Restoration Affair

By Marina Oliver

Callias is brought to the Restoration Court by her husband John Cobden, who married her for her money, but once there he neglects her. She is pursued by many amorous gallants, including the King, but has eyes only for Sir Richard Weston. His betrothal to Anne Laver, arranged by their families, is broken by her jealous cousin. Fate, in the guise of an angry John, a malicious Anne, and even the intervention of the King, separates them, and Callias faces terrible danger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marina Oliver
• Release date: Jan 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465812414

Marina Oliver

Most writers can't help themselves! It's a compulsion. Getting published, though, is something really special, and having been so fortunate myself I now try to help aspiring writers by handing on tips it took me years to work out. I've published over 60 titles, including four in the How To Books' Successful Writing Series, and Writing Historical Fiction for Studymates.I have judged short story competitions, been a final judge for the Harry Bowling Prize and was an adviser to the 3rd edition of Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers 1994. If you want to find out more about your favourite authors, consult this book. I once wrote an article on writing romantic fiction for the BBC's web page, for Valentine's day.I have given talks and workshops for the Arts Council and at most of the major Writing Conferences, and helped establish the Romantic Novelists' Association's annual conference. I was Chairman of the RNA 1991-3, ran their New Writers' Scheme and edited their newsletter. I am now a Vice-President.As well as writing I have edited books for Transita, featuring women 'of a certain age', and for Choc Lit where gorgeous heros are the norm.I was asked to write A Century of Achievement, a 290 page history of my old school, Queen Mary's High School, Walsall, and commissioned to write a book on Castles and Corvedale to accompany a new circular walk in the area.Most of my Regencies written under the pseudonym Sally James are now published in ebook format as well as many others of my out of print novels which my husband is putting into ebook format. Our daughter Debbie is helping with designing the covers. For details of all my books and my many pseudonyms see my website.

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RESTORATION AFFAIR

BY

MARINA OLIVER

Callias is brought to the Restoration Court by her husband John Cobden, who married her for her money, but once there he neglects her.

She is pursued by many amorous gallants, including the King, but has eyes only for Sir Richard Weston.

His betrothal to Anne Laver, arranged by their families, is broken by her jealous cousin.

Fate, in the guise of an angry John, a malicious Anne, and even the intervention of the King, separates them, and Callias faces terrible danger.

Restoration Affair

By Marina Oliver

Copyright © 2016 Marina Oliver

Smashwords Edition

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Cover Design by Debbie Oliver

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook 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. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

First print edition published 1975 by Robert Hale.

See details of other books by Marina Oliver at

http:/www.marina-oliver.net

AUTHOR NOTE

After the sobriety of the 1650s, the Restoration Court was full of high spirits and frivolity. This was encouraged by the King, the Merry Monarch, who was busy making up for half a lifetime of wandering round the Courts of Europe seeking help to recover his throne.

Never again, he vowed, would he endure the poverty and neglect of those years. In a reaction against the Puritan ethic, courtiers indulged in every excess, and love affairs were common.

King Charles, however, had many problems such as lack of money, wars with the Dutch, the Great Plague and, in the following year, the Fire of London.

RESTORATION AFFAIR

BY MARINA OLIVER

Chapter 1

Cally awoke with a start, as a shout from outside the door penetrated her languorous dreams. For a few moments her sleep-laden eyes could distinguish nothing, but, gradually becoming accustomed to the faint dawn light, they focused on the heavy oak furniture and the sumptuous velvet and brocade hangings. She frowned, puzzled, not recognising the room she had seen but briefly by candlelight a few hours before. Then, as she became more fully conscious, she smiled at the memories of the hours that had followed her hurried glimpse of the room, and stretched her limbs contentedly, supple and sensual as a cat in the summer sun.

Her smile, full red lips against a creamy complexion, added more beauty to a softly rounded face, with a tip-tilted nose, grey-green eyes, and jet black hair that was spread over the pillows in a tangled mass of luxuriant curls. Her slim but shapely limbs were stretched naked on the bed, in an attitude of contented abandonment.

Another shout, nearer this time, woke Cally fully, and she sat up in some alarm. What was happening out there?

Suddenly a fierce pounding came on the door, and a harsh voice ordered, 'Open up there!'

Cally looked around as if seeking help, but the room had no other occupant. She breathed fast, eyeing the door in trepidation. It was the sight of the latch being lifted that reminded her of her naked body, and she hurriedly pulled the coverlet up to her chin. To her relief the door did not open, though by the slight movement of it she could see it was being pushed from outside. It appeared to be locked, though how this had happened, and where her companion was, she was unable to conjecture.

'Open, I say!' came again, the same raucous masculine voice. As Cally shrank back into the pillows, silent but for the rapid pounding of her heart, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching the door.

'Break the door down!' ordered the same voice, and it had scarcely ceased before a heavy weight was flung against the door. Wide-eyed, Cally watched as repeated blows were struck, then, with a gasp, she realised the lock was giving. Hastily she looked around the room, but before she could discover a hiding place the door crashed open and a heavily built man came precipitously into the room, to fall beside the bed. On his heels followed several more men. Cally was too terrified to count their number – there seemed to be a whole regiment of them.

As they crowded in, a tall, gaunt figure detached himself from the rest and came forward towards the bed. The curtains were open, and Cally was defenceless, crouched back on the pillows with the coverlet held up to her chin.

'Ho, so there you are, my fine beauty! Did you have good sport last night with that misbegotten wretch?'

Cally breathed deeply.

'How dare you come bursting in here, sir! Pray leave at once, and take your hirelings with you.'

'Why, slut? Is it your bedroom? Have you a right to be here?'

'You, in any event, have no right to question me. Begone, before I call my servants to whip you out.'

It was an empty threat. Cally did not know if there were any servants at hand, or whether, if there were, they would take orders from her. Her voice lacked conviction – or else the man knew more than she did, for he merely laughed, beckoning to the others who came leering to surround the bed.

'Oho, my beauty,' smiled one, an ugly fellow with a scar on his cheek, 'ain't we welcome?'

'Fancy your luck, Jack, me boy?' chaffed another.

'Got any payment?' leered a third.

The ugly one laughed.

'I don't need to pay like you fellows. Them what gets my favours don't need anything else to satisfy 'em!'

'She don't look worth no favours, Jack, lad. I don't fancy dark 'uns. They're not such sport as a ripe blonde.'

Jack laughed, and before Cally realised what he was about, he twitched the coverlet out of her hands, and pulled it back to reveal her naked body lying there, defenceless.

'Now, whore, I have the proof that may persuade my poor misguided cousin to reject her importunate suitor.'

He turned to one who had remained in the background and taken no part in the scene.

'Fetch Mistress Anne, William. She is awaiting you in her parlour.'

The man left, and Cally, helpless, closed her eyes to avoid the leering glances of the men as they looked their fill on her slender but shapely body. She fought back tears of anger and humiliation, until a voice from the doorway broke into the scene and caused them to back away from the bed in some confusion.

'Mistress Anne, your servant!'

'Well, cousin, you promised to give me evidence of Sir Richard's perfidy, as you call it. Where is it, that I have to be awoke at dawn to see it?'

The voice was haughty, yet scornful. Cally, who had rolled over and curled herself into a ball as soon as she was released, peered through her curtain of hair at the speaker. She saw a woman of about twenty years, tall and buxom, with an obvious resemblance to the leader of the intruders.

'You have but to look on the bed, my dear Anne, to see with what sport Richard beguiles himself.'

Anne turned and looked as he pointed, then gasped with horror at the sight of Cally's nakedness.

'Benjamin – have you taken leave of your senses? How dare you bring me into the same room as that shameless hussy and these men!'

Ben shrugged. ' 'Twas the only way to convince you about Richard's nature. I apologise for disturbing your modesty,' mockingly, 'but rather now than after you are tied to him and he has control of your fortune!'

'We will discuss it later. Pray conduct me from here, cousin William.'

William sprang to offer his arm as she turned to leave the room, but Cally, eluding the hands that sought to hold her back, slipped off the bed and flung herself on her knees in front of Anne before she could move towards the door.

'Pray, mistress, your aid,' she pleaded. 'I know not what this is about, but these men have treated me shamefully. I beg you send them away. I crave your protection, if you have power to extend it!'

Anne looked down at Cally's upturned face, tears escaping from large frightened eyes, then smiled cruelly.

'Since I find you unclad in the bed of my betrothed, think you I care what becomes of you?'

*

She stepped aside, took William's arm, and once again approached the door, but before she could reach it, another man, taller than any in the room, carrying a whip in his hand and a cloak over his arm, appeared there. His keen blue eyes took in the scene swiftly, and he bowed courteously to Anne.

'Good morning, Mistress Anne,' he greeted her. 'To what do I owe this very early visit – attended by so many valiant gentlemen?'

'We will discuss it later, my lord, in more suitable surroundings,' she replied coldly, and swept past him and away.

He turned to the man Benjamin. 'Well, sirrah, no doubt you and your escort will care to follow your cousin's example – and leave!'

It was an order, and Ben, smiling but looking discomforted, led the way out, followed by the knavish company. As the last went through the doorway, he had to jump hastily out of the way of the heavy door which was slammed on to his heels.

The tall man turned swiftly to gather Cally, now weeping uncontrollably, into his arms. Gently he carried her to the bed, laid her down on it, covered her, and sat stroking her hair until she calmed. She stared at him piteously and suddenly stretched out her arms to hold him tightly as he bent to kiss her.

'My little love,' he murmured, 'how can I tell you how I regret this? I would not have had you so ill-treated for the whole world. But they will repent it, every one of them, have no fear!'

She managed a tremulous smile, but could not speak, sobs still racking her body.

Richard gentled her with kisses and caresses, whispering sweet nothings into her ears, and at last she took a deep breath and spoke.

'Dear love, thanks be to heaven you came then. I could not have survived much longer.' She shuddered, and he drew her close.

'Here, let me warm you.'

She snuggled up to him, and he drew the coverings of the bed around her, so that she was enfolded in them and his arms, her head on his shoulder. After a few moments she began to speak.

'What shall we do now? I scarce heeded what they said, but that lady – she is your betrothed?'

'Is? Was, more like! Any such arrangement would not last long now with Mistress Anne Laver. And I would not have it so, since I found you existed in this world, my dear Callias.'

'But no – I cannot – I know not what I do!'

'Heed not. From the moment I saw you, nothing else and no one else existed.'

Cally smiled bewitchingly, but with a frown following.

'Richard, pray tell me. I know so little of you, and you know less of me!'

'My estates and those of the Lavers run together near the Welsh Marches. It was the wish of both our fathers that we wed and join the estates, since Sir James Laver had no male heir. But I was never enamoured of the plan. Mistress Anne is proud and haughty, and since our estates are encumbered, she feels she is conferring a great favour on us poor Westons!'

'But you were betrothed?'

'Aye. You think ill of me, no doubt, to treat her so?'

'Why should I? 'Tis but the usual family agreement, made with no regard to the wishes of those most concerned! But those men – her cousins?'

'Yes. Benjamin is the son of Sir James's brother, and is most bitter to see the estates beyond his reach. He wishes to marry Anne himself.'

'For the land?'

'Oh yes, he considers it his due without marrying her – but it goes to her, and he must take her with it, if he can!'

'Does she not want him?'

'Anne was prone to offer herself to the highest bidder. Benjamin has nothing except what he can win with his sword, and is therefore no lure for her. I suspect she had kept on the arrangement our fathers made between us only until a better prospect appears.'

'She was very angry with me, finding me thus in your bed!'

'Angry at your superior beauty, my love – not at how she found you! That would not disturb her – apart from the fact that your beauty was more obvious!'

Cally shuddered, then giggled.

'Oh, my dear, how glad I am you came then. Where had you been?'

'Riding towards Kensington with the King,' he said ruefully.

'So early?'

'Oh, aye, Charles Stuart is off before 'tis light most mornings. He enjoys the sunrise, I'm afraid – and we must join him, whatever our other inclinations, if we want to talk with him!'

'Poor Richard. But he did not seem so last night, at the banquet. He seemed indolent, he scarce moved all evening, and was so late retiring.'

'The man has abundant energy to spare after his years of