Page 23 of His Extraordinary Duchess
D earest Mother and Father, I write to tell you that I am to be married again. I almost feel as if this is for the first time, for I love him and his son dearly. He listens to me, he cares about me, and he is capable of providing the life I believe will make me happy.
He is a talented architect, who will shortly be residing in Grace-by-the-Sea, where he plans to build us a marvelous home overlooking the Channel. I intend to use my dower settlement to help him furnish and staff the house. With His Grace, the Duke of Tyneham’s gracious permission, I am having his man of business provide the funds you need for my brother and for yourselves for the next year. Beyond that, I can no longer intercede financially on your behalf.
I hope you will be able to join us for the wedding, which we hope to hold at the church in Grace-by-the-Sea in six months. You will also always be welcome in our home.
Your loving, though no longer dutiful, daughter, Claudia, Dowager Duchess of Tyneham
* * *
“Satisfied?” His Grace asked over breakfast the next morning. As he had hoped, the others had yet to come down, and he and Sophia had a few precious moments to themselves.
Sophia stirred a lump of sugar into her tea, her pretty yellow morning gown perfectly matching the light that streamed through the window. “Eminently satisfied. It wasn’t easy, mind you. I told you she would have a difficult time letting go, but Mr. Warden proved the perfect man for her. Bravo on that choice, by the way.”
He lifted his teacup to her. “And to you. One down. Two to…”
“One to go,” Sophia said with a pointed look his way. “I told you I don’t intend to wed, and I shall be very happy in the dower house. You need to turn your attentions on Georgina.”
“I already have,” he assured her. “As you suggested, I was able to locate her former beau and convince him that he would have greater opportunities for advancement here with us. I have high hopes for Mr. Caddington.”
Sophia smiled. “So do I.”
* * *
Thank you for reading Ben and Claudia’s story. Years ago, a group of Regency romance authors was talking about dowagers, and someone remarked that a duke might find himself with several on his hands. Thus, the seed for The Darling Duchesses was planted!
Note that there is a village of Tyneham, now largely derelict, in Dorset. My village is set a little distant from it, as is the manor. Both are my own creation.
If you’re wondering how Georgie and Hugh Caddington will get on, turn the page for a sneak peek from their story.