Spun 0f Gold (Once Upon A Regency Book 3) Read online

  Spun of Gold

  Once Upon a Regency

  Jen Geigle Johnson

  Contents

  Introduction

  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

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction

  Sign up for all news and sales and special giveaways. Click HERE. Or go to her website http://www.jengeiglejohnson.com.

  Or to Join her ARC team, follow her FB group.

  Other historical books by Jen:

  The Nobleman’s Daughter

  Two lovers in disguise

  Scarlet

  The Pimpernel retold

  Tabitha’s Folly

  Childhood friends. Four Protective Brothers

  Dating the Duke

  Time Travel: Regency man in NYC

  Anthologies

  A Christmas Courting

  A Yuletide Regency

  To Kiss A Billionaire

  Check out these fun Sweet Contemporary Romance Titles:

  The Swoony Sports Romances

  Hitching the Pitcher

  Falling for Centerfield

  Charming the Shortstop

  Snatching the Catcher

  Flirting with First

  Kissing on Third

  Her Billionaire Royals Series:

  The Heir

  The Crown

  The Duke

  The Duke’s Brother

  The Prince

  The American

  The Spy

  The Princess

  Her Billionaire Cowboys Series:

  Her Billionaire Cowboy

  Her Billionaire Protector

  Her Billionaire in Hiding

  Her Billionaire Christmas Secret

  Her Billionaire to Remember

  Her Love and Marriage Brides Series

  The Bride’s Secret

  The Bride’s Cowboy

  The Bride’s Billionaire

  Her Single Holiday Romances

  Taming Scrooge

  Chapter 1

  Teresa Bartlett shivered as she followed the duke’s footman through the drafty, dark hall of the Fox Hill Inn. Curiosity and panic warred within her as she tried to steady her pace. No one knew the Duke of Essex, not in the entire village, including her parents. But one did not decline an invitation from a visiting duke and duchess. She hoped, most particularly, not to embarrass herself, her family, or her friends.

  “He is waiting in the private parlor, miss.” The stiff and stooped gait of the elderly servant earned Teresa’s instant compassion that even his frown could not douse. She placed a hand on his arm to thank him at the door. Alas, even her brazen and forward act could not summon a smile to the old man’s face.

  He cleared his throat and opened the door. “A Miss Bartlett to see you, your grace.” He bowed and stepped aside for Teresa to enter.

  Curiosity welling up, almost overflowing into rapid and girlish conversation, she hurried in, the energy coursing through her, quickening her pace. Her curtsey was more of a falling to bended knee than a graceful production. Teresa tried to ignore the duchess’s widening eyes.

  Her regal hosts nodded, and the matron every young girl aspired to be, the beauty of the ton, the very epitome of all that was graceful, said, “You look lovely, my dear. Please be seated.”

  Although Teresa could control the rush of conversation just at the tip of her tongue, she could do nothing about the pleased warmth that spread across her face and down her neck. She flushed without the slightest provocation usually, but to hear words of praise from such a figure so well thought of, she didn’t know if she would be able to speak for many minutes.

  Somehow she managed to find the edge of a chair to sit upon and attempted to catch her breath. Why had they summoned her? Her? Of all the young ladies of Buckinghamshire, she had been so honored by a summons from the celebrated Duke of Essex and his wife.

  She waited to be spoken to. But not long.

  “Do have some tea, my dear.” The duchess turned to her husband. “She is quite lovely, don’t you think? Has a broadness to her hips, a girth that would be beneficial.”

  Teresa tried not to lower her eyebrows in confusion. Such an odd thing to say about a person, especially one sitting to her front. But who was she to question the behavior of dukes and duchesses? She, untitled though she was. Of the landed gentry in Buckinghamshire, her family held the most respectable holdings, but Teresa was under no false presumption about her importance in the world. She hoped to one day marry and continue the same manner of living among other landed gentry similar to her station. She held back a sigh at the thought. Available men were so hard to come by this far from London. Her family’s estate sat at the very northern tip of Buckinghamshire and was not often visited by gentry of any kind. Word of the visit of the Duke of Essex had spread faster than the best express rider, every family breathless with curiosity. And then the summons. “We request the presence of Miss Teresa Bartlett for tea this afternoon at the Fox Hill Inn.”

  Her hands shook as she brought a teacup to her lips.

  Their eyes watched her every move.

  “Tell us about your family.” Even the duchess’s voice flowed with beauty – mellow, lovely.

  “I am the youngest of four, the only girl.”

  The smile they gave each other at that revelation seemed odd, but she continued. “They are all married but me.”

  The Duke cleared his throat. “And your brothers, are they all strapping lads? Large? Broad shouldered?”

  “Healthy?” The Duchess leaned forward as if the answer meant more to her than a typical expression about one’s health.

  “Yes, very. None of us is very ill, ever, your grace.”

  The Duchess squeezed her husband’s hand. “Excellent.”

  They shared a look again and then the duke said, “and you, have you thought to a season in London? You are of age this year, if I’m correct?”

  She shifted in her seat. Here sat the greatest dilemma of her happy life. “Although I do hope to one day have a season in London, my brother’s wife is in need of assistance just now with her new baby. My parents are busy with the tenants. And with my sister-in-law’s baby, and well…” She picked an imaginary piece of something off of her skirts, trying to hide her great disappointment. “There is no one to chaperone or sponsor me … yet.” She lifted her chin but felt the brave smile stretched across her lips might as well have declared the lie it tried to portray.

  “Ah, now. Every young girl needs a season in London, don’t they, my dear?” The Duke’s voice was kind, almost playful, but he watched her.

  “She must have a season, your grace. But how is it to be?”

  Teresa had no idea the source of the sudden turn in the conversation, a turn in her favor, but she absolutely had opinions on the matter and felt that perhaps this moment might be one to share them.

  “I agree, most decidedly, and hope that I will have my season.”

  “And you’d like to marry well?”

  “Of course.” She bit her tongue. Had she sounded too brazen?

  But the two only smiled with a great indulgence, their eyes overly intent on her reactions. Teresa started to feel out of place and if she were bei
ng honest with herself, a bit uncomfortable.

  The Duke waved the servants out of the room and before Teresa could take two breaths, all maids and footmen had exited and shut the door.

  “What?”

  The Duchess leaned forward. “Come, my dear. We have a proposition for you, one which you must keep with utmost secrecy.”

  Teresa swallowed back her anxious reply and sat forward. “I am looking forward to hearing it.”

  The Duke toyed with his cuffs for a moment. “Are we sure she is the one?”

  “Yes, quite certain.” The Duchess nodded to him and then smiled at Teresa as if she were a great prize.

  The duke stretched his neck and adjusted his cravat. “Miss Teresa Bartlett, we would like to sponsor you for a season in London, two seasons, whatever it takes for you to find a titled husband who can make you happy.”

  Teresa coughed into her teacup and replaced the offending porcelain onto the table at her side. “Your Grace?”

  The Duchess moved to sit in the chair beside her. “You heard him correctly, my dear. We shall take care of the cost. New gowns, myself as your chaperone, entrance into any noble family, all the required dinners and balls, entrance to Almacks. You shall have every opportunity.”

  Teresa gasped. Could this be true? She stared in disbelief as the duchess continued to talk, her face lit with excitement.

  “And when you are in agreement that a suitable husband has been found, the wedding will be arranged and your new life shall begin.” She clapped her hands as if this were the most glorious news of Teresa’s life.

  And it should have been. But something rough and jabby settled at the base of her stomach. “Why-why would you do this?”

  “Oh, don’t worry, my dear. We have only the best intentions.” The Duchess’ eyes filled with sorrow, a yearning, a longing Teresa could not understand from a woman who had the world at her feet. The duchess gripped Teresa’s arm with an intensity and strength that surprised her.

  “And a desperate need.”

  Chapter 2

  Six Months Later

  Benjamin Dunn, the Earl of Harcourt, threw his niece in the air. Her contagious giggles made his smile stretch even farther across his face.

  “Do it again!”

  He tossed her higher, watching her eyes squint in happy delight.

  His sister, Joanne, watched with a joyful twinkle lighting her face. “You need children.” Her small rounded belly brought anticipation to them both, the two remaining Dunns in their immediate family, of a possible Christmas baby.

  “Children would be lovely. It’s their mother I’m having difficulty finding.”

  “Surely someone in all of the ton would be suitable.”

  “Someone would be. I hope.” He set Julia down and held the small hand she offered in his own. “Consider though, she is to be a mother. That takes a special kind of woman.”

  She sniffed. “The irony being that every woman you meet will likely be such, eventually. What you need is to spend this kind of energy drumming up the perfect nursemaids and governesses.”

  “Hmm.” They made their way across the street and down the row to the Harcourt and Cambry townhomes which were situated side by side. In truth, Benjamin spent most of his time living with his sister and her husband. Mayfair seemed a bustle of activity, the early spring air just chilly enough for people to wrap up and move at a faster pace. Couples moved ahead of him, women and their maids and footmen crossing the street, entering and exiting the park. In the great, busy, bustle, a pair of brightly colored cheeks intrigued him. The owner wore a bonnet, but her smile, her face, colored with the effects of time outdoors, and the skip in her step kept his eye. She headed back the opposite direction as if to enter the park herself.

  He craned his neck as she passed on the other side of the street. Julia tugged at his hand, but the action felt far away.

  His sister laughed and dislodged the child. “Shall we get an introduction?”

  “I think we must.”

  They waited. Joanne rested her hand on his arm. “I do believe that’s the duke’s livery, is it not? The Duke of Essex?”

  “I think you’re correct. Do they have a ward? A relation?” His curiosity begged to be sated.

  A tiny voice interrupted. “But I’m not finished at the park, Mama, Uncle.” Her pout small but firm, she pulled back on her mother’s hand.

  He chuckled. “We’ll come tomorrow, sweet. You know uncle Ben will always take you anywhere you want to go.”

  As Benjamin watched the lovely bonnet disappear around a bend, his heart quickened in anticipation. “Do you know her?”

  “I do not,” Joanne squeezed his forearm, “but we shall. Never fear.”

  “Excellent.” He grinned, embarrassed for his gawking. “But we cannot stand here as though they are in a street show. Come.” He turned to walk as they were moments ago, in the most nonchalant manner possible. But Julia had other ideas. “I don’t want to go back. I’m not finished.”

  She pointed.

  “Julia. We don’t point. Where are your manners?” Her mother tugged at her hand. “We’ll come back tomorrow. You heard your uncle.”

  Her pout grew more pronounced. They continued to walk and pull her gently along toward the townhome

  Benjamin could not stop his fascination with the lovely lady in the bonnet. “Do you suppose she will be at the dinner tomorrow evening?”

  “If she is staying in the duke’s household, I’d imagine so.” She frowned. “I find it curious that I’ve heard nothing about her. Our invitation is sitting on my desk.” Her eyes twinkled. “I suspect we will be attending after all?”

  “I find I have a renewed interest in relations with the Duke of Essex and his wife.” He looked again over his shoulder. She had come back into view as he walked farther along. More of her face became visible and the lovely red in her cheeks highlighted the brightness of her eyes, the pink fullness of her lips, the heart-shaped face. And he almost laughed when a stray, rebellious blonde curl made an appearance out the top of her bonnet. “Charming,” he breathed.

  Joanne laughed beside him, and then Julia broke free and ran down the sidewalk.

  “Oh, dear!”

  “Julia, darling, come back!”

  They ran after her, Benjamin shooing his sister back. She should not be running in her condition. “Julia, stop, dear!”

  But Julia ran faster, giggling that her Uncle Ben was in pursuit, he assumed. He had no other option but to pursue. They couldn’t allow a child to run free as she was. His breathing quickened. Her little legs were surprisingly fast. She ran down the paths of the park and around the bend where the lovely bonneted lady had once again disappeared.

  Was he to meet the new lady while running in such a disheveled fashion after a wayward child? As he turned the bend, his feet stumbled to a stop. Both the view and his disadvantage in front of someone so enchanting made him wish to turn about and allow his sister to handle this situation. There was nothing for it but to proceed.

  The very woman he had been hoping to meet had lifted little Julia into her arms, laughing with her as his niece spoke of something with great energy.

  Benjamin dipped his head and approached. “Ladies.”

  “Oh! Uncle Ben!” She wiggled out of her new friend’s arms and ran to him. “It’s time for our walk in the park.”

  What a minx. “I do believe we have had our walk and you are now in danger of having future walks curtailed.”

  Her little nose wrinkled, and her lip quivered.

  “Oh, you’ve made her sad.” The new lady frowned and he couldn’t tell if she was in jest or genuinely miffed at him for upsetting the little girl. “Surely a short walk in the park is in order for such a behaved young one?”

  He was enchanted. The brilliant blue of her eyes sparkled up at him in encouragement. The golden errant curls fought to be free of her bonnet. Her compassion for the young Julia, though misplaced, charmed him and he was at a loss —for he desperatel
y wanted to know her but was as yet unacquainted. He bowed. “And so I am taken to task by two lovely ladies.” He turned to Julia and held out his hand. “Shall we?”

  She giggled and grabbed onto his fingers with both her hands. “Thank you, Uncle Ben.” She turned back to the woman watching them. “And I’ll do an introduce. This is Teresa. And this is Uncle Ben.” She pulled at his hand to encourage him to move closer to the woman. He was happy to oblige.

  Teresa’s laugh, musical and warm, made him smile.

  He bowed appropriately. “Thank you for the introduction, Miss Julia. I find I was seeking just such a thing.” He held out his hand to accept Teresa’s were she to grace him with such an honor. “I am Lord Harcourt, Benjamin Dunn, Uncle Ben to some.”

  She hesitated. A flash of worry crossed her face but then she seemed to shrug it off and placed her hand in his. With a deep curtsey, she said, “And I am Miss Bartlett, Teresa to some.” She indicated Julia with a nod in her direction. “And it is a pleasure to make both of your acquaintances.”

  Julia giggled and smiled from one to the other.

  Benjamin held out his other arm. “Would you like to accompany us, Miss Bartlett?”

  She hesitated. And he wondered more than ever about her situation. After a brief pause, her face relaxed into a smile and she agreed to join them.

  Victorious anthems played in his head, but he tried to walk with a calm, though pleased, expression. He would have to thank the precocious Julia.

  At first, Miss Bartlett’s fingers barely touched the fabric on his coat, as if a ghost walked beside him. Such a vapid encounter would not do. Benjamin searched for an idea. “Shall we play a game?”