by Abby Ayles
The fears he had harbored were fading away. She would never have to suffer the pain of losing a loved one. He would not leave her, and he prayed daily that she would not leave him, either.
Together, they would grow old and gray, and, if the heavens willed it, they would be blessed with children.
It was all that Stephen’s heart desired.
It was more than enough.
The Extended Epilogue
I am humbled you finished reading my novel “Caught in the Storm of a Duke’s Heart”
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How to Train a Duke in the Ways of Love-Preview
Prologue
Young Benjamin Abberton was only four years old when his parents told him that their close friends, the Earl of Rutmont and his wife, were going to have a child.
Benjamin was absolutely delighted at the thought. His two older sisters rarely spent any time with him, so he saw this as his chance to finally have a constant playmate.
Over the months that followed, he began making plans of all the things he and this new boy would do together, all the fun they would have, and the exploring they would do around the estates. The more he imagined, the more excited he became.
He knew the morning that the baby was being born without even being told. His father and mother, Lord and Lady Longford, wore wide grins and hardly stopped whispering to each other.
The whole house was in a state of excitement. There couldn’t have been more of a hubbub of activity if Lady Longford herself were having a baby. Yet, Benjamin didn’t see any oddity in it. Lord and Lady Rutmont were such constant companions to his father and mother that they might as well have been family.
During breakfast, Benjamin’s parents hardly spoke to him, they were so consumed with discussing the new baby, its name, and its appearance. Benjamin found all this trivial—all he wanted to know was when he’d be able to play with his new friend.
“When can I see him?”
Lord and Lady Longford stopped their conversation. Both of them eyed their son with amusement, but it was Lady Longford who spoke.
“See who?”
“Lord and Lady Rutmont’s son.”
Lady Longford exchanged a glance with her husband. He, in turn, looked at Benjamin and smiled.
“That depends on how Lady Rutmont is feeling. Perhaps tomorrow, maybe the next day. But they have promised to bring the baby as soon as possible.”
Benjamin frowned. “Why can’t I see him today?”
“It’s Lord and Lady Rutmont’s child, and we mustn’t rush them. I know you’re excited, but you’ll be able to meet the baby soon.”
Benjamin still wasn’t completely satisfied. The day passed as usual, but so many thoughts ran through his mind. Despite what his parents had told him, he continued to hope that this child would come tomorrow, ready to play. Benjamin would show him around the gardens, including the secret hidey-hole among the flowers that his parents didn’t know about.
A week passed, and, just as Benjamin and his mother were performing a piano piece for Lord Longford, the butler entered and announced Lord and Lady Rutmont’s arrival.
Benjamin was so excited that he simply grinned and completely forgot his manners, until his mother gave him a pointed look and gestured for him to stand. Benjamin stumbled to his feet and watched as Lord and Lady Rutmont walked into the music room.
Confusion immediately overtook his mind. There was no child to be seen. Yet his mother rushed forward and hugged Lady Rutmont carefully, peering down at something she held in her arms.
“What is it?” Benjamin asked.
His father put a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Be polite, Benjamin,” he murmured.
Lord Rutmont, standing next to his wife, simply laughed heartily. “He must be confused. I don’t think he’s ever seen a baby before.”
Lady Rutmont walked over to him and sat down on the piano bench. She smiled, allowing Benjamin to see the bundle in her arms.
It was a strange thing with closed eyes and a tiny mouth that yawned. Impossibly small hands stretched out and a short, cracked cry came from its mouth.
Benjamin’s face crumpled in disappointment. This was not the playmate he had imagined.
“Meet your new friend,” Lady Rutmont said. Her voice had a different cadence than most people Benjamin knew; his parents had told him it was an accent from a place called France. “Her name is Annette.”
Her? This just kept getting worse and worse.
“What’s wrong, Benjamin?” his father asked with concern, no doubt reading his expression easily.
“How can I play with that?” he asked, feeling tears sting at his eyes. He had been so excited at the thought of playing with his new friend, but it didn’t even look like this baby could walk or talk.
And she was a girl. All of those things Benjamin had planned to do with his new friend now seemed impossible.
All four of the adults burst into laughter, which made Benjamin even more melancholy. How could they laugh when all his dreams were dashed?
“Don’t worry, dear,” Lady Rutmont said, reaching out a hand to gently stroke his hair. “When Annette grows up a little, she’ll be able to play with you all the time.”
Benjamin wanted to say, “But she’s a girl!” but he also didn’t want them all to laugh again. So, instead, he simply nodded, trying not to look as dejected as he felt.
“She’s beautiful, Paulette,” Lady Longford said as she walked over, putting a hand on her friend’s shoulder.
Beautiful? As Benjamin looked at the tiny, wrinkled baby in Lady Rutmont’s arms. He thought it was the ugliest thing he had ever seen.
***
His parents spent more time with Lord and Lady Rutmont than they had before Annette was born, if that was even possible. Though Benjamin’s disappointment in the baby’s lack of abilities remained for a long time, he soon found he enjoyed making her laugh by pulling silly faces.
The first time he was allowed to hold Annette, a happy feeling washed over him and he asked to hold her more and more often. Lord and Lady Rutmont claimed that the first word from their baby’s mouth was “Ben.”
Once Annette was four years old and Benjamin eight, the fun really started. Just as Benjamin had imagined when he was four, he took Annette out into the garden and showed her the hidey-hole that adults couldn’t fit into.
Though Annette said nothing, Benjamin could tell by her wide eyes and the worried crease on her forehead, that she was scared. He got onto his hands and knees and crawled in the dirt underneath the overhang of greenery and flowers, urging her after him. It took only a moment for Annette to follow.
Once they were well into the hiding place, surrounded by floral smells and scratchy leaves, Annette thought it was marvelous. She giggled, looking awestruck at all the different plants around her. Benjamin began to instruct her on which ones were which, having her repeat their names after him. It occurred to him that maybe he could make this girl into the perfect playmate after all.
While in the hole they became covered with dirt, but Benjamin insisted it was more fun that way. Annette agreed.
They remained in there for hours, simply talking, giggling, and playing, until eventually they heard their parents calling their names. At first, they both found it amusing that their parents couldn’t find them, but Annette began to express doubts after a few minutes.
“They sound worried, Benny.”
“It’s alright,” Benjamin assured her. “It’s just a game.”
However, as the sunlight filtering through the entrance to the hideout started to fade, Annette stated she was going back out. Benjamin tried to stop her, but Annette was beginning to get upset and claimed sh
e missed her parents. She crawled out of the hole and shouted, “Mama! Papa!”
The adults were there in an instant, cooing and fretting over Annette, as they asked her where she’d been. Benjamin, still in the hole, felt his gut clench in concern that she would tell them about the hiding place.
However, she simply said that she and Benjamin had gone exploring through the grounds and thought Benjamin was somewhere a little further along the path.
Benjamin felt his eyes widen. She had covered for him, and it seemed like the adults believed her as they followed her away from the hole. Benjamin waited a minute or so before coming out, then followed them and announced himself.
His parents questioned him and asked why he was so dirty, but, before he could say anything, Annette explained that she had wanted to crawl in the dirt of the garden to get to some pretty flowers.
His parents turned to Annette, and no one blamed her for her curiosity. They simply told her that she needed to tell them when they were going to go exploring on their own.
Benjamin was astounded at how Annette made the adults forget about chiding them. Yet he would come to find it was only the first of many times she would get him out of such scrapes.
Years of fun went by. Benjamin taught Annette everything he knew; both in the arts of mischief and sneaking, as well as his knowledge learned from books and lessons.
Yet it became clear that he couldn’t teach her manners, because in that subject Annette was far superior than him. She often stood up for him before his manners could be reprimanded and everyone believed her and loved her, forgetting about the reproach on their lips for Benjamin.
As Benjamin grew older and began to study at home with private tutors, he was unable to see Annette quite as much. However, they still spent time together whenever they could.
But then there came a day when his parents gave him the news. They came into his room, applauding how he had progressed in his studies, and told him that now, as a young man of fourteen years old, it was time for him to study abroad and finish his schooling over several years.
Benjamin found the prospect immediately exciting, but in the next moment he realized it meant leaving Annette behind. His heart sank at the thought.
That day Annette came to her house with her parents, but Benjamin wasn’t able to greet her with as much enthusiasm as usual. Annette immediately picked up on his distress and sat down with him.
“What’s wrong, Ben?” She took his hand and frowned, looking concerned. She always cared so much for him.
“My parents told me that I’ve done well in my studies.” He paused, unsure of how to phrase what he had to say. “They’re sending me abroad to finish my education.”
Annette’s eyes widened. The color drained from her face in an instant. “For how long?”
Benjamin fidgeted. “A long time,” he said softly. “Several years.”
There was a long silence broken by the sound of sniffling. Annette’s tears began to flow freely and she threw her arms around him. Though Benjamin wasn’t used to such familiar gestures, he hugged Annette back anyway. Tears stung his eyes too, but he was a man. He couldn’t cry.
“I promise I’ll write to you,” he said, gently pushing her away, so he could look into her puffy eyes.
“Every day?” Annette asked, hopeful.
Benjamin smiled at her devotion. “As often as I am able.” He took one of her hands in both of his and pressed it gently. “No matter what, you are my best friend, always and forever.”
Annette simply grabbed him in another embrace, her body shaking as she sobbed. Benjamin felt as if he had been physically wounded at the sound of her distress.
Of everything he had at home, he would miss her the most.
Chapter 1
9 Years Later
Annette drank in the sights outside the window of the carriage. The view of familiar rolling green hills and clear blue sky was the very epitome of comfort, telling her she was finally home.
There was something distinctive about England, she thought. It couldn’t be mistaken for anywhere else. In Annette’s mind, it was the most wonderful country in the world, and she had missed it dearly.
Living in France for three years had been good for her, and she wouldn’t trade those years for anything. Her aunt and two cousins had shown her around the beautiful country and taken her to the most fashionable places in Paris. The food had been exquisite, and it had been wonderful to enjoy a change in scenery for a while.
She felt like she’d grown more mature while living away from her parents and discovering a new place, though she couldn’t quite identify exactly how she’d changed. She felt older and wiser somehow.
And yet, there was nothing like home. Though Annette had missed the distinctive view of the English countryside, she had missed her family even more. They had visited her occasionally in France, but it was nothing like actually being with them at home. Her aunt had certainly been kind to her; she’d bought her several pretty gowns and played duets on the piano with her.
But nothing could act as a replacement for her mother’s wit and her father’s laughter. She’d missed both of them clapping with delight as she finished a piano piece and complimenting her on her proficiency in French. While in France, she’d often dreamed of her daily walk between her father’s estate and Longford, Ben’s home.
More than almost anything else, she had missed Ben. He had been true to his word from the day he left Longford. They had sent letters back and forth for nine whole years, without once laying eyes on each other since that fateful day which Annette remembered so clearly.
She could instantly call to mind the grief that had encompassed her, the incessant tears that had run down her face the entire day. Her spirits had been low for several months following the departure of her closest friend since birth. She had often wondered what she would do without him, and what he would do without her.
In the years that followed, they had constantly expressed how much they missed each other’s company in their letters.
But now that Annette was back in England, and Ben was done with his schooling, they would finally be able to meet again after all this time. Just the thought of it brought tears to Annette’s eyes.
She couldn’t help but wonder how much he would be changed. Would he still be the slightly awkward boy who couldn’t quite remember his manners? Was he still inclined to mischief?
Annette giggled to herself. She doubted his schoolmasters had allowed him to get into trouble; Ben had hinted as much in his letters. But her most prominent thought was: Was he still her friend?
Though they had never ceased to joke and speak fondly to one another in their letters, Annette couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to see him again after all this time. She imagined that just as she had changed, Ben would also have changed.
The carriage pulled up to her father’s estate, shaking Annette from her thoughts. The door was opened for her and she smiled at the feel of the crisp spring air. Her parents were waiting for her and rushed forward to greet her as she alighted from the carriage.
“Oh, Annette!” Her mother embraced her tightly. “How good it is to have you home.”
Annette smiled as her mother pulled away. “It is good to be back, Mother. I’ve missed you both,” she said, looking at her father. He took her hands in his and pressed them gently.
“And we have missed you, Annette.” His eyes were warm and sincere. Annette knew they must have missed her just as much as she had missed them.
“This is such an exciting time!” her mother said with enthusiasm as they walked back towards the house. “Your first London season is nearly here! Oh, there’s so much to do!”
Her father chuckled. “Your mother has talked scarcely of anything else these past few months.” There was a twinkle in his eye, a clear sign he was in one of his joking moods.
Her first London season. The thought was simultaneously thrilling and terrifying. “When are we to go?”
�
��We leave in one week, and once we arrive in London, we will have time to buy you a whole new wardrobe!” her mother replied.
She grinned, as though she was the one having her debut. “It’s going to be splendid!”
The thought of new gowns and shoes excited Annette, and her mother’s excitement rubbed off on her. “I am looking forward to it!”
Her mother had tea prepared in the parlor. Annette was glad to rest from the long journey and began relating stories from her time in Paris. Her parents informed her of news from home, though the subject soon turned to Benjamin.
“Have you heard from Ben recently?” her mother asked.
“Not for at least a fortnight,” Annette said. It wasn’t unusual for replies to her letters to be delayed for weeks at a time. She always made sure to tease Ben about it when she sent a letter back, but, really, she didn’t mind. She knew he was a busy man.
