“That is what mothers do best,” Lady Shelton said. “The Earl and I have two sons. Both of them are strapping lads, but without a constant litany of chores they get into all sorts of trouble.”
Emily giggled and covered her mouth. “I think I am beyond the stage where I need chores,” Emily said respectfully.
Lady Shelton smiled at Emily broadly. “Yes, I suppose you are,” she said. “That is a lovely necklace.” The woman pointed towards the silver locket that hung around Emily’s neck.
“Yes,” Emily agreed. “My mother gave it to me when I was little.”
Lady Shelton pursed out her lips. “I do not think I have seen you wear it before.”
“I only recently had it returned to me. It had been missing for a few years, but it is back where it belongs now,” Emily said with a smile at the locket. Lady Shelton gave her a smile and nodded. Lady Shelton was curious, but not overly nosy. Emily had always liked that about the woman. She knew when not to pry too much. Most other nobles seemed to think it their privilege to know everything about anyone.
Lady Shelton asked, “I do not suppose you will be volunteering to bring food to the poorhouse this week?”
“I have this feeling that my mother is going to keep me ever so busy, that I shall not need to volunteer,” Emily said with a laugh.
Lady Shelton whispered, “This particular volunteer job might just be between you and me.”
“Are you suggesting that I lie?” Emily asked with a grin.
Lady Shelton said, “I might be a mother, but I also remember what it was like to be young, and you are still young enough to qualify. You need a bit of freedom. Is she worried that you will spend an afternoon free and suddenly be married again?”
Emily laughed at the look on Lady Shelton’s face and because that actually might be more truthful than Lady Shelton knew. “Perhaps she is trying to encourage me to dedicate myself to God and live as a nun. I am certainly here enough to qualify.”
“Oh, Emily,” Lady Shelton laughed and patted her arm. “You are a treasure.”
***
The snow drifted down over the London street as Edward made his way towards the pharmacy. He had staff that could do the errand for him, but Edward felt restless. He needed to get out of the house and do something. The last few years he had constantly been doing something with rarely a moment of rest, and suddenly it was as if everything stopped.
The only outlet that Edward seemed allowed was to parties of one sort or another, and Edward could hardly stand the idea of that. The very idea of having to put on a smile while women fawned over him and men sought to learn his secrets was enough to turn Edward against ever leaving his house, to be honest. He winced as he stepped down just right on his leg.
“Your Grace,” a man’s voice called from behind him. Edward cringed wondering who it was and what they wanted. When he turned, Edward saw Mr Reuben leaned against the doorway of his shop. “It has been a very long time.”
Edward smiled and walked stiffly back over to the man. “It seems a lifetime ago,” Edward said as he accepted the man’s handshake.
“It almost was for you,” Mr Reuben said. “I read all about it in the papers. Most extraordinary.”
Edward shook his head. “It does not feel so to me,” he said.
“I suppose not,” Mr Reuben agreed. “I was just surprised that I actually knew such a celebrated hero.”
Edward laughed. “I bet that helped business,” Edward said.
“Nah,” Mr Reuben said. “Not even worth mentioning to the lot around here.”
Edward supposed that might be true. He offered, “I could purchase some suits from you. Surely that would help.”
“That is most kind of you, Your Grace,” Mr Reuben said as if he were truly touched by the gesture. “Imagine a Duke in my little shop.”
Edward promised, “As soon as the warmer weather is here, I shall have for you a list of things I need fitted.”
“I look forward to that very much,” Mr Reuben said.
Edward chatted a few moments more with the man before he extricated himself from the conversation and continued to get his medicine. It was odd that his being a Duke seemed to help all those around him but did Edward himself very little good. Edward amused himself with that thought all the way to the pharmacy.
***
When Edward returned home, he was feeling much better from the dose of medicine that he had taken on the way back. He called, “Pearl, I shall have tea in my study if you please!” There was no response. Usually, Pearl would acknowledge that he had at least spoken. Edward made his way towards the kitchen as he took off his hat and shook the snow out of it.
The kitchen was only a few hundred feet from his study. When he got there, he found Pearl seated at the table with Emily. “Oh, Your Grace,” Pearl said as she stood up wiping her hands on her apron. “I did not hear you come in.”
“That is evident,” Edward said with more amusement than anger. “I called to you but received no answer,so I came to see if perhaps you were asleep.”
Pearl blushed. “Sorry, Your Grace. I did not hear you.”
“Quite all right,” Edward assured her. “I merely said that I would have tea in my study.”
Pearl nodded and set to work getting a tray together. Emily looked up at Edward, and he noticed then that she was wearing the locket. It had been so long since he had returned it to her that he had put it out of his mind and decided that she was not interested. “Will you join me for tea, Lady Winchester?”
“I go by my maiden name,” Emily informed him as she stood up with a nod, “But, yes, I will join you.”
Pearl smiled over at them, and Edward pretended that he did not notice the woman’s interest in what they were saying. “Very good,” Edward said. He held out his arm to Emily, and she slipped her arm through his. He escorted her down the hallway to his study.
Emily took a seat in one of the comfortably overstuffed chairs. “I would have come sooner,” Emily whispered as Edward left the door open a bit just to be proper. It would not do for them to be alone with them not being married. “My mother has been keeping me quite busy with work she has graciously volunteered me to do.”
“Oh?” Edward asked as he sank into his chair. “That does not sound like you are pleased with the situation.”
Emily sighed. “She means well, but I simply cannot keep up with her pace.”
“How did you manage to get away today?” Edward asked with a bit of a smile on his lips.
Emily whispered, “I lied to be blunt. I told her that I had to help Lady Shelton put together flower arrangements.”
“I hope Lady Shelton is okay with your subterfuge involving her,” Edward said with a chuckle.
Emily nodded and said, “She is actually the one who gave me the idea.”
“That sounds like her,” Edward agreed.
Pearl came in with the tray, and they fell silent until the woman had left the room again. Emily cleared her throat. “I did not know you had kept it,” Emily said as she touched her fingers to the locket.
“I do not break my promises,” Edward said with a shrug.
Emily said thickly, “Why did you give it to me now?”
“Because I love you,” Edward said. “I realised that James was right about one thing, all this brought me no peace. Because it was not revenge that kept me going for all those years in Spain, it was you, Emily.”
Emily burst into tears, and Edward just looked at her unsure of what to do. Hesitantly, Edward got up and came to kneel beside her. Emily looked at him through her tears. “I have always loved you; I always will.”
Edward wiped a tear off her cheek and gave her a soft kiss. “Marry me, Emily; let me fulfil my promises to you.”
“Oh, Edward, of course, I will marry you,” Emily said as she threw her arms around him. She giggled softly through her tears. “You know, Lady Shelton, said that my mom was afraid if I took an afternoon of leisure I would end up married. I think we just pr
oved her right.”
Edward laughed and shook his head. Behind them, they heard someone clear their throat. Emily and Edward looked over at the door to see Pearl holding a tray of sweet fig cakes. “I thought you two might have something to celebrate soon.”
THE END
Can't get enough of Emily and Edward? Then make sure to check out the Extended Epilogue to find out…
Will our heartbroken couple get to live the life they've been dreaming of when life distanced them?
Will they be able to find moments to treasure, like the ones they've had before everything fell apart?
What surprises are yet to come for tormented Edward?
Click the link or enter it into your browser
http://bridgetbarton.com/emily
(After reading the Extended Epilogue, turn the page to read the first chapters from “Falling for the Heartbroken Duke”, my Amazon Best-Selling novel!)
Falling for the Heartbroken Duke
Introduction
Lord Robert Weston, living the life of a Duke’s second son, is thrown in among the elite of London’s bon ton, while he chafes against the conformities and gossip of the very rich. When his childhood sweetheart, Lady Judith Barton, reappears in town after three years, she has much more to say than hello.
He is thrilled to see her again, but his hopes are soon to be destroyed. When her vanity prevails, his affectionate heart is played and love promises are broken. Not only is he heartbroken, his reputation slips down a path where it's very hard to return from. Will he be able to overcome all the struggles and take control of his own life?
Lady Phoebe Sinclair, having lost her dear mother, is back in London after two years in Paris. When tragedy strikes again, Lady Phoebe’s cousin from Scotland, comes to London to claim his inheritance. Amid glittering parties, ton gossip and mutual friends, Lord Robert and Lady Phoebe’s paths cross when Lord Robert’s father and brother both succumb to typhus.
She is instantly enchanted but she has already heard all the vile things that are being said on his account. She avoids contact with him in any possible way, but when she finally finds herself imprisoned in a marriage arrangement she never wanted, who is going to come to her rescue?
When all that is expected from society is the production of an heir, will Lord Robert be able to make the right decision and solve a seemingly unsolvable mystery? While true happiness finally seems like a dream come true, life or death challenges never cease to come up...
Chapter 1
He heard the pounding on the steps and buried his head under the soft feather pillows just before James Weston, the Marquess of Hempstead, burst into the room.
Lord Robert Weston rolled to the side of the bed towards the wall, groaning, and further shielding his head with his arms. His older brother was in a foul mood again, and there was nothing to do but listen to the imminent tirade.
Although only two years separated them, the brothers were as different as night and day. Lord James was tall, dark, and dashing, much as their father had been in his youth. But Robert, though sharing his mother’s eyes with his brother, didn’t resemble either of the two men in his immediate family.
His dark hair bore a tint of chestnut which set off the deep green of his gaze. His was a larger frame of build to Lord James, and no one seemed to know from where Lord Robert’s way with horses had come. He was an exceptional horseman, and a successful lawyer. And despite being a second son, he did not lack for lucrative marriage prospects. A woman would step down a notch for a man like Lord Robert.
“How can you say you’re a man when you act no better than a common rake? A scoundrel. You make me ill.”
“No better than a rake, a scoundrel? I make you ill? Surely you, Marquess, can come up with better than that. There’s cad, scrub, and my personal favourite, the un-licked cub.” Lord Robert sneered at his older brother and waited for the words or the blow that would respond.
“This is about Lady Judith. Not the unlicked cub you fancy yourself to be. How unfeeling. How uncaring How selfish. How utterly low. Our mother would be most upset with you. Our father is ashamed of you and me.”
“Our mother? What do you mean by that? Our mother’s been dead these last thirteen years or have you forgotten. Terence, are you about? Please, bring me my coffee. The special blend.”
The butler poked his head into the room. “As you wish, My Lord.”
Lord Robert turned his attention back to Lord James as the infinitely patient Terence pulled his head back to rejoin his body in the hallway.
“Now, James. What is this all about? You barging in here like this? I’m barely awake.” He embraced his head with both hands. “Ugh. So you were saying something, My Lord? About Lady Judith? She’s back from her travels? Finally ... it’s only been three years. Now out with it ... what about the lady? And why are you here in this angry manner? I won’t be torn from slumber for nothing. Let us hear it.”
“If you must know, and well, of course you must because it concerns you; Lady Judith is back from her travels abroad with the Countess Bennington. It’s been three years, as you remember. What you don’t know is the Countess expired somewhere along the way. Apparently, the old girl came down with, of all things ... typhus. She expired in a matter of days. Dancing at a fete one night, and then resting in a foreign grave three nights later.”
“How dreadfully unfortunate, our father will be sorry to hear it. His only sister. She was a dear old lady, always kind to me, God rest her soul. And what is this ruckus you’re making about Lady Judith? You say she’s returned, and it has something to do with me?” Lord Robert’s head was thumping.
The excesses of the previous evening had caught up to him with annoying speed but did nothing to dampen his curiosity. Or the subtle sense of longing that began to spread from his head to his four limbs and, finally, to his heart.
A light knock sounded. Terence, the butler, entered with a silver tray upon which rested an urn filled with fragrant black coffee and a small glass of whisky.
“Thank you, Terence.” Lord Robert sat up and took the whisky in one swallow. Then he poured a small cup of coffee, offering his brother none, and gulped it down. The butler bowed and left the room with the whisky glass in his pocket.
Lord James frowned. “Are you finished with this declasse behaviour? Will you listen to me now? You jest, but it is important. Very important. And quite honestly, if I didn’t know you, I wouldn’t believe it. As I said, his grace our father, is beside himself. We are both, his grace and I, humiliated beyond bounds. So, My Lord, are you quite finished with your coffee? Will you listen now?”
“Yes, yes. I’m finished. I was unaware that drinking coffee impedes the hearing, but do go on.” Lord Robert rolled his eyes. There was nothing he could do correctly as far as his father, the Duke of Atwater or his brother, the Marquess Hempstead, were concerned.
“Lady Judith. So very sweet, so lovely. How could you be so callous? The poor woman has no one, Robert. No one but us. She is part of our blood family.”
“I’m not following, James. How could I be so callous? I don’t know what it is you’re referring to. I’m barely awake.”
“You mean barely sober, I daresay. Do you honestly expect me to believe that you, of all people, do not have knowledge of the return of our dear cousin Judith? Robert! For shame. What I find even more insulting is your lack of compassion.”
“Oh, you’re insulted as well as humiliated? I must have been on a roll, whatever it is I did, to provoke such a flurry of undesirable feelings in you, My Lord.”
The Revenge of the Betrayed Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 28
