The Lord's Reluctant Bride

By Roxie Brandon

Lady Regina Moore is not loved by her father. In fact, the Duke of Warwickshire loves none of his daughters. The oldest, Abigail, has been disowned for disobeying him. Her other sisters have not fared any better. So Regina should not have been surprised to find out that her father has gambled her hand away.

Fleeing from the horror, which must be waiting for her, she runs straight into the arms of the Marquess of Wiltshire the very man who has won her hand in a gamble. Despite their instant attraction, she has no intention of developing any affections for the man.

But the Marquess is more than he seems and when the Duke and his ilk threaten those Regina holds close, he will get the opportunity to show her that he is everything she could ever wish for.

Enjoy this clean and wholesome Regency romance with a sweet happily ever after!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roxie Brandon
• Release date: May 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005185367

Roxie Brandon

Roxie Brandon is an author of historical and contemporary romance, beauty and fashion books.Her romances range in setting from Medieval times to the Twentieth Century.She loves walks in the countryside and having afternoon tea with family and friends.

Book preview

THE LORD’S

RELUCTANT BRIDE

Copyright © 2021 Roxie Brandon All Rights Reserved

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Chapter One

On you go now. Be brave.

Lady Regina Moore, the fourth daughter of the Duke of Warwickshire, patted her elder sister’s hand and tried to smile. She knew full well that her sister did not wish to marry the Marquess of Weston, but that due to her father’s insistence that she do so or be cut off from the family, she had very little choice.

I cannot, Charlotte wailed, tears spilling from her eyes as she refused to leave the carriage. I love another.

Regina, or Regina for short, blinked rapidly, staring at her sister in shock. Charlotte, being her twin sister, had very similar colouring to Regina, with her light blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes. Those eyes now looked back at her with utter misery in them. Charlotte grasped Regina’s hands.

He said he would be here. He said he would come and now…

Who, Charlotte? Regina asked firmly. Tell me who it is you are speaking of.

Charlotte sniffed, and in frustration, Regina pulled out her lace handkerchief and handed it to her sister. Biting her lip, she waited patiently for Charlotte to stop crying and speak a little more coherently, all the while knowing that their father was waiting for them both inside the church.

Viscount Westbroke, Charlotte whispered, her eyes dropping to her toes. We have been secretly in love for many months, but you know that Father would never accept him.

Regina closed her eyes and tried not to let the pain she felt for her sister pierce her heart.

Oh, Charlotte. How foolish. You know Father would never allow him to court you. His title is of no consequence, and besides which, Father has already stated that he will determine each of our marriages.

Charlotte shook her head. I will not marry that man. He is twice my age and has already lost one wife.

You must, Regina exclaimed, despite the knowledge that she was condemning her sister to a lifetime of misery by urging her into such a thing. Father will not stand for your refusal.

Father will not stand for anyone getting in his way, Charlotte replied, lifting her chin and looking back firmly into Regina’s face.

I am tired of it, Regina. I will not do what he asks. I must find courage from somewhere, even if Lord Westbroke does not appear.

Fear clutched at Regina’s heart. She and Charlotte had already witnessed what would occur if one of them refused to do as their father said. Their eldest sister, Abigail, had steadfastly refused to be married to a gentleman of their father’s choosing, mostly due to the fact that he was the age of their father and had an alleged penchant for beating his staff and anyone else who got in his way. She had been sent from the house with nothing but the clothes on her back.

Regina could still remember how she had pressed her face up against the window as Abigail had stood on the doorstep, her shawl around her shoulders as her tear-streaked face peered back up at her. Somehow, Charlotte had managed to throw a few shillings down to her from a window, but since that day, Abigail had never been seen or heard from again.

Sometimes at night, Regina would wake with the certainty that Abigail was calling her from somewhere and would rush to the window to see if she was there, but of course, she never was. Regina had never forgotten that moment, even though it was, by now, eight years since Abigail had left, and the fear of it still lingered deep within her soul.

Please, Charlotte, she pleaded, grasping Charlotte’s hands tightly. You cannot do this.

I can, if only Lord Westbroke would come, Charlotte whispered, her face now white and pinched, yet determined. He said he would attend, he said…

She trailed off as a sudden rumble of carriage wheels was heard, her eyes widening as she looked out of the window.

Charlotte, no! Regina exclaimed, as Charlotte began to scrabble at the door. You cannot do this! What will Father say?

Pausing, Charlotte looked back at her sister.

Do you remember Emma?

Shaking her head, Regina tried to deny what she already knew – their sister Emma, the sister between Charlotte and Abigail, who had been married to Lord Fernshire for a little over a year. The last time they had seen her, she had been a shadow of her former self – pale, gaunt, and with no light in her eyes. She had not even seemed pleased to see them.

I will not let that be me, Charlotte continued with alacrity. I am worth more than what our father thinks. I’ve sent the driver away on some ridiculous errand so that he cannot tell Father my whereabouts. The only witness will be you.

Charlotte’s words worked their way into Regina’s mind, but still her fear held sway.

Father will never allow this, Charlotte. He will find you somehow and put a stop to whatever it is you have planned.

Charlotte did not seem to hear her, and Regina, feeling more and more desperate by the minute, was left to simply sit and watch as a handsome young man opened the door of his carriage and strode towards theirs.

We must hurry, Charlotte cried, flinging the door open and practically throwing herself into Lord Westbroke’s arms. Father may come in search of me at any moment.

Regina, too stunned to speak, felt herself grow cold with fear, terrified that her father would stride from the church and lay such a punishment on herself and on Charlotte that neither of them would be able to stand it. And then, her gaze was drawn to the delighted smile on Charlotte’s face, the way she looked into Viscount Westbroke’s eyes, the tender touch of his fingers as they brushed down her sister’s cheek.

Do not cry, my love, he said, walking her back towards the carriage. Soon we will be in Scotland, and not even your father will be able to stop us.

Something broke inside Regina, something that pushed away her fear and forced her to move. She struggled out of the carriage, rushing over to Lord Westbroke’s where Charlotte was already making her way inside.

I’m sorry, Charlotte, she cried, grasping at her sister’s hands. Forgive me for trying to push you into this. I should have listened, I should have tried to understand.

Charlotte shook her head and smiled, looking more radiant than Regina had ever seen her.

You are afraid. I understand that. So was I. Her eyes travelled towards Lord Westbroke, who was waiting to climb in. "But Lord Westbroke has proved to me that love is not something that should be cast aside, nor easily forgotten. He has shown me that I have the right to choose my own path. I will thwart our father’s plans, for he