An Innocent Kiss : A Regency Historical Romance
- eBook
- Book info
- Sample
- Media
- Author updates
- Lists
Synopsis
Only son Perry Beaumont resents his father's neglect of Beauville, the family's country estate, and asks his father for more authority to make decisions in running it. When his father rejects the idea, Perry leaves England for the Napoleonic Wars. Returning four years later upon his father's death, he suffers from nightmares and wonders if he will ever be the man he was before he lived in daily carnage, even as he takes up his new duties as the Earl of Martindale.
Lady Drusilla Alington leaps at an invitation to visit her newly-married sister in Surrey, ready to escape her domineering mother. Dru has an affinity for animals and dreads making her come-out next spring, not wanting to be paraded about on the Marriage Mart.
With her brother-in-law's country estate, Huntsworth, being near Beauville, Dru soon meets the quiet Lord Martindale, and they share a friendly, innocent kiss. While she believes they can be friends, Perry hides his growing attraction to Dru, knowing she has no interest in being wooed. And while he knows he must take a bride to get his heir, he fears no woman will want such a damaged man as her husband.
Will Perry conquer his fears and reveal his love for Dru—or will he keep silent and let Dru go so she can pursue the life she wants?
Find the answer in bestselling author Alexa Aston's An Innocent Kiss, the third book in Captivating Kisses.
Each book in Captivating Kisses is a standalone story that can be enjoyed out of order.
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Captivating Kisses
Book #1: An Unexpected Kiss
Book #2: An Impulsive Kiss
Book #3: An Innocent Kiss
Book #4: An Unforeseen Kiss
Book #5: An Enchanting Kiss
Book #6: An Urgent Kiss
Book #7: An Unforgettable Kiss
Book #8: A Promising Kiss
Book #9: A Possessive Kiss
Book #10: An Irresistible Kiss
Release date: June 7, 2025
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
* BingeBooks earns revenue from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate as well as from other retail partners.
Reader buzz
Please log in to recommend or discuss...
Author updates
An Innocent Kiss : A Regency Historical Romance
Alexa Aston
PROLOGUE
Beauville, Surrey—June 1803
Peregrine Beaumont accepted the reins from the groom and mounted his horse. He rode the length of his father’s estate and then crossed onto the lands owned by Lord Tilsbury, his closest friend. The widowed viscount had served as an adviser of sorts to Perry ever since he had returned from university over a year ago. The two men both had a deep love of the land and military history, and Perry usually called upon Tilsbury twice a week and took tea with him.
He believed he was at a crossroads. He wanted to do more at Beauville, but his father, the Earl of Martindale, held all the power and authority over the country estate. Perry worked daily alongside their steward, Mr. Rankin, but he wished he could do more. Any suggestion he made to his father regarding the land or tenants was met with either silence or a quick refusal to change anything.
Once he arrived at Tilsbury Manor, a groom took his horse, and Perry cut through the kitchens, being so frequent a visitor that the practice was accepted.
Cook smiled brightly at him. “I’ve made that apple tart that you favor, my lord. I’ll send tea up to you and his lordship soon.”
“Thank you, Cook. When I become the Earl of Martindale someday, I may try to steal you away from Viscount Tilsbury.”
She laughed heartily. “There’ll be no stealing, my young lord. Now, behave yourself and go upstairs.”
He came across the butler and greeted him before heading to the study, where he knew he would find his friend. Rapping upon the door, he heard, “Come.”
Perry entered the study and found Lord Tilsbury behind his desk, poring over a newspaper.
He took a seat in front of the desk, and asked, “What is the news today, my lord?”
Tilsbury looked grim. “Since we recently entered this war with Bonaparte, I fear the news will grow far worse before it ever gets better. The Little Corporal has a vision to dominate Europe. The papers report that he is preparing to invade England.”
A tiny bit of alarm rippled through him. “You do not think Bonaparte would succeed with such an invasion, do you?”
“I certainly hope not. However, Britain will expend a plethora of resources and lose many good men in this upcoming fight. I see the storm raging across Europe, Perry. This war will last for many years. The cost we pay will be high.”
Deciding it was time to test the waters and tell his friend what was on his mind, Perry cleared his throat. “I am toying with the idea of enlisting,” he revealed.
Tilsbury cocked an eyebrow. “Enlisting? My boy, you are the only son to an earl. Your father would not grant you permission to go off to war.”
Anger filled him. “I am of legal age, my lord. My father could not stop me even if he wanted to. Besides, what else am I going to do with my time?”
“Martindale will never pay for your commission.”
Frustrated, he raked a hand through his hair. “I feel useless at Beauville. Mr. Rankin does a fine job running the estate without my help. In truth, I am floundering. I want to take a more active role in Beauville’s management, but that is not something my father is eager for me to do. He may not care about Beauville and its tenants, but he refuses to relinquish any power to me. It forces me to be in a state of limbo.”
“Are you truly that unhappy, Perry? So much that you would risk your life?”
Resolve filled him. “I am, my lord. And I do have a great sense of duty and loyalty to my country. England will need good men in this fight against Bonaparte. I might as well offer up and be one of them.”
Tilsbury studied him a moment. “Promise me that you will not enlist. That if you truly believe that you are destined for the military, you will come to me. I will purchase your commission.”
Knowing how expensive commissions could be, Perry shook his head. “I cannot ask for you to do that for me, my lord.”
“You are a gentleman, Perry. The son of a peer. If you decide to go into the army, you should enter as an officer. I will provide the necessary funds if that is your final decision.”
When he started to protest, Tilsbury said, “We shall call it a loan. Your father will not last forever. You will be the Earl of Martindale one day, and you could repay the loan when you come into your title.”
Astonishment filled him, followed by a tenderness he felt for this man, who had just turned sixty years of age. In the past year, Lord Tilsbury had been more a father to him than his own had.
“Let me think on it, and then I will give you my answer.”
“Swear to me that you will not act rashly. That you will speak to your father before you make any kind of commitment.”
He snorted. “That will mean a trip to town. My parents are so rarely at Beauville. I will take heed and let you know of my decision, my lord.”
Tilsbury rose. “Then let us go into tea. I hear Cook has made your favorite today.”
Perry accompanied his friend to the drawing room, where the teacart was rolled in. They enjoyed an hour together, discussing the Battle of Thermopylae. It seemed every time they came together, they talked of some battle from history. He had always been a fine student, excelling in history and mathematics, and these afternoons spent in the older man’s company meant a great deal to him.
He bid the viscount farewell and rode the three miles back to Beauville.
When he entered the house, Foster came toward him. By the look on the butler’s face, Perry knew it could only mean one thing.
His father had returned unexpectedly to his country seat.
“My lord, Lord Martindale is in his study. He asked to see you as soon as you arrived.”
“Thank you, Foster. He didn’t happen to mention why he has made a trip to the country, did he? After all, the Season is in full swing.”
Foster looked apologetically at him. “He did not, my lord.”
Making his way to his father’s study, Perry tried to prepare himself for their encounter. It seemed each time he and his father spoke, the words grew harsh, and they parted on uncertain terms. Most likely, this time would not be an exception.
He knocked on the study’s door and heard his father call for him to come in. Perry entered the room, one which he never went into out of respect. Not that his father had ever shown him any respect in return, but Perry tried to remain a dutiful son all the same.
“Sit,” his father commanded.
He did as asked, waiting patiently to see what the topic of conversation might be. His father continued writing on paper for the next several minutes, acting as if his son were not present. It was a ploy his father often used, summoning his son and then making him wait, as if everything else in the world were more important. The one thing Perry had sworn to himself was when he had sons of his own one day, he would never ignore them, or make them feel small and insignificant. He would show them love, something he himself had never received.
Finally, the earl set down the quill. “I hear you have been visiting with Tilsbury this afternoon. What is the old goat up to?”
He wanted to point out that there were only a handful of years difference in the two men’s ages, but he thought his father baited him—and he refused to bite.
“Yes, I had tea with our neighbor. Lord Tilsbury is in good health and was in good spirits when I left him.”
“Why do you bother to spend so much time with him, Peregrine? Oh, I know the two of you yammer about history, but you should be with those your own age.”
Here it came. Another lecture about him coming to town.
“You are a young man of one and twenty. You should be at the Season with your friends. Sowing your wild oats. Having the time of your life.”
His father had never understood his son’s nature. How Perry was a quiet man who enjoyed solitude. The earl did not share his son’s love of the country nor his connection with the tenants at Beauville. His father had begun drinking and wenching his way through life during his university years—and had never stopped. Not even marriage had quelled his voracious appetite for women and drink. And apparently, he did not even recall how old his own son was, since Perry was three and twenty.
“I know that you and Mother enjoy the social whirl of the Season,” he began. “I prefer life in the country, however.”
“What the bloody hell do you do here all day, Peregrine?” his father demanded. “In town, you could be at White’s with your friends. You could go to parties and balls. Attend the theater and the opera. There are numerous gaming halls. Why, you could even have a mistress. Or at least enjoy the sexual favors of a few women, if you do not want to be bound to one woman.”
He was interested in none of those things. No matter what he said, though, his father would never understand that.
Perry decided the time had come and said, “You know Britain is at war now. They declared last month.”
His father looked puzzled by the sudden turn of their conversation. “What of it?”
Summoning every bit of courage he possessed, he said, “I intend to enter the army to fight for king and country.”
The earl gasped. “You will do no such thing!” he shouted. “You are my only son. My heir apparent. And what would your mother think of such nonsense?”
“Let me see,” he mused. “What would Mother think? First, she would have to even remember that she has a son, much less one old enough to go away to war. Do you know I cannot even recall the last time I laid eyes on her? And when she is in residence at Beauville for brief spells, she never asks to see me. We never speak. Why, it has been years since we have held even the barest of conversations. You do not get to bring up Mother as a valid reason for me to remain in England.”
His father snorted. “It is madness for you, my heir, to enter the army, Peregrine. Have you even considered that you might be killed?”
This was his chance. His father stood before him now. He would plead his case—and hope he was truly heard.
“Then help me to stay here, Father. Give me more responsibility at Beauville. I have lived here over a year since I graduated from university, and I still feel as if I have no purpose. Mr. Rankin does a fine job as our steward, but you hold all the cards. I have no authority. Relinquish some of it to me. Let me run Beauville as I see fit, especially since it will be mine one day. It should not matter to you. You are so rarely here, as it is.”
“No,” his father said emphatically. “That is simply not how things are done in this family. Why can’t you be like I was and go to town? Enjoy your youth, Peregrine. Do not waste it, either buried in the country or fighting in some god-awful war. I came into my earldom at thirty years of age. I will continue to exercise full control until I am gone, just as my father and his father did before him.”
His father’s words let him know the only course of action available to him.
“Then I will return from war once you are dead and buried,” he said bluntly. “I have no desire to tup every woman in the ton as you have done. You have been a terrible husband and an even worse father.”
“How dare you speak to me in such a manner! You cannot buy yourself a commission, you fool. They are far more expensive than you might believe.”
With full confidence, he replied, “I already have the funds to do so. Our conversation now has helped me to make up my mind, Father. I will be leaving Beauville tomorrow. I would tell you that I would write to you and Mother, but neither of you have ever answered a single letter I have written to you over the years.”
Perry rose, assured that he was making the right decision. “This is the last time we will speak, Father. The last time that we will ever see one another. I wish you the best.”
Turning, he started toward the door, the earl berating him the entire way.
“You bloody ingrate!” his father shouted. “Go and get yourself killed. See if I care. You have always been such an odd duck. I have often wondered if you are even my blood since your mother has coupled with more men than I could ever count.”
He shut the door behind him, the earl continuing to rage. Going upstairs to his bedchamber, he wrote a note to Lord Tilsbury, telling him that he had spoken with his father and decided leaving Beauville to serve in His Majesty’s army was best for his future. He wrote that he would come to tell the viscount farewell tomorrow morning, and hopefully collect the promised funds he would need to purchase his commission.
Ringing for his valet, Perry waited until Grilley appeared, eyeing him with concern. All the servants must have heard the earl’s tirade, and Grilley smiled sympathetically at Perry.
“Take this note to Lord Tilsbury at once.” He paused. “I am leaving Beauville, Grilley. I will be purchasing a commission in the army. I can write a recommendation for you before I depart, though. You are incredibly good at what you do. It should be easy for you to obtain a position in another household.”
The valet looked at him steadily. “I won’t need one, my lord. I’ll be coming with you. You’ll need a batman.” With that, the servant took the letter and left the room.
Perry took a seat in the chair by the window, looking out over the Beauville gardens. He would miss the serenity of this place terribly, but he could not languish any longer without a purpose in life. He would do his duty and serve England, hopefully contributing to ending the threat Bonaparte posed to its citizens.
He couldn’t help but wonder, however, if he would ever see Beauville again.
CHAPTER 1
Huntsworth, Surrey—August 1807
The coach turned up the lane, and excitement ran through Lady Drusilla Alington.
“Is it very far now?” she asked her brother.
Con, whose long legs were stretched out before him, his feet propped on the seat opposite them, smiled. “We should be at the main house in five minutes.”
She couldn’t wait to see her sister. Lucy had left Somerset last spring to make her come-out during the London Season, and she had wed the Marquess of Huntsberry in May. Lucy had written Dru about her marriage, saying that while she had been caught in a compromising position with Huntsberry, she was still pleased with the result. According to Lucy, she and Huntsberry were a love match.
Dru, a year younger than her sister and scheduled to make her own come-out next spring, couldn’t fathom being wed, much less being in love. She had no interest in marriage or children and oftentimes, she preferred the company of animals to people. Still, she was thrilled that Lucy was so happy and eager to meet the marquess who loved Lucy so much.
“Are you relieved to have escaped seeing Mama?” her brother asked.
Lady Charlotte Alington was a most particular woman, one with firm opinions on any given topic and ready to share those opinions whether a person wished to hear them or not. Dru and Mama clashed often. Mama had a firm idea about how each of her children’s lives should play out. While Con was her favorite, being the only male child, Mama paid little attention to Dru and Lucy—unless she was telling them what to do.
Thank goodness Lucy had finally escaped Mama’s clutches. As a married woman and marchioness, Lucy actually outranked her own mother. She was free to make all her own decisions now, something Dru envied. It would be the only reason she would consider marriage, but she did not want to trade one jailer for another. Dru wanted to be free to come and go as she pleased. Pursue the things which interested her. Even wear what she wished, which usually meant breeches during the months Mama and Papa went to town for the Season. If she could find a husband who would grant her such freedom, only then would she contemplate marriage.
More than anything, Dru wanted to avoid being paraded about on the Marriage Mart next spring. She had no desire to wear new gowns and make small talk with people she did not know, with the goal of landing a husband. Mama’s ideas of an eligible husband included one with a lofty title and a vast amount of wealth. She couldn’t help but wonder what Huntsberry was like, and if Lucy had followed Mama’s instructions to obtain a suitable groom. While Lucy had always been a good girl, meekly following Mama’s instructions and advice, Dru had constantly quarreled with her mother whenever they were in the same room together. She couldn’t imagine living with Mama for months, with a parade of suitors coming in and out, Mama evaluating which ones Dru should consider, and which ones should be discarded.
“What is Huntsberry like?” she asked. “Did he measure up to Mama’s standards?”
Con chuckled. “Judson is quite wealthy, and you know he is a marquess, so that pleased Mama. He is an only child, however, so he does not have siblings who have married into other, socially acceptable families. You will learn when you make your own come-out next Season that social standing is a very important aspect when choosing a husband. Lucy is fortunate Judson compromised her, else Mama would most likely have seen to selecting a different husband.”
“Well, she will not choose a husband for me,” Dru declared. “I may not wed at all.”
“Truly?” Con asked, removing his feet from the opposite bench. “Isn’t that what all women want?”
“I have never wanted a husband. And the only babes I find the least bit tolerable are furry ones.” She stroked Toby, who sat in her lap, and the cat began purring. “I simply cannot picture myself giving birth, much less caring for a babe.”
“That is what a nursemaid and wet nurse are for,” he said matter-of-factly. “They handle the daily things a babe requires. But some parents actually like their children. You will see when you watch Ariadne and Julian with Penelope.”
Dru had met her cousin Ariadne years ago in town. For some unknown reason, the ten cousins had all been brought to London and introduced to one another. They had played together for a week and then went back to their homes. The Alingtons lived in Somerset in the west. The Worthingtons resided in Kent. The Fultons were far to the north in the Lake District. Of course, Uncle George had passed on just after that week in town, and his son had become the new Earl of Traywick. Dru wondered how ten-year-old Hadrian had felt, coming into his title at such a tender age after losing his father.
“I do look forward to seeing Ariadne again and meeting her husband and child.”
“Julian might scare you upon first sight. He is a large man with an unusual background. He was not brought up in Polite Society.”
“Ooh, I like him already.”
“I am certain, given time, he would be happy to share his story with you. It is almost comical, though, to see a man of his size handle a babe so tenderly.”
She frowned. “He holds his daughter?”
The thought seemed foreign to her. Dru and her siblings had rarely seen their parents when they were present at Marleyfield, and that did not count the spring and summer months Lord and Lady Marleyfield spent in town during the Season. The Alington children had been brought up mostly by their governess and tutor, along with various servants. Of course, Con had gone away to school and university, while she and Lucy had stayed home in Somerset.
“Julian is most unique. He spends time in the nursery and regularly brings Penelope to tea. She is the apple of his eye.”
She laughed. “Can you picture Papa holding any of us, much less bouncing a babe on his knee while at tea?”
Her brother joined in her laughter, then he grew serious. “I think our generation will be different from that of our parents, Dru. Ariadne is the one who first brought it up with us. She also felt abandoned, as we did, every time her parents left the country for town and the Season. She deliberately brought Penelope to town with her this spring, and she and Julian have decided they will never leave their children at home. She has talked to Lucy, Val, and me about this. We have made a pact to, once we have wed and have children, to bring them with us to town each spring.”
The idea stunned her—but she quite liked it.
“Ariadne regrets not having known all her cousins. She believes while the Season is known for its many social affairs, it is a time family can come together. Think of how different things might have been if we had come to town each spring and were able to see our cousins on a daily basis. That is what Ariadne wishes, to make up for the time we lost in our childhoods not knowing one another, and to allow our children to be brought up with their cousins, forming strong bonds of family and friendship.”
“I think Ariadne is a very wise woman,” Dru declared. “That is a marvelous idea.”
“You will like her. Lucy and I do. And Julian and Judson have fast become good friends of mine.” Con paused. “I only am sorry that Uncle Charles passed away last spring, preventing Lia and Tia from making their come-outs, and sending them and Val back to the country to mourn, along with Aunt Alice.”
She knew Val was Con’s closest friend. They were the only two of the ten cousins who had known one another since they went to school together. They had remained close throughout the years, even sharing rooms in university. With Uncle Charles’ passing, Val had come into the ducal title.
“Did you know Aunt Agnes went to Millvale?” Con asked.
Her brother spoke of their uncle George’s widow, mother to three of their cousins. “No. Why?”
“Apparently, she and Aunt Alice are very close friends and have always spent a great deal of time together each year during the Season. Aunt Agnes even sent for Verina and Justina, and they joined their mother in Kent. I am not certain how long they plan to stay, but I think it nice that Lia and Tia have spent time with two of their cousins, especially since they were so disappointed in not being able to make their come-outs.”
Con paused, glancing out the window. “We are here.”
“I am afraid you must go inside your basket, Toby,” she told the tabby, removing him from her lap and slipping him into the basket before closing the lid. The cat wasn’t friendly to anyone but her. He tolerated Lucy at times, but Toby hissed at anyone else who came near him. While she had to leave all her other animals at Marleyfield, it went without saying that Toby had to make the journey to Surrey with her.
Setting the basket on the seat beside her, Dru gazed out the window, seeing Ariadne’s bright copper hair. All the Worthington siblings had varying shades of red hair. A tall man with dark hair and brows stood next to her, and Dru assumed it was Ariadne’s husband, the Marquess of Aldridge. Her gaze turned to her sister, who smiled widely, waving at Dru. A muscular man, even taller than Lord Aldridge, had his arm about Lucy’s waist. He was handsome, with dark brown hair, and as the vehicle stopped, even from the carriage, she could see his emerald eyes. This man had to be the Marquess of Huntsberry, her sister’s new husband.
“Dru!” Lucy cried, slipping from her husband and running to the carriage.
The footman placed the set of stairs down and opened the carriage door. Con bounded out, handing Dru down, and she fell into her sister’s arms.
“Oh, how I have missed you,” Lucy told her.
“Not nearly as much as I have missed you.” She kissed her sister’s cheek and hugged her again.
Lucy stepped back, gesturing to her husband, who stepped forward. “Dru, this is my husband, Lord Huntsberry.”
She saw the love her sister had for this man shining in her eyes, and immediately knew she would like him simply because he made Lucy happy.
Dru curtseyed. “My lord.”
“Oh, none of that,” Huntsberry proclaimed. “We are quite informal with family. I am Judson.” He wrapped his arms about her and hugged her. “Lucy and I are delighted you agreed to come and stay with us.”
“I am grateful for the invitation, Judson.” It sounded odd to call a lord she had just met by his Christian name, but he was her host and family now, as well.
“Come here,” Ariadne said, holding out her arms.
She greeted her cousin, who was even more beautiful than she had been as a child. “It is good to see you, Cousin Ariadne.”
“This is Lord Aldridge, my husband,” Ariadne said, pride in her voice and love in her eyes. “Call him Julian.”
Dru saw it was true—both her sister and cousin had made love matches. She was happy for them.
Julian embraced her, as well. “Welcome to Surrey, Dru. And don’t think you have to spend all your time at Huntsworth. Aldridge Manor is only but a couple of miles away. Ariadne and I hope you will come and stay with us a while, as well.”
“Where is Penelope?” she asked, curious to see how he would respond after what Con had told her.
The marquess’ face lit up. “She is napping, else I would have brought her to meet you. In fact,” he said, turning to his wife, “we should have Dru over for tea tomorrow. That way, she can see our estate and meet her little cousin.”
“Speaking of tea,” Lucy said. “Why don’t you all come inside for some?”
“I asked Mrs.Worth to have us served on the terrace, love,” Judson said.
Dru caught the endearment, as well as the tone her brother-in-law used in addressing Lucy. She saw her sister smile at her husband. Any doubts she’d had about their sudden union were totally dispelled. They were obviously deeply in love.
“Do you wish to freshen up a bit?” Lucy asked. “I will have Annie unpack your things while we are at tea. Come, let me take you to your room first. Ariadne, if you will see everyone to the terrace?”
“Of course, Lucy,” their cousin replied.
She accompanied her sister upstairs. Lucy took her to a large bedchamber done in shades of the palest green, with accents of daffodil yellow.
“This is beautiful,” she said, seeing her trunk already sitting at the foot of the large bed. She also saw Toby’s basket and heard his low growls. Opening the basket, the cat sprang from it and curled up on the bed next to the pillows.
Taking Lucy’s hands, she added, “I am so happy for you. I have never seen you so relaxed and joyful.”
Her sister grinned. “Marriage to Judson suits me.” She paused. “In fact, I wanted to tell you while we are alone that I am expecting a babe.”
“Oh, Lucy!” she cried, hugging her sister tightly. “That is marvelous news.”
“I wanted you to know before anyone else. Now that you do, I will tell the others at tea.” She placed her hands on her belly. “This is something I have always wanted, even more so now that I am wed to Judson. I always wanted to be a mother, but now I am blessed to have Judson as my husband and father to our children. He is such a good man, Dru. He understands me so well. Our love grows daily.”
Taking Lucy’s hands in hers, she said, “I am thankful you found one another. I wasn’t quite sure what to think after reading that first letter regarding how you came to be engaged, but now that I see the two of you together, it is obvious how much you love one another.”
“He treats me as an equal,” Lucy said. “I never thought I would have such a marriage. Mama constantly told me what to do. I was so ready to break free and decide the path I wished to travel. With Judson, I have the perfect companion.” She hugged Dru again. “And it means the world to me to have you here with us. Ask Judson, he will tell you. You are welcome to stay until next spring. I see no reason for you to travel so far back to Somerset and be under Mama’s heavy thumb. Besides, you will want to also go to Aldridge Manor and spend time with Ariadne, Julian, and Penelope, as Julian suggested.”
“If it does not put anyone out, I would enjoy staying.” She hesitated. “Now, whether that means I leave here and go to town for my come-out, that is another matter.”
Lucy looked at her with concern. “Are you still unwilling to do so?”
“Frankly, I do not see the point in any of it. I think all the balls and parties would bore me. I am not interested in finding a husband. Of course, Mama and Papa are ready to cast me from the nest and make me someone else’s responsibility, as well as better their own social standing with my advantageous marriage.”
“You do not have to decide anything now,” Lucy advised. “If you decide the Season is not for you, I will do everything in my power to make Mama understand that.”
Tears misted her eyes. “You would do that for me? Take on Mama’s wrath?”
Her sister grinned. “I am quite daring these days. Just ask Judson. If Mama wants to wash her hands of you, I assure you that you will always have a home with Judson and me.”
“I would never wish to impose—”
“You are my sister, Dru. Judson is eager to get to know you. He had no siblings, so he plans on making you his unofficial sister, whether you agree to it or not.”
They both laughed.
“Oh, Lucy, you seem so lighthearted now. Marriage does suit you, as will motherhood.”
“Take a few moments for yourself,” her sister said. “I will wait for you at the bottom of the stairs.”
“I won’t be long,” she promised as Lucy left the bedchamber.
She appreciated the fact that Lucy remembered how Dru liked to be alone when she relieved herself. She retrieved the chamber pot and quickly did her business, washing her hands with the fresh water in the basin. She checked herself in the mirror and saw all her pins were in place.
A knock sounded on the door, and she crossed the room to answer it, finding Annie there.
“It is good to see you again, Annie,” she told the maid.
“Likewise, my lady. Your sister is so excited that you accepted her invitation to come to Huntsworth. I will be taking care of you during your stay. Doing your hair. Attending to your clothes. Your personal needs. Be sure to ask me for whatever you might wish.”
“I will do so, Annie. Thank you.”
She exited the room, returning the way she and Lucy had come, and went to the staircase, quickly descending the stairs. Her sister waited at the bottom, and Lucy slipped her arm through Dru’s.
“Let us go enjoy our outdoor tea,” Lucy said, taking Dru through a set of open French doors and onto the terrace, where a lovely tea had been laid out.
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. She found Judson and Julian both charming and friendly. Con entertained them with stories of the Season and the various mamas who had hoped he would end his bachelorhood and take on the shackles of marriage. Dru already knew that Con—and Val—had vowed not to wed until they came into their titles. Since Val was now the Duke of Millbrooke, she wondered if her cousin would be perusing the Marriage Mart next spring.
Ariadne and Julian left, and Dru spent the next hours with her sister and brother-in-law. The pair was quite open with their affection, which she knew would flabbergast her mother. Still, by the end of day when they said their goodnights, Dru was satisfied that Lucy had wed the man she was meant to be with.
As she crawled into her bed and snuggled beneath the bedclothes, Toby curled beside her, Dru couldn’t wait to enjoy the freedom that would be hers for the next several months. She banished all thoughts of Mama and being pressed to make her come-out next spring, deciding she would enjoy each day, one at a time, and treasure this special time in her life.
CHAPTER 2
The scream woke Perry. Quickly, he buried his face into the pillow, which absorbed much of the noise. He got control of himself and rolled back over, sweat pouring from his body. At the same time, he shivered from a chill. He glanced about, not even knowing where he might be. Then it struck him.
He was at Beauville. Finally.
The darkness frightened him, so he rose from the floor where he’d slept and went to the windows, throwing back the curtains. At least this allowed in a little moonlight. This time of year, the sun rose early. He would leave the curtains open and welcome the light.
Padding barefoot across the room, he retrieved the pillow, placing it back on the bed, along with the top layer of bedclothes which lay bunched on the floor. When he had arrived late last night, all he had wanted to do was escape into sleep. He had headed for his old bedchamber, but Foster stopped him, taking Perry to the earl’s rooms instead. They had not known when to expect him, only that he would arrive at some point now that the former Earl of Martindale was dead and buried.
Perry pulled the bedclothes up to his chin, trying to get the shivers to subside. He doubted sleep would come again.
He let his mind drift, thinking of the letter he had received from his mother, the first time she had ever written to him. It had been succinct, informing him that he was now the earl and that he should return to England with all due haste and take up his duties. Typical of her, she gave no details of how his father had died or when and where the death had occurred. He had notified his commanding officer of Martindale’s passing and his intention to sneak out as quickly as possible. Having risen through the ranks quickly over the last four years and being a major streamlined the process.
Perry had gone straight from the battlefield to Surrey. Though he had docked in London, he hadn’t spent any time in the city. He supposed he could have gone to visit his mother while there, knowing she would still be in town because the Season had recently ended, and she had never been one to rush home after its conclusion. Most women would have taken a year to mourn a husband’s loss, yet he doubted she had paused for any longer than a few seconds. He had learned through gossip at school just how promiscuous each of his parents were. While his father had mostly ignored his son, his mother had pretended he did not even exist. He felt no loyalty to her and assumed the marriage settlements signed at the beginning of his parents’ union would now provide for her. As far as Perry was concerned, he didn’t care if he ever saw her again.
He thought back to what a foolish lad he had been. He might have been book smart, but he was naive in the ways of the world, marching off to war full of idealism. He couldn’t recall now why he had been so adamant to leave Beauville. Yes, he thought many things needed to be addressed to improve the property. He felt he had been cut adrift after graduating from university. The Beauville steward did the best he could in managing the estate without much support from his employer. Perry had wanted to make changes that both he and Rankin believed to be necessary for Beauville to thrive, yet neither of them had much authority to do so. He had thought by threatening to go off to war that his father, who cared not one whit for his country estate and its tenants, might cede a small portion of his authority and funds to allow Perry to make changes to better Beauville and help it to prosper.
Instead, his stubborn father had called his son’s bluff and practically shoved him out the door. Oh, he had wanted to go to war. Wanted to make a difference. Felt the obligation to fight for his country. But the reality of war was far different from anything he’d ever encountered. There had never been a time he led his men into battle that he was not utterly terrified. He supposed he should go on the stage because he had masked his terror, acting the role of a brave officer.
Time after time, he had taken men into battle, seeing them fall all about him. hearing their gasps of pain. Their cries calling for their mothers and other loved ones. The stench of death surrounding him until it nearly drove him mad.
Some men could not handle the horrors of war. They froze on the battlefield—or worse—they fled. Perry had seen many an officer berate soldiers who had remained paralyzed on the battlefield, belittling them so they had no confidence. He had also witnessed soldiers rounding up men who had run, enacting court martials and sending these terrified, broken men to prison.
He had never spoken a harsh word to any man under his command. Ironically, Perry gained a respected reputation, even being known as Beaumont the Bountiful, because of his generosity with the men under his command. Others clamored to be assigned to his units, and even those who were the weakest of soldiers proved to be the strongest ones, putting their lives on the line, time and time again, not for Britain.
For him.
And because of that, he carried heavy guilt for each death that occurred under his leadership.
He pillowed his hands behind his head, knowing sleep was impossible. He only hoped no one had heard his cries of anguish. Nightmares were common amongst so many of the men who had fought. Knowing he was the only family member in residence, though, he doubted anyone was in this wing of the house in the dead of night.
Throughout his years at war, Perry had yearned for the tranquility of Beauville. War had been ugly. Brutal. He often questioned why he had joined the army and given up the solace of his childhood home. He knew now to cherish every moment of life, especially at a peaceful place such as Beauville.
Being the new Earl of Martindale not only gave him access to great wealth and authority, it also reminded him that he would need to provide an heir. Perry had never attended the Season, finding the idea of all the social affairs to be a waste of his time. Now, he would need to do so next spring so that he might peruse the Marriage Mart for a bride. Once he had done so, though, he intended never to go to town again. Beauville would be his refuge, a place he would gather strength.
Or would he have to go to town to find his countess? Surely, there must be some eligible young ladies in the neighborhood whom he might consider suitable for marriage.
He thought of his closest neighbor, Viscount Tilsbury. They had corresponded throughout his time in the army, and the last letter he had written to his friend had told of him selling his commission and heading home. He would call upon Lord Tilsbury soon, and his first act when he had returned to Beauville last night had been to send a message to his friend, along with the proceeds from the sale of his commission.
But who else lived in the area?
Perry recalled on the other side of Alderton, the nearby village, lay Aldridge Manor. The Marquess of Aldridge had wed several times, trying to get his heir. The last Perry knew, it was a third marriage which had proved unsuccessful in securing children. That meant no daughters of the house whom he might consider for marriage.
Adjacent to Aldridge’s estate lay the lands of the Marquess of Huntsberry. Lord Huntsberry, who was close in age to Perry, had come into his title as a child. They had attended different public schools, though. In fact, he had known that Huntsberry attended Cambridge, as Perry himself had done, yet he had never laid eyes upon him during those university years. Where Perry had come home to Surrey and the land, Huntsberry never visited Huntsworth and remained in town exclusively. Even if Huntsberry had wed and sired a daughter during the years Perry was at war, she would be far too young to become Perry’s countess.
He could not recall anyone else in the neighborhood but would explore the possibility of finding his wife close by because the thought of going to town and being around hundreds of others, forced to make small talk, made him ill.
We hope you are enjoying the book so far. To continue reading...
