Making the Marquess Mine, page 1
Making the Marquess Mine
A Maidens of Marbury Romance
Karla Kratovil
Making the Marquess Mine
Copyright© 2023 Karla Kratovil
EPUB Edition
The Tule Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
First Publication by Tule Publishing 2023
Cover design by Erin Dameron-Hill
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-959988-20-5
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Dedication
For Ken, always my hero
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
The Maidens of Marbury series
About the Author
Prologue
June 1825
“Pardon me, Lord Hawksridge. It certainly is busy tonight.”
Miles Weston nodded stiffly to the gentleman who passed to his left. Busy was an understatement, what a bloody crush. He pulled his companion closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulder to offer some buffer from the crowd around them. Glancing down to assess her level of discomfort he found her grinning from ear to ear. Of course. Susanna Ashby would not be afraid of the crowd of spectators flowing into Astley’s Theatre. She simply saw everything as an adventure.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with excitement. “It must be a fantastic show to have drawn such a crowd.”
In the next moment she was jostled by a large woman swathed in red silk. Susanna stumbled against him. Miles scowled at the woman who didn’t even notice as she shoved the next person in front of her out of the way. He leaned down to speak into Susanna’s ear. “Follow your father, the stairs are just up ahead.”
Ahead of them Lord Dearborn escorted his wife to the left toward a grand staircase that led up to the private boxes. Miles and Susanna followed close behind. Once they all gained the red carpeted staircase, they were free of the crowd that flooded into the main Orchestra seating. Miles took in a deep breath and released his hold on Susanna. He straightened his sleeves one at a time and smoothed the front of his jacket.
“Oh my, that was quite the crush. Even worse than at Lady Arnold’s annual ball.” Lady Dearborn raised her handkerchief to her brow.
“It is open seating at the Orchestra level. That is, there is no seat assignment, which is why there is such a stampede to obtain a seat in front. And why I procured us a private box,” Miles replied. “This way.” He pointed down the corridor.
Lord Dearborn took his wife’s elbow and they started down the hallway.
He turned to Susanna. “You all right?”
“Yes, of course. I will admit it was a bit hairy there for a moment. Someone squeezed my backside quite inappropriately.”
“What? Who?” Miles turned to scan the crowd below them with a scowl. Unbelievable!
Susanna’s laughter rang out. “You should see your face. I’m just teasing. No one would dare to touch me with such a fierce-looking giant by my side.”
Miles swung back to face her and his breath caught. Susanna’s honey-brown eyes twinkled with mirth. Her lips turned up in a devilish grin as she laughed at his expense, which she often did. There was nothing she liked more than to tease him. And he always forgave her jests because secretly he loved to see her smile. Not that he would ever admit it to Susanna. He frowned disapprovingly for her benefit. “Come on, you, let’s not get behind.” Miles winged out an elbow.
She laid her hand on his arm and they followed her parents to the private box. As they walked through the thick velvet curtains into the box, Susanna gasped in delight. She dropped his arm and rushed to the railing. He had to admit that Astley’s Theatre was as ornate as any opera house in London. A massive chandelier hung from the center of a painted ceiling. Below was the ring where the show took place. Seats at the Orchestra level were placed around the ring so all the guests would have a good view. At one end of the theater red velvet curtains framed a stage. Miles wondered what part of the show would take place on a traditional stage. He turned to Susanna. “I thought this show involved horses?”
“Yes, the show is a theatrical reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo. It takes quite a bit of artistic license of course. But I believe the stage is used for the battle scenes. I heard there is real cannon fire.”
“That cannot be safe inside.” Miles raised his eyebrows. What sort of show had he purchased tickets for?
“I am here to enjoy the riding. Mr. Maddox took over ownership of the theater last year. He only hires the best riders for his show. Maddox is famous for his ability to do all sorts of tricks on a horse’s bare back. This I have to see!”
Her expression was bright with anticipation and she practically vibrated as she bounced on her toes. He wished to reach out and grab hold of her hand just to be a part of her excitement, to share in even a small portion of the passion for life that she seemed to live with every day. Instead, his sense of self-preservation made him take a step back. Susanna was dangerous and all too tempting. He turned to her parents, who were settling into the padded seats in the second row of four seats.
“Thank you so much for inviting us tonight, Lord Hawksridge.” Lady Dearborn smiled.
Miles gave a nod. “Lady Susanna has spoken about this show often. I thought she would enjoy it.”
“I’m sure I will,” Susanna said from his elbow. “I do so appreciate your thoughtfulness.” She sat and arranged her emerald-green skirts. The candlelight set her auburn hair shining to a fiery red. The vibrant hue of her hair a reflection of her vibrant personality. She smiled up at him and her beauty struck him right in the center of his chest. Her long delicate nose sat perfectly centered between two high cheekbones. Her eyes wide and fringed in dark-blonde lashes were evenly spaced under finely arched eyebrows. But despite the perfect symmetry of her features, it was the always present gleam of laughter in her eye that was the most attractive.
She patted the seat next to her. “Sit, Hawksridge. I won’t bite.”
A loud boom followed by smoke drew their attention to the stage. From the smoke emerged a tall man dressed as a general. He raised his hands in the air. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Battle of Waterloo!”
Behind him, a dozen men on horses emerged from the wings, swords drawn. Then a white mare trotted in front of the stage and the announcer performed a handspring and deftly jumped from the edge of the stage onto the horse’s back landing backward in the saddle. The horse continued to trot toward the center ring as its rider looked dramatically around as though he couldn’t fathom why he was riding backward. The audience roared with laughter.
The man swung a leg over the horse’s hindquarters lightning quick and with one hand gripping the pommel of the saddle and one foot in a stirrup he rode hanging off the side of the horse tipping his hat to the audience as they made a full circle around the ring.
Next to Miles, Susanna gave up all pretense of calm and scooted forward to lean her elbows onto the balustrade in front of them. Her mouth formed an O as the performer jumped to the ground and using both feet launched himself back into the saddle. “Can you believe it?” Susanna exclaimed. “Amazing!”
Miles chuckled and settled into his seat to enjoy the show. His gaze never left Susanna’s face.
*
Colonel Hadley,
I enjoyed meeting you and your wife at Astley’s Theatre l
Sincerely,
Lady Susanna Ashby
Chapter One
May 1826
Susanna sat on the edge of her bed, watching the moonlight make a dappled pattern across her bedroom floor. She had made a terrible mistake. Her impetuousness had landed her in trouble before, but never had she been so reckless. She covered her mouth with one hand as a small sob rose in her throat. Stuart Kinrade was her worst mistake yet. How had she let herself be so thoroughly seduced by him?
When she had first begun taking lessons from the colonel last year, she had simply wanted to challenge herself by learning something new. She had been enthralled by the riding done at Astley’s Theater. And it had been a challenge. After lots of hard work and plenty of bruises she’d found an incredible sense of accomplishment in her new skills. The most surprising thing to come from her lessons was the friendships she had made with Colonel Hadley and his wife and by extension the performers at Astley’s Amphitheatre.
Susanna sighed and peeled off her gloves throwing them down next to her. She toed off her heeled slippers. If she was honest with herself, she could admit that she had been lonely these past few months. Changes had come to her close-knit group of friends, her beloved book club, each of them falling in love and getting married. She sniffled. Not that she wasn’t happy for them, she had had a hand in helping each of those relationships forward after all. But now everyone was wrapped up in their own busy lives. Each of them moving forward and she was still stuck here in an endless loop of social events, gossip, and banal flirting.
She shook her head and fell back against the counterpane. When had she become so maudlin? How had she let herself be led so easily down the path of ruination? She covered her face with her hands. Her friendship with Stuart had begun with him offering her pointers on a trick she was struggling with, a backbend flourish while her horse reared up onto its hind legs. Then they had spent time together walking about the city on several afternoons. Stuart was so attentive, listening to her stories from the ballrooms, tidbits of silly gossip. And finally, she had confessed how lonely she had been feeling. Surrounded by people but no one really knew her.
His magnetic personality and persuasive words had thoroughly seduced her and she let herself be swept away by the attraction between them. Stolen kisses in dark corners of the theater and late-night coffees at Findley’s had all been illicit and exciting.
“Meet me tonight after the show,” Stuart had whispered in her ear this evening as she exited the theater. “Let me have you, Susanna. Those toffs are idiots if they can’t see you, how bold and exciting you are. I see you, my star.” His arm wrapped snugly around her waist from behind as his tongue licked the shell of her ear making her sigh with pleasure. Weeks of sneaking out to meet him, of anticipation, all bubbled to the surface.
“Yes,” she had whispered.
For such a large sacrifice on her part, the whole experience had been underwhelming and a bit painful. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes trailing down into her hair. She brushed them away. Her foolish emotions always getting the better of her.
A soft knock at the door had Susanna quickly wiping moisture from her eyes. The door opened and Jenni slid into the room. “I’ve come to help you change for bed, miss.”
“How did you know I was home?”
“It’s my job to know.” Jenni bustled over to stand in front of Susanna. “Now let me help you out of that dress.”
Susanna sat up and lifted an eyebrow in silent question.
Jenni sighed. “Sam came and told me you were home.”
Susanna nodded. Of course, her coachman would tell Jenni. He was the most loyal of servants, always discreet. But she knew that he and Jenni worried about her choices, especially of late. She sniffled as she turned around. Jenni began to undo the row of buttons down her dress. “Jenni, do you think there are some mistakes that can’t be corrected?”
“Yes, but not any you have made. You may not always think through your actions first, but I know you are a good person. You wouldn’t do anything truly bad.”
“But what if I had?” She chewed her lip.
Jenni’s fingers paused in her task. “You are a good person,” she repeated. “You’ve helped me and Sam so that we could continue to be together and not lose our jobs. You are always helping your friends with one thing or another. If you were in real trouble, you would have an army of people who would help you to figure out a solution.”
Susanna slipped her arms out of the sleeves of her dress and let it slither to the floor. She wasn’t so sure of Jenni’s assertion. Her friends would all be scandalized if she ever admitted she had been seeing one of the performers at Astley’s. Only Ellie even knew she had been taking trick riding lessons. Ellie would tan her hide for sneaking away from proper social functions. Luckily, her friend was happily tucked away in Marbury with her new husband.
Susanna sighed as Jenni finished undressing her and helped her slip a nightgown over her head. The familiar nighttime routine helped calm her whirling thoughts. No one could know how far her shameful behavior had gone. All spring, she had felt adrift, lacking in any purpose. She straightened her shoulders. No longer. She had made a huge mistake by being with Stuart and she must end their liaison. This Saturday she would sneak out one last time, and tell him in person they could no longer see each other.
Chapter Two
Miles slapped his brother on the back. “Thanks for saving me from the braggarts at that table.”
They stepped outside onto the large stone veranda and into blissfully cool evening air. The noise of voices and laughter from the card room were muffled to a dull roar as Daniel pulled the glass-paned door shut behind them. “Not enjoying the political fray anymore?”
Miles shrugged his shoulders. “It is what it is.”
His twin frowned. “You don’t have to be active in the House of Lords. Not all are.”
Miles stared out into the gardens cloaked in twilight. Daniel couldn’t possibly understand. His brother did exactly as he pleased with his life. Such was the luck of being the second son, even if it was only by eight minutes. Not to say Daniel didn’t have responsibilities, he had a wife and two sweet little girls, but he had the freedom to structure his life as he wanted. As the Marquess of Hawksridge, Miles had to live his life to the expectations of his title. A long list of expectations. Their father had cast a large shadow. One which Miles wished to live up to.
His brother leaned against the balustrade, his arms crossed. He lifted one eyebrow.
Miles sighed. Daniel was the one person with whom he couldn’t prevaricate, he knew him too well. “Yes, I’m tired of all the politics, and not just in Parliament, in the ballrooms as well.” He waved a hand at the house behind them where the Ponsonby ball was in full swing. “It’s exhausting.”
“Well, at the end of the season why don’t you spend some time in Marbury with us this summer? There you will be among friends.”
It was tempting. Otherwise, what would he do this summer? The first couple of years after he inherited had been overwhelming. It had been time consuming learning to juggle all the properties and investments in addition to figuring out his opinions on various bills and arguments in the Lords. But it turned out that he had quite the knack for investing and once he established proper procedures for the estates, things ran smoothly with minimal oversight directly by him. Perhaps that was why he was feeling at such loose ends lately. He needed a challenge, thrived on it, in fact.
“Yes, thank you. I will come for a bit this summer. Is there anything you need help with at Brooksdale?”
