“I believe,” said Rosalind, “that I would like to go to Lynwood Manor.”
“Boring,” said Arthur, who was then swatted on the arm by his wife.
Rosalind continued. “Well, you see, Lynwood Manor has a special place in my heart. Especially the library.” Here she glanced at Liam, who knew she was referring to the site of their first kiss and the encounter that followed shortly after Lizzie’s wedding. “And, if it is possible, I would like all of you to join us.” Liam’s face fell to a thunderous expression.
Hal laughed. “Liam, if your new bride desires company, it appears you have sorely disappointed her even before the wedding night. If you like, I can give you instruction on how to be better at that which you are expected to do.”
“Please pardon us, ladies,” said Liam. “I am about to beat my youngest brother to a pulp.”
“It is nothing like that,” Rosalind assured them. “And I do not wish you to join us straight away – no offense, of course. But Christmas is nearing and Lizzie used to tell me stories of what it was like when all of you were together. I have always loved the holiday, but it was never much of a joyous celebration in my home. I do not know if it is even possible for the ladies to travel when they are expecting – and I certainly wouldn’t want anyone to be placed at risk. But, if possible, I would dearly love to have a true family Christmas.”
Liam looked at his family, pleading silently for them to make his wife happy.
“I do not see why we could not,” said Jane. “Although by the end of the month, I would be so near my due date that I would likely have to remain and have the baby at Lynwood Manor. Would that be all right with you, Rosalind?”
“Of course,” she said. “Lynwood Manor will always be the family’s home. But Lizzie, will you feel well enough to travel?”
“Yes, and we’re certainly not joining Marcus’s family for the holiday, are we dear?”
“Definitely not,” said her doting husband.
“And you must come as well, Joseph,” said Rosalind.
“I could not impose on a family holiday.”
“You are family,” said Liam. “And I will not have you disappointing my duchess so soon after we have wed.”
Hal threw back a whiskey. “Like I said, apparently that is Liam’s job.”
“Outside, Hal,” said Liam, this time going so far as to rise from his seat, until his wife pulled him back down.
Jane turned to Joseph. “I do not think you should return to work until your arm has healed. You could do serious damage by doing too much too soon. A rest in the country is exactly what you need.”
“Give over, Joseph,” said Marcus. “You will never be able to say no to the ladies of the family. I have a feeling our new duchess will be particularly hard to countermand.”
“It is true,” said Rosalind. “I plan to be the despot duchess.”
Liam cleared his throat, trying hard not to think about how demanding his wife could be in private. “Joseph, if you will not join us for the holidays, I would like to hire you to do a job for me.”
“Whatever you need, Liam.”
“Thank you. When I arrived, there was a letter from a neighbor at one of my lesser estates. She said there have been some suspicious occurrences in the county and she wanted to let me know about them.”
“What kind of occurrences?” asked Stapleton.
“She did not go into detail. But Lady Evelyn is not one to worry unnecessarily. For years, she has all but single-handedly run her estate and done a fine job of it. She is also not one to ask for help. But I want to provide it. It could be nothing, but you would be doing me a service if you would travel there as soon as possible to investigate. You would, of course, stay at my estate and would have time to rest, as ordered by Jane. Once you have evaluated the situation, I would like to be informed. I would appreciate it if you would report back to me at Lynwood Manor by Christmas Eve.”
Everyone grinned at Liam’s excellent maneuvering.
Even Stapleton had to smile. “Is there truly a problem at your estate? Or is this just your way of getting me to the country?”
“There truly is a problem. Heskiss will fetch the letter. But, I admit I probably would have found an excuse to get you there even if there hadn’t been.”
“Very well,” said Stapleton. “I will go to your estate and meet with your Lady Evelyn. And I shall report back at the manor by Christmas Eve.”
“Excellent,” said Ned, as he rose from his seat. “Now, will everyone raise a glass and join me in toasting the new Duchess of Lynwood and her besotted Duke. May your union be as long as it is loving. Because it is very loving, indeed.”
Everyone in the room toasted the happy couple.
* * *
For a second night in a row, the usual inhabitants of Lynwood House slept at the Riverton home. Liam was thankful to have his bride to himself for another night. But he was especially thankful his family had all taken her to their hearts.
As they lay in each other’s arms in his bed, he reached into the drawer of the nightstand and pulled out the box he’d kept in there for weeks. Then he presented it to his wife.
“What is this?” she asked.
“A small wedding present,” he said. “Just a token, really. And, to be honest, I purchased this long before I knew whether you’d marry me. There was just never a good time to give it to you. You did, after all, disappear from town.”
“I do recall that,” she said, as she kissed him. She opened the box to reveal a hair pin with a perfect diamond. Tears immediately came to her eyes.
“Do you remember it?” he asked.
She could not speak, could only nod.
He continued. “It was that day in the park months ago, when those men had tried to take Violet. She was so upset and you gave her your hair pin to make her feel better.”
“But there was no diamond on my pin,” said Rosalind, so desperately in love with the man beside her.
“No. But I believe it was a favored possession. A paste stone, and painted metal. I know that because I have, on many occasions, asked Violet to let me hold it. It was the only part of you I had.” He reached into his drawer once again and pulled out the original. “Poor Violet finally took mercy on me and gave it to me – she is a very generous girl. I had a copy made, with a diamond instead of the paste. It was my intention to give this to you earlier. I promise to get you a proper wedding present. A tiara or jeweled choker or whatever you wish. But now I give you this pin. Because it was that day I realized I loved you. The wonderful lady who would do such a kindness for a child.”
Rosalind’s tears flowed freely and she kissed him again.
“Liam?”
“Yes, my love?” He looked at her, waiting for the tender words that would surely come.
“Why the devil didn’t you tell me? I mean, we could have been married that very day. Men are such idiots sometimes.”
Then she spent the rest of the night showing him what he’d been missing.
EPILOGUE
Lady Valencia Elling had been waiting in the foyer of one of London’s most celebrated modistes for almost three-quarters of an hour. It was true she didn’t have an appointment, but why should she have to make one? With her figure, dressmakers should be paying her to wear their creations.
During the time she’d been there, an army of servants had been carrying fabrics back and forth to the showroom. Rich silks, the softest velvets, the most delicate lace. Whoever was in there had exquisite taste and a fat purse.
Finally, the servants carried the last of the samples away and a footman opened the door to the showroom for the departing customers: Lady Riverton, accompanied by her Aunt Prudence.
“Valencia!” said Prudence, as she greeted her with a smile.
That was odd, thought Valencia, since she had all but given the unnatural woman the cut direct the last time they’d seen each other.
Prudence continued. “Lizzie, do you know Lady Elling?”
Liam’s sister furr
owed her brow, lost in thought. “I am not sure. Perhaps…do you have a son that I might have danced with, Lady Elling? Or perhaps a grandson?”
“No,” Lady Elling bit out. “I have no children.”
“Oh!” said the stupid chit. “Pray forgive me. I grow positively addle-brained when I have spent so much time selecting clothes. Especially when they must be good enough for a duchess. You see, I am only a marchioness and you are a…countess, is it? That must be quaint.”
Here, her aunt had a coughing fit that might have been disguised laughter, instead.
Lady Riverton continued. “I am quite excited because my dear friend, the former Miss Carson, is a duchess now.”
Lady Elling smiled. “Yes, I had heard of her betrothal. She is the Duchess of Fallmoor now, is she not?”
“Heaven forfend! No, she is the Duchess of Lynwood. She and my brother were married by special license just yesterday, then departed on their wedding trip this morning. His grace was so anxious to be off that he did not allow her time to order a trousseau. Can you imagine? He didn’t even wait until the end of the wedding breakfast before he took her up to his bedchamber.”
“Elizabeth!” rebuked her aunt. “It is not good form to speak of the way your brother cannot keep his hands off his new duchess. And the way they look at each other when they believe no one notices. It is beyond scandalous. Do not speak a word of it, Valenica, but I overheard them telling each other more than once ‘I love you.’ How dreadfully embarrassing.”
Lady Elling could only seethe.
Lady Riverton sighed. “Perhaps the new clothes will help her grace get through this business with my brother. Though, she did not look too pained when he kissed her at the wedding ceremony.”
“Or at the breakfast.”
“Or after they came back downstairs….”
“Or….”
Lady Elling could take no more. “Yes, well I am sure that Madame is expecting me.” She moved toward the showroom.
“Oh, dear,” said Lady Riverton. “I believe she was closing for the rest of the day to complete the work for, you know, the Duchess of Lynwood.
Lady Elling stormed out of the shop.
* * *
Lizzie and Aunt Prue turned to each other.
“Now that,” said Aunt Prue, “was more fun than I’ve had in an age.”
“Care to go to Gunther’s and talk incessantly of what just happened?” asked Lizzie.
“With pleasure, my dear.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’m very sad that Liam and Rosalind’s book is over, though their love story continues. All of the Kellingtons are dear to me and I am touched beyond words the way readers have taken them to heart.
Thank you to Linda Thurmond DeCristofaro for suggesting Liam’s secret. She definitely jumpstarted this process with that suggestion. And she has always been such a source of encouragement and support. Find her website at somethinfromnothinblog.wordpress.com
And a big thank you to Greg Rice for coming up with the title to this book. That’s a bold thing for a man to do.
As always, my heartfelt thanks to the amazing Melanie Friedman at Bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com for being the first to believe in me and for giving me the encouragement to keep going. I am also indebted to Terree Nelson Lyman who expands my TBR list at Thewindowseat13.blogspot.com; Amal Chaaban, journalist at large; Anitra Evans, ultimate Duck fan; and Janice Minsberg, inspirational friend. Jennifer Omner at Allpublications.com did another amazing cover and makes this so much fun, and author John Heldt was always there to lend his support.
Finally, it all comes down to my mom. She has given me a lifetime of love and encouragement.
Stapleton is next. I hope you stick around for the journey.
Copyright © 2013, by Maureen Driscoll
Cover design by Jennifer Omner, Allpublications.com
Author photo by JBC Images, JBCimages.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Author, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
It is also a violation of copyright law to place any copyrighted document on a file sharing service without express permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales are strictly coincidental.
Table of Contents
NEVER DENY YOUR HEART
To my mom.
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Copyright © 2013, by Maureen Driscoll
Never Deny Your Heart (Kellington Book Five) Page 23