An Apple Pie for a Duke (10 page)

“
I
must ask you, Sir, to stop insulting the Viscount and myself.”

“
Must
you, pretty boy?” Jupiter's bright eyes were flashing.

It's
not to be tolerated. I am Surrey!

“
Sir,
I'm the Duke of Surrey. If you would kindly give me your name. My
seconds will arrange a meeting.”

“
No,
S-Surrey, d-d-don't!”

“
Quiet,
Lackerby!” Jupiter had gotten so close that he could reach out and
pat Lackerby on the shoulder. “Let your little friend and myself
get the matter straight.”

The
giant's eyes turned into slits. “Well, well, dukey. You want
satisfaction? You of all people want satisfaction from ME? I'd shoot
you without even looking up from my newspaper, sweet dandy boy.”
The huge creature was towering over Dominic. It was a situation he
had never experienced before.

“
I've
never missed a shot!” Dominic spat. He was seriously annoyed by
now. How could this maniac ruin this most special day?

“
Hmm,
hmm, hmm.” The man smiled and now it was Dominic who was being
patted. It almost threw him to the ground. “You know, I'd really
love to duel myself with you, Surrey... But what would my poor wife
say?”

“
I
believe she might call herself a widow, Sir.”

“
Oh,
she's been there, done that. She wouldn't allow it to happen for a
second time. No... What I meant is this. My wife would never forgive
me if I shot you.”

Dominic
had a suspicion. He stiffened.

“
Sir,
perhaps this is a mere misunderstanding. I'm not acquainted with your
wife. I'm not in the habit of frequenting married women. I may not be
an ascetic but I'm not fishing in other men's ponds.”

“
On
the contrary, Sir. You know my wife, and I know it for a fact. She'd
throw me out of my own house if I shot you. Oh, and my poor child!
The poor little creature! The darling girl! What would she say if I
shot her, how shall I put it,
fiancé
?
After you ambushed her in a hayloft, attacked her in a bookshop and
abducted her from a ball? How could she ever forgive her old papa?”

Roaring
laughter exploded from Jupiter's mouth. His entire body was shaken by
spasms of mirth. Finally, he took Dominic's hand and shook it.

“
Your
Grace, you've proven to be a courageous man. I give you my blessing.
I want loads of grandchildren and by tomorrow. I'm an old man, you
see, I may have little time remaining.”

He
winked merrily.

“
Ah
yes, one more thing before I go. If you make my little girl unhappy,
I'll break your neck. And if for whatever reason you won't show up at
our London residence this afternoon, I’ll find you and I’ll kill
you. Did I make myself clear?”

He
winked and smiled again.

Dominic
blushed like a schoolboy. He was still thinking of something suitable
to say when their attention was drawn elsewhere.

Monsieur
Duval, who had watched the entire scene silently from behind the
couch, collapsed and fell to the ground.

Weak
nerves? Poor chap must've been worried he'd have a dead duke on his
hands.

The
general turned and drew his eyebrows together. “Mr. Wimple!”

Mr.
Wimple? At last! Now, let's take a good look at you, Mr. Wimple,
before I snuff you out.

Dominic
heard a loud thumping noise coming from the couch. Shortly afterwards
he saw what had to be the fattest dog in the world. The huge basset
hound came jovially trotting towards them, wagging its tail.

General
Cartwright pointed his walking stick at the animal. “Mr. Wimple,
have you eaten the biscuits Monsieur Duval has so graciously offered
to me? You know what they do to your bowels.”

Mr.
Wimple averted his eyes.

Lackerby
suddenly swayed. “W-what's that s-smell?”

“
Gentlemen!”
The general covered his face with a handkerchief. “There's only one
thing I can say to you except good luck. RUN!”

15.

Halfmoon
Street, later that day

She
bit her lip.

She
tapped her feet.

She
stretched.

She
hugged herself.

She
sang.

She
got up.

She
sat down.

She
got up again and walked around the room.

He's
not coming. He's not coming. He's not coming.

The
door opened and her heart stopped.

It
was a footman carrying a tray.

“
Get
out!” Gigi fumed.

The
man bowed and retreated.

How
can he be so calm? I may or may not get engaged to the most perfect
man in the world today... if he hasn't fled to the West Indies.

The
door opened again.

Lady
Cartwright looked in.

“
Are
you alright in there, Eugenia?”

“
No,
I'm not! Leave me alone!”

Lady
Cartwright nervously blinked and closed the door again.

It's
four o'clock already. He's not coming.

Footsteps.
But the feet walked past the door.

Frustrated,
Gigi threw herself onto the couch and groaned aloud.

The
door opened.

Gigi
jumped up.

He.
He
.
HE
came in.

Mr.
Wimple was comfortably lounging in the duke's arms. The duke himself
did not look quite so comfortable, whether from nervousness or from
strain – Mr. Wimple weighed at least 70 pounds – Gigi could not
tell.

“
I
have a hostage,” the duke said under his breath. “But from what I
witnessed this morning it's far more likely he'll kill us than the
other way around. Therefore I---”

“
Yes,
I will!” Gigi cried.

“
What?”

“
I
will marry you!”

“
Oh,”
the duke looked puzzled. “That was quick.”

Mr
Wimple lifted his head and licked His Graces gracious chin. 

“
I
have no patience for such things,” Gigi panted. “I just thought
I'd say it so I wouldn't have to wait before you asked me because why
else would you have come and since you already know that--- what---
how I--- well, I guessed it would be the easiest way to get it over
with.”

Keep
breathing, Eugenia Cartwright, keep breathing.

“
I'm
not fainting,” she declared jubilantly to the room.

“
No...
Would--- why would you want it to be over quickly?”

Mr.
Wimple yawned and licked the duke again.

“
Pardon
me.” Dominic St. Yves turned around and walked towards the door.

Oh
no! He's leaving! I've chased him off! I'm such a stupid, hysterical
cow!

The
duke opened the door, set Mr. Wimple down in the corridor and came
back in again.

Eugenia
was supporting herself on the couch's armrest in order to remain
standing. Her knees were about to give way.

Dominic
St. Yves was glowering darkly at her from the other side of the
drawing room.

“
You
are the strangest girl I ever met.”

“
I
couldn't say, Your Grace,” Gigi mumbled, looking at her feet.

“
Stop
calling me that!”

He
rushed towards her and drew her into his arms.

“
You're
driving me mad, Eugenia Cartwright!”

“
That's
good, I guess?”

“
Oh,
shut up.”

His
lips pressed down on hers. She threw her arms around him and gave
herself up to him, to his longing kiss, to the feeling of his lean,
strong body against hers. It made her want to scream! How could
anything be as good as he?

When
she finally drew away her whole body was on fire.

“
I
have to warn you. I'm a bluestocking,” she said out of breath.

He
smiled. “I don't care what colour your stockings are as long as you
let me take them off.”

He
kissed her again. And again. Their tongues, their bodies, everything
seemed to melt into one as they stood there by the couch, embracing
and forgetting the world around them.

“
Is
it over yet?” Lady Cartwright asked through a half opened door.
“May we come in?”

“
Yes,
you may,” Dominic said and reluctantly let go of Gigi.

“
Thank
Goodness!”

Lady
Cartwright and General Cartwright came rushing in and rapidly closed
the door behind them. Both were pressing handkerchiefs to their
faces. Lady Cartwright marched to a window, opened it and both Gigi's
parents leaned out, drawing deep breaths.

“
So,
when will you be married?” Lady Cartwright asked from the window.

“
As
soon as possible,” Gigi insisted.

I
won't let him get away now.

“
And
when is that?” The general asked turning towards the couple.

Dominic,
my Dominic, my future husband, His Grace the Duke of Surrey, most
attractive and most dangerous, most manly and most perfect man in
England,
looked down at her.

“
Really?
I mean, you are young, shouldn't you at least enjoy the rest of the
season before---”

“
No,
don't make me wait,” Gigi whispered. “You're a duke, you must
have a special license. I want you to marry me right now.”

I'm
going to explode if I can't have him tonight.

Dominic
stared at her in bedazzlement.

“
Today?”
he asked softly, the implications of her words slowly dawning on him.

“
TODAY?”
Lady Cartwright gasped.

“
Well,”
the general cleared his throat. “Your mother and I don't think this
has to be rushed, you've only just---”

“
Wonderful!”
Lady Cartwright cried. “Of course they can be married right away,
he has a special license! He's a duke! We’ll have the maids pack up
her things and she'll be at Grosvenor Square by tonight.”

“
Oh!”
General Cartwright drew out his pipe. “If that's so... would you
mind, Sir?”

The
duke was still looking only at her. Longingly. Hungrily.

He
can't wait either.

He
smiled. Then laughed. He kissed her gently on the forehead.

“
Everything
to get away from Mr. Wimple.”

16.

Grosvenor
Square, a few hours later.

The
archbishop had not complained for long when Gigi's father had most
genially asked him to perform a wedding ceremony for the Duke of
Surrey and his beautiful bride.

Gigi
did not remember much of it.

At
the duke’s mansion in Grosvenor Square a footman in gold livery
helped her out of the carriage.

The
steward, the butler, the housekeeper and all the other servants were
lined up to welcome their new mistress.

They
curtsied deeply as she walked by and said “Your Grace.”

It
took Gigi some time until she realised they were not addressing
Dominic but
her
.

I'm
Her Grace now. The Duchess of Surrey!

 
Her
new title had been the least of her concerns. All she was thinking
about was how to get her husband,
MY
HUSBAND DOMINIC ST.YVES
into
his bedroom and to finally know how making love was really done.

She
was a little scared.

What
if I'm not doing it right? What if it hurts? What if---

They
were alone. The servants had all gone.

Gigi
stood in the middle of the room, not really knowing whether to sit
down or lie down, whether to say something or not. Where she had been
only slightly afraid before, she was very afraid now.