A Companion for the Count: A Regency Romance, Britton, Sally [books to read for self improvement .txt] 📗

you?” Luca asked, masculine pride deepening his voice. “Thank you, Alice. We will frame it and hang it in our personal quarters at the embassy.”

“Yes. Thank you.” Emma watched her soon-to-be husband roll the paper up carefully, and she tied the bow back in place.

Tomorrow, her life would begin anew. No more longing for adventure or waiting for change. With Luca, Emma would see the world, and learn everything about it she could. Someday, they would teach their children to approach new things with curiosity and a sense of adventure.

Emma was quite certain the next day would be only the beginning of her happily ever after.

* * *

Sir Andrew, though a mere baronet, had been part of the duke’s family in practice if not in reality for most of his life. Watching his cousin nestle happily against her chosen gentleman, and surrounded by people who had known him since infancy ought to have been a peaceful situation.

Instead, he kept shifting his weight. First he leaned back against his hands, then crouched forward; he tried kneeling as well as sitting with legs crossed. But he was too unsettled to remain still for more than a few moments.

When Lady Josephine caught him squirming like a youth in church, she gave him a withering glare. He fully expected a tart remark to follow, but instead she heaved a put-upon sigh and smiled at him. “Would you like to walk with me a moment, Andrew?”

Sensing a trap, he agreed anyway. If he had to sit and watch his cousin exchange doe-eyed glances with her betrothed, he might well say something that would earn him a set down. Not that he begrudged Emma any happiness. But he hated the change.

They strolled away from the group at a leisurely pace, the two of them silent for a number of steps. Andrew watched Josephine from the corner of his eye, noting the way her expression changed with her thoughts.

“You have been remarkably quiet today,” he noted.

Josie shrugged one shoulder. “Emma said not to enter any battles with you today.”

He chuckled. “So we are incapable of having a conversation without argument? That makes us seem like spoiled children.”

Her lips twitched. “Precisely what I was thinking. It is rather awful of us, isn’t it? Can we not agree on anything?”

“I am certain we agree on many things. I just like to torment you by offering counterpoints.” He grinned broadly when she glared at him. “But if my cousin has decreed no arguments today, we had better adhere to her wishes.”

With a regal nod, Josie faced forward again and tucked her hands behind her back. “I will miss her terribly when she leaves with him, though I am happy for her. Emma has been with me as long as I can remember.”

“You two were rather like twins all those years ago.” Only five years Emma’s senior, Andrew could well remember the early years when his cousin had first come to be with the duke’s family. “Whatever will you do with yourself, Josie?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “You aren’t supposed to call me that, you know. I am far too grown up. And so are you. Only my family calls me that.”

That stung. Andrew forced a smile. “Forgive me, my lady. I overstepped.”

She huffed. “Don’t you dare—”

“No, I insist upon offering my deepest apologies. I, a lowly baronet, presuming to use a familial pet name—it is inexcusable.” He bowed deeply to her, flourishing his hand as he did. “I must owe you a forfeit for such a breach in etiquette. Or else you may name a champion to duel me for your besmirched honor.”

“You are ridiculous, Andrew.” Josephine put one fist on her hip and glared at him. “Why do I even bother trying to interact with you at all? You are nothing more than a little boy who has outgrown his leading strings.” She turned and went back the way they had come, marching with shoulders stiff, straight as a soldier.

Andrew chuckled to himself as she went, then turned his attention to James and the dog. He shrugged. If she thought him a little boy, he might as well enjoy himself like one.

He went to play with the boy and dog, pretending not to notice whether Josephine looked his way again. Someday, he’d best her in their continual battle of wits and wills. Once and for all, he’d win their friendly little war.

* * *

If you enjoyed this gentle tale of love, and you’re wondering about Sir Andrew and Lady Josephine’s on-going battle of wits and teasing, you ought to know that the next book in the series is all about them.

Sir Andrew and the Authoress, available Autumn 2021, can be ordered now.

You can also keep up with Sally Britton’s release dates and other work by signing up for her newsletter.

Author’s Notes Or “What is Real and What I Made Up.”

Castle Clairvoir is largely based upon the real-life Castle Belvoir (pronounced Bee-ver), the seat of the current Duke of Rutland. The history of the family who built the current castle (as several have existed in the same spot before) inspired the history of my Duke of Montfort and his family, with a few notable exceptions. The inspiration for the gardens came from following Castle Belvoir on Instagram. You should take a peek if you want a good feel for the setting of this book.

The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was quite real. That’s the first question readers have asked about this book. It existed for a brief time in the 19th Century. It was a fascinating time in Italian history—Italy as we know it today was divided in two, between Austria and Spain. Secret societies formed in an effort to unify Italy under its own flag, or to take it back to its original city-states. England and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies had several treaties and trade deals, so it would not be entirely hard to believe an ambassador from the fledgling