Lady Victoria Barrett is frustrated with her parents who have rejected every suitor after four Seasons in London. When she unexpectedly inherits Wood Hall, a modest country estate, she sees her chance at independence at last—even if it means learning to run a farm. She knew she would have to deal with men who didn’t believe a woman could run an estate, but she’d hoped her handsome neighbor would be different.
Thomas, Earl of Brentwood, has a title, responsibility—and flooded fields. His tenants’ lands are unfarmable, and the only way out he can see is to buy the unoccupied neighboring estate. All he has to do is find its owner and get in touch with her. And then Lady Victoria moves in.
A battle of wills, a fight for independence, and trying to do the right thing—Victoria and Thom just can’t stay away from each other. And when they begin to understand each other, it’s the world that forces them apart. Surely, there is some way for everyone to get what they want, and what they need.
Chapter One
Lady Victoria Barrett held her beautiful new painted fan in front of her face to hide her laughter. Her friend, Miss Pinny Albright, simply laughed aloud, not caring who heard her, but that was Pinny.
“Oh, ripping good one, Lady Victoria,” Lord Gillford said, smiling very warmly at her.
Lord Sheppey had burst out laughing so loudly heads had turned in their direction, but Victoria was used to that. Usually, it meant she and her friends would attract others who would want to join in their circle.
“Good evening.” Mr. Crosbie shouldered his way between Pinny and Lord Sheppey. He looked as sweet as ever—his blond hair was like gold in the candlelight. and his summer-blue eyes were smiling. It was really his round face, though, which gave him that cherubic look.
Victoria cleared her throat to swallow her giggles and lowered her fan. “Good evening, sir.”
“I do so hate to break up this jolly group, but I believe you have promised the next dance to me, Lady Victoria,” he said, holding out his hand to her.
“What? A second one?” Lord Sheppey said in mock affront. “You wouldn’t allow me a second dance, Lady Victoria. I must object!”
Victoria just laughed. “That is because you asked too late, and I was already promised.”
“To Crosbie?” Lord Gillford asked, looking over the man in question. “In that waistcoat?”
Mr. Crosbie was clearly insulted. With a tug on the offending article of clothing, he asked, “And what is wrong with my waistcoat? I think it very elegant.”
“Boring,” declared Lord Gillford.
“I disagree, my lord, it <i>is </i>elegant.” Victoria rushed to assure him. “What do you think, Miss Albright?”
She considered the simple navy-blue garment. It was shot through with swirls of silver thread. “No, I must agree with Lord Gillford on this one. If it were red or a brighter blue, it would be more interesting.”
“But less elegant,” Mr. Crosbie countered.
“Perhaps, but certainly more eye catching.”
He frowned. “If I were going with eye catching, I would have worn pink like Sheppey, here. But I wasn’t,” he finished with a self-satisfied look.
“I say!” Lord Sheppey objected, but before he could continue, Mr. Crosbie held out his hand once more saying, “Lady Victoria, I do believe the dance is starting. If you will excuse us?”
Victoria took his hand and allowed him to lead her through the center of their little circle and out onto the floor.
“Don’t tell him I said so, but I have to agree. Lord Sheppey’s waistcoat is a little much,” Victoria said after performing her curtsy to begin the country dance.
Mr. Crosbie gave her a happy smile. “I knew you had excellent taste.”
They moved apart with the steps of the dance, but when they came back together, he said, “Your gown this evening is particularly becoming. The green of the embroidery brings out the beauty of your eyes.”
“Thank you, sir. ‘‘ She was pleased someone had noticed. She and her mother had spent ages with the modiste, looking for just the right shade of green thread for the woman to use for the leaves that covered the bodice of her gown and then trailed prettily in a few stripes down the skirt.
“Are you free for a drive in the park tomorrow?” he asked as they held hands and circled about. “If it is not raining, that is?” he quickly added as they were forced to move apart.
“It has been raining a great deal this Season, hasn’t it? But sadly, no, I am at-home tomorrow. I do hope you will come.”
“Of course. So long as I get to spend time with you, I don’t much care where we are.”
At that, Victoria could feel her face grow warm, and she didn’t even try to stop the smile from spreading across her face.
“I do so love your smile,” he said before releasing her to sashay around the gentleman next to him. “It brightens your whole countenance,” he added when she stood in front of him again.
“Are you saying that my face is otherwise dull?” she asked, deliberately teasing him.
He looked so horrified for a moment she couldn’t help but laugh. “I am just funning, sir.”
The relief in his expression almost made her laugh again.
“You are a cruel woman, my lady,” he told her.
“Yes, but you love me despite that.” She batted her eyelashes at him, and this time, it was he who laughed.
“That I do.”
Victoria’s heart stuttered, and it had nothing to do with the exertion of the dance.
She deliberately kept their conversation light and meaningless for the remainder, but she could see the warmth in his eyes.
Afterward, he walked her back to her mother when she pointed the lady out to him. She was standing with Lady Preston, and they both nodded approvingly when he bowed to them and then offered to fetch Victoria a glass of lemonade.
“Thank you, sir, I would appreciate that greatly,” Victoria said.
“You have done it again, Lady Victoria,” Lady Preston said after the gentleman had walked off on his errand.
“Done what, my lady?” Victoria asked when the woman didn’t continue immediately.
“Captured the attention of one of the most sought-after gentlemen of the Season,” the woman clarified. “I believe it is unheard of to do so three Seasons in a row, and I was rather hoping to introduce Mr. Crosbie to one of my clients.”
“Oh.” Victoria wasn’t certain what to say to that. She quite liked Mr. Crosbie, and surely her parents would not be able to find anything to object to should he propose to her. He was handsome, wealthy, and came from an excellent family.
“We shall see what comes of this one,” was all her mother said before the gentleman returned with Victoria’s lemonade.
