Romancing an Alluring Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 7

  Kitty did her best to settle her nerves as the carriage made its way through the morning bustle. She’d hardly slept last night, her mind filled with worry over Hugh. Despite his reputation, he was a very caring man, and someone who would always uphold his family honour. The thought that his childhood home had been damaged must really be doing a number on Hugh, much like the death of his parents had.

  The moment the carriage arrived at Hugh’s townhouse, she alighted and made her way up to the townhouse. She looked up at the white walls of the home, wondering if Hugh was even awake. At the front door she pulled the cord and was quickly greeted by Portlock.

  “Good morning, Miss Worthington,” Portlock said with a bow. “I’m so glad you were able to visit His Grace this morning.”

  “How is he doing, Portlock?” Kitty asked as she stepped into the townhouse.

  “Thankfully, he slept most of the night and even rose early for once,” Portlock explained. “He’s in the dining room now enjoying his breakfast.”

  “But how is he really doing?” Kitty pressed. Portlock stopped his progress in escorting her to the sitting room and looked Kitty directly in the eye.

  “I’m afraid this news will undo him once more, Miss Worthington,” Portlock said in a soft voice. “I do hope you’ll be able to be a good comfort to him.” Kitty gave the butler a kind smile and nodded her head.

  “I plan to do my very best,” she said. Seeming to be satisfied with her answer, Portlock led her to the sitting room with the promise of collecting Hugh once he’d eaten something.

  While waiting, Kitty took a turn of the room. She marvelled at all the furnishings, thinking that they were new because they reflected the latest style. The chair cushions were made out of silk, and as Kitty leaned down to feel for herself, she felt some of the most luxurious fabrics she’d ever felt before. She chuckled, thinking that Hugh always did try to out do others. She wondered how many visitors he’d actually received to witness the changes he’d made in his townhouse.

  It wasn’t long before Hugh arrived in the sitting room. Kitty turned to see him enter through the doors that were quickly closed behind him. She tried to smile at him, to show him some happiness, but the grave look on his face only made her heart lower at the sight of him.

  “Oh, Hugh,” Kitty said as she neared him, clasping his hands in hers. “I was so terribly sorry to have received your letter last night.” Hugh gave her a weak smile as he nodded his head.

  “I’m sorry it came so late, but it took me a moment to process the whole thing before I could relay it to another,” Hugh explained. “I wouldn’t have missed dinner with you and Aunt Matilda if it hadn’t been urgent.”

  “It’s alright, Hugh. We both understood and wish to give you our deepest sincerities,” Kitty said. He smiled genuinely at her then, seeming to be happy that at least there were two people in the world that cared about him.

  “I want to go right away to the estate to see for myself what damage has been done,” Hugh said as he stared into her eyes. Just looking into his piercing green eyes seemed to undo Kitty. But she did her best to keep her composure. Especially since they were alone together. “But I will not leave you after the deal we’ve entered into.” Kitty let go of his hands as she turned from him and sat upon one of the plush chairs. She found it rather comfortable and took a moment to gather her thoughts.

  “Then what shall you do, Hugh?” Kitty asked as she looked back up at him. Hugh moved till he was seated beside her, his face full of pleading.

  “I would like to ask you to accompany me to the country,” Hugh explained. “Of course, Aunt Matilda can travel with us as your escort so the tongues of Town won’t be wagging behind us.” Kitty chuckled at the idea, thinking their quick departure would surely cause many in Town to gossip.

  “Hugh, I cannot leave Town at this moment,” Kitty said, placing her hand on his. “I have just replied to countless invitations to attend upcoming social events. And furthermore, I would not place any more stress on my aunt than need be. She is frail as it is, and I wouldn’t want to rush her out to the country only to return shortly after.” Hugh let go of her hand as he stood once more and began pacing back and forth in the sitting room. He folded his arms behind his back as he walked, his stature dark and brooding.

  “Will you not come with me because of a proposed engagement with Lord Harding?” Hugh eventually asked. He didn’t look at her as he said these words, and Kitty quickly became put off by his demeanour and tone of voice. Kitty would have never thought of Hugh as a jealous man, and it seemed he was proving her wrong now.

  “I have already detailed to you why I cannot just up and leave Town, Hugh,” Kitty said as she stood to her feet, bring Hugh’s attention back to her as he stopped his pacing. “Either take me for my word or this deal is off.” Hugh quickly approached her then, his eyes stern as he peered down at her.

  “Fine. I will speak no more of that unsavoury character,” Hugh said. Their closeness then only caused Kitty’s mind to turn foggy, much like the fog outside the townhouse. It was an unusual feeling, and Kitty wondered what had come over her so suddenly. She was sure it had something to do with how close they now stood and the possibilities of their interaction almost endless.

  “I will stay in Town then,” Hugh said as he turned away from her, seeming to be affected the same way she was. “I made a promise to you, Kitty, and I plan to fulfil this challenge no matter the cost.”

  “And what if the cost is too great,” Kitty asked, thinking that it would be wise for Hugh to visit his countryseat as soon as possible.

  “It would only be too much if it meant that I’d lose my chance at winning your heart,” Hugh said as he turned back to her. Kitty could see the fire in his eyes as he looked at her. Part of her figured that Hugh was just being his old determined self, but the longer she looked deep into his eyes, the more she wondered if he felt something more for her than just winning a challenge.

  “It’s only been one day, Hugh, and I’m not so sure about you,” Kitty admitted. “You did some kind things yesterday, but one day doesn’t change a man for the rest of his life.”

  “Then it’s a good thing that I have six more,” Hugh said, reaching out and taking her hands in his. She looked down at their joined hands, feeling the air escaping her lungs as she felt the warmth in his fingers as they moved over her knuckles.

  “Thank you for coming,” Hugh said, drawing her attention back up to his face. He’d seemed to settle from his restlessness and now only showed signs of kindness. It was a face that Kitty remembered from their childhood.

  “Of course, Hugh. I would always come if you called upon me. No matter what,” Kitty admitted. “And I don’t think Aunt Matilda would have given me any other choice.” They laughed together at that comment, and Kitty felt the tension leave the room.

  “Now, I must return to my aunt and let her know that you haven’t completely ruined yourself with grief,” Kitty said as she removed her hands from his. “I like to think that Portlock is still keeping a close eye on you.” She moved around Hugh as she neared the doors but turned back one more time to see him. He smiled at her, his lopsided grin having a warming affect on her body.

  “Yes, the old man seems to be able to keep me on the long and narrow path these days,” Hugh admitted. “I am lucky to have him in my life. Just as I am lucky to have your dearest friendship.” Kitty smiled at him, his words seeming to also warm her heart that she’d kept guarded for so long.

  “Always, Hugh,” Kitty said. Then she opened the door and left.

  Chapter 7

  After Kitty left, Hugh felt rather restless. His logical brain yelled at him to make his way to his countryseat, but his heart reminded him of his promise to Kitty. He didn’t want to ruin what could possibly be his only chance to win over her affections. This challenge seemed to be less and less about succeeding and more about proving his worth to his closest friend.

  Needing to work out his frustrations, Hugh made his way out o
f the sitting room with the intention of locating Portlock. He found the man in the gardens as he was addressing the gardeners.

  “Portlock, I’d like the carriage prepared so I can visit Hyde Park and enjoy a stroll,” Hugh said once he approached the man. Portlock nodded his head and smiled, seeming to like the idea.

  “I’ll have the carriage waiting for you out front when you are ready, Your Grace,” Portlock said with a bow. Satisfied, Hugh returned inside and made straight for his bedchamber. Wanting to continue improving his public image, Hugh decided to dress in his finest clothes for the walk with the intention of hopefully impressing anyone who saw him.

  By the time Hugh had changed, he arrived in the foyer just as the morning paper was being delivered. Portlock had just picked it up off the front door and handed it to Hugh as he came down the stairs. He took a minute to flip through it, a smile coming to his face as he spotted the article that the writer had put together yesterday based on their interview.

  “The Duke of Ormondene seems to have turned over a new leaf,” Hugh read out loud. “Though Lord Blackmore has been scrutinised by parliament for his antics in public, such as the accident at the Marquess of Grindleton’s ball, Lord Blackmore has also been busy with his charitable actions. Recently, the Duke made a considerable donation to the orphanage and even spent time playing with the children.” Portlock chuckled at this, causing Hugh to pause in his reading of the article.

  “Forgive me, Your Grace,” Portlock said as he settled himself. “Do continue.”

  “Though it is rumoured that the Duke has mounting card debts, it seems that perhaps these are just gossiped words if he’s able to donate such a high amount. Almost ten thousand pounds has been reported by the orphanage to have been received from the Duke.”

  “My goodness, Your Grace. You are a generous man,” Portlock said, seeming to be surprised by the amount. Hugh simply shrugged his shoulders as he continued reading.

  “As of late, there is no telling what the Duke will do next. But some say he should marry and finally settle down,” Hugh finished reading. “Sometime tells me that last bit was given to the writer from your mouth, Portlock.” The butler simply looked away and held open the door for Hugh since the carriage was waiting for him. Hugh folded the paper and handed it to Portlock before descending the stairs. He was pleased that such a good article had been written about him and wondered if all the effort had been worth it.

  Hugh couldn’t help thinking about Kitty as the carriage made its way through town. He was lost in thought, wondering what he could do to win her heart. And furthermore, Hugh had to decide what he’d do once he did have her heart. Did he return her feelings? Was this just a game between them or something more? Hugh was riddled with mixed feelings as the carriage came to a stop. He alighted from the vehicle, and with his walking cane, made his way through Hyde Park at a leisurely pace.

  As Hugh walked through the park, not really paying attention to any of the other patrons, he thought about the time he’d spent with Kitty when they’d been young children. They’d often play together when they weren’t being preoccupied by their tutors.

  Their family homes were seated next to each other with a small forest and pond separating the two lands. They’d often meet in the middle, spending the rest of the day around the pond where they’d make up silly games and chase one another about.

  When his father had gifted him with a small rowboat for his birthday, they’d enjoy taking a turn around the pond, and he smiled at the memory of Kitty trying her luck with fishing. She’d been so eager to learn but soon lost the patience for the sport. It was only when she managed to pull in a small trout that she found joy once more in the idea of fishing. They’d spent the whole day trying to pull in enough fish for dinner. As Hugh recalled that fine day, he thought that it was hard to believe that now things were so different.

  Hugh knew that it had been years since he’d been to the country estate, instead hiding in Town to ward off any memories of the place. That house was filled with so many happy memories that he didn’t dare return unless he wanted to feel the overwhelming grief of losing everyone close to him that made that house feel warm and inviting. As Hugh walked about the garden, trying to observe the flora and fauna instead of getting wrapped in his biggest fears, all he could reason was that he still hadn’t come to terms with the sudden death of his beloved parents.

  As he thought about love and the desires of his heart, he realised that there was a time in their childhood that Hugh had started to gain an appreciation for Kitty. When they’d been first introduced, he’d found her company quite bothersome since he often enjoyed going on solo adventures. But the more he saw that she didn’t act like other girls, the more interested Hugh had become of Kitty. It soon became a game of ‘what will Kitty agree to do next’, from fishing to riding horses and even looking for fairies in the forest.

  There had come a time when Hugh had begun his rigorous studies to one day manage the dukedom, but Kitty still took the time to visit him and inspire him to still play childish games because she was six years younger than him. She’d even comforted him when he became frustrated with his lessons, saying that if he was ever in need of a companion that she would always be there for him.

  As the long-forgotten memory came running into his mind, Hugh stopped his progress and seemed to be staring out into the space before him as the images ran through his mind. It had been a while since he’d remembered the promise the two of them had made to each other. That no matter what, they’d always be together. Though he understood that he and Kitty had just been children, the words meant more to him today than they ever had before.

  Hugh started walking again, this time filled with more motivation to win over Kitty’s heart. Even with every negative thing pressing down on him, from his tarnished reputation to the burning of his childhood home, Hugh still had hope that he could convince Kitty that he was a decent man and worthy of one day becoming her husband. He was determined to remind Kitty of their promise they’d made to one another many years ago. He only hoped that it would inspire Kitty as much as it had him.

  As Hugh made his way out of the park, trying to appear pleasant and kind to everyone he came across, he returned to his carriage after giving the driver directions to take him to the Worthington home. Hugh knew that he’d just seen Kitty that morning and that it may have been a little bit bold to call upon her so soon. But with this memory burning in his mind, he knew that he couldn’t delay speaking with her until later in the afternoon or even tomorrow. Time was against Hugh, and he knew that he needed to use this time given to him very wisely.

  ~*~

  Kitty was beside herself as she sat in the sitting room, enjoying a cup of tea while she looked over several different sheet music for upcoming invitations to various dinner parties and balls. There would be a dinner party she’d be attending this evening with the particular request for her to sing something after the dinner. Therefore, Kitty was trying to choose amongst her favourites that she could perform that evening.

  But try as she might, all her mind could focus on was Hugh. She felt terrible for his circumstance and couldn’t imagine what he must truly be feeling to know that a fire had caused damage to his childhood home. She herself hadn’t been to her family’s countryseat ever since her brother left for his trip abroad.

  She’d been much more secure and content to stay in town, and to think that something could happen to it while she was away was almost more than she could bear. Therefore, she kept thinking how sympathetic she was towards Hugh as he bore another grief. But it also made her wonder if Hugh was actually a potential suitor for her.

  Though wealth wasn’t everything to Kitty, it was something to consider when she thought about her ideal husband. She knew her brother would expect her to marry someone of a similar status as her with a decent income, and therefore she didn’t want to disrespect any expectations of her. She wasn’t sure what Hugh’s current financial situation was because he often frequented g
aming hells and now had to consider repairing his family’s country estate. It would no doubt cost a large fortune to return it to its former glory, and Kitty wasn’t sure if Hugh was prepared for such a thing even though he was a duke.

  It made her wonder if Lord Harding was better suited for her. He was kind, charming, handsome, and from what she’d learned, quite generous. Though Hugh had shown that he was capable of generosity and showed kindness to the orphans, she wasn’t sure if this was a part of his true character or something he was just doing for show. She deemed Lord Harding to have the better reputation out of the two of them, but Hugh was certainly the more handsome of them.