Reforming the Duke: A Regency Romance (Regency Matchmakers Book 2)

by Laura Beers

  Edmund started to rise when he saw her, but she waved him back down.

  “I came to see if you were all right,” she said as she remained next to the door.

  “I will be,” he replied curtly.

  Amelia took a step closer to him. “Would you care to discuss it?”

  “No.”

  “I understand,” she said, “but I am willing to listen, Your Grace.”

  His brow lifted at her use of his title, but he didn’t say anything.

  “I just came from tucking Sybil into bed,” she shared. “She hopes that you will escort her to the secret garden tomorrow.”

  “I suppose I am amenable to that.”

  “That is good. You will make Sybil very happy.” Amelia watched as Edmund clenched and unclenched his right hand. “Is your hand troubling you?”

  “It is,” he replied. “It hurts from hitting Rawlings’s jaw.”

  “Oh.”

  “Which I don’t regret. Not one bit.” He hesitated before adding, “He had it coming for years.”

  “Is that so?”

  Edmund turned his gaze towards her, and she detected a hint of remorse in his eyes. “I would like to apologize for how I treated you earlier,” he said. “It was wrong of me.”

  “I will forgive you, but only if you forgive me for not revealing that I met with Rawlings in the woodlands.”

  He frowned. “That was wrong of you.”

  “I am beginning to see that.”

  “Rawlings is not a good man.” He huffed. “But, apparently, I am not much better.”

  Amelia took a step closer to him and placed her hands on the back of an upholstered armchair. “That is not true.”

  “It is,” Edmund asserted. “My steward has been buying land using unscrupulous means in my name.”

  “But that wasn’t your fault,” she contended. “You didn’t know.”

  “I should have,” he growled.

  “How could you have?” she asked. “Did you ever direct him to do something disreputable to purchase lands?”

  He shook his head. “But it doesn’t matter. I am ultimately responsible, and now I have to fix this mess.”

  “And you shall,” Amelia asserted.

  Edmund eyed her curiously. “How is it that you have so much faith in me?”

  “Because I know what kind of person you truly are, despite you trying to hide it behind a gruff exterior.”

  “I am just a man.”

  “That is true, but you are an honorable man.”

  Edmund shifted his gaze towards the crackling fire. “How can you even say that after I told you what I did to Alice? Or how I have neglected my daughter for years?”

  “People make mistakes. We must accept our past and learn from it or we are destined to repeat it.”

  “I want nothing to do with my past,” he asserted.

  Coming around the chair, Amelia sat down. “As for your daughter, you have your entire life to make it up to her.”

  “And for Alice?”

  “What was the last thing that Alice thought about on her deathbed?”

  Edmund turned his gaze back towards her. “Sybil.”

  Amelia nodded. “You can honor Alice’s legacy by showing love to Sybil.”

  “It isn’t that simple.”

  “Whyever not?”

  With trembling lips, Edmund shared, “It shouldn’t be that easy to atone for my wrongs.”

  Amelia leaned forward in her chair. “You have punished yourself long enough. It is time to move forward.”

  “I don’t think I can,” he replied, his eyes filling with tears.

  “And why is that?”

  Edmund blinked back his tears as he admitted, “Seeing Rawlings tonight brought back a flood of unwelcome painful memories that I had blocked away.”

  “I am sorry to hear that.”

  Rising, Edmund walked over to the mantel above the fireplace and placed his drink down. “Alice would go riding every morning at precisely the same time,” he shared. “It was always when I met with my steward, so I gave it little heed. But, over time, I found myself growing increasingly curious as to what she was doing on these long rides.”

  Edmund placed his hands on the mantel and leaned in as he continued. “One morning, I decided to follow her, leading me deep into the woodlands. I stayed back and watched Alice rendezvous with Rawlings. But it wasn’t until I witnessed them kissing that I intervened.”

  Amelia remained quiet, hoping Edmund would continue to confide in her.

  “I was furious as I stormed out and confronted them,” he shared. “Alice tried to convince me that nothing untoward was happening, but I refused to be fooled again.”

  Edmund turned back to face her, and she could see the small lines of pain tugging at the corners of his eyes. “I forbade Alice from visiting the woodlands and threatened her with divorce if she even attempted to step foot in them. She tried to make amends with me, but I wasn’t interested. She had lost my trust.”

  “I understand now why you acted the way you did when you saw me coming out of the woodlands.”

  “For the past three years, I have tried to buy Rawlings’s land because I wanted him gone,” Edmund explained. “I want nothing to do with that man ever again. He ruined my life in so many ways, but he refuses to sell, no matter how much money I offer.” He clenched his fists to his sides. “He is a bloody nuisance.”

  Amelia rose and walked over to the duke. “I think it is time you forgive Rawlings and move on.”

  “Forgive him?” He scoffed. “You are mad.”

  “Your anger has consumed you,” she said gently. “You shouldn’t give Rawlings any control over your emotions.”

  “I haven’t.”

  She gave him a knowing look. “You became rather unhinged when you saw him this evening.”

  “I was taken by surprise.” Edmund turned to face her, a frown lining his brow. “You just want me to forgive him, as if it was that simple.”

  Amelia took a step closer to him. “Anger destroys you from the inside. You are better than that, Edmund.”

  “What if I’m not?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.

  “You need to be,” she replied. “You have a daughter who needs you to be the best version of yourself.”

  His shoulders slumped slightly. “I am not that strong.”

  “You are.”

  Edmund reached for her hand, taking it in his own and raising it to his lips. “I’m beginning to think that you are my strength.”

  “You don’t need me.”

  “But I do, Amelia.”

  Feeling his warm lips on her knuckles caused a tremor of anticipation to flow up her arm to her neck, and she hoped that he would kiss her again.

  “I care for you,” he said, his eyes full of vulnerability. “Am I wrong to hope that you hold me in some regard?”

  “You are not wrong,” she breathed.

  A slow smile curved his mouth. “I am happy to hear that.” To her surprise, Edmund released her hand and took a step back. “You should probably go.”

  “I should?”

  The confusion must have been evident on her face because Edmund explained, “I am attempting to be a gentleman.”

  “Oh,” she replied. “That is good.”

  Edmund’s smile grew. “Good night, Amelia.”

  “Good night, Edmund.”

  When Amelia turned to leave, Edmund asked, “Would you care to go riding with me tomorrow morning?”

  “I would.”

  He bowed. “I will be looking forward to it, then.”

  “As will I.”

  As Amelia hurried out of the library, she could scarcely contain her excitement. Edmund had confessed that he cared for her! Perhaps it wouldn’t be so farfetched to dream of a future between them.

  Edmund had just removed his riding jacket and had extended it towards his valet when he announced, “I believe I will offer for Miss Blackmore.”

  Bartlett lifted his brow. �
�Truly?”

  “Even though I asked my mother to find me a bride, I think she would be pleased at my choice,” he said. “After all, they get along splendidly.”

  “I think that is wonderful news.”

  “I daresay that you must be pleased at the prospect of having Miss Blackmore’s lady’s maid staying.”

  Bartlett smiled as he handed Edmund a blue jacket. “I am. I have enjoyed my time with Leah immensely.”

  As Edmund placed the blue jacket over his white waistcoat and adjusted his cravat, he remarked, “Then I suppose we both would benefit from this marriage.”

  “It would appear that way.”

  Edmund walked over to the door. “If all goes according to my plan,” he said, “I will ride out tomorrow to secure a license in Town.”

  Bartlett tipped his head. “I have no doubt that Miss Blackmore will be receptive to your marriage proposal.”

  “I hope so,” Edmund said as he opened the door and stepped into the hall.

  He wasn’t entirely sure how Amelia would react to his offer of marriage. He had confessed that he held her in high regard, and she had responded favorably. But Amelia was a rarity amongst the women of the ton. She was beautiful, clever, and spoke her mind most admirably. Frankly, he didn’t want to wait any longer to make her his because the thought of losing her scared him.

  He had nearly blurted out a marriage proposal on their ride this morning, but he had managed to contain himself. She had looked so lovely as she rode the chestnut mare through the fields.

  Edmund had just descended the stairs when his butler announced, “Mr. Rawlings and Judge Balflour are in your study, Your Grace.”

  “Thank you,” he muttered before he strode towards his study. Rawlings was the last person that he wanted to see, but he had to deal with this pressing matter first.

  Edmund stepped into this study and saw Rawlings and Judge Balflour standing next to the window, staring out into the gardens. The magistrate was a tall, thin man with a thick mustache on his long face.

  “Good morning,” Edmund greeted. “Thank you for coming.”

  Rawlings turned towards him with thinly veiled contempt on his face. “I must admit that I was surprised to receive your missive this morning.”

  “I want to put this matter to rest as quickly as possible,” Edmund responded as he came around his desk. “That is why I have asked Judge Balflour to join us this morning.”

  Rawlings eyed him with disdain. “How noble of you, Your Grace,” he remarked tersely.

  Ignoring Rawlings’s snide tone, Edmund informed them, “My steward should be along shortly, and we will straighten out this mess.”

  “Are you truly going to pin all the fault on your steward?” Rawlings growled.

  Edmund sat down at his desk. “As I have said before, I know nothing about the fires.”

  Rawlings scoffed. “I find that hard to believe, Your Grace.”

  “I don’t care what you believe,” Edmund drawled, “it is the truth.”

  Judge Balflour stepped away from the window. “Regardless, you will need to make some form of restitution to the damaged parties.”

  “I am well aware of that fact, and I intend to do so.”

  Morton stepped into the room and announced, “Mr. Ridout is here to see you, Your Grace.”

  “Please send him in,” Edmund ordered.

  A few moments later, his steward walked into the study and his eyes darted nervously around the room. “You sent for me, Your Grace?”

  “I did,” Edmund replied. “I believe you know Mr. Rawlings and Judge Balflour.”

  “Yes, I have met them on separate occasions,” Mr. Ridout said.

  Edmund intertwined his fingers and placed them on the desk. “Mr. Rawlings has brought forth some alarming accusations against you.” He paused before adding, “Against us.”

  Mr. Ridout pushed his spectacles up higher on his nose. “He has?” he asked hesitantly.

  “Mr. Rawlings claims that you hired someone to set his barn on fire in an attempt to get him to sell his property,” Edmund shared.

  “That is ludicrous!” Mr. Ridout shouted defiantly. “I would never dream of such an underhanded tactic.”

  Mr. Rawlings spoke up. “We caught the man in the process of starting the fire, and he confessed everything.”

  Mr. Ridout’s face paled slightly. “He did?”

  “He did,” Mr. Rawlings revealed. “And it only has confirmed what the village people have suspected for years.”

  “Which is?” Mr. Ridout asked.

  “That you set fires, then swoop in and purchase their land at a lower price,” Mr. Rawlings replied.

  Mr. Ridout shook his head. “That is simply a coincidence.”

  Judge Balflour stepped forward and asked, “But you admit to setting the fire at Mr. Rawlings’s barn?”

  Mr. Ridout’s panicked eyes met his. “This is all just an unfortunate misunderstanding.”

  “Is it?” Edmund asked.

  “I was complaining to someone about how Mr. Rawlings refused to sell, and he must have acted on his own,” Mr. Ridout rushed out.

  “Your thug said you offered him ten pounds to burn down the barn,” Mr. Rawlings pressed.

  “That man is clearly lying.”

  Judge Balflour interjected, “Mr. Walters is in jail and is willing to testify against you. I found him to be quite credible.”

  “He is a criminal!” Mr. Ridout exclaimed.

  “So are you,” Mr. Rawlings declared. “You hired him to do your dirty work for you.”

  Mr. Ridout approached the desk. “You must believe me, Your Grace.”

  “Frankly, the evidence is rather damning against you,” Edmund said, “and I have no choice but to dismiss you.”

  A hardened look came into Mr. Ridout’s eyes. “I won’t take the fall for this,” he stated. “This was all your doing.”

  Edmund reared back. “I beg your pardon?!”

  “You told me to purchase those lands by any means necessary,” Mr. Ridout said.

  Rising from his chair, Edmund exclaimed, “I never once gave you permission to do anything disreputable!”

  “Then what does ‘any means necessary’ mean?” Mr. Ridout questioned.

  “It means that you negotiate with them for a fair price,” Edmund asserted.

  Mr. Ridout huffed. “I did what needed to be done to buy up as much land as possible for you. I increased your holdings by nearly ten thousand acres.”

  Edmund shook his head. “You went about it the wrong way.”

  Judge Balflour stepped closer to Mr. Ridout. “How many fires did you set?” he asked.

  “I only had to use that tactic on the most stubborn sellers,” Mr. Ridout explained.

  “How many?” Judge Balflour pressed.

  “Five times,” Mr. Ridout answered.

  Mr. Rawlings spoke up. “Did you set fire to my parents’ lands?”

  Mr. Ridout had the decency to look ashamed. “I did, but they received a fair price for their property.”

  “No, you swindled them,” Mr. Rawlings growled.

  Judge Balflour interjected, “The constable is waiting in the entry hall to take you to jail.”

  Mr. Ridout gave him a look of disbelief. “They were only fires. No one got hurt.”

  “No, but they could have,” Judge Balflour argued. “You will pay for your crimes.”

  With a pleading look at him, Mr. Ridout asked, “You won’t let them send me to jail, will you?”

  “What you did was inconceivable, and I have no choice but to right your wrongs,” Edmund contended.

  Judge Balflour grabbed Mr. Ridout’s arm and started leading him towards the door. “Let’s go, Mr. Ridout. We still have much to discuss.”

  After the magistrate and Mr. Ridout departed from the room, Edmund turned his attention towards Mr. Rawlings.

  “I find myself in the uncomfortable position of being wrong,” Edmund acknowledged. “I would like to apologize for my stewar
d’s actions, and I will pay for all the damages to your barn.”

  “That won’t be necessary, since we caught the thug before he caused any real damage.”

  “I am pleased to hear that,” Edmund replied. “Furthermore, I would like to return your parents’ land to them.”

  Mr. Rawlings’s face went slack. “I’m afraid they won’t be able to return the money that you gave them for the land.”

  “I never asked for the money back.”

  “You would just give them their lands back?” Mr. Rawlings asked with a skeptical look. “Without expecting compensation?”

  He nodded. “I would.”

  “That is more than generous of you.”

  Edmund waved his hand dismissively in front of him. “It is only fair, especially since I acquired it through disreputable means.”

  “I thank you kindly for that,” Mr. Rawlings responded, his tone softer than it had been. “It would mean the world to my parents and to me.”

  Edmund sat down in his chair. “I would imagine the whole village thinks poorly of me.”

  “They do,” Mr. Rawlings revealed, walking closer to the desk, “but I will spread the word that you knew nothing of your steward’s unscrupulous dealings.”

  “I would appreciate that,” Edmund said. “I generally do not care what people think of me, but I don’t ever wish to be known as dishonest.”

  Mr. Rawlings stared at him for a moment. “I was wrong about you,” he finally said. “I thought the worst of you, but you are not as terrible as I have led myself to believe.”

  Edmund surprised himself by saying, “Perhaps we should let bygones be bygones.”

  “You would be willing to do that?” Mr. Rawlings asked with disbelief on his features. “Even after everything that happened between me and Alice?”

  Edmund stiffened at hearing his wife’s name on Rawlings’s lips. “Miss Blackmore seems to believe I need to move on from my past and learn from it.”

  “Miss Blackmore appears to be a charming young woman.”

  “You will stay away from her,” Edmund warned, pointing his finger at him.

  Mr. Rawlings put his hands up in front of him. “I wouldn’t dream of interfering between you two.”

  “Frankly, I would like to purchase your land and never see you again,” Edmund admitted. “But I don’t think that is likely to happen.”