The Theft of a Dukedom Page 8

  ‘I think you might have some bruising tomorrow.’ He said softly still. ‘And perhaps I’d better explain it to your father.’ He sat back on his chair, his fingers retaining the silken feel of her skin and fighting the urge to rest his lips on the pulse in her throat. ‘What made you come out?’ he gulped out and reached for the decanter again.

  ‘Would you like a glass for that?’ she said and smiled gently.

  ‘No.’ He said abruptly as he up ended the decanter again.

  ‘I heard you.’ she said simply and looked down at her lap, where her hands were demurely folded. ‘You were moaning and it woke me up.’

  ‘How did you get down here without being seen?’ he asked in astonishment and drank again.

  She smiled coyly again. ‘I took the service stairs. Havers is sitting by the front door waiting for Daddy to come home.’ She smiled brightly, ‘he’ll be with the Duchess until dawn.’

  He choked suddenly on the brandy fumes and coughed. ‘You know where he is?’

  ‘I’m not quite the little ingénue that everybody seems to think.’ She said perplexed. ‘I’m twenty years old and two of my friends are already married!’

  ‘Do you talk about this kind of thing then?’ he asked even more astounded at this insight into a young miss.

  ‘Of course! Millicent was only too eager to tell us every single detail of her wedding night!’ She laughed delightedly. ‘I can only hope that my wedding night will be like hers and that I have the good fortune to choose a kind and gentle man.’

  ‘I’m astonished!’ he blurted. ‘I didn’t think Ladies talked about such things.’

  ‘Of course we do. We’re human beings too!’ she said indignantly. ‘It might be a man’s world and a woman doesn’t have any rights. But not all men treat their wives as property and a good woman is as valuable as a good man.’

  ‘I can vouch for that, but that’s a rather modern view of the world.’

  ‘I like to hope that there is an equally modern man out there that will appreciate my views.’

  ‘What happens if there isn’t?’ he asked impertinently.

  ‘Then I shall end up a spinster like Aunt Agatha.’

  ‘So the gentlemen of thetonhaven’t made a good impression?’

  ‘Do you want an honest answer to that? Or would you like me to pander to your sensibilities and lie.’ She asked with a knowing smile.

  ‘I think I can handle an honest answer.’ He said smugly.

  ‘In truth I have not met a single man that has impressed me, until tonight.’ She said turning to retrieve her glass and hide her face to conceal her blush. ‘Most of them treat me as a possession and they haven’t even asked for my hand!’ She sipped the amber spirit. ‘They have impressed upon me their selfishness and lack of propriety at times. Ponsonby was a prime example the other night when he grabbed my arm to march me to the Ladies Retiring room.’ She shrugged her shoulders. ‘What on earth made him think it was any of his concern still has me dumbfounded.’

  ‘Perhaps he thought it was the correct course of action.’ Richard ventured.

  ‘What would you have done?’ she asked abruptly, spearing him with her eyes.

  ‘That would all depend on the circumstances.’ He said evasively.

  ‘I have just been struck by the hand of a stranger, and the contents of his glass have saturated the front of my gown. What would you do?’ she insisted.

  Richard looked at her thoughtfully. ‘What was the culprit doing?’

  ‘Apologising profusely and taking his handkerchief out to assist me.’ She said evenly.

  ‘I have many options depending on what I’m seeing and what I feel. If I’m a jealous man and I’m seeing the lady I have designs on being touched by another man, even innocently, I could become infuriated and try to march her away from the source of my discomfort.’ He placed the decanter back on the table. ‘Or if I’m a man secure in the knowledge of your affection, I would probably call the clumsy oaf out. At least I would demand restitution for the loss of the gown.’

  ‘Amazing.’ She said in awe and shook her head slowly. ‘You have just described exactly what happened. Derek Ponsonby arrived hot foot to drag me away, my father came and gently sorted the replacement of my dress and I know if Charles could have moved quickly he would have called the culprit out before I could draw breath!’ She laughed in merriment, covering her mouth with her fingers. He smiled with her and suddenly her heart missed a beat. She had a vivid picture of him doing all those deliciously scandalous things that Millicent had told her about and she decided it was time to retire. ‘I really should get back to bed. If my father finds us like this he’ll have a fit!’ She pushed the blanket off her knees and stood up. ‘Goodnight, my Lord.’ She said, smiled coyly again and almost ran out of the conservatory.

  She ran up the stairs as quick as a jack rabbit, only slowing to open and close her door. She stripped off her dressing gown and only then realised she’d not retied the neck of her nightdress. Shocked at her oversight, but thrilled by the wanton omission, she climbed into bed and hugged a pillow to her chest. She lay and recalled every word and touch from Lord Richard throughout the whole evening. She gasped at the strength in his arms as she remembered just how he swept her out of the path of the falling punch bowl. If he hadn’t been so fast, the bowl would undoubtedly of hit her legs, possibly breaking them. Gradually she dropped off to sleep.

  Richard remained in the conservatory. What just happened?He asked himself.One minute we’re talking quite happily and the next she’s gone!He would never understand women. He looked up at the sky to see the dawn lightening the sky. He picked up the blanket and made his way back into the house proper and found Havers sleeping on a chair in the hall. Right at that moment he heard the jingle of livery and Havers opened his eyes.

  ‘My Lord!’ he said startled. ‘Can I help you with something?’

  Richard shook his head and then sighed. ‘Nothing except a decent burial.’ He muttered as the ducal carriage pulled up outside.

  Thomas took the steps two at a time and almost burst through the door as Havers opened it. ‘Good morning, Havers. Can you get Chivers to draw me a bath and has Charles returned yet?’

  ‘Good morning, Your Grace. Yes and No respectively, Sir.’ He said and turned away.

  ‘Richard! What are you doing up?’ Thomas asked and became concerned at the expression in Richard’s eyes. ‘Did something happen?’ he asked in dread.

  ‘Yes. But not what you think, Sir.’ Richard said softly.

  ‘Then we should retire to my study and we can talk about it.’ Thomas said and turned away.

  Richard followed him disconsolately, knowing it could be costly.

  Thomas indicated a chair and poured two brandies. He handed one to Richard. ‘So, tell me the bad news first!’

  ‘Lady Amelia might have a black throat tomorrow morning.’ Richard said without preamble. He swallowed hard and took a sip of his brandy while he waited for the Duke to assimilate that statement.

  ‘Why?’ Thomas asked as calmly as he could.

  ‘She woke me from a nightmare on the lawn and I’m afraid I’d almost throttled her before I realised it was your daughter!’

  ‘Oh! God!’ Thomas said and closed his eyes. ‘Does she need a physician?’

  Richard shook his head. ‘No, Sir. I examined her throat before she returned to bed.’

  ‘Examined?’ Thomas queried. ‘And just what form did this examination take?’

  ‘I checked her trachea thoroughly and made sure the blood flow through her veins was unimpaired.’ Richard said coolly.

  ‘Did anybody witness this....episode?’ the Duke struggled for the words, when he wanted to go across his study and beat the living daylights out of Lord Richard Dunsmore.

  ‘No, Sir.’ Richard said softly and looked down at his glass. ‘But I give you my word as an officer, we only talked.’

  Thomas slumped in his chair and looked balefully across his desk at Richard. ‘I suppose
I should punish you by forcing you to marry her, seeing as you’ve probably compromised her.’

  ‘That wouldn’t be a punishment, Sir. That would be a reward.’ Richard said softly.

  ‘Are your feelings engaged, then?’ Thomas asked evenly, shedding his anger like a cloak.

  ‘I think so, Your Grace. She is so beautiful.’

  ‘What about Connie Beresford, she’s a pretty lass too?’ Thomas asked as he got up to pour another drink.

  ‘She pales into insignificance beside your daughter. Her mother must have been very beautiful.’ Richard murmured. The Duke didn’t reply, but offered the decanter and Richard held out his glass.

  ‘What were you dreaming about?’ he asked.

  ‘I was dreaming about a night action after Talavera. It was a very confused skirmish. Our riflemen were shooting their voltigeurs and our officers ended up in hand to hand with theirs. Charles picked up a scrape along the ribs from a knife and I got a sword through my upper arm, but whether they were caused by the french, I’ll never know!’ He sighed deeply. ‘I was dreaming about the hand to hand as she disturbed me. I have no idea how she did that, she was just a dark shadow looming over me and I swept her legs from under her and clamped my hand around her throat before I realised it was Lady Amelia.’ He sighed again ‘She blacked out as I recognised her, so I checked her breathing and moved her into the conservatory.’ He shrugged his shoulders and looked surprised to find a drink in his hand. He gulped down half the contents and coughed harshly. ‘We just talked after that.’ He looked up suddenly. ‘Is it possible to fall in love with a girl during one dance?’ he asked and Thomas felt sympathy for the expression of confusion on the young lord’s face.

  ‘Yes.’ Thomas said unequivocally. ‘I fell in love with Victoria the first time I took her in my arms and danced. She took my breath away and it had nothing to do with the way her body moved.’ Thomas sipped his drink. ‘You’re a man of the world, have you envisioned making love to my daughter?’

  ‘You too are a man of the world and I don’t think for one moment you would believe me if I said no.’ Richard said as he nodded.

  ‘You are fortunate.’ Thomas said, which made Richard look up in surprise. ‘To be able to choose the mother of your children is fortune indeed. I could not. My marriage to Kitty’s mother was arranged before I was ten years old.’ He sighed dramatically. ‘I suppose I could have refused to ask her, if I’d wanted to cause my parents grief, but I liked Christina and we got along very well.’ He smiled mischievously. ‘Sex was never earth shattering, like it is with Victoria.’ He remained silent after that and waited for Richard to speak again.

  ‘I was surprised just how worldly she is.’ He said eventually.

  ‘Worldly!’ Thomas exclaimed in shock. ‘I wouldn’t say she’s worldly.’

  ‘No, she hides it very well behind the expected innocent veneer she has created.’ Richard said with a smile. ‘But I can assure you she is nobody’s fool and has more knowledge of your whereabouts than you would think.’

  ‘She knows I spend my nights at Victoria’s?’ he asked shocked to the foundation.

  Richard nodded. ‘And she knows Charles is tupping Constance Beresford.’

  ‘He’s not tupping her. He’s fucking her stupid I should think!’ and Richard laughed in genuine merriment, nodding his head in agreement.

  Thomas finished his drink. ‘Well if her throat is too bad, I’ll call a physician to have a look, tomorrow. Now I’m going to have a bath, a couple of hours sleep and then get on with the day.’ And Thomas breezed out of his study.

  He was not unhappy with Richard’s interest and he pondered the possible ramifications as he soaked the sperm off his body.At the end of the day it’s up to Kitty. He thought and climbed out of the bath, rubbed himself vigorously dry and flopped into bed on the verge of exhaustion.I need a night off!Was his last thought.

  Chapter 7

  Kitty was sleeping soundly when her maid entered the room, so Lucy quietly pulled the curtains across to block out the sunshine and softly closed the door. As she moved away Havers asked her about tea. ‘Oh! Lady Amelia is fast asleep, Mr. Havers.’ Lucy said. ‘I’ve just pulled her curtains and left her.’

  ‘Very well, Lucy.’ He said firmly. ‘Go back to the kitchen, but keep an ear out for her bell.’

  ‘Yes, Sir.’ And Lucy tripped off down the service stairs.

  Havers went down the main staircase and checked the breakfast room one more time and was standing in the hall as the Duke strolled downstairs.

  ‘Good morning, Havers. Is breakfast out?’ he asked kindly.

  ‘Not quite, Your Grace. But there is coffee and tea in the breakfast room.’

  ‘Is anybody else up yet?’ he asked and yawned.

  ‘No, Your Grace.’ Havers smiled. ‘Lady Amelia is still asleep, Lord Charles hasn’t come home yet, Lady Agatha is breakfasting in bed and Lord Richard should be down soon.’

  Very soon the footmen delivered the steaming silver platters of food to the sideboard in the breakfast room and Thomas filled his plate with alacrity he was so hungry. He had just started eating when Richard arrived.

  ‘Good morning, Your Grace.’ Richard said and sat down. A footman poured tea and placed a fresh rack of toast in front of him. As the footman left the room they both heard the front door bang and then Havers talking and suddenly Charles came into the breakfast room.

  Richard and Thomas both started to laugh helplessly.

  ‘I don’t know what’s funny!’ Charles demanded as he fell into a chair and poured tea. He looked haggard, with dark circles under his red rimmed eyes. His cravat was draped around the open neck of his shirt and he looked decidedly weary.

  ‘I think, son, you should spend the rest of the day in bed. You look exhausted!’

  ‘Did you fuck her all night long?’ Richard asked softly.

  Charles smiled lasciviously. ‘I did. But, I have to admit at the end she was the one doing all the work.’ He looked at his father. ‘Did she make your balls ache?’

  ‘She did!’ he replied smiling. ‘You should ask Chivers to prepare you a bath. He has some amazing concoctions for a sore cock!’ He sniggered then. ‘And for preventing the pox!’

  ‘Do you think she has the pox?’ Charles asked in horror.

  ‘Why do you think she’s barren?!’ Thomas replied harshly. ‘She suckered poor Rochdale in before he knew what she was really like.’ Then he thought about what Richard had said. ‘Like all young girls seem to be able to do. Tell me? Did you know that Kitty hides a worldly nature behind innocence?’

  Charles shook his head. ‘But that’s hardly surprising. I’ve been away for four years. She was a child when I left.’

  ‘She has married friends.’ Richard said softly. ‘And they talk.’

  ‘How come you know that?’ Charles demanded and Richard squirmed in his chair.

  ‘Kitty and Richard had an unfortunate episode last night. She tried to wake him from a nightmare and he tried to kill her.’

  Charles was quiet as he thought about it then he sighed and smiled at his friend. ‘It could so easily have been me.’

  ‘According to Kitty, Constance Beresford is a loose woman with low morals!’ Richard said and sniggered,

  ‘I think she’s got the right of it!’ Thomas said and all three laughed heartily. Richard stood to help himself to a plate of food and Charles joined him.

  ‘Are your feelings engaged now?’ He asked softly.

  ‘I think so.’ Richard admitted just as quietly. ‘But I have to spend a little more time with her, first.’

  ‘Do either of you know what happened with the punch bowl last evening?’ Thomas asked.

  Richard returned to the table and picked up his cutlery. ‘No.’ He said shaking his head. ‘Kitty had just put her cup down on the table, there was a crack like pistol shot and I saw the punch bowl tilt out of the corner of my eye.’ He wiped his forehead again at how close she was to being injured. ‘If I’d hesitated for a se
cond, the bowl would have hit the back of her calves and broken both her legs.’

  ‘By the time I looked up, Kitty was already in your arms.’ Charles said with a mouthful of bacon. ‘I actually wondered if any of the ladies standing the other side of the table pushed the bowl off, but I saw the table collapsing.’

  ‘I spoke to Henderson and it was the leg of the table that gave out.’ Thomas explained.

  ‘Did it give out or was it sabotaged?’ Charles asked before he shovelled another forkful of food in his mouth. ‘And was Kitty a target?’

  ‘You couldn’t sabotage a table to go exactly at the second that Kitty put her cup down.’ Richard ventured.

  ‘That’s true!’ Thomas said. ‘Nobody would have guessed that she would waltz with you or that you would invite her to the punch bowl.’

  ‘Have you been having any problems lately, father?’ Charles asked and it wasn’t an idle enquiry.

  ‘No. I haven’t had to sack anybody, nobody has tried to swindle me and as far as I know nobody objects to my marriage to Victoria.’

  ‘What about other suitors?’ Richard asked.

  ‘She has been exclusively mine for about a year.’

  ‘You’re sure about that?’ Charles asked firmly, letting his father know this was serious.

  ‘Yes, son. I’m sure.’

  ‘So if it’s not you and Victoria, could it be one of Kitty’s admirers?’ Richard mused.

  ‘Who are the most active?’ Charles demanded.

  ‘At first there was a young Lord Deveron, I couldn’t find out much about him except he’d come over from the Caribbean, and Kitty blew him away the first time she danced with him. She point blank refused to talk to “that salacious goat” as she called him. I got the impression that he was too forward and impertinent for her. Hot on his heels came the Earl of Strathairn, he took an interest and I thought he was serious. He called for a few weeks and was followed by the Viscount Dalton, who over stepped the mark. Lord Brooks had a look and then went and married Lady Anne Trenchard, much to Kitty’s relief. Baron Drake came next, but he was too old for her.’