The Beguiling Earl: Regency in Color Book 5 Read online

  The Beguiling Earl

  REGENCY IN COLOR BOOK 5

  HILDIE MCQUEEN

  The Beguiling Earl, Regency in Color Book 5

  Copyright © 2022 by Hildie McQueen

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  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without written permission.

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  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Contents

  About this Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  About this Book

  After the loss of his wife, Lord Grantham Mackenzie resolves to remain single forever. Father to two young boys, he hires a governess to ensure their care and education. Despite his wish to not remarry, his feelings for his sons’ tutor grows over time. However, Grantham fears exposing how he feels could drive her away. When they head to his family estate in the country, his mother invites a woman in hopes of convincing Grantham to marry.

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  Governess, Octavia Smith, has three loves, her two young charges and their father, the handsome Lord Mackenzie. Wishing to remain in the lad’s life as long as possible, she must hide the attraction she feels toward their father and risk being discharged. When the Lord entertains a wealthy young heiress at his country estate, Octavia must decide if she can remain in his employ and watch him marry another woman.

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  Will they come to term with the strength of their love, or will they allow social dictates to dash their dreams forever?

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  Chapter One

  1822 – EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

  Spring in the city of Edinburgh was in full form, showcasing itself with warm breezes, floral bursts of every color, and perfumes that only nature could create. Like other mornings in recent days, the weather lured people out of the confines of their homes to spend more time outdoors.

  Although it was still morning, the parks were crowded with open carriages and groups of people strolling about the gardens taking in the city's splendor. For those from high society, it was an opportunity to show off recently acquired horses, carriages, and fashions. Shop owners and street sellers greeted the season with as much enthusiasm, glad for the monetary gain brought by the people resurfacing after winter.

  It had rained earlier that morning, but thankfully the sun had dried most of the wetness from the grass and walking paths.

  After several hours watching two little boys run in circles in the park, Octavia McKay was finally able to convince them to leave with promises of sweet treats.

  It was a life she’d never expected, one that she’d come to cherish so that the thought of ever losing her position terrified her.

  Her position as a governess for a bachelor Earl was such that she spent her days caring for two little boys, enjoying life in a wonderful home and having the freedom to plan their days as she felt was best.

  “Come along lads,” she urged taking the youngest one by the hand, while allowing the eldest to walk alongside.

  Just as they reached the sweet shop, a man crossed the street toward them. Her heart quickened and she could not restrain the gasp that escaped. From the corner of her eye, she kept her gaze fixed on the stranger, while turning her head so that he could not see her face fully.

  When the man passed by, Octavia let out a sigh of relief. It was not him. In actuality the man bared little resemblance to her father, other than the same skin tone and similar build.

  “Are we going in?” Her charges complained and she swallowed taking a moment to compose herself.

  After a life of confinement, living under the thumb of her controlling, hate-filled father, her life in Edinburg was the proverbial dream come true.

  With each day that passed, she convinced herself that her family life would remain hidden, not affecting any part of her present. At least that was her hope. Daily she prayed that her father never find her as he’d easily destroy the life she’d built for herself.

  Once inside the sweet shop, her heart slowed as the aroma in the air of caramel and chocolates, competed for attention. Using her own money, she allowed each boy to choose a sweet, loving the looks of concentration as they stood atop stools provided for children and peered at the offerings.

  She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was best they hurry home as she’d not alerted their father that they’d be leaving the house that day.

  Octavia hurried her charges out of the sweets shop and into the busy street. The boys, William, six, and Daniel, four, clung to her hands, each one looking about with wide-eyed fascination at a man dressed in full Scottish regalia atop a huge horse.

  “Come along, lads, I see the carriage just ahead,” Octavia smiled down at Daniel, who yawned widely. Her lips curved knowing he would be sound asleep as soon as they boarded the carriage.

  “I was practically punched in the face for not moving,” Marcus, the driver complained as they approached. He lifted William up and then helped with Daniel. Finally, he held out his hand to assist Octavia, and she reluctantly accepted his offer. His gaze traveled across her face. “You look very pretty today.”

  “Let’s get going,” Octavia replied, pretending not to hear his compliment. The man was without bounds. Always flirting with every woman in the household. Although she’d become used to it, his relentless comments made her want to snap at him.

  “Did you get everything the shops had to offer?” He looked at the packages on the seat next to William. “Seems like it.”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact I did,” Octavia replied, closing her eyes and holding her face up to the sun. The next day they would be traveling to her employer’s family estate, where they would spend the season with the boys’ grandparents.

  She’d purchased a pair of ready-made dresses that she could easily take up once at the country estate, along with a pair of boots and new nightdress. She’d learned from the last trip that it was best to be prepared as sometimes the governesses were included in social events.

  The honorable Duke and Duchess McKenzie lived a day’s ride from the city in a massive home that Octavia could only describe as a castle.

  Every spring, the entire family gathered at the estate, where the children spent the days playing and the adults lounging, eating, drinking, and often times quarreling about inconsequential things. This would be Octavia’s second spring attending since she’d only come to be governess for her employer two winters ago.

  Several carriages came to an abrupt stop at an intersection simultaneously. Octavia craned her neck to see what happened. The drivers motioned to one another as to who would go to clear up the barricade of an overturned cart with a load of chickens.

  Several red-faced men scurried about trying to catch their cargo of chickens, while onlookers watched in fascination. The birds ran in all directions, seeming both confused and excited at their unexpected freedom.

  It was hard not to laugh, and she covered her mouth to stifle a chuckle when a man tripped over a chicken and sprawled into a puddle, the muddy water coating him and one of the onlookers.

  “I will help,” William anno
unced and promptly jumped from the carriage.

  “No,” Octavia exclaimed, motioning to Marcus to keep an eye on the sleeping Daniel. Then, climbing from the carriage, she stepped over the puddle and ran to catch up with William, who now stood on the side of the street holding a rather perturbed-looking chicken.

  “Well done,” Octavia said and clapped at the lad’s accomplishment. “You are quite quick.”

  William beamed at her. “I caught it all by myself.”

  Needing to get going, Octavia reached for the bird.

  “What are you doing?” A deep voice caused them both to look up.

  At over six foot tall, in a dark maroon riding habit that had been tailored to fit his splendid form and knee-high leather boots, stood her employer, Grantham Montgomery Mackenzie, the Earl of Spencer.

  Octavia and William stood still as statues, unable to form a reply that would make sense. First of all, they were to be preparing for departure the next day, and secondly, both held the now silent chicken.

  Only when the earl’s right eyebrow lifted in question did Octavia find her ability to speak. “Lord Mackenzie,” she croaked. “How are you?”

  At her question, his brows lowered over his darkened blue eyes. “The better question is, why are you here?”

  “I was helping to catch the chickens,” William replied, not at all intimidated by his imposing father.

  “Look.” The lad pointed to the overturned cart and the men who seemed to have given up on catching all the chickens. Instead, they’d stacked the cages on the side of the road and now worked to turn the cart back upright.

  “My Lord, we are blocking progress,” Marcus called out. “We should be on our way.”

  The earl’s gaze met Octavia’s. “We will speak at home.” With those words, he turned on his heel and walked back to where she assumed his horse was.

  Too frazzled to think, she took William’s arm and guided the lad back to the carriage, where the boy climbed up and sat down still holding the chicken.

  “Here. A chicken,” Octavia called out to the men, but they ignored her.

  “I will take him home and put him with our chickens,” William announced. “No need to return him. They do not want him.”

  Octavia eyed the bird, doubting it was a he. Instead, she took coins out of her purse and gave them to one of the men who’d returned to chicken hunting. “For the bird.”

  * * *

  The carriage came to a stop in front of Witton Hall, home to the Earl, herself and her charges. The splendid home was not as large as some of the other prominent families’, but well suited for the Mackenzies. The two-story structure was a more stately than beautiful. With four bedchambers on the top floor and a solarium attached to the first, it suited all their needs.

  Upon walking in, she ushered the boys straight toward the kitchen area, off which was a room where they could be bathed. Smelling of grass and sunshine, the boys raced in the direction she’d sent them, giggling.

  Marcus had been given the chicken to put with the others by a very serious William, who promised the bird he’d visit.

  Entering the kitchen, Octavia looked to the cook and housekeeper, Eva, with a tired smile. “Tea please.”

  “I’ll pour,” Eva said eyeing the boys who supervised the pouring of their bathwater. “They seem to have exhausted ye.”

  “Aye,” she replied with a long sigh. “It was an enjoyable morning nonetheless.”

  * * *

  By the time the boys were fed, bathed, and settled for the evening, Octavia was exhausted. Thankfully, she’d done all the packing in the days prior, and only a few things had to be done in the morning before they left for the country estate.

  It was unusual that the Earl did not return home by the boy’s bedtime, however, this night he had not returned home for dinner.

  In a way she was glad about it since he’d not seemed pleased that after directing her to spend the day preparing for their upcoming departure to the family estate, she’d left the estate.

  Of course, once she saw him, she’d explain to have had everything ready and assure him the boys had enjoyed the afternoon out tremendously.

  If anything made him soften, it was his children. The reticent man, morphed to a different person when with his sons, often smiling and laughing even.

  Although stoic, the earl was never unkind to her. He patiently listened, his gaze soft when discussing her duties or anything having to do with the boys. Olivia had come to look forward to their weekly discussion when they’d sit in the solarium, drink tea and discuss plans for the following week.

  With duties at Parliament and managing the affairs of two estates, the earl often made time to play with his sons either in their quarters or outside on the plush lawn.

  The sun had fallen, bathing the garden view from the library window in hues of gold and purple. She read for a few moments longer until it became impossible since darkness feel. Deciding it was useless to light a lantern to continue, as the words on the pages of the book she read were beginning to blur, Octavia closed the book.

  With the tome in hand, she climbed the stairs to the bedchamber next to where the boys slept. The door creaked softly when she pushed it open to peer in and check on them. Both slept soundly, the soft breathing sounds bringing a curve to her lips.

  The nickering of a horse and male voices caught her attention as she been about to go back out of her bedchamber. Instead she went to the window. The Earl spoke to a stable lad. Still wearing his tall hat, he towered over the younger man who smiled at something he’d said.

  Already in her night gown, she let out a long breath and wondered if she had time to hurry to the kitchen and fetch a cup of tea without running into him.

  Once she’d washed her face and brushed out her hair, braiding it and tying a scarf around her head, her sleepiness had gone.

  Not wishing to run into him in her nightdress, Octavia decided it was best to wait him out. Once he retired, she could hurry downstairs and get her nightcap.

  Finally, the house went silent, and Octavia decided it was safe to venture to the kitchen for her customary nightly cup of tea.

  It was early yet, perhaps not nine, however, it was quite dark outside, just a feeble amount of moonlight emanating through the windows.

  She knew the house well enough and decided against carrying a light as it would impede bringing her tea and saucer back to her room safely. When she slipped from her bedchamber into the darkened hallway, Octavia noted that at the end of the corridor, there was light at the bottom of the set of doors that lead to the earl’s bedroom.

  Feeling triumphant in her quest for her tea, Octavia hurried along the hallway and down the stairs. When her foot pressed on the fourth step, the creaking seemed as loud as thunder. Octavia looked over her shoulder. Silence continue, so she hurried forward.

  When she crossed the foyer her foot collided with a table leg. “God’s foot!” Octavia could barely keep from gasping at how loud she’d exclaimed.

  A sharp pain traveled from her toes up to her leg and she hobbled in a circle muttering rather unladylike expletives. It took a few moments, but finally, the pain began to subside. Hopefully she’d not broken a toe. At the thought she flexed them, thankfully, it didn’t hurt more.

  “All this for a cup of tea,” Octavia muttered as she pushed the kitchen doors open only to stop and gawk at the sight before her.

  Sitting shirtless at the table Lord Mackenzie froze with a fork halfway to his mouth. Before him was a plate with a slice of leftover dessert from dinner earlier, at his left elbow a glass of milk.

  His blue gaze met hers, then ran down her body a stark reminder she wore only a nightdress and no robe.

  “Oh,” Octavia managed. “I-I did not expect anyone to be up. I thought you’d be asleep, my lord.”

  Once again, he studied her. This time the corners of his lips curved into a smile. The simple expression made her stomach tumble. The man was devastatingly handsome and although she always mai
ntained a professional distance, at the moment, it proved difficult to ignore his beauty.

  He shrugged, once again drawing her attention to his unclothed situation. “I was about to go to bed when my stomach grumbled, reminding me I’d not eaten in hours.”

  A part of her wanted to ask where he’d been that food was not offered, but propriety dictated that she not.

  “Of course,” Octavia replied. “I will leave you to it then.” She took a step backward in hopes the shadows would hide anything he could see through the flimsy fabric of her night clothes.

  He ate the bit on the fork, speared the rest and ate it, then he pushed from the table. Octavia averted her gaze annoyed that the man did not seem to care about his current, or for that matter their current state of undress.

  “No, please, come in and make your tea.” He stood to his full height, showing off how his wide shoulders, and expansive chest tapered to slender hips.

  He walked closer.

  Octavia fought the urge to reach up and snatch the ugly kerchief that she wore to sleep in from her head and instead stood straighter, her gaze forward.

  “Good night Miss McKay,” he said, walking past and out of the kitchen.

  “Good night, my lord.”

  What would she do the next day? Octavia wondered if she should pretend they had not been in the kitchen this night. With a sigh, she decided not to overthink it and instead hurried to warm the milk he’d left in the glass for her tea.