The persistent suitor, p.1
The Persistent Suitor, page 1
part #1 of Eligible Lords For Proper Ladies Series
The Persistent Suitor
Eligible Lords For Proper Ladies
Book One
Rachel McNeely
Dedication and Acknowledgements
I want to dedicate this book to all the people who have helped me get into this venture of self-publishing. Kristen Painter, Roxanne St. Claire, and Elle St. James encouraged me and got me started.
Also thanks to Rae Monet for her help in answering my numerous questions, designing a beautiful website for me, and for the wonderful covers she and her staff have done for my first two books.
Raina Toomey has done a great job of editing my book and with suggestions on how to make it better.
Amy Atwell at Author E.M.S. formatted my books and sent me valuable information on how to get my book ready for publishing.
Without all of these talented people I’d never have known what to do or where to go for the information. They are not only talented, but generous with their input to help.
Chapter One
Lady Juliana Labrook, second eldest daughter of the Earl of Anscom, stopped at the top of the curved staircase and stared at the tall, black-haired man walking through the open front door. Barley, their butler, took his hat as the man handed him his card. Barley invited him to have a seat in the small sitting room next to the foyer.
“I will notify Lord Anscom of your arrival.”
Juliana started down the steps. She had her hand on the swooping, curved handrail when the man looked up. Her grip tightened on the rail as she stared into cobalt blue eyes. His chiseled cheekbones and firm jaw made her think of a man used to being in control. An unexpected current of awareness flickered inside her, and she hesitated, before continuing down the stairs.
Barley gave her a puzzled look. When she reached the bottom, Barley said, “Lady Juliana Labrook, may I introduce Lord Grayson Lyall, Marquis of Carraway.”
She was the shortest of her sisters, and the Marquis towered above her. He bowed. “I’m pleased to meet you, my lady.”
“My lord. I couldn’t help but overhear you tell Barley you came to see my father.”
“Yes, my lady. We had an appointment this morning.
I am visiting the Hazelbrook family for the next few days, but if your father is unavailable I can come another time.”
The sound of voices and laughter made her turn toward the hallway. Her brow furrowed. What was going on?
“Barley, has the family gathered in the drawing room?” Juliana looked down at her new blue silk dress. Thankfully, she’d worn it in anticipation of seeing Elliott. At least she looked presentable for company.
“Yes, milady.” It seemed like he wanted to elaborate, but only said, “I will let Lord Anscom know Lord Carraway is here.”
As Barley left them, the Marquis said, “I don’t want to interrupt a party.”
“I’m certain Father would like to greet you, my lord, especially if you are only to be here a few days. Come. I will keep you company.” She led the way into the sitting room off the foyer and over to an arrangement of chairs by the fireplace. He waited as she sat and straightened her skirts before taking the chair across from her.
“Would you care for tea, my lord?”
“Please don’t go to the trouble. As soon as I speak with your father, I’ll be on my way.”
Her father hurried into the room, a smile on his face and hand outstretched in welcome. “Lord Carraway, you must accept my apologies.” The Marquis stood to greet the older man. “I admit that in all the confusion I forgot to send you a note to reschedule our appointment. I know you are short on time. But I insist that you join us for a rather sudden celebration—it won’t be long, I promise you—and afterward we can meet in my study.”
“It was not my intention to intrude. I can come back another time,” the Marquis said.
“Please join us. This is a happy occasion.” As he spoke, Juliana’s father’s eyes slid to her, then away. She couldn’t interpret his expression, but it certainly was odd.
Had Elliott come to ask for her hand? Her heart raced. She had long dreamed of their handsome neighbor in the role of perfect bridegroom for her perfect wedding.
Barely able to maintain a sedate pace, she walked with her father and the Marquis to the drawing room. As they approached, the sounds of chatter and laughter grew louder. Everyone must have gathered to wish her well. Juliana smiled in anticipation.
She paused in the doorway, searching for Elliott. A fire burned in the large fireplace. The mirrors above gave a picture of the room full of people.
Her aunt and her cousin Fannie were chatting with Juliana’s mother and her sisters.
Victoria, at twenty-two was the oldest sister. She looked bored. Juliana, at twenty, was barely a year older than Charlotte, who glanced in her direction with a concerned expression. Juliana didn’t see her youngest sister, Gloriana. Mama probably let her stay in the library amongst the books she loved, but that wouldn’t last much longer. Gloriana would be eighteen in September and presented next season.
Juliana’s heart raced when she saw Elliott Houton, the Earl of Hanson, speaking with her eldest cousin, Louisa. Had he come to ask for her hand? If so, why had his mother and sister come with him?
Her father urged Juliana to move forward. Her face heated when she realized how long she’d been standing in the entranceway.
Remembering her manners, she greeted her aunt and uncle, Fannie, and her mother and sisters before settling in her customary spot by the curtains. Elliott and Louisa hadn’t so much as glanced at her. She sensed the questions and curiosity flowing around the room.
Barley and a footman unobtrusively served glasses of bubbling liquid.
Papa took the last glass of Champagne from Barley’s tray and asked for quiet. The crowd turned in his direction. “The Marquis of Carraway has joined us in time to share our toast.” Then Papa glanced at Juliana, apology in his eyes.
He raised his glass. “We are toasting my niece, Lady Louisa Cardorr, and our neighbor, the Earl of Hanson. They will be married in March, shortly before the Season starts.”
Juliana’s glass started to slip out of her grasp. A large male hand tightened around hers. She hadn’t noticed the Marquis moving closer until suddenly he was there, saving her from disaster. He stood between her and the other guests, blocking their view.
“Take a deep breath,” he said firmly.
She glanced at him and tried to focus. “I am,” she inhaled slowly, “quite all right.”
“You are extremely pale and close to fainting, if I don’t miss my guess. Shall I get your mother?”
Juliana took another deep breath. “No, please don’t. Step beside me. I think my father has something else to say.” She forced a smile.
Papa’s smile faltered for a second when he looked at Juliana, but he glanced at his wife and continued. “Juliana has her own special plans for the next six weeks. We will miss her, but she is going to visit her dear Grandmama Dearmon. Her grandmother has expressed a wish to enjoy Juliana’s company while she is residing in Bath.”
They’re sending me away? What have I done? Never, did I think my family would want me gone. I can’t believe Papa agreed. But obviously he had.
She glanced at Elliott and Louisa, noticing for the first time the way they seemed to only have eyes for each other. They didn’t notice her heart had just broken.
Elliott’s dark blue coat and breeches fit his athletic form superbly. He was, quite simply, magnificent, from his golden hair to the toes of his polished boots. His face glowed with happiness.
Louisa’s blue gown with pink rose trim embellished her natural beauty. Gold hair combs, almost the same shade as her hair, secured an elaborate braid into a beautiful high bun. Wisps of curls surrounded her face, which had flushed a lovely pink from the attention.
Juliana wished Louisa wasn’t so beautiful. But she was and Elliott was clearly smitten.
Her family and Elliott’s mother and sister raised their glasses to Juliana, wishing her well on her visit with Grandmama. She looked at her father, and he turned away. Pain slashed across her chest, her smile wavered. It was over. Any hope she had of avoiding exile was gone.
The tall figure of the Marquis stepped between her and the crowd again.
“My Lady, how nice it is for you to have time to visit with your Grandmother in Bath.” His voice came from a distance. “Take another deep breath,” he whispered.
“I do not need your sympathy, Lord Carraway. I—I am happy for my cousin and Elliott. I mean Lord Hanson.”
“Very well. I will say my goodbyes and wait outside to speak with your father. I wish you a safe journey.”
She watched as he made his way through the crowd. He spoke briefly with her father before leaving the room.
She’d been rude. It was useless, and beneath her, to take her anger out on others. But it didn’t matter. Nothing would save her from going to Bath to visit her mother’s mother.
Grandmama was just like Mama. They both considered her lacking in the social skills. Juliana had much preferred the outdoors and lessons she learned from Papa than mastering the useless graces of a proper young lady. Grandmama would insist on her taking instruction in deportment, and she’d be forced to sit and sew while Grandmama visited with her cronies. Her every move judged and found inadequate. Six weeks of lectures.
Juliana wondered how soon she could excuse herself from the impromptu party. She had fallen into the lowest, saddest time of her life and wanted to be alone to cry and scream out her frustra tion.
* * *
Juliana avoided her mother and sisters and hurried to her room. She managed to get out of the gown she’d worn for what she’d hoped was a meeting regarding her engagement to Elliott. She’d been convinced he’d take her for a stroll through the gardens and finally ask her to marry him.
She’d noticed Elliott’s attentiveness to Louisa during the Season, but had told herself it didn’t mean anything, that he was still hers for the taking. Well, I was a fool and looked it today. Her morose thoughts deepened her feelings of rejection.
Juliana pulled her old green gown out of the armoire. Hopefully the dark color would not show any dirt. She pulled it on and fastened the laces with racing fingers. Finally ready, she took the back stairs and escaped outside.
Luck was with her. Mama wasn’t around to witness her unladylike behavior. She just wanted a little freedom to be herself before they sent her off to Bath.
Hurrying down the terraces and walkway, she soon reached the edge of the woods. The stream ran through the forest to a deep spot where the fish liked to hide between rocks and crevices. She enjoyed watching for the flash of their scales.
At the water’s edge she took off her shoes and stockings. She caught up her skirts and tucked one side under her waistband to help keep the hem dry. Then she released her hair from the bun her maid, Daisy, had arranged and let the long blonde strands blow free in the breeze.
Juliana turned her face toward the sunlight breaking through the tree branches and breathed in the clean, fresh air. Birds sang in a nearby tree, and the water splashed over rocks and swirled through felled tree branches, creating a lovely melody of nature’s sounds.
She stepped off the bank and carefully used the natural stepping stones that jutted from the deep water to reach a slightly larger rock, where she settled in to watch for the fish.
* * *
Gray said his farewells to the Earl of Anscom. He wanted to ask after Juliana, but it was hardly appropriate. He’d just met the girl and her family. Yet her pale face and sad eyes haunted him as he rode across the earl’s land on his way to the tree-lined road to the Hazelbrook’s estate.
The splash of water sounded loud in the quiet of the forest. Curious, Gray guided his horse off the road and dismounted. He secured the horse to a handy branch and worked his way through the trees toward where he thought he’d heard the splash. He stopped, stood still, and watched the metamorphosis of a proper young woman shedding all the prim and proper requirements of society to become a woodland nymph. Sunlight glinted off the wavy golden hair hanging loose down her back. She was small and curvy.
He held in a chuckle when she maneuvered her way across the rocks to a place mid-stream. He recalled how her green eyes had filled with shock at the very public announcement of her would-be beau’s engagement to another.
An unexpected need rose deep inside him. He customarily held his emotions on a tight rein, to the point many considered him cool and emotionless. He hadn’t experienced desire this strong in a long time, let alone for a debutante—very much to the chagrin of his mother and the woman she wanted for a daughter-in-law.
His mother and Melody were certain they could persuade him to marry her. But any feelings he once had for Melody disappeared the moment she broke their engagement to choose his brother. Now that his circumstances had changed and she wanted to turn back the clock, he was having none of it.
Nevertheless, Lady Juliana Labrook pulled at him in a strange way. He gave himself a mental shake. He’d stared far too long. If she saw him, she’d accuse him of spying on her. He turned to return to his horse.
Her yell made him look back in time to see her slip, try to catch herself, fail, and fall into the water.
Gray ran. He yanked off his boots and went into the water, moving quickly towards her. Juliana popped up from beneath the surface of the fast-moving water, shaking her drenched hair back and looking for a handhold.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you back to shore. Grab my hand.”
“Whatever are you doing here?”
“I’m trying to save you from drowning. Take my hand.”
“Go away. I can swim.”
She swam fast toward the shore, and then stood straight and proud, tossing her wet hair back. Gray grinned. It was clear she didn’t realize her wet dress clung to all her curves and the material molded the shape of her lovely breasts. Being tall, he didn’t have to swim. He waded out of the stream and moved closer to her.
Juliana held up her hand. “Stay where you are. Why do you keep appearing out of nowhere? I wanted to be alone.” Her husky voice rippled across his skin.
“You seem to need rescuing more often than the average female,” he said and kept coming.
* * *
Juliana stared, shocked, as Gray removed his soaking wet coat, cravat, vest and shirt. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t wear this. You don’t want me to get a chill, do you? I’ll need to get my spare shirt from my saddlebag. It’s surely wrinkled, but it’ll do.”
She tried to look anywhere but at him. His body was beautiful. He had firm, tanned skin, and a mat of dark black hair covered his chest. He had not an ounce of fat on his tall frame that she could see. Reluctantly she raised her head, and saw an exciting, yet frightening glimmer in his eyes. He didn’t seem to mind that she’d stared at his body so boldly.
She backed off to put more distance between them. “I’ll have you know I’m the most responsible of females. Ask my father. I often help him around the estate.”
“Does he know you swim?” His sapphire eyes flashed at her.
“He knows I fish!” She raised her head defiantly.
A cool expression covered his face. “Did Hanson teach you to swim?”
“How did you know?”
“Most proper young ladies are not as proficient in the water as you seem to be. What else did he teach you?”
Annoyed by his accusing tone, she faced him with both hands on her hips. “I learned many things from him, such as fishing, swimming, how to ride a horse without a saddle, and to run fast. We are very close.”
“Did he also teach you to kiss?” His voice was soft and low, yet she heard an underlying harshness. Suddenly he seemed to be standing a lot closer than just moments ago. Looming.
She put up her hand to push him away, touching his warm chest and the soft curls of black hair. Under her hand, his breath stopped for a second. Her palm moved slowly on his chest. A strange, exciting tingle made her heart flutter.
Grayson’s hand went to her chin. Without ceremony, he tipped her head up and touched her lips with his. He took advantage of her instinctive gasp, sliding his tongue into her mouth. The new sensation was strange, but seductive, too. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. His well-muscled body touched all of her front. She swayed, lost in the wonder of his hard body and the touch of his mouth. He smelled of horses, sandalwood, and the fresh air.
Through a haze of warmth and need she realized what she was allowing and shoved at him to get loose.
He let her go. She knew he allowed it, and was all the angrier for the realization that if he wanted to keep kissing her he could have.
“You, sir, are not a gentleman.”
“And you are no lady.” His face showed no emotion, but the tautness in his body denied his pretense. “My horse is close by. He’ll carry us both to your father’s house.”
“I can get home on my own. It wouldn’t look right for us to appear together as disheveled as we are.”
“True. In that case, perhaps we should sit in the sun to dry.”
“I don’t want to be rude, but it seems I have to keep repeating the fact that I wish to be alone.”
“So you can pine for your cousin’s fiancé? He was a fool. I do envy him though.”
“Why? Because he’s marrying Louisa?”
“No. Because he’s obviously had the chance to get to know a very interesting side of you, my little woodland nymph.” Gray put on his boots and picked up his wet clothes.
“I expect you are waiting for me to apologize for my behavior. I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. I surprised myself as much as I did you. Since you’ll be traveling to Bath, I expect the next time we meet will be in London, Lady Juliana.”
