The Duke's Challenge (20 page)

Mary brought up
Charlotte’s chocolate and hot water at eight o’clock. ‘What is the weather like
today, Mary? Is it fine?’

‘It is, miss.
Bright and clear and no clouds in the sky anywhere.
A mite chilly but not bad for the first of October.’

‘I’m so
relieved. I know the party is going to be held in the barn but I don’t want
everyone to get drenched on their way there.’

‘No fear of
that. The wind’s sharp; you’ll need to dress warmly this afternoon. I thought
that you could wear the green gown you wore to church yesterday but with the
pelisse instead of the spencer.’

She agreed to
Mary’s suggestion and hurried with her
toilette
as she wished to spend the entire day with the children. The morning was to be
spent in lessons the afternoon completing their name-day gifts for Jack. That
way they would hardly notice the restriction on their movements he had insisted
upon.

By three o’clock the children were beside themselves with anticipation.
Their gifts were ready and carefully wrapped in tissue. Harry had stuck pebbles
over an old wooden box and Beth had painted a pretty watercolour of Buttons and
her kittens. She had then made a frame from scraps of material stuck around the
edge. Charlotte had completed her embroidering of the six handkerchiefs she
intended to give him.

‘Shall we give
these to Cousin Jack before we go?’ Beth asked as she tied the ribbon that held
the tissue paper together.

‘No, I’ll arrange
for Meltham to place the gifts at his place for him to open, when we return for
dinner.’

‘I don’t think
it’s at all fair for Harry to be allowed to stay up for dinner. I have never
done so before and I’m almost eleven.’

‘Please do not
squabble, not today, Beth. This is a special time for all of us. Cousin Jack
has told me he hasn’t celebrated his name day since he was a boy. I want it to
be very special, a day he will always remember.’

‘It’s your
party as well, Lottie, you’re celebrating your betrothal, aren’t you?’

‘I am, Beth.’
She glanced down at her bare finger. Mama’s jewellery had all been pawned which
was a shame for Jack had no family heirlooms to search through in order to find
her a suitable engagement ring. She sighed. She would be wearing gloves so no
one would notice this lack.

They were
dressed in their Sunday best; all the garments had needed were a quick sponge
and a press to make them perfect.

‘Is it time
yet, Lottie?’ Harry asked, trying to puzzle out the strange arrangement of
hands and Roman numerals on the clock face.

‘Very soon; we
must wait for Cousin Jack. I think he’s upstairs changing as we speak. I’m sure
he’ll not take as long as Beth and I did to get ready.’

‘Will there be
jugglers and stilt walkers at the party, Lottie?’ Harry asked eagerly.

She laughed. ‘I
doubt it, love, but there will be music and dancing to watch.’

‘Are we eating
in the big dining-room tonight as it’s a special occasion?’

‘We are, Beth.
Mrs Blake has worked miracles in there. Do you wish to go and look or would you
like it to be a surprise?’

The children
were involved a lively discussion on this subject when Jack arrived. ‘Are you
ready to leave? I can hear music playing in the barn.’ Charlotte had made one
alteration to her appearance, it didn’t go unnoticed. ‘Thank God! No coal
scuttle! That bonnet is far prettier, my love.’

‘But, it does
not match my
ensemble
- but as a
dutiful bride to be - I put my personal preferences to one side and put on this
plain chip-straw.’

‘It is hardly
plain,
sweetheart,
you have half a garden decorating
the brim.’

She giggled. ‘I
think the bunch of forget-me-nots especially fetching.’

Charlotte took
his arm and with the children hopping and skipping in front they left the house
to join the festivities in the barn.

‘The torches
are lit already, the flames look so pretty dancing in the wind,’ Beth
exclaimed.

‘It will be
full dark in an hour or so and will look even better than,’ Jack replied.

He bent down
and lifted Harry onto his shoulders. ‘There, young man, you can see everything
from here. Please
don’t wriggle
or I might be forced
to tip you into the hedge.’

Harry laughed.
‘It is like riding on a giant, you are so tall. Look, Beth, there’s no one
huger anywhere in the barn.’

Charlotte took
Beth’s hand and they followed him into the noise and jollity. Straw bales had
been found and placed around the edge of the barn to provide makeshift seats.
The centre had been swept and liberally sprinkled with clean sawdust. The ale
and cider had been positioned at the far end and the trestles laden with bread
and cheese, pies, pasties and cakes stood behind the bales, hard against the
far wall. Torches and lanterns flickered all around the building hiding the
holes and making it appear magical.

‘Lottie,
it’s
lovely and everyone looks so happy. I’ve never seen so
many smiling faces.’

‘It’s certainly
a difference to when we arrived. Look, Beth, they’re starting a country dance.
Shall we sit; they have set out some chairs for us over there.’

She watched as
Jack circulated, Harry, ecstatic on his shoulders, greeting people and shaking
hands, every inch a duke. She could hardly believe he hadn’t been bred to do
this very thing. Papa had been the same - and he was certainly no aristocrat -
so it must have been dealing with the common soldier all his life that made him
at ease with villagers.

The hour they
stayed flashed past in a kaleidoscope of colour. Beth and Harry had joined in
the dancing with the village children. She and Jack had sat like royalty,
watching. As they were leaving one of the village woman stopped Charlotte.

‘Begging your
pardon, Miss Carstairs, but could you spare me a moment before you go?’

She stepped
aside, into the shadow of the barn. ‘Of course, what is it you want to tell
me?’

‘Well, miss, it’s
like this. My Ben, he’s a good lad, but he was over Ravenscroft way last night
and he noticed some smoke from the chimney.’ Charlotte nodded, waiting to hear
why this was significant. ‘It
were
empty up to then,
you see, Miss Carstairs. It
were
sold a while back but
no one came to live there. Ben went to have a look but apart from the smoke
there were no light and no sign of no one living there.’

This was news
indeed. ‘Thank you, I’ll tell Lord Thurston right away.’ The village lady
dropped a curtsy and vanished into the heaving barn. Charlotte understood why
the woman had not wished to tell him herself, her son Ben had obviously been
poaching in the woods of Ravenscroft.

She hurried
over to Jack who was waiting politely with the children. Harry and Beth were
eager to begin the second part of the treat and begged to run ahead. It had
been decided that they would all dress for dinner and this meant a second
change of garments.

Annie
materialised beside them. ‘Come along, you two, I’ve been waiting for you. I
have your things all laid out ready and Jenny has agreed to help us tonight,
seeing as you were bound to be in a hurry.’

Charlotte
waited until they had gone before passing on her information. He understood
immediately the significance. ‘We have them. They must think they’re safe three
miles from us, but they’re not. I’ll find Captain Forsythe and send him over
right away.’

‘You will not
go with them tonight?’

He slipped arm
around her waist. ‘No, my
love,
tonight is for us.
I’ll have to trust Forsythe and his men to deal with things without my
assistance. All they have to do is surround the building and wait until I
arrive to take command.’

‘Then you are
going to go?’

‘I have no
choice. But I’ll stay for
dinner,
I promise I’ll not
leave until you retire.’

‘Thank you.
This evening means so much to me and to the children.’

Upstairs Mary
had her evening gown ready. This was in the newest fashion, the skirt falling
from directly under her bosom and it required no corsets or stays to improve
its appearance. She stepped out of her promenade dress and raised her arms for
the silk and sarcenet creation to drop softly over her head.

The neck was
square-cut and edged with delicate pale green lace. Mary tied the sash, in a
darker shade of emerald green and handed Charlotte the ribbon that held up the
demi-train.

‘There, miss,
you look like a princess, what with your lovely red hair and all.’

Charlotte
turned slowly admiring herself from every angle in the long glass that had
arrived in her room that very day. ‘I wasn’t quite sure about the colour,
emerald green is not considered suitable for someone my age, but it’s the exact
shade of my eyes and I couldn’t resist it.’

She stroked the
sarcenet overdress, loving the way it glittered and reflected the candlelight.
The small cap sleeves also finished with the green lace, made her arms seem
longer. Sadly she eyed the matching silk gloves, but Jack had asked her not to
wear them. He had said he found the practice of wearing gloves in the house
quite ridiculous.

‘I’m ready and
I think I can hear the children coming.’

Harry, in smart
black velveteen waistcoat and matching breeches, his snowy white shirt a
pleasure to behold, came in first. Beth, in a gown of palest yellow
sprigged-muslin, followed close behind.

‘Come along, children,
we must go down. I heard Cousin Jack pass by some time ago.’

Chapter Twenty

Meltham ushered
them formally into the drawing-room. Charlotte watched the children’s reaction and
she was not disappointed.

‘Cousin Jack,
you look like a prince,’ Beth said, her eyes round.

‘And Lottie
looks like a princess,’ Harry added not wishing to be left out.

Charlotte’s
cheeks flushed under the power of Jack’s gaze. ‘This is my grandest gown. I
must admit it does make me feel like someone out of a fairy tale.’

He moved to her
side, taking her left hand. ‘I have something here for you, sweetheart, that
will perfectly complement your
ensemble
.
I wanted tonight to be memorable.’ From his waistcoat pocket he withdrew a
small velvet casket and flicked it open.

She stared in
awe. ‘This is so beautiful. Is it an emerald? Look children, see how it
sparkles.’

He removed the
ring and pushed it over her knuckle. ‘It’s the same colour as your eyes. I know
it was extravagant, but once I had seen it nothing else would do.’

‘It’s
stunning.’ She has held out her hand, turning it so the stone reflected the
candlelight. ‘It is exactly what I would have chosen for myself. I love it,
thank you.’

He captured her
hand and took it to his lips, kissing her palm lightly. ‘It is a beautiful ring
for a beautiful lady.’

She was aware
the children watched them with avid attention. Hastily she removed her hand and
dropped a playful curtsy, saying. ‘Thank you, my lord.’

Orgeat
was served to Beth and Harry and the butler handed
Charlotte a small crystal glass of sherry wine. ‘This is delicious. I remember
my parents drinking it in Spain, but I was far too young to be offered any.’

Harry nudged
Beth. ‘Mr Meltham is coming, do you think he might smile tonight?’

‘Hush, Harry.
He’s come to announce dinner.’

‘Your grace,
Miss Carstairs, Miss Beth and Master Harry, dinner is served in the grand
dining room.’

Jack bowed
politely and offered his arm to Beth. ‘Miss Beth, would you do me the honour of
accompanying me into dinner?’

She dropped a
deep curtsy. ‘Thank you, Lord Thurston, I should be delighted.’ Harry’s mouth
pursed - he had wanted to go with Cousin Jack.

‘Master Harry,
would you please escort me into dinner?’ Charlotte curtsied to him and prayed
he would respond.

‘I will take
you, Lottie.’ He folded himself at the waist and held up his arm as he had seen
Jack do.

The
dining-room, freshly painted, was lit from end to end with candles. The
sideboard was laden with several covered dishes and the huge table sparkled
with shining silver cutlery and polished wood. Tonight the butler had chosen
not to cover the walnut surface a damask cloth.

‘This is
splendid, Meltham, thank you’ Charlotte said.

The butler
nodded, carefully keeping his lips together but his eyes gleamed with pleasure.

‘Ah ha!
Do I see gifts awaiting my attention at the head of
the table?’ Jack asked.

‘You do. You
do. Open the big one first. Please, please, do that one.’

‘Harry, that is
quite enough. Come and sit down next to me. Cousin Jack will open his gifts
when he is ready.’

He smiled
amiably at the little boy. ‘If you’re fatigued then I should be happy to carry
you up to your room.’

Harry swallowed
nervously. ‘I’m not tired, I’ll sit quietly, I promise.’

‘I am pleased
to hear you say so. I should hate you to miss such a special occasion.’ No one
was in any doubt he would not tolerate any more nonsense. That was all it took,
a gentle reminder, and Harry was all smiles and compliance. Charlotte caught
his eye and smiled her thanks. To her astonishment he winked. She was obliged
to put her hand over her mouth to swallow her giggles.

The footman
held out a chair for her. She noticed both children were treated with as much
deference as the adults. Charlotte had arranged for dinner to be served ‘
a la Francais’
, all dishes placed in the
centre of the table, this way the children could select their favourites. There
was to be only one course, more would be too much this evening.

Once they were
seated Jack picked up the large lumpy parcel. ‘What have I here, I wonder?’
Harry wriggled with excitement but somehow managed to keep silent. Jack
examined it from every side then carefully removed the paper. His look of
stunned surprise was unfeigned. Harry could no longer keep quiet.

‘I made it for
you. I found the stones and Lottie made the paste. It has a pattern on it.’

Charlotte could
see Jack’s throat convulsing as he struggled to keep his composure. ‘It is
amazing, Harry. I shall treasure it for ever.’

Harry glowed. ‘It
doesn’t open very well.’

Jack had
noticed the lid of the box was firmly glued to the base. ‘I shall use it as a
paperweight; it doesn’t need to open.’

She wanted to
throw her arms around him, he was saying all the right things,
leaving
Harry in no doubt his present was properly
appreciated. Jack raised an eyebrow, wishing to know which Beth’s gift was.
Charlotte smiled when he touched the correct one.

‘This one next;
it’s an interesting shape and if the contents are as pretty as the wrapping
then I am about to be delighted.’ Beth beamed. He undid the silver gauze ribbon
and peeled back the tissue. ‘Good heavens! This is exquisite. Did you do this
for me Charlotte? I had no idea you were such a talented artist.’

Beth whispered,
almost too overcome to speak. ‘It’s mine, Cousin Jack, I did it for you. Lottie
gave me watercolours for my Christmas gift last year.’

He held up the
small painting and studied it closely. ‘You are extremely talented, Beth. Do
you think you could produce a picture of Thurston Hall?’

‘I could, I’ll
start tomorrow.’ Her face fell as she remembered they were confined to the
house. ‘Will it be safe to go outside to sketch?’

‘Yes, if Annie
is with you. I should like a view looking up from the ornamental lake towards
the terrace.’

He quickly opened
Charlotte’s offering and praised her stitching, then thanked them all profusely
for a second time. He had become aware of the butler’s anxiety to place the
food on the table before it became inedible.’

Harry dropped
his cutlery and rubbed his rounded stomach. ‘That was a lovely dinner. I’m
quite stuffed.’

‘No room for
dessert then?’ Charlotte enquired. The mention of the surprise to follow
produced fresh ripples of excitement in the children. The table was cleared and
the footmen carefully removed some of the candelabra from the centre of the
table.

The door swung
open and a giant birthday cake was carried in. The children had known a cake
was to be made but the magnificence of this edifice stunned them. It towered
more than two feet high and sparkled with crystallised fruit of all
descriptions set into a soft white topping of white sugar paste. This
confection was placed in the cleared space on the table and the two footmen who
had carried it stepped back.

‘It’s so big,
Lottie, there’s enough for a hundred people.’ Beth was awestruck.

Charlotte’s
immediate thought was where Betty had found such extravagant ingredients at
such short notice. And her sister was
right,
there was
more than enough to give all the staff the generous portion. Harry knelt on his
seat in order to see the spectacle better.

Her throat
closed and tears pricked her eyes at the sight of her formidable betrothed
unashamedly wiping the tears from his cheeks with his napkin. They waited for
his comment. His voice was gruff when he finally spoke

‘I have never
had a cake for my anniversary before. Indeed, I don’t believe I have ever seen
such a wonderful thing in my entire life.’

Harry stretched
out a fingertip and reverently stroked the side. ‘Is it for looking or eating,
Cousin Jack?’

He chuckled.
‘Definitely eating, of course.
Meltham, hand me the knife
this instant.’ He cut four generous slices and silence fell as they tasted this
rare treat. ‘It eats as good as it looks, and one cannot say fairer than that,’
Jack said as he lay down his silver cake fork. ‘Meltham, I wish a quarter of
this cake put aside for our own consumption but divide the rest into sufficient
pieces for
all
to enjoy.’ His quiet
emphasis was understood.

‘Yes, your grace. I’m sure the children in the village will not forget
this evening.’

Harry’s eyes
were scarcely open and even Beth was flagging. Annie was summoned to collect
the sleepy duo. Jack stood up and addressed the maid.

‘I’ll carry
Master Harry he’s almost asleep on his chair.’

Charlotte left the
table also. ‘I’ll wait in the drawing-room, Jack.’ She was escorted there by
the butler. ‘We shall require nothing further tonight, Meltham. Neither Lord
Thurston nor I wish to have a tea tray served. I suggest when your duties here
are completed that you and the rest of the staff join in the festivities in the
barn.’

‘Thank you,
Miss
Carstairs,
I’m sure the younger members will be
pleased to go. I shall lock up everywhere, apart from the servant’s exit. But
be assured, I shall designate someone else to do that duty. Goodnight, Miss
Carstairs.’

She believed
the evening had been the most enjoyable of her life, even the dinner she and
Jack had shared a week ago didn’t compare. She smiled
sleepily,
perhaps the sherry wine and two glasses of claret made everything about the
occasion seem magical.

She fell into
her favourite armchair, forgetting to lift the back of her skirt as she did so.
The material bunched under her bottom pulling the bodice unpleasantly tight.

‘Botheration!’
Her exclamation echoed round the enormous room as she attempted to extricate
her trapped skirts.

‘Allow me to
assist you, sweetheart,’ a deep voice purred from beside her and before she
could protest, Jack’s hands cupped her posterior lifting her free of the
entanglement. Her intention had been to use her hands merely to steady herself
but as soon as they came into contact with his chest everything changed. They
found their way around the strong column of his neck and without conscious
thought she began to pull his face down to hers. His fingers curled into her
buttocks and she swayed her hips in response to his caress.

‘Please,
darling, don’t do that; I’m barely in control as it is.’ His voice sounded
different, deeper, almost as if he was in pain. She stilled but continued to
explore his features with her lips.

His hand slid
upwards lifting her clear of the chair until she was crushed against him. His
hot mouth found hers and his kiss melted her insides. She was burning from his
touch, not just on her lips but everywhere. Slowly she withdrew her mouth and
stared up into his face. She knew what she would do, what would make this night
unforgettable for them both.

‘I wish to be your wife tonight, not wait another eight days.’ She felt
him tense.

‘If you’re quite certain, my darling.
You will have no
regrets tomorrow?’

‘It is my
birthday gift to you. I am quite sure.’

He did not need
telling a third time. He swept her up into his arms and strode out of the
drawing-room, taking the stairs two at a time. He carried her past her
bedchamber and along to the far end of the corridor to his own. He paused
outside the door.

‘Do you wish to
come in with me? It is not too late to change your mind, but once you are
inside I know I shall not be able to pull back. I have thought of nothing else
since I first set eyes on you outside the Crown a month ago. I burn for you, my
love. I am consumed by a fire that only you can put out.’

‘I’m sure. I
want to make love with you, to discover what it means to be a woman.’

He expertly
unlatched the door with his knee and carried her in. There room was dark but
she could see the faint outline of the massive tester bed in the moonlight
shining through the
unshuttered
windows.

Jack needed no
candles to guide him to his destination. He covered the distance in two long
strides and once beside the bed allowed her to slither down his body,
deliberately letting her feel the extent of his arousal. Her knees buckled with
anticipation and she clutched his evening coat for support.

‘Sit here,
darling.’ Tenderly he placed on the bed. ‘Do you wish me to light some
candles?’

‘No, I can see
well enough without.’ She would much prefer to disrobe in the dark. He
understood her fears and didn’t insist. She could see his silhouette as he
began to remove his garments, throwing his clothes haphazardly across the room
in his eagerness. The
sight of his naked chest made her want
to reach out and touch. He was broad, even in the almost darkness she could see
his muscles rippling.

She ought to
close her eyes as he kicked off his slippers and undid the front of his
pantaloons. But she was fascinated, couldn’t look away. Unexpectedly he paused,
raising his head, seeming to sense her avid gaze. His smile liquefied her
limbs.

‘It’s your turn
now, my love.’ He moved closer and she almost swooned with desire as his bare
arms brushed along her own.

She stood up
her smile was as knowing as a courtesan. ‘Help me, please. I am not used to
undressing myself.’

His breath
hissed between his teeth. ‘How precious is this gown?’

‘It is my best.
It was expensive.’ She was finding it difficult to
speak,
his proximity was making coherent thought impossible.

‘Pity - I must
remove it in one piece.’ He reached down and grasped the hem of her dress and
slowly began to raise it.