Chapter 1

CHAPTER1

Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England

“We’re here, at last! What a carriage ride. Joseph never did settle.”

“Here, I’ll take him. You get down first, Rachel.”

“I’ll take him. I don’t get to spend time with my grandson anywhere near as much as I wish to.”

“How can you say that? You’ve seen him every day this week!”

The buzz and laughter in the carriage was quite overbearing for Bridget. She sat pressed in the corner of the carriage, listening to her family chattering together as they argued over who got to hold Joseph, the two-year-old who was currently trying to put a wooden horse into his mouth and use it as a teething toy.

“Joseph, don’t do that, love.” Rachel, Bridget’s elder sister, took the horse out of her son’s hand, much to his disapproval. He started to cry very loudly, making sure everyone heard his protests.

“Oh, what a ruckus!” Edward Lock, the Earl of Pratt, lifted his grandson off the bench and embraced him tightly.

Joseph cried his eyes out, hiding his face in Edward’s shoulder.

“I think that’s our cue, Rachel,” Daniel, the Duke of Elbridge, said as he took his wife’s hand and offered to help her down from the carriage.

“Oh, dear,” Rachel breathed, chewing on her lip as she looked back at her son, then stepped down from the carriage, onto the driveway. Edward followed, holding Joseph in his arms.

When all was quiet in the carriage, Bridget sighed, sitting forward and adjusting the skirt of her gown. She loved her family dearly. Her two sisters were strong characters, with the maternal Rachel always telling everyone else what to do, and her younger sister, Emily, mischievous and always looking to bend the rules of Society. Bridget admired them greatly, but it was times like this when she was alone in carriages, quite forgotten, when she realized where she was compared to her sisters.

Bridget was the quiet one—the one sometimes forgotten. In the past, she had never minded. She had quite liked staying hidden in corners, for she could watch stories unfold without getting too much attention. But years of seeing Rachel and Emily go on to marry and live their own lives had left Bridget realizing that, sometimes, staying in corners was lonely.

“Bridget?” a voice called from the driveway. It was Rachel. “Are you coming?”

“I’m coming.” Bridget forced a smile and stepped down from the carriage. “Oh…” she gasped at the sudden view of busyness and grandeur.

They had come to stay at the of house the Dowager Duchess of Thorne, Catarina—Jacob’s mother. Since Jacob had married Emily, Catarina had returned her focus to hosting events with full force and vigor.

There barely seemed to be a week when there wasn’t an event held at this grand redbrick house just beyond the outskirts of London. This week was rather different, for they had been invited to stay as Catarina put on a series of events—including hunting parties, balls, card nights, and more—in the run-up to Christmas.

“Goodness, there are so many people here,” Bridget whispered to her elder sister as she looked about the drive.

“You know Catarina,” Rachel said with a laugh. “She seems to have rediscovered the joy of a good party and good company.”

“Good company?” Bridget murmured. “Or just lots of it.”

Rachel giggled at her words, but said no more, waving to someone in the crowd.

Everywhere Bridget looked, there was greater activity. There had to be at least ten carriages on the pebble drive, with footmen and maids scurrying between the coaches, carrying trunks and portmanteaus to the house. Three dogs that she presumed belonged to one of the gentlemen darted out from a carriage, the whippets disappearing so fast into the garden that a footman ran after them, shouting at the top of his lungs.

Ladies wandered to and fro, pulling fur pelisses over their shoulders and tweaking heavy bonnets around their faces, trying to hide from the bitter wind that was strong on this frosty morning. They called to one another with eager waves, and others forced smiles for those that they perhaps liked to appear friends with, even if there was no genuine affection.

“It is busy, indeed,” Rachel said at Bridget’s side. “Poor Joseph might find it all quite disturbing.”

At their side, Joseph had at last settled in his grandfather’s arms. No longer crying, his large eyes red with unshed tears, he looked around in awe of the drive around him, seeming more fascinated than unnerved at all.

“Here, let me take him.” Daniel took his son from Edward’s arms. “Now, what was all that fuss about, eh?” He tickled Joseph under the arms, and the boy giggled with delight.

As if drawn by the sound, like geese flocking to water, a gaggle of ladies broke off from the chatter nearby and moved toward Daniel and Joseph.

“Oh, look at the young Lord Joseph. Is he not beautiful?”

“So sweet in his father’s arms!”

Such adulation broke out that Rachel and Bridget shared an amused laugh.

“They find your family fascinating,” Bridget whispered to her sister.

“It’s the effect of being a duchess these days,” Rachel explained. “Anyone is always fascinated with what a duke and duchess do. They like to know our business.”

Bridget said nothing, staring at her sister with interest. Despite Rachel’s words, she couldn’t help feeling there was more to it. Rachel and Emily had always been the center of attention. People were not just fascinated by their positions in society, but by them too.

Both Rachel and Emily turned heads wherever they went. Rachel, with her unusual beauty, the sharp lines of her face and her large eyes, always had people staring at her. Emily, in contrast, had a beauty that was considered more classic, with long golden hair and the sweetest smile.

There is a reason I am the sister left unmarried.

Bridget adjusted the gloves on her hands, fidgeting enough to distract herself from her own thoughts. She was not one for self-pity, and she hardly wished to dwell now, even as the doubts crept in.

“You’re here! At last, you are here,” Emily’s unmistakable voice cried through the crowds.

“Do you think we’d be able to hear her voice from the other side of London?” Rachel teased, in full earshot of their youngest sister.

“Undoubtedly,” Bridget agreed.

Emily appeared, elbowing her way through a crowd of chattering ladies who were admiring Joseph. When she saw the two of them, she flung her arms around them both. Bridget was nearly knocked off her feet, and she scrambled to stand straight, giggling as Emily proceeded to jump up and down in her eagerness.

“Oh, now that you are both here, the celebrations can truly begin.” Emily stepped back and smiled with great excitement. “Jacob and I have been helping his mother with the party preparations. There will not be a day when you’ll be allowed to sit down and do nothing—Yes, Bridget, I am looking at you with that statement.”

“What did I do?” Bridget asked innocently.

“It’s what you may do,” Emily said with a laugh. “You can read in corners if you wish, but not all day every day. You must be the center of attention at our parties too.”

Center of attention?

Bridget was not sure she liked the idea. She adjusted the gloves on her hands once more, feeling the fur lining tickling her wrists.

“Rachel, now that you’re here, I must ask your advice about Maya.” Emily linked arms with Rachel and towed her away across the driveway.

It has happened.

As it always did when the three of them were together, the conversation shifted to married life and Emily’s and Rachel’s children. It was always a lovely conversation, one Bridget listened to eagerly, but the more time went on, the more envious she grew.

She followed Emily and Rachel across the drive and through the crowds of people as her sisters talked of baby Maya and little Joseph. They laughed about their children’s behaviors, and their teething problems, as Bridget trailed behind. She had nothing to add to the conversation.

Distracted, she glanced behind her, seeing that Daniel was no longer alone with Joseph in his arms. Jacob had appeared with baby Maya in his clutches. They were now swarmed by the adulation of a gaggle of ladies.

“I am ready for a change,” Bridget whispered suddenly, startling herself as she trailed behind her sisters. Quite forgotten about behind them, something came sharply into focus.

For all the novels she had read, all the great stories, she had never quite felt she could identify with the characters in those stories. She was a supporting character, the friend, or the sister of those great heroines. She longed for a story of her own! Yet, she was not certain it would ever happen.

As they neared the steps that led to the front door of the great redbrick house, a footman hurried past, carrying a portmanteau. He stumbled straight into Bridget, in danger of knocking her over.

“I am sorry, My Lady. I didn’t see you there.” Then, he was gone, walking up the steps.

Bridget gripped the stone balustrade, stopping herself from falling over.

People rarely see me here.

“Ah! You are here, at last,” Catarina’s voice rang out loudly. At the top of the stairs, she greeted Rachel and started gushing about her daughter-in-law, Emily, at her side.

Jacob reappeared, having escaped the praising ladies, and hurried up the steps with Maya in his arms, toward his family. He barely even smiled at Bridget in acknowledgment as he passed.

Invisible.

Bridget continued to lean against the balustrade, not sure she should hurry up the steps and intrude on what felt like a private family affair.

Then, something strange happened. Beyond all the happy faces that were smiling as people embraced, another appeared through the doorway. The tall frame and the broad shoulders, were recognizable to Bridget at once, as was the brown hair, the color of cinnamon, and the stubble across his chin.

Seth Miller, the Marquess of Ramsbury, had appeared. A great friend to both Jacob and Daniel these days, he was always around. Whenever Bridget saw her sisters, he was lurking somewhere, the jester of the pack to her mind, for his jokes always had them all laughing. The last time she had seen him, he’d made a jest that had Jacob even falling over in fits.

He smiled in greeting to Rachel and ruffled Maya’s hair, much to her amusement, as she reached out her tiny hands, trying to grab his hand. Lord Ramsbury turned then and looked out across the drive, taking in the scene before him. His chin flicked downward, and his eyes found Bridget at the bottom of the steps.

He always looks at me, never through me.

That deep green gaze made Bridget gasp. She had known him for a couple of years now, and it had always been the same. The rake looked at her when so many didn’t notice she was there at all. It was a shame he was a rake. He seemed to be the only man who noticed her at all.

* * *

There you are, Lady Bridget.

Seth inhaled deeply as he stared at Lady Bridget at the bottom of the balustrade. She was wrapped up well against the chill of the day, with her grey fur-lined pelisse and the dark blue bonnet over her hair. Those eyes, always the same, turned up toward him, looking straight at him.

The light blue orbs were rather intense, to Seth’s mind. He’d once described them as such, at which Jacob had laughed heartily, never seeing anything intense about Lady Bridget at all.

I see much in her Jacob never could.

Jacob had initially been courting Lady Bridget by arrangement, before his head had been turned by Lady Emily. Seth would never confess it, but he’d been secretly relieved when he’d found out that Lady Bridget would not be marrying Jacob after all.

A woman like that should be admired, even adored, and Jacob was not suited to her.

Seth slowly walked down the stairs toward Lady Bridget, wishing to be near her. She looked away from him, across the drive, but she seemingly couldn’t help looking back again as she fidgeted with her winter gloves. Her light brown curls were just visible beyond the rim of her bonnet. Her sloping chin turned in his direction, her cheeks coloring pink a little.

Ah, do not blush around me, Lady Bridget.

He’d made a vow long ago, to both Jacob and Daniel. He could still remember their words vividly as they had glared at him when they had discussed the matter of Lady Bridget.

“You may be wayward, Seth, but Lady Bridget is our sister now. She is not to be another one of your conquests,” Jacob had warned strongly.

“I’d have to duel you if you ever did cross that line,”Daniel had threatened.

Seth had vowed to the two of them that he would always respect Lady Bridget. Besides, he knew where he stood. Long ago, someone had pointed out to him he was not good enough for any serious courtship, or even marriage. He was a man that ladies looked at for a night or two, and nothing beyond that.

So, he knew where he stood with Lady Bridget. He was an admirer from afar, but he never held onto any hope beyond that.

“Good day to you, Lady Bridget.” He jumped off the last step and moved to her side, bowing in greeting.

“Good day, My Lord.” She curtsied too.

“Tell me…” He stepped toward her, dropping his voice to a whisper, trying to ignore her sweet scent—rosehip and honey, fulfilling the idea of her being a classic English Rose. “Are you hoping to hide here as you so often do?”

“I do not hide.” Lady Bridget stood taller, lifting her chin a little.

“No?” He quirked his eyebrows. “Then, pray tell, why you are standing here when your family are all the way over there.” He jerked his head to the top of the stairs, where Daniel and Edward had now joined the others.

“I do not have to be joined at the hip to my sisters,” Lady Bridget pointed out. “Besides, they do not need me for this conversation.”

Seth watched as the families fussed over the two children.

“Ah, I see.” He turned back to face Lady Bridget. “Do you not feel you can join in the conversation about children?”

She flinched, that fidgeting with her gloves growing even stronger now.

“Startled I could read you so well?” he teased once more, cocking his head to the side.

“Startled you seem to believe you know my mind, though you do not,” she insisted, yet the color in her cheeks suggested very much he had read her well.

He laughed at her reaction and offered her his arm. “If you wish for children of your own, Lady Bridget, we should see you married.” He gestured down for her to take his arm, but she continued to stand there, refusing to take it. “I’m offering my arm, not my hand.”

“Oh, I know,” she said tartly. “I am just wondering why you are standing here, talking to me, when your two friends are up there.” She nodded toward Daniel and Jacob, who were now laughing together about something.

“Perhaps for the same reason you are here too,” Seth murmured to her. “My place is not always beside them.”

“And you think it is here? Beside me?”

“Ha!” He laughed warmly at her words.

It was something he had noticed about Lady Bridget over the years. At one glance, any man could easily mistake her for being quiet, even nervous about the world, but that was not her true character. She liked peace, yes, but she had wit and intelligence, a cleverness that not everyone saw as he did.

“Your humor always has the habit of making me smile.”

“Me? I make you smile?” She seemed flummoxed by the idea. “I am sure you have enough ladies here to make you smile this week.” She pointedly looked over her shoulder at the busy driveway, where a number of ladies had gathered, ready for the week’s events.

Seth looked at them. There were plenty of pretty women, yes, but for some reason, he was not possessed with any inclination to go and speak to them. He’d rather speak to the lady before him.

“One will do for me,” he whispered.

Lady Bridget held up her gloved hand between them. “No flirtation. You and I agreed on that the last time we had dinner with my family.”

“I remember you asking for it.” He playfully narrowed his eyes. “I do not remember agreeing to it. Where is the harm in a little flirtation, Lady Bridget?” She didn’t answer him but fixed him with a mock glare. “When it earns your attention so well, I think I’ll find it hard to stop.”

“My Lord…” She chewed on her lower lip and breathed deeply as if exasperated with him.

“Well, I could continue to tease you all day out in this cold, or perhaps I should escort you inside instead, and you could stop leaving me hanging here with my arm extended toward you.” He offered her his arm once more. “What do you say, My Lady?”

She looked between his arm and his face.

For some reason, whatever Lady Bridget said or did, it mattered to Seth. If she refused him now, he’d hardly be surprised. It was norma for him to be rejected, reminded of where he stood in life, but he longed for her not to turn him down.

Slowly, her gloved hand slid across his elbow. That simple touch made warmth spread through him, to the point he was imagining her hands on other parts of him, in ways he should not be picturing.

“What did that intake of breath mean?” Lady Bridget whispered as he led her up the stairs.

“I cannot answer that without flirting with you again. So, I best keep my thoughts to myself.”

When she blushed, he half wished she would ask so he could tell her the truth.