Regency Romance: Fallen Duchess (A Historical Victorian Murder Mystery Love Regency Romance)

by Tracey D Morgan

  Chapter Four

  Lucy knew that by the time she woke up the following morning Quentin would already be out and about, just so he didn’t have to face her after yesterday’s fiasco. Thinking that a walk might do her some good in helping her clear her mind, she decided to walk into town and get to know the area.

  It was a lovely day with an unusually warm breeze, and Lucy thought it was the perfect opportunity to get some fresh air and get away from all her troubles with Quentin. As it turned out, other townsfolk shared her enthusiasm about being outside, and as a result, the streets were packed to the brim. Local vendors were out selling their products, the general store was teeming with life and Lucy thought it’d be a good idea to see what they had to offer.

  Upon entering, she noticed that this particular store doubled as a post office as well, so Lucy bought a few letters and stamps thinking they might come in handy later. There were many people inside, and not all of them were there to buy goods but to socialize with other townspeople. She could feel the warmth of the atmosphere inside and wanted to be a part of it. She was used to visiting dark and gloomy general stores, but this one was different. Its large display window allowed enough light inside that shined on stacks and stacks of boxes, crates and shelves.

  In the corner, there was a coffee grinder and scales next to a whole assortment of coffee beans, spices, flour and other kitchen necessities. She considered buying some things but in the end opted against it as she’d have to hire a carriage home, and additional baggage would cost extra. She did buy a lovely pink ribbon, some buttons for her dresses and silk thread.

  “Would that be all, Miss?” a pleasant old man at the cash register asked.

  “Yes, thank you,” she replied.

  “Pardon my intrusion, but I haven’t seen you around these parts here, Miss. Are you new to the town?” he inquired. She noticed several other men around them stopped talking to hear her answer.

  “Yes, I’ve just moved into town.” She didn’t wish to reveal too much regarding her circumstances, seeing it was a small town. Word would get out eventually, whether she wanted it or not, so why rush it?

  She paid for her goods, bid them all a lovely day and went back outside. To her left, a little puppy was wagging its tail and seemed pleased to see her.

  “Well, aren’t you a peachy little thing!” She bent down to give him a rub behind his ears. “Whose are you? Who left you out here all by your lonesome?” She looked around, but no one seemed to be paying attention to either of them. She decided to return to the store and ask.

  “Excuse me.” She opened the door and tried to be louder than the chatter taking place inside. “Does this little puppy here belong to any of you?” she asked.

  “Nah, he just appeared a few days ago and doesn’t seem to wanna go away,” the store owner replied. “I feed him, but he ain’t mine.”

  “So, he has no owner?” she asked again, this time hopeful.

  “I reckon not.”

  “Well, may I take him home with me then?” The thought suddenly occurred to her, and it seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

  “By all means, Miss. That’ll sure make him mighty happy!”

  “Thank you so much.” She waved goodbye and rushed outside.

  The puppy was still there, as if waiting for her.

  “Well, little guy, you’re coming home with me. What do you say to that?” She petted him again.

  The puppy barked in agreement, and when she started walking, it immediately followed. She hired a coach immediately and was home soon afterwards. Carrying the puppy in her arms, she stumbled across Quentin outside the barn. She approached him happily.

  “Hi!” She waved, gleefully, hoping that every new conversation was a possible opening.

  “Uh-uh,” he replied disinterestedly, though the sight of the puppy in her arms did catch his attention. He seemed to be taking a break from work.

  “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting you, but I have this little guy here, and I was hoping I could keep him?” she asked like a little girl waiting for approval.

  “Yeah, I reckon you can. We ain’t got no dog here anyhow, so why not?” His reply seemed good-natured enough, though he didn’t show any excitement. Not that she expected him to.

  “I still haven’t named him. Do you have any suggestions?” She tried to engage him in conversation, hoping she caught him in a good mood.

  “Nah, you do it. Got enough on my mind without having to name your dog.”

  Your dog. That’s what he said. He doesn’t care about anything I do, she thought. The thought almost made her cry, but then she looked at the little puppy nestled in her arms, and the crying feeling vanished. All that was left was warmth and love for this little thing here.

  “Well, OK then. I’ll name him, get him settled and come help you later on, if you need my help, of course.” She was still trying.

  “Nope, no help needed. Got Toby, and Betsy, too, if necessary. We’re fine. You just head on back to the house and do … well, whatever it is that you do.” He didn’t mean for it to sound rude, but it did.

  “Well, all right then.” She took a few steps backward before finally turning around. One small teardrop fell. She couldn’t control it.

  She realized after a while that the puppy still didn’t have a house of its own, so it had to sleep in her room for the time being. But she wanted him to be an outside dog that could roam free and enjoy life without any chains, orders or commands.

  The afternoon passed playfully, and since she had arrived to this house, it was the first time she actually felt happy, like there was someone who was truly glad she was there.

  “You know what,” she spoke to her new friend that evening as they were getting ready to go to sleep, “I’ll give him one last chance.” The puppy looked at her wonderingly. “I have a plan.” She winked at him. “And for it to work, we have to go to sleep now.” With that thought, she blew out the candle, leaving them both in the darkness but with hearts full of happiness.

  The following morning she woke up earlier than anyone else, made breakfast for everyone and went straight to the stables. She knew this would be the first place Quentin would try to escape to, and she figured if she was there before him, she could show him her determination to take part in his activities and even help, if he needed her to.

  Shortly afterwards, Quentin appeared. He was shocked to find her there waiting for him.

  “What are you doin’ here, Lucy?” he asked, astonished.

  “Waiting for you.” She smiled.

  “For me?”

  “Yup. You probably don’t know, but I also like horses. Maybe not as much as you, but I do. And I do know much about them, so I can be of help to you, if only you stop being too stubborn and let me in—just a little. What do you say?” She looked adorable, standing there like that, with her heart on her sleeve.

  “Grab that bucket over there and follow me,” he answered, entering the stable first. “But no shenanigans!” He yelled jokingly.

  To her surprise, the entire morning passed by in full cooperation. He kept telling her what he wanted her to do, and in return, she did her best to obey. At lunchtime, they even managed to have a pleasant chit chat about this and that, and Lucy thought to herself that finally she had started to break through his shell.

  That was until he informed her that she wouldn’t be helping him in the afternoon as well.

  “Somethin’ you can’t help with, so you might as well do whatever you want the rest of the day,” he told her.

  Not wanting to push her luck, she agreed, though she didn’t like it one bit. So she spent the afternoon with her new little friend, introducing him to the world of the ranch, which was almost as new as her as it was to him. Together we’ll make it work, she thought to herself, as she petted him behind the ears.

  Sometime before dusk she could hear hammering from behind the barn. Not knowing why she’d be curious about such a thing, she allowed her inquisitiveness to lead he
r. With her puppy right at her feet, she walked toward the barn, only to find Quentin working on what appeared to be a little wooden construction. It was only half done, so she couldn’t really figure out what it was. When the hammering stopped, he turned around to find her looking at him.

  “I guess the jig is up,” he smiled sincerely.

  “What are you up to?” she asked. He pointed at her puppy. It was then that it hit her. “A house for him?” She couldn’t believe her eyes. Was he really building a house for her puppy? After all that’s happened?

  “Yeah, I reckon I haven’t been treatin’ you very nicely. Thought this might make up for it—a little.” He kept smiling as he spoke.

  Lucy still couldn’t believe what she was witnessing. Was this the same man who had been avoiding her for days? Who hadn’t shown any interest whatsoever in whatever it was she showed him or tried to tell him? Could it really be so? She felt like pinching herself just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

  “I’m sure you had your own reasons,” she added carefully. Maybe now he would reveal his secret, the secret that Betsy told her about. But it wasn’t the right moment. Quentin simply shook his head and continued on hammering.

  “You’d best get out of the way, you two. A nail or a splinter might fly off and hit ya’. I’d hate that to happen, especially now,” he added, then turned around and continued with his work.

  “Yes, sure,” she said. “We’ll just … ” She took a step backward, pointing to the house with her fingers. “Go back to the house. We’ll wait for you there for dinner. Come on, boy!” She called her puppy and headed toward the house.

  On her way back, she was still under the impression of everything that had just happened. Finally, a crack, an opening, a ray of sunlight that she could hold onto! He had finally shown her that there was a warm, beating heart beneath all that ice.

  Chapter Five

  Betsy had again so thoughtfully left them alone during dinner, instinctively knowing that something world-shattering was taking place. The young future couple exchanged a few pleasant words, though they didn’t really have a proper conversation. Somehow, both of them felt fine with it. They felt at ease. The two then retreated to the parlor where Quentin decided to read while Lucy took up Betsy’s sewing kit, a present she had recently received and started to practice.

  All of a sudden, Quentin put down the book and glanced at her. She wasn’t aware of this, being fully immersed in her sewing.

  “Do you know why I got so upset when I found out you were going through my stuff?” he asked. His question made her freeze.

  “It’s just not the right thing to do to anyone.” She put down her sewing kit.

  “Not just that.” He sighed. “There’s somethin’ … somethin’ I’d been selfishly keepin’ to myself all these years, somethin’ that, I see now, might be poisonin’ me.”

  “What are you talking about?” His words worried her.

  “The box you found … ”

  “How did you know I touched the box?” She was astonished. She was sure she put everything back as it was.

  “The red envelope wasn’t on top of all the rest when I read the letters the last time,” he stated calmly.

  “Those were all letters?”

  “Valentine’s Day cards and letters.”

  “From whom?” she asked. She wasn’t sure if she really wanted to know the answer. Was there someone else? Someone who still had a tight grasp over his heart?

  “Her name was Evelyne.” He revealed her name with a profound sadness, and Lucy knew immediately that Evelyne was not her rival, at least not anymore. “We grew up together. Her mom, Betsy, was like another mom to me. We knew everything about each other, and by the time we were both 16, we knew that we were meant to be together forever.” Then, more sadness in his voice. “All those letters and cards were from her. Every year, ever since I can remember, we’d exchange Valentine’s Day cards, presents, you know, little things.”

  Lucy felt the need to hug him, to assure him that she would be there for him no matter what.

  “But then, one day, she was gone.”

  “Gone?” Lucy asked.

  “Consumption took her. Just like that.” He seemed to be drifting off in his memory of Evelyne. “We’d hoped she’d get better, but no one ever does. One day, just like that, she was gone.”

  Lucy couldn’t believe her ears. So this was why it was so hard for him to open up again. And Betsy, that wonderful, affectionate, loving woman who hid so well behind her cheerful persona had felt the most painful blow life can deal: the death of a child.

  God works in mysterious ways. Lucy knew that. But knowing that His presence is all around can lift us in the moment of our darkest hour, give us strength when we thought we couldn’t go on anymore and look up to the skies with a newfound hope.

  “After her … after Evelyne died, I swore I’d never allow myself to be hurt that badly again. I just couldn’t put myself through all that again,” he said. She understood his pain. She knew now why and all she wanted was to make him whole again, with the help of Lord Almighty.

  “But if you’re willing to forgive me for my horrible behavior with you these past few days, I reckon I can show you that there’s another Quentin here.” He smiled. “He’ll listen. And talk!” He laughed, and Lucy joined him.

  “That’s all I ever wanted!” She jumped to hug him, and her puppy joined in.

  “So, what did you end up calling this little guy?” he asked. “I need to know so I can put his name on the house I built for him.”

  She smiled. “It’s Freckles.”

  “Freckles!” He laughed out loud again. “Isn’t that a little.” But he didn’t finish his sentence.

  “A little what?” She tried to sound offended, but couldn’t manage it and laughed as well.

  “Oh, nothin’. Freckles is perfectly fine.” He petted the puppy.

  That night Quentin didn’t go to any saloon but actually stayed home for the first time in a long while. The two were reading and sewing, with Freckles comfortably lying by Lucy’s feet.

  In the morning, the two were equally glad to see each other at the breakfast table.

  “I have a little something for you,” she said.

  “Do ya now?” He smiled. “What is it?”

  She was obviously holding something behind her back, and she seemed to hesitate whether to give it to him or not.

  “Maybe it’s not such a good idea,” she whispered.

  “No, no. Come on now,” he urged her gently. “I won’t bite.”

  “Well, here.” She offered a pink little envelope with a dangling ribbon.

  “What’s this now?” He opened it. It was a Valentine’s Day card. “But, it ain’t Valentine’s Day, Lucy,” he said.

  “I know.” She almost felt sorry she gave it to him. Maybe it was too soon. “Valentine’s Day was two weeks ago. But maybe we can celebrate it today?” She smiled innocently.

  He opened the letter and read it. After a few initial seconds, he smiled.

  “I reckon we can.” He folded the letter back into the envelope and approached her, hugging her tightly. Freckles also seemed to feel that something important was taking place, so he also barked loudly to make himself known.

  “Now, after we plan today, there’s other business we need to take care of,” he added seriously.

  “Really? What?” She shivered. What was it now?

  “Our wedding!” He hugged her again and kissed her on the forehead. “I reckon your parents are going crazy that we still haven’t telegrammed them about the exact day. They’ve been waiting for two weeks now!”

  “Oh, yes!” Lucy laughed as well.

  With all this commotion, she had completely forgotten that she needed to send a telegram to them regarding the exact date.

  “Well, do we have a date?” she asked.

  “It’s for you to set, Lucy. Betsy will help you with everything you need. I’ll pay for whatever you wish to have, and we’ll
have the best weddin’ this town’s ever seen.” He hugged her again, lifting her high up in the air.

  “Oh, am I interrupting anything?” The sweet voice of Betsy was heard from the door.

  “Matter of fact, you are!” He winked at her.

  “Oh, could it be?” She hid half of her face in her hands in anticipation of good news to come.

  Both of them nodded.

  “Oh, thank you Lord Almighty!” She raised her hands high up in the air, as if wishing to touch God himself. Lucy and Quentin were smiling at her while Freckles, who perhaps had no idea what exactly was going on, still knew that it was a time of joy and happiness and tried to make as much noise as possible to accompany the hubbub that was taking place before him.

  THE END

  Return to the TOC for Bonus Content

  The Sheriff’s Boston Bride

  Chapter One

  Beatrice Winthrop pulled up her skirts and raced with more speed than propriety out of the drawing room and down the corridor, where three centuries of family looked down at her in disapproval. Hennings, the butler barely just missed colliding with the girl known in Boston as “the Heiress” but known to him, and to the household staff, as Miss Trice. He stepped back so that she could continue without impediment to her destination; he and the servants kept her secret, so when Mrs. Winthrop emerged from the drawing room, frowning and exasperated, their expressions gave away nothing.

  “Hennings, did you see Miss Trice? She simply bolted from the room just before we were due to go calling. Really, I don’t know—did you see her? Which way did she go?” Mrs. Winthrop pulled on her gloves. “The carriage is waiting for us. She’s going to have to face society eventually, it might as well be now. There’s nothing to be gained from hiding. She must learn to curb her impulsive ways; they only get her into trouble, and tongues are already wagging.”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, I’m not sure where---“

  Hennings was safe in the lie, knowing that Mrs. Colby never let the servants finish a sentence.