This picture seemed perfect to match with Her Heart’s Choice (book 4 in my Choices series). You see, the hero of that story, Alex, works with horses because they are his passion. He’s quite good at his job, and the stables which he oversees are some very, very fine stables.
He is also quite stubborn, which will serve him well since he insists on persuading Anne deBourgh to accept his offer of marriage this time around. (She refused it six years before this book starts.)
Anne, in this book, is her mother’s daughter (aka, determined to have her own way), somewhat immature due to her lack of socialization outside of Rosings Park, fearful of a marriage of unequal status (for her own very real reasons), and even somewhat petulant at times.
I fear she may be one of those characters “which no one but myself will much like” (as Austen says of Emma 😉 ). And I know that to be somewhat true as a few Booksprout reviewers withdrew from reviewing the book because they didn’t much like her.
For me, I knew her secrets. I knew why she was acting as she was. I hope that comes through in the story, but Anne is not going to reveal all very quickly. She hints at it though, and eventually, Alex picks up on it, but will it be in time to see his campaign to win the lady he loves succeed?
Below, is Chapter 5 which introduces Alex to Anne’s aunt, who is one of the guardians put in place to approve or disapprove of any gentleman who wishes to present an offer of marriage to Anne. (You’ll have to read book 3 in the series to understand why that is.)
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 5
The morning after Rycroft’s ball, in the middle of the time at which making calls on young ladies – even stubborn ones – was acceptable, Alex swung down from his horse in front of Matlock House and handed the reins to a waiting groom. Then, he took a newspaper and a flask of coffee from his saddlebag and made his way to the door.
He lifted his hand to knock on the door when it opened and a gentleman, whom he did not recognize, exited.
“Good luck to you,” the man said with a shake of his head.
“Was it a difficult interview?”
His companion merely chuckled and kept walking.
Alex turned back to the door. “Mr. Madoch to see Miss de Bourgh.” He held out his card, which the butler refused with a barely perceivable shake of his head.
“Regretfully, it is my unpleasant business to inform you that Miss de Bourgh is not home to you.”
Alex tucked his card away. “I expected as much.” He bent to sweep the step with his newspaper and then sat down. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the butler looking perplexed.
“I will just wait here until she returns,” Alex said by way of explanation.
“I believe you misunderstand, sir. She is not home to you and will not be home to you.”
“Well, that is to be determined, my good man.”
“No, she was quite clear in her instructions. You are not to be admitted.”
Alex shrugged and unfolded his paper. “And I was clear last evening when I said I would call on her. That is my intent, and I do not plan to be moved from this spot under my own power until I have gained admittance. Now, if you would be so kind as to go inform the ever-so-obstinate Miss de Bourgh that I am here and will remain here until she sees me.” He made a shooing motion with his hand and then turned his attention to his paper.
Behind him, the door closed, and he listened carefully to see if he could make out the sound of a couple strong footmen being summoned to remove him from his perch. No such noise was heard, so Alex opened his flask and took a sip of his somewhat cold coffee which had been mixed with a touch of whiskey to give it some warmth – though he knew the alcohol would not, in truth, warm him.
He was halfway through his flask of coffee and just beginning to read a third article from the paper when the door behind him opened.
“Lady Sophia has agreed to see you,” the butler announced.
“Not Miss de Bourgh?” Alex pretended to be disappointed. He was, in fact, pleasantly surprised that he would gain entrance to see anyone. He had expected to spend the whole of calling hours on the step at Matlock House if he were not forcibly removed.
While the thought of being given an audience with the lady whom he knew had been appointed as Anne’s advisor was pleasing, he was not so trusting as to believe it impossible for Lady Sophia to simply walk him through the house and out the servants’ door. Still, he was hopeful that, at least in the few moments that he might have to speak to her, he would be able to present his suit.
“I am afraid not, sir. It seems Miss de Bourgh is still not home to you. However, if you will follow me, Lady Sophia will see you in the music room.”
Alex kept his hat in his hand and his paper under his arm as he followed the butler.
“Mr. Madoch to see you, my lady,” the butler said, stepping into the music room ahead of Alex.
Lady Sophia thanked him and rose to greet her guest. “A bit of tea, please, Harrison. A warm cup would be much nicer than whatever you have been partaking of from your flask, would it not?”
“Indeed, it would,” Alex agreed.
“You may put your coat and hat there,” Lady Sophia motioned to a straight-backed wooden chair that sat near the door. “I promise that you shall not be removed from the house without them.” She smiled as she made the comment and motioned for him to take a chair near where she had been sitting. “I gather from your presence here today that you have a desire to marry my niece?”
“I do,” Alex said as he casually crossed one leg over the other and rested his elbows on the arms of the chair. “However,” he continued, “I fear I do not meet all the published requirements.”
Lady Sophia’s eyes sparkled with intrigue. “You do not?”
He shook his head. “I have no title, and I am a second son.”
Lady Sophia nodded slowly. “But your financial papers are well in order?”
He cocked his head to the side and considered for a moment how much he should tell her. She merely returned his look without wavering as he contemplated her trustworthiness. It only took him a fraction of a minute to decide that if both the admiral and Anne trusted her, then, he could also. He let a sly grin tip his lips as he flicked his eyebrows. “Very well in order, my lady, although I do not have them with me, nor will I be presenting them to Miss de Bourgh for inspection until she has accepted my offer. Of course, I tell you this in the strictest confidence.”
Lady Sophia’s lips twitched with amusement. “You are very confident to be coming to a meeting knowing you are lacking in some areas and refusing to prove you are not in others.”
“Foolishly confident?” he questioned. He needed to know her thinking before he revealed too much of himself.
“That remains to be seen.” She rose to pour him a cup of tea as the tea service was set up. “However, I think you just may have what is needed to marry my niece.” She put her hand on the teapot and looked up at him. “And it is not anything found in your financial reports.”
Alex silently sighed in relief as the music room door opened. It seemed that she would be an ally in his quest.
“Ah, Brother, have you had enough of the conversations in the drawing room? We have just begun an interesting one in here.”
Alex stood and bowed to Admiral Fitzwilliam.
“Madoch?” the admiral said in surprise. “What brings you to…” He smiled and clapped his hands together once. “Do not tell me. You are also here to marry my niece.”
“He is,” Lady Sophia said, “and though my acquaintance with him has been of only a few moments, I would second the notion.” She smiled as she handed Alex a cup of tea. “As I said before, I believe you will find this better than what you had been drinking.” She arched a brow and gave him a stern look.
“It was coffee, my lady, with just a touch of whiskey to give it the illusion of heat.” He took a sip from his cup. “This is infinitely better.”
“You are not given to drink, are you?” Lady Sophia busied herself once again with pouring a cup of tea, this time for her brother.
“Not Madoch,” the admiral assured her. “Others may indulge but not Madoch. This one always has his wits about him. Shrewd as they come, he is.”
Alex gave a small nod in acceptance of the praise. “I thank you for the compliment, sir.”
“How is your uncle?” The admiral took a seat and settled in as if he were there for a long chat.
“He is well. His foot pains him occasionally, but it is not enough to do more than slow him. He still insists on being at the stables each day.”
Admiral Fitzwilliam turned to his sister. “Thank you,” he said as he took the cup of tea she offered. “Madoch’s uncle runs the finest stable in all of Brighton.”
Alex cleared his throat softly.
Admiral Fitzwilliam chuckled. “Perhaps not the finest. Prinny’s is possibly better, eh, Madoch?” He winked at Alex.
Lady Sophia’s hand, which was reaching for her own cup of tea, stopped mid-stir. “You know the Prince Regent?”
“Know him?” scoffed the admiral. “This boy runs his stables and his riding school. It is said that Prinny does not make a decision regarding a horse without Madoch’s approval.”
Lady Sophia dropped into her chair, her tea forgotten. “You sway the opinion of His Highness?”
Alex shook his head. “I do not sway it, my lady. When it comes to horse flesh, I form it.”
Lady Sophia’s mouth hung open for half a moment before she snapped it shut. “You may not have a title, Mr. Madoch, but you most certainly hold position.”
He shrugged. “I do, but for how long? The prince may, at any moment, decide that someone else has better sense, and then where will I be?”
The admiral snorted. “On his own estate, breeding and selling horses is where,” he muttered. “Do not let him fool you, Sophia. This one has connections aplenty and money to equal them.”
“Is this true?” Lady Sophia’s eyes danced with delight.
Alex leaned forward in his chair and lowered his voice. “What the admiral says is true; however, Miss de Bourgh is not to know about it.” He held his breath, hoping that Lady Sophia and Admiral Fitzwilliam would not ruin his plans to win Anne’s heart without revealing the particulars of his situation.
Confusion replaced the delight in Lady Sophia’s eyes. “Why ever not? She will refuse to consider you without knowing of your qualifications.”
“Because I wish for her to choose me. Not my wealth. Not my connections. Me.” He held Lady Sophia’s gaze. “I wish for her to follow her heart.”
Lady Sophia’s eyes grew wide as understanding dawned on her. “You love her? But how?”
Alex released his breath quickly. “My father’s estate is in Kent, near Rosings.” He paused, not sure how much of his story he should share.
“This family is good at keeping secrets,” Lady Sophia encouraged while casting a quick glance at her brother.
“Aye,” the admiral agreed, “from the world and each other.” He winked at his sister.
“Can you assure me that not a word of my situation will be shared with Miss de Bourgh?”
“Not a word,” Lady Sophia agreed.
“Will you allow her to walk away from me if that is her choice?”
Lady Sophia was silent for a moment. “Yes, I will allow it unless in doing so she will be utterly miserable.” She shook her head. “I cannot allow that.” She smiled reassuringly at him. “Perhaps the knowledge I gain from your tale will assist me in knowing how best to help.”
“My sister, the matchmaker,” the admiral said as he waved his hand toward his sister with a flourish. “She’ll not rest, my boy, until things have been arranged to best advantage.”
Alex could not help the chuckle that escaped him. “Very well. Then, I shall tell you.”
