A Night Rose for the Duke: A Clean & Sweet Regency Historical Romance

by Fanny Finch

  He hesitated. “Especially after that… incident. Forgive me if I have caused any inconvenience with my intrusion.”

  He sounded truly sorry, and she thought him all the more charming for that.

  “I assure you, Charles. No apologies are necessary. You are always welcome here. Whenever you choose to come, as long as I am in, I shall receive you wholeheartedly.”

  “That is such good news to hear on such a lovely evening.”

  As if on cue, the curtains danced to the tune of the wind.

  “It is, isn’t it? The weather is agreeable today. The sun was not too hot when it shone and now that it has gone to rest, the wind blows so sweetly.”

  She went on. “I was enjoying the breeze on the balcony at the west wing before your arrival. It had seemed only fitting to immerse myself in The Lady and her Lord.”

  “Is that the one by Collins Hanley?”

  She nodded, glad that he knew the book. She had hoped he would. “The one and only. This is my fifth read. It still manages to draw me in.”

  “It is quite a lovely read.”

  “Yes. On that, we both agree.”

  He held her gaze and softly said, “Yet again.”

  Those eyes… They mesmerized her. Their gaze felt like a caress on her body. “Yet again.”

  “How are you, Eleanor? I am sorry I did not come by earlier than this. I have been occupied by other matters.”

  “You do not owe me any explanation, Charles. I do understand how these things are. I rarely get any free time myself.”

  “How helpful it is that you are a ruler yourself. Sometimes I cannot wait for the season to be over so I can return to the countryside.”

  She laughed, her voice ringing loud. “You are not alone, I must tell you. I feel that way almost every day. I do miss Grenshire, its people. My home there, everything.”

  She sighed dreamily. She truly missed home. His next question was unexpected.

  “How long have you lived there?”

  “Grenshire? Four years. I was twenty when I married Benjamin. We courted for six months before that. I lived with Edwin in his home at Humshire before that.”

  “I do not understand how your brother is viscount of another territory, and your father is also viscount of another territory.”

  It was only normal that he would ask these questions. Eleanor was aware they would get to this point someday, and she reckoned she was in a good place now in order to answer his questions.

  “A distant cousin from my mother’s side named my brother his heir. He had given birth to only female children and by the time he was frail and old, they were all happily married and far away in their husband’s homes.

  “He never agreed with my father’s treatment of us. So, as soon as Edwin clocked eighteen summers, he named him his heir. Uncle Daniel - that was his name. He died a year later.

  “Edwin moved to Humshire and when I clocked eighteen summers, he came for me.”

  “Before then, you lived with your parents?”

  “My father and stepmother, yes. I lost my mother when I was twelve. It was not the season, but we were in London.”

  She paused as the memories returned. “She had been struck by a mysterious illness and Father had thought it best to bring her to London, where we would be able to get many of the best physicians.”

  She had been young, but she had understood the gravity of the situation. And she had been scared. She had been so afraid for her mother’s life.

  It was as though, somehow, she had known that her mother would not survive it.

  Her sweet, sweet mother, with raven hair and eyes the color of the sun. She had been so beautiful.

  Even close to her death, when her body had gone pale and lean, she had still looked beautiful to Eleanor.

  “We acquired the best of them, indeed. However, none of them had been able to discern what was wrong with her, or what to do to get her to feel better. She died three months later, in my arms. I was the only one in the room with her…

  “I sat there, unable to scream or even call for help. She had gone so peacefully. She had said these last words ‘I love you, and I always will. I won’t ever leave you, Eleanor. Remember that, and stay happy.’

  “Then, her eyes fluttered close, as though she had simply gone into deep sleep…”

  She stopped staring into space to look at him.

  “I think I did not believe it so easily. Yes, I knew she was dead, but a part of me still believed she would return. That like many times before, she would startle awake and smile at me again.

  “She never did. I stayed there, staring quietly, until the servants came in with her meal. That was when they saw that she was gone.

  “Edwin came in after. He took one look at her and took me into his arms. It was only then that the tears fell. That was all they did, fall. I did not cry, I did not sob.”

  She smiled sadly and returned to staring at the empty space.

  “It was the same for Edwin. She was laid to rest two weeks later. Seven months after, my father brought home Sarah.”

  Her expression hardened. “She too had been widowed, and she came with her two children from her first marriage. William and Anna. William has been named Father’s heir and Anna…”

  “She is the one who your stepmother spoke about… Something about a marriage and the man you had chosen to love?”

  She had not chosen to love Luke. If she had had a choice, she never would have.

  “I guess that is the version she likes to believe. Luke began to do business with Father after his died, and he inherited the family’s fortune and properties.

  “He had no title. But he was handsome. I was a child of sixteen summers and it was so easy to fall for his charm, looks and wit. He was the first man I ever loved.”

  When she remembered it these days, it no longer hurt. Benjamin’s love had taken all of that hurt away.

  “What happened?”

  “I told him when I was seventeen and some months old. I confessed the love I had been nursing for him. He was six years older, and he took it well.

  “He told me he loved me too, and he would marry me when I clocked eighteen summers. I was so joyous. Sarah had never been kind to me. Edwin never let her touch me, but she hurt me with her words, daily.

  “They were not physical wounds, they were emotional, and those hurt deeper. It still hurt, losing and missing my mother. She never did fill those shoes.”

  Charles nodded, urging her to continue. She did.

  “I believed Luke would take all of that hurt away. Edwin was gone by that time, and I too wanted a place of my own, far away from Manhampton. I wanted a family that would love me.

  “Somehow, I believed Luke would fill the void that my mother’s death had left in me.”

  “He chose Anna instead?”

  “He did. It was only three weeks to our wedding. All was set. Then one night, I received a letter. It was from him, and it said he had eloped with Anna.”

  She sighed. “Apparently, my step-sister had seduced him. He had been unable to resist. Their affair had resorted in a child, and he had eloped with her, left with no other choice than to accept responsibility for his actions.

  “I have not set my eyes upon the two of them since that year. They have been in Ireland, Luke’s home. I hear they now have three children and are happy together.”

  “It was his loss.”

  “Oh, I know. I am glad he left. I never would have met Benjamin otherwise.”

  She frowned. “Now, I have no doubt that Sarah had sent Anna to him, all in a bid to steal my joy. I do not know how anyone can be so wicked, but that woman has always hated to see me smile.”

  “And your father? What did he have to say in all of this?” Charles asked.

  Eleanor scoffed. That man… She wondered if she would ever completely forgive him for his wrongdoings.

  “Sometimes I believe he loves me - in his own way. However, when his love for me stood against his fear of losing S
arah, his fear won, every time. It still does.”

  She heaved a deep sigh. “I do not know which I feel more - pity or anger.”

  She remained thoughtful for a few moments and then went on. “I am certain you already know about my husband by now. Rachel must have told it all to you.”

  “She did tell me, but I learned from someone else first. I was curious about your person, you see,” Charles admitted. “I had to ask questions. Forgive me.”

  This surprised her, but she did not feel slighted in the least bit.

  “It is fine. It is not a secret to be hidden, anyway. Oh, well, now you know the entirety of my story. Edwin has been my rock. After Benjamin’s death, talks that I brought doom to everyone who loved me, began to spread.”

  She recalled the names they called her and chose the mildest. “The poisonous Night Rose, as they named me, left London then and planned never to return. Until now.”

  She finished her story and the last of the heaviness in her heart fell away as the final words left her mouth.

  She had never sat down to tell the story to anyone like this, ever. Not even Frances knew it all. She had simply put bits together, and Edwin had helped.

  There had been no need to tell it to Edwin, who had witnessed it all happen. If she had known that talking would come with this magnitude of healing, she would have spoken about it years ago.

  Silence rang loud and she waited patiently for Charles to take it all in.

  Now that he knew the truth, she wondered if he would stay, or if he would run. She wondered how she would handle it if he chose to do the latter.

  After a long while, he broke the spell. “Is it okay if I embrace you? I feel like it is the least I could do, for all the pain you have had to suffer.”

  All this while, she had avoided looking at him, but in that moment, she did. Her eyes widened in awe, and the butterflies in her stomach took flight in celebration.

  An embrace? Oh, I would very much love to. But, what would this mean? I have only ever embraced three men - Edwin, Luke and Benjamin. Does society allow for embrace amongst friends?

  She chided herself as the last thought crossed her mind. What had society done for her? And society, were they here in this moment?

  Even the Lord knew that she needed a warm embrace. It would do her soul a lot of good. Decision made, she smiled at him.

  “Yes, Charles. You may. I would very much like that.”

  He rose wordlessly, and walked over to where she sat. He joined her on the seat and drew closer.

  When his arms came open, she freely went into them. She kept her arms to herself, but relaxed as his went around her and held her in their safe cocoon.

  She had feared that it would feel awkward, wrong. Yet, it felt unquestionably right, like this was where she was meant to be.

  They remained that way for what seemed like an eternity. It was so peaceful, that Eleanor was almost lolling to sleep when she heard him speak again.

  “Now that you have shared your past with me, I reckon it is only fair that I do the same.”

  Chapter 22

  As Charles held Eleanor in his arms, he was aware of how right she felt, of how completely it seemed like she belonged there.

  However, other matters took the greater part of his thoughts. His heart had broken as she had told him her story.

  He knew now, without a doubt, that what he had suffered was nothing compared to all that Eleanor had had to go through. To think that she had managed to pull through all of these.

  His mother was strong. So was his sister. But this woman in his arms, her strength amazed him.

  How had she found the will to go on? Turned away by her family, betrayed by her own family.

  Yet, here she was. Trudging on in life. He did not fail to realize how small his pain seemed compared to hers.

  Like his mother had always said, no pain was too small. Everyone reacted differently to every hurt. Still, he could not help but wonder…

  If Eleanor could overcome this, what was stopping him from giving love another chance?

  He had been waiting for her to cry, but she had not shed a single tear as she spoke. He was grateful that she had chosen to share her story with him - honored, even. It gladdened his heart so.

  Like he had said, he truly believed it only fair that he shared his story too.

  He could trust Eleanor. He knew she would never tell the tale to another soul.

  And maybe, maybe she would find comfort in knowing that he understood her pain. That he, too, had shared the pain of being heartbroken.

  “You do not have to tell me,” she protested, but it was a weak protest. He heard the curiosity in her voice. It warmed his heart that she had been willing to put aside her curiosity for his convenience.

  “No. But I want to. Please, let me.”

  She broke the embrace then, and as she leaned away, he immediately felt the loss. His body mourned it. She peered into his eyes and, so softly, encouraged him.

  “Alright. I am all ears, Your Grace.”

  He knew the use of his title was a attempt to lighten the mood, and he appreciated that. Willing himself to remain strong, he dared to relive the memories he had refused to visit in years.

  They came back easily, and he narrated the events just like they had happened, as if they were only the day before.

  “After my father’s death,” he began, “I became the Duke of Finchester. The transition was long and a little difficult. I had prepared for it all my life, but when it arrived, I realized that ruling a dukedom required so much more.

  “However, with my mother by my side, it was eventually successful.”

  He paused, as he saw it all happen again, from the very beginning.

  “After it was certain that I had completely settled into my duties, Mother advised that there was no better time to take a wife.

  “I did not have to look for one. You see, my parents had me betrothed to Elise Greenwood when I was sixteen. Elise had been ten. At the time Mother suggested marriage, I had just clocked twenty-six summers.

  “Of course, I considered myself ripe for marriage and Elise’s parents thought the same of their daughter who had just clocked twenty summers.”

  She had been the perfect age, as he too had been. She had also been a very lovely woman. There was no reason to delay the marriage any longer.

  However, before the marriage, Charles had wanted to woo his wife, court her, fall in love with her.

  He had witnessed the love his parents had shared in their marriage. Quite uncommon in the era of arranged marriages, but they had fought hard to make theirs work, and he had wanted the same. If not for anything else, for his children’s sake.

  So, Charles committed himself to knowing Elise, and to loving her. The closer they grew, the more reasons he saw to fall in love with her.

  She had been extraordinarily beautiful. The kind of beauty that made heads turn wherever she went.

  He sighed, as he remembered how proud that had made him. Proud, knowing that she was his.

  “Women envied her, and men fell at her feet. I was a man like all of those men. I too had been unable to help myself. I laid myself at her feet, willing to let her do with me as she pleased.

  “Ah, Elise. She had been flighty, carefree. She had lived and spoken freely, with no care for propriety. She had laughed a lot, loudly, without a care in the world, and she had loved all those who mattered to her unashamedly.

  “She had been a breath of fresh air, a heavy dose of sunshine.”

  Even now, he could see her in his mind’s eye. Her golden hair which shone in the sun, flying wildly behind her as she jumped, and laughed, and chased the swans.

  He would watch her. She never knew and he had only told her after they had become man and wife.

  He would watch her every morning when she went to feed the ducks at the river. She had always gone with her younger siblings, and she would talk for the entire hour they were there, telling them stories upon stories.

/>   Looking at it now, she had not been entirely terrible. She had just been a different soul.

  “Different, was what she had been,” he continued. “From other ladies, from the more conservative life in which I had been brought up. It was refreshing. Very. She was a bundle of joy and cheer.