Taming A Duke's Reckless Heart: Victorian Historical Romance Read online

  Piper turned to him. “It’s done now.” She turned back and gave Mrs. Fox another drink of water.

  “She will have to pay for her crimes, Piper, you were nearly killed.”

  Piper brushed the hair back from the woman’s face. “That is a problem for another day. Send for the doctor. Do you want anything to eat, Mrs. Fox?”

  “Just water.”

  Piper and Barrett left the cell an hour later after the doctor had given Mrs. Fox laudanum to sleep. Her situation was still tenuous.

  Piper was exhausted as she walked down the hall. Barrett wrapped his arms around her to help her up to their room. “You’ve overdone it. You are still recovering.”

  “Mmm…” She laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re back. I was so worried.”

  “Me too, my love. Let’s get you to bed. We have all time in the world to figure out the rest.” He picked her up, kissing the top of her head and carried her to bed.

  ***

  The next week passed in a blur. Piper felt stronger every day and it was wonderful to take a break from society. The entire family stayed on the ship. When Barrett and Piper weren’t with family, they were alone together, learning the secrets of marriage. Truth be told, Piper was not looking forward to going home.

  Although, she would not be going home, she would be going to Barrett’s. Her mother would join them. In a few months, they would cross the ocean with Barrett’s family, for Sybil and Ethan’s wedding.

  Mrs. Fox was slowly recovering. Piper went to visit her every day and it was obvious Mrs. Fox was a broken woman. While Piper felt sorry for her, she did not trust the other woman. The question remained, what to do with her.

  When Mrs. Fox was finally able to get out of bed, Piper and Barrett paid her a visit.

  “I hear congratulations are in order.” Mrs. Fox eyed them like a cornered animal.

  “Indeed, thank you.” Barrett’s voice rumbled.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” Mrs. Fox slowly drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around them.

  “I think you already know. What you tried to do Piper. It is not a crime that can go unpunished.” Barrett’s voice was even but Mrs. Fox winced.

  “Yes, I assumed it would be so.”

  “I’d like to give you a choice. You can face trial here or you can take a ship to Australia and start over. It’s an island of convicts, I don’t think it would be easy but you wouldn’t be in a cell. Take some time—”

  “I don’t need any time. I’ll head to Australia. There is nothing here for me anymore.” The other woman laid back down. “If you will excuse me, I find I am very tired today.”

  “Of course.” Barrett turned to leave but Piper looked at the woman for one more second. Mrs. Fox was the perfect example of what happened to someone who lived their life without honor.

  Barrett gently took her hand and she turned with him. He wrapped an arm around her waist. Piper glanced back to see Mrs. Fox staring at them. Piper turned away. She had to focus on the future now. Her future with Barrett.

  TAMING A DUKE’S RECKLESS HEART

  EPILOGUE

  Three months later, Piper looked out the port hole of the ship as a seamstress worked on her gowns. “It’s still raining.” Her brow furrowed and she yawned sleepily.

  Barrett chuckled from a chair in the corner. “We’re almost in London. Expect it to rain most of the visit.”

  Piper made a sour face and looked longingly at the bed. “I’ve been to London before. I’m aware of the weather. I am just so tired. Maybe I will just take a little nap.”

  Barrett stood and came to kiss her cheek. “We will be pulling into the harbor shortly and I know Sybil and Ethan will want to see you. You may have to skip your nap today.”

  She made another face, as the seamstress loosened another seam. “I’ve got the size now; I will be able to do the rest of these without Her Grace.”

  “Thank you,” Piper sighed and then yawned. “Now may I take a nap?” She had been so sleepy for the past month, she could hardly make it through a day without one. Dr. Thompson said it would get better soon.

  Barrett chuckled again. It had that low male rumble that sent Piper’s nerves dancing. “All right, maybe for a few minutes. Do you want me to lie down with you?”

  “Oh, yes.” Piper smiled wickedly at her husband. He turned to dismiss the seamstress. As soon as the door the clicked closed, he lifted her down off the stool and carried her to the bed.

  Within seconds he had her gown off and her pantaloons down. He paused looking at her, unsure.

  Piper huffed impatiently. “Dr. Thompson already told you, the baby is fine. As he is my new father, I doubt he has reason to lie. We are free to make love as often as we want.”

  He kissed her lips long and slow. “I know sweetheart but I could never do anything that would hurt you or the baby.”

  “What we need is you. Promise me, I will always have you.”

  “I promise; you will always have me.”

  Piper smiled against his lips. She had never imagined she would be so gloriously happy. She still couldn’t believe she had tamed this Duke’s reckless heart.

  The End

  ABOUT TAMMY ANDRESEN

  Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy filled many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College, where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.

  Find out more about Tammy:

  http://tammyandresen.com

  https://www.facebook.com/authortammyandresen

  https://twitter.com/TammyAndresen

  https://www.pinterest.com/tammy_andresen/

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  Table of Contents

  Taming a Duke's Reckless Heart

  Copyright

  Praise for Tammy Andresen

  Titles by Tammy Andresen

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  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

  Epilogue

  About Tammy Andresen