Dukes, Officers, & Scoundrels: A Clean Historical Regency Romance (Tales of Bath)

by Kira Stewart

  “I will meet you at five on the Turnpike Road. Now you need to rest. Stay here, man. I have a spare room already made up. It will do you good.”

  However, Jack shook his head. He could not sleep. He needed to clear his head and prepare himself for his appointment at daybreak.

  Charles knew he had to try and stop the duel, if only for his cousin’s sake. She would never forgive him if he let something happen to the man, now that he was back from the grave. He had to think fast. With everyone down in Brighton with Lady Lennox, it was difficult to know who to turn to.

  That was it, the Duke of Marlborough, Edward Lennox. He was one man who could stop such a thing from happening. Without hesitation, Charles dressed and set off immediately. He would take the carriage himself and drive to Wentworth House. If Edward was willing, they could be back before daybreak.

  23.

  Charles Wilkins drove quickly through the clear night air. The moon was high and the stars lit his way. The trees along the avenue at the entrance to Thorpe Park were bathed in moonlight, but Charles did not notice the beauty of the night. His mission was too important, and he could think of nothing else.

  What if Edward were not at home, or even if he was, how should he rouse him at such a time of night as this? The whole mission seemed ludicrous the more he thought about it, but he could not fail in his task. Succeed he must, for a life was in danger. And not only a life, but a love.

  Finally, Wentworth House loomed majestically before him, the imposing façade with its columns and turrets looking as still and calm as a mausoleum.

  A light flickered dimly in one of the downstairs rooms, giving Charles a glimmer of hope.

  Pulling up the horses on the gravel, he quickly dismounted and without hesitation, rushed to the great oak door and pulled the bell cord.

  He could hear the feint jangle of the bell echo down the hallway and into the darkness beyond.

  He rang again and again. An age seemed to have passed, before he heard a slight stirring from within, and the solid sound of footsteps approaching him on the wooden floor of the hallway beyond the door.

  After the turning of a key and the sliding of many bolts, the door slowly opened and a bleary eyed Edward Lennox peered out into the darkness.

  “Good God, Charles, what brings you here at this time of night?”

  “Apologies, Edward, it is a matter of great importance. I need your help.”

  Once inside, Charles started to explain.

  “I come about Jack Parnell.”

  Edward Lennox rubbed at his eyes and yawned.

  “Jack Parnell you say. That is a coincidence. That has been a name on my mind for the last couple of days. The Duke of Leicester died recently, you know. They say he died of a broken heart, his only son, the Marques of Dewsbury, was killed over in Spain, fighting against Bonaparte. There was no successor to the Dukedom you see. The matter was looked into, and Jack was identified as his nearest male relative, his mother being a distant cousin. It is such a shame. The peerage would have passed to him if he had lived.”

  Charles Wilkins’ eyes widened.

  “Jack Parnell lives. I have spoken with him this very day. But that might not be the case, if we do not act quickly.”

  The Duke looked bemused.

  “Slow down Edward, you are not making sense.”

  The young man told his story.

  “Good God, man. There is no time to lose. Sebastian Adick is a fool, but he is a crack shot, and from what you say, Jack Parnell sounds in no for state to fight a duel with him. The Earl should know better. Now come, you can leave the carriage here, we will take my horses. It will be much quicker.”

  They rode quickly East and arrived at the Turnpike Road, as a small sliver of light started to break on the horizon.

  Jack was nowhere to be seen.

  “He must have gone to the appointed spot. Look, it is almost daybreak, we should hurry.”

  They rode on quickly to Whitley Woods, and as they approached, they could already hear the sound of voices coming from within the trees.

  The men rode up to the scene, just as Sebastian and Jack were measuring out their paces.

  “Stop this instance,” the Duke shouted with authority, and all faces looked at him, halting the men as they stood back to back, pistols raised.

  Sebastian Adick pointed his pistol towards the Duke.

  “Who are you, sir, and what do you mean by this intrusion? This is a private matter.”

  “Put away your pistol, sir. You would be hung for killing a Duke. It is I, Edward Lennox, and this duel is illegal. I could have you all hung for this.”

  As the Duke approached and revealed himself, Sebastian Adick turned pale.

  “Your Grace, a thousand apologies. I did not know it was you. This man has insulted me and I must have my satisfaction. Would you not allow me that?”

  “No, sir, I would not. You are about to shoot the heir to the Duchy of Leicester. Now, sir, tell me, do you want to still continue?”

  The pistol in the Earl’s hand dropped to the ground as Edward explained.

  “Come, Jack. You will ride back with me. There is much that we need to discuss. And you, sir, Sebastian Adick, I do not want to see your face ever again. Do you understand? Any more trouble, and I will report you to the authorities!”

  Sebastian began to mutter beneath his breath.

  “What was that, sir?”

  The Earl looked sheepish.

  “I apologize. I did not realise it was you, Your Grace.”

  “Well, let that be the end of it. Now shake hands, gentlemen, and we will say no more about it.”

  Sebastian eyed Jack warily. The last thing he wanted to do was to shake hands with this man, but there was nothing he could do. The battle was over and he had lost.

  Holding out his hand, he walked across to where Jack was standing, his hand trembling with rage, as the unspent adrenaline pumped through his body.

  Jack took the outstretched hand. He was in a daze, or was it a dream? He wondered if he were still delirious and lying in a field hospital somewhere in Spain.

  “Now, sir, come with me. I have a lot to tell you. I will explain on our way back to the house.”

  24.

  And so as they rode, Edward Lennox told Jack the story of the Duke of Leicester, and how the title would now be passed to him.

  The poor man was too weary to take in the facts. He did not care about the Dukedom, because only one thing really mattered to him. There was only one thing he wanted to know.

  “Do you have any news about Isobel Channing, Your Grace?”

  “I know exactly, sir, and I will take you there tomorrow, after you have had a decent rest. She is residing with my wife in Brighton at present. Shall I send word that we are coming? It will be a shock to the girl, you know?”

  Jack thought about it for a moment.

  “No, let us just go. I do not want her to hear from a letter that I am still alive. I want her to hear it from my own lips.”

  •••

  The sun rose on a new day. Isobel Channing had not slept well, and yet she did not feel tired. Her dreams of Jack had returned, but this time, they were more vivid. He had been calling to her, calling out her name and his voice had been close, almost as if he were whispering in her ear. However, she could not see him. All around her had been darkness with his voice trying to guide her.

  The dream had left her feeling shaky, almost as if she knew something was going to happen.

  Each afternoon, it had become her habit to take a short nap. The doctor had recommended it after her illness, and she had continued it ever since. Her health had returned, yet she still felt tired, as if the life had been drained out of her.

  Lying in bed, she heard whispering voices on the landing. It was funny how everyone seemed to speak in a whisper since her illness. There was a small knock at her door, and Lady Lennox entered the room. She looked agitated, and Isobel picked up on her mood straight away.

  “Is a
nything the matter, Annabelle?”

  The woman smiled, as if bemused.

  “No Izzie, I am fine, everything is just fine. Now, you have an important visitor, and I want you to sit up and brush your hair.”

  Isobel frowned.

  “What is going on, Annabelle? Who has come to visit?”

  Lady Lennox smiled, but kept silent.

  The girl laughed.

  “I beg you, madam, I demand to know what is going on? You are acting most peculiar. I hope it is not Sebastian Adick come to talk to me about our wedding.”

  “I can tell you that it is definitely not him. Now, brush your hair, Izzie.”

  Perplexed, Isobel did as she was bid. It was not like the Duchess to be so secretive.

  “Now Izzie, I will fetch your medicine and you can have that, before your visitor comes.”

  After brushing her hair, Isobel lay back on the bed and closed her eyes, trying to imagine who her visitor might be.

  The door opened and she could hear the tinkling of a glass on a tray.

  “Please leave my medicine on the dressing table, Annabelle. I shall take it soon, I promise.”

  “You better had, Izzie. I need you to be fit and well again.”

  His voice was a shock to her senses, and at first, she wondered if she had just imagined it. Perhaps she was dreaming again. She kept her eyes shut tightly, not daring to open them, her heart booming loudly in her ears.

  She could hear footsteps around her bed, and then felt someone sit on the bed close by her side.

  A hand reached for hers and held it gently.

  Isobel did not need to open her eyes to know who was sitting beside her.

  Her voice trembled.

  “Jack?”

  She opened her eyes and he was there.

  “Izzie, darling.”

  She could only stare at him; she was seeing a ghost. Her eyes widened taking him in.

  “But they said you were dead …”

  He stopped her words with a touch of her hand.

  No more words were necessary as the two finally embraced. Isobel wept silently as Jack softly wiped away her tears.

  “Do not cry, Izzie, I am here. It is true. It has been a long journey, but I have made it. I will tell you all about it. And I promise I will never leave you again. Now, I only need to know one thing … will you marry me?”

  Isobel sat up, suddenly looking concerned.

  “Oh but Jack, there is something I need to tell you.”

  He silenced her again, but this time, with a kiss.

  “There is no need to tell me, Izzie. I think I already know. Sebastian Adick will not be troubling you again. You can consider your engagement broken. Now, what do you say?”

  “Oh Jack, I am so confused. This is so unreal, but of course the answer is yes, with all of my heart. I do not care what mother and father think. We can be married at once.”

  Jack smiled.

  “I do not think that your parents will mind, Izzie. I am as confused as you are. This has been a strange couple of days indeed. I have other news. My mother’s distant cousin, the Duke of Leicester, has died and it appears that I am the nearest living relative, and as such, the title of Duke will be devolved to me. You can now have your officer and your Duke. What do you say to that, Izzie?”

  Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Channing could no longer object. Indeed, they embraced Jack like a long lost son, quickly forgetting any animosity that had been between them. A Duke! It was more than they could have hoped for and Sebastian Adick was soon forgotten about.

  EPILOGUE

  On her wedding day, Isobel Channing was the happiest and most beautiful bride there had been in the whole county, for a long while. The townsfolk agreed that not since the wedding of Edward and Annabelle Lennox, had they seen such a couple so in love.

  It was her Happily Ever After ending. True love had indeed found its way, and it was just the start of their long and happy life together.

  ***

  Want more clean regency romance?

  Please check out the first installment in this series…Better than a Duke, if you missed it! Thank you!