“Oh, I know that,” Arabella said. “I know your daughter here has worked hard to trap him. Well, it didn’t work, my dears. I and mother have convinced him that this is an unfortunate alliance so whatever you were hoping for, pack those hopes away and go back to your little village.”
Shocked, Caroline and her family stood up straight. “How intolerably rude!” Caroline’s mother exclaimed. “I had heard about your ill-manners, Arabella, but now that I witness them first-hand, I must say that the rumors had a basis in fact.”
“Oh you may call me rude but what shall I call your daughter? An adventuress, perhaps, who takes advantage of two brothers!”
“Where is Robert?” Caroline asked. “I must see him!”
“You must leave!” Arabella said. “Or do you want me to have you thrown out? As for Robert, he’s making arrangements to travel. He’s headed for London today where he’ll no doubt find a more suitable girl than you.”
“I must speak to him!” Caroline said. “At least once!”
“You must?” Arabella mocked. “You’re pathetic, little wench. Get out of here now. I have no need for ordinary dirt like you in my garden.”
“Enough!” Caroline’s mother thundered. “Not one word more out of you. Caroline, come. We will leave.”
“But mother...”
“Caroline.” Her mother gripped her arm. “Come. I will not be insulted any further.”
Chapter 10
The Duke Departs
W ith a heavy heart, the duke tried to concentrate on the things he wanted to take with him to London. A knock on the door had him looking up.
“Sire.” His Valet, John Ackerman, bowed as he entered.
“Come in, Jonny.” Robert nodded. His trusty valet cast a look at his Lord’s features; only once before had he seen him look so unhappy. On that occasion, it had been the death of his brother that had caused Robert’s usually placid face to darken with grief. With careless motions, Robert threw books, ties, and cufflinks on the bed.
“We’re leaving indefinitely for London.” He said.
“There’s a lady who...”
“If Caroline wishes to see me, tell her I will not see her,” Robert said. “She has deceived me willfully, and I have no desire to speak with her.”
“She was told so by Lady Arabella,” Jonny said.
Something in the tone of Jonny’s voice made Robert look up. “You don’t think my sister acted appropriately?”
“Parden my impudence, sir, but she was rather harsh while asking Lady Caroline to leave.”
“She did the right thing.” Robert turned away, his face a mask. “I wish to have nothing more to do with her if Arabella is telling the truth.”
“If,” Jonny said.
Robert said crisply, “You overstep, Jonny. Careful.”
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace,” Jonny said. From his waistcoat, he bought out a letter. “Lady Caroline scribbled a few words on paper after she was rather unceremoniously asked to depart. She gave it to me personally, and made me promise to give it to you.”
“I was so convinced that she loved me,” Robert said. “I was so careless, Jonny. I’ve never been like that before. I thought… I figured she saw everything I was and everything I wanted to be. I thought she was my angel. But she turned out to be...”
“Merely mortal?” Jonny asked.
Robert sighed. “Even if I forgave her for having a dalliance with Adam, I could no longer view her the way I did. I could not marry a woman who… who acted so improperly with my brother in the past.” Robert shook his head. “No. I must harden my heart even if it aches to see her.”
“Then shall I throw the letter away, Sir?” Jonny asked.
“Give it to me.” Robert snatched it and opened it. Briefly, he read the contents.
“Dearest Robert,
You said you loved me, and I know I love you still. Forgive me for not telling you sooner about Adam. If you give me a chance, I will explain it all to you. But I beg you, give me that chance.”
So. Robert thought with a heavy heart. So she admitted that there was something she had not told him. Something had transpired between her and Adam. Bitter jealousy was a poison shooting through his veins. He had to leave the estate right now, not the least because if he met either her or Adam, he might strangle them both.
Chapter 11
The Duke
Reconsiders
“C aroline, we’ve been waiting two hours,” Emily said. “This is most inappropriate. Please, let us leave.”
Emily carefully looked at her sister. Since the rude shock of Arabella’s harsh words, her sister’s eyes had lost all the peace and happiness that were typically present in them. She had turned pale, and her eyes looked like that of an animal trapped in a cage. Somehow, their mother had dragged her out of the duke’s estate, but outside the gates, Caroline had insisted on waiting for him. She had refused threats and even resisted her mother’s physical attempts to get her inside the castle.
“I have to know he read my letter,” Caroline said. “I have to see him before he leaves. I just have to. Oh, sister, I know I am gravely insulting the honor of our family, but I don’t care if I am disowned. I care for nothing except to see him one more time.”
“Caroline,” Emily said gently. “You have to give up. The duke can’t have loved you very much if he was so easily poisoned against you.”
“I have to know.” She said.
The gates opened, and a carriage drove out. Caroline’s eyes shot up. It was a magnificent carriage, with white wheels, a shiny black body, and red leather interiors. Seven chestnut horses rode ahead of it.
Inside, Caroline saw Robert sitting, looking straight ahead. She called his name, but it did not reach his ears over the clatter of the horses or perhaps, even though he saw her, he chose not to respond.
Defeated, she slumped into her own coach, and with her head in her hands, began to sob.
***
Robert saw her. He saw the agony in her eyes, but his mind was aflame with anger and bitterness. What right did she have, to pretend to be upset? What right did she have to toy with his affections?
The carriage rode on, and Robert steeled himself further. He would not open his heart this way again. No. He would marry as his mother wished, and he would dedicate the rest of his life to creating a better estate. A richer estate.
The thought made him sick.
He remembered the dreams he had shared with Caroline and the gentle way she had nurtured them. He remembered the way she had looked when he first admitted that he felt for her as he had never felt before.
Why had he done that? He was a fool, to open his heart to her so soon. On what basis had he dreamt of life with her? On the basis of one beautiful dance? His heart was a foolish thing, even now, it ached to be with her. Even now, the thought of agony in her eyes caused double the pain to him. He had been prepared to give his world for her, and she had betrayed him!
A voice from his heart whispered you were prepared to give up the world for her. Yet you are not prepared to give her an hour to explain. What kind of love is that?
He couldn’t possibly listen to explanations. There was nothing but heartache for him, and he feared being hurt even more.
Don’t let fear blind you. The voice said more insistently. Go to her.
No. There was nothing Caroline could possibly say that would make Robert forgive her.
But there was no possible way that he would ever be happy if he didn’t see her one last time.
With a cry, the duke ordered the horses to turn around.
Chapter 12
One last chance
W ithin two hours, he was back home. The sun had set now, and darkness filled the countryside, as it did his heart. As the carriage pulled up to the front doors, the duke noticed another, smaller carriage next to it.
He strode inside and shushed the butler as he tried to speak. The parlor door was very slightly open, and inside, he could see Adam gesticulating
as he talked to Arabella.
“She is vicious, mother!” Adam was exclaiming. “I have never met a worse person in my life!”
So that is what Adam thought of Caroline? A sudden protectiveness burst through the duke’s heart. He’d had two hours to think in the carriage and the more he thought, the more convinced he was that his estimate of Caroline’s character could not have been mistaken. She had been genuine in all the love she had showered on him. Even if she had made a mistake with Adam, it had no doubt been because Adam, ever the rake, had taken advantage of her naivete to entice her. His Caroline was undoubtedly innocent.
Now, hearing Adam say those words made Robert long to run him through with a sword. He was about to fling open the door, but Adam’s next words made him pause.
“Caroline is an angel!” Adam was saying. “Arabella, on the other hand, is a vicious liar!”
“How dare you speak of your sister this way!” Lady Elizabeth said.
“It is the truth!” Adam exclaimed. “Caroline is too much of a lady to ever act inappropriately. I was the one at fault. She showed me sympathy when I told her of Richard’s death. I mistook it for something more and tried to force my attentions on her. She slapped me and fled, mother! I stood there, stunned but that slap changed me. It made me see the depths to which I had fallen. It made me vow to be a better man. She has no feelings for me, nor did she ever. Robert has to be told this!”
“But why would Arabella lie?” Lady Elizabeth asked.
“Because Caroline’s advice made Jeremy rethink proposing to Arabella,” Adam said. “This isn’t the first time she’s tried to spread rumors about Caroline. The difference is, my fool of a brother believed them, while no sensible person in society ever did!”
The duke flung open the door, and all heads turned to him.
“Brother,” Adam said. “You may run me through with a sword, or dangle me with a noose but do not harm that poor innocent girl. She has done nothing wrong.”
Lady Elizabeth inhaled sharply, expecting Robert to hit Adam. Instead, Robert hugged him.
“Brother, we have both hurt her gravely,” Robert said. “I fear I may have done far more damage than you! But thank you, thank you for being honest and thank you for your words. You made me see that she is everything I believed.”
“You came back,” Adam said. “You came back even before you had heard my side of the story.”
Robert smiled. “I suppose I realized that life wasn’t worth living if Caroline were not by my side.”
Chapter 13
A Proposal
C aroline could not sleep that night. Her heart could not seem to stop racing, and her mind was dull and blank. In the space of a day, the happiest moment of her life had turned into a nightmare. All because she had not been honest with Robert.
But how could she? How could she have told him the truth? He would have shunned her, surely. He wouldn’t have believed her anyway. This moment would always have transpired. Surely he would choose his brother and sister’s lies over her.
She had cried so much that no tears remained in her heart. Even now, her heart called his name, over and over. Her eyes longed to see his face. Her ears longed to hear his voice.
Downstairs, there was a commotion. Voices raised in anger and among them, could it be, there was Robert’s, calling her.
“Get out!” Lord Huntington was shouting. “Get out before I fetch my saber!”
“You may stab me or hang me from a noose,” Robert said. “I deserve all that and more but once, just once, I must see Caroline and beg her forgiveness. I don’t care if I die after that.”
“Your family was terrible to her!” Lord Huntington cried.
“I was terrible to her,” Robert said. “But even if my rash actions have made her hate me, I need to see her one more time. I need to beg her to punish me any way she likes. Just as long as she smiles at me, just once.”
Caroline rushed down the stairs, even as Emily tried to stop her. The others gasped as she appeared.
“Caroline,” Robert was on his knees, a black eye sprouting where Jeremy had hit him. He had not defended himself, even though he easily could have.
“Robert…” She said gently.
From his pocket, he took out a large diamond ring, nestled inside a cocoon of sapphires. “I beg your forgiveness.” He said. “I made a terrible mistake. I know that I have no right to expect your forgiveness, but if you give me a chance, just one chance, I will spend the rest of my life as your slave.”
“I am your slave,” Caroline said gently, sinking to her knees beside him, and cupping his hands. “I have been since I first saw you. Robert, I forgive you. I should have told you earlier.”
“I never should have doubted you,” Robert said. “I let my anger and my sister’s hurtful words affect me.”
“Hush,” Caroline said. “It’s in the past.”
“I love you, Caroline,” Robert said. “Please spend your future with me.”
Epilogue
“T he honor of your presence is requested at the marriage of Robert Watts, Duke of Westhamshire, and Caroline Weston, Daughter of the late Hamish Weston and Aurelia Weston at the duke’s estates on this auspicious day, May the 19th, 1816.”
Never had Westhamshire seen such a festive wedding. For three days after, celebrations were held in all the villages bordering the estate. The duke even ordered a circus from France to be brought in. Somehow, he even arranged for elephants to line the entrance of the estates, trumpeting as guests entered. Wine flowed from the fountains of his home, and grand buffets were held each day.
All those who came spoke of the bride’s beauty and the love in the groom’s eyes.
Arabella was invited but left soon after claiming a headache. After her malicious actions, the duke had banned her from his presence, and even now, she was forced to live with an aunt in London. Caroline had forgiven her, however, and slowly, she was coming back into the duke’s life. For her part, Arabella had felt genuinely sorry when Caroline forgave her and now was trying her best to earn the duke’s forgiveness.
As for Adam, he was not the same rake he had once been. Some did say that his eyes lingered on Emily a little too long, but he was a perfect gentleman throughout.
A year later, Caroline had given birth to the heir of Westhamshire, and Lady Elizabeth, who had herself asked for Caroline’s forgiveness numerous times, was a proud grandmother.
As for the parents, there was no couple in England happier, or better suited than the duke and his unwanted alliance!
***The End***
the duke
and the lady
in distress
Regency Romance
Grace Fletcher
Chapter 1
The Countryside Manor
Sofia’s legs burned, and her lungs screamed. She held her dress up with her hands as she ran. The woods were thick. It was a full moon, but she could barely see. Suddenly, she tripped on a tree root and fell. She couldn’t stop herself from screaming, putting her hands down as she fell. She desperately tried to free her leg from the tree root. She couldn’t hear anything in the dead of the woods. Perhaps the man had stopped pursuing her. No such luck, she heard someone calling.
“I ain’t gunna hurt you Miss!”
Sofia knew that was a lie.
***
Sofia had lived quite comfortably in a London townhouse with her father. She had come out when she was sixteen and now at twenty she was still attending lunch with suitors. She spent her time studying politics and law, attending some university courses to learn about the world. To be able to engage in polite conversation about current and past events.
Her father was a decorated soldier, a proud man, who always did his best for his daughter. He was perhaps overly protective however, overly critical of all her suitors. Sofia lost her mother due to ill health around ten years ago, she knew her father feared losing her. The courtship period was difficult for Sofia, navigating all the different rules. It was inc
reasingly difficult with her father’s harshness.
He was becoming increasingly secretive too, going and coming at all hours of the night. Sofia knew it wasn’t her place to question her father, but she considered asking him what was happening. It was a small part of her mind however, she mostly had much of her life focused on courtship.
She was therefore shocked when her father came to her, right before she was due to have dinner with a suitor.
“Sofia, we must leave London. Now.” He was packing desperately, he seemed wild and agitated. Sofia’s stomach had instantly constricted. She tried questioning her father, but his voice had just gotten hard and forceful. She was scared, she packed desperately, all her jewels and clothing and everything important to her.
She tried asking questions about where they were going.
Her father just said louder, “PACK Sofia."
They had moved quickly, nearly running to a hired horse and carriage. On the carriage ride her father started softening. She sat with her legs crossed at the ankles, hands in her lap, playing with a ring. She was thinking about the man she had stood up for dinner tonight, how she’d have to apologize. She had no idea how she’d explain the situation. A family emergency? She looked at her father. His face was flushed, he seemed, well, scared. Sofia had never seen Sir Arthur Kershaw scared before. For a decorated veteran to be scared she supposed that whatever situation this was, was a big deal.
“Sofia…” her father began. Suddenly they heard the horse coach driver.
“Woaaaah there,” the stagecoach driver said. The horses stopped, the carriage stopped.
Her father’s face turned white. “State your purpose,” the stagecoach driver shouted. Sofia’s heart was pounding.
“Shut up old man,” came the response.
There was a horrible sound.
A massive crack sounded, resounding through the forest. Birds fled the trees.
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