Inheriting Trouble: A Sweet Regency Romance (The Bequest Series Book 1) Read online

  With her thoughts thus settled, she was able to step down from the carriage and not quail in front of the imposing structure and the bustle of activity as the ladies were ushered up the stairs and then swallowed by the large open front door. Georgia just hoped she didn’t look too much like an owl as her wide eyes tried to absorb every sight they encountered.

  Chapter Two

  “It would appear the Sherton sisters have arrived for the Season,” the Duke of Wexford commented.

  The Earl Crossley couldn’t think of an appropriate comment that could be said in public, so he merely sighed in response.

  “Are you not delighted by the prospect of three potential mates from one household?” Wexford asked, laughter evident in his tone.

  Crossley shot his friend what he hoped was a quelling glare with every intention of maintaining his silence, but when the duke wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, the earl couldn’t help pointing out, “I have nothing to fear from those quarters, Wexford, unlike you. The on dit is that the oldest one is in search of a coronet. Since there are very few single dukes below the age of fifty, I would be much more concerned about myself, if I were you.”

  The duke merely shrugged. “While I don’t find her single-minded devotion to rank at all attractive, I am not nearly as opposed to the wedded state as you are, so it can remain a source of amusement for me just fine.”

  Crossley rolled his eyes and returned to his silence.

  Wexford chuckled but continued, “The third one seems pleasant. I cannot recall her name at the moment. Not as stunning as the first, but far easier to spend time with. You should take the time to get to know that one.”

  The earl’s glare gained heat, and he lost his silence once more. “I have met the chit. All three of Sherton’s daughters have the distinct disadvantage of reminding me of the countess. I have absolutely no desire to extend my acquaintance with them.”

  This had the desired effect of silencing his companion. Momentarily at least.

  “Why do they remind you of the countess?” the duke asked, nothing but curiosity evident in his tone.

  Crossley sighed. Ignoring the question, he began walking in the direction they had been heading before they were interrupted by the arrival of Sherton’s carriage. “Were we not heading to White’s? I dare say I am parched.”

  A good friend, the duke allowed the earl to avoid the painful subject but did not refrain from another low chuckle before he fell in step with the earl and they made their way to their club.

  Crossley couldn’t shake his air of dissatisfaction. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he said the Sherton girls reminded him of the countess. The duke probably thought he had meant their mother, the Countess Sherton, and he wouldn’t have been completely wrong, but Lady Sherton always reminded him of his own countess, and those were thoughts he wanted to keep as far from uppermost as possible.

  He had met his late wife through Lady Sherton, and it had turned out to be the ruination of his life. So, no, there was no likelihood of him contemplating marriage with any of the Sherton girls. He had finally managed to scramble his life back together after his wife had destroyed it. He wasn’t going to allow Lady Sherton to mess with it again.

  ~~~

  Georgia gazed around the large room.

  “I am so sorry that you will have to share with me, George. Mama wants to keep the spare room spare, just in case. I can’t tell you what she’s expecting might happen, but she wasn’t to be persuaded otherwise.”

  “Please, don’t trouble yourself. I should be apologizing to you! I’m used to sharing, but you aren’t.”

  “I think it’ll be part of the fun of having you here. It’ll be almost like being back in the nursery.”

  “You want to relive your childhood?” Georgia laughed.

  Vicky laughed, too, but then explained herself. “We can giggle and gab over our day before we fall asleep. It’s going to be so much better having you here than it was last year,” Vicky declared with a grin before it faded a little as another thought struck her. “I only wish you were staying the whole time instead of only two weeks.”

  “Never mind about that now, Vick. We are going to have such a good time in those two weeks that we won’t need any more. Perhaps you’ll even be betrothed before I leave, and you’ll be just as glad to see the back of me.”

  This had the desired effect of making her friend burst into laughter. “That would be so perfect. Although, I don’t know if Mama would let me get married with Rose and Hil still unattached. But here’s to hoping.”

  Georgia felt her friend’s gaze follow her around the room while she spoke. Her curiosity could no longer be contained, and she finally made her way to the wide window. She was delighted to find that it overlooked the street. This discovery prompted her friend into further apologies.

  “I hope it isn’t going to bother you being at the front of the house. As the youngest daughter here, we didn’t get much choice. But the street isn’t too noisy, I promise you.”

  Georgia dropped the curtain she was holding and ran over to her friend. Finally, she threw her arms around her and gave her a quick squeeze.

  “Don’t be a goose, Vick. I sleep like a log, so I’m not at all concerned about possible street noise. I have to tell you that I’m actually thrilled that we have a room on the front. I’ll be able to watch the street without appearing too ill mannered, I hope. Don’t forget, I’ve never been here before, and my curiosity is nearly killing me.” Her gaze searched her friend’s face. “Are you terribly worn out from the drive? Or would you be up to at least walking around the block before we change from our travelling attire?”

  Vicky had to laugh over her friend’s eagerness. “I, at least, had a wall to lean against and managed to nap a little on the drive. I do not know how you can maintain the energy you have. But, yes, I think I can manage a little walk. Mother doesn’t have anything planned for the evening so other than our supper, we can spend the time however we’d like.”

  Georgia clasped her hands in delight. “Then shall we be off?”

  With another good-natured chuckle, her friend ushered Georgia back out of the room. Before they left the house, Vicky left word with a footman as to their whereabouts in case her mother did have demands of them, and then they scurried down the front steps.

  Georgia schooled her features into what she hoped was an expression of only mild interest, but she allowed her eyes to dance about and take in as much as possible. She was nearly struck dumb by the imposing aspect of the street.

  “Do you know everyone who lives on your street?”

  “Of course.” Vicky laughed. “The ton is a very small world, you will soon find. And this isn’t a very large street, so it is far from difficult to get to know everyone on it.”

  Georgia looked at her with a dubious expression. “It might be a small street, but I would say that it would be able to house most of our village, and you still don’t know everyone there.”

  Vicky’s fierce blush made Georgia regret her words. “You know why that is,” Vicky reminded reproachfully.

  “I know. I apologize. I didn’t think before I opened my mouth, as usual.” Georgia sighed. “I do hope that deplorable trait isn’t going to cause us problems while I’m here.”

  Vicky was quick to get over her ruffled feathers and laughed over the other girl’s words. “I doubt it. You’re such a kind soul. I doubt you could cause too many problems with your words.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Georgia wasn’t quite convinced, but she decided to dismiss the thought. “Do you think we could step over into the park while we’re here?” They had made their way to end of the street while they talked and were now approaching the famous Hyde Park.

  Vicky glanced over her shoulder back toward her father’s house. With a shrug, she agreed to her friend’s request. “I really doubt Mama will miss us as long as we aren’t too long. I promise, we’ll come again at the fashionable hour, but for now let us just take a turn around one of
these closer trails and then head back. I really ought to be overseeing the unpacking. The maids don’t always know what they are about.”

  Georgia giggled over that. Vicky was a dear but hadn’t done any real work in her entire life. Georgia doubted her friend knew what was involved in the packing and care of her wardrobe and thought the maids would be better off without any mistresses ordering them about and making them nervous. But she didn’t wish to seem ungrateful, so she merely nodded in agreement with Vicky’s pronouncement and stepped briskly down the trail she had indicated.

  Happy to be able to breathe deeply after the confines of the carriage, Georgia gazed about at the well-groomed gardens. Georgia’s more energetic strides had taken her away from her companion, so she glanced back over her shoulder when she heard a nervous sound coming from Vicky. She hadn’t checked her pace, so when she turned her head she felt all the air leave her lungs as she came into sudden contact with a warm wall. Or so it felt. But then the wall grew arms that quickly grasped her and held her back from what turned out to be a well-formed chest encased in what was surely the height of fashion.

  Georgia’s stunned gaze rose to become ensnared by the blue glare of the one and only Lord Crossley. She couldn’t help grinning over his expression. A nervous giggle escaped her, and she felt hot colour flood her cheeks.

  “I am terribly sorry, my lord. I failed to watch where I was going. But I must commend you for your quick reflexes on catching me. Thank you for preventing me from injury.”

  The earl looked incredulous, and Georgia couldn’t repress the grin that continued to stretch her cheeks. It was just so obvious the man thought too highly of himself. Of course, he was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on as well. Despite the haughty look on his face and the chill of his blue eyes, the brilliance of their colour was enough to capture one’s attention. The slight wave in his thick brown hair called to her fingers.

  It suddenly dawned on Georgia that she was standing much too close to the handsome nobleman and was grinning at him like a simpleton. She couldn’t be sure how much time had passed since she had collided with him but hoped it had been mere fractions of a second. She blinked and took a swift step away from the compelling man. He had yet to say anything, so maybe it hadn’t even been a fraction of a second. She realized her thoughts were becoming hysterical, so she finally pulled her gaze away from the earl’s face and looked at her friend for guidance.

  Vicky arrived at Georgia’s side with perfect timing. The much more socially experienced girl bobbed a curtsy and smoothly filled the silence.

  “Lord Crossley, what a pleasure to see you again. Might I present to you my friend, Miss Georgia Holton?”

  Georgia dipped a curtsy and murmured, “How do you do?”

  The earl finally found his tongue. “A pleasure, I’m sure,” he almost sneered.

  Georgia realized in that moment that the earl certainly thought too highly of himself and seemed to be under the impression that their accidental meeting was not so accidental. She was quite well aware that she was unfamiliar with Town ways and ought to keep her silence on the matter, but she found she wasn’t able to.

  Despite the fact that he began releasing her hand as quickly as possible, Georgia reacted even faster and it was still in his grasp when she pulled it back and laughed. She looked him straight in his face and strove for a polite tone, but she knew she was being too bold and could only hope Vicky didn’t die from the embarrassment.

  “Do you really think we would stage such an awkward meeting, my lord?”

  He was obviously not expecting such a question. The sneer appeared to be frozen to his face, but his eyes were far less frosty and much more watchful as he waited in silence for her to continue.

  Since it didn’t appear as though he were going to offer a reply, Georgia continued. “It would seem that you have been accosted in such a manner before and therefore expect such forward behaviour. But, my lord, if I might be so bold as to reason with you for a moment, do you not think we would at least ensure we were in our looks if we were going to arrange such a forward encounter?”

  Georgia noticed the earl was no longer sneering, in fact there appeared to be amusement dawning in his gaze, but he still refrained from comment. A quick glance at Vicky showed she had nothing to add and was merely staring at her with a wide, unblinking gaze. Georgia plowed on.

  “We have just arrived in Town, we are travel weary, and no doubt quite rumpled. If I were so gauche as to wish to stage an encounter with you, my lord, I can assure you, I would ensure that I had at least combed my hair. Now, I cannot comment on the sort of females you normally encounter, but I am quite certain we are not of their ilk.”

  At this point it finally penetrated Georgia’s riled emotions that she was most certainly going too far and had probably offended the handsome man, which would no doubt get back to Lady Sherton’s ears and result in her swift dismissal back to the country. She could feel hot colour creeping toward her hairline and was beginning to wish the ground could open and swallow her.

  The earl barely blinked as his steady gaze examined her. She felt like a specimen from the traveling circus and lost track of time. It felt as though eons had passed, but surely it was mere seconds? She wondered if she should just turn on her heel and leave. She had run out of words, and it appeared the earl had nothing to say either. If not for the fact that she had no idea how to extricate Vicky from the situation, she would have done just that.

  Georgia blinked, sure that she had conjured the sight. The earl was beginning to smile. In fact, his pleasant smile was turning into a toothy grin, and a chuckle sounded from deep in his chest. Crossley looked surprised to hear the sound coming from his own person but didn’t suppress it, despite the attention it might draw.

  The earl bowed first to Georgia, then Vicky. “Lady Vigilia, might I request the honour of escorting you and your friend to Gunther’s?”

  Vicky looked flummoxed by the question, and Georgia wished she could jump in and save her, but she finally had a rein on her tongue and managed to remain silent. Apparently, the earl was more comfortable speaking with someone he already knew. Or he didn’t think she was capable of polite speech. That thought almost made her snort with derision, but she controlled the urge.

  Pale and uncertain, Vicky stammered out a reply. “My lord, that is ever so kind of you to offer, but since we have just arrived in Town, as Georgie mentioned…” She trailed off for a moment in mortification over calling her friend by the diminutive name, but rallied and continued. “That is to say, my lord, that my mother would probably prefer if we return home shortly and change into more suitable attire for going about Town. I’m sure you understand. As Miss Holton said, we merely stepped out of the house for a moment to stretch our, uh…” Here she floundered again, realizing one ought not mention one’s legs to an earl. “We just wanted to take a short walk, of course, but surely should be returning home shortly. Perhaps, if you are of a mind to escort us on another occasion, that would be delightful.”

  “Of course,” the earl answered, his suave tone sounding sincere to the point that Georgia almost believed he would call upon them to take them for the offered treat. “In the meantime, might I walk with you for a few moments while you take your restorative stroll?”

  Vicky’s dubious gaze met Georgia’s, and Georgia had to suppress another giggle. She knew Vicky was bewildered how her tirade could have earned the earl’s attention, but she did not want to dismiss the man. Even had she wanted to, there was only one answer that could be given.

  “It would be our pleasure to have your company, thank you, my lord.”

  Georgia and Vicky each took one of the earl’s elbows, and the trio set off at a steady pace.

  “You mentioned you need to be getting home, but how about if we walk over to that copse of trees and then I will escort you back to your house? That will allow us a few minutes to visit together.”

  “That would be most pleasant,” Vicky answered.


  Georgia maintained her silence having decided it would be best if she conversed with the man as little as possible, as it was obvious he did not bring out the best in her. However, her resolve was not to last.

  “Is this to be your first Season, Miss Holton?” Crossley asked, his tone polite, but his watchful gaze was again lit with amusement as he turned his attention to Georgia.

  “Yes, my lord.”

  “Has your family accompanied you to Town?”

  “No, my lord, I will be staying with Lord and Lady Sherton while I am in London.”

  “How pleasant that will be for the two of you girls.”

  “It surely will, my lord.” She couldn’t help accompanying her words with a grin, despite her efforts to maintain a composed demeanour.

  “Are you in Town to snare yourself a husband, Miss Holton?”

  Georgia wasn’t sure what got into Vicky, but all of a sudden her friend launched into speech, saving Georgia from the necessity of coming up with an answer to the uncomfortable question.

  “Miss Holton is here merely to keep me company, my lord. She needn’t trouble herself with worrying about finding a husband, as she is an heiress.”

  Georgia flinched when she heard her friend’s words and leaned forward to look around the earl to see her more clearly and try to ascertain what she was about. Vicky’s laugh sounded a trifle forced to her ears, but Georgia knew it was meant to sound carefree.

  “Oh, I suppose we ought to keep that a secret, but you won’t tell anyone, will you, my lord? You see, as the younger sister, I found the Season a trifle boring last year, so I prevailed upon Georgia to accompany this time. We plan to just enjoy ourselves and not be bothered with the Marriage Mart, you see, that is why I told you. But I suppose we ought to request your word that you will keep her secret.”