Richard smiled to himself. How cosy this was, the two of them together, sharing the fireside. It reminded him of their first evening together at Easterby Hall.
Emma, too, was again lost in her thoughts. She’d been tossing and turning in her mind all the things that Wheatley had told them. To think her uncle had been a traitor! Thank goodness Wheatley had given his word to keep it a secret. Her grandmother must never know.
Emma sighed. At least he’d confirmed that her parents’ death had been an accident. She was still sad, especially at the loss of her mother. But thanks to her grandmother, she now also knew that her parents had loved one another. It had been her mother’s choice to accompany her husband on his travels.
Emma decided she would tell Jamie the truth of their parents’ death on the morrow. It would not bring them back, but it should ease the pain of thinking that they’d been murdered. Emma smiled at the thought of Jamie, who was now back to his normal, boisterous self. He’d thrown himself into learning all about horses, spending all his time lurking about the stables and trying to help the grooms, but more often, she suspected, getting in their way. He also got on well with Richard, treating him as he would a respected elder brother.
She glanced at Richard next to her on the sofa. What was she going to do about him? She knew in her heart that she had come to a decision. All her doubts had been wiped away by what had taken place that evening. He only needed to ask again, and she would give him her final answer.
Richard let out a deep sigh. A sigh of contentment.
‘Penny for them.’
He turned to see the warmth in Emma’s eyes. He’d been miles away, wool-gathering.
‘I was thinking of the first night you and I spent together talking after dinner. You remember, don’t you? At Easterby Hall.’
‘Yes, I remember,’ she whispered, her cheeks turning pink.
‘I was also wondering if we’d enjoy more evenings like this.’ Richard’s pulse quickened as he heard her quick intake of breath. Was now the right time to ask his question again? Was it unfair of him to press for an answer when she was probably tired and her mind occupied with dealing with Wheatley’s revelations? Emma’s reply took him by surprise.
‘I was wondering that too.’ She took a sip from her glass, and he watched as her tongue flicked out to lick her lips. Such pretty lips. ‘I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you,’ she said, her eyelashes fluttering.
Richard’s heart thundered in his ears. Had he heard her right?
He set his glass down with a shaking hand and turned towards her. ‘Do you mean if I ask you to marry me again you’ll not refuse me, Emma, my love?’ He held his breath.
A smile played about Emma’s mouth. ‘I’ll not refuse you, Richard.’
He knelt in front of her and took both her hands in his. Her pulse was racing. She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling.
‘Darling Emma, would you do me the greatest honour and consent to be my wife? I can’t conceive of a life without you, my love. Please make my life complete and say yes.’
At last, Richard heard the words he’d been praying to hear.
‘Yes, Richard. I’d be happy and honoured to be your wife.’
He kissed her hands, then stood, pulling Emma up with him and wrapping his arms around her. She gazed up at him, lips slightly parted. He couldn’t resist. His mouth swooped down on hers, and for several moments they were lost in a whirlwind of sensation.
Several long minutes later and they were seated again, this time Emma curled next to him, his arm about her shoulder, keeping her close. Soon they would be able to spend every night like this, he told himself, as he rested his head against hers. Emma stifled a yawn, and he started to yawn too. Fatigue was creeping up on both of them, but he didn’t want this enchanted part of the evening to end.
‘Who would have thought that actions committed by Uncle Frederick so many years ago would have such long-reaching and devastating effects?’ Emma’s sleepy voice broke the silence. ‘Wheatley, so desperately ill. Despite all his money and possessions, it cannot buy him what he wants. And what he tried to do, trying to get rid of you too, he did it all for love of Francis. Love had deranged him.’
‘Yes, indeed,’ answered Richard, rubbing his eyes. ‘Not to be able to declare one’s love openly. To be forced to keep it a secret. And concern for what his death would mean for Francis. Well, I think Wheatley was temporarily out of his wits.’
‘Love can force us to do all sorts of things. It was my love for Jamie that kept me going when things were at their worst. You’ve no idea how often I was on the brink of giving up.’
Richard pulled her closer and tipped her chin gently with his finger so that they were gazing into each other’s eyes. ‘I’m so glad you didn’t, my love. But you’ve got me now. We’ll weather life’s joys and trials together. Together we’ll be strong.’
‘Yes we will,’ she agreed, then a shadow crossed her face. ‘I feel sorry for Wheatley and Francis. They share a love I’d wager is as deep as ours, but they’re having to risk their lives because of it. It all seems so unfair.’
‘Society is very hard on people who do not fit the pattern card of respectability. Perhaps someday things will change.’
‘Anyway, I shall tell Grandmamma that the matter has been resolved without giving away too many of the facts. I certainly won’t be disclosing that Frederick was a traitor. Grandmamma has suffered enough scandal in the family without introducing any more. With luck, she’ll be so excited about being able to introduce Jamie and me back into society that she won’t pry any further.’ Emma suddenly pulled away from Richard’s arms.
It struck him for one awful moment that she’d changed her mind again about marriage.
‘Oh goodness! When I tell her that we are to marry, there’ll be such a to-do.’ Emma turned a panic-stricken face towards him. ‘I’m not sure I can deal with all the fuss that will entail. Shopping for clothes last week was trying enough.’
Richard looked at her in astonishment. Was this the woman who’d trekked across the continent accompanied only by her young brother, visited a brothel in disguise, and just this evening been present when a duke was accused of murder? And she was balking at shopping for clothes? Richard burst out laughing.
‘What’s so amusing?’ she said, eyes flashing. ‘You’ve no idea how tiresome it is, standing still for hours, being poked, prodded, and measured.’ She dug Richard in the ribs before bursting into laughter herself.
Chapter 24
One afternoon, some weeks later, a visitor was announced at the Lacey townhouse. Francis, for it was he, was shown into the family drawing room, where the newlywed couple (they’d been married for all of a week) were planning a trip. Maps were spread around on tables, chairs, and even the floor.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you,’ said Francis, hesitating at the door. ‘Your butler showed me in. I see he was mistaken.’ He turned as if to go.
Richard leapt to his feet.
‘Stay, Francis. We don’t stand on ceremony with family. You should know that.’
‘Come in, Francis. I’ll ring for tea,’ added Emma, stepping gingerly over the map-strewn floor to pull the bell for the maid.
‘If you’re absolutely sure? I can’t stay for long, though, so don’t worry about tea.’
‘Of course we’re sure, old man,’ grinned Richard. ‘Come in and sit down. Rescue me from my wife. I think she wants to travel everywhere. You’d think after her experiences she’d have had enough of travelling.’ He ducked as a cushion, thrown by his wife, caught him on the shoulder.
‘I may have done some travelling, but that was in Europe and in most uncomfortable circumstances,’ Emma said, laughing. ‘I want to see something of my own country, and, besides, your travelling coach is very well appointed, so I don’t think it will be too arduous.’ Emma cleared the sofa
of maps so that Francis could sit down. ‘I’d like to visit the Lakes, and I also want to see Cornwall. That’s not too much to ask, is it, Francis?’
Francis held up his hands in laughing submission. ‘Don’t embroil me in your domestic arguments, I beg you.’
Richard sent a loving glance to his wife. ‘Francis, you see before you a man who, it seems, will have to resign himself to travelling for quite some time.’
‘Well, how are you, Francis? You’re looking well,’ said Emma approvingly.
Francis did look well. His face had lost the strained look, and the grey shadows under his eyes had disappeared.
‘I’m very well, thank you, Emma.’ Francis toyed with the cuff of his jacket. ‘I’ve just come to let you know that I, too, will be leaving town shortly.’
Emma became all concern. ‘Oh, what is the matter? Is it the duke? Has his health deteriorated?’
‘No, in fact he is feeling much better, thank you. His Grace has decided that we will be removing to his estate in Warwickshire… London air seems to disagree with him.’ Francis paused, his head bowed as a flush of colour rose up his neck. ‘He, er, has asked me to convey his good wishes to you both and to thank you again most sincerely for your discretion and, er, for your understanding.’ Francis looked up. ‘And I thank you from the bottom of my heart too.’
Emma took his hand and gave it a squeeze.
Francis continued to speak, his fingers thrumming on his knees.
‘Wheatley has also asked me to impress upon you most strongly that you’re welcome at any of his houses whenever you wish. And if ever you should require his help or support, he’ll be more than happy to oblige. His Grace begs your understanding at his not coming in person; he is still easily fatigued. He is looking forward to greeting you in person at the earliest opportunity.’
Richard spoke for them both.
‘Please convey our sincere thanks to Wheatley for such a generous offer. We do what we do out of regard and love for you, Francis. You’re part of our family now, and if the person you love happens to be Wheatley, we’ll regard him as a friend also. Though we do understand that, as a duke, he may not wish to condescend too much.’
Francis smiled and swiped at his eye with the back of his hand.
‘You don’t know what your words mean to me,’ he said at last. ‘I thank you from the bottom of my heart.’ His hands clenched in his lap. ‘If you had any idea what it is to live in fear. Society is very cruel to people like Wheatley and me.’
‘Shh, don’t overset yourself,’ Emma said, patting his shoulder. ‘Perhaps someday society will change. Maybe not tomorrow, but someday. We can only hope.’
Francis bit his lip, and then, looking up, he sent her a lopsided grin.
‘My apologies for getting emotional.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Well, I need to be off. I’ve promised to call on Grandmamma. I’m quaking at the thought of telling her that I’ll be leaving town. I think she had lots of plans for me.’
Emma chuckled. ‘With luck, she’ll be too preoccupied with plans for Jamie. He’s going to stay with her while Richard and I are away. She’ll need eyes in the back of her head.’
On cue, the drawing-room door swung open, and a small whirlwind burst in.
‘Did I hear someone mention my name?’ said Jamie. His eyes lit up at the sight of his cousin. ‘Oh, it’s you, Francis. Have you come to take me for a spin in your curricle as you promised? I’ll just get my things.’
Without waiting for a reply, Jamie raced back out again.
Richard slapped Francis on the back and chuckled. ‘Sorry about that, Francis. It’s one of the penalties of being part of this family.’
The End
About the Author
Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel, which was shortly followed by more in the same genre. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries with a hint of the paranormal, because where do ghosts come from but the past? The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, was published by Darkstroke in 2020.
Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).
For more on Penny’s writing, visit her blog: https://pennyhampson.co.uk/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/penny_hampson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyhampsonauthor
If you have enjoyed this book, it would be great if you left a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
If you have enjoyed this book, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Also by Penny Hampson:
The Gentlemen Series
(Regency Historical Mystery/Romances)
An Officer's Vow
A Bachelor's Pledge
The Unquiet Spirit
(A Contemporary Spooky Mystery/Romance)
A Gentleman’s Promise: A Regency Romance (Gentlemen Book 1) Page 26