The Earl’s New Identity (The Regency Renegades - Beauty and Titles) (A Regency Romance Story)

by Jasmine Ashford

  “I can ask when they return,” she replied. “Why are they summoning you to tell you? And how do they know?”

  “Because I am a member of the crew, even on sick leave, they have to let me know the plan for return, so I can be prepared to board again. It is winter, so I don't have to be prepared, but it is still protocol to let me know.”

  “The orders were given before they left?” Lola asked, as she got dressed.

  “Yes, as soon as the ship set sail, they would have opened the orders, in order to keep them private,” he leaned against the door. “They must be less than a week out from their expected time, or they wouldn't tell me.”

  “Less than a week?” her eyes lit up. “It will be less than a week until I see Wesley again?”

  “That is what they expect, likely,” he said.

  She finished dressing in record time, pulling open the door. Aaron jumped back, giving her room to move so he wouldn't be caught in her skirts.

  “Does Annabelle know?”

  “She went to town before the letter came,” Aaron replied. “So we will have to surprise her with the news.”

  “She is more used to Harold being gone, though,” Lola pointed out. “They have been together so long that I can't picture a time when they were not side by side.”

  “That is true,” Aaron said. “The moment I met Harold, I knew he was right for her. It took them a moment to realize it, but once they did, it was destiny.”

  “Dramatic,” she said, following him out to the carriage. Her stomach was growling, but she put the thought of food aside. She was too excited to learn when she would see Wesley again. She had managed to get used to being apart from him over the past few months. Now that the reality of holding his hand was close again, however, she couldn't imagine how she had gotten through the months before this.

  He had already arranged for the driver of the carriage to be ready to go, clearly having been up for hours already.

  “This is your first real adventure in awhile,” Lola said. “To the headquarters. What does that say?”

  “I'm married to my job?” he answered.

  She laughed, watching the scenery go by.

  By the time they made it to headquarters, she felt like she couldn't breathe. She didn't get nervous on stage, but this had her palms sweaty and her heart racing.

  She couldn't go in with him, but Aaron was quick. Lola waited, drumming her fingers on her lap, until he came out.

  “Well?” she asked, his orders in his hand.

  “Well what?” he teased her, as he got back in.

  “Aaron!” she said, through gritted teeth. He smiled.

  “Friday,” he answered. “They are due to be home on Friday. Which could realistically mean yesterday, next week, or next month. But, as of Friday, they will be making space in the port for them.”

  “Friday,” Lola smiled. “They will be home for a new adventure.”

  “Navy headquarters has several new adventures planned,” Aaron said. “But this is probably the one you care about the most.”

  “Shall we meet Annabelle in town and tell her?” Lola asked. “I'm sure she will throw a party for Harold's return.”

  “And you?” he asked.

  “I,” she leaned back against the carriage, closing her eyes. “Will be the happiest woman alive, to see my fiancé again.”

  She had learned so much about herself in the months that had passed. She thought she would never be free of Peter, or never have a future that was past the stage. Wesley had showed her that, when she was ready, there was a glorious future awaiting both of them. He would be home in just a few days and she would be back in his arms, ready to be his countess. She knew there would be trials ahead, and she knew that they would overcome more hurdles before they lived a love story as happy as the ones she played on the stage. Nevertheless, she was prepared to do all of that, for this was real love. At last, someone had written her a play with a happy ending.

  THANK YOU

  for reading my book and

  I hope you have enjoyed this story as well.

  “The Lord’s Secret is a standalone novel with at least 220 pages.

  If you have enjoyed reading this book so far, I believe you will be interested in checking out “The Lord’s Secret ”.

  A Centuries Old Title… A Forbidden Love… A Dangerous Game…

  When a fatal accident throws the British Navy re-enactment exercises into suspicion, Lord Aaron Bamber is left to face a difficult decision. Throw aside his title to protect the woman he loves, or risk losing her and their daughter in the process.

  1812, Near London, England...

  A Centuries Old Title…

  Docked for a full year due to poor health, Lord Aaron Bamber was thrilled to return to port. In light of the British Navy preparing to recruit in the face of the Napalonic threats, It was small wonder that Aaron received assignment to staged re-enactment exercises for land and sea alongside his shipmates. But nothing could have prepared him to once again set eyes on Shauna’s beautiful face.

  A Forbidden Love…

  Fully prepared to assist in the staged re-enactment in any way she can, Shauna didn’t expect that would mean reuniting with Aaron Bamber. It was no secret that a proposal would force him to abandon his title. Something she would never ask of him. But that didn’t mean she was motivated to disclose her most closely guarded secret. A little girl with a striking resemblance to the Bamber name.

  A Dangerous Game…

  But when a fatal accident throws everything into suspicion, Aaron comes eye to eye with one of the most difficult decisions he had ever faced. With everything at stake and nothing to lose, Aaron and Shauna find themselves forced to survive an attack that history will never forget. Or risk losing their daughter in the process.

  Can Lord Bamber throw aside his title and risk his life for Shauna and his child?

  Or will they all perish forgotten and unloved by history?

  I have enclosed a preview of “The Lord’s Secret”.

  Check it out below…

  It is coming and will be at $0.99 (around 220 pages) for a limited time.

  CLICK HERE TO GET IT

  CHAPTER ONE

  THE ATTACK

  “LAND, HO!”

  Wesley jumped at the call, because he hadn't expected to hear it so soon, nor so loudly. He turned to the man beside him, raising an eyebrow.

  “Thank you, I can still hear a little bit out of this ear, so perhaps you could do it again?”

  “With all due respect, sir,” the young sailor said, squinting forward. “I didn't expect it so soon.”

  “Neither did I,” Wesley admitted. “But it's there right in front of you, man, so no sense denying the truth.”

  Wesley was the lead Midshipman aboard the HMS Stallion. If the promotions went by intelligence alone, he would be an admiral by now. He was considered one of the smartest officers in the Navy, and climbing fast. His life in the Navy had saved his life, so he was fully dedicated to his job. It wasn't so long ago that Wesley was a shy and quiet midshipman; holding in what he felt what was the greatest secret in the world. He had run from Ireland, abandoning his title as Earl of Rippon after his father beat his mother, and after pirates destroyed his home. It was the Navy that had given him a new place in the world, the Navy who had given him his best friends, and introduced him to his fiancée, Lola. Lola was one of the most famous actresses in Britain, and he couldn't wait to dock for the winter and see her again.

  “Wesley,” Harold Harper, the 1st lieutenant aboard the HMS Stallion, came to stand by his colleague’s side, also squinting at the land. “It's surprising we would be seeing the horizon this early. I thought that it would be at least another half hour. Your calculations are never off.”

  “First time for anything.” Normally, it would have bothered Wesley that he had been wrong. He was almost never incorrect. Nevertheless, everyone was in a good mood. They were docking for the winter, months on half pay, but also with almost no
work. For those who had a place to stay in the outskirts of London, where they were docking, it was as vacation. For Harold, Wesley and a few of their friends, they were staying at Bamber Manor, with Aaron Bamber, who was their closest friend. Aaron had been on medical leave for the past few months, seizures nearly claiming his life. His sister was engaged to Harold, and Lola was Aaron's long time friend, so he was an important part of all their lives. “Wait a minute...” He leaned forward as they got closer. The horizon had looked odd for a moment, but as they sailed closer, he realized why. “That's not land.”

  “Sir?” Harold pulled out his spyglass, looking upon the horizon. He put down his glass right away. “By God---”

  “How many, sir?” Wesley asked, tensing. He knew what Harold saw on the horizon, and it filled his soul with dread. They were supposed to be sailing into an empty port. In the winter, it was very rare that you saw another ship coming into port. They came in, and then were taken to dry dock rather quickly. The fact that he could see many sails on the horizon, especially some of them so far out from the dock, terrified him.

  “5? 6?” Harold replied.

  “Can you see their flags?” Wesley always liked to know what the enemy was.

  “Some of them are cleared for action,” Harold answered, and Wesley was already moving. He didn't need to know who they were. An English ship would never take down their flag, and they certainly wouldn't be cleared for action in a port.

  “Clear for action,” he cried and bolted down the stairs. This was not the homecoming that he’d imagined. “CLEAR for action!”

  “Sir?” Matheson, the bosun of the ship, and one of the oldest sailors, cocked his head in confusion. “Aren't we docking?”

  It only took one look from Wesley for Matheson to turn around and yell at the rest of the crew, who had been relaxing.

  “BATTLE STATIONS!” he hollered, and the men began to thump down the stairs.

  They had been at war forever, it seemed. Wesley had been born at the end of the 18th century and he couldn't remember a time when the Navy wasn't sailing toward some war. Every man was used to shooting, to firing, to being a soldier. However, they normally weren't used to it when they were at port.

  “Matheson, why are we---” Corrigan, Matthew's best friend, and the most burly, simple, yet kindest sailor, questioned him.

  “Don't ask questions, you sod,” Matheson cried, wanting to throw something at him. Despite the fact that Corrigan was asking questions, he was still loading the cannons, which was helpful, at least. Wesley was in charge of strategy and tactics, and at the moment, he was trying to figure out how he could take down 6 ships when he was just one ship, and how to do it without damaging the port or the civilians that worked there.

  His previous brilliant strategy of firing the cannons without any shot in them, to scare the enemy, probably wouldn't work here. He had received awards for that, but they hadn't been cleared for action. They were outgunned and out manned. If he fired a shot and missed, he could be responsible for hundreds of innocent deaths.

  “Matheson, my compliments to Mr. Harper, find out where we stand.”

  “Aye, aye, sir,” Matheson went flying up the stairs.

  “Load!” Wesley ordered, already calculating. He should see the angles in his head. He heard a distant shot go off, and all the men tensed, afraid of the fact that they would be hit before they could fire.

  “Sir?” Corrigan asked, and Wesley shook his head.

  “Hold,” he said. “We can't waste a shot, not with so many of them.”

  Another shot came, and Wesley bit his lip. One bad judgment call could end their lives on the ship. Another bad judgment call could mean that the entire port was soon flooded with blood.

  “Sir!” Corrigan asked again. “We have to make a call!”

  “Hold!” Wesley said. “Just...hold. Something doesn't seem right!”

  His heart was thudding a million miles a minute, and he felt sweat pour down his back. He knew that he should give the order to shoot; he knew that they should fire. However, something was wrong. It didn't add up. If they’d heard shots, why weren't there more? Why weren't they flying flags? Why were they gathered so closely together?

  “SIR!” Matheson came running down the stairs, and Wesley was prepared to hear the worst. He was prepared to hear that Mr. Harper was dead; that they were boarded or worse. Matheson had a grin on his face. “Don't shoot!”

  “Explain,” Wesley said, putting his hands behind his back to hide the fact that they were shaking.

  “The ships in the port are ours,” he said, and Wesley's head whipped around.

  “How are they ours? They don't have flags; they are cleared for action...”

  “They are ours,” Matheson said. “Mr. Harper recognized them. One is the HMS Silver and the other is the HMS Caesar.”

  “But---” Wesley could figure out most things that were presented to him. However, he could not figure out why they would possibly be in the situation. “How—why---”

  “I don't know, sir,” Matheson said. “But they are ours, so we should probably not fire on them.”

  “Stay cleared,” Wesley said to Corrigan. “I'm going up to talk to Mr. Harper. Matheson, stay down here.”

  He thumped the stairs himself, to find Harold standing on the deck. He turned around to see the younger man, but he didn't say anything. His spyglass was still out, and he handed it over to Wesley without a word.

  “Those are our ships,” Wesley said, watching. His heart was still pounding, and they had not changed sail, so they were approaching at a rapid rate. “Is it possible they've been taken over? Why are they firing?”

  “They aren't firing on us,” Harold said. “They are just firing into the water. Almost as if they don't know how to use the guns.”

  “This doesn't make any sense,” Wesley said, running his hands through his hair.

  “It doesn't make sense to me either,” Harold said. “Rest assured. But I don't think that we are in danger.”

  “I've told the men to remain cleared for action,” Wesley said. “Just in case.”

  “Good idea,” Harold said, and Wesley could see that he was nervous as well.

  “They don't train you for this in officer school, do they?” Harold asked and Wesley shook his head.

  “No, sir. Is this on the lieutenant exam?” he asked, and Harold laughed nervously.

  “Not that I know of. Mr. Bamber took the exam later than me, though, so you'll have to ask him.”

  “I would, gladly,” Wesley replied. “If we ever make it there.”

  One of the ships fired again and Wesley winced. Sure enough, they were firing on the ocean and not on them.

  A second shot and a third shot came, and Wesley gripped his hand to his side.

  “There's Englishmen on the ship too,” he said, as he recognized the uniforms. “Perhaps they've lost their minds?”

  “I tend not to ask,” Harold said. “What sailors do in port is their own business. But this seems to be crossing the line.”

  “We can't....ignore the possibly that they might have boarded. These might be pirates, trying to lull us into a false sense of security.”

  “So what do you want to do?” Harold asked. “We aren't in danger, so there's no reason to wake the captain...you are strategy and tactics, so you need to make the choice.”

  “Oy,” Wesley said, closing his eyes. He wished Mr. Bamber was on board now, because Mr. Bamber understood Irish Gaelic, Wesley's native language. And when stress levels were high, English often left his brain. “I'll keep them cleared for action. But we can't very well fire on English ships with Englishmen....even if we think they are acting like lunatics.”

  “God help us all,” Harold replied as they glided closer to port.

  As they passed the other ships, the crews didn't take much notice of them. Wesley had been right; there were no flags, and they were an English crew. They were running about, yelling, and firing their cannons, as if they were at war with an inv
isible enemy.

  “What the hell are they doing?” Wesley asked, mostly to himself. “Have they gone mad? Perhaps there's some plague in port that we don't know about?”

  “Some mythical world?” Harold asked with a smirk. “Leave Mr. Bamber in port for 6 months and he makes the whole world a stage. And no doubt, your Lola is involved.”

  Wesley smiled despite himself at the thought of Lola. Their courtship had been rocky, when murders plagued her theatre. It was because of her that he’d had to re-claim his title, in order to clear her name. He had proposed to her last time he was on land, as Harold had proposed to Mr. Bamber's twin, Annabelle. They had a lot waiting for them on land, and a mistake could cost them everything.

  “Let's hope that all it is,” he said as they began to glide into their spot. There was no one else in the inner harbor, which confused Wesley even more.

  They were able to get a prime spot, and the men slowly came on deck. The fact that their two officers were simply standing there as they passed the other ships was confusing.

  “Sir?” Matheson said. “I know we weren't supposed to leave the guns, but....”

  “It's alright,” Wesley said as he waved at the railing. “Just wait here. I'll explain later.”

  “Eh---” Matheson looked around and then shrugged. “You can explain or not, sir, as long as we're safe.”

  “I think we're safe...” Wesley replied. “But are any of us really safe in this damn war?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  HOMECOMING

  “Why are they cleared for action?” Aaron asked, leaning against the side of the carriage with his arms crossed. His twin sister, Annabelle, was beside him, watching as they finished the final docking procedures.