Read Online To Love A Lord of London (Wardington Park; Raptures of Royalty) by Eleanor Meyers - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Eleanor Meyers
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Adult, Regency, England, Short Stories, Religion & Spirituality, Christian, Anthology, Novellas, 19th century, Marriage, Bachelor, Victorian, Betrayal, Faith, Britain, trust, forgiveness, Forever Love, Single Woman, engagement, Clean & Wholesome, Hearts Desire, London Society, country dances, 3 in 1 Volumn, Raptures of Royalty, Wardington Park, Embittered Marquess, Rakish Lord, Powerful Earl, First Season, Youthful Promise
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times. The request was obviously not one he usually received, “A vase?”
Her smile brightened, “Please.”
The gentleman glanced around the room and then gave a slight bow in her direction. “Anything for you.” Nathaniel didn’t like those words. If anyone were to promise Amy anything she desired, it would be him. Except marriage. He banished the thought.
Levi strolled into the room, extracted the garden from Amy’s lap and then proceeded to leave the room. One down, a dozen to go.
Nathaniel turned to the room and thought of the best way to get rid of the rest of the men. He sighed and decided he’d simply have to destroy any chance these men would have at capturing Amy’s hand. He decided to start with the youngest and currently the closest man to Amy. “Lord Rodger.”
T he man’s wide eyes turned up to him, “Y-yes, my lord?”
“I’m sure your mother is glad to know you’re presently attempting to court a woman.”
Rodger blinked, “Why, yes, she is—”
“For, I’m sure Amy’s dowry will clear all those horrible debts that your family has accumulated in the last year.”
He looked away. “Well, I mean—”
“And your mother would be able to resume her extensive shopping before, of course, you all run out of money again.” He relaxed against the back of Amy’s chair, “Tell me, do you still possess Farmington House?” Farmington house had been their home in the country, an estate that was now owned by the bank.
Roger stood from his chair. “Uh—” He looked at Amy’s shocked face and then at Nathaniel. “I believe I’m to meet my mother for the morning meal.”
“ G ood idea ,” Nathaniel said to his retreating back. His eyes roamed the room for his next victim. Many of the men here were hoping for a payday. They saw Amy and saw money. He decided then that he’d begin with the eldest gentleman in the room. “Lord Franklin.”
Lord Franklin, a man with black hair graying at the temple, stood and bowed, “No thank you, my lord. I think I will find my own way to the door.”
“And a good morning to you,” he smiled as the man left.
T he last few men got up and left them, some mumbling under their breaths, but no one dared say anything to Nathaniel’s face. As the last man left, Nathaniel turned to Amy and saw the anger on her face.
She stood staring at him, “How dare you?”
He frowned, “How dare you.”
Her eyes went wide, “What did I do?”
His hands went in the air. “You practically had a harem present in this room and not a chaperone around. Does anyone care if you were compromised?”
She scoffed, “I highly doubt that a man would compromise me in public.”
Oh, how he loved her innocence. “Still. There should have been another woman present. Where is your cousin?”
“Out.”
“The duchess?”
“Out with her.”
He frowned, “A maid?”
“They left, too.”
He took a step back and stared at her, “And who is present to protect you?”
She shrugged, “Levi.”
He didn’t like that answer. “It’s as though your aunt wants to ruin you.”
A my moved away and went to stare out the window, leaving him to stare at the long length of her neck and the soft brown curls that fell carelessly from her updo. He’d struck a nerve. He hadn’t been serious about his comment on her aunt, though his anger at her lack of presence had been real. Anything could have happened to this wonderful woman, and Nathaniel would have been worse off for it.
He walked over to her and stopped directly behind her without touching her. “I didn’t mean what I said.”
She didn’t move, but said, “What’s it matter? Were I ruined, I’d have been ruined for all men looking for marriage. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
His hands shot out to touch her and then stopped, hovering near her arms. “No.”
“You lie.”
“I don’t.”
She turned then, staring into his eyes. All strength and boldness, not caring that they stood so close again.
Her smile brightened, “Please.”
The gentleman glanced around the room and then gave a slight bow in her direction. “Anything for you.” Nathaniel didn’t like those words. If anyone were to promise Amy anything she desired, it would be him. Except marriage. He banished the thought.
Levi strolled into the room, extracted the garden from Amy’s lap and then proceeded to leave the room. One down, a dozen to go.
Nathaniel turned to the room and thought of the best way to get rid of the rest of the men. He sighed and decided he’d simply have to destroy any chance these men would have at capturing Amy’s hand. He decided to start with the youngest and currently the closest man to Amy. “Lord Rodger.”
T he man’s wide eyes turned up to him, “Y-yes, my lord?”
“I’m sure your mother is glad to know you’re presently attempting to court a woman.”
Rodger blinked, “Why, yes, she is—”
“For, I’m sure Amy’s dowry will clear all those horrible debts that your family has accumulated in the last year.”
He looked away. “Well, I mean—”
“And your mother would be able to resume her extensive shopping before, of course, you all run out of money again.” He relaxed against the back of Amy’s chair, “Tell me, do you still possess Farmington House?” Farmington house had been their home in the country, an estate that was now owned by the bank.
Roger stood from his chair. “Uh—” He looked at Amy’s shocked face and then at Nathaniel. “I believe I’m to meet my mother for the morning meal.”
“ G ood idea ,” Nathaniel said to his retreating back. His eyes roamed the room for his next victim. Many of the men here were hoping for a payday. They saw Amy and saw money. He decided then that he’d begin with the eldest gentleman in the room. “Lord Franklin.”
Lord Franklin, a man with black hair graying at the temple, stood and bowed, “No thank you, my lord. I think I will find my own way to the door.”
“And a good morning to you,” he smiled as the man left.
T he last few men got up and left them, some mumbling under their breaths, but no one dared say anything to Nathaniel’s face. As the last man left, Nathaniel turned to Amy and saw the anger on her face.
She stood staring at him, “How dare you?”
He frowned, “How dare you.”
Her eyes went wide, “What did I do?”
His hands went in the air. “You practically had a harem present in this room and not a chaperone around. Does anyone care if you were compromised?”
She scoffed, “I highly doubt that a man would compromise me in public.”
Oh, how he loved her innocence. “Still. There should have been another woman present. Where is your cousin?”
“Out.”
“The duchess?”
“Out with her.”
He frowned, “A maid?”
“They left, too.”
He took a step back and stared at her, “And who is present to protect you?”
She shrugged, “Levi.”
He didn’t like that answer. “It’s as though your aunt wants to ruin you.”
A my moved away and went to stare out the window, leaving him to stare at the long length of her neck and the soft brown curls that fell carelessly from her updo. He’d struck a nerve. He hadn’t been serious about his comment on her aunt, though his anger at her lack of presence had been real. Anything could have happened to this wonderful woman, and Nathaniel would have been worse off for it.
He walked over to her and stopped directly behind her without touching her. “I didn’t mean what I said.”
She didn’t move, but said, “What’s it matter? Were I ruined, I’d have been ruined for all men looking for marriage. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
His hands shot out to touch her and then stopped, hovering near her arms. “No.”
“You lie.”
“I don’t.”
She turned then, staring into his eyes. All strength and boldness, not caring that they stood so close again.