The Mistress of Hanover Square. Anne Herries

      

       ‘You were prepared to marry me all those years ago. Dare I hope that you still find the idea agreeable?’

      ‘Gerard…’ Amelia gasped. ‘Yes…’

      She meant to say more, but he lowered his head to kiss her on the lips. Amelia responded with all the love that was in her, her arms going about his neck as her body melded with his. This was what she had longed for, dreamed of so many lonely nights! She had never expected to be so fortunate.

      ‘My beautiful Amelia,’ Gerard said. ‘I am a fool! You are such a sensible woman. You understand everything. You would not do something stupid because of a foolish quarrel. I should have asked long ago. You are exactly the woman I need in my life. You will not expect more than I am able to give…’

      Amelia withdrew a little. She waited for him to say the words she needed to hear, but he did not speak of love and she was conscious of her disappointment.

      ‘I look forward to our wedding, Amelia. You will have the comfort and security of marriage and I shall have a beautiful, gracious wife…’

      Anne Herries lives in Cambridgeshire, where she is fond of watching wildlife, and spoils the birds and squirrels that are frequent visitors to her garden. Anne loves to write about the beauty of nature, and sometimes puts a little into her books—although they are mostly about love and romance. She writes for her own enjoyment, and to give pleasure to her readers. She is a winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association Romance Prize.

      Recent novels by the same author:

      MARRYING CAPTAIN JACK

      THE UNKNOWN HEIR

      THE HOMELESS HEIRESS

      THE RAKE’S REBELLIOUS LADY

A COUNTRY MISS IN HANOVER SQUARE ^*

      AN INNOCENT DEBUTANTE IN HANOVER SQUARE^*

       And in the Regency series The Steepwood Scandal:

      LORD RAVENSDEN’S MARRIAGE COUNTERFEIT EARL

       And in The Hellfire Mysteries:

      AN IMPROPER COMPANION

      A WEALTHY WIDOW

      A WORTHY GENTLEMAN

* A Season in Town trilogy

      The Mistress of Hanover Square

      Anne Herries

       MILLS & BOON®

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      Author Note

      If you have been following the A Season in Town miniseries, you will have been wondering if Amelia and Gerard would ever get together. Here is their book, which I hope you will enjoy as much as I have enjoyed writing all three books for you. Amelia has helped other young women to find happiness. Can the Mistress of Hanover Square now find happiness for herself? Enjoy!

      If you would like to contact me about any of my books please visit the website at www.lindasole.co.uk

      Love to you all.

       Chapter One

      Amelia stood for a moment on the steps of her house in Hanover Square, gazing across to the Earl of Ravenshead’s London home, which was at the far side. She knew that he was not in residence and supposed that he was at his estate in the country. It was only because she had wanted to do some shopping for Christmas and deliver some gifts that she and her companion had themselves come to town for a few days. She had hoped that she might perhaps meet the earl, at the theatre or at some other affair, but it had not happened.

      ‘Is something wrong?’ Emily Barton asked.

      Amelia looked at her in surprise and then realised that she had sighed. Her companion was a sensitive girl and always seemed to know when Amelia was out of sorts.

      ‘No, I was merely wondering if I had forgotten anything. I should not wish to arrive at Pendleton and then remember something I had left behind.’

      ‘I am sure you will not.’ Emily smiled at her. ‘I helped Martha pack your trunks and I am certain nothing was left out.’

      ‘Thank you, my love. I know I can always rely on your good sense.’

      ‘You are not upset by your brother’s visit, I hope?’

      For a moment Amelia’s eyes clouded. Her brother, Sir Michael Royston, had paid her a brief but intensely unpleasant visit to complain. He always seemed to be in a temper these days and Amelia had come to dread his visits.

      ‘No, dearest. As you know, my brother is…difficult. However, I am not upset.’ She took Emily’s arm. ‘Come, we must not keep the horses standing. I want to make good time, for the sky has all the appearance of bad weather and I would like to get to Pendleton before it turns to snow.’

      ‘I am looking forward to spending Christmas with our friends,’ Emily said and smiled as she glanced across the carriage. They had been travelling for some time now and the streets of London had given way to pleasant countryside. ‘Before I came to you, Amelia, Christmas was always a time of regret.’

      ‘Was it, my love?’ Amelia Royston looked at Emily in concern. She was aware of her companion’s secret sorrow, but it was something Emily hardly ever spoke of. ‘Are you happier now that you have been living with me for more than a year?’

      ‘Oh yes, much. If only—’ Emily broke off and shook her head. ‘No, we shall not think of things that make us sad. Do you think that the Earl of Ravenshead will be at Pendleton this year?’

      ‘Susannah said nothing of it when she wrote to invite us,’ Amelia said, and a faint colour stained her cheeks. It almost seemed that Emily was reading her thoughts. ‘Why do you ask, Emily?’

      ‘Forgive me, perhaps I ought not to have spoken, but I thought…in the Season and at Helene’s wedding earlier this year…I did think that perhaps there might be something—’ Emily broke off and shook her head. ‘It was not my place to ask…’

      ‘Have I not told you that you may say anything to me, Emily? We are friends and have no secrets from each other. Since you ask, I shall tell you that I did think Gerard might speak some eighteen months ago, but he was called to France on family business. When we met him in London this year he paid me some attention, but…’ Amelia sighed. ‘I think now it was merely friendship he had in mind for us. There was a time when we might have married, but my brother sent him away. He married another woman some months later, which must mean that he did not suffer from our parting as I did.’

      ‘You cannot be sure of that, Amelia. The earl may have married for various reasons. Perhaps it was on the rebound?’ Emily frowned. ‘I think you told me his wife has since died?’

      ‘Gerard told me she was ill after the birth of their daughter and never recovered. I think that perhaps he is still grieving for her.’

      ‘He will surely wish to marry again, if only for the sake of his daughter.’

      ‘Yes, perhaps—though I am not sure I should wish to be married for such a reason.’

      ‘I did not mean…please do not think I meant that he would marry you for the sake of his child,’ Emily apologised and looked upset. ‘I believe he likes you very well, Amelia.’

      ‘Yes,I believe we are good friends,’