Fenella J Miller - [Duke 02] Read online

  His mouth began to water; he hadn’t eaten since heaven knows when. His stomach rumbled loudly and the toast fell into the flames.

  *

  “Botheration! Now look what you’ve made me do.” Anna spoke without thinking quite forgetting the sleeping giant was her enemy.

  A lean brown hand snaked past her and removed the bread before it was ruined. “There, perfectly edible. Is that feast for me?”

  “Lord Shalford was too bosky to eat his supper. You might as well have it instead.” She stood up and moved away from the circle of light. For some reason she felt uncomfortable beneath his scrutiny. His strange tawny eyes fixed her like a hawk. “Do not think I am going to wait on you, your grace, I shall retire to my own chamber now that you’re here to make sure my husband doesn’t choke on his own vomit.”

  She hid her smile and headed for the door. With luck her comment would put him off his supper. It had been a long night but perhaps for the first time in years she would be able to sleep without fear. Somehow she doubted her stepfather would try and snatch her back when the duke was present.

  She stumbled, stubbing her toe painfully on the doorstep. Good heavens! What nonsense was this? Shalford’s autocratic brother had ridden pell-mell across country in order to prevent her marrying his brother. He would hand her back in a moment given half the chance. What had made her believe for an instant he would protect her?

  Molly was fast asleep on the truckle bed in the dressing room. She would not disturb her; she was quite capable of removing her garments without assistance. Clad in her chemise she slipped between the covers surprised the sheets were not icy. Dearest Molly must have run the warming pan through them not long ago.

  It scarcely seemed a quarter of an hour before she was roused by the sound of curtains rattling back on their poles. “Molly, surely it’s not time to get up already?”

  “Bless you, madam, it’s after eight o’clock. It has been that busy downstairs I had to queue to get your hot chocolate and warm water.” Molly bustled over almost heaving Anna up the bed in her eagerness. “Lord Shalford is waiting to speak to you, miss … I beg your pardon, madam. There have been two messages already asking when you will be going along to his chambers.”

  “Westchester arrived in the middle of the night, I expect it will be he who’s sending these demands. I’d best be quick; his grace is not a man who will take kindly to being kept waiting.”

  *

  Ralph had no sympathy with his sibling’s pounding headache or bilious attack. “It serves you right, Rupert, I’ve warned you many times about drinking to excess. For heaven’s sake take your coffee and sit down we have matters of the utmost importance to discuss.”

  “Nothing you can say will make any difference. Miss Hadley and I were married in the sight of God and two witnesses. I am free of your interference, Ralph. I now have access to my inheritance and shall remove to the estate in Essex.” He pushed out his chin and glared, looking more like a spoilt schoolboy than a man old enough to have a wife. “I am done with your rules and regulations and from now on I shall suit myself how I go on.”

  “And whose idea was this folly?”

  “Rolly Banister and Freddie said I couldn’t do it, wagered one hundred guineas against it. Jack Simmons decided to help me.” He rubbed his forehead and sipped his coffee noisily.

  “I see, I might have known those buffoons were involved. Where if I might enquire, did you find Miss Hadley?”

  “Jack’s sister, I misremember her name, was at school with her. She suggested Miss Hadley would be ideal as she was in a similar situation.” He scowled at Ralph. “It ain’t your place to poker up, I’m one and twenty, can suit myself what I do. If you’re thinking she’s not good enough then you’re wrong. Her grandpa was an earl or some such, her pa a colonel in the artillary. Mentioned in dispatches, I dare say.”

  Ralph ground his teeth barely restraining an impulse to tip a bucket of cold water over his brother. An unpleasant shock was exactly what the boy needed in order to come to his senses. “I take it there is some reason why the young lady was prepared to tie herself to a nincompoop like you? No doubt your money is enough to compensate for the lack of substance between your ears.”

  “I say, that’s doing it rather too brown. I ain’t as clever as you, but I’m no nodcock.”

  “I beg to differ. Only a complete ninny would marry for a wager – and to such a dull creature too.” Ralph shook his head, quite baffled by Rupert’s inability to see what was obvious. He would have to make it clear. “No woman of sense would contract herself to a complete stranger, even one with a title, unless there was a pressing need to do so. She must be with child and intending to foist her by-blow off on you.” His brother’s shocked expression did nothing to reassure him. “Or maybe the lure of your title was enough.”

  “She married me to get away from her stepfather. Sir John Radcliffe has been using the interest from her inheritance to fund his gambling. Not satisfied with this he was going to coerce her into marrying one of his friends and then split the trust fund with her unwanted husband. I’ll not have you say such things about her, if I didn’t have a crippling headache I would draw your cork.”

  For the second time Ralph wondered if he’d misjudged his putative sister-in-law. Perhaps her reasons for embarking on this unsuitable arrangement were not avaricious after all. He would make enquiries—someone would know if the girl was indeed an heiress or a fortune hunter as he suspected.

  “Whoever she is, she is taking a devil of a long time to appear.” He frowned as he viewed his brother’s dishevelment. “I suggest you go back into your bed chamber and let Evans improve your appearance. It’s a good thing he arrived this morning with your carriage. I’ll not have you letting down the family by greeting Miss Hadley in clothes you’ve slept in.” Ralph’s lips quirked, at least one Shalford would be clean and respectable. His togs had yet to appear; they were travelling behind him in his coach. Evans had done his best to improve matters but he was still decidedly unkempt, not something he was accustomed to.

  Rupert waved a limp hand but remained slumped in the armchair. “I ain’t well enough to bother about such niceties, My wife won’t mind how I look. She’s a game girl, a crumpled shirt don’t offend her.”

  *

  Anna paused outside the parlour door waiting for her pulse to steady. The thought of being interrogated by that arrogant, objectionable man was not a pleasant one. Nevertheless it must be done. She drew herself up, straightened her shoulders and pinned on a polite smile. As she was raising her hand to knock she heard the duke speaking.

  “Get up. Do it now. I don’t give a damn what Miss Hadley thinks, it is I that am offended by your indolence.”

  She froze, uncertain whether to proceed or retreat to the safety of her own apartment. Then anger replaced her fear. Shalford was her responsibility now. How dare that horrid man speak to her husband like that? She pushed open the door with rather more vigour than she intended and it crashed back with as much noise as the duke had produced when he’d appeared so unexpectedly last night.

  Shalford grinned apparently unbothered by his older brother’s rudeness. However the duke’s lips thinned and his tiger eyes flashed dangerously.

  “Good morning, Shalford, I’m relieved to see you up and about. I expect you have a headache this morning.” Anna ignored the fuming man towering above her and walked over to join her husband. “I expect you would rather postpone our departure until tomorrow, my dear. I am perfectly content to stay another day.” She gestured towards the windows. “Indeed, it is most inclement today, not at all seasonable for April. Much better if we remain in front of a warm fire.”

  She could almost hear the duke’s teeth grinding. Treating him as discourteously as he had treated her was rather enjoyable. Then her husband’s expression changed to one of alarm. Too

  Late! She turned and Westchester loomed over her.

  “Enough of this nonsense, madam. Do you think I intend to stand he
re listening to you two simpletons discuss the weather?”

  It would have been better to have remained silent but something prompted Anna to tip back her head and stare directly at him. “I have no idea of your intentions, your grace, I am not a clairvoyant after all.” If he had been furious before now he was incandescent. She saw his hands clench, bright spots of colour appeared along his cheekbones and instinctively she stepped backwards.

  In her haste her heel caught on the hem of her gown. She teetered and lost her balance. He reached out just before her head cracked against the mantelshelf. Heart pounding, she was lifted to safety. She rested her cheek against his chest for a second, could hear a corresponding thumping beneath her ear. Then she was dumped unceremoniously on a chaise-longue and his grace was once more towering above her, his face hard and uncompromising.

  Shalford finally reacted. “My word, that was a close call. If Ralph hadn’t caught you…”

  “In which case it’s fortunate I did so. Whilst you are changing your apparel, Miss Hadley and I can begin our discussion.”

  Anna was too shaken to protest at his high-handed behaviour and his incorrect usage of her former name; Shalford pushed himself unsteadily upright and tottered off to his bed chamber.

  Despite her upset her mood lightened. She’d only known him a short while but she was quite sure it would be at least an hour before he returned. Unfortunately he favoured the macaroni school of fashion, luridly striped waistcoats and shirt points so high he was unable to turn his head with any degree of comfort.

  She risked a glance at the duke. He was preoccupied, frowning after his brother and she was able to stare freely. Without his riding coat and dressed in the best that Weston could produce she was forced to admit he made a fine figure of a man. At almost a head taller than his brother and much broader in the chest he filled his dark blue, superfine jacket to perfection. His hair was not the colour of ripe corn but brown.

  “Do I meet with your approval, Miss Hadley?”

  Her eyes flew down to meet his amused gaze. She felt the heat spreading from her toes to her crown. Drat the man for making her uncomfortable yet again. “Your exterior is quite satisfactory, not the equal to Shalford’s of course, but good enough, I suppose.” There was a flash of something that could have been admiration reflected in his eyes. Emboldened she continued. “However, one must not judge a book by its cover, must one, your grace?” There was no need for her to elaborate—she’d made her meaning abundantly clear.

  Instead of reacting angrily his mouth widened in a smile that made her toes curl in their slippers.

  “Well said, my dear girl. Now preliminary skirmishes are over we can we talk about what really matters.” He stretched out and picked up a heavy oak chair, lifted it as if it weighed nothing at all and folded his long length on to it.

  “I have no wish to discuss anything without my husband being present, your grace. I’m sure you understand. It’s not my place …”

  “Fustian! We both know my brother will be incapable of saying anything sensible until tomorrow.” He leant forward, pinning her like a butterfly to a board with his fierce stare.

  “Why did you marry him? If you have your own fortune then you were not motivated by greed. Was it his title?” He allowed her no time to reply then continued his expression grim. “I believe there can be only one explanation—you are expecting a child …”

  This was the outside of enough. Anna surged to her feet closed the gap between them and dealt him a resounding slap. The crack of the blow echoed around the room. “How dare you suggest such a thing? You are despicable; I never wish to see you again. You are persona non grata in your brother’s life from this moment on.”

  Chapter Five

  Anna tumbled into her chamber and lent against the door expecting at any moment the duke would arrive and demand entry. She pressed her ear to the wood but could hear no sign of pursuit.

  “Lawks, my lady, whatever next? You’re as white as a sheet. Come along and sit yourself down.” Molly tutted and muttered under her breath as she escorted Anna to a convenient armchair.

  “Is there a lock on the door, Molly? Quickly push it across, I struck the duke and he might be on his way to exact revenge.” Her maid moved with remarkable speed for a plump lady in her middle years and Anna felt the tension in her chest slowly dissipate as the bolt was rammed home. She was safe, at least for the moment.

  She had no intention of discussing matters with her maid so closed her eyes and pretended to be dozing until she was alone. Her left hand smarted. What could have possessed her to behave in such an unladylike way? For the past few years she had always bitten her tongue and held back her anger at the unkind treatment she had received at the hands of her stepfather. Yet she had just struck a complete stranger with less provocation than she’d had many times before.

  This was a conundrum and not one she was prepared to consider at the moment. How dare he suggest she was not an innocent young lady? Righteous indignation flooded through her again and when there was a brisk knock at the door, instead of cowering back in her chair, she jumped to her feet and called for Molly.

  “There’s someone at the door, please come and see who it is.”

  Her abigail pulled back the bolt and opened the door a fraction. Instead of it being shoved rudely open a respectful voice enquired. “I would like to speak to Miss Hadley.”

  Molly closed the door in the duke’s face. “Shall I let him in, madam?”

  With a sigh of resignation Anna nodded. “Yes, please do so. However, I wish you to remain in the room. Whatever he says to the contrary you stay by my side, is that clear?”

  “Not even a grand gent like him will shift me.” She bustled over and opened the door dipping in a curtsy as she did so. “Lady Shalford will receive you, your grace.”

  He strolled in as if nothing untoward had taken place, as if a scarlet handprint was not glowing on his right cheek. He stared pointedly at Molly but her maid moved to stand behind Anna’s chair ignoring his unspoken command.

  “I have no wish to speak to you, your grace. However I am prepared to listen to your apology for my husband’s sake but then you will leave.”

  His eyes widened and for a moment he looked quite disconcerted. Then he recovered his aplomb and almost bowed. “I wish to speak to you in private, ma’am. Until your servant has removed herself I shall remain silent.”

  Anna turned. “Please go, Molly, I’m sure there are plenty of tasks for you to do elsewhere.”

  Westchester wandered to the window and turned his back but she could see his shoulders were rigid, he was not as relaxed as he wished to appear. She had a moment’s misgiving when Molly closed the parlour door leaving her alone with this irascible aristocrat. He swung round and she swallowed the lump in her throat as his fingers casually traced the imprint of her hand.

  “May I be seated?” His tone was bland, his expression watchful. She shrugged and gestured towards an upright chair. She didn’t trust her voice and ventured no reply. He continued in the same even measure as if he was discussing the weather. “No one has ever struck me. They would not be so foolhardy. Yet you, a mouse of a woman, has done so.” He leant forward. “What do you suggest I do about it?”

  This was a ludicrous question and restored her equanimity. “You deserved it. I am still waiting to hear your apology.” She glared at him daring him to contradict. Her words caused him to surge out of his chair and for a terrifying moment she thought he would grip her arms and drag her upright.

  He stood no more than a yard from her his face like granite. “I apologise? Have you run mad, woman? It is you who should be on your knees begging my forgiveness …”

  Something prompted her to jump out of her chair and confront him. “I did not accuse you of being impure. If I had a brother he would be entitled to run you through for such an insult. I believe that you got off lightly in the circumstances.”

  For a moment it hung in the balance, his hands were clenched at his sides
and a pulse hammered at the base of his neck. She stood her ground. He he might strip her to the bone with the lash of his tongue but, instinctively, she knew he would never raise his hand.

  “Good grief! You are an original and quite correct to castigate me.” This time he bowed deeply as if meeting her for the first time. “I apologise profoundly for my appalling accusation. I hope you will accept it and we can start again.”

  When he straightened she responded with a similar curtsy. “And I apologise for striking you. Please be seated, sir, I believe we have much to talk about.” As she spoke she realised the absurdity of her words, she should be speaking to her husband not to his older brother.

  This time he didn’t move the chair any closer. “I understand you became involved in this … this unfortunate venture because you wish to be away from Sir John Radcliffe. Do you know why my idiot brother married you?”

  “Lord Shalford told me he was in a similar position to me, had reached his majority but was unable to run his own life without interference.” She hesitated not sure she could continue in this vein but the matter must be clear between them. “He said you were … were a trifle autocratic and demanding. By marrying he would be able to access his inheritance and live as he pleased.” Why was he staring at her as if she were a candidate for Bedlam? “Having experienced your high-handed behaviour for myself, sir, I have every sympathy with his desire to be free of your influence.”

  “God in his heaven! I have no wish to disillusion you, my dear, but contrary to your belief I am a perfectly reasonable fellow and only interfere with Rupert’s life by paying off his gambling debts and …” his cheeks coloured and he ran his finger around his neck cloth as if it had grown too tight for some reason, “and extricating him from unwise liaisons.” He sat back in his chair and smiled sadly. “It is true that recently I gave him an ultimatum. Unless he mends his ways he must live on his allowance. I’m afraid I must be blunt. Rupert married you for a wager.”