“I saw her, my lord,” a female voice from the doorway spoke softly. They all turned to see Patricia standing there, one hand clutching her robe together.
“Where is she?” the Duke took a step toward Patricia. She looked up at him with fear and reluctance written on her face.
“I saw her running down the path toward town. I went out to see if I could help the Groom bring in more water but he said no. In the moonlight, I saw her running. It had to be her. I didn’t know who it was or what it was, at first. However, she is dressed in a long white nightgown and has a night cap on her head. She has long brown hair and I could see it on her back. I didn’t want to go after her. I thought she was just afraid and was running to town to get help.”
“We must pursue her,” Tyler said. He waved to his brothers. “Come, my brothers. We will get dressed and go find this woman. She will pay for her crimes.” Before he left her side, Tyler looked down at Bella with loving eyes. “You stay here with Mama, Papa, and Joshua. We will take care of this.”
“All right, Tyler. I won’t go anywhere.”
The boys left the room, murmuring to each other about what they planned to do with Elena when they found her. Joshua walked to stand next to Bella, daring to take her hand in his. Her mother and father hugged each other, turning to walk out and into the hallway.
“Come downstairs, you two,” the Duke said. “We have much to discuss. We will share a glass of Brandy and speak of the future.”
Bella and Joshua followed her parents down the stairs and into the drawing room, where the Duke proceeded to make several glasses of brandy. He handed one to each of them before settling down on a long velvet couch next to his wife.
“I received a message earlier today for you, Bella. I am afraid I am also one who has not been forthcoming in this ordeal we have gone through. I was unsure how to tell you the news, and had planned to wait until after the ball.”
Bella stared at her father. “What news, Papa?”
Her father leaned over to open a small drawer in the table next to the couch. He withdrew a folded piece of paper and sat forward, opening it. Bella could see that her mother was just as curious as she was to know what was in the letter. She looked up at Joshua, whose eyebrows had pulled together in wonder.
Her father began to read the words on the paper. What it said sent chills through Bella and her heart began to thump.
“Your grace, Duke Wilfred Cornwall of Bellhouse. This is to inform you and your daughter, Bella Cornwall, of the passing of Lord Jonathan Humbridge. We are aware that your daughter was to be married to Lord Humbridge in the next few months. During his search for his cousin, Lord Sean Duffy, member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was shot and killed by the perpetrators of the crime. Lord Duffy is also deceased. We regret to inform you of these matters, and ask that you inform your daughter as soon as possible. Sincerely, Duke Grayson Blackwater.”
The room was silent when he finished. The Duchess’s eyes had opened wide in shock and her hand was over her mouth. Her eyes moved slowly to Bella, who had put both hands over her face and was sobbing quietly. Joshua’s head was hanging and he was overcome with shame and sorrow.
“I’m so sorry, Bella. I see now that I should have told you when I received the message. However, it appears we have all been hiding secrets from one another. I think it would be wise if, in the future, we did not hold back from one another.”
Bella pulled out the handkerchief from her pocket she’d used earlier and pressed it against her eyes. Her mother stood up and came to the couch they were seated on and sat on Bella’s other side. Both she and Joshua hugged Bella from both ends, making her feel warm and safe between them.
“Oh, Bella. Take comfort in knowing that he died with love in his heart for you and believing you felt the same way. He will not be hurt by these events now.”
“I don’t want to think that way, Mama. I don’t want to be happy that I have been freed from the marriage because of his death.”
“It is the way it is, Bella,” her mother said softly. “And we must carry on.”
“My poor Jonathan,” Bella sobbed. “My poor, gentleman Jon.”
EPILOGUE
EPILOGUE
Bella smiled up at the bright summer sky. A month had passed since the traumatic events that had changed her life forever. She was seated on a large blanket spread out in the park as the summer harvest festival went on around her. She could see Joshua down by the lake, talking to her brothers. Her heart was happy and her mind was calm.
It had not taken long for her brothers to catch up with Elena. She was found hiding in a barn on the outskirts of town. They had taken her to the magistrate and she was, at that time, sitting in a prison cell, awaiting the outcome of her actions. Bella was safe and the wedding that was planned for her and Jonathan had taken place between her and Joshua instead.
She waved to Katrina, who was rushing toward her, dragging a reluctant young man by her side.
“Bella! You are looking radiant today! Is it not a most beautiful day?”
“It is, it is, sit with me, Kat. I want you to catch me up on all the news of town. You have gossip for me, do you not?”
“Oh, you know there is always something going on at the hotel. This is Barnaby Alastair. He is visiting from London. He is cousin to the Huntington's and will be staying on here for a while as the flower shop is fixed back to the way it used to be.”
“You must have a wonderful time with those children,” Bella teased. The young man grinned.
“They are a handful. But they are sweet children and I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time with them while I can.”
Katrina leaned forward as if she was telling Bella a secret. “Barnaby is going to move here. He is going to open his own shop, selling men’s hats. Isn’t that right, Barnaby?” Before he could answer, Katrina continued. “He has his own designs and they are selling well in London.”
“Is that where you are from, Master Barnaby?”
He nodded. “Yes, my lady.”
“What do you think of our small village?”
“I like it more than London, that is certain.”
Bella could see Joshua leaving her brothers and approaching them with a smile on his handsome face. Her heart lifted and she couldn’t help pulling in a deep breath. Katrina turned to see what she was looking at and a large smile beamed from her young face. She tugged on Barnaby’s arm and giggled, “There’s Bella’s husband. He was the gardener at Bellhouse and they fell in love and got married. Isn’t that something?”
Barnaby chuckled. “Yes, my dear. It’s quite amazing. Stunning, in fact.”
“Oh, you!” Katrina put one hand to her lips and said, “We will leave you two alone, Bella. I know you want to speak to your husband, don’t you?” She laughed, called out a “hello” to Joshua and tugged on Barnaby’s arm again, dragging him away. Barnaby gave Bella a smile and a nod.
Joshua plopped down next to Bella on the blanket. “I see Katrina has a new gentleman.”
“Yes, she is very excited, isn’t she?”
Joshua nodded, watching Katrina and Barnaby. He turned to look at her.
“I have been blessed, Bella. Never would I have expected to have such a lovely woman as my bride, especially you. I have loved you for so long.”
“We have both been blessed, Joshua.”
He took her face in his hands and pulled her into a kiss. The touch of his lips sent shivers down Bella’s arms and legs. She wondered if it would be like that forever, if his touch would always send her into the clouds, to soar with the angels.
When he pulled away, they looked into each other eyes, their hearts beating as one.
“I love you, my sweet bride,” he murmured. “I will love you until I take my last breath. God has given me an angel. I will keep you safe forever.”
“I know you will, Joshua. I love you with everything I have. My heart will always beat for you.”
“Never leave me.”
She shook her head. “I will never leave you, Joshua Foster. I am yours until the end of days.”
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ALSO BY JESSIE BENNETT
Faces of Love Series
1. LINK: Book 1 - Thawing A Duke’s Heart
2. LINK: Book 2 - The Lady’s Torn Heart
3. LINK: Book 3 - A Brazen Lady And The Shunned Duke
The Chronicles of Loyalty Series
1. LINK: Revealing A Marchioness’s Heart
The Inheritance Saga Series
1. LINK: To Capture The Duke’s Heart
LINK: To Love A Viscount
The Fairbank Series
Prequel LINK: The Marquess’ Temptation
1. LINK: The Marquess’ Curse (Love & Hearts)
2. LINK: More For A Duke (The Familial Adventures)
3. LINK: Loving The Reluctant Viscount (Love & Hearts)
4. LINK: Duke’s Forbidden Love (Love & Hearts)
5. LINK: The Earl’s Unexpected Journey of Love (Love & Hearts)
6. LINK: Winning The Indecisive Duke
7. LINK: The Gentleman’s Impossible Task
LINK : The Duke’s Dark Secret (Truth & Lies)
The BainBridge Series
1. LINK: The Trouble With These Gentlemen (Love & Challenges)
2. LINK: The Lady’s Dangerous Love (Love & Challenges)
Acknowledgement
Thank you for taking your time and energy to read “The Lady’s Dangerous Love”. Without your continuous support, I would not have written this book.
Wherever you are, I appreciate you from the bottom of my heart. I also want to thank my wonderful Facebook fans, my advance copy reviewers and beta readers in advance for making this series a success
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Publisher’s Notes
This book is copyright © 2016 & 2017 by JESSIE BENNETT & CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.
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.
The Lady’s Dangerous Love (The BainBridge - Love & Challenges) (The Regency Romance Story) Page 19
