Dusky Duke and the Gypsy Pirate Princess (12 page)

Greyson nodded; his sentiments exactly.

♣♣♣

Early the next morning, Greyson anxiously soothed his sweaty palms down his pant legs as Captain Williams and the three women were ushered into his study. Greyson watched wearily as the females refused to raise their eyes from the floor.

“May I request that Lord Bryon be present to hear what I have to say?” the statement was a command phrased as a question.

The duke sent the servant who returned in less than a minute with the young man in question. Greyson could imagine that he had been skulking in the halls outside the study waiting to see what the father would say.

Greyson realized that there were not enough chairs and instructed the footman to find some more, but Captain William declined the offer and the servant left. The six stood in awkward silence for a moment before the captain cleared his throat.

“My family,” he waved a hand at the three women, “ have discussed the matter, and I have made a decision.”

“I have realized after last night that the situation from many years ago has been allowed to damage my family in ways I never imagined. Tabatha and Paulette were good friends when I met them. I chose Tabitha, never realizing that they both had feeling for me.” The captain cleared his throat again, “It ended their friendship.” “Several years after Tabatha died in that boating accident, I met Paulette again and we were married. I have long lived with her jealous of Tabatha; that I chose her first. My wife even now holds onto this competition between herself and my first wife. Unfortunately, I did not see how the resemblance between Honesty and Tabatha and Prudence and Paulette has been playing out. I have asked my daughter’s forgiveness and now I ask yours.

If you will,” the captain nodded at Lord Bryon and addressed him first. “We seem to be without funds for a dowry as the money set aside for it came from a source that my wife lied about. I ask that you not accept her without a dowry, but agree to give me a few years to pay it. Pretty assures me that to marry you is her fondest wish. If you are still willing, I agree to your marriage to my daughter, Prudence.”

The smile that lit up Lord Bryon’s face could have out shown the sun. He nodded eagerly and pumped the Captain’s hand enthusiastically.

Then the Captain turned to the duke. Greyson saw the concern in the Captain’s eye and his heart seized.  Lord Bryon stood where he had been shifting from one foot to the other still smiling. Greyson could tell he wanted to dash across the room to Pretty, but he restrained himself.

Captain Williams cleared his throat again. “I find this decision the hardest. Honesty does not want me to accept your offer. After talking with her most of the night I find her concerns not with you and your character or even her feelings for you, but the circumstances we find ourselves in. So in light of that, I must make the decision that I feel is the best for my daughter.”

Greyson felt his knees tremble, her father was going to refuse his petition. His world narrowed to the pounding of his heartbeat in his ears. It was so loud that he almost missed her father’s next words.

“So, without my daughter’s full consent, I agree to your request to marry Honesty. Again, please agree to wait on the dowry.”

Captain Williams was looking at him expectantly. Greyson felt stunned, he couldn’t think what he was supposed to do, and then in a rush he remembered and shook the father’s hand.

Captain Williams continued, “I ask that both marriage ceremonies happen as soon as a special license can be procured. I want my girls wed before I take the rest of my family home.

Both suitors nodded in agreement.

“Then if you will excuse my wife and I; we will go check on the other children.” And with that Captain Williams and his wife departed leaving two stunned men and two ladies who had not moved through the whole exchange.

Lord Bryon was the first to move. He danced across the space and swept Pretty into his arms and twirled her around. She giggled happily as he kissed her and drug her out the door.

The door slammed leaving Greyson alone with his intended. She stood staring at the floor unmoving. Greyson racked his brain for a way to draw her out. She had had a terribly stressful few days. And now she was engaged to a man she didn’t want. Greyson grimaced and picked up her limp hand. He felt it tremble in his larger one. He pulled her by the hand until he was seated in the leather high back chair and then he pulled her gently into his lap and nestled her head against his shoulder. He could not think  of what to say or do to make her feel better, to convince her that he loved her, that he would take care of her, and so he just held her on his lap, snug in his arms long after she relaxed.

♣♣♣

“What?” SarahBeth Buckingham roared, “You cannot be serious.” Greyson had never seen his grandmother in such a state before. “You are not to marry this girl like this.”

Greyson stood still as his grandmother paced back and forth in aggravation. “I forbid this ceremony to take place in three days. Are you crazy?” she demanded her face flushed.

Greyson grinned at his grandmother, “Yes.” He stated calmly.

“Well, it is just not done. Such a thing will make her re-entrance into the society difficult. You will not do this to her. You will have a reasonably, but short engagement and a September wedding,” she demanded.

Greyson shook his head, “Her own father requested the wedding take place immediately before they return home. And it will happen. I am not going to allow Honesty to go home with that woman unprotected.”

SarahBeth stopped pacing and stared out the window, her mind churning in great circles. “Your wedding to her in so short a time will be a scandal that will follow her for the next fifty years. If the Cantwells wish to hold power over you and your votes in parliament, Lord Cantwell could resurrect the scandal of five years ago. Combined with this quick marriage, it will cast her forever as a loose woman. With so much time passed, this gossip would crucify Honesty, but no one would think anything of their son, Dalton’s part.”

Greyson hissed. He imagined his delight in the ensuing scandal that was going to occur when he got his hands around that dandy’s neck. He raked his hand through his hair as he realized that after he killed Dalton Cantwell, his family could use the combination of the old scandal and the hasty marriage to ruin Honesty again.

“We need a proper engagement period,” insisted his grandmother.

“I agree, but we are going to be married in three days.” Greyson stated as a matter-of-fact.

SarahBeth tilted her head to the side and smiled a small smile. “What if no one knows of the marriage in three days and we proceed with the expected engagement until September and have the wedding of the century.”

Greyson sat back in his chair and considered the possibilities of this plan.

That night at dinner, Greyson watched Honesty, who was seated on his right pick at her food. She was silent and did not contribute to the dinner discussion. She only stared at her plate and pushed her peas in white sauce slowly around her plate.

On the other hand, Prudence fairly glowed with inner happiness. She talked easily to the other guests seated around her and cut flirting glances at the young redhead seated beside her.

Greyson noted that Mrs. Williams was not presence, but Captain Williams was enjoying the company of several older men in the group as they reminiscent about the good old days.

At the end of the meal, Greyson stood up. “As all know, tonight ends our token game. The score currently is men seven and ladies six. Tonight will determine whether the gentlemen prevail or the women have managed to tie the score. Who has the token?”

The guests eagerly looked at each other, a moment past. The tension in the air built. Greyson raised his eyebrow in question. Several of the girls twittered anxiously. Then with great flare, the duchess held up her hand and the emerald locket dropped to swing on the end of its silver chain. The room erupted in laughter and shouting.

Greyson motioned them to silence again, “It seems that the ladies had prevailed to close the game with a tie. Prizes will be award at the close of dinner tomorrow night. I hope all of you are looking forward the masque in two nights as much as I am. Thank you for having spent this extended season with us.” And then he sat down. Heknew the crowd was waiting with bated breath for him to make an engagement announcement, but they would have to wait until tomorrow night for such. The duchess signaled and the guests moved to the game rooms. Honesty sat undecidedly as to where she should be. He saw her glance at him from the corner of her eye.

He stood and pulled her to her feet, and looped her hand through his arm. He moved her to the other end of the table where he offered his grandmother his other arm. Slowly the trio made their way through the halls to the duchess’ suite.

“Come in dears,” the older lady instructed them. Once both ladies were sat, the duchess smiled. “Dear girl, I am so delighted with your engagement to my grandson. I know situations have caused it to be a bit unorthodox, but I am simply beside myself with happiness.”

Honesty gasped in shock.

“Greyson could not have picked a more perfect mate.”

At Honesty’s look of disbelief, the duchess chuckled. “Oh, it is true, I assure you. I have been almost as impatient as my grandson to have this engagement settled.”

Honesty’s eyes grew wide, “You knew Grey said he wanted to marry me.”

The duchess patted Honesty’s knee, “But of course, dear, I have known since the morning after your first dance.”

Honesty looked between the two. The expression on her face said she thought they were crazy.

“Now, dear, we need to discuss this current situation and a plan to fix it.” The duchess continued. At Honesty’s look of bewilderment, she patted her on the knee again.

“It will just not do to have the next Duchess of Devonshire married in a quick wedding with no engagement. Oh, I know the situation with your father; such a lovely man. So, I have come up with a plan I think will work. Tomorrow night, your engagements will be announced. And then the masque is the next night. And then the next night, there will be a private ceremony at the Castle Chapel with only your family and several others in attendance. It will be known that this ceremony is for the wedding of Lord Bryon and your beautiful sister. What will not be known is that the service will also include yours and Greyson’s. We will continue as though you two are only still engaged and plan for a large September wedding to be held in the great Devonshire Church.”

Honesty blinked at her in confusion.

“You and Greyson will be married, but no one will know of it and you can have the engagement expected that will ensure your easy entry into the upper ton. It is the perfect plan, you will see.”

“But, But I don’t want to be in the upper ton.”

“Oh, I know, dear, they look a bit scary, but really they aren’t and I will be with you every step of the way. Don’t worry about that yet. You should just relax and enjoy the next few days. You will do fine.” The duchess encouraged sincerely before she yawned dainty into her hand. “Now to bed with you, dear. You need to be chirper tomorrow. It is a big day.”

As Greyson led her out of the room, Honesty felt stunned. She wanted to run and hide. All the duchess’s talk of the plans made the coming events so much clearer. The problems so much bigger. She wasn’t duchess material. How many times did she need to say that? No one seemed to be listening. She just wanted to go home.

She looked around in confusion. She didn’t recognize the dark, unlit halls they were passing through. She started dragging her feet and pulling against the hold Greyson had on her hand. “Where are we going?”

His white teeth flashed in the darkness. “You will see.” He led her down a flight of stairs and into another dark hallway.

“Grey,” she protested. He pulled her along the gallery toward a set of French doors with flickering lights showing through the glass panes. He pulled open one of the doors and ushered his resisting intended inside. The large room was covered in brightly lit candles. Hundreds of them covered the small tables and the pianoforte. Honesty realized they were in a music room she had never seen. From the veranda in the distance, a violin could be heard.

“Grey, what are you doing?” Honesty squeaked as he swept her into his arms in a waltz. He noticed that even in her confusion, she still moved perfectly with him in the dance.

“It has been too long since we danced,” Greyson breathed against her ear. He pulled her closer as they continued to twirl and sway. “I was jealous that night that it was not you and I waltzing in the ballroom.”

“And the violin?”

Greyson chuckled into her hair, “I have many talents, but alas singing in not one of them.

He felt her smile and relax in his arms. They continued to whirl in circles in the wide, open spaces of the room. The darkness lightened only by the candles. “I want to dance with you forever, Honesty.” He kissed the top of her ear as he stopped their steps. Honesty leaned her forehead against his chest and tried to pull in slow, steady breaths. Her clothes were making catching her breath difficult. Greyson pulled her to a settee and sat pulling her into his lap. She started to sit up, but he held her still and off balance pulling one leg up and crossing that ankle with the other knee. Honesty could not put her feet on the floor and was tilted so that her whole body leaned toward Greyson.

“Why do I always seem to end up on your lap?” she grumped.

“Because, that is where you belong,” Greyson answered airily.

“You don’t own me, Grey,” Honest said seriously.

Greyson looked at her for a full minute. His eyes watching her face in the flicking candlelight. “Honesty, I don’t want to own you, I just want us to be together.”

“How can you say that. . . Grey, I can’t do this. I can’t be a duchess. I told you I’m going to mess this up. I am horrid at being in society, and your grandmother wants me to be one of the upper ton.” Her fear vibrated from deep in her chest and into his.

“Shush, I promise I will be with you always. You will never have to face them alone. And that is far in the future, I don’t even plan to present you in season for a long time, I promise. Don’t worry about the duchess part until much later.”

Honesty bent her head and muttered, “And what about the wife part, can I worry about that now?”

Greyson chuckled reaching under her skirts and into his pocket, he pulled out a ring. The candlelight reflected off the diamond facets creating a cascade of small stars to appear on the ceilings and walls. He wrapped his left arm around her back and pulled her left hand forward before pulling off her glove slowly. Greyson then slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly as though it was made for her.

“It is beautiful.” The ring was set with one center clear diamond surrounded in a semi-circle by six multi-colored smaller diamonds.

“It was my grandmother’s. It is a part of a wedding set. Unfortunately, you will only be able to wear this one until the September wedding.”

“But what if I lose it?” terror laced through her voice.

“Then I will buy you a new one,”

“But it is your grandmother’s.”

“Oh, Honesty, please stop worrying.”

She put her hands in the middle of his chest and pulled herself away from him, “Why won’t you believe I am no good at this?”

Greyson wrapped his right hand loosely around her left wrist and moved it upward causing her to lose her leverage and fall back against his chest. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it; his eyes watching her. He turned the hand over and placed a kiss against the palm; his fingers caressing the back of hers. Honesty’s breath caught and she watched as he placed the next kiss against the pulse in her wrist. His lips lingered against her skin. “I don’t want you to be good at this…I want you to be you; not someone else. I want to marry the Gypsy, Pirate Princess.” He kissed her palm again. Honesty’s eyelids lowered as she tried to deal with all the sensations whirling through her body. He breathed against her palm and placed a kiss on each finger. Honesty felt herself melting. She leaned toward him, their eyes never leaving the others. Honesty sighed as Greyson’s lips moved closer.

“Sorry, to interrupt, but times up,” announced a voice.

Honesty jumped and spun freeing herself from Greyson’s lap.

Teresa stood in the doorway, and laughed at Greyson’s growl.

Honesty ducked her head in embarrassment at being caught in such a compromising situation.

“It cannot have been an hour already,” Greyson complained just as the clocks of the house began donging.

Teresa was ignoring her brother and instructing a maid, “Run out there and tell that violin fellow that he is through for the night and then come back in here and put out all these candles.” The young maid dashed off.

“Well, come on with you.” Teresa waved at Greyson and Honesty. “We can’t have you out of sight too long.”

Greyson took Honesty’s glove and handed it to her. She realized that he was not surprised at his sister’s appearance. Honesty blinked up at him in question. He just smiled and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, before handing her over to his sister.

The Duchess of Winston took Honesty’s hand and led her down the gallery and through the hallways.

“Grey?” Honesty asked.

Teresa shook her head, “He won’t be joining us. We have to protect your reputation. As far as the other guests will know you have been with me the whole time.”

Teresa looped her arm around Honesty’s waist and using her other hand raised Honesty’s left hand to inspect the ring. “I always loved that ring; it always reminded me of pixies and fairy dust. I love the way it sparkles all the different colors. I’m glad he gave it to you. . . Although, I am still mad that I had to learn about his intentions secondhand from Robert. Never fear I will figure out a way to get back with him.” Teresa smiled wickedly.

Honesty tugged on her glove. The ring safely out of sight before Teresa led her into the game room. Honesty endured the next hour of curious stares from the other guests until she was able to escape to the nursery. She spent the next several hours rocking Maggie even after the child had relaxed into a deep sleep that only an unworried child can achieve. Right before dawn, Honesty stumbled to her bed and slept until noon.

♣♣♣

A dinner, Greyson was concerned with how pale Honesty looked. The stress of the past few days was showing in the lines of exhaustion that edged her mouth and eyes. She seemed so withdrawn from the activities surrounding them. She only answered questions directed at her and was not eating again. Greyson wondered when the last time she had eaten was. He grimaced as he contemplated what this stress would do to her health in the next two days until he could get all these people to leave his house.

She looked up quickly and their eyes meet. Hers filled with dread and resignation before she dropped them again. Grey frowned harder when he realized that he had been frowning in his displeasure at the situation. He could see that she had misinterpreted his expression. Before he could think of a way to explain, Captain Williams stood and called for the other's attention.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce the engagement of my daughter Prudence to Lord Bryon,” the guests cheered and toasted the couple. When they had settled down, he continued. “And the engagement, of my oldest daughter, Honesty to the Duke of Devonshire.”

The audience again clapped and toasted. Greyson noted that Mrs. Williams had not raised her eyes from her plate or showed any expression throughout the announcements. Greyson held Honesty’s hand up and she smiled weakly at the other guests.

Greyson stood, “Thank you, my friends. The official announcement will not be made until the ball tomorrow night. We will expect each of you back here for the September wedding.” Captain Williams, having been informed of the plan, smiled and toasted the couple yet again.

“Now, let’s continue with our token game. I know that each of you noticed the lovely boxes sat before you on the table.” The crowd chuckled as the content of the boxes had been the conversation of the whole dinner. The boxes were gaily wrapped in different colors and the boxes were different sizes. One of the boxes sat in front of each guest at the table. They waited with bated breath for permission to reach for them. “We congratulate everyone on a game well played.”