Flame and Ember (Regency Love Book 1) Read online

  The carriage swayed, and Mina daydreamed.

  Dressed in her most gorgeous gown, Mina was sure this ball would be amazing. She would never be termed beautiful, but she felt she achieved ‘pretty’, at the very least. The diaphanous fabric swirled about her, tucked and pinned in all the right places to show her figure to its best advantage. Granted, Mina’s figure didn’t have a good advantage, but the dress came close to finding one. And it was such a pretty shade of amethyst, which complimented her complexion to perfection.

  It was a daring and brash dress, but Mina desperately wanted to embrace something more than the lifeless pastels she was normally forced to wear in Town. Her father would have never approved of such a color for a maiden, but Mina was beyond his influence, and society had long ago rejected her as a debutante.

  This was the dress in which a gentleman would notice her. He would see her from across the Hartleys’ ballroom and be so enchanted that he would arrange an immediate introduction before sweeping her off into a dance. That thought made Mina laugh at herself. A grown woman making up fairy tales as unlikely as the ones her nursemaid had told her at bedtime.

  But that was neither here nor there. Regardless of whether anyone else ever admired her dress, Mina loved it and felt wonderful wearing it. That was enough for her. Even if she dreamt that something more would come of such a beautiful gown on such a beautiful evening.

  And that was why Mina needed to leave London.

  It was impossible to ignore those niggling desires when surrounded by the swirl and romance of the Season. Young men strutting for the ladies they admired. The tittering heartbeats as the couple captured each other's attention. Even if Mina had not experienced it herself, that traitorous little spark wouldn’t let her stop hoping that it would happen for her. Out in the country, it disappeared, but every time she stepped into Town, it resurfaced.

  Tired of her pointless daydreaming, Mina shoved all other thoughts aside. Spark or not, gudgeon or not, Mina knew tonight would be wonderful.

  “You do look lovely!” said Louisa-Margaretta, leaning across the carriage to place her hand on Mina’s. “That is such a bold color, the likes of which you don’t see often, but it is so slimming. It looks perfect on you.”

  Mina sucked in her lips, nibbling on them to keep words from slipping out that were best left unsaid, as she often did whenever her sister-in-law was near. The girl didn’t mean her comments to sound the way they did, but Mina felt a touch deflated all the same.

  “You both look marvelous,” said Nicholas, reaching over to kiss his wife’s hand.

  Mina turned her eyes to the passing street, trying to block out the sight and sound of the newlyweds. Forcing her mind to focus, she thought of the ball, dreaming how it would look and what it would be like. Regardless of how much her family believed her to be a veritable hermit, Mina loved a ball and a party; the problem was that they did not like her in return.

  But this time she would be no wallflower.

  In her gorgeous gown, with her hair styled to perfection, Mina would not be relegated to the corner. She would dance. She would socialize. She would be noticed. How Mina wished Thea was there with her. It had been so much easier wading through society’s murky waters with her bosom friend on hand, but Thea was back in Lincolnshire tending her growing brood. Mina would hate Frederick Voss for stealing her dear friend away if not for the fact that he made Thea so blissfully happy.

  The carriage drew to a halt, and the door was scarcely open before Louisa-Margaretta (who always insisted people use both names to their full extent, no matter how large a mouthful they were) bounded out with the energy of a girl nearer the nursery than adulthood. Nicholas took both ladies’ arms, leading them into the Hartleys’ townhouse as Louisa-Margaretta prattled on about everything and nothing.

  “Now, stay close, Mina,” said Louisa-Margaretta.

  Once again, Mina nibbled on her lips and reminded herself of her sister-in-law's good intentions. Obtuse she may be, but a well-meaning obtuse. Louisa-Margaretta simply had no idea how condescending and insulting it was to have a girl eleven years Mina’s junior elevated to the position of chaperone. Anyone with sense considered Mina far too spinsterly to need such protection, but that did not matter to the rest of the Ashbrook clan. Much to Mina’s chagrin.

  As they stepped in through the grand ballroom, Louisa-Margaretta swung into full socializing mode. Nicholas escaped from the hurry and scurry, disappearing within moments of their arrival, and it took all of Mina’s charity to not hate him for abandoning her. Louisa-Margaretta’s taste in friends left much to be desired. Mina had nothing in common with the giggling girls, and they had no interest in her. Awash in the excitement of their first Season as married ladies, the girls had little more to talk about than the general highs and lows of married life, which left Mina firmly out of the conversation. Not that a single one of them stopped talking long enough to allow Mina to speak.

  “Mrs. Ashbrook,” said Mr. Fairview with a bow, “might I engage you for the first set?”

  “Oh, you dear thing,” said Louisa-Margaretta with a smile. “I’ve already secured a partner, though I would love to see my sweet sister-in-law stand up with you.”

  Mina hoped her face was not as fiery red as it felt. Her oft-repeated maxim filled her mind, reminding her that Louisa-Margaretta meant well, regardless of how awkwardly she went about things.

  Mr. Fairview glanced at Mina and smiled, forcing Mina to chide her treacherous heart for skittering at the sight. She didn’t particularly care if she danced with this particular gentleman, but the idea of standing up with anyone was enough to give her palpitations.

  “That does sound delightful,” he said, making Mina blush even further, “but I promised Mr. George Orbrook I’d join him in the card room if you were unavailable.”

  Louisa-Margaretta tapped him on the arm with her fan. “You goose. I’m sure he would not mind…” But her sentence fell away when a gentleman arrived to claim his dance, effectively pulling Louisa-Margaretta’s attention away from securing Mina a partner.

  Within moments, each member of the group was claimed for the dance and Mr. Fairview made his retreat, leaving Mina uncomfortably alone. Not that she felt more comfortable among those girls, but the obvious gap in the crowd around her felt like a clear signal to all in attendance that she was utterly undesirable.

  Mina watched the dancers, trying for an air of nonchalance. She was far too old to be carrying on like such a ninny. She should not care if everyone in the ballroom took note of her solitary state. It should not matter. It truly shouldn’t. But it did. Mina felt like she should wear a sign around her neck warning of her unsuitability. Though judging by her lack of suitors and friends, it was unnecessary

  No matter how much Mina wanted to slip away to an unobtrusive place, it would only guarantee she would not be asked to dance. Her overabundant figure appeared to best advantage standing; sitting only made her look heavier and frumpier than she was. Besides, hiding in a corner would make it more difficult to catch a gentleman’s eye. So, Mina stood alone, using every bit of energy to pretend it did not bother her.

  As the minutes wore on and the dancers moved through their steps, Mina felt her pride slipping. Before long, she did not care if pity was the only enticement for a partner. She wanted to dance. She wanted someone to see her. Too often, it felt like she had been enchanted by some evil faerie and cursed to be forever invisible. It wasn’t even a blatant snub. That would require someone noticing her first, and she was too insignificant to warrant even a passing glance.

  The first set turned into the second, and Louisa-Margaretta was claimed for yet another while Mina stood like a valiant soldier, guarding the dance. When an hour passed without Mina speaking a single word, she cried surrender to her aching feet and found herself a seat.

  ***

  Simon Kingsley was turning into his father. Standing alone at the edge of the Hartleys’ ballroom, a single word kept popping into his head—insufferable. Insufferable noise. Insufferable people. Insufferable dancing. It had been an absolute favorite word of his father to mutter at varying intervals throughout evenings such as these. Simon understood why.

  With only two years into his third decade, Simon should be too young to be so cantankerous, but not when it came to events such as these. Insufferable London and its insufferable Season. He had things of far greater importance to do than preening like all the other insufferable peacocks.

  Seeing Susannah—Mrs. Banfield—dancing across the ballroom did not help matters. Simon had thought she’d still be safely ensconced in the country, recuperating. He’d been able to avoid her last Season and most of this one due to her rapidly growing family, but she had reappeared to torment him with thoughts he should not think and regrets he could not fix. His eyes watched her, his heart gliding along beside her.

  Her clear eyes met his, and Simon felt that yearning he’d been fighting to free himself of since the moment she had dashed his dreams. All his efforts were gone in a flash at the hint of longing in her eyes. It did not matter that it had been her choice to marry elsewhere; Simon was ensnared.

  He should not have come. He should have stayed in the country where he was needed. Another letter from his steward had arrived just that afternoon detailing more issues requiring his attention. But such grumblings were pointless. Simon needed to be here to settle this once and for all. He was tired of handling the household duties. His housekeeper kept things afloat, but she needed a mistress to oversee things. Not to mention the various obligations the Kingsley family owed to the neighborhood and community, most of which the mistress of Avebury Park would manage.

  Heaven, help him. Simon needed a wife. The woman he wanted was not a possibility, but he would not go home empty handed. No
t again.

  Chapter 2

  Mina’s hands twisted in her lap while her eyes followed the dancers. The lady beside her had not proven the best of conversationalists, but Mina would not be deterred. Miss Brooke was not her preferred companion, but Mina would make do with what she had.

  “Miss Brooke,” said Mina, grasping at any possible conversation starter, “do you ride?”

  To say the woman looked dour would be an affront to dourness. Mina was unsure if Miss Brooke possessed the ability to smile, but Mina would not give up so easily. Miss Brooke was the only unattached person in that corner of the ballroom with whom Mina had not attempted a conversation, and she was determined to have one.

  “I don’t care for riding,” said the lady, her lips puckering.

  “Gardening, perhaps? My grandmother kept a cottage with the most enchanting garden,” said Mina. But as Miss Brooke looked no more interested in gardening than horses, she let the topic drift and turned her attention back to the dancers.

  It was no use. Miss Brooke had no more desire to converse with Mina than Mina had for Miss Brooke, but being relegated to Spinster’s Row left Mina with few companions. And now Mina remembered why she avoided her fellow spinsters. They were a dreadfully difficult lot. Seeking asylum here had not been the best idea.

  Mina desperately wished Thea were by her side. Attending such affairs were always so much easier with her dear friend at her side. It was impossible to feel awkward or unlikable with Thea around.

  “My dear Mina, here you are!” said Louisa-Margaretta.

  Being dragged off by her sister-in-law was slightly less appealing than remaining with Miss Brooke, but Mina managed a smile and stood to greet her.

  “Mr. Smith begged to be introduced to you!” gushed Louisa-Margaretta in a hurried whisper before turning to make the introductions. “Mina, may I introduce Mr. Leopold Smith and his mother, Mrs. Eliza Smith.”

  Mina smiled and curtsied, though the man looked decidedly uncomfortable. She wondered if Louisa-Margaretta was being overly generous when she claimed the man ‘begged’ to be introduced since he seemed disinclined to say a word.

  “Do you live in London or are you here for the Season?” asked Mina. A rather boring question but better than staring silently at Mr. Smith.

  “Just the Season,” he said. “Mother and I are staying with friends of our family.” He cleared his throat then said no more.

  “They are up from Plymouth,” added Louisa-Margaretta, her smile far too ecstatic for the inanity of the conversation.

  “I do enjoy Plymouth,” said Mina, trying to coax the gentleman into a conversation. “I was fortunate enough to visit a few years back. Beautiful countryside.”

  Mr. Smith nodded, and his mother watched the exchange (if it could be called that) without blinking.

  The music of the dance ended, and the people rearranged themselves with their new partners. Louisa-Margaretta’s smile grew wider, and Mina feared what would come next; subtlety was not among Louisa-Margaretta’s talents.

  “I believe the next is the King and Queen. Mina adores that dance, and she is so graceful,” she said, tapping her fan towards Mr. Smith.

  Mina had no idea where Louisa-Margaretta would have ever gotten that impression. With the exception of standing up with her brothers—none of whom danced willingly—Mina was never asked to dance. With flushed cheeks, Mina looked at Mr. Smith and he looked at her while his mother looked at the both of them.

  “I am pleased to have made your acquaintance, Miss Ashbrook,” he said with a quick bow. “I hope I will have the pleasure again soon.”

  Without another word, he gathered his mother and strode away, leaving Mina at a complete loss to understand what had just occurred.

  “Well,” said Louisa-Margaretta with a sigh, “that did not go as well as I had hoped but a success nonetheless.”

  Mina stared at her sister-in-law, wondering if they had been party to the same conversation. “Mr. Smith walked off after speaking no more than two sentences.”

  “But he asked for an introduction,” she said with a smile. “That is something.”

  “Did he ask for it or did his mother force it on him?”

  “That is not important,” said Louisa-Margaretta. “What matters is that he asked to be introduced. I am certain that is a good sign. Come, we must find out more about your suitor, the mysterious Mr. Smith.”

  “Louisa-Margaretta!” Mina’s face burned scarlet, and she cast a furtive look around. “Please do not say such things. He asked for an introduction. That is all. I know nothing about the man, and he showed no signs of wishing a closer acquaintance.”

  Her sister-in-law waved away Mina’s words and became intent on finding out anything and everything about Mr. Smith that instant. Searching for some excuse to avoid the ensuing embarrassment, Mina glanced around the ballroom.

  “I am in desperate need of some punch,” said Mina. “I will meet up with you in a few minutes.”

  So singularly focused on the task at hand, Louisa-Margaretta hardly noticed Mina slip away towards the refreshments. Once out of sight of her sister-in-law, Mina hid among the edges of the ballroom. This evening could not end soon enough.

  ***

  This was a waste of time. Among all the maidens gathered in the ballroom, Simon could not find a single prospect. He had danced a few sets, but no one caught his fancy. Love may no longer be on the table, but surely, he could find an enjoyable woman with whom he could spend his life. Someone he could talk to. Have a friendship, if nothing else. But not one of the tittering debutantes held his attention for more than half a dance.

  “Simon, you look positively thunderous,” his friend said with a laugh, clapping a hand on Simon’s shoulder. “One would think you’d been forced here at the end of a pistol.”

  “Not a pistol, Finch,” muttered Simon. “Just desperation.”

  “Don’t tell me you are moving ahead with this fool plan of yours.”

  “Matrimony is not a fool plan,” said Simon. Just thinking of everything that needed to be done at his estate was enough to make his head ache, but the thought of having to face two sets of duties for another year wasn’t something Simon was willing to do. “I have enough on my plate as is. Having a wife to help carry the burdens would be a blessing.”

  “The look on your face begs to differ.”

  There was no refuting that. Being married was a good idea, but getting married wasn’t for the faint hearted.

  “I am not saying that marriage is a terrible idea,” said Finch, “but the way you are going about finding a spouse is. Clearly, you are still preoccupied with a certain someone.”

  Simon shot Finch a dark look, which the man had the gall to smile at. Looking away from Finch, Simon could not stop his eyes from finding that very woman among the throng of dancers.

  “She did not deserve you then, and she still doesn’t,” muttered Finch, crossing his arms.

  “She simply chose someone else.”

  Finch said nothing, but the look on his face said clearly that he was unwilling to accept such nonsense.

  “It doesn’t matter,” said Simon. “The die is cast. Not everyone is destined for some great romance. Some marry for practicality.”

  “But—” he began, though Simon interrupted.

  “Finch, it is what it is. Miss Weston is the only woman I have ever loved, and she chose another. It took me years to find her, and I do not have the time to wait for another such lady. If one even exists. And even if I found another, she may not choose me. Love may not be an option, but there’s no reason I can’t find a helpmate and companion.”

  “So, you’re going to grab some random chit among the fresh debs?”

  Simon shuddered at that thought and shook his head. “They keep getting younger and younger.”

  “It’s us who are getting older,” muttered Finch.

  “That is not a happy thought.”

  Finch grunted, a smile tickling his lips.

  “Leg-shackling myself to an empty-headed young thing is not particularly appealing,” said Simon.