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    The Smithfield Bargain: A Regency Romance
    The Smithfield Bargain: A Regency Romance
    The Smithfield Bargain: A Regency Romance
    Ebook342 pages5 hours

    The Smithfield Bargain: A Regency Romance

    By Jo Ann Ferguson

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    About this ebook

    Romayne Smithfield knows she is acting out of hand when she agrees to elope with her admirer, Bradley Montcrief. But how could she have guessed their carriage would be attacked as soon as they crossed the Scottish border? Sure Bradley is dead, she is shocked to be rescued from the highwaymen by Major James MacKinnon, who has his own reasons for being out on a moonless night. He is pursuing a traitor who has sold out Britain to the French. He turns his attention to Romayne and takes her to where she can be safe—his home.
     
    When her maid arrives to take Romayne home, she insists that a duke’s granddaughter cannot return from an elopement without a husband. James must marry her. After all, they spent a night together when he rescued her. When he agrees, Romayne is astounded . . . until he tells her that he has arranged for a fake ceremony. He needs to go to England to catch his prey, and taking her home to her grandfather gives him the excuse he needs. Now it is her turn to agree, but nothing goes as they plan. Neither of them guessed someone wants Romayne dead in a plot that began when she was only a baby . . . or that a marriage of convenience can become very inconvenient when true love gets in the way.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateMar 17, 2015
    ISBN9781504009027
    The Smithfield Bargain: A Regency Romance
    Author

    Jo Ann Ferguson

    Jo Ann Ferguson is a lifelong storyteller and the author of numerous romantic novels. She also writes as Jo Ann Brown and Mary Jo Kim. A former US Army officer, she has served as the president of the national board of the Romance Writers of America and taught creative writing at Brown University. She currently lives in Nevada with her family, which includes one very spoiled cat.

    Read more from Jo Ann Ferguson

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    • 4/5
      Better than expected. More complex storyline than most of this genre, contains a mystery and doesn’t rely on bedroom scenes to fill the pages. The resolution to the mystery was a bit too convenient and contrived, but overall an enjoyable read.
    • 4/5
      Surprisingly good. Not only a romance novel but also a good spy plot.

      1 person found this helpful

    Book preview

    The Smithfield Bargain - Jo Ann Ferguson

    Storytelling.

    Chapter One

    Romayne Smithfield took a deep breath of the cool, crisp air and smiled. It was wondrous to be away from the stifling house and the company of Lady Foxcroft. The old tough could prattle for hours, seemingly without pausing. Today, the countess had been irritated by the shortcomings of her modiste and had listed the woman’s inadequacies in minute detail.

    As she rode along the country road curving through the Yorkshire moors, she heard the hoofbeats of Thatcher’s horse behind her. Usually she traveled with her abigail, but Grange was feeling a bit peaked today. Romayne had decided to take the groom with her on her look-in at her neighbor’s. That obligation done, she was anxious to return home to Westhampton Hall and pen a letter to her betrothed.

    Her smile faded as she pulled her cloak tighter around her blue riding habit which was only a shade darker than her eyes. More than a fortnight ago, she had agreed to become Bradley Montcrief’s wife, but no one else knew of their plans. No one could, until her grandfather was told. Bradley had implored her to let him speak first to the Duke of Westhampton, but she was growing impatient. She wanted to proclaim the tidings of the match from the highest window of Westhampton Hall.

    When she heard her name shouted, she looked along the road to see a man riding at a neck-or-nothing speed toward her. Her fingers tightened on the reins as hope bubbled within her when she saw sun glinting off his hair that was even paler than her tawny curls.

    Bradley! she called back and waved to him.

    Hearing a low grumble from Thatcher, she turned in the saddle to see what disturbed her groom. The young man’s face was long with consternation. Romayne bit back her comment. She could not scold Thatcher when he was duty bound to obey the duke’s edict that she was to welcome the attentions of no man save Colonel Newman.

    She would be blasted to perdition before she let the colonel lather her with court-promises. Colonel Newman was a bore and smelled of gin. Such a cheap drink was never served in Westhampton Hall, so she surmised he spent hours imbibing in a tavern before he called on her. Seldom speaking to her, he attempted to charm her grandfather. She bit her lip as she recalled her angry words to her grandfather after the colonel’s visit the previous week. The duke could saddle himself with the colonel if he wished, she had told him coldly, but she would never marry him.

    She never had seen her grandfather so incensed. His earlier bouts of temper had been dimmed by his fury at her outright defiance. He could not accept that she refused to repudiate her heart’s longings to be Bradley’s wife and marry a man the duke respected. Yes, the colonel was a hero. He had had an exemplary record in the war against Napoleon before a wound sent him back to England. She had told her grandfather soundly that she was no prize to be awarded to a war hero. Remembering her fierce words, she flinched as she recalled as well the anguish on her grandfather’s face. She had not wanted to hurt him.

    So dreary, my sweet? Bradley asked as he drew his horse even with hers. I had thought to see your smile as bright as today’s sunshine and far warmer.

    No one could call Bradley Montcrief handsome, for he had an unfinished appearance about him. His blond hair was as fine as a babe’s and refused to do anything but drift across his high forehead. Yet Romayne had been able to ignore that when she first was caught by the heated glow in his gray eyes. She admired the way he wore stylish clothes without being a flashy spark. Despite his unfortunately large nose, he attracted much attention from the ladies of the ton, for his manners were the most polished of any gentleman she had ever met.

    I have just come from Lady Foxcroft’s, Romayne hedged, not wanting to cast him down with her melancholy thoughts.

    He chuckled as he did so often. Your ears should be battered, but not your lips. When he looked past her, she followed his gaze to Thatcher, but her groom pretended not to see that Bradley wished to speak with her alone. Boldly Bradley kissed her cheek.

    Bradley—

    Bah, he muttered. I tire of hiding the truth of my feelings.

    Romayne’s eyes widened. Does that mean you have spoken with Grandfather? Have you come from Westhampton Hall? Did you tell Grandfather of our plans? What did he say? Was he surprised? Was he pleased? Romayne struggled to keep her voice serene, but the barrage of questions came out in a squeak.

    When he sighed and shook his head, she was sure she never had been so disappointed. The duke refused to receive me. How can I get him to consider my suit to court you, Romayne, when I cannot speak with him? His smoky eyes were filled with grief.

    She knew she was brazen when she put her hand over his on the reins. Dear Bradley, I shall tell him the truth of the longings I harbor in my heart to be your wife. Surely he cannot dismiss that.

    It will do no good. He brightened as he shrugged back his tan cloak and added, I have just the dandy! Lowering his voice, he leaned toward her. We shall elope.

    Elope?

    Hush, my sweet. He led her gaze toward Thatcher, who was becoming more suspicious as he could not hear their conversation. Tonight when the Hall is asleep, meet me by the gate on the main road. Bring only the few things you will need for the time it shall take us to get to Scotland. If we leave shortly after midnight tonight, we should reach the River Tweed by sundown tomorrow evening. Then we can be married in Coldstream on its far bank. Think of it, Romayne. No more waiting for your grandfather’s blessing or for the weeks it would take for the banns to be read. We could be married tomorrow evening.

    She hesitated. The idea was seductively enticing. From the moment she had first danced with Bradley in London, he had been a gentle and devoted swain. She had heard tales of his past bouts of temper that would challenge even her grandfather’s and stories of his pleasure in spending hours with a bottle at the table of green cloth. He had denied none of them, but had promised her that he would change when he could hold her in his arms for the rest of his life. Eloping should have been the answer to a dream.

    Yet she wanted a grand wedding like the one that Lady Philomena Boumphrey had had. The young widow, who lived in a house neighboring the duke’s town house in Grosvenor Square, had been married only a year ago. When she recalled her neighbor’s glorious clothes and the splendor of Philomena’s nuptials and the parties which had accompanied it, Romayne envisioned the same for herself and Bradley.

    Let me try to speak to Grandfather, she said softly. I am certain I can persuade him to receive you.

    No!

    Bradley! she gasped, amazed at his forceful answer. I know you and grandfather will never be tie-mates, but I love him dearly. You cannot expect me not to try to persuade him to see our side on this important matter before we do something so untoward as fleeing in the night. You shall see. I shall convince him to see sense.

    When she noted how Bradley’s thin hands pinched the reins so tightly that his bony knuckles pressed against his leather gloves, Romayne was astounded. Bradley might be high and mighty with some of his commands to her, but he never had been this unreasonable. Wishing that Thatcher did not ride behind them, she restrained her fingers, which longed to stroke his while she attempted to convince him to listen to reason.

    Finally he grumbled, If you wish to be so jobbernowl as to waste your breath arguing with that old—with your grandfather, I cannot halt you. I do request that you tell him nothing of this conversation, for I fear he will think that you have been unduly influenced by me.

    Of course I have been influenced by you, she said, smiling at him. She hoped he would grin back at her, but his face stayed in its rigid lines. Can love be anything but an influence? I shall speak to Grandfather this very afternoon. As soon as I return to the Hall, I shall seek him out and urge him to listen. Then everything will be as it should be.

    And if he refuses to listen to you?

    Romayne did not answer as she looked at the fields surrounding the road. Although the rolling hills still slept in their wintry gray, she knew that within weeks the fields would be bursting with life. She had enjoyed watching the turning of the seasons at Westhampton Hall all her life, for she had been born behind its massive walls. When her parents had died in a carriage accident before her first birthday, she had been brought from their town house back to Westhampton Hall to be raised by her cantankerous grandfather. Now she faced leaving him and the house—possibly forever—to be Bradley’s wife.

    Her smile returned as she said, Bradley, I wish to marry you more than anything else in the world. If Grandfather will listen—and I pray that he will—I shall send you a message that you must come and discuss the wedding with him on the morrow.

    And otherwise?

    She did not hesitate, although her answer was certain to alter the rest of her life. I shall meet you at the gate as you wish. We shall go to Scotland and be wed. Then Grandfather will have to accept our marriage.

    With a grin, he squeezed her hand in its white kid glove between his. If he does not, then you will know that you have made the best decision, for we shall be together until death does us part, as we will promise each other when we stand before the minister.

    Yes, until death does us part. When she looked from Bradley’s scintillating smile to the distant shadows of Westhampton Hall’s towers, Romayne wondered for the first time why that frightened her.

    Clayson greeted Romayne when she entered the grand entry hall, as he did each time she returned to the house. When she asked the lanky butler where her grandfather might be, she pretended not to see the uneasiness in his dark eyes. She guessed that Clayson had been present when Bradley asked to be received. Tempted to ask him of the details, she resisted. Clayson had been with her grandfather since before her birth. His loyalty to the duke was unquestionable.

    You shall find your grandfather in his study, Lady Romayne, he answered with perfect serenity. The idea of Clayson losing his composure was something she could not conceive of, for he had met every challenge in the Hall—and there had been many with her volatile grandfather—with aplomb and placidity.

    Alone? she asked. Bunching the full skirts of her blue riding habit in her hand, she glanced toward the closed door of her grandfather’s book room at the top of the stairs, which curved up from the middle of the black-and-white marble floor. She had no interest in having to speak prettily to Colonel Newman this afternoon.

    He has no callers … now.

    Her eyebrows arched at the almost imperceivable hesitation in his answer. He added nothing else, but she was sure she had heard the slight pause. Her grandfather’s retort to Bradley must have been even more inflammatory than Bradley had suggested. Then she recalled her betrothed urging her to reconsider approaching the duke to discuss their betrothal. She should heed that warning, but she could not elope and chance breaking her beloved grandfather’s heart, without one last attempt to explain to him that she truly wished to marry Bradley.

    Clayson led her up the stairs as if she was an honored guest. She never had been sure if the butler or the duke insisted on such pomposity in their home, but she suspected Clayson enjoyed every moment of it. Running her hand along the oak bannister that had been smoothed by the touch of generations of Smithfield hands, she loosened the navy blue ribbons of her bonnet and took it off. Her fingers played nervously with the ruched silk.

    The butler held out his hand for her bonnet as they walked along the upper gallery. She paused, forcing him to do the same.

    Clayson, I understand Mr. Montcrief called this afternoon.

    You know the duke keeps no at-home hours here in grassville, he returned stiffly. Miss Grange asked that you let her know when you have returned. Do you wish me to send your abigail a message that she can expect you when you have finished speaking with His Grace?

    Romayne had heard the determined tone in the butler’s voice too often to think she might get him to reveal anything else. He guarded her grandfather’s counsels with the tenacity of the Regent’s ministers. Although she considered asking him another question, she decided to save her arguments for her grandfather.

    At a door set between portraits of the duke’s grandsire and grandmother, Clayson rapped lightly. Romayne did not hear the command to enter, but the butler must have, because he opened the door and murmured, Lady Romayne, Your Grace.

    Romayne affixed a smile on her stiff lips as she entered the room that was only slightly smaller than the entry. On the winter day, little sunshine reached into the room, which was lined with leatherbound books. The thick stone walls used deeply set windows as a bulwark against the sunlight. With the upper panes of the quartet of windows colored with the family’s traditional crest, any glow which oozed through the glass was tinted gold and bloody red to splash against the thick rafters crisscrossing the high ceiling.

    Romayne crossed the navy blue carpet past the funereally dark wood furniture cluttering the spacious chamber. Made for durability instead of for comfort, the heavy tables and cushionless benches did not invite relaxing conversation. Even the fire on the huge stone hearth was muted, its blaze not reaching the mantel which was set higher than her head.

    The Duke of Westhampton looked up from where he was perusing some papers on his oak table. Around his gray head rose the thick, blue smoke from the cheroots he favored. Its odor crept into every corner of the vast room and threatened to gag Romayne. Her grandfather did not rise, nor did Romayne expect him to, for he continued to think of her as a child. She longed to remind him that she soon would turn two-and-twenty and that many of her friends already were mothering their first newborn and several were rumored to be quickening with their second.

    Coming around one side of the long table, she bent to kiss his cheek that always brought to mind the sensation of a clump of wrinkled paper. He patted her arm, but she expected nothing more from him. The duke never had been generous in showing his feelings for the only child of his only son, yet she knew he loved her as dearly as she loved him.

    I thought you were calling on that interminable bagpipe Lady Foxcroft this afternoon, he grumbled in lieu of a greeting.

    I did.

    Glancing at the window to see the shadows that were lengthening with the afternoon, he nodded. "How is that gabble-monger? Did she set your head spinning with all the latest on-dits from Town?"

    Romayne’s smile became sincere as she drew off her gloves. Handing them to Clayson, she waited until the butler retired, closing the door behind him, before she said, "I think you shall be as intrigued as I was to discover that Lady Foxcroft had hoped that I might be bringing her tidings."

    You? We have been away from London since the new year. What would you have had to tell her?

    Running her hand along the ornate back of a bench as she walked in front of the table that he tapped impatiently with his fingers, she tried to calculate the easiest way to broach this subject which might lead to fireworks between them. Little things from about the countryside, she answered. You know. Things that always concern the gentry. Births, deaths, marriages … betrothals.

    The duke’s bushy white brows knitted as a sarcastic smile settled on his thin lips. Betrothals? Where might you have heard of such a thing? I recall hearing no such tidings among our neighbors.

    Unable to keep up her nonchalant pose, she came around the table again. The voluminous skirt of her riding habit swished along the carpet as she knelt by his chair. She put her hand on his gnarled, blue-veined one. Grandfather, why did you refuse to receive Bradley when he called this afternoon?

    Where did you see that insolent cur? He muttered his prayers backward, not apologizing. Her grandfather never apologized for breaking the canons of propriety, although he expected her to be comme il faut. Damnation take it! I should have curried his skin-coat so he would know to heed my command when I tell him he must have nothing more to do with anyone in my family. I do not want him sniffing about your skirts.

    Romayne struggled not to retort in Bradley’s defense. Losing her temper would resolve nothing. Grandfather must stop seeing her as still in her infancy. She could make her own decisions, and she had. She intended to marry Bradley Montcrief. Clenching and unclenching her hands at her sides, she raised her chin so that her golden hair curved along her nape. She remembered Bradley’s request to refrain from speaking of their conversation on the road, so she said only, I know he planned to look in on you today.

    To beg me to let him dangle about you, no doubt. He shook his head. "You should not look surprised that I would give him his congé before he had the opportunity to make such a suggestion. I have no wish for my granddaughter to tangle her life with a man like him."

    Dear Grandfather, you cannot mean what you are saying. Bradley Montcrief is a gentle and kind man.

    Gentleman? He snorted rudely. Rising and clasping his hands behind him, he turned his back on her as he walked toward the hearth. "Montcrief is no gentleman, and I vow that his kind of man is not yours. I intend you to wed a man who knows the meaning of honor and fidelity, not one who thinks only of plumping his pockets. He faced her, his features rigid with fury. Romayne, I forbid you to see that rake-jakes again."

    I cannot accede to such a ludicrous command. She stood and fisted her fingers on the top of his unadorned chair. Her gaze locked with his. Grandfather, I have done as you have wished for every day of my life. Although we both know I have contested you in the past, you cannot deny that I have never balked at anything when it was important to you, but this request is beyond belief.

    My request is simple, Romayne. You shall endeavor to do nothing to allow yourself to be in his company. If you have the misfortune to find yourself in Montcrief’s company, you shall excuse yourself immediately.

    No.

    The duke’s steps were not slowed by age as he came to stand on the opposite side of the chair. He stabbed the air with the end of his cheroot. Romayne, while you live in Westhampton Hall, you shall heed my injunctions.

    I cannot. Could he not see he was breaking her heart with his want-witted demands? She did not want to have to choose between her grandfather and Bradley.

    There shall be no more discussion of this. You have heard my order, and I trust that you will obey it. I trust as well that I shall not have to speak to Grange to be certain you obey it.

    He sat in the chair and reached for one of the papers on the table. Staring at him, Romayne blinked back the tears that pricked her eyes. Her grandfather could not be so unfeeling. Never had he failed to listen when she spoke of the longings in her heart. Perhaps she had not impressed on him how desperately she wished to become Bradley’s wife.

    Softly she said, Grandfather, Bradley wishes to marry me.

    That is impossible, he answered without looking at her. If marriage is what you wish and you decide you will not do the wise thing and wed George Newman, I promise I shall find you a suitable match on the Marriage Mart next Season.

    I don’t want the ‘suitable match’ you have selected for me. I want to marry the man I choose is suitable for me.

    When he gave her one of his rusty laughs, she flinched. He dropped the page onto the table and raised his gaze to hers. Romayne, I would agree, but choose another. Montcrief is not a suitable match for you.

    Why?

    The reasons are ones that I would not repeat in the presence of your delicate, feminine ears.

    Grandfather—

    The duke’s lips tightened into a scowl. I will listen to no more of this unbecoming pleading. I forbid you to see Montcrief again. Do you understand?

    Tears battering against her eyelashes, she nodded. She understood that she had no choice but to meet Bradley that night to flee to Scotland to marry. Every hope of convincing her grandfather to comprehend her yearning to wed Bradley was dead.

    The Duke of Westhampton watched in silence as his granddaughter ran from the room, reminding him of the impetuous child she had been. While she was a child no longer, she remained his responsibility. The door slammed after her, and he winced. He rubbed his fingers across his forehead where pain scored his skin.

    Damn Montcrief for twisting her girlish heart with his well-practiced court-promises!

    Rising, he walked to the closest window. He cursed again under his breath. That worthless Montcrief had filled her head with his bangers, the most recent clearly his failure to tell Romayne that he had spoken to the Duke of Westhampton of his wish to call on Romayne.

    Blast that man! He was causing Romayne to consider a trivial fancy as something far more important. The young rakehell did not love his granddaughter, although he was beginning to suspect that Romayne might have an honest affection for her suitor. In the years since she had come to him an infant orphan, not once had Romayne battled him so bitterly.

    He glanced toward the painted ceiling. He did not see the cherubs floating on a dusky cloud between the rafters as he thought of how, in her chambers on the upper floor, Romayne would be crying. He could hear the resonance of her grief in his heart, but no tears filled his aged eyes. With that knowledge a prick of surprise taunted him. He once had been able to cry as she would be doing, able to rend his heart at the injustices he perceived and was unable to right, even if it had been to his detriment as Romayne’s obsession for Montcrief was to her. For a moment, he wondered if weeping would ease the familiar tightness cramping him. Then he knew this course of thoughts was useless.

    Once he could have cried, but no longer. Too many tragedies had passed through his life until every tear within him had evaporated. He would not share his granddaughter’s misery when she discovered that he was correct. Marrying Bradley Montcrief would destroy her life. He must prevent that, even if denying Romayne broke her heart.

    Chapter Two

    It should not be long now.

    The words, spoken in a beloved voice, intruded oddly on Romayne’s dreams. She did not want to wake, for she had been dreaming of the moment when she could speak her wedding vows with Bradley Montcrief. In a luscious dress of white silk, lace tippets dripping from its shoulders, she would put her hand in Bradley’s as he slipped a ring onto her finger. She sighed. The dream was gone … for now.

    Opening her eyes, she found herself surrounded by dark and cold instead of the warmth of her comfortable bedchamber. Fatigue weighed her eyelashes. So easily she could have crawled into her tester bed in her large room in Westhampton Hall and slept until Grange pulled back the gold drapes with the morning light. When the cushions against her aching back bounced, she moaned as her head bumped into the wall.

    Have you hurt yourself?

    Focusing her bleary eyes on the shadowed form sitting beside her in the cramped space, Romayne frowned. What was Bradley doing with her unchaperoned, if her bleary eyes were revealing the truth, in the middle of the night?

    Bradley, where are we? Although she was eager for the day when she and Bradley could publicly announce the love in their hearts, she would be a widgeon to come to their wedding with her reputation tarnished by an unthinking ride alone.

    Wedding … The word stuck in her mind. Realization followed hastily, and she laughed nervously as she sat straighter. Her reputation was in no peril, for she and Bradley must have reached Coldstream on the far side of the River Tweed. When Bradley had suggested eloping to Scotland yesterday, she could have imagined nothing more romantic. The reality of the long, cold ride had destroyed such illusions.

    Are you still certain that this is what you wish to do? came Bradley’s whisper as if he could sense the course of her thoughts.

    Very sure. She heard joy singing in her answer. Exhaustion was a small price to pay in exchange for the happiness of becoming Bradley’s wife. Are you?

    Very sure, he murmured. He folded her kid-gloved hand between his and smiled. When she leaned her head on his shoulder, the thickness of his greatcoat, which he wore against the frigid night beyond the carriage, could not soften his bony ranginess. Go back to sleep, my sweet. I shall wake you when we have reached our destination.

    Closing her eyes, Romayne waited for sleep to return. Her happiness faded when she thought of her grandfather’s dismay at her rash decision to flee with Bradley, but

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