Winning The Indecisive Duke: The Fairbank Series Read online

  Winning The Indecisive Duke

  The Fairbank Series

  Jessie Bennett

  CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  Contents

  Copyright

  Monthly Giveaway Contest

  A Personal Note From Jessie Bennett

  Dedication

  About The Author

  Winning The Indecisive Duke

  CHAPTER ONE

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  CHAPTER TWO

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  CHAPTER THREE

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  CHAPTER FOUR

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  CHAPTER FIVE

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  CHAPTER SIX

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  CHAPTER SEVEN

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  CHAPTER EIGHT

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  CHAPTER NINE

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  CHAPTER TEN

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  CHAPTER ELEVEN

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  CHAPTER TWELVE

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  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

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  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

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  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

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  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

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  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

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  CHAPTER NINETEEN

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  CHAPTER TWENTY

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  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

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  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

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  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

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  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

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  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

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  EPILOGUE

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  Preview of The Earl’s Unexpected Journey of Love

  Monthly Giveaway Contest

  Also By Jessie Bennett

  Acknowledgement

  If You Have Enjoyed This Book…

  Publisher’s Notes

  Copyright © 2016 & 2017 by JESSIE BENNETT & CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real or dead people, places, or events are not intentional and are the result of coincidence. The characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the author/publisher. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  JOIN MY MONTHLY GIVEAWAY CONTEST NOW!

  CLICK THIS LINK below to get started…

  * * *

  A PERSONAL NOTE

  FROM JESSIE BENNETT

  * * *

  To My Dearest Lovely Readers,

  The female characters within my stories are women who have a strong faith of love, they know what they want to pursue during this era. They are constantly seeking and believe the true love really exists as they are often being looked upon as an inferior gender. Because of these social stigma, it motivates them to overcome challenges they may face while waiting for the man of their dreams to appear.

  Will these insecurities and stigma encourages them in believing true love despite the differences and challenges in social standing that they will face during this Regency Era?

  Read on to find out the answers!

  Thank you very much for your strong support to my writing journey!

  With Hugs, Kisses and Love…

  DEDICATION

  “A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”

  Jane Austen (1775 - 1817)

  * * *

  This Story Is Specially Dedicated To You, My Dearest Reader!

  It is with gratefulness and gratitude that I am writing to you this personal dedication.

  Thank you once again for giving me this opportunity to share with you my creative side of me.

  I hope you will enjoy reading this story as much I have enjoyed writing it!

  It is with such great support from you that keep us authors writing and writing, presenting to you with great and interesting stories.

  Have you checked out my other historical romance books series?

  Click the link below to get started

  *** AMAZON USA ***

  * * *

  Do you like what you have read?

  I would want to hear from you!

  Please do get in touch with me:

  https://www.facebook.com/JessieBennettBooks/

  [email protected]

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jessie Bennett is dedicated to romanticism in its’ myriad forms. She loves historical romance stories. Recently, she discovered another interest within the historical romance, which is Regency Romance stories.

  She wants to use her ideas, knowledge and interest of the regency era to spin out characters that readers wants to read. She aspires to be the next Jane Austen that combine grace, love, and simplicity to delight readers to find their happy endings.

  WINNING THE INDECISIVE DUKE

  * * *

  by

  JESSIE BENNETT

  and

  Carlton House Publishing Co.

  CHAPTER ONE

  ELIZABETH WON’T HAVE IT

  ELIZABETH WON’T HAVE IT

  Fairbanks, England – 1820

  “Father, please listen to me! You cannot and will not convince me on this. It is cruel of you! Cruel to force me to accede to your wishes.”

  Elizabeth Huntington moved her blue eyes from the vast landscape to her father’s face, narrowing them against the glare. Even though the sun was shining bright above, Elizabeth did not feel the happiness it usually evoked in her. Her arms hugged herself for warmth, as sadness filled her.

  “You and Jonah have known each other all your lives,” her father, Hamilton, the earl of Westering, replied tiredly. She could tell he was exhausted by the topic, though he tried to speak reasonably. This was not the first argument they’d had about this. “You have also known all of your lives what the plan was,” he continued. “Both of you. We did not hide it from you.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I know that, Father. But it does not change the fact that Jonah and I are not in love! We do not want to marry each other.”

  The earl shook his head at his eldest daughter. “If I was ever to recommend two people as a perfect match, it would you and Jonah. It will make for the perfect marriage.”

  Elizabeth bit her lip. On the surface, her father was right. Jonah Boothe, son of the Earl of Macefield, was a perfect match: handsome, caring, noble. And it was not that she did not like him, either. He was her best friend. They had known each other since shortly after birth, and that was where the problem started. The love between them was as a brother and a sister might love. It was not romantic love.

  “I know, Father,” was all she could say, sadly. “But it feels wrong to even think of marrying Jonah.”

  She pictured Jonah in her mind and could not help the warm glow that suffused her heart. He was such a dear friend to her. She did not know what life would be like if he should ever leave, but she knew their time left together
as friends was short. She felt a slight stab of wistfulness in her heart. If they married, would they remain friends? She hoped so.

  Despite all her efforts, her father would not budge. Lord Macefield, Jonah’s father, was more lenient and willing to listen. But it was not his decision alone and, as he so often told Jonah, the agreement had come about so long ago, it was doubtful it could be broken easily. Both fathers would have to agree to dissolve the contract.

  “I am sorry that you are not excited about this marriage, Beth,” her father said with a sigh when she remained silent. “You know that I would let the matter rest if only I did not believe it is the best path for you. I still believe that.”

  Elizabeth did not reply. She kept her eyes focused on the field below, where horses were grazing. The land around their manor was always beautiful. She dreaded having to leave her home behind to marry someone. She wished that her eighteenth birthday would not come. Her father had decided to give her one year to travel, feeling that a stay abroad would be beneficial to her. And then, at the age of nineteen, she was expected to marry Jonah.

  Her birthday was close. Only six weeks away. She thought of it in the longest terms possible. If she thought of it as a month, it would feel like it was happening tomorrow.

  She pushed off with her white slipper again. She enjoyed the cooling breeze that ruffled her skirt as she swung back and forth.

  “Elizabeth…” Her father came closer. “Please don’t be sullen.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “Father, I am going to have to think about this. I really am. I do not fully understand my reluctance. I only know the course you plan will not be the best for me.” Her blue eyes were full of tears as she looked up at him.

  Her father patted her hand. “You have an entire year to think about it. I believe this excursion will do you good, and when you return, you will see the matter with fresh eyes. I do not know why we are having this discussion now.”

  Elizabeth bit her lip. “I am not in love with Jonah now, and I am almost entirely sure I shall not be when I return for my nineteenth birthday.”

  The earl shook his head. “Perhaps you will realize how much you miss him while you are gone, and then you will realize that you do love him,” he said, smiling gently. “These things happen.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “No, Father. I cannot imagine it will be that way for us.”

  “You do not know that.”

  She sighed. “I know you are older and wiser, but you cannot know my heart more than I do.”

  The earl looked at his daughter through sympathetic eyes. “You know I love you, my dear. But it must come to pass, and there is simply nothing that can be done about it. Lord Macefield and I made this decision at the time of your birth, and I can see only benefit for you. You shall be prosperous all your life and wed to someone you care for. There are many other things in life besides a grand passion, you know.” He smiled.

  Elizabeth drew in a deep sigh and let it out slowly. “I know, Father,” she said in a small voice. “Or at least, I should know. But there is part of me that cannot choose that life. I yearn for something more. Something deeper. I feel sometimes like a cosseted poodle – cared for and tended, but with no means to be free.”

  Her father closed his eyes. “Dear...” he began, but Elizabeth did not want to hear more. She knew how she felt. She felt trapped.

  She felt such a wave of hopelessness, and her tears began to fall. She knew he hated to see her miserable, and there was nothing she could do now to stop herself from crying.

  “Excuse me, Father,” she said in a quiet voice.

  Covering her face with her hands, she walked back inside, taking the steps quickly and disappearing behind the tall double doors. Inside, Elizabeth practically ran to her bedroom, taking the stairs up to the second floor two at a time, holding her skirts up so she would not trip on them. Her maid, Stella, appeared from a side-door and looked after her with a concerned expression.

  “Mistress?”

  Elizabeth did not stop, but ran on ahead for the sanctuary of her bedchamber. Once she was behind her closed bedroom door, Elizabeth threw herself onto her large bed and buried her face in the pillows. She felt miserable, but she also felt angry – the sense of having no choice in her future was stifling and made her want to lash out. She hated feeling this way. She liked to be happy. She was a kindhearted girl and, on the surface, she had a bright future. But it would not look so bright if she was forced to marry Jonah. She did not want to be bound to him in a role in which she had no desire to be.

  She thought about the books she read – French novels about passion and depth of feeling, about women swept off their feet and men dying for desire. I don't feel anything like that for Jonah. I'm sure he does not feel it for me.

  Part of Elizabeth longed for that kind of love. And she was not the type who would stray after she was married, though she had heard of women who did. She wanted to be with one man, and one man only. It would be an unhappy future, one in which any attempt to find love would make her an adulteress. She desperately did not want that. She prayed silently for a moment before tears came to her eyes. She let them fall and sobbed for a while, making a large wet spot on her pillow.

  She only had a few months left. Then she was expected to go abroad and spend a year dreading when she would return and be married to Jonah.

  The thought of it made her anger return.

  “I’m not going to do it,” she whispered. “They can try all they want but they cannot make me say my vows.” She sat up and turned over, her legs dangling off the side of the bed. She sighed. She knew she was being silly, behaving like a child. But her anger and her sadness were justified. She gripped the sides of the mattress with her fingers, lost in thought.

  She called the image of Jonah to mind, striving to understand how she felt about him. He was a good boy, a year her senior and with a delightful character. He made her laugh. He had bright blue eyes, the blondest hair she had ever seen and a soothing, smooth voice. He could read a story to her anytime he wanted. In fact, he sometimes did, and she enjoyed it.

  She valued his friendship deeply – it had been the bedrock of her life since she was four years old. She and Jonah had played together in the pond at his estate, shared stories, and ridden together. They had always been friends.

  Elizabeth knew that he shared her feelings. He did not want to marry her either. They had discussed it on several occasions.

  She smiled, remembering how gently he had tried to break it to her that he did not want to marry her and had his eyes set on a girl he had seen at one of the dances. Her name was Julia. Elizabeth approved of her. Her family was well-known as being some of the most generous and charitable people in Fairbanks, and she would be a perfect match for Jonah.

  An idea came to her mind. Perhaps, if they were forced to marry, she and Jonah would both be able to have lovers. Elizabeth! That's shocking. She quickly dismissed the idea. Quite apart from the scandal, it would hurt her terribly to know he took lovers after they were married. And she did not wish to cause pain to another woman, who would surely feel betrayed, knowing that Elizabeth was in the position that she should have, as Jonah's wife.

  “This must be stopped,” she murmured aloud. “I will not be a pawn in my father’s chess game. I am at least a knight.” She giggled, amused at herself.

  The thought made her feel a little better. She got up and walked to the large window, dropping down into the window seat, staring out over the land. She could see her father, who had walked down to the horse pasture and was standing there, watching the groomsman, Henry, run several of their horses in exercises. Father is a good man. She wanted to apologize to him, but did not want him to think she had agreed to his plans.

  She watched him talking with the groom, appraising his latest thoroughbreds. Her father loved horses, and his estate was becoming famous for them. “I’m not a horse, Papa,” she murmured. “I cannot bear to see you direct my future as if I had no choice. I do not wish to live w
ith regrets.”

  That was something that truly frightened her. She did not want to be a lonely old woman, wishing she had done things differently as a young woman. She thought of her father's sister, Marianne, now deceased. She had been miserable, an image of regret for a life lived according to custom and not the heart. Elizabeth did not want to live as she had done.

  She moved to the mirror by the table and looked at herself. She was a mess, her face wet with tears and her eyes rimmed with red circles. She had to smile at her reflection.

  There was a knock on the door. Elizabeth could tell by the soft rapping that it was her maid. “Come in, Stella.”

  The woman came in, a look of concern on her face. “Are you all right, milady?”

  Elizabeth turned to her, dropping into the chair in front of the mirrored dressing table. “Oh, Stella. I am so sad! I cannot go through with it. I cannot.”

  She did not have to explain what “it” was. Stella came close and knelt in front of her. She took both of Elizabeth’s hands in her own and squeezed them gently.

  “Milady, if I can have a word?”

  “Of course, Stella.” Elizabeth nodded. Stella had been her personal attendant since she was six years old and Stella was fourteen. The woman had become more of a companion than a maid, and Elizabeth's father had done a great deal to educate her, fitting her to the role. If anyone knew Elizabeth's heart, it was Stella. And she trusted Stella completely, knowing that anything she had to say would be wise.

  “In my life, I have realized one thing,” Stella said hesitantly. “There is always change. You cannot know, now, what your future will be in two years, or a year, or even a month. Things may look completely different when you return from your trip abroad. Many, many things can happen.”