The Daughters of Devonshire: Clean Regency Short Story Box Set by Elaine Hart

Author:Elaine Hart [Hart, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-07T18:00:00+00:00

The End

A Lady’s Melody

The Daughters of Devonshire

Chapter One

May 1814

Upstairs study

Powderham Hall

Exeter

Devonshire

England

The Duke of Glastonbury sauntered about in his study, pondering to himself for a moment. The study was quiet, the way he preferred it, but something seemed amiss.

Being the father of four daughter, he had gotten used to the lively ruckus which each of his daughters provided. Lady Lucy, however, had the tendency to take things above and beyond, and attempting to tame her free-spirited manners was far beneath his touch. Lady Lucy was the third of the four daughters, and although the Duke and Duchess loved and adored all their daughters equally, Lady Lucy’s wayward ways seemed to earn her a rather intolerant position in Powderham Hall.

The Duke stopped and glanced out the window, not trusting the silence around him, and his brow furrowed. The garden of the estate was quiet and Lady Lucy was nowhere to be seen, or heard for that matter, which was quite worrying to the Duke. He expected something to happen, and knowing Lady Lucy, chaos would ensue very shortly.

“Your Grace?”

The Duke turned around and glanced at the family letter writer, Mr. James, and asked, “Do you hear that, Mr. James?”

Mr. James listened for a brief moment and his brow furrowed. “Your Grace, I believe I do not hear anything.”

Although the silence was pleasant, the Duke was well aware that it would not remain pleasant. “Precisely,” the Duke answered with a nod.

“I do not understand, Your Grace,” Mr. James uttered in confusion.

“It is much too quiet around the estate for it to be deemed normal. You are well aware of the chaotic nature in which we find ourselves on a daily basis,” the Duke said, appearing deep in thought. “I fear I should be worried.”

“Or,” Mr. James said, “perhaps you should enjoy the peace.”

“Perhaps you are right,” the Duke muttered as he lowered his gaze and turned back to Mr. James. “Shall we continue?”

“Certainly, Your Grace. When you are ready, of course,” Mr. James said.

The Duke nodded and pursed his lips briefly. “It is of great importance that you find the time to acknowledge this correspondence, as measures will be taken if it was not received. Furthermore—”

A high-pitched scream suddenly sounded from afar, and the Duke’s shoulders slumped. It certainly had been too good to be true. The Duke rushed to the window and his eyes widened as he watched in horror as Lady Lucy and his youngest daughter, Diana, ran across the grass yard, chased by what appeared to be bees. The Duke recalled how Diana had a severe allergic reaction when she was stung by a single bee, and this situation was certainly bound to turn out as catastrophic. Fatal even.

The Duke rushed passed Mr. James and said, “A matter of urgency, Mr. James.”

Mr. James simply watched as the Duke rushed out of the study and disappeared down the hallway.

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