The Trouble With These Gentlemen (The BainBridge - Love & Challenges) (The Regency Romance Story) Read online

  The Trouble With These Gentlemen

  The BainBridge - Love & Challenges

  Jessie Bennett

  CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  Contents

  Copyright

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  A Personal Note From Jessie Bennett

  Dedication

  About The Author

  The Trouble With These Gentlemen

  BOOK ONE - FAMILIES OF THE BAINBRIDGE SERIES

  *

  PROLOGUE

  *

  CHAPTER ONE

  *

  CHAPTER TWO

  *

  CHAPTER THREE

  *

  CHAPTER FOUR

  *

  CHAPTER FIVE

  *

  CHAPTER SIX

  *

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  *

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  *

  CHAPTER NINE

  *

  CHAPTER TEN

  *

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  *

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  *

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  *

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  *

  EPILOGUE

  *

  PREVIEW OF BOOK 7 - THE GENTLEMAN’S IMPOSSIBLE TASK

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  Also By Jessie Bennett

  Acknowledgement

  If You Have Enjoyed This Book…

  Publisher’s Notes

  Copyright © 2016 & 2017 by JESSIE BENNETT & CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real or dead people, places, or events are not intentional and are the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author/publisher. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  Cover designed by Ms Melody Simmons. Author has the copyrights to this cover.

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  A PERSONAL NOTE

  FROM JESSIE BENNETT

  To My Dearest Lovely Readers,

  The female characters within my stories are women who have a strong faith of love, they know what they want to pursue during this era. They are constantly seeking and believe the true love really exists as they are often being looked upon as an inferior gender. Because of these social stigma, it motivates them to overcome challenges they may face while waiting for the man of their dreams to appear.

  Will these insecurities and stigma encourage them believing in true love despite the differences and challenges in social standing that they will face during this Regency Era?

  Read on to find out the answers!

  Thank you very much for your strong support to my writing journey!

  With Hugs, Kisses and Love…

  DEDICATION

  “A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”

  Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)

  This Story Is Specially Dedicated To You, My Dearest Reader!

  It is with gratefulness and gratitude that I am writing to you this personal dedication.

  Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity to share with the creative side of me.

  I hope you will enjoy reading this story as much I have enjoyed writing it!

  It is with such great support from you that keep us authors writing and writing, presenting to you with great and interesting stories.

  Have you checked out my other historical romance books series?

  Click the link below to get started

  *** AMAZON USA ***

  Do you like what you have read?

  I would want to hear from you!

  Please do get in touch with me:

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jessie Bennett is dedicated to romanticism in its’ myriad forms. She loves historical romance stories. Recently, she discovered another interest within the historical romance, which is Regency Romance stories.

  She wants to use her ideas, knowledge and interest of the regency era to spin out characters that readers wants to read. She aspires to be the next Jane Austen that combine grace, love, and simplicity to delight readers to find their happy endings.

  THE TROUBLE WITH THESE GENTLEMEN

  A REGENCY ROMANCE STORY

  by

  JESSIE BENNETT

  and

  Carlton House Publishing Co.

  FAMILIES OF THE BAINBRIDGE SERIES

  Listed By Appearance, Introduced by Property Title

  BOOK ONE CHARACTERS’ LIST

  ### THE WILTSHIRE ###

  Family Name: Wiltshire

  Elder Brother: Duke Matthew Devon Wiltshire, Duke of Wiltshire– Uncle of Anne Marie

  2nd Brother: Count Mark Allen Wiltshire (deceased)

  Daughter of Count Mark Allen Wiltshire (deceased): Viscountess Anne Marie Wiltshire

  Companion: Clara Collingwood

  ### THE BELLHOUSE ESTATE ###

  Family Name: Cornwall

  Father: Wilfred Lee, Duke of Bellhouse

  Mother: Hettie Anne, Duchess of Bellhouse

  1st Son: Nicholas Joshua Cornwall

  2nd Son: Tyler James Cornwall

  3rd Son: Steven Alfred Cornwall

  4th Son: Cameron Lee Cornwall

  Daughter: Bella Marie Cornwall

  Husband-to-be: Jonathan Humbridge

  ### THE FORDHAM HOTEL ###

  Family Name: Ellingham

  Father: Lord Christopher Ellingham (Owner of Fordhall Hotel)

  Mother: Lady Judith Ellingham

  Son: James Ellingham

  Daughter: Katrina Ellingham

  Resident at Fordhall Hotel: Earl George Allen Kipling

  Resident at Fordhall Hotel: Lady Melanie Beatrix Saville (Owner of a Hats Shop)

  ### ELIZA’S FLOW
ERS ###

  Family Name: Huntington

  Father: Lord Thaddeus Huntington

  Mother: Lady Eliza Huntington (Owner of Eliza’s Flowers)

  Son: Joseph Patrick Huntington

  Son: Andrew Jonathan Huntington

  Daughter: Grace Leigh Huntington

  ### FINE DRESS SHOPPE ###

  Family Name: Tweddle

  Husband: Sir Harrison Maxwell Tweddle

  Wife: Lady Polly Anne Tweddle

  PROLOGUE

  PROLOGUE

  London, England - 1818

  The sun was bright, making 20-year-old Viscountess Anne Marie Wiltshire squint and lift one hand to shade her eyes. She could barely make out the coach as it made its way down the dusty road, heading in her direction. She stood waiting, her companion, Clara, standing behind her, waiting to lift the luggage into the back of the coach.

  Clara was a full-figured woman, three years older than the Viscountess, hired on by Anne Marie’s uncle, the Duke of Wiltshire. She was completely devoted to her mistress. When Anne Marie asked her uncle to send someone along with her for her journey, Clara had volunteered immediately. She’d grown up in the same household with Anne Marie. Her mother was a devoted servant to the House of Wiltshire and Clara had always been a good friend to a young Anne Marie.

  As they watched the coach come closer, Clara spoke quietly. “Are you prepared to venture on this journey, my lady?”

  Anne Marie turned to look at her. “Clara, if we are to travel together for the next few years, you must call me Anne Marie.”

  “Yes, my lady.” Clara smiled. “Anne Marie. I’m sorry, my lady, it may take me some time to become used to calling you by your Christian name. I do not want to appear disrespectful.”

  “I’ve given you my permission, Clara. And, yes, I am very much ready for this journey.”

  “Do you think you will find a suitable gentleman to become your husband?”

  Anne Marie giggled, scrunching her nose at her companion. “Of course, I do, Clara. What would prevent it? I am a good woman. I am easy on the eyes. I have much to offer the right man.”

  “You are correct, my lady. I am sure you will find a suitable husband quickly. And when you do, you will come into your fortune. Is it your plan to inform the man you intend to marry of your impending inheritance?”

  Anne Marie didn’t say anything for a few moments. She turned back to see that the coach was coming to a stop in front of them. “I have no idea how long it will take. But I do hope that I will find a loving man, who will care for me and nurture me, even without my inheritance.”

  “That is what you deserve, my lady.”

  Anne Marie smiled at her. “Anne Marie. Try to remember so that when we are in the company of others, you will not feel like a servant. I don’t want you to feel lesser than those we encounter. No one need know our relationship. Nor that my uncle hired you to accompany me on my search.”

  “Yes, my… Anne Marie. I will try very hard to call you by your name, as you wish.”

  “Thank you, Clara.”

  The coach stopped in front of them and the driver stepped down to help them load the trunks. He held out a hand to both ladies as they stepped into the coach.

  “Thank you, sir.” Clara said.

  “Take us to Cambridge, Henry, please.”

  “Yes, m’ lady.” Henry nodded and closed the door behind her.

  CHAPTER ONE

  BAINBRIDGE VILLAGE

  BAINBRIDGE VILLAGE

  Bainbridge Village,

  South England Square,

  1820

  “Where are we?” Clara looked through the window of the coach. She had just woken up to see the Viscountess was sitting across from her, staring out the window. Anne Marie turned tired eyes to her.

  “We have just arrived in Bainbridge.”

  Clara sat up straight and stretched her arms out in front of her, tilting her head to the side. “I haven’t heard of Bainbridge.”

  “It’s in South England Square.”

  “Not near London, then.”

  Anne Marie shook her head. “We haven’t been near London for almost a year, my friend. Why? Do you want to go back? You don’t have to travel with me if you don’t want to.”

  Clara shook her head. “Oh, no, Miss. I do want to travel with you. The last year and a half have been quite an adventure. Meeting so many new people. Having such a good time with you. I would not want to part ways with you.”

  Anne Marie smiled. “You will have to when I get married, won’t you?”

  “I will.” Clara tilted her head again. “And I will miss you very much. This time we’ve spent together, however, will always be wonderful memories for me. I will tell my children and grandchildren how I was able to travel with the beautiful and kind Viscountess Anne Marie Wiltshire. You will never be forgotten!”

  The Viscountess blushed. Her grin widened and she looked back out the window again. “I have enjoyed having you along, Clara. I wonder if I will find a husband in Bainbridge. It is so very small and I do not think there are many men here who have titles. But we shall see. I have heard only good things about this village.”

  “How did you hear about it, my lady?”

  “In his last post, Uncle sent me a list of villages and towns to visit in this area of London. He mentioned Bainbridge as one of the best in the area, despite how small it is. He says the people here are friendly and generous.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  “Most of the land here is owned by a single Duke and Duchess, the Cornwall's, and they have four sons. The townsfolk are all well-known to each other. I am most anxious to meet them.”

  “I am, as well.” Clara nodded. “Where will we be staying?”

  Anne Marie leaned forward, looking through the window. “The Fordham hotel. It is owned and operated by Judith and Christopher Ellingham. I think we are almost there. It is not a very big village. Look.” Anne Marie pointed with one gloved hand to a large mansion on a hill in the distance. “Do you see that mansion up there? That is where the Cornwall's live.”

  Clara also leaned forward and looked up at the mansion. “How beautiful. I look forward to visiting them.”

  The coach came to a stop and both women looked through the windows on the other side. They were parked in front of a white, three-story building with majestic structures, sculptures, and columns lining the front.

  “Oh, my.” Clara breathed. “This is very nice for a hotel in such a small village.”

  “Yes, it is.” Anne Marie sounded as impressed as her companion. The carriage door was opened by Henry, the driver, who held out his hand to her.

  “We have arrived, my lady.”

  “Thank you, Henry. I do appreciate it.” Anne Marie took his hand and stepped down from the coach, looking up at the tall building. He bowed to her when she was out of the coach and held out his hand to help Clara, who smiled at him.

  “Thank you, Henry.”

  He nodded. “Miss.” He moved to the back of the coach and began to unload the trunks from the compartment. “I will bring your luggage, my lady, if you want to go inside now. Rain is threatening and I would not want you or Miss Clara to get wet.”

  Anne Marie nodded. “Yes, thank you again.” She turned on her heel and went quickly up the steps to the front doors of the grand hotel. Clara moved to get in front of her.

  “I’ll open the door, Anne.” She reached in front of her mistress and turned the knob. The tall door opened and the ladies went into the front room. They both stopped after entering, looking around the large room. It was clean and well organized. There were two couches and two chairs to their right, making what looked like a small lobby. A short, rectangular table made of marble sat in the middle of the room. A beautiful rug ran the length of the floor. The room was sparsely but tastefully decorated with several landscape portraits hanging on the walls, flowers in unique vases on the side tables, and small angel statuettes placed carefully next to them.

&nbsp
; To their left, a counter stood vacant. There were a few papers scattered on the surface and a log book open. A quill with a bright red feather on the end sat in an ink well next to the book with a small bell next to the book. A room beyond the small counter contained letter boxes for each room. Next to the counter, was a hallway that led to another open room and several doors beyond that.