Dukes by the Dozen

by Grace Burrowes

  “Yes, you do have a prize to claim.” He tucked the edge of her binding against her upper arm where the skin was uninjured. He leaned toward her and framed her lovely jaw with his fingertips, his mouth easing closer to hers. “Dare I ask what you’ll request?”

  “I want…” Her brow furrowed slightly, and she studied him for a long moment, casting her gaze from his eyes to his lips and back again. “I want…”

  She was having a hard time saying it, but he would not have a hard time giving it. He waited patiently, knowing exactly what she would say.

  He couldn’t have been more wrong.

  Chapter 8

  Julia knew what she ought to ask for. It was what she’d been after since the beginning.

  And yet, things had changed.

  Her prior curiosity that had spurred her conversation with Hodges now tipped to concern. She desired William, yes. Especially after what he’d done to her body only hours before. Especially when his mouth hovered so close to her own, the spicy scent of him making her arc toward him with yearning.

  But there was so much more. She needed to know not just the man, but also the boy who had made this man who he was.

  It was her solitary win and she knew exactly what she would ask for.

  She lifted her hand to his face, where the grain of his whiskered jaw had been meticulously scraped to softness. “I want to know about your childhood, about your parents, about the fire, and Maribel.”

  He blinked. “I’m sorry?”

  “Forgive me, I know you thought that I would request, you know.” A blush flared over her cheeks. “But I would like to know what happened. It’s part of discovering you, William, and to do that I need to truly understand you.”

  He leaned back, putting a more breathable, less heart-catching distance between them. He cleared his throat, then rattled his history off with a swift, detached efficiency. “The country estate caught on fire when I was a boy. My parents died because of me. I would have perished too, were it not for Hodges. I was passed around from house to house because no one wants an orphan. Maribel was my father’s favorite horse. She’s very sick and will soon die.”

  The casual lift of his shoulders indicated the end.

  But even in that brief tale, there was so, so much.

  “Because of you?” Julia repeated. “How could you have possibly caused your parents’ deaths?”

  He stared down at his hands. “I was in the study, where I wasn’t supposed to be. I knew there was a fire and I froze.” He rubbed his fingers together, and then balled his hand in a fist. “I was so afraid I would get in trouble for being in the study that I remained there too long trying to decide what best to do to get out of the situation. My parents were calling me and when I finally emerged, they were on the other side of the split-level stairs. Their side collapsed. The one I was on began to sway and Hodges grabbed me. When I awoke, I’d lost my parents. My family.”

  Julia’s heart contracted for the boy who spent a lifetime thinking his parents’ deaths were his fault. She reached out and took his hands in hers. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “I don’t know that I’ll ever believe that.” He lowered his head. “My guilt made me a terror. I misbehaved badly and was sent from the first three homes before I realized I needed to improve my behavior. The better I was, the more invisible I became, the longer I lasted. I stayed with my father’s cousin for two years, though most of that time I was away at school.”

  “That’s why you try so hard to be perfect,” Julia surmised.

  He lifted his head and gave a mirthless smile.

  And now he was being perfect to keep her. She flinched at the painful realization.

  “What do you want?” she asked through numb lips. “More than anything?”

  His eyes met hers, deep brown and sincere. “A family.”

  Julia could almost hear the crack as her heart broke for him, for the family he’d lost and the family she had been fighting to keep from him.

  His hands tightened on hers. “Please give me a chance, Julia.”

  A log settled in the hearth, and something deep within the glowing center popped and hissed. William tensed.

  “You’re afraid of fire, aren’t you?” she asked.

  He lifted a brow.

  “I saw you hesitate,” she explained. “At the brandy bowl.”

  “And you saved me,” he said apologetically.

  “You were the one who saved me. Even though I was surrounded in the one thing you feared most. Why?”

  He pulled his hands free from hers and cupped her face in his palms. “Because I love you, Julia. I’ve loved you since the day I asked Lady Bursbury for an introduction and she got it in her head to play matchmaker. I saw how your eyes lingered on me at the first ball we attended together, and I couldn’t get you out of my mind. It’s why I asked to court you immediately, why I married you so quickly.” His thumb brushed her cheek. “I love you enough to let you go, if that is truly what you wish.” He pressed a kiss to her brow and settled his forehead against hers. “But it is not what I want.”

  “William.” His name emerged from her tight throat in a catch.

  He pressed his thumb to her mouth, sealing it. “Don’t say anything, please. I just want you to understand what you mean to me.”

  With that, he got to his feet.

  Julia snapped her head up. “Where are you going?”

  “To let Lady Bursbury know you are well. She’s terribly worried.” He swept a hand over Julia’s hair in an affectionate caress. “And to allow you time to think over what I’ve said.”

  But she didn’t have to think. She already knew. This man who had faced his fears to save her, who had lost everything and sought only to gain back the wholeness of his heart, she had to give him a chance. She had to give herself a chance.

  He paused at the door. “To be fair, I do not count this as your prize. If you would like to claim another, I will offer no complaints.” Then he was gone.

  She couldn’t help the smile on her lips any more than she could dim the lightness in her soul. For she knew her fears about William were unfounded.

  That was not all she had reconciled within her soul. She was finally ready to admit what she had felt the first time those warm brown eyes met hers. It had fueled her suspicion and put a visceral edge to her fear, and now she finally understood why: she loved her husband.

  She always had.

  William had spent most of his life behind a shield, steeling himself and his heart from rejection. However, the baring of his deepest hurt and greatest wish to Julia did not leave him as achingly vulnerable as he had anticipated. No, he felt comforted, the rocky bed of his childhood finally smoothed.

  She knew now what he wanted, and why he wanted it. He only hoped it would be enough to change her mind. Not that he would ever stop trying if it didn’t.

  Lady Bursbury had been exceedingly grateful he had informed her Julia’s burn was minor and she would recover easily. He’d never seen Lady Bursbury in such a nervous state, and she’d continued to apologize profusely, despite it not being any real fault of hers.

  As he approached the chamber to return to Julia, the door to his right opened and Lady Venerton stepped out. She caught his gaze and her eyes widened. “Your Grace,” she gasped.

  Quickly, she shut her door and swept toward him.

  William stiffened and resisted the very rude urge to take a step away from her. The odor of brandy hovered around her like a fog.

  “I wanted to talk to you,” she said in a breathy whisper.

  William exhaled to avoid being victim to her pungent breath. Good God, had the woman drank a full decanter on her own?

  “Lady Venerton, my wife has been injured, if you’ll recall—”

  “That is what I wanted to talk to you about.” Lady Venerton pushed her shoulders back so her small breasts were shoved high on her chest. She lowered her head in a way she must have intended to be seductive, except it made her look as fully foxed
as she smelled, eyes half-mast and mouth slack. “She doesn’t deserve you. I know men like you. Strong, healthy, virile. You need—”

  “This is highly inappropriate.” William turned from the woman.

  She grabbed his arm, her grip strong. Before he could realize what the countess was doing, she threw her body against him. William flew back against the wall at the unexpected press of weight and knocked a vase from the table. It crashed to the floor, and Lady Venerton’s mouth pressed wetly against his.

  A soft cry came from somewhere behind Lady Venerton.

  “William.”

  He recognized that voice. Oh God, he recognized that voice.

  Julia.

  Chapter 9

  Julia couldn’t think. She could only run. Away from the scene, away from the hurt. Away from the husband who had betrayed her.

  “Julia—wait.” William shouted somewhere behind her, but she didn’t stop. Not even when the aged Lord Venerton ran past her, nearly knocking her to the ground.

  “I knew there was something between the two of you,” a reedy voice hissed.

  Julia turned in time to see him deliver a solid blow to William. She was not the only victim.

  Her heart clattered in her chest. Heat blazed through her and made the pain in her arm agonizing. The warmth seemed to press into her lungs and fog her brain. She needed to get outside. Just for a moment. Just to breathe.

  She raced through the front door and slammed directly into a person. She reeled back and looked up to find Lord Hesterton staring down at her as though she’d grown a second head.

  “It’s cold out here, Your Grace.” His obvious statement was delivered with his usual bored drawl.

  The chill in the air washed over her like a cool cloth. “I need to get some air,” she gasped. “To just…forgive me, but to just be alone.”

  “Now that I understand.” He gave her a soft smile. “Will you at least accept my coat?”

  Was she not wearing a coat? Her mind spun. Of course, she wasn’t. She hadn’t time to put one on.

  She nodded, and he pulled the coat from his shoulders and draped it over hers. The lining inside was still warm from the heat of his body.

  “Thank you,” she said in puff of frozen air and rushed from the house.

  He called after her, something she could scarcely make out. But she didn’t ask him to repeat it. She didn’t care. All that mattered was the agonizing chasm filling her chest.

  William.

  He had betrayed her exactly as her father had done to her mother. She was grateful it had not gone too far. She had not told him she loved him. What a fool she would have been then.

  The moon cast its brilliant light overhead and turned the world into a wash of purple blue snow. The wind had stopped, and the night was still.

  Lady Venerton.

  Louisa.

  The vilest of all women.

  Julia stiffened.

  The vilest of all women.

  A woman who easily took what she wanted, even when it was obvious the feelings were not mutual. Julia exclaimed her own stupidity into the night air. She had fallen too quickly on her fears rather than her trust.

  She needed to go to William, to get the entire story from him. To know for certain.

  A deep, terrible groan came from beneath her feet. Confusion caught her for only a moment and then the terrifying understanding dawned. She had wandered onto the frozen lake.

  She spun around to turn in the other direction, when the ice beneath groaned again, and gave a splintering crack.

  William held Lord Venerton’s wiry frame back with one arm. The elderly man swung feebly at William, each blow too far away to land.

  “I have never had anything to do with your wife, Venerton,” William growled. “See to your wife and leave me be.”

  Lord Venerton regarded his wife.

  “I’ve never struck a woman.” William glared at Lady Venerton, who staggered drunkenly and regarded them both with a smug, bleary smile. “And I won’t start today,” William continued. “But I’ve never been more tempted.”

  With that, he raced down the stairs where Julia had gone. Was she in the library? The drawing room perhaps?

  Hesterton waved at him. “I believe your wife has lost her mind.”

  William grabbed the marquis by the shoulders. “Where is she?”

  “Outside, wandering about on the frozen lake.” Hesterton frowned. “I tried to tell her—”

  Whatever the man said, William didn’t hear. He was already flying out the door to find Julia. The icy air slammed into him and seared his lungs. He searched the moonlit snow until he settled on a figure in the distance. Directly on the lake.

  He ran to her, faster than he’d ever run before, and bellowed her name. The figure didn’t move.

  “William, don’t come here.” A note pitched Julia’s voice and tugged at his heart.

  She didn’t want to see him. But he didn’t give a damn. First, he would get her off the ice, then he would demand she listen, then—

  A crack shattered the silence followed by a startled scream.

  William did not hesitate. Not like he had when the house had caught fire and his parents had died. No, this time he lurched forward.

  He lowered himself to his chest on the snow-covered ice and called for her to do the same. Another crack came at the same time he spoke, this one longer and louder than before. The sound increased with such ferocity, his head snapped up. No sooner had he done so, Julia fell through the ice with a splash, her scream cut short.

  William shoved forward so hard, he glided over the ice to where the hole showed like ink against the white of the snow. Her slender arms gripped the jagged edge. He grabbed her forearms and yanked up with all the strength he’d ever possessed. She flew out of the water and landed at his side, sputtering and blinking.

  The ice splintered around them.

  “Keep on your stomach and scoot.” He held her hand tightly in his.

  She did as he instructed, her movements stiff and jerking. They edged away from the broken ice, but still he did not relax.

  Julia slowed, and the puffs of her breath came heavier. She was tiring. William held her hand tighter and pulled her with him in an attempt to ease her efforts.

  “I didn’t do it,” he gritted from between his teeth.

  “I know.” Her voice was weak.

  She was fading. He could lose her still. The shore was still a fair distance away. He gripped her to his side, holding her in his arms as he dragged them both.

  “We’re nearly there,” he said by way of encouragement.

  The ice snapped somewhere in the distance, a savage beast nipping at their heels. By God, he would get them out of this.

  “I’m sorry.” Julia gave a violent shiver. “I shouldn’t have run off.”

  They reached the shore. Finally.

  He leapt to his feet and lifted her into his arms. Even drenched with icy water, her weight was easily borne. Carrying her, he made quick work of the walk to the house and met with the very concerned crowd of party guests.

  “Out of his way. Now.” Lady Bursbury waved her fingers toward the lot of them, shooing them about like small children. A path formed.

  “Is she dead?” Lord Mortry peered curiously at her, as William passed.

  William glared at him. “No.”

  Lady Bursbury ignored Lord Mortry and rushed along beside William. “The servants had water already heated for a bath for Lady Venerton. I’ve instructed them instead to move it to your room. It will be at the ready for you.”

  William nodded his thanks.

  Lady Bursbury pressed a hand to her chest. “Mercy me, this has been a night!”

  Indeed, it had, but William didn’t waste time on those words. Not when his only concern was getting Julia upstairs and warmed in that bath.

  Chapter 10

  Julia had never been so cold in her entire life. She could barely think for the shivers rattling through her. William’s strong
arms kept her pressed against him, no matter how violently she shuddered, up the stairs, through the door, and into the privacy of their chamber.

  “I know you’re cold, my love.” He lowered her to her feet before a bath tub. “We need to get you out of this gown and into the water.”

  She hugged herself in an effort to trap in some heat. “I c…can’t—”

  “I’ll do it.”

  She faced the steaming water, while he worked over the fastenings. At one point, a quiet rending interrupted the pop, pop, popping of the line of buttons. She didn’t care. All she wanted was heat. The gown fell heavily from her body and slapped in a wet pile to the floor. Her corset followed, then her shift. Next was her stockings, and she was left completely naked and shivering in front of him.

  Ordinarily, she would have been embarrassed, but there was no thought of that. Not now. Not until she was submerged in the heat of the water and the initial pain faded to the prickling tingles of heat that warmed her body to something languid.

  “Do you want some tea?” William asked once she’d stopped shivering.

  “In the bath?” She couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “Are you still cold?” He frowned and put a hand into the water. Ripples arced away from his hand and lapped over her skin.

  “It’s wonderfully hot.”

  Noting the relaxed tone to her voice, he shifted his focus to her face, his brow still furrowed. “Lady Venerton threw herself at me. Quite literally.”

  “I belatedly realized as much. I only reacted as I did because of my father, because of what he did to my mother.” Julia sighed, and the swell of her breasts rose slightly from the water.

  William’s gaze slipped to the rise of her bosom for one pulse-stopping moment before returning to her face. “I’m devoted to you, Julia. When we were courting, and now, and on through forever. I want you and only you.”