The Fairest Heart (Once Upon A Regency Book 1) by Heather Chapman

Author:Heather Chapman [Chapman, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Women's Fiction, Victorian Era, 19th Century, Forever Love, Bachelor, Single Woman, Love Possibility, Hearts Desire, Clean & Wholesome, Christian Stories, Inspirational Reads, Love Inspired, Life-Changes, Second Chance Reunion, Honesty & Trust, Home & Family, Lifetime Love, Romantic Schemes, Love-Family & Forever, Action & Adventure, Once Upon A Regency Series, Multi-Author Collection, Re-told Fairy Tales, Beautiful & Feisty
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: 2019-02-15T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Colin crinkled the paper, reading the lines once more before balling it into a wad and tossing it across the room.

Dear Miss Grant,

I regretted your absence at the musical three days ago. My mother assures me your headache was severe but that I am not to worry. She seems to think I am like the rest of the party—blind and gullible. I have done little else but worry on your account. Are you well and recovered from what truly ailed you?

Your departure from Milton Manor was followed by another disastrous turn of events. My mother seemed to misplace something of enormous importance, as far as sentimentality goes. Mrs. Ainsworth ordered her staff to search the entirety of the house but with little success. It seems your departure was poor luck. I am inclined to believe the opposite as well.

May I call on you in two days?

Lord Stratfordshire

The ticking of the clock sliced through the silent and stiff study. The shelves upon shelves were each meticulously clean and ordered. The desk was stained and polished regularly, without a single scratch nor divot.

Colin pressed his fingers to his temples, massaging them. He felt altogether too much like the room. He maintained appearances with precision, and as a result, he was turning out to be a rather stiff character. Yet, both times he had been near Rose, Colin had felt awakened—alive.

Why did she have to leave? And right before the loss of his mother’s heirloom? The coupling of events left for a difficult evening indeed.

He took up the second letter, the one that had been sent along with his returned letter.

Dearest Lord Stratfordshire,

I regret to inform you of my niece’s departure. Miss Grant has left Grant Estate for an undeterminable amount of time. She left with little notice, and with even less attention to me and her grandfather, Lord Josiah Grant. Consequently, I am returning your letter. I felt it my duty, and I hope you will forgive her impudence and offense.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Prudence Grant

Colin knocked his knuckles against the edge of the paper. His mother had refused to indulge his curiosity and inquiries concerning the musicale and Rose. And now, Rose was gone.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Yes?” Colin asked, sliding the letter inside his top drawer.

The duchess peeked in the room. She was wearing her new bonnet, and she carried a basket of fresh rolls. “Colin, I hoped you would wish to accompany me. I thought to send along a treat to the Smith family. Their little boy seems well on his way to recovering.”

Colin stood, and his lips tugged. Seeing his mother made repressing a smile near impossible. She was a lovely woman, with an even greater heart, which was why her refusal to speak of the musicale was all the stranger. “I wish I could, Mother, but I am afraid I have something pressing to attend to.”

She frowned. “If you must, but please, Colin. You need to stop brooding. You will see her again.”

He lifted a brow. “Pardon?”

The duchess set the basket on his desk, and the pleasant aroma of fresh bread filled the room.

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