To everyone but his wife’s shock, Brantford laughed. Ellen couldn’t believe this was the same Earl of Brantford who had left London scarcely a month before. She hadn’t heard him laugh in years.
His voice was devoid of humor when he returned her greeting with a formal bow of his own. “Thank you for the invitation. Please allow me the honor of introducing my wife, the Countess of Brantford.”
A dimple appeared in Jane’s cheek as she curtsied again. “Your husband knows he is always welcome here. And I must say I am very happy to make your acquaintance, my lady.”
Rose inclined her head. “Please call me Rose. I hope we can become friends, considering how close you all are.”
Lord Eddings added, “I never thought I’d see the day Brantford would wed. But seeing the two of you together, I’m happy to find I was wrong. There are few things in life more rewarding than a happy marriage.”
Lord Eddings glanced at his wife, and Ellen saw that his statement had pleased Jane.
Castlefield gave his head an exaggerated shake. “He’s just pleased he won our wager. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but Eddings and I had money on who would win your hand. He always maintained that if you did wed—something neither of us was sure would ever happen—it would be for love. I, on the other hand, was foolish enough to maintain you’d settle for a practical union. Someone who wouldn’t even come close to touching your heart.”
Brantford raised a brow at that. He and Castlefield had known each other long enough that her brother didn’t have to speak, that motion alone conveying what he was thinking.
Castlefield let out a small chuckle. “Yes, I do believe I’ve finally learned never to anticipate your actions.”
There was a round of laughter at the lighthearted chagrin in Castlefield’s voice, but Ellen couldn’t help but agree with him. Despite knowing that her brother had feelings for his wife and rejoicing when they’d wed, it was more than a little unsettling to see evidence that they actually loved one another.
She couldn’t help thinking about her own unhappy marriage, but she quickly squashed the memories of her disappointment with her own union. Two happy couples, although rare, did not change the fact that most of the members of society married only for practical reasons.
“I’m surprised the duchess isn’t here,” Ellen said, seeking to change the subject from that of love in marriage. “I thought perhaps she might be in the nursery with you, Jane. Much as I know she wouldn’t want to miss my brother’s arrival, she will be more disappointed she wasn’t here to meet Rose.”
She could feel the weight of Castlefield’s gaze on her but ignored him. She didn’t want to risk meeting his eyes, which she attributed to the fact that unlike the other two couples in the room, there would never be any love between them. And while she didn’t expect nor want that for herself at this stage of her life, she didn’t need the reminder that her life was in some way lacking.
It wasn’t Jane but Castlefield who replied. “Mother decided to pay a call on one of the neighbors. She’ll be unhappy with me that I didn’t tell her guests were arriving today, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise for Ellen.”
Jane gave a small shrug. “I’m sure her joy at having the two of you here will overshadow her annoyance with my brother. I know she’s eager to meet Brantford’s wife.” She turned to Rose, adding, “She’s always considered him an honorary son.”
Rose lifted a hand to her breast, her mouth turning down the smallest amount. “Should I be concerned?”
Brantford took her hand and placed a kiss on its back. “She will be just as enchanted by you as I am.”
“Especially if she sees the two of you carrying on like that.” Castlefield’s wry comment had everyone laughing again.
“Never mind my brother,” Jane said, glancing from Castlefield to Ellen. “He’ll understand one day.”
Ellen made it a point to look away. More than anything, she hated being the subject of gossip. The very last thing she wanted was for speculation to arise about her and Castlefield becoming a match. It was bad enough that Jane and her mother were hoping for that very outcome. She didn’t want Rose or her brother adding their voices to the chorus.
Jane turned to Rose and continued. “We had the staff ready the green bedroom for your arrival when we received your fist missive stating your intention to visit. It’s the same room Brantford used whenever their family visited.”
Brantford inclined his head in acknowledgment, but his attempt to return to his more serious demeanor was foiled by Rose, who gave her husband an arch look before saying, “You’re going to have to tell me what my husband was like as a boy. He would have me believe he’s always been the same no-nonsense person he is today, but I find that impossible to believe.”
Brantford let out a long-suffering sigh, but he couldn’t quite manage his customary appearance of cool displeasure as he gazed at his wife.
Castlefield clapped him on the back. “That’s our cue to leave, old man, before your sister skewers the two of us with her excellent memory.”
Ellen couldn’t hold back her laugh. “Which story should I tell first? There are so many, it’s going to take me a minute to decide.”
“Right.” Brantford dropped another quick kiss on the back of Rose’s hand before turning to Ellen. “Try not to embarrass me too much.” He turned to Jane’s husband, saying, “Give us ten minutes before joining us?”
“Coward,” Rose said to her departing husband’s back.
Ellen tried to ignore the twinge of disappointment she felt as she watched her brother and Castlefield leave the room together. The situation brought back far too many memories of similar times when the two of them had gone off together, leaving her behind. Only this time they were expecting a third to join them, and it still wasn’t her.
She refused to believe her disappointment had anything to do with the fact Castlefield had scarcely paid her any attention.
Shaking those thoughts from her mind, she turned to her new sister-in-law. “You’ve performed a miracle with my brother. He hardly seems the same man.”
Jane shook her head. “I don’t understand why everyone calls him by that ridiculous nickname. The unaffected earl. I’ve always found him to be very approachable.”
“You are the exception then,” Rose said as she settled into a chair, waiting a moment until Ellen and Jane took a seat on the settee. “I’m sure the fact that your families were so close and that you were practically raised together meant you got to see a side of him that few others have. I shouldn’t admit this, but I’d despaired of ever getting him to look at me, let alone court me. And if you’d told me at the beginning of the season that we’d be wed within the year, I would have questioned your sanity.”
“It’s true,” Ellen said with a sad shake of her head. “I always imagined that if my brother were to wed, it would be to someone as cold and emotionally distant as he. I thought the best that would come of such a union would be that his wife would tolerate my presence in their lives. Never did I imagine he’d come to care for someone as delightful as Rose. Someone who would truly become like a sister to me.”
Jane cast a conspiratorial glance at Rose as she said, “Speaking of sisters…”
Rose’s head snapped in Ellen’s direction, her eyes widening. “What’s this? Is there something between you and the duke? You must tell me everything.”
Lord Eddings, who’d been watching on in silence, shook his head. “And with that, I must take my leave.”
Jane made a moue of disappointment. “I didn’t intend to chase you off.”
“You didn’t. I’m going to look in on the children before tracking down your brother. I must admit I’m intrigued by this new side to Brantford. I don’t expect to see it outside his wife’s presence, but one never knows.”
Rose waited just long enough for Lord Eddings to leave the room before turning back to Ellen, her arms crossed and one brow raised in expectation.
Ellen had hoped not to ha
ve this conversation right away. “I fear Jane is engaging in a bout of wishful thinking. She’s mistaken the truce between her brother and me as something more.”
Her words only served to intrigue Rose. “Truce? Now this I have to hear. Last I heard, you were responsible for the rumors about Lord Castlefield being the unsuitable duke. Has that changed?”
Jane gasped. “That was you?”
Ellen was torn between laughter and guilt. “It seemed like a good idea at the time. He was so hateful to me.”
Jane’s brows drew together in a frown. “Not always. I was too young to remember, but Mother says the two of you were once very close.”
Ellen lifted one shoulder in what she hoped was a casual gesture. “Yes, but that ended when we were still quite young. When he realized he infinitely preferred the friendship of men and could no longer be bothered with silly girls.”
“He didn’t actually say that to you?” Jane shook her head. “That doesn’t sound at all like my brother.”
“I wouldn’t make up something like that.” Ellen remembered how much it had hurt to hear those words.
“That sounds dreadful,” Rose said. “But I’m not surprised. Boys tend to reach a stage when they want nothing to do with girls. Then they reverse course and can think of little else a few years later.”
“I think that might have been Mother’s fault,” Jane said. “She was pushing for a marriage between you two.”
Ellen raised a brow as she gazed at her friend. “Well, I know it. In fact, it seems that you’ve taken up the habit as well.”
Rose was almost bouncing in her seat. “Details please.”
Ellen shook her head. “Pay it no mind. There is nothing romantic between His Grace and me.”
“Well, it has been some time since you arrived, and I’ve yet to hear my brother complain you’ve left a snake in his bed, so you can’t hate him that much.”
Rose let out a gasp. “Tell me you didn’t!”
Ellen couldn’t contain her laughter. “Oh yes, I did. I haven’t had to resort to that yet during this visit. As I said, we’ve reached a truce.”
“Thank goodness!”
Rose’s shudder had Ellen laughing again. It took her a moment before she was able to catch her breath. “I’m waiting until he does something annoying. Besides, it will have more of an effect if he’s lulled into a false sense of complacency. When he no longer checks the bed before getting into it.”
Jane shuddered. “I don’t know how you can touch those creatures. I can scarce stand to look at them.”
Ellen shrugged. “Castlefield coddled you too much as a child. When we used to play together, he had no problem shoving a snake in my face. I had to adapt quickly. Fortunately, you never had to deal with that.”
The look of horror on Jane’s face had Ellen chuckling again.
Rose shook her head, her dark curls bouncing with the motion. “You’re an amazing woman, Ellen.” Her expression changed, turning playful. “If His Grace wants you, make him work for it. You deserve nothing less.”
Jane nodded her agreement. “But don’t make him wait too long!”
Chapter 12
Castlefield led the way to his study, where there would be little chance of being overheard. Despite the fact his friend had just arrived, Castlefield had no doubt about the subject of their upcoming conversation.
Upon entering the room, which was filled with rich dark wood and comfortable furniture, Castlefield moved to a small table that sat off to one side of the door. Resting on top were a few glasses and a bottle of his favorite brandy. As Brantford lowered himself into an armchair, Castlefield poured a measure of liquor into two glasses. He handed one to his longtime friend and took the seat opposite.
Castlefield lifted his glass and took a healthy swallow before speaking. “I take it you’re to thank for teaching Ellen how to defend herself.”
Brantford’s lips twitched, but only for a moment before he sobered. “I thought it prudent. That and warning the bastard to whom she was married never to touch her again.”
“How bad was it?” He didn’t really want to know, but if Ellen had to live through it, he could hear about it. Whatever pain he felt whenever he thought of Ellen with that monster was nothing compared to what she must have endured.
“I don’t know.” Brantford downed his brandy and reached over to slam the empty glass onto the desk. “When she came to me that day—they’d only been married six months—she looked so defeated. Not at all like the Ellen we both know. But still, underneath the pain, her spine of steel was in place. I can’t imagine what courage it took for her to come to me and ask how to keep her husband from touching her again.”
“I wish I could kill him again, this time with my bare hands. My one regret is that he didn’t suffer more before he died.”
Brantford made a sound of disgust. “I failed her. Why did I not look into Laughton’s background?”
“We were both young, still in school.”
“That’s no excuse. My instincts told me not to trust the man, but I foolishly thought our father would have made sure he was suitable before agreeing to hand over his daughter.”
Castlefield shook his head. “There was nothing there. I looked. Some rumblings about his selfishness, but there are few people we know about whom we couldn’t say the same thing.”
“Really?” Brantford raised a brow. “I thought your interest in my sister was a recent development.”
Castlefield didn’t look away from his friend’s steady gaze. “It isn’t.”
“When? Not when we were children, surely.”
Castlefield laughed. “No. I was headstrong back then and definitely not interested in pursuing anyone romantically. All I cared about was horses and besting you. You’re two years my junior, and I hated how effortlessly everything came to you.”
Brantford lifted a shoulder in a small shrug but he allowed a smile, which told Castlefield that his friend had enjoyed their youthful rivalry as much as he had.
“I didn’t really see Ellen as a woman worth pursuing until that year we came back from Oxford, after she’d already accepted Laughton’s suit.”
Brantford released a breath. “Your timing couldn’t have been worse.”
Castlefield’s lips twisted in a bitter smile. “That’s the tale of my life. I almost fell over when Ellen ran outside to greet you. I could scarce believe she was the same girl I’d once considered a friend and then a nuisance.”
Brantford was silent a moment before saying, “I didn’t realize. I remember thinking your behavior was odd, but I thought it was because you didn’t know how to deal with Ellen as a woman instead of the girl you teased ruthlessly.”
“You’re right about my not knowing what to do about the new Ellen. She completely addled my senses.”
Brantford shook his head. “And I thought I was observant. How did I miss that?”
“When I learned almost immediately upon seeing her again that Ellen was betrothed, no one could have dragged the truth from me. I didn’t allow myself to think about her like that again. And then when that mess happened with Jane…” He shook his head. “Ellen needed time to deal with the death of her husband. It wasn’t the time to think about pursuing her.”
“But now it is.”
“Just so.” Castlefield tossed back the rest of his drink. The empty glass joined Brantford’s on the desk.
Brantford’s next words drew him from his somber thoughts. “Has she drawn one of her weapons on you?”
At least his friend had waited to bring up the subject of weapons so he wouldn’t choke. “She actually carries a dagger? I thought you were just having one over on me when you mentioned that in your letter.”
A corner of Brantford’s mouth lifted. “She carries a dagger on her person—I’ll leave it to you to discover where—and a pistol in her reticule when she needs one. Don’t fret, if you haven’t seen them by now, that means she won’t kill you. Perhaps.”
Castlefield weigh
ed that information with great care. He wasn’t surprised to learn Ellen carried weapons when she helped her brother with his missions, but would she really have a dagger on her person at all times? Even here, when they were en famille?
He couldn’t help asking. “Surely she wouldn’t have a weapon on her now?”
Brantford lifted a shoulder in a maddening nonresponse. It looked like he’d have to find the answer to that question himself. Hopefully, if she did carry a blade, he wouldn’t discover that fact because she was holding it at his throat.
“Perhaps I should receive some of those lessons in defense as well. Normally I’d say I could handle myself in most situations, but I’ve seen some of those mystifying moves of yours. If you’ve taught Ellen even a fraction of them, I’m doomed.” He wouldn’t admit that the woman in question had already tossed him onto his back as easily as she would a doll.
Brantford laughed. “We’ll arrange something. I wouldn’t want you to be killed because you dodged the wrong way.”
Castlefield knew his friend was poking fun at him. He’d never raise a hand to Ellen, and despite how much he might aggravate her on occasion, she’d never hurt him. Well, not too badly.
When his friend’s laughter died, he became serious again. Too serious. Castlefield knew what was coming. He took possession of his glass again and walked over to the small table to pour himself another measure of brandy.
Brantford waited until he’d downed that second glass before speaking. “You need to tell Ellen what happened.”
Castlefield had considered telling her the truth, but he couldn’t tell her about the duel. She’d want to know the reason behind it, and he’d promised never to reveal that.
He itched to have another drink, but it was far too early for that. Besides, he needed his wits about him when it came to Ellen.
“I can’t. I made a vow… as did you.”
Brantford’s eyes narrowed the tiniest fraction. Enough to tell Castlefield that he didn’t appreciate the reminder. “I don’t forget my promises. But my sister needs to know what really happened back then. Perhaps if you speak to Jane—”
The Unsuitable Duke Page 8