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<\/a><\/div>\nVirginia Mortimer jumped at the stentorian tones. She\u2019d asked for the summons, but it hadn\u2019t been necessary. It seemed she\u2019d hardly slept at all. She\u2019d been up and dressed for the last hour.<\/p>\n
She took a last glance around the plush bedroom. How elegant it had seemed the night she arrived. In the light of what had transpired over the last few weeks, it looked tawdry now \u2013 faded and dusty in the dawn light now shafting through the windows.<\/p>\n
The hackney must be here to take her to the posting inn. To ride a public stagecoach home to Primrose Hall would serve as only the latest indignity of her headlong fall from grace<\/p>\n
On the floor, half under the bedside table, the corner of a book caught her eye. She reached for it, not wanting to leave a trace of herself behind. It was a slim leather-bound book, given to her by her parents. Stamped in gold letters on the front was the word \u2018Psalter\u2019. She jammed it into her capacious reticule.<\/p>\n
Only then did she turn to the door, square her shoulders and respond to the odious butler. \u201cI\u2019m coming!\u201d<\/p>\n
The cad who\u2019d brought her to this nadir was nowhere to be seen. She didn\u2019t care to say \u2018good bye\u2019 and her departure wouldn\u2019t matter to him when he stumbled in from another night of carousing.<\/p>\n
The butler eyed her valise, but made no move to assist, but simply opened the door. No pretense of respect, he closed the door as she humped her own valise down the scrubbed white steps. She rummaged in her reticule, and handed a note to the driver before hiking her skirts and launching herself awkwardly into the hackney. The hackney gave a lurch, and she was on her way home. Back to the small village of Beckston to face her parents\u2019 recriminations and her future as a ruined maiden.<\/p>\n
Though the day was sunny, a high wind blew swirls of gray smoke down into the dusty inn yard where she waited, clutching her cloak about her and hoping her large bonnet hid her face. She wondered what the chances were that someone of her village would be making this same journey.<\/p>\n
When the coach arrived, she was the first passenger to board. One by one, others entered the coach. She held her breath as each passenger mounted, letting it out when she recognized no familiar face. What would the grim-faced soldier, the plain lady in the depressing bonnet, or the elderly clergyman think of her if they knew what she really was, and that she was slinking home in shame?<\/p>\n
Only two months ago, when she slipped out during the night, she\u2019d left her childhood behind, naively thinking she knew better than her parents. She\u2019d believed Lord Beckwith\u2019s son Randall loved her and would do right by her, no matter what her mother and father said to the contrary.<\/p>\n
Virginia had noticed Randall for the first time at the Beckwith\u2019s annual picnic at their country estate outside Beckston. \u00a0He must have been down from Cambridge. The local gentry were invited for the day, which began with competitive games on the lawn for entire community, followed by a picnic. The gentry then joined houseguests and the noble lords of the manor for an evening dinner and ball inside, while the common folk reveled on outdoors.<\/p>\n
Invited with her family to the dinner and ball, she enjoyed the lavish surroundings, and never expected to draw Randall\u2019s attention. From the moment he\u2019d lofted a crumpled note at her she\u2019d been hooked. A note which landed down the front of her bodice. She fished it out, read the words \u2018You\u2019re beautiful\u2019 and looked up in surprise to lock eyes with the impossibly handsome young man.<\/p>\n
His wavy blond hair, chiseled straight nose, teal-blue eyes and muscular physique caught all the young girls\u2019 fancy, and when he kept paying her, a mere barrister\u2019s daughter, \u00a0particular attention, she was sunk.<\/p>\n
As the coach rumbled out of the London inn yard, Virginia\u2019s mind shied away from continuing this inward litany of her fall, and instead thought ahead to her arrival home. Her parents\u2019 quick response of \u2018yes\u2019 to her note requesting them to allow her to come home came as a relief since she had only a few coins and nowhere else to go. Beyond that, she didn\u2019t know what to expect of her homecoming.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Hours later, her mother sailed toward her with open arms. \u201cDarling, you\u2019re home!\u201d Hugs, pats on the back, and murmurs of welcome caused the tears to flow. Virginia vowed right then and there never to disregard her parents\u2019 wishes again. They had tried to tell her what was best, but she had defied them for Randall and his false promises.<\/p>\n
She drew away from her mother\u2019s embrace and girded herself to look her parents in the eye. \u201cMother \u2013 Father, how can I thank you? I am so sorry. How could I have been so blind, so foolish?\u201d Fresh gales of tears followed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe forgive you, Virginia.\u201d\u00a0 Her father\u2019s gentle tone only served to make her feel more quilty. \u201cHere, you must be chilled to the bone. Put this on.\u201d Her father moved around behind her and laid a fur-lined robe across her shoulders. \u201cA little homecoming gift.\u201d<\/p>\n
How forgiving they were. In fact, they acted as if nothing had changed and Virginia\u2019s flight of passion hadn\u2019t ever occurred.\u00a0 Mother led her to her old room upstairs, and Father trailed behind with her valise.<\/p>\n
A dreamlike state swept over Virginia \u2013 how unreal to be back in her frilly, maidenly girlhood bedroom with its narrow bed, after the shameful deeds she\u2019d done. Defying, sneaking away, rebelling outright and allowing herself to be deceived by a seducer.<\/p>\n
\u201cPut your things away, dear, and then come down for supper. We have a surprise for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Virginia used the pretty china pitcher and bowl on the washstand to freshen up after the dusty travel. She\u2019d left in London the lavish wardrobe Randall gave her. But here were all the dresses she left behind, hanging in the white-painted wooden wardrobe. How soft, simple, and demure the pale-colored muslin dresses appeared. Do I even have the right to dress as a maiden?<\/i><\/p>\n
She had no one to hold responsible but herself. Taught from childhood to be pure, Virginia threw that teaching to the wind on the basis of a few kisses and compelling whispered words, and then allowed young love\u2019s passion to take control. Yes, Randall was the instigator, but she alone chose sin, her own conscience told her that.<\/p>\n
She picked a pink and white dress with a silk ribbon sash, and shimmied it over her head. Her parents must have dismissed her maid when she left, and she had to shift for herself, for now at least. She stood in front of the mirror, tying the sash into a bow, then turning it to the back. The high-waisted dress was almost too flattering to her young figure. She didn\u2019t deserve to look so young and pretty anymore.<\/p>\n
She sat down at the dressing table and picked up her silver-backed brush, scraping her long, glossy brown hair back into a tight chignon, wishing she could bind her sinful past as easily. But the relentless door to the future stood open, and she had to walk through.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look charming, my dear girl.\u201d Virginia\u2019s father pulled a chair out for her to sit at the intimate family table.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, not a day older than when you left.\u201d Mrs. Mortimer beamed upon her daughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cDear, don\u2019t talk about that yet, let Virgie have her favorite dinner first.\u201d He lifted the cover off a roast of beef, surrounded by potatoes and vegetables and a ring of parsley clusters.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re too good to me. I don\u2019t deserve this.\u201d Virginia lifted her index finger to wipe away a tear.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember, God\u2019s love never fails. And we want to be like Him. Love covers a multitude of sins. His love and ours.\u201d Mr. Mortimer laid his hand on her shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow let\u2019s pray.\u201d He bowed his head. \u201cDear Father in Heaven, thank you for bringing our daughter home. Thank you for this food, In Jesus Name, Amen. There, now we can eat.\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Father, we can\u2019t have a party. A celebration for my return? How will I face the neighborhood?\u201d They\u2019d moved across the hall after dinner to the drawing room, where a fire crackled in the hearth.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as anyone here knows, you\u2019ve been visiting an elderly relative in the north. I felt the Lord would forgive a bit of dissembling to protect your name, unsullied, as it were.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, we are just so grateful you are back, and none\u2019s the wiser. We\u2019ll just go on as before.\u201d Mrs. Mortimer\u2019s smile became tremulous.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, before you ask, we heard Beckwith\u2019s son was given an ultimatum to join the army, else be shipped off to the West Indies to manage a plantation. He got into a duel in London and won\u2019t be back here.\u00a0 He\u2019s probably landed on the continent by now. As a younger son, he won\u2019t be needed, either. The eldest two all have well-established nurseries. But enough about that family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNow let\u2019s have a song, Virgie.\u201d<\/p>\n
She took her Psalter over to the piano and started riffling through the pages. Settling on one, she began to sing and accompany herself to Psalm 68. \u201cThis one reminds me of me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGod frees the captive and He sends<\/i><\/p>\n
The blessedness of home and friends,<\/i><\/p>\n
And only those in darkness stay<\/i><\/p>\n
Who will not trust Him and obey.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
She hung her head a moment, then straightened her spine, and turned toward her parents. \u201cMother, Father, I want to make very clear that I am repentant and have submitted my life to Christ now. I know it\u2019s belated, and you always wanted me to have the Faith. Now I do. It took my fall into the miry pit to bring me to my senses and to throw myself on God\u2019s mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe forgive you, don\u2019t we Tansy?\u201d Overjoyed, with tears spilling, Mr. Mortimer looked to his wife.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Mortimer\u2019s face lit up, wet with tears of joy, and she responded likewise. \u201cYes, Harold, we both forgive. Now let it go, dear Virginia. God forgives you too, and you need to move on with your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was such a fool to believe Randall. He told me we\u2019d be married, so it didn\u2019t matter because we were in love, and that God knew we were sincere. He never intended to wed me. In fact, he ended laughing in my face, and told me to find my own way home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch a base seducer will always say anything to achieve his wicked will. Most rakes at least keep hands off well-born maidens. So sorry you had to learn such a hard lesson.\u201d Mrs. Mortimer rose and put her arm around Virginia\u2019s shoulders. \u201cNow come over to the sofa, and let\u2019s plan the party. All our friends will want to celebrate your homecoming with us.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Long, quiet days of healing commenced. Virginia helped around the house, doing little chores like peeling apples, mending linens, knitting socks, and helping plan the party her parents insisted on.<\/p>\n
Dread flickered in her mid-section every time she thought ahead to the celebration, but she steeled her nerves, not wishing to disappoint her parents. They seemed so hopeful everything could return to how it had been before her disgrace.<\/p>\n
Even though her parents thought nobody knew of her shameful fall from grace, Virginia braced herself each time someone came to the house or she ran into someone in the village. What if . . . someone knew something, and spread gossip? She\u2019d hate that, but worse, hate the taint that would fall on her family.<\/p>\n
The day of the party arrived. She could put off her preparations no longer. Up she went, to her boudoir, where her maid fussed around, waiting to work her magic.<\/p>\n
\u201cLizzy, I\u2019m so glad you were able to come back to work. I wasn\u2019t gone long, but you could have easily been hired on somewhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss, glad I am to be back here,\u201d her young tidy maid said with a grin. \u201cThe only job on offer whilst ye were gone was at the fishmongers, cleaning fish.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell then, let\u2019s do my hair, and get me dressed. I\u2019ve picked out that ivory taffeta, trimmed in coral.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lizzy\u2019s deft hands created a stylish psyche knot. \u00a0Virginia approved, tilting her head this way, and that. \u201cI love this style. I should have tried it sooner.\u201d Maybe this party wouldn\u2019t be a disaster. Her heart began to hope.<\/p>\n
She stepped into the dress, and the maid fastened it. High waisted, it flattered her figure and whispered when she walked. A filmy fichu of ivory silk filled in the too-low neckline. Styles of the day tended toward the immodest, but Virginia was done with that. The coral cameo necklace her mother brought in earlier that evening complemented her coloring.<\/p>\n
\u00a0*<\/p>\n
\u201cThere you are!\u201d Her mother scurried over and grasped Virginia\u2019s elbow as she entered the drawing room where the guests had begun to gather. \u201cYou must meet the Ashleighs, from rural Beckston. They are twins, just your age.\u201d Mrs. Mortimer towed her across the room.<\/p>\n
Dread of facing the guests took the form of a rock in Virginia\u2019s stomach. But she had no choice, the party had commenced whether she was ready or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Quentin Ashleigh, Miss Annabelle Ashleigh, this is my daughter Virginia. She has just returned from a lengthy trip visiting relatives.\u201d Mrs. Mortimer performed the introductions then turned and flitted off to greet more new arrivals. Virginia caught a glimpse of her mother\u2019s crossed fingers.<\/p>\n
Virginia made small talk with the Ashleigh twins. He had intelligent brown eyes and curly russet hair, and his sister though not identical, had similar coloring. Virginia relaxed and the rock of dread melted away under the bright beam of the twins\u2019 sparkling personalities.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Mortimer, your mother is a darling, she invited us for tonight when she heard we were newly settled in Beckston.\u201d Annabelle\u2019s curls jiggled along with her words.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is a sweet lady, if a daughter\u2019s opinion counts.\u201d Virginia replied, smiling. \u201cWhere in rural Beckston do you reside?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just moved to Fairbrook Manor \u2013 just a mile or so east of here \u2013 my family\u2019s owned it for decades. My sister and I had our fill of London for the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I\u2019m somewhat familiar with Fairbrook. One mile out isn\u2019t too inconvenient. For shopping and church and so forth.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot inconvenient at all. I hear there\u2019s to be dancing later, Miss Mortimer, may I have the first dance? Nothing like being first in line.\u201d Quentin\u2019s twinkly dark-blue eyes danced between teasing and sincere, producing a pleasing swirl of enticement affecting Virginia\u2019s equanimity. Was he flirting?<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly. By all means, let me find my dance card. I wasn\u2019t prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n
As she walked off to locate the card, Virginia wanted to kick herself for sounding like such a dull pattern card of propriety. She needed balance. Balance between being a frivolous fool and a staunch starchbucket.<\/p>\n
She didn\u2019t get back to Quentin with her dance card prior to the time dinner was announced, because she was greeted by old friends every step of the way. For the promenade of precedence into the dining room, she was paired with her elderly vicar Mr. Cranston, a widower in his seventies. As they proceeded, he said, \u201cSo glad you\u2019re back from your sojourn. A short visit away can do wonders for the appreciation of home, no?\u201d<\/p>\n
Caught by the vicar\u2019s words, she was busy deciphering them, searching for hidden meaning, and didn\u2019t realize until the last moment that she\u2019d been seated next to Quentin. She quashed the spurt of interest that rose up in her, and applied her attention to the vicar on her left. Why then, did her right side feel so aware, so alive?<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Mortimer?\u201d A voice intruded on the one-sided conversation she was having, rather listening to, with the vicar. Mr. Cranston\u2019s avocation involved everything to do with bees, and it appeared he planned to tell her all he knew \u2013 tonight, at the table.<\/p>\n
So it was with relief that she excused herself from the apiarist, and turned toward Quentin Ashleigh. \u201cIf you\u2019d like to ask me anything about bees, I can now answer.\u201d<\/p>\n
He chuckled, and laid his index finger against his temple. \u201cNothing at the moment, but I shall remember to ask, should I need your new-gained knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Virginia enjoyed the low-key facetious humor with which he answered, and felt quite amicable toward the young man.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder, did you bring your dance card to the dining room? You never brought it back for me to sign. Am I too late for the first dance?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, no. I promised it. I have the card right here.\u201d She lifted the evening reticule, a small bead-embellished pouch that hung on her wrist. She extracted the card and handed it with its attached pencil, to Quentin.<\/p>\n
He took it from her, stroked his chin, and said, \u201cPerhaps you\u2019ll allow me two dances? If that\u2019s not too greedy?\u201d The candlelight gleamed off his hair.<\/p>\n
Boggled at the pleasant sensations flooding her at the fellow\u2019s kind, friendly, flirtatiousness, she answered without overthinking. \u201cYes, and no.\u201d<\/p>\n
Confusion played across his face before it gave way to wry humor.<\/p>\n
He gave a bark of laughter. \u201cYou are quite concise, Miss Mortimer. I like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
And she liked him. More and more the weeks in London felt like nothing but a bad dream. Back in the loving climate of Mortimer House, the broken spirit she\u2019d brought home had been replaced by a new heart, ready to live again.<\/p>\n
No one had even hinted at a breath of scandal about her. She\u2019d dodged the broad-reaching brush of the gossips and society was none the wiser regarding her fall from moral purity. She let out a grateful relieved breath upon this thought, only to have her attentive tablemate inquire as to her state of mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a prodigious breath \u2013 almost a sigh. Do tell.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing, just breathing, if that\u2019s quite all right.\u201d She quirked a smile his way to soften the string of her abrupt rejoinder.<\/p>\n
The lengthy meal ended, and the women departed for the drawing room, the men remaining in the dining room for brandy. When the time came for dancing, Quentin bowed in front of her and they sailed off to join a set of country dances The figures of the dances took them apart, and only allowed moments to converse.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are a lovely dancer, Miss Mortimer.\u201d Spoken before he sailed down the line, away from her.<\/p>\n
The next time their orbits collided, she answered. \u201cAnd you are a fine dancer, as well, Mr. Ashleigh.\u201d\u00a0 They both chuckled at the gap between their brief interchanges, before being swept apart again.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
\u00a0Greetings, dear readers! Any guesses on the outcome here? Will he turn out to be a cad, as well? Leave a comment, please \ud83d\ude42 Susan Karsten<\/em><\/p>\n Originally posted 2014-03-03 10:00:00. <\/small><\/p> \u00a0\u201cMiss Virginia!\u201d The dubious butler called \u2013 nay bellowed \u2013 her name. Virginia Mortimer jumped at the stentorian tones. She\u2019d asked for the summons, but it hadn\u2019t been necessary. It seemed she\u2019d hardly slept at all. She\u2019d been up and dressed for the last hour. She took a last glance around the plush bedroom. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,85,4,356,1],"tags":[206,388,207,387,240,39,29,78,566,391,209],"class_list":["post-3702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-courtship","category-love-and-romance","category-regency-romance","category-romance","category-uncategorized","tag-free-regency-story","tag-free-short-story","tag-inspirational-regency","tag-prodigal-daughter","tag-reading","tag-regency","tag-regency-england","tag-regency-history","tag-regency-romance","tag-regency-short-story","tag-susan-karsten"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3702"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4662,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3702\/revisions\/4662"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Listen](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vanessariley.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SubstackAd.png?fit=1080%2C1350&ssl=1\")
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