Never a Mistress, No Longer a Maid Read Online Free PDF Page A

and gave his report.  Jane returned to her nursing
station, where a letter awaited demanding that she return home.  It was
accompanied by one of her grandfather’s footmen to ensure she complied.  He was
travelling incognito to avoid bringing further shame to the family.
    So, the next day, when Ned returned to town, seeking out
Iris with apology, flowers and marriage proposal at the ready – he had, after
all, taken her maidenhead and fictional innkeeper’s widow or not, some things
just weren’t done when one was a gentleman – he found no sign of the woman who
had so thoroughly bewitched him.
    He should’ve felt relief.  He was much too young to get
leg-shackled and his brother, the Duke of Lynwood, would be furious.  But
somehow, the emotion pouring through him as he questioned Iris’s colleagues who
knew nothing more than that she’d gone off with “some bloke,” wasn’t relief. 
Or elation.  Or even a mild curiosity as to how she could’ve just walked away
without looking back.
    The emotion wasn’t any of those.  But he didn’t care to
examine it too closely to see what exactly it was.

CHAPTER ONE
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marston Vale, Bedfordshire, April 1822
     
     “Just a little more, Sue.  I know you’re tired, but you’re
almost there.”
    Jane Wetherby wiped the sweat from Sue Birch’s forehead.  It
was an unusually warm spring day and the poor woman had been laboring for
almost twelve hours.
    “What’s happenin’, Miss Jane?  I canna stand to be out here
when my poor Sue is suffering so.”  Joseph Birch, blacksmith and first-time
father, stood just outside the bedroom door in their small cottage.
    Sue and Jane exchanged a look.  “Don’t let him come back in
here,” said Sue.  “It’s hard enough bringin’ a babe into the world without havin’
a bigger one standing by me side worryin’.”
    “He worries because he loves you.”
    “I know,” said Sue with a sweet smile.  “I couldn’t have
made it through this day without him out there worrying.  And you by my side
helping.  Ohhh!”
    Sue was hit with another contraction and Jane took her position. 
“Oh, Sue, I can see the babe’s head!”
    “What?!?” boomed the voice from outside the door.
    “Not now!” said his wife.
    “One more push.  That’s it, that’s it.  Oh my,” said Jane as
she gently pulled the babe from its mother.  “You have a boy.  A beautiful
boy!”
    “A boy!”  There was a crash as the door swung open and hit
the wall, then a beaming Joseph entered the room.  “Susie, you gave me a son!” 
    He ran to his wife and hugged her.  Then he took one look at
the newborn, as well as the state of the linens and began to sway.
    “Sit down, Joseph,” commanded Jane with a smile.  “I can
only tend to one patient at a time.  And right now, it’s your son.”
    “My son,” said Joseph as he sank onto a stool.  “My son.”
    Jane finished wiping off the baby, then handed him to his
parents. 
    An hour later, an exhausted Jane walked toward Wetherby
Farm, her home.  Her father had purchased the home when he’d married her
mother.  Jane had inherited it upon their death and while she owned it free and
clear, the once comfortable farmhouse now needed extensive repairs.  The roof
leaked, shutters flew off with even the mildest wind and since she was unable
to afford much coal, it tended to be quite cold in winter.  Nevertheless, Jane
loved the old house because it reminded her of her parents.
    Some of the villagers were kind enough to do repairs in
exchange for the medical care she provided, but she had little money to buy
supplies for the bigger jobs like the roof.  Her inheritance was wrapped up in
a trust administered by her grandfather’s solicitors.  Since her relationship
with the earl was strained at best, he continued to cut back on her allowance
despite the fact she was six and twenty, and should’ve had full use of the
funds.  No amount of pleading had swayed