Rose in the Brier

By Liz Rein

Sterling Fairchild returned from war wounded and looking for more from life than being the second son of a duke. He finds it in the arms of midwife and aspiring physician Cecilia, the disgrace and outcast of local society.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Free Rein Books
• Release date: Jun 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476242736

Liz Rein

Liz Rein is a thirty year old single girl living in southeastern Washington with her two dogs Cooper and Mikey. She spends her days flexing her creative muscles, working with clients developing marketing plans and materials for small businesses. When not working you can usually find her curled up with a good book, most likely a romance novel. Liz started reading when she was thirteen and never looked up. Now seventeen years later she finally put the book down and picked up a pen. Encouraged by her mother she wrote her first book on a lark. The second, when inspiration struck.

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Rose in the Brier

By Liz Rein

Copyright 2012 Liz Rein

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Sterling Fairchild return from war wounded and looking for more from life than being the second son of a duke. He finds it in the arms of midwife and healer Cecilia, the disgrace of local society.

To my mother who pushed me to use my love of books and creativity to write my own novel.

I would like to thank Maryanne for editing my books. Spell check can only go so far.

Prologue

As the second son or as he is affectionately called by his family and with a slight distain by society, the spare, Sterling had no real purpose in life. His older brother, Marcus, expertly ran the ducal estates and attended parliament and sitting in the House of Lords ever since their father died five years before. Marcus took both responsibilities of his position very seriously and Sterling knew his services were not needed. As his brother expanded the family coffers Sterling felt useless as any spare was. He loved his brother; they had a great relationship and sitting around waiting for something dire to happen so he could move up in the world never sat right with him. After Eton, Cambridge and then sowing his oats for years Sterling began feeling restless. Carousing at all hours of the night no longer satisfied him. Months of searching led him to his answer. Now he knew what he would do; all he needed to do was tell his brother. He knew Marcus would object but feeling useless, doing nothing significant of consequence with his life, especially while there was a war going on did not sit right with him. Becoming a wastrel, drinking and womanizing is no longer as satisfactory when he was youth of one and twenty.

Determined he walked down the hall, his footsteps muffled by the thick carpets as he approached the library door. Sterling was a big man, well over six feet. He came from a long line of tall men starting from the first duke, a warrior in his time. He was a head taller than any other gentlemen of the ton with the exception of his older brother Marcus. Unlike most tall men he also had a large frame with wide shoulders. Boxing, one of Sterling’s favorite activities, made his frame even more immense with a heavily muscled chest and arms that seem to be made for the sport. His size made him second only to Gentleman Jackson himself. In addition to boxing Sterling also practiced fencing, a sport that his father taught both his sons. Sentimentality made him keep up with the discipline. The combination of the two disciplines and years of training made Sterling light on his feet something that was in odds to his height and size.

At the door Sterling paused and took a deep breath before knocking. He did not wait for him to call enter but opened the door. They always had a casual relationship, one almost unheard of in the ton. He knew that whatever Marcus was doing he would not mind the interruption, in fact, he usually welcomed it. He crossed the Ashburn carpets and approached the massive wood desk that had been in the family for generations. Marcus was finishing writing a letter, probably to one of the many estate managers he had on retainer. After sanding the ink, he folded the letter and slid it in to the waiting envelope. Marcus looked up in surprise to see his brother there, he was concentrating so hard on the instructions to the solicitor that he did not hear Sterling enter. He smiled at his brother but did not receive one in return, which gave Marcus his first hint at the gravity of the situation. Sterling had a very serious look on his face as he took a seat on one of the heavy dark wood chairs. Marcus leaned back into his chair, ready for the news. Whatever this is about he had a feeling that he’s not going to like it.

Sterling took another deep calming breath. I’m leaving. I can’t wait around here any longer. I need to do something, be someone other than the Dukes unfortunate younger brother. I have decided to join the army. I am going to buy a commission.

The words came out in a rush, he wanted to get the words out before he lost his nerve. Sometimes his brother still unnerved him, he will always be his big brother.

Marcus sat there in surprised silence; he leaned back in his chair while he thought. Marcus knew that Sterling was restless but did not know it had come to this. He had been thinking about the situation for some time and he may have finally found a solution.

Sterling, determined to not be talked out of his decision, quickly jumped out of the chair before Marcus could respond and rushed out of the room saying This is my decision. Marcus sat there in silence for a few more minutes, in the morning, when they both had time to sleep on it, he would talk to Sterling and tell him of his plans.

The next morning he was gone.

****

As a young girl Cecilia did not know that she was a walking scandal. Living in seclusion outside of the local village and the high rank of her father did not subject her family to the whispers that usually follow someone of her affliction. She lived with her mother in Rose Cottage just on the edge of Blackbrier Park, the largest estate in the county, assisting her as a midwife. Her father, the owner of Blackbrier, would come to visit often and those days were bliss. They would explore the woods, picnic and play. Although her father was not there often the time they spent together was always filled with joy.

It wasn’t until she was older that she realized that her life was not normal and that most fathers lived with their mother all the time. Then as she grew even older she realized what she was. A bastard.

Cecilia was an outsider in the local village. As the only midwife delivering babies throughout the countryside and the low tolerance her father, the Earl, had for disparaging the love of his life and longtime mistress made her mother respected but outside the local social circles.

Even as an outsider she still wanted to help, to make a difference, just like her mother. Learning midwifery at her mother’s side she realized she wanted to be a midwife but more. With the encouragement of her father she continued her education beyond childbirth with the local physician who tolerated a female for an apprentice and learning the newest techniques from books, periodicals and writings published. Although her gender made it impossible to become a true physician she wanted to learn as much as she could and she hoped that one day she would become an accepted member of the small physician’s society.

When Cecilia was eighteen her mother became ill. After months of painfully wasting away, her mother grew impossibly thin and she slipped away in the night.

Both she and father were grief stricken but life continued on. She filled the hole her mother left as midwife, and she lived like she had for several years. She delivered babies for the village and she took care of simple ailments for those who could not afford to bring in a private physician when the local doctor was already engaged.

Her father visited her many times and more often that not she spent her time with him at Blackbrier Park. But he had obligations in London attending to the House of Lords and his other duties and properties as an Earl. When he was gone she spent her days alone at Rose Cottage.

It was not until two years later that her life changed drastically.

Chapter One

Sterling was on the peninsula fighting for his life. The battle was long, exhausting and hard but he did not regret his decision to join. After leaving his brother’s home he bought his commission but he only paid for a Lieutenant’s rank even though he could afford more. He did not want to jump to a higher rank just because he could afford to when he knew nothing about fighting or strategy, he was not trained in the art of war. His efforts as it turned out was for naught. His quick thinking, a higher education, reflexes from years of training as a pugilist and surprisingly the nightly chess games he and his brother used to play while they were in the country made him an excellent strategist and formidable soldier. Despite his efforts, he quickly moved up in the ranks, promoted on the battlefield and achieved the title of Captain in record time.

Six months after arriving on France’s shores he was on the front in a surge against the French army and were finally overtaking the enemy. The men, sensing success, began aggressively engaging the opposing force. Preparing to engage his next opponent when out