An Unlikely Duchess (38 page)

A noise on the stairs drew his attention and he looked up to see his fiancé appear.

His jaw dropped open.

Hang waiting,
he suddenly thought ferociously,
it
is
the most overrated thing in the world.

Rebecca came to a stop in front of him and waited for him to speak. But he could not. She had quite literally rendered him speechless.

“Edward, are you well?” Rebecca asked smiling coyly.

She knew, the minx. Knew the effect she had on him.

“I — you—” he stuttered before coming to a stop once again.

But Rebecca did not need the words. The look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.

Caroline appeared next and both Edward’s jaw and Rebecca’s dropped a little this time. Though the gleam in Edward’s eyes was missing when he looked at Caroline, and that was enough for her. The gleam belonged to Rebecca alone.

He also recovered quickly enough to pay Caroline a compliment on how well she looked.

Caroline’s dress was as dramatic and beautiful as Rebecca’s. Caroline’s was a chiffon creation of sea green which did incredible things for Caroline’s ice blue eyes.

She looked like a Scandinavian goddess, Rebecca thought, coolly and intimidatingly beautiful.

Rebecca would watch Mr. Crawdon’s reaction with interest.

“Caroline, you look really quite beautiful,” Edward bowed over her hand and Caroline favoured him with a grateful smile before moving into the ballroom to oversee the setting up of the orchestra.

“Hmm,” said Rebecca playfully.

“What is it darling?” asked Edward, running a finger along her collarbone and making her shiver with excitement.

“You call my sister beautiful yet cannot spare a word for me,” she teased.

Edward grinned wickedly.

“The words I have for you my love are not appropriate for the receiving line of a ball, I assure you. They are for the privacy of the bedchamber and nowhere else.” This he whispered in her ear and chuckled softly at her whimper.

“Patience, my beauty,” he said softly.

Rebecca turned to look him square in the eye.

“Have you ever known me to be patient?” she asked.

He grinned. “No.”

“And why start now?” she asked with a wink.

They would later argue about whose fault it was but either way, they missed the receiving line, were late to their own party and arrived looking so flushed and dishevelled that they were the talk of the Town once again.

Caroline stood watching the dancers glide gracefully through the steps of the waltz. She was unaware of the attention coming her way looking as beautiful as she did in Madame’s creation. Her eyes scanned the room and her breath hitched when they made contact with the deep blue of Mr. Crawdon’s. He was staring at her as if she were a meal to a starving man. Caroline knew she should look away, that it was most improper for him to look at her so but she felt trapped in his gaze. He walked slowly towards her and Caroline’s heart rate sped up. He stopped just inches from her and Caroline had to tilt her head to look up to his too handsome face.

“What you do to a man with your beauty, Lady Caroline,” he drawled.

Caroline did not know quite what to say in response to such a forward remark so she stayed mute. Like a dolt.

“Shall we dance?” he asked and she remembered their wonderful evening in Vauxhall Gardens, though she should not think of it. But what was one dance? It would be unusual not to dance with him at the engagement party of her sister and his cousin.

He held out his hand to her and she placed hers in it. She tried not to react to the feel of his hand through her glove.

It was a dance, she told herself as he led her to the floor. Just a dance.

****

Rebecca waltzed in Edward’s arms and felt like she never wanted to stop.

“Do you think it would cause a terrible scandal if I were to kiss you now in front of all our guests?” asked Edward.

“Yes I do,” she answered firmly, “and your mother would not be impressed.”

“Nor yours, I imagine.”

Rebecca smiled a little sadly. “But she would not be here to see it.”

“Darling, do you remember when you asked me to teach you to fence and I refused.”

“You did not refuse to my memory,” she grinned.

“You are mistaken. I
did
refuse at first. And then you looked at me with those damned eyes and I gave in almost immediately.”

Rebecca smiled unrepentantly.

“Do you remember what I said?” he continued.

“Something about giving me anything to make me happy as long as it was in your power to do so.”

“Yes well, I think you will find my powers stretch to retrieving missing relatives,” he said with a smile.

“What?”

He turned her gently and pointed across the ballroom. There, standing with the dowager were her brother Charles, her mother and her dear papa looking a little pale but mostly as well as ever.

Rebecca gasped then flew across the room and straight into the arms of her family, hugging each of them fiercely. Edward followed at a more sedate pace, happy to see the glow of delight on her face.

He came up behind her and placed a hand on the small of her back. And then, Rebecca caused a terrible scandal in front of all their guests by kissing her fiancé soundly on the mouth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nadine Millard is a writer hailing from Dublin, Ireland. Although she'll write anything that pops into her head, her heart belongs to Regency Romance.

When she's not immersing herself in the 1800s, she's spending time with her husband, her three children, and her very spoiled Samoyed. She can usually be found either writing or reading and drinking way too much coffee.

ALSO FROM BLUE TULIP PUBLISHING

WHAT A DUKE WANTS

By Kristin Vayden

Chapter One

Charles Evermore, Duke of Clairmont, glared at his solicitor, narrowing his eyes until he could no longer see the small framed man before him. There had to be a mistake. There was no other explanation for the words coming from the man’s mouth.

“Your grace, if you’ll simply read the documentation for yourself…” Mr. Burrows spoke with practiced patience.

Charles stood and stalked around the desk, ripping the papers from his grasp. Mr. Burrows leaned back, folding his hands and watching Charles with unaffected impassivity. Not for the first time, Charles thought the man looked like a praying mantis, all long and lean with exceedingly large eyes and a patient demeanor that was all to deceptive.

But he was the best solicitor available.

He had better be for what Charles paid for his services.

“If you’ll start on the second page…” Mr. Burrows suggested.

Charles read the endless prattle of legal terms until his eyes focused on the chilling phrase.

Wards.

Three girls, to be exact. Ranging from ages seven to sixteen.

And, as heaven stood by laughing, he was to be their guardian.

Charles stared at the words, willing them to disappear. He hadn’t the time, the energy, or the inclination to take over the raising of three insufferable miniature females! He could hardly tolerate his mistresses, and they were full grown and low maintenance! He studied the rest of the document, searching for any other names that might take this plight away from him.

“You’re likely curious as to why you were chosen,” Mr. Burrows suggested.

“The question had crossed my mind.” Charles remarked sarcastically.

Mr. Burrows wisely ignored the duke’s surly attitude. “It was a tragedy, to be sure. The poor girls lost both parents in a carriage accident—”

“And there were no aunts or uncle to take them in?” Charles interrupted.

Mr. Burrows simply blinked, raising his eyebrows slightly and waiting.

“Carry on.” Charles waved his hand, somewhat chagrined at his idiotic question. After all, if there
were
a spinster aunt or bachelor uncle, hell, any relative at all, they wouldn’t be given to him as wards.

“As I was saying…” Mr. Burrows shot Charles a pointed gaze. “The girls were left quite without any family. Only providence connected them with you, your grace. You see, they are actually your mother’s second cousins, God rest her soul.”

“So I’m the urchins’ cousin? Bloody perfect.” Charles mumbled under his breath.

“So it would seem.” Mr. Burrows stood, collecting the papers from Charles’s outstretched hand. “You’ll not need to worry about a dowry or any such things for the young ladies. Their parents left them quite a bit of wealth. However, I would suggest you begin a search for a proper governess.”

“Bloody hell, another female in my house. Exactly what I need.”

“Yes, well, that female might be your salvation in helping you train the children into young ladies. After all, they’ll need to someday make a match.”

“That’s the only way I’m ever going to be rid of them, isn’t it?” Charles combed back his jet-black hair with his hand, feeling a miserable headache beginning at the base of his neck.

“Perhaps.” Mr. Burrows nodded and turned away, but not before Charles saw the slightest hint of a grin. “The young ladies will arrive in a few days, I expect. If you need anything more, you know where to reach me. Good night, your grace.” Mr. Burrows paused at the door.

“Good night, Mr. Burrows.”

Charles strode over to the fire, studying the orange and red flames. Truly, this was the worst sort of news. At three and thirty, he wasn’t necessarily old, but he was quite accustomed and comfortable with his way of life. Oh, he knew eventually he’d have to suffer through a woman’s presence enough to marry her and produce an heir, but he still figured he had at least five years before that would be necessary.

And to be sure, he was waiting until it was absolutely necessary.

A few days, a mere forty-eight hours and his entire existence would be in upheaval. To think, only four hours ago he was looking forward to a cozy evening with Céline, the opera diva he had sequestered in a little townhouse not far away. Under the present circumstances, he no longer was looking forward to anything. Rather, he was quite content to stand before the fire and feel sorry for himself.

Of course! He could take the girls to the country and leave them there with a governess.

Why hadn’t he thought of it before? It was a stroke of brilliance. He needn’t have his life interrupted after all! Surely the young ladies wouldn’t want him around anyhow. Why, he’d only be in the way. A governess would be infinity more suitable for them. He needn’t interfere!

Suddenly the evening was brighter, even the fire cast a cheerier glow about the room. All he had to do was secure a governess. And that couldn’t be hard to do. He’d simply inquire about and interview prospective persons. Better yet, Mrs. Pott, the housekeeper, could interview. She’d be far more capable and wise in knowing what made a good governess.

Charles congratulated himself on his brilliant plan and to celebrate, strode over to the liquor cabinet, and poured himself a glass of amber-colored brandy.

“Cheers,” he murmured.

Already those girls were as good as gone.

****

Two Days Later, Near Bath.

Mr. Burrows regarded his young client, impressed with the poise and grace in one so young. Why, she couldn’t be a day over eighteen. Miss Carlotta Standhope was uncommonly pretty, it was a shame that she’d not have a come out. The
ton
would have celebrated her golden hair and clear green eyes, but it was her character that made her supremely appealing, he decided.

It must have been a severe blow for her to discover the future she’d anticipated was no longer available to her. It was part of his business, delivery of unwelcome news. However the young woman was taking it all in with such grace and poise, it caused him to greatly respect the young woman. Pity pinched his heart. Unaccustomed to any emotional response when dealing with his clients, he fidgeted with his spectacles “I’m sure you’d like a moment…” He stood to leave, offering her a moment to gather herself in private.

“No, please.” Her green eyes widened as she visibly swallowed. “I need to understand the full depth of my change in situation. Please…continue.” She took a deep breath as if fortifying herself.

“Very well, Miss Standhope.” He nodded then resumed his seat. “As I know you’re aware, upon you parents passing several years ago, the substantial inheritance they left for you was primarily invested overseas, in the Caribbean. The interest from that investment has been what you’ve lived on these past years. I’m sorry to say that with the recent tropical cyclone, the investment in the Caribbean was a total loss.”

“Total, as in I’m penniless, or total as in I’ll still have enough food to eat and won’t be turned out of my own home?” she asked her voice cracking.

“Garden Gate is entailed, so you’ll not lose the manor or lands, but you’ll also not have any funds to maintain their upkeep.”

“So, it’s as good as being completely penniless.”