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

by Abby Ayles

  “I mean it. I am entirely grateful to you for all that you have done to ensure that I am looked after and cared for and being productive in all the things I must do,” he told her.

  “It is my joy, husband. I do quite like being able to support you,” she replied.

  “Yes, I know that you do. You make no secret of it,” he said to her.

  They spoke a little longer, but the Duke knew he had a few final things to finish in his study.

  “Have a good night, Mr. Tyndale,” Thea said.

  “And you as well, Mrs. Tyndale,” he replied.

  The Duke went in the room and placed yet more documents on the desk that he would have to sort through. It would not take long, but he was tired and considered the possibility of leaving it to the morning.

  But then, unexpectedly, came a knock on his door. He wondered who it might be as he preferred not to be bothered when he was so busy, but did not wish to turn anyone away just now.

  “Yes?” he asked, allowing the sound of exhaustion to permeate his voice.

  “Forgive me, Your Grace, for interrupting,” said the young man who worked as the cook’s assistant.

  “Oh, Daniel, I’m not in the mood for dinner tonight, but thank you,” the Duke said with a wave of his hand.

  “Forgive me, again, Your Grace, but that is not why I’ve come,” he said nervously.

  “Oh?” the Duke asked, intrigued.

  “I understand and confess that this is not my place, Your Grace, but there is something I must tell you,” Daniel began.

  “Yes, please, out with it,” the Duke urged.

  “As I am loyal to you, I think it ought to be said anyway. Your wife, Your Grace, you know that she was here today, yes?” he asked.

  “Of course, Daniel…”

  “And were you aware that your mother came as well?” he continued.

  “My wife mentioned something to the effect,” he replied, wondering if perhaps he might now learn what passed between the two of them.

  “Your Grace, I do not wish to speak against the Dowager Duchess, but I thought you ought to know of their conversation,” he said. “It was the Dowager Duchess who came for no other purpose than to encourage your wife against remaining with you.”

  The Duke's interest was thoroughly piqued with that bit of information.

  “Tell me exactly what you mean and exactly what you overheard,” he instructed.

  Daniel went on to recount the whole of the conversation as best as he could remember what he had heard. Everything that the Dowager Duchess had said was painful to hear, but the words of his wife seemed to soothe his soul.

  “To conclude, Your Grace, the Duchess of Sandon was quite opposed to the ideas expressed by the Dowager Duchess. I thought you ought to know, but I also wished for you to understand that she is facing difficulty,” Daniel ended awkwardly.

  The Duke nodded thoughtfully.

  “Thank you, Daniel, for telling me all of this. I have a great deal to think about and I am entirely grateful that you informed me. Please know that I do not mind you sharing this sort of information with me again,” he replied.

  Daniel bowed his head and left the room and the Duke was on his own.

  The Duke of Sandon thought about all that Daniel had said. His wife was committed to him for good now. She was willing to remain with him no matter his financial status. It was a surprise but a great delight to him. He was humbled and honored by her respect and decision.

  Regardless of his status, Thea was choosing to remain by his side as she had promised. It made little sense given her previous distaste for him. And he had not entirely cared for her either. It was another reminder of how much they had grown.

  He thought again to their time away at the cottage and how he had been so suspicious of her when she had merely wanted to give him a gift. What change had come since those days.

  He could not suspect her of anything now but a good heart. Thea was an angelic woman. A good woman with a dear compassion.

  Despite the wounds caused by his mother, the Duke knew he could push past those. He had grown accustomed to her disapproval. It was nothing new at all.

  Still, he thought, it might be better if he spoke with Thea at some point about the dilemma of his mother. And he would have to address the Dowager Duchess as well, informing her that what she had done had not been appropriate.

  But the Duke, exhausted as he was, felt more content than he had been in a long time. He was relieved and delighted by the news of his wife's commitment.

  He considered what small thing he might do that evening, an inconvenience to himself. At the time he was so tired that anything felt to be an inconvenience, but he decided to settle on going into the kitchen and finding one large slice of banana bread.

  He had observed that she liked it often during their breakfasts and at times when it was served as dessert. So the Duke put it on a plate for her and made his way back to the parlor.

  He knocked quietly and she called for him to enter.

  “Oh, Mr. Tyndale, I did not expect you again,” she said in surprise.

  He held the plate behind his back and walked close to her.

  “I have just had a conversation, Mrs. Tyndale, about the incident with my mother this afternoon,” he said.

  His wife’s face fell and she looked ashamed.

  “I wish you had not known about that,” she replied.

  “I am glad that I learned of it. And you and I shall speak further about it tomorrow. But until then, I have a small token of gratitude for you. I wish that it was something greater, but, well, I am a man of little means just now,” he said with a smile and suppressed laugh.

  The Duke exposed the bread from behind his back and watched the grin spread over his wife's face.

  “Thank you, Mr. Tyndale. Thank you utterly,” she said with a giggle.

  “I do know how fond you are of sweets,” he said.

  “Indeed, it is a great weakness of mine,” she answered him.

  “Well that is alright. You have proven that you have very few of those,” he said comfortingly.

  Thea took the plate from him and he gave her one final bow before taking his exit. It had been a small act, but one that he knew she would appreciate. Perhaps he didn't need money after all.

  He made his way to his room, needing to finally sleep. And as he lay, he could not get his wife out of his thoughts. She was precious to him.

  He wondered if what he felt for her had moved beyond the things he had been trying to feel about her.

  He no longer had to try so hard to trust her. He no longer had to work to spend time with her or appreciate her for anything more than he face and figure. He rather enjoyed their discussions, although the remained shy with one another even now.

  He believed that the advice that had been given them by Mr. Rogers was being practiced more thoroughly, although they could always stand to improve. And hadn't Mr. Rogers told him that these were the elements of love?

  Was it possible that with all that had occurred between them and all that the Duke had tried to think and feel, he had finally crossed into the feelings of love?

  He was committed, as was she. He was determined to make their marriage a success, as was she. He was willing to make sacrifices and Thea had made it painfully clear that she didn't mind sacrifices so much now.

  And if the two of them were both showing these expressions to one another, it was quite possible that what he was feeling was also being felt by her. It was possible that it was finally true between them.

  Yes, he thought. Yes, this thing keeping him up was indeed love.

  Chapter 39

  Thea waited in the dining room for her husband to arrive. He’d had a morning appointment and she'd not been able to see him before he had gone out.

  But the Duke had left a message assuring her he would return by lunch and would have an opportunity to spend time together for the rest of the day from there. She looked forward to his arrival and spending that time
with him.

  She was anxious for his arrival and her stomach groaned in protest of her waiting to eat until he had come. The staff in the kitchen was ready to bring out the food the moment the Duke made his appearance.

  “Mrs. Markley,” Thea called, bringing the woman into the dining area.

  “Yes, Your Grace?” she asked.

  “Another cup of tea, please,” Thea requested. Mrs. Markley nodded and disappeared into the kitchen again, coming back moments later with more tea.

  Finally, Thea heard the sound of the Duke coming into the house at the same moment that Mrs. Markley was rushing through the dining room. She had to go and greet him and take his outerwear from him.

  Thea waited another few minutes before the Duke came in and looked at her.

  “Forgive me, I was later than expected,” he said, taking his seat.

  “It’s nothing, Mr. Tyndale,” Thea replied.

  The kitchen staff brought out the rest of the food and the footman served both their plates with tremendous food.

  Thea wondered how much longer they might able to indulge like this. She could do just fine without. But having grown accustomed to the luxuries, she hoped that she would be able to continue eating like this for a good deal longer.

  Not that she would ever tell the Duke that. He was trying so hard to bring his fortunes back together. It would demean him for her to tell him she wished that he would work hard enough to feed her rich foods. The last thing she wished for was to treat him thus.

  Their meal began quietly, but finally Thea started with questions about his day.

  “It was quite a pleasant meeting, actually. There was a great deal of promise,” he said, looking more pleased than he had seemed in a very long time.

  “I am glad to hear that,” she replied.

  “And you?” he asked, before she could continue with her questions.

  “I am very well. I had a grand enough day. I thought about many things surrounding our current circumstances and I had a thought,” she began. Thea had no idea how the Duke might think of her plan as it was the sort that she had used often during her youth. It was unlikely that a titled man would consider it.

  “Oh? I imagine you had many thoughts. Which was it that you wish to share with me?” he asked.

  “You know, do you not, that I adore every gift you have given me?” she asked.

  The Duke beamed with pride. “I certainly hope that you do.”

  “I do indeed. The stunning gowns, the books that I could never have owned before. I truly love them all. But, considering the time that we are in, I want you to know that I would be willing to part with them for our good,” she said.

  The Duke looked at her in confusion.

  “Whatever do you mean by that? Part with them? Do you mean that you cannot wear the gowns if your wealth does not reflect them?” he asked.

  “No, Mr. Tyndale, that is not what I mean at all. I care not what my financial status is. Having those dresses and wearing them makes me quite happy. But at this time, I can sell them. It would be a great source of income for I know them to be rather expensive.

  “I only mean that we can sell the gifts that you have given me if that will get us through this,” she said.

  The Duke looked at her again as if his pride had been wounded a little. But he was filled with concern.

  “Please, Mrs. Tyndale. Stop saying these things. It is my duty to provide for you. It is not your job to find ways to be rid of your gifts to help me. You must understand that,” he insisted.

  Thea felt frustrated. She could not understand his perspective. She knew it, but she didn’t understand it. She decided she could sit in frustration or explain to him her confusion. The latter seemed the better option.

  “Mr. Tyndale, would you bear with me for a moment?” she asked.

  “Of course, please,” he replied.

  “I understand that it is the way of men to find pride in what they can do for their wives and families. I do not wish to disrespect that in any way. But I wish that you might be willing to see from my perspective.

  "In my view, marriage requires two working together. It is not only one sacrificing for the other. It is my duty to sacrifice for you as well,” she explained.

  She saw that the Duke was moved by this.

  “I wish that you would see that no matter how I love the gifts you have given to me, they do not compare to the extent to which I care for you,” she confessed.

  The Duke of Sandon gazed at her in a new way that she had never seen from him before. His eyes held her captive and he looked as if he wished to say something very important. But the words would not make it to his lips.

  “Mrs. Tyndale…” was all he was able to utter before looking away in embarrassment.

  “Forgive me, did I offend you further?” Thea asked.

  “No, no such thing as that,” the Duke said. “You have...moved me.”

  This admission of his was represented by the slight quiver in his voice that told her he was truly affected by her. Thea wished she could wrap her arms around him in an embrace, but she still felt too shy for such a bold maneuver.

  “Mr. Tyndale, would you like me to proceed with that plan?" she asked, wondering if her words had convinced him.

  “My dear, I would not like that. I was hesitant to tell you this as it is still rather early, but I do not think we shall be in such a dire position for much longer,” he told her.

  “What do you mean?” she asked, hope roiling in her gut.

  “Again, it is early. Many things could happen to ruin this, as happened before. But it would seem that my other investments are finding great success. It will take time to regain what was lost. But perhaps only a matter of a year.

  “Before I would have wondered at ever regaining my fortune, or at the very least requiring ten or twenty years to match it. But, indeed, things are moving along quite nicely. It is true that trade can triple a man’s fortunes and I am simply trying to triple those which I have invested to make up for what I had lost,” explained.

  “Mr. Tyndale, this is such wonderful news!” Thea exclaimed.

  “Indeed, wife, it is. Unexpected and wonderful. I could never have done this, rebuilt it, without your encouragement. I would have withdrawn everything in order to not risk more. I would have returned to my mother’s home in disgrace,” he confessed.

  “I cannot imagine such a thing from you,” Thea said.

  “Oh, it is true. There were a number of times I had considered as much and it was only you that caused me to take pause and not continue in that thought,” he said.

  “Truly?” she asked.

  “Yes, truly. You were the strength that I required to continue moving forward and trying. I am grateful to you. And you will need to keep those dresses and books as it is likely to be a year at the very least before I can purchase more for you,” he added with a laugh.

  “Mr. Tyndale, I need no more of all of that. I need only to know that you are well. I need only to know that you understand how I see you and how deeply I admire you,” she told him.

  The two sat a bit longer, quiet and content, enjoying the rest of their food.

  Thea had known he wished to discuss his mother, the Dowager Duchess, but Thea was not yet ready to speak of it and was grateful that he had not brought it up just now.

  She was also glad that they had come to terms on their finances and that he had hope for the days ahead. This sort of news and promise was very much what they both needed to hear. There was so much peace now settled on them from this news.

  “Again, I must remind you that it is not guaranteed. I do have hope, but things could still get in the way,” the Duke said, urgently.

  “Please, Mr. Tyndale, stop being so concerned. I do believe that all will be well for us. I do trust that what you believe will come to pass is exactly what we shall see,” she said again.

  It was difficult to see the Duke so concerned. She saw a great deal more hope in him than before, but it was stil
l not the same as he had been prior to all of this. She wished only that he might continue to feel better with each passing day and she would make it her mission to see it happen.

  After finishing their lunch, Thea and the Duke set out for a walk around the grounds.

  “The sky is exquisite today," Thea declared.

  “Indeed, it is. A nice, dry air with the most perfect breeze,” the Duke noted.

  “We ought to have walks more often,” she said.