The Duke's Love (21 page)

Ana was going crazy being cooped with only a maid to keep her company. She was tired of reading and talking about the same things repeatedly. She felt much better since she had a bath and had gotten dressed. Jake had lunch sent up to her with a note stating that she
must
eat
it all, so she did and
felt
that
she could eat more.

“Are you okay love?” Jake asked
,
as he walked into her room. She was ridiculously glad to see him
,
much to her shame. 

“I hate being
cooped
up. When can we stop this pretense?” She whined. Jake hugged her close to him and kissed her forehead.

“I promise soon sweetheart, very soon
,
”
h
e said.

Ana inhaled his musky scent and felt her body starting to
respond
. He released her and stepped away.

“I need to get back down and see
the
guests off. I’m sure mother will be up to see you
soon,
” Ana knew their relationship had
been
forever altered the moment he found her in the sickbed. Only this time, she did not try to fight it.

Jake left and she went back to reading her book. After several minutes of being on the same page, she couldn’t take it anymore. At least at home, she had her cat to keep her company. She was bored and tired of this room, beautiful that it
was
. 

She looked around
,
wondering what else she could do to keep herself busy. After several moments of deliberation, she opened her door and looked down the hall to make sure no one was around
,
and
then
she dashed over into Jake’s chambers relieved to find it unlocked. There wasn’t anything out of place
,
she mused. She should not be surprised
,
since he had b
een spending the majority of the last two
days with her.

She took in the massive four-post bed that had silky black coverlets on it. She went over to his writing desk
,
and noticed an old, worn box underneath the open area. Curiosity got the better of her. She picked it up, sat it on the desk
,
and opened the led. It was dusty from sitting under there for so long. It obviously had not been opened in a long while.

She was speechless when she saw some of her own belongings encased in the box. She started
placing the
items on the desk. She pulled out some
hairpins
,
and
a hairbrush she had been missing for a long time. She found letters
that
she had written him after she broke
off
the engagement,
to
which he never responded, cuff links she had
given
him for his birthday and so many other things from their relationship.

She was desperate to know why he would keep all those things. Her heart filled with hope. Maybe they did have a chance together after all. She
sneaked
back into her own chambers and wondered how she should
broach
the subject with Jake. Ana was still trying to figure out how she got ill. She repeated the conversation with Jake over in her mind
, but
nothing stuck out. Her life was being turned upside down and there wasn’t anything she could do to stop it. She was emotionally scared, yet filled with hope for
her and
Jake.

Katherine went to find Jake. Miss Fairchild
was claiming to be ill
and her mother refuse
d
to move her until she
was
better. Katherine rolled her eyes
, knowingly
. The chit is not sick. She
was
being a brat, but she could hardly say
that
to the mother.

There was no need for Katherine to tell Sarah’s mother
anything;
she had a suspicion that
Lady Felicia already
suspected the truth.

Katherine was frustrated at the thoughts of that girl once
again ruining her plans.
Katherine
went to find
Jake
and located him
in the study going over paperwork.

He glanced up as she walked in. “Hello mother
,
”
h
e said. She bypassed the greeting.

“That girl claims she is sick and Lady Felicia wants to stay until she is better
,
”
s
he told him. Katherine watched as she saw Jake stand and stretch. He had been very
busy of late.
Katherine stopped short with a horrible thought. Sarah had heard her asking about Ana.
Was it possible that she knew that Ana was still here? After all,
Sarah
had been
fine earlier and she didn’t even look sick when Katherine
had gone
up to check on the situation.

“Your
Grace
,
there is a visitor for you. I put him in the parlor
,
”
a
servant
announced
.
Jake and his mother both moved to the door to see
who the
visitor was
, but
Katherine already knew it was the investigator she
had
hired. She did not want Jake to know what she had done just yet.

“I’ll go see the visitor. You go straighten out things with Miss Fairchild.”
She said quickly. Jake
nodded
agreement
and left her to see to the guest.

Katherine went to the parlor and the investigator was standing there. “Welcome. I hope this visit is a good one
,
”
s
he said
,
as she sat down and she offered him to follow suit.

“Yes
,
I assure you it is
,
your
Grace
,
”
h
e stated as he handed her a
parcel of papers
Katherine took the leaf of papers and started glancing through them. After several moments, her eyes widened.

“How did you get this information?” She asked.

“I have
an
unlimited amount of resources
,
”
h
e stated smugly.

Katherine was stunned. Here was everything she could ever want to know about Lady Ana and her family. She almost felt ashamed at what she found, but it did answer many of her questions.

She seriously debated about showing the papers to Jake now
,
instead of later, but she would give Ana the chance first. She honestly did not know how Jake would take this news, either way it would be difficult to work out. She thanked the man and excused herself to find the lady in question. Her mind went back to Sarah. What was she going to do? With her being an esteemed
D
uchess, she had to let the chit stay until the doctor at least could say she was safe to return home. She had a footman go fetch the doctor
, and w
hile she
waited
, she
went to Ana’s room.

She knocked briefly and waited for the
invitation
to enter. Katherine approached the chair that Ana was seated on and handed her the leaf of papers without saying a word to her. She watched as Ana went through them. After several uncomfortable moments, Ana looked her straight in the eye.

“Now
,
you know
.
Aren’t
you so happy Jake and I never had the chance to marry?” Ana said quietly
,
looking back to the papers she was holding. Katherine sighed and sat down beside her and took her hands in hers.

“Is th
at
why you refused my son?” She asked.

“What else was I
supposed to
do?
I
c
ould have never done that to him. I love him to much
,
” Ana said quietly.

Katherine could
hear
the tears in her voice and her heart broke.

“You have to tell him. Surely
,
you know you do
,
” Katherine pleaded.

“
I have tried, but now I wonder,
what
it
would accomplish?”
S
he asked.

“It would make my son happy. This is what I want. I do not care about your past. It’s the future I want
,
” Katherine said softly. “I’m a different woman, my dear. The circumstances of your birth are not your fault. They are the sins of your parents. I accept you as you are.”

Ana did not reply. Katherine stood up and said, “If you don’t tell him dear, I will. He deserves that much at least. You should know he has never been the same since you left.”

“You will accept me, but will he?” 

“What do you think, my dear?” Katherine questioned.

“I have been rather stupid to let these things get in the way
, haven’t I
?” Ana said smiling.

Katherine smiled
lovingly at
Ana. “A lot happened around the time of the broken engagement
.
If
not for those events, I fully believe you would be happily married with children by now
,
” Katherine said as she exited the room. Her next mission was to find Lady Felicia to tell her about the doctor visit her daughter would receive, but first she had to find her son.

Ana heard Katherine
close
the door and she sighed in relief. Ana did not want to tell Jake. However, this info about her parents was the least of the problems. She was surprised Katherine even found out she was a bastard child. Ana wanted to know how she found out so easily
,
but at least she did not know about her not being able to conceive. She stood up and went toward the window. She hated being cooped up. She loved the outdoors. She was feeling better and now just wanted to go home. The guests were leaving today. However, Jake wanted her to stay for another day or so
,
just in case. They still did not know what happened to make her ill.

She wanted to get outside and feel the fresh air. She understood why Jake
had
told people she went home already. She respected
that
he wanted to keep her reputation
intact
. 

“My mother said you needed to speak with me
,
” Jake said as he entered the room. Ana turned around and saw him closing the door. He looked haggard and preoccupied. Her mind was on his mother
,
though. How dare Lady Katherine force the issue! Ana watched as Jake made his way to her
.
He
came within an inch of
her, she stood up, reached out
,
and put her arms around him,
and
then
all the tears she was holding back
,
came spilling out. She didn't mean to cry, but she let out two
year
s’
worth
of anguish and grief.

Jake was slow to embrace her. Ana disentangled herself from him and went to get the papers. She handed him the parcel.

“This is why I walked away from you two years ago
,
”
s
he said. Ana looked away and went to sit down on the bed. Her hands were clammy. She was fighting more tears that were threatening to
spill
out. She waited patiently while he read and flipped pages. She could see his jaw lock and his stance tense up. She was too scared to look directly at him.

“This…this is the reason
?
” He
asked,
looking at her,
and then
crumbling the papers in his fists.

“Yes
,
”
s
he whispered.

“You thought I would give a damn about this! I loved you
,
” Jake
said
.

Not knowing how to respond
,
Ana looked at him
,
her eyes
glistening with tears
.
Jake sat down on the bed beside her and took her in his arms.