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Chapter 1
Ignoring all the peoplewho filled Lord and Lady Montague’s ballroom, Regina Taylor weaved in and out of the crowd, searching for her friend. Jane Meyers, the Earl of Penrose’s only child, had been Regina’s childhood friend. As children, they were inseparable, and as young women, Regina wondered how her friend had made it this far without a mother. Lately, Regina had felt more like Jane’s mother, but someone had to tell the earl’s daughter she was making the biggest mistake of her life.
The dancing couples didn’t pay Regina any mind as she hurried around the room. As each minute passed, her heart sank lower. She prayed she wasn’t too late. After all, Jane’s engagement hadn’t been announced yet, so perhaps there was still time. However, she feared that the earl would want to announce his daughter's engagement tonight, at his sister and her husband’s grand ball.
Finally, Regina spotted her friend. Jane stood near a potted plant, holding a full wine glass. When she noticed Regina, Jane scowled and lifted her chin stubbornly. Regina was probably just as weary of telling her friend what a colossal mistake she was making – just as Jane was probably weary of hearing it. But Regina would try one more time to get through to her friend before throwing her hands up in defeat.
After all, childhood friends who had been through so much together just didn’t give up on protecting their friendship.
Inwardly, Regina groaned. For several days now, she had been trying to get her friend’s head out of the clouds long enough to discuss her new beau. Something about the whole situation left a bad taste in Regina’s mouth. She didn’t want to see her friend marry someone who would treat her poorly.
Regina stopped by the potted plant and scowled at her friend, who tried her best to act as if Regina wasn’t looking right at her. “Jane, it’s imperative that we talk.”
Jane’s petite frame moved slightly with the music from the stringed quartet as her gaze stayed on the couples on the dance floor. She smiled, and her girlish features glowed with happiness. Regina just wished her friend’s enthusiasm didn’t stem back to Wayne Nichols... the man Jane had barely known for one week and was already talking of marriage.
If only Regina could feel that Mr. Nichols was the perfect man for Jane and would make her friend happy for the rest of her life. Although Wayne Nichols was a very attractive man with a body built like Hercules and had the most charming smile she had ever seen, Regina still had to put a stop to this ridiculous marriage idea. The man was only after prestige since he didn’t come from nobility.
Regina knew from her own tarnishing experiences with men that because of Mr. Nichols’ station, he was not after love. Instead, he wanted to find the woman with the biggest dowry and whose father had more money. Although this was the way with most families in theton, Regina could still spot those who would never become good husbands. The rumors she’d heard about Wayne Nichols assured her that he would not treat Jane properly after they were wed.
Which was exactly the reason Regina had to stop it from happening.
“Jane,” Regina said again, louder this time. “You might as well talk to me now because I will follow you around until you do. I’ll be closer to you than your own shadow.”
Jane glanced toward Regina again and shook her head. The blonde ringlets bounced with the movement.
“No, Regina. We do not have to talk. I know exactly what you are going to say, and I’m not in the mood to argue.” She returned her attention to the dancing couples.
Regina folded her arms and frowned. She stepped in front of her friend, blocking Jane from watching the people on the dance floor. “I’m sorry if you think we are going to argue, but I just want you to know how I feel.”
Jane huffed, rolling her brown eyes as she turned toward Regina. “I’m already aware of your feelings. We have been friends since we were five years old, and I can read you perfectly.”
“Splendid. Then you know why I’m so headstrong about this.”
Jane shook her head. “How many times do I have to tell you that I have fallen in love with him? When Mr. Nichols and I first met, he didn’t even know my father was an earl, and that tells me he’s not after my father’s money.”
“I cannot trust what he says.” Regina frowned. “Why wouldn’t Mr. Nichols know who your father is? After all, everyone around these parts knows about your father.”
“There, you are wrong.” Jane arched an eyebrow. “Mr. Nichols isn’t from around here. He came from Devonshire if you must know.”
“So, his father is a farmer and not acquainted with theton? Tell me, does Mr. Nichols’ father not read the newspaper or the society section?”
Jane huffed again. “I doubt he has the time to read the gossip column. In fact, Mr. Nichols owns several jewelry stores across England.”
As much as Regina wanted to laugh at her friend’s ignorance, she wouldn’t. “And, if Mr. Nichols came from a wealthy family, then why does he not dress like it? And why hasn’t he been invited to social events, such as your aunt and uncle’s ball tonight?”
“Mr. Nichols was invited.”
“Only because you pushed for his invitation,” Regina quickly assessed.
Jane’s mouth pursed tighter, taking away any resemblance she had to being a lovely lady. In their later youth and before they came out for their first season, the boys would flock to Regina. It didn’t matter to them that her father was a baron and not an earl, but they told her she was prettier than Jane. Although Regina loved her friend, she realized that men looked for the flamboyant beauty of a woman instead of what was in their hearts. Because of that, Regina knew the men didn’t truly like her for her sweet and charming personality, only because she was pretty. After a while, Regina grew to loathe that she had inherited her looks from her lovely mother, who, as a young woman, had been sought after by wealthy men but then married a man that truly loved her. Regina hoped to find that type of man to marry, but so far, all the men she had met came up lacking.
Regina took in a deep breath and rubbed her forehead. The headache she had when entering the party had only intensified. The ballroom had suddenly seemed too stuffy. But she promised herself she wouldn’t leave her friend’s side until the woman agreed to postpone the marriage announcement until after she had a chance to get to know the real Wayne Nichols.
“Jane, I want you to remember how many times I saved you from men who were only after your father’s money.”
Jane sighed deeply. “I appreciate that you were there to help me throughout those times of our youth, but I’m a woman now, and I can handle my own life.”
Regina linked her fingers, resting them in front of her. “I beg you to rethink that statement. Do you not recall Mr. Robert Willis? He courted you only one year ago.”
