The Gentleman’s Impossible Task (The Fairbanks - Love & Hearts) (The Regency Romance Story) Read online

  The Gentleman's Impossible Task

  The Fairbanks - Love & Hearts

  Jessie Bennett

  CARLTON HOUSE PUBLISHING CO.

  Contents

  Copyright

  Join My VIP Readers’ Club List

  A Personal Note From Jessie Bennett

  Dedication

  About The Author

  The Gentleman's Impossible Task

  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

  *

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  *

  EPILOGUE

  *

  PREVIEW OF PREQUEL - THE MARQUESS’ TEMPTATION

  PREVIEW OF BOOK 1 - THE MARQUESS’ CURSE

  PREVIEW OF BOOK 2 - MORE FOR A DUKE

  PREVIEW OF BOOK 3 - LOVING A RELUCTANT VISCOUNT

  PREVIEW OF BOOK 4 - DUKE’S FORBIDDEN LOVE

  PREVIEW OF BOOK 5 - THE EARL’S UNEXPECTED JOURNEY OF LOVE

  PREVIEW OF BOOK 6 - WINNING THE INDECISIVE DUKE

  Join My VIP Readers’ Club List

  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.

  Cover designed by Ms Melody Simmons. Author has the copyrights to this cover.

  Join My VIP Readers’ Club List

  Who Else Wants to Get Freebies, New Cover Reveals, Short Flash Fictions, Characters’ Interviews and much more…

  Jessie Bennett invites you to join her VIP Readers’ Club List. When you signed up, you will get a surprise gift from her. CLICK HERE TO JOIN NOW!

  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.

  THE GENTLEMAN’S IMPOSSIBLE TASK

  A REGENCY ROMANCE STORY

  by

  JESSIE BENNETT

  and

  Carlton House Publishing Co.

  PROLOGUE

  PROLOGUE

  England, 1829

  Annette Franklin giggled when she felt her husband’s hand brush lightly against her back, just between her shoulder blades. Earl Joseph encircled her with his long muscular arms and whispered in her ear, “You know that I love you, don’t you, sweet Annie?”

  Annette’s legs weakened and chills erupted all over her body. Joseph’s presence alone made her warm with adoration. When he touched her, it was almost more than she could bear. They were in the doorway of their bedchamber. He leaned against it, making it close with a soft click.

  “I do, my husband. I do know,” she replied in a soft voice, closing her eyes and resting her head back against his broad chest.

  “You are the only one I will ever love, Annie.” His voice trembled with emotion, and he cleared his throat.

  Annette, hearing the catch in his voice, felt her heart melt. She felt so blessed to have won the heart of such a wonderful man.

  He was an earl, who wore his title easily, never looking down on anyone, never judging anyone until he got to know them. He was kind to her, and loving, not in the least dictatorial like some
of the titled men of the Ton. Joseph Franklin was the sort of man many came to for counsel, but he was not grave or distant. He was filled with life, hopes, and dreams. Annette wanted to live the rest of her life wrapped in his arms, listening only to his voice.

  “How did I ever capture your heart?” she whispered, turning her face to look up at him. He was close enough to kiss, so she lifted up slightly and gave him a peck on the lips.

  “Things like that certainly helped,” he replied with a grin. He lowered his head for a deeper kiss.

  Annette’s heart pounded like a drum. She was surprised Joseph couldn’t hear it. After seven years of marriage, she still felt like a young girl, infatuated with him. Every tiny thing about him was a source of delight to her, arousing her and making her heart race.

  When he pulled out of the kiss and looked in her eyes, she could see his intense love for her. Once again, she was glad he wore his emotions so openly. It made it so much easier to know what he wanted, what he liked, the very things that made him the man that he was. She wanted to know him better than anyone, to crawl into his soul and stay there until the end of time.

  “I love you,” she whispered past the lump in her throat. She was aware of every place their bodies touched. He set her body on fire. She sighed and relaxed into his arms. She was sure they would be blessed with a child very soon. He tugged on her a little, pulling her closer to the bed behind them. She smiled and turned a little away, feeling playful. He took her hand and they took the few steps back toward the bed. When he reached it, he turned suddenly, grabbed her by the waist and dropped both of them back so that she was on top of him. She laughed, burying her face in his neck.

  He was perfect in her eyes. The only man for her.

  CHAPTER ONE

  SAM WORTHINGTON COMES TO VISIT

  SAM WORTHINGTON COMES TO VISIT

  Worthington Manor, Fairfield,

  England – 1829

  Shawn and Elizabeth, the Duke and Duchess of Worthington, were expecting a visitor. Worthington Manor bustled with servants, cleaning and polishing, carrying flowers and linen and clean silverware, making the place ready for their new guest. The son of the duke's youngest brother was arriving later in the afternoon.

  As the son of the youngest of the Worthington family, Samuel did not hold a title and, as luck would have it, he did not want one. He said that titles carried too many responsibilities and would keep him from his true calling, which was investigating crimes.

  Sam had solved many crimes in his time. It seemed a strange occupation to his uncle, but he had an exceptional talent for it. In fact, Sam had confided in him a great secret: he had been invited to assist as an inspector at Scotland Yard. He worked under a pseudonym, which suited him well. As the son of a peer, he could not have worked openly, but he seemed to prefer being out of the limelight in any case. He was a brilliant young man in his early thirties and had never married – mostly, his sisters liked to say, because he never went to any dances. He was always observing people and writing down what he had seen at the end of the day as a record. He had started doing that in his early teenage years and had never found events, dances, and balls worth his time.

  Shawn, waiting on the steps with his wife, recalled a conversation on that very topic. When his mother, Shawn's sister-in-law, was trying to introduce Samuel into society at fifteen, he had simply replied, “It’s a waste of my time, Mother. There are so many things that interest me. I’m not in line to be king, am I? I'll never have any title at all. I desire to make my name in another way. My mind is made up.”

  And so it had been. Over fifteen years had passed, and Samuel was still perfectly happy as a bachelor. His mother had not given up until he was eighteen years old, a thought which still made Shawn chuckle. She had bewailed the fact daily, saying that Sam's incredible good looks and fine mind would be lost forever if he did not find a bride and have a family. Sam had simply given her a gentle smile.

  “It’s all right, Mother.” He had consoled her with a hug and the same words each time. “If I find the right woman, I will settle down. I promise you that. Just let me find her on my own.”

  He had made many friends over the years, most of them based in London but some who had sought his advice in solving thefts and other crimes all around the kingdom. He had made a few enemies, too, along the line – mostly those whose criminality he had exposed.

  Shawn and Elizabeth were pleased Sam wanted to spend a holiday with them.

  They stood out on the front porch, watching as the carriage came closer. The dust thrown up by the horses’ hooves made a cloud behind the carriage.

  Elizabeth couldn’t help smiling when she saw the look of anticipation on her husband’s handsome face. “You are excited, aren’t you, my love? How long has it been since you’ve seen him?”

  Shawn smiled. “He was a child the last time I saw him in the flesh. But, as you know, I have kept all the newspapers, going back to the first time someone wrote about him and his achievements. As Monsieur Sentinelle, of course.”

  “Of course. But he should be proud of it. He solves crime.” Elizabeth used a voice that was extremely admiring, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

  “Yes. He certainly does.”

  Elizabeth's face was tranquil, and Shawn squeezed her hand. Their marriage had been strong from the very beginning and now she was the proud mother of two and still glowing with health. She slid her arm through his elbow and they stood together, watching as the carriage turned into the long gravel drive to the front of the manor and came to a stop before them.

  Shawn looked through the window, feeling eager to catch a glimpse of his youngest nephew.

  A young man was sitting forward in the seat, leaning casually on the door with one arm, his face framed by the window. He had a thin mustache and sandy brown hair swept back from his face. He removed his hat as he swung the door of the carriage open, hopping out before it had completely come to a stop.

  “Uncle Shawn!” he cried out, swinging both arms out to the sides. “Aunt Elizabeth!” He took a few steps forward, then lowered himself into a sweeping bow. “I do apologize! Your grace, your grace,” he nodded to them both in turn, “please forgive my informal greeting!” He was grinning lopsidedly up at them, at once exuberant and shy.

  “Samuel! Come up to join us! We don't stand on ceremony here.” Shawn walked down the steps toward his nephew and they gripped hands and then embraced. Sam turned to Elizabeth, bowed again and kissed her outstretched hand.

  “I am enchanted to meet you at last, Aunt.”

  “It has been too long, Samuel. Come in and refresh yourself. We have so much to discuss! We must discover all that’s happened in the past fifteen years,” Shawn said.

  “Has it been that long, my lord? I must say I am shocked. I feel as if I saw you a year ago or so. You have not aged at all!”

  Shawn threw his head back and laughed. “Thank you, young man. You are very good at flattery, and you know flattery is a good way to get things you want.” His eyes twinkled.

  “I would never dare, my lord. My words are sincere.”

  The three of them went into the foyer, where Sam stopped and stared around him. “Uncle Shawn, you have impeccable taste. I am impressed. It looks vastly different from what I’m used to.”

  “What are you used to, Samuel?” he asked gently.

  “I am going by Sam these days, Uncle Shawn.” Sam gave him a large grin. “I have a small cottage on the West End.”

  Shawn turned to him, suddenly concerned. “You are not in need of money, are you? I would be glad to—”

  Sam laughed, interrupting his uncle, who couldn’t help but smile. “Oh, no, Uncle. I am not in need. I make a good wage, actually, and often have generous donors who want me to solve something for them. I prefer not to have too much living space to take care of. I am generally at the office or on foot, hunting through the streets.”

  Shawn held out one hand. “Please follow me to the drawing room. We will be com
fortable there. Would you like a drink?”

  “Yes please, Uncle. Whatever you enjoy.”

  “I am very interested in hearing about your adventures, Sam. I know they must be much more exciting than anything that goes on here in Fairfield.”

  “That could be true, Uncle,” Sam said frankly. They all laughed.

  Sam entered the drawing room and went immediately to the window on the other side of the room. It was huge, stretching from the ceiling to the floor, long velvet drapes held back by gold ties on either side. It was a gorgeous autumn day beyond the windows. The gardens – so wide and verdant they made Sam blink – stretched out under bright sunshine. It was a day borrowed from summer.

  “This is a wonderful time of year, don’t you agree?” Sam asked, looking over his shoulder to his uncle and aunt. Both smiled at him.

  “Yes, it is.” Shawn had produced a decanter and two glasses from a cabinet. He lifted the bottle and poured out a red liquid, handing one glass to Sam.

  “Thank you, Uncle.” Sam went to the nearest chair, a high-backed red velvet cushioned seat with legs intricately carved.

  “How have things changed for you since you were granted your... um... position?” Elizabeth sat on the chaise-lounge with her hands in her lap.

  Sam looked at her with a surprised look on his face and then turned toward his uncle.

  Shawn chuckled. “I told your aunt, Sam. I trust that did not break your confidence in me?”

  Sam swallowed hard, then turned to the duchess. She was smiling at him fondly.

  “I am very proud of you, Sam. Combating crime in London is something of which you can be very proud.” She patted his hand gently.