Regency Romance: To Capture The Duke’s Heart (CLEAN Historical Romance) (The Inheritance Saga)

by Jessie Bennett

  “Do you see it written all over my face?” asked James.

  Charlotte and Edward nodded. “I am afraid that I have to agree with Charlotte on that count,” said Edward.

  James roared with laughter. “Listen my dear friends, I am here on a temporary basis and will have to get back to Manchester soon, as my managers are not too happy that I have been away for so long,” said James.

  Edward nodded, but James saw the seriousness in his eyes. “James, you need to settle down soon. Living your life alone is not proper. Rose Buxton is a very good woman and up until now, we have not heard anything bad about her. She had a tough time when her father ruined everything they had in the business and in the end, she was forced to marry Patrick Buxton because he helped fund the dwindling business,” said Edward.

  James looked down at his feet. “I asked her to marry me and she refused,” said James.

  “You did?” asked Edward. James nodded.

  “But why did Rose refuse you?” asked Charlotte in astonishment.

  James shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe, the fact that…” began James, but Edward stopped him with a raised hand.

  “Enough, enough of all that, James. If what people say is true and you are my father’s son, then that makes us half brothers and I would be delighted to tell the world out there that it is so,” said Edward.

  Hannah, who was about to walk into the dining room, stopped outside the door. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she listened to Edward. Charlotte caught sight of Hannah outside the door and motioned for Edward to stop. Edward turned and saw Hannah. He walked up to the door and motioned for her to come in, holding her hand as he did so.

  Hannah was shocked, but she followed Edward into the dining room, her tear stained eyes downcast.

  “Hannah, please sit down,” said Edward. Hannah looked up in shock. She had never ever sat in the dining room with the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland. “I know you have not done this before, and it is I who should have initiated it. You have been with Frampton Castle for years, ever since I was born, and have been an important part of our lives. When Mama died tragically, you upheld everything at the castle, not letting it go to ruin, and my father quite rightly loved you for it,” said Edward.

  Hannah looked up in astonishment.

  “I know you will ask me how I know about all this, but I do know, Hannah, I do know,” said Edward.

  Hannah looked sadly at James as she tears rolled down her cheeks. He got up and hugged Hannah. “Mama, you know nothing of this is going to diminish my love for you,” said James. Hannah nodded as the tears rolled down her cheeks in torrents.

  “I don’t want you to explain to me how it happened. It is something that only you and my father should know and that is private,” said James.

  Hannah nodded. She knew that she could not talk about her affair with the Duke of Cumberland, although it had not culminated in the birth of James. James’ father was not the Duke of Cumberland, and Hannah felt uneasy every time the villagers accused James of being his bastard son.

  No doubt, Duke Nathaniel Frampton had had a checkered life and Hannah was sure that Edward didn’t know about it. Some things were better left to rest than brought out in the open, but James’ father was not a man who’d loved every woman in every port around the world. He was a man who loved only Hannah and only Hannah knew how hard it was when he died. Nevertheless, at this moment, there was no point in raking up the past. Like she’d thought before, some things were best left unsaid.

  Someday she would tell James who his real father was, and she knew that James would be surprised, downright surprised, that he should chose Manchester for his home and business. Now he wanted to take Hannah back with him to Manchester. Was it divine providence that had intervened in James’s life? Was it that his father wanted what was rightfully James’? A title and prestige? Only time would tell.

  13

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  A FIRE AND A SUSPECT

  A FIRE AND A SUSPECT

  “Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope for a cure,” ~ Jane Austen

  James left Frampton Castle well past midnight. Hannah was staying over that night, as Lady Sophia had a slight fever and the little girl had pleaded with Hannah to stay.

  Although it was midnight, James thought of taking a walk, so he tethered Venus to the iron pole opposite the cottage and walked away from the castle grounds. He found himself walking toward Fernside and Buxton, and in the distance he saw a glow in the sky. “What on earth could that glow be?” muttered James to himself as he quickened his steps.

  As he got closer to Fernside and Buxton’s warehouse, he noticed that the glow was coming from the warehouse itself and James broke into a run when he realized that the warehouse was on fire. Villagers had gathered and some threw buckets of water, while others just stood and gaped. James pushed his way through the crowd and headed for the warehouse.

  All of a sudden he heard a voice from the mass of people standing outside. “Ah, there he is, the knight in shining armor, come to rescue Rose Buxton from the fire he set himself,” shouted the voice.

  James had no time to stop to see who was shouting. He had better things to do, such as saving what was left of the warehouse. He looked around and saw Rose standing outside her office. Her eyes were trained toward him and, even in the darkness, he could see that she was seething with anger. Does she think that I was the one who started all this? he thought as he rushed toward the flaming warehouse.

  “Don’t go in there, Mr. Stratton,” shouted Wally.

  James stopped and turned to Wally. “How did this happen?” he shouted.

  “We don’t know. It started about half an hour ago,” shouted Wally.

  “Where is Sam?” shouted James.

  “I saw him trying to rescue some of the bales of fabric, but he could not do much,” said Wally.

  James helped the villagers with water as the fire raged, spewing splinters around and creating deafening crashes as the walls caved in, and the smell of burnt fabric was nauseating to say the least.

  People shook their heads in despair. Some threw buckets of water, while others stood in little groups, whispering to each other. “It is such a shame that this should happen to Rose Buxton,” said Winifred Boulton as she passed James and then she stopped. “They say it was you,” she whispered. “Did you do it?” she added.

  James looked at her in shock. “Mrs. Boulton, this is not the time to accuse anyone. Wait until the authorities have discovered how the fire erupted,” said James.

  “Well, Sam was saying that he saw you snooping around the warehouse about two hours ago,” said Mrs. Boulton. “And he said he was going to tell the magistrate about it,” she added.

  James listened in astonishment. “How on earth could Sam say such a thing, when I was not on the premises the whole of the evening?” asked James.

  “Well, my boy, it is your word against Sam’s and I am sure everyone, even the magistrate, will believe Sam,” said Mrs. Boulton as she scurried away, cackling with laughter.

  There was a loud crash, followed by a subtle rumble that shook the building. The rafters were collapsing. James walked slowly toward Rose. She turned away when he came to stand beside her. “Do you also believe them when they say that I instigated this?” asked James softly.

  She shook her head. “I don’t know what to believe at this moment. All my hard work, burned to cinders,” she said as she rushed into the office and slammed the door.

  “You’d better leave her alone. The damage you have caused is quite enough,” said a voice from behind. James swung around and came face to face with Sam. “Was it you who did it?” he asked Sam.

  “Me? Set fire to the place where I earn my daily bread and butter? You must be crazy,” said Sam and James did not fail to catch the shiver in his voice.

  “Well, just as you had the audacity to accuse me, I think I am quite right when I say that you are involved in this issue,” said James.
r />   “Let’s see what the magistrate has to say tomorrow, or rather later today,” said Sam as he walked away.

  Magistrate William arrived in his carriage just then. “How did this happen?” he asked.

  “Someone set the warehouse on fire,” said Sam, glaring at James.

  “Goodness, you people don’t think I did it, do you?” asked James in frustration.

  Minister William peered at James in the dark.

  “Well, a dejected lover would, now wouldn’t he?” said Sam.

  Rose’s eyes burned when she thought of how she had rejected James’s proposal of marriage. But how did Sam know about it? “Please stop accusing people without proof. Sam, I think you should shut your mouth for the moment,” said Rose.

  “Now isn’t the time to hold postmortems. I shall investigate this tomorrow,” said Magistrate William.

  “Oh, Sir, by that time he will have run away,” said Sam.

  “Of course I will not leave. I am no coward, and why should I be afraid about something I had nothing to do with?” asked James. “If you wish to have me put in the dungeon, that is alright with me, but be warned that you are making a serious mistake. You should be asking Sam what happened. He, I guess, was here all the time,” said James.

  “How would I know when I was at home sleeping?” said Sam.

  The crowds were getting more and more restless as they surged forward demanding justice.

  “Well, Magistrate William, to put everyone’s minds at ease, I personally ask you to lock me up until tomorrow, when I am sure the culprit will be caught,” said James as he walked up to Magistrate William.

  “Yes, yes – do that to him,” shouted the villagers. “The bastard son of the Duke of Cumberland should be locked up,” they screamed.

  Above the heads of the crowd of villagers, Rose met James’ eyes just once before they bundled him away. She tried to decipher what his eyes told her. Was he telling her that he was innocent? Rose’s heart gave a flutter, as she knew it wanted to believe that James was innocent, but in the darkness of the night, enveloped by the thick smoke from the fire, maybe he was asking her to forgive him.

  James was taken to the gaol, to be locked up until the next morning. He sat down and pondered his fate. How could he be accused of setting fire to the warehouse, when he was with Duke Edward and Duchess Charlotte. They would vouch for him, he knew.

  14

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  ROSE TURNS WITNESS

  ROSE TURNS WITNESS

  “One man's style must not be the rule of another's.” ~ Jane Austen

  The gaol was dingy and dark. When the door closed behind him, James tried in vain to adjust his eyes to the blackness that enveloped him like a sheath of smoke. He was angry and impatient. How could people be daft enough to accuse him of arson?

  James hardly slept. He kept walking the length and breadth of the small dingy room, his hands in his pockets.

  The following morning, James was taken to the council meeting room, which was packed to capacity with people who were curious to see what would happen to him.

  Magistrate William walked into the council room looking important and distinguished. He loved the attention he was getting, as not often did things like this happen in Bath. “Everyone sit down,” he bellowed as he glared at James.

  James wondered what had transpired the previous night for Magistrate William to glare at him so much.

  “Well, well, Mr. Stratton, did you set fire to the warehouse?” asked Magistrate William.

  “Of course I did not,” said James, looking angry.

  “Well the witnesses we have each say that they saw you snooping around the warehouse before the fire,” said Magistrate William.

  “I must say that all of them are wrong,” said James.

  Sam was called into the witness box first. “Sam, tell us everything you saw and heard last night,” said Magistrate William.

  “I was getting ready to leave the warehouse when I heard a shuffling sound. I stopped and listened, and then from behind the trees emerged a figure. At first I could not recognize who it was, but then after a little while I realized that it was James Stratton,” said Sam, looking James directly in the eye.

  James let out a whoosh of air. How these people could lie beats me, he thought. James suddenly looked around, trying to see whether Rose was present at the hearing. He found that she was not and wondered why. Surely she should be present, as it was her warehouse that had caught fire.

  “Well, Mr. Stratton, what do you say to this?” asked Magistrate William.

  “I have nothing so say,” said James as he looked around again. He saw his mother and Edward at the far end of the council room.

  “Well, you must have something to say,” said Magistrate William, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. Magistrate William felt that James was innocent and that this case of arson had been done by someone who had ulterior motives.

  “If you insist. I was at Frampton Castle having dinner with His Grace Duke Edward Frampton and his wife, Her Grace Duchess Charlotte,” said James as someone in the gallery sniggered.

  “Home, in other words,” said the voice.

  Magistrate William rapped his gavel and glared in the direction from whence the voice came. “Do you have any intention of calling His Grace, Duke of Cumberland, as a witness?” asked Magistrate William.

  “No, I do not,” replied James.

  “But that would help your case,” said Magistrate William.

  “I know it would, but I would like people to believe my word rather than get a line of witnesses testifying to my integrity,” said James.

  Magistrate William nodded. “Mr. Stratton, I have no alternative but to imprison you until further investigations are completed,” said Magistrate William.

  The doors of the council meeting room opened and there were gasps from everyone present, as Rose Buxton walked into the room, her head held high.

  “Mrs. Buxton,” said Magistrate William.

  “Magistrate William, I am here to give evidence on behalf of the accused, Mr. James Stratton,” said Rose, and there were even more gasps as the room fell silent.

  Magistrate William mopped his brow and nodded. “And what have you to say, Mrs. Buxton?”

  Rose cleared her throat and stood up straight as she looked around the room. “Several people have given different versions about the fire that gutted my warehouse, and most of it was centered on accusing Mr. James Stratton. But I must tell all of you that I don’t think this to be true. I don’t think Mr. Stratton would stoop to such a low level as to set fire to my warehouse, when, as many of you say, I rejected his proposal of marriage,” said Rose.

  There were gasps as James looked at Rose directly in the eye. She turned away, as if his gaze burned deeply into her being. “For those of you who are of the view that I rejected his proposal, I must tell you now that you are wrong. I never rejected his proposal, but I never accepted it either,” she said.

  James kept on looking at Rose, but she never once looked at him. She stared straight ahead at the wall before her.

  “And if any of you here say that Mr. James Stratton is responsible for the fire at my warehouse, I must say that you are all wrong. The fire was no doubt an act of arson, but it was not Mr. Stratton who initiated it. I would urge Magistrate William to conduct a full scale investigation into the issue and absolve Mr. Stratton from the charges that have been leveled against him. In fact, I am sure Mr. Stratton would be of immense assistance to Magistrate William in finding out who is behind this dastardly act and bringing the person to justice,” said Rose, stopping to take a deep breath.

  There was a pin-drop silence in the council meeting room as everyone sat glued to their seats or leaning heavily against the walls, but their eyes were trained on Rose Buxton until a voice spoke from the crowd. “Mrs. Buxton, how you could ever come to that conclusion is something I will never fathom, and I know that all those here share my sentiments,” said Morgan Fallot.

&nbs
p; Rose spun around to look at Morgan Fallot. “Mr. Fallot, a man would never stoop to setting my warehouse on fire just because I did not agree to his proposal of marriage, but a man who is determined to obtain my business, and has requested a partnership with me and has been downright rejected, is more a suspect of setting fire to my warehouse,” said Rose.

  There were more gasps as Morgan glared at Rose. “Are you accusing me of setting fire to your warehouse?” he asked.

  “I didn’t say that you did, but if the cap fits, then I think you should put it on,” said Rose.

  “I would never stoop to such low standards,” said Morgan.

  “Well that is self-assessed opinion, but I think Magistrate William here would be in a better position to judge what I have said,” said Rose.

  Magistrate William wiped his brow with a handkerchief. “I believe Mrs. Buxton has some substance in what she is saying and moreover, Mr. Stratton says that he was at dinner at Frampton Castle,” said Magistrate William, training his gaze on the Duke of Cumberland, who stood at the far end of the council meeting room with Hannah beside him.

  Duke Edward Frampton was about to speak when there was a slight commotion outside the door of the council meeting room and three men walked in quickly. Their attire projected them as well read and important people. They stopped before Magistrate William.

  James smiled in recognition of the three men. Two of them were his lawyers and the other his manager.

  “And may I ask who you are?” asked Magistrate William.

  “I am George Weathershield, and this is my partner, John Wickham. We are Mr. Stratton’s barristers, and he is Mr. Stratton’s manager, Collin Blackburn,” said the young man as he introduced the other two men.

  There were gasps from the crowd of people in the council meeting room.

  Rose Buxton looked in surprise at the three men and then she slowly turned to look at James.