Does the Earl Love Me?
A Yorkshire Downs - Love, Hearts and Challenges
Jasmine Ashford
RUSHMORE HOUSE PUBLISHERS CO.
Contents
Copyright
A Personal Note From Jasmine Ashford
Dedication
About The Author
Join My VIP Readers’ Club List
DOES THE EARL LOVE ME?
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PROLOGUE
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CHAPTER ONE
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CHAPTER TWO
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CHAPTER THREE
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CHAPTER FOUR
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CHAPTER FIVE
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CHAPTER SIX
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CHAPTER SEVEN
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CHAPTER EIGHT
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CHAPTER NINE
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CHAPTER TEN
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CHAPTER ELEVEN
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CHAPTER TWELVE
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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN
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CHAPTER SIXTEEN
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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
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CHAPTER NINETEEN
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CHAPTER TWENTY
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CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
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CHAPTER THIRTY
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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
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CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
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CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
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CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
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CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
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CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
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CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
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CHAPTER FORTY
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CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
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CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
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EPILOGUE
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Preview of An Earl To Remember
Also By Jasmine Ashford
Acknowledgement
If You Have Enjoyed This Book…
Join My VIP Readers’ Club List
Publisher’s Notes
Copyright © 2017 by JASMINE ASHFORD & RUSHMORE HOUSE PUBLISHERS CO.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
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.
A PERSONAL NOTE
FROM JASMINE ASHFORD
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Dearest Avid Romance Readers,
The characters within my stories have a strong faith in love, they know what they want to pursue in this Regency Era. They are constantly looking that true love really exists amid adversities.
Will they overcome these obstacles and conquer their own insecurities (or doubts?) in order to find true love?
Read the book to find out.
Thank you very much for your strong support to my writing journey!
With Lots of Love,
Jasmine
DEDICATION
“A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”
Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)
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This Story Is Specially Dedicated To You, My Avid Romance Reader!
Thank you once again for getting this book and giving me an opportunity to share with you my creative side.
I am truly grateful for this gesture of yours.
I hope you will find my stories both entertaining and inspiring as much as I have enjoyed writing them.
I’m grateful for your support. I’ll continue to keep writing these stories as long as you are interested in buying them.
Have you checked out my other historical romance books series?
Click the link below to get started
*** AMAZON USA ***
* * *
Do you like what you have read?
I would want to hear from you!
Please do get in touch with me:
https://www.facebook.com/JasmineAshfordBooks/
[email protected]
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“There is nothing so mortifying as to fall in love with someone who does not share one's sentiments.” - Georgette Heyer, Venetia
Whenever Jasmine is feeling down, she always finds solace with this quote. It was Ms. Georgette Heyer that inspires her to the world of the Regency and Victorian.
Jasmine took the pen and the rest is history for her.
In Jasmine’s stories, you will witness how characters that are so complex are actually simple beings waiting to be connected by the Cupid’s arrow. It is just one of the many ways that love will reveal itself?
Jasmine hopes that you will find love, solace, and peace in her stories. When she is not writing, she is enjoying her precious time with her family and her faithful Siberian Husky.
Jasmine
Join My VIP Readers’ Club
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Jasmine Ashford invites you to join her VIP Readers’ Club List. When you signed up, you will get a surprise gift from her. CLICK HERE TO JOIN NOW!
DOES THE EARL LOVE ME?
THE YORKSHRE DOWNS - LOVE, HEARTS AND CHALLENGES
By
JASMINE ASHFORD
and
Rushmore House Publishers Co.
PROLOGUE
Alicia ran down the long spiral staircase to the courtyard. Her flame-red hair caught the summer sunlight.
“Leo!” she called out.
At the foot of the stairs, a tall youth turned to face her. “I'm going away. You know I don't have time.” His voice was dismissive.
Alicia blinked. She adored him – how could he be so unkind to her? She shook her head slightly, cuffing her tears. He was always like this. It was best not to let him know she cried.
“I know you're going away,” she said.
“I am the future earl,” he said. “I need to be educated abroad.”
Alicia nodded. She knew Leo had to go. Everything had changed following the tragic disappearance of his parents – both of them – while explorin
g in the Indies.
“I don't know when I shall return,” he added. “I suppose when they recall me to take up my earldom?”
Alicia wanted to cry. How could he leave her? They had grown up together, shared everything. What was she supposed to do, left here at the manor with only her parents and her horses for company?
“Why don't you come back sooner?”
“Don't be silly, Alicia,” Leo said absently. “You know I can't just do that. I will see you in five and a half years.”
Alicia blinked away tears. How could she bear so long without him? When he returned, she would be eighteen. And so would he.
The carriage was arriving. Leo, already packed, turned to face it. Alicia's parents – Lady Valeria and Count Ernst – were coming out to say their farewells.
Leo drew in a deep breath and started walking away. After a moment, he turned.
“Be good?” he said, and, drawing Alicia to him, kissed her quickly on the brow.
She gasped and clasped his shoulder.
Then he turned and walked briskly away from her, toward the carriage. Hands wringing the muslin of her skirt, she ran inside.
CHAPTER ONE
FLIGHTS OF FANCY
FLIGHTS OF FANCY
Five years later…
“I cannot say yes, my dear. I am so sorry.”
“Mother, why?” Alicia asked, hazel eyes wide.
The candles were lit in the small parlor, the gold light shining off the soft white satin of the wallpaper.
Lady Valeria, delicate and lovely, smiled tenderly at her daughter.
“I cannot risk you traveling alone. You are too precious.” She kissed the top of Alicia's head, her breath warm against the curls.
“But, Mother,” Alicia protested, “I am sure it is safe! There is peace there now – not like when you went there to save Uncle Henry.”
Valeria closed her eyes. The innocence of youth seemed to sadden her. “My dear, Germany will never be at peace. Besides, our own roads are none too safe. Only yesterday, Lady Ashdale told me she had been detained at gunpoint on the road.” Valeria shuddered.
“I know,” Alicia said impatiently, then stopped as she saw her mother's sad eyes. “Oh, Mummy! I am so sorry.” Impulsively, she threw her arms around her mother's neck. “I didn't mean to make you sad. I just really, really want to see Leo again! It would be so special to see him, and travel like you did, and...”
Valeria laughed then, her delightful laugh. “I know, sweetheart!” She coughed and gently loosened the younger woman's arms from round her neck. “Don't choke me.”
Alicia laughed, too, though she could not help feeling a stab of disappointment. All she really wanted was to go to Germany, so she could see Leo again, as soon as she could! And traveling, like her mother had in her earlier years, would be no bad thing, either. She had always wanted to see the land of her father's birth. But she would swallow her hurt. There was nothing worse than upsetting people. Lighthearted herself, she hated sadness and depression. She loved fun, and balls and parties!
“Besides, if you went to Germany,” her mother continued, as if reading her mind, “we would not be able to have a ball here at Wilding for your birthday.”
“I had almost forgotten about the ball!” Alicia grinned and clasped her hands together. “Thank you, Mummy,” she added, kissing her cheek.
Valeria smiled, radiant. “I didn't forget, so I took the precaution of ordering some fabrics in from Wedgeley's in town for new gowns.”
“You did?” Alicia asked, rapt.
“Of course! But since I don't know the latest fashions, we shall have to go to town together, to decide on some new styles for the dresses. I ordered some green chiffon, and some sprig muslin, and—”
“Oh, Mumsy.” Alicia grinned.
They chatted for a while, and Alicia tried to forget the stabbing ache of disappointment in her heart. It would have been so nice to visit Leo!
“And besides,” her mother continued, “if you went, and we couldn't have a ball, what about poor Roderick?”
Alicia sighed.
There were two reasons why she should stop these silly fancies of hers about seeing Leo early. The first, as her mother said, was the danger.
The second was Roderick.
Life had seen to it that Lady Alicia Grey and Lord Roderick Drosty were betrothed in the cradle. Their parents both thought it was suitable, and perhaps on paper it was.
But I don't like Roderick!
She laughed dryly.
“What, dear?” her mother, still smiling, queried.
“Nothing,” Alicia said sadly. She knew it was silly of her to feel like this. There was nothing to dislike about Roderick!
That was, of course, the problem. Nothing to dislike, but nothing to like, either. Plain, practical and level-headed, Roderick was not exactly the subject of a girl's greatest fancies. Alicia chuckled humorlessly.
“I know you don't know Roderick very well,” her mother ventured gently, seeming again to read her mind. “But he has some good qualities. He is good looking, trustworthy, rides well, and is of your rank!” She smiled at Alicia, chiding her gently.
“I know,” Alicia sighed.
As if that helped the logic at all! Roderick could have been a king, or an emperor, like Napoleon himself, and he would still be boring.
“I will go and practice the pianoforte now, Mummy,” Alicia said quietly, standing from her place beside her mother on the chaise-lounge.
“Very well, dear, but you are already better at the pianoforte than me!” Valeria smiled. “And you sing so well!”
“Thank you, Mummy.” Alicia grinned and stepped lightly from the room.
She could not concentrate on music or singing.
Her mind was filled with Leo. I wonder if he is as handsome as Uncle Henry? She wriggled deliciously in the chair, just thinking it. Leo, even at thirteen, had taken after his famously good-looking father. Alicia sighed. What was he doing now? She could not even imagine.
CHAPTER TWO
ESCAPE AND ESCAPADES
ESCAPE AND ESCAPADES
“Avast, there!”
Leo Grey, grinning and giddy, held his sword at fighting height. Behind him, on the harbor wall, two fiendish-looking thugs circled, ready, it seemed, to fall on him at any second.
“Whoa, there.” The man before him smiled, slowly, showing perfect teeth. It was not a pleasant smile. Taller than Leo, and dark haired, the man walked lazily forward, as if he had not seen the sword.
The docks in Hamburg smelled like the sea, like salt. Like adventures. The wind – cold and damp – blew through Leo’s hair, shirt and jerkin, chilling him and leaving the damp and cling of salt in everything. It was exhilarating.
Leo tensed, eyes narrowed, and assessed the situation. This man was dangerous. A known fighter, he had almost a decade of experience that Leo lacked.
He was right. As the man neared him, he kept his sword concealed, then, the instant he reached Leo, the steel was suddenly out. He was still smiling.
Leo danced back, lithe and fast. There was one major advantage to his German youth, and that was half a lifetime spent learning sword craft from the best teachers in the world.
“Nice one.” The man smiled unpleasantly. “But do you know this stroke?”
The steel seemed an arc of unbroken light as it slid across Leo's blade and back, aiming for his throat.
“I don't have to.” Leo grinned. “I know this.”
The steel hissed over steel, striking sparks, and the locked blades swung apart, leaving Leo's blade clear to swipe for the man's throat.
He moved the tip, neatly, carving a line through the man's sideburns, making a thin red line on his cheek.
Leo laughed, gold eyes twinkling, and danced lithely back. As he did so, he saw the man, furious and cold-eyed, nod fractionally sideways.
“Oh, hell.” Leo glanced to the side and noticed the two heavies were already moving, closing in on him. “Time to run,” he wh
ispered, and looked wildly around him.
Before him, his assailant pressed his handkerchief to the wound on his cheek.
Beside him were the thugs – the man's bodyguards, presumably.
Behind him was the sea.
“Right!” Leo shouted. He sprinted right.
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