To Defy a Duke: Dangerous Dukes Vol 1

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘His grace says we can live in this house for as long as we like,’ Selene said. ‘Just imagine that.’

  ‘It’s so much more comfortable than the cottage,’ Lyssa added.

  ‘We shall have to see about that.’

  Athena didn’t think she could live so close to him and yet not actually be with him. She couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him with his bride-to-be. He had made it plain he didn’t want her as a mistress, and what else was there for them?

  ‘Come along you two,’ Millie said when daylight faded and Athena felt her eyes droop. ‘Your sister needs to sleep. We’d best leave her in peace.’

  The twins complained, but Millie wasn’t in the mood to let them argue. Only Boris refused to leave her, settling down on the rug he had apparently occupied all the time she had been out of her senses. She was glad of his undemanding company and reached down to scratch his ears.

  Athena didn’t think she would sleep because her head was still sore, her brain full of images of Eli. Millie said he had refused to budge from her side all the time she was unconscious. Well, she had saved his life, so she supposed he felt obliged to do something in return. Even so, he’d left her with a speed that was almost insulting the moment she had woken up.

  Athena did sleep and woke feeling restored and thoroughly rested. Mrs Walters came in with her breakfast.

  ‘How do you feel, ma’am?’ she asked.

  Ma’am? ‘Much better, thank you.’

  ‘Would you like a bath?’

  ‘Oh, yes please, if it’s not too much trouble.’

  ‘None at all.’

  A bath was brought up by Mr Walters. He then trudged up and down with kettles of boiling water, and Athena soon had the luxury of sinking into the hot, fragrant water. It soothed her aching bones, even if there was nothing it could do to cleanse her broken heart. Millie helped her wash her hair, and by the time she forced herself to leave the bath, she felt quite like her old self again.

  ‘Here we are, lamb.’ Millie held out the bronze gown Athena had worn to the harvest dance.

  ‘How did that get here?’ she asked, surprised.

  ‘All of our things are here. His grace had them sent over.’

  ‘Oh, well I suppose we can stay here until the work on the cottage is completed. But we must also consider our future. We can do as we please now, although I suppose my uncle will still try to interfere with the twins.’

  ‘Don’t you worry about that now.’ Millie brushed the tangles out of Athena’s wet hair. ‘Do you want to come down and sit in the drawing room for a change? We have a nice fire going there.’

  ‘Yes, I think I would like that.’

  The twins greeted her with great enthusiasm. The identical pinched looks of concern they had worn for so long were gone, and they were behaving like children should, laughing, playing with the dog, bickering amicably, and allowing their personalities to shine. Athena glowed with sisterly pride.

  They took luncheon together, after which Athena dozed in front of the fire. When she awoke again she was alone, the twins nowhere in sight.

  ‘The duke sent a carriage for them,’ Mrs Walters explained in response to Athena’s concerned enquiries. It would be a while before she stopped worrying when she didn’t know where they were. ‘Millie went with them. Lady Susan invited them to spend the afternoon at the Park.’

  ‘Did she indeed.’ Athena creased her brow. ‘How very extraordinary.’

  ‘Would you like something to read? There is a small collection of books in the study.’

  ‘Is there?’

  Athena brightened. How long had it been since she had enjoyed the luxury of whiling away her time with a book? She ran her finger along their spines, choosing one at random, and settled back in front of the drawing room fire. The words blurred before her eyes, and she nodded off to sleep again, only to be woken by a presence looming over her. Half awake, she panicked, worrying that Blake had broken free and found her again.

  She knew at once it wasn’t Blake, even before she looked up and saw Eli standing there, all lithe muscle and graceful co-ordination. He was dressed, not in ducal splendour, but as she preferred to see him, in breeches, hessians dusty from the ride over, and an open-necked shirt.

  ‘How do you feel?’ he asked softly.

  ‘Much better, thank you.’

  ‘You look it.’ He sat beside her. ‘Should you be out of bed?’

  ‘Certainly I should.’

  ‘I’m vexed with you. Why did you come to the masquerade, putting yourself in danger when you knew Blake was in the house?’

  She shrugged. ‘I’ve asked myself that question many times. I suppose part of me wanted it over with once and for all. I’d started to realise I couldn’t run indefinitely, and if he had seen me, it was better to get it over with.’ She paused, knowing she hadn’t told him the complete truth. ‘Besides, I wanted to see you.’

  ‘Oh, Athena!’ Eli shook his head, sending his thick hair cascading across his brow. ‘You should have told me.’

  ‘I was going to, here in this house, after…well, after what I wanted to do and you did not. Then we fell to arguing, and the moment to reveal my secrets was lost.’

  ‘Yes, put like that, I suppose—’

  ‘I was going to tell you at the masquerade then I received that note—’

  ‘Which is when you should have definitely involved me,’ he said severely.

  ‘I couldn’t take the chance.’ Athena stared at the flames flickering in the grate, wondering how she could make him understand her fears. ‘I didn’t imagine you could leave your own masquerade, even if you were prepared to help me, especially since you were supposed to be making your final choice.’

  Eli shook a finger at her. ‘When will you begin to understand I can do as I please?’

  ‘And yet you left me to deal with something important.’

  ‘That was to do with you, you goose.’

  ‘Oh!’

  ‘I knew you were reluctant to tell me your secrets, so I sent someone to Nottingham to make enquires. He arrived back during the masquerade.’

  ‘Ah, so that’s how you knew my name. I thought Millie had told you.’

  ‘I would have known it a lot sooner if you had told me yourself, and my man wouldn’t have been beaten by your uncle’s oafs.’

  ‘Oh dear, will he be all right?’

  ‘Yes, I don’t think any bones are broken.’

  ‘That’s good.’ Athena paused, conscious of the atmosphere that seemed to vibrate with his presence. ‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, not looking at him.

  ‘What sort of welcome is that?’ He sent her a tender smile that melted her vulnerable heart.

  ‘Your Mama will not be pleased. You are supposed to be dancing attendance upon your would-be brides.’

  ‘I am.’

  Athena blinked. ‘I beg your pardon.’

  He removed the book from the lap and put it aside. Then he took her hand and turned it over so he could again place a kiss on the centre of her palm.

  ‘I had to come,’ he said quietly. ‘I told you I would.’

  ‘Yes, I remember.’ A torrent of conflicting emotions wrought havoc with her equilibrium as he continued to softly caress her palm with his thumb. ‘But you shouldn’t be here. I’ve already caused you enough problems.’

  The corners of his mouth lifted. ‘There’s nowhere else I would rather be.’

  ‘Thank you for allowing us to live here temporarily. As soon as I can make plans, we shall move away, and you can have your house back.’

  ‘You will certainly move away,’ he replied.

  ‘There was no need for you to say that,’ she replied, miffed. ‘I’ve already told you we will go as soon as we can.’

  ‘Do be quiet, Athena, and let me tell you what I meant. You will be moving, very soon I hope, into the Park.’

  Athena was astounded. She couldn’t possibly have heard him right, surely? ‘You want to employ us in some manner?�
� She frowned. ‘I hardly think—’

  ‘No, you goose. I’m making a very bad job of this, but what I’m asking you…the reason why I found a way to get the twins out of the way, is that I came here to ask you if you would do me the very great honour of becoming my duchess.’

  ‘What! Have you taken complete leave of your senses?’ She canted her head and scrutinised his face, furious with him for toying with her. ‘Please don’t joke about impossibilities.’

  ‘It’s no joke, my love.’

  ‘Are you sure you didn’t receive a bump on the head, too?’

  He had the nerve to laugh at her reaction. ‘Perfectly sure.’

  ‘Eli, be serious. I can’t marry you.’

  ‘Why ever not? I thought you returned my feelings.’

  ‘That’s as may be, but your mother requires you to marry someone suitable. She went to considerable trouble to assemble suitable candidates for your inspection at the Park. It would be a sorry way indeed to repay her if you were to marry a lace-maker.’

  ‘My mother’s suitable candidates have all gone home disappointed.’

  Athena blinked. ‘They have?’

  ‘Indeed.’

  ‘Then your mother must be very vexed.’

  ‘Oh no, she sent them off herself.’

  ‘Eli, you’re talking in riddles. Have the goodness to explain yourself.’

  ‘My mother came here when you were unconscious.’

  ‘You know, I think I heard her. You told her I had saved your life, and she said it wouldn’t have been necessary if you hadn’t come here after me.’ Athena suppressed a persistent giggle. ‘She did not sound pleased.’

  Eli elevated both brows. ‘You were awake?’

  ‘Not precisely, but I was aware, on some level, what was going on. It was most peculiar, almost like a dream. I had convinced myself it was, and that the duchess had never been here.’

  ‘Did you hear what else my mother had to say?’

  ‘No, I heard you say you were going to stay until I woke up, I think, but I don’t remember anything else.’

  ‘My mother is not romantic. Duty is her byword, and she was convinced I would be happier if I married a suitable woman, rather than one I entertained feelings for. She had her suspicions about us when I endorsed your lace and then had the cottage renovated. She saw us dancing together at the harvest party—’

  ‘Everyone seemed to,’ Athena replied with a wry smile. ‘Including Blake.’

  Eli frowned. ‘Don’t mention that blaggard to me.’

  ‘What’s happened to him?’

  ‘He and his man are currently enjoying a long voyage to the Indies,’ Eli replied, setting his jaw. ‘It was either that or have them up on charges of kidnap and rape. For your sake, I decided not to go down that route. Besides, being banished from these shores and good society will almost be a worse punishment for Blake. He knows if he sets foot back in England he will be arrested.’

  Athena shook her head, marvelling at how effortlessly he made things happen. ‘I think you did the right thing. I fully intended to kill him the first chance I got, rather than risk him anywhere near the twins, so he ought to be grateful to you.’

  Eli elevated a brow. ‘You would have gone that far?’

  ‘Certainly I would. Herbs don’t just cure maladies, you know. They can create them, too.’

  Eli chuckled. ‘Remind me never to overset you, Miss Moncrieff. And kindly refrain from changing the subject. It’s a very disconcerting thing to do to a man when he’s trying to propose to the woman he loves.’

  He loves me? ‘I beg your pardon. Pray, continue with your proposition. I am quite at leisure to hear it.’

  ‘Proposal, Athena. One does not proposition the woman one intends to marry.’ He raised their joined hands and kissed the inside of her wrist this time. ‘However, we were speaking of my mother’s disinclination to believe in romantic love, or that it could endure even if it did exist.’

  ‘She ought to have met my parents,’ Athena said wistfully. ‘When they were in the same room together, right up until the end, it was as though no one else in it existed. I think that’s why I have never been tempted to marry. If I couldn’t have that, then I would prefer not to have a man dominating me.’

  ‘But you can have it, sweet Athena, if only you will accept me.’

  ‘You’re actually serious.’ She blinked at him, still convinced she must be dreaming. ‘Your mother has had a change of heart?’

  ‘Yes, that’s what she came over here specifically to tell me. You have saved both of her sons’ lives, mine twice, and she has seen for herself just how we feel about one another. She was quite overcome with emotion, actually. I never thought to see her so affected. Anyway, she said the matter was sealed for her when she saw us waltzing at the masquerade…oh, and when Susan introduced you to her at luncheon, and you stood up to her cross-questioning.’

  ‘I suppose she did seem rather surprised by my forthright views.’ This time there was nothing Athena could do to quell her giggle. ‘I couldn’t afford to satisfy her curiosity about my circumstances, you see.’

  ‘Oh yes, very clearly.’

  ‘My uncle,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘He is the twins’ legal guardian. He bears me a grudge and will probably insist they live with him, just to spite me.’

  Eli laughed. ‘He’s certainly welcome to try, but it won’t serve. Just leave your uncle to me. The twins will live with us, and want for nothing.’

  ‘Even if you manage to get the better of him, there is still my lineage to consider. I am not duchess material.’

  ‘You are connected to the Moncrieffs. That is enough for my mother. That and the fact she really does want me to be happy.’

  Athena absorbed his words, at a loss to know how to respond at first, even if this was what, subconsciously, she had wanted since first meeting Eli. People might raise their eyebrows, but if Eli and his mother didn’t mind, why should she?

  ‘I love you, Eli,’ she said simply, lifting her free hand to gently stroke his face. ‘And if you’re really serious about marrying me, then I accept your proposal with gladness in my heart.’

  ‘Oh my sweet love!’

  Eli pulled her into his arms and kissed her witless.

  ‘I have just one condition of my own. Well two, actually,’ she told him when he finally released her.

  ‘Name them.’

  ‘Firstly, I can’t stop thinking about the women who used to make Cunningham lace in Nottingham. Many of their husbands returned from the war, expecting to find gainful employment after serving king and country so diligently, but none was available. Others didn’t come back at all.’ Athena sighed. ‘In both sets of circumstances, the women needed the money they made from the lace to keep food on their tables, but my uncle took that away from them without a thought for their welfare.’

  ‘You would like to resurrect your Cunningham lace production?’

  ‘Yes. The twins and I could supply new patterns, and I know a lady who could keep control of it all in Nottingham. I wouldn’t need to actually be there.’

  ‘I had assumed you would want to do that.’

  She blinked. ‘And you don’t mind your wife working?’

  ‘Not in the least. And my name…our name, endorsing the product will ensure its success.’

  ‘Thank you!’ She clutched his face in her hands and planted a soft kiss squarely on his lips. ‘One of the reasons I didn’t wish to marry was because I feared the loss of my freedom. I can see that won’t be a difficulty where you are concerned.’

  ‘Provided you don’t keep anything from me ever again.’ He pulled her into his lap and settled his chin on top of her head. ‘What’s your second condition?’

  ‘Well.’ She looked down at her lap, colour flooding her face. ‘When I offered myself to you before as your mistress, you rejected me.’

  ‘Athena, I didn’t—’

  ‘What if we don’t suit?’

  He chuckled and flashed a de
vastatingly wicked grin. ‘Oh, trust me, angel, we’ll suit.’

  ‘Then prove it to me. I’m four-and-twenty. I’ve waited quite long enough, don’t you think?’

  ‘Why, Miss Moncrieff, I do believe you’re no better than you ought to be.’

  She fluttered her lashes, repeatedly. ‘I am what you made me, your grace.’

  ‘Angel, I haven’t started with you yet.’

  ‘Then may I humbly suggest you stop talking and let your actions speak for you.’

  With a roar of laughter, Eli stood up, swept her from his lap into his arms, and carried her up the stairs, taking them two at a time. ‘It’s fortunate the twins will be gone for several hours,’ he said, kissing her as he kicked open her bedroom door.

  As it was, several hours wasn’t long enough. But, as Eli pointed out when he heard the sound of the twins returning and hastily removed himself from Athena’s bed, they had the rest of their lives to make up for lost time.

  The End

  About the Author

  Hi, I do hope you enjoyed To Defy a Duke. If so, please take a moment to leave a review on Amazon. I’d love to hear what you thought of this particular novel – what you enjoyed most about it and what you didn’t like. Constructive criticism is always welcome.

  Reach me at wendysoliman@rocketmail.com

  I’m a British author, brought up on the Isle of Wight, but now live in Andorra. I share my life with my long-suffering husband and a rescued dog of indeterminate pedigree named Jake Bentley after the hero in one of my books. Both Jakes are handsome mongrels with independent spirits and wild streaks.

  I’ve had over sixty books published, ranging from Regency romance, (my first love), to contemporary women’s fiction and marine crime mysteries.

  When not writing I walk miles with my dog, make half-hearted visits to the gym, read other people’s tomes…oh, and I’m on a one woman mission to keep the wine trade profitable!