The Long Road to Love (7 page)

Augusta, Dowager Countess of Blackstone, resided in a comfortable house on Great Pulteney Street in Bath. Her decision to move from the family home had come a year earlier when, arriving unexpectedly at their town house in Berkeley Square, she’d come upon a party of her son and his raffish friends, each with an extremely vulgar actress in tow. She’d promptly turned on her heel and ordered the carriage to take her to her cousin in Bath, vowing not to set foot in any of her son’s residences until he had a proper wife.

After staying with her cousin for six months, Augusta at last gave up waiting for her son to fall in with her plans and leased the house in which she currently lived with her outspoken sister, Mrs. Gertrude Harris. Though the dowager’s sibling had inherited a comfortable income at the death of her husband, she’d been delighted to join Lady Blackstone in Bath.

On this warm August afternoon the ladies were seated in the drawing room, waiting for tea to be brought. Gertrude, red-haired with a smattering of freckles on her plump face, sat reading the Bath papers. She lowered the news and inquired, “Do you wish to go to the theater this week, Augusta? The newspaper states they are doing a revival of Sheridan’s The Rivals.”

The dowager, a handsome woman who’d grown stout and grey with age, looked up from her book of poetry, thoughtfully tugging at the lappet on her frilly white cap.

“Perhaps on Friday, my dear.”

The door to the drawing room opened at that moment and Bergman, the butler, entered. “My lady, Lord Blackstone and a young lady are here.”

Hope swelled in Augusta’s heart as she sat up. While Richard had visited her regularly, he’d brought no one with him before. “Show them in quickly, Bergman.”

Within minutes Richard and a young lady dressed in the black of mourning entered the room, crushing Augusta’s plans for a possible marriage for her son. She eyed the woman closely, thinking something was familiar about her.

Richard surveyed his mother to gauge her mood. He was pleased to see her smiling. Looking back at Angel encouragingly, he thought her very pale in her black traveling dress and bonnet, her eyes looking more violet than blue. He fought the urge to take her in his arms to reassure her, for he suddenly realized that her welfare had begun to occupy his thoughts constantly. Turning to the seated ladies, he said, “Good afternoon, Mother, Aunt Gertrude.”

The dowager arched one brow. “What a surprise, my dear. I thought you were off to some house party in the country.” She leaned a mildly lined cheek up for her son to kiss.

“I had an unexpected change of plans.”

Gertrude Harris eyed the beauty in black with hostility.Her opinion of her nephew’s lifestyle couldn’t be lower and she always let him know it.

“Richard, this is a new low for you. Always before you allowed the gentleman to get cold in the ground before making off with the widow.”

Richard opened his mouth as if to give his aunt a tongue lashing, but he knew he’d be wasting his breath. His concern was getting Angel settled, and his aunt’s comment had left the young lady with pink cheeks. He smiled reassuringly at her, ignoring Gertrude’s jibe.

The dowager was stunned at Richard’s acceptance of the barb, for he usually returned his aunt’s rude remarks with equal sharpness.

“Mother, you remember Miss Angelica Markham from Edenfield. Angel, my mother, Lady Blackstone, and my aunt, Mrs. Gertrude Harris.”

As the young lady made a proper curtsy to them, Augusta stared at the girl in black mourning garb. Good heavens, this beauty couldn’t be that skinny child Richard used to bring home for tea, but it appeared so. “Why, my dear Angel, I wouldn’t have recognized you. You’ve changed so. Forgive me, I’m forgetting my manners. Please accept my condolences on your loss.”

Angelica was pleased that the countess called her by her childhood name, but was surprised to find herself so embarrassed by the situation. “Oh, I am not in mourning, Lady Blackstone. This is . . .” She trailed off and looked at Richard.

The earl, realizing how difficult explaining would be, took Angelica’s hand. “Mother, ‘tis a long story, and Angel is fatigued. We were hoping she might stay here with you. I’m sure once you’ve heard her story you will agree, but for now I think the lady needs to rest.”

Augusta was curious, but the one thing she took note of was Richard’s gaze as it rested on Angel. The look was almost a caress. Was it possible her son was enamored with their beautiful neighbor? Pulling herself from this hopeful thought, the dowager smiled at her guest. “I should be delighted for you to stay, my dear. Gertrude, pray, have one of the maids take Miss Markham to the Blue Room, and speak with Cook about two more places for dinner.”

Gertrude, filled with curiosity about the mysterious young lady they called Angel, escorted the girl from the room, hoping Augusta would find out why Richard was in company with a genteel young lady. She often criticized him for his more outrageous exploits because they occasionally embarrassed her sister, but he always kept to women of a certain type, and the lady he’d arrived with was definitely not such a woman.

Augusta waited until her sister had led Miss Markham from the room. She gestured for her son to take the seat across from her. “Richard, I am certain I don’t have to remind you of the danger to Angel’s reputation to be traveling alone with you, so I shall simply ask why the young lady needs to stay with me.”

Richard quickly told his mother the tale. When he came to the part about meeting the baron at the bridge, the earl became so agitated that he stood and began to pace. The more he spoke of protecting Angel from the unwanted marriage, the more Augusta was certain her son had fallen in love with the beauty and didn’t even realize it.

Settling back into his chair when he’d finished, Richard grew quiet and then said, “Mother, we have traveled alone for two days together. I think I should do the proper thing and marry her.”

It took every bit of strength Augusta had to prevent her from shouting yes, but she wanted her son’s marriage to be a happy one. He must come to realize his true feeling and not offer for the girl out of duty. “You know Angel better than I. Do you think she would accept a marriage of convenience?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then I think it best not to worry her over that matter. Leave her with me. I am certain you have much to do at the estate since your visit was interrupted. I shall need some time to dress the dear girl before I introduce her to Bath society.”

Richard frowned. “You intend to take her about?”

“But of course, my dear. Angel needs a husband of her choosing. Besides, I shall enjoy outfitting her and escorting her to the private parties of my friends.”

The earl grew quiet. He was certain Angel would be considered a diamond of the first water in Bath. But he was equally certain he didn’t want to be around to watch all the gentleman swarm about her. The very thought caused a sharp pain in his chest. What was the matter with him? It was high time he got back to his own affairs. All he needed was the charms of some lusty actress or some sultry widow to help him forget about the dark-haired beauty upstairs.

Richard rose abruptly and kissed his mother. “I think I shall allow you to handle matters for Angel. If I leave now I can reach Blackstone Abbey before midnight.”

Augusta suppressed a smile as she watched her son’s retreating back. “Do come again soon, I am certain Angel will wish to thank you and introduce you to her choice of a husband.”

The drawing-room door slammed shut. The dowager chuckled. He would be back, and sooner than he realized. Later that evening, Augusta watched Angel struggle to hide her disappointment at the news that his lordship had returned home quite suddenly. The dowager was certain the pair were in love. Now all she had to do was make certain that Angelica didn’t attract some eligible gentleman until her son came to his senses.

Two days later Richard found himself strolling down Haymarket Street toward the King’s Theatre in the hope of finding some new actress to tease him out of his dark mood. He’d returned to the abbey, only to find he couldn’t concentrate. Even his tenants had praised Angel for her kindness in helping with the sick. In desperation, he’d packed and returned to Town.

Now going round to the stage door, which was propped opened due to the heat, he recognized several of the women milling around backstage while the sounds of someone rehearsing onstage echoed out the door.

Stepping into the theatre, Richard halted as a tall, buxom blonde with a painted face and dressed as a shepherdess came to hang on his arm. Her stage name was Lilac Windemere.

“Why, if it ain’t Lord Blackstone! Did you get bored with the girls what went to Lord Yardley’s little party?” The actress pressed herself close to the earl. “Never had a gentleman get bored with me.”

Lilac suddenly leaned over and kissed her prey. Richard choked at the smell of cheap perfume, and he wanted to push the woman away. When she drew back and smiled, he was filled with memories of the sweet innocence of Angel’s kiss in the woods. His gaze swept the actresses who watched Lilac’s attempts to snare a benefactor. These women weren’t what he desired any longer.

With a bow and a tip of his hat, Richard said, “Ladies, I have an appointment in Bath.” He turned and left, certain of what he wanted.

Angelica plucked a red rose from the trellis, then wandered to the marble bench at the back of the small garden at Lady Blackstone’s house in Bath. Dressed in a new pink sprig muslin day gown with white lace at the sleeves, her black hair now fashionably arranged, she settled in the shade, wondering where Richard was at this moment.

When the countess had told her he’d gone without so much as saying goodbye, Angelica’s heart felt as if it were crushed. She knew she’d made the dreadful mistake of falling in love with her old friend.

When Angelica had come downstairs the following morning, Lady Blackstone had insisted on a new wardrobe for her guest and had announced that she’d called in a seamstress. She’d spoken of the parties and other entertainments they would attend in Bath, but all Angelica could think of was Richard and where he was at that moment.

Angelica plucked a velvety petal from the rose she held and sniffed its sweet scent. It would be a long month and a half before she received her inheritance and could find living quarters of her own. What if Richard returned before then? Could she keep from revealing her feelings to the man she loved? He was so anxious to get back to his rakish life, he’d left without bidding her farewell. He’d never given her a second thought.

The crunch of gravel on the garden path alerted Angelica that someone was joining her. She quickly swiped at a tear that streamed down her cheek and looked up; then her breath caught in her throat. The earl strode toward her looking rakishly handsome in a blue coat with grey pantaloons. His auburn hair glistened in the afternoon sun.

Angelica rose on shaking knees. Her heart began to race as she took in the tender look in his amber eyes. Dare she hope? “R-Richard, this is a surprise. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. What brings you back to Bath?”

“A lady, my dear.”

Angelica’s heart plummeted. He’d found some new dalliance. Afraid she might cry, she nodded and looked away, fingering the small roses on the trellis, then bitterly said, “I am sure she will be delighted to be the object of your desire.”

“She doesn’t appear to be.”

Richard watched as Angel spun around in surprise, her lips trembling. He stepped closer and slid his arms around her waist, drawing her to him. “Are you delighted to be the object of my desire?”

Angel, unable to speak, smiled up at him, and her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. Her dark curls bounced as she nodded her head vigorously.

“It is truly more than mere desire, my love, for you are the lady who stole my heart.” Richard’s mouth closed over Angelica’s, and this time the lady surrendered with a sigh of pleasure.

After several passion-filled moments, the earl drew back and said, “I love you, my dear. Will you marry me?”

“Oh, Richard’, are you sure you can give up all the . . . others.”

Tightening his arms around her waist, Richard grinned.
“I’ve already forsaken that way of life, all I want is you, my very own Angel”

“I do so love you, my very own Rake.” Angelica again surrendered to the pleasure of Richard’s kiss.

From the upstairs window, the dowager and her sister briefly watched the scene in the garden; then, feeling they were intruding, they left the lovers to their joy.

As they went down to tea, perhaps because she had not thought of it sooner, Augusta complained, “I should have known it would take an angel to reform a rake.”