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

by Fanny Finch

  “I see, my lord. It was my understanding that after the previous governess, you would rather meet the young woman first,” she defended.

  “That was wise. But it was not something that had been discussed as it ought to have been. Tell me, how long was Miss Caulfield here before you brought her to me?” he asked.

  Mrs. Andrews seemed to be thinking.

  “Perhaps ten or fifteen minutes, my lord. Immediately upon her arrival, I showed her to her room. After that, she was brought directly to you,” Mrs. Andrews told him.

  The Earl considered it and agreed that this was perfectly reasonable.

  “Well then, just remember next time that I should like all our new staff, just as our guests, to be treated well upon their arrival. There is no need to allow them to linger. Thank you, Mrs. Andrews,” the Earl said, nodding to the door.

  The housekeeper stood to leave.

  “Yes, thank you, my lord. I shall not disappoint you again,” she promised in a way that left him feeling uneasy.

  She did not seem entirely genuine in some of her remarks, but the Earl of Dulshire had no real reason to question Mrs. Andrews. She had been a good employee. He had to keep that in mind and not wonder about her.

  The Earl sat at his desk to do some work, but found himself distracted and going back to the window. Now Miss Caulfield and Grace were racing to the tree nearby and then back to their pile of books on a blanket.

  Upon returning to the blanket, Miss Caulfield seemingly instructed Grace to read aloud. Perhaps five minutes later, the young governess seemed to shout something and they were up and running again.

  Whatever her method was, it was keeping Grace on task and interested in her work. He had never seen such activity used before, but wholeheartedly approved.

  He sighed and went back to his desk, but little managed to keep his attention. He just continued to picture the joy on Grace’s face and the woman who brought it about.

  ***

  The following morning was Thursday. The Earl woke up early and made his way down the stairs and outside where the coachman was already waiting for him.

  The flowers had been delivered the night before as always and the Earl walked the distance to Lydia’s gravestone. He stared at it and finally bent down to leave the flowers.

  He wished he had something to say, as usual. But nothing came. It was the same as every time he journeyed to the grave.

  But this particular morning, the minister happened to be outside of his parish, despite the early hour. He was pruning the apple tree just beside the front of the church, and the Earl saw him as he was heading to the coach.

  “Good morning, my lord,” the minister greeted.

  “Good morning, Mr. Rogers,” the Earl replied with a nod of the head and tip of the hat.

  “I’m just working on this old thing. I wish someone would come and prune the rotting parts off of me,” Mr. Rogers laughed, which soon turned into a cough.

  “Well, Mr. Rogers, at least your rotten parts are bodily. Some of us need someone to prune the rotten parts that we don’t like to share,” the Earl mumbled, suddenly feeling angrier at himself by the minute. The pain of leaving Lydia’s tomb was in full effect.

  “You must remember, my lord, that it is our Lord who saw fit to take care of that duty,” Mr. Rogers replied.

  The Earl felt foolish for forgetting that he was speaking to a minister. Of course the answer would come that the Lord was able to handle it. He had made a mistake for forgetting such a thing.

  “Yes, thank you, Mr. Rogers. You are right,” the Earl replied.

  “Have you spoken with the late Countess of Dulshire’s family?” Mr. Rogers asked suddenly.

  The Earl was unprepared for this question and had no desire to answer it. His late wife’s family were not people with whom he had remained in close contact. They blamed him for her early demise, and the Earl knew that they disliked him and continued to speak against him.

  “I am afraid not, Mr. Rogers,” the Earl replied. “May I ask why?”

  “Oh, it’s nothing. Only that her brother, Mr. Davis, visited recently. I had not seen him in such a long time and I had wondered if you had recommended him to come and see her,” Mr. Rogers said.

  “It was not me, but I am glad to know that he came. I do hope that he found some peace,” the Earl replied, not allowing himself to speak further to the matter.

  The two men said goodbye and parted ways. The Earl climbed back into the coach and instructed the coachman to take him back to the house.

  Thinking about the fact that Mr. Davis had come to visit Lydia unnerved him. The man had every right. It was good, in fact, that he cared enough about his sister to do that. But he also hated the Earl a great deal, and that was where the Earl of Dulshire was uncomfortable.

  But he pushed it aside. It would be ridiculous of him to be angered by the presence of his wife’s family. He had to overcome his insecurities, no matter what they said about him.

  The Earl arrived back at the house in time for breakfast. He joined Miss Caulfield and Grace and watched the two interact again.

  “Miss Caulfield, I have finished,” Grace said in a sweet voice after some time.

  “Yes, Miss Grace, as have I,” Miss Caulfield replied with a smile. “Shall we make our way to your lesson?”

  Grace enthusiastically nodded her head, and Miss Caulfield stood, taking Grace’s hand as she did the same. They gave a gentle, unified curtsey to the Earl.

  “Just a moment,” he said, considering them. “Miss Caulfield, might I have a word with you?”

  Miss Caulfield’s face told him that she was unnerved, but she ushered Grace to her lessons.

  “I shall follow you presently,” she said encouragingly.

  Grace left with a maid in order to make her way upstairs. Miss Caulfield returned to her seat and waited patiently.

  “Miss Caulfield, I must confess that you have surprised me,” he finally said.

  “Oh?” she asked, suddenly nervous.

  “Indeed. I am rather amazed at how you have handled my daughter thus far. Having observed some of your behaviors with her and how you are teaching her, I am impressed,” he told her.

  Miss Caulfield blushed at this and looked away from the Earl. He could not help but notice how it suited her.

  “Thank you, my lord. I am glad that you are pleased. Your daughter is very intelligent, she only needs creative ways to bring it out. I am certain that very soon you will see what a great child she is and what a promising young woman she will become,” Miss Caulfield said.

  “Yes, I’ve no doubt that under your guidance she will thrive rather magnificently,” the Earl complimented again.

  Still the young governess seemed unwilling to accept the compliment towards her own self, but she bowed her head slightly in appreciation to the Earl for his words.

  “Do you have siblings, Miss Caulfield? Younger siblings, I mean?” he asked.

  “Indeed, my lord. I have an elder sister as well as a younger and two young brothers,” she answered him.

  “And did you help with their education at any time?” he continued to inquire.

  “Yes, my lord. I enjoyed it very much and it was part of the certainty that I had in choosing this work,” Delia told him.

  “Yes, it is clear that you have experience with children. Again, I am very pleased with what I am seeing thus far,” he told her, putting the last bite of toast in his mouth.

  “I am glad to hear it, my lord,” Delia said.

  “Now, I must be going. But please know that I have spoken with Mrs. Andrews. If you should need anything at all while I am away or should anything arise, she will be available to you,” he assured her.

  “Thank you, my lord,” Miss Caulfield replied. She seemed doubtful, but it was the best the Earl could do at the time and he truly hoped that Mrs. Andrews would do what he had told her was expected.

  With that, he left the table and made himself ready for the plans he had that day. He would hav
e to pay homage to society, despite his misgivings, and would undoubtedly return to the home exhausted that evening.

  But there was something about the time at breakfast that had cheered him and given him a new peace. Perhaps everything would be fine after all. Perhaps his home would be a place of growth for his daughter. And perhaps he was not as bad as he had believed himself to be for the past eight years.

  Click on the link below to find out how the story continues!

  http://fannyfinch.com/amb011

  Also by Fanny Finch

  ● Book 1: Saving Lady Abigail

  ● Book 2: Engaging Love

  ● Book 3: A Forthright Courtship

  ● Book 4: A Love Worth Saving

  ● Book 5: Love Letters to A Lady

  ● Book 6: The Duke’s Cautious Governess

  ● Book 7: A Lady’s Choice

  ● Book 8: An Earl for Her Hopeless Heart

  ● Book 9: Last Chance for the Charming Ladies

  ● Book 10: A Second Chance for the Broken Duke

  ● Book 11: A Fiery love for the Reluctant Duchess

  Book 12: Enchanted by the Mysterious Marquess

  Book 13: The Redemption of the Puzzling Governess