The Duke's Reform (14 page)

 Her shorn locks were so much
easier to manage than waist length hair. She'd never let it grow to that length
again. Now it curled into her neck, framing her face and
emphasising
her eyes. The baby fluttered and she placed a protective hand on her stomach.
Five months had passed since that dreadful night; she had moved on. She no
longer hated Alexander, but she neither loved nor respected him.

 He strode in without knocking.
If she had not been braced against the back of a chair she would have swooned.
She scarcely recognized this smiling man as the husband who had mistreated her
last year. The love she saw in his eyes was genuine. Why did he finally love
her when it was too late? However much he changed she could never trust him,
would always fear he could lose his temper and turn on her as he had before.

      'Isobel, I can't
tell you how delighted I am to see you and looking so radiant.
Though I am bewildered to find you living in the east wing.
Why did you not send to me; I would have returned the staff to Newcomb.'

      Even his voice
was different, the edge had gone, his tone was soft and charming and there was
no hint of the chilly aristocrat she had once known. He had changed in his
appearance also, and somehow managed to look years younger than before. What
could have happened to bring

about
this transformation?

      'I had no need
to bother you, sir. As you can see I am happily established here. I've no
intention of returning to live as your wife next door.' She stared at him,
daring him to disagree. His eyes flashed but he held his tongue. Emboldened by
his restraint she continued. 'My lord, you also look remarkably well. I believe
you have lost weight and it suits you, I must say. Would you care to be seated?
Coffee is being fetched for you.'

She pointed to a chair on the other
side of the hearth. Then not waiting to see if he complied, she carefully
arranged herself in an upright chair making sure the folds of her gown
concealed her pregnancy. She was certain her nervousness had not been apparent
even to someone as sharp eyed as he was.

He moved to the chair she indicated,
allowing her time to compose herself. There was no doubt he was a different
man. Her eyes filled as she thought of how things could have been—but he was
five months too late. He had killed her love and nothing could rekindle it.

'What brings you down here at the
start the season, Alexander? I did not expect to see you until May.'

      He smiled
lazily. 'You know very well why I'm here, my dear. As soon as I saw you I
realised
that you must be behind the withdrawals from my
account. Tell me, Isobel, how did you persuade a man of such probity as
Mr
Reynolds to steal from me?'

****

Her eyes narrowed. '
Mr
Reynolds has not been stealing from you. He has been doing what
you
should have done years ago. On my instructions he has repaired all the
cottages, farms and outbuildings that you have neglected these past years.'

      Alexander swallowed
a brief surge of anger. Isobel was quite right to castigate him. He stared at
her and his spirits sunk to his boots. She had become someone else
entirely,
there was a rigidity about her person, a darkness
in her eyes that had not been there before.

His brief flash of ill-
humour
vanished to be replaced by the all too familiar
shame. His self-indulgence these past years had not only caused his darling
wife to suffer but his unfortunate tenants also. His neck-cloth became
unaccountably tight and he ran a finger around it. He cleared his throat, for
the first time in his life unsure of what to say. Perhaps now was the time to
apologise
— clear the air between them.

 'Isobel, I can't tell you how
ashamed I am of my past
behaviour
. No— please let me
finish. I don't expect your
forgiveness,
I can't
forgive myself for what I did. But I give you my word, it will never happen
again. You're looking at a changed man; I no longer drink to excess, I've cut
free from the toadies I mixed with and have re-established contact with my
former intimates.'

      He waited for
her response but there was none forthcoming. Her expression remained friendly
but distinctly unimpressed. He ploughed on hoping she would receive this next
piece of news with more enthusiasm. ‘I’ve also had my lawyers discover my heir,
one Richard Bentley, a young man of nine and twenty years. The matter of your
childlessness is no longer an issue between us. I shall attempt to turn Bentley
into someone deserving of this title before I kick the bucket.'

      'How
interesting, my lord. Do I have your permission to speak?' Her eyes bored into
him. This wasn't going well. He nodded and waited for her to continue. 'I've
something important to tell you.'

 She glanced down at her hands
and a slight smile played about her lips. She raised her head and met his eyes
with
a strength
equal to his own.

'I returned for one reason only. I
am carrying your child. The baby will be born in July. I intend to remain here
until the baby is born. However, when I am certain the child is
well-established, I shall depart. At no time will I reside next door.'

 His glance followed her
fingers as she smoothed the material over the quite distinctive mound of a
well-established pregnancy. He felt a rush of such happiness, such
joy,
he did not take in the full import of what she had just
told him. He was not going to die childless; he had been given another chance.
Whatever she thought, somehow he would convince her he could be a good husband.

****

Alexander's eyes blazed. 'My love, I can't
believe it, we're going to have a baby together. I shall show you I am a
different man, the man I used to be years ago.'

      Isobel almost
capitulated under the weight of his happiness. The door opened and Ellen
appeared with the tray of coffee. She waved her hand and the girl hastily
placed it on the table to her right and vanished in a rustle of petticoats. She
must disabuse him immediately. She could not allow him to continue in this
vein, but he forestalled her.

      'I am stunned,
but overjoyed at your announcement. I'm sad to think that our first child was
conceived in such a way, but I'm sure… '

'Enough. You did not listen to what
I just told you. I don't intend to remain once the baby is born. I shall leave
the child in your care and return to my home elsewhere.' She paused, too upset
to continue for a moment. 'Of course, I should much prefer to take my baby with
me, but I assume that would be out of the question.'

His expression darkened. 'I can't
believe you intend to abandon our baby. I did not take you for a heartless
woman. I grew up without a mother's love and look what happened to me? Do you
wish to deprive your own child of his most important parent?'

 Her determination faltered as
the baby kicked beneath her fingers. She would be firm. Her treacherous body
would betray her if she allowed it to. However much she wished to resist him he
would persuade her into his bed if she remained within his reach. 'You’ll make
an excellent father. I'm certain you'll provide a retinue of loyal retainers
for the infant's nursery. I should scarcely see the child anyway. You know how
things are for people like us.'

In this great household a son would
be sent away to school at an early age, and a girl would have a governess.
Parents were expected to have little involvement in the upbringing of their
children. No, she had made the right decision, she'd not remain here any longer
then she had to.

      'Things can be
however you wish them to be. If you want to break tradition then you'll have my
support. Please, Isobel, think about this. Not for me, but for the baby.'

'You must
understand,
that night is
for ever
between us. I am as much
changed as you are. I know you were in your cups, but I can never forgive you.
I married you because I loved you, not because you offered to save my family
from financial ruin. If I had not had deep feelings, I would not be your wife
now.'

He leant forward but she stopped
him. 'No, it's far too late. Maybe your feelings might have changed, but mine
have also. You’ll always be the man who mistreated me. I want your word as a
gentleman that you'll respect my wishes and leave me in peace here, and allow
me to go when the baby is born.'

He lowered his head, she wasn't sure
if he was hiding grief or anger. Then he looked up and the wretchedness in his
eyes almost broke her heart. 

'I agree, my love. It's not what I
want, but I'm in no position to argue. Everything you say about me is true. If
I could take back what happened, even though it could mean there would be no
baby, I would do so. I've learned my lesson. I know it's far too late for there
to be anything between us, and I promise I shan't pester you.' His smile was
tender and she could not help but respond. 'However, can I ask you to slightly
alter your plans?'

When he was at his most charming he
was impossible to resist. 'Go on,
Alexander,
was it
you wish me to do?'

    'Promise me you won't leave until
the child is at least six months old. If you still wish to go, you can do so
with my blessing. I will give you an annual income of £10,000; you can live
anywhere you please and return whenever you want to see your child.'

'There's no need for so much. I know
you're a wealthy man, but such a large amount will strain even your deep
purse.'

 'This isn't negotiable. I
shall never divorce you, never remarry. You'll be my duchess until you die and
as such it is only right that you live in the luxury and comfort your status
deserves. I shall sell my Scottish estates, manage my others more prudently and
invest more wisely. I've also stopped gambling.' His lopsided grin made her
toes curl. ‘That will restore a deal of buoyancy to my finances. Have I your
promise, Isobel?
A few extra months in return for a life of
luxury?
What harm can there be in that decision?'

 She nodded, scarcely able to
believe he was offering her so much. 'I agree; I shall remain until the baby is
six months old. This will give you ample time to have my settlement drawn up. I
shall get my man of affairs, Watkins, to start looking for somewhere suitable.
I find I enjoy being involved in the management of an estate, it will be a
pleasure to have one of my own.'

Bill appeared in the doorway. 'My
lady, I wish to inform you that his grace's apartment is now ready for his
occupation.'

Isobel stood. Alexander had no
choice but to do likewise. 'Dinner will be served in an hour. Do you wish to
send a footman to collect a change of raiment for you from next door?'

For a second his expression hardened at her
dismissal. The formidable duke was in there somewhere, however much he
tried,
he could not eliminate all his pride and arrogance.
This was bred into him.

He bowed his head, hiding his face from her.
'My trappings will arrive later. I came across country and my man is bringing
my luggage by coach. I shall go with your footman. I shall see you at dinner,
my lady.'

He strode off and she her breath. She wished he
was not residing under her roof, but as she had stolen his staff she could
hardly sent him packing. He must remain here for the moment. No doubt he would
return to Town when he had spoken to
Mr
Reynolds and
inspected the

improvements
. She must
endeavour
to keep up her guard for
the short time he would be here.

The encounter had gone more smoothly than she'd
expected. She'd remained in command and he'd acquiesced to her demands. Indeed,
he had volunteered to pay her a fortune when she eventually departed. But for
all his sweet talk and generosity he had no intention of letting her go. She
must have her escape well-planned for when the time came.

Chapter Ten

Isobel
dined in her room. All things considered it might be wiser not to spend time
with Alexander alone. He was very persuasive when he wished to be and she had
no intention of falling under his spell again.

     
'Sally, you may take my tray down, I've had sufficient, thank you. Please
return directly to assist me to retire. It has been an exhausting day one way
and another.'

     
For the first time since her return she slept without nightmares and woke early
feeling happier than she had in months. She would get up. There was no need to
summon her
abigail
, she was quite capable of dressing
herself if necessary. The gowns she'd had altered to accommodate her increasing
girth were high necked and long-sleeved. No doubt she would be obliged to have
some of her muslins adjusted for the final months.

     
The sun was barely up and there had been a sharp frost, but not too early to go
outside with the dogs. There was nothing they liked better than to race across
the silvered grass searching for unwary rabbits. Lacing up her boots was going
to become more difficult, but at the moment she could manage the procedure
perfectly well.