THE COLONEL’S UNGOVERNABLE GOVERNESS BY REGINA JEFFERS – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Authors: Regina Jeffers
- Language: English
- Genre: Historical Romance
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
Late March, 1814
“It is time,” his father said with that typical gruffness the earl often
used with his sons, but especially with his youngest. Edward Fitzwilliam
understood. The Earl of Matlock carried around the guilt of what affected
his eldest, the heir to the earldom. Though nothing could be done to change
Roland Fitzwilliam’s future, Martin Fitzwilliam meant to ease Roland’s
inevitable demise and secure the earldom through Edward. “Roland and
Lady Lindale will take some time together, staying on at Guernsey, in
preparation for how they will proceed. Lindale’s episodes appear more
severe, and things must be arranged for her ladyship when your brother
passes.”
“And the viscountess’s children?” Edward asked. His brother Roland
had married a widow, Lady Elaine Babcock, who had delivered her late
husband a daughter and a set of twins, another daughter and a son, but the
boy, who was supposedly “dumb,” by all who spoke of him, would never be
permitted to inherit his father’s title, if Lord Babcock’s brother had a say in
the matter. Edward thought Jennings’s posturing was simply a means to
keep his foot in the door of the earldom, but he supposed the man could
have more sinister motives.
History had story after story of “wicked
uncles,” such as Claudius in Hamlet or Creon in Antigone. Even if the boy
was named as the earl, his uncle had already petitioned to be named
“Regent” of the Babcock holdings until the boy either assumed the earldom
when reaching his majority or. if truly weak-minded, passed.
Therefore, the former Lady Babcock had welcomed Roland’s offer of
his hand in order to save face, despite everyone understanding Roland and
Elaine’s joining was a means for both families to “create” a story all of
society would accept. Unlike him, Philip Jennings, the second son of the
Earl of Babcock was now the heir apparent to the Babcock family peerage,
while Roland was the Matlock heir, if his brother lived long enough.
In truth, Edward was not happy to be required to assume the earldom
anytime soon or, at all for that matter. When he and Roland were young,
they always played at king and soldier. Ironically, Roland had always been
the soldier and Edward the king, that is, until one day their father demanded
they switch roles. Frustratingly, Edward had wanted to be the next earl and
was upset to learn he was meant for another occupation.
On that fateful day, Roland had fallen and cut his hand. A small cut.
Yet, it had taken multiple days to stop the bleeding. Not profuse. Just
constant seeping blood.
Naturally, when this abnormality occurred a second time, Matlock
had employed an army of physicians and surgeons to explore both the cause
and the remedy.
While the search for information went on, Edward found a “new”
companion, his first cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy. The roles reversed slightly,
for at Maitland Manor Roland had been the eldest, but at Pemberley House,
where Edward had become accustomed to spending his school holidays, he
was the eldest.
For More Read Download This Book
EPUB