Lord Hugo's Wedding

By Marina Oliver

The Earl of Winton was a notorious rake at the Court of Charles II, but falls in love with Sophie when he abducts her in mistake for her cousin Phillipa.
They plan their wedding, but Sophie and her parents must go home to France, where her grandmother is ill.
Strange happenings follow them, and they suspect Hugo's discarded mistress, Kate Trent, and Monsieur de Terville, a probable agent of King Louis XIV, both of whom wish them ill.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marina Oliver
• Release date: Jan 23, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465981936

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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LORD HUGO'S WEDDING

BY

MARINA OLIVER

The Earl of Winton was a notorious rake at the Court of Charles II, but falls in love with Sophie when he abducts her in mistake for her cousin Phillipa.

They plan their wedding, but Sophie and her parents must go home to France, where her grandmother is ill.

Strange happenings follow them, and they suspect Hugo's discarded mistress, Kate Trent, and Monsieur de Terville, a probable agent of King Louis XIV, both of whom wish them ill.

Lord Hugo's Wedding

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 1981 by Robert Hale

For details of Marina's other books see Marina's web site:

http://www.marina-oliver.net.

AUTHOR NOTE

When I finished the previous novel featuring Sophie and the Earl of Winton, Lord Hugo's Bride, I was sad to say farewell to the characters, so I decided to write this sequel with further adventures. The books are quite independent, but I hope you will read the first one too, and some others which are set at the Restoration court of Charles II.

LORD HUGO'S WEDDING

BY MARINA OLIVER

Chapter 1

The Earl of Winton, smiling happily, tapped gently on the bedroom door. There was no reply, and after waiting for a moment or so he gently lifted the latch and pushed the door open.

He walked into the room and across to the bed where the curtains were still closed. He drew the side nearest the window, and looked down at Sophie, her dark curls lying rumpled on the pillow. Smiling tenderly, he bent and kissed her on the lips. She opened her blue eyes and looked up at him, then with a quick smile drew her arms from beneath the covers and slid them round his neck to pull him towards her to return his kiss.

'Did you sleep well, my beloved?' he asked, and she nodded quickly.

'Have I slept too long, Hugo? Is it very late?'

'It is early yet, but we should start soon if we are to reach London at a reasonable hour.'

She sat up, but they made no move to part, and embraced ardently.

'Sophie, my beloved, you have not changed your mind? You will still marry me?'

'Of course. I wish for nought else!'

He sat back and held her hands.

'My dearest, I vow I will do my utmost to keep you happy.'

'I know you will, Hugo, and I am confident you will succeed.'

'I can scarce tear myself away, but we must leave soon. I will go so that you can dress. Leave this nightgown behind.'

She looked at him quickly.

'It is not fit for my wife.'

'I was none the less grateful to Bess for it,' she said laughing, 'for I had no other when I met you at the inn.'

'I will provide you with nightgowns more suitable,' he promised.

'Like the ones in your cottage in Kensington?' she queried mischievously.

'Did you approve of them?' he asked, unabashed.

'I was somewhat startled by their flimsiness, I confess,' she laughed, 'and I was embarrassed to be discovered in one, but when I am your wife I will delight in wearing them for you.'

'As I will delight in seeing you so arrayed,' he told her. 'I will not need to abduct you again before you wear one for me.'

He kissed her quickly and stood up. 'I have ordered breakfast. It will be ready when you are.'

He left her, and Sophie slid out of the bed and dressed. They ate a light breakfast of cold meats and pies, and then departed from the inn and travelled on through Reading towards London in the Earl's coach.

*

They arrived in London late in the afternoon, and Hugo directed the coachman to King Street, where the Marquis and Marquise du Plessis were staying in the house belonging to the Stannerlys.

As they entered the house, her mother came out of the parlour and embraced Sophie.

'My dear, I am so relieved to see you!'

'Did you not receive the message we sent?' Sophie asked.

'Why, yes, but ever since Jeanne and Mr Barlow arrived here yesterday and told us of that dastardly attack on you, I have been overset with anxiety. I must thank you, my lord,' she said, turning to Hugo, 'for the care you had for my daughter, and for escorting her safely home. Will you stay and sup with us, and then you can both tell us what happened? Jeanne and Mr Barlow could tell us so little, and your message merely told us that Sophie was safe and you were bringing her to London.'

'Yes, Hugo, please stay,' Sophie said to him, and he nodded, smiling at her and her mother.

'It would be my pleasure, Madame la Marquise,' he answered.

'Where is Papa?'

'He had some business, but he will be back shortly. Now, my lord, you will no doubt wish to freshen yourself after your journey. You, too, Sophie. Jeanne is awaiting you.'

A footman stepped forward to escort Hugo away, while Sophie, after again embracing her mother, ran upstairs to remove the travel stains and change her dress.

While she was preparing herself for supper, she told Jeanne quickly what had happened since they had been attacked, then urged the girl to hurry in dressing her hair, for she wished to rejoin Hugo as quickly as possible.

When she went downstairs she found that her father had returned, and they met joyfully, but there was no time for questions or explanations before supper was announced. When they were all seated at the table the Marquise turned to her daughter.

'Now, Sophie, you must tell us exactly what happened.'

'It started at Marlborough,' Sophie began to explain. 'When we stayed for the night there we met Bertrand de Terville at the inn. Do you remember him? We met him in Paris.'

'I recall him slightly,' her mother nodded.

'He had been most persistent in his attentions before we left London for Phillipa's wedding. Because King Charles has shown me favour, he was attempting to induce me to act the spy for King Louis, for though he claimed to control La Kéroualle he seemed unsure of her powers over the King!'

'And wanted you to replace her as Charles' mistress?' Sophie's mother asked indignantly. 'The villain!'

'He was unpleasant, but I did not think him dangerous. At Marlborough he suggested I should contrive to be alone with him, pretending there were new developments that would persuade me. I was relieved when we did not see him on the following morning, and we set out having, I thought, avoided him.'

Her father nodded, frowning. 'Mr Barlow told us the fellow seemed unpleasantly familiar, forcing his company on you at supper.'

She told them how they had been attacked, and she forced to accompany the attackers.

'My poor child!' her mother exclaimed. 'Mr Barlow did not tell us this.'

'Methinks he was too far away, and his horse was lame.'

'What happened to you, my dear?' her father asked. 'This wretch carried you off?'

'He took me to a house some distance away from the main road, and took me to a bedroom. Whoever owned the house knew about it.'

'He shall be punished for it, never fear,' the Marquis declared.

'I dissembled when he untied me, and when he was off his guard I was able to hit him on the head.'

The Marquis du Plessis smiled in appreciation, while his wife exclaimed in horror.

'Sophie, it was very brave of you!'

'I climbed out of the window and retrieved a horse from the stables. It was really very simple.'

'But needed courage and determination, qualities you possess in abundance,' Hugo put in, smiling at Sophie. 'I am relieved there was no weapon ready to your hand when I abducted you!'

Sophie dimpled at him.

'I found an inn, but the innkeeper did not consider me respectable enough for his house!'

'The impertinent fellow!' her mother exclaimed in annoyance.

Hugo laughed. 'Forgive me, Madame, but you should have seen her! There were streaks of dirt upon her face, a few twigs entangled in her hair, which was most unruly, and her dress was crumpled, dirty, and torn in a couple of places.'

'It was all from the tree I climbed down,' Sophie said indignantly. 'I would like to see you attempt it and remain immaculately clean and tidy!'

The Marquis' lips twitched, and he regarded his daughter with pleasure and amusement.

'What did you do?' her mother asked.

'Hugo appeared most providentially, and brow-beat the man into submission.' She giggled. 'I have rarely seen the bombast taken out of anyone so quickly! One moment he was turning me out of his respectable inn, in the most scornful manner, and the next he was bowing near double. Yes, milord! No, milord! Certainly, milord! while Hugo just stood on the stairs and looked at him and ordered him to treat me properly.'

'We are thankful you were there, my lord,' the Marquis said. 'Sophie might indeed have had problems in obtaining help in such a condition.'

'I took Sophie to stay with friends. I tried to discover what had happened to Mr Barlow on the following morning. He had set off for London with Jeanne, having heard that de Terville and a lady were before him. He thought, of course, that the lady was Sophie. As soon as I knew the situation I dispatched my footman here to relieve your anxiety.'

'I forgot to say de Terville arrived at the inn before we left,' Sophie explained. 'When we were on the way to these friends, the wretch attacked us, for revenge, no doubt, but Hugo fought him off and left him trussed up. He must have escaped and left early for London on the following morning.'

'We are indeed greatly in your debt, my lord,' the Marquise said, smiling warmly at him. 'Sophie was fortunate to find such a friend when she was in such straits. We owe you our deepest gratitude.'

Hugo smilingly disclaimed this. 'I was happy to be of help, and to meet with Sophie. I will speak to the King about de Terville, and undoubtedly the fellow will be banished from Court. But one thing puzzles me.'

'Which is?'

'I cannot understand why he is so persistent when he knows full well Sophie will not listen to him. I fear his motive may be a different one, since it appears he and Kate Trent are in league. Her wish is to prevent my marriage.'

*

They then began to talk of other things.

'How is your cousin, Sophie? How did you leave her in Somerset?'

'Why, Phillipa is delighted at her new position. She takes her responsibilities about the house most seriously.'

'She is happy?'

'Oh, yes, there is no doubt of that. She and Charles are so deep in love.'

Sophie glanced at Hugo as she spoke, and they smiled at each other, seeming unable to look away. The older man observed them and raised an eyebrow slightly, looking across at his wife. She also had noticed their obvious attraction to each other.

'He is a very pleasant young man,' she commented. 'I think Ned was wise to agree to Phillipa's marrying him, despite his lack of fortune.'

'He will make Phillipa very happy, and they are well suited,' Sophie said.

'How is your aunt?'

'She was sad at losing Phillipa. She and Uncle Ned were missing her intensely, but otherwise they are well.'

'When do they return to London?'

'They did not set a definite date, but within a few weeks they hope to be here so that they can see more of us before we return to France.'

The conversation became more general after this, but as the servants cleared away the last course Hugo turned to Sophie's father.

'May I speak with you, Monsieur le Marquis, before I leave?'

'Why, certainly, my lord. Let us use Ned's study. Will you excuse us, my dears?'

His wife smiled, and Sophie glanced quickly from Hugo to her father, for she knew Hugo would be asking for her hand. Though she did not doubt their ability to persuade her father to agree, she was a little apprehensive, for her father scarcely knew the Earl, and had previously heard only unfavourable reports of him. However, there was nothing to be done, and she smiled warmly at Hugo as he rose to leave the room.

*

In the study the Marquis waved Hugo to a chair, and poured wine for them both.

'What is it you would say to me?' he asked when they were settled.

'I wish to marry your daughter, Monsieur,' Hugo answered. 'I have known for some time that I loved her, and I am happy to say she returns my love. I would ask for your approval, and agreement to our marriage.'

Monsieur du Plessis considered Hugo in silence for a few moments. Having observed their attitude to each other during supper, he had been expecting such a request when Hugo had asked to speak to him, but was a little startled at the manner in which it was phrased.

'Is this not rather sudden, my lord?' he queried at length. 'You have known Sophie for such a short time.'

'Only a few weeks, it is