Lady Ellingham and the Theft of the Stansfield Necklace: A Regency Romance
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Authors: Miriam Rochester
Regency Romance
By
Miriam
Rochester
Cover
Design
by
Melody
Simmons of eBookindiecovers
This
Novel is a work of fiction with all main characters being a product of the
author’s imagination.
All
references to real characters and places are in a fictitious context and any
resemblance to actual places, people or events is purely coincidental.
No
part of this publication can be copied or transmitted without the author’s
permission.
Miriam
Rochester
Table
of Contents
Lady
Felicity Ellingham is as impetuous as she is beautiful; a character trait that
frequently leads her into trouble. One day she goes too far when she accuses
the Marquis of Thorndale of stealing a valuable sapphire and diamond necklace
belonging to her friend. Unaware that the necklace is a famous family heirloom
belonging to The Marquis’s grandmother the Dowager Duchess, Felicity steals it
back, nearly being caught in the process. As Lord Thorndale sets out on a
crusade to find his blue-eyed burglar, Felicity has the problem of returning
it. Her impetuosity has serious consequences resulting in a duel at dawn,
subterfuge, kidnap and eventually the endangerment of her very life. The only
man that can save her from herself is the very man she has accused.
A
light heated yarn that will keep you amused.
1816
It was the middle
of London’s little season and Felicity Ellingham was sitting in the drawing
room in Upper Brook Street enjoying the rare luxury of her own company. It was
raining outside once again, it had never ceased for the whole of the summer. The
authorities had put it down to low solar activity and increased volcanic
eruptions throughout the winter of 1815, resulting in such heavy rainfalls.
Felicity was
engrossed in a wickedly delicious novel when Wilson, the family butler, entered
to announce the arrival of her friend, a slightly damp Emily Entwhistle. The
butler tactfully withdrew and Emily entered the room in obvious agitation. Felicity
put her book down and rose to greet her friend. ‘Why Emily whatever is the
matter?’ Emily could no longer contain her composure and burst into tears. ‘Oh Flick,
what am I to do. The most dreadful thing has happened.’
Felicity guided
her friend to the sofa and sat down beside her. She took hold of her slim white
hand and patted it reassuringly. ‘Emily, I cannot imagine what can have put you
in such a fret but I am sure it is nothing that cannot be sorted out in a moment.’
Emily took out a white lace handkerchief from her reticule and dabbed her eyes.
‘Oh Flick, you cannot imagine, I do not know where to turn. Whatever am I to
do?’ Felicity looked patiently at her friend. Knowing her propensity to
exaggerate, she was not alarmed. She replied calmly, ‘Well Emily, I can hardly
advise you if you do not tell me what it is.’
Emily blew her
nose loudly. ‘It is Lord Alexander Sheraton, the Marquis of Thorndale, he has
taken my sapphire and diamond necklace and refuses to give it back. Grandmamma
lent it to me for the season. Oh, how can I tell her that I have lost it? She
will never forgive me’
Felicity’s jaw
dropped in astonishment. She knew the Marquis had a shocking reputation, but
she could not imagine that he would stoop as low as theft and especially from
someone less privileged than himself. ‘Are you sure that you have not just lost
or misplaced it? How can you be sure that he took it?’ Emily nodded her dainty
head. ‘No I have not misplaced it. You do not understand, he took it from me
forcefully last night at Lady Colchester’s ball.’ Emily burst into fresh
tears. ‘Oh Felicity I have been so foolish. The Marquis has been paying me so
much attention lately and I really thought he liked me, oh how can I have been
so taken in?’
Felicity was
still stunned by the revelation. She had not particularly noticed that the Marquis
had singled Emily out for any special attention, but there again they did not
always attend the same circles; neither could she understand his behaviour.
She was perplexed. ‘But I do not understand how he could take it from you in
the middle of a crowded ballroom, indeed he must be very clever or very quick
for no-one to notice.’
A faint blush
rose to Emily’s dimpled cheeks and she lowered her head in embarrassment. ‘I am
ashamed to say that I accompanied him into the garden. Oh, I know I should not
have but he was so persuasive. You must admit Felicity he does have a certain
presence and he is very handsome. He led me to the pagoda and he kissed me.’
Emily’s colour rose even more as she continued with her story. ‘He was
everything I desired. He stirred feelings in me that I did not think I could
have. For a moment I felt like I was in the clouds but then he became more
demanding and wanted more.’ Emily turned her head away as she recalled. ‘His
hands were everywhere, I became frightened and I tried to push him away but he
just laughed and carried on.’
Felicity could
feel her anger rising as Emily continued. She could hardly voice her fears.
‘Emily he did not...’ she left the sentence unfinished. ‘No, he finally gave up
and released me. He said I was an ungrateful chit, considering all the
attention he had bestowed on me but he was not one to take an unwilling Lady in
Lady Colchester’s garden.’ She sighed. ‘I was so relieved but then without
warning he grabbed me again, pulled me too him and took the necklace off my
neck. He said that if I did not want to give of myself, some little gift in
payment for all he had spent on me should suffice. I was never more mortified.
So you see Felicity, things could not be much worse. What am I to do? I
cannot go back home to grandmamma without the necklace.’
Felicity was
incensed. Everyone knew the errant Marquis was wild but this affair sunk him
beyond reproach. This was certainly not the behaviour expected of a member of
the ton, even someone with a reputation like Lord Thorndale. To resort to
common thievery seemed unthinkable, and goodness, it could not be as if he
needed funds.
Felicity patted
Emily on the shoulder. She looked small and vulnerable with her short brown
curls cut in a boyish bob and her big brown eyes hopeful behind her
unflattering spectacles. Emily was obviously expecting her friend to come up
with some miraculous solution but nothing presented itself but the obvious.
‘Well Emily there is only one thing you can do. You must tell your uncle for
after all he is your guardian and must bring Lord Thorndale to account.’
Even as she said
it, Felicity doubted that Emily’s uncle would be equal to the task of
confronting the Marquis. Her uncle was a tall, thin and somewhat fragile
looking gentleman in his early forties and had accompanied Emily to London for
the season. He presented himself more as a fop as opposed to the Corinthian leanings
that marked the character of Alexander Sheraton. No Emily’s uncle appeared to
be no match for the likes of the Marquis of Thorndale.
Emily broke into
her thoughts. ‘Thorndale would deny it and who would believe us? Not even the
magistrate would take the matter seriously. It would be the word of a mere Mr Entwhistle
as opposed to that of the Marquis, despite his reputation. Without evidence,
my uncle would be a laughing stock.’
‘But surely you must
have proof that the necklace is yours, a receipt or perhaps a matching piece.’
Emily nodded her head dismally. No the necklace was not part of a set. It was
a family heirloom and she doubted the existence of a bill of sale. Felicity was
not to be outdone. ‘Maybe it features in a private portrait somewhere at home.’
Emily sighed. ‘You forget Felicity that I am not like you, the daughter of an
Earl and a great Lady. My grandmamma has saved up most of her life so that I
could enjoy one season in London. I may be gently born but I do not come from
one of the great family houses, my home in Northumberland is hardly scattered
with an abundance of family portraits.’ Felicity bit her lip. ‘I am sorry I
did not think. Dear me this is a dilemma.’
Emily started to
say something but hesitated not quite knowing how to formulate her request. ‘I thought
that perhaps your brother could do something, perhaps approach the Marquis on
my behalf.’
Felicity knew her
brother well. Well enough to know that he would not interfere in a matter that
did not concern him. Moreover, she knew that he had no great fondness for
Emily and disapproved of their friendship. She had not known Emily long but she
had found her refreshing and entertaining and the two had quickly become
friends. Emily continued as if reading her thoughts. ‘I know I am not Richard’s
most favourite person but if you explain matters maybe he would help me just
this once.’
Felicity was most
embarrassed for her brother and took Emily’s hand. ‘You must not mind Richard,’
she assured her. ‘He never was a good judge of character but I know that he
will not involve himself in this imbroglio. He will just advise you to go to your
uncle or to the authorities.’ Emily gave a wan smile. ‘I am sorry Felicity I
should not have asked it of you, it was unfair of me but I am at my wits end.’
‘Well,’ Felicity
replied. ‘Maybe the Marquis just means to let you to suffer for a while because
his pride is hurt and he has every intention of giving the necklace back to you.
After all what could he want with it? It is not as if he needs to sell it, he
is one of the richest men in England. Why, he must be richer than Croesus
himself. No I do not understand it.’
Felicity was not
too confident but tried to reassure her friend. ‘Don’t worry Emily I am sure we
will think of something.’
******
Not long after
Emily left, Felicity’s mother Lady Sophia Ellingham the Countess of Lealholme,
entered the drawing room to find Felicity lost in thought. The Countess picked
up the book that Felicity had been reading and gave her an affectionate scold.
‘Mmm Ambrosio, or the Monk, reading saucy novels again, I should really
reprimand you but I have not the heart in me to do so.’ She turned the book
over in her hand and then thumbed through the pages. ‘It looks quite scandalous,
when you have finished reading it, you must lend it to me.’ Felicity laughed.
‘Really mama, you are worse than me, and how can you possibly scold me when you
are itching to read it yourself.’
Her mother quipped
mischievously. ‘Ah but you forget Felicity, I am a widow and as such I am
allowed to read such things.’
Felicity’s mother
at 47 was still an attractive woman and Felicity was very much like her. They
were both tall with slender figures but Felicity was an inch taller than her mother.
They both had the same deep violet blue eyes that sparkled with mischief and it
was clear that Felicity had inherited her mother’s sense of humour, her feisty
nature and longing for adventure. Felicity however had these qualities much
more in abundance; often causing her mother moments of unease and disquiet, for
Felicity’s impetuous nature led her into trouble more often than not.
The Countess’s
hair of mid blonde, was beginning to show a hint of grey and did not quite
compare to Felicity’s luxurious deep golden curls and the Countess would often
tease Felicity that each grey hair was as a result of each one of her countless
scrapes. Felicity only laughed reminding her dear mama that she could not
complain as her grand mamma’s hair was lily white!
Sophia Ellingham
was still thumbing through the pages of the novel when Felicity broached her
with a question. ‘Mother, what do you know about the Marquis of Thorndale?’ Her
mother looked up sharply. ‘The Marquis of Thorndale? Why are you asking about
him?’ Felicity was nonchalant. ‘Oh I was just curious that is all.’
Felicity’s mother
was easy going but her laid-back demeanour had its limits. She was immediately
alert. ‘Do not tell me that you wish to set your cap at him!’
Felicity sighed.
‘Mother, I promise I do not wish to set my cap at him. He has shown an
interest in a friend that is all.’
‘Thank God for
that,’ the Countess replied. ‘I may appear indolent but I will put my foot
down at that connection, and goodness knows what Richard would say.’
A deep pleasant voice
sounded from the doorway. ‘What Richard would say to what?’
Both heads
turned at once to see the tall, handsome countenance of the Earl of Lealholme
standing in the doorway. The family resemblance was remarkable. His hair was
a darker blonde with copper tones but he had the same deep violet blue eyes.
He had a more serious disposition than either his mother or his sister but
perhaps that was just as well as he had inherited the Earldom at an early age, after
the premature death of his father just two years previously. At 23 years of
age, he was the same age as his sister and in fact, her younger twin by eleven
minutes. He was still very young to take on his father’s mantel but he had
proved capable. Richard walked over, kissed his mother on the cheek, and
repeated his question. ‘What Richard would say to what mother?’
‘Oh Richard, we
were just discussing the Marquis of Thorndale and his outrageous reputation and
Felicity was wondering if he is so very bad.’ Richard stiffened. ‘Thorndale? You
mean Stansfield’s heir? I know of him, enough to tell you that Lord Alexander Sheraton
is no fit subject for conversation in this drawing room. I do not know what
your interest could be but I can assure you on this fact, he is no fit husband
for you Felicity, no matter how gentle his birth or large his fortune.’
Felicity
giggled. She could not help but laugh at Richards’s rigid countenance. ‘Do not
be such a nodcock Richard; I have no desire to court the interest of Thorndale.
I was just curious about his reputation. Rumour has it that he is a thief.’
Richard
was taken totally by surprise. 'A thief! What nonsense is this? Thorndale may
be many things but he is no thief. Anyway, from what source have you this
information? I have heard no such rumours in the clubs and doubt very much
that they could be true,’
Not
wishing to implicate her friend, Felicity hesitated to answer but Richard was
not one to be easily gulled. ‘I take it you have been speaking to Emily Entwhistle
again, well Felicity you know my opinion on that connection and I would advise
you not believe a word she says. Why if the man were a thief, he would not be
tolerated in Society. No Felicity, Emily goes too far.’
Felicity
recalled her interview with her friend earlier in the day. Her distress seemed
real enough and so were the tears. No, she thought to herself, Richard was
sadly mistaken this time and rose admirably in defence of her friend. ‘No, you
would not believe it if the facts were right in front of your very nose for you
have never cared for Emily. I am sure I do not know why, whatever has the girl
done to you to warrant such dislike?’