To Love a Scandalous Duke (Once Upon a Scandal) by Rosa Liana De la

Author:Rosa, Liana De la
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Entangled, Select Historical, historical, historical romance, romance, Duke, redemption, revenge, peer, Victorian, historical romance, love, St. Lucia, biracial, forbidden love, Mulatto, secrets, suspense, murder, Scotland, blackmail
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2017-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

October 1818

How I adore leaving London behind for the countryside. For the hills and valleys. Only in the fresh country air am I truly home.

-The Diary of Lady Margaret Gordon

He knew she’d be here.

Declan had stepped out of Darington Manor in Herefordshire intending to call at the earl’s estate, but like a lodestar, his feet had taken him to this place. Perhaps the echo of happy memories spent with the Swinton twins, in a meadow between their two country homes, had drawn him. Or the need to connect with a small part of his past rooted in happiness. In innocence.

As he approached the ancient elm that stood as a sentinel in the clearing, he glimpsed Alethea asleep under its extensive canopy. A shuddering breath he hadn’t realized he held eased from him. Her mouth was ever so slightly ajar, and the sight made him ache to kiss her awake. His very own sleeping beauty.

Instead, he unbuttoned his coat and sank onto the ground next to her. With her face sleep-softened, her mouth slack, and her dark lashes fanned out against the smoothness of her cheek, she was remarkably lovely. Vulnerable. His chest tightened at the sight.

Minutes passed as he watched birds swoop down from the trees to frolic in the grasses, and chipmunks scuttled about the branches high above, their cheerful chatter an indelible part of summer. He arched back until he relaxed against the broad trunk.

“Dec. Declan.” A soft, exasperated huff. “So help me, if I have to call you ‘Your Grace’ to rouse you, I will smack you.”

His eyes opened—when had they closed?—and met Alethea’s jade green stare. A small smile curved her pink lips.

She smacked the side of his cheek lightly with her gloved hand. “I knew you’d awaken if I used your honorific.”

Declan sat up and immediately grabbed his neck as a sharp pain streaked down into his shoulders. He rotated his head, hoping to loosen the tight muscle. “Have you been awake long?”

“No, I awoke only a few minutes ago.” She stopped and timidly grabbed his hand, even while a becoming blush spread over her cheeks. “She told you, I assume.”

“Lady Flora?”

She nodded and a lock of flame red hair fell along her face. “I hoped you’d come.” Relief relaxed her expression. “Did you have business at Darington Manor?”

“I did.” He tucked the curl behind her ear. He didn’t reveal his business entailed digging through Albert’s belongings at the manor house, hoping to unearth any clue of what he’d learned about their father. “You just gave me an excuse to move that particular business to the top of my list.”

“I’m glad,” she whispered. She relaxed next to him and laid her head on his shoulder, her gaze fixed on the meadow that stretched out before them. “It’s comforting to know it hasn’t changed in the years since I’ve been gone.”

The sweet weight of her head, the ease of the gesture, made him smile. “Three years is not so long a time to be away.

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