lips.
“John, be honest, am I forcing you to marry my granddaughter?” There was a twinkle in her grandfather’s eye she had never seen before. He was enjoying himself, but for the life of her she couldn’t understand why.
Elizabeth looked up and into John’s eyes. No matter what he said, she would know the truth. She knew John well enough by now to know his eyes darkened just slightly when he lied.
“In truth, it would be my pleasure and honor to make her my bride. I only wish we had a special license so we didn’t have to wait.”
He meant it. John meant every word he’d just uttered.
“I have a stack of them, I’m just not going to let you have one,” Grandfather announced.
John’s eyes narrowed in question toward Grandfather. “Why?”
“Punishment for anticipating your vows with my granddaughter.” Grandfather actually laughed.
“But…”
“Oh Elizabeth, do be quiet,” Danby interrupted. “I know you are worried about your future, and if it were up to me I would lock you up in the house where I know you can’t get into any danger, but it will be up to John what to do with you from now on.”
John grinned down at her. “We will make it work with Home Office. I promise.”
“What if they don’t allow it?” Would he hate her if he had to find a new position, a new career? How soon before the resentment?
“Elizabeth, all that matters is that you become my wife, and I hope it is because you want to and not because your grandfather is forcing you.”
Her heart slowly began to melt. He did want to marry her.
“I love you.”
Those three simple words, and her heart burst. “Oh, John, I love you, too.” She flung her arms around this neck and hugged him close. She never dreamed he would return her feelings, the very ones she kept trying to push away and ignore.
Her grandfather cleared his throat and stood. “I am sure the Home Office will keep you both.”
She dearly hoped he was right, but would she and John be able to work together?
“And John,” her grandfather continued, “this is not a career one stays with forever. When you are ready to retire and remain in England, you will be taken care of.”
“Sir?” John straightened.
“You are not in a position to see to your future, building a business, managing land and such, but you will need something for your family once you’re done doing whatever it is you do. And because you are working to keep England safe, I have seen that you will be taken care of.”
Elizabeth wasn’t sure what to make of her grandfather’s statement, but she wasn’t going to question it.
“Now—” her grandfather turned to Nicholas. “You will not ever breathe a word of what transpired in this room.”
“Of course not, sir.”
Danby turned to John. “You will come with me. Your quarters have just been moved to the tower.”
“The tower? Really, grandfather,” Elizabeth protested. The room was small, let in drafts and located at the top of the highest tower, hence its name. She played there as a child, but it was not suited for someone to live in.
He turned and narrowed his eyes at her. “He will remain there for three weeks until you are wed. That will also leave enough time for his family to travel here.” Danby turned to John. “I assume you have not seen them in some time and would like them at your wedding.”
“Thank you, Your Grace, but you don’t actually plan on locking me up in there as well, do you?”
Danby didn’t crack a smile but raised an eyebrow in warning. “If you don’t behave yourself, I just might.” Danby stepped out in the hall, and Nicholas followed, closing the door behind them.
Elizabeth tried to hold back her giggle but was unable to do so. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring you bread and water if he does.”
It you would like to read about more Whitton grandchildren and their adventures to be at Danby Castle in time for Christmas, read:
A Summons from Yorkshire
A Summons from the Duke
A Summons from the Castle
A Summons from His Grace
More titles from Jane Charles
A Gentleman’s Guide to Once Upon a Time Series
His Impetuous Debutante
His Contrary Bride
His (Not so) Sensible Miss
The Wiggons’ School for Elegant Young Ladies Series
To Walk in the Sun
To Love a Governess Series
Sacked – Regency Short
Handfasted – Regency Novella
Ruined – Regency Short
Anthologies
A Summons from His Grace – Compromised for Christmas
The Betting Season – Landing a Laird
A Season to Remember – Devil in Her Dreams
The Tenacious Trents
A Misguided Lord
A Perfect Gentleman
A Lass for Christmas (Novella)
A Reluctant Rake
Compilations
Scots, Spies and Salacious Lies
Timeless Collection
About Jane
Jane Charles has lived in the Midwest her entire life. As a child she would more likely be found outside with a baseball than a book in her hand. In fact, Jane hated reading until she was sixteen. Out of boredom on a long road trip she borrowed her older sister’s historical romance and fell in love. She long ago lost count of how many fiction novels she has read over the years and her love for them never died. Along with romance she has a passion for history and the two soon combined when she penned her first historical romance. What turned into a hobby became a passion, which has been fully supported by her husband, three children and three cats.
JaneCharlesAuthor.com
Jane can be contacted at:
[email protected] https://www.JaneACharles.blogspot.com
or on Facebook and Twitter: JaneACharles
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends