The Marchioness’ Buried Secret (Historical Regency Romance)

by Ella Edon

  He raised the box to the table before him and took out a letter. Emma had promised to sit and listen to him as he read them to her, but she never wanted to read them herself. Although they were aware that his father had forged the letter he had showed to Emma, she was still afraid that in the letters between their mothers, there was a truth to what the Earl had said.

  Henry took up a letter and read. It was of her mother, telling his mother that she had made a mistake.

  He took up another and read.

  Dear Ana,

  I do understand what you mean, but I shall have you know that I do love Roger. I do see that he loves me too. But most times, I remember the beautiful relationship I had with... Edward. But you understand well enough how hard it has all been on me. He was dragged away because he was a stable boy, and I am certain that he could have been killed if not that he had fled. I love Roger in my own way, but I shall never forget the love I shared with Edward.”

  Henry looked at Emma's expression. She held her breath and shook her head. She was on the verge of tears.

  "His name was Edward. The man she had loved.." Emma shook her head. "How could my mother do this?"

  "She was in love,” Henry said. And although it was no justification, he said it anyways, to comfort her.

  Emma nodded, and told him to read on.

  Dear Grace,

  Perhaps it is best to forget Edward. You have not heard from him for years, and it is quite understandable I want you to move on, Grace. For your own good. Roger loves you, and he has proven this many a time.

  Henry stopped reading. He shook his head and tossed it aside. He picked up another, but Emma shook her head.

  "It is of no use, let it be, Henry."

  But he had already opened the letter he held. As he looked through, he smiled. He looked up at Emma. "This is good news."

  Emma raised her brows. "Is it?"

  He began to read it.

  Dearest Ana,

  It has been quite a while. I had been angry at your last letter, because you had scolded me. And for that I am sorry. I also did not reply to your last few letters. How is Little Henry? No longer so little now is he? I suppose not. I did as you had asked, and I forgot all about Edward. He is all in the past now. I have not been in contact with him in the past year, although, he tried. He even sent me a letter, which Roger saw. That had been the beginning of something beautiful. Roger had asked what I wanted, and I had told him that I was uncertain. But for the past year, Roger has been the best husband I could ever wish for. And I am pleased to tell you that I am with child, Ana.

  I may come down to visit you at Dunberry, be well.

  Lady Grace Thorton.

  Henry looked up at Emma, to see that she had clamped her hands over her mouth. Her eyes were wide open. Henry knew that this was the truth. There was no way that there was any truth other than this. Her mother had never had an affair with another man, and Emma was her father's daughter, nothing more. Henry rose, and Emma rose as well. Giggling, she hugged him. He carried her, so that her feet were above the ground and she was laughing. She was so happy.

  He knew that a great weight had been lifted from her. All the time he had known her, his father's lies had weighed on her. He sighed as he recalled his father. His father had lied to her, and manipulated her, all so she could do his bidding. He was glad that the truth was finally revealed, and Emma was innocent in all of it.

  She moved back. "Oh Henry, my mother was none of those things that your father had professed. She never had an affair. She never did anything to hurt my father. And your mother was there with her, all through it."

  "Indeed, she was." Henry nodded.

  Emma sighed. "I feel so relieved to hear this. To finally know the truth."

  Henry knew that she was. He held her close.

  "Rachael has said she will stay in London, until she figures out what to do with her life."

  Henry nodded. He felt for her, for her life had been thrown out of balance. He was ready to welcome Rachael to his home if need be.

  Henry kissed Emma tenderly, so that their tongues danced together, passionately. He kissed her to express his joy. When he pulled away, he stared down at her stomach and rubbed his hands over the dress.

  "Our child shall be born into a world of love and peace."

  As Emma leaned against him, smiling, Henry was more than sure that the future was bright. He could not wait for the next phase of their life. Emma moved back a bit.

  "Perhaps, it is best we retire?"

  Henry chuckled.

  Emma's cheeks reddened, and he bent to kiss her there. Then slowly, he whispered into her ears. "I think it is indeed best we retire now, because I want to make passionate love to you, my darling."

  Emma turned crimson again and she turned away from him. As she walked out of the salon, Henry followed. Once they were in the bed chamber, Emma began to undress immediately, until all that was left on her was her chemise. She stood gazing at him. Moving away from the door, he walked over to her. Emma turned crimson as he approached her. Skillfully, he slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her close to him. She moaned, even before his hands began to roam her body. Before his lips met hers.

  They kissed, their tongues moving in rhythm. Emma moaned in his arms, and the thought of how wet she would be, made him want more of her. He cupped her buttocks, so that her legs automatically wrapped around his waist and he led her to the bed. He placed her on the bed and stood to take off his shirt and breeches. Beneath him, Emma watched and waited.

  When he had taken off his shirt and his boots, he could not stay away for much longer. He moved, so that he was leaning between her legs. He felt her shudder. His lips met with hers once again, and he pressed his body to hers, so that her bosom touched his chest. His lips left hers, and trailed down her face, to her shoulders. He took off her dress and pulled until her breasts were freed. He kissed them, and sucked them, until she moaned in pleasure and asked that him not to stop. As he did this, his finger found its way to her center, and rubbed against it, feeling the wetness.

  Emma panted as he did this, her hands roamed his hair, and her whispers filled his ears. "Henry... Do not stop."

  He went on kissing her perfect breasts, while she bucked, so that his fingers found comfort in her center. When he stopped, she was panting heavily. Her eyes searched his.

  "Henry, make love to me. Passionate love."

  Henry leaned away from her, she was ready for him, for she had pulled off her chemise and was in her naked glory before him. He felt insatiable tonight. He felt the need to please Emma until she was whimpering beneath him. As though uncertain, Emma raised her hands, her sole focus on his manhood. Slowly, she placed her hands around it. He jerked at the touch and closed his eyes in pleasure. She began to move her hands against it, very slowly, and he began to harden under her fingers. As she did this, her eyes found his. Unable to take it anymore, he gripped her hands softly. She sighed.

  "Let me be inside you Emma."

  Emma nodded. She parted her legs for him and let him lean into her. He penetrated her slowly, while watching her. He saw her face brighten, and scrunch as he did this. And finally, when he began moving inside of her, she moved with him, her eyes closed, their bodies merging. Her sweet moans filled his ears. The desires and passion moving together until they both climaxed. He felt his release inside of her, and when she clung to him, her panting slowed down, he knew that he had pleased her.

  He kissed her, and she smiled as he did. They held on to each other for a while, before he arose to clean them both up with a cloth. After, when they both lay in each other's arms, he could not help but feel a sense of happiness and fulfillment in their new life. He felt sad about the way everything had ended for his father, but he knew that his father had done wrong and he had only suffered the consequence of his actions. Henry was happy, most importantly, for securing a future for his family. He looked at Emma, and he was overjoyed. She was happy and comfortable, and finally, she kne
w the truth about herself. She no longer carried such a burden on her shoulders. He kissed her shoulders when she snuggled into him. It was a beginning of their happy ever after.

  The End?

  Extended Epilogue

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  Afterword

  Thank you for reading my novel, The Marchioness’ Buried Secret. I really hope you enjoyed it! If you did, could you please be so kind to write a review HERE?

  It is very important for me to read your thoughts about my book, in order to get better at writing.

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  Do you want more Romance?

  Turn on the next page to read the first chapters of my previous best-selling novel: The Rogue’s Dangerous Confession

  This is the story of Jane Malcolm, a young and strong-headed lady who will need the affection of an unexpected lover in order to unveil the truth about her past and stand on her feet as a fully-grown woman...

  * * *

  The Rogue’s Dangerous Confession

  Chapter One

  Jane could see the church spire out of the window. The public house was on the same road as the quaint little church in Swadlincote, and the church bells were practically ringing in Jane’s ears. It was such a beautiful day, but the sounds of the bells through the open window made Jane furious.

  This shouldn’t be happening. Three months after the proposal, and she had hoped that Ian would see sense and break things off with Anna Day. Jane had been hoping for her brother-in-law to realize what he was doing was ridiculous. He couldn’t marry her, surely?

  But he was. In just a couple of hours, Ian would be marrying the twice-widowed, mother-in-law of the Earl of Derby. Jane felt nauseous at the thought.

  She growled at the sound of the bells and spun away, resuming her pacing across her bedroom. Seated on the bed, Rachel groaned and put her hands to her head.

  “For goodness sake, Jane, would you stop pacing around? This room is small enough and you’re making me queasy.”

  “Then don’t look at me, Rachel,” Jane snapped.

  “How can I not when you’re right in front of me?”

  “Then turn and look at the wall or leave the room.”

  Jane carried on pacing. She couldn’t bring herself to sit down. Every time she tried, her body just kept trembling, so Jane had to keep moving. Her night had been sleepless, as she tossed and turned. It had driven Rachel mad and she had ended up prodding Jane very hard in the side before she managed to settle down. Now, being confined in her room so she didn’t run into any of the Harrison family didn’t help matters. Jane wanted to confront Ian and Anna at the wedding. She did not want to be steered away beforehand.

  Selfish? Yes. But Jane felt justified. This anger had been building for a while.

  Rachel sighed and lowered her hands. “Come on, Jane, please? You need to stop, take a deep breath and calm down.”

  Jane swung around and glared at her friend. Rachel had insisted on coming with her, and Jane had reluctantly agreed. She couldn’t go gallivanting around the country without a chaperone, and Jane would prefer her closest friend than her elderly mother or one of the servants. Her mother would certainly not let her go, and the servants would follow so close to the point of stepping on her dress. At least Rachel would be able to go along with her.

  Then again, from the way Rachel had been talking during their journey to Derbyshire and through most of the previous evening, and again this morning, she was certainly not going along with Jane’s plan. If anything, she was in staunch opposition to it.

  “You’re fussing over something really silly,” Rachel protested. “Besides, the wedding has nothing to do with you.”

  Jane stared at her. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Nothing to do with me?” she repeated. “Did you really just say that?”

  “Well, it doesn’t.”

  “My brother-in-law is getting married this afternoon to a woman who has had two husbands die on her already! How can I let that go on good conscience? How do we know Ian’s not going to become dead husband number three?”

  Even as she said it, Jane could feel herself cringing inwardly. The more she complained to Rachel, the more Jane was beginning to think that Rachel might be right. She was being a stupid little fool over something that really had nothing to do with her.

  Maybe that’s what Rachel was trying to do, turn her around and make her realize what she was doing. Well, it wasn’t going to work. Jane had to stiffen her spine. She had to save Ian.

  Rachel sighed and rose to her feet. “Jane, we’ve been over this several times. Anna Day divorced her first husband, which I consider a miracle nowadays…”

  “There’s nothing miraculous about her!”

  Rachel held up a hand. “That first husband, an odious man, was murdered by her second husband, who was hanged for the murders he committed on the Earl of Derby’s estate. They didn’t die because of her, and she certainly didn’t have a hand in it.”

  Jane knew that. She had gone into Society to find out whatever she could about Anna Day. There were quite a few rumors going around, but the general consensus was that Anna Day was simply unfortunate with choosing the right man. Several of the older generation wanted to find a bit more drama, make it more than it was, but the more level-headed people believed that Anna was finally finding love. Ian Harrison was a well-respected gentleman considering his title of Viscount, and a widower who was finally remarrying. Not even his son’s previous discretions could change that.

  It felt like no matter what Anna Day did, she always landed on her feet. And now she had captured a Viscount. Well, Jane was not about to let that happen.

  “It doesn’t matter if they died because of her. It doesn’t set a good tone for anyone.” Jane kicked at the bed, the hard wood jarring her foot, and then stormed back to the window. “She’s bad luck. I don’t know what Ian sees in her.”

  “Perhaps she’s a decent person who makes him smile every day, something to look forward to in the day?” Rachel snorted. “You’re only sore about this because he’s marrying someone who isn’t you.”

  Jane gritted her teeth. Rachel had to hit far too close to the mark. She was good at that. Rubbing her arms, Jane stared out of the window at the church on the other side of the trees.

  “I love him, Rachel,” she said. “And yet he proposes to that woman?”

  “Jane, you’re younger than his own children. How can he marry someone who’s been family since they were born?”

  “I bet she put a spell on him.”

  Rachel let out a frustrated growl that made Jane jump. Rachel placed her hands on her hips, and scowled at her friend.

  “Why don’t you just grow up, Jane? Have you ever heard yourself? You’re the most level-headed person I know, but when it comes to Viscount Harrison, you’re all over the place. It’s like you’ve been put under a spell yourself.”

  “Rachel…”

  “What would you say to someone in your position?” Rachel demanded. “If someone was obsessed with a gentleman and were planning to disrupt his wedding in an attempt to make him see her for the first time and that he’d had love in front of him all this time, what would you say to her?”

  “I would tell her that she can’t change a person’s mind like that and it’s best to let it go.” Jane shook her head. “This is different, Rachel.”

  “It’s not different at all!” Rachel shouted. She stopped, took a deep breath and let it out slowly, lowering her voice to a more level tone. “You are not stopping this wedding to make yourself feel better, Jane. If anything, you’re going to make yourself look a complete fool.”

  “I can make my objections about the wedding. What’s wrong with that?”

  �
��What’s wrong with it is that people in Society are going to be there, and word will get around that you’re an unstable lady who needs to be locked away for your own good.” Rachel gestured at Jane. “What do you think your parents are going to think about this? Your mother is going to be distraught over your actions. You know that. She isn’t a strong woman.”

  That did give Jane pause. Her mother was not in the best of health, being of old age, and Jane did worry that she was going to wake up one day and hear her mother had died in the night. Which was why she had never said a thing about her feelings after the initial frustrations over Ian’s engagement. Her mother had simply told her to stop being so silly over something she couldn’t control and move on.