The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
A/n While waiting at multiple appointments I wrote this short story, in tiny chapters. It is not a mystery, but I had fun writing it. Richard might get very lucky, I know.
I am not sure what happened but part of the text was cut off.
Pride and the Cousin
Richard dreaded this day. He dressed carefully, looked at himself in the mirror, and saw a sad man. His eyes were red from crying so much. His blond hair didn't want to behave, but he hated hair oils, so be it. He didn't care how he looked. He was no longer used to being without a uniform, but he was now a civilian and he had to dress as one. After his brother died, leaving no male heirs, he had to resign from his successful military career. He loved his brother and his father, and their death had come as a shock. They were going to see their property on the continent, and while there, they had an unfortunate road accident. From the time he found out, until he was able to return, several months had gone by.
He had been invited to a ball, and his mother insisted he went. He arrived at the ball at the home of one of his friends, Peter Strau. Richard heard Peter was now married. Richard had missed his marriage around two years before, and, now, Peter insisted he should come to his ball.
When he arrived, Peter's home was well lighted. Torches lit the way from the carriages into the house. Footmen were busy helping guests out the carriages, who arrived dressed in fancy attire; many were talking. There was too much activity, Richard thought. He wasn't up to being around all this noisy cheerful merriment. He suspected many single women would be there with their mothers, and as a new Earl, with a lot of wealth, he was the desired catch for many. Just what he wanted, a bunch of ambitious mamas trying to push their daughters on him.
His father had been secretly investing in commerce and was very lucky, so Richard found himself wealthy beyond his expectations. It was good, he wanted to provide well for his mother. The house was very big, and he wanted his mother to stay at her home. Today, he was to meet his dead brother's promised; she was related to Peter. He wasn't in the mood for that, but his mother wanted it. She reminded him he was the guardian of his brother's young daughters, so, he needed a wife.
When he came in the very warm ballroom, he wanted to turn around and run. He was attracting a lot of looks, with his tall, handsome, fit, blond looks. He always did, but he was never interested; the one he had wanted was not a possibility. At that time, If he were to marry, he needed a rich heiress, and the young lady was not. Her father was country gentry, a third son. She was lovely, even if his insufferable, proud cousin William had said she was barely something, maybe attractive. William and his pride blinded him. Since Richard didn't agree, he danced with her twice, the best dances ever. Just touching her hand made his body more than aware. But he couldn't offer marriage, and he would never attempt have a tryst with a proper young lady. Too bad, she would be married by now, it had been nearly three years; but, perhaps, he should find out.
The Lady
Richard arrived late and went to look for Peter. He saw him standing with his lovely wife. She was beautiful, blond like Peter, but not for him, he preferred darker hair, like the lady's at the dance he would never forget. Just like that, he had an inspiration, tomorrow he would go to the town where the young lady resided; maybe she would be there.
Too bad, I had to come alone, William is away with Georgiana. Richard thought. Georgiana was to marry in America, and William would be gone for a while. William had a disastrous marriage with their cousin, Anne, who died giving birth to a stillborn son. William wrote that being married to Anne was a nightmare, but he had chosen it. He had also written he had many regrets about a disastrous marriage proposal to a secret someone. Richard quit his mental ramblings when he saw Peter.
"Hello old man," Peter greeted it him effusively. Peter corrected himself, grinning, "I mean Lord Fitzwilliams; so sorry about your father and brother; we can talk later. First, let me introduce you to my lovely wife, Lady Jane Strau."
Richard looked at the lady again; he had seen her before, but where? "My dear," Lady Jane told her husband, "I believe we are acquainted," Peter's wife said, looking a little mischievous. "We met at a ball in Mr. Charles Bingley's estate nearly three years ago."