Regency Romance: Duke’s Forbidden Love (The Fairbanks Series - Love & Hearts) (Historical Romance Fiction) Read online

  Duke’s Forbidden Love

  The Fairbank Series

  Jessie Bennett

  CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  Contents

  Copyright

  Monthly Giveaway Contest

  A Personal Note From Jessie Bennett

  Dedication

  About The Author

  Duke’s Forbidden Love

  PROLOGUE

  .

  CHAPTER ONE

  .

  CHAPTER TWO

  .

  CHAPTER THREE

  .

  CHAPTER FOUR

  .

  CHAPTER FIVE

  .

  CHAPTER SIX

  .

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  .

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  .

  CHAPTER NINE

  .

  CHAPTER TEN

  .

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  .

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  .

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  .

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  .

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  .

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  .

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  .

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  .

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  .

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  .

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  .

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  .

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  .

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  .

  EPILOGUE

  .

  Preview of Loving A Reluctant Viscount

  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.

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  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.

  She lives in Norfolk county, England most of the the time. When she's not writing, you will find her walking down the countryside with her husband and her beloved dog.

  DUKE’S FORBIDDEN LOVE

  by

  JESSIE BENNETT

  and

  Carlton House Publishing Co.

  PROLOGUE

  Early 1800’s – Fairbanks, England

  Anna walked through the room, gazing at all the guests, nodding as she went. She couldn’t help feeling like something might change tonight. She wasn’t sure what to expect.

  Anna was used to strange feelings. She got them all the time. Sometimes, her dreams would come true. As she’d dressed for the ball tonight, she got an overwhelming feeling that something was about to change.

  She made sure her teenage son, Drake, was ready to go before calling the driver.

  “Are you going with us tonight, Father?” She asked her father, meeting him at the bottom of the stairs in the front foyer.

  Frank just smiled at her. “No, dear. I am tired tonight.”

  Anna frowned. “You’ve been tired too much lately, Father. You must try to get more sleep.”

  Frank reached out and swept two large fingers over his daughter’s cheek. “Don’t you worry about me, young lady. I’ve got a lot of living left to do.”

  Anna caught his hand up in her own and smiled at him. “You make sure of that. I don’t want to lose you for many years to come. You take care of yourself.”

  Her father laughed. “Why do you think I am taking it easy tonight, my girl?” You go and have fun. I know Drake is anxious to see his young lady friend. And you…you will be seeing Duke Benjamin tonight, will you not?”

  “I will, yes.” Anna nodded. She wasn’t sure how to feel about being pushed toward Duke Benjamin Doughtery. She liked him, but he was a bit eccentric. She knew the only reason her father was pressuring her to see the Duke, was because he was a bachelor. He was also the same age as Anna. He went to their church, as well, which meant a great deal to Frank Duprey.

  Anna enjoyed the social scene. The friends she had ma
de in her local circle always had a smile for her. Whenever she needed someone to talk to, she had someone. She lived her life in a pure and peaceful manner and enjoyed it that way.

  The year before, she had lost her husband in a construction accident, leaving her alone with their son, Drake, who was nearly a grown man.

  Anna and Drake were two peas in a pod. They got along well and had no trouble conversing, understanding each other’s quick wit, nuances, and verbal quirks. He was her soldier. She didn’t know what she would do without him by her side, helping her heal from the pain of becoming a widow so young.

  She considered herself young. She looked younger than her age and was often mistaken for a woman ten years younger.

  “Well, have a good time with Duke Benjamin and Drake tonight, my dear.”

  Her father’s words brought her out of her thoughts. She nodded at him.

  “Thank you, Father. I will.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  YOUNG DUKE WATSON IS IN LOVE

  YOUNG DUKE WATSON IS IN LOVE

  The delicious scent of fresh baking bread wafted through the air. Duke Bryan Michael Watson lifted his head, sticking his nose up further so he could breathe it in deep. “Ahhh.” He let out a long sigh and swung his legs over the side of the bed, stretching his arms up above his head. It was going to be a good day. He could feel it.

  It wasn’t that the day was filled with exciting, action-packed adventure. In fact, it was supposed to be another boring day of business meetings and constant mundane responsibilities. But he didn’t care. He was glad to be alive. He hadn’t felt like this in a long time. In his few years on earth, the daily routine of living had started to wear on him. He longed for adventure and excitement.

  He thought about the day before, certain that it had been the events of the evening that had left him in such a good mood. A feeling that had apparently lasted all night. He didn’t remember his dreams, but he would bet they were good ones.

  He smiled. It was all because of Anna. He could see her pretty face in his mind. Dark red hair piled up on her head, flashing green eyes, a quick, bright smile. She reminded him of a popping fire, always on the move, always thinking, always doing.

  Anna was the daughter of a prominent banker, Frank Duprey, who had worked for the Watson’s furniture manufacturing company for as long as Bryan could remember. He met Anna at the ball the night before and couldn’t have been more impressed. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since. She came in with a song and a dance, it seemed, whisking through the crowd, smiling at everyone. Her conversation was intelligent and always uplifting. She caught his attention immediately.

  There was a problem with his immediate infatuation with Anna, however.

  He snorted. There was more than just one problem. He listed them off in his mind, as if ticking them on his fingers. One, she was so vibrant, she caught everyone’s eye, not just his. He was positive there were many more suitable bachelors just waiting to take her hand in marriage. Second, there was a vast age difference that might not sit well with others of the ton.

  Anna was significantly older than the young Duke. He could foresee a lot of anguish in his future, should he choose to pursue this line of action.

  He found himself unable to stop thinking about her. He sat at the breakfast table, lost in thought, not hearing his step-mother and brothers around him, discussing what the day would bring. He remembered everything that had happened the night before and reviewed it in his mind.

  He’d been sitting at a table with several of his friends when he’d first caught sight of her. The moment she entered the room, he could tell everyone was paying attention to her. She moved through the people as if they made up a body of water and she was a boat making her way through them all. Her smile was large and genuine. She laughed more than any woman he’d ever seen.

  He leaned over to Matthew and tapped his cousin on the arm. “Who’s that?” He flicked one finger in Anna’s direction.

  Matthew Tudor was an odd character and Bryan liked him tremendously. He was always good for a quick laugh, especially when the room was filled with people their own age. He could pick up on the slightest characteristic of any individual in the room and run with it, making his friends laugh until tears flowed from their eyes. Bryan thought the best thing about Matthew, was that his friend was truthful and honest. Even if the words he spoke were blunt and to the point. They were never false.

  Matthew stuck his head out and peered into the crowd to see who Bryan was mentioning. “You mean her?” He pointed.

  Bryan rolled his blue eyes. “Yes, you don’t have to point, cousin. Who is she?”

  “That’s Drake’s mom. Anna Vanessa Maddy. She’s the daughter of that banker, what’s his name? Oh, I can’t remember.”

  Bryan looked at him. Matthew was shaking his head, his eyes on the floor as he tried to remember Anna’s father’s name. “I think his name is Frank. Frank Duprey.”

  Bryan lifted his eyebrows. “Oh? I didn’t know Frank had a daughter.”

  “You know him?”

  “He’s one of the bankers that works with Watson Furniture.”

  Matthew nodded. “Oh, I see.”

  “His daughter is a beautiful woman.”

  Matthew lifted his eyebrows, looking back into the crowd to Anna. “Yes, she is. I have always thought so.”

  “Is she married?”

  Matthew narrowed his eyes at Bryan. “She’s a widow. What are you thinking, Bryan? I see that look on your face. She’s not going to be interested in a young buck such as yourself. She’s a woman.”

  Bryan crossed his arms in front of his chest and raised his eyebrows. “Are you saying I don’t merit having a woman by my side? What, am I only destined for girls?”

  Matthew shook his head. “No, that’s not what I’m saying and you know it. I just think you might want to reconsider what you’re thinking of before you take action.”

  “And how do you know what I’m considering?”

  “I see that look, I told you. I know you. I’ve known you since you were a baby.”

  “You’re not that much older than me, Cousin.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “You would consider dancing with her, admit it.”

  Matthew pressed his lips together and shook his head. Bryan laughed.

  “You can’t even deny it out loud, my friend. You know you would dance with her. She is a stunningly beautiful woman.”

  Matthew sighed. “All right, she is a beautiful woman. Fine, I concede that point. But still, she is on a level you and I are not at. She is untouchable.”

  “She is not untouchable. I can guarantee that.”

  “I think I know what you are going to do.”

  Bryan just smiled at his friend. He was going to take this as a challenge and see what would become of it. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt the woman. He just wanted to see if he could get her attention.

  He stood up.

  “My lord, you must be careful. This kind of behavior will be frowned upon. You know this.”

  Bryan frowned slightly, halting in his tracks. He looked down at Matthew. “Be careful?”

  Matthew nodded and leaned forward to speak in a low, conspiratorial voice. “If you hurt her, there are people who will take you to task. She is beloved in this city. And in places beyond where she has traveled. She has many friends. You don’t want to step out of turn.”

  Hearing those words intrigued Bryan. What was it about that woman that made so many people want to protect her and keep her safe? He had to know. It couldn’t just be her beauty. What could it be? Was she really that charming?

  He nodded at Matthew. “I’ll heed your warning, cousin. Thank you.”

  He’d approached Anna with a drink in hand. He handed it to her with a bow and a smile. “I would like to introduce myself, my lady. Duke Bryan Michael Watson at your service. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  Anna gave him a huge smile and he felt his heart leaving his ches
t. He knew that from that moment on, that smile was all he wanted to see.

  “Lady Anna Maddy. It is nice to meet you. How do you do?”

  He thought he saw something in her eyes. They seemed to sparkle at him when she looked at him. She held out her hand and he took it, lowering himself at the waist to kiss it. His instinct was to make a trail of kisses up her arm and then pull her to him, but he knew that was completely the wrong thing to do. He restrained himself to the best of his ability.

  He stood up straight and gazed directly in her green eyes. The smile didn’t leave her face. She let her eyes linger on him for a lengthy moment before moving them to someone standing nearby. Then she looked back at him.

  “Have you been in the city long?” She asked.

  “I have, yes. I’ve lived here for most of my life. You?”

  “I have traveled extensively in my time. And I never tire of it. I’m ready to go back out and see the sights of the world. But I cannot. I must wait for a while.”

  Bryan lifted his eyebrows. “Why must you wait, my lady?”

  “As you may or may not know, I have a son, Drake. He is still in his schooling and this is the home that he knows. Until he is finished with the academy and becomes involved in the family business, I am unable to travel extensively.”

  “Will he be joining your father in banking?”

  Anna raised her eyebrows. “You know my father?”

  “I do, yes, if your father is Frank Duprey. He handles banking issues for my family’s company, Watson Furniture.”

  Anna nodded. “Oh, I see. Yes, Drake plans to join my father in banking. He was not interested in the construction business, before the accident that took my husband last year. He is even less interested now.”