Chapter One
London, 1813
Lucy Stanthorpe had every intention of taking London entirely by storm. She was returning in triumph, having survived two Seasons as a debutante and ultimately securing for herself a husband any lady would be proud to call her own. She had her darling Reed to go with her to balls and musicales, to drive her about Hyde Park during the fashionable hour. She wouldn’t spend the entire Season sitting alone in the parlor, or unclaimed for dance after dance at the fashionable balls. She could go to every event with her husband at her side. And she would love every elegant minute.
This Season would be simply wonderful.
“I wonder what will be playing at the Theatre Royal,” Lucy said as the carriage rolled over the cobblestones toward theirLondon home.HerLondon home. It was a wonderful thing to have a place of her own, one she and Reed would come to every year, where she could host her own at-homes and balls, where they would one day have children in the nursery and years of memories. “Lady Parvell will, I am certain, host her annual musicale. And I have missed the British Museum. We must visit it this summer.”
Reed nodded as he flipped a page of the newspaper. “I understand the Egyptian collection has been recently expanded.”
The first thing they’d found in common was their love of history and the museum. She wouldn’t have to spend the Season begging her father to take her to see the exhibits.
“Ooh, and Gunter’s for ices.” Lucy grinned at the reminder of one of London’s greatest treats. “And Hyde Park during the fashionable hour.” Reed had taken her for a drive in the park more than once in the final days of their courtship. She’d come to love going to the park with him for company.
Reed gave her a quick smile. She hoped that smile of his would always make her a little giddy.
The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the tall, columned Stanthorpe family London residence. Reed’s mother was spending the Season in the country with her sister, so they would have the house entirely to themselves.
“Welcome home, darling,” Reed said, leaning in to press a quick kiss to her lips. One corner of his mouth twitched upward, his eyes twinkling. “What I wouldn’t have given to say that to you this time last year.”
She shook her head at his comment. “We didn’t know each other yet this time last year.”
“Oh, I assure you, I knew exactly who you were long before we were formally introduced.”
That was a bouncer if ever she’d heard one. The Stanthorpes sat on a more elevated rung of Society than her family could claim. She doubted Reed had taken even a passing notice of her before being all but forced to dance with her at the Parvells’ ball the Season before.
Lucy gave his shoulder a playful shove. “You are an unrepentant flirt, my dear.”
“I speak only the truth.”
The carriage door opened. The footman put down the step. Reed folded his paper and tucked it under his arm then stepped out of the carriage. He turned back once his feet were on the walk and held his hand out for her. He never failed to offer her that courtesy, just as he always offered his arm when they walked together and kissed her farewell every time they parted. Was it any wonder she adored this thoughtful, loving man?
Reed pulled her arm through his and walked with her up the front steps, where the butler held the door for their arrival. “Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Stanthorpe.”
Lucy only just held back a giggle. Even after seven months, she still loved to hear herself addressed as Mrs. Stanthorpe.
“We are most happy to be back in Town again, Taylor,” Reed said. “I trust our rooms are ready for us?”
“Of course, sir.”
“Would you send word to the kitchens to have our dinner brought to Mrs. Stanthorpe’s sitting room?”
“Of course, sir.”
She and Reed walked up the elegant front staircase. “Oh, darling,” she said. “This will be the very best Season I have ever spent in London. I am certain of it.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a light kiss to her knuckles. “Indeed. I find myself looking forward to the next few months, something I don’t usually feel at this time of year.”
Musicales. Balls. Soirees. The theater.Her mind simply spun with all of the wonderful things they would see and do. And they would see and do them together.
It would all be perfect. Positively perfect.
***
Reed Stanthorpe couldn’t imagine a better prospect for a London Season. Days at his club. Afternoons at Gentleman Jackson’s Boxing Salon. Quiet evenings at home. Heaven knew he’d spent more than his share of Seasons forced into the social whirl. If there’d been any other way of undertaking a courtship, he’d have jumped at the opportunity.
But he was a married man now. No longer would he have to run from one social engagement to another, or stay up until all hours of the night, or drag himself through the interminable evenings at Almack’s. He wouldn’t need to endure the tiresome company of Society every single evening. He’d have Lucy’s companionship, which was all he really wanted. Most everyone else grew tedious after a few encounters.
