“Your only worry should be about pleasing me from now on. No one will dare question me, that I promise.”
She rolled her eyes. “Goodness, you make it sound as though you are the one who rules England and not the Prince Regent.”
“Darling wife, do not argue with me any longer, come along now.” He ran his hands down her arms to grasp her hands, giving her a little tug.
“Very well, but I sincerely hope that I shall not be the talk of the town after this.”
"They will only be jealous that you have such a dashing and loving husband as I who knows how to spoil his wife. There are many surprises in store for you, Alice, and this one will be the first."
She sighed but allowed him to lead her further away from the house. Luke hoped that she would enjoy what he had in store for her as he had taken pains to make it as perfect as possible. He had been worried that it would not be ready on time, but minutes before the ceremony, a servant had informed him that everything was prepared.
“Where on earth are we going, Luke? I do not know this estate well enough yet.”
“It is my own favourite place, you will see.” They came up to a hedge, and he knew that just beyond it would be his surprise. “I have to stop you at this point and put a blindfold on you.”
“A blindfold? Is that necessary?”
“For what I have planned, yes. I am your husband now. You must trust me.”
“Do not make me fall, I do not wish to soil my dress.”
“I give you my word.”
Luke took a piece of material from his pocket, securing it around her eyes.
“Can you see anything?”
“Does a cow produce milk?”
He laughed. “Are you aware that you are a feisty woman?”
“Vaguely so.”
"I shall guide you. You only need to listen to me and trust me."
“I do not see any other way,” she muttered.
He would have laughed, but that would only vex her. Luke was well aware that Alice hated surprises as Violet had warned him. I shall win her over, she will grow to love them... I hope. The area was a secluded spot maintained by the gardeners and only frequented by people who knew of it, which meant only him. And now Alice, his wife.
A few twists and turns, and they finally arrived. Rather than the confidence he had felt moments before, he became nervous.
“Luke, are we here? We have stopped.”
“Yes, we are.”
“Why have you not taken my blindfold away?”
He loosened the blindfold, letting it fall to the ground. “This is for you, my love.”
***
Alice stared at the scene before her speechless. A fire had been lit for them, surrounded by rocks to keep it contained. But it was what lay around the fire that took her breath away. A little fort was erected, just enough for two people. Every measure had been taken to keep out the elements while making it wonderfully comfortable inside with dozens of multi-coloured cushions to sit upon. Strewn across the ground were hundreds upon hundreds of flower petals, their lovely scent wafting up to her nose. A silver tray with what she imagined was food sat next to a bottle of wine, confirming the celebratory feast he had spoken about. They were surrounded by trimmed hedges, effectively shielding them from view.
“Luke, this is beyond anything I could have imagined.”
“Can I take that to mean that you like your surprise?”
“More than that, I love it! When did you have the time to do it all? As far as I knew, you were as busy as I was with preparations for the wedding.”
“I have my ways, dear wife.”
"You have created our own little oasis. I feel as though I am in some book where forest meets the desert of the Bedouins. It is beautiful, Luke. Thank you."
“Is it beautiful enough to earn my first kiss?”
Alice instantly coloured. “You do not need to earn a kiss from me, Luke.”
He stepped closer to her. “Then may I kiss my wife?”
Luke made her feel both confident and out of her depth at the same time, a crazy mixture of feelings that left her breathless. The mere sight of him caused a flurry of butterflies in her belly, and now with him so close to her, she felt more alive than ever before. One simple word would make him happy and transport her to a perfect world where only Luke and she were present.
“Yes.”
THE END
Can't get enough of Alice and Luke?
Then make sure to check out the Extended Epilogue to find out…
How will our lovely couple deal with the arrival of new members in their family?
What unpredictable changes might come in Alice and Luke’s life? What will be the project they will have to run in order to face them?
What does the future have in store for Rose and how will her relationship with Alice and Luke evolve?
Click the link or enter it into your browser
http://bridgetbarton.com/alice
(After reading the Extended Epilogue, turn the page to read the first chapters from “Her Duke in the Making”, my Amazon Best-Selling novel!)
Her Duke in the Making
Introduction
Anne knows exactly what the Season will hold for her. The only thing she has to do is convince her parents that the man she has chosen is a good match for her. That seems like a trifle until her mother enlists her help to get the new Duke of Somerset ready for the Season as well. Ever the dutiful daughter, she agrees to give him etiquette lessons but only if he agrees to help her with her own plans as well. Will their unusual deal pave the way for them to grow true feelings for each other?
In order to keep him safe from his brother, Thomas's mother took him and fled to America. Now that his brother is dead Thomas must return to England to claim his birthright and become the Duke of Somerset. Raised an American and suddenly thrown into English society, Thomas has no one to turn to except perhaps the same woman who had once helped his American mother assimilate. Will he be willing to let her beautiful daughter teach him the British ways?
When matters of the heart are concerned, the future can never be predictable. In undertaking a bizarre, yet fascinating task, will Anne and Thomas be able to see that what they need is right in front of them? Will love blossom in a most unusual place?
Chapter 1
Anne drew in a breath to steady her nerves at what lay beyond the gilded doors of the London estate of the Duke of Somerset. Her mother gave Anne an encouraging smile. The carriage they were riding lurched to a halt in front of the doors of the estate.
“Best behaviour, Anne. We must give the new Duke of Somerset a good first impression of us. I will not let my dear friend Sarah down by having her son judge us as useless.” Baroness Moore adjusted her hat as if it had somehow been dislodged on the ride.
Anne did not begrudge her mother the nervousness the woman exuded. Her mother’s friend had written to beg help for her son who had just returned from America to take over his title of Duke of Somerset. It would be a daunting task without guidance, and that was why the Baroness Moore and Anne were here to offer their aid to the new duke.
A few moments later, the doors swung open, and the footman held out his hand to help Anne’s mother out of the carriage. “Careful, Lady Moore. This step stool is a bit wobbly.”
“Honestly, it feels firm enough,” Baroness Moore said in a tone that clearly said the man was being ridiculous.
Anne smiled where her mother could not see her and then put her face swiftly back in line when her mother looked around at her. “Coming, Anne? Or are you going to wait until they offer to carry you inside?”
With a sigh, Anne eased out of the carriage. “Thank you.” She dipped her head with gratitude to the footman who was swiftly packing the stool away and getting back in his position lest the driver leave him.
There it was, just as she pictured it from her last visit to the estate, that dark wooden door with the grotesque face. Why anyone wanted such a thing on their door was
beyond Anne. It was positively frightening.
The face’s mouth leered open, the doorknocker hung between its jaws, its face contorted in a perpetual life. Anne grimaced as she peered up at the thing. “What a horrible monstrosity.”
“I have seen worse. Remind me to take you to the Marquess Bristol’s tea party sometime.” Her mother did not bother with the knocker, and the door still swung open a moment later.
The doorman, a spry young man greeted them with excitement. “Your Ladyships, please come in.”
Baroness Moore regarded the man’s manner with a hint of disdain but smiled and dipped her head in thanks for his assistance. “His Grace is expecting us.”
“Oh, yes, certainly he is,” the young man babbled out. “He’s in the library, Your Ladyship.”
Baroness Moore walked past the doorman who was trying to give her directions now without even glancing at the man. She had clearly judged him useless. Anne gave the young doorman a smile of sympathy. Everyone had to be new sometime, but it was a pity he apparently had not been trained very well.
Her mother knew where she was going, and Anne just trailed along behind her. As they turned down a hallway, Baroness Moore exclaimed, “Gerald, it is good to see you still on staff.”
The butler gave Baroness Moore a warm smile and a bow. “Baroness Moore, it is good to see you. It has been a long time since you visited.”
“Indeed, too long,” Baroness Moore agreed. “Say, who is that buffoon at the door?”
Gerald, the butler, chuckled. “That would be one of the newly hired staff. He will learn.”
“I did not see what was wrong with the last doorman.” Baroness Moore grasped her gloved hands in front of her.
Gerald paused for a moment then said, “Well, he did die.”
Anne had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Anne’s mother shot her a look, and Anne bit down on her lip hard to ward off any further outbursts. Baroness Moore frowned. “That’s horrible to hear. He was a good doorman.”
Gerald inclined his head. “He was a fine man. Are you on your way to visit His Grace?”
“Yes. We were told he was in the library of all places. He knew we were coming.” Baroness Moore pressed her mouth into a thin line of disapproval.
Gerald cleared his throat. “He is new. Come let me guide you to His Grace.”
“Thank you,” Baroness Moore said as if relieved.
It was quite a bit more proper to be led through a house than to just be sent wandering. Anne followed along behind them and eyed the pictures. She recognised a few faces, but most she did not know. She had not been in this house for years, yet it all looked the same, albeit with more dust.
She frowned at the dust that was layered on one of the tables. Did the previous Duke not have any maids? The house was certainly never this dusty when Anne and her mother visited frequently. Then again, that had been years.
The previous Duke had been a flamboyant man. He had struck Anne as a nasty sort. The man was certainly nothing like what a true gentleman should have been. She could only speculate that it was the drink that finally did him in, but she had no way of knowing the truth of that because the rumours surrounding the Duke’s death were all whispers and hushed conversations that resulted in distorted versions.
She was brought out of her ponderings as they reached the library doors, and Gerald announced them loudly, “Their Ladyships, Baroness Moore and Lady Hope are here to see you, Your Grace.”
There was the sound of something dropping, and Anne’s eyebrows went up a notch. Had the man fallen? Gerald cleared his throat and slipped into the library with a motion for them to wait. A few moments later, and the butler reappeared as he swept the door open and bowed as he begged them to enter.
Baroness Moore stepped into the library as if she expected rogues to attack her at the door. With the state of the house, perhaps she had a right to be wary. Anne stepped through the door behind her mother, her eyes sweeping over the tables piled up with books as if someone were looking through them.
A man straightened, smoothing his jacket down nervously. “Baroness Moore, my mother spoke of you often.”
“Ah, Thomas, you have grown so tall,” Baroness Moore said with obvious affection. “I almost expected to find your mother here. It is a shame she did not return with you.”
The Duke of Somerset bobbed his head up and down, his shaggy hair twisted and curled here and there. Anne was reminded of the face on the doorknob and wondered if perhaps they were related. He smiled at Anne’s mother as if unaware of Anne’s presence. “She could not stand to leave my stepfather. She has my younger half-sister to worry about, after all.”
“I do hope she is well. I miss her terribly,” Baroness Moore said with a sincerity that touched Anne. She knew her mother had dragged her here out of loyalty to an old friend and Anne felt herself longing to help more now, even if the current Duke seemed quite hopeless.
The man was not even wearing a waistcoat that Anne could see. If not for the jacket, the man might as well be naked. Anne felt her face flush at the very thought, and she hid it behind the fan at her elbow. Baroness Moore turned toward Anne. “Allow me to introduce my daughter, Lady Anne Hope.” Her mother, in turn, told Anne, “Anne, this is His Grace the Duke of Somerset.”
Anne dipped down into a curtsey as it was clear the man was not going to acknowledge the introduction. She put it down to American manners or lack thereof. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace.”
Duke Somerset bobbed his head up and down yet again like some trained pigeon. “Yes. You too.”
Baroness Moore shook her head. “Your mother was right. It will take much to prepare you for the coming Season and taking over your role here in London.”
“Season.” Duke Somerset said the word as if it were a death knell. “My mother told me of the London Season. It sounded rather frivolous. Am I really expected to take part in that?”
Baroness Moore patted her chest as if she might just hyperventilate. Anne watched her mother with a worried frown. Eventually, Baroness Moore managed to speak again. “Yes. You are a Duke, and it will be expected of you to be out in society. Having a successful London Season to your credit can go a long way to improving your standing among the peerage.”
“That would be the same group of people responsible for my mother fleeing England and heading to America, I assume,” Duke Somerset said with a deep scowl. “I fail to see why I must play anyone’s game in order to simply inherit what is rightfully mine.”
Baroness Moore shook her head at the indignant Duke. “Thomas,” she said his given name much as she would a child. “Your mother sent me here to ensure that you would be a success. I intend to do that. I understand that we shall have to overcome certain American eccentricities, but we can use that to our advantage to make you interesting.”
“Like you did my mother?” The way he asked the question did not sound as if he thought very highly of what Anne’s mother had done for his own mother back in the day. Anne took offence to that. Her mother had gone out of her way to help the Duke’s mother make her first steps into society.
Baroness Moore heaved a sigh. “I understand that you are sore about what happened, but that was on no one but your brother. He was quite mad at the end.”
“You could have offered her a safe harbour or defended her,” Duke Somerset said as he turned away towards the books he had been looking at when they entered.
Anne felt compelled to say something. Her mother’s face was etched with old pain. “It is not my mother’s fault that your mother fled to America. Was your life in America so bad then?”
The Way to Capture a Marquess's Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 28