After years of effort, including chumming up to his mother, Lady Prudence was no further ahead in her quest to be Duchess, yet here was a nobody, with a reputation as a clumsy girl who’d had a disastrous Season, and was destined to be a spinster, just waltzing in, and instantly attracting his devoted attention. It wasn’t to be borne. Lady Prudence needed a plan, or all might be lost.
Considering, she watched another round of cards in which fools lost fortunes, and came to a decision. She would get rid of the annoying Lady Juliana. Starting tonight. The right words to the Lady herself, and the right whispers in the ears of the gossips, and soon the girl would be out of favour.
Lady Prudence began to move around the room, always keeping an eye on the corner, waiting for the time when Kilmerstan left Lady Juliana. Which took an unconscionably long time to happen – time that Lady Prudence put to good use, delivering nasty little lies and hints into many ears.
“…she’s a fortune hunter, you know… the family’s pockets are to let…”
“…There was some hushed-up scandal her first Season… bad enough that she never had another, and no-one married her…”
“…clumsy and awkward, no wonder she’s not made a match. But then, you have to wonder what else is wrong with her…”
“…I’ve heard she was compromised that first Season, and whoever it was refused to marry her…”
“… the family keep her mostly tucked away quietly – makes you wonder what is really wrong with her…”
On it went, vicious and titillating, slipping into avid ears.
Finally, Lady Prudence saw Kilmerstan bow to Lady Juliana, and move away. She hurried in the direction of the corner, nearly knocking a man - Lord Fondleton? - who seemed to be heading the same way, off his feet as she passed him. His muttered complaint trailed after her.
“I say, do look where you’re going!”
She ignored it, and slipped behind the potted palms where Lady Juliana stood.
“My dear Lady Juliana, how delightful to see you! I just had to catch you for a moment alone. I couldn’t leave it any longer. I hesitated to speak of this… but my conscience demanded it.”
“Oh? What is it that you need to speak of, Lady Prudence?”
The girl seemed guileless and gullible – just what Lady Prudence wanted.
“The Duke… I’ve seen you talking to him… and I wanted to warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“Yes. You see, he’s… well, he’s a bit of a rake. He hides it well, here, but I’ve known the family for years…” the girl’s eyes went wide with shock, and uncertainty. Lady Prudence held back her smile. “Although I suppose someone like you would put up with that, for the title of Duchess, but you won’t have to, for we have had an agreement for some years now. It was only delayed by his father’s and his brother’s death. But now… well, I expect it will be announced soon. I felt that you should know, before your heart became engaged, pointlessly.”
She patted Lady Juliana on the arm, and moved away.
Chapter Five
Juliana felt ill. Part of her could not, in any way, believe the words that had just been spoken to her. But the words had sown a seed of doubt – what if Lady Prudence had spoken the truth? She certainly seemed to be close to the Duke’s mother, and, if the words were true, and he was the sort of man who would flirt and converse in depth with one woman, whilst all but betrothed to another…
She could not bear the thought, but now that she had let it into her mind, she could not unthink it. She would avoid him. that would be simpler. If she did so, Eleanor would be pleased, too. Although if Lady Prudence had spoken the truth… then Eleanor had no hope in that direction either.
Juliana stepped out from behind the palms, and set off towards her father. As she did so, she almost collided with a man who was hurrying towards her. She had not been introduced, but she remembered being told that he was the Earl of Fondleton. There was something about him that made her shiver, and avoid the collision with an exaggerated step.
Which made her nearly fall, and made it obvious to all around her how clumsy she was. Sighing, she righted herself, and hurried to her father. She was completely unaware of the Earl stopping and looking after her, his jaw clenched with frustration.
“Father, I have a megrim – might we return to Hardcastle House?”
Her father looked at her, his eyes full of sympathy – he had seen the stumble.
“Of course, Juliana, your mother can stay here with Eleanor, and I’ll send the carriage back for them. I’ll take you back to Hardcastle House now.”
Gratefully, Juliana escaped. Ten minutes later, the Duke returned to the room, and looked around, puzzled at her disappearance.
~~~~~
When Garrett returned to the room, having dealt with a small matter with one of his neighbours, he had hoped to continue his conversation with Lady Juliana. But she was gone. He wondered what had happened. He moved through the room, rather disconsolate and, as always, listening to the snatches of conversation that came to him.
After a short while spent watching a card game, it became clear to him that the tone of the conversations had shifted from local gossip of the general kind to a far nastier sort of gossip, full of snide comments and implications.
That disturbed him, for the local people were rarely so nastily inclined. But what disturbed him more was the moment when he realised that the gossip was about Lady Juliana. Her disappearance suddenly made sense, given what he was hearing.
“…did you see her – she nearly fell over on the floor here, just before she left. They must be right, there’s obviously something wrong with her, and the family are hiding it – for there was nothing for her to trip on – she just twisted and nearly fell…”
His heart ached for her. Now, he had some insight into what she might have suffered over the years. But… why had she nearly fallen? None of it made sense. He would have to discover more – about her, and about her family. He could not allow this to continue, could not allow her to be impugned in this way.
He truly struggled to understand how others could see her so differently from what he saw. Shaking his head, he turned away from watching the card game, no longer even slightly entertained, and sought out his mother and sisters. He was more than ready to return home, for his evening had been irredeemably soured.
~~~~~
The following afternoon, Garrett escorted his mother and sisters into the town, where they settled in the Tea Rooms to partake of the new blends of tea, and the latest pastry confections. He declared his intention to go for a walk, and left them to the tea and gossip.
His walk had purpose, beyond allowing him to escape the tedium of social conversation. A small bell rang as he pushed open the door below the gilded sign – Sandiford and Son, Lawyers.
“Your Grace! What can I do to assist you today?”
The elder Sandiford had surged to his feet, coming forward with a hopeful expression. Garrett, like his father before him, used the Sandifords as his men of business when at Kilmerstan Castle, for they had the convenience of being local, and the excellent attribute of being good at their work. Garrett glanced around the small office, and was pleased to note that neither the younger Sandiford, nor the two clerks were present.
“Good day to you, Mr Sandiford. I was hoping that you might be able to discover some information for me. Quietly.”
“Oh? Of course, Your Grace, I will do my best. Please, do take a seat and tell me what it is that you need to know.”
Garrett sank onto the offered chair, and regarded Sandiford consideringly. He hoped that the man would be as effective in this as he was in everything else.
“I need some background information on a gentleman who is visiting Upper Nettlefold with his family, for the purpose of attending the house party at Hallingbrook Grange. Where he is staying – for he is not staying at Hallingbrook Grange - an indication of the health of his finances, any scandal associated with the name, that sort of thing. And
I’d like to know as much as possible by tomorrow.”
“And who is the gentleman in question?”
“The Earl of Delbarton.”
Sandiford’s eyes widened a little, at being asked to investigate a man of the nobility.
“You set me quite a challenge, Your Grace. Is there a particular reason for your request? Anything that I should know?”
“This is to be held in the utmost confidence, Sandiford. There is some gossip, of a rather vicious nature, about a member of his family. It disturbs me greatly, and I would wish to know the truth of the matter, without the necessity to confront the gossipers, or the man himself.”
“I see. Well, I will do my best Your Grace.”
“Good, I trust that you will, and very discreetly. I will call here tomorrow afternoon, to hear your findings.”
So saying, Garrett rose, and bid the man farewell before leaving. He walked slowly the length of the street and back, observing the townspeople and the visitors, enjoying the warmth of the summer sun. When he could delay no longer, he returned to the Tea Rooms, and gathered up his mother and sisters, using the need to prepare for the evening’s entertainment as a reason to draw them away. As he left the Tea Rooms, a snippet of conversation reached him, and he ground his teeth. It was another whispered retelling of Lady Juliana’s near fall of the prior evening, complete with suppositions about her health or mental state.
The sooner that Sandiford delivered him some information, the better.
~~~~~
Juliana had tossed and turned, sleep evading her until almost dawn, the horror of that moment when she had nearly fallen replaying itself in her mind, alternating with the horror of Lady Prudence’s words, and what they implied about the Duke. She still struggled to believe the words to be true, yet they made an odd kind of sense – if he was an accomplished rake, then it was entirely possible that he had been speaking to Juliana simply as a way to entertain himself at an otherwise boring house party.
It would also explain his flattering words – for a rake used to delivering empty flattery to ladies would not hesitate to lie, and call a Lady beautiful, when she was not, if it suited his purposes. She felt like crying when she considered how easily she had been taken in, how much she had wanted to believe him sincere, convincing herself. She was pitiable, pathetic – so much in need of being noticed that she had been gulled immediately.
By morning, she had managed a little sleep, but woke with the megrim she had invented the prior night. She supposed it was what she deserved for lying. She sent the maid for a small breakfast, and chose to stay in bed. If she went nowhere today, then she did not risk seeing him. The maid returned with a tray, and Lady Delbarton hurried in after her.
“Juliana, Mary tells me that you still have that megrim. I’m worried about you! You must be well in time to go to Hallingbrook Grange tonight – we shouldn’t waste your chances to meet a suitable gentleman, and, if you miss this afternoon’s picnic and walk to the ruins, you simply can’t miss this evening! Make sure that you rest properly.”
“Yes Mother.” Juliana said, to the closing door.
~~~~~
That evening, as they entered Hallingbrook Grange again, Garrett found himself immediately scanning the room, looking for Lady Juliana. He felt an acute need to see her, to know that she was alright, that, hopefully, she had not heard any of the terrible gossip about her.
He could not see her, not in plain view, and not in the secluded corner she had hidden in the previous night. The rooms had been rearranged, the folding panels between three rooms opened up, and the resulting space was set to allow dancing, with a small orchestra preparing in one corner. The thought of dancing made him smile, remembering her in his arms just a few nights before. Perhaps he could persuade her again?
As he scanned the room, he saw, too late, Lady Prudence approaching.
“Your Grace! I trust that you are well this evening?”
“Good evening, Lady Prudence. Yes, I am well, thank you. And you are obviously in the best of health.”
He could not bring himself to compliment her in any other way, for truly, he had never found her appealing, in mind or body. And her fashion choices were… simply horrifying.
“Oh yes! I am always healthy – it runs in the family – my mother is most robust, and that after bearing nine children!”
She lowered her lashes, and fluttered her fan, apparently attempting to look seductive. It failed.
He was saved from having to find a reply to that when she turned at the sound of the orchestra striking up. She studied the floor as various couples began to form up for the dance, then turned back to him, her expression falsely sweet.
“Oh look, Your Grace, the dancing is about to begin – it is wonderful that there is dancing tonight, isn’t it?”
She looked at him, expectantly, most obviously thinking that he would feel obliged to ask her to dance. He chose to disappoint her.
“Delightful. But at present I have some business I must discuss, so I will not be joining the dancing. Do excuse me.”
He bowed, and moved away. As he did, he heard her mutter, in an undertone, “Well! At least I don’t fall over my own feet like that scandalous Lady Juliana. I would have thought…”
He shuddered, suddenly wondering if Lady Prudence might be the source of some of the spiteful comments – surely not – would she actually stoop to that? He stepped into the hallway, glad to be out of the crowd, and made his way towards Mooresfield’s library. That seemed a suitable place to hide. Part of him wanted to laugh – that he was running away from Lady Prudence Baggington! Yet he was.
He slipped into the library, closing the door, and leaning back against it, relief coursing through him at the silence and peace after the crowds in the other rooms. Then a sound caught his attention. The sound of a book being slid from a shelf, seemingly loud in the otherwise silent room. He stepped forward, curious – who was here?
~~~~~
In the darkened area at the turn of the hallway, the Earl of Fondleton stopped, anger filling him. He had seen Lady Juliana slip away, and followed at some distance. When she had gone into the library, he had known a moment of exultation. There was no other door from the room.
He would wait a few minutes, listening, to be sure that there was no other person in the room, before he moved. He leaned against the wall, the shadows covering him, and waited. The silence extended, and finally, he straightened, about to move.
In that instant, Kilmerstan came wandering down the hallway and turned into the library, closing the door. Not again! How could this be – was it planned? Was this a series of assignations? Had Kilmerstan truly seduced her already. The thought drove him a little further into angry obsession.
He would have her. Somehow. He stood, unable to bring himself to move, seething.
~~~~~
Juliana had easily slipped away from her family – her father was caught up in a conversation about the perils of investing in shipping, and her mother and Eleanor were circulating, making sure that Eleanor was introduced to every possible eligible man present.
They did not notice her go.
The fact left her with a bitter sense of the inevitability of her spinsterhood, unless some man rashly decided to rescue her from that fate. And, the way she felt about men, even if a man offered, she would most likely refuse him.
She slipped down the hallway, and discovered a library, the door left ajar, and a small number of candelabra standing on the tables which stood in the centre of the room. She could not resist. There were far more books here than in their library at home, and she moved between the shelves, studying the titles which filled them.
A novel that she had not read caught her eye, and she slid it from the shelf. As she did, a small sound caught her attention – had the door just closed? She turned, stepping cautiously out from behind the tall shelves, just as someone else attempted to step around and into the space where she was. They collided.
She knew, instantly,
who it was. His scent surrounded her, filling her senses with dizzying speed. How could this be happening? She had tried to hide, had every intention of not being anywhere near him, and yet, here he was. As the initial shock receded, she realised that she was pressed against his hard chest, her hand resting over his heart, and that he held her.
His hands gripped her shoulders, preventing her from falling, which she surely would have from the force of their impact, had he not gripped her so. Warmth spread from where they touched. Suddenly, she could not breathe.
She opened her eyes, with no idea of when she had closed them, and looked up, meeting his dark brown eyes. It was like looking into a deep forest pool, and she could as easily drown in them.
Stillness held them, and neither spoke. Then, slowly, ever so slowly, he lowered his head, and brought his lips to hers.
It was like nothing she had imagined – it was far more, far better. His lips were soft, supple, gentle against hers. They parted, and his tongue slowly traced the contours of her lips. She gasped, unsteady on her feet, as if all control had been drawn from her limbs. His tongue traced further, following the very inner surface of her slightly parted lips. The book fell from her nerveless fingers, landing on the floor with a solid thump.
The noise broke the spell, and they started apart, both with eyes wide, and panting a little.
“I…”
“Your Grace…”
They spoke at the same moment, and stopped. She did not have the courage to try to speak again. She needed to escape, to be anywhere but here, to not be taken in by his flattery, by his scent, by his very presence. She had to remember that it was all a lie, almost certainly.
“I apologise, Lady Juliana. That was completely inappropriate of me. I… I simply could not help myself, when your beauty was suddenly so close.”
She looked away, feeling cold, all of the pleasure of the previous moments gone. There it was again – the proof that he was false – the flattery that could not be true, the claims of her ‘beauty’.
The Duke and the Spinster: Clean Regency Romance (The Nettlefold Chronicles Book 1) Page 5