The Trouble with Saving a Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel

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by Emma Linfield


  He makes me feel more alive than I have ever felt. When I am near him, everything is right. The world is right. I’d rather risk exile than not see him.

  A thought came to her.

  “What of Lord Alderbridge?”

  They had arrived at the Castle and dismounted their horses. Handing the reins to the stable boy who had awaited them, her father turned to her.

  “I will write to him and let him know of our young guest. See if he might know who he is. I will send the note today, it may reach him yet before he departs for London.”

  “Thank you, Papa.”

  He sighed. “It is in all our interest that the young man recovers his memories, sooner rather than later. Now. Your Mother is in her chamber. Her nerves have been bothering her all day. Please. Go to her.”

  Seraphina nodded and begrudgingly went into the house when he called her back.

  “Change your dress, first. It will only upset her more to see you in such a state.”

  She gave him a nod and curtsied before disappearing inside, bracing herself for the now inevitable confrontation.

  Chapter 20

  He dragged Harry outside the Inn by the collar of his shirt. An undignified way of transport, to be sure, but the most effective at this moment.

  Harry struggled as they made their way down the steps and toward the carriage. Liam had momentarily felt sorry for his cousin who, in his agitated, drunken state, had been convinced that he was Lysander. The look of shock on Harry’s face upon realized that it was been his cousin, not his brother who was standing behind him, had been heartbreaking.

  However, that was before Liam had a full understanding of the events that had transpired just moments before. Now that he knew just how badly Harry had behaved, all sympathy had evaporated.

  “Let go of me, now! I do not appreciate being carried about like a sack of potatoes.”

  “Once we get to the carriage,” Liam replied and dragged Harry further. He had not realized until now just how light his cousin was. When they made it to the carriage, he indicated for the coachman, Harrods, to open the door.

  “Liam, you are making me into a public embarrassment,” Harry moaned.

  “I venture to say that you have done that very well for yourself. Propositioning a young woman in such a manner. What is wrong with you, Harry? I have never known you to stoop to such levels.”

  His cousin wailed in response. The sound chilled Liam to the bones and he quickly deposited his cousin into the carriage, shutting the door behind him. Then, taking a deep breath, he turned and made his way toward the building.

  The young woman stood outside, having watched the spectacle along with some patrons who’d wandered to the windows to watch. Now that the drunken gentleman was deposited in the carriage, the looky-loos had returned to their ale. The young woman, however, still stood silently.

  “Miss,” Liam started. She flinched and took a step back as he approached. He swayed his head, raised his hands in surrender and took a step back. “Please, you must not fear me. I simply wish to apologize for my cousin’s behavior. He has been unwell and—”

  “He is drunk as a wheelbarrow, is what you mean to say. I should have seen it, but I did not realize until I spoke to him and it was too late by then.” She shook her head and pursed her lips.

  “Again, I apologize. It has been a taxing time for us all, with the Duke gone to London.”

  The woman tilted her head to one side. “You do know that the people in the village do not quite believe the tale of the sudden departure to London. Not anymore, anyhow.”

  Liam licked his lips, hoping his face did not give away the surprise this disturbing news filled him with.

  “Is that so, Miss—”

  “Thornton. Mrs. Isabella Thornton. And yes. It is so.”

  Liam shrugged, hoping to appear nonchalant. “Well, be that as it may, the Duke is indeed at his London residence, attending to business in the city.”

  She blinked at him rapidly. “If you say so. Although it is rather curious that Baron Haynes’ under butler just returned from London and declared that Hawthorn House is utterly deserted, save for the caretaker. And yet, you and your cousin as well as the butler at the manor all insist the Duke is there.”

  Liam swallowed at this revelation. He had not thought of the possibility of word reaching them so quickly.

  How am I to explain this away? How can I keep news from spreading further?

  His only option was to ignore the comment for now. “In any case, Mrs. Thornton, I do apologize on my cousin’s behalf and assure you such display will not be repeated.”

  She shrugged, sadness descending over her pretty brown eyes. “It does not matter. If the Duke does not return soon to give me assistance, I will not be able to keep my farm just as the others.”

  Liam frowned. “This is the matter you have spoken to Mr. Keswick on? Your farm?”

  The young woman nodded. “I have run into trouble. One of my children took ill and the cost of the medicine has been high. It is just myself and the children, and my elderly parents at the farm now. I sought to speak to His Grace about the situation, but I am told he is not available. Thus, when I saw Mr. Keswick at the inn, I decided to ask him to help me in contacting his brother. He told me that not only is His Grace not available to speak, but the estate is also not in the habit of granting extensions of any kind.”

  Liam glanced back at the carriage, just in time to see Harry opening the door and relieving his stomach onto the ground below him.

  “You were not granted an extension?”

  She shook her head. “Your cousin attempted to elicit favors of a personal nature in exchange for assistance. I am no light skirt. No matter my circumstances, I will never stoop so low. He did not like that reply.” She sighed heavily. “If you have no further queries, I must excuse myself. I must find shelter for my children, parents and I, for it appears we will soon be out of house and home.”

  She lifted her ragged skirt slightly to navigate the steps before her. Liam watched her as she went, his head spinning. He could not believe Harry would act in such a dastardly manner. It was so unlike him. And could it be true that Lysander did not extend the rental payments to his tenants? Certainly not. Lysander was not in the habit of putting tenants out of their homes.

  Indeed, it was one of the few issues he took quite seriously and had intended to raise to the House of Lords. The high taxation for the common class, the troubles farmers faced, and the general welfare of the lower class were all close to Lysander’s heart. He could simply not imagine that he’d deny anyone assistance, especially a young woman with children.

  “Mrs. Thornton,” he called out as he followed her down the steps. “Please, do not depart in such haste.” The young woman stopped and turned. Tears glistened in her eyes.

  “Yes, My Lord? What else is there I might assist you with?” He’d expected her statement to carry venom and anger, but it was only resignation he heard in her tone.

  “I want to assure you that you will not be out of house and home, not until my cousin, the Duke, returns. And I assure you further that he will return soon.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “And what favors would My Lord like in exchange for such a generosity?”

  He shook his head. “None. I do not know why Mr. Keswick denied you your request, but I know that it is not in the Duke’s habit to expel people from their homes.”

  She blinked. “That was what I had heard myself, but then I know of at least two farmers who have recently been forced off their properties in recent months. I heard the on dit was that it was due to their inability to pay, but I could not believe it for His Grace has a reputation of being kind.”

  Liam rubbed his lips together as he considered this news.

  “Would you know the names of these other farmers who were sent away?”

  She thought for a moment as she looked out over the fields beyond the inn.

  “Marwin Patterson was one. The other…Darson, or Dawson.
I cannot recall. I did not know him well.”

  Liam nodded, making a mental note of the names. He would have to ask Harry about them to find out what had happened. For a moment, he wondered if perhaps the dismissal of these men had coincided with the events surrounding Lysander’s disappearance.

  It certainly is something worth investigation.

  “My Lord?” the woman’s voice called him back to the present.

  “Yes, Mrs. Thornton?”

  “I asked if my home is indeed safe.”

  He smiled at her, “Yes, you have my word.” Realizing he had never introduced himself, he bowed slightly. “Liam Keswick, Earl of Millsbury.”

  “I know who you are, My Lord. I thank you.” She curtsied and prepared to leave when something appeared to stop her. She glanced at him; her eyes narrowed before speaking.

  “I do not know why you have let it be known that His Grace is in London, but if you wish to maintain this story, it may be advisable to explain why he is not at his London house. With the London Season coming to an end, many Lords will be returning and with them, their servants. There will be talk.”

  Liam forced a smile. “I thank you for your concern, but I assure you, His Grace is safe and well. And he will return shortly.”

  “I hope so,” she turned her head toward the carriage where Harry was hanging out of the door, face pale and miserable, “for all of our sakes.”

  With that, she turned and left, leaving Liam to return to the carriage. He stepped over Harry’s mess and pushed his cousin into the carriage, taking his seat beside him.

  “Harrods, take us back to Norwood Hall.” Almost at once, the familiar “Trot, trot” command could be heard, and the carriage set into motion.

  “You will need to regain your senses, Harry, for we have much to discuss,” he told his cousin who hung in his seat as though he was about to slide out and onto the ground.

  “Ever so much to discuss,” he muttered to himself as the inn faded into the distance.

  Chapter 21

  Oliver stood at the paddock and waited. The sun had set some time ago and the moon had risen. Stars sprinkled the night sky. He looked up and found himself surprised to know the names of the constellations above him.

  “Orion,” he muttered to himself. Suddenly, he sat up straight. “Orion was Henrietta’s horse. Yes. I remember it now. A black gelding with glowing eyes, almost yellow. A beautiful mane and tail. She rode him with such joy, and I alongside her. My horse was…” It was gone. For a moment, he’d thought he could grasp onto the name of his horse but then it was blank, as always.

  If I owned a horse, then I cannot have been a pauper, that much is for sure. Even as a coachman, or the son of a coachman, I would not have been able to keep a horse.

  The realization made him think harder. Was Lord Alderbridge perhaps more than a former employer? Maybe they were friends? Had they attended school together, perhaps? He had to find a way to meet the man, or to figure out some other way to recover his memories.

  He thought back of all the things he had thus far found out about himself. He knew he was not accustomed to dressing himself. It still felt odd to put his own garments on in the morning. He also was used to much better food than the stable staff was being served. While not terrible, he found the simply made food unfamiliar.

  In addition, he was comfortable around horses. He could ride them as well as drive carriages. Yet, he was utterly useless as a stable boy.

  How do I know all these things? Perhaps I am a member of the gentry, or a merchant.

  He glanced down at his hands which were free of the signs of hard labor, free of calluses. His skin had only now begun to darken, after days of working on the paddock and in the sun.

  Once Seraphina arrived, he would ask her to accompany him to the road where he had been found. Perhaps there were clues to be found as to who he was.

  With a sigh, he sat down behind the fence and watched the path that led to the Castle.

  In the distance, Vallant Castle’s majestic shape rose above the landscape. He spotted the watchtower, an imposing construction, on the right-hand side. Several windows were lit. Beeswax candles gave off a much brighter light than the tallow candles he’d been handed in his humble chamber.

  The exact cost of beeswax versus tallow candles popped into his head. He was not sure why exactly he was thinking of the cost or how he even knew, but it was there. Burned into his memory. Another odd piece of the puzzle.

  He found himself yawning. Ever since he’d taken the position as stable hand, he’d found himself rising before dawn. His body was not at all used to it, another sign that he was not used to this kind of life. He found himself tired and exhausted by the middle of the afternoon but had to force himself to carry on.

  Oliver sat against the post behind him and rested his eyes. The steady chewing of a horse close by him, indulging in grass, soothed his mind. Slowly, he slipped into a dreamless slumber.

  He woke once, briefly, to the smell of fresh horse manure. Scrunching his nose, he got up and walked a few steps down the fence, taking his seat again. It was now night. The windows in the Castle that had been lit only a short while ago were now dark. Two windows still showed light, but it was impossible to make out which.

  Where is Seraphina? It must be almost midnight if not later. What if she does not come?

  He shook his head. No matter. He’d promised her he would wait all night if he had to, and he intended to do just that.

  “Excalibur!” her soft voice drifted into his dream and he smiled, turning his head to her. His eyes flickered open and found hers at once. She was squatting down beside him, the dim light of morning behind her.

  “If it isn’t the loveliest stable boy I’ve ever seen,” he grinned at her. A moment later, he felt her lips pressed on his and they were lost in their togetherness.

  “I am ever so sorry to be so late,” Seraphina said once she had settled beside him. She was dressed in a simple blue round dress, a white spencer covering her arms. Her hair, so wild and unkept the previous day, was tidied in an updo, with ringlets hanging down on either side. “Or rather, so early.”

  He turned his head toward the sun. The sky was tinged with a deep pinkish purple hue.

  “It is a beautiful day ahead,” he said before realizing he had not responded to her statement. “I told you I would wait for you. And I did. Given the sweet manner in which I was woken, it was certainly worth the wait.”

  She blushed and averted her eyes. “Faith, Oliver.”

  He enjoyed teasing her, seeing this girlish side to her he had not previously known. However, given their situation he forced himself to be serious once more.

  “What took you so long?”

  She sighed and ripped a long piece of grass out of the ground, twirling it around her index finger.

  “I could not get away. I had to apologize to my Mother, as was expected. Her punishment was to not let me out of her sight for the rest of the day. I had to partake in activities suitable for a lady, along with my Sisters.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Pray tell, what activities did you engage in?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Embroidery. I despise it and I am no good at it. Look,” she pushed one hand in front of his face, and he saw the marks on her hands here she had poked herself. Quickly, he clasped her hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing her gently.

  “There, better?”

  She pulled her hand back and smiled. Then, to his surprise, she leaned to her side and rested her head on his shoulder. As if on instinct, he rested his head against hers in response.

  “Much.” She removed the piece of grass from around her finger and tossed it aside, ripping out another and twirling it around her finger in its place. “After the embroidery, I was made to listen to Mary recite poems, and then Cynthia played the harp. It all went on for what felt like centuries. When at last it was time to retire to my chamber, I found that Mother had posted Lottie, her trusted servant, outside my door to stand watch.
” Her nostrils flared. “As though I were a prisoner. It took me hours to finally find a way to sneak away.”

  “How did you manage to get away?”

  She shrugged. “Exited through the window onto the balcony and climbed into Mary’s window instead. Gave her a proper fright too. All the better.”

  He frowned. “Won’t you sister report this to your Mother?”

  Seraphina smirked, glee in her eyes. “Never. She owes me for the revelation she made to Mother about my affection for you. Thus, she has sworn to cover for me until at least breakfast.” She glanced at the sun. “Oliver, what will we do? I have been forbidden from seeing you. They might send me away to my Aunt’s if they catch us. She’s a fright.”

 

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