Almost A Lady – Epilogue
A free novel set in Regency England, delivered in 18 parts, now complete.
This is a stand-alone novel, but readers who know my earlier book A Shameful Alliance will recognise the setting and many of the characters. It continues the story of Jess, his brother Miles and wife Clarissa. If you have not read that book you can buy it on Amazon or download it from Kindle Unlimited.
To my new friends here on Substack who have not yet read Almost A Lady, you can start at Chapter One on the Free Story page and continue from there.
To other readers, thanks for following along. Stay tuned for more romance, magic and mayhem!
Epilogue
Jess refused to leave Fleur and Maman alone at Fell Cottage. Fleur shared Maman’s bedroom while Jess slept in the pretty little room he remembered from his first week there.
Maman was concerned about the arrangement. ‘You will lose your reputation. It is not right to have your betrothed living in the same house.’
‘Oh, Maman. He is protecting us. Who knows what Broadstaff might do? He is a madman. He may be planning to come back and kidnap me again, just for revenge.’
Apparently the attorney made it to Martinsgate on that fateful day. The story was that he had been alone on the road when he was attacked by a highwayman. His horse and money had been stolen, and when he tried to fight back he was shot in the shoulder and left for dead.
There was much sympathy for his situation, and Mr Appleton generously paid his way back to London. Broadstaff said nothing of Kennedy; if the sailor was caught the whole story would come out. Now it seemed Broadstaff was somewhere on the Continent, probably still looking for a rich wife.
Fleur smiled to herself. Maman was well aware that her fear of Broadstaff was just an excuse to have Jess with her. Now she had him she was not about to let him get away. They spent long evenings on the sofa after Maman retired for the night.
Maman was concerned about it. ‘The rules of propriety are there for a reason. If something happened to Jess, if he fell from his horse and hit his head …’
‘Heaven forfend. Do not speak of it. That is not likely.’
‘… which he did once before. And if something had happened between you – I would have another orphan to take care of.’
‘Maman!’
‘Well, the wedding was supposed to be quick.’
The wedding that was to happen so quickly was actually taking some time to arrange. Sister Anna had to travel from London well in advance of the day, Miles and Clarissa insisted on the banns being called, and there were all the usual celebrations to arrange: wedding breakfast at Highpoint, travel plans for a honeymoon in Brighton, travelling clothes to be bought, decisions to be made about the future.
All was going smoothly, but as the day approached, Fleur was beginning to feel a little queasy. Perhaps it was only nerves, she thought, but she was shocked when Doctor Grieg informed her that she was already expecting a child.
‘We will be in disgrace,’ Fleur said, as they sat in the new chaise on the way back to Fell Cottage.
Jess could not hide his triumphant glow. ‘And quite rightly so,’ he joked. ‘But we beat Miles and Clarissa to the punch. Well done Miss Fleur.’ He leaned over and kissed her cheek. ‘Just think what Lady Joy will make of it.’
‘Lady Joy will not gossip about it. She is our friend. If not for her I would not have known about Broadstaff’s intentions.’
On the wedding day, Fleur wore her white muslin trimmed with satin ribbon. The little church in Martinsgate was crowded, and most of the town turned out to throw petals and wish them both well. Jess had many friends in the district, and they all wanted to meet the new Montague bride. After the honeymoon they planned to return to Fell Cottage.
‘You should be here at Highpoint,’ Miles said, frowning. But he did not insist, and Fleur was well aware that Jess would never agree to live under his elder brother’s control.
Fell Cottage was their home, and so it would stay, she decided.
One year later …
Fleur sat up in bed nursing her blue-eyed son. John-Paul Montague was a little over four months, having been born a strong, healthy weight only eight months after her marriage. People did talk, but the speculation soon died down.
Later, Jess would ride over to Hallerton where he was learning estate management from cousin James. ’Let me have that baby. I want to teach him to play with my toy soldiers.’
Fleur wrapped the sleepy baby in a warm rug and handed him over. ‘Silly, he’s far too young for that. But take him to the conservatory. He loves the flowers. By the way, Lady Joy is coming to tea.’
‘Oh Lord. Then I will definitely make myself scarce. James and I might do a spot of fishing. Don’t wait for me.’
Fleur smiled and sat back against her pillows. Fell Cottage was now very different to the little house she once shared with Maman and Emile. A large master bedroom looked down over neat gardens, the little parlour had become a bright drawing room, and everything was painted and papered to her taste.
Lady Joy stopped by on her way back from Martinsgate, pleased to have a break from the rugged road and the tedious journey. John-Paul was asleep in the new nursery, so they settled in the drawing room with tea and almond cakes and a warm fire. Fleur was looking forward to some interesting conversation. Even though the lady had not been to London for some months, she still knew all the latest news and scandal. Her access to the servant network ensured she missed nothing.
Today, however, Fleur was alarmed to discover that she herself was the subject of Town talk.
Lady Joy set aside her tea cup and straightened her shoulders. ‘I heard a rumour,’ she said, ‘that you are the daughter of a baron, but you have refused the title of baroness.’
Fleur paused. Most people knew her as an orphan whose father had been an Admiral, and that her mother died while she was in infancy. The isolation here in the Welsh border lands mostly protected her from idle speculation about the rest. ‘Yes, my father was Baron Leighton. He died at sea.’ Lady Anna had used her influence with the Admiralty to confirm her father’s death during one of the many naval battles of the Napoleonic wars.
‘So you are entitled to become a baroness. Why have you not?’
She looked away to the view of the Aulus and the hills beyond. ‘My father did not acknowledge me. He left me in an orphanage, and then Madam Benoit became my guardian. He did leave a legacy …’
‘Well then, he did care for you, indirectly.’
Perhaps. She might forgive those transgressions, but he had left her mother to die in an asylum, and that she could never forgive.
‘There is more to the story than anyone knows,’ Fleur said. ‘Mr Broadstaff uncovered things that he was prepared to use to force me into marriage. But he did not have the whole story.’
At least she hoped not. Had her father left her with the good sisters so that she would be protected until he had time to claim her as his legitimate daughter? Had he spawned by-blow children who still lived? Was her mother really mad, or was he planning to marry someone else and needed her out of the way?
‘But surely you want to claim your place in the aristocracy?’
‘My place is here, my lady. I am married to the second son of a lord. And I am also half French.’
Lady Joy sat back, a serious frown on her brow. ‘The crown might create the title for your husband. Has that occurred to you?’
‘It has, of course. But Jess is still the heir to the Montague title should anything happen to Miles. He has no wish for a baronetcy.’
‘Well, you are almost a lady, I suppose,’ Joy said. ‘But then if Miles has no sons …’
‘Good heavens, my lady. I have no wish for anything to happen to Miles. I also wish him blessed with many sons and daughters. As does Jess.’
Lady Joy left shortly after that. She still had some miles to go to Abingdon. Fleur walked down to the Aulus and stared at the babbling waters. So far the weather had been mild, and there was little to remind her of that dreadful day when she stared into the frozen torrent. Had Broadstaff started the tattle tales from his refuge on the Continent? Until now he’d been lying low, but sooner or later his own history would come out, and perhaps her part in it would also be known.
On her way back to the house she waved to Emile, sitting on the old seat beside the kitchen. They now had a lad to help him with the work around the stables and the property. Currently, Maman was holidaying in Bath. She was loathe to leave her godson John-Paul, but the call of the city and the society of other French émigrés was too strong. There were two servants: a cook while Maman was away, and a maid-of-all-work to help with everything else.
Jess was home before dark. As usual, the evening meal was eaten in the kitchen, with Mrs Edmonds the cook and Sally the maid. Emile and the new stable lad now preferred to eat in the quarters allotted to them above the stables. Maman had insisted they keep the tradition of eating together in the kitchen, and Jess and Fleur were more than happy not to be relegated to the small dining room.
After the meal, Fleur sat in the drawing-room with John-Paul on her lap and a cheery fire warming her toes. ‘What is it Jess. You are bursting to tell me something. We’re alone now. Do put me out of my misery.’
Jess had been sitting beside her on the old sofa, his long legs stretched towards the fire and his hands clenched behind his head. Now however, he sat forward looking serious, and caught her hand. ‘Well, I do have news. I was waiting for the right moment to tell you.’ He paused and Fleur sat waiting patiently. He seemed to be searching for the right words.
‘James told me of an estate for sale between Hallerton and Highpoint. We rode over to see it. There’s a fine manor house, good acreage and large stables.’
Fleur sat perfectly still. She knew this moment would come eventually, but had not expected it to happen so soon.
Jess took her head in his hands and stared into her eyes. ‘Well? What do you think. Is it time for my little orphan to make a change?’
She felt tears burning her eyes, but blinked them away. ‘But we have done so much to Fell Cottage. Why must we leave here?’
‘We don’t have to leave - yet. I can lease out the manor, but manage the estate. Eventually though …’
‘I see. If it’s what you want.’ The baby was restless now. She lifted him to her shoulder and stroked his back.
Jess fiddled with a loose strand of her hair. ‘It’s not simply what I want. It must be. I need to develop my skills in land and stock management. James is also very keen on the idea. We will be close neighbours.’
Fleur understood. He was keen to establish a future for them in the district.
‘This cottage is on Highpoint land. It belongs to Miles. And although it suits us now, it won’t always be adequate,’ he said. ‘When we have more children – where will they all sleep?’
Her lips quirked slightly at that. ‘Are you now thinking of me as one of your broodmares?’
He put an arm around her shoulders and nibbled her ear. ‘Hmm. Interesting idea. If that’s the case we need to get started. Put that one to bed.’
Fleur smiled again, but said nothing. Jess hadn’t noticed her eating little, pushing her meal of jugged hare around her plate; that queasy feeling had been with her for two weeks now. Mrs Edmonds had raised her eyebrows, and Fleur answered by nodding slightly. The cook was the mother of a large brood of grown children herself. She definitely understood.
In his arms that night she came to agree with his plans. Fell Cottage was her home, but it was not his. They needed to move on. His desire for a large family looked as if it might be fulfilled sooner than he imagined, and they would need more rooms than Fell Cottage could supply. So for now, nothing would change, but life had a way of working itself out, and she would be ready for it.
END