The Duke's Deception (2 page)

‘Thank you,
Jane. I own I’m eager to discover to whom Grandmamma has entrusted me.’

A sharp tap
indicated John Smith, her man of affairs and Jane’s devoted spouse, had
arrived.

‘Come in, John.
Tell me, I’m bursting with curiosity, how did Sir Richard take the unexpected
arrival of a distant relative?’

‘He didn’t,
miss. He’s dead. He died last year.’

Marianne’s hands
flew to her mouth. ‘Oh dear! What a disaster! If I cannot stay here wherever
shall we go? I cannot trail about the place like a vagrant.’

‘Here, miss,
you’ve gone quite pale, sit down. I’ll fetch you a glass of cordial.’ Jane took
Marianne’s elbow and escorted her to the chintz covered daybed. John dropped
down to one

knee his weather-beaten face
creased with concern.

‘There, there,
miss, don’t fret. All will be well, it’s not as bad as it seems.’ He squeezed
her

hands. ‘Come now, take a deep
breath, dry your eyes and let me explain how things are.’

Marianne
swallowed hard, fighting to gain her composure. Eventually she looked up and
withdrew her hands from John’s light grasp. ‘Thank you, John, I’m quite
recovered. You can continue. I’m ready to hear the worst.’ He rocked back on
his heels and stood up.

John cleared his
throat importantly. ‘The gentleman in residence is one Sir Theodore Devenish,
Sir Richard’s heir. He arrived here himself but a short while ago. It would
seem he’s a swell of the first stare but without the wherewithal to maintain
it. He’s only here to rusticate until his next quarter’s funds are available.’

Marianne
frowned. ‘I can hardly stay here if this is a bachelor establishment. And a
member of the
ton
will not wish to be
saddled with a young ward. Far too fatiguing!’

John smiled. ‘He
has pockets to let. He’ll be delighted to have access to your trust fund. I
heard in the stables he has sent his man over to a place nearby called Frating
Hall to ask a Lord and Lady Grierson to take you in. They have a house full of
hopeful sons and daughters and not enough blunt to push them off.’

Marianne almost
laughed. ‘And how many more
importunates
are to dip
their greedy hands into my fortune? There will be nothing left to inherit by
the time I am one and twenty!’

‘As your man-of
affairs I can assure you no one can touch the principle and there’s more than
enough interest accrued to cover all your expenses and plenty over for Sir
Theodore and Lord and Lady Grierson too.’

‘I’m delighted
to hear it. It will be a novel experience to live in a large and happy
household. I thought Grandmamma was being horribly unkind to send me away but
now I’m glad she did.’ She shuddered as she recalled her last meeting with the repellent
baronet, Sir James Russell, who had almost succeeded in carrying her off in his
carriage. ‘Tell me, what manner of man is Sir Theodore?’

‘There’s no
doubting your relationship. He has the self-same colour hair and eyes. He could
be your brother.’

‘Well, we are
related very distantly, so it’s not so out of the ordinary to look alike. But
what manner of man is he? Is he a man of sense or a mere tulip of fashion?’

‘I’m not the
best judge of that, miss. But I can tell you he is well over six feet and has
broad shoulders and a well turned calf. As to the rest, you had best judge for
yourself.’

‘I see, as bad
as that!’ She grinned. ‘Never mind, as long as he’s pleasant and leaves me to
get on with my life, I’ll be well satisfied with the bargain.’

‘In my opinion
Sir Theodore’s more interested in the cut of his jacket than anything else. And
that came from Weston’s and no mistake! But he looks harmless enough. And
me
and the lads will be close by to protect you if that
bounder shows his face, never doubt that.’

‘I know you
will, John and I am grateful for it. Will you be able to accompany me to
Frating Hall?’

‘We’re coming,
never you fear, miss. Lord Grierson will be happy to have three men and a maid
servant employed that he doesn’t have to pay out of his own pocket. He’ll not
complain

about us.’

Marianne didn’t
enquire who
was
in fact paying their
wages. She supposed these arrangements had been made by the lawyers but
thinking about such things made her tired. When the summons came for her to go
down and meet her guardian it was past five o’clock. Being kept waiting for
over two hours had not improved her temper and she was not disposed to like a
young man who treated her with such incivility.

Chapter
Two

The footman led
Marianne across the chequered hall and along the light, carpeted passageway.
She had time to admire the recently placed gold and green striped wallpaper and
the matching fabrics of the window dressings before he stopped outside the
library.

The young man
knocked and pressed his ear to the wood. He nodded and opened the door,
standing back to allow her to enter. She heard the quiet click as it closed
behind her.

She sank into a
deep curtsy keeping her eyes fixed to the floor, unexpectedly nervous now she
was face to face with the man who had control of her life and fortune. She
struggled to find the anger that had sustained her on her journey to this room
but it had been replaced by anxiety.

A deep,
well-modulated voice bid her stand-up and she raised her head. ‘Welcome, Miss
Devenish. We could be brother and sister could we not?’

The man leaning
nonchalantly against the wall, smiled and flapped a hand in the direction of
the chintz covered
chaise-longue
.
Marianne sat, as quickly as her shock allowed on the indicated day-bed. She
shook her head making her hated ringlets dance.

‘I beg your
pardon, sir, I am forgetting my manners. I am pleased to make your acquaintance
and thank you for so kindly taking me in.’

Her guardian
made her a magnificent leg and strolled to a matching seat placed opposite. He
folded himself elegantly and stretching out, crossed his booted legs at the
ankle.

‘Well, my dear,
this is an awkward situation is it not?
You expecting old
Uncle Richard and I expecting no one.’

Marianne drew
breath to answer then decided his comments were rhetorical and folded her hands
in her lap and waited for him to continue.

‘It will not do
- you realize that? I cannot have a young miss living here. I am a bachelor.’

She nodded,
John’s information was apparently correct. ‘Then where am I to go, sir?’

He smiled
happily. ‘It’s all arranged. You are to reside with Lord and Lady Grierson at
Frating Hall. They have a large family and a daughter, who is eighteen, as you
are. You will be better suited to a family than stuck here with me, shall you
not?’

She shrugged. ‘I
will do as I am bid, sir. If you require me to go to Frating Hall, I’m happy

to oblige.’ Marianne felt pricking
behind her eyelids. She was beginning to feel like an unwanted parcel. Could he
not have seemed a little sad at having to part with her? But she didn’t wish to
be seen as a watering pot by this languid young man so blinked back her tears.

*

Theo’s eyes
narrowed when he saw her distress. His natural instinct was to reassure her but
he was unable to do so without stepping out of character. ‘I shall be sending a
bank draft to Lady Grierson to cover your expenses.’ He paused and raked her
from head to toe. ‘She has instructions to clothe you as befits your future
status - and herself and Miss Grierson also. You cannot appear in society
however meagre, dressed as you are.’

His criticism
served its purpose. He saw her beautiful blue eyes flash with anger, but she
hid it well. Only an expert would have detected it.

‘My wardrobe is
almost non-existent. It was impossible to transport all but the barest

necessities on horseback. It will
be delightful to be allowed free rein in my choices and to have a friend to
share the pleasure with.’

‘That reminds
me, my dear girl, it will not do to go around the countryside astride on that
gelding of yours. I will supply you with a more suitable mount and keep him for
myself.’

She was on her
feet glaring at him before he had completed his sentence. ‘You will do no such
thing, sir. Sultan is my horse and he goes with me. I can ride him as well
side-saddle as astride.’

Theo glanced
upwards apparently admiring the elegant plastered moulding, allowing his anger
to subside before giving his reply. He uncoiled easily and closed the distance
between them with one stride. The girl for a second was intimidated by his
size, then relaxed when she saw his expression.

‘No need to fly
up into the boughs, my dear. It’s no matter to me if you keep your mount or
not.’ He smiled fatuously but if she had been paying better attention she would
have realized the amusement was not genuine. ‘And providing a suitable mare
would necessitate travelling to Town - far too fatiguing in this weather.’

He stepped past
her and tugged the bell. ‘My carriage is outside, your entourage ready. I will
escort you to the door, my dear.’

*

A surprisingly
firm hand gripped her elbow and guided her back along the corridor to the
spacious entrance hall.

The butler
opened the front door with a flourish and Marianne found herself at the bottom
of the steps. She was lost for words. He handed her into the carriage and
closed the door. He leant in his expression bland.

‘I shall allow
you time to settle and refurbish your wardrobe before I call at Frating Hall to
see how you go on.’

‘Thank you, sir.
I shall look forward to your visit.’

He nodded
apparently satisfied with her response. He waved to the coachman. ‘Drive on;
the Grierson’s are waiting eagerly for your arrival.’ Without a backward glance
he turned and sauntered up the steps and vanished inside.

‘Miss, I can
hardly credit it! Sir Theodore could be your brother so alike are you.’

‘It is
extraordinary is it not?’ Marianne agreed. ‘Jane, have you and John discovered
anything of interest about the Griersons? Sir Theodore spoke highly of them but
as he is not a man of superior intellect I can’t rely on his opinion.’

‘I’ve heard only
good of them, apart of course from living above their means. There are two
boys, one older and the other younger than you and three girls. One, Miss
Emily, is your age the other two still in the schoolroom.’

‘Yes, my
guardian, told me about Emily Grierson. It will be pleasant to have a
contemporary to converse with for the first time.’ She leant back and closed
her eyes ending the conversation. She sighed, wondering if she would fit in
with her new family. She had few social graces and was used to doing as she
pleased. Perhaps the money would not be enough and the Grierson’s would reject
her also? What if she offended them or attracted another unsuitable beau? Would
they get rid of her as her grandmother had? Marianne wiped her eyes with the
dainty linen square Jane handed her.

The carriage
lurched sideways throwing her violently against the window and remained tilted
at an alarming angle. She rubbed her bruised forehead and peered anxiously
through the glass expecting the vehicle to tip right over.

John appeared
and wrenched open the door. ‘Are you injured, Miss Devenish? The driveway to
Frating Hall is riddled with potholes and we’re temporarily stuck in one.’

‘It’s no matter
John. If we’re already on the drive, we can walk from here.’

‘Very well,
miss. I’ll send Tom ahead to alert them of your arrival.’

There was no
advantage in lowering the steps as they would have pointed uselessly into the

sky. John reached in and gripping
her arms swung her through the door and placed her on the rutted driveway. As
he turned to rescue his wife Marianne looked around with interest.

She saw the
neglected state of the drive, the unkempt trees and shrubs but they did not
concern her. This was no more than she was used to for Upton Manor had been
left to decay after her father’s untimely death. There had been sufficient
funds to keep it up but her mother had chosen otherwise. What caught her
attention was the house glimpsed ahead; the soft red brick of its walls and the
glitter of the myriad large windows were welcoming. This edifice was a
delightful change from the dark grey stones and tiny leaded panes of the place
where she had grown up.

‘Look, Jane,
what a lovely house! See it faces west and has an open aspect and I can spy a
church tower over there behind that stand of oaks. How wonderful to be able to
walk to service every Sunday!’

Jane nodded.
‘Some parts of it are in sad need of repair. And there are several tiles
missing and if I’m not mistaken there are birds nesting in the guttering.’

Marianne smiled.
‘Small matter, Jane, it looks a happy house. I shall not heed a leaky roof if
the people who dwell under it are kind and friendly.’

They watched Tom
canter off down the avenue made dark by the overhanging branches of the unloved
trees. Leaving John and the others to right the coach she set off towards the
large, ivy clad building.

‘There are deer
in the park and I can hear nightingales singing in the trees. That has to be a
good sign, surely?’

‘That’s as may
be, miss; nightingales sing anywhere, they’re not fussy who lives in the
vicinity.’

‘You’re correct,
Jane. But I still believe this place has a contented feel in spite of the
obvious dilapidation.’

They rounded the
curve of the drive and were able to see the whole of Frating Hall. The building
was bathed in late afternoon sunlight, its mellow red bricks appearing almost
pink. This was indeed a beautiful house.

‘It has been recently
restored, in part, I think,’ Marianne exclaimed. ‘The front is modern, the
windows well proportioned. They must once have had funds to have been able to
improve the property so much.’

‘Well, they have
none now or this drive would be in better repair and their roof would have

been mended,’ Jane replied sourly.

Before they were
in hailing distance the front door opened and a flood of figures poured from it
waving gaily. In spite of her reticence Marianne found her mouth curving and
her arm rising in response. A slight, dark haired figure detached itself from
the group. Gathering up her skirts the young lady, decorum thrown to the winds,
ran pell-mell towards them.

Marianne
increased her pace eager to make the acquaintance of the girl speeding towards
her.

‘Oh, I am so
glad you are here, Miss Devenish,’ Emily Grierson gasped as she skidded
inelegantly to a halt beside them.

‘I am pleased to
meet you, Miss Grierson. It’s kind of your family to offer me a place to live
at such short notice.’

‘Fiddlesticks to that!
They would accommodate the devil
himself if he offered to pay as handsomely as Sir Theodore is for you.’ Not
allowing Marianne to comment Emily slid her arm through hers and chattering
non-stop led Marianne to meet the family who were to become her own for the
foreseeable future.

Quickly
realizing Emily didn’t require a reply Marianne had time to examine the huddle

outside waiting to greet her. The
tall, spare, grey-haired man must be Lord Grierson, he could be no one else.
The short, plump lady her dark hair escaping in disarray from a lace edged cap,
was Lady Grierson. The two little girls in blue calico and crumpled aprons were
the youngest daughters, Beth and Eleanor, which left only the two young men to
sort out.

The tallest, his
dark hair flopping engagingly over his forehead had to be the heir. Charles was
dressed in battered, unpolished top-boots and buff breeches, a white shirt,
hastily knotted neck-cloth and brown stuff jacket,. The stocky figure, equally
unkempt of dress, must be the younger brother, Edward.

The grip on her
arm tightened as they drew closer. ‘Here we are, Miss Devenish, come and meet
my family. You can see they are as eager as I to greet you in person.’

Lord Grierson
stepped forward and held out his arms. Marianne did not hesitate but walked

straight in to receive the first
embrace she had ever had from an adult male. He held her at arm’s length his
eyes twinkling.

‘Welcome, my
dear child, welcome indeed. I am delighted to meet you and apologize for the
parlous state of my drive.’ He chuckled. ‘But with your help I shall be able to
put all things to rights.’ He kept hold of her hand and drew her towards his
wife.

‘Here is Lady
Grierson, my dear; she is to be a mother to you now.’ Marianne dropped into an
awkward curtsy, unable to extract her hand from his.

‘None of that,
my love. You are to be one of the family. Let her go, do, my lord, and I shall
give the dear child a hug.’

Marianne was
instantly enveloped in a pair of plump arms, her face pressed firmly into an

ample bosom. The two young men
bowed, their open smiling faces and friendly greetings removing any doubts she
might have had about being associated with unknown gentlemen.

Eventually given
room to breathe and speak she smiled at her new family. ‘Thank you for your
warm welcome, Lord Grierson, Lady Grierson; it’s good of you to take me in and
I shall endeavour to be no trouble to you.’

Surrounded by
her new friends she was escorted into what was to be her home. Scarcely given
time to find her bearings she was hurried upstairs to the apartment she was to
share with Emily.

‘Here we are,
Miss Devenish,’ Emily babbled. ‘This is our very own withdrawing-room, is it
not a sweet little parlour?’ She allowed Marianne no time to answer but dragged
her on to the interconnecting door. ‘This is our bedchamber. See, we do not
have to share a bed, there is already a second one in here for you.’

‘Yes, I see,
thank you.’

‘Your maid will
sleep upstairs with mine.’

Marianne knew
she had to intervene. ‘Miss Grierson, please, there are some things you have to
understand if this arrangement is to work successfully.’

Emily’s mouth
rounded and she stared surprised at the firm tone used by her new sister. Glad
to have the space to speak Marianne began to explain. ‘Jane is married to John
Smith; they will have need of joint accommodation. Tom and Billy will also
require to be housed together. These people are more than servants, they are my
friends and I wish them to be treated with respect.’