Fenella J Miller - [Duke 02] Page 6

  Anna liked this delightful lady already for she was quite different from either of her children.

  “Actually, and I beg you not to tell Westchester this, I would much prefer to be here in such luxury and comfort than with my friend in Romford taking care of her children.”

  The duchess reached out and clasped her hands. “I knew it, when Ralph told me what he’d done I was sure there was something special about you.” She smiled sweetly. “Much as I love him I am the first to admit he is not the most sociable of creatures. To have invited a complete stranger to live with us is quite unprecedented.” She paused as two parlour maids glided in and placed a delicious array of cakes, scones and patties on a side table and the tea urn and other paraphernalia on another.

  “Would you like me to make the tea, my lady?” Anna would much prefer to do it than have the servants hovering in the background.

  “Thank you, my dear, that would be so kind. I prefer mine without milk or sugar.”

  Twenty minutes later Anna sat back, dabbing her lips on a damask napkin. “That was quite delicious, I hadn’t realised just how hungry I was. I do hope dinner is not be served until midnight, I could not eat another morsel.”

  “Ralph must dine on his own tonight. Neither of us will require further sustenance after that feast.” She picked up a small brass bell and rang it vigorously. Instantly the same two girls whisked in and removed the debris. Once they were alone the duchess pursed her lips. “My dear, forgive me, but would you mind standing up and walking back and forth across the carpet?”

  Surprised, but willing, Anna did as she was asked. “Would you like me to practice my curtsy whilst I’m up?”

  The duchess laughed and waved her back into her seat. “No, child, but I should like you to move your chair closer if you wouldn’t mind?”

  This accomplished Anna waited expectantly, intrigued by these peculiar requests. To her astonishment a delicate hand reached out and lifted a strand of hair. Her ladyship rubbed it between her fingers before sitting back.

  “Exactly as I thought. Tell me, child, why do you dye your hair with walnut juice and wear such unflattering garments? From whom are you hiding?” The direct gaze demanded an honest reply.

  “When my mother … when Mama was dying she told me to make myself invisible. That way my stepfather might well forget I was there and not attempt to involve me in his nefarious schemes and unpleasant house parties.”

  “Well you have no need to remain unnoticed here.” She clapped her hands. “You are exactly what I need to get me back on my feet again. You shall assist me and I shall restore you to your natural beauty.” Her delightful tinkling laugh filled the room. “What a surprise my boys will have when they find their mama walking again and that the apparently plain Miss Hadley is a lovely young woman.”

  “I fear one part of your plan is doomed to failure, ma’am. I am no beauty so you will be disappointed on that score.”

  “Nonsense, my dear, under that hideous garment you have a beautiful figure. You carry yourself well. I am certain when your hair is restored to its natural colour and you are dressed in fashionable gowns you will not know yourself.”

  Anna had to stop this fairy tale. “I’m afraid that I do not have the wherewithal to purchase a new wardrobe, Sir John has control of my fortune.”

  The duchess beamed. “I told you, my dear, you are to be my project; therefore any expense shall be mine. Just think how Ralph and Rupert will react when they see us both restored.”

  Now was not the time to remind her that she doubted either of the Shalford men would be in the slightest bit interested in her ensembles. However, Anna was more than ready to help the duchess recover her mobility. “I have thought of a slight snag, my lady. It will be easy to surprise Rupert for he is not here to see the transformation. Will not the duke notice as my hair slowly changes colour?”

  “I have thought of that. You must move into my chambers for the moment, I have a delightful guest room. We shall tell Ralph you are to remain here as my companion and are therefore no further concern of his.” She rang the bell and this time Foster appeared. “Foster, have Brown arrange for the transfer of Miss Hadley’s belongings here. Also inform the duke that in future we shall dine together in my sitting room.”

  The august gentleman bowed. “Certainly, your grace. I shall have it done at once.”

  “There, my dear, the matter is settled. I cannot tell you how excited I am. I know we have only just met but it is as if we have been acquainted forever.” She raised a finely arched eyebrow. “How long is it before you have control of your fortune?”

  “I am two and twenty so have a further three years to wait.

  “Then you must remain here under my protection until then. No, I will brook no protests. Consider this your home. We shall have such fun together, there’s nothing I like better than tormenting Ralph and together we shall shake him out of his complacency.”

  Things were happening too fast. Much as she liked the duchess she was quite as high-handed as her oldest son although in a far less autocratic manner. From whichever way one viewed it they both were interfering with her life. It would not do. She had left one impossible situation to find herself in another. A gilded cage was still a cage after all.

  Carefully hiding her dismay at having her life rearranged without her permission, Anna smiled. “It’s most gracious of you, my lady, but you must not go to any expense on my account. However whilst I am residing here I shall be more than happy to become involved in your rehabilitation.”

  *

  Ralph listened with incredulity as his butler informed him solemnly that Miss Hadley in the space of one half hour had somehow metamorphosed from a temporary and unwanted guest into the bosom bow of his mother. “I see. My mother has moved Miss Hadley into her rooms? I am to dine alone in future?”

  Foster shifted from one foot to the other. “That is correct, your grace.”

  “Very well. In which case there’s no need to go to all bother of preparing the dining room in future. I also will dine in my apartment until the duchess decrees otherwise.”

  He felt an almost irresistible urge to throw the book at the door as it closed behind his servant. Miss Hadley had turned his well-ordered life into chaos. The wretched woman had somehow entwined herself into all their lives. Firstly she had married his brother and secondly she had persuaded his mama to make her a permanent resident here. But far more important her interference was to condemn him to eat a lonely dinner every night.

  This would not do. Miss Hadley had taken on an opponent she could not best. He would not be manipulated in his own home. He straightened and carefully replaced the book on the shelf. He wasn’t a gambling man; a trait that had passed him by, thank God. What he liked was the challenge of defeating an adversary whether it be in business, sport or anything else.

  Miss Hadley would be gone from Shalford the moment the marriage was dissolved. She might believe she was settled, could stay at his expense for the next three years, but she was in for an unpleasant surprise. She would get her comeuppance soon enough and he couldn’t wait.

  Chapter Seven

  Over the next two weeks Anna frequently spotted her host in the grounds but was always able to dodge behind a statue or tree and avoid being seen. His mother’s plans were working well; the walnut juice had almost gone after frequent washings of her hair in chamomile water. The duchess was making a determined effort to walk without assistance but she was still decidedly unsteady. However the improvement was all but miraculous.

  “My dear Anna, I do believe all I needed was a reason to get out of my chair. I have been decidedly melancholy these past few months.”

  “Indeed, ma’am, I was feeling much the same. We are a tonic to each other.” She nodded towards the buttercup silk gown draped over the back of a chair. “I own I cannot wait to wear that dress. I haven’t worn anything colourful since my mother passed away three years ago.”

  “Then it’s high time you started making
the most of yourself. I can’t wait to see Ralph’s face when we walk into the grand salon tomorrow night.”

  Anna shook her head. “Do you think you should attempt the stairs so soon, my lady? Although you are walking more smoothly around your apartment you have not yet attempted stairs.”

  “Fiddlesticks to that! When Ralph came to see me this morning he told me he was dining out tonight. I shall practice whilst he is away.” She chuckled at Anna’s horrified expression. “Please, don’t worry; I shall make sure I have two stout footmen on hand in case I need assistance.”

  “Good heavens, that’s Rupert’s phaeton turning into the drive. I would know those dashing chestnuts anywhere.”

  Immediately the duchess joined her at the window. “You are quite correct. No doubt he will come immediately to see his mama, you must hide yourself away. Quickly, dear girl, take your gown and slippers.” She clapped her hands like a small child. “How exciting, now we can astonish both of them at the same time.”

  Anna smiled fondly at the lady who had already become a dear friend. Despite the discrepancy in their ages she treated the duchess as a contemporary and not the mother of the formidable duke. “The only problem is now we cannot practice the stairs.”

  “I shall send Rupert out with his brother, he will not quibble.” For a moment her ladyship looked as indomitable as her eldest son. It would seem that not only did the two men get their startling good looks from their maternal parent they also had her fierceness of spirit.

  “I shall make myself scarce.” Anna moved rapidly to the exit, where she paused. “I still have several other ensembles to try on. I can hardly credit the mantua maker and her team of seamstresses managed to complete so much in such a short space of time.”

  The duchess waved an airy hand. “Anything can be achieved if you give the right incentive.”

  Oh dear! This must mean that the cost of the new wardrobe had been exorbitant. Anna was about to suggest that when she came into her inheritance she reimbursed the sum when her ladyship spoke again.

  “I told Mme Ducray she would do well to achieve the impossible as you are likely to be the future Duchess of Westchester.”

  Anna dropped the precious gown. Her hands flew to her cheeks; they were burning beneath her fingertips. “How could you say such a thing? How awful … the duke will be so angry. I would rather dress in rags than have you …”

  “Do not look so distressed, dearest girl. I have sworn Madame to secrecy on pain of losing my custom. I am not a pea-goose, I would not have dreamt of saying anything so compromising if I had had the slightest suspicion the information would become common knowledge.”

  “I pray that is the case, my lady. I believe my tenure here shall come to an abrupt end if such a falsehood comes to the duke’s ears. It beggars belief that I appear to be married to one of your sons and betrothed to another.”

  Not wishing to discuss the matter further Anna fled to the comparative privacy of her own bedchamber. All desire to try on her new clothes deserted her; she prowled around her domain her thoughts in turmoil. The sooner the lawyers completed the necessary papers and she could remove herself from this place the better. The longer she was here the more entangled she became in a web of deceit.

  What was it about this family that made them behave so irrationally? Then the absurdity of the situation struck her. If she had not agreed to this ridiculous marriage then Rupert would not have behaved deceitfully and would no doubt have moved on to some other ridiculous wager. Westchester would not have accused her of being a lady of doubtful morals and his mother would not have told the dressmaker that Anna and the duke were betrothed.

  From whichever way she viewed things, she could come to no other conclusion—her foolishness had led to this unfortunate state of affairs. An irresistible urge to giggle welled up inside her. The duke must be as cross as she about things. On the positive side, however, his mother had recovered her joie de vivre and whatever the outcome between the brothers and herself the duchess would be left in a better position both emotionally and physically.

  She settled herself comfortably in front of the apple-log fire, tucked her stockinged feet beneath her skirt and picked up the most delightful book she had discovered on the bookshelf in her parlour. The book was entitled Pride & Prejudice and she could not remember having enjoyed a novel as much as this one.

  From her rooms she couldn’t hear what transpired between Shalford and his mama but she saw the brothers leave in a closed carriage at dusk. This was the opportune moment to return to the duchess and begin the attempt on the stairs. She was greeted as if she had been missing for months and not merely in her room for a few hours.

  “Dearest girl, such fun! I cannot wait to tell you the extraordinary reason Rupert has given for appearing here today. I don’t expect to see him apart from the festive season, on my name day and when he is rusticating. He remains in Town with his cronies.”

  “I believe, my lady, that he is obliged to sign the same papers that I am in order to dissolve our marriage.”

  “There you have it. He does not wish to dissolve the marriage; he has decided he is in love with you and wishes to persuade you to make this a genuine contract.”

  Anna sank into the nearest chair quite unable to make a rational comment to this extraordinary announcement. Her hostess waited patiently. “I am stunned, my lady. Shalford has no more wish to be married than I. What maggot has got into his brain this time?”

  “Of course he doesn’t have genuine feelings for you, it is merely infatuation. However it will be amusing watching him attempt to interest you and Ralph doing his best to keep you apart.”

  “Forgive me for speaking bluntly, my lady, but it will be anything but amusing for me. I have no wish to be a bone of contention between your sons. I must make it quite clear that as soon as this wretched business is sorted I shall be leaving here.”

  Her companion seemed unbothered by this frank statement; she raised an eyebrow and nodded as if agreeing. “Let’s say no more about it, you must do whatever you wish, my dear. This is not a prison, when you are ready to leave you may do so whatever Ralph or Rupert think of the matter.” She slipped her arm through hers and smiled. “Come along, I must brave the stairs. Have you not noticed how agile I’m becoming?”

  “Indeed, my lady, you are walking quite normally now. I take it you remained in your chair whilst Shalford was visiting?”

  “Yes, I made a great play of having him fetch me things as if I was deteriorating rather than improving.”

  In the spacious passageway the housekeeper, butler and two footmen were waiting expectantly. They had all been sworn to silence. No word of this miracle was to reach the ears of the gentlemen until the dramatic appearance of their mother tomorrow night.

  “If you were to hold on to the banister, my lady, I can walk beside you. The footmen must descend the stairs backwards one step in front of us. That way if you were to fall they would be ready to catch you.”

  For all her bravado Anna sensed the duchess was fearful of taking the first step. It had been several months since she had left her apartment, it must be daunting facing a wide staircase with so many stairs. “Do you wish to leave it until after supper?”

  “Definitely not. Come along, dearest, I am determined to complete this task.”

  As it happened the matter was accomplished with more ease than either of them had expected. Less than half an hour later Anna was back in the apartment sitting down to a delicious repast.

  “The food would be so much more tasty, my lady, if it arrived here piping hot. No doubt in this vast establishment your kitchens are half a mile away.”

  “I believe that is a slight exaggeration, my love, but I agree it’s high time Ralph modernised below stairs. At my insistence he installed bathing rooms but as far as I am aware the kitchens remain as they have always been.” She smiled archly. “Perhaps you might suggest the improvements? After all are you not his intended bride?” Her tinkling laugh filled the room
. “La! Do not poker up, my dear, I was funning.”

  Anna picked up her heavy silver cutlery. Despite its lack of warmth the fricassee of hare, boiled rice and buttered carrots was excellent. The waiting chambermaids cleared the table and produced a charlotte russe for dessert.

  “Shall we play at hand or two of Piquet or do you wish to return to that novel you are so engrossed in?”

  “I should be delighted to play cards with you, madam, but I warn you I am no expert.”

  “Thank you. I believe there are several other similar romance novels on the shelf in the yellow drawing room downstairs. Do you wish me to send for them?”

  “Perhaps tomorrow, I still have this volume to read.”

  When Anna eventually retired she was unable to sleep. She was used to having a more active life. Hiding from her stepfather had meant she absented herself from the estate as often as possible. She would ride for hours when the weather was clement, spend time visiting the tenants and assisting at the school her mother had established before her sad demise.

  Her book was finished; there was nothing else on the shelf that interested her. Then she recalled that there were similar titles in the yellow drawing room. Although she had been lurking upstairs these past days on the few occasions she had been able to creep out and walk briskly around the grounds, she had spied this particular room. However this had been from the outside. Would she be able to discover its whereabouts from within?

  She had heard the carriage return an hour or more ago; the house was quiet and even the ever vigilant Foster gone to his bed. Should she risk going downstairs? She was in her night apparel but her dressing robe had been selected for comfort and warmth, not elegance. Her hair was loose; she had persuaded Molly to wash it one more time and had been sitting in front of the fire letting it dry whilst she read. She deftly plaited it and tied a ribbon around the end.

  Being wide awake and as full of energy as if she’d already slept for several hours, she decided she would take the risk. Westchester had his rooms on the ground floor, they were in the east wing and the chamber she sought was in the central block on the west side. There was no danger of being discovered by him. She wasn’t sure where Shalford resided but would take the chance he was also sleeping soundly wherever he might be. No doubt he would have imbibed far too much and fallen between the sheets in his customary inebriated state.