A New Home for the Duke: A Regency Romance: The Returned Lords of Grosvenor Square (Book 4) Read online

  A New Home for the Duke: A Regency Romance

  The Returned Lords of Grosvenor Square (Book 4)

  Rose Pearson

  Contents

  A New Home for the Duke

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  My Dear Reader

  A Sneak Peek of A Rogue’s Flower

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

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  © Copyright 2019 by Rose Pearson - All rights reserved.

  In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document by either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

  Respective author owns all copyrights not held by the publisher.

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  A New Home for the Duke

  Prologue

  Miss Jenny Edgington looked all about her as the carriage drew level with one of the grandest houses she had ever seen. It was a large building with spectacular grounds, and certainly what she should have expected as the residence of a Duke. But even still, the house looked almost formidable. An unwelcome stir of nervousness rifled through her as the carriage came to a stop, aware that this house held a great deal of grief and pain within it.

  “Here you are, Miss Edgington. Welcome to Prestwick House.”

  With a murmur of thanks to the friendly footman, Jenny descended carefully to the ground before looking up once more at the house. This was her new endeavor, then. She had already stated that she would be more than willing to aid this poor, troubled family in any way she could, having had the experience of grief herself not so very long ago. Although whether she would be welcomed, she was not entirely certain.

  “You do intend to come inside, don’t you?”

  The footman was grinning at her but Jenny did not take any notice. As a governess, she was neither at the level of the servants nor of the master of the house, which left her in the unenviable position of being quite alone in her status. The footman was, however, being a trifle too forward and Jenny did not appreciate his mischievous comment. Giving him no further attention, she settled her shoulders, drew a breath and set one foot in front of the other as she walked up the stone steps towards the front door.

  Before she could even lift a hand to knock, the door was opened for her, swinging inward so that she might step inside.

  “Good afternoon,” she murmured, her chest a little tight as she stepped over the threshold. “My name is –”

  “Miss Edgington!”

  An older lady with tight grey curls and large blue eyes hurried towards her, moving swiftly around the butler as he stood by the door.

  “Yes,” Jenny said, with a small, tight smile. “I am Miss Edgington.”

  “Oh, how wonderful,” said the older lady, looking up at Jenny as though she were some sort of angel sent to save them. “We have eagerly awaited your arrival, Miss Edgington. How glad we are to see you.”

  “Indeed,” the butler intoned, bowing in Jenny’s direction. “If you would like to come a little further inside, Miss Edgington, so I might close the door behind you. The footmen will see to your things.”

  Jenny, who had not realized she had come to a dead stop just inside the doorway, flushed red and moved forward, hearing the door close behind her. The dull thud made her catch her breath, as though it were closing behind her for good, imprisoning her within.

  “Forgive me, I realize I have not introduced myself,” the older lady said, suddenly flustered. “I am the housekeeper here. Mrs. Blaine.”

  “Very good to meet you, Mrs. Blaine,” Jenny replied, with a quick smile that she hoped might reassure the lady somewhat. “I understand this has been a rather difficult time.”

  Mrs. Blaine nodded, her eyes growing sorrowful as she ran one hand over her lined forehead. The creases by her eyes grew heavier as she winced, as though recalling something truly painful. “The master – the Duke of Carrington - sent his two remaining children to us some six months ago,” she explained, shaking her head. “They were accompanied, of course, but the journey was very hard and took them some three months to return.”

  Jenny’s brows rose. “Gracious. That is a very long time indeed.”

  “And they were completely unmanageable throughout,” the butler murmured, shaking his head as he and Mrs. Blaine shared a glance. “The young lady who brought them – well, she was to stay on as a governess but completely refused to do so.”

  Jenny blinked. She had not been informed of such a thing as this, having believed the children simply required a governess and nothing more.

  “How glad I was to have Lady Carrington’s sister suggest she write to you,” Mrs. Blaine finished, a look of relief etched across her face. “She came to give gifts to the children and to attempt to comfort them with her presence. However, she did not stay as long as she had intended. We are indeed truly grateful that you have arrived so quickly, Miss Edgington.”

  Now feeling as though she had been duped into coming to the house to work as a governess for two wild children, Jenny swallowed doubtfully and looked away from Mrs. Blaine’s penetrating gaze. “I am a distant relation of Lady Matthews,” she said, referring to Lady Carrington’s sister. “It is my pleasure to be able to assist this troubled family, truly.” She could still remember receiving the urgent note from Lady Matthews, who had begged her to consider the position as governess to the late Lady Carrington’s two children. Given that Jenny had been at the end of her mourning period for her own parents, as well as for Lady Carrington, and with no particular plans for her future, Jenny had found it easy to accept. It would give her a purpose, she had thought. It would bring her joy and contentment, knowing she was now settled in a position that would continue for some time. Thereafter, perhaps Lord Carrington might write her a reference and she could find another position. Now, however, Jenny felt quite uncertain about her decision. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had truly done the right thing in accepting Lady Matthews’ urgent request for help.

  “There is a great deal of grief that still lingers, Miss Edgington,” the butler said, inclining his head towards her gently. “The two children, I think, have much sorrow within them but are, as yet, unable to express it. Therefore, they have pushed aside all offers of comfort, and struggle on with their pain, alone.”

  Mrs. Blaine nodded sympathetically, although there was a touch more hardness about her eyes, Jenny noted.

  “Their father sent them away very abruptly,” Mrs. Blaine explained, as Jenny handed her hat and gloves to the butler and then began to remove her coat. “It must have come as something of a shock to them both but that doesn’t mean there’s any excuse for the cruelty they show to those of us trying to take care of them.” Her tone became stern, her eyes flashing with a touch of anger, and Jenny began to wonder just precisely what Lord Carrington’s children were doing.

  “Thomas here will send one of the footmen up to y
our rooms with a tray,” Mrs. Blaine continued, briskly, changing the subject so abruptly that Jenny was startled. “You will wish to rest, I am sure, before meeting the children.”

  “No,” Jenny said, making Mrs. Blaine turn around with surprise. “I should very much like to meet the children at once.” She managed a small smile, trying to reassure herself that all would be well. “If, as you say, they have endured an unsettling period, it will be best for them to know I have arrived and I have no intention to leave.”

  Mr. Thomas, the butler, snorted, making Jenny glance back at him in surprise.

  “We shall see just how long you will be staying, Miss Edgington, once you have endured a week with John and Mary,” he said, with a lift of his thick, grey brows. “Prepare yourself, Miss Edgington.”

  Feeling as though she were about to face an onslaught, Jenny drew in a long breath and set her shoulders. “I am quite prepared, thank you,” she stated, firmly, not wanting to have her opinion of the children marred by what the butler and Mrs. Blaine thought. “Shall we go in search of them, Mrs. Blaine?”

  Her bright smile did not make Mrs. Blaine appear any more convinced than the butler that her first meeting with the children would go well. The housekeeper sighed, shrugged, and then began to walk towards the set of stairs which lay just to Jenny’s left. Being a little shorter than Jenny, Mrs. Blaine had to walk with quick steps in order to keep abreast of Jenny, which gave Jenny the impression that the lady had some urgency in establishing Jenny with the children. She could not imagine what this home had been like in the time since the first governess had left. She was rather concerned to note that Lady Carrington’s own sister, Lady Matthews, had not remained for the length of her planned stay but had rather stated that she would find a new governess for the children, before she left unexpectedly early. From what she remembered of Lady Matthews – for, even though they were distantly related, she had never known her particularly well – she was a kind, genteel lady with a firm voice and a sharp gaze. Surely the children would have responded to such a character as that?

  The sound of loud voices soon met Jenny’s ears and she found herself twisting her hands together as she finished climbing the stairs, now reaching the top. She quickly followed Mrs. Blaine along the hallway. The house was grand indeed and Jenny found herself almost overawed by the beauty of it, wondering if she would ever truly feel at home in such a place as this.

  “You can hear them already,” Mrs. Blaine sighed, throwing Jenny a sharp glance over her shoulder. “I do hope you are ready, Miss Edgington.”

  Jenny did not respond, aware of the shouts and yells that seemed to be coming in ever-increasing frequency towards them. Another short flight of stairs led them to the top of the house, which Jenny presumed was where the schoolroom and her own rooms were to be.

  A footman made to hurry past them, stopping suddenly when he saw Jenny.

  “I have just finished putting the last of your things in your room, Miss Edgington,” he said, making her realize it was the same, friendly footman she had seen before. “But I’m afraid the children would not leave the room and have….” He trailed off, his eyes widening as he looked at her, as though desperate for her to understand and not place the blame on his shoulders.

  “Good gracious,” Mrs. Blaine muttered, passing one hand over her eyes. “Do hurry, Miss Edgington. They will tear apart every single thing you own if you do not!”

  Jenny did not say a word to the footman, but hurried past him, hearing the cries of glee and feeling her stomach tighten with tension and anxiety. Making her way into the room that was now to be her own, she came to a sudden stop at the sight that lay before her.

  The two children were busy emptying her bags, throwing every single thing it contained either onto the bed or to another part of the room. Gasping with shock, she covered her hand with her mouth and stared at the mess that lay before them.

  “I did warn you,” Mrs. Blaine muttered, pressing one hand to Jenny’s back so as to encourage her to come into the room a little more. “You must take charge of them, Miss Edgington, else they will not respect you and things will simply get worse.”

  Jenny, who had gone a trifle weak with the shock of what she saw, swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to appear as fearsome and as authoritative as possible.

  “Stop this at once!” she demanded, planting her hands on her hips and speaking as loudly as she could. “How dare you show me such disrespect?”

  The two children stopped suddenly, looking up at her with matching blank expressions.

  “You will put my things down and return to the schoolroom,” Jenny demanded, appearing a good deal more confident than she felt. “I will not stand for such treatment!”

  So saying, she stepped to one side and held her arm out towards the door, keeping her eyes fixed on the older of the two, the young boy. Unfortunately, he did nothing but smirk, his eyes narrowing as he began to saunter towards her.

  “You must be our new governess,” he said, with more arrogance than Jenny had expected for a ten-year-old boy to possess. “I cannot say that I am glad to meet you.”

  A flush of anger rose in Jenny’s cheeks but she controlled herself with an effort.

  “Nor I,” the young girl said, making her way towards her brother, although, Jenny noticed, she did set down Jenny’s prayer book on the bed beside the bag instead of taking it with her. “We were easily able to rid ourselves of Mrs. Smith, so I hardly think that you shall be much more difficult.”

  “I have no intention of leaving,” Jenny stated, firmly, looking down into the children’s faces and seeing them so similar in their features. They both had the same blue eyes that she remembered their mother having, although their brown hair was darker than Lady Carrington’s had been. “My name is Miss Edgington. I am a relative of your late mother and I can understand your grief, truly.” She tried a small smile to see if it would help improve their impression of her. “I will not be leaving this house nor do I have any intention of being pushed from it. I am here to be your governess and that is what I intend to be.”

  To her horror, John simply laughed up into her face, the sound cold and cruel – and Jenny felt a shiver run down her spine.

  “We will see,” he replied, coming closer to her and, much to Jenny’s shock, deliberately walking across her feet with his shoes. A cry of pain jumped to her lips but she held it back with an effort, refusing to allow herself to reach out and push him away from her for fear that he would react badly to a physical touch.

  “You are much too confident, Miss Edgington,” Mary replied, coming closer to her brother and, in her turn, treading on Jenny’s toes, dirtying the hem of her gown. “We shall have you gone from this place within a sennight.”

  Jenny leaned down over the girl and, to her satisfaction, saw a look of uncertainty jump into her eyes.

  “I am not as weak as you believe me to be,” she stated, coldly, suddenly determined she would prove to these children that she was not the sort of governess who would be turned away so easily. “I know full well that your pain and grief must be hurting your heart, and whether or not you wish to reveal it to me, I can tell that it is paining you terribly. If you will allow me, Mary, I can help you find some happiness again.”

  She held the little girl’s gaze and felt quite sure that the girl would simply nod and continue on out of her rooms, perhaps throwing her a contemplative glance as she did so. What she did not expect was for Mary to burst into laughter and stamp down hard on Jenny’s foot all over again. All this before running past Jenny and out into the hallway to make her way to the schoolroom.

  Jenny closed her eyes, gritting her teeth as she dealt with the throbbing pain that was now running up her leg.

  “I did tell you they were difficult,” Mrs. Blaine said, as though this was in some way meant to be a comfort. “Are you quite sure you don’t want me to call the carriage back around to take you home?” This was said with a rueful smile and a knowing look, but despite the p
ain, despite the frustration and the anger that filled her, Jenny felt a fierce determination. She would remain here, just as she had stated to Mary. Grief did a good many things to someone’s heart and she could not imagine what effect it must have had on a little girl and boy.

  “I do not have much to return to,” she said, honestly, lifting her chin and facing Mrs. Blaine with a firm look. “My parents’ home is now filled with tenants and, therefore, I do not have a home to return to.” She smiled at the maid who came into the room carrying a tea tray. “I have every intention of remaining here, Mrs. Blaine. The children have not made a good first impression, I will admit, but that does not mean I am about to give up on them.”

  Mrs. Blaine’s eyes widened in surprise at Jenny’s response, but in the end, she simply shrugged and walked to the door.

  “Very well, then,” she said, leaving Jenny to sink down onto the bed in the midst of the mess of clothes and belongings strewn about. “I shall leave you to rest for a time, Miss Edgington. I look forward to seeing you again later this afternoon.”

  “Thank you,” Jenny replied, with a tight smile. “Until later, Mrs. Blaine.”

  Chapter One

  “How long is it now since you sent your children away?”

  Stephen, Duke of Carrington, looked up at his commanding officer, Lieutenant Fitchley, surprised at such a question.

  “It has been a little over eight months now,” he stated, calmly, trying not to allow his mind to think on them for fear that his heart would break into further pieces. “I have heard the new governess has arrived and am assured that all is well.”