The Duke's Reform (16 page)

     
He bowed and strode from the room without a backward glance. He nodded to the
butler and walked out into the crisp, cold morning. It had been purgatory to be
so close and not able to touch her, to show her how much he loved her. One
thing was certain— Gloria would never get her claws into him. If he could not
make love to his wife, he would remain celibate. Seeing her again had served to
reinforce his decision and confirm his love for her.

     
He swung into the saddle, his two grooms did likewise, and he urged Rufus into
a canter. As he rounded the curve in the drive a carriage turned in. God's
teeth! What was Bentley doing here? Had he not told the young man to remain
where he was for a week? The last thing he wanted was for Isobel to meet him.
Time enough for Bentley to know there was a child if the infant turned out to
be a boy.

     
The coach rattled to a halt and he leant down to speak to Bentley through the
window. 'You have to turn round— I told you I would not be here more than a day
or two. I shall wait for your vehicle. We can stop for refreshments together in
an hour or two.'

     
'I say, my lord, I do beg your pardon. I set off at first light determined to
arrive before you left. It would be a shame if I did not meet your duchess now
I am here.'

There was almost desperation in his words. Had
something untoward occurred in Town that he was fleeing from? Even if that were
so, Alexander could not risk a premature meeting between Isobel and his
putative heir.

     
'Lady Isobel isn't receiving.' He glared and Bentley hastily withdrew his head.
The coachman looked down expectantly. '
Mr
Bentley
will be returning forthwith— will your cattle take a double journey?'

     
'I doubt it, your grace, not without a couple of hours rest.
Mr
Bentley insisted we travelled at a spanking pace. The
beasts are all but done.'

     
Alexander frowned. Yes, there was a solution to this. The unwanted guest could
return with Duncan and this carriage could remain here until the animals were
rested. 'Bentley, you must travel back with my valet. His carriage is about to
leave.'

     
The dark heard emerged nervously. 'I shall do that, of course, your grace. At
what hostelry are we to meet? You must not keep your stallion waiting whilst I
transfer my belongings to the other vehicle.'

     
This was a reasonable suggestion. 'The Green Man—you follow the toll road and I
shall cut across country.'

     
He saw the other carriage appear behind him. Excellent, it should not take long
for the exchange to take place. He could leave knowing he had avoided a
potentially difficult situation.

****

Isobel was
in the entrance hall when she heard carriage wheels outside. Goodness, who
could this be? Duncan had already departed and he was not likely to have
forgotten anything. He was the most frighteningly efficient gentleman's
gentleman. She hurried to the window and looked out, making sure she could not
be seen from the turning circle. A young man descended. He looked vaguely
familiar, but she was certain no one of her acquaintance would appear on her
doorstep with a sky blue jacket and a pink and gold waistcoat.

     
'Bill, we are about to receive a visitor. I shall retire to my sitting room. I
don't wish to speak to him. He is a stranger to me; no doubt he has lost his
way and called in for directions.'

     
Whoever this was, he must have seen both Duncan and Alexander and he could have
enquired directions from them. She was decidedly uneasy about this. Something
was not quite right about her unexpected guest.

 
Chapter Eleven

Ten minutes
went by and then there was a rapid knock on the door. Bill appeared looking
somewhat bemused. 'I beg your pardon, my lady, but the young gentleman insists
I give you his card. He won't depart until you have seen it.'

     
Isobel examined the writing. 'Good heavens!
Mr
Bentley— he is next in line to the title at the moment. The duke did tell me
about him, but I had no idea he was to visit here. Show him into the
drawing-room, I suppose I must come and speak to him.' She called the butler
back. 'I doubt if he has eaten breakfast today, ask the kitchen to have food prepared
and laid out in the small dining room.'

     
Small wonder he had seemed familiar. Alexander must have suggested he called in
and introduce himself before returning to the city. It would be better if her
pregnancy remained unnoticed
.
I
f she ran upstairs and fetched her cloak this would disguise her bump
and no doubt he would assume she was on her way out with the dogs.

     
'Sally, quickly, I need to put on my bonnet and cloak. I require you to do the
same;
Mr
Bentley, a distant relative, has called in
unexpectedly and I don't wish him to remain here long. I should not be
entertaining in the duke's absence.'

Soon she was on her way to the drawing-room,
Sally following behind and both dogs
gambolling
at
her feet. The man would have to be stupid not to
realise
she was on her way elsewhere and could not entertain him.

     
Pausing in the shadows outside the drawing-room she viewed the young man who
was lounging on the
chaise-longue
with his booted feet resting on the
upholstery. This was not a good start. How impertinent of him to make himself
at home in this way. She stepped in and stared

frostily
.

     
Instantly he was on his feet smiling and bowing. 'Your grace, I do beg your pardon
for intruding in this way. I can see that you're about to go out, I shan't
delay you long. Richard Bentley, your husband's heir, at your service.'

     
She inclined her head a fraction but did not suggest he sat. '
Mr
Bentley, I've arranged for you to eat before you leave.
It isn't seemly for you to be here when I am unattended by my husband. I can't
believe he would have suggested you visiting me in this way.'

     
His cheeks turned puce and he clutched at his ridiculously elaborate neck
cloth. 'I beg your
pardon,
Cousin Alexander does not
know I called in. He believes me to the travelling with his manservant. Forgive
me, your grace, but I could not leave without meeting you in person.' He stared
at her, his watery blue eyes innocent. 'I did not believe the
rumours
going around
Town, that
you had disappeared, but now I can personally assure society you're here at
Newcomb.' He glanced round rather pointedly and raised an eyebrow. This was a
gesture that reminded her of Alexander.

     
‘I’ve spent the past few months in Norfolk with my family, my mother was
ailing. Fortunately she has fully recovered. As I don't enjoy the season and
much
prefer
to live quietly in the country, I move
into the east wing whilst my husband is away.'

     
'Ideal arrangement, it leaves you both free to …' he paused, looking
self-conscious. 'I beg your pardon … I was about to say something
inappropriate.'

To what had he been referring? She could not
help herself. 'Free to do what exactly, sir?'

He looked at his feet; he was wearing the most
ridiculous pair of high-heeled boots. 'It's not my place to discuss gossip,
your grace. But as you
insist
, I am obliged to tell you what's being
said in the drawing rooms of the
ton
.'

She tapped her foot and waited. He appeared to shrink
under her disdainful stare.

'They are saying Cousin Alexander has renewed
his friendship with Lady Fulbright. I'm sure they are wrong and I beg your
pardon for mentioning it.'

If the wretched man begged her pardon once more
she would scream. 'And so you should, I am appalled at your indelicacy.'

 Slowly she let her gaze travel from his
heavily pomaded brown hair, down his gaudy waistcoat to the gold tassels that
ornamented his boots. He shifted uncomfortably. There was a slight sound behind
her and Bill stepped forward.

'Your grace, breakfast is served for the
gentleman. Shall I escort him?'

'Do that,
Mr
Brown.
Mr
Bentley will be leaving directly he has eaten.'

The young man edged forward. 'I fear the horses
won't be sufficiently rested for another hour or two.'

This was the outside of
enough,
she was beginning to heartily dislike this mushroom. 'In which case, sir, you
can occupy your time by exploring the grounds. I bid you good day.'

Bentley stepped forward and swept her an
extravagant bow. Ignoring his silliness she stalked out. Bill and the three
footmen would ensure the irritating gentleman was ejected as soon as he had
finished his meal. She would make sure she was inside before he came out. She
patted her stomach. God willing this would be a boy.

****

Alexander
had been kicking his heels at The Green Man for almost an hour when he spotted
the carriage trundling into the yard. Striding across to greet Bentley he was
shocked to discover only Duncan inside.

     
'Devil
take
it, Duncan, what have you done with
Bentley?'

     
His valet shook his head. 'Should he be travelling with me, your grace? He said
nothing about that when he stopped to speak to me, merely told me to meet you
at this hostelry.'

     
'We have to go back, damn him! If I did not know him for a fool, I would think
he was leading me this dance deliberately. I shall cut across country again;
rest the horses and then follow me.'

     
Rufus needed no further time in the stable. Alexander tacked up the huge beast
himself as there were no ostlers available. His return ride was far swifter,
not only did he know the route, but was also concerned about the
behaviour
of the nincompoop.

     
He thundered across the park, his horse kicking up huge clods of earth which
would take his grounds men days to replace. There was no sign of the carriage
waiting on the turning circle— was it in the coach house whilst the horses
recovered? By his reckoning more than four hours had passed since his departure
and it would be dark before long. He would not allow Bentley to remain at
Newcomb, the buffoon must put up at the nearest coaching inn.

     
There was no sign of the team that had pulled the coach. He swore volubly,
Isobel had sent her unwanted guest on his way. No doubt Duncan and Bentley
would pass on the lane somewhere. This was a ridiculous situation. What was the
matter with him? Why had he galloped back here? His wife was perfectly capable
of dealing with the situation without his assistance.

     
A stable boy, startled at his sudden appearance, jumped off the pail he was
sitting on to clean a bridle and tugged his forelock. No doubt the entire staff
would think him fit for Bedlam after his performance today. He vaulted from the
saddle and tossed the reins to the boy. Then his irritation vanished to be
replaced by amusement. His sudden laughter sent Rufus skittering across the
cobbles and the unfortunate stable lad lost his footing falling headfirst into
a pile of freshly swept manure.

     
'Stand, Rufus, enough of that nonsense.' His horse
quietened
and he quickly threaded the end of the reins through a convenient metal ring
before turning to hoist the boy from the dung. 'Up you come, lad. Are you
hurt?'

     
The urchin grinned as he spat out a mouthful of straw. 'Right as rain, my lord.
A bit of muck don't hurt
nobody
.'

     
Still chuckling Alexander tossed the boy a coin and strolled from the stable
yard round to the east wing. God knows what Isobel would make of all this. He
hoped she would see the comical side to his reappearance when she had all but
told him he was unwelcome here.

****

Mary
bustled into the room her homely face split by a huge smile. 'Well I never! His
grace is back, and poor Johnny got tipped headfirst into the muck by that big
horse.'

     
Isobel tossed aside her sewing with a smile. 'I am not surprised, he would have
realised
Mr
Bentley had
intruded and would wish to make sure I was managing.'

     
'The chamber he used previously is ready for occupation. His man will still be
on the road, so I shall send George to help him. He's the most able of the
footmen.'

     
'Make sure a bath is drawn for him, and send someone next door to find him
clean clothes. Oh, Cook will need to be informed that there's an extra person
to dine this evening.'

     
The dogs barked furiously. He was here and she wished she'd had the forethought
to change her gown. Too late to repine— he was already on his way to speak to
her. She had recovered from the shock of hearing he was once more involved with
his mistress but the infidelity still hurt.

He had not wasted much time before
re-establishing Lady Fulbright as his
chere
amie
. She supposed it
was inevitable he would look elsewhere to satisfy his physical needs as she was
no longer available. Her stomach lurched. How naive she was, he must have been
seeing that woman for more than a year, since the time he had stopped making
love to her on a regular basis.