Mr Bailey's Lady

by Audrey Harrison

Genres: Clean & Wholesome Romance; Regency Romance

Synopsis

One story.

FOUR heroes.

Oliver Bailey – a mill owner who is looking for investment from the ton but certainly isn’t looking for a wife.

Baron Johnson – used appallingly by the young woman he’s deeply in love with.

Captain Peterson – a successful ship's captain who has at least one girl in every port.

Mr Lucas – a business rival to Oliver Bailey who has an ulterior motive no one else is aware of.

Four stories intertwined in a way none could foresee. Their lives will never be the same.

Will you be able to choose a favourite?

Release date: November 27, 2016

Publisher: Independently published

Print pages: 261

Sample

Chapter 1

 

Oliver Bailey stood alone at the edge of the ballroom. It had been a mistake coming here. He’d been informed almost as soon as he walked through the door that there would be no opportunity to discuss business, to try would have appeared gauche. On hearing that, he would normally have turned on his heel and left the house, but he had the sneaking suspicion he was being tested in some way. See how the cotton mill owner coped at a ball attended by the fully vetted members of the ton, all looking down their long aristocratic noses at someone who worked for a living. He was definitely the freak in their midst.

He frowned to himself; if he could find another way of raising capital, he would take it, but some of the aristocracy didn’t mind funding ventures that increased their wealth. As long as they didn’t have to dirty their own hands, of course, and that was exactly what he had to offer: The mill was his to run, but if he wanted to expand, arm’s-length investors were needed.

 

His desire to further his business empire had forced this trip to London. He had some support from Lord Lancaster, who had promised to introduce him to others who would be willing to talk, but he had to question Lancaster’s idea of attending the entertainment tonight. Perhaps Lancaster was the one testing him, Oliver mused. He had seemed pleased when imparting the hint that it would not be de rigueur to discuss business in a ballroom. Lancaster had laughed at the glower he’d received at his words and, although the earl had introduced Oliver to one or two people, the aristocrat had soon disappeared into the crowded room. Oliver was wasting an evening when he could be writing letters or going over his proposal. A ballroom of dancing ladies could not divert him from his drive to succeed.

 

Being so discomfited was unusual for Oliver. At home he was king of all he surveyed, and he was determined to make sure that continued. Mills were literally springing up everywhere across the country, but his town provided the right environment, the perfect location and a willing workforce. These facts would help his empire but, unless he kept on top of the business, his success would be limited.

 

Having only an older sister as family, he had been single-minded since he had inherited the mill at eighteen. Under pressure to prove his ability to his competitors and suppliers, over the following seven years, Oliver had quickly left no one in any doubt that he had the business acumen to develop the mill further. Locals knew that Miss Bailey was as capable as her brother and, between them, they thrived.

 

Oliver suppressed a sigh; he missed Hester. She would have teased him out of his dark mood. In fact, they would have spent the night laughing at the absurdity of their situation. For the first time Oliver felt a sense of loneliness, ludicrous when looking at how many people surrounded him, but there it was; the ton didn’t intimidate him in the way they would wish too, but he longed to share his thoughts with someone who would understand why this was not the entertainment for him.

 

 

* * *

 

Emmeline’s attention was caught by the scowling gentleman who stood, hands behind his back, rocking slowly on the balls of his feet, as if he were ready to pounce into action at any moment. He was a stranger in their midst, of that she was sure. A single young lady with an unmarried younger sister who was also out in society was primed to notice any newcomer entering their midst. Every possibility had to be given due consideration; those words had been drummed into her long before she had left the school room.

 

She would have remembered this gentleman if she had met him before; he was a handsome chap, although his deep frown was rather forbidding. He looked as well dressed as any of the gentlemen of wealth in the room; she wondered idly if he patronised Weston’s. If not, his tailor should be congratulated; his clothes showed him to advantage.

 

His hair was the blackest she had ever seen, almost raven-like in its colour. Even at the distance she was from him, she could see his eyes were dark; they looked almost black and, although the thought surprised her, she had a longing to look into them. He looked strong; his shoulders were broad and his frock coat unable to hide the strong arms and broad chest that almost threatened to bulge out of it. That strength appealed to Emmeline and, not usually one to put so much on looks alone, she felt an invisible pull towards the stranger.

 

She roused herself from her thoughts. Standing next to her, Alicia was talking to Juliet. At eighteen both girls were two years younger than Emmeline and a world more gullible; Alicia was Emmeline’s younger sister; Juliet was Alicia’s best friend. The older sister sighed to herself; Juliet would believe anything her friend said and would follow her into a burning fire if Alicia led the way. Juliet was so blinded by the adoration she felt. Emmeline felt a good older sister would be glad her sibling had such a devoted companion but, in reality, such unquestioning devotion only encouraged Alicia’s unwise behaviour.

 

Alicia, was Lady Alicia Chorley, younger daughter to the Earl of Chorley, and heir to a large fortune, just as Emmeline was. Their good friends, Dinah and Juliet Eccles had healthy portions themselves, being the daughters of the Earl of Eccles, but there was less money in that family which also helped to inflate Alicia’s sense of importance.

 

Dinah and Emmeline might not have become friends with each other if Juliet had not met Alicia at school and fallen under the young girl’s spell. Alicia was the hit of the season and was inevitably going to make an excellent match. A rich young lady with tumbling blonde locks, a small frame and blue eyes that could fill with tears as soon as she heard the word ‘no’ never stayed single for long. This was her first season and would definitely be her last unmarried. Emmeline did not begrudge that or her sister’s looks. Emmeline happened to like her own dirty blonde waves and pale blue eyes; she was taller and broader than her sister, not greatly so but, next to Alicia, she looked huge.

 

Emmeline had once overheard someone saying that Alicia was more vibrant in every way compared to her older sister, but Emmeline was naturally quieter and could not dislike her sibling because of the fickleness of others. This sisterly affection did not mean Emmeline was prevented from being exasperated with Alicia when she was doing something that made the older more worldly sister cringe with mortification.

 

Thankfully, for Emmeline’s sanity, she had an ally. Dinah was Juliet’s older sister and a decent, funny young lady. She was the same age as Emmeline and also unwed. Emmeline was aware that even Dinah had wondered at the Chorley family not marrying off Emmeline before allowing Alicia her come out; there was little hope for an unmarried older sister when the most popular, pretty younger sibling was on the scene. Emmeline had accepted her parent’s decision without rancour. She could not begrudge Alicia her chance at a good match; if it meant fewer men considered herself for a wife, so be it. After all she had not married prior to Alicia’s come out, so it would be grossly unfair to blame her single status on her younger sister.

 

Emmeline was brought back from her musings by Alicia’s voice.

 

“Who’s he?” Alicia asked, noticing the stranger. “I’ve never seen him before. He looks very solemn for a ballroom!”

 

The three other young ladies murmured their curiosity about the gentlemen in question.

 

“I must find out who he is! Look! There’s Baron Johnson! My dear Johnson! Have you a moment?” Alicia asked, raising her voice in the direction of the young Baron.

 

The young man immediately came to Alicia’s aid. A youth of one and twenty with a mop of curly brown hair and hazel eyes, he was a popular, friendly member of society; he was also besotted with Lady Alicia, and any moment with her was a moment well spent, in his opinion.

 

Unfortunately for him, Alicia seemed to have no notion of his affection unless she needed his assistance in anything and then quite happily used him accordingly.

 

“Lady Alicia, Lady Emmeline, Lady Dinah, Lady Juliet,” Benedict Johnson said with a bow, greeting them all without taking his eyes off Alicia. “How can I assist you?”

 

Alicia had given an impatient curtsey and launched straight into her question. “Who is that gentleman standing near the pillar? He hasn’t moved for an age, and no one is speaking to him.”

 

“He’s a Mr Bailey, come down from Scotland, hoping to do some business, so the word is. Miserable looking ‘cit’ in my opinion,” Benedict tried to sound knowledgeable and worldly-wise, but responded a little too mulishly at the attention Alicia was giving to a newcomer not worthy of her notice.

 

“Oh! A ‘cit’! We must be introduced to him. Johnson, you must be acquainted with him! Introduce us!” Alicia instructed.

 

“Perhaps we should leave him be?” Emmeline asked, always the sensible one of the siblings. She was also not sure if her parents would appreciate Alicia extending her acquaintance with businessmen. Her parents were hoping their daughters would join the higher ranks of the aristocracy when they married.

 

“No! Let’s not,” Alicia scowled at her sister. “Tonight is tedious. I wish we’d never come! There’s nothing to amuse me, and I need to have some fun! Let him be our entertainment for tonight; I think I shall make him fall in love with me. That would be hilarious; it would save me from this dullness at least!”

 

Emmeline noticed the flicker of distress that scurried across Benedict’s face, before he schooled his features into a less revealing expression.

 

“You must introduce us, Johnson! Lead the way! I need to be entertained; you know that,” Alicia commanded.

 

Benedict was not given the chance to do anything but lead the demanding girl to the newcomer. That he had dressed especially carefully for tonight had gone unnoticed: His collar was perfectly starched and stood high against his jawline; he had even managed to fasten a perfect oriental with his cravat on only his third attempt, but she had noticed none of this. Alicia had placed her arm on Benedict’s which would have to be his only brightness in what had suddenly become a dark evening.

 

Oliver observed the group approaching with trepidation and curiosity; he could not help but be amused with the expression of resignation on the young man leading the gaggle of girls. Two seemed to be following a little reluctantly, and he wondered if they knew who he was and disapproved.

 

Benedict made his bow. “Mr Bailey, my friends would like to welcome you to the gathering tonight. May I introduce them to you?”

 

“Of course,” Oliver said with a slight bow.

 

Emmeline almost felt the rumble of his voice when Oliver spoke. His tone was deep velvet, the soft Scottish accent seeming to add richness to his words; for the first time Emmeline felt that it was a great loss to herself that he would soon be a besotted puppy, hanging off Alicia’s every word. It was inevitable; all the men seemed to fall under her spell, even the ones who were not immediately attracted to her because of her age. It had never bothered Emmeline in the slightest until tonight.

 

Benedict carried out the introductions and, as soon as they were over, Alicia was once again being her outrageous self.

 

“Mr Bailey, I’m due to dance with Johnson in the next set, but he doesn’t mind you replacing him. You haven’t danced all evening, or I would’ve noticed; it’s time you did! It does not do attending a ball and refusing to dance with anyone.”

 

Benedict once again looked in dismay at Alicia but she, as always, failed to notice that her words were received with anything but compliance.

 

Oliver smiled slightly at Alicia. “I’m afraid I can’t have that pleasure tonight or any other night, Lady Alicia.”

 

“Why ever not?” Alicia demanded, not taking kindly to a refusal. “Have you some injury?”

 

“Alicia!” Emmeline hissed, looking mortified.

 

“Oh, Emmy! Be quiet! We’re amongst friends; we don’t need to stand on ceremony with Mr Bailey, do we, sir?” Alicia responded with a dismissive wave of her hand.

 

Emmeline noticed a slight raise of an eyebrow on Oliver’s part at Alicia’s words, but he was more controlled than Benedict. The change would not have been noticed except that Emmeline was watching the gentleman closely. Perhaps more closely than she should have been but, for some reason, she was willing him to be different from the others.

 

“I have no injury,” Oliver said with a laugh in his voice. “I don’t dance because I can’t dance. No other reason.”

 

“You can’t dance? How absurd!” Alicia spluttered. “Why ever not? Everyone can dance!”

 

“I’m busy developing my business. I have no time to waste on frivolous behaviour.”

 

“Johnson! He thinks us frivolous! How delightfully rude!” Alicia’s laugh pealed out.

 

Benedict looked like he had been offered a lifeline. “In that case, can we take our place in the set?” he asked hopefully.

 

“If we must,” Amelia said, not willing to miss a dance; it was after all her duty to show the attendees at the ball how well she moved through a set. As she laid her hand on Benedict’s offered arm, she turned back to Oliver. “Mr Bailey, you have a week. Then I expect you to join me on the dance floor. Do I make myself clear?”

 

“Perfectly, my lady,” Oliver said without his expression betraying what he felt at the order.

 

“Good. You wouldn’t want to disappoint me, would you?”

 

“Not at all, Lady Alicia,” Oliver said with a bow at Alicia’s back.

 

Another one is reeled in, Emmeline thought with a sigh. It was such a shame; there was something interesting about this gentleman. She had seen what Alicia could do with her put-downs when she tired of someone and was convinced that the newcomer would not stand a chance. Alicia might be only eighteen, but she had the claws of someone far more experienced when she moved onto her next conquest.

 

“You have come to London recently, Mr Bailey?” Emmeline asked, trying to ignore her burning cheeks at her sister’s inappropriateness.

 

“Yes. Only this last week.” Oliver could not believe the two women were sisters; they could not possibly be less alike. In looks there was a similarity although Emmeline would always appear to a disadvantage next to her sister, but her nature was different. They even dressed differently; the elder sister wore a dress of pale taffeta, and was elegant, but the younger, although dressed in the white of the debutante, had decorated the dress with brightly coloured edgings that no other debutante was wearing.

 

Oliver had noticed the blush on Emmeline’s cheeks when Alicia had been speaking to him. He had the impression that Alicia had enjoyed embarrassing her sister.

 

Emmeline’s curiosity made her push aside the regret at Oliver being Alicia’s latest plaything. “What kind of business are you in, Mr Bailey?”

 

“Cotton, Lady Emmeline. I have one mill and wish to develop further,” Oliver explained.

 

“Ah, so you must live where the weather is wet and the air is damp,” Emmeline responded.

 

Oliver looked at Emmeline in surprise. “Yes, it’s perfect conditions for the cotton, but I’m presuming you already know that.”

 

“My father visited a potential investment some months ago. He explained the cotton process when he returned. He was fascinated with the whole business but chose not to go ahead in that particular venture,” Emmeline explained, an unusual feeling of pride had bubbled up at the pleased surprise her words had caused.

 

“Your father is one of the Earls I’m due to speak with, but you must excuse my ignorance; I was instructed forcefully that I must not mention business in a ballroom. It is not the done thing, apparently.”

 

“No,” Emmeline acknowledged with a slight nod of her head. “And yet it is the place where the most business is carried out. Marriages agreed on to extend land or secure fortunes. Transactions secured without the label of business, but trading all the same.”

 

Oliver smiled his first real smile since he had arrived in London and beamed at Emmeline. “I suppose so, if you put it like that. I’d never considered it before but it is the same.”

 

“Oh, believe me, Mr Bailey, a young lady is perused over and discussed in almost as much detail as a prize horse! In fact, some would be shocked to find out in particular cases that the gentlewoman in question is considered in even greater detail, but that is only in the rarest of circumstances!”

 

Oliver laughed out loud, joining in with the two other ladies surrounding Emmeline. Dinah had rolled her eyes at her friend, but had laughed along with Mr Bailey. Dinah often wondered if Alicia tried to be a little like her sister, but she couldn’t charm anyone as Emmeline did, for Emmeline could enchant those who took the time to get to know her. Alicia, on the other hand didn’t possess the same wit, and men were inclined to appreciate her good looks rather than intelligence and personality.

 

“I have learned something that I would have never realised, Lady Emmeline, thank you,” Oliver said, still smiling.

 

“Never underestimate anything is considered without its benefits or profitability, wherever society is concerned, Mr Bailey. Forget that, and you will be taken advantage of.”

 

“I shall remember that when I am practising my dance steps in the coming week.”

 

Emmeline felt a little disappointed in Oliver that he had so easily been bullied into doing something Alicia demanded. He must be a few years older than herself and had survived without dancing; the fact that she would love to dance with someone who looked so like her own image of an ideal partner didn’t soften the blow. For the first time in her life, she was jealous, and it made her grind her teeth.

 

Oliver had noticed the change in Emmeline; oh, it was subtle but, as one who managed so many people, he was an expert at reading body language. She had withdrawn a little from him; there was no witty comeback. Unusually, he felt bereft at the effect his words had caused; they had been innocently said, but she obviously didn’t approve of something.

 

The ladies made their bows and moved away from him. Since they were new acquaintances, it was appropriate to spend only a little time with him especially as he could not be a dance partner. As the group of three left, Oliver was approached by his acquaintance, Lord Lancaster.

 

“Making a hit with the ladies already, Bailey?” Lord David Lancaster drawled. The Earl of Lancaster was older than Oliver, at nine and twenty, but had been an enterprising man and was keen to increase the profitability of the shares he owned in Oliver’s business.

 

Oliver grimaced. “I’ve been told I’ve a week to learn how to dance!”

 

David laughed. “That must be Lady Alicia Chorley.”

 

“Yes, the prettiest girl in the room,” Oliver acknowledged with a self-conscious shrug.

 

“She certainly is, but watch her; she casts off her beaux as quickly as she attracts them. There is speculation who will finally secure her, no doubt at some point this season. You could give it a go; you wouldn’t need investment with the dowry she comes with,” David said.

 

“I doubt her parents would want her attached to someone who has reached five and twenty and doesn’t dance because he spends all his time working,” Oliver said ruefully.

 

“No, I suppose not, but her father is one of the men who are interested in investing. We’ll just have to see if your bartering skills are good enough to catch the daughter in your net!”

 

“Oh, they’re good. Have you forgotten when we first met?” Oliver responded confidently.

 

“No. My purse is still stinging from the attack it received,” David said jovially. He was no fool; he had seen a good investment and a man committed to his business. “The other family I was going to introduce you to is the one whose daughters you have just met. Lord Eccles has less blunt to invest, but he’s no pauper. My father knew both men, and I’ve kept in touch with them. The daughters were a bit young for me, but I’m happy I found my Beatrice. She’s already given me an heir, a spare and three girls.”

 

Oliver didn’t know quite how to respond to David’s quite matter-of-fact opinion of his wife and had to suppress the smile that threatened when he recalled Emmeline’s words. He decided to find out a little more about the other ladies.

 

“Lord Eccles also has two pretty daughters,” Oliver said cautiously.

 

“Yes, they’re all pretty chits. The younger is a timid little thing; Bea says she’s completely under Alicia’s spell, more fool her. The elder one seems sensible enough; she hasn’t got the cutting retorts that Lady Emmeline has. That one’s a bit too clever for my liking. Always an answer for everything. Makes a fellow dread to see her. Luckily as an old married man, I’m of no interest to the singles of society. Those four are probably the prettiest of the season, although there’s some who are richer. If you’re aiming to get someone from this year’s offerings, you’d best work fast since you said you have to return to Scotland in two weeks.”

 

“I do have to return. I don’t like leaving the mill for so long,” Oliver admitted, feeling that it was prudent not to mention that his older sister would be seeing to most of the day-to-day running in his absence. He had the distinct impression David’s opinion of a woman’s ability would be less than the horses he bought; he suppressed a smile at the memory of the serious expression on Emmeline’s face as she had teased him.

 

“That’s what I like about you, Bailey: complete dedication! I knew you were a good investment the moment I saw you!”

 

It had not been quite so easy, Oliver thought, but he just smiled at the compliment and remained silent. That evening had changed Oliver’s perspective on the trip; until the ball, he had considered the entertainments a waste of time, but now, now he was looking forward to the coming weeks.

 

First thing in the morning, it would be time to engage the services of a dance master.

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

It was three days before Emmeline was fortunate enough to see the dark eyes that she’d pictured at every quiet moment since meeting Mr Bailey. She had been out walking with her maid and, on entering the hallway, had met Mr Bailey, Lord Lancaster and her father leaving his study.

 

“Ah, Emmeline! I’ve promised these gentlemen tea and fine conversation until Eccles joins us. Care to join us my dear?” The Earl of Chorley asked warmly. He was an easy-going Lord who doted on his family.