Romancing A Wallflower
Noble Hearts Book 2
Anna St. Claire
Anna St. Claire
Copyright © 2020 by Anna St. Claire
All rights reserved.
Cover Design by Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs
Editor and Historical Consultant – Heather King
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
DEDICATION & REMEMBRANCES
Dedicated to my own special hero, Roger, who without fail, makes sure that each and every day we spend together is nothing short of our own happily ever after. Thank you for giving me the space and the encouragement to pursue my passion.
A special tribute to our sweet Cooper—my daughter’s dog. He is a gentle and beloved dog that will always own a piece of my heart. Certainly, he has his own special place in this story and the cover.
And a special remembrance to Rascal, my mother’s beloved dog—a beloved pet from my childhood that taught us the love and devotion of animals, and who will always be a part of my mother’s heart, as well as my sister’s and mine.
Contents
ROMANCING A WALLFLOWER
Prologue
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
Epilogue
Afterword
17. The Earl She Left Behind Chapter 1
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Anna St. Claire
ROMANCING A WALLFLOWER
NOBLE HEARTS - BOOK 2
Once in a while, in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.
—Unknown
Prologue
August 1815
Tintagel, England
“That was a narrow escape! I thought Chambers was going to tell us Mama was looking for us.” Lydia DeLacey put her hand to her mouth, smothering her giggles as she joined her twin sister at the bottom of the front steps of their father’s house.
“Hurry!” Lilian urged. Picking up their skirts, they ran down the gravel path to the stables, arriving breathless and intoxicated with excitement at avoiding Mama’s machinations. Two handsome gentlemen had arrived earlier to meet with their father. The twin’s abigail, who had had it from Cook, had told her mistress that Mama had ordered tea to be served at four of the clock.
Lilian hated to think her father would arrange marriages for her sister and herself—not when he and their mother still enjoyed a love match. However, her mother was notorious for creating opportunities, as she termed it, for her two daughters to meet the men of their dreams and seemed determined, despite Lilian and her twin showing no interest in any of their suitors, to find at least one match.
Her joyous mood changed when she saw the head groom waiting at the door of the stables.
“Oh, marvellous! Barney is waiting for us,” she muttered with a hint of sarcasm.
“We will have to take him, Lilian.”
She yearned to ride Danby, the dark bay she had brought on from birth. She loved the fresh air and thrilled to the independence riding her horse gave her. Often, she and Lydia rode neck and neck, racing over the pastures and fields of her parent’s estate. Such freedom was impossible in London.
“Good morning, my lady and my lady.” Barney, the head groom, stepped forward with their horses. “I took the liberty of having Danby and Ginger saddled. I thought you would wish to ride this morning. Me own horse is also ready.” He sent an imploring look in their direction.
Lilian glanced at her sister and then around her, struggling to find an excuse to leave him behind. There was none, although on many an occasion she and her sister had contrived to lose him. The poor man knew they were likely to put him through his paces.
“Thank you, Barney.” Lilian smiled tightly. “It is a beautiful day for a ride, is it not? We will endeavour not to trouble you unduly.”
“Yes, my lady.” He noticeably gulped and led Lydia’s horse to the mounting block. He helped each of them onto their horse and climbed upon his own. The small party rode out of the stable yard, Lilian and her sister in the lead and the groom trailing a safe distance behind.
Flowers were in bloom everywhere. A purple blanket of creeping thyme edged the path. Bluebells and bright yellow cat’s ear carpeted the sides of the hill, dominating small sunny areas as it climbed a ridge beyond them, making the small pockets of pink wild roses very noticeable.
“This is truly lovely, Lil. The air even feels cooler. It is perfect weather for our ride,” Lydia commented.
“Would you care to ride to the cliffs today?” Lilian questioned.
“I would love to, but do you think we should? Father has asked us to stay close to the house. He does not want us near the cliffs unchaperoned because of the free traders. I do not think he would consider Barney sufficient protection.”
Lilian did not care to bear Father’s wrath. He was normally a gentle soul, but when it was needful, he could become intractable.
She agreed with her sister. “Yes, the thought of Barney defending our honour is almost too much to contemplate. Very well. What about the ruins? We could follow the ridge and mayhap stretch the horses there.”
“That is a good plan. Mama will be so cross! I wonder who these gentlemen are?”
“An earl and his friend, Father said this morning. You were too busy eyeing that new footman to notice.”
“Perhaps we should have taken the Season more seriously and she would not be so frantic about our finding suitable matches,” Lydia replied. The family had arrived home from London only a week ago and had barely unpacked.
Lilian sighed.
