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    A Fop and His Fortune
    A Fop and His Fortune
    A Fop and His Fortune
    Ebook92 pages1 hour

    A Fop and His Fortune

    By Zelah Meyer

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    About this ebook

    Sir James Beauleigh hasn’t seen Jenny Davenport since they were children. Arriving to take over his late uncle’s estate, he accidentally overhears Jenny complaining that her family is hoping for a match between the two of them.

    When James decides to tease the Davenports by pretending to be a vain and foolish fop of a man, he doesn’t expect the act to last more than a day.

    However, when Portia Perrault (a femme-fatale low on finances but not on audacity) falsely declares that James is her long-lost fiancé and threatens to use a local law to entrap him into marriage with her, the foppish pretence may be the only way for James to escape her clutches.

    The trouble is, Portia doesn’t care how ridiculous he appears as long as he is rich and titled, and he is fast falling in love with Jenny, who holds him in disgust.

    It will take a masked ball, a duel, and more than just a powdering of persuasion to resolve matters.

    A Fop and His Fortune is a lighthearted romance set in a Regency-flavored make-believe world.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZelah Meyer
    Release dateAug 19, 2014
    ISBN9781310872143
    A Fop and His Fortune
    Author

    Zelah Meyer

    Zelah Meyer is a British author, improviser, and all-round arty-crafty type. She studied Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University, but doesn’t recommend that anyone else do the same! She credits books and narrative improvisation with teaching her everything she knows about writing. She loves to learn new things, and could potentially paper at least one wall with certificates in everything from hypnotherapy to health and safety on a rail track. She currently lives in Southeast England with her husband and their son.

    Read more from Zelah Meyer

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      Book preview

      A Fop and His Fortune - Zelah Meyer

      A Fop and His Fortune

      ***

      Zelah Meyer

      ***

      Sir James Beauleigh hasn’t seen Jenny Davenport since they were children. Arriving to take over his late uncle’s estate, he accidentally overhears Jenny complaining that her family is hoping for a match between the two of them.

      When James decides to tease the Davenports by pretending to be a vain and foolish fop of a man, he doesn’t expect the act to last more than a day.

      However, when Portia Perrault (a femme-fatale low on finances but not on audacity) falsely declares that James is her long-lost fiancé and threatens to use a local law to entrap him into marriage with her, the foppish pretence may be the only way for James to escape her clutches.

      The trouble is, Portia doesn’t care how ridiculous he appears as long as he is rich and titled, and he is fast falling in love with Jenny, who holds him in disgust.

      It will take a masked ball, a duel, and more than just a powdering of persuasion to resolve matters.

      ***

      * * *

      A Fop and His Fortune

      Copyright Zelah Meyer 2012 (First Published 2014)

      Interior and Cover Design by Zelah Meyer at Beresford Brown

      Cover Image Credits: Alexander Babich at Dreamstime.com, Brenda Starr at Flickr.com

      Published by Beresford Brown at Smashwords: http://beresfordbrown.com

      All rights reserved. This ebook may not be sold or reproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without permission from the rights holder. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      This work is fictional. Any similarity of names, places, or events to any that exist, or have existed, in reality, is purely coincidental.

      Any product names, brands, and other trademarks that may be referred to within this book are the property of their respective trademark holders. Unless otherwise specified, no association between the author and any trademark holder is expressed or implied. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark, registered trademark, or service mark.

      * * *

      Contents

      Chapter One - James meets the Davenports

      Chapter Two - The problem with Portia

      Chapter Three - The stranger at the ball

      Chapter Four - Justice

      Chapter Five - Foiled

      Chapter Six - Blushes

      Chapter Seven - An old acquaintance

      Chapter One - James meets the Davenports

      The cabin of the ship rocked gently, and a manservant sat primly upright in a chair beside the bed. He held an empty bowl but showed no signs of succumbing to nausea.

      In the bed, Sir James Beauleigh, baronet, lay sleeping. The light coming through the curtains revealed him to be young, well-favored, and badly in need of a shave. He shifted slightly and gave a groan, putting a hand to his forehead.

      The manservant looked at him sympathetically and held out the bowl. Do you require the basin, sir? he asked.

      No … no, thank you … not this time, Robertson, James replied a little hoarsely as he slowly sat up. I would like some water though. My throat is as dry as anything and my head, oh Lord …. The fingertips of the hand he had pressed to his head turned white as he tried to counter the pressure within.

      Thank you, James said, taking the glass and sipping it gingerly. "Why did I think it was a good idea to break with my usual habit and drown my sorrows to excess last night?"

      I couldn’t say, sir. It is indeed most unlike you.

      No matter, James said with a sigh. "That was a rhetorical question, Robertson. I know why I did it. What I meant, if I meant anything, was why did I decide that it was a good idea to do so the night before I was due to leave by ship?"

      More water, sir?

      Yes, please. James downed the rest of the glass and held it out to be refilled. If only I hadn’t given Great-Uncle Peter my address. I could have got away with not doing so. I’m not his heir after all. It must have been a lapse in judgment.

      I recollect you saying that you thought it only polite after he retired and moved across the water to Alaria.

      Yes. He was only too happy to escape rural purgatory at the first opportunity. Then he has the gall to visit and to spoil my own happy life in Alaria by telling me about my uncle’s death and preaching to me about duty. James sighed, holding the glass out again. "Trouble is, he’s right. It is my duty to return and run the estate in person."

      As you say, sir.

      I barely remember the place. All I recall are fields everywhere, James said, putting the glass down on a shelf beside the bed and stretching his limbs.

      Will you be joining the captain for dinner? Robertson inquired.

      James paused mid-stretch and looked confused. Dinner? What time is it? he asked, glancing at the clock. Good lord, I’d better shave, he remarked, running a hand over his chin. I don’t want to offend the man. Yes, tell the captain I’ll be joining him, and hopefully this headache will have gone away by then. If not, well, it’s my own fault.

      * * *

      James paced along the quay, Robertson following discreetly behind him. He cast a mournful glance at where his luggage was being removed from the boat and sighed.

      Well, sir, Robertson said brightly. We’re here and we made excellent time, all things considered. You’ll take them by surprise. I don’t suppose they’ll have looked to see you for another few days yet.

      Yes, James replied unenthusiastically. It seems that even the winds conspire against me. I’m here, as is my duty—damn duty. Oh, to just get back on the ship and set sail again, Robertson.

      You can’t do that, sir.

      I know.

      Tide’s not right for it.

      "It’s not that. I can’t go back … to my old friends and my old life. I have responsibilities now. A large estate

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