The Forgiven Duke (A Forgotten Castles Novel) by Jamie Carie Page B

a snowy handkerchief. She dabbed at her plump cheeks whose dimples when she smiled were such an endearing quality. They wouldn’t be seeing those for a very long time.
    Blasted senseless tragedy. He wanted to fall on his face and beg God’s help, but that would have to wait for later. If he flung himself on the floor and cried out like he wanted to do, his mother would think he’d gone mad. Instead, he rang for his butler with whispered directions to call in the doctor. Dr. Bentley would know the best thing for Jane right now.
    Gabriel sat across from the women, leaning toward them with elbows braced on his knees. “I can’t begin to express my sadness for you, Jane. For all of us. Matthew was the best of men. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
    Jane spoke and Meade hurried to the desk to write down what she said. They’ve brought his body to the house. I don’t know what to do with it. What do I do next?
    His mother answered before Gabriel could, and he supposed she was giving Jane directions as to the funeral arrangements; it was what she would do in this case. But Jane needn’t worry about all that. “Meade and I will take care of everything, Jane. You must stay here where we can care for you. I’ll have some footmen go to your house and pack up your things. Does that sound all right?”
    She sniffed and nodded, looking at Meade with tear-filled eyes of gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. Meade. You have been so kind . . .”
    “I’ve called for Dr. Bentley to come and call on her,” Gabriel said to Meade. Their family doctor was almost exclusively theirs. He had known Matthew well and would be as devastated as the rest of them. “Alert the rest of the family to come. We must surround Jane with our support.”
    It was only two weeks until Christmas with all the family celebrations and events. Now he wasn’t sure they would have a Christmas this year. Perhaps something small, for the children.
    If only Jane had some children. The thought came from seemingly nowhere, making a terrible event deepen in despair. He banished the thought.
    Jane leaned back against the sofa cushion and closed her eyes. Silent tears continued to trickle down her cheeks, but her breathing had evened out and she looked a little more in control of her emotions. His mother rose, her face looking to have aged a decade in the last few minutes.
    “I will call on you all tomorrow. I feel the need to lie down now.”
    “Are you all right, Mother?” The strain on her was unmistakable.
    She nodded and waved him away, but Gabriel didn’t feel much better. She was more fragile than usual. He must treat her better, he realized, spend more time with her. Life was a fragile thing indeed.
    “A LETTER, YOUR GRACE.”
    Meade walked into his study a week later, waving a piece of paper, the first note of happiness since Matthew’s death lighting his eyes.
    Gabriel’s heart leapt. Could it possibly be? A letter from Alexandria?
    Meade passed it over the desk and settled himself across from Gabriel, looking as if he fully anticipated reading it himself. Gabriel was too excited to dissuade him. He lifted the cream-colored paper, smudged on the outside, and looked at the address. The moment he saw the elegant scrawl of that familiar handwriting he knew. It was from her. The Icelandic postmark made it certain.
    He carefully pried up the wax seal with the Featherstone coat of arms and turned away from Meade. “A moment, Meade, and then I promise I will tell you everything.”
    Meade blushed scarlet and hurried from the room. Gabriel sighed. He hadn’t meant to chase him away entirely.
    My dearest guardian duke,
    I have smuggled out this letter in secret as my now-fiancé, John Lemon, would be devastated to know I am writing to you. When I saw you had come for me on the docks of Dublin’s shore and I was finally able to see your face, I was overcome with feelings I have never felt before. I do not know what you planned to do should you have me within your