Christmas with the Marquess Read online

  Christmas with the Marquess

  ©2019 by Sophia Wilson

  All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission.

  These stories are works of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to events, locales or actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

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  Chapter One

  December 1815

  Stoiten Manor

  Dorchester

  England

  The magnificence which was Stoiten Manor towered out above the lush green foliage on one of the most lavish and largest estates in Dorchester. The pristine gardens were kept by a brigade of gardeners as it reflected on the entirety of the household. It was the home of the Duke and Duchess of Drewchester, and had been in the family’s possession for nearly a century. Build on a hilltop, surrounded by thick trees and cascading meadows, it was considered priceless, a true gem in the countryside.

  The Duke and Duchess prided themselves to ensure Stoiten Manor was preserved as immaculately as possible, as they wished their descendants to enjoy the estate as much as they did. It was by far the largest estate Lady Ellen Camden had ever been in, as well as the most lavish, but as she followed her mother along the wide and bright hallway which led to their chambers on the second floor of the manor, Lady Ellen was not filled with as much excitement as she was expected to be. As the only daughter of the Earl and Countess of Blanchard, it is expected of Lady Ellen to partake and participate in all social events as per instruction of her parents, including their stay at Stoiten Manor, which she had been dreading ever since the moment her mother informed her of it. Unfortunately, Lady Ellen’s father, Lord Blanchard could not accompany them at the time, and would only join them in the following week.

  This fortnight long stay did not particularly appeal much to Lady Ellen, as her mother was rather aggressively – or as she would refer to it as passionately – attempting to find a suitor for Lady Ellen before they returned home at the end of their stay.

  Of course, the Countess, Lady Blanchard, had already set her sights on the Marquess of Ferren, the son of their gracious hosts, as she had discussed in length last evening as they journeyed to the estate in their coach.

  Lady Ellen had to painfully endure hours of listening to her mother speaking of the Marquess as if she knew every single detail of him, which was rather odd to Lady Ellen, as she had not spoken a single word to her prospective groom. But such were the ways of the world, or at least the one she lived in. It was no uncommon occurrence for a bride and groom to be married without knowing one another well, or at all, and regardless of her opinion on the matter, there was not very much Lady Ellen could do of this.

  “An April wedding would be well suited, would you not agree, my dear?” Lady Ellen suddenly heard her mother say.

  She averted her gaze towards her mother, who cast a sideways glance of disapproval at her.

  “My dear child,” Lady Blanchard muttered, “you did not listen to a single word I said, did you?”

  “My apologies, Mother,” Lady Ellen said quietly and lowered her gaze. “I was rather taken by the wonderful and warm ambience of the manor.”

  It was most certainly not a lie, as the manor was indeed warm and welcoming, the ambiance of the festive season thick in the air. The mantels were decorated with branches from the fir and olive trees surrounding the manor house, and the hearth provided much needed warmth for the guests in the cold December climate. The guests were all huddled inside the great hall, where warm refreshments had been served. The women were wrapped in expensive coats and shawls, and the men were clothed in their usual winter formal attire.

  Lady Ellen sighed as she entered the great hall, glancing around the room, and a sudden urge to isolate herself rose up inside her. Social events were trying to her, despite her full understanding that it was for her own benefit.

  Lady Ellen had no objection to marry and have a family of her very own, but she did not fully engage or participate in the social events she had been forced to attend with her mother as her chaperone. Lady Ellen was a shy young woman, although her beauty was nothing short of magnificent. Her thick brown curls against her pale skin, as well as her bright blue eyes, were a clear indication of her Irish heritage on her father’s side of the family but yet, it could not overshadow her shy nature, as well as her apparent detachment in social situations.

  Despite Lady Ellen’s attempts to be the socialite her mother wished she was, she seemed out of place, which only added to her discomfort, especially since Lady Blanchard had done everything in her power to ensure her daughter would marry Lord Ferren. Lady Ellen was also aware that despite her mother’s thorough efforts, and her large dowry, she had little chance of catching the interest of such an elevated gentleman as Lord Ferren; especially when there were so many other young and beautiful ladies vying for his attention.

  Lady Ellen watched as her mother spoke with a small group of ladies near the entrance where they had entered moments ago, some of whom she recognized, and some whom she did not. Nevertheless, she greeted them politely, with a smile on her young face.

  At a mere twenty-one years of age, Lady Ellen still seemed very child-like, but she was an intelligent and witty young woman, once she was willing to open up to another person.

  As she stood beside her mother and the other ladies, she heard them speak of a sleigh ride which was planned later this afternoon, and she sighed inwardly. It certainly did not sound as entertaining as the other ladies made it out to be. Being outside in the snow, riding through the icy wind, did not appeal to Lady Ellen very much. She would much rather stay indoors, in front of the blazing hearth, between the pages of a book. It did not even matter which book either, Lady Ellen possessed a love for all literary works, as her love of reading and attaining knowledge was endless.

  Her thoughts trailed as she contemplated how she would be able to escape the torturous afternoon which lay before her, and she nearly did not notice her mother’s brow furrowing deeper with every moment which passed. As Lady Ellen snapped back to reality, she glanced at her mother and placed her hand lovingly on her mother’s arm.

  “Is everything all right, Mother?”

  Much to Lady Ellen’s concern, Lady Blanchard’s face was paler than she had ever seen it, and she turned to face her mother. “Mother, you are ill.”

  “Not ill, perhaps, but I certainly feel rather queasy, my dear. There is a tremendous throbbing at my temples,” Lady Blanchard admitted with much dismay.

  “Perhaps Mother, you should return to our bedchambers and rest for a while. You do not look well at all. I would certainly not wish for Mother to collapse while on the sleigh ride, or while on the ice.”

  “I would certainly not wish that either, my dear child. But if I retire to our bedchambers, will you be all right on your own?” Lady Blanchard asked.

  “Do not fret over me, Mother. I am more than capable to look after myself.”

  “Perhaps, I should ask Lord Ferren to keep an eye on you. I shall go ask him,” Lady Blanchard mumbled and turned away from Lady Ellen.

  “Mother will do no such thing,” Lady Ellen shook her head, and began to escort her mother towards the large archway which led to the master stairwell. “Allow me to escort you back to our bedchambers.”

  “What of Lord Ferren?”

  “I will personally speak with him as soon
as Mother is safely in bed,” Lady Ellen lied, hoping her mother was in too much agony to realize she was lying.

  Lady Ellen certainly did not possess the confidence to approach Lord Ferren directly, and she hoped her mother would not expect a full report when she returned from the sleigh ride.

  That being said, Lady Ellen was not even certain she would, in fact, participate in the events planned for the day. The Countess did not even need to be aware of this.

  ***

  Lord Kingston pursed his lips as he glanced at the great hall, filled with guests. His jaw clenched in annoyance, but he kept his perfect composure. There was no need to make a spectacle of himself simply because he did not wish to attend this tedious and rather torturous social event.

  Of course, he had felt obligated to attend this gathering, as he had promised his aunt, the Duchess of Drewchester, he would. The Duchess had been delighted, as it had been a while since Lord Kingston had been seen in the public eye, but it was for good reason. The Duchess wished to find the young man a suitable wife to marry, but his scandalous behavior in the past had ensured that most respectable families distanced their daughters away from him, rather than willingly offer their daughter’s innocent hand onto him.

  In Lord Kingston’s opinion, it would be much easier to marry a widow, who would not think much of his scandalous behavior any more than he would think of hers. Also, no respectable woman who was aware of his past would be caught anywhere near Lord Kingston.

  He already noticed the stares of disapproval from those mothers as his gaze moved across the room, but he did not concern himself too much with the feelings of guilt he ought to feel, but did not. It was in the past, and although he did not regret anything he had done in his life, the stigma of his past doings would certainly stay with him for the entirety of his life. He was now determined to steer clear of any scandals or entanglements which would further sully his name.

  Even though Lord Kingston had been of marriageable age for several years, he was in no rush to find a wife. He had been traveling Europe for the past year and had enjoyed the freedom of being by himself. Of course his mother, Lady Kingston, wished him to find a wife as soon as possible, but she was well aware of his scandalous past, which was most certainly why she had enlisted the aid of her sister, the Duchess, to assist. Lord Kingston had no objections, but certainly to some extent, he would preferably wish to meet a young woman whom he could converse with, share his extensive interest with, as well as not have to fret over her doubting his integrity and loyalty towards her. He was adamant to change his ways and prove that he was a good fit for any young woman.

  His father, the late Marquess of Kingston, had been a strict man, who had taught Lord Kingston to be a gentleman, to be both respected and respectful, and to have high morals. It was when Lord Kingston’s father passed away suddenly after a brief illness which caused Lord Kingston to lose sight of the right path. His behavior became rebellious, and he had gotten involved with the wrong kind of women, the wrong kind of acquaintances, in all the wrong places. He spent too many nights consuming alcohol and gambling, and his life had spiraled out of control.

  It was only up until recently where he had decided to end those ways, start afresh, and thus far, both his aunt and his mother were incredibly proud of him. He had made a solid effort to be the man his father wished him to be.

  Lord Kingston glanced over the room at the sea of faces and sighed once more as it was announced that the guests were to assemble outside the stables, where the sleighs were awaiting their arrival. The excitement was evident in the great hall as the guests began to leave the room, but Lord Kingston did not follow the stream of people. Instead, he waited until everyone had left. When he was the last one to leave the great hall, he made an unexpected and inconspicuous right turn, disappearing into the dark hallway and away from the crowd. The noise of their excited voices faded as Lord Kingston made his way deeper into the manor, but knowing precisely where he was going. He knew the estate nearly as well as his own, as he had spent nearly half his childhood running through these halls.

  The quiet enveloped him and immediate calmness ensued, as he approached the large wooden doors of the library. It was his favorite place in the manor, and he would hide himself inside for as long as he possibly could. He opened the doors and stepped inside as the light from the large window bathed him in a white light. As he approached the window, he noticed the guests seated in the sleighs, ready to depart.

  He pursed his lips for a brief moment until he turned away. The sound of a turning page caught his attention and he proceeded to investigate, as he had been certain there was no other person in the manor except for him. As he passed the first row of bookshelves, he noticed a young woman sitting comfortably on the leather wingback chair by a smaller window.

  She was a beautiful young woman, with dark brown curls pinned on the crown of her head, and petite shoulders pressed back against the leather. She wore a dark blue dress which complimented her skin perfectly, completely oblivious of his presence, and her attention was entirely captured by the book she read. Lord Kingston recognized it instantly, and a smile formed on his lips.

  As if the young woman had sensed the smile on Lord Kingston’s face, as well as his presence, she glanced up, and her eyes widened momentarily.

  “My lord,” she apologized and stood from the chair, “my sincerest apologies. I was not aware there was anyone else at the manor.”

  “Please,” Lord Kingston said warmly, raising his hands, “do not apologize. I was under the impression I was alone at the estate, as well.”

  “I am aware I should not be here. I did not mean to intrude,” she replied.

  “You did no such thing. What on earth makes you think you should not be here?” Lord Kingston inquired.

  “For one, I was supposed to join a few acquaintances of my mother’s on the sleigh ride,” she answered.

  “That sounded rather ill-fitting and tedious to me as well,” Lord Kingston sighed and stepped closer to the bookshelf to his left, running his finger along the spine of one of his favorites. “That is a wonderful choice.”

  “What is?” the young lady asked.

  “Your choice of book,” he answered, pointing casually to the book on her lap.

  A smile formed on her lips, and she nodded. “Indeed. It is one of my favorites as well. Do you love to read, my lord?”

  “Indeed I do. I have read nearly every book in this library.”

  The young woman’s brow furrowed for a moment before she took a step forward. “My lord, I did not realize you are His and Her Grace’s son.”

  Lord Kingston was struck with silence for a moment and shook his head. “No, that was not what I meant. I am not the Duke and Duchess’s son. And Stoiten Manor is not my home, although it will be for the next fortnight.”

  Her shoulders seemed to relax as she sighed a breath of relief, and Lord Kingston soon realized she was unaware of who he was, which was most certainly a good thing. She would not dare speak to him, or even glance in his direction if he were to introduce himself to her now.

  “As it will be mine,” she told him. “My mother is upstairs resting. She did not feel well enough for the sleigh ride.”

  “And you?” Lord Kingston asked.

  The young woman glanced around her and smiled. “I would much rather spend my time here. The library is spectacular; I have not seen anything like it in my entire life.”

  “It truly is.”

  A few moments of silence filled the large space and despite only having met this delightful young woman a few moments ago, Lord Kingston already felt an attraction towards her.

  “May I be entirely truthful?” she asked as she sat down on the chair

  “Of course,” he answered and approached the vacant seat which stood close to the one she now sat on.

  The young woman rested her hand on the armrest and turned slightly to the window. “I find these social events very unnecessary. Perhaps not all people would think of i
t in that manner, but I do. My mother brought me here, and as her only daughter, I could not refuse, could I?”

  “Of course not. That would be unheard of,” he replied and sat beside her.

  “It is not that I wish to disappoint my mother, my lord, as that is not the impression I wish to give you. I simply feel uncomfortable engaging in conversations with strangers in the hopes that a gentleman would come along and find me worthy of marriage.”

  Lord Kingston’s brow furrowed, and he leaned forward slightly. “My lady, if that is the correct manner to address you…”

  “It is,” she answered with a grateful smile.

  “Perhaps, your mother should inform you that you are absolutely worthy of marriage, instead of allowing you to lose confidence in yourself,” Lord Kingston suggested, “but I do understand your predicament. My mother seems to think the only way for me to live is by marrying as well.”

  “It is quite an epidemic,” she pointed out wryly.

  Her tone caused Lord Kingston to smile, which in turn caused her to smile as well. Lord Kingston only then noticed the bright blue of her eyes, and he was instantly captivated. Her eyes reminded him of a clear summer’s day, and he forced himself to blink and look away before she became uneasy. He did not wish to scare her away. It was, in fact, a miracle she stayed to speak with him. Lord Kingston was also rather surprised by this young lady’s openness and shy interest in him, but he was aware she did not know who he was. Once she learned the truth, he expected that she would wish to avoid him in the future. Which would be very unfortunate, as marriage didn’t seem such an unwelcome prospect when he pictured her in the role of his wife.

  Chapter Two

  Lady Ellen had not realized she had spent nearly an hour conversing with the very handsome stranger sitting beside her in the library. Of course, she was aware of how improper it was, as they barely know one another, but there was something about this man who made her feel very comfortable. Usually, Lady Ellen would fumble over her words, become tongue-tied and simply leave, but this man made her feel nothing but ease. He made her feel at ease and spoke to her in a kind and gentle voice.