Lord Windmere (The Four Lords' Saga Book 1) Page 2
The large bed was tempting with its deep feather mattress, as Matt had slept little the night before and had awakened early that morning. Although his carriage was well sprung, he still found it tiring to travel in a closed conveyance bouncing down a road rutted by heavy rains and heavier coaches. Stifling a sigh, he awaited the arrival of his valet. When Jamison finally appeared, he apologized for the delay and immediately assisted his master to undress and then helped him into clean clothes as befitting his station.
As heir apparent to a duke, Matthew Fremont was expected to dress accordingly even if he detested it at times. He especially hated wearing a cravat as it felt restrictive and made him sweat if the weather was warm. However, it was part of his dress and he acceded to it.
As Matt tugged at his cravat, he was unable to slip a finger between it and his neck. “Jamison, this won’t do. You’ve made it too tight, and you need to retie it.
Irritation flickered briefly on Jamison’s face, but he was too well-trained to let his emotions show for long. “Yes, milord.” Deftly, he untied the cravat and rearranged it into a new knot. “Is this more acceptable, milord?”
Matt stretched his neck. “Yes, thank you,” he murmured. The blasted thing still constricted his movements, but at least it no longer strangled him.
As he turned toward the door, Matt couldn’t resist rolling his eyes in pique at having to wear something around his neck. With that, he exited the room and went in search of the other guests.
As he came into the drawing room and bowed to the ladies, he recognized several people that he was already acquainted with including his parents’ country neighbor Lady Jane Anne Thornton. He was surprised at the delight that he felt when he saw her as it had been over two years since they had last seen one another, and he was pleased at how pretty she had become. Although, he had known her since she was in leading strings, she had always been a skinny, awkward little girl. Now though, he could see all that was in the past as she was very nicely filled out in all the right places with dark black curls, deep blue eyes, sun-kissed skin and the most kissable, uh, beautiful lips he had ever seen. Maybe looking for a wife might not be so bad after all. He smiled from ear to ear when he saw her, and he felt his heart tumble in his chest when she smiled back at him.
Bowing to her, he said, “Janie, I didn’t know you would be here. How wonderful to see you.”
Blushing prettily, Lady Jane curtsied and then extended her hand to him. Carefully, he took it and placed a kiss on the back as he winked at her.
She couldn’t help but giggle at his antics. And she couldn’t stop the thrill of realizing he was there with her as she had had a tendre for him since she was little.
Unbeknownst to her and Lord Windmere, there was one watching them with a glare on her face and malice in her heart. The young lady had managed to talk Lady Stockton into inviting her and her friends to the house party specifically so she could snare Lord Windmere in marriage. She was not particular how she would do it; she was just determined to do it even if it meant compromising him. And, now, across the room she saw him and that little nobody, Lady Jane Thornton, smiling at one another as though they were long lost friends.
That will not last if I have anything to say about it. She then began plotting how to separate the two and win him over by hook or crook. She would be a duchess one day married to one of the wealthiest men in England, and nothing or no one would stop her. And she would see to it that her friends would help her.
“Janie, is your mother with you?”
“No, Mama planned on coming, but Charlie came down with the croup, and she had to stay with him. My cousin, Mrs. Willingham, is my companion for this house party. Did the duke and duchess arrive safely in London?”
“Yes, they did. I had dinner and an enjoyable evening with them and my sisters the other night. My father is doing much better, and the doctor said if he would rest more and have less stress in his life, he would do very well and even have a much longer life.” Matthew smiled at just how well his mother and father were doing together.
“Matt, why are you smiling…so slyly?”
He felt his face grow warm and laughed. “Just something about my parents. Something personal.”
With that, he changed the subject. “Lady Jane, you’re all grown up. I hardly recognized you from when you were a skinny, little thing. And, now…you are a beautiful, young lady.”
“Thank you.” Janie blushed and found she was tongue-tied and unable to say more to the handsome man before her. She felt like she had her heart in her hands, and, perhaps, she did.
“Will you be staying the entire fortnight?” he inquired.
“Yes, my parents thought that meeting some of the younger guests would make my season more pleasurable as I could make more friends while here and then in London too. I’m not sure I like being put up for display in the marriage mart, but since that is how the haut ton functions, I have no choice.”
He smiled. “Don’t you look forward to getting married and raising a family?”
“Eventually…I do, with the right person.”
“And is there a right person?” he teased.
At this, she blushed furiously and stared at her hands in her lap, unable to look him in the eye. He became more curious and pressed her further.
Lowering his head, he peered up at her and asked, “And what is the name of this right person?”
“It’s a secret,” she said softly, so softly he almost didn’t hear her.
“A secret,” he repeated and inhaled sharply when she looked up at him through her eyelashes. He noted that she had beautiful eyes and remembered he had thought of her when he and his friends were talking about the wager and making love matches. His smile grew broader, and he said, “I’m glad you’re here. We can meet new friends and reminisce about our younger days and the mischief you, your brother, and I got up to.”
Janie smiled fully at him and nodded, and he felt as if his heart had stopped for a second or two. This might be the best house party I’ve ever attended. And he grinned back at her.
At that moment, their hostess appeared, and Lord Windmere stood and bowed to her, then took some time to speak with her. “Lady Stockton, thank you for your invitation. I look forward to the days ahead and the delightful company.”
“And I am very glad that you were able to come, Lord Windmere. We should have a very compatible group, and I hope that the entertainment is to your satisfaction.” She had a twinkle in her eye when she said that, and, yes, she had seen him sitting on the settee in animated discussion with Lady Jane and wondered what that would lead to. It was going to be a very interesting fortnight. Lady Stockton was also not above doing a bit of matchmaking if she felt that two people would rub along quite well together. Lord Windmere and Lady Jane? I wonder if…
Chapter III
At dinner the first evening, Lady Stockton had place cards set out, seating every guest with someone new for them to get acquainted with and form a friendship. She really did have the best of intentions with her matchmaking but made the mistake of seating Lady Penelope Stedman and one of the St. George twins, Lady Katherine, on either side of Matt. Lady Jane was placed far down the table from him to his disappointment and to the joy of the two women. It was a long and tedious meal for him as the ladies talked only about their accomplishments and tore down many other debutantes, much to his boredom and chagrin. He would have given £50 to have been able to sit by Janie and talk about family and reminisce about the past. Later, perhaps, if he could get her aside.
When the meal had ended, and everyone had been satisfied with the myriad delightful dishes, the ladies adjourned to the large drawing room, and the gentlemen stayed to enjoy their port and cigars for those who smoked. Matt did not smoke and preferred to not be around those who did but knew it should be the only inconvenience during what would probably be a delightful fortnight.
He found his thoughts kept turning to Lady Jane and how fine a young woman she had become. He speculated
that she might have just turned nineteen and would make it a point to ask her, adding a compliment so she didn’t get offended. It was a little shocking to realize that his lovely neighbor was definitely in the running as his wife and future duchess. His parents liked Janie, and he felt that they would have no objections should he offer for her. He was smiling slightly when his attention was caught by Lord Mooring.
“I say, old chap, twice I’ve asked you about your purchase at Tattersall’s the other day. Did you not hear me?” Peter Mandale had a quizzical look on his face as he said that.
Matt laughed and apologized. “Sorry, Mooring, I was lost in some very pleasant thoughts.”
“Oh, and what is the lady’s name?”
The temptation was too great, and Matt succumbed to it. “Sorry, but it’s a secret.”
“Well then. Tell me about Tatt’s. Did you purchase those high stepping greys we both were eyeing?” Lord Mooring had been more than a little irritated when informed they were no longer available. He assumed Matt had slipped in and obtained them before he decided he had to have them, and found he was correct on that score. “Are they as perfect a matched pair as I believe them to be?”
”Indeed, they are even better than I had anticipated, and they perform beautifully with the new curricle I also purchased.” He found handling the ribbons with two magnificent cattle gave him the most satisfaction he had had in quite a while. Lord Windmere was an excellent whip and a longtime member of the Four in Hand Club, which made his horsemanship admired by a number of those who aspired to the same. The younger Lord Mooring was one of those who had a little envy for the older lord.
“I say, Windmere, if you ever…I mean if you ever wish to sell them, promise me first choice. I would have them without thinking twice.”
“Mooring, I give you first choice, if I ever plan to make them available. However…that will probably not happen.”
“Ah, you wound me.” With a flourish Mooring struck his chest, and both men laughed. Then the younger man just sighed. He really wanted those greys.
Matt understood as he loved horses above most things or people even. They just got under one’s skin and stayed. He thought of Lady Jane again and wondered if she still went riding in the early mornings. As children they had ridden astride, sometimes without saddles, with Janie wearing an older pair of her brother’s breeches. He knew she wouldn’t ride astride at the house party. If, though, she had her habit with her, they could take a long ride out tomorrow or even several days of the coming ones and get reacquainted. Yes, he would ask her when they rejoined the ladies.
***
In the drawing room, Janie had met several of the women and was getting acquainted with Lady Tabitha Belmonte. She seemed to be nice and was being very friendly toward Janie, and both were enjoying the conversation. Lady Jane, however, didn’t know that Tabitha had orders to befriend Janie. That would make it easier for trouble to be stirred up so the young upstart could be separated from Lord Windmere during the house party. With any luck, Lady Jane might even run back home to her mama. Wouldn’t that be perfect? It was all the watcher could do not to clap her hands with glee.
Lady Jane, unaware of all the machinations in the background, saw Matt the minute he entered the room, and she smiled in welcome. Although, he headed toward her, Lady Penelope latched onto his arm and babbled about how much she enjoyed sitting by him during dinner. And Matt endured that, but not for long. Excusing himself, he disengaged her hand and continued on to sit on the other side of Janie after bowing to her and the young woman seated on the settee with her. He was bound and determined to get reacquainted with his neighbor beginning tonight, and he wouldn’t let anyone interfere.
“Lord Windmere, have you met Lady Tabitha?”
“No, I haven’t had the pleasure.”
Lady Jane proceeded to introduce the two, and for a few minutes, the three spoke of the nice beginning to the house party and how they looked forward to the remainder of the fortnight.
Again, Matt chatted for a short time; then, he turned his attention to Lady Jane and asked if she would like to ride the estate early the next morning. Being a gentleman, he also invited Lady Tabitha to join them.
“Thank you, Lord Windmere, but I am not an early riser. I am also not a very good horsewoman either. Perhaps, another time.” Lady Tabitha then excused herself to speak to some of the other fourteen young women invited by Lady Stockton. To tell the truth, she was just a little leery of spending much time with Lady Jane or Lord Windmere. She was also not looking forward to whatever instructions would be given her. Tabitha’s gentle nature would have rebelled against doing something to hurt another except she didn’t have the backbone to stand up to her friend.
Matt proceeded to make up for lost time by asking Janie to accompany him for the next few mornings, if she wished, and they would learn the whole area. Lady Stockton’s estate consisted of 18,000 acres with tenanted farmland, woods and several bodies of water, and it would take them several days to cover even a portion of that.
“That sounds wonderful. I still ride fairly frequently, although not on a sidesaddle when at home.” The last of her comment was whispered, and she looked a little scandalized, and that made Matt laugh.
“Lady Jane, am I to understand that the little hoyden I knew is all lady now?” he teased her. And then he laughed at her blush.
“If my mother thought that I didn’t act the lady, she would have my head on a platter.”
At this absurd comment, both laughed as Janie’s mother was one of the sweetest, most loving persons in England. In fact, her parents’ marriage was a love match that had resulted in seven children. Yet, even with a loving family, discipline was still maintained.
Matt couldn’t resist and said, “At the very least, it is a lovely head.” And he winked at her again and grinned. She is a pretty little thing, and I love it when she blushes. Resolving, though, to not keeping her blushing all evening, he mentioned an early night if they were to leave at seven o’clock the next day. “Good night, and I look forward to the morrow.” With that, he took her hand, kissed the back of it, and winked at her again.
“Yes, I do too. Thank you, Matt.” They had agreed to use their Christian names, as they had all their lives, when no one was near. Otherwise, they addressed each other as Lord Windmere and Lady Jane. Propriety still needed to be maintained, even in the more relaxed atmosphere of the house party.
Before leaving the gathering, he asked Lady Stockton if she could have her groom ready two fairly lively horses for them on the morrow. She asked if they were both accomplished riders, and he affirmed that they were, hoping that Janie was as skilled with a sidesaddle as she was astride. He would make it a point to determine that her horse was spirited but not too much for her to handle.
Lady Stockton noted that there seemed to be an extra spring to his step as he left the drawing room. Janie stayed for an additional hour getting acquainted with some of the other women—Lady Jillian Martin, Miss Mary Blackstone and Lady Christina Marie Gorsham—before retiring for the night, and Lady Stockton saw that there seemed to be a spring to Lady Jane’s step when she left as well.
I do think this is going to be a very nice house party.
Little did she know that it would be the best and the worst she had ever held.
Chapter IV
Matt was below when a vision of loveliness appeared at the head of the stairs. Janie was dressed in a royal blue habit adorned with gold epaulets on her shoulders, gold buttons down the front, long puffed sleeves, and a jaunty little hat with feathers to match sitting at a tilt on her lovely black curls. She literally took his breath away as she descended to him.
“Good morning. Are you well, Matt?” She looked concerned when she asked as she put her hand on his arm.
He grinned and replied, “I’ve never been better. Just breathless at your beauty.”
Oh my, he’d done it again. He’d made her blush. “And it’s a lovely morning for a ride around the estate. Oh,
I nearly forgot. I talked the cook into giving me two sweet rolls and a flask of tea for later as breakfast isn’t being served until eight. That should alleviate any hunger pangs until we return. A groom will accompany us, but I was told that he has already broken his fast.”
“A sweet roll and tea sounds wonderful. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.” As she looked at him, she almost got the impression he wanted to kiss her. For a moment, she closed her eyes. This is Matt, my brother’s friend. If it could only be true that he might learn to love me. Then she just shook her head at the foolish thought and gave him a smile.
When Janie’s face lit up with a smile directed at him, Matt’s heart tumbled and made him wonder why he felt so protective and a little lustful all at once. He was a bit shocked as he had never experienced both feelings together before. He smiled at her, extended his arm, and said, “Shall we, my lady?” and they proceeded out to the stable.
Arriving at the immaculate building, they were pleased that all was in readiness for their morning’s ride. Two fairly spirited horses, a gelding and a mare, were already tacked and awaiting them. After quizzing the head groom, Matt was satisfied the two would do very well. However, rather than let Janie use the mounting block, Matt placed both hands on her waist and lifted her onto the mare’s back. He just couldn’t resist touching her a little bit more than what might be deemed proper. He noted that she was a pleasing handful and didn’t seem to mind him helping her to mount.
When they left the stables, the skies were purple and pink as the dawn broke fully. Since there were few clouds in the sky and no sign of rain, they looked forward to the ride and apprising each other of the last two years.