A Duke's son to the rescue (Regency Romance) (Regency Tales Book 4) by Regina Darcy
Authors: Regina Darcy
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raged. “It’s monstrous that children should be treated in such a manner.”
“I quite agree,” Lord Anthony said. “And Davenport and I intend to do something about it. We sit on many boards of directors and through our contacts there and in Parliament, we hope to bring about many changes. But that’s business for another day. Today, my dear, you must attend to your social engagements.”
Charlotte laughed at the thought. “I have no social engagements,” she said.
“I believe that you do. Davenport?”
Davenport looked at Charlotte anxiously. “You’re invited to dine tonight at Walsingham Hall. You and your father. I told my father that I’ve met the girl I wish to marry. He and my mother are eager to make your acquaintance. I hope you don’t mind? I realise I haven’t even formally asked you,” he apologised. “I beg your pardon for that omission.” He grinned. “Once again, I seek your pardon for my transgressions.”
“I hope that you will forgive the boy,” her father said benevolently. “He has done the proper thing by asking me for your hand in marriage.”
Charlotte stared at the two men smiling at her. “And you said?”
“I said that whatever makes my daughter happy will make me even happier. But I don’t wish to lose you so quickly to another man. I’ve urged Davenport that a long engagement would suit us best. There is no one more suitable for a son-in-law than Davenport and if you love him, my dear, I will not stand in your way.”
“You were kind to me when I was dirty and ill-dressed,” Charlotte said. “I fell in love with you then.”
“I shall leave the room for a few minutes so that the two of you may seal this bargain in the traditional manner,” Lord Anthony said, standing up and looking at his pocket watch. “I shall return in time for a second cup of coffee. I trust that upon my return there will be some happy tidings. And then we shall have much to discuss.”
The door closed behind him and they were alone. Charlotte’s heart beat faster.
Davenport got up from his chair, and knelt before her, taking her hand in his. “I know we haven’t had a long courtship, and you don’t know me very well. I know we have never danced or even dined together. But we have walked together, you and I. We have talked of flowers, of the beauty of nature. Will you be my wife, dearest Belladonna?”
The End
BONUS CHAPTER 1:
CAPTIVATED BY THE EARL
ONE
The young woman who was briskly walking to her destination did not notice the interest of the men—not all of them gentlemen—who paused in their labours and conversations to admire her impeccable posture, resplendent hair the colour of cinnamon, and her straightforward gaze which did not employ the coy habits of other women of marriageable age. Had any of them wished to engage her interest, they would have failed in their attempts if they chose to praise her for her beauty, or to strike a sonnet in tribute to her carriage. But if any of them had the inspiration to talk of ships, of ports in other countries or the products that sailed upon the ships populating the oceans of the world, or the unassailable legacy of seafaring London, they would have had no trouble in attracting her attention.
Unlike others of her sex, who had been reared to regard themselves as matrimonial quarry, Elizabeth Hargrave had been raised by a widowed father who, a novice in the upbringing of daughters, had treated his only child like a beloved apprentice. Henry Hargrave was a merchant, a very successful one, and his faith in the East India Company was unswerving. The bustle of the docks, the crowds made up of merchants, ship-owners and shipbuilders in many ways had been her formal schooling. Her father had become a widower and a father in the same moment Elizabeth’s mother died in childbirth. But he had accepted God’s will and brought up his daughter with a reverence for England’s commerce that probably, if he
“I quite agree,” Lord Anthony said. “And Davenport and I intend to do something about it. We sit on many boards of directors and through our contacts there and in Parliament, we hope to bring about many changes. But that’s business for another day. Today, my dear, you must attend to your social engagements.”
Charlotte laughed at the thought. “I have no social engagements,” she said.
“I believe that you do. Davenport?”
Davenport looked at Charlotte anxiously. “You’re invited to dine tonight at Walsingham Hall. You and your father. I told my father that I’ve met the girl I wish to marry. He and my mother are eager to make your acquaintance. I hope you don’t mind? I realise I haven’t even formally asked you,” he apologised. “I beg your pardon for that omission.” He grinned. “Once again, I seek your pardon for my transgressions.”
“I hope that you will forgive the boy,” her father said benevolently. “He has done the proper thing by asking me for your hand in marriage.”
Charlotte stared at the two men smiling at her. “And you said?”
“I said that whatever makes my daughter happy will make me even happier. But I don’t wish to lose you so quickly to another man. I’ve urged Davenport that a long engagement would suit us best. There is no one more suitable for a son-in-law than Davenport and if you love him, my dear, I will not stand in your way.”
“You were kind to me when I was dirty and ill-dressed,” Charlotte said. “I fell in love with you then.”
“I shall leave the room for a few minutes so that the two of you may seal this bargain in the traditional manner,” Lord Anthony said, standing up and looking at his pocket watch. “I shall return in time for a second cup of coffee. I trust that upon my return there will be some happy tidings. And then we shall have much to discuss.”
The door closed behind him and they were alone. Charlotte’s heart beat faster.
Davenport got up from his chair, and knelt before her, taking her hand in his. “I know we haven’t had a long courtship, and you don’t know me very well. I know we have never danced or even dined together. But we have walked together, you and I. We have talked of flowers, of the beauty of nature. Will you be my wife, dearest Belladonna?”
The End
BONUS CHAPTER 1:
CAPTIVATED BY THE EARL
ONE
The young woman who was briskly walking to her destination did not notice the interest of the men—not all of them gentlemen—who paused in their labours and conversations to admire her impeccable posture, resplendent hair the colour of cinnamon, and her straightforward gaze which did not employ the coy habits of other women of marriageable age. Had any of them wished to engage her interest, they would have failed in their attempts if they chose to praise her for her beauty, or to strike a sonnet in tribute to her carriage. But if any of them had the inspiration to talk of ships, of ports in other countries or the products that sailed upon the ships populating the oceans of the world, or the unassailable legacy of seafaring London, they would have had no trouble in attracting her attention.
Unlike others of her sex, who had been reared to regard themselves as matrimonial quarry, Elizabeth Hargrave had been raised by a widowed father who, a novice in the upbringing of daughters, had treated his only child like a beloved apprentice. Henry Hargrave was a merchant, a very successful one, and his faith in the East India Company was unswerving. The bustle of the docks, the crowds made up of merchants, ship-owners and shipbuilders in many ways had been her formal schooling. Her father had become a widower and a father in the same moment Elizabeth’s mother died in childbirth. But he had accepted God’s will and brought up his daughter with a reverence for England’s commerce that probably, if he
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