A Fiery Love for the Reluctant Duchess: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance

by Abby Ayles

  The Duke of Sandon had met women of good breeding who behaved worse than those of a lower class. Why should breeding determine who a man could and could not marry?

  “Then where, might I finally be privileged to know, did you meet him?” she asked forcefully.

  “Why, Mother, he is the merchant who has been helping me to furnish our new estate,” the Duke of Sandon replied nonchalantly.

  He watched his mother’s mouth drop, saw the shock and horror he had longed for. He both relished and regretted it. He felt justified and ashamed in the same moment. But he pushed his conscience aside and allowed her to gasp in disbelief.

  “Y-you mean to tell me that you have made the choice to marry the daughter of a merchant?” she demanded.

  “Well, Mother, you did insist that I wed. You never said anything about the station she had to be from,” he defended mockingly, as if he hadn’t known all along what she really wanted and expected from him.

  “I never imagined you could be so hateful,” she spat. “Do you really think so little of your station that this amuses you? Do you think so little of me that you imagined I would not mind the fact that you want to wound me so?”

  “Oh, Mother, you do not seem to understand that this decision was to fulfill exactly what you wished for me. Did you not insist that I find a wife? Better yet, she is a beautiful, young woman to behold,” he reminded her.

  His mother would not look at him.

  “Well then, if you are unhappy with my fulfilling a promise to you then I suppose there is nothing I can do about it,” he said, remaining casual and cheerless.

  The Duke of Sandon knew his mother had every reason to be angry, but he also hoped she would feel the anger and rage that he had felt at every turn when she had pushed him to this.

  His mother turned her face away from him and the Duke of Sandon decided that, as it was still early enough in the evening, he might go visit his friend, the Duke of Arborshire. He called to one of the footmen to ready the coach for him.

  He arrived at his friend’s home in just half an hour and William greeted him heartily.

  “Duke, how are you?” he asked with a wide smile.

  “Very well, Duke,” the Duke of Sandon replied to his equal in status friend.

  The Duke of Sandon was ushered into William’s study where the housekeeper brought them each a glass of brandy with more in a glass decanter. The two men sat for a while beside the fire and settled in.

  “Now then, what is it that you wanted to discuss? I’m quite certain you are not here to practice fencing or that ought to have happened before we started on the brandy,” William laughed.

  “No, no, indeed. I have another matter to discuss with you,” the Duke of Sandon began.

  “Oh?”

  “That man, Mr. Caulfield, what do you think of him?” the Duke of Sandon asked.

  “What do I think of him?” William scoffed. “Well, I hardly know him. I met the man only once or twice. It was my wife who insisted on furnishing our home. You know she cares nothing for my tastes,” he added bitterly.

  The Duke of Sandon felt the same sinking sensation in his gut. “Yes, I know that wives rarely do care for the tastes of their husbands.”

  “So why do you ask about him?” William prodded.

  The Duke of Sandon took a deep breath in. “Because I am to marry his daughter,” he said in a slow, staccato manner.

  William choked on his brandy and coughed while the Duke of Sandon blandly clapped him on the back a few times.

  “I know, I know,” he said in a sigh. “I am mad for thinking this is a sensible solution to my mother’s incessant pushing. But in truth, I’ve never met a woman who I care for. Ever. And perhaps that means there is something wrong with me. Or perhaps it means that love does not exist. We simply must choose a woman and make it work.”

  “You, Joseph Tyndale, the Duke of Sandon, are marrying a merchant’s daughter?” William asked incredulously before he burst out in laughter. “Oh, this is too rich! Or should I say it is too poor? My goodness, man!”

  “Yes, I know,” the Duke of Sandon said again.

  Once William had calmed himself, the Duke of Sandon told him how it all came about. While he felt guilty and ashamed for doing it to spite his mother, he had resigned himself to the fact that he must be married anyway. At least this way he was helping the family of a man he respected.

  “A man you respect? Perhaps, but he is still just a commoner,” William pointed out.

  “And why should common men not be allowed small graces now and then? Why should their daughters not be honored also?” he asked.

  “Honored? You did not agree to this marriage to honor her. You are dishonoring her by marrying her for no other reason than to spite your mother. Do not speak to me of any honor in the marriage…Duke,” William said, adding the last to make a point that he was trying to remain reverent when he felt little respect for his friend in that moment.

  The Duke of Sandon hung his head, knowing that William was entirely right. He had been a fool and had acted cruelly. But no matter what mess he had made of it all, he was committed now, and he would have to follow through with that commitment.

  They remained quiet for a time before William spoke again.

  “By the way, I had intended to speak with you regarding another matter,” he began.

  “Oh? And what’s that?” the Duke of Sandon asked, taking a long swig of the brandy.

  “Seeing as how you’re now marrying into merchant families, I am even more inclined to share the idea with you,” William jabbed.

  “But I’ve heard about a new trade opportunity. Perhaps you might even get your father-in-law involved. He could trade some of his fabrics and you could trade a great deal more.”

  “Trade? You think that will bring good returns? Don’t get me wrong, I know the global economy is shrinking every day, but I have never been involved in international trade,” the Duke of Sandon pointed out.

  “Well now is the time. Your family has undue wealth and it is a small risk for you. I’ve nearly doubled my income over the past three months through this trade in the Orient. It is a sound investment,” William promised.

  The Duke of Sandon was intrigued. He knew nothing of furnishing a home, but tradesmen and business? He knew many men who had grown wealthy being involved in this. Some brought in food products, others fabrics which truly would be an excellent opportunity for the Caulfields.

  It sounded like a clever idea. He pushed William for more details, realizing that this could be just the thing to appease his mother in the midst of her anger. It was certainly an option.

  If he could double their income and increase their wealth, she would have no more reason to hate him despite the scandal of choosing to marry a woman so far less than his station.

  The Duke of Sandon returned to his home that night with his mind full. He had made two enormous decisions that day. To marry Miss Caulfield, whom he knew he ought to speak with and get to know, and to become involved with trade.

  He found himself exhausted by the end of the night, but despite that, he allowed himself to focus his thoughts on remembering every detail he could of his future bride.

  The first was easy enough. Miss Caulfield was beautiful. She had thick, dark hair and green eyes the color of deep moss. Her face was shaped like a heart and her lips were full at the end of a long, straight nose.

  Her father had claimed she was clever, although most fathers thought that of their daughters. Whether or not she had any real wit he would determine later.

  And she had felt threatened when she interpreted his words as mocking her mother. He realized that his patronizing attitude had come out in a way he hadn’t expected and she noted it indisputably.

  The Duke of Sandon thought he might not grow to like her, but so long as she was not as intolerable as his mother, he could at least live with her.

  Chapter 7

  Thea woke early, understanding that the day would be monumental for her p
arents. Not only was the marriage to be announced in society, but Thea’s father had arranged for her and the Duke of Sandon to share a chaperoned walk around a park in Cambridge which would put them in full view of the public.

  A new dress had been made specifically for the occasion. Thea looked at it grimly when it came time for her to dress.

  Could she really bring herself to walk amongst all the men and women of fashionable society? Would she manage to fool them into believing that she belonged? After all, Thea could stand strong and tall, but that did not mean that she could pretend to be as important as the man she would be walking with.

  Once she was seen out and about with the Duke of Sandon, would anyone be willing to leave her be? What if they came to see her as a means to the duke?

  Thea didn’t know if she was overthinking or if these were legitimate concerns. It was certainly possible that she would not be seen for her own merit, but what if she was overlooked entirely?

  Scoffing at herself for worrying about these things, Thea focused instead on harshly brushing her hair. Each stroke was pulling through the anger she still clung to.

  “Thea?” came Delia’s voice.

  “Yes?” she asked in reply.

  “Mum says it is time for you to be ready downstairs. The Duke of Sandon shall be here presently,” Delia informed her.

  “And how is Mother to know that with any certainty?” Thea grumbled in complaint.

  Delia looked at her mournfully before sitting at the edge of the bed.

  “I know you are unhappy. But honestly, Thea, Mother and Father are thrilled. And you have found a position not possible for most of us,” Delia reasoned.

  “Then why don’t you marry him?” Thea asked angrily as the tears rushed to her eyes. She swiped at them, not wanting her sister to see the sadness that lay beneath her rage.

  “I would if he had chosen me,” Delia said in a quiet voice.

  Thea’s head snapped up in surprise.

  “You would?” she asked.

  Delia was slow to answer, and Thea saw that she was forming her thoughts.

  “It is not as if I love him any more than you do,” Delia began. “But life for us is not easy, Thea. You know this as well as I. Life is not easy for us, but it can be made better. And having a match like yours to the duke? That is a blessing. I only wish that you could see it.”

  Thea felt ashamed. Her sister was right in many ways. But she still could not get herself to believe that it was entirely true. The Duke of Sandon was still the same man she had seen that evening when he came to dinner. That man who couldn’t even handle the dust on his shoes from their dwellings.

  “Would you rather struggle for work as I have?” Delia asked.

  Thea looked at her blankly, knowing that if she had begun searching for work when Delia had, she might have avoided this altogether.

  “You would marry a man you did not know?” she asked Delia.

  “I would marry freedom from the struggles that women face. I would marry security and I would marry the relief of knowing I was no longer a burden to my family,” Delia answered honestly.

  Thea looked away but stood up to make her way down the stairs. Before exiting the room, she turned to her sister.

  “I shall try my hardest to have your optimism. I shall make an effort to view the duke in the way that you would,” Thea promised.

  With that, she left her sister and descended the stairs until she was in what passed for a drawing room in their small house. Her mother was already sitting, staring out the window for the first glimpse of the Duke of Sandon.

  “Oh, girl, I am glad you have finally come. He must be here so- oh! There he is!” Mrs. Caulfield exclaimed.

  Thea inhaled deeply, suddenly very nervous for the walk ahead now that she had made such a promise to Delia.

  Her mother insisted they wait patiently in the room until the Duke of Sandon came in to greet them.

  “Mrs. Caulfield, it is lovely to see you again,” the duke greeted. Thea’s mother seemed to swoon a little once again at seeing the strong, wealthy young man.

  “And you as well, Your Grace. We are honored to have you in our home once more,” she finally replied.

  “And Miss Caulfield,” he said, turning to Thea. “I am pleased we shall have this time to spend with one another ahead of our nuptials.”

  Thea stared at the duke for a moment, trying to remember that this tall man with the brown hair and the deep brown eyes, with the perfectly tailored coat and the shoes that appeared to have a permanent shine, was going to be her husband soon. What had she promised Delia again?

  “A-and I, Your Grace. I am glad for our walk,” she replied hesitantly.

  Thea could not understand why now, in this moment, her nerves had shifted so. All thought of what others would say about her as the duke’s poor wife vanished. She was suddenly very frightened that they might find nothing at all to talk about, or that she would utterly disappoint him, making herself a humiliation should he call off the wedding.

  Indeed, they could not go back now. She had to be what he expected of her.

  “Ah, Annie!” Mrs. Caulfield said. “Your Grace, this is my daughter’s chaperone, Miss Sexton. She shall accompany you on the walk.”

  “Miss Sexton,” the duke greeted, and the young woman curtseyed in return.

  “Well then, shall we?” the duke suggested, ushering Thea through the door of the home.

  Once they were in the coach, Thea felt her heart pounding a little more intensely as she now had to make small talk with the duke, knowing that it would be heard by her chaperone. She was entirely grateful when he began the conversation before she was forced to.

  “Miss Caulfield, is a walk to your taste?” he inquired.

  Thea had not anticipated him asking her preferences on activities but was thankful that he was making the effort to find out if he had suggested the right thing for their time together.

  “Indeed, Your Grace. I am rather fond of walking. I enjoy any activity that allows me to take in the air,” she answered.

  “That is good to know. And what other activities do you enjoy? Riding? Or perhaps sewing and pianoforte?” he pressed.

  Thea knew that there were things expected of young women that she ought to try and conform to, but at the same time, she did not wish to pretend to be something other than herself.

  “I have little experience riding, I’m afraid. When I was young, my uncle had a horse and we were able to ride with my father. But I’ve had no such opportunity since,” Thea replied.

  “I do sew quite well, and I enjoy the luxury of my father’s fabrics. I’ve no experience with the pianoforte, but I do have a love for reading.”

  She tried to think of anything special that she enjoyed, but nothing came to mind. The Duke of Sandon smiled at her answer and she realized she needed to ask the same question of him.

  “Oh, and you, Your Grace? What is it that you enjoy?” she asked.

  Just then, the coach came to a stop and the coachman came around to open the door. Thea exited and saw the beautiful landscape of the park they would walk. There were hundreds of other people spread throughout the expanse. They would be seen quite openly.

  Once they were ready to begin, the Duke of Sandon addressed Thea’s question.

  “I am also a lover of reading. I should think you will enjoy the library in my new home—our new home, rather—once I have the shelves filled with my private collection,” he told her.

  Thea was unsure if he was trying to comfort her or impress her. If he was being haughty and bragging about his collection, she would be hesitant to give him the satisfaction of being impressed.

  “And I do greatly enjoy fencing,” he continued. “Having never been in any sort of real sword fight, I cannot help but enjoy it.”

  He added this last part with a gentle laugh and Thea wondered why any man should enjoy pretending to stab another. However, she also realized that she was being unreasonable again. She had to give the Duke of
Sandon an opportunity to share about himself without judgment.

  “That sounds quite interesting,” she replied, trying to believe her own words.

  “Yes, well, it is only a bit of sport,” the Duke of Sandon reasoned.

  Thea noticed that they were being watched with every step. Miss Sexton was a few paces behind, but it was all the others who noticed this merchant’s daughter with a powerful duke and seemed utterly repulsed by her presence among them.