Regency Romance: Duke’s Forbidden Love (The Fairbanks Series - Love & Hearts) (Historical Romance Fiction)

by Jessie Bennett

  “I’m afraid it is not. You are right, Anna. Children are precious and it is wonderful to feel their love. But it is different from the love of a good man.”

  Anna’s heart ached. All she wanted to do was live with her father, son, and Duke Watson for the rest of her natural life. She didn’t want to go a day without seeing him or showing him her love.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  LORD DUPREY’S OPINION

  LORD DUPREY’S OPINION

  Anna took her cousin’s advice and returned home without going in search of Duke Doughtery any longer. When she entered the mansion, she was immediately confronted by a large bouquet of flowers sitting on the table in the center of the foyer.

  She reached up and fingered the flowers, pulling a few down to smell them. Martha came through the doors of the library, turning to close them behind her.

  “Martha, where did these flowers come from?” She asked.

  “They came from the garden, my lady.” The servant girl answered. “I thought they was pretty and so brought them in to you, ma’am.”

  “You thought they were pretty.” Anna corrected the girl’s English gently.

  “Aye ma’am, that’s what I said. They were pretty and I brought them in for you.”

  Anna smiled at Martha. “Thank you for such a lovely bouquet, Martha. You are a very sweet girl.”

  “Thank ye, my lady.” Martha smiled wide, moving toward the kitchen doors. “Lord Duprey is still in the study, my lady. He hasn’t left since you and Duke Watson were with him earlier.”

  “All right, Martha. Thank you.”

  With only a nod and a lop-sided grin, Martha ambled her way into the kitchen, the doors swinging shut behind her.

  Anna blinked at the doors, thinking about Elizabeth’s advice. All she could do was hope that Duke Watson and Duke Doughtery would work this out in a logical and reasonable manner. But the young Duke was just as stubborn as the older Duke and both were in love with the same woman. This could be a dangerous mix.

  As she moved around the foyer table adorned with the beautiful flowers, she spotted her father heading toward the library. He was holding a large hardback book, reading it as he walked slowly.

  “Father.” She said, not wishing to disturb or frighten him by her sudden appearance. He looked up at her.

  “Anna. I assumed you rode with Duke Watson into town to talk to Duke Doughtery.”

  “No, father. I went to search for the Duke myself.”

  Lord Duprey frowned deeply. “Why did you do that? You must know there is nothing you can do about this situation. You must let Duke Watson handle this.”

  “Do you trust Duke Watson, father?”

  He looked at her as if the question was confusing. “Why of course I do, Anna. Why would I not trust him? He has never done anything to prove himself untrustworthy.”

  “I was of the mind you were unhappy with him because he is pursuing a courtship with me.”

  Lord Duprey’s face darkened and he looked down at his book again. “No, Anna. His pursuit of your hand does not make me unhappy with him. Nor with you. It is simply something I do not think about.”

  “You should think about it, father. You must know that I will not marry Duke Doughtery. Not while I am still taking breath.”

  Frank sighed. She followed him through the doors of the library and watched as he dropped the large book he was holding onto the nearest desk.

  “I do not think that will happen now, no.” He responded, dropping himself into the chair behind the desk. “He has proven himself to be untrustworthy.”

  “If you are so determined to make sure I marry a second time, why do you not desire for me to be happy with the decision? I am old enough to choose my own husband, father.”

  “I know you are, Anna. But a marriage to Duke Watson is not something to consider.”

  Anna sighed, frustrated. “Father, I do not understand you. Duke Watson is wealthy, intelligent, handsome. Why, he is everything a woman could ever want in a husband. I would be honored to have his name.”

  “I know you feel that way, my daughter,” Frank shook his head. “But it is simply impossible to accept a man his age marrying my daughter. You are an established woman with a son only a few years his junior.”

  “Oh!” Anna cried out. “Father, if another person says something about his youth and the years between us, I will lose my mind. I cannot deal with such closed-mindedness.”

  “Regardless of how this turns out, I will not change my mind about you and Duke Watson.” Her father said in a determined voice. You must understand that it cannot happen.”

  “It can happen, father. And it will, if I have anything to say about it.”

  “You would go against your father’s wishes?”

  “I don’t want to upset you, father. But I desire happiness. Duke Watson makes me feel happiness I haven’t had in a very long time, even while I was married. I was happy enough, mind you, but it is different with Duke Watson.”

  “I imagine it is.” The tone her father used made Anna bristle with resentment.

  “Oh!” She spat out another word of frustration. “Father, you are so stubborn and pig-headed.”

  “That may be so but it is as it is.”

  “I do not like that phrase. It is very dismissive.”

  “I am sorry, my dear.”

  “You will not change your mind, no matter what I say?”

  “No, I can’t see that I will.”

  “Is there anything that would change your mind?”

  She was grateful for the short pause before her father answered. To her, that meant that regardless of his answer, he was open to discussion. Just those few seconds gave her enough hope to keep her pressing on. “I cannot think of anything.”

  “There must be something, father. There must be something.”

  He was shaking his head.

  “Father, you are so infuriating! You make me want to throw a tantrum like the fifteen-year-old girl you are treating me like.”

  “That would not be very appropriate, considering you are not fifteen years old, but rather a grown woman with a teenage son.”

  “I cannot speak to you when you are like this.” Anna turned away from him, tears of frustration filling her eyes. “I do not even want to see you!” She stomped toward the door and yanked it open.

  “Anna, please do not leave on such a note. I do not like to see you upset.”

  She turned and glared at him. “Father, you are not thinking about my feelings or what makes me upset. You are thinking about what society might think, what the town will have to say when they see your daughter with a much younger man. You are afraid of the gossip and rumors, are you not?”

  “I cannot lie and say that has not crossed my mind. But I am also aware of what it is like to be a young man the Duke’s age. You are a beautiful woman, Anna, there can be no doubt. I do not blame Duke Watson for feeling the way he does. But he is unsure what he wants. He has not lived long enough to know about the trials and errors of life, the consequences of long-term decisions.”

  “He has lived a very full life in his 23 years, father.” Her hand was still on the doorknob. It felt cold against her skin. She wanted to let go of it but wouldn’t until she was on the other side pulling it closed.

  “That may be so. But he hasn’t lived the kind of life you have.”

  “He doesn’t need to have lived my life, father. Oh, you are so frustrating. I do not even want to talk to you anymore. I am going for a ride. I will be back later.”

  “Anna, please stay and talk to me.”

  “I do not wish too! I am going for a ride.”

  Anna left, closing the door behind her forcefully.

  Before she knew it, Anna was sitting on the iron bench in the middle of her maze, gazing up at the sky. She could see Duke Watson’s face, alternately angry and happy, flashing through her mind. She wondered what was going on where he was. She imagined he was still very angry. She couldn’t help feeling dismayed
at the thought. She didn’t want him to be angry. She wanted everything to be all right.

  “Father God,” she prayed aloud, wishing it would warm up just a little. She enjoyed being outside but the winter months put a damper on her ability to enjoy the outdoors. “We could all use a little guidance and help down here.” She scanned the clouds. “I cannot decide whether you have provided the love of the young Duke as a temptation to me or as a blessing. He is an amazing young man. I know he must have faults, though I have yet to find them. When I do, Father, I promise you I will not hold them against him, as we are all sinners and we all make mistakes.” She sighed. “I am flawed, my Lord, please give me strength and comfort. There must be a reason for all that is happening. I wish to know what it is.”

  She fell silent again, thinking who was she to demand answers and help. She looked up again, feeling a cold breeze blow over her face. The dead leaves on the ground around her rustled as they were picked up by the wind. She shivered and clutched the top of her coat together with her gloved hand. The other was still tucked in the hand muff on her lap. She glanced up.

  “Lord, forgive me for my arrogance. Your will be done on earth, Father, as it is in Heaven. I need you now. Your blessings would mean more to me than gold, my Lord. It is as though the Duke leapt over the walls I had built around my heart, protecting it from harm. Watch over me, my Lord, and give me wisdom in this matter.”

  She ended her prayer in the Savior’s name and whispered “Amen” before standing up to wander back toward the entrance of the maze.

  She heard a great deal of commotion coming toward her. It was the sound of running feet. She frowned and held still, waiting for whomever it was to come rounding the corner so she could see them. The leaves under the person’s feet crinkled and crackled as they ran. Suddenly to her right, Drake came bursting through the opening.

  “Mother!” He exclaimed. He lowered himself to hold his knees with his hands, trying to catch his breath. “Mother, mother…” He gasped for air. Anna was by his side in moments, her heart hammering against her chest.

  “What is it, Drake? What has happened?”

  “Mother, Grandfather sent me to find you. He says to tell you that…well, I was in town…I heard both Duke Doughtery and Duke Watson have decided to meet at the riverbank and duel for your hand.”

  “What??” Anna was stunned, pulling away to look at him through wide, shocked eyes. “For my hand? This cannot be!”

  “Duke Watson confronted Duke Doughtery at the Bend N Steel Pub.”

  Anna felt a bit of satisfaction that she’d known the older Duke would go to a pub. He was truly known for hiding out whenever he felt a confrontation coming on. Since he had to be guilty of the crime, his conscience must have been running overtime, as he attempted to escape the reality of what he’d done.

  She focused on her son once again. “They had words?”

  “Yes, mother. And it did not take long for Duke Doughtery to challenge Duke Watson to a duel.”

  “Oh my, oh dear, oh my.” Anna fretted, shaking her hands in the air, flinging her hand muff to and from. “Oh my!”

  “Mother, I have seen Duke Watson shoot a pistol. He is a dead shot, mother. A dead shot. There is no way Duke Doughtery will be able to fire first, I am certain.” He sounded positive, as if he felt that was what she wanted to hear.

  She shook her head. “I don’t want either of them to die, Drake. We must go see if we can stop this from happening.”

  Drake looked surprised and shook his head. “The challenge has been cast and accepted, mother. All we can do is go and watch. Do you want to go? Grandfather is and wanted me to come find you and ask you.”

  Anna didn’t hesitate.

  “Yes, I want to go. Lead the way, son. I know you know your way out of here.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  HURRYING TO A FUNERAL

  HURRYING TO A FUNERAL

  Mother and son hurried past the tall trees that made up the maze, both knowing instinctively which way to go. Anna had been bringing her son to the maze since he was a baby. He knew his way around it just as well as she did. He had even pointed out a few things she didn’t know about some of the paths in the maze, how one had the perfect spot to sit and read because the sun rarely beat down exactly in that spot, and how a lone red flower bloomed at the end of one of the path every year without fail.

  The thought of it made Anna want to go see if it could withstand the cold of harsh winter weather. But there was no way she would distract herself even for a moment from her journey. She needed to get to the riverbank, a popular spot for men who wanted to act like big children and shoot each other to settle a conflict.

  Anna couldn’t stand the thought of dueling, especially over a woman. It seemed trivial to her, even when she was the lady they both desired. She wasn’t proud of her status as a wanted woman by both men. It just meant that someone was going to get hurt because of her, because they cared for her.

  The thought was terribly disheartening.

  She and Drake reached the entrance door and went through quickly. She pulled herself up onto her horse, with a little help from her son. He mounted and the two of them rode off quickly toward the setting sun.

  “Soon it will be dark, mother. Grandfather has prepared the night carriage so that we can find the dueling Dukes.”

  “That sounds like a book title, son.” Anna said, following close behind him as his horse galloped back to the house.

  “Yes, it does.” Drake gave her a worried smile.

  She returned it with one of her own.

  “Do you think Duke Watson will be all right, mother?”

  Anna raised her eyebrows. “You are the one who was so confident in him, my son. Are you doubting now?”

  “I do not want to. I am worried for Duke Watson’s safety.”

  “You care for him a great deal.”

  They had reached the house, where the groomsman was waiting to take the horses from them. They both dismounted and faced each other as Michael led the horses away.

  “I do, mother. He is a fascinating man. I look up to him. I would like to do some of the things he has done.”

  “He has led an exciting life so far.”

  “He certainly has, mother.”

  They turned to see the night carriage pulling up alongside the front porch. They hurried toward it.

  “You love him, mother?” Drake’s voice was playful, though it still had the traces of worry through it.

  “I do, son, as a matter of fact.”

  “I could tell. I would like to have him as a step-father.”

  “But you are so close in age. How would that work?”

  Drake laughed softly. “Mother, I have heard you do nothing but defend yourself with father and others pertaining to that very subject. If age differences mean nothing to you, why would you ask that question of me? I do not care how old he is. I enjoy spending time around him. He is a good companion for me, he can be a good companion for you.”

  His words warmed her heart. She was glad to have someone besides Elizabeth on her side.

  “It’s a bit awkward, I suppose.” They had reached the carriage. Drake held out one hand to help his mother get in. “And I don’t know if it can work out the way you want it to. But, I have no objections. I have seen nothing harmful, deceitful, or hurtful in the way Duke Watson treats you. He seems to have the same feelings for you that you have for him.”

  “You are very intuitive.”

  Drake laughed. “No, you just do not hide it well. Neither does he. He seems to make you very happy and you make him happy. That’s how it is supposed to be, is it not?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “I hope to have a love like that one day soon. But, I have some time to go.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  They were seated inside the carriage, waiting for Lord Duprey. They had sat on opposing sides, so that they were facing each other. After a few moments, he appeared at the door, wrapped in a large coat
, wearing a hat, and carrying a tall umbrella he was using as a walking stick.

  Anna thought the umbrella was a wise decision, since they would be going to the riverbank, it was cold, and there could be snow soon. The cold weather had waited a bit longer this year. In fact, it was not quite warm enough to snow. She suspected it would freeze over before it would snow.

  Either way, she didn’t like it. She enjoyed the spring and summer months. She would have enjoyed Autumn, if it had not been for the fact that it led directly into winter and with each passing day, it got colder. When winter arrived, she was already waiting anxiously for spring.

  Lord Duprey climbed up into the carriage.

  “Drake, do you know precisely where the Dukes are?”

  “I do, grandfather.”

  “And how do you know?”

  “I heard several of the gentleman in the store talking about it.”

  “Tell the driver where we are going then, we must get there as quickly as possible.”

  Drake informed the driver where the small area was behind the large convent.

  Drake sat back down and the carriage began to move.

  “I am curious, grandfather,” he said. “Why do so many gentlemen decide to duel behind the convent? That seems like it would be holy ground.”

  “Here is Fairbanks, it has indeed become tradition when dueling to go to that particular spot. If I had thought for a moment, I would have remembered it and taken us there without asking. But I have not been to the spot in over a decade. I did not know they were still using it for such purposes.”

  “Dueling is brutal,” Anna said in a disappointed voice. “I do not agree with such methods.”

  “You are not afraid of pistols, mother.” Drake said in an incredulous voice.

  “No, I am not. I am afraid of people shooting each other for little to no reason. The hand of a woman in marriage is not worth losing your life over.”

  “I think there is more to this than at first meets the eye, mother.” Drake responded. “I think it has more to it than just their desire to have you.”