“Listen to me, Rose. We could unroll all the bales and place them on the grass, and some of them could be tied to the trees,” he said.
She nodded and they both set to work. When they had finally spread all the fabric on the ground or tied it to trees, they both sat down, exhausted.
“I have some cheese, bread and a bottle of wine. Would you like some?” she asked.
“Of course I would, I am famished,” he said as he watched her take the parcel of food and a bottle of wine from her satchel. “It seems that you have come prepared to spend some time out here,” he said as he nodded toward the parcel of food and the wine. “I always bring some food with me, Mr. Stratton,” she said.
Rose laughed and held out a piece of bread and cheese to him.
They had just finished their meal when an owl decided to inspect the remains of the food. It swooped so low that it brushed against Rose, who gave a shriek and hurled herself toward James. Rose found herself in his arms, and his eyes met hers as a sudden stillness enveloped the clearing. Only the sounds of the night insects were heard around as James held Rose close to him and they drifted off to sleep under the stars and the subtle rays of the full moon.
2
CHAPTER TWO
REGRETS AND DOUBTS
REGRETS AND DOUBTS
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my dears. Those who look at him are radiant and their faces shall never be ashamed.” ~ Psalm 34:4-5
When Rose woke up the following morning to a gentle breeze that blew across the river and the meadows, she turned to look at the man lying beside her. She shivered when she recalled the night before. She felt at peace and most of all, she felt loved. Knowing that it was and would always be a thing of the past, Rose quietly got up and walked to the river. She turned to look at James as he lay sleeping, his chest rising and falling to a rhythm.
It was true, they had played together as children, but now they were adults and Rose felt a sense of shame wash over her. How immodest would he think she had been? She had married a man who was twenty years older than her and her life with Patrick Buxton had been hell on earth. Patrick had been her father’s friend and when the business was dwindling due to her father’s excessive consumption of alcohol, Patrick had appeared like a savior and invested a good part of his funds to revive the fabric business. Hence, Fernside Fabrics had become Fernside and Buxton Fabrics.
Rose jumped when James touched her shoulder. “Don’t do that, Mr. Stratton,” she said fiercely.
James was taken aback as he moved a few feet backward. “What has come over you, Rose?” he asked.
“Nothing, nothing…just leave me be,” she said.
“Very well, once I have helped you load your fabrics, I shall leave,” he said, feeling quite hurt by the sudden change in Rose. James silently loaded the fabrics on to the cart and then put on his coat, which had turned shabby overnight. H regretted not bringing extra clothes with him, but he had no intention of staying more than a day in Bath. He would try and persuade his mother to leave for Manchester with him. It was still damp and had a musty smell. What would his mother think of him when she saw him? She would definitely think that he had not been successful in what he ventured out to begin ten years before.
James stacked the last roll of fabric and turned to face Rose. “Everything seems to be in order. Will you be able to travel alone?” he asked.
“Of course I will and thank you, Mr. Stratton, for your kind help,” she said.
James lifted an eyebrow and a slow smile spread across his face. “What happened to the words of endearment you whispered in my ear last night, Mrs. Buxton?” he asked.
Rose turned a bright pink as she looked away. She had never thought that she would give herself to a man the way she had to him. “I shall leave now and thank you once again, Mr. Stratton,” she said.
James nodded. If she wanted to play hard to get, she could do it alone. He was not going to be part of her little game. James mounted Venus and rode away without a backward glance.
Rose stood watching as he rounded the bend and then he was gone. She sighed and climbed onto the ledge of her cart. The journey back home seemed endless as Rose led her horses in a lazy trot.
When Rose saw her shop and warehouse, she forgot all about James Stratton. Fernside and Buxton Fabrics stood out in the distance and she was glad to be home.
Wally and Sam, her employees, came rushing out of the shop when they saw her cart. “We were worried about you, Mrs. Buxton,” said Wally.
Wally was around fifty years old and had been working for her father for a very long time. With her father’s untimely death, she’d thought that Wally would leave Fernside and Buxton, but he said he would never leave her. “It would be like spitting on Mr. Fernside if I did go away, Mrs. Buxton,” Wally had said. Sam was a year older than Rose and fairly new to the shop, but he could read and write, and that helped Rose a lot with the order books and account ledgers.
Wally walked to the back of the cart and raised the flap. He gasped when he saw the rolls of fabric in their mussed state. “Goodness gracious, what in the world happened to the rolls of fabric?” he asked, looking shocked.
“I had a bit of a problem on my way back last night, Wally,” said Rose as she nimbly jumped down from the ledge of her cart.
“Aye, missus, I can see that,” said Wally.
“Oh Mrs. Buxton, if you had only let me come with you…” said Sam.
“Are you out of your mind, Sam? Do you think that Wally could have looked after my shop and warehouse all alone?” she asked. Rose walked into the apartment, avoiding the shop and warehouse for now. She needed to take a bath and change her clothes. Her thoughts were of James all the time and she furiously tried to brush them away from her mind, but to no avail.
Rose walked into the shop and sat down at her neat little table. Cupping her chin in her hand, she looked out of the window, her thoughts racing back to the previous night and her wanton behavior. She almost jumped when she heard the sound of hooves and her gaze shifted toward the man dismounting the black stallion. “Oh my goodness, he’s back to torment my life,” she muttered as she watched James walk toward the shop.
“Yes, Mr. Stratton?” said Rose as she got up from her chair and walked to the door.
“I had to see whether you got home alright,” said James.
“Oh, I appreciate your kindness, Mr. Stratton, but it’s highly unnecessary,” said Rose.
James’s felt as if he had been struck when he heard the cruelty in her voice. “Kindness! Rose…” said James.
“Yes,” Rose interrupted him. “Your sudden arrival was indeed a blessing, Mr. Stratton, and our time together last night was a pleasant interlude and conclusion all in one. I am sure you need to be on your way now,” she said as she walked to the door and held it open for him to leave.
James picked up his hat and walked out of the door. He had never felt so humiliated in his life and her tone of voice penetrated his whole being. “I should have known better than to stop and help a damsel in distress,” he said as he turned to look at her, his eyes blazing fury.
Rose turned and slammed the door so hard that the paperweight on her desk rolled off and crashed to the floor. She found herself walking to the window as she watched James mount his stallion. As he passed the window, he stopped and looked at her. Their eyes met for a few seconds and then he was gone. Did she see sadness or regret in his eyes, she wondered.
3
CHAPTER THREE
PRODIGAL SON
PRODIGAL SON
“My mother means well, - but she does not know - no one can know, how much I suffer from what she says.” ~ Jane Austen
James rode to Frampton Castle, determined to put thoughts of Rose Buxton behind him forever. He had no intention of keeping her in his thoughts now that she had made it very clear that she had no need for him. Then again, how could he think she would have done otherwise, when they hardly knew each other except for t
he fact that they had played together as children.
Frampton Castle looked the same as James remembered it, the imposing structure standing out against the backdrop of a range of hills covered with mist and fluffy white clouds. It was very impressing indeed, but he had no wish to dwell on its imposing beauty. He had come to make amends with his mother if she wished to make amends with him. If she did not, then he would go back.
He walked around the castle and headed to the little cottage that stood at the back. He remembered that his mother always kept a neat and clean house. Even the little garden was spectacular. James tethered Venus to the iron pole and then quietly pushed open the gate. He hoped that his mother was at home.
When he arrived at the door to his mother’s cottage, he lifted his hand, hesitated and lowered it again. Then, squaring his shoulders, he raised his hand again and knocked softly.
There was no reply. Trying the handle, the door opened easily and James stepped inside. Suddenly, he was seven years old again, coming to find his mama after playing in the garden and knowing she would be there with a cup of tea and her delicious cakes, waiting for him to scamper through the door. There were the cushions and footstool that made the armchair by the fire such a comfort. Even the clock ticking away on the mantelpiece was the same. It was as if James knew the tick by heart, and his mother used it to teach him to read the time. James smiled at the reminiscence that enveloped his being.
He heard the kettle singing on the fire, a sure sign that his mother was at home or would be returning soon. Suddenly the collar of his shirt felt a little too tight and he raised his hand to adjust it. What if his mother was still angry with him? What if she banished him from her little cottage, the cottage he had grown up in and loved so dearly? The last meeting with his mother was fresh in his mind and he wondered whether she remembered it too.
He stood looking around for a while and then he heard the rustle of her skirt, the familiar firm step and the jingle of keys, sounds that were all too familiar to him and that he had not heard for ten years. James looked up expectantly as his mother walked into the living room.
James stood still, gazing at his mother. She looked a little older than the last time he had seen her, a little more silver had crept into her dark hair. At first, his mother’s eyes widened as she looked at him, trying to focus on James. He held his breath. What if she rejected him? He could not expect anything more due to his silence for the past ten years. Ten years!
The soft ticking of the clock was the only sound in the living room as he waited agonizing for her to say something, anything. Eventually, after what seemed like a decade, Hannah raised her hands and clasped them to her breast.
“James, my son, you have returned,” she cried as she covered the distance between them, enveloping him in a tight hug as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
James felt his eyes grow moist as he sobbed, holding his mother against his chest. “Oh Mama, it is good to be back,” he cried.
“Oh, let me look at you, James,” said Hannah as she pushed him away from her and looked at him with eyes as soft as the clouds that lay on the hills beyond. “Goodness, you have grown, haven’t you,” she said.
James laughed in response to his mother’s words. “Mama, I was two and twenty when I last saw you, and mayhap I have grown a little, but I am still the same old James, your devilish son,” he said, laughing as he twirled his mother to an imaginary tune around the living room.
“But ten years, James, and never a word, never a word,” said his mother sadly.
“Yes, Mama, it was wrong of me, terribly wrong of me not to have written to you or even visited. But I am here now,” said James as he hugged his mother.
“The hardest part for me was not knowing where on earth you were and what you were doing,” she said.
“I know, Mama, I know and I am very sorry for making your heart ache,” said James.
Hannah reached up to tuck back a lock of hair from James’s brow and she smiled as the lock of hair fell back to where it was. “I have that, James, the unruly lock of hair that falls back every time I try to push it away. It shows just how stubborn we both are,” said Hannah, smiling.
James grinned.
“I expected you to remain in the Navy and was shocked when you decided to leave. That was an unexpected turn of events,” she said.
“But Mama, I could not remain in the Navy after Napoleon’s defeat. I had to leave and think of a way to set up my life from then onward. I wanted to be successful. I wanted to take you with me. Ask you to leave the castle. In short, I wanted to give you a good life, Mama,” said James, his voice choking for a moment.
“Oh, James, my son, what beautiful thoughts,” said Hannah as she looked at James lovingly.
“I am successful now, Mama, and I want you to come back with me,” said James.
Hannah’s face dimmed a bit when she heard what James said. “But I cannot leave the castle now,” said Hannah.
“Why ever not, Mama? You have served Frampton Castle all your life and you need to be pampered and looked after now. That is exactly what I am going to do. You will have servants working for you,” said James.
Hannah smiled sadly. “I know you mean well, James, but I have to look after Lady Sophia, Lord William and Lord Jonathan. The Duke and Duchess of Cumberland don’t want to hire a governess after the very bad experience they had with Maria Beaumont,” said Hannah.
James nodded. “Mayhap, Mama, you will think about my request,” said James as he looked expectantly at his mother.
Hannah nodded. “Indeed, I will, my son, but now is not the time. Let me first take care of you. I hope you have come to stay for a while and not rush off in a day or two?” said Hannah as she looked inquiringly at James.
“I intended to leave mayhap tomorrow taking you with me Mama, but now I shall not leave so soon. I want to stay for a while and indulge myself in your wonderful cooking, which I must say, I have missed so much, and who know mayhap convince you to leave for Manchester with me” said James, as he looked hopefully at his mother.
The singing of the kettle had reached a crescendo. “Oh dear, the kettle,” said Hannah as she hurried into the kitchen.
James followed his mother, smiling. He may have changed, but not Hannah.
Hannah prepared tea and took a freshly baked cake from the oven. James inhaled the aroma of the cake appreciatively. He knew what a good cook his mother was and her specialty was baking delicious cakes. “That smells delicious, and I am sure it tastes delicious too,” said James as he helped himself to a generous slice of cake from the platter. He dove in with gusto, relishing the sweetness of the fluffy cake.
Hannah smiled. “It’s good to have you back, James, even though temporarily,” she said as she ruffled his hair. Hannah noticed that James was in deep thought. “What is it, James? Your thoughts seem to be miles away,” she said.
James smiled and helped himself to another slice of cake. “I have quite an empire back in Manchester, Mama,” said James.
Hannah looked at him searchingly. “A business? And what may that be?” she asked.
“Cotton spinning factories,” said James.
Hannah’s eyes grew large. “I knew you told me that you were going to start a business, but never knew what it was,” said his mother.
“I have two factories and am in the process of setting up another one,” said James proudly. “That is the reason, Mama, I want you to leave all this and come and live with me in Manchester,” he concluded.
Hannah smiled. “It is not that I don’t want to come and live with you. I would love to really, but at the moment, like I told you, the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland have entrusted their children to my care and now there are three, the latest addition to the family being Lord Jonathan,” said Hannah, smiling.
“But I am sure they are big children now,” said James. Hannah nodded. “Lady Sophia and Lord William are big, but Lord Jonathan, he is just two years old,” said Hannah as she smiled at the though
t of mischievous little Lord Jonathan.
James watched his mother. “You seem to be very fond of them,” he said.
Hannah nodded. “Indeed I am, James, especially Lord Jonathan, who looks so much like his grandfather, the late Duke,” said Hannah.
James eyes searched his mother’s face. Was it because the late Duke was my father? he thought. Does she love him still?
“Well that’s enough about lords and ladies. Tell me more about you, James,” said Hannah, patting her skirt as she sat down beside her son.
“Mama, all that I want to ask you is to come back to Manchester with me,” said James.
“I will, my son, I will in time, but the time is not now,” said Hannah. “I would like to come to Manchester and see you married and then have lovely children, so that I can take care of them,” she said.
James laughed. “I don’t know about the married and children part of it, as I still have not met the woman of my dreams,” he said, and then his face clouded when thoughts of Rose Buxton as she lay in his arms the previous night under the stars invaded his mind. She was definitely not his dream woman, he thought stubbornly.
Hannah watched James’s expression and wondered whether he had a woman tucked away in Manchester. If he did, he would tell her in time.
4
CHAPTER FOUR
HOW IT ALL STARTED
HOW IT ALL STARTED
“The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!” ~ Jane Austen – Sense and Sensibility
Rose sat at her bedroom window as her gaze trained upon the warehouse at the far end of her property. It was her father’s sweat that had built the business, but all too soon it had begun to crumble when her father began to take to the bottle instead of infusing money into the business. Rose had been devastated as she saw the business literally crumble before her. Suddenly, the chain of events crossed her mind for the first time in years…
Regency Romance: To Capture The Duke’s Heart (CLEAN Historical Romance) (The Inheritance Saga) Page 15
