Saving Lord Cheswick: Regency Redemption, #2

By Tess St. John

Before she agrees to a marriage proposal from a man she does not love, Miss Constance Lansing travels to London to help her cousin open a bakery. She's instantly charmed and soon falls in love with Mr. Graham Brinton, who offers to show her around Town and takes her on the best adventures of her life.

 

Graham, a former intelligence officer, gave up on love when his childhood sweetheart married his best friend, yet spending time with Constance restores his faith in love. When he learns his best friend is in mortal danger abroad, Graham is honor bound to rescue him. He refuses to divulge his feelings for Constance. By not telling her he risks her marrying another, but how can he ask her to wait for him when he doesn't know if he will make it back alive?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tess St. John
• Release date: Apr 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9780986220531

Book preview

Chapter One

London, England ~ Early Spring 1820

Graham Brinton woke to a banging knock beating into his skull like a mallet. He growled and scrunched his closed eyes. He’d consumed too much whiskey last night. Lately, he drank every day in celebration of his brother’s return from the dead. It afforded him a reasonable excuse to be jug-bitten. In truth, drinking to excess had become a necessity to forget the war, his youth, and his life.

Funny thing, no matter how much he drank, he never forgot. He passed out from time to time, but when he woke the memories anxiously awaited him.

Another knock.

Blooming hell. He should’ve gone to his flat last night. His servants understood never to wake him unless the plagues of Hell were uprising. Likewise, the servants here at his brother’s home knew as well.

The door hinges squeaked. Graham? his brother called.

He was glad to know the staff still respected his wishes. Bugger off.

Tristan ignored the warning. I would apologize if it was not two in the afternoon.

Graham buried his face deeper into the pillow. I thought you and Millicent planned to hunt for bakery locations today.

Ursula and Annise paid a visit before we had a chance to leave. His brother’s footfalls neared the bed. Nate is missing.

What? He lifted his head and flinched when the quick movement caused him a second of dizziness. Luckily, openings in the drapes let in enough sunlight to see without making him squint. Officially?

Tristan stood by the footboard, looking every bit the proper viscount in a dark blue suit and white cravat. Not that I am aware. Ursula’s upset because she has not received a letter from him in months. She believes something happened to him.

A real possibility. Is Lord Belmont with her?

No. Her father thinks she is overreacting.

I am sure he does. He’s never cared for her feelings. He took a deep breath and stamped down his rising irritation. This was about Nate, not about the old pain Belmont caused Graham. Damn Nate and how he romanticizes intelligence work.

And damn him for being so good at it.

That too.

Tristan leaned against the bedpost. When her father declined to search for Nate, Ursula went to General Winthrop’s office. Winthrop was out, and Coleman explained Nate’s new assignment prevents him from writing often.

What else would he say? He can’t bloody well tell her, ‘Madam, your husband works for the Royal Army as a spy.’

Keep your voice down.

Ursula is his wife, she should know.

I cannot dispute Nate’s decisions where his wife is concerned. Tristan appeared as frustrated as Graham. However, his brother possessed a knack for patience and tact Graham did not. Do you have any idea where he might be?

He could be anywhere. Graham rolled out of bed and winced. The pounding in his head sounded more like a drum now. He yanked the bellpull near the wardrobe. He’d used this room his entire life, but moved out weeks ago when Tristan and Millicent returned from their honeymoon. The dark, heavy furniture and green fabrics suited him. Suspecting he would often stay at the house, he’d left some of his clothes. He stomped over to drag his trousers and shirt from the dresser.

You mentioned Nate came to see you while I was presumed dead, Tristan said.

Yes. Graham slid the shirt over his head. He was quite upset about the news of your death and told me he decided to take on a new assignment.

Did he indicate where the mission would take place?

He was uncertain. There are undercurrents of Greeks who desire to be independent and free of Turkish rule. He swears there will be a revolution in Greece that will trigger a civil war.

At the very least, Tristan agreed. Did he explain his purpose?

"Only to say he would be assisting the Filiki Eteria. The secret Greek organization is a powerful movement and has membership numbers in the thousands. They are situated in almost every region of Greece and in Greek communities all over the world."

It will have to be powerful to overtake the Turks. Tristan rubbed his eyes. They’ve been in control of Greece a long time.

Too long, evidently.

Tristan’s valet entered with a mug in his hand. Graham knew the mug held Mrs. Innis’s special concoction. The beauty of having been the viscount for a time was the staff knew to bring Graham something for the aftereffects of his drinking each morning.

He stilled. The notion of him requiring something for a headache daily, and the staff recognizing it, suddenly bothered him.

No time for contemplating that disturbing thought, he gulped the vile brew.

After freshening up, the potion had worked its magic, and Graham’s head felt much improved as he stepped into the library behind Tristan. Landscapes hung over the sofas on two of the walls. Shelves lined with books and windows took up the rest of the wall space.

Ursula waited by the windows. Sunshine streaming into the room lit sparks in her blonde hair. She turned toward him, and their eyes met. The mere sight of her no longer jabbed like a hot poker to his heart. He did not experience the gut-wrenching pain he’d suffered following her marriage. He could finally be around her without longing to hold her. In an act of self-preservation, he rarely engaged her in conversation. She sent letter upon letter after her wedding, and Graham returned each one unopened. She’d recently sent more, and he refused to accept those as well. He’d made himself move on in the wake of her nuptials and only wished her well.

She rushed forward and stopped in front of him. A sob escaped her. Nate is dead.

Do you have confirmation?

No. But since he left on this assignment, he has faithfully written to me every two weeks, and I have received nothing from him in months.

You say that with an unfounded confidence posts are always prompt, he replied sarcastically.

She huffed out a half-laugh, half-cry.

He drew out his handkerchief and handed it to her.

Annise, Ursula’s younger sister, walked up and kissed his cheek. Same blonde hair and blue eyes as her sister, Annise wore gold-rimmed spectacles. She insisted on coming to see you.

Graham nodded. If Nate had landed in trouble or needed aid, he wanted to know. He glanced back to Ursula. If you stopped receiving posts a while ago, why do you suddenly think something has happened to Nate?

It is not sudden. I have been worried for a while.

She has, Annise added.

I sent you correspondences telling you of my apprehension. You sent them back unopened. Her eyes looked wounded, hurt. I have tried to speak to you, yet you hardly acknowledge me whenever we are in the same room.

He had no defense to her accusations. Everything she said was true.

Recently... Ursula put her hands over her heart. I suffer this feeling something terrible has or is going to happen to him.

At her words, he wondered at the couple’s closeness. He’d seen them together since they’d spoken their vows and never saw them so much as touch one another. Rather than let himself ponder those thoughts, he dismissed them. Their marriage was none of his affair. We will investigate. We are no longer in the army and privy to information on government matters, though.

Oh, Graham. She stepped closer, hesitated, then threw her arms around his neck.

This was the first time they’d hugged in eight years. She felt different in his arms. A distance separated them. The intimacy they’d shared for so many years was gone. Gratefully gone.

When they were children, he’d been the one she ran to when frightened or in need of comfort. Not her parents, or her sister, or her nanny ... him. He’d purposely distanced himself from her since her wedding, but as he embraced her, he believed he could manage a friendship with her now.

I knew you would help. She buried her face in his coat.

He politely patted her back until she released him.

We cannot make you promises. We may learn naught, Tristan added.

I understand. She hurried over to hug his brother. I am just grateful you are not dismissing me. Father completely ignores my worry.

Annise grunted. He ignores everything. He cares only about his dogs and his port. I hope they will be enough to sustain him throughout the rest of his life.

Annise, Ursula chastised in an exasperated voice. What of mother?

He cares for her least of all.

Graham’s lips twitched. The two had bickered about this topic since they were young. Lasses, you can fight about your parents another time.

Ursula turned from her sister to face him. Thank you for checking into this.

Ever at your service. Graham had repeated the same to her many times during his life. Except it should not be his duty anymore. When they found Nate, he would insist his friend be more of a husband to her and tell her about his work.

If they could find him.

If he is alive.

~

Cromer, England

Pardon? Miss Constance Lansing blinked twice. Had she heard the man correctly?

Red hair combed to perfection and the freckles on his face more pronounced with the afternoon sun pouring down from the heavens and sparkling off the ocean water, Mr. Hamish Sharp cleared his throat. I asked if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife.

Her stomach jolted.

Marry him?

In an attempt to hide her reaction, she tilted her head to the left, struggling to think of something to say. No words came to her. Shock obliterated her sense. Waves crashing to the shoreline roared in her ears.

I believe I’ll make a suitable husband. Our fathers are friends and our families know each other. He shyly smiled. You’re a most beautiful lass.

His last words eliminated her surprise. No man had ever said something so splendid to her. How kind.

I can assure you, I will be the best of husbands. We will live close so you can continue to help your mother and father run the inn. At a time when my father is ready to hand over his smithy, I’ll assume his duties and business.

His words pressed heavily on her heart, yet not quite as heavily as they once would have. When young, she and her cousin, Millicent, would write to each other about how they dreamed of marrying a prince they loved. As she grew up, she understood a prince would never come for her, but still wished for love and a man who might spirit her away from Cromer to a better life elsewhere. You must speak to my father.

I did. Yesterday.

Papa gave his permission?

He said I needed your acceptance, and seeing as how you are currently without suitors, he would support our union if you were agreeable.

Drat.

She had no suitors presently or previously. Many in the village considered her peculiar because she preferred to spend the little free time she had outside or in the stables with the animals. Hamish never seemed bothered by her oddity. They’d known each other since childhood and were of a similar age.

She should say yes and be grateful he offered. She’d begun to think no man ever would. Her mother had been right when she explained people of their ilk were not meant for lives of romance.

Hamish was a gentle sort, and she would more than likely live a comfortable life with him, even if boring.

Perhaps she was being unfair to the man. She knew without a doubt he would never hurt her. He’d always seemed shy and nervous around her. Had he been hiding his fondness for her?

Contemplation of his affections would wait until later. Hamish, I’m flattered by your proposal. May I answer you when I return from my trip to London?

His face fell, and she loathed herself for his discomfort.

It is just that I promised my cousin I’d visit. I wish to go while I am unmarried. I would not want to leave a husband for a month or two.

His face brightened. You’re not refusing me?

She shook her head. Quite the contrary. I would be a fool to refuse a man as kind as you. Upon my homecoming, I will come to you straightaway and give you my response.

The bell on the door to the inn tinkled. Papa exited and headed toward them. Am I interrupting?

She squinted at him. Hamish proposed. I told him I would give him my answer when I arrive back from London.

Papa frowned. You still plan to go?

I promised Millicent. She begged me, Papa, I must go.

Indeed. His lips pressed into a straight line. Hamish, it was my plan to welcome you to the family today, but I guess I will have to wait.

Miss Constance is worth whatever wait I may suffer. He pointed at his horse with his thumb. I must get back. My father is expecting me.

She reached out a hand to him. I’ll see you upon my homecoming.

I eagerly await the day. He kissed her hand, shook her father’s, then started toward his horse. Once mounted, he saluted to them and shot off down the sandy coast.

Why didn’t you warn me?

Her father rubbed his neck. Your mother thought it better to surprise you.

She did?

"She gave me an entire story