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Chapter 40
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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 41
The next two weeks saw an endless parade of visitors. Instead of heading out of the house everybody wished to see me. I was holed up in the parlous serving endless rounds of tea, answering the same dozen questions and smiling until my jaw hurt. Edmund believed himself mean by not taking me to every ball and invitation, in reality I was too tired. I had a new physician, Doctor Irwin Mathers. He was of the new school of midwifery, had attended to various royal family members and was a warm, gentle soul. He was from Ireland originally and had the kindest eyes. His patchwork black and grey hair reminded me of a badger which seemed cruel to point out. When he first set to examining me with the stethoscope upon my chest he saw how skittish I was. I did not want to be touched, fondled or exposed in any way. As though calming a nervous horse he simply waited until I was calm. He kept his eyes to the floor, as if aware I felt the gaze of men such as him discomforting. “Your Grace, I am you
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 42
Farrers had made a monumental error. In his panic, in allowing every servant to charge into the room with his supplies instead of sending for me, or one trusted valet he had opened himself to the wolves. The gossip pages had him now. /Duke of Tarrick near death. Young, pregnant Duchess distraught/ read the more professional papers. /Dirty Duke! Tarrick is Sick with a pain in his Pr–-/ were some of the less savoury attempts. The accurate images the cartoonists reproduced of his room were uncanny. The week I spent at his bedside reading the latest deliveries saw charcoal drawings of his room covered in pillboxes and medical equipment. Huge quantities of laudanum and other opiates in bottles, as casually as a liquor cabinet. He was found naked on his back, his lesions fully visible to every onlooker. His body was covered in wet, blistering sores, now viciously depicted like an ogre in black and white pamphlets. How he has even been able to attend so many events is beyond me. As r
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 43
I had no opportunity to see my mother before the Horseguards Ball. I sent her a quick note back confirming my attendance and assuring her I had nothing but Kitty’s best intentions at heart. I could not confess the horror at seeing such a name. The man paired with Kitty, surely, he could not be who I thought.For her to have fallen in with his deviant, criminal brother with a penchant for gambling would be appalling. Not only for her but it linked Fitz and I together in a way neither of us would want. Edmund would be livid and in his current state there was no way to comprehend what he was capable of.The Ball was set to be a lively affair, military ones always contained more dancing and merriment. “I shall not be dancing,” he muttered grumpily as we climbed into the carriage, clutching his cane tightly. “Of course Your Grace,” I answered timidly, fussing with my fur cape.The fear of him pulling out of this event caused me to be meek and submissive. Looking at me he scowled. “Why are
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 44
The evening drew late, I had seen nothing to convince myself of Mr Drake’s worthiness for my sister. Indeed he danced with her a further time, incensing the elderly watchers before switching to a late arrival. Miss Amelia Ginty, a new heiress with a fortune of ten thousand a year from trade had entered the room.I watched, as like a whip crack he fired his charm and wit upon her. Kitty, a mere three thousand a year to her name was much less desirable now. However Miss Ginty had strong relatives. The instant the dance was over, her aunt took her arm and led her away from the dancefloor without a chance of interruption. Mr Drake merely clicked his tongue in irritation, as though he had lost a bet before finding Kitty.I had seen enough. Walking across the room I caught their eye. With a smile I offered my arm. “Mr Drake, would you please be so kind as to accompany me to my carriage. I am fearful of the ice.”“I would be honoured Your Grace,” as Kitty looked on, clasping her hands excite
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 45
Time stood still. Fitz was here. Standing right before me. Farrer’s rolled and groaned as he drifted out of consciousness. There was not a single functioning word in my head. The shock of the whole evening was threatening to overwhelm me into fainting.His vile brother, my sister’s desire for infamy, the attempted assault by the drunken, bloodied man on the floor. All of which paled in comparison to seeing his kind, strong face again. The emerald green eyes that haunted my dreams. To my surprise, he stepped backwards, putting distance between us as he quickly looked down at the doctor's bloodied face.“You should leave,” he whispered, though his green eyes never left me for a second. I was in so much shock I could not reply, but when he spun to walk away, I found my voice. He had barely taken two steps when I broke, quickly stepping towards him despite sensible judgement.“Don’t, you cannot leave me like this!” I whispered, my hand finding his in his pocket. His fingers locked betwee
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 46
***Fitz POV***How I have dreamed of this moment. Of finding her alone, to myself. Mine to adore and caress. Except she must be terrified of me. This precious treasure of mine has seen me savagely attack another man. I know Edmund has been violent towards her, if she believed me to be cut of the same cloth I would die of shame.Yet she was pressed against my body like a lost soul. Her bump, that incredible, life giving roundness was magical. To feel my child react to my touch left me breathless. It only makes my purpose more real. The baby is coming, in around four months I should expect. June. June is my deadline for ensuring I am prepared. Like a soldier seeing the enemy's flags flying I know exactly what I am driving towards. But right now more pressing matters are at stake.“Vanessa,” stroking the bare nape of her neck as her arms wrapped around my waist. “I swear I am not a violent man by nature. I saw a man attacking a woman and I rushed to help. When I realised it was you…I do
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 47
The next week sees me frantically searching the papers for mention of rumour or scandal. Doctor Farrers attack achieved some notoriety, but all the rags pinned the assailant as a recovered victim of one of his schemes. Edmund snickered merrily, “I do wish there had been a drawing, apparently his face was pulp!” as his inner thoughts boomed aloud more frequently.Memories of Fitz taunted me, I found myself walking in the garden more frequently. Partially to convince the watching staff it was a peculiar habit I had acquired, also to hope and pine that I might see those green eyes through the black iron gate once more.Although I avoided any mention, Kitty’s name did make the papers. Although not named directly there was talk of the “Horseguards Favourite pair of Blue Eyes,” pointing out how there only had to be a man in a redcoat in a tearoom for her to attend the function. It suggested her debut had not been a class act. Sadly it could only be my sister.I invited her to lunch with me,
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 48
***Fitz POV***After informing my brother I was cutting him loose, I found myself in a fistfight on the bank of the Thames that left me a bloodied mess.My downfall began after finding him drunk and on the verge of being thrown out of a gentlemans club. This was the same week Kitty had announced her engagement to the Viscount Donegan. A dour, elderly man in his fifties he was one of the richest men in England. The "seasons phoenix" Kitty had been described. The rags gaily noted how through sheer grit and scraping to fellow gentry she ascended back through the ranks. Though the younger, more desirable titled men had been bagged like pheasants, she had eventually secured the richest available suitor.Paying James's obscene tab for the last time, I tried to carry him back to his lodgings. “She’s marrying that old fucker you know,” he grunted. I knew he meant Kitty. The one who got away, his golden ticket to a better life. “You need to leave her alone,” I warned."She swore to me she ca
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Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 60
The honeymoon period only extended, month after month. Summer ebbed leading to autumnal nights. The darkness outside and roaring fire saw many a night spent on the large sofa close together. I would lay with my head on his lap reading as he did the same. Without judgement or expectations of others we were able to find our own ebb and flow. We did not live in constant contact. I adored my riding, Fitz loved to fix and engineer solutions to anything. He was quite the hero in the local town. He was seen as the local engineer rather than the landlord and out-of-towner. We purposely did not communicate with the outside world. I knew Marie would be anxious for a letter but it was too great a risk. Someone like Henley, still working for Edmund could chance to manipulate Marie into giving information. It was better to vanish entirely. Fitz had not heard from his brother since returning northwards to claim me, however they had agreed between them for him to visit at Christmas. They did not
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 59
The next month was utterly blissful. We soon fell into a happy routine. I shrieked with joy when Fitz showed me the manor had a stable attached. A young local lad named Jacob, only twelve, was in charge of looking after our horses. We had one each and a tiny fell pony for Eleanor when she grew older.My mare was similar to Amber and very sweet in temperament. I called her Felicity and soon adopted a habit of taking myself for long windswept rides. After feeding Eleanor in the morning the summer meadows beckoned me forth. I would leave father and daughter content in the gardens, and examining flowers. Fitz talked to her as if she was a small adult, explaining in great, exaggerated detail the differences between tulips and posies. She babbled back, as though fully understanding as I arrived back red-faced and delighted with the world.The riding and continued feeding somehow aided my recovery from childbirth. The strength required by my body to trot and gallop across the winding meadow
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 58
I gasped and my head tilted upwards. He lavished kisses upon my bare skin, all whilst his single finger gently, sweetly probed me. As he released a torrent of wetness he let his own deep groan of desire. His finger circling my most sensitive little mound, sent urgent jolts of pleasure throughout my body.“Fitz, I have missed you, I have missed us,” I murmured, gripping his hair and breathing into his chest. “If this hurts you must say and I shall stop,” he rasped as his finger slid inside my most private place. It did not hurt much, only different. It still felt like the most natural, perfect sensation on earth. Shuddering in his grasp he gently caressed me into a quivering high. Drawing me out like teasing wool, his touch and swirling, circular motion had me whimpering into his body. My fingers clutched at his buttons, trying to open his shirt so that I could kiss and adore his bare flesh. His constant touch and affection left me gasping for breath, relentless pleasure searching eve
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 57
Fitz, my perfect, deviously charming, amazing Fitz was as good as his word. After the revelatory breakfast, supplied with fresh horses we managed to travel another forty miles before changing horses once again. On the Liverpool road we stopped at an inn. Anyone who might notice us and fancy making a penny on our names in the papers would surely report we were headed for the docks. Perhaps fleeing to the Americas for a new start. However our rumbling carriage eventually headed down south, towards the Welsh border. The further we travelled the more remote and beautiful the landscape became. Rolling green hills and pastures greeted us, plentiful villages with children running freely. Exhaustion was soon catching upon us. We took it in turns to sleep and hold Eleanor as the carriage rattled and bounced its way along the road. Despite the uncomfortable journey we teased and laughed with each other. Everything felt lighter, the further away from Tarrick Hall the greater my joy.It was so
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 56
*** FITZ POV***I allowed myself a minute to revel in her arrival before necessity made us flee..“You came,” I whispered again, nuzzling my lips against her bare neck. She let out a little moan of pleasure as I gently stroked her arms and waist. Little Eleanor was between us as I struggled to contain my utter joy. I wanted to press her to me and back in her.“We must go, I shall tell you everything on the way,” and just as I began to pull away, she grabbed me once more. “Fitz, I love you,” she murmured, “I should have done this the moment I realised I loved you.” Vanessa’s lips sought mine with a hunger I had sorely missed. My body surged with desire, there was nothing I wanted more than to show her my adoration had not ebbed in the slightest.Almost a year parted but my love had only expanded.Finally she released me, her hands gripping onto my black greatcoat, her face flushed with passion. Even in the near darkness her blue eyes sparkled and left me short of breath. “Come, we must
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 55
Although mid-July the wind whipped viciously outside. As I strode along the huge corridors towards his suite I could still see the trees swaying from the windows. The driveway torchilights were slowly flickering, by the time midnight approached only a few would be left to guide my way.I felt my heart seize as I approached Edmund’s doorway. So many times I had imagined this scenario. Sometimes Fitz was there holding my hand, promising to keep me safe. Other times I had imagined leaving without a single trace. After our honeymoon and realisation I was a prisoner within this grey stone tomb I had fantasised about fleeing in the night almost daily.Tonight it is finally time to discard my chrysalis. The gowns and fripperies that made me a Duchess are not my true colours. They are the trappings of a prisoner, albeit shinier and more ornate. The plain navy gown and cornflower blue day dress I wear are my true wings. These naturally fitting, comfortable garments will suit my life as I navig
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 54
Waking with a start I worry everything was a dream. Eleanor was immediately upon me, mewling and fussing for another feed. Yet Fitz had vanished. My wounded lion, who made no fuss of his injuries despite clearly being in considerable pain. Drowsily I rang the bell hanging from its red velvet rope as Marie appeared.“You are well Your Grace?” as she quickly helped hold Eleanor for me whilst I unfastened my gown. “Marie, you helped…” failing to utter his name. I had never discussed my true feelings for him with anyone. It was too terrifying to make someone aware of the glass, fragile core of my heart.“I did. Only once I must add,” she replied, smiling down at the gurgling baby in her arms. “I gave him the money from your bureau.”Of course. He had been robbed. He has nothing and my soul aches at remembering his wounded face. He had done his best to wipe the blood away but he could not hide the bruising under his eyes. He confessed he has not made his fortune, as if that would deter me
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 53
*** Fitz POV ***Standing there waiting whilst Marie informed her was the greatest test of self-restraint I have ever faced. Knowing that behind that thick swaddling of damask fabric lay my newborn child and the brightest light of my life. I had almost forgotten the battered state of my body, the fact that twenty hours ago my nose had been broken and my ribs crushed under the boot of a thug. Nothing mattered now. As Marie offered to watch the door, it enabled me to finally break through the barrier. I heard her soft gasp at seeing my fingers threading through the material. By the time I ducked my head and body inside the curtain I was certain I could faint on sight. For there she lay, a glittering angel under candlelight. Her long brown curls were piled up high. A few chestnut tendrils snaked their way down her perfect, elegant neck. A white nightgown, buttoned high up to her neck gave her an angelic appearance. Her blue eyes were tired but they still had that captivating sparkle.
Her Honour for an Heir Chapter 52
Marie was by my side from the moment the hot fluid first appeared between my legs. She burst into the room before my second scream of panic, suggesting she had been incredibly close to the doorway the entire time. Edmund said nothing further, merely scowling as Marie suggested the staff send for Doctor Mathers.“Your Grace I am here, do not fret,” she soothed, grasping my hand to her chest as I surveyed the damp bedding in panic. We must move you, you will be quite safe, come along. I have a room prepared.”Walking quickly, aware that at every step more liquid was seeping from between my legs we headed into a guest room across the hallway. There were dozens of towels, linens and a hot tin bath waiting. Marie rang a bell three times sharply, within a minute half a dozen servant girls appeared.“Just as we have prepared ladies, I want this tub full and hot, I want the fire lighting and you are to fetch Doctor Mathers in here the instant he arrives.”They curtsied as I found myself reduce
