Regency Romance: To Love A Viscount (CLEAN Historical Romance)
Page 18
Minutes later, Edward heard his father leave.
The following day, Edward had to travel to Canterbury on official matters.
The Duke was already seated at the dining table when Lord Edward walked in. “Papa, I am leaving for Canterbury after breakfast,” he said.
His father nodded. “And when will you be back?” he asked.
“I hope to be back the day after tomorrow,” said Lord Edward.
“I presume Wallace will be going with you,” said his father, as he buttered a piece of toast.
“Yes, Papa,” said Lord Edward. Lord Edward thought that his father looked different in that he was very silent after he had spoken to him. Edward rose from his chair and came round the table. “Papa, I must be leaving now,” he said as he bent down and placed a kiss on his father’s cheek.
Nathaniel nodded. “Son, I meant to give you this before, but it always slipped my mind,” he said as he held out his favorite golden pocket watch.
Lord Edward looked at his father in surprise. The golden pocket watch was his father’s favorite possession. A gift from his mother to his father on the day they were married, Duke Nathaniel had worn it every day since then. “But, Papa…..” said Lord Edward.
Nathaniel stilled his son from continuing. “I want you to take this with you,” he said.
Lord Edward nodded and took the golden pocket watch from his father’s outstretched hand. He was amazed at how his hand trembled as he attached the pocket watch to his coat. “Thank you, Papa,” said Lord Edward with a crack of emotion in his voice.
Nathaniel tapped Lord’s Edward’s arm. “Now be off with you before the sun rises higher in the sky,” he said.
Lord Edward nodded and walked briskly out of the dining room.
During the ride to Canterbury, Lord Edward was silent as he kept gazing at the golden pocket watch that glinted in the sun. He was still astonished and amazed that his father had parted with a gift that his mother had given him, which was to him his prized possession.
Lord Edward closed his eyes and surprised himself by praying to God to take care of his father until he returned to Frampton Castle.
Although he went about his business in Canterbury, Lord Edward’s mind was disturbed. The fact that his father had parted with his prize possession worried him continuously. He wanted to finish his work quickly and get back to Frampton Castle, but there was a delay with approvals and he reluctantly had to agree to stay one more day.
The following morning, Lord Edward was awakened by frantic tapping on his bedroom door at the Falstaff Inn.
“Who is it?” asked Lord Edward sleepily.
“My Lord, it’s me, Wallace.”
Edward jumped out of bed and rushed to the bedroom door. He knew that unless it was an emergency, Wallace would never disturb him. Edward threw open the bedroom door and with one look at the tear stained face of Wallace, he knew that bad news awaited him.
“Your Grace, Judge Nottingham would like to see you. He is here right now, waiting for you downstairs,” said Wallace as he stifled a sob.
Within the next fifteen minutes, Edward was seated downstairs with Judge Nottingham as he listened to the worst bit of news he had ever heard in his life.
Nathaniel Frampton, the Duke of Cumberland had died.
“How did it happen?” asked Lord Edward, his voice barely a whisper.
“His Grace was out riding in his cabriolet when it tipped over, trapping His Grace underneath,” said Judge Nottingham.
“Did he suffer?” Lord Edward as tears pooled in his eyes.
Judge Nottingham shook his head. “No, from the scroll the castle messenger brought me, death for His Grace was instant,” said the kindly old judge.
Lord Edward closed his eyes and his hand automatically closed over the golden pocket watch as tears seeped through his eyelids and trickled down his face.
Nathaniel Frampton was the great-grandson of the Duke of Cumberland and a highly respected member of royalty. His uncles, aunts and cousins would have to be informed. Lord Edward shook his head and opened his eyes. He had lost the man who meant the world to him. God had called Nathaniel Frampton to his abode in Heaven.
Edward left Canterbury immediately. He wanted to get back to Cumberland and arrange the funeral of his father.
Lord Edward was amazed at the number of uncles and aunts and cousins who attended his father’s funeral -- Viscount Mark Frampton, a cousin of his father and his wife Viscountess Cecelia Frampton, lords and ladies Charles Frampton and a host of other viscounts, dukes, lord and ladies from neighboring counties were in attendance.
The Duke of Cumberland’s body was laid to rest in the family vault beside his wife.
The day after his father’s funeral, Lord Edward sat at his bedroom window, with Jasper, his corgi, at his feet as he gazed across the cobbled castle grounds. Visions of his childhood when he had played outside with his father and mother unraveled before him. Tears stung his eyes as he remembered his father teaching him how to ride Aloe, his first pony. He knew he had to be strong, just as his father had been. He knew he had to safeguard the Duchy for the sake of his dead parents and ancestors. It was only when Jasper barked that Edward snapped out of his thoughts. “Come in,” he said, without turning to see who was at the door.
“Edward,” said John and Victor in unison.
Lord Edward turned around slowly and his best friends saw that he had been crying. He tried to smile at his friends, but failed miserably as the tears rolled down his face.
“The threat of strength is something that you will have to awaken in yourself, Edward,” said John.
“You need to be strong to be able to rule the Frampton Castle and your subjects, just as your father did,” said Victor.
Lord Edward looked at his two friends and he knew they were right. He had to be strong to rule his estate and he knew that his subjects would expect him to rule just like his father had.
Edward nodded and wiped his face with a pristine white handkerchief.
“We know it is hard to come to terms with the demise of a father, but you have plenty to think about once you become Duke of Cumberland,” said John.
For a moment, Lord Edward had forgotten that in the ensuing weeks, he would be sworn in as the new Duke of Cumberland.
There was another tap on the door and in walked Viscountess Cecelia Frampton, Lord Edward’s aunt by marriage. Viscountess Cecelia was known for her sharp words and foul mouth. She looked disapprovingly at John and Victor, as though they were two bags of rubbish. “If both of you will excuse me, I need to talk to my nephew,” said Viscountess Cecelia as she waved a bejeweled hand in the direction of John and Victor.
They both nodded at Edward and left the bedroom.
“Well, Edward, my dear boy, are you going to stay closeted up him in your bedroom all the time?” asked Cecelia, her voice at a high pitch.
“No, Aunt Cecelia, I am not,” said Edward somewhat sharply.
“Well then, my boy, get out of this room and go to your father’s office. You have much to do,” she said.
“Aunt Cecelia, my father’s body was buried only last evening and as for getting back to his office, I don’t think I shall do so until the formalities are attended to by my father’s barrister,” said Edward.
“Oh barristers, what do they know about royal duties?” said Cecelia with a flick of her hand.
Edward looked at his aunt for a moment and then trained his gaze out of the window.
“Once you are sworn in as the new Duke of Cumberland, you will have to think of marriage,” said Cecelia.
Edward knew that the prime reason for his aunt’s visit to his bedroom was to talk about his marriage. “I have still not decided on that aspect of my life as yet,” said Edward.
“Oh, but you have to. In fact, I was telling Mariabelle, my daughter and your cousin, that it was high time that she thought of marriage too,” said Cecelia, as she cautiously tested the waters.
“Ah, Mariabelle, yes, why
don’t you see to it that she is married off?” asked Edward as Cecelia’s face turned a bright red.
“I had discussed with your father some time ago that Mariabelle and you would make a fine couple,” said Cecelia.
Edward sprang up from his chair.
“Aunt Cecelia, I am not interested in marriage right now, even if it is to your daughter, and please do not talk on this subject again. I grieve for my father and have so much more to do before I think of marriage,” said Edward.
Viscountess Cecelia stood up angrily. “Oh, very well, my boy, I suppose you will find yourself some girl who is not fit to be the Duchess of Cumberland and then we can see how the Duchy will crumble,” said Viscountess Cecelia before she swept out of the bedroom, her skirts rustling and her face red with embarrassment at having been literally cut short by her nephew.
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ALSO BY JESSIE BENNETT
Faces of Love Series
1. LINK: Book 1 - Thawing A Duke’s Heart
2. LINK: Book 2 - The Lady’s Torn Heart
3. LINK: Book 3 - A Brazen Lady And The Shunned Duke
The Chronicles of Loyalty Series
1. LINK: Revealing A Marchioness’s Heart
The Inheritance Saga Series
1. LINK: To Capture The Duke’s Heart
LINK: To Love A Viscount
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Acknowledgement
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Publisher’s Notes
This book is copyright © 2016 by JESSIE BENNETT & CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.
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.
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