Always Delia: Always Series, #3

By Joanne Austen Brown

Delia has been in search for a man she believes is her real father. However, she has been unable to find him. Was her mother telling the truth? Delia decides to go home to the man who raised her and a brother who has protected her.

Lucas has loved Delia almost from the first moment they met. He has done all that he could to help her find her real father. But now he has, he wants to protect her from a man who he knows she will not want to meet.

Their families have been caught up in a twisted tale of love, loss, and villainy. Now they have a chance at real love and a happy ever after. Will it be for Delia and Lucas?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joanne Austen Brown
• Release date: Dec 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215965467

Joanne Austen Brown

Joanne loves to write and she loves to travel. She is married to Andrew and lives in Central New South Wales Australia with him and their two cats Arthur and Oscar. (Meet them on Joanne’s webpage) She has two grown sons and four beautiful granddaughters. Her imagination loves to take her on various trips but mainly in the area of the regency romance. She also loves meeting new people so do drop a line to her on: webpage or Facebook page.

Book preview

HIS LORDSHIP

Has she left Scotland? He sat behind his desk looking at his servant and waited for his response. This meeting could be a turning point for them both.

Yes, your lordship. Finally, she is returning to her home in Kent.

But is it for good? Or does she plan to return to Scotland and place my life in danger yet again?

Jason, his servant for fifteen years, a trusted man, placed his hands behind his back and responded.

Your life is saved, sir. She does not know who you are or that you are her real father. I know she plans to stay with her family in Kent. She is making her way to Kent as we speak. My information is accurate and trustworthy. She has given up searching for you.

Good. You have done well to protect me and prevent the scandal she could have caused.

Yes, your lordship.

His servant bowed but did not depart.

You may leave, Jason. He could feel his eyes narrow as he waited. This did not bode well.

Why did everyone betray him?

But sir, I thought we might chat about the service I have done for you. Protecting you from her interest and directing her to other places away from you. He took a step closer to his desk, placing his hands on it.

What are you suggesting, Jason? He knew already but wanted to see if the man had the courage or should he say, stupidity to speak further.

I have saved you from certain disgrace. He stood taller and placed his hands behind his back again.

He had never seen so much confidence in his manservant before. Agreed, and you have a safe and secure job with me for life.

True, your lordship. But I want more. The man grinned at him, probably thinking he had the upper hand. He did not.

Everyone always betrayed him. Now Jason was proving the point. He had expected this betrayal and reached into the draw which was open in front of him.

Are you planning to blackmail me, Jason?

Blackmail is slightly harsh. But persuade you, is more in keeping with what I have in mind.

He had known this day would come when his manservant would overstep the mark. Thinking himself superior. All the lower ranks of society felt they were better than the aristocracy. This is the reason why he brought Jason into his study. He had designed the study himself to hide the sounds of screams and gunshots. A special room leading to his secret place beyond his castle and deep into the mountain. A place Jason would never return from. He pointed the primed flintlock at him.

Sir? He took a step back.

I will not be blackmailed. You must know this.

Your lordship. I think you misunderstand my meaning.

No Jason, I do not. He watched as his manservant began to sweat profusely. His hands were shaking, as he held them in the air to show him, he was free of a weapon. He could smell the fear leaking from Jason’s pores. He raised the gun higher and pulled the trigger. He could trust no one.

Jason grabbed his chest and fell to the floor.

You pushed too far, man. Why could you not be content?

He listened to the final death throes of the man as he placed the gun back into the draw. The smoke dissipated as he got up and went around his desk to look at the body of Jason, as his final breath left it.

Such a waste. You should not have been so greedy.

He rolled the man into the rug he was bleeding onto, then dragged him to the secret door to his special place. He pushed the body onto the stairs and watched it roll down. Monroe would look after the body. He closed the door. He went to the wardrobe, unlocked it, and took out a rug, which matched the one he had rolled Jason in. He laid it where the other had been. He went back and counted four more rugs, locked the door, and placed the key in his pocket.

He would tell everyone Jason had to leave on a family matter. No one would question his statement. After all, he was the laird. Jason would disappear and no one would be the wiser.

He was disappointed in Jason for betraying him. He went to a basin and jug he had at the sideboard and washed his hands, letting the cold water run through his fingers. He dried his hands, then wiped the jug. He opened the heavy shutters over the window and opened it. He took the basin and threw the water out the window to the garden below. Then wiped the basin. He threw the towel on the fire and watched it burn to ash. He closed the window and the shutters. No one would be the wiser.

HOME

October 1822

The carriage turned into the driveway. The place looked the same. Her papa did not like change, but then most people did not. And as she looked at the setting sun, she knew after years of change, she did not like it either. The colours of gold and purple spread their way around her. Change happened whether she wanted it to happen or not.

However, coming home was the best decision she had ever made. For so many years, she did not view this estate as home in any way. It was a place where she had a blissful childhood, until... A big brother who loved and protected her. A father who adored her, but a mother who kept her distance. And had lied to her. And it was her mother who had driven her away. And although her mother had been dead for some time, she felt her presence every time she returned to Maidstone Manor. The dappled light seeped into her bones and her soul. She was home. Her mother could not hurt her anymore. A sigh of relief gently shook her body.

She had been sixteen when she had escaped this place and her mother. Now, as an adult, she knew what her mother was really like. Her mother was dead now and she was glad. Did that make her a villain? A terrible daughter? No, it made her a person who knew what was real. Her mother had to answer for her actions and had in the worst of ways. She only thought of her as ‘the mother’. Any endearment like ‘mama’ had been forgotten. The harsh sound of ‘the mother’ seemed right in her situation.

As the butter-coloured sandstone house came into view, her heart skipped a beat. She had wasted so much time on a dream, a whisp of wind that appeared for a moment and was gone. Gone. Her real father was lost to her, but the man who had called her daughter for so many years both loved her and wanted her to come home. So here she was. Leaving the years of wasted effort behind her.

As the carriage came to a halt at the foot of the stairs, her papa and her brother descended them toward her. She could see Louisa, her sister-in-law, at the top of the stairs holding the hand of her young son Hudson, who was nearly four and in her arms her daughter Elspeth, who was nearly two.

Her brother opened the carriage door, allowing her papa to come forward.

Delia, my dearest girl. The joy she saw on his face brought tears to her eyes.

Papa. Stepping out of the carriage, she hugged him.

You’re home, dearest. I am so happy.

She held him tight.

She felt the arms of her brother reach around them both.

We are a family once more. Welcome home, little sister.

She closed her eyes tight as the tears came flooding down her face. Yes, she was home again with her family. All the pent-up emotions of years of separation boiled over as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She had no idea how long they stayed there hugging, but finally they let her go and her papa offered her his arm and she accepted. Her brother too offered his arm and they turned and went up the stairs together, to where Louisa stood, tears flowing down her own face.

Welcome home, Delia. It is so good to have you here where you belong.

Oh Louisa, thank you. She hugged her sister-in-law and the babe in her arms.

Come Delia, have a cup of tea in the dayroom. I am sure you are tired after your long trip home. Louisa handed her daughter to her husband and Hudson turned and ran through the hall to the dayroom. Louisa took her hand and looped it in her arm. They walked to the dayroom, arms locked together.

I cannot believe I have stayed away so long. I know I have come for visits, but it is different today. I know I have come home to stay. She smiled at her sister-in-law, knowing they too were friends. She had rejoiced when she had heard Chalanor had married Louisa. She was beautiful, both in her appearance and in her being. And they had become close friends.

I want to hear all your news from your aunt. And have you heard from Elspeth?

"I’m peth."

You certainly are, little one. Delia turned and kissed the sweet little girl on the forehead. She was like her mother Louisa, actually. Blonde and beautiful. Her tight little curls hugging her face and making her look angelic.

Moving further into the foyer, Delia undid the ribbons of her bonnet and took it off, handing it to the butler Ramsey.

Good to see you are still an ever-present part of the house, Ramsey. I cannot imagine this house without a Ramsey.

He took the hat and helped her take off her travelling cloak. It is wonderful to see you too, Miss Delia. Welcome home.

She placed her hand on his arm. I was sorry to hear of your father’s passing. But I am glad you are here.

Thank you, miss, I am glad to be of service.

Delia smiled at him, leaving her hand on his sleeve for a few more moments. He had grown up on the estate and had worked his way up to footman. When his father died, it seemed right Ramsey, the son, took over. At thirty, he was still single and was fit. His father had been training him to take his place before he had passed away. She made her way into the dayroom.

She went to the chaise where Hudson was sitting waiting for her, his feet swinging back and forth.

Well, my young man, you have grown since last I saw you.

I have, aunt. I am nearly as tall as my dada. He sat straight and proud.

I do believe you are right, Hudson. She gave a little giggle. He was a handsome lad, tall for a boy his age and with his black hair, very much a copy of his father. Except, he had his mother’s eyes, blue as the bright shining sky.

She sat down, closed her own eyes, and took a deep breath, leaning back onto the chaise.

Her papa came and sat next to her on the other side of the chaise from Hudson.

He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. He kissed her fingers, and it took her back to being sixteen again. She smiled at the man who had never stopped loving her as his daughter. Oh, why had she wasted so much time? She squeezed his hand, and he squeezed it back. Their lives had been reunited some time ago. But it had taken her eight long years to give up the search for a man she now thought might not even exist. Another question that would never be answered by her mother.

She watched as Louisa poured her a cup of tea. She handed it to her, which Delia gratefully took as she leaned forward. She had a sip and then a bigger gulp. Sitting back, she closed her eyes and sighed. She was home.

Delia retired to her room soon after tea. Yes, her room. It had changed. Her papa had wanted her to feel like a grown woman and not the child who had left this room. It had been completely redecorated.

Bless him.

A light blue coloured the walls and the upholstery. Robin eggs. That was what it reminded her of. The delicate porcelain blue of their eggs. Even the curtains were the same colour as the walls. It was her favourite colour. Shades of blue throughout the room. She walked to the window and then noticed the curtains were hand embroidered with birds commonly found in the garden and that she loved. The simple but beautiful Robin, his red breast pumped up proudly. Even its nest in a branch loaded with the blue eggs just darker than her walls. The great Tit, its black head and white cheeks and yellow body. The Chaffinch with its blue grey head and orange body almost bouncing across the curtain. The quiet and gentle Wood Pidgeon, its blue grey feathers almost disappearing into the curtain itself. A Blue Tit and a Sparrow and even the purply blue of the common Staling. She loved them. She opened the curtain on the left, so she could examine each bird in detail. What a wonderful gift her papa had bestowed.

She sat at the table and chair placed in front of the open window, and looked at the beautiful room, with silver highlights throughout. Silver threads were even present on the birds. Silver frames surrounded the prints and paintings on the walls. Beautiful specimen vases on the mantel were silver as well. A gentle white rose blossom in each. The bed was still her fourposter, but it too had been painted the pale blue. It looked marvellous. And the bedspread, same as the curtains with birds dancing on the covers.