The Duke's Bride: Regency Romance (Regency Brides Book 1)

by Joanne Wadsworth

  “What was her name?” She adored his honesty, and his declaration made her feel far less guilty.

  “Elizabeth Montgomery, but everyone called her Lizzy.” He turned his gaze to the window and watched the darkened trees whizzing by, the forest rising high both sides of the wooded road they traveled. A minute passed, maybe two, such a heaviness crossing his face.

  “What happened to her?” His pain touched her heart, made her want to comfort and soothe him.

  “Lizzy passed away in childbirth.” Scrubbing a hand over his face, he eyed her again. “The child perished not long after she did, a son born with her golden locks and enchanting blue eyes.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “I actually held her son as he took his last breath.”

  “You remained close to her after she wed?”

  “Yes, particularly since Lizzy married my eldest brother, right after she’d fallen in love with him.”

  “Oh my.” He would understand her better than anyone else could. He’d held desire for another who hadn’t reciprocated that desire.

  “Yes, but I did my best to never let on to her about my feelings, and from the day she wed Trevor, I became like a brother to her in every way. She was filled with love and life, an effervescence that I’ve never seen in a young woman since, that is until I met you.”

  “You and I, we have a great deal in common.”

  “That we do, which was why when you told me of your distress regarding Ashten and bringing him out of his self-exile, I was reminded of Trevor. He too raged with guilt over the death of Lizzy and his child, even though he wasn’t to blame. My brother closed his door and wouldn’t allow any of my family entry, not even my mother, not for a full twelve months. That’s when I decided to sneak in and haul him out of his enforced isolation and back into the world.”

  “As I did with Ashten?”

  “Yes, and now you’ve shown the duke the light at the end of the tunnel and he’s sought the sunshine again. He’s not only accepted there was naught he could do to save the lady who perished, but he’s also left his self-exile behind. His decision to join Winterly and I in our next business venture is proof of that.”

  “In the future, there will never be anything more than friendship between him and I. I can assure you of that.” A promise she’d forever keep. “I give you my word.”

  “I believe you, but more than that, I trust you.”

  Now she needed to uphold that trust in every way.

  She wouldn’t disappoint him.

  Chapter 19

  Ashten rode like the blazes, Gorman racing behind him. Ellie could have chosen two or three different routes to reach Gretna Green, but he expected she’d chosen the fastest, a familiar route too since his duchy lay on the other side of these thick woods, Winterly Manor rising just beyond that.

  “There’s another carriage up ahead,” Gorman bellowed as he galloped beside him. “This is an invigorating ride, Your Grace.”

  “It certainly blows the cobwebs out.” He couldn’t tell if the carriage was Harry’s, not with the dark of the night closing in, and drat it all, but Ellie had been alone with Tidmore in Harry’s coach for eighteen hours, a blasted long length of time in which they might have even consummated their upcoming marriage vows. That thought had his gut twisting.

  Up ahead, the rattling of the carriage’s wheels over the dirt and stone road rumbled louder with each horse length he gained on the coach. So close. He dug his knees into his horse’s flanks and spurred the beast on. Atop the conveyance, the driver’s shadowy figure became clearer, as did the four horses drawing the carriage. Misty air billowed as the beasts snorted, although the animals would be tiring, a rest needed for certain and the King’s Inn, which sat within his duchy, was close.

  As the coach broke free of the woods and the rolling fields lay spread before them, he finally drew even with the coach door. The familiar crest of Harry’s personal insignia gleamed in the rising moonlight, a coiled rope circling the initials of Harry’s name. To Gorman, he yelled, “I’m going to join Lady Ellie and Tidmore, so watch my horse for me while I do, then have the driver pull over at the inn up ahead.”

  “Of course.” A salute from his man.

  Ashten hauled the door open and without any hesitation, jumped.

  He landed heavily on his bad leg then rolled across the floor between the bench seats.

  Ellie screamed and Tidmore dived on top of him, gripped his shoulders then shook his head as he got a better look at him. “Is that you, Ashten?”

  “Yes, and I do apologize for the way I’ve bounded in, but I’ve heard there’s to be an elopement, one I completely and wholeheartedly disagree with.”

  “Thomas, let him up.” Ellie, her face ashen, fluttered a hand over her heart, her lacy wrap slipping from her shoulders. “What are you doing here?”

  “Are you hurt at all?” Her pale pink day dress held a streak of dust across the front.

  “No, but I’ve never seen you act so recklessly. Are you hurt?” She straightened her silk bonnet. “Why didn’t you just ask our driver to pull over? Smithy would have recognized you and done so.”

  “It was a matter of urgency, and I was out of my mind with worry.” He had no other excuse. Mad, he most certainly was.

  “Here, up you get.” Tidmore pushed to his feet and held out his hand.

  “If I managed to throw myself in here, I’ll manage to get back on my feet.”

  “As you wish.” Tidmore eased back onto his seat across from Ellie and frowned at him. “I intend on speaking vows with Lady Ellie as soon as we reach Gretna Green, and no one is going to halt that from happening.”

  “You must at least allow me another attempt at changing her mind.”

  “The lady will always have the right to choose who she wishes to wed, but I won’t have her made to feel uncomfortable with any possible tongue lashing.” Tidmore waved him to continue, which grated on Ashten. Perhaps the man was certain he’d never be able to change Ellie’s mind, thus why he was happy for him to speak his peace.

  He heaved to his feet, dusted off his buff breeches and sat on the bench next to Ellie. He took one deep, stabilizing breath. “I’ve had Watts keeping an eye on you, and after you left your home and collected Tidmore, he informed me of what was afoot.”

  “Nothing new is afoot. I already told you of my intention to elope.”

  “Yes, but not until the night of the masquerade, which is in full swing right now I might add. I’ve been forced to race across half of England to catch up to you.”

  “I didn’t ask you to follow me.”

  “Listen to me, Ellie.” He caught her arm, such pain washing through him.

  “No.” She glared and wrenched her arm free. “I’m well aware of your thoughts and that—”

  “You are a cheat and a coward. That’s what you are.”

  “I—I—” She gasped, shock and outrage flaring across her face. “How could you say such a thing to me?”

  “We kissed, and you ran.”

  “You chose to pursue Lady Ashley over me.”

  “I didn’t realize the depth of my feelings for you until now.”

  “And what feelings would those be?”

  “Anger for one.”

  “Oh, wonderful.” A snide answer, one she broke off with a huff. “I have never been so angry at anyone in my whole life either. You’re an ungrateful wretch, Your Grace.”

  “Yes, but I’m your ungrateful wretch.”

  “Not anymore. Mr. Tidmore is an honest and trustworthy man, the man I intend on marrying.” She lifted her dainty nose and arched a brow at him. “He gave me a rose.”

  “You gave me a daisy.”

  “You declined it, said you had no need for a daisy right now, and I’ve taken you at your word.”

  “You were well aware that I intended on returning to speak to Winterly, that I intended on asking for your hand, and you ran away instead.”

  “I would never force your hand.”
>
  “I wanted to be forced.”

  “Oh, please.” The carriage slowed and rolled into the front drive of the King’s Inn. Smoke puffed from the chimney of the quaint stone building ringed with night-shrouded trees.

  Tidmore cleared his throat and stood. “Well, now that you’ve both gotten your feelings out, how about we alight from this carriage, stretch our legs and enjoy some hearty food. The horses need to be changed and then we can continue on our way.”

  “A superb idea, Thomas.” Ellie smiled broadly at the man who Ashten wished he could hate, except Tidmore was too damn nice and an immensely honorable man as well.

  “Allow me to escort you inside.” Tidmore opened the door, stepped down onto the gravel driveway and extended a hand to Ellie. “I’ll secure a room for you, so you can refresh yourself. Does that sound suitable?”

  “It certainly does. Thank you for thinking of my welfare, Thomas.” Ellie shot Ashten a narrow-eyed look over her shoulder, once that silently stated, And that’s what I expect of a gentleman. “You are an absolute dear, Thomas,” she murmured to Tidmore as she stepped onto the gravelly ground beside him.

  A superb idea, Thomas. Thank you for thinking of my welfare, Thomas. You are an absolute dear, Thomas. Thomas flipping this, Thomas flipping that.

  Ellie was going to send him insane, as well as into a reckless and thoughtless idiot before this day was done. Perhaps he was already halfway there. He certainly had been too forthright with her since he’d bounded into her carriage, but that was due to the fact that time was running out and he needed to change her mind. The possibility of losing her had scrambled his usually well-ordered thoughts.

  Perhaps he simply needed to lay out the facts one by one and see if she could argue against each of them. He’d bring her around to his way of thinking, that she was meant for him and no one else, certainly not Thomas Tidmore, Captain Poole, or even the blasted town crier if he came calling.

  He stepped down from the coach, closed the door and searched for Gorman.

  Two lively children darted out from under an apple tree at the side of the inn and tore toward the stables with an apple in each hand, twin girls with identical braids and flushed cheeks.

  Around the coach, he limped. A stable lad of no more than four and ten aided Ellie’s driver in tending the carriage’s horses, and his butler emerged from the dark atop his horse, the reins of his own steed in hand.

  He crossed to his man, his leg aching like the devil.

  “Do you have need of your cane?” Gorman bounded from his mount, unstrapped his cane from the saddlebags strapped to his horse and handed it to him, clear worry flaring across his face.

  “Cease worrying about me, and only worry about the fact that I’ve yet to convince Lady Ellie to halt this nonsense of hers. She still intends to travel to Gretna Green and speak vows with Tidmore.”

  “What do you need me to do?”

  “The lady will be taking a room to refresh herself, and that’s the only time I can possibly speak to her alone. Can you distract Tidmore for me? Keep him busy, and I’ll do whatever must be done with Lady Ellie.”

  “At once.” Gorman handed the reins of their horses to another lad who dashed forward from the stables, then he thanked the lad and hurried toward the front door of the inn. Gorman opened the door, stepped aside and gestured for Ashten to enter first.

  He marched inside, stomped the dirt from his boots on the mat inside the entrance and searched the main room. Tidmore and Ellie stood to one side near the fireplace warming their hands before the fire, while Thomson, the innkeeper, turned the coals with a fire poker.

  Across to the crinkly-eyed proprietor, Ashten walked, his resolve firm and his cane tapping over the stony floor. “Good evening, Thomson.”

  “Your Grace, welcome home.” Thomson slotted the poker into the iron holder and brushed his hands against his trouser-covered legs. “The wife has mutton stew cooking and the fire is blazing a real treat. Choose a table and I’ll have ye served.”

  “My thanks, Thomson. First though, Lady Ellie is after a room to refresh herself.”

  “One moment. Maggie!” Thomson yelled over his shoulder.

  A flush-faced woman with long strands of brown hair trickling free of her top knot tottered out of the kitchens, the swinging door swaying behind her as she wiped her hands on the brown apron tied around her ample waist. A stricken look crossed her face as she caught sight of Ellie. “Oh, my lady. Ye look exhausted and yer face is so pale.”

  “I’d adore a room to freshen up within.” Ellie smiled at her wide.

  “That ye do, for certain. The chamber ye usually freshen up in when ye’re passing through is all yours. The first door on the second floor. I’ll dish ye up some stew and hot bread and bring it to the corner table.” Maggie slapped Thomson on the arm. “Ye, my husband, must cease bellowing my name too. How many times must I tell ye that?”

  “Once more should do nicely.” A cheeky grin from Thomson.

  “Thank you, Maggie. The room would be greatly appreciated.” Ellie stepped back and bumped into Ashten.

  “I’ll escort the lady to her room.” Ashten caught Ellie’s hand and threaded it through his bent arm. Ellie’s eyebrows pulled together in a fierce scowl, but thankfully she didn’t argue with him but instead allowed him to steer her up the side stairs leading to the second-floor landing. Doors led off either side of the passageway and Ellie released his arm with a huff and marched inside the chamber Maggie had said was hers.

  He ached for her, all of him, and if he could, he’d bundle her up in his arms and simply hold her close. She was his world. She always had been, and he damn well wished he’d recognized it sooner.

  “Pierce Luke Blackgale.” She tossed her wrap and reticle on the large bed, planted her hands on her hips and doubled the intensity of her scowl. “Explain your abominable behavior right now.”

  Chapter 20

  Never had such anger and frustration pummeled through Ellie as it had done since Ashten had thrown himself into Harry’s coach. If he’d lost his footing and tumbled under a carriage wheel rather than fallen inside, he could’ve been killed by his brash actions. “Tell me the truth. Why did you call me a cheat and a coward?”

  “Because you’ve cheated me out of the chance of keeping you from this elopement, and all by your cowardly decision to take off to Gretna Green almost a full day before you’d planned to.” He closed the door and glared at her with eyes of a blue so hungry in color, she had to take a step back. “I haven’t been able to think correctly,” he continued, “not since Watts informed me that you’d alighted into Harry’s coach, collected Tidmore from his home, then left your maid behind. You’re running away from me and you shouldn’t be.”

  “Do I need to remind you of what my family will have to endure if I don’t follow through with this elopement?”

  “I understand the rumors will be rife.” Raking one hand through his dark hair, he paced the room before her. “If you wed Tidmore, he’ll take you far away from England.”

  “Tidmore has promised me that we’ll live here half the year.”

  “And your heart truly tells you to choose him?”

  She shoved one finger into his chest, her frustration exploding. “You’ve never held the same feelings for me that I’ve always held for you, and up until this day, you’ve stated unequivocally that you’ll never take me to wife. I won’t force your hand.”

  “I fear losing you.” He searched her gaze. “As I already appear to be doing.”

  “I’ve now made my bed, so to speak, and must sleep in it.” She strode past him to the side table, shakily lifted the jug and poured water into the basin. She plucked a washcloth from the pile and dipped it into the water, then dabbed her face and neck, her skin flushed with heat from their argument.

  She tidied her hair as best as she could with the brush, retied her silk bonnet with the aid of the small hand mirror and faced her nemesis once more, the man still standing firm and tall in front of
her.

  “Do you love me?” Gruff words from the only man she’d ever loved.

  “No, I hate you right now.”

  “Don’t say that.” He closed in on her, slowly lowered to one knee and groaned as he rubbed his bad leg.

  “Pierce, what are you doing?”

  “I’m proposing to you.” He scrunched his face, his scowl fierce as he laid his cane on the floor beside him. “Which I’m apparently stuffing right up.”

  “No, I won’t allow you to propose to me simply because you feel obliged to.” She couldn’t bear it if she’d forced him to offer for her. Their marriage would be off to a terrible start, possibly so bad she might never be able to repair it.

  “And I can’t allow you to wed Tidmore.” He thumped one hand on his chest. “Marry me, Ellie. Not him. You wouldn’t have to leave your family if you chose me. Our town and country properties are close, not separated by a wide ocean. When Harry returns on leave, you’ll be here and not in the Americas, and best of all, you’ll be able to argue with me daily if you wished to. I would surely allow it, as much arguing as you needed to do.”

  “So, you consider me an arguer, do you?”

  He arched a brow, then frowned. “I’m terrible at proposals.”

  “It is the worst proposal I’ve ever had.” Still, he’d chosen to offer for her when he hadn’t needed to, and she had to at least thank him for that. She cupped his cheeks in her hands and looked into his eyes, her very soul twisting in on itself. “Your Grace, I do wish you well for the future and hope you find a bride you truly love and wish to wed.”

  “You’re wishing me well?” He spluttered and cane in hand, pushed back to his feet. “Do I need to kiss you disrespectfully until you concede to my proposal?”

  Oh dear. If she allowed him to kiss her in that fashion, she’d never want him to stop.

  She needed to end this argument now and leave. A perfectly sane idea. She grabbed her wrap and reticule, rushed out the door and hurried downstairs.