The Governess Who Stole My Heart: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Read online

  The Governess Who Stole My Heart

  Hanna Hamilton

  Edited by

  Maggie Berry

  Copyright © 2017 by Hanna Hamilton

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  A Thank You Gift

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Hanna Hamilton

  A Thank You Gift

  Thanks a lot for purchasing my book. It really means a lot to me, because this is the best way to show me your love.

  As a Thank You gift I have written a full length novel for you called A True Lady. It’s only available to people who have downloaded one of my books and you can get your free copy by clicking this link here.

  Once more, thanks a lot for your love and support.

  Hanna Hamilton

  Prologue

  Susan Wilton sat at her dressing table with her mother, Betsy, hovering behind her left shoulder, hands aflutter, while her very best friend and bridesmaid, Katherine Howe, was fussing with Susan’s hair at her right side. Louisa, Susan’s fifteen-year-0ld sister, knelt beside her and helped her slide into her satin shoes.

  Mother heard the carriages pulling up in front of the house. She turned to the clock on the mantel. “Oh, my… It’s time to go. Katherine, is her hair done?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Katherine said, as she adjusted one last curl with the tip of her comb. “Now, don’t you look like the perfect bride,” she added, stepping back to admire her work.

  “Hold still,” Louisa complained, as she tried to fasten the button on the shoe of Susan’s left foot.

  Mother rushed to the bedroom door and opening it, called out, “Thomas… Jacob… are you ready?”

  “Yes, Mamma,” Jacob shouted up from the entry hall. “We’ve been waiting for twenty minutes. Father has had the carriages brought around already.”

  “I know. I know.” Mother called back, but became flustered again and turned to Susan. “Come. Come. Stand. Let me look at you.”

  Susan stood up from her dressing table. “Mamma, there’s plenty of time. Simon always runs late, anyway.”

  “But it’s his wedding day. Surely, today, of all days, he’ll be on time.” Mother took a long look at Susan and began to cry. “Oh, my baby. Look at you. All grown up and about to be married. I’ve always dreamed of this day, and now it’s here. Oh my, don’t you look lovely.”

  Susan was, indeed, a lovely bride. The eldest daughter of Squire Thomas and his wife, Betsy—Susan was twenty-years-old, with a pleasing oval face, dark curly hair, a delicate mouth, and large, expressive eyes that seemed to laugh when she was amused.

  “Enough. Come. The carriages are waiting. Your Papa is waiting.”

  They left the room and headed down the stairs to the entry hall where Father and Jacob, Susan’s older brother, and his wife, Amy, were waiting.

  “Are you nervous?” the plump and rosy Katherine whispered to Susan as they descended the stairs.

  Susan was surprised by the question. “Not at all. Why, should I be?”

  Katherine took her arm. “Well, big changes are ahead. A new home and husband. You’ll be leaving your teaching position no doubt, and you must say good-bye to your family. And what about me? I’ll miss you so very much, my dear friend.”

  “Oh, Katherine, I’m not going that far away. It’s only twelve miles or so to Haverford House.”

  “Is that where you’re to live? I thought that was the Duke’s home now. Surely, Simon will have his own residence now that he’s married, will he not?”

  Susan had not given that any thought and Simon had said nothing about where they would reside. London, perhaps?

  “Come along—come you two. Stop dawdling,” Mother insisted.

  The party was suddenly swept up with the task of getting into the carriages. Mother, father, the bride, and Jacob and his wife were in the first carriage and Katherine, Louisa, and two attendants were in the second.

  It was several miles to the parish church where the ceremony was to take place at noon.

  It was a lovely May morning and not too hot. Susan turned to look out the carriage window as they passed along the country road leading to Ash, a modest country village in Kent. The whole morning had been such a whirl of activity and this was the first time Susan had had a moment to reflect upon the changes soon to sweep her up into her new life. But first and foremost in her heart and mind was her groom, Simon, the younger brother of the Duke of Lennox of Haverford House outside the community of Preston, also of Kent.

  Simon had met Susan at the school where she taught when he came to represent the Duke during a school awards day. The Duke had promised to come, but the House of Lords had called an extraordinary session, and he had been unable to attend, sending Simon along in his place.

  Simon couldn’t keep his eyes off Susan from his seat with the teachers on the presenter’s podium, and after the ceremony was over, he introduced himself, and wooed her aggressively for several months before asking her to marry him.

  Katherine had been advised caution when he proposed but, despite the short engagement, Susan’s parents had urged her to accept the proposal from an aristocrat—even if he was only the second son with no title or inheritance.

  Simon was, without a doubt, a handsome young man, and Susan found it easy to be enchanted by his blond good-looks, his boyish charm, and his breezy ways—despite his often unexplained absences and broken appointments. Afterwards, there were always the most convincing and heartfelt excuses and expressions of deep devotion.

  But today was the culmination of all that effort. She was to be married in less than an hour. She wished that Katherine was sitting with her in this coach instead of Jacob and Amy, but as her bridesmaid, she would be beside her soon enough.

  The carriages pulled up in front of the church. The wedding carriage that would be used to whisk the bride and groom away was parked nearby festooned with ribbons and flowers. However, as Susan descended from the carriage, she saw no sign of the Duke’s carriage which had his royal crest painted on the door.

  Katherine came, breathlessly, running up and took Susan’s arm.

  “Come, we must hide you away until time for the ceremony. We can’t have the groom seeing you before the wedding.”

  The two of them ran giggling into the vestry where they would wait until the processional music started up. Thomas, the Squire, and Susan’s father, soon arrived to sit with them until it was time to lead her down the aisle when the ceremony was to begin. Mother, Loui
sa, and Jacob and wife had been seated in the front row on the bride’s side of the church.

  “Daughter, you tell that husband of yours that I’ll be sending over three brace of sheep as promised—four ewes and two rams. Twern’t ready till yesterday, and this day being the wedding, thought it best to wait till later in the week.”

  “Yes, Papa.”

  None of the three could think of anything further to say. Susan was too nervous, Katherine was too sad to be losing her friend, and Father hardly ever spoke unless spoken to.

  They sat for quite a few moments before Father took out his pocket watch and checked it.

  “Quarter past,” he said, putting the watch back in his waistcoat pocket, and shifting his bulk in the uncomfortable chair. The Squire was a solid man with a mane of unkempt hair, rosy cheeks and a wicked grin when he was playful—which was seldom.

  After a while longer, he stood and went to the vestry door and looked out. He turned back to Susan and said. “Wait lass, I be right back.”

  Katherine reached over and took Susan’s hand. “Nothing to fret about. You know the aristos. Bound to be late to make an impression, no?”

  Susan nodded but wasn’t so sure about that.

  The Padre opened the door and looked in. He smiled and rubbed his chin and left.

  The Squire returned. “The sheep are getting restless. Your groom better show up soon or the church will empty out.”

  Mother appeared at the door. “What’s going on, Thomas? It is half past, and no one from Haverford House has made any kind of appearance.”

  “Now, Mother, stop your fretting. There could be any number of reasons.”

  Mother pursed her lips and shook her head.

  “Go back and sit down. What’ll people think with you strutting around the sanctuary like a Guinea hen?

  “Now, Papa, let her be,” Susan insisted.

  “Humph,” Mother said and turned and left.

  By now Susan was becoming anxious and she stood and went to the vestry window and looked out toward the road at the front of the church.

  “I see a carriage,” she said.

  “Ah.” Father stood and left the room.

  Katherine went over to the window with Susan and they watched the carriage until it disappeared from their view.

  They turned back and watched the door which shortly opened.

  Father stood there. “Daughter…” He looked back into the church and stood back as a man appeared at the entrance.

  “Miss Wilton…” It was John Chamberlain, the Duke of Lennox. “Miss Wilton…” He strode into the room, holding his hat in his hand.

  Susan was surprised for he did not look as though he was dressed for a wedding.

  “Miss Wilton… I don’t quite know what to say.”

  John Chamberlain was a tall and quite imposing man. He was much taller and more solid than his younger brother. He had broad shoulders, an equally handsome face, but had dark hair while his brother was blond.

  Susan’s stomach seized. “He’s not coming, is he?” she asked.

  The Duke shook his head. “The scoundrel has absconded with all the family silver, the best horse and carriage, and several hundred pounds of cash.”

  “Do you know where he’s gone?” Susan asked quietly.

  “I have no idea, but I suspect he went to London. He had some rather serious gambling debts and begged me for money only yesterday, and I refused him as I was to surprise him with a living as my wedding present to the both of you.”

  “And he left no note for me?” Susan asked, now becoming angry.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Wilton. He didn’t.” The Duke turned to the Squire. “I shall, of course, reimburse you for any losses associated with the wedding, and shall return any and all dowry that has been forwarded to Haverford House—if it’s not already been taken and spent by my brother. I’ll make an accounting and pass it on to you.”

  “Most kind, Your Grace,” the Squire said, bowing his head.

  The Duke looked frantic. “Now, you must excuse me. I must leave. My wife is with child and having a troubled confinement.”

  The Duke turned and left. And that was the end of the engagement and the wedding.

  Chapter 1

  Susan was standing at the drawing room door with her mother who was whispering to her and also trying to push her through the doorway at the same time.

  “He came all this way to see you,” Mother insisted. “Why are you not wearing your pretty yellow dress? He’s commented several times how nice you look in it.”

  “Mamma, I didn’t know he was coming this early. I didn’t have time to change.”

  “What’s all this whispering about?” Louisa asked as she passed by in the hallway.

  “Your sister in insensitive to the fact that her young man has come to call and she looks like she just got up from scrubbing the kitchen floor,” Mother pouted.

  “She looks just fine to me,” Louisa said, as she flipped through the pages of the book she was examining.

  “She does not. Look at her bodice, not even a whiff of lace. And her cap is askew. She might as well be a beggar out on Tiddlewhit Square.”

  “Oh, Mamma…” Susan complained. “You know you exaggerate.”

  “Let her be,” Louisa said, “Jasper Grant is such a bore anyway. I don’t know what all the fuss is about.”

  “Oh, Louisa, you’re such a scandal. How can you say such a thing about your sister Susan’s beau? And a Knight of the realm and all that. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  Louisa just shrugged and patted on her way down the hall in her slippers.”

  “Mamma, shall I go in or not? Sir Jasper’s waiting.”

  Mother became flustered and backed away. “Disgrace yourself then. Go on. Drive him away. Your last chance at marriage bliss and happiness. You’re not twenty anymore. And I couldn’t bear another episode like the one with Simon Chamberlain.”

  “Oh, Mamma…”

  Susan turned and entered the drawing room.

  “Sir Jasper, you’re early,” she said.

  “I couldn’t keep myself away from your radiant, beaming smile,” he said as he turned from the window where he was gazing at the sheep pond and came toward her.

  Sir Jasper Grant was a fastidious young man who spent a great deal of time shunting between his tailor and his haberdashery. He was aware of every eye that was trained on him wherever he went. He studied his profile each morning in a trio of mirrors he’d had especially set up for his personal viewing satisfaction. He was lithe and comely and knew it. He had a small curl on the left of his forehead that he was constantly adjusting, and carried a small silver hand mirror about the size of an apricot on a silver chain around his neck. This he would hold out to gaze at, for the satisfaction of admiring himself or to find and correct any flaw that might need immediate attention.

  “How are your parents and dear sister, Beatrice?” Susan asked as she directed him to a chair opposite where she would sit.

  “All in the very best of health, and I trust all of you are heathy as well?”

  “We are, thank you.”

  They sat for a moment without speaking, as Sir Jasper studied his mirror.

  “My mother sends her very best regards, and thanks you for the tidy woolen mittens you knitted for her birthday. She much appreciated the thought.”

  “I’m so glad. Shall I order some tea? You must be parched after your journey from Folkestone.”

  “Yes, tea would be lovely.”

  Susan rang the service bell on the table beside her and Julie appeared.

  “Yes, Miss?”

  “Tea, please.”

  “Yes, Miss.”

  Susan turned back to Sir Jasper. “Did you ride or bring your gig?”

  “It was such a lovely afternoon I rode over on Dapple. Such a fine animal.”

  There was a knock on the door and Mother inserted herself into the room.

  “Sir Jasper, what a pleasure to see you. Julie says you�
�re to have tea. May I join you?”

  Sir Jasper looked annoyed for a moment, but put on a brave smile and answered, “Of course, Mrs. Wilton. It would be a pleasure and an honor.” He stood to welcome her.

  Mother scooted over and drew up a chair. “Susan tells me you’ve been having fine weather along the coast this summer. I know the channel storms of winter can be fierce so it must be nice to have a fine spell.”

  “Indeed it is. And I noticed the cabbages in your vegetable garden are particularly plump this season,” Sir Jasper responded.

  “Yes. They are. They are.”

  And the three fell into silence until Julie came in with the tea tray and began serving.

  Sir Jasper kept glancing over at Susan, but she had busied herself with serving the tea and was not catching his glances.

  “Miss Susan, shall we take a walk after tea? There’s something I would like to discuss with you.”

  “Certainly, Sir Jasper, it would be lovely to take a stroll. Perhaps we could walk down by the river.”

  Silence overtook the trio once again as they sipped their tea.

  Mother finally spoke. “Sir Jasper, how is your fine father and his business? Last we spoke you said he might be expanding his wholesale operation.”

  “Ah… yes. Indeed he will. The good news is there will soon be a railway connection running between Folkestone and London. That will greatly increase our ability to keep the fish fresh. And I believe the line will be constructed somewhere in the vicinity of Preston, if I’m not mistaken. So you will soon be able to pop up to London whenever you like.”