His Colonial Rose Read online

  His Colonial Rose

  Masterful Husbands Prequel

  By

  Vanessa Brooks & Beth Bennett

  ©2015 by Blushing Books® and Vanessa Brooks & Beth Bennett

  All rights reserved.

  No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published by Blushing Books®,

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  Brooks, Vanessa

  Bennett, Beth

  His Colonial Rose

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-68259-208-3

  Cover Design by ABCD Graphics & Design

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the Author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

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  This book is dedicated to the memories of both Pippin and Holly the Collie, R.I.P.

  Table of Contents:

  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

  A Message From Vanessa Brooks

  Ebook Offer

  Blushing Books Newsletter

  About Blushing Books

  Prologue

  1773

  Frederick, Lord North, the Prime Minister of England, approached the chambers of King George III within the sanctum of St. James Palace. Two guards stood with crossed pikes as he approached the enormous ornate white and gold double doors that led into His Majesty's inner sanctum. Recognizing the Prime Minister, both guards uncrossed their weapons and stood aside allowing the venerable man to pass.

  Lord North sallied forth as a King's aide hurriedly flung wide the door for the statesman to enter. The King sat at the table eating sweetmeats; he waved his hand and lace covered wrist in welcome. Lord North made a leg, before approaching his liege.

  "Be seated, North, and so to what do we owe this… ha, we were about to say 'pleasure' but we somehow doubt that this is a social call, hmm?"

  "You are correct in your assumptions as ever, your Majesty. I am here with grave tidings from your Majesty's American colonies. There has been a serious backlash to the Tea Levies and the Molasses Tax that we placed upon your colonies."

  Here Lord North paused. The King was apt to fly into unexpected rages and he needed to keep the King calm, so that he could gain the Royal Assent to his proposal.

  "Continue, man, we do not have all day," the King replied tetchily.

  Lord North cleared his throat before saying, "I have a rather unusual proposal, your Majesty. My sources have informed me that a subject living in Virginia, one Henry Randolph, a wealthy plantation owner by all accounts, has the ear of the radicals. He is, according to our sources, a known greedy man but his one love appears to be his daughter Rose. My proposal is thus, sire; we offer the man an advantageous and titled match for his beloved daughter Rose with a peer of the realm, in return for his services as spy and promoter of your Majesty's cause within the American colonies."

  "Sounds to be an excellent plan, North, so now do tell, who is the lucky scapegoat to be?"

  "I rather thought the Earl of Straddock, Sire, Lord Benedict Mortimer."

  "Good God, man! Is that not choosing valuable pedigree rather than a well-trained mongrel for the job?"

  "Lord Mortimer refused to entertain the idea of my god-daughter, Lady Margaret Beauchamp, as his Countess and he refused any matrimonial suggestions put to him since then."

  "Frederick that is hardly a crime, the man is a peer of the realm. It is only two years since his father died of apoplexy. Give the puppy a chance to choose his own mate. After all, he is still a young man!"

  "You are, as always, correct, sire, but we need his help with this situation out in the colonies. There are no other young men of rank, breeding and prestige of his age available to be of sufficient inducement to Henry Randolph."

  "We are now becoming mightily bored of the subject, North. What exactly do you want us to do about this?"

  "Since Mortimer is a peer of the realm, I request your help in convincing him to marry this chit from the Americas, your Majesty. I woul
d ask that you sign this document so that I might then be permitted to write to Mortimer and instruct him accordingly."

  "You really think this match will work, Frederick, and go some way to appease the Colonies?"

  "Indeed I do, Sire."

  "Very well then, hand me the damned paper!"

  "Thank you, sire."

  * * * * *

  Virginia, America 1774

  Henry Carter Randolph sat and stared at the missive that he held within his hand. He stilled his mind that was racing with possibilities. Henry was an astute man of standing within the Colonies. He owned a plantation of some value, he was wealthy by colonial standards, and he was fiercely patriotic to the American cause. Henry knew that the discontent with British rule would eventually lead to bloodshed on these colonial shores. The thing that Henry Randolph prized, above all else in the world, was his beautiful daughter Rose. This offer from the English Crown gave him a way of protecting Rose, effectively removing her completely from the dangers of inevitable conflict.

  It would mean that he would have to play a dangerous game of double bluff, but he was prepared to risk his own life to save that of his daughter.

  Henry knew that he had been a somewhat neglectful father, mostly due to absence caused by political necessity but that did not mean that time spent in his duties lessened his love for his daughter.

  This was an offer worth serious consideration….

  Chapter One

  Rose Randolph sped from the open meadow towards the Ash Grove Plantation. She called to Pippin, her jaunty white terrier as she ran, "Come, Pippin, good boy, run home now!" Pippin raced beside her as the two sprinted homeward at breakneck speed. A beautiful plantation house sat at the top of a bluff overlooking the James River in the colony of Virginia. Rose's father, Henry, would be arriving from Williamsburg today and she could hardly wait for his return. He had promised to fetch her something new from the milliner's shop. She hoped it would be a jaunty pink bonnet to match her French silk gown.

  Rose desperately wanted to show off in front of that hoity-toity Ellen Eubanks. Ellen had worn a new bonnet to church last Sunday and had taken the opportunity to make Rose feel like an underdressed country bumpkin. Just because Rose preferred riding horses and more strenuous activity to poring endlessly over the latest London fashion pamphlets, didn't mean she was uncivilized. They were, after all, living in the Colonies, whether Ellen liked it not. Ellen had moved here from London and she seemed determined to make everyone think she was much too grand to be stuck in a backwater like Virginia.

  Rose loved Virginia but, in truth, she had never known anywhere else. The stories of English living that she had heard Ellen tell sounded stilted and rather dull in her opinion. Ellen told of soirees and parties that sounded quite grand, but, to Rose, the tales also told of the expectations and pressures from society. Hmm, sniffed Rose, she wouldn't trade the wide open spaces of Virginia and the beauty of Ash Grove for anywhere else.

  Spying her father's carriage coming up the lane, her heart jumped with expectation. Rose's father wasn't the warmest of men, but he usually indulged her in her girlish whims. Henry Carter Randolph served in the House of Burgesses and was often called to the Governor's Palace for political meetings. The sabre rattling against the British crown continued to increase and King George III was not happy. Leaders of Virginia were forever coming in and out of Ash Grove but Rose didn't pay very much attention to politics. In fact, she deliberately tried to avoid her father after such meetings. Henry was often in a mood and would set up a tirade afterwards and it generally took him a day or two to calm down. He was trying to straddle the difficult position of neutrality and things didn't seem to be going well. The meetings left him even more sullen and angry than usual.

  Rose's mother had died several years ago. Rose was the only child of Henry and Ann Randolph. Rose missed her mother terribly. The ability to soothe her father's rages belonged to her mother alone. Henry doted on his daughter, however, and afforded her much freedom, perhaps a little too much. While Rose had her own way, she possessed a sweet temperament and rarely behaved in an untoward manner. However, like many overindulged young women, when crossed, she was stubborn and petulant.

  Rose stood now on the steps of Ash Grove as her father's carriage wound its way to the front of the house. The coachman alighted and folded down the carriage steps for her father to descend. Henry greeted his daughter warmly, with a hug.

  Pippin danced up and down and placed his paws on Henry's thigh. The elder statesman rubbed the dog's scruffy neck. "Still running wild with Pippin I see, daughter. He's been digging again, look at these filthy paws. My breeches shall have to be cleaned. Keep him outside until he has been cleaned as well."

  "Yes, sir. Father, how was your time in Williamsburg?"

  "Oh, ever the same, my girl, ever the same..."

  Rose hated to bring up the subject of her desired pink bonnet when her father looked so weary. She quietly watched with eager anticipation as the boxes and luggage were unloaded. She eyed a beautifully wrapped package, just the right size for a milliner's box, as it was handed down from the luggage rack and placed into Henry's arms. He turned and smiled at her.

  "You didn't think I'd forget did you?"

  "Oh goodness, the box alone is beautiful!" Rose's hands were clasped in expectation as her father held the package. She looked up at him with open adoration.

  "Go try it on, my lovely." Grabbing the box, she ran up the steps into the house, then flew upstairs to her room. Once inside, she carefully unwrapped the paper and gently folded it back. Even the wrapping was a luxurious commodity to be saved and reused. Imports of everything were valuable, including paper. Judiciously opening the lid, a cry of joy escaped her lips. The loveliest hat she had ever seen sat amidst matching pink tissue paper. Rose carefully lifted out the bonnet to admire before setting it upon her head.

  Rushing to the mirror, she tied the silk ribbons into a bow under her chin. Ellen was going to be absolutely green with envy!

  Rose had never seen anything so lovely. Eloise Smithson, her lady's maid, appeared at the door. Eloise was much older than Rose but the dear spinster was ever her ally.

  "Oh, how beautiful you look, Miss Rose." Rose ran to kiss Eloise, who, as far as Rose was concerned, was far more a member of the family than a servant.

  "Father chose well don't you think?" Rose gave a sweet smile.

  "Oh yes, indeed he did, little Miss, indeed he did. Run and show your father the bonnet. I have no doubt that he will be pleased with the result of his gift."

  Rose rushed from the room and into her father's study. "Look Father, the bonnet is perfect, thank you for the gift." Pippin had managed to wiggle his way inside the plantation house door and accompanied his mistress into the room. The dog gave a sharp bark of approval.

  "Rose, I thought I told you that dog was to stay outside when muddy."

  "Yes, Father, I'll put him out right away but look, Papa, do admire my bonnet!"

  Henry lightly pinched his daughter's cheek. "It is almost as lovely as the face that wears it, my dear."

  "Thank you, I love it, Papa." Rose skipped delightedly into the hall, her mind on her bonnet and forgetting her promise to put the dog outside. She climbed the stairs to her room again and watched as Pippin wagged his stubby little tail from side to side while he clambered up the steps beside her. His affectionate eyes gazed at Rose when they reached the landing and the entrance to Rose's room.

  Opening the door into her room, Pippin preceded Rose inside and promptly jumped high and plopped into the middle of the bed mud and all. Rose gave a deep sigh. "Oh, Pippin, you really are such a little piglet." The small dog simply grinned back, his tongue lolling out of his mouth with pure joy. Rose knew her bed was his favourite spot to roll about and wallow in—especially when muddy, it appeared. The sight of the dirt on his paws had a twinge of guilt pricking her conscience, reminding her she'd just assured her father she'd put Pippin outside. Rose shook her head at her adored p
et. Well, it was too late to worry about that now. "If you want to stay inside, you'd better stay out of father's purview. At least until you get a bath."

  Rose gently placed the hat back inside its box and tucked the tissue paper carefully around it. Closing the lid excitedly, she smiled and could hardly wait for Sunday; she could just imagine Ellen's face. It would be difficult not to stick out her tongue when she passed by on her father's arm to take their family seat in the meeting hall sanctuary.

  Rose joined her father for dinner in the dining room that evening. Suzanna, their house keeper-cook had once again produced a delicious meal. Poached fish from the James River, sprinkled with chopped walnuts was accompanied by fresh vegetables from their own kitchen garden. Rose watched out of the corner of her eye as Pippin judiciously squeezed in through the kitchen door behind the maid and came to sit beneath her chair. Oh dear, she had forgotten all about him, and he'd evidently forgotten her instructions to stay out of her father's sight. Now she would have to keep him quiet until dinner was done.

  As the fish was served and the wine poured, Henry eyed his only child. "Relations between the Colony and England continue to deteriorate, my dear. The call for open rebellion will no doubt soon be upon us."

  Rose's attention was split between eating, listening to her father, and trying to keep Pippin's presence a secret. She nodded to let her father know she was paying attention as she dropped yet another tidbit to the dog. Clearly hearing Pippin smacking his lips as he chomped away on his treat, she prayed the sound didn't carry.

  "I will have to be very careful, if I am able to maintain the security of Ash Grove, both for myself and for you and your children." Rose took a large bite of the delicious spoon bread; it melted in her mouth.