A New Home for the Duke: A Regency Romance: The Returned Lords of Grosvenor Square (Book 4)

by Pearson, Rose

  It was some twenty minutes later by the time Stephen walked back from the grave marker. The contentment and peace in his heart had not faded in the time he had lingered there, but had, in fact, grown steadily. There was a certainty within him that he was doing right. He had to pray that Miss Edgington would be as open and as willing to, at the very least, consider what it was he hoped for. He looked towards the front of the house with expectant eyes, seeing her waiting for him there. Now he came to it. Now was the moment when he was to open his heart and show her the truth of his feelings there. He just did not know what she would say when he did so.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “You do not think that my father is angry with me for doing wrong?”

  Jenny smiled softly at the boy she had come to love so dearly, brushing his hair from his face. “He will tell you, I am sure, that you are never to go to town alone again, but no, he is not angry with you. Rather, he is relieved that you are safe.”

  “Oh.” John’s eyes were growing heavier with each second that passed, his weariness apparent. “It was something of a thump, was it not, Miss Edgington?”

  Given that she had not been there to witness it, Jenny held back a small shudder and answered honestly. “I did not see what occurred but the doctor says you hit your head quite badly. You must make sure to get as much rest as you can, John, so that you can be up and about again soon. Mary will miss you, I am sure.”

  John’s eyes were closed now, his breathing already labored. “Tell Mary that I shall see her very soon, once I am awake,” he murmured, his head to one side. “I must sleep now, Miss Edgington.”

  She smiled at his eloquent speech, marveling at his strength despite his weariness and pain, and rose to her feet. Leaning over the boy, she kissed his cheek and felt such an affection rouse within her that it brought tears to her eyes. Blinking them back, she turned and left the room, closing the door tightly behind her.

  Taking a moment, Jenny leaned back against the closed door and drew in air slowly, before letting it rattle out of her. There was a sudden nervousness within her, knowing that she had to go and speak to the Duke and that, most likely, he would be waiting for her. Ever since he had asked her to refer to him as ‘Carrington’, she had felt as though every single moment held something new within it. The looks that they shared had become more intimate of late and Jenny had to wonder if what the Duke wanted to speak with her about was about her future here at the estate. Could she allow herself to believe that there might be something in his heart for her?

  Of course, it was more than a little preposterous to think that a Duke and a governess might draw near to each other, but had the Duke not said that he did not see her as merely a governess? Had he not stated that he cared more for her character than for her position?

  “I shall only discover the truth if I am brave enough to speak to him about my heart,” she whispered to herself, opening her eyes and pushing herself away from the closed door. “I shall tell him that my affections are slowly growing, for I do not think that I can hold it within myself.” Nor did she think that she would be able to continue being as close to the Duke as she was at the present moment if her affections were not returned, for that would become much too difficult for her heart to bear. She would be glad to remain as the governess, but she could not draw close to the Duke, not if they were simply to remain close acquaintances. Therefore, the only choice laid out for her was to speak of her heart and pray that he might understand.

  “It will take a great deal of courage,” she whispered to herself, her hands tightening together as she walked to the front of the house. “But I must force myself to speak the truth. For what can be done if I keep this knowledge to myself?”

  The Duke was, as he had said, waiting patiently by the front of the house for her. He was standing at the bottom of the stone steps, looking out across the gardens, but when he looked up at her, his eyes flared with delight and a broad smile crossed his face.

  “You have returned,” he said, holding out one hand to her as though she might need some assistance in making her way down the final few stairs. “And how is John?”

  She took his hand at once and felt her heart explode with the simple contact of his fingers on hers. “John is resting but ate a quite a bit of broth,” she said, with a small smile as she looked into his eyes. “He will recover very quickly, I am certain. I cannot tell you just how relieved I am that he has been returned to you.”

  The Duke smiled at her, grasped her fingers and looped them under his arm before letting them go. He walked with her towards the gardens, his eyes lingering on her face. “He has been returned to us, has he not?”

  Jenny swallowed the ache in her throat, her heart quickening. “He is your son, Your Grace.”

  “Carrington,” he reminded her, his eyes twinkling. “And yes, whilst he might be my son, he has become very dear to you, has he not?”

  “I will not pretend otherwise,” she agreed, thinking fondly of both Mary and John. “They have changed from the difficult children they once were to two very sweet, charming young children that I confess I have a great love for.”

  He nodded, his gaze drifting away from hers to look across the gardens. “It is a love I see in you every day,” he told her, his voice tender. “They have only progressed as much as they have because of your sweetness, Miss Edgington. Your gentleness, your courage, your love, and your fierce determination have done so much for both my children….and for me.” His steps began to slow and Jenny felt her heart begin to thump furiously, aware of how he was turning towards her, his expression growing a good deal more serious. “When I saw John today, I realized just how wise your words were, Miss Edgington. You told me that I should cherish what I have and, now, I have finally found a way to do that. If the horse had been going any faster, or if the trap had hit him harder, I do not know what I would have done if he….” He trailed off, swallowing and looking away. “I am determined to cherish what I have, Miss Edgington.”

  “I know that John and Mary will delight in all the attention and all the love you can give them,” Jenny found herself saying, a slight trembling beginning to take a hold of her. Would she have to tell him that she, in her own way, had come to treasure her life here? That she held John, Mary and the Duke himself deep within her heart and had come to care for them with as much love and as much fondness as she had held for her own parents?

  “Miss Edgington, I would cherish you.”

  She could not breathe, the air chased from her lungs by the words spoken by the Duke. For a moment, she wondered if she had heard him correctly, and was forced to look up into the Duke’s face, wanting to see the confirmation in his eyes.

  “You may think I speak too freely,” the Duke continued, his voice low. “But I have stood here and found myself looking into your eyes and there was nothing else that I could say.” He sighed and dropped his head. “I may have spoken too freely and in doing so, have made our circumstances more difficult than they need to be, but I must confess to you Miss Edgington, that I can feel nothing other than the deep affection in my heart for you whenever I so much as glance in your direction.”

  “I – I cannot believe that I am hearing these words from your mouth,” Jenny whispered, her hands trembling as he sought hers. “This cannot be true.”

  The Duke swallowed and looked away, even though his hands were now tight on hers. “Miss Edgington, if you have no such affections for me then I promise you that nothing more needs to be said. I shall not ask you to leave this place, I shall not ask you to find a new employment, for my children need you and they love you dearly.” He squeezed his eyes closed tight and let out a heavy sigh. “I could not have waited another moment to tell you this, Miss Edgington, but mayhap I have been wrong to do so.”

  “No, no, you have not!” she protested at once, pressing his hands tightly and seeing his eyes open and a smile begin to spread across his face. “It is just….” She struggled to find the words, shaking her head to herself as t
hough to clear her thoughts. “It is just that I have found it quite overwhelming, Carrington. To know that you have such affections for me when my heart and my mind is filled with you is more than I have ever imagined.”

  The Duke’s eyes slowly began to warm, his smile broadening as he let go of her hands and slipped his arms about her waist, drawing her closer to him. All of Jenny’s senses flared to life, her heart beating so wildly that she was certain he could feel it. There was a sense of wonder growing in her heart at how astonishing this moment was. She felt as though the world was beginning to spin around her as she looked up into his face. Could it be true? Could the Duke care for her in the very same way as she did for him? She had never been close to a gentleman in such a way before, nor had she felt such sensations as now bound her heart. Jenny found that her hands rested on his chest, feeling the hard planes beneath. Her mind was spinning with what had just been shared between them, realizing that the future that was now awaiting her was more than she had even let herself hope for. She would not have to be separated from the children. She would never have to leave this house. This would become her home, her family. It was almost too much joy to bear.

  “I have made peace with the past,” the Duke said, looking down into her eyes. “I will always love Martha, for she was the first to steal my heart.”

  “And I would never once question that,” Jenny replied, fervently, not wanting him to believe that she was jealous in any way. “I truly understand.”

  The Duke smiled down into her eyes, letting go of her waist with one hand so that he might gently push back a few short tendrils of hair from her face. “But now it seems that my heart is also filled with you, Miss Edgington.”

  “Jenny,” she whispered, seeing his eyes light up.

  “My heart is filled with you, Jenny,” he murmured, his fingers brushing her cheek before dropping back to her waist. “I cannot imagine a life without you. My children adore you. I adore you.” He began to lower his head, his eyes darkening as he gazed into her eyes. “Say that you will stay with me forever, Jenny. Say that you will be my bride.”

  She could only nod, such was the tears in her eyes and the ache of happiness in her throat. Her breathing was ragged as she lifted her gaze to his, feeling her love for him burst from her heart and course all through her. To know that she would be able to remain here, that she could share her love in her heart with the Duke, was so wonderful that she could not quite believe it. It was not until his lips touched hers, until his tender kiss captured her mouth, that she finally allowed herself to believe it.

  The Duke held her close for a long time, his kiss capturing her heart all over again. Jenny felt tears on her cheeks as he raised his head, but they were tears of happiness and overwhelming joy. The Duke brushed them from her as he smiled down into her eyes.

  “You shall be my wife, Jenny,” he breathed, as though he himself could not quite believe it. “You shall be my wife, and I shall be your husband. And we shall know both joy and love every single day of our lives.”

  “Yes, we shall,” she whispered, reaching up to cup his face with trembling hands. “I love you, Carrington. With every bit of my heart, I love you.”

  He kissed her again, his lips warm on hers. “As I love you, my dear Jenny,” he whispered against her mouth. “You brought me back from the dark. My heart belongs to you. With you by my side, my life is bright and filled with happiness and contentment. I cannot imagine a life without you.”

  “Nor I you,” she whispered, before reaching up to capture his lips in a kiss of her own.

  If you enjoyed this story, please check out the first book in the series, The Waiting Bride!

  My Dear Reader

  Thank you for reading and supporting my books! I hope this story brought you some escape from the real world into the always captivating Regency world. A good story, especially one with a happy ending, just brightens your day.

  Below is a complete list of all of my books! Why not click and see if one of them can keep you entertained for a few hours?

  The Duke’s Daughters Series

  The Duke’s Daughters: A Sweet Regency Romance Boxset

  A Rogue for a Lady

  My Restless Earl

  Rescued by an Earl

  In the Arms of an Earl

  The Reluctant Marquess (Prequel)

  A Smithfield Market Regency Romance

  The Smithfield Market Romances: A Sweet Regency Romance Boxset

  The Rogue’s Flower

  Saved by the Scoundrel

  Mending the Duke

  The Baron’s Malady

  The Returned Lords of Grosvenor Square

  The Waiting Bride

  The Long Return

  The Duke’s Saving Grace

  A New Home for the Duke

  Love and Christmas Wishes: Three Regency Romance Novellas

  Collection with other Regency Authors

  Love at the Christmas Ball

  Please go to the next page for a preview of the first book in the Smithfield Market series, The Rogue’s Flower!

  Happy Reading!

  All my love,

  Rose

  A Sneak Peek of A Rogue’s Flower

  Prologue

  “Elsbeth?”

  Miss Elsbeth Blakely, daughter to some unknown persons and nothing more than an orphan, turned her head to see Miss Skelton enter the room, her thin figure and skeletal appearance matching her name perfectly.

  “Yes, Miss Skelton?” Elsbeth asked, getting to her feet as she knew she was expected to, given that this was the lady in charge of the House for Girls. “What can I do for you?”

  Miss Skelton, her black hair tied back into a tight bun, gave a small disparaging sniff. “What are you doing in the schoolroom, Elsbeth? The dinner gong has sounded, has it not?”

  Elsbeth did not back down, nor feel ashamed of her tardiness. “I have every intention of coming to the dining hall the moment I have finished my letter,” she replied, calmly. “After all, was it not you yourself who told me that I was to leave this place just as soon as I could?” She tilted her head just a little, mousey brown curls tipping across her forehead as she did so. Her hair had always been the bane of her life, for she had such tight curls that it was almost impossible to keep them neat and tidy as she was expected to do.

  Miss Skelton sniffed again. “That is no excuse, Elsbeth. I expect better from you.”

  Elsbeth sighed inwardly, aware that Miss Skelton was almost always disappointed with her. Ever since she could remember, Miss Skelton had been a tall, imposing figure that gave her nothing but disparaging and cutting remarks, designed to bring down her confidence. Elsbeth had, in fact, learned how to stand against Miss Skelton’s venomous words, shutting down her emotions and closeting away her heart whenever the lady spoke.

  “May I ask what letter it is you are writing?” Miss Skelton asked, her hands now clasped in front of her. Her long, grey dress with its high collar that hid most of her neck hung on her like a shroud, giving her an almost death-like appearance that Elsbeth hated so much.

  “I have been responding to advertisements regarding governesses,” Elsbeth replied, with a slight lift of her chin. “Mrs. Banks has encouraged me in this and I intend to find a position very soon. I do hope that you will give me the references I require.” She lifted one eyebrow, a slight challenge in her voice as she waited for Miss Skelton to reply. Mrs. Banks, the lady who taught the girls everything from elocution to grammar, had encouraged Elsbeth in her hopes of making a life for herself outside of the Smithfield House for Girls. Mrs. Banks told her that she had all the knowledge and ability required to become a governess. In a recent spat with Miss Skelton, Elsbeth had been urged to leave the House for Girls as soon as she was able. Miss Skelton pointed out how frustrated she was that she could not throw Elsbeth out on her ear; the two things had come together to encourage Elsbeth to indeed depart. What she required of Miss Skelton was a reference to whichever one of her potential employers wrote bac
k to her with further enquiry.

  “I suppose I must,” Miss Skelton replied, her voice thin. “If it means that I can get you out of this place, then I will do all I can to help you.”

  Elsbeth found herself smiling, feeling as though she had won victory. “Thank you, Miss Skelton. It is much appreciated, I am sure.” Turning her back on the lady, she sat down again and continued to compose her letter, hearing Miss Skelton’s mutter of frustration before she left the room.

  Breathing a small sigh of relief, Elsbeth let her pen drift over the page, writing the same words she had written on three other occasions. Her desire to become a governess was growing with every day that she had to spend here. Even though it was the only home she had ever known, it was slowly beginning to suffocate her.

  The Smithfield House for Girls was right next to the bustling Smithfield Market, but was in direct contrast to the happiness and warmth that came from there. Elsbeth often spent time looking out of her window to the market place, finding her heart filled with both happiness and pain, wishing that she could have the same joys that was in the faces of so many of those who came to the market. They laughed and smiled more than anyone ever did in the House for Girls, mostly due to the fact that Miss Skelton was neither happy nor joyful.

  Lost in thought for a moment, Elsbeth looked up from her page and let her gaze drift towards the window. Whilst her life had not been altogether bad thus far, the question about where she had come from and why she was here had always dogged her mind. Miss Skelton had never said a word, other than to state that her living allowances had been paid for – and continued to be paid for – year after year. That was why she could never throw Elsbeth out onto the street, since money was sent specifically for Elsbeth’s upkeep. Elsbeth could still remember the day she had asked Miss Skelton who sent the money, only for the door to be shut in her face. That had been the day she had begun to dislike Miss Skelton intensely. Elsbeth was frustrated that the woman would not give her any information despite seeing the it upset her to have no knowledge of her birth.