Once Upon a Duke’s Wish Read online

  Once Upon a Duke’s Wish

  The Duke’s Lost Treasures

  Book 1

  Lana Williams

  © Copyright 2022 by Lana Williams

  Text by Lana Williams

  Cover by Dar Albert

  Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. is an imprint of Kathryn Le Veque Novels, Inc.

  P.O. Box 23

  Moreno Valley, CA 92556

  [email protected]

  Produced in the United States of America

  First Edition May 2022

  Kindle Edition

  Reproduction of any kind except where it pertains to short quotes in relation to advertising or promotion is strictly prohibited.

  All Rights Reserved.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  License Notes:

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook, once purchased, may not be re-sold. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it or borrow it, or it was not purchased for you and given as a gift for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. If this book was purchased on an unauthorized platform, then it is a pirated and/or unauthorized copy and violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Do not purchase or accept pirated copies. Thank you for respecting the author’s hard work. For subsidiary rights, contact Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

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  Dearest Reader;

  Thank you for your support of a small press. At Dragonblade Publishing, we strive to bring you the highest quality Historical Romance from some of the best authors in the business. Without your support, there is no ‘us’, so we sincerely hope you adore these stories and find some new favorite authors along the way.

  Happy Reading!

  CEO, Dragonblade Publishing

  Dedication

  To Dee and Steve for always believing in me

  and for wondering, could it be?

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Publisher’s Note

  Dedication

  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

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  London, England

  April 1875

  “I wish…”

  Leo Stanton, the Earl of Marbury waited for the Duke of Rothwood, a man who was like a grandfather to him, to finish the thought, yet only the crackling fire echoed in the duke’s quiet study.

  The two men had enjoyed dinner together, something Leo tried to do every week or two in order to help assuage the duke’s obvious loneliness. They now sat in massive wingback leather chairs before the fire, brandies in hand.

  Rothwood’s melancholy this evening suited Leo. They both knew what the date was—the fourth of April. A day that had affected them both deeply. The thirtieth anniversary of the duke’s daughter’s wedding day and the last time he’d seen her.

  It had been the last day of happiness for Leo’s late father, as well. He was the groom she’d left standing at the altar, waiting for the love of his life, who had never come.

  Lady Bethany, the duke’s daughter, had chosen to elope with David Wright, an adventurer she’d met at a garden party a month prior. The pair had married in Scotland, then soon after, sailed to the wilds of Nova Scotia to a little-known place called Oak Island in search of buried treasure.

  “I wish my life had turned out differently.” Rothwood at last finished his thought as he stared into the flames.

  “I know, Your Grace.” All Leo could offer was understanding and sympathy. He couldn’t change the past any more than he could predict the future.

  Leo’s father had eventually married for convenience and been content at times but never happy. Something he made no effort to hide, even for the sake of his wife and son.

  Lady Bethany’s death had been reported to the duke some five years ago, though he’d never acknowledged her marriage. Oddly enough, Leo’s father had passed away that same year. Whether the explorer with whom Lady Bethany had eloped still lived remained a mystery. The duke claimed not to care, but Leo wondered if he was as curious as Leo.

  As a member of the Royal Geological Society and an expert on pirate lore, Leo had heard rumors of David Wright’s efforts as recently as two years past, suggesting he was alive. It gave Leo great pleasure to advise the other interested members of the Society that Wright had dug in the wrong place. Discrediting the man seemed the least he could do both for the duke and for his own father.

  “You might’ve been my grandson.” The duke swirled the brandy before taking a drink, then meeting Leo’s gaze.

  Leo never knew what to say at moments like this. Regret served no purpose. Lady Bethany had departed years ago, and nothing could change that truth. Yet he knew how lonely the duke was. The difficult past had aged him. Did Rothwood wish he hadn’t cut ties with his only child? He needed family and a purpose. Preferably both. Something to keep him from dwelling on the past.

  “I would’ve been honored to call you grandfather,” Leo spoke with sincerity for it was true.

  He’d inherited his friendship with the duke from his father. The late earl had maintained a close relationship with the man he’d expected to become his father-in-law, even if that hadn’t come to pass. Leo and the duke had deepened their ties through their shared interest in exploration. Leo’s mother thought their friendship odd and was often exasperated by it.

  Rothwood’s brother, his only sibling, lived in the country and rarely visited London. The duke’s nephew and heir apparent lived abroad and hadn’t been heard from in years. But no purpose would be served in dwelling on the grim future of the duchy this evening when Rothwood was already in poor spirits.

  Leo finished his brandy, searching for an uplifting thought to share before he took his leave. “Sometimes our wishes are fulfilled when we least expect it. And in unexpected ways.”

  “That sounds more like a curse than words of comfort,” the duke countered, though he chuckled as Leo stood. “Thank you for coming by. I shall see you at the next Society meeting.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  Leo and Rothwood both served on the council of the Royal Geological Society, which concerned itself with exploration of all types, including treasure hunting.

  Leo had dabbled in it himself in his earlier days but now preferred to sort through and analyze the information received from the comfort of his home. He enjoyed the challenge of i
nvestigating the various theories and lending his expertise, focusing on history to determine what was likely to be true or merely a rumor.

  Inviting the duke to become a member of the council had been an excellent idea, as he had considerable resources, as well as knowledge to offer. It also had the added benefit of catching the duke’s interest and easing his loneliness. Rothwood’s passion for exploring the world might have been partially to blame for his daughter’s interest in a treasure hunter, as she had shared that same interest, according to Leo’s father.

  Leo did indeed wish the Duke of Rothwood was his grandfather, as they had much in common. But as he’d said, regrets served no purpose. He intended to make certain his life held as few as possible. When he eventually married, it would be to a woman he respected and admired. Love was not a requirement. In fact, he hoped never to experience romantic love. That emotion only caused pain. His marriage would be more of a business partnership. Happiness was best pursued in his work, not in his personal life.

  “I’m meeting Viscount Worley at the dock tomorrow morning. He’s returning from Africa with several artifacts that will require study.”

  The light of interest that filled Rothwood’s eyes comforted Leo. “I look forward to hearing more.”

  “As soon as I know the details, I’ll be in touch. Thank you again for dinner.” With that, Leo took his leave. He had to wonder if Lady Bethany and David Wright had any idea of the damage they’d left in their wake. Had the love they’d found been worth the hurt they’d caused others?

  Leo shook his head. That was a question to which he’d never know the answer.

  *

  Ella Wright glanced about the crowded, chaotic dock in London as she and her two sisters disembarked from the Campania, her breath hitching. She wondered not for the first time if she’d made a terrible mistake.

  She had convinced her sisters to leave the only home they’d known, and for what?

  A grandfather who had never acknowledged their existence.

  A city that looked anything but welcoming.

  A country that was not their own.

  And a future that now seemed more uncertain than ever.

  The harsh shriek of a steam whistle rent the air as if mocking her. The weight of it all caused her to stagger on the gangway, the world shifting beneath her feet. For once, the steamship that had traversed the Atlantic was not the cause.

  “Are you well, Ella?” Norah, her younger sister by four years, asked. Trust Norah to notice her upset. As the middle child at one and twenty, she was the observant, even-tempered, peacemaker of the family.

  Ella nodded, determined to keep a positive outlook, even if it was only a mask. After all, what choice did she have? Nothing remained for them on Oak Island in Nova Scotia. She could only hope there was something—anything—for them in London.

  Their mother had died five years past of smallpox and their father six months, two weeks, and three days ago. The thought of them brought heavy grief she and her sisters continued to feel, made even worse by the unknown way their father had died. The worry over what his last minutes had been like in the shaft he’d dug kept Ella awake at night.

  David Wright had been enamored with treasure hunting his entire life. When rumors of pirate gold buried on the small island in Nova Scotia had caught his notice, he’d become obsessed with discovering all he could. His excitement had piqued the interest of a lady he’d just met, Lady Bethany, the only child of the Duke of Rothwood.

  According to the stories their mother had shared, it had been love at first sight.

  Yet Ella could imagine how hard it must’ve been for her mother to leave behind her father, the duke, and his expectations—not to mention the man to whom she’d been betrothed, her friends, and the elegant life she’d led.

  How brave her mother had been, though Ella knew many thought her foolhardy. London was not so distant from Nova Scotia that she’d escaped the notoriety that had followed her because of her actions.

  Ella and her sisters had experienced some of that same speculation on the rare occasions they’d traveled to Montreal, Quebec, and other large towns in the area with their parents. The feeling of being watched with curiosity, as if they were an exhibit in a zoo was unpleasant, to say the least. Unfortunately, she feared they’d have to endure more of that in London.

  “What’s taking so long?” Lena, the youngest of the three sisters at the age of nineteen years, leaned back and forth, then lifted on her toes in an attempt to see over the heads of the passengers before them on the gangway.

  “Patience, my dear,” Ella responded, more out of habit than with the hope of placating her. “Everyone is as eager to set foot on land as we are.”

  Lena was rarely still—as if she couldn’t contain the energy inside her. Though their journey on the ship had been only two weeks, it had felt much longer, especially to Lena. Ella knew the months leading up to it had also made her sister restless.

  The decision to move to London had come soon after their father’s death. It had taken a few months to settle their father’s affairs, make the arrangements for the trip, sort through their belongings to determine what to take, sell what they could, then pack the rest.

  Ella had managed to find an older woman to serve as a suitable chaperone. Mrs. Whitsome, a widow traveling to London to stay with her sister, had been a blessing.

  The last evening on the ship had been a celebratory one with many of the passengers in high spirits. Ella had been happy, as well, until she and Mrs. Whitsome had returned to their room to find their belongings upended as if they’d been searched.

  Had someone been hoping to find items of value? Or had they been looking for something specific? The latter thought had her clutching her reticule tighter, for hidden inside was her father’s journal detailing his search for treasure, as well as a few artifacts he’d found. Thank goodness she’d kept it close since they’d begun their journey, or they’d have little left by which to remember him.

  Luckily, nothing appeared to be missing. With Mrs. Whitsome’s assistance, she’d managed to put their room back in place before her sisters saw the mess. They were worried enough about the move to London without making it worse. Ella had been relieved that Lena hadn’t seen through her efforts as her sister sometimes had an extra sense. A kind of knowing that washed over her and provided insight not easily explained.

  If Ella had received a reply to her letter from their grandfather, the journey would’ve been easier. But the worry that he’d simply refuse them entrance placed a knot in Ella’s stomach that made it difficult to function. Between grief and fear, she felt terribly fragile.

  Norah glanced back at her again, her bright blue eyes filled with worry. “Where will we stay if the duke won’t see us?” She whispered the question to keep Lena from hearing.

  “He’ll see us,” Ella promised. “We won’t leave until he does.”

  Norah managed a small smile. “You think because we all look so much like Mother, he won’t be able to deny our identity.”

  “Exactly.” Ella was counting on that fact. They all had the same blonde hair and heart-shaped faces, even if their eye color varied. How could he possibly suggest they weren’t their mother’s daughters?

  But from what little her mother had shared prior to her death, they would be better off not mentioning their father, as the duke had disapproved from the moment he’d met him. Father had not been a peer, merely the son of a wealthy merchant, and therefore, beneath the duke’s notice.

  Ella had difficulty understanding how any of that mattered. Shouldn’t one’s merit be based on one’s actions and strength of character? She feared her opinion on the issue would make her fit in even less with their grandfather and the society in which he moved.

  At last, they reached the end of the gangway and stepped onto solid land. But the chaos there was even worse than it had looked from the ship.

  Wagons and carts piled high with timber, barrels, boxes, and bales moved past. Masses of
people—mainly men—hurried by, some dressed in soldiers’ uniforms, many sailors with their odd gait, and numerous clerks clutching papers.

  One could barely move through the throng.

  “What is that terrible smell?” Norah asked, pressing the back of her gloved hand against her nose.

  “I believe it’s London,” Ella replied. A briny scent stung her nostrils, along with the smell of rotting fish, coal smoke, and a myriad of other odors that were foreign compared to the clean air in which they’d previously lived. A haze hung over the city like an old woman clutching a dirty shawl around her shoulders. Did it always look and smell like this? The thought was terribly depressing.

  “This way to collect our baggage,” Mrs. Whitsome said and led them to where it was being unloaded. Lena and Norah followed with Ella directly behind.

  “Miss Wright.”

  Ella turned to see Julius Conway, a kind gentleman near her age who’d befriended them on the ship. “Mr. Conway, how nice to have the chance to bid you goodbye.”

  “Pray, do not tell me it will be goodbye.” He offered the charming smile he so often wore. The handsome man, who seemed to have a far better and definitely brighter wardrobe than she, had been friendly during the journey and helped to keep them all in good spirits.

  Ella smiled, resisting the urge to advise him that his attempt at charm was wasted on her. She had no intention of allowing anyone to sway her from her goal of seeing her sisters settled.

  “I despair at the thought of not seeing you or your lovely sisters again soon,” he continued. “I have grown rather attached to the three of you.”

  She easily dismissed the compliment, as he gave them so frequently. Did she dare ask whether his room had been searched? It was impossible to know who to trust. Perhaps it was best if she didn’t trust anyone.

  “It has been a pleasure traveling with you, sir. I hope our paths cross again soon.” She glanced over her shoulder, realizing she’d lost sight of Norah and Lena, as well as Mrs. Whitsome. “But for now, I must find my sisters.”