by Leah Conolly
“You have guests, my lord,” the butler said, ushering the pair inside. “They are waiting for you both in the drawing room.” They? Charlotte thought.
Charlotte and Duncan exchanged another look. He gave her a reassuring smile, though his eyes told her that he was just as confused as she. Ruth followed them into the drawing room, moving to stand on the other side of Charlotte as soon as they entered. Charlotte tried to make sense of what she saw, but all she could do was stare.
“Mother,” Duncan said. “What are you doing here?”
Helena stood and gestured to the gentleman sitting next to her to do the same.
“Duncan, darling,” she said. “I would like you to meet Nathaniel Travis, Earl of Frankton.”
Charlotte glanced at Duncan, trying to read his reaction. His face showed his surprise, but he bowed and smiled politely.
“Good afternoon, Lord Frankton,” he said. “I am Duncan Lancaster, and this is my betrothed, Lady Charlotte Hackney.”
Lord Frankton bowed to both Duncan and Charlotte.
“Yes, Lord Willeton,” the gentleman said, his voice pleasant but cool. “Lady Helena has told me a great deal about you.” Then, the earl turned to Charlotte. He took her hand and bowed once more. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Charlotte.”
Charlotte smiled, still confused, but comforted by the earl’s demeanor.
“It is wonderful to meet you, too, my lord,” she said, giving him a deep curtsey.
Duncan looked back at his mother, looking for an explanation.
“We come with news, Duncan,” Helena said.
Charlotte could not help but notice a decided difference in Helena’s own demeanor. She still stood rigidly, and her face was still firm, but her eyes were softer, and her tone had yet to take on any of the cold cruelty she customarily used.
“What news?” Duncan asked.
Helena looked at the earl, who smiled warmly at her before turning back to Duncan.
“I have asked your mother to marry me,” Lord Frankton said. “I would like your blessing before making it official.”
Charlotte covered her mouth with her hands. Helena, getting married? It would certainly explain the changes in the duchess. She quickly put her hands back down at her sides and bit her lip. She was still keenly aware that Helena despised her, and she did not wish to incur the duchess’s wrath, especially when she was bringing such happy news.
Duncan looked at the earl, surprised. He looked at his mother, a small smile forming on his face.
“Is this what you want, Mother?” he asked. “It is,” she said. “We have known each other for some time, and we have become better acquainted over the past few days.”
Duncan looked at his mother for another moment. Then he embraced her gently before turning his attention back to the earl.
“Today seems to be a day for happy news, indeed,” Duncan said. He held out his hand to the earl and smiled brightly. “You have my warmest blessing, my lord.”
Helena looked at the earl and smiled. She wore a strange expression on her severe face, but Charlotte could not help smiling, too. Then, Helena turned her gaze to Charlotte, and Charlotte’s blood ran cold.
Helena stepped toward Charlotte, and she had to resist every urge in her body that screamed at her to run. Helena seemed to sense her tension and did not move closer. The duchess folded her hands gently at her waist and looked at Charlotte intently.
“Lady Charlotte,” Helena said. Her voice was not precisely warm, but it was not cold and cutting.
Charlotte held her breath, unable to speak.
“I have been a terrible shrew to you,” she said. “I do not expect your forgiveness, but I would like to formally apologize to you for the horrible way I treated you. I am truly sorry.”
Charlotte blinked. Had she heard Helena correctly? Was she apologizing?
Charlotte did not realize that she still had not spoken until Duncan nudged her gently with his arm. She looked up at his brilliant smile, drawing courage from his warmth.
“I accept your apology, Lady Helena,” Charlotte said, giving her a small curtsey. “And I wish to extend my sincere congratulations to you on your betrothal.”
Helena curtseyed to Charlotte, which surprised her further.
“I would like to congratulate the both of you, too,” Helena said.
Charlotte’s mouth fell open. She cursed herself for being so silly, but she could not make her mouth close. She felt as though she were dreaming. Could this really be happening?
“Do you mean it, Mother?” Duncan asked, sounding as surprised as Charlotte felt.
Helena nodded, taking one of Duncan’s hands in hers.
“If she is the woman who makes you happy, then I completely support your decision,” she said.
For the first time, Charlotte felt the urge to hug Helena. However, she knew that this was the first tiny step on the long road to a warmer relationship with her, and so she resisted. Instead, she simply curtseyed again and smiled warmly at the duchess.
“Thank you very much, Lady Helena,” she said.
Chapter 32
“Can you believe it?” Charlotte said, as soon as Helena and Lord Frankton left.
Duncan shook his head.
“I spoke with my mother about her remarrying,” he admitted. “But I did not expect her to choose a suitor so soon.”
Charlotte looked at him with a smirk.
“Did you tell her that she must remarry?” she teased.
Duncan nodded.
“I did,” he said. “I felt that, if she could find her own happiness, she would not be so quick to object to ours.”
Charlotte nodded thoughtfully.
“Well, it seems as though you were right,” she said.
“Yes, it does,” Duncan said, giving her a gentle kiss on her cheek. “I could not be happier.”
Charlotte beamed at Duncan, and his heart warmed.
“Well, shall we begin the official plans for our wedding?” she asked.
Duncan’s smile widened at the excited shine in her eyes. For the first time since he had known her, Charlotte looked truly happy, and he felt that he could not love her more.
“We certainly shall,” he said.
He watched as Ruth and Charlotte left the drawing room, talking excitedly as they went to Charlotte’s bedroom. He sat down in one of the chairs and let the events of the day wash over him. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the day would turn out as it had. Everything in his life was right, and he could not be happier.
The next couple of weeks flew by as Charlotte finalized their wedding plans. He agreed to every request or suggestion that Charlotte made, because he wanted her to have the most amazing wedding day that she could possibly imagine.
On the day Charlotte had gone into town with Ruth to commission her wedding dress, there was a knock on the door. Duncan was looking over some business plans in his study with the door open, so he was aware of the visitor. He exited his office before the butler announced the guest. For the first time in as long as he could remember, Duncan smiled when he saw his mother come into the entryway. He noticed with curiosity that she was holding a small box in her hands.
“Good morning, Mother,” Duncan said.
Helena gave her son a small but sincere smile.
“Good morning, darling,” she said. “How are the wedding plans coming along?”
Duncan smiled. He had to admit that Lord Frankton was having a positive effect on his mother, and Duncan was very grateful. Lord Frankton himself was a friendly and respectable man, and Duncan looked forward to formally welcoming the gentleman into his family.
“They are going very well,” Duncan said. “Charlotte is preparing to go to the seamstress for her dress as we speak.”
Helena’s eyes lit up, an expression that was completely foreign to Duncan.
“Oh, could I speak with her before she leaves?” the duchess asked, holding up the box she was carrying.
Dunca
n blinked in surprise. His mother being civil toward Charlotte had been quite a surprise. He had not expected the change to happen so rapidly, but he was pleased that it had occurred.
“I don’t see why not,” he said, glancing at the box she held. “Is that a wedding present for us?”
Helena put a hand protectively over the box.
“It is for Charlotte,” Helena said, shooing Duncan away from the box.
Duncan laughed.
“Well,” he said, “I am sure that she would love to see you before they leave for town. She is in her room, I believe.”
Helena dipped her head and gave Duncan another small smile.
“Thank you, darling,” she said, as she sashayed up the stairs.
Duncan turned to go back into the study, but he changed his mind just as he reached the doorway. He wanted to tell Charlotte goodbye before she left, and, truthfully, he was curious about what was in that box.
The minutes dragged on, but at last Charlotte, Ruth, and Helena emerged from Charlotte’s room and descended the stairs. The three women were smiling and engaged in enthusiastic conversation. Charlotte beamed, reaching for him as she touched the bottom step. She took his hands and kissed his cheek.
“We are all off to the seamstress’s,” Charlotte said.
Duncan started to smile broadly back at her. Then, his brow furrowed.
“All of you?” he asked, looking at his mother.
“Yes,” Helena said. Duncan thought he detected a slight flush to her cheeks. “I will need a new dress for your wedding, and I would like to begin considering my own wedding dress.”
Charlotte looked at Duncan, her eyes shining with excitement. It wasn’t until the women had closed the door behind them that he realized he had forgotten to ask about the box that Helena had given Charlotte.
Epilogue
Duncan did not see much of Charlotte in the week leading up to the wedding. She was constantly busy, either having last-minute alterations made to her gown or going into town to finalize wedding plans. Nevertheless, the brief moments that Duncan did spend with her were pure bliss, and he found himself saying prayers of gratitude every night as he drifted off to sleep.
The night before the wedding, he and Charlotte dined alone. They had invited Helena to join them, but she had declined. She had plans to attend the theater and then take a carriage ride through the park with Lord Frankton that evening.
Duncan watched Charlotte, looking for any indication that she was nervous about the wedding the following day, or that she was having second thoughts.
Charlotte looked up from her dinner and caught him staring at her. She blushed and giggled.
“What is it?” she asked.
Duncan smiled slyly, seizing an opportunity that he had thus far missed, with her being so busy.
“What was in the box my mother gave you?” he asked.
Charlotte looked at him in mock horror.
“What makes you think she did not swear me to secrecy?” she teased.
Duncan laughed.
“Knowing my mother, that is entirely possible,” he said.
Charlotte shook her head.
“Shame on you,” she said, still smiling. Instead of answering him, she slowly took a bite of her dinner.
Duncan sighed with exaggerated exasperation.
“Are you going to keep me in suspense?” he asked.
Charlotte giggled.
“Well,” she said, feigning indignance. “If you must know, it was a lovely silver brooch. She said that her mother gave it to her for her wedding day, and she wanted me to have it.”
Duncan’s mouth fell open. He knew that brooch. It was the one his mother had worn every day until his father died. That brooch meant the world to Helena, and for her to give it to Charlotte meant something.
“Oh, my,” Duncan said. “It seems as though you have won over my mother, after all.”
Charlotte laughed again.
“Why not?” she asked. “I won you over, did I not?”
Duncan laughed along with her.
“Yes,” he said. “But I dare say that I stood less of a chance than she did.”
Charlotte covered her mouth, feigning horror.
“Are you saying that entrapped you?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.
Duncan nodded fervently.
“And I could not be happier that you did,” he said.
* * *
Duncan could not get to the church quickly enough the next morning. He departed before Charlotte, so that she could finish preparing without him seeing her in her gown. He stood at the church, hardly able to sit still as he waited for her arrival.
At last, the few guests they had invited began to arrive, as did his mother and Lord Frankston. Before Duncan took his place at the altar, Helena enveloped her son in a warm embrace.
“I am so proud of you,” she whispered, as she kissed his cheek.
He released his mother to see that tears were slipping down her cheeks. Duncan could recall seeing his mother cry only once in his life, when his father had died. He wiped away a tear and kissed her cheek in return.
“Thank you, Mother,” he said. Then he went to await the wedding procession and the arrival of his bride.
Moments later, Charlotte appeared at the doors of the chapel. Duncan’s heart stopped. She looked like an angel. He stared in awe at her as she made her way down the aisle.
The veil blocked her face, but when it was time for him to lift it, his expression of admiration turned to one of joy and bliss. She had a smile that easily rivaled his, and, in that moment, he knew that she was every bit as delighted to marry him as he was to marry her. As the vicar pronounced them husband and wife, he leaned down and gave her a soft, gentle kiss.
“My wife,” he said softly. “I could not be happier.”
He did not realize that he was crying until Charlotte reached up and wiped away a tear.
“Nor could I, my love,” she said.
The Extended Epilogue
I want to thank you with all my heart for reading my novel “Pretty Little Lies for the Duke's Heart”!
Would you like a sneak peek in Charlotte and Duncan’s future?
Click on the image or the link below to connect to a more personal level and as a BONUS, I will send you the Extended Epilogue of this Book!
http://leahconolly.com/lc-book-02-ex-ep/
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A Rebellious Lady for the Brokenhearted Duke-Preview
Prologue
Lord Charles Blackwood, Earl of Chester, felt an overwhelming sense of relief as his carriage pulled up to his estate. He stepped out onto the gravel and took a moment to admire his home. The sight was welcome—as was the milder weather—after the long trip to the north. Charles stretched out his legs and strolled into the house where all was silent and dark. Only a few candles had been lit to welcome him home, and there were just three servants to unload his luggage and see to his needs.
Immediately, Charles walked towards his study with a servant in tow. As he tried to quiet his footsteps so as not to disturb the rest of the house, he attempted to put his business in Scotland behind him and relax. All that debating and letter writing still rolled around in his head.
Charles sighed as he entered the study. The servant went to the fireplace and soon had a large fire blazing in the hearth. Once he was finished, Charles asked him to bring in a glass of wine, then settled down into his favorite chair. He needed a good, long rest.
The glass of wine was delivered a few minutes later, and Charles immediately dismissed the servant. He swirled the drink around, watching the deep crimson color with interest, as his mind and body finally began to relax.
He took a sip of the wine and savored the taste. It was his favorite, something he’d been keeping for himself for an occasion such as this. No need to waste fine wines on parties when you could enjoy them undisturbed.
As he continued to sip on his
wine, his eyelids grew heavy. The fire crackled, its warmth radiating into Charles’ bones. He stayed awake to finish his glass, but as soon as it was empty, he slipped into unconsciousness.
* * *