she dimpled at him and thanked him for the compliment.  She noticed that he was sweating slightly and his coat already had damp patches beneath the arms.  By the time the evening had advanced as far as the supper dance, he would no doubt be glowing and smell distinctly unpleasant.  It was one of the things she had noticed about him, and another reason why her dearest Jane must not accept his proposal.  Indeed, he must be persuaded t forget her sister and there was only one way to make sure of that, Lydia thought.

             
‘I shall be honoured, sir.  I have often thought you one of the most distinguished gentlemen in the district.’

             
In itself the statement was true, for the major was comfortably off if not rich, a member of the town council and a magistrate.  He was a man of some influence and she could see that her compliment had been taken not as flattery but as his just deserts.

             
What a pompous idiot he was!  Lydia could only be glad when the music started and her first partner came to claim her.  She enjoyed what was a lively country-dance and laughed at the gentleman’s jokes.  He was a year younger than Lydia and full of his intention to join the army the next year.

             
‘Me father has promised me a commission in the  9th brigade,’ he told her proudly.  ‘I cannot wait to be off after Christmas.’

             
Lydia congratulated him and passed on to her next partner for a more sedate and gentle promenade.  After that set of dances she was approached by Michael Bentley, who asked for a dance.  Lydia was obliged to offer her card and he took one of the two spaces left.  She had hoped to save both for Captain Milliband, if he should ask but when she looked she saw that he was dancing with her sister Jane.

             
She now had only one dance left and though she was delighted not to be sitting out, she was afraid her card would be filled before the captain approached her.  However, in the slight interval that followed a very lively dance he suddenly appeared before her.

             
‘Do you have a space left on your card, Miss Lydia?’ he asked.  ‘I have observed how popular you are and I fear I was tardy.  We were late to arrive and I was being introduced to so many new friends…’

             
Lydia’s heart was racing as she looked up into his eyes.  ‘You are fortunate, sir.  I have just one – and that is coming up now…Oh, I think it is a waltz…’

             
‘Perfect,’ he said and smiled down at her.  ‘You do waltz, Miss Lydia?’

             
‘Yes,’ she said.  ‘At a private ball.  If we were at Almacks I should have to wait until given permission I think?’

             
‘Yes, for otherwise you would offend the patronesses and you do that at your peril.’

             
Lydia’s laughter rang out, causing several gentlemen to look her way.  One of them was Major Johns.  She caught his eye as they waltzed by and smiled at him.  In the pleasure of dancing with Captain Milliband, she must not forget her mission; Jane must not be allowed to make a terrible mistake.

             
‘You appear to have a great many friends?’ her partner said.

             
‘Oh, yes.  We have lived here all our lives.  Not in the Manor as we do now, of course.  After my father lost everything and died of a terrible fever, brought on by a broken heart, Mama said – my uncle kindly gave her the use of the dower house.  When she died last winter he brought us here to live with his family.  We are very fortunate, though of course neither Jane nor I have any money to speak of.’

             
‘Money is not everything, Miss Lydia.’

             
‘It means very little to me,’ she replied.  ‘One must have a house to live in and clothes to wear…also a carriage, a horse and a dog?  The rest is all froth and bubble, do you not think?’

             
A smile lurked at the corners of his mouth as he said, ‘Oh yes, certainly.  Money has its uses, I believe.  After all, one must feed the horses and the dog…Why a dog, Miss Lydia?  I understand the house and carriage…’

             
‘To take for walks, of course,’ she said and dimpled up at him.  ‘I do not think I could live in the country without a dog to take for walks.  We have three – they are my uncle’s dogs of course, but I should like my own when I…if I ever have my own house.’

             
She heard his husky laugh and knew that she had amused him.  ‘You think that is funny?  Do you not care for dogs?’

             
‘I have four and I should not like to be without them.’  He smiled down at her.  ‘I was not mocking you, just feeling very in tune with your feelings, Miss Lydia.’

             
‘Oh, I do not mind people laughing at what I say.  I enjoy making people happy if I can.’  Seeing Major Johns staring at her she smiled at him over Captain Milliband’s shoulder and lifted her fingers to wave.  He beamed at her and then turned away to speak to someone.

             
‘I regret that this is our only chance to dance,’ Captain Milliband said as the music drew to a close.  ‘That will teach me a lesson.  Next time we meet at a ball I will be the first in the queue.’

             
Lydia laughed.  She was reluctant to part with him, but it was now time for the supper dance and she could see Major Johns approaching her.  She thanked Captain Milliband and turned to Major Johns with a brilliant smiled that quite clearly dazzled him.

             
‘Ah, major, it is our dance now,’ she said.  ‘I have so been looking forward to it – and to eating supper with you.’

             
‘Not as much as I,’ the bewildered but happy gentleman said.  ‘You are a charming young lady, Miss Lydia.  I must confess that until this evening I had not imagined…’  He recovered and bowed to her.  ‘Shall we take our places.  ‘I must wait to say my piece until we have eaten supper – before I relinquish you to your eager partners.’

             
Lydia’s stomach wobbled slightly.  She was almost certain that she had succeeded in distracting his attention from Jane, for though her sister had danced all night, including two dances with Captain Milliband and one with Michael Bentley, she had not danced with Major Johns.  Lydia suspected that he was considering making her an offer after supper and suddenly she was nervous.  She had not truly though this thing through and now realised that refusing him would not be easy.  She must do so in a way that did not offend him, for he was a friend of her uncle and she would not hurt his feelings.