The Regency Storybook by Lesley-Anne McLeod

Author:Lesley-Anne McLeod [McLeod, Lesley-Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Regency Fiction, Regency Romance, Illustrated book, Romance, Great Britain, Historical Fiction, 19th Century
ISBN: 9781601741677
Publisher: Uncial Press
Published: 2013-09-13T07:00:00+00:00

"Valeria, do me the courtesy of joining me in the drawing room."

Valeria Fulbourn stopped in mid-flight down the main staircase of the house in Grosvenor-street, the tail of her riding habit draped over her arm. She turned to look at her father, who stood on the broad landing above her. "Papa, I am going to the troop review in Hyde Park. There are to be ten thousand troops on the march and every dignitary imaginable present. I would not miss it for the world! I believe Ingham and Millock are already arrived, and Fleece is being walked in the street--"

"Your suitors will wait on your arrival--they are cluttering my library--and your mount will take no harm." Lord Tewholme, a fine figure of a gentleman in middle age, looked stern. "We have a visitor, who will be staying with us, and it is imperative that you meet now."

Valeria rolled her eyes, though it was best to be wary of Papa when he sounded so uncompromising. "A guest? You said nothing of a guest these past days. Is it someone come for the celebrations of the Peace? You should have informed me earlier. Mrs. Stroud must know. A chamber should be prepared."

"I have taken care of all that." Her choleric parent's colour was rising. "Come to the drawing room, if you please."

Valeria knew she should not, but she also knew that her father doted upon her, so she argued. "Can I not meet this mysterious person at dinner? There will be some thousands of people attending the review. If we are late, we might not be admitted to the Park at all, and we will not see the notables and the royals. It could be my only opportunity to see the Emperor Alexander, and the Grand Duchess, and Prince Blucher, Papa." Valeria paused on the step below the landing, poised for departure.

"You have already seen them, Valeria. We trip over them at every rout, every ball, and every excursion abroad." The viscount extended his hand, requiring her attendance on him. He sighed with impatience. "'Tis my heir come to visit. You will join me now."

Valeria dropped her crop and the train of her dark red habit. Regrettably, she gaped at her irate parent. "Fulbourne of Norfolk? You should have told me days ago..."

"You would have made certain you were absent had I given you advance warning." His deep voice was a growl as he withdrew his hand. "Come with me!"

Valeria, incurably honest, had to grant him the truth of that statement. As her father's only child, and a female, she had always known that the viscount's dignities and his entailed properties would descend to her second cousin, Garrick Tew Fulbourne. She had deplored the necessity since she had been old enough to understand the situation, and she had detested the said heir for nearly as long. He had visited only once before, on that occasion at the family seat at Tewholme, in Suffolk. The visit had not been a success.

She picked up

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