A Court of Thorns for Lady Ambergrave: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Read online

  A Court of Thorns for Lady Ambergrave

  A Historical Regency Romance Novel

  Emma Linfield

  Edited by

  Robin Spencer

  Contents

  A Thank You Gift

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  Extended Epilogue

  Preview: A Fearless Governess for the Forsaken Duke

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Also by Emma Linfield

  About the Author

  A Thank You Gift

  Thanks a lot for purchasing my book. It really means a lot to me, because this is the best way to show me your love.

  As a Thank You gift I have written a full length novel for you called The Betrayed Lady Winters. It’s only available to people who have downloaded one of my books and you can get your free copy by tapping this link here.

  Once more, thanks a lot for your love and support.

  With love and appreciation,

  Emma Linfield

  About the Book

  A blessing and a curse to love thy you mustn’t...

  Lady Luciana Alden lives a perfect life.

  Raised by doting parents and with a handsome suitor about to ask for her hand, she has everything she ever wanted. Until the day her father announces that she is to marry a stranger.

  Gideon Merriweather, the Marquess of Ambergrave, has searched far and wide for a reprieve from his pain. Heartbroken after his parents' unfair death, there is but a single cure: vengeance. Vengeance that starts with marrying Lady Luciana.

  While striving to accept their fate, they cannot escape their luxuriating emotions.

  An uninvited visitor and an old envelope with an unbroken seal open Luciana's eyes to a lifelong lie, forcing her to make a difficult decision. She must leave Gideon to save them both from a fate worse than death.

  Chapter 1

  “Luci! You’re here at last, and how elegant you look!” Lady Elizabeth cried, holding out her arms to her dearest friend for an embrace. Lady Luciana, daughter of the Earl of Thornshire, hurried to her friend with a smile.

  “Thank you, Bette. But I pale in comparison standing so close to you!” Luci said, sighing contentedly. “Your gown is simply beautiful!”

  “It was from Aunt Adele. But don’t leave for home tonight before you find me, I brought you back some gossamer and chiffon in the most wonderful shade of yellow. I thought of your dark tresses when I saw it, and knew it would pair perfectly with your brown eyes as well.”

  “That is too kind of you to think of me,” Luci cried. “You must let me give you some of the silk Mother ordered as payment. But tell me everything about your journey! And wherever did you manage to find such lovely ribbons?”

  Luci only half-listened, having set her friend off on a winding tale of her three months of London adventures, but that was by design. She smiled and nodded and made appropriate responses as Bette told of the excitement of visiting her aunt and purchasing necessary items for the Season. All the while, she scanned the Viscount Ridley’s large, ornate ballroom, her eyes drifting over the sea of well-dressed members of the ton, all turned out in honor of Bette’s return home.

  And then she saw him.

  At the far end of the room, talking in a cluster of young gentlemen, Bradley Landon, Earl of Stillscar, chanced a look in her direction and smiled in that crooked way that made Luci’s heart falter for a moment. His dark eyes met hers for only a moment, but it was enough. Before anyone could have noticed, he returned to the conversation, brushing his blond hair back slightly and appearing interested in their talk.

  “I saw that,” Bette whispered happily in her ear, and a rush of heat flooded Luci’s face. “That’s why I was very adamant with Mother that the Earl simply must be invited to our little party!”

  “You are too good to me,” Luci cried, clutching Bette’s hands. “But it will be some trouble to find time to speak with him. After my unfortunate accident last week, Mother and Father insisted the only way I could attend tonight was if they escorted me instead of Christina.”

  “Ah, so that’s why I don’t see your old governess lurking at your elbow!” Bette teased, but at the look of reproach on Luci’s face, she blushed.

  “You know she is much more than a governess. Besides being so learned as to now be my tutor, she’s more of a confidant than a governess!” Luci argued kindly.

  “I’m sorry, Luci, I didn’t mean that to sound unkind. Miss Ross is lovely, and I know she matters a great deal to you.”

  “All is forgiven, of course!” Luci said, smiling at her friend once more. “But I cannot fault them. They were so concerned when I fell while riding, both of them stayed by my bedside for two days while the physician pondered whether or not I’d suffered any harm. It mattered not how many times I told them I was fine, they refused to let me up until they felt certain!”

  “Even now, I think they are unconvinced. Look,” Bette said, gesturing towards the Countess. “Your mother comes this way.”

  “Luci! There you are!” Lady Thornshire said, smiling adoringly at both girls. “Be sure to come sit for a while before you feel faint. Lady Elizabeth, I heard you are newly returned home from seeing your aunt in London. Tell me, how is the Marchioness faring in the city? Were you introduced to anyone?”

  As Bette once more launched into her tales of diversion, Luci stopped her and said, “I have already taken enough of Lady Elizabeth’s time. I think I shall go sit for a while. Bette, be sure and tell Mother all about the shops you visited so that she and I might know the best places to go next summer.”

  Luci raised her eyebrows slightly, signaling to Bette to make the story rather lengthy. Bette returned her smile and turned Lady Thornshire towards a row of cushioned chairs so that they might speak of London at length.

  Luci looked over to the where she had last seen Lord Stillscar but felt a pang of disappointment when he was no longer there. Without being too obvious, she looked about the grand room until her eyes fell on him, standing alone by one of the open doors that led to the gardens. He cocked his head to the side slightly and smiled.

  Looking around to ensure that no one might have noticed, Luci nodded briefly. She wound her way through the crowd of people, intent on not going directly to the door, and feeling grateful that they had not yet begun dancing. It still took several minutes to reach the outdoors for every person she passed was obligated to extend some sort of greeting, and she was obligated to reply.

  Outside, the glow of dozens of low flames flickered inside their glass lamps, creating a somewhat serene effect over the garden. Luci stopped at the top of the marble steps that led down to where several other pairs of guests walked about, speaking in low voices.
/>   But the Earl was nowhere to be found.

  Casting a thin smile and curtseying slightly to two matronly dowagers who’d settled themselves into chairs—no doubt keeping their hawkish eyes on the guests who meandered outside for propriety’s sake—Luci thought to return inside when a hand darted out from behind a shrub and clutched her wrist.

  “Oh!” she chirped suddenly, looking to the two women to make sure they hadn’t heard her cry of surprise. Luci turned slightly so that it would not be so obvious to anyone standing nearby that her arm was now concealed behind the greenery.

  “Shh, no one must know we’re here!” Bradley said, amused. “It would be far worse should anyone discover that I did this, too.”

  Luci stifled a giggle as the Earl pressed a kiss against the back of her gloved hand. Still looking about and pretending as though wedging her arm behind the shrub was a commonplace thing to do, she attempted to keep a plain expression upon her face. Too soon, her merriment got the better of her and the Earl had to emerge from behind an urn in order to avoid being noticed.

  “That was rather some silliness, don’t you agree?” she asked, smiling up at him. Bradley only shot her a mischievous look then gestured for her to walk with him.

  “I actually thought it was quite devious on my part,” he finally answered. “Like a game of cat and mouse.”

  “But which one was I? The cunning cat or the scurrying mouse?” Luci asked innocently. “After all, everywhere I’ve looked this evening, you’re there one moment and gone the next, like a the cleverest of alley cats.”

  “You wound me, dear Luci! I am most definitely the mouse! A harmless, timid creature—and dare I say, rather adorable looking—who wishes only to peek out from its home once in a rare while and enjoy a mere morsel of cheese!” Bradley said, twitching his nose and feigning to have delicate paws.

  “Then the mouse you shall be,” Luci conceded playfully. “But tell me, why must a mouse such as yourself keep hidden in corners and behind the shrubbery? None of the guests seems to mind your presence the way they would some vermin.”

  “Ah, you see, there are a great number of cats at this event, those who would take an instant liking to anything this humble little mouse desires. Should everyone here know how much I admire you and how taken I am with you, they would all pounce and steal you away for themselves!”

  Luci ducked her head, smiling shyly despite the dim glow of the lamps that prevented her elation from being too obvious. She was content to walk about the garden for some time, until finally Bradley led the way to a low bench and bade her sit with him.

  “Bradley, I am perplexed,” Luci said as they sat down. “Why must our every conversation be shrouded in such mystery? Under the cover of evening or away from the crowds?”

  “I only worry for your reputation, Luci,” he explained. “My family has not always been in the best stead among some in the ton, and I would never want to besmirch your own standing. Should you ever agree to be my wife, then I will joyfully shout it from the rooftops without a care as to who might see us speaking at a ball or when you’re out for a ride.”

  “But I have already said as much!” Luci protested in earnest. “I have said time and time again that I return your affections ardently! Is that not cause enough?”

  The Earl frowned, mulling over her reply. Finally, he said softly, “It is, it is more than enough for me. But I must convince your father of our match. When the time is right, I shall speak to him. But I must first see to some of my affairs so that I do not enter into a marriage contract with any business concerns unresolved. Can you understand that, and be patient for but a while longer?”

  Luci looked away, shame at her selfishness burning within her while at the same time, frustration and longing filled her heart. Of course she understood, and absolutely she could be patient. But she longed for the day when the Earl could speak to her father and their arrangement could be affirmed. Then, they would have an entire season of attending events such as these as a betrothed couple, gratefully accepting the well-wishes and congratulations of all who knew them.

  Instead, Luci sat in the growing darkness with a man she loved but could not publicly acknowledge, ever aware of how close they sat or how quietly they whispered lest someone take issue and speak ill of them. She was forced to entertain invitations to dance from men who simply did not know that her heart—if not her actual future—was already pledged to another.

  “Trust me, my dear, it is a physical torment for me to love you so much and be unable to speak it, to let it be known,” Bradley said. “I am doing my utmost to complete these dealings so that I may be unencumbered, entering into our marriage with free title to my vast holdings. It shall not be much longer, I promise!”

  Luci smiled bravely for his sake. “Then I shall hold you to your promise and believe upon it. What is a small matter of time when we shall be happy for the rest of our lives?”

  “That’s my brave girl,” he answered, taking her hand and caressing it firmly. “Only think, one day soon we will be the happiest, most wonderful couple in the ton!”

  “There you are, my dear!” Bette whispered, catching Luci in the doorway as she reentered the ballroom alone. “I’ve kept your mother occupied for as long as I might, but she moved on to find you. I told her I’d given you leave to lie down in my chambers, away from the party, and that I would fetch you at once.”

  “You’re a saint! I don’t deserve you as my friend!” Luci replied gratefully.

  “Of course you do, you goose. Now tell me everything about Lord Stillscar before you go find your mother!” Bette waited expectantly, her eyes wide as Luci informed her of their devotion to one another.

  “Oh, it is so romantic!” Bette cried. “I shall never hope to find love such as yours, not so long as my father is plotting a ‘prosperous’ match for me! I shall be fortunate if my future husband is not already senile and walks with a cane!”

  Luci hid her titters behind her fan as Bette imitated the carriage of an elderly man, only to straighten upright when she spied an ancient marquess looking at her. Both girls were flooded with shame lest he think their ridicule was intended for him. He harrumphed loudly and turned away, leaving them to fall into gales of laughter once he left.

  “But tell me sincerely, Luci,” Bette said, serious once more. “Do you truly love Lord Stillscar?”

  Luci pondered the question for only a moment, reminded by the fluttering of her heart of her answer. “I do, dear Bette! I’ve never met another who is so interesting, so enchanting to listen to, so genuine in his nature!”

  “And I suppose it hurts nothing that he is so devilishly handsome?” Bette teased. “However do you manage to keep your hands from reaching for a lock of his hair when you two speak?”

  “Bette!” Luci answered, shocked at the question. “I would never!”

  “Well, I don’t know that I wouldn’t in your position!” her friend said, laughing once again. “Come, there’s to be dancing now. You must be seen lest people talk.”

  “I don’t know that I feel up to it, not when the one person I long to dance with all evening is within my very grasp but still so far beyond my reach!” For a moment, Luci looked as though she might cry.

  “Come now, none of that. I’ll see to it that the Earl just happens to ask you to dance before the evening is over, I promise!” Bette said, taking Luci’s hand and pulling her towards the great room.

  True to her word, not long after only her third dance, the Earl of Stillscar bowed slightly and extended his hand, his intensely blue eyes belying all traces of familiarity. He spoke formally when requesting to dance with Lady Luci, and she fairly blushed at the way some of the other girls stared after them.

  Luci fought to contain her frayed nerves as the music swelled. Standing so near to Bradley in full view of everyone, she was certain her true feelings were on full display. For his part, he made great pretense of looking only politely interested in his partner, avoiding any untoward display that would hav
e set the ton talking.

  “This is madness,” Luci thought miserably. “This is worse than not seeing him at all, to see him and dance with him and stand so close yet be unable to acknowledge how much of my heart he commands!”

  When the music mercifully ended, the other pairs broke out in polite applause. Luci, however, stood transfixed by the deep, longing stare with which the Earl pinned her back. Taking her gloved hand in his and merely bowing over it, he looked up long enough to whisper, “That shall be the last time I publicly pretend that you don’t mean the world to me.”