Regency Romance: The Duke’s Dark Secret (Truth & Lies) (CLEAN Historical Regency Romance)

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A PERSONAL NOTE

FROM JESSIE BENNETT

To My Dearest Lovely Readers,

The female characters within my stories are women who have a strong faith of love, they know what they want to pursue during this era. They are constantly seeking and believe the true love really exists as they are often being looked upon as an inferior gender. Because of these social stigma, it motivates them to overcome challenges they may face while waiting for the man of their dreams to appear.

Will these insecurities and stigma encourages them in believing true love despite the differences and challenges in social standing that they will face during this Regency Era?

Read on to find out the answers!

Thank you very much for your strong  support to my writing journey!

With Hugs, Kisses and Love…

DEDICATION

A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.

Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)

This Story Is Specially Dedicated To You, My Dearest Reader!

It is with gratefulness and gratitude that I am writing to you this personal dedication.

Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity to share with you my creative side of me.

I hope you will enjoy reading this story as much I have enjoyed writing it!

It is with such great support from you that keep us authors writing and writing, presenting to you with great and interesting stories.

Have you checked out my other historical romance books series?

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*** AMAZON USA ***

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessie Bennett is dedicated to romanticism in its’ myriad forms. She loves historical romance stories. Recently, she discovered another interest within the historical romance, which is Regency Romance stories. She wants to use her ideas, knowledge and interest of the regency era to spin out characters that readers wants to read. She aspires to be the next Jane Austen that combine grace, love, and simplicity to delight readers to find their happy endings.

THE DUKE’S DARK SECRET

by

JESSIE BENNETT

and

Carlton House Publishing Co.

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

THE BEGINNING

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. -

Jane Austen

THE BEGINNING

1801

Two small girls raced on the village green below a storm-dark sky.

Catch me if you can! Jessica yelled, her shrill voice breaking the quiet.

Wait for me, Jessica! her friend, Hannah White, protested.

Nothing could break Jessica's ebullience today. This visit to her aunt, Lady Georgina Langtree, daughter of the Earl of Musgrave, was a welcome escape from the stiff, oppressive silence that surrounded her own mother's death.

Jessica, I can’t run anymore more, Hannah protested, stopping.

Jessica walked back to wait with her.

You cheated! Hannah rebuked, panting with exertion.

No, I didn’t! Jessica grinned.

Hannah slit her eyes, regarding her with the strange, resentful pride of the poor. The differences between their circumstances were difficult enough for Hannah, the daughter of a servant. Jessica's mother had been Lady Georgina’s sister, a fact which made any other apparent superiority of hers to Hannah too much to bear. She was about to retort when Jessica looked away, seeing something in the distance.

Hannah followed her gaze and watched a carriage draw up outside Greatstone Manor, Jessica's aunt's home. They exchanged a confused look; it seemed too early in the afternoon for visitors.

Maybe it’s your father. He's here to abandon you, just like your mother did! Hannah said cruelly, all her resentment congealing in that moment into hate.

Keep your mouth shut, Hannah! My father would never do so! Jessica replied, stung, and stormed off toward the humble household, tears already streaking down her cheeks.

Inside, the house was dark and quiet, and Jessica crept through the corridor as silently as possible, listening to the voices she could hear in the parlor.

Since her mother's death, Jessica could often be found lurking in corners and listening at doors. Her exclusion from all the matters of her mother's long illness had made her self-sufficient and secretive, only trusting the information she could gather for herself.

Now, she tiptoed to the room beside the parlor and stood there, concealed behind the door, ear pressed to the wall.

Are you certain about this, Maxwell? Aunt Georgina interrogated Jessica's father in her crisp, cool voice. Jessica grinned in sympathy for him. She heard the rustling of some papers, and her father clearing his throat before he spoke again.

I am absolutely certain of my decision. Since Lydia has passed away, it is just not feasible for me to attend to a girl as young as her. There are many things that require my attention, and I fear to neglect her.

Lady Georgina Langtree could hear the sincerity in her brother-in-law’s voice, and her proud heart softened, despite her reserve toward him. Maxwell Davenport was an entirely self-made man, an industrialist in the jute trade. He had been born in the lower ranks of society but was now a successful jute merchant, wealthier than some of the nobility. That was why Lady Georgina's parents had agreed to the match between him and her younger sister. She would be well-provided for, and, as the second daughter of the house, that was the best they could promise her.

With his wife gone, Maxwell not only faced the heartbreak of losing her, but also the crushing responsibility of raising his daughter alone.

Very well, very well, Georgina replied, voice terse, I will take her in. I cannot refuse...she is my sister's child.

Maxwell Davenport sighed.

Thank you, he said, relieved. They both sat silent a while.

And... He paused.

What is the matter?

Please...ensure she is cared for and raised as you were. As Lydia would have liked. I would like to see her raised a lady, destined for great things. His voice was wistful, and Jessica, listening, swallowed hard.

Georgina sighed. You know she will receive care and a fitting education.

Thank you, Maxwell replied. I would have her married well. She is...all that is left of Lydia, and I owe it to her memory to raise her daughter a lady. His voice wobbled dangerously.

You do not have to worry, Maxwell, Georgina replied. I, too, loved Lydia. It is my duty to raise her daughter as a lady.

A minute later, after an exchange too low to hear, Georgina left the room, her shoes tapping on the hallway floor.

Jessica let out a breath she had not known she had been holding. Was it true? Her father was making her remain here with Aunt Georgina? She stood in shocked silence, unable to understand.

It was much later , just before dinner time, when Jessica's aunt addressed the topic.

I will not stay, Jessica said, boldly, on the verge of tears. She crossed her arms; feet planted firmly on the floor in a stance of complete defiance and utter desperation.

After thinking long and hard, Jessica had decided that the only course open to her was complete intransigence. If she refused, perhaps they could not compel her. Inside, she was terrified. A bold resistance was her only option. Stories she had read – of heroes, facing monsters – played through her mind. In that moment, her father and her aunt were monstrous.

Georgina shared a worried look with Maxwell, standing at the door.

You know you love the countryside. It is much cleaner and away from the hustle and bustle of town, Aunt Georgina said with uncharacteristic gentleness.

Jessica was resolute. No. I do not wish to stay. I do not! You cannot make me! Her voice broke on sobs.

My dear child...you know how much you love the library. You may read all you like, her aunt offered.

This caught Jessica's interest, but only for a second. Her face crumpled, and she shook her head, feeling desperate. It was too much to bear, and there was nothing she could do! There was no way she could make them understand.

You will have your own horse, Georgina continued, lightly.

My own horse? Jessica looked up, wide-eyed.

Yes. You can name him and ride him every day. You could not do that in town, could you?

Young Jessica pondered this a moment. I suppose not, she said at last.

See? It will not be so bad, her aunt comforted her.

That day – so innocent, so seemingly innocuous – was the true beginning of Jessica's life.

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

EVERYTHING MAY NOT BE AS IT SEEMS

If things are going untowardly one month, they are sure to mend the next.

Jane Austen

EVERYTHING MAY NOT BE AS IT SEEMS

1812

On the day of her eighteenth birthday, Jessica entered her aunt’s parlor, holding her head high as she spotted her father talking with her aunt. She had not forgotten how he had sent her off at the time of her greatest need. The memory burned within her, fueling her mistrust toward him.

Hello, Father, she greeted him coolly.

Maxwell blinked, not at first recognizing the ethereally-lovely girl as his small, unruly daughter. This was the first time he had seen her in almost two years.

Daughter, he said, voice hoarse.

The looked at each other uncomfortably, both scared to be the first to reach across the yawning gulf between them.

What ...is that mark, there, on your nose? he asked after a moment, indicating the small scar on her nose.

Jessica looked down, feeling uncomfortable, It is nothing...a scar. It happened in a horse-riding accident.

Maxwell Davenport huffed, seeming displeased. How had his sister-in-law been raising his daughter? In his mind, ladies did not spend their days falling from horses. He huffed again and put the thought aside in favor of the more urgent business at hand.

I think you know why I have come here. Your aunt has told you? he asked, blustering.

Jessica nodded, thinking that she knew. She told me that you were here for my birthday celebration.

Her father glared at Lady Georgina, who looked between Jessica and her brother, clearly uncomfortable. Maxwell... she sighed at length, I had thought to raise the topic later. I did not think telling her so suddenly was right.

Increasingly confused, Jessica looked between the two. What is going on?

Yes, well, something quite significant, her father hinted. I was hoping your aunt would have told you already, but seeing that she has not...

Tell me now, Father! Jessica urged, feeling a hint of panic.

He coughed, obviously uncomfortable. It is true that I came here to celebrate your birthday, but that is not the only reason—

Aunt Georgina cut him off. He is here to take you on a visit to Town. After all, you are a young lady now and cannot spend your life in seclusion, Georgina said smoothly, passing her brother a long look.

Maxwell Davenport nodded. Um, well, yes, of course. Your aunt speaks the truth.

Oh, Jessica said, relieved. Well, that is not so bad!

After Jessica had left , Lady Georgina shot her brother-in-law a look of disappointment.

You know I am opposed to this decision of yours, she told him clearly.

Maxwell took a long drag of his cigar, You knew this would come, sooner or later.

She sighed, "Yes, well. True as that is, I do wish you had given the girl more time to prepare. How can we uproot her, permanently,