by Rose Pearson
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Copyright © 2018 by Rose Pearson - All rights reserved.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document by either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.
Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.
My Restless Earl
The Duke’s Daughters – Book Two
Rose Pearson
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Preview of A Rogue for a Lady…
Chapter One
Chapter Two
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Prologue
Hurry up, Jessica!”
Sixteen year old Lady Jessica Seaworth stamped her foot, still unable to decide between one bonnet and the other.
“Do hurry up,” said her younger sister, Jacintha, who was already dressed and ready to go. “The military will not be passing through our village again for some time!”
Jessica wanted to retort that, being younger than she, Jacintha did not need to concern herself over such gentlemen, but wisely choose to hold her tongue instead. After all, Jacintha was only two years younger than she was and had already a great many dreams of marrying a handsome gentleman. Jessica, however, did not have thoughts in the same direction. To see the military would be enjoyable, of course, but she did not truly consider such serious things as matrimony. However, there was nothing wrong with catching a man’s eye, which was why she was still struggling with her choice of bonnet.
“They will not care which bonnet you pick!” Jacintha exclaimed, grasping one and placing it, a little ungently, on the top of Jessica’s head. “Hurry up, Jessica! Amelia and Harmonia are already waiting.”
Jessica sighed and rolled her eyes. “I know, I know.” Tying her bonnet strings and giving herself one last look in the mirror, she quickly made her way outside and found both Harmonia and Amelia arm in arm, waiting for them. Amelia, the eldest, and Harmonia, the youngest, had always been close, especially since the death of their mother many years ago.
“Are you ready to go?” Amelia asked, with a smile. “You look quite lovely, if I may say so, Jessica.”
Nodding, Jessica fell into step with her oldest sister and soon, they were walking quickly towards the small village.
“Are you excited to see the military?” Amelia asked, as they walked together. “You have never seemed so taken by an idea before, I must admit.”
Jessica shrugged, her cheeks burning. “I am of age, am I not?”
“Of course you are!” Amelia replied, laughing. “I am not teasing you, dear sister, it is just that you have always seemed quite determined not to show any preference to any gentleman who comes to call.”
Pondering this for a moment, Jessica nodded slowly. “That is true, I suppose. I have no thought of marriage or the like yet, especially since I am not the oldest sister.” She lifted an eyebrow and shot Amelia a teasing look, grinning as her sister coloured. “Yet something about the military captures my imagination,” she continued, almost to herself. “They are free, are they not? They are able to travel the world and leave England’s shores behind them. Their lives are filled with adventure and excitement and they are not bound by propriety or rules in the same way we are.”
The smile on Amelia’s face was a sympathetic one. “You have always dreamt of such things, have you not?” she replied, softly. “You are the one who goes off into the fields, exploring the area around father’s estate entirely on your own whilst the rest of us seem content to stay within the confines of the grounds.”
“That is not entirely true,” Jessica replied, with a shrug. “Jacintha comes with me sometimes.”
Amelia laughed, looping her arm through Jessica’s. “Yes but that is because you are both very close and she enjoys spending time with you. If you did not want to go off into the wilderness then I do not think that Jacintha would have any inclination to do so.”
“And, do you think such desires are a bad thing?” Jessica asked, biting her lip in concern. “I would not have you think badly of me, Amelia.” Ever since their mother had died, all three of the younger sisters had looked to Amelia as their mother-figure and Jessica did not want Amelia to have a bad opinion of her.
Amelia shook her head, pressing Jessica’s arm for a moment. “No, not in the least,” she replied with a smile. “We are not all the same, therefore none of our dreams and ambitions are the same. You have your own hopes for the future and I have mine. They need not match up.”
Jessica nodded and walked in silence for a few minutes, her thoughts filled with what Amelia had said. Her sister was quite right to state that Jessica’s days were filled with nothing but exploring and enjoying the freedom that the outdoors had to offer her. Their father was always quick to remind Jessica to take care but, for the most part, he allowed her to roam as she wished. Nothing ever happened to her and Jessica had found a great many wonderful places within five miles of her father’s estate.
The truth was, the military did hold that promise of freedom and adventure that she found herself longing for. She sometimes wondered what it would be like to marry a military man and follow the beat of the drum, tramping through the undergrowth and living on the very basics of life. It was a life far removed from her own.
However, were she to seriously consider the future, Jessica knew that she would have very little choice but to resign herself to a life of responsibilities and duty. As the daughter of a Duke, she would be expected to marry well and produce the heir and the spare for her husband. She would not be able to marry a military man, for they would not have the required title and a pauper was not the right choice for the daughter of a Duke! Her expected husband would be a gentleman of high title, decent fortune, and good breeding. That was all that she could truly expect. A Duke’s daughter did not throw off the reins of society and rush, headlong, into wherever the wind took her. It simply was not done. What was the use of dreams if it was never a true possibility?
; Sighing heavily, Jessica tried to throw off the sudden sense of melancholy that filled her. Would she ever be able to find a man who would be willing to step away from society’s expectations and take her to explore distant lands? A man who would want to help fulfil her dreams instead of pushing them aside in favour of nothing other than societal duty?
“I highly doubt it,” Jessica said to herself, ignoring Amelia’s startled look.
Coming to the main road through the village, Jessica stood with the rest of the gathered crowd, her sisters by her sides. The sounds of the marching army had her spirits lifting, her fingers twining together as she leaned forward to get her first glance at the army.
How wonderful they looked! Their uniforms were pristine, the red and white declaring their loyalty to the King. Weapons glistened in the sunshine, the swords catching the light.
Jessica’s breath caught in her chest as they passed. They were marching as one, their steps in time with the beat of the drum. Their handsome faces did not turn to the right or left, simply facing forward as they walked. Jessica could not help but dream of where they might be headed, wondering when they would next step onto England’s fair lands.
“You are quite taken with them,” Amelia murmured, leaning towards Jessica. “What is it about them that attracts you so?”
Shrugging, Jessica frowned, trying to work out in her own mind what it was. “I am not sure whether it is the men themselves or what they represent,” she said, honestly. “I think I wish I could be like them. That I could have the freedom they have.”
Amelia did not laugh, as Jessica had thought. Instead, she smiled and nodded, her eyes studying Jessica’s expression. “Mayhap one day you will marry a man from the military,” she said, quietly. “Although it would have to be a titled gentleman, so someone with a high rank.”
Shaking her head, Jessica gave Amelia rueful smile. “I doubt that will ever come to pass, Amelia,” she replied, softly. “I think I value my freedom more than marriage.”
“But what if your husband could offer you both?” Amelia asked, with a quick smile. “What if you could still have your freedom yet have a man who loves you by your side? Would that not be the best of both worlds?”
Considering this for a moment, Jessica had to admit that her sister was right. “Yes, it would be,” she agreed. “But you know that it is not likely to happen. In time, I will have no other choice but to marry a titled gentleman of good breeding. It is what is expected of us all.”
Amelia pressed her hand but Jessica turned her gaze back to the military men walking past her, the ache in her heart growing steadily.
“Do not give up all hope,” Amelia said in her ear, speaking quietly so that none of her other sisters could hear. “Perhaps there is a military gentleman in your future, Jessica, one who will be able to give you all that your heart desires.”
A small hope began to burn in Jessica’s heart and, as she smiled, the ache in her heart lessened. “Perhaps,” she said, softly. “Perhaps one day I shall marry a gentleman from the army, who will take me places I have only ever dreamed of.”
Chapter One
Six years later
Amelia!”
Jessica laughed wildly as Amelia threw her arms around her, clearly delighted to see her.
“I am so glad you came,” Amelia exclaimed, releasing her and grasping Jessica’s shoulders. “I have missed you.”
“Missed me?” Jessica replied, quirking one eyebrow. “And I always thought you found my antics more than a little frustrating!”
Amelia laughed and looped one arm around her sister’s waist. “I will admit that yes. But now that I am wed and expecting a child of my own, I confess that I miss your carefree nature and constant smiles.” Her smile dimmed a little. “I have always been the serious one, have I not?”
“And I have loved you for it,” Jessica replied, softly. “Come now, I know Harmonia and Jacintha are desperate to see you.”
Amelia pulled off her gloves and handed them – and the rest of her ensemble – to the waiting butler. “And papa?” she asked, softly. “How is he?”
Jessica smiled, wanting to assuage her sister’s obvious anxiety. “He is quite well, do not worry. He rests most afternoons, but I am quite sure he will see you at dinner.”
The relief on Amelia’s face was immediate. “Good, I am glad. That is one of the worst things about living so far away – I have a constant worry about father’s health.”
Patting Amelia’s arm, Jessica walked with her up the staircase, making sure to move a little more slowly than usual given Amelia’s condition. The thought of becoming an aunt in a few short months was both exciting and terrifying in equal measure.
“And has papa been pushing you to wed?” Amelia asked, her breath coming a little more quickly as they reached the top of the staircase. “I had thought he might continue to try and get Harmonia and Luke to marry but from what Harmonia has written to me of late, I considered that it was no longer a foregone conclusion.”
Sighing heavily, Jessica shook her head. “Father is as eager as ever for the rest of his daughters to wed, even though you are happily settled and could easily care for the rest of us should something happen to papa – but you are right to think that he is no longer as eager for Harmonia and Luke to wed. The possibility is still there, of course, but Harmonia herself seems a little more set against it.”
Amelia let out a long breath, her eyes brightening. “I am glad to hear it. I have spent a long while praying that she would let that idea go entirely. Harmonia is young and can do a great deal better than cousin Luke. I am quite sure they would not suit and then Harmonia would be quite miserable.”
Jessica could not help but agree. “Indeed, although I am sorry that I did not take as much of an interest in Harmonia and Luke’s connection. I might have been able to talk to her a little more at the time, instead of leaving it all to you.”
Amelia shook her head, letting her sister’s arm fall as they made their way to the drawing room. “Think nothing of it, Jessica. I know that you and Jacintha are close and I was more than happy to talk to Harmonia about our cousin. I am just glad that it appears not to be going ahead.”
There was no more to be said on the subject, for the moment Amelia stepped inside, Jacintha and Harmonia hurried towards her, exclaiming over her and delighting in seeing her again. Jessica quietly rang for tea, smiling to herself as she saw the happiness on each of her sister’s faces.
The truth was, Jessica had never truly considered marriage to be something she would be forced to take up any time soon. She had hoped that once Amelia had wed and become quite settled, then her father might relent and allow her a little more freedom. Freedom to socialize, to dance and to meet all kinds of gentlemen – never taking the matter too seriously. Of course, in time, Jessica knew she would have to marry but she was desperate to enjoy herself a little first. They had not been in town for the Season for some years and, whilst the focus had been on Amelia, it now appeared that their father intended to remain in London until the little Season, reminding Jessica that it was now her duty to find herself a suitable husband. The freedom that she had once experienced back at her father’s country estate seemed all but gone, now that she was required to think carefully about her future. At times, Jessica wished that she could disappear into another world, another life, where she was not expected to think only about her duty as the daughter of a Duke.
“Come, now!” Harmonia exclaimed, ushering Amelia to a soft cushioned chair. “Sit, Amelia, we must know all of your news.”
Jessica went to join them, glad when the maid appeared with the tea trays. Amelia told them a great many stories and Jessica smiled delightedly at them all, thinking that Amelia deserved such happiness.
“It is quite clear your husband adores you!” she exclaimed, seeing pink rise in Amelia’s cheeks. “I am glad for you, of course.”
“Love is a very great blessing,” Amelia agreed, quietly. “One I did not earn but one I am most g
lad for.” She looked around each of her sisters in turn, her expression serious. “I would wish that for you all, truly. Take time to find a gentleman who will honor and cherish you, who will love you just as you are and in spite of your faults.” A small smile lifted the corner of her lips. “I know papa is determined that you are all to be married and settled and I can well understand the pressure that brings to bear.”
Amelia’s gaze landed on Jessica, who gave her a small smile, knowing that Amelia truly did know what it felt like to be in her situation.
“We are to stay for the little Season,” she murmured, wondering if Amelia already knew of their father’s plans.
“Although what we are to do in the meantime I have very little idea!” Jacintha piped up, looking a little sorry for herself. “There are fewer and fewer balls and very little company to speak of.”
Much to Jessica’s surprise, Amelia grinned, her eyes twinkling.
“I believe I may have a solution for that,” Amelia said, her smile broadening. “I have yet to speak to papa to ensure he is still quite content for this to go forward, but I was hoping that you might be willing to join me at my estate for a prolonged holiday.”
Jessica blinked, a warm glow of happiness slowly beginning to mount in her chest. To stay with Amelia for a time would mean a relaxing of her responsibility to find a husband, an easing of the pressure brought to bear by her well-meaning papa.
“Do you think papa will agree?” she asked, a little breathlessly, clasping her hands in her lap as she leaned forward.
