A Fiery Love for the Reluctant Duchess: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance

by Abby Ayles

  But after a while, she looked at the clock again. An hour had passed. Then a sound came and Thea knew that the front door had opened. The Duke must have arrived.

  Chapter 30

  Coming in through the door, the Duke was exhausted by the meeting. It was another business in trade that Mr. Cotswold had been in touch with. They wanted the Duke to come alongside them in their most recent efforts to grow their business. They believed the Duke was just the investor they required.

  But he was glad to have arrived back at the estate, although it was later than he would have liked. He wanted to see Thea, he wanted to know how she had felt about his letter and if she liked the gifts he had arranged.

  He was distraught at not being there when she had arrived home, but in many ways, he saw it as being the better option. If Thea was able to come home comfortably, she would not have to deal with all of the emotions of seeing him right away. It might be better for her in the end.

  “Your Grace, how lovely to have you home,” greeted Mrs. Markley, who was evidently trying to suppress a yawn.

  “It is lovely to see you as well, Mrs. Markley. Tell me,” he began, unable to wait any longer, “do you think she liked all of it?”

  The old woman’s grin lit up as it had been doing all day.

  “Your Grace, I have never seen her in such a state as she was today. Honestly, I believe that much has changed in her since her arrival at the estate this evening. I imagine she has gone to bed now, but she will tell you in the morning. My words cannot describe it to your satisfaction, I am sure,” she replied.

  The Duke of Sandon smiled, relieved to hear that she had not taken offense to it all. He had done well. He only needed now to wait until the morning when he and Thea might have an opportunity to share what they were feeling in the midst of all of this.

  He wished he could wake her. The temptation was overwhelming, but he decided against it. Better to give her the night to herself.

  The Duke of Sandon went to his study to leave the papers from the meeting and was joyful at the sight of the flowers that Thea had placed in there. As if she had left a message to tell him of her own gratitude, they beamed from his desk.

  He then made his way up the stairs to return a book to the library that he’d been reading on the journey. He saw from the outside that the lamp was on.

  The Duke opened the door and was awed to see Thea sitting, reading. She looked up at him and her lips parted as if to speak.

  He held up his hand in a request to allow him to speak first. Thea gave a relieved expression. She had not been ready to say anything yet, he concluded.

  “I must first ask you forgiveness. I understand that I have already, but I need, now, in this moment, to ask it of you,” he said, walking closer to her.

  Thea stood from the chair and allowed him to draw towards her.

  “Not only must I ask your forgiveness, but I must beg you to be gracious with all the mistakes that are to come in the future,” he continued.

  The Duke’s mouth was still prepared for continuing but he realized that there was little left for him to say so he closed it. He gestured to allow Thea her turn to speak, if she was willing.

  “You have my forgiveness. You have my promise that I will no longer hold you to a standard beyond what either of us agreed to. And I understand that you have been doing much to defend me. You have stood up for me when there was little reason for you to do so,” Thea said.

  The Duke took another step closer to her and there was very little space between them.

  “I am grateful to you. I am thankful for your efforts. I appreciate all that you have done for me,” Thea continued. “Thank you for the books and the flowers, the candles and gowns. But most of all, thank you for your letter.”

  He had noticed that she was wearing one of the gowns and it fit her exquisitely. She looked perfect. The Duke was overjoyed by her appearance and thankful that she was appreciative of his efforts.

  “You read the letter?” he asked.

  “I did. And your words were more beautiful than any other gift I’ve received in my life. Even more than the other gifts you gave me this evening. Thank you for working to improve this marriage so that we can live peacefully,” she said.

  The Duke smiled. He knew that this was awkward for them. Two people who had never really promised to love one another, expressing that something had developed between them. Whatever that might be.

  “I wish I could write something in response that equated my own feelings, but, Mr. Tyndale, I am afraid that words fail me. I can only tell you that I wish for the same development that you do. And I wish for you to know that I have felt a shift in my heart,” she said, adding the last part shyly.

  The Duke gasped a little at that. She had felt a shift in her heart? In the same way he had? Could it be true?

  “Forgive me if that was too forward,” Thea said.

  “It was not. You are my wife, are you not?” he asked.

  “Yes, but, I do not think either of us have felt as husband and wife thus far. I do wish to feel more for you. And you have certainly made a very strong case for it,” Thea remarked.

  The Duke listened to her words, feeling that he himself was coming undone by them. His letter had told her what Mr. Rogers had wanted of him, and had hinted towards what he felt changed in his heart. But her words held a rawness and anxiety. She was not ready for him to know her meaning fully.

  “Mrs. Tyndale, I do hope that I have made it clear to you that my heart has shifted likewise,” he said.

  “Indeed, Mr. Tyndale, you have made it clear,” she replied.

  The Duke held Thea’s gaze for a moment and they were drawn to one another. But in the same instant, both became embarrassed by the suddenness of their expression and pulled back before they could grow any closer.

  “Well then, I ought to bid you goodnight,” Thea said.

  “Yes, and I wish you the same,” the Duke replied.

  “I am certain I shall sleep well,” she told him with a smile. “Surrounded by the smell of roses, what woman could not?”

  She went out the door, making for a stunning figure in the gown and the Duke watched every motion. He had been a fool not to tell her how beautiful she was. But there would be time for that, he felt confident.

  The Duke exited the library and made his way to his room where he was humbled to find a row of roses beneath the door. Thea had gone out of her way as he had gone out of his.

  Indeed, a great deal had changed between them. He hoped that it would only grow deeper. But for the time being, the Duke would go to his room and sleep.

  ***

  The next morning, the Duke of Sandon awoke to a feeling of hope and promise. He sensed that all was well and things were soon to change for the better in his home.

  He had had a very promising meeting the evening before about another new business and it meant that he would be able to expand some of his other plans. The Duke would finally be able to open the boarding school that he’d made plans for. A boarding school in London, that more could afford.

  It wasn’t that he’d not had money to open one already, but it certainly would not have been able to pay the excellent teachers that he hoped for. It would not have provided every child a board to do their work on and an abundance of books they would be able to take from the school.

  Yes, with every expanding business, the Duke could see his dreams growing. And now, with the change that had come between himself and Thea, he also had hope for his life at home.

  As breakfast came, he went down to dine with his wife. She was already seated at the table in another of the dresses he had purchased for her. She seemed utterly content and glad to be there with him.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Tyndale,” he greeted.

  “Good morning to you, Mr. Tyndale,” she replied.

  “I trust you slept well?” he asked.

  “Indeed, I did. And yourself?” she continued.

  “Most definitely,” he answered.
r />   It was then that he considered how he had not been utilizing his wife in his dreams. He thought she would find the idea for the school quite intriguing and she might even have some ideas that he had not considered.

  “Might I tell you about the meeting I had yesterday?” he asked as they scooped food onto their plates.

  “I would very much like to hear it,” Thea replied.

  “Well, it is yet another business that I would be invested in. Another trade that I am partial owner of. I have chosen to move forward with it,” he said.

  There was something in Thea’s face that told him she did not understand why he would do such a thing, but he hoped that once he had explained the investments and the impact they might have, she would come to terms with his financial decisions and how they were of benefit.

  “As you know, I have wealth from my title and inheritance, and now from three businesses. I do not intend, however, for all of the wealth to go to waste,” the Duke said.

  “I am sure that you have seen this grand home and wondered why I need it or why it is necessary. In many ways, it is not other than the fact that it is expected of me. As well, I very much wished for my mother to have her estate to herself,” he said with a laugh.

  “I mean no disrespect to her in that, believe me. She prefers it,” he added.

  “I imagine she does,” Thea said, stifling a laugh of her own.

  “But I do have another intention. Quite a grand one, actually. And I still do not know if it will come to pass as I wish for it to, but I think that with this newest business, I am close. I hope so at least. I am closer than I was before,” he said, rectifying his initial statement.

  “What is this intention?” Thea asked. “I must confess, Mr. Tyndale, that I do not understand how a man can stand to gain so much money when he is spending it all on expanding businesses.”

  “Your question and your confession require vastly different answers. I shall respond to the latter first,” he said, realizing he had been using his formal, business voice. For a moment he paused, trying to think how he might be more comfortable in explaining it all to his wife.

  “When I invest in ownership of a business, I also reap a portion of the profits. I am helping them to expand, or even start the business. In the end, I stand to gain a percentage of the profit,” he said.

  Thea’s cheeks reddened. “That makes sense. Forgive me my ignorance, Mr. Tyndale,” she said.

  “I would never consider you ignorant, Mrs. Tyndale,” he replied, feeling frustrated by the very fact that she could think that of herself. “You are an incredibly intelligent woman. The fact that you’ve not been trained in business, as few women have, does not make you ignorant. I do not expect any man or woman to be an expert in all things.”

  His wife looked at him wide-eyed, nodding in relief at his words. He could see that she still felt ashamed and sensed that it wasn’t so much her intellect as her upbringing that embarrassed her. She had never been exposed much to business beyond her father’s.

  While Mr. Caulfield worked with other vendors, he had hardly been involved in real investments. There was no reason that Thea ought to have known about it.

  “For your question, I would love your input,” the Duke said, perking Thea’s face in the knowledge that the Duke desired her assistance.

  “How so?” she asked.

  “Well, because I think you are a very intelligent woman, I think you might have some grand ideas. I am hoping to build a school,” the Duke announced.

  Thea looked thoroughly taken aback by this declaration.

  “A school?” she questioned.

  “Yes. In London,” he said.

  “Like a university?” she prodded, trying to understand.

  “Oh no, not at all like a university. I am wanting to open it for those unable to afford a full education. A small boarding school for children to receive a better education,” he said.

  “That sounds like a much needed idea, Mr. Tyndale. I think my brothers could have benefitted from such a thing,” Thea said in compassionate reply.

  “So I should like to build a school which hires very qualified men as professors. But only the most intelligent. Of course, we will also provide breakfast and lunch for the students as many of them do not get much in their homes,” he said, feeling excited as he told her the details.

  “We will have a grand library and the children will be allowed to take books out, so long as they return one before taking another. And they will get an education the likes of which has never been offered them before,” he concluded.

  “Your Gr-I mean, Mr. Tyndale, I am utterly pleased with this idea!” Thea replied excitedly.

  “You mean it?” he asked.

  “Most definitely. I believe it is exactly what the city needs,” she said.

  “Then I must ask you to come alongside me and make it happen,” he said.

  “It should be a great honor for me,” Thea replied with a grin on her face.

  The Duke was pleased with her answer and grateful for her support. All was coming along. He felt that nothing could bring him down now.

  Chapter 31

  Thrilled that Delia was able to come visit, on another break from her employer, Thea and Margaret waited at the estate for her arrival a few days following.

  “Just wait until she sees the cakes,” Margaret said, delighted to share this time with Delia. Thea knew that she was already anxious for Mrs. Markley to bring them and wondered if they were the only reason Margaret ever came to visit.

  The sound of a coach sounded outside and Thea rushed to the window.

  “She’s here!” she exclaimed excitedly.

  The two sat on the couch, looking exceedingly proper. They had decided that when Delia arrived, they ought to pretend as though they were now prim women of high society.

  But the moment Mrs. Markley knocked on the door, Thea abandoned all pretense and rushed to open it and envelop Delia in a hug.

  “Good heavens, you might think I’ve been gone for three years rather than simply off as a governess for a month,” Delia said, trying to breathe through the embrace.

  Margaret joined the hug and soon the two led Delia to the couch so that they could all enjoy one another’s company.

  Before long, the sweets that had become a legend in the letters that Thea and Margaret had written to Delia were brought for her. Her eyes widened in delight.

  “So how is it? How are the children? Do you like your position?” Thea asked.

  “The children are certainly some of the best I could have gotten. I am very fortunate as I have heard of such little terrors from other governesses. You must understand, I did not expect to be so delighted by my charges,” Delia answered with genuine honesty and relief.

  “I am glad to hear it,” Thea said.

  “And is your employer married?” Margaret inquired, as if something might develop between Delia and himself.

  “Ha! You do read too many of those scandalous works,” Delia replied. “He is married, fat, and bald. I cannot imagine ever being in such a story where I find love in a place like that.”

  “Well that is a pity. It would have inspired me to find work as a governess if you’d had any luck at all,” Margaret said with disappointment.

  “Your Grace,” Mrs. Markley said, knocking on the door.

  “Yes, Mrs. Markley?” Thea replied, inviting the housekeeper in.

  “Your Grace, I’ve had news. Mr. Higgs brought the paper by, saying that it pertained to your husband. I thought you ought to read it,” she said cautiously.

  Thea felt a sense of dread wash over her. She knew that the Duke was at the very least safe. He had been fine that morning and no newspaper could be printed with any other such news in such a short period of time.

  She scanned the page that Mrs. Markley had laid before her.

  “Trade boat lost at sea. Believed to have sunk…”

  Thea was quiet. She felt the eyes of Margaret and Delia who knew nothing of how this could
impact her husband.

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Margaret asked.

  “Thea, Thea what is it?” Delia asked more carefully.

  “It is a boat belonging to Mr. Cotswold…” Thea said, blinking back the information that she could not quite consider the impact of.

  “Who is Mr. Cotswold?” Margaret pressed.

  “He is a man my husband has gone into business with. The loss of this ship means the loss of a fortune for His Grace,” Thea explained very vaguely.