The Bachelor Duke (The Bachelor Series Book 1)

by Cecilia Rene

  “I promise we will get out of here, and in three days, you will be my wife … my duchess.” Remington’s blue eyes bore into hers as he shifted the baby in his free arm.

  Livie nodded her head. “Together.”

  “Always,” he confirmed before he took a step toward the edge.

  He shuffled side to side with Livie beside him, her breath ragged. It was becoming more and more difficult to breathe in the burning townhome. Pieces of the ceiling were falling, and at any moment, it threatened to cave in around them.

  They slid, side by side together. Fire from the first floor blocked the entrance, and Livie feared it would burn them. Remington guided their way until finally, his foot reached a solid stair.

  A cough wracked Livie as she tried to breathe. Her foot twisted painfully, causing her to slip and lose her footing. Her leg dangled, causing her to let out a gasp of fear. Remington flexed his arm tightly, yanking her forward with speed before she fell. She crashed against him and Emily, but he steadied the three of them, the size and power of his body saving them all.

  “I have you, love,” he whispered against her hairline, placing a swift kiss there.

  Livie tried to put weight on her ankle but cringed painfully, as Remington led them down the stairs. He looked up at her in alarm. The townhome was close to being completely consumed by the flames.

  “Take Emily!” he rushed, handing her the baby.

  Once Livie had Emily safely in her arms, Remington picked her up and rushed down the stairs to the kitchen as fast as his legs could carry them.

  It was becoming increasingly harder to see and breathe. The fires were just reaching the kitchen when they reached it.

  Remington turned and looked behind them. “Heartford! We have to get out of here!” His voice was swallowed in the fire.

  Livie looked down at Emily, who was now crying loudly—a sound she cherished in this terrible situation.

  Heartford returned, looking defeated. His hands bloodied. “It’s blocked! I need help lifting the debris! I can’t get to her!” he yelled, the agony in his voice causing Livie to cry.

  “I’ll come back and help. Let me get Livie and the baby out!” Remington shouted before he ran out of the kitchen and into the fresh air.

  Livie coughed, trying to catch her breath. Remington sat her and Emily down, kissing her forehead before he turned and rushed back into the fire.

  “Remington, no!” she yelled in panic, afraid he wouldn’t return to her. She clutched the crying baby in her arms.

  Tears ran down her face from the failure she felt inside; the darkness of despair threatened to consume her. She had failed Lady Evers—Amelia. She had failed her. Livie was unable to make it back to her in time, and her heart broke in two for Amelia and the little girl in her arms.

  “Livie!” her mother cried, breaking through the crowd and running toward her. Her hands pushed Livie’s undone hair out of the way, and she kissed her dirty cheeks repeatedly. “I thought I lost you.” She cried into her neck, her body rocking.

  Her father was at her other side, helping her off the ground. She winced as she tried to put pressure on her ankle. “Lady Evers is still inside!” she cried frantically to her parents.

  “Amelia!” the Earl of Windchester yelled, rushing toward the burning inferno but was stopped by the fire brigade.

  Whispers grew louder as the crowd realized that Lady Evers was in the house, along with Remington and Heartford.

  Livie waited for any signs of them to come out, but time slowed. Her mind swirled with countless possibilities.

  “Back away! It’s going to collapse!” everyone around them yelled as the crowd ran away from the building where the roof was caving in.

  “Remington! Remington!” Livie repeatedly yelled, her body shaking hysterically.

  Her parents held on to her as she waited with bated breath for any sign of the man she loved. The man she was going to marry.

  The building shook violently, and Livie crumbled to the ground, closing her eyes tightly. She prayed Amelia was alive and would be able to raise her daughter. She prayed that the marquess wouldn’t be lost to Julia. And most of all, she prayed that Remington would return to her safely.

  “Thank the Lord!” her mother cried out as the crowd gasped loudly. Remington came out of the building, dragging a wounded Heartford.

  Windchester came and grabbed Heartford on the other side. Livie handed the babe to the countess and limped over to Remington. She wrapped her arms around him as relief flooded her. He clung to her, whispering his love and how sorry he was over and over in her ear.

  Livie looked up into his blue eyes, so happy they were together again.

  Lady Amelia Evers was a beautiful, poised, sophisticated lady. She was a pillar in our society, the Daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of St. Clara. Lady Evers will be greatly missed by all.

  Remington held Livie the entire carriage ride from the fire to her parents’ townhome. She had Emily in her arms, checking her tiny little body for any injuries.

  Remington knew he should release Livie and that kissing her forehead, cheek, and occasionally her nose in front of her parents was against propriety. But he couldn’t contain the relief he felt. It was as if fate had given him a second chance because his Livie was safe in his arms.

  “I love you,” he whispered softly in her ear for the millionth time, not caring they had an audience.

  She turned to face him, giving him a soft smile in response. “Me too,” Livie whispered back shyly, having a little more decorum than him.

  Remington couldn’t help himself; he’d thought she was lost to him. Propriety be damned, she was his, and she was breathing.

  “Who will take care of Emily?” Lady Hempstead asked, tears forming in her eyes as she looked from Remington to Emily.

  The carriage was heavy with the loss of Lady Evers and the memory of the fire. Both Remington and Livie were covered in dirt and soot, their clothes completely ruined. Only little Emily seemed to have escaped unscathed, except for the blankets covering her.

  “I’m sure Windchester will take care of her. He is her father, after all. Lady Windchester will not be free much longer if I have anything to say about it,” Remington barked, anger spiraling through him, threatening to explode at the thought of what the baron and Lady Windchester had done.

  Hempstead took a deep breath in, his eyes void of emotion. “I will assist in any way I can. What they did was abominable!”

  Livie sat up, looking down at Emily’s green eyes and white-blonde hair like her mothers. “I-I’d like to take care of her, if he doesn’t, or if he needs help. Would that be alright?” She turned to Remington, her gray eyes hopeful.

  He blinked several times, knowing what she meant by asking him that one simple question. She was going to be his wife.

  “Of course, darling. Whatever you would like to do. I think Lady Evers would’ve loved that. She seemed to think highly of you.” He kissed her forehead.

  Livie smiled softly. “Amelia gave me strength, and she wanted me to save Emily and come back for her. I’m just sorry I couldn’t do both.”

  Her mother shook her head. “You were so brave. Going after Emily in a burning building. So very brave.” Her mother covered her mouth with her hand and cried.

  Hempstead looked at Remington, his eyes cold. “Bromswell and Lady Windchester must pay for what they did. I don’t give a damn who they are. They tried to kill my daughter, Karrington!” the earl yelled as his arms wrapped around Lady Hempstead to comfort her.

  “They will pay!” Remington nodded his agreement. Lady Windchester and Bromswell had intentionally killed Lady Evers. Livie and Emily would’ve perished as well, if he hadn’t ran into the fire.

  The carriage came to a stop, and everyone disembarked at the Hempstead’s townhome. Lady Hempstead took Emily in her arms while Remington lifted Livie out of the carriage, carrying her into the house.

  The countess began ordering the servants’ around. “Thomas, we
will need a room prepared for Lord Heartford and assistance helping him out of the other carriage. Immediately call a physician for everyone, especially the baby.”

  “I assure you I am fine, my lady. Where is Livie’s room?” Remington’s voice was calm as he held Livie.

  “Karrington.” Livie’s father’s voice had a hint of a warning in it. “We have it from here. Why don’t you go home and come back after you’ve rested?”

  Remington glared at Hempstead. “I’m sorry, but either I stay with Livie here, or she comes home with me right now.”

  Sensing a confrontation, Lady Hempstead walked between the two men.

  “Abigail, please show His Grace to Lady Olivia’s room,” Lady Hempstead instructed the maid, who stared wide-eyed at everyone.

  Livie rested her head against Remington’s chest as he carried her upstairs. His gaze traveled around the modestly sized bedroom, that was still in the process of being packed, and the reason for that gave him some confidence.

  He placed her on the bed, knowing there was hope for them again after the ordeal in the fire.

  “I’ll go prepare water for your bath …” Abigail stopped walking and turned to face her friend. “Livie, I was so worried.” She cried, wiping at her tears hastily.

  Livie reached out her hand, and Abigail came to her, hugging her fiercely. “I was as well, but I—I survived.”

  Abigail gave her friend another squeeze before she left her alone with Remington.

  Livie patted the space on her bed, giving Remington a small smile. He sat down beside her, wrapping his arms around her.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my connection to Bromswell and Lillian’s death. I have lived with my guilt and shame for so many years—”

  “Shh.” She tilted her head up and gave him a soft peck on the lips. “It doesn’t matter anymore. The only thing that matters is that we’re alive … together.”

  They clung to each other in silence for several moments, both overcome with emotion. The memory of the fire still swirled in Remington’s mind. “I can’t be separated from you.” His eyes watered, he had lost her once because of his own foolishness, and then he almost lost her forever. The fear of losing her forever haunted him and he would spend the rest of their lives showing her how precious she was to him.

  Livie ran her fingers through his hair. “I’m right here because you saved me. You came for me.” She kissed him lovingly, their lips molding together in a soft, gentle caress.

  Emotion swirled inside of him like a raging storm. Tears filled his eyes; the words of the volunteer still fresh in his head.

  “No, sir, I’m sorry, but if anyone was there, they’re gone.

  Remington could still feel the weight of those words and the impact it had on his heart. It led him into that burning building, and he would do it a thousand times over to have Livie alive and well.

  Remington buried his head in her neck, so overcome with his emotions. His body shook from his tears, as he replayed the events from the fire over in his mind.

  Livie clung to him, her own pain and fears swirling through her.

  “Forgive me, Livie. I was so afraid that I would never see you again—”

  Livie pressed her fingers to his lips. “There is nothing to forgive. I’m here, and you’re here, that’s all that matters.” She kissed him gently, a sad smile on her face that was covered in dirt and soot. “I love you.”

  He kissed her once more, this time more passionate than the one before. All his love and devotion were tied to the kiss. Remington wanted to marry this woman today, to hell with everything. He loved her, and she was alive and his. “My God, Livie, I love you, too.” He kissed her cheek, squeezing her to him.

  “Marry me, Livie, in two days. Say you’ll be my duchess,” he begged, his hand cupping her face gently.

  She smiled softly, her gray eyes filled with tears. “Yes.”

  It had been an excruciating five hours for Livie. The doctor had come and examined Remington, Lord Heartford, Livie, and baby Emily. Out of all of them, Remington was in the best of health. Heartford was the worst with burns to his entire right side, where the fire had raged through the servants’ door as he was trying to get to Lady Evers.

  Emily was having some difficulty breathing. The doctor instructed them to make sure she received plenty of rest and to prop her head up on a pillow in case she coughed while sleeping. He also advised that Emily have constant monitoring for any signs of difficulty breathing.

  Livie also had trouble breathing; anytime she took a deep breath, pain would form in her chest, causing her to cough. Her ankle was sprained from where she nearly fell off the stairs. The doctor informed her to rest and to reevaluate how she felt the day of her wedding. If her ankle was still bothering her, he suggested a walking stick. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, as she did not wish to stroll down the aisle with the assistance of a stick. The bruise on her cheek was a nasty, light purple color where Baron Bromswell struck her. But other than the mark, there was no lasting damage.

  Remington had not seen the bruise due to how filthy she was from the fire. But after her bath, it was clear she had been struck by someone, and he demanded she tell him what happened. Once he discovered that Baron Bromswell laid hands on her, it took what felt like hours for him to calm. She purposely did not inform him about the forceful kiss, which still caused revulsion to run through her.

  The constable had come to hear Livie’s testimony before he took any action to arrest the baron and Lady Windchester. This act enraged Remington greatly. He paced back and forth in front of her, where she laid on the chaise lounge, trying to hold herself together as she retold the gory details of the fire.

  She hated reliving it, especially the part where she abandoned Amelia. If only she had stayed just a second longer, perhaps she would have freed her, and Amelia would be with her daughter, alive and happy.

  Constable Huckabee was a rail-thin man with a mustache and a small stutter that seemed to increase when he was nervous. He certainly looked extremely uncomfortable under the watchful gaze of both Livie’s father, Lord Heartford, and her fiancé.

  “I want both of them in custody, immediately!” Remington’s voice was full of anger, his body shaking in rage as he stopped in front of the poor man. “The longer you wait, the more time they have to avoid arrest!”

  “You are wasting time, man!” Heartford spoke up from his seat at the desk against the wall. He was wearing an open shirt and no jacket. Bandages covered his entire right side and his right hand, covering the burns he received from the fire. He insisted he must attend the questioning, even after Julia demanded he rests. Livie hated the look on her cousin’s face when the usually calm and friendly Heartford yelled at her to “leave him be.”

  “Y-yes. I understand, but we must verify Lady Olivia’s testimony—” the constable said.

  Lord Heartford slammed his good hand down on the desk. “My sister is dead! What else is there to verify? Lady Olivia has told you everything! They tied them up, struck my sister with a statue, and struck Lady Olivia! They also left my niece to perish. What more do you need! If you do not apprehend them immediately, I will spend every cent I have ruining your life, and theirs as well!”

  A red-eyed Julia stood by his side, trying to calm him down. Heartford then rose suddenly and left the room, walking with a slight limp.

  Julia followed behind, trying to hide her tears. Livie wanted to go to her cousin but was unable to move. Her ankle was wrapped and elevated with a cold compress on it.

  Remington walked to the other side of the chaise and took Livie by the hand, his glare never leaving the constable. “As you see, both Heartford and I feel very strongly about this. We will use everything in our power to make sure they pay for what they did! I want them both apprehended instantly!” Remington yelled, causing the poor man to jump in his seat.

  “Y-yes, of course, Your Grace,” the constable agreed before his dark eyes turned to Livie. “Did Baron Bromswell or Lad
y Windchester mention why they were doing this to you and Lady Evers?”

  “Lady Windchester indicated she was doing it because Lady Evers had a child by her husband, which meant her mother would stop supporting her. Baron Bromswell acknowledged I was there because he wanted the duke to know what it was like to lose someone he loved.” Livie nodded her head, her voice trembling.

  Remington squeezed her hand, causing her to gaze up at him. His jaw was set so tight he could break his teeth. Livie stroked her thumb across his hand, reminding him she was here and alive. “Lady Oakhaven’s fortune supports Lady Windchester’s lavish lifestyle as well as her husbands. I believe most of the dowry that my cousin received after his marriage was used to restore my grandfather’s estate.”

  “Is there a connection between Baron Bromswell and yourself, Your Grace?” Constable Huckabee tried to hold Remington’s hard glare.

  “Yes. We were acquainted when we were younger. There was an incident where a young woman died. Bromswell was accused, but at the time, his father had friends in high places. The entire ordeal was forgotten, but never by me,” Remington explained briefly.

  Taking in his demeanor and tone, Constable Huckabee stood, holding his hat in his hands. “I will keep you all updated.”

  Remington shook his head. “Keep Lord Hempstead, Heartford, and Windchester all abreast of the situation. I’m getting married in two days, and we’re going to go on a wedding trip.”

  “Of course, You’re Grace. Congratulations to you both on your upcoming marriage.” Constable Huckabee bowed, and her father escorted him out.

  “Shall I continue with the cancellation of the wedding?” her mother inquired, gently.

  “No. We would like to marry on our original wedding day.” He turned to gaze at Livie as if he was unsure. He had a vulnerability in his crisp blue eyes that she’d never seen before. It made her love him even more.

  To postpone after they had been reunited, would mean Lady Windchester and Baron Bromswell won. Livie could not allow them the satisfaction.