A Duke to Elude: Sweet Regency Romance (Sherton Sisters Book 1) Page 18

  Rosabel took a deep breath, realizing that now was the time for her to take all her courage in both her hands and accept the beautiful offer before her.

  “I couldn’t possibly remain there while you were elsewhere,” she said as she felt her face stretching into a grin.

  “Why not? I know you wouldn’t be afraid.”

  “I’ve been told that people who are in love with one another cannot bear to be apart.”

  He blinked as he examined her suspiciously, as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing. “What are you saying?”

  Rosabel was almost dazzled by the hope she could see on his face. She was thrilled that he was letting her in as he was often so contained with his thoughts. The flutters in her stomach were pleasant and shivery in a non-feverish way. If anyone had ever described it to her, she would not have thought she would enjoy the sensation, but Rosabel was quite convinced that she would like to feel like that every day. He was still holding her hands tightly, so she squeezed his back. She stepped closer, as though sharing a secret.

  “You are right. I don’t particularly want to be a duchess. It was not something I ever aspired to be. But I do think I will make a spectacular one. And I thank you for asking.”

  “Really? You’ll marry me?” At first, he sounded incredulous but then with a whoop of joy, he pulled her to him. “Yes, my lady, you will marry me,” he declared, letting go of her hands and wrapping his arms around her.

  “I love you quite profoundly, and I am deeply grateful that you waited for me.”

  Rosabel laughed with joy. “How do you know I was waiting for you?”

  “Because you’re the other half of me that I didn’t even know I was looking for. It’s only fair if it’s the same for you.”

  Rosabel felt as though she were melting inside. She realized maybe she was. She had erected ice around her heart when Prescott had tried to harm her three years ago. Now, with Wexford, she wouldn’t need it anymore. She nodded.

  “I love you –“

  She was going to say ‘too’ but his lips descended upon hers and cut her off. Pure joy suffused her as heat filled her all the way from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. She had found her love match, just like she had always known she would.

  Epilogue

  Hilaria watched while her sister committed herself to the role of Duchess of Wexford. If her stomach wasn’t already in knots over the fact that Rosabel was the one marrying a duke, it would be churning with jealousy over the love clearly evident on the duke’s face as he watched his wife saying her vows.

  There was going to be so much talk.

  Their mother hadn’t been able to convince Wexford that he ought to wait a more respectable period of time before getting married. He had insisted that he couldn’t wait to have Rosabel as his wife. Hilaria wasn’t sure what Lady Sherton had seen in his eyes, but she had quit resisting and instead started making lists. And without much ado, here they were, ten days later with their receiving rooms overflowing with people who wanted to get a look at the new Duchess of Wexford.

  It was ridiculous, really. They had gawked at her enough as merely the Earl of Sherton’s eldest daughter. Hilaria couldn’t figure out why everyone wanted to see her today. She didn’t think Rosabel looked much different than usual.

  Actually, she was lying. Rosabel looked completely different than she had for the past couple of years, if she was being honest about things. There was a wide smile on her face, and it reached all the way to her eyes. Hilaria rather thought it reached all the way to her toes, but that was just being fanciful.

  She had no idea why Bel had been so reticent since becoming a debutante, but when she wasn’t being completely eaten with jealousy, she was glad that her sister was back to her old self. Now if only Hilaria could go back to her own previous self, then maybe they could be friends again. They had used to be as thick as thieves until Bel had become so unapproachable. Hilaria reprimanded herself. She ought not place all the blame upon her sister. Hilaria hadn’t made much effort to find out why her sister had changed. She had been too caught up in her own concerns about making her debut.

  The tight embrace her sister had squeezed her with just before she walked down the stairs to marry her duke led Hilaria to think Rosabel was thinking along the same lines. Or maybe she was just so happy and full of love that it was oozing out of her pores and she couldn’t help herself.

  “It’ll be your turn next,” Bel had whispered. “I just know it.”

  Now the entire ton was going to know that Lady Rosabel Sherton had done the least fashionable thing possible in the Marriage Mart – she had found herself a love match. Hilaria tried to convince herself that she didn’t want one for herself, that it was only a duke she wanted, not a loving duke, but the silent argument sounded weak even to her own mind. She wouldn’t allow herself to think of Rosabel’s words as she did her best to smile through all her misgivings that day.

  Hilaria was well aware that she was being churlish beyond all acceptable levels. But she truly hoped the potential scandal didn’t ruin her own prospects, as weak as they were. Wexford had been certain that his being a duke would ensure everyone would accept their hasty nuptials without comment or question. Hilaria thought he was straining under a misplaced sense of his own worth. He, of course, would not be made uncomfortable by the fact that they married so suddenly. But the bride’s younger sisters just might.

  With a frustrated puff of breath that she hastily stifled, hoping no one had noticed, Hilaria tried to be objective in her observation of her sister and new brother-in-law.

  They were a handsome couple, to be sure. But they also seemed to be genuinely attached to one another. If Hilaria was being completely honest, she supposed she was happy for her sister. Even if it didn’t seem to be the norm or fashionable, it certainly seemed like it would be preferable to like, and even love, one’s mate. The rest of your life was a rather long time to be together.

  Suddenly Hilaria realized that Wexford’s odious cousin was watching her, and she pulled herself together. She might be falling apart on the inside, but she would rather die than allow the dandified viscount to know. After spending her life in the shadow of her beautiful older sister, Hilaria couldn’t allow a gentleman who was more attractive than she was to know how uncomfortable he made her.

  Turning her back on him, Hilaria couldn’t help but wonder why she found the viscount so very compelling. He was an annoying dandy who seemed far too interested in horses and sports to be the least bit interesting to her, besides being a mere viscount, so she had no idea why she was so very aware of him as he made his way through the rooms.

  Pulling her mind back to the task at hand, Hilaria reminded herself once more that she couldn’t be awkward at her sister’s wedding. She was a daughter of the House of Sherton. She could surely manage to get through the day without causing a scene.

  Watching her sister’s joy caused her strange sensations. Even stranger was welcoming a brother-in-law into the family. She only wished she were finished with the Marriage Mart as well. Facing the rest of the Season filled her with dismay even though it ought to be easier, now that her beautiful older sister was no longer in the running.

  “Lady Hilaria.” The deep voice sent the threat of shivers down her back, and Hilaria had to stiffen both her spine and her pride to keep it from showing. “Are you mourning or rejoicing? I must say, it’s rather hard to tell.”

  A gasp was pressing at her throat, but Hilaria managed to swallow it down. Viscount Eastwood had the strangest ability to overset her, even though they had just met. Perhaps it was the fact that he appeared to be much more a slave to fashion than any debutante she had encountered.

  “What is it to you, Eastwood?” Hilaria knew she was being unacceptably rude, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. The man brought out the worst in her. His grin didn’t lessen her irritation, but the flutters in her stomach let her know that some of the irritation was with herself.

  �
��Well, I suppose we’re family now, since your sister just married my cousin. That could be the reason for my taking an interest in your welfare.”

  Hilaria tried to rein in her mounting, irrational reaction to the viscount. Even though she wasn’t very experienced with gentlemen, even she had the sense to realize that her reaction wasn’t merely irritation. It horrified her, but she realized she was actually attracted to the dandy. She tried to smile politely.

  “Since, as you mentioned, this is my sister’s wedding, I really ought to see about helping my mother with our guests.”

  Hilaria bobbed him a curtsy and tried not to appear as though she were hurrying as she turned away. His rich chuckle made that all the more difficult. With horror, Hilaria realized the viscount surely knew she was running away. She hoped she wouldn’t have to see him again after today. She had the strangest suspicion that he would be able to upset all her most well-laid plans for securing her future.

  The End

  Find out why Lady Hilaria is so set on marrying a duke and whether or not she reaches that aim in:

  A Viscount to Conspire

  Other Books by Wendy May Andrews

  you will enjoy:

  Have you read Georgia’s story? The bride at whose wedding Rosabel encounters Wexford?

  Inheriting Trouble

  Book 1 in The Bequest series

  The inheritance was meant to better her life,

  not muddle it.

  Georgia Holton, wellborn but nearly penniless, is best friends with one of the Earl of Sherton’s five daughters. When she is invited to accompany her friend for two weeks of the Season, Georgia jumps at the opportunity to have a little adventure away from her small village.

  The Earl of Crossley is handsome, wealthy, widowed, and jaded. He has no intention of courting any of this Season’s debutantes. After all, every woman he’s ever known has been dishonest, including his late wife. But when a chance encounter throws him into contact with the Sherton ladies and their lovely friend, he can’t help being drawn to Georgia’s beauty and endearing personality.

  When confusion about Georgia’s small inheritance becomes known, a sense of obligation to right a wrong forces the earl and Georgia into close association.

  But is she really different from any of the other women, or does she have an ulterior motive?

  And can Georgia even consider getting close to a man from High Society, when all she wants is to return to her simple village life?

  Sparks fly between these two, but it will take forgiveness and understanding on both their parts to reach a happily ever after.

  If you like Regencies with a touch of adventure, you will love

  The Mayfair Mayhem series

  Book 1 is:

  The Duke Conspiracy

  Anything is possible with a spying debutante,

  a duke, and a conspiracy.

  Growing up, Rose and Alex were the best of friends until their families became embroiled in a feud. Now, the Season is throwing them into each other’s company. Despite the spark of attraction they might feel for one another, they each want very different things in life, besides needing to support their own family’s side in the dispute.

  Miss Rosamund Smythe is finding the Season to be a dead bore after spying with her father, a baron diplomat, in Vienna. She wants more out of life than just being some nobleman’s wife. When she overhears a plot to entrap Alex into a marriage of convenience, her intrigue and some last vestige of loyalty causes them to overcome the feud.

  His Grace, Alexander Milton, the Duke of Wrentham, wants a quiet life with a “proper” wife after his tumultuous childhood. His parents had fought viciously, lied often, and Alex had hated it all.

  Rose’s meddling puts her in danger. Alex will have to leave the simple peace he craves to claim a love he never could have imagined. Can they claim their happily ever after despite the turmoil?

  About the Author

  I learned to read when I was four or five, listening to my mother read to me when I was lonely after my brother started school. Ever since, I’ve had my head buried in books. I love words – historical plaques, signs, the cereal box – but my first love has always been novels.

  About ten years ago my husband dared me to write a book instead of always reading them. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it, but to my surprise I love writing. Those early efforts eventually became my first published book – Tempting the Earl (published by Avalon Books in 2010). It has been a thrilling adventure as I learned to navigate the world of publishing.

  I believe firmly that everyone deserves a happily ever after. I want my readers to be able to escape from the everyday for a little while and feel upbeat and refreshed when they get to the end of my books.

  When not reading or writing, I can be found traipsing around my neighborhood or travelling the world with my favorite companion.

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