GypsyDukeEpub (40 page)

"No, your grace. No letters at all. But it's early yet. It might still come."

He attempted to keep her spirits up. They all did, but with winter well on its way, and John a continued absentee husband, Kitty felt sorely tried.

She was now in the sixth month of her pregnancy, and she longed for the birth almost as much as she longed for John.

She settled into her favorite chair, the most comfortable for a woman with a large lap, and picked up her sewing. She was working on a little night-shirt for the baby, not because she needed to, John's mother said the village seamstress would make everything she required, but because it gave her something to do.

She heard the front door open and close and froze as she waited to hear who had come to call.

Footsteps sounded down the hall, and the door opened wider.

"Your grace, the post has arrived. There is a letter I believe you've been waiting for."

Such a forward comment from the butler was evidence of how much the
servants worried over her.

A letter! A thrill traveled to her stomach, and the baby kicked. She reached out a hand to steady her little one.

A silver salver hung before her face. Kitty strained her neck to see Whitcomb, the butler. His face remained as serene as ever.

She grabbed the letter. It was John's handwriting. She couldn't stop her hands from shaking as she slit it open, handing the letter opener back to Whitcomb.

She looked up at him. "It is from the duke. Send a message to the dowager."

Kitty began to read.

My darling Kitty,

I would have sent this letter to our tree, but I feared you would not look for it.

Kitty laughed. How like him.

I have been a poor correspondent of late, have I not? But is that what you wish to hear? I pray not.

In fact, I pray every day for you, that you would forgive me for the things I said at our last meeting, that you would continue to care for me as I care for you.

You once told me that having me would be enough, but I promised you a love letter long ago, and here it is. I love you. I love your laugh, your smile, your bright blue eyes, rather like my own, don't you think?

Kitty laughed as the tears streamed down her face. He loved her!

I love the way you've trusted God all our lives. I'm beginning to trust him, to learn more of him. And if you'll let me, someday I'll tell our children about the things God has done for us.

Kitty was sobbing now. She could barely read the words on the page.

I hope this will suffice, because that's all this simple nobleman, landowner, gypsy, man of faith can think to say, besides this...The duke is coming home. Will the duchess be waiting with open arms? He hopes so with all his heart.

And in case my simple words were not romantic enough, I found some poetry that might impress you. It's rather inflammable, though. Funny book, the Bible. I'm surprised the Song of Solomon hasn't been banned as pornography.

Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair. Thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goat, that appear from mount Gilead.

Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.

Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! How much better is thy love than wine! And the smell of thine ointments than all spices!

Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.

A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

Thou art truly fair, my Kitty, and this poor man does ache in wanting thee.

Ever your humble servant,

John Seymour, Duke of Somerset

With the letter clasped to her breast, and her body shaking with sobs, Kitty must have presented a disheartening sight.

The dowager screamed as she came through the door, running to take Kitty in her arms.

"It will be all right, dearest. It will be all right. I will help you care for the little one."

Kitty shook her head, trying to make her understand.

"No, he loves me. He's coming home."

Teresa leaned back. "John? He's coming home?"

She pulled Kitty against her, and they both wept for joy.

By the time they finally reached London, John was impatient to be away for Somerset Park. He sent his letter ahead, hoping to give Kitty time to decide what she would do.

The infernal demands of the Home Office were never-ending. Putting two lords of the realm in prison for treason was a lengthy process, and the powers that be were taking no chances that the evidence wasn't proper.

John showed up day after day, only to be told that his presence was necessary for that much longer.

After a week, he took his frustration out on Robert and Newport. "I will not tolerate this any longer. I do not care if my uncle and Sir James hang. My family is waiting; my wife is waiting. I have given enough of my life to this endeavor. Mr. Newport, you know where I live. Westley, my best to you. I am going home."

Robert clapped him on the back. "It is about time you came to your senses. If Kitty were waiting at home for me, I certainly wouldn't be in London."

John grinned, saluted them both, and ran to rent a traveling coach. He wanted the fastest conveyance he could find.

Two days and many kilometers later, John stood outside Somerset Park. The sheer, massive elegance of the estate awed him like never before. He was home. This was his heritage from his ancestors as well as his heavenly Father.

He knocked on the door.

It was opened by a beaming Whitcomb. John couldn't remember the last time he'd seen the old man smile. Mayhap, he'd never seen it. But he smiled now.

John was so overcome that he embraced the man. When he released him, Whitcomb wiped tears from his eyes.

"Your grace, it is a joy to see you."

"Thank you, Whitcomb. Is the duchess at home? And, my mother?"

"Yes, your grace. The duchess is in the drawing room. Your mother is at the dowager house. Should I send word of your arrival?"

John nodded. "Yes, but tell her there's no hurry. I want to speak to the duchess first."

"Certainly."

John looked around the hallway as he walked past Whitcomb.

"There have been changes, I see."

John could have sworn he heard the old man chuckle, but when he looked back, his face was as staid as ever.

"Yes, your grace, many changes. Some, I think you will enjoy more than others." And with that cryptic remark, he slipped away.

The changes could wait. All he cared about was Kitty. He bounded through the house like his father had never allowed when he was growing up. It was his house now, he could run through the halls like an inmate from Bedlam if he so desired.

When he reached the drawing room door, he found it closed. To keep in the heat of the fire, no doubt. He paused a moment outside, for the first time uncertain of her reaction. Then he realized. She was here. That said it all. She would not be waiting in his home if she didn't want to be his duchess.

He threw back the door.

He saw her immediately, next to the fire, her golden head bent over a sewing project. How industrious. He would soon put an end to that. His duchess would not sew her own clothes. She would not do needlework at all. They would have someone do it for her.

He almost laughed. What a ridiculous thought. Ladies did needlework for amusement.

She didn't immediately respond to the sound of the door, and he watched her. Her face was slightly fuller, her shoulders more rounded. She looked like a woman. He liked it.

Kitty looked up and dropped her needle in her astonishment. "John!"

The joy on her face was everything he needed to see. He ran across the room and pulled her from the chair, getting the biggest shock yet.

"Kitty, darling, you…are increasing!"

She put a hand to her mouth as she laughed. "Yes…are you pleased?"

Was he pleased? He was bloody ecstatic! He pulled her tightly into his arms, careful not to crush the precious burden she carried.

"I am overjoyed, dearest."

He kissed her and felt as if they'd never been separated. Neither wanted to end the embrace, but a sharp kick from Kitty's abdomen parted them. They laughed as John's hand went to her belly.

"Hello, son. You will have to learn to share your mother with me. I've been waiting all my life for her."

Kitty smiled as he dropped to his knees to place his cheek against his growing child. Tears formed in her eyes. He was home, and it was everything she'd hoped. Unless he had his heart fixed on a boy. That she could not promise him.

"What if it is a girl, John?"

He looked up, his cheek pressed tightly to her belly. "She will be as beautiful as her mother."

The dowager rushed in, and John rose to crush his mother in a fierce hug. She laughed, the bright sheen of tears in her eyes a welcome sight.

"I have missed that. How are you? Tell us everything. Did you find Ardaix' brother?"

As she asked her multitude of questions, she held tightly to his hand as if afraid he would disappear.

Kitty knew exactly how she felt. She wanted to lock him away somewhere and hold onto him.

He looked up then and pulled his mother closer to Kitty so he could touch them both. Her heart swelled. He was happy to see them.

"I am well. Did Ardaix recover from his gunshot wound? I could find no word of the gypsies in London."

Kitty answered. "He is very well. They are coming for the birth...all of them."

She could see the surprise on his face.

"Really?"

"He said he could not miss the birth of his first grandchild."

John looked at his mother. "You have some explaining to do, Mother."

"Tell us your news first."

Kitty was glad. They needed to get everything out in the open. But John looked more at peace than she'd ever seen him. Not at all alarmed by any secrets his mother might reveal.

"I think Robert is finally in love…with my cousin, no less. Nicholai had a daughter in Paris. They schemed to get him out. I arrived only moments before the big event and watched in amazement as our steady, plodding Robert busted Nicholai out of prison with nary a plan in his head."

Kitty laughed. "Oh surely not. You jest."

"Only a little. They had the barest idea of what might work, and…it did. A miracle, really."

Kitty smiled at the duchess. A miracle, indeed.

That's what the Lord had given them all along.

The Lord is good.

~The End~

If you enjoyed
Gypsy Duke,
I would be honored if you would tell others by writing a review. Word of mouth is crucial for an author to succeed. Just a sentence or two makes all the difference.

Thank You!

~Felicia Mires

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Look for other titles by Felicia Mires:

Fantasy: The Lands of Elohan series

Fairies and Fantasy

Elves and Dragons

Once Upon a Fairy Tale

A Dream Come True

Adventure:
Natasha's spy series

Diamonds Are For Eden

The Syrian

The Blood Plague

To Save a Jew Pt. 1

To Save a Jew Pt. 2

The Traitor Within

Without a Traitor

Romance:

A Garden for Sarah

Bachelorettes On Parade

Madeleine and the Mind

Seven Blind Dates

Would You, Could You

Wind series

Wind on the Sand

Whirlwind of Betrayal

Winds of Change

Mystery:

Unseen

Era/Historical:

Gypsy Duke
(regency)

All Things New
(WWII)

Recommended reading:

Redeeming Love
by Francine Rivers is my all-time favorite

Dee Henderson, the O' Malley series & the Uncommon Heroes series

Dead Reckoning
by Ronie Kendig

Descended ~ Jett
by Dana Pratola

About the Author

Felicia Mires is the author of over twenty Christian novels: historical, fantasy, and contemporary (all with a bit of romance). She loves all things literary, and when not writing, spends time editing for other authors and judging writing contests…so she can read more books. Felicia and her husband Gene reside in Orange, Texas. They have three children, and three dogs who think they're children. Felicia is thankful for her family and the gift of writing for the heavenly Father. Relationship is what matters.