Lord Robert and his bride (The Duke's Brothers Book 2)

by Fiona Miers

  As a cool breeze swept over her face, she closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. Although presumptuous, Julia liked to imagine what life would be like if she were to marry Robert. What would their home look like? Who would their children resemble?

  A few weeks ago, marriage and starting a family were the furthest things from her mind, and now she was already naming her unborn children. There had never been any man in her life who made her feel the things she felt for Robert.

  Her cheeks flushed as she recalled his words, which still warmed her heart. She glanced over her shoulder at Finlay Hall and wondered what Robert was doing at that very moment, and whether she was in his thoughts just as he was in hers. A smile lingered on her lips as she knelt to pick a few wildflowers then placed them in her basket.

  A shiver crept up her spine and she whirled around. Her eyes widened as her body froze. Standing a short distance away from her was Freddy. Staring at her.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked curtly.

  “I could ask you the same question,” he said insolently.

  “Can you not see? I am picking flowers for my bedchambers.”

  “You are aware that the maidservants are there for that exact purpose,” he said and shrugged. “Amongst other things.”

  “What do want, Freddy?” she asked as she turned away.

  “I came here to inform you of my plans for us.”

  “Your plans?” she asked and glared at him.

  “Indeed. I have applied for a marriage license.”

  “Oh, who is the lucky woman?” she asked sarcastically.

  “You are very amusing, Julia,” Freddy said with a chuckle and approached her.

  The hairs on the back of Julia’s neck began to rise as she felt the air around her change.

  “Once I receive the license, you and I will be married.”

  Julia glared at him incredulously. “I beg your pardon? I will do no such thing.”

  She scooped up her basket and as she turned to walk away from him, he grabbed her arm. “Unhand me, at once!”

  Freddy shook her roughly and she cried out.

  He pulled her close to him. “I know that you are inheriting from my grandmother. The old woman has truly lost her mind.”

  “What are you saying, Freddy?” she demanded, her heart hammering in her chest.

  “Do not act innocent,” he snarled. “I know that I have been excluded from the will, and I will not sit idly by while you take what is rightfully mine.”

  “You are the one who has lost his mind,” Julia said as she struggled to free herself from his grasp, but he wouldn’t let her go. “I will never marry you.”

  “I will make sure that you are compromised, then no man will want you. Not even your barrister from Finlay Hall,” he said, gritting his teeth. “You will be ruined if you do not willingly agree to become my wife.”

  “Are you threatening me, Freddy?” she gasped out. He couldn’t be serious.

  “Consider it a promise, my lovely Julia,” he said and ran his finger down her chin and neck.

  Julia struggled once more against his grasp, but he was too strong. She needed another way of escaping his clutches.

  Freddy guffawed at her fight and glared at her. “Losing one’s mind seems to be a distinct family trait. Take your mother, for example. She has been as daft as a brush for quite a few years now. Especially since—”

  “You will not speak of my mother in such a manner.”

  “Careful. Hysteria is hereditary, and I will not hesitate to have you locked in a sanitorium for the rest of your life with your pitiful mother!”

  Horrified by his words, Julia lifted the flower basket still clutched tightly in her hand and swung it at Freddy’s face. It struck him with more force than she had anticipated, and she was able to slip from his grasp.

  She dropped the basket and began to run through the tall grass. She was not certain where she was running to, but knew she needed to get as far away from Freddy as possible. Perhaps it was not the best idea to run in the opposite direction of the manor house, but she did not have any other option. She was not even sure where she would end up, but she continued to run when she heard Freddy behind her.

  “Come back here, you wench!”

  Julia did not look back, she just ran as fast as she could. The hem of her dress snagged on the grass and rocks in her path, but that did not deter her from moving forward. She would only stop if she was safely out of reach of Freddy and his cruelty.

  Her heart pounded painfully in her chest and her breathing was ragged and caused her chest to burn. As her feet touched the solid rock surface under her, she knew she had made a terrible mistake. She stood atop the cliff that looked out onto the bay, and there was no way to go but down.

  She was trapped.

  “Backed into a corner, I see. How unfortunate,” Freddy said rather breathlessly as he approached her. His leering stare unsettled Julia, but what could she do?

  She would most certainly not survive the drop down the cliffside, and yet it insanely seemed a safer option to her. She would much rather plummet down the rocks below than ever be touched by Freddy Montclair.

  “You must stop this, Freddy. You cannot pursue me so viciously. I am not an animal or your prey.”

  “Hush. You will not be able to talk your way out of this situation,” Freddy said with a smirk on his lips. “When we are married, I’ll have you under me any time I desire.”

  A sinister laugh echoed through the air and that chilled Julia’s blood. “And there will not be a soul in sight who can save you.”

  Julia glanced back at the cliff’s edge. She was a long way from the manor house. Screaming would do no good, and she was now faced with a terrifying decision.

  “Step away from her!”

  She turned back abruptly and saw Robert on a black horse, galloping towards them. Although she was relieved he was there to rescue her, she was still frozen with fear.

  Freddy turned around and scoffed loudly as the horse continued to speed towards him. “Who do you think you—”

  Before Freddy was able to complete his words, the horse sped right up to him. Freddy leapt out of the way, falling down to the hard ground. Robert reached his hand out to Julia, and as soon as she took it, he pulled her up onto the horse with him. Julia was much too terrified to say a single word and instead clung to Robert as tightly as she could as the horse raced away from Freddy and the cliff.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Julia’s arms were tightly wrapped around Robert’s shoulders as he steered his stallion, Monterra, through the tall grass and towards Finlay Hall. Her entire body shook against him and Robert was more than relieved he’d come across her when he did.

  It hadn’t been his intention to go for a ride this afternoon, however something inside him had urged him to do so. Perhaps it had been because Julia had been in danger and in need of rescuing. Perhaps their connection and attraction was much deeper than he’d thought. Did he sense that she was in danger, or was he merely in the right place at the right time?

  Whatever the reason, if had saved her from Freddy’s clutches.

  Monterra continued to gallop back to the duke’s estate, and for the first time in Robert’s life, he felt heroic and victorious. He had rescued Julia. Who knew what would have become of her if he hadn’t arrived?

  He held onto her with one arm as tightly as possible. He had no intention of allowing her to fall.

  Finlay Hall came into view and Robert squeezed the reins. Monterra slowed his pace and was steered to the stables. Once inside, Robert carefully lowered Julia to the ground, then dismounted the horse to stand beside her.

  From the shadows, Robert noticed the stable hand approach them and he motioned to him to keep his distance.

  “I will manage. Thank you, Wilson.”

  As soon as Robert heard Wilson leave the stable, he set Julia down on a wooden stool. He quickly led Monterra into the stall and closed the stall door. He removed the bridle and p
atted the horse’s muzzle gently before he walked up to Julia and crouched in front of her. Wilson could unsaddle Monterra later.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  Her hands rested on her lap and they shook rather violently.

  Robert placed his hands over hers and looked at her intently. “Julia.”

  Her frightened eyes met his and her lips trembled. “You rescued me.”

  “Tell me what happened,” he said softly.

  “My great-aunt included me in her will and...”

  Robert cocked his head and wondered how she was made aware of it.

  “Freddy told me that he applied for a marriage license. He wants me to marry him.”

  He gasped. “What? He cannot do such a thing.”

  “He threatened to have me locked up in a sanatorium if I defied him.”

  Robert growled. Like hell. “It will be all right. I promise you that.”

  Her eyes focused on him, and an urge inside him began to rise. Even in her disarrayed and distressed state, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her rich brown locks framed her face, although her hair was dishevelled from the vigorous ride back to Finlay Hall. Her eyes, despite the fear in them, were bright and inviting, and Robert found it very difficult to focus on anything else.

  It was only when tears began to roll down her cheeks, he realized that she was indeed terrified for her life.

  “He will force me to marry him. He promised to ruin me, and that no one would want me after that.”

  “He is a fool. A dangerous fool.”

  “I do not know what to do, Robert,” she said. “I do not wish to marry him. I’d rather die.”

  “Do not fret, Julia,” Robert said with assurance.

  “There is more than enough reason for me to fret. Freddy threatened to compromise me if I did not marry him.”

  Robert’s jaw clenched as her words caused fury to engulf him. “I will not permit that to happen.”

  He held out his hand to her and she took it with no hesitation. “Allow me to take you to the Finley Hall. I will call upon Emma and we can discuss what needs to be done. Freddy cannot be allowed to threaten you in such ways.”

  Julia nodded and Robert led her out of the stables and into the manor house. The hallways were quiet, and Robert wondered where everyone was.

  Usually the house would be filled with laughter, happy chatter, or even Emma and Charles arguing. Currently, however, it was eerily quiet. Too quiet for Robert’s liking, although it did give him and Julia a chance to be alone. He was not certain whether she would be able to speak to him in her state, but he certainly hoped she trusted him enough to do so.

  Robert led Julia to a small sitting room and sat her down on the chaise. “Would you care for something to drink? I can request the maidservants to serve tea.”

  “That would be lovely. Thank you, Robert.”

  “Very well.”

  Julia sat quietly and for the first time since knowing her, Robert felt beside himself. Not only with worry and concern for the young woman, but because he was unsure of how to help her. Assure her that everything would be all right.

  Under normal circumstances, he would know exactly what to do if it was a client. In this instance, Robert did not know how to relieve her fears, or how to handle this situation with Freddy. He wondered whether calling upon Emma would help, as she would most certainly have a better idea how to assist Julia.

  Perhaps Julia should stay at the estate for a while, but he did not wish to leave Arabella to her own devices.

  He walked to the doorway and noticed a maidservant walking towards him. “Angela,” he said to her.

  “Yes, my lord?”

  “Would you prepare a pot of tea for myself and Miss Julia, please?” he asked.

  “Of course, my lord. I will do so immediately.”

  “Thank you.”

  Robert watched as Angela rushed down the hallway and disappeared around the corner. His jaw clenched for a moment before he turned back to Julia, who still sat, shivering on the chaise. He retrieved a jacket from the coatrack in the corner of the room and carefully draped it around Julia’s narrow shoulders.

  “Please tell me exactly what happened, Julia,” Robert asked.

  “I was in the garden of my great-aunt’s estate, picking flowers for my bedchambers. I do so occasionally,” she said and glanced at him. “Freddy approached me, and I kept my distance the entire time, as you advised.”

  “Excellent. That is certainly good to hear,” Robert said with a satisfied nod.

  “Robert, there is something I must confess to you.”

  “Are you certain that now is the right time for a confession?” he asked.

  “Now is as good a time as any,” she said. “And I wish for you to hear this from me and not from anyone else.”

  “I would not believe the words of others before yours, Julia.”

  “Nevertheless, it is something I must entrust you with. I have not spoken about this to anyone, and it does bring me shame.”

  “You have my discretion. I promise you that.”

  As she drew in a deep breath, there was a knock on the door.

  Damn it.

  He rose to his feet and turned away from her. He did not wish to act inappropriately with Julia, even if it were in the presence of a maidservant.

  The maidservant entered the sitting room with a tray and placed it on the table between the chaises. She carefully poured two cups of tea and Julia quietly thanked her. Robert followed the maidservant out of the sitting room, and she turned to him.

  “Do you perhaps know where Her Grace is?” Robert asked her, curious to know the whereabouts of Emma as well as the rest of his siblings.

  “Her Grace and Lady Abigail have gone promenading, my lord. His Grace and his lordships escorted them but will only return to the estate later this evening. His Grace mentioned an out-of-town errand,” the maidservant said.

  Robert gave the maidservant a dismissive nod, and she hurried back down the hallway. With a frown, Robert re-entered the sitting room, watching Julia as she quietly and nervously sipped her tea, the porcelain of the cup and the saucer clattering as her hand shook slightly. He was still conscious of Julia’s reputation and did not wish to taint it in any manner, but he also did not wish to leave her alone while she was upset.

  Against his better judgment, as he knew that he would not be able control himself if something were to happen between them, he approached the chaise. His heart pounded in his chest and he nervously swallowed the lump in his throat. His heart skipped a beat as soon as Julia gazed up at him, her stormy eyes luring him in.

  He was powerless against her intent gaze and he wondered whether he would come out the same at the other end of this day.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Julia could not help but feel at ease with Robert in the sitting room with her. His presence made her feel comfortable, even in moments of distress, but there was something in his gaze at that very moment that struck her as odd.

  He appeared wary of her, cautious even, and she did not care for it.

  Julia was not familiar with men and their mannerisms and had very little experience with men in general. Despite her parents’ efforts to introduce her to various young bachelors whom they thought would be a good match, Julia had no interest in them.

  Their conversations were generally tedious and they had absolutely no mutual interests. It had appeared to Julia that her parents did not know her at all, and she convinced herself that they simply wished her to marry someone who would make a good husband but not a good husband for her.

  After the situation with her mother began to escalate, she’d built a wall around her heart, keeping everyone at an arm’s length. She did not wish to know anyone or allow anyone to know her.

  Although outwardly she appeared as an outgoing, cheerful and positive person, inwardly she was filled with guilt, shame and insecurities. She spoke to no one regarding her mother, and simply referred t
o her mother before her sanity left her.

  Not a single new person she had encountered over the past three years knew of the situation and what their family had gone through.

  Like Freddy, Julia was also an only child, but whereas Freddy was coddled and raised to be a self-centred man, Julia cared for her mother in Dorchester when she became ill. Sadly, her mother’s condition worsened, and her father made the decision to have her sent away for specialised treatment.

  It was kept quiet, even to this day, and many people were under the impression that Mrs. Gould simply left her daughter and her husband to start a new life on her own. In a manner of speaking, it was true.

  Hearing the news, and of course being discreet with the information, Julia’s aunt and uncle had invited her to take the season in London with them. She politely declined, and while she was appreciative of their kind and caring gesture, Julia did not care for London’s society. She had visited with her parents when she was a young girl and was not blind to the fake smiles plastered on the faces of the wealthy.

  The invitation from her great-aunt Arabella to spend the off-season in Weymouth was a godsend at the time, a welcome distraction from her grim existence, even though outwardly her life had appeared well-adjusted after her mother “left.”

  Julia had also vowed not to marry or find a suitable husband. Merely thinking of men and the possibility of marriage reminded her of her mother’s attempts to introduce her to eligible bachelors. Truthfully, it had left a bad taste in her mouth and an ache in her heart for who her mother used to be before her sanity eluded her.

  In retrospect, Julia should have seen the signs sooner, but she’d merely written them off as eccentricities. After all, her maternal grandmother was also rather peculiar. Julia was under no impression that her mother was a normal woman, but she never suspected it was due to a hereditary mental illness.

  Julia also feared that she too would fall victim to the hysteria – as the alienists referred to it – which probably coursed through her veins. That was why Julia had ensured she regained control of herself and kept her emotions reigned in. Allowing someone into her heart and mind was searching for trouble, and she did not wish to risk it.