Garden of Dreams: A Sweet and Clean Regency Romance: Garden of Love, #2

By Daphne Bloom

Priya, the daughter of a British Duke and Indian Noblewoman, has never been accepted into English society. In an attempt to find purpose in her life, she wants to dedicate an exhibit of jasmine flowers in honor of her mother at Kew Gardens in London. But she will have to court the gardens' patrons for support, patrons who have a hard time believing her mother to be worthy of the honor.

 

Fredrick, the young Earl of Harewood, is scandalized when his father returns from India with a wife and eight-year-old daughter in tow–a family Fredrick didn't even know existed! Fredrick stays in London after the Season in hopes of escaping the turmoil back home only to come head to head with a British-Indian woman determined to dedicate a portion of his beloved Kew Gardens to her mother.

 

Can Priya overcome her pride and Fredrick his prejudice to see that the healing and happiness they seek are right in front of them?

 

Garden of Dreams is a sweet, clean Regency romance and book 2 in the Garden of Love series! It is a STANDALONE romance novel. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Red Empress Publishing
• Release date: Nov 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393664963

Book preview

Chapter One

Priya

T hey’re here! I call as I run down the stairs, though I am sure everyone already knows. I saw the carriage pulling up the long drive from a hall window on the second floor, and I can already see the servants rushing about in preparation. I stop at the hall mirror to check my hair and let the dust outside settle before rushing out to greet my sister and stepmother.

Joanna! I call. Her face is luminous as she runs to me and takes my hands. We kiss each other on the cheeks and then hug.

Oh, Priya! How I’ve missed you. I have so much to tell you.

I’m sure, I say. I can’t wait to hear all about it.

A footman helps my stepmother, Esther, out of the carriage and she walks toward me stiffly, her mouth in a thin line. I give a curtsey.

Welcome home, Mother, I say.

Thank you, my dear, she says, giving me a forced, perfunctory kiss on the cheek. How good it is to be out of that carriage finally. She starts barking orders at the maids and footmen as they unpack the carriage.

There they are! my father, Charles Gordon, the Duke of Richmond, says as he exits the house.

Papa!

He gives Joanna a large bear-hug and kisses her on the forehead.

And there is my lovely wife, he says, walking over to Esther. She holds out her hand for him to kiss without even acknowledging his presence.

Come, I say, now that the required pleasantries are out of the way, putting my arm around Joanna and leading her into the house. Tell me all about the Season.

It was wonderful, she says. She removes her hat and cape. But first… She pulls off a glove and holds her hand out to me, showing me a large diamond ring that shimmers in the light.

Oh! I exclaim, taking her hand and admiring the jewel. You’re engaged! To who? Why didn’t you tell me?

He only got up the courage to ask me the day before we left, she says as I lead her to the morning room. Edward Talbot, the heir for the Earl of Talbot.

I remember you mentioning him in one of your letters, I say.

Yes, she says with a sigh as she takes a seat on a settee. I sit in a chair across from her and motion to a maid for tea. I could tell from very early on that he was interested. He just happened to be at every event I was, and we hit it off quite well. He is a library patron, so we often talked about our favorite books. But after two months, he still hadn’t asked Mother if he could court me, so… Well, I wasn’t sure what to think.

I nod as Joanna goes on.

I was so distraught! He hadn’t made any formal movements toward marriage, but I didn’t receive any other serious inquiries either. I thought it was going to be another failed Season, another year wasted. But the day before we were to leave, he called at our house and asked me to marry him! Can you believe it?

He didn’t do any formal courtship at all? I ask.

Not at all, she says. But he explained how nervous he had been around me. How he thought I’d never accept him since Father is a duke. But at the same time, he told all his friends about his feelings for me, so no one else pursued me either out of respect for him. Isn’t that so sweet?

I chuckle and shake my head as a maid hands me a cup of tea. Men can be so silly.

Indeed! Well, I told him he had been quite unfair to me, not proposing but not letting anyone else propose either. Making me think I was some ugly hen no one could love. She giggles. I was only teasing, of course, but he felt so guilty, he practically fell at my feet begging forgiveness.

At least he appreciates you now.

Exactly! He wants to be married as soon as possible, before Christmas.

My heart sinks a little at that. I knew, of course, that the whole purpose in attending a Season was to find a husband. But I had thought—hoped—that if Joanna returned with a proposal we would still have another year together while the wedding was planned. I now realize that I shall lose her much sooner. And then I’ll be at the mercy of my stepmother, alone. I don’t want to mar this happy occasion, though, so I push my sadness aside and smile.

We shall have to begin preparations quickly, then, I say. I assume the wedding will be here at the house.

Yes, of course. But I’ll need to go back to London to order my wedding gown and put together the last of my trousseau.

But you’ve only just arrived!

I won’t leave right away, she says. I have plenty of things to do around here first. But, next month, I suppose, I shall need to go back.

I nod, feeling a tightening in my chest and tears pricking my eyes. She might not be getting married for a few more months, but I’ll hardly see her between now and then. It’s as though I’ve lost her already.

The door to the room opens and Esther enters the room. I see you have told Priya the happy news.

Naturally, Joanna says. I couldn’t wait to share the news with her. And she will be my maid of honor, of course. Elizabeth shall be my matron.

Esther’s nose wrinkles for a moment. I’m not sure we shall need both.

Of course we will, Joanna says, not missing a beat. It shall be the grandest wedding since Elizabeth’s, and since that was only two years ago people still remember it. We shall need a way to outdo her somehow. Joanna winks at me conspiratorially. Elizabeth is our other sister, Esther’s eldest daughter, and she and Joanna always competed with one another in everything. The two years since Elizabeth has been gone have been the most peaceful our house has ever known. The happiest for me since my mother died. I feel like my world is about to suffer a cosmic shift once again—and I’m not ready for it.

It’s just that Priya’s skin coloring is so very different from yours and Elizabeth’s and the other attendants you are sure to have. The colors that look good on you girls are sure to look washed out or sallow on her. You have to consider the aesthetics of the event. That is what people will remember most.

While it is true that my skin is darker than everyone else’s thanks to my Indian heritage, I have gowns in my closet of every shade. But this is the same excuse she used last time, with Elizabeth. Since Elizabeth and I never got along, she was happy for the reason to exclude me. Esther should know, though, that such a flimsy excuse will not work with Joanna. The two of us have always been close. As close as any natural sisters, despite the nearly eight years between us.

Then I will have to choose a color that complements Priya, Joanna says, much to Esther’s horror. Joanna doesn’t wait for her mother to respond as she jumps up from her seat. I must help Anna unpack my things and start making a list. She then flits out of the room, quick as a bird. I stand and give Esther a tight smile and try to leave as well, but Esther calls me back.

I think you would agree that your presence in the wedding party would…darken the mood, she says. Joanna is too kindhearted to tell you the truth, but it would be best if you made yourself as scarce as possible during the wedding. I think you would agree.

I have to bark a laugh. You know I don’t agree. And neither would Father.

Don’t mention that man to me, Esther says.

He’s Joanna’s father too, I say. And she’s my sister—

"Half-sister," she spits at me, which cuts me to the core. Even though Joanna and I have only ever thought of each other as full sisters, the fact that we have different mothers is a source of pain to me.

Joanna will want me there, I say far more gently than Esther deserves.

But I won’t, Esther says. I open my mouth to speak, but she holds up a hand to stop me. This is the last time one of my children will marry, and I would like to have only good memories of the day.

I scoff. With Elizabeth you said that you wanted good memories because she was your eldest daughter. With Jonathon, because he was your only son. When am I going to get to enjoy the wedding of one of my siblings without being treated like a terrible family secret that must be hidden?

You might not be a secret, Esther says, but a blight on this family you certainly are. A constant reminder of your father’s shameful past.

It’s only shameful to you, I say. Father and Mother were legally married. I am just as legitimate a child as the rest.

Then why aren’t you married? she asks, cutting me again. If it weren’t for me and my children, the Gordon name would die out and the Dukedom of Richmond would be taken away and given to someone else more worthy of the title.

There is no doubt to anyone that I am a full, legitimate daughter of a duke. And I have the dowry to support it. Still, she is right that I have never secured a proposal, and it is, of course, due to my Indian blood. My olive skin, my broad nose. I’m considered beautiful, and have been told such by countless men. I attended the Season for four years, and while I caught the eye of plenty of eligible bachelors, not one could get the blessing of his father for our union. Every man I met let a fear of being disinherited win out over any affection for me.

I’m not bitter about it, or angry. I understand the importance of family. But I’ve had my heart broken more times than I care to remember. I would have liked to marry, have a family and estate of my own, but I have resigned myself to the fact that it will never happen. At least my father has made provisions for me in his will so that I can be a respectable, independent spinster and not have to rely on the charity of my stepmother.

I am not a secret, and I am not shameful. But neither am I fully accepted by society. I am not considered one of them. My half-brother Jonathon is my father’s heir, and it is thanks to Esther that he had a son and will undoubtedly have grandchildren. It is only out of respect for her as the mother of his children that he tolerates her cruelty to me and indifference to him.

I am considering my response, dabbing at the edges of my eyes when the door opens and Father walks in. He seems surprised and nearly makes his excuses, but he stops when he sees my face.

What is wrong? he asks, then he looks at Esther. You’ve been home five minutes and already have her in tears?

Esther tosses her head and walks to the door. I’ll not have Priya running Joanna’s wedding. Make sure she complies. A footman closes the door behind her as she leaves.

Why does she think you are going to ruin Joanna’s wedding? he asks.

Because I exist, I say, shaking my head.

Well, I’ll speak to her, he says. Make her see reason.

Ha! I say. You haven’t spoken sense to her in twenty years.

Has it been that long? he asks, and he looks thoughtful for a moment. Yes, yes, I suppose it has. He exhales and slumps onto the settee, rubbing his eyes.

I sit as well and try to think about Joanna and the wedding preparations. But instead, my mind runs back to Elizabeth’s wedding and I feel sick. We’ve been here before. Esther took every opportunity to remind me how unwanted I was. My father, Joanna, and Jonathon all defended me, of course, insisted that I be included. But every day was a battle. A long, exhausting battle. Even though the bride would want me there this time, I am already dreading the long march to the wedding day.

I don’t think I can do this, I say.

Do what? Father asks.

Stay here, I say. Face Esther day in and day out as she prepares for Joanna’s wedding.

I realize it will be difficult, Father says, sitting up and looking at me. But do it for Joanna. She will be married in only a few months, and then it will all be over.

I gulp. "And then I’ll be the only unmarried child left in the house. Esther won’t have a reason to spend