Lady Hope and the Duke of Darkness: The Baxendale Sisters Book 3 (7 page)

“Lady Pamela.” The duke bowed and gathered his reins in his hands. “I believe I’ll ride on. One must enjoy the fine weather while it lasts.”

“I shall ride with you, if you’ll permit me, Your Grace.” Pamela glanced at Hope. “I come to Rotten Row to ride rather than gossip.”

The duke bent his head in regal acknowledgement, and the groups’ horses trotted forward.

“Well!” Amanda snorted with disgust. “How rude.”

As they walked their horses, Hope stared ahead to where Lady Pamela rode beside Winslow. Her brittle laugh and flirtatious conversation drifted back to them. Her father, the marquess, would hardly approve of such forward conduct. It was obvious that Pamela was intent on marrying Winslow, and if anyone got in her way, she would not fight fair.

Hope firmed her lips. Pamela would find that she wasn’t so easily pushed aside.

Chapter Six

Daniel had kept his father’s house, Prunier Hall, located near Ham, staffed. He left London for the country the next day, driving his phaeton. He had yet to decide what to do with this monument to his father and all the bitterness that provoked. He’d been putting it off, but learning of his father’s appalling behavior made it more urgent.

The eighteenth century mansion on the River Thames was little more than a half-day’s drive from London. Daniel guided his horses through the ornate, wrought iron gates and along the winding, elm-lined drive. He pulled the team up outside the pale stone house with its long windows and towering Doric columns. His father’s old butler, Green, opened the door. Daniel entered the wide black-and-white marble-tiled reception hall. He had retained his father’s faithful servants, some of whom were now aged.

“Your Grace.” Green looked overjoyed to see him. The butler had watched him grow from a boy to a man.

“Green,
mon vieux
. How are you?”

“I am well, Your Grace. Are you staying long?”

“Only tonight.”

“Will you partake of wine in the salon? I shall tell Forbes to light the fire.”

“Bring coffee to the office, Green. There’s correspondence to be deal with. I’ll take a Cognac later, before dinner. I plan to address the whole staff, one by one. I’ll begin with Mrs. Simms.”

“The housekeeper is in the village, Your Grace.”

“Very well.”

Daniel walked through the house to the office, a small room at the back of the building. His secretary, on his instructions, had left correspondence to be signed. He sat behind the desk, where the neat stack of papers awaited his perusal and opened the ledgers. At the cry of a sparrowhawk, he turned to gaze through the window. In the distance, the sun sparkled on the Thames. Why had he avoided selling the house? It wasn’t as though he’d ever brought Elizabeth here. His father had written to him making it plain that he wouldn’t welcome her. Elizabeth had been a timid soul, and he’d refused to subject her to his father’s displeasure. He would have to let the house go, and he knew to face the rest of his life, he must also let Elizabeth and Tobias go. The thought was painful, but a little less sharp than before. Perhaps time did heal all wounds. But he wasn’t ready to believe that old adage.

He sipped his coffee. Green appeared to be crippled with rheumatism, but his duties these days were light. “Do you wish to retire from service, Green? You will have a good pension.”

Green looked horror-struck, and then defeat seeped into his features. “I believe it’s inevitable, Your Grace.”

“But not imminent unless you wish it.” Daniel put down his cup. “I have yet to decide what to do with the house.”

Green shuffled and looked at his feet. “I see.”

“Do you remember when I was first sent off to school?”

“I do.” Green nodded with a smile.

“In the years I was away, were you aware that my father remarried?” Daniel saw no way around it other than to be blunt.

Green silvered eyebrows rose. “Why yes, he brought his new bride here to Prunier Hall.”

“When was that?”

Green looked confused and scratched his head. “I believe it was later that same year. Her Grace lived here, but sadly, as I assumed you knew, she died in childbirth soon after.”

“And the child?”

“I don’t know where the girl was sent.” Green’s eyes went dark. “Your father never said. He was in a very bad way, Your Grace,” Green rushed on, as if he felt the need to defend his employer. “He was not himself afterward.”

Daniel drew in a deep breath. “He never told me.”

“Perhaps he felt it better that you didn’t know. He said once the house should be filled with your children….” He flushed.

“And?”

“Children of French aristocratic blood, Your Grace. Your father swore me to secrecy, but I owe more to you now.”

Daniel curled his fingers into his palms; he wanted to punch a wall. His father’s actions now made perfect sense. When his English wife died, he had obviously decided Daniel was never to know anything about her, lest he give into the same impulse. And when Daniel had done precisely that and married Elizabeth, his father had reacted with fury. “You’ve been very helpful. Thank you, Green. That will be all.”

It was past midnight, when Daniel lay in his bed, his arm resting over his eyes, and allowed the horror of the past to flood back in vivid detail. He breathed deeply to ease the weight on his chest and let the nightmare return; perhaps it was better to face it. He must not allow the past to influence the future, as his father had done.

He’d looked forward to showing them his home in the Loire Valley, but Elizabeth and Toby never got to see it. The fearful storm that had hit the boat when they were crossing to France had been worse than any experienced for some years. Gigantic waves swept over the deck and the wind howled around the mast, threatening to bring it down. Daniel had been forced to take his family below deck to shelter in their cabin. When the boat rolled alarmingly and sent them flying, he’d ushered Elizabeth toward the stairs with Toby in his arms. With a huge shriek, the ship went under, and a wall of water crashed down upon them. Elizabeth was suddenly gone, but Daniel had clung to his son. Moments later, he was flailing in the sea. Alone.

Daniel broke out into a sweat and gritted his teeth. He leapt from the bed to stalk the carpet. He’d swum to the surface and grabbed a floating piece of timber, yelling their names while waves crashed down on him and spun him around. Hours later, in the freezing water, his hands were so numb that he feared he’d lose his grip. He’d been almost silenced, his throat raw with saltwater when he heard a cry. For a moment hope had flared, and then it died.

A fishing boat had come alongside. As they pulled him aboard, he urged them to keep searching. Then he blacked out.

Daniel regained consciousness on the French beach, to face the horrible truth he saw in the fishermen’s faces. He’d wanted to stagger back into the sea and lose himself.

In Mayfair two days later, Daniel rose from his chair as the butler showed Sophie into the drawing room. She curtseyed low before him.

“Please.” He came forward and took her hands, bidding her rise. “I don’t expect you to stand on ceremony.”

“It’s this house, Your Grace.” She raised her eyebrows. “It’s very grand.”

A brief smile flickered on his lips as he gestured to a chair. “I expect it is, but we are still the same people who conversed in my hotel, are we not?”

She sat on the sofa, placing her hands in her lap.

“May I offer you a libation? Tea, perhaps?”

She shook her head. “I dislike tea. Might I have coffee?”

“But of course.” He rang the bell. Well, they had that in common at least.

“You wished to see me,” she said. “I trust you’ve given our prior conversation some thought.”

“I have. It’s not often that a man suddenly finds he has a sister.”

“A half-sister,” she reminded him, eyeing him carefully.

“I wanted to reassure you that, before I return to France, I will reestablish the allowance my father gave you every quarter,” he began, although he planned to treble it. “If there’s anything else you have merely to….” He paused in surprise.

Sophie had held up her hand and thrust out her pointed chin. “I thought I’d made myself clear, Your Grace, I am not after money.”

“Oh?” He stared at her exasperated, although he’d had an inkling she’d want something else from him. “Are you so well placed that you can afford to refuse my money?”

She flushed. “It’s true that am not rich, but I don’t wish to live as you do. My needs are simple. I—”

Daniel waved his hand. “That won’t do. Life can be cruel for those who have little. You might wish to marry. And you should marry well.” He raised a brow. “Or is there someone?”

“No, Your Grace.”

“Daniel, please.”

She edged forward on the seat. “I came to find you because I’ve felt very much alone since my father died.”

Daniel hesitated, measuring her for a moment. A young lady alone in the world was very different to his situation and need for solitude. He took the coffee from the footman and sipped from the cup while watching her as she stirred sugar into hers. What could he do for her? “Suppose I arrange for someone to take you under their wing before I leave?”

Her mouth puckered, dismay darkening her eyes. “I can see that it’s unfair to expect you to feel anything for me—to want us to get to know each other. After all, we are strangers.”

She’d been quite forceful the last time they’d met, but her act crumbled before his eyes. Compassion and shame gripped him. While he still intended to return to France alone, he sought a solution. “Then I shall remain in London long enough to see you settled. Will that suit?”

She cast him a level glance, and he expected her to refuse. “Thank you, Daniel. I accept your kind offer.”

Had she wanted this outcome all along? At times, women outshone men with their shrewdness. They seemed to understand a good deal more about human nature. And she was correct. He didn’t know her, and right now, he didn’t need to. But she was his father’s legitimate daughter. The daughter of a duke should take her proper place. He was suddenly determined to see that she did. His gaze took in her appearance. Her unadorned grey dress was neat and clean, but she was in no way fashionable. He came to a decision.

“First, I suggest we have a lady take you in hand, dress you, teach you how to go about in society.” Perhaps Miles’ wife, Anne, would take her up. “Meanwhile, you must move into this house.”

“Oh. But I don’t wish to.” She looked around, no doubt taking in the expensive paintings, the silk curtains, and gold leaf decorating the cornices.

“I can’t help you if you remain in the country. And don’t suggest an inn in the city. It won’t do.”

Her dark brows batted together, and she looked mulish and very French. “But no one knows I’m your half-sister. There will be hurtful gossip. It would not bother me overmuch, but I would hate to be the cause of your discomfort.”

“Then we must find you a chaperone immediately. I’ll send a servant for your things. In the interim, my housekeeper will serve. She will supply you with the necessaries for tonight and show you to your bedroom. Tomorrow, we will send for your luggage.” He rose to pull the bell rope. “Now you must forgive me, I have a pressing engagement.” He rose and bowed his head. “Lady Sophie.”

“I’ve never thought of myself that way!” Her eyes widened, she stood and sank into a curtsey.

“And no more of that,” Daniel said with a smile.

Sophie’s tinkling laugh followed him from the room, sending a surprising shaft of warmth into his chest.

Daniel had less success with Canning, who greeted him with a worried look when he entered his office. The balding man, who was known for his skills as an orator, and his ability to put others offside, paced the floor of the chamber with his hands behind his back. “The French army has invaded Spain. Wellington and I have been monitoring developments there. As you know, Wellington doesn’t like to see legitimate authority overthrown. He supports what France is doing, but limits must be set. I am about to summon the French ambassador.”

“Then I don’t see a role here for me.”

“Duke, that’s where you’re wrong,” Canning said. “I am waiting on additional intelligence, which hopefully will clarify matters. I trust when the time comes, that you will accept an important mission on behalf of England in the interests of France, which must be undertaken in great secrecy.”

Daniel walked into the street contemplating the little that Canning had told him. Was there a chance of a war between England and France? Both countries had barely recovered from the last one, which had brought years of poverty and unrest.

****

On Wednesday night at Almacks, Hope spotted Amy Tyndale. Dressed in white muslin embroidered with lilac, she looked uncomfortable as she sat by herself. Her mother had left her to chat with a lady a few yards away. Hope made her way over to her.

“Oh, Lady Hope, how very nice to see you again.” Amy gave a stiff smile. “Are you enjoying your Season?”

“I am beginning to, but it has been daunting.”

At Hope’s confession, Amy’s guarded expression vanished. “I agree. It is rather intimidating, isn’t it? At least at first. I’m never sure of my clothes or whether I’m saying the right thing.”