Billionaire: Billionaire Boss Romance: What the Boss Wants, He Gets (Bad Boy Alpha Billionaire Boss Romance) (New Adult Contemporary Older Man Romance)

by Tia Siren

  Mary looked up at him, but could neither bring her head to nod or shake. She didn’t know if he would be there for her. He had run at first wind of her financial problems. And now he wanted the best thing that happened to her family gone. But, she knew that she still cared for him, and still loved him. But perhaps not in the same way.

  Maybe he is right, thought Mary. The Amish will take care of us. They always do. Maybe the best decision is just to listen to the Bishop and accept his decision.

  That night, Samuel bed courted her. But there was more than a bundling board between them this time. Mary felt confused and alone. She knew that John was sleeping on the couch, by himself. All he had done was help their family and work hard. And yet Samuel wanted him gone. She knew that John would be happy to see Samuel marry her, so long as he knew it was what would make her happy. But would that make her happy? Mary wasn’t sure.

  In the morning Samuel left early to attend to his chores. There was no sad goodbye. She wasn’t sure if she was even going to miss him. His heart has grown cold and Mary didn’t know if the boy she grew up with still existed. She felt like he had been pretending all these years to love her.

  *****

  John had spent all morning thinking about how he would defend himself against the Bishop. He didn’t know how the decision would be made, but he knew he must be ready. The decision of that day would affect the rest of his life.

  Mama, Mary, Ruth and John got in the buggy to see the Bishop. John was worried that he would not receive a fair judgment. He thought of all the good things that he had done over the past few weeks that he spent with Mary and her mama. He knew they would stand up to defend him. But he didn’t know if it would be enough. He had hurt so many people in the community, part of him understood if they never wanted to see him again.

  They entered the Bishop’s house and were surprised to see that many were in attendance. Samuel was sitting in the back, and looked pleased to see John walk in. John scanned the room and saw his father in attendance. They acknowledged each other with a nod.

  The Bishop has absolute authority in the affairs of the Amish. He could admonish a person for not wearing their head covering properly or being late to church. John knew that he was completely at the Bishop’s mercy. But this is what he wanted. This is what he had prayed for, to have structure in his life. He was ready to accept whatever the Bishop said.

  The Bishop opened up the Ordnung, the rules that governed life in their community. He began reading reasons that one might be excommunicated. Most of them dealt with things like fornication and drunkenness and the like. But then he got to leaving the Amish community, and severing fellowship. John knew that he had been guilty of that, everybody knew.

  “And what sayest thou in response?” Asked the Bishop.

  John had prepared a defense. “You said that I may be treated as a visitor, and stay with an Amish family if I could. That is what I have done. If it so pease the church, I would like my host, Deborah to vouch for me that I have obeyed the Ordnung these past few weeks as a member of her household. Not only that, but I have helped with the chores and done much to improve their financial situation.”

  The Bishop and the Deacons behind him did not look impressed. “Is this the case.” He asked Deborah.

  “It is,” she said. “Since the passing of my husband our family has been in great need of a man to help with all of the chores.”

  The Bishop looked offended. “And why have you not sought out help from the church in this case? We are a close knit community that supports one another. That is part of what makes us Amish,” replied the Bishop.

  “Helping is what makes us Amish, is that right?” Asked John.

  “That is a big part of it,” replied the Bishop.

  “If that is the case, then I can prove that I am dedicated to my faith in God and in living as an Amish. I have money that I have saved up that I will give to Deborah and Mary. They will not need to sell their house or their farm.”

  The room fell silent. The Bishop paused for a few moments before answering. “But we could excommunicate you right now, and then you would never be able to benefit from your generous gift.”

  “If I understand the Ordnung correctly,” continued John, “If I am shunned, no member of the church would be able to receive anything from me. Which means that I have to give the gift now, before you can excommunicate me. I have already found what I was looking for, even if you kick me out. It only took one family to take me in and show me love for me to trust in God again. I know that He lives and that serving Him is more important than serving the Amish or the Ordnung or anything else. Do with me what you must, but my conscience is clear,” said John.

  There was commotion as what John had said came as a surprise. Mary and Deborah had tears in their eyes at such a kind offer. The Bishop and the Deacons conferred together before they rendered a decision.

  “Are you sure about this, John? You know you don’t have to,” said Deborah.

  “Yes, I am more sure about this than anything I have ever done,” he said. “You and Mary have been a huge blessing in my life. More than you could ever know. So I need to show you how grateful I am.”

  Mary and Deborah gave him a hug together. John felt that he had found the belonging that he had longed for. Whether or not he was shunned, he didn’t care. He now had faith in people again.

  The Bishop motioned for everybody to be silent again. “As you know, the Amish culture depends on strict adherence to the Bible and to the Ordnung. If we deviate with something small, soon it will become bigger and eventually our culture is lost. That is how we have done things for 400 years. But, the Deacons and I have decided that John has shown his commitment to serving others and to faith in God to such a degree that it absolves him of any of his transgressions against the church. We deem that he not be excommunicated. This is contingent on him fulfilling his promise of course.”

  John nodded at the Bishop who nodded right back at him. There was a big heart in him all along. John saw his father in the corner or the room looking at him with the typical Amish reserve. But then he smiled and walked over.

  “Son, I am so proud of you.” He hugged John. “You know that is all a father ever hopes for, that he can be proud of his son. Your mother would be proud too.”

  “Father, I’m sorry for…”

  “There is not time for that now. Right now is time to rejoice,” said his father.

  Mary and Deborah looked elated at the news. Especially Deborah. “So looks like we are going to have even more time to get to know each other,” said Mary.

  “Ya, and that isn’t such a bad thing,” replied John. He had not wanted to get his wishes up for Mary, for fear of disappointment. But now he allowed himself to dream. He saw Samuel walking out of the room, seemingly the only person that was upset.

  “Come on, let’s go home,” said Deborah.

  *****

  That night, John was to bed court with Mary for the first time. It was something that he had never done before. “Hi,” he said when he got on his side of the bed. He didn’t know what else to say. “I kind of like that I can talk to you all night,” he continued.

  “So do I,” whispered Mary. “How does it feel not to be sleeping on the couch? Do you feel more like family?”

  John laughed. “I think I have a way that would make me feel even more like family though. Will you be my wife, Mary?”

  Mary squealed. “Of course I will. You are my best friend, and what better than to be married to your best friend.” She wanted to jump out of bed and scream and tell the whole world. But what she wanted even more was to lay in bed and enjoy getting to know the man that she would spend the rest of her life with.

  *****

  THE END

  CLEAN REGENCY Romance Collection – Dashing Dukes

  Saved From a Scoundrel – A Clean Regency Romance

  Chapter One

  Lady Isabeau Camm collapsed in a cushioned chair in the row along the wall, waving her
fan in front of her face. It was entirely too hot in the ballroom, and there were entirely too many people there. She continued fanning herself until she saw Anne coming toward her. She lifted her fan high in the air and called out loudly, “Anne! Anne! Over here!”

  Anne saw her and made a beeline toward Isabeau, dropping herself into a chair next to her.

  “Oh, Izzie!” Anne looked as exhausted as Isabeau felt. “It feels like this ball will never be over. We should just start walking home.”

  “It’s much too cold to walk, Anne.” Anne had lived next door to Isabeau and her family since they were very small children. They had played together from the very early ages, sharing dolls and secrets throughout the years. This was their first time on the season and were both trying very hard to keep up with the Ton and present the best appearances possible.

  “Do I look terrible, Anne?” Isabeau raised the hand she wasn’t using to hold the fan and patted down her auburn hair, feeling just a few strands that had come loose from the barrettes and pins. She instantly flushed, picturing her hair fluffed out all over her head. Anne shook her head.

  “No, you look beautiful, Isabeau,” Anne said, using her handkerchief to dab at her forehead and face. “My, it is quite hot in here. Someone should open some windows and doors.”

  “Let’s take a walk on the veranda, Anne. Come on.” She stood up and held out one hand to her friend. Anne took it and stood up. They made their way through the pressing bodies to the massive double glass doors that looked out over the veranda and the vast field beyond. Anne pressed the door handle down and swung the window doors out wide. The two women instantly felt a breeze flow past them, and they both sighed, enjoying it immensely.

  “This was a wonderful idea, Isabeau.” Anne stepped out into the evening, taking a small fan similar to Isabeau’s out of her handbag and opening it. I thought I might die in there!”

  “Me too.” Isabeau nodded. “I don’t want to be on the verge of fainting when I have my next dance.”

  “Who do you have next?” Anne took her card from her bag and put the fan back in it. “I have…” She scanned the card. “It looks like Lord Rupert is next in line.”

  Isabeau laughed softly. “Lord Rupert. I have already danced with him. Watch his hands and be careful of his feet. He is quite a talker, as well. My goodness, his business is doing so well, you would think he would be the richest Lord on earth, richer than God!”

  The girls laughed. Isabeau glanced at her card. “I have Jonathan Barnaby. He’s an Earl, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, he is extremely wealthy!” Anne raised her eyebrows. “He would be a good husband, I would think. But he’s very young. I’ve danced with him, too. He’s very agreeable.”

  “I don’t want to marry anyone unless I love him,” Isabeau said. “I don’t care if he is a rich man or a pauper.”

  “Oh, I didn’t mean to imply anything otherwise, Izzie. I know you. I wonder, though, if you would really feel the same passion for a pauper as you would for a Lord. Having money does make a difference.”

  “Money also changes the way people are inside,” Isabeau said. “I know several wealthy men who had delightful personalities until they became wealthy.”

  “I think it’s different when they already have a fortune they have inherited through their family name. I think men with old money are a little more judgmental than the others who have had to work their way to wealth.”

  “I would agree with that.” Isabeau nodded her head. “It is because they were once paupers themselves…or close to it. When you are poor, and you grow up to be rich, you can see things from both perspectives.”

  “Who else do you have on your card? There are four more dances. After Lord Rupert, I have good old hairy Lord Henry.”

  “Oh no!” They both laughed. Lord Henry had not cut his hair from the time he was about ten years old. He was another local, and both girls knew him well. They were all friends and had a good time together, so her dance with him was more for fun than anything

  The doors the girls had come out of burst open and two young men came through in a hurry, their eyes in search of something. When they spotted the girls, they both called out to them.

  “Anne! Isabeau! We’ve been looking for both of you!”

  The women turned to see Lord Rupert and Earl Barnaby heading toward them.

  “Oh!” Anne flushed. “Have we lost track of time? Oh dear! Has the next dance started?”

  Lord Rupert held out his hand to her, flashing a brilliant smile that made his eyes flash. “If we hurry, we won’t miss more than a few moments!”

  Anne matched Lord Rupert’s smile, took his hand, and the two of them jogged across the veranda to the door, slipping in swiftly.

  “Well, they are very much in a hurry to dance, aren’t they?” Earl Barnaby turned a smile to Isabeau. “I, however, am less motivated to find a spot on the floor. I am feeling…a bit overheated in there.”

  “That’s why we came out here.” Isabeau nodded. “It is extremely hot in there. And with that many people crowded in there…I’m actually quite surprised by how many people came tonight. It’s as if everyone from all around the country came here for this one ball.”

  The Earl laughed. He held out his hand, and she took it, letting him take her back across the veranda to the doors. “I think that would be quite a lot more people,” he said when they got to the doors. He stopped her when she put her hand on the door handle.

  “We don’t need to go in yet, do we? Shall we skip this dance? Or perhaps dance out here? I can hear the music fine. Can you?”

  Isabeau was intrigued. It would be quite lovely to dance out here on the veranda. She lifted her arms and smiled at him. He put his arm around her slender waist, and they began to dance. “Have you had any interesting partners yet?”

  “None that had me dancing on the veranda,” she responded softly.

  “It certainly seems less stressing than being in there, surrounded by all the others and feeling somewhat suffocated.”

  “I agree. How have you fared tonight? Any of the Ladies catch your eye?”

  “None yet, present company excluded. I must say I am enjoying this dance in particular.”

  “That is very pleasing to hear.” Isabeau smiled at him. “You realize that if we are spotted, everyone will come out here, and we will be surrounded once again?”

  “I’ll take that chance. It’s a nice evening out here. I don’t want to stop now.”

  “I’m glad! I don’t either!”

  They laughed, and he spun her in a circle. They finished the dance several minutes later, and he stepped back a foot to bow deeply to her. “That was a lovely dance, Lady Isabeau! Most enjoyable! I do hope you will consider me as a friend and we can dance again next time we see each other!”

  She lowered her head. “I certainly would like that, Earl Barnaby.”

  “Please, we must dispense with the formalities! I am Jonathan to my friends and you, dear lady, I do call friend.”

  “Thank you very much, Ea…Jonathan.” She giggled.

  He took her hand and kissed it as the doors opened and several people came wandering through. Isabeau looked, but Anne was not one of them.

  It was Tomas Hurley. He was the brother of a duke, the beloved Edward Hurley, who was a business acquaintance of her father. But unlike, the Duke, Tomas was rather disagreeable. He had an unpleasant look on his face.

  Isabeau’s heart hardened instantly, and she pulled back a little, not wanting to be too close to him until she had to be. He was on her card and she had forgotten it. She probably didn’t want to remember. He had a strange fascination with her, and if she could have avoided the invitation, she definitely would have. But her mother had insisted that both the Duke and his brother would be on her card, whether or not she liked them. They were prominent in society and must not be shunned.

  She watched as Tomas Hurley passed the Earl. Both men nodded once and said the first name of the other. There was no love lost between
them. She wasn’t surprised. She took a few steps toward the door, hoping to avoid having to speak to him but he was coming straight for her.

  She curtsied when he got closer. “Mr Hurley. How are you feeling this evening?”

  “I’m doing well.” His voice was somewhat high-pitched, reminding her of what she felt a weasel would sound like if it could talk. “I saw that Earl Barnaby had to go in search of you before the last dance. I hope you will see to it that I do not have to do the same.”

  “I…I do believe there is another gentleman before you on my dance card,” she said hesitantly. She didn’t want to dance with him in the first place, much less go out of her way to make sure she was present on time.

  “Precisely why I came to find you. I have told you previously of my fondness for you. It looks somewhat inappropriate for you to be dancing with another man on the veranda where no one else is present.”

  Isabeau blinked. It was true that he had expressed his desire to see her more often, and he had come by the house on occasion to make it clear to her family, as well. But they knew she had no affection for him, which doubled her frustration that her mother had insisted Tomas Hurley be on her dance card.

  “I…am sorry that you feel that way, Mr Hurley. If you would like to cancel your dance with me because of this blight, I would understand.” She could only wish. She knew he would answer the way he did.

  “No, I am still willing to dance with you. You will just have to curb your desire to stray when you don’t believe you are being seen.”

  Isabeau felt rage surge through her. Outwardly, she curtsied again and smiled at him as she went past. She dared not say a word or her anger would betray her. She wondered if she could run out the door before her dance with him and make it home before he could sound an alarm. She could barely contain her anger, and it ruined the dance with Lord Carlisle, who was next on her card. He was friendly, but she could do no more than fake a smile and dread the moment she would be dancing with Mr Hurley.