The Baron's New Wife: Regency Romance (2 page)

As the evening slowly passed Anna decided to slip away to her room for one last moment alone with her old memories. She passed several guests and made her way to the staircase but as she was about to take her first step she heard the laughter of gentlemen coming from the study. Baron Hester’s voice could clearly be distinguished and Anna became intrigued as to hear his conversation considering he had not spoken but one word to her. She quickly withdrew from the stairs and walked over to the study where she listened by the open door.

“A fine bride you have their Baron. A pretty little thing indeed.”

“Thank you Charles, I’ve hardly looked at her to be honest.” The Baron’s voice was mono tone as before.

“Really?” One of the gentlemen started to question the Baron. “I wish my wife had have been that ripe when we married.” The room exploded with laughter.

“Oh don’t mishear me, my good fellow. She will certainly do but I have no need for her to give me children. I already have my two boys.”

Anna froze and hesitated whether she should stay and listen or remove herself from being caught spying. She couldn’t decide what to do as this was the first she had heard that the Baron already had children.

“Yes and good strapping lads you have their Baron. Terrible shame about their mother, God rest her.” There was a brief silence until the Baron broke the awkward tension.

“I have no need for a wife myself but the boys need some sort of womanly figure in their life.” Several voices agreed with the Baron and then he continued to give his opinion on his new bride. “Lord Kemp is a close business acquaintance, so when he proposed the match I didn’t hesitate as it suits me to have little to do with her. She seems like a sheepish little thing anyway, my boys will have her running round in circles.”

Again the room erupted with laughter until the conversation returned to a business topic. Anna stood by the door eager to rush in and announce that she had heard every word but that would serve her no purpose. The ceremony had been performed and she was officially the new Baroness Hester. Anna rushed to her room and flung herself on the bed to cry but tears would not come. Her mind was racing with the news that she was to be a mother to two boys when she had only barely become a woman herself. She replayed the Baron’s words over and over in her head, “I have no need for a wife…”

His words wounded her greatly as she was to become purely a care giver or play thing for his sons. Anna had hoped herself to have children and enjoy the experiences of motherhood but in one day the Baron had already robbed her of such a future. She continued to lie on her bed and ponder her situation until she came to the conclusion that there was no hope and she would have to make the most of her new life. The reassuring words that Miss Wayfair might say in such a time filled her mind and she finally bolstered her resolve that perhaps she could be a type of governess to her new sons. The love that had been provided to her by Miss Wayfair, she too could also provide to her new family and hopefully she might make a happy life for herself. There in the shadows of her darkened and empty room Anna promised that she would defy the Baron and become an invaluable wife, loving, generous and an excellent mother.

Chapter 3

The journey from Anna’s childhood home to her new address in Staffordshire was long and tiresome. Baron Hester did not speak a word to her and as the sun quickly set on their wedding day Anna drifted into sleep gently rocked by the carriage. On her arrival Anna was too dazed and the night too thick for her to fully take in her surroundings.

A maid with a single candle led her to her new bed chamber, “Will Baron Hester not be joining me?” Anna shyly asked the middle aged maid as she had no understanding of her new marital sleeping arrangements.

“No milady, the Baron will be in his own bed chamber in the east wing.” The maid put down the candle and then swiftly left the room. Anna was thankful that she would be sleeping alone and quickly tucked herself in beneath the bed covers and slipped back into a deep slumber.

In the morning light Anna awoke to her new home and she curiously studied her surroundings. Everything was luxurious from the bed covers and pillows, to the window drapes and furniture. Every hall and living space was decorated elaborately with various gold gilded paintings of ancestors filling the walls. Anna’s mother had expensive taste but she would have been very pleased to be the lady of this household.

No servants had woken her or come to see her dressed, so Anna eventually emerged from her room and tip toed through the halls looking for the morning dining room.

“Thank you for gracing us with your presence Baroness.” Anna stepped into an amber colored room to find Baron Hester seated at a large dining table reading his correspondence. 

“I am sorry. I slept in late from our journey and I was not woken for breakfast. Have you all eaten without me?” Anna sat at the opposite end of the table were a single setting had been left untouched.

“Yes. The boys are with their tutor and I am shortly to depart on a business trip.” Anna was surprised by this announcement and wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or upset that she would not be spending any time with her new husband.

“So soon after our marriage?”

The Baron dropped his letter on the table and looked at Anna as though she was a bug, “Yes. It cannot be avoided I’m afraid. I should return in a week or so.” He started to gather up his paperwork and lifted himself from his seat.

“I have not met your sons Baron and I would very much like to know them.” Anna tried to engage the Baron a little longer or at least try and ascertain the names of his sons.

“Yes well there is time enough for that.” He walked towards her and paused as he reached her end of the table. “Harry and Henry are my lads. Lively, loud, boisterous boys. They will certainly make themselves known to you while I am absent. If there is anything you need while I am away do let one of the servants know.”

Baron Hester hesitated for a moment as if he was going to kiss Anna on the forehead, he thought better of it and left the room. Once again she was alone and starting to feel sorry for herself when she heard the distant noise of giggling. Anna looked around and could not see any children but again she heard a muted laugh. She stood and looked out the windows onto the surrounding grounds but could not see anyone outside, then from the corner of her eye she saw a twitch in one of the window drapes. She walked over and moved the drape to the side to find a small boy of only four years sitting on the floor.

“Hello there.” Anna looked down at his round pudgy face which beamed a giant smile, “Are you Harry or Henry?”

He giggled and then stood up, “I’m Harry.” His pale blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight and his blonde curly locks made him look like a cherubim. “Are you my new mother?” Anna was a little taken back by the direct question but didn’t know how else to answer it but in the positive.

“I guess I am. And where is Henry?” Harry put his little hand in hers and led her through the halls and to a large room at the back of the house. She opened the door and found Henry sitting writing at a desk with an old man looking over his shoulder. They both looked up and stared at the intrusion.

“Ahh, Baroness Hester please let me introduce you to my student.” The older man was in his late fifties, short and with a balding head but he had a warm and genuine face. “This is Henry Hester and I see you have already met Harry.” They both walked over and Anna could see that Henry appeared to be of nine years and held a closer resemblance to his father with dark hair and eyes. Henry stared at Anna with the same contempt that his father did, he showed no interest in wanting to know her and returned to his desk to continue his work.

“Harry is a little less able to keep his concentration, unlike Henry.” The tutor winked at Harry and then directed the boy back to his own desk. “I am Mr. Field, you may call me John. It will be nice to have another face around here.”

Anna was grateful that Mr. Field was welcoming and pleasant as she desperately wanted to have a friend in her new abode. She smiled at him and watched as they continued their lesson for a few moments longer.

“Now then boys. We finally have a day of sunshine, what do you say we spend some time outside instead of being cooped up in here all day?” The boys didn’t waste any time responding to John’s suggestion and they quickly put down their work and headed out into the garden. Within a few moments both boys had disappeared among the greenery and Mr. Field and Anna walked together through the grounds.

The estate was very large with rolling hillsides, ponds and numerous planted areas where the children could play all day. Anna enjoyed taking in all the surrounding nature and was pleased to know that she had so much land to roam whenever she needed a place to escape.

“How long have you been instructing the boys Mr. Field?”

“Oh please, call me John. We are going to be spending lots of time together, so I am willing to forego the civilities if you are Baroness?”

“Certainly John. I would hope we could be friends as I do not know anyone in these parts.”

“Yes indeed. I care greatly for the boys and hope you will come to treasure them as I do?” Mr. Field looked at Anna inquisitively, wondering if she would be a caring step-mother or a distant one.

“In truth, I had no awareness of their existence before my marriage but I fully intend on being as close to them as possible. Hopefully one day they may think of me as their mother.”

“I am glad to hear that. Harry has no recollection at all of his mother and Henry only has a few fragmented memories of her when she was ill. Baron Hester travels a substantial amount of time, so to have your attention would greatly benefit them.”

Anna was happy that Mr. Fields could talk so openly with her as she was keen to know what happened to the first Baroness Hester. They continued to walk and Anna hesitated wondering if she could be so directly forward regarding the late Baroness.

“John, I am not knowledgeable of how the late Baroness died but would like to be informed, so that I am aware of all issues affecting the children.”

Mr. Field did not hesitate to answer and Anna thought he was almost too willing to provide the details, “Well it happened before my time, so I am only aware of what the servants and town folk have told me. But all the same, I believe she was terribly ill the last few years of her life. Married very young to the Baron and with no relatives of her own nearby, it was all slightly suspicious.”

“Suspicious?” Anna was confused by his explanation and shocked that Mr. Field would cast accusations on his employer to his new bride, “How so?”

“The Baroness was ill for a very long time, shut up in the house and out of sight. Some say that she was mad and kept hidden for that reason. Either way, the night she died the Baron was not at home.”

“How would that be suspicious when the Baron is frequently away on business?”

“He never left the house or the children before the Baronesses death, as I understand it. He was always present and then the night she died was the first night he had been away. It seems too consequential that she would die the same night the Baron leaves the home? But forgive me, I am speaking to freely and only repeating the gossip of the town folk.” 

Anna did not like the direction the conversation was turning and started to regret the open rapport she had created with Mr. Field. She certainly did not have a high regard for the Baron, as his behavior towards her had not been the kindest, but that did not make him a murderer. Anna refrained from taking up Mr. Field’s view on the subject and decided she would in future keep more of a distance from his idle talk.

Chapter 4

Several weeks had passed since Anna had arrived at her new home and she had slowly made herself comfortable with her new position in life. By most accounts she had a pleasant existence, she lived in a stunning and spacious mansion with unlimited grounds, and she had some company to pass the time with. Mr. Field had become a good friend, although he enjoyed gossip more than most men his age, Anna still spent most afternoons with him and the children in the garden.

The boys were very different in their behavior towards Anna. Harry immediately took to her and would be by her side every second of the day affectionately holding her hand or stroking her dress. Henry tolerated her presence but mostly ignored any question or instruction she put to him.