MAIL ORDER BRIDE: ARISTOCRAT: The Duke’s Engagement (Historical Victorian Duke Romance) (New Adult Romance Short Stories) (3 page)

“Thank you.”

Abby couldn’t tell him how much it meant to her to have some advice.  She was being tossed head first into the deep end of a pool and she knew it.

Thomas stood as soon as he saw her.  He rushed to meet his bride-to-be and take her from the arm of another man.

“Thank you, Owen.  I trust you have taken good care of my wife-to-be.” His eyes sparkled, as if there was some joke Abby had not been let in on.

Her heart skipped a beat.  Could they be sharing a privet joke because… Is Owen Thomas’s lover? She took a deep breath.  No, that couldn’t be it.  Owen had tried to flirt with her, he’d even suggested he wanted her.  If he were Thomas’s lover he would never do that to him.  Thomas led Abby towards his mother.

“Just take a deep breath, and let her do most of the talking.”

Abby nodded.  They came to a stop in front of the elderly woman.  Her blonde hair was tied up in a bun, and she wore a simple silk dress, with a ruby necklace.

“You must be the woman my son will be marrying.”

“Yes.” Abby stepped forward and lowered herself into a curtsy.  The woman looked impressed for a fraction of a second.

“Well, you’ll have to do if you’re the one my son wants to marry.” She looked Abby up and down, silently judging.  But just because she didn’t say a word didn’t mean Abby didn’t feel every second of it.  Abby forced a smile over her lips, pretending it didn’t bother her at all.

“Come, sit.”  Thomas’s mother motioned for them to sit down beside her.  They both did as they were told and sat there, waiting for her to speak again.  She watched them closely.

Thomas reached out and took Abby’s hand, their fingers tangling together as he squeezed gently, and the small action made Abby feel much better than she would have thought it would.

“Tom says you’re a commoner.”

Abby worked her not to retort, not to say anything out of line.  She nodded.

“Well, you hold yourself reasonably for a commoner, you’ll have to go through training.  You understand that you will represent this family.  You must look presentable.”

“Of course,” Abby said. “I would never want to disgrace my husband-to-be or his family.”

It must have been a good answer because she smiled when Abby said it.

“I’ll have someone come over tomorrow. A week of preparation should be enough before you can go out in public.  After that you will be assessed and we will go from there.  You do understand that your wedding with me in a church?”

“Of course,”  Abby nodded.  She had not realized it was a religious family, but that didn’t matter.  She’d accept whatever they told her to.  After all, that is what a bought wife did- wasn’t it?  She would do whatever he told her to, no matter what it was.

“And your family, will they be visiting?”

“I am not sure.  My family is large, it would be very hard for them to travel all the way out here.”

Abby didn’t dare say that she didn’t want her family wasting that money.  And what would she tell them when they came here?  She couldn’t tell them the truth.

“But I plan to write often.”  Abby forced a smile over her lips. It was the truth, and she knew it would probably be the only way the communicated.  But Abby would have to learn to live with that, for the sake of her family.  So they would never have to worry about paying for their food again.

“Tom’s sister will be your maid of honor then,” his mother nodded. “And his father and I will pay for things, assuming everything goes according to plan.”

Abby may be new to the life, but she was smart enough to know that “assuming everything goes according to plan” meant “as long as we get what we want how we want.”

She did what she was going to have to do for the rest of her life.  She nodded.

Chapter 2

Dear mama, papa, and everyone.

Abby stared down at those words.  What was she supposed to say?  She took a deep breath trying to stop the tears that pressed against the corner of her eye.

I miss you.

Already.

I’ve been here almost a day, and already I miss you so much.  I hope by the time you get this letter you will have gotten your full payment.  I’ve been given an allowance, as suggested by Thomas’s mother.  I’ve included it here, buy some bread and a nice cut of meat.  Treat yourselves.

Things are moving fast.  I’ll not be married until I’ve gone through training- to be a “proper” lady of course.  How could they expect a lowly commoner to know anything, after all?

Don’t worry, I didn’t say that out loud to anyone!  Though I very much would have liked to.

How is everyone doing?  Are the boys working hard?  I hope I will see you some time but right now I’m not sure what else there is to say.  I will try to come visit sometime.

Lots of love,

Abby.

Abby stared down at the words, they were messy from the way her hand shook the entire time she’d been writing it.  But she tried not to let that bother her.  She tried to pretend it was just how tired she was.  It had been a long day, after meeting Thomas’s mother they had a quick lunch, while she drilled in all the details that Abby could not wait to know.  She was given a list of reading to do before the week was done, and Abby couldn’t help wondering how she was going to find time for all of it.  She stared at the letter as it dried, putting her quill away she folded it carefully and slipped in the four coins she’d been given.  She would see if it could be mailed tomorrow, the money would not be lost to her as Thomas had offered to pay for her new clothing.  His mother had insisted on going to pick it all out herself, not bothering to ask what Abby even liked.

A soft knock on the door brought Abby back to reality.  She spun just in time to see it open.  She’d expected to see Thomas there, but it wasn’t him who stood in front of her.

“Owen,” she said softly.

“Ma’am.” He bowed low to her before making his way into the room.

“Was there something I could help you with?” Abby took a deep breath, trying not to remember the way he had made her feel before.  When she locked eyes on him she could tell that was all he was thinking about.

He made his way towards her, ever so slowly.

“Was there something you wanted?”

“Yes.  You.”

Abby’s heart skipped a beat. She stared at her, her mouth open.  She wanted to turn him down right then and there, but she couldn’t bring herself to.  The fact was, she liked him in a way.  Despite the fact he was so up front- or maybe because he was.

“Are you not Thomas’s lover?”  She hadn’t realized she was asking it until she had already said it.

Owen barked out a laugh. “No!  Goodness no!” His eyes danced. “Tom is my best friend, but we’re not that kind of friends!”

“He’s your best friend?”

“Yes.  But not lovers, he does love someone though.” He looked happy to be saying it, as if his friend loving someone meant that Owen himself could be happier.  Maybe he is a kind person.  Abby thought.

“How long have you been his friend?”  Abby stepped away from him, although he was not Thomas’s lover that did not mean he was not someone else’s.

“All my life.  My mom was a maid for his family, when she passed away they took me in, but mostly growing up Tom and I played together.  We were the only kids in the house, it didn’t matter to us that he was rich and I was poor.” He looked away from Abby, his voice trailing off as he stared into the past. “When my mother passed away they took me in because they felt like they had to.  When Tom felt like it was time to move out on his own… he wanted me to come with him, he promised a fair wage and a good place to sleep.”

“And you decided to go with him?”

“Of course, it meant I got to live with my best friend. What more could I ask for?”

“Did you know?  About… him…”

“Yes. I’ve always known, since Tom has at least. It’s not like it’s an easy thing to realize about yourself.  You spend most of your time denying it.”

“I hope you’re not dishing all my secrets to my future wife.”

Thomas’s voice came from the doorway.  Abby gasped, turning to face him.

“I’m sorry,”  she said quickly.  “It was my fault. I asked him.”

His eyes sparkled. “You were bound to hear the story eventually, I’d just hoped I could keep a mysterious air about me a little longer.” His eyes sparkled as he stepped into the room.

Abby looked from when man to the other, they shared a grin between each other.

“Are you already trying to seduce my wife?”

“Wife-to-be,” Owen corrected. That only made Thomas’s grin widen.

“Well, she is the lady of the house now, however she chooses to use the male servants’ is not my place to question.”

Abby’s eyes widened.  She stared at the man in front of her.  How could he say something like that?  She, a common girl,  having a choice to do as she wishes?  In any and all ways?

She opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn’t.  She was speechless.

Thomas’s eyes turned to her. “We are a progressive house hold,” he said, as if being able to read her mind.  Abby stared at him as he lowered himself into a bow.  “I believe I will retire for the night. I’ll see you both in the morning.”

He closed the distance between them and pulled Abby into a gentle hug, his lips brushing her cheek softly.

“I’ll see you in the morning.” She stammered as he pulled away and left the room, closing the door behind himself.

Owen cleared his throat. “M’lady.”

“Yes?”

“I’d like to request you for lunch tomorrow.  At noon sharp.  Tom said you were a fan of hunting, is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Wonderful.  I’d much enjoy some company out shooting tomorrow, if you’d be interested.”

Abby stared at him.  Was he asking her on a date?  She bit her lip.

“That sounds lovely.”  The idea of having a chance to relax was tempting, even-more-so with everything she was taking in today.

“It’ll be a date.  I’ll bring a snack.”

I guess that answered her question.  It would indeed be a date.

Without another word Owen bowed low and headed out of the room, wishing her a good night of rest.  Like Abby was going to get anything close to a good nights worth of rest.  Her brow furrowed.  What have I gotten myself into?  She wondered.

When she’d decided to become a bride, for a price, she did not think she would have been brought into a home like this.  A home where she’d just agreed to a date with one of the servants’!  And the master of the house seemed not to care in the slightest if she were to date any of his servants’.  Of course, he’s got bigger things to worry about then who I date.  Like everyone figuring out who he was dating.

Chapter 3

Abby allowed the maids to help her dress, opting out of a hoop skirt today and instead picking a green silk dress, with black lace accenting.  As she stared at herself in the mirror she realized just how much she loved it.  Maybe she would be cut out for this life.

During their first meal of the day Thomas, after insisting she call him Tom, told her that she’d have her lessons from 3:00 until 8:00 that night.  And then she would have time to study, until then she was free to do whatever she wanted.  His eyes sparkled as if he knew she’d been invited out.  He probably does.  If they were best friends there was no doubt that Owen would have told him.  Abby finished her meal of taste, fruit and even a small amount of stake.  She excused herself from the table and rushed to her room, not sure what she was supposed to do with her time until she met Owen.

What was I thinking?! She asked herself.  How could she have agreed to go out with him?  She knew it was wrong.

Abby dropped onto the bed with a loud sigh.  What am I thinking?!  She asked herself.  She stared up at the ceiling.  A deep breath passed through her lips.

God, please give me the strength to make it through this.  Please, please help me overcome whatever challenges I may face here, please help me with these lessons.  I need to be a good wife, not just for Thomas, but also for my family.  Please give me the strength to know what to do.

Abby’s mind drifted to the man she had just spoken to.  The man she had just agreed to a date with.

Please, guide me.

Would it still be against Gods will if she lay with a man other than her husband- even if her husband was laying with someone else?  She knew many said what he was doing was a sin, but Abby couldn’t bring herself to believe that.  Back home, she’d known a girl who had fallen in love with her best friend- her female friend.  She saw love, not sin.  But Abby didn’t know God’s plans, or how he thought.  Maybe it was a sin, and maybe for that she would be punished as well.  As she closed her eyes she took a deep breath.  All she knew was that she had been given a chance at a new life, and she was going to take it.

Chapter 4

Owen met Abby outside just before noon.

His heart skipped a beat the second he saw her.  It was true that she would be marrying his best friend, but he knew there was more here than that.  She was here for more than just that reason.

Not even the other servants’ knew the other reason.

“Afternoon,” he cleared his throat, bowing lowly to her.

“Oh enough of that.  I don’t need to be bowed to.” She rolled her eyes as he glanced up at her, a wide grin spreading over his face.

“If you say so, ma’am.” He straightened, the basic in one hand, he extended the other to her.  She took it, thankfully.  Otherwise he might have feared she had no interest in him at all.

It wasn’t just that Tom had needed a wife, it was that Owen had needed someone as well.  When Tom brought home the catalogue and insisted that Owen help him find a woman, he hadn’t realized that they were looking for Owen, until later that night.  However he should have seen it coming.  Tom had always wanted to make sure that Owen was okay, he was pretty sure that’s part of the reason that Tom did bring him along when he moves out.  The feeling went both ways, and it’s not like Owen had never set him up with a male friend before; but this… this was a lifetime that Tom might regret if things went sour.  Would Owen be able to forgive himself if he blew this and Tom was left to pay the price?

Abby walked silently.  Owen looked lost in thought, and scared.  Well he’s the one who asked me to come out with him!  She couldn’t believe that she’d said yes.  As they passed a gardener she couldn’t help wondering if the gardener would tell everyone that they’d been seen together, or if the gardener knew about the master of the house.

“Are there a lot of servants’ here?” Abby asked.

“No, Tom likes to keep it small.  I think it’s to help protect himself to be honest.”

Abby nodded. It would make sense.  For someone to figure that out about him… they’d have a lot of power.  They could easily blackmail him.

“If I were him I would.” Abby nodded. “I’m sure there are many selfish people out there who would take advantage of someone in his situation.”

They all knew that if anyone were to find out about Thomas’s situation it would be bad all around.  He could lose everything.

“We don’t take new people into this house very easily.” 

Owen guided her over a hill and towards a forest. At the edge of the forest they stopped.  Abby marveled, looking around her. This was like something she had never seen before.  She’d seen the pictures, but it had been a very long time since she’d last seen so much green grass and such a large forest.

“Will we get lost if we go in there?” She asked.

“No, there are many trails that lead out of the forest, perhaps we will go in later.  I know my way around it like the back of my hand.  There’s a gully in there that is remarkable.”

“I’d very much like to see it.”

“You’ll be here for many years to come, you’ll have a chance to see everything.” He reached out, his fingers brushing over the skin on her cheek.

Abby closed her eyes, savouring the moment.  She opened her mouth.  She knew she should protest, but she didn’t.  She stepped towards Owen.

“M’lady.” He whispered.

“Yes?”

“I’d very much like to kiss you.”

Abby’s heart skipped a beat.  This was not the man who had bought her, she had a choice to allow his lips to touch hers.  But here she found herself staring at him.  Before she could utter a single word her head moved.  A single nod.

Owen stepped closer to her.  Reaching out he brushed a strand of hair out of her face that had come free from the bun on her head.  His fingers traced over her arm gently. 

When he finally came to a stop Owen could get no closer to her if he had wished.  He pulled her into his arms, his fingers resting against the small of her back- but still high enough to be respectable.

Abby’s heart raced in her chest.  She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.  It’s not like she had never been in a mans embrace before. Not like this!

It was true, she’d never been kissed. 

Owen’s eyes locked don her, trailing over her body then back to her face- their eyes locking on each other.  Abby felt him pull her closer, something she did not think he’d have been able to do.  Their lips touched softly, his chapped lips against her soft ones.  Without realizing what was happening a soft moan escaped Abby.  She gasped, pulling away.  She stared at the man in front of her with wide eyes.  She hadn’t meant to have that forward of a reaction.

Owen’s eyes sparkled as he stepped towards her, holding his hand out to her.  “I’d say you enjoyed it.”

“I… I did.” Abby confessed, her cheeks burning. “I…”

“May I kiss you again?”

Abby’s heart raced, as warmth flushed her body.  She nodded, stepping towards the man in front of her.  She closed the distance, pulling him into her arms.  Her fingers tangled into his hair, their lips meeting.

Abby was no expert in kissing, but after half the hour with Owen she felt as if she might be. They lay on the grass, his fingers tangled into her hair and his lips trailing over her jawline, down to her neck.

He pulled away, his eyes sparkling.

“What?” Abby asked, breathlessly.”

“I just wanted to see your beautiful face.” He glanced down and pulled a watch out of his pocket. “We’d best get back to the house.”

“Already?”

“You’ll have lessons soon.”

Abby’s heart skipped a beat as a mixture of dread and sadness filled her.  She didn’t want to leave this hilltop.  She didn’t want to go back to the house.  She wanted to stay here forever, and make time wait for them.  She wanted to sat with Owen forever and savor every moment of it, every inch of him- eventually.  Abby reached out and touched the man in front of her, her fingers tailing over his muscular chest.

“Must we go already?”

“Yes.” 

He looked sad.  As he pushed himself up off the bed it looked as if the caused him as much pain as it caused Abby.  He held his hand out to her, and she took it.  They had not gotten around to their meal, but Owen picked up the basket and pull out a roll for Abby.

“I’d best feed you before you have your lessons, though we’ll have to walk and eat.”

“That’s quite alright.” It was not something Abby was not used to.  They ate as they made their way back to the house, as slowly as they could.

“I’d like to see you later.” He said.

“I’d like that very much.”

They came to a stop outside the door that Owen said her lessons were to be in. But as they stood there staring at each other neither of them actually moved.

“I…”

“Perhaps we can go hunting some time, actually go hunting.” They’d spent their entire time too wrapped up in one another to actually go out and practice their shooting, which had been well worth it if you asked Abby.  She reached out and touched his hand ever so gently.

“I’d love that, m’lday.”

A smile touched her lips. “But perhaps, tonight we’ll stay in.”

“I can stop by your room, if you’d accept that.”

“Yes.  I’ll see you later.”

Owen’s eyes sparkled as he ducked his head to her and turned, walking away.  Abby took a deep breath, now it was time for her lessons, and that was scarier than anything she’d ever had to do in her life.

She turned to the door and let herself in, looking around.

“You must be the lords new wife.” A man said.

He was short, with grey hair and a long beard.

“His wife-to-be, yes.” Abby held herself stright as she crossed to the man. “My name is Abby.”

“It’s a pleasure.” The man shook her hand giving her a once over.

Abby could feel him assessing her, she could feel him judging. He circled around her, his hands clasping behind his back.

“The mistress said you would need to be tested, and we would go from there. You have good posture for a commoner, I’ll give you thank.”

“Thank you.” It took everything Abby had not to turn with him as he walked around her, taking everything in.

The door opened and both of them spun to see who it was.  Thomas smiled from the doorway.

“I hope you don’t mind, I thought I’d stop in and see how it goes.”

“You are welcome to take a seat, as long as you do not distract the girl.” The old man said.

“Don’t worry Marvis, I’ll not get in your way.”

He crossed over to the other side of the room, found a chair and sat down in it, his eyes locked on Abby and taking everything in.

Abby hated it.  She hated being judged, but Tom it might have been okay, but by this man she hardly knew… it took everything she had not to stick her tongue out at him.  She took a deep breath.

“Alright, we’ll start with the basics.  I’ve brought your reading list, I’m sure the master of the house has most of them, if not I’ll bring them for our next session.”

He held the paper out to Abby, then glanced over at Tom and pulled the paper away, instead crossing over to the man of the house and giving it to him.  Tom looked it over quickly.

“We have them all.” He said, tucking the paper into his pocket. “I’ll be sure that she is given them.”

“Good.  Your mother insisted that she be well read.”

“My mother, while trying her best, is over demanding.  The girl needs practice and guidance, but she does not need to be tortured.”

He flashed a quick look over to Abby, the smile across his lips growing.  Abby returned it, mouthing a silent “thank you”

“Alright sir,” The man cleared his throat. “but if your mother has an issue with what the girl has, or has not, learnt I’ll tell her to take it up with you.”

“I’ve many years of practice with my mother,” Tom’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll deal with her need be.”

And with that the old man made his way back over to Abby.

The lessons lasted longer than she would have liked, and by the time they were done she was dead tied.  She wanted nothing more than to fall over right there and take a nap. She was given her reading list, and told to practice her cursive within the next 4 days, and that the old man would be back on the 4th day to give another lesson.

“Thank you,” Abby said, not meaning a single work. “I am thankful for the work you’re doing. I cannot tell you how much it means.”

The old man, for the first time that night, gave her a smile.  He bowed his head and headed out of the room.

“You did well.” Tom said, closing the distance between them.  He held his arm out to Abby and she took it.

“Thank you.  I must admit, I’m still trying to process everything, but I hope I did alright.” She confessed.  “I’d very much like to do well.”

“I think you’re on the right track, then again I may not be the best to ask.” His eyes sparkled.  As if there was something there that Abby didn’t understand.

“What do you mean?” She asked as she realized just how little she knew about her husband-to-be.

“I mean that I am not what most people would have liked me to be.”  He paused.  “I… not just my relationships, but who I am as a person is not what most people wanted from me.”

Abby walked down the hallway, she caught Tom’s eye, waiting.

He signed deeply.

“I was never my mother’s favorite, I know that.  And when it took me a while to find a wife, I knew that even more.  I’ve always known that to her… it doesn’t matter what I do.  Growing up, I was the only child in the house, but not the only child in the family. My cousin, Ruby, was the favorite.  She was smart- but not too smart for her own good, like I was.  She was quiet, and well spoken, she was good looking.  She had a strong grasp on manipulation even at a young age.  She was the one who would take this family places, at least that’s what I was always told.”

“That’s dreadful.” Abby moved closer to the man who walked with her, in some attempt to give him comfort.  She had been one of 6 siblings, but her parents had never played favorites.  They’d never acted like any of their children weren’t good enough. 
Because we all were.
She thought.

“It was life.  Owen and I became close, er… of course not close.  But we were, and still are, good friends.  He’s been my best friend for a very long time.”

It almost sounded as if Tom was trying to put in a good word for his friend.  Abby grinned softly.

“Yes, he mentioned that.”

“Yes… I forgot, he took you out to show you the grounds today, didn’t he?”

Abby’s cheeks flushed as she nodded, looking away- suddenly finding the art along the walls well worth looking at.

“And?”

“And what?”

“Did you enjoy yourself?” He asked as they came to a stop in front of Abby’s door.  He reached out and opened it, his eyes on her. “Are you seeing him again?”

“Who is Abby seeing?”

His voice made Abby’s heart skip a beat.  They both turned to see Owen sitting on the windowsill in Abby’s bedroom.