Historical Romance: The Duke’s Ever Burning Passion A Lord's Passion Regency Romance: Fire and Smoke, #2

By Charlotte Stone

Book 02 in Fire and Smoke series - A Historical Romance Book

Are second chances truly possible?

 

The Duke of Sermont, Shep, has spent every summer since childhood at Pritchford Place... with his best friend's sister. Lady Julia Frederickson.

 

As they grew, their relationship grew into something else... 

 

Love. 

 

Writing letters back and forth to one another and making plans has been a part of them...

That is ... until Shep did something that broke her heart - he married someone else.

 

Since then...

She has spent her life wearing a mask.She vows to never let anyone know how much Shep meant to her.

 

When Shep is widowed and comes to stay at Pritchford Place, just like old times, they antagonize one another as usual.

Is it because they hate one another? Or... because they cannot stay away from one another? 

.

Who cares if he thinks she is the Ice Queen- cold, cruel and unfeeling?

Julia knows who she is really is, even if Shep continually misunderstands her. 

 

Can Julia forgive Shep for breaking her heart?

What about another suitor who will get in his way?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charlotte Stone
• Release date: Jun 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393191841

Charlotte Stone

In a near cynical world which we are currently living in, Charlotte finds comfort in the readings of Regency Romance writings, one of her favourite would be Laura Kinsale’s Flowers from the storm where the female character loves and saves the male lead character who is a stroke victim. It was such writings which inspired her to be an author herself. In Charlotte’s writings, the characters are able to see beyond the imperfections of each other and to accept and love one another, just the way one is. Isn’t this true of our inner self? To be able to find someone who is able to see the beauty in us, in spite of all imperfections we might have. Isn’t this true of what love really should be? Ever accepting, ever loving, ever seeking. May you find love and acceptance in Charlotte’s writings.

Book preview

chapter 1

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Julia knew she would be seeing Shep that morning at breakfast, but she refused to act differently or change her habits on his account. She would go on as if everything was normal because it was, she told herself, as she clenched her teeth. She chose her blue muslin day dress with its capped sleeves and widened neckline that just so happened to accentuate her alabaster collarbone. Smith pinned back her hair, leaving a few artful dark curls near her face. Julia raised an eyebrow at her own refection, secretly envious of her sister-in-law, Catherine, who could take breakfast in bed because she was married. Julia would have to march down the stairs and face her enemy over toast.

But she was determined.

She would never allow him to know that he affected her in any way.

She saw him before he noticed her. She was thankful for that, because she could prepare and make sure her mask was in place. She took in the circles beneath his eyes, his slightly gaunt face, the new lines grief had marked there. She quelled any tenderness that lurched in her heart at the realization that he truly was in pain. But she also could not help but notice how handsome he still was, with his dark golden hair, rich and curling, a bit too long on his neck, his serious, somewhat feline, green eyes looking down at his lap.

How annoying that even grief did not temper the effect he had on her.

Your Grace, she finally said aloud, bowing her head slightly. She knew that it was not necessary for her to stand on ceremony with Shep, since she had known him since he was a boy and because of their personal history, but it made it easier for her to protect her own heart. She would not be as stupid as she had been last time. She thought of the letters she had read the night before, how as children he had urged her to curb her fearlessness with some caution. Her feelings for him, at one time, had been exactly that—fearless. There had been no caution. Now, she would be as cautious as possible with her heart. I am so sorry about your loss earlier this year. The Duchess of Sermont was too young and too good to leave this world.

Shep did not bother to glance up at Julia and ignored her condolences over his wife completely. I do not know why you are using my title. We have known each other far too long for that.

I suppose I have just always had excellent manners, she replied sweetly, although the true meaning of her statement was anything but sweet.

His green eyes flashed to hers, and he opened his mouth to snap a retort before her brother jumped in. Now, now, children. It is very early. You still have plenty of hours in the day to begin one of your epic arguments. Ben had always remained clueless as to anything more than animosity between them, never considering the reason for it.

Julia tilted her head and batted her eyelashes at her brother and Shep. I only have arguments with people who can keep up with me.

If memory serves... Shep began, his voice smoldering. We were always quite evenly matched.

Your memory has always been selective, she replied before he could say more. Let us just move forward, shall we? The last thing she wanted to do was rehash the past with him, especially the parts that were unknown to her brother. She looked Shep straight in the eyes, which, of course, made her chest ache. Those green eyes of his would always affect her. I am very sorry about Rosemary. I hope you received our note. I wanted to attend the funeral but with Catherine pregnant...I could not leave her.

Shep looked down at his lap. Thank you. I understand. I know you would have been there if you could have been. And it was true. No matter what had happened between them or her feelings about his marriage, loyalty was of the utmost importance to Julia, though she would hardly ever admit it.

Good morning, Catherine said cheerfully, unaware of what she had missed at the breakfast table. She had Baby George on her hip, who was happily gumming his little fist in his mouth.

Ben looked at his wife with love and a little bit of awe. For so long, Julia could never imagine Ben married, but now she could not imagine him without Cat. It was as if they had been made for one another. She wondered if it had been the same with Shep and Rosemary, that elementary, visceral need.

Come here, my boy, Ben murmured as Catherine handed the baby over.

Your Grace, Cat murmured as she took Shep’s hand. I am so sorry again about the duchess.

Shep liked Catherine a great deal, and it was not her fault that he was tired of hearing people’s condolences when they were only trying to be polite. Please call me Shep. Your husband is my best friend, and I hope you do not mind me saying such a thing, but this place was like a second home to me growing up.

I mind, Julia muttered under her breath.

Everyone at the table ignored Julia’s comment.

Shep, then. If you insist, Catherine replied, smiling. I must admit that is how I think of you after all the stories Ben has told me about you.

"About me? Shep laughed outrageously. Julia turned away at the sound, squeezing her eyes shut. It had been too long since she had heard his laugh. Why did his throat have to look so appealing against his cravat? Life was not fair. Why should he be so appealing, despite his pallor? What about him?"

Do not try to turn my wife against me, Shep, Ben warned with a twinkle in his eye.

He could not do such a thing even if he tried. Cat is as loyal as can be. Julia jumped into the conversation just as Catherine was taking George back from her husband. She smiled slowly at Shep. Nothing you could say could turn her against Ben. But let us hear the stories anyway. And make sure to embellish the especially embarrassing parts.

Everyone laughed, which had been her intention. She took a sip of tea very delicately, well aware that Shep’s eyes were on her. She did not like it when he looked at her. She had not liked it when he had done so after her father died nearly two years ago. It was as if he still saw the girl she had been with the dreamy eyes and just-kissed lips, looking up at him as if he was the sun and the moon. And she was not that girl anymore.

George began to babble. A wordsmith is he, then? Shep asked, his voice only a bit rusty. One could hardly blame the man. He had been so close to having a child nearly the same age as George. Instead, his wife had died in childbirth, and his life was ashes. Has he started Latin yet?

He is a good boy, Cat said humbly.

I shall brag, since I’m the aunt, Julia announced. He is about to walk and can crawl faster than you could possibly imagine. We can hardly keep up with him.

Just then, George’s eye lit on her face. Ju, Ju, Ju! he called to her as he grinned, his tiny teeth like the smallest of shells one might find on the beach. His hands, full of his own saliva, reached for his aunt.

Normally, she would have swept him into her arms and they would go dancing around the room. She would speak to him in very grown up tones while he watched her like a little owl. But she could feel Shep’s eyes on her, watching, waiting. He had always accused her of being cold and unfeeling. Once, she would have liked to prove him wrong. Now, she only wanted to get through his visit with her heart intact. Better he think her cold than expose her heart to him.

I’m sorry, darling, but I would not want you to make a mess of my dress, she told the baby. It was the exact kind of statement Shep would expect of her, which showed, perhaps, how very little he knew her.

Catherine looked at her strangely, her arms already outstretched to hand Julia the baby, then pulled him close again. She had never known her sister-in-law to forgo a chance to play with George.

We shall play some other time, hm? Just the two of us? Julia stood. I think I shall go for a walk.

How strange, Cat murmured softly, not realizing that Shep could hear her. She’s usually mad for babies, especially George.

It is not strange at all when you consider she is made of stone, Shep replied before he could stop himself.

Cat looked at him, her head quirked as if he was a puzzle she was trying to figure out. I am sorry, Shep, I assumed that since you and Ben are so close, you would know Julia better than that.

Now that the subject was on the table, so to speak, he could not avoid it. I know her better than you imagine, he muttered. She has no interest in children or babies.

George pulled a bit at Cat’s hair for attention, but she took another moment to observe Shep’s stubborn countenance. I see you and Julia are very much alike, she told him, her words kind.

How? He laughed, though it was a bit strangled in his throat. I do not have a problem with children... He would have said more, but he did not want to think of Rosemary and the child they had lost just now. He could not hold both Julia and Rosemary in his head at the same time. I like children, he insisted, taking George’s fist in his hands.

I am not referring to your belief that Julia does not like children, Cat replied, smiling. When I said you are alike, I was referring to the fact that you both stubbornly refuse to accept the fact that it is possible to be wrong. Cat went back to looking at the baby but not before glancing at her husband. Was he completely oblivious to the passion that simmered off of Shep and his sister? When Ben grinned at her, cooing at George, she realized that if it was happiness that blinded him, she would keep this information to herself.

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chapter 2

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Shep could not deny that Ben had been right to bring him back to Pritchford Place. Cunningham was too full of memories, both of his parents’ volatile relationship, and because of sweet Rosemary. He had eventually loved her for that sweetness and the peace she brought to his life. He had not loved her when they first married, but he had always yearned for that peace and simplicity she seemed to bring into his life.

He had believed then, as he did now, that some people brought chaos and volatility with them. Some people may court that kind of all-consuming passion. But he was not one of them, not after the way he grew up. There had been a time when he had lost himself in a relationship like that. But in the end, because of his upbringing, he knew he could not live a life filled with such dramatic feeling. He wanted quiet and calm. He found those things in Rosemary. He had not loved her when he proposed, but he had wanted her in his life. But now that was gone. She was gone.

When he woke in the middle of the night now, he could still hear her screams as she labored to bring their baby into the world. Twenty-eight hours she had labored but the midwife and the doctor, who had been summoned halfway through the event, had told him it was no use. The baby boy was breech, with the cord wrapped around his neck, and had died long before he had been delivered. It was the loss of blood that took Rosemary soon after. So he had gone from the happiest of men with everything within his grasp to someone who tasted the ashes of lost dreams in his mouth, all within little more than a day.

He wondered if God was laughing at the way Shep had taken to planning his life. He’d thought that if he married someone he liked but did not love, who was guileless instead of complicated, his life would be like sailing on the calmest of waters. He would not know the pain or the volatility his parents had. And yet, he had learned that losing one’s spouse and child all in one go was just as