Courting Intrigue: A Sweet, Regency Romance (The Bequest Series Book 2)
Courting
Intrigue
Wendy May Andrews
∞∞∞
Sparrow Ink
www.sparrowdeck.com
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
About the Author
Other titles by Wendy May Andrews
Copyright © 2020 Wendy May Andrews
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, transmitted, or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN - 978-1-989634-07-3
www.wendymayandrews.com
Security or loyalty? Attraction or duty?
How does one choose?
Miss Lillian Shaw, wellborn but impoverished, has been living with her aunt, the widowed Viscountess Shepley, since the death of her parents a few years ago. Lily wants to find a paid position to add to her savings so she can open a bakery when she receives the Byram Bequest. Her aunt would rather present her and arrange a High Society marriage for her. Lily’s limited experience with the gentry has not been positive, and she would prefer to be independent than tied for life to a noble lout.
The Earl of Sedgwick only wants to go home and see to his estates after his sudden, unexpected inheritance but has one last investigation to complete for the Home Office. When his path crosses that of Miss Shaw, he is intrigued by the attractive young woman but forces himself to keep his focus on the matter at hand.
When Lily becomes suspicious of the earl’s activities, he must decide whether or not to bring her into his confidence. Lily is forced to choose between her security and her loyalties while Sedgwick is torn between his attraction and his duty.
Dedication
In this book everyone is trying to be so brave and independent while they really need to team up and conquer their circumstances. I think this is a common occurrence. We all want to be fierce and independent when we really need a friend or partner. So this book is for everyone looking for their teammates, friends, family of the heart. You’ll get there.
Acknowledgements
My books wouldn’t happen without the support of my fabulous hubby. He helps in so many ways – listening to the stories as they unfold, keeping track of my characters, formatting my manuscripts, ordering dinner when I’ve been too caught up in the story to cook. I’m blessed to have my own real-life hero.
My parents are my biggest fans, supporting and cheering for me every step of the way. I wouldn’t have life without them, nor would I enjoy it nearly as much.
My beta readers – Marlene, Suzanne, Monique, Alfred, and Christina – help me immeasurably. Their help with the story as well as care and compassion for the author are a blessing.
Les at GermanCreative keeps making me better and better covers. Thank you so much!
Julie Sherwood’s edits are amazing. Any remaining errors are the author’s.
Chapter One
Lily was standing at the window, gazing across the vast grounds at Ashburn Place, when she saw the group of men emerging from the copse of trees. They must have been hunting, she thought with an absent shudder, a sport she loathed. She understood killing meat for food, of course, but why would they hunt something just for the fun of killing it? How could that even be considered fun?
She would have stepped back from the window for fear of her aunt’s stepson seeing her if not for the fact that her attention was ensnared by the bright blue gaze of the most arresting man she had ever seen. He wasn’t classically handsome, but his high cheekbones and direct, intelligent scrutiny were attractive in a way she had never experienced before. His chestnut coloured hair was windblown. She could tell it was thick, even from this distance, and her hand twitched with an instinctive desire to reach out and run her fingers through it.
Feeling a frown forming on her face, Lily tried to break from the trance-like experience, but she felt as though her eyes were locked with his. It made no sense. If he was a friend of Lester, he should automatically be of no interest to her. She should be repulsed. So, why was she so enthralled? She finally realized her aunt was talking to her, and she managed to tear her gaze away.
“Oh, my dear, I just feel dreadful about the awkward situation my stepson is putting us in.”
“Aunt Vi, please, I beg of you, do not let it trouble you. I certainly shan’t.”
“But I so wanted him to provide you with a dowry so that you could have a Season and you could marry some lovely, handsome, rich lord and live happily ever after.”
Lily had to grin. Her aunt was the only living relative she had, but she was such an idealistic romantic. “Darling Vi, you know that wasn’t to be my destiny. If you hadn’t married Uncle Wilbur, there wouldn’t have even been the slightest possibility of a Season for me. You and my father grew up in genteel poverty, as did my mother. As did I. It was only when Uncle Wilbur took such a shine to you that all of our situations improved.”
“And if he hadn’t gone and died on me, he would have been sure to provide you with a dowry and a Season and would have enjoyed every second of it.”
Offering her aunt a fond smile, Lillian knew the words were the truth. Uncle Wilbur had the softest heart and would have done anything to bring a smile to his wife’s face. Theirs was a love match. A late marriage for both of them. Wilbur’s first wife had died along with their younger son. The widower had taken a long time to overcome the dual loss and hadn’t any desire to have more babies. So, he was in a position to be able to marry for love, find a comfortable partner for his old age, and under no obligation to seek a young wife to provide him with children. Aunt Vi would have been a lovely mother, but it hadn’t worked out that way for her. So, she did her very best to mother Lillian whenever she had the opportunity.
“You know you’re the daughter neither of us had the opportunity to have.”
“I know.”
“He should have made it official in his Will.”
“Aunt Vi, don’t let yourself get into a taking. You know Uncle Wilbur was still a vital, strong man when he died. He had absolutely no intention of leaving us. He should still be here now. But that’s not the way it worked out. And we have to accept that rather than rail against it. And really, it’s not so very bad. Having gotten to know your stepson over time, I’m not so sure I would have wanted to marry into the aristocracy anyway.”
“They aren’t all like him, I can assure you.”
“Since I’ve only known two noblemen, one was lovely, one not so much, it doesn’t inspire me with confidence. One out of two isn’t a good ratio.”
Violet grinned. “There you go with your maths again. That wouldn’t have done at a London ball, that’s for sure.”
“All the more reason to be glad I’m not going to be attending, then, isn’t it?”
“Oh, but what about your future? What is to become of you once I’ve passed on?”
“Violet Anne Shaw Shepley, do not speak to me of your death. We have had far too much loss in the past two years. I will not contemplate the possibility of any other. If Lester will not allow me to remain here as your companion, I will find a position elsewhere. I can be either a governess or a lady’s companion. It’s only for a few more years, anyway. I will receive the Byram Bequest when I turn twenty-five, even if I haven’t found a mate. Then I will open my bakery. It will be quite lovely.”
“But do you truly want to go into trade, my dear?”
Lily grinned. “Your few years as a Lady have coloured your judgment, Aunt Vi. My father was in trade despite being the descendant of a younger son of a younger son of some noble. We did just fine. Genteel poverty is not enjoyable. I will never be cold or hungry again if I have a bakery.”
“Oh dear, oh dear, but it will eliminate all prospects for you. I truly thought we had decided the bakery wasn’t for you.”
“You had decided that, Aunt Vi. I still think it is the perfect idea. I even know exactly where I will have it. I will go back to Sherton and start there. While the countess has her kitchen staff already, I know she occasionally hires out some of the baking for larger events. I will be in the right place at the right time for once in my life.”
“But don’t you want to marry someday? You’re still quite young.”
“Nearly on the shelf at almost twenty-one, am I not? No one has wanted me in my strange in-between circumstances. Not quite aristocracy, not quite bourgeois, not quite a servant. It’s complicated. I don’t want a pity marriage or a marriage of a different type of servitude. I want a love match like you or Mama had, or nothing at all. And I don’t really see that happening for me amongst your precious nobles.”
Lily regretted her plain speaking when her volatile aunt started dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, but then she caught the edge of the smile her devious aunt was trying to hide.
“You sneak! You’re trying to make me feel badly about what I said, and yet you agree with me.”
Violet tried to protest. “I don’t agree with you! I just don’t disagree with you. I would rather you were married to a rich man, or at least one who was comfortably situated so you wouldn’t have to work so hard. Opening a bakery sounds terribly difficult. And do you really think ten pounds will be enough to get you off the ground?”
“I do really think it will. But I can’t have the ten pounds until I hit the ripe old age of twenty-five and am a spinster.”
“You really think you would prefer it?” Aunt Vi’s dubious tone made Lily’s naturally good humour return.
“I really do. I know you and Uncle Wilbur were happy, but I have never met a man who made me even consider taking that chance.”
“But you’ve barely met anyone. Maybe one of Lester’s friends could prove to be suitable.”
Lily knew the withering look she cast at her aunt wasn’t in the least respectful, but there was no way she would consider anyone who would have Lester as his friend.
“Aunt Violet, surely you wouldn’t seriously offer me such a suggestion.”
“No, I suppose you’re right. He is rather dreadful, isn’t he?”
Lily smiled. Her aunt’s perpetually sunny humour made her see the best in everyone, even Lester most of the time, so if even she realized he was dreadful, it was a testament to how truly awful the man was.
A shiver slithered down Lily's back as she remembered the first time she had met the man. She had just turned fourteen and was visiting her aunt and uncle for the first time. Lester had been sent down from university for some infraction, although she had never heard the details of the story. Insolent and overly filled with his own importance, Lester thought he was entitled to everything in his sight. Including Lily. He hadn’t expected her to know how to defend herself. Nor had he expected his father to banish him from the house for the duration of Lily’s month-long visit. It had not been an auspicious beginning to their familial relationship. He had resented her ever since.
When Lord Wilbur died, Lester had tried to banish Aunt Violet, but the Will had been clear. Ashburn Place was not entailed. There was no Dower House to send her to. Aunt Vi was entitled to live out her days there, even if Lester were to marry. Of course, if he did marry, that could make things uncomfortable for Lady Violet, but Lily doubted any woman would be crazy enough to accept Lester, even if he were in a hurry to marry.
There were other estates, but this was the nicest one, from what Lily had been able to tell. Not that she had visited all of her uncle’s holdings, but she knew Lord Wilbur had preferred spending most of his time at Ashburn Place, only visiting his other properties on occasion, in order to check on them. It would seem Lester was following in his father's footsteps now that he had inherited. Not that he was likely to actually check on the other properties. He was a lazy lout and was leaving the care of everything to his steward and Lady Violet. Which meant it was actually falling to Lillian. Which made it all the more ridiculous that he wanted her gone.
He didn’t actually have the power to send her packing, but he could make her life miserable. Lillian was torn as to what to do. Her aunt wanted her to stay, but Lillian knew Lester’s treatment caused Violet distress. On the other hand, Lillian was afraid of what Lester might do to her aunt if she wasn’t there to protect the older woman. It wasn’t as though she thought the bounder would resort to violence against her, but Lillian knew he could be exceedingly disagreeable.
A case in point was this hunting party. Lester had been up to London for some weeks, only having returned two days ago accompanied by a group of young men. Of course, it was his property so Lily didn’t begrudge him his friends. But they were wild men, who couldn’t be trusted. She and Violet had been dining in their rooms since the party had arrived. Now Lester had informed Vi he wanted to host a proper house party, and she needed to be the hostess.
This news had sent Violet into a fret. She had never hosted such an entertainment before and was panicking as to how to go about it. Lillian was hard pressed to soothe her.
“Have you not attended a house party before, Vi? I was certain you had told me about them on occasion. Mama and I had enjoyed imagining what it might be like.”
“Well, yes, I’ve been to house parties before.”
“And did you host dinner parties for Uncle Wilbur?”
“Oh, yes, of course, on many occasions.”
“So then, it won’t be so very bad, will it?”
“Well, no, I suppose not. It’s just that I don’t actually want to be with Lester and his friends. And you have said you won’t attend. It will be dreadful.”
Lillian grinned. “I’ll make sure everything is at the ready for you, have no fear. You know very well that Lester would fly into a temper if I was to attend, so it’s not really that I’m refusing. And you love every single person you encounter, so I really doubt you’ll find it so very dreadful. From the looks of the guest list, it won’t even be vulgar. It seems an invitation to Ashburn Place still holds sway, even if Lester is the current owner.”
Lily’s words had the desired effect. Lady Violet smiled and nodded, seeming to grow eager for the upcoming event. Lily sighed and pulled some paper from her aunt’s desk.
“Shall we begin planning the meals? I’ll have to speak with the housekeeper and Cook if we’re to ensure all the ingredients are fully stocked.”
“Oh, this is going to be such fun! Do you think we ought to plan a ball for the end? Surely you could attend that. Lester might not even notice you. We could invite the gentry from all the surrounding estates. It could be quite lovely. We have such a magnificent ballroom, it seems rather a shame that it never gets used.”
Lily couldn’t decide if she was dismayed or thrilled with the idea, but she couldn’t deny that it was
a sound thought for the house party. She just wasn’t sure if she ought to attend. She dismissed the thought for the present time. It could wait for later. The additional guests would be arriving within the next couple of days, so that needed to take uppermost position in her mind for now.
Chapter Two
Brock had never been so preoccupied with a woman’s face before. He hadn’t been able to tear his eyes away from her and then was disappointed to the depths of his toes when she disappeared from view. Now, he couldn’t get her from his mind. It was ridiculous, since she must be one of the chambermaids, and he never dallied with the servants. He was of the opinion that their lives were difficult enough without putting them in such an awkward position. He knew this put him in the minority amongst the aristocracy, but he didn’t much care for the other men’s opinions. But this particular young woman intrigued him. He had seen intelligence and judgment in her gaze. He could tell she didn’t much care for the hunting party. That had been abundantly clear from the expressive twist of her face. Not that he could blame her. He didn’t want to be there either, but it was a necessary evil. He was investigating Lester and had befriended him as part of his efforts.
Befriended was not the right word. Brock would never consider someone like Lester to be a friend. The young man was loathsome. But as the Earl of Sedgwick, Brock was a Peer, and the two had encountered one another occasionally. As soon as Brock had hinted that he would be interested in the hunting at Ashburn Place, a party had been organized. Now, the reprobate was going to add ladies to the party because one of the other young men had mentioned the desire. Brock shook his head. Lester had too much money and too little brains. He wondered if the estate would be able to bear up. Wilbur had been a good custodian of his estates and had surely left them in fine form for his heir. Brock shook his head in wonder how the heir could have fallen so far from the original.