A Vixen For The Devilish Duke (Steamy Historical Regency Romance)

by Olivia Bennet

  “Is your dance card full?” he asked the beautiful Lady Dorothea.

  She smiled wide, pleased, and he knew that even if it was full, she would bump someone off in his favor. “I believe the next dance is free,” she said.

  Harry smiled, disappointed that he hadn’t made a bet with himself. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor where they got in formation. He kept his eyes on her the entire time they danced, a slight smile on his face. She was a graceful dancer, and not at all shy, keeping her gaze fixed on his.

  The dance came to an end and he escorted her back to her mother.

  “Thank you very much for the dance, Lady Dorothea.”

  “You’re welcome, Your Grace.” She curtsied prettily and Harry nodded and went to seek some other potential bride to interview.

  Chapter 2

  Acquisition

  Adelia was not wrong. Sr. Mary Catherine woke her before the crack of dawn, as the sisters were going for vigils, so she could go to the market. Adelia did not mind too much. She liked to walk in the bracing early morning air when London was just waking up. She felt that it was the most honest time of day, before everyone put their masks on and became whoever they wanted you to think they were.

  She nodded good morning to Mrs. Shelby who had a fruit stand at Convent Garden. She put some apples in a bag and handed them to Adelia. “For the children,” she said, waving away the pennies Adelia was trying to pay her with. She nodded, smiled and moved on to the butcher’s shop. Sometimes he saved his bones for them if no one had purchased them for their dogs. Mrs. Daniels made a very nice soup with the bones and it stretched the meals much further than they would otherwise go.

  Mr. Schilling, the butcher, had apparently put a bag aside for her and she favored him with a grateful smile. He blushed red and looked away when she thanked him. “S’no bother,” he mumbled.

  She walked between the carriages on the narrow pathway, in search of spices to make the bland soups more palatable. A few vendors nodded to her in greeting, others waved.

  She smiled at them all and went about her business. She made sure not to linger at any particular stall. Sister Mary Catherine would not like that. She was always warning Adelia not to make a cake of herself by being overly familiar with the vendors. It was difficult to know how much friendliness was too much, so Adelia took care not to spend too much time with any one vendor.

  She finished her shopping and began the long walk back to the orphanage. The streets were just beginning the early morning bustle and Adelia watched as the flower girls shouted their wares and the other flower girls, who worked in the night, made their slow, stealthy way home.

  Her heart sunk as she thought that in a few weeks, she might have to be one of them if she hoped to survive. She still had no idea what she was going to do once the orphanage was sold.

  Suddenly a strong hand closed about her arm and somebody pulled her around to face him. By his dress and his demeanor, she knew he was a lord.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, or rather demanded.

  Adelia cast about frantically for some transgression she might have committed as she walked but could not think of anything. “Uh…” she said.

  “What game is this you’re playing? Do your parents know where you are?” the gentleman demanded. He had the deepest green eyes she’d ever seen, like an algae-covered pond. His eyes distracted her from the pain he was causing. His grip on her was rather firm.

  “Excuse me, sir, I think you have me mistaken for someone else,” she said timidly.

  He stared at her as if he thought she might be kicking up a lark at his expense. “Lady Dorothea, this is quite enough. I cannot imagine what you are doing on the street alone this early in the morning but it is time you went home.”

  “My name is Adelia Raby. I know not this Lady Dorothea of whom you speak!”

  His eyes narrowed. “I do not appreciate you pitching the gammon like this, Lady Dorothea.”

  Adelia jerked her arm away from him and took a step away. “Listen, sir, I do not know who you think I am, but I assure you that I am not.”

  The gentleman stared at her. “You are not lying to me.”

  “No. I am not.” Her shoulders slumped in relief that he finally believed her. For a moment, she thought he might get her thrown in Newgate or some such.

  He cleared his throat as if embarrassed, “Well…then will you allow me to escort you to your destination?”

  She was shaking her head before he finished speaking. “No. Sr. Mary Catherine is very specific about not allowing men to escort me anywhere.”

  His lips quirked as if he wanted to smile. “And what does Sr. Mary Catherine say about that?”

  “She says not to do it.” Adelia replied at once, wondering if this counted as speaking to someone for too long.

  “You seem too old for an orphanage. Surely you’re not a novice?” he asked peering closely at her gown as if it might tell him something.

  “I work in an orphanage.”

  “I see. Well…have a good day, won’t you.”

  “Thank you, er…sir.” She scurried away before he could come up with another reason to detain her.

  * * *

  Harry lifted his hand and signaled to his coachman, Richard, to draw up. “I want you to follow that young lady,” he told Richard. “And report to me where she goes.”

  Lady Dorothea had seemed to think she was telling him the absolute truth when she said she was not Lady Dorothea. It was a puzzle that Harry needed to solve. Was the girl perhaps dicked in the nob and no one in the ton had heard of it? Or was it some elaborate sham she was cutting?

  He was a little ashamed to admit it but Lady Dorothea Harrington had just become exponentially more interesting.

  He walked slowly back to his house. He enjoyed his morning walks to Hyde Park before all the hoi polloi were up and about. It was quiet and peaceful and gave him time to think. And now it had landed this mystery in his lap.

  He stepped in the townhouse, catching sight of the tray of mail on the sideboard. He scooped it up and walked with it to the dining room, looking through the day’s letters. He was invited to one Venetian breakfast, and a weekend house party in Brighton. He had a letter from his solicitor, and an invitation from the Earl of Cornhill to dinner. He stopped short, staring at it.

  “Hmm…”

  Normally he would not have paid too much attention to it. He received quite a few invitations from hopeful parents wanting to show off their marriageable daughters. Usually he sent his regrets. But now he wanted another look at Lady Dorothea Harrington. Wanted to see if she would carry the knowledge in her eyes that he knew her secret. Whatever she was up to, pretending to be some sort of maid at an orphanage, he would get to the bottom of it.

  * * *

  “You must have really made an impression on the Duke of Rosemond. He accepted your father’s invitation to dinner,” Lady Cornhill announced, with a wide smile at her daughter.

  Dorothea preened. “I knew he liked me. He danced with me at the ambassador’s ball, you remember? And we stared at each other all evening. I’m sure he’s preparing to propose.” She lit up, a huge smile on her face.

  “Indeed, he just may. But a lady does not make assumptions.”

  “Of course, Mama. I shall wait dutifully for him to make an offer.”

  Her mother reached out and patted her hand.

  “Sarah!” Dorothea shouted, and her lady’s maid came hurrying into the room. “You have to wash my hair and have it expertly coiffed tonight. We have an important visitor.”

  “Yes’m.”

  Dorothea narrowed her eyes at Sarah, who hurried out of the room as if she was trying to avoid being chastised.

  “Mama, we have to go shopping and buy a new gown.”

  “Of course, Dorothea. I’ve already sent for the modiste to visit us here with several gowns. She can adjust them to fit you right away. I told her to come by as soon as possible so that we can still keep our appointment for
tea at the Carringtons.”

  “That sounds like an excellent idea. I can let them all know that I am about to be off the market.”

  “Dorothea…” her mother said quellingly.

  “I know, Mother. I need to be discreet.” Dorothea pouted, not at all happy at being thwarted. There was nothing she loved more than lording it over the other girls and showing just how much better she was than them.

  * * *

  “Adelia! You’re late,” Sister Mary Catherine snapped.

  Adelia opened her mouth to tell the Mother Superior all about her encounter with the strange gentleman but then closed it with a snap instead. Sister Mary Catherine would likely chastise her for inviting the gentleman’s attentions even though she had no idea why he stopped her.

  “I’m sorry. The market was quite crowded today. It slowed me down.”

  It wasn’t exactly a lie. Adelia could live with it.

  “Then take the groceries to the kitchen. They are waiting on you.”

  “Yes, Mother.”

  Adelia hurried away, quite relieved to escape without too many questions being asked of her. She put her pack down on the kitchen table and began to unload it.

  “What’s got you so agitated this morning?” Mrs. Daniels asked.

  Adelia shook her head, maybe a little too fast. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

  Mrs. Daniels actually put down her spatula. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, thank you. I’m fine.”

  Mrs. Daniels gave her a look but then refrained from commenting further. Adelia put down her bag of food so as to take off her cloak. She hung it on the rack by the door. Picking up the bag, she carried it to the pantry and emptied it of food. She shivered in the cold, which reminded her that it was time to light the fires.

  “Adelia! Adelia!” she turned around to see the twins, Freya and Fin, running toward her. They were just eight years old and had cottoned onto her as an honorary big sister.

  She got to her feet, wiping her hands on a rag as she smiled at them. “Good morning. Have you escaped from your morning ablutions?”

  Fin shivered. “The water’s cold,” he complained.

  She rubbed his shoulder affectionately. “I know Fin, but Sister Anastasia will have your hides if you don’t bathe.”

  “She didn’t see us running away. You won’t tell, will you?” Freya leaned in to stare at her with wide puppy-like eyes.

  Adelia sighed, “Of course I won’t. But you know she’ll do a head count.”

  Fin shrugged. “We’ll just say we bathed quickly and left.”

  Adelia shook her head, “You know lying is a sin, don’t you?”

  “It’s just a small lie,” Freya hedged.

  “Yes, it’s not hurting anyone,” Fin added.

  Adelia could well sympathize with their desire to stay as far away from cold water as possible. The orphanage did not have enough wood or charcoal to boil water to bathe. Not for all the children and so they were all forced to use cold water. Adelia had wracked her brains for a way to warm enough water for them but so far she had no ideas.

  “Come on then, help me light the fire in the dining hall. At least we can be warm at breakfast,” she told them.

  “Yay!” Always happy to help, they skipped at her side as she led the way to the dining hall. She said a quick prayer for them, that they would stay together after the orphanage was sold. Even more than her worry for herself, she fretted over what would happen to the children. This was the only home they had ever known, and now it was about to be taken away from them.

  It was sad.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat as she got on her hands and knees and began to lay the fire. Freya and Fin occupied themselves by bringing wood from outside and laying it close by so she did not have to move. Pretty soon, they had all the fires laid and Adelia snuck them into the kitchen for some hot oatmeal porridge before sending the twins back to their mates.

  “Those children all dote on you,” Mrs. Daniels said.

  “Oh yes, I suppose they do,” Adelia agreed even as she blushed with embarrassment. She knew she was too soft with the children but she reasoned that they had enough people in their lives who were strict and strait-laced. It didn’t hurt to be the one to indulge them a little.

  Her own parents were as indulgent with her as they could be with their limited means. She just wanted these orphans to experience a little bit of that as well. It harmed no one and it made the children happy.

  “Sister Mary Catherine was saying the other day that your coddling would do them more harm than good because it gave them unrealistic expectations,” Mrs. Daniels continued.

  Adelia frowned. “Did she now?”

  “Oh yes. She was quite pleased that they would be rid of you by months’ end. Said something about you being a ‘temptation’.”

  Adelia was quite disconcerted by this report. Whatever could Sr. Mary Catherine have meant? She didn’t understand at all. It was hurtful that the Mother Superior was so eager to be rid of her. She tried her best to work hard and do as she was told and she did not understand why the sister did not like her.

  “It’s because you’re such a pretty one,” Mrs. Daniels said as if she could read Adelia’s mind.

  “Well, that’s hardly my fault, is it?”

  “Nae. But I think she’d prefer you with a shorn head and bent over shoulders. Maybe some wrinkles…” she put her hands out to her chest as if measuring her breasts, “A smaller bosom—”

  “I understand, thank you, Mrs. Daniels,” Adelia interrupted, face flaming. Mrs. Daniels just laughed.

  Adelia made some toast for herself. Thankfully, they made their own bread and so did not have to go without. Pouring herself a cup of tea, she retreated to the corner where she could eat in peace.

  Her mind went back to the gentleman who had stopped her. Now that she had some time to think, she realized that he’d been overly familiar, as if they knew each other. Adelia could not fathom why a gentleman would think that.

  She ran his words through her mind but they made even less sense now than they had then. It was clear that the gentleman must be off his nob, which was a pity seeing as he was quite handsome.

  His eyes were such a bottomless opaque green that it made one want to delve deeper and find out what lurked behind them. His blond hair had been tied in a neat queue at his back. He had the sort of curls that were not entirely tamable however tightly he tied them. His hair glinted golden even in the early winter sunlight, golden, luxuriant and wavy. It was truly wasted on a gentleman.

  His broad shoulders had completely obscured her vision of anything behind him. He looked tough and capable, certainly his grip on her hand amply illustrated his strength. She honestly could not understand what a gentleman like that was thinking of to speak to her.

  Chapter 3

  Dinner and Investigation

  Dorothea peered in the looking glass, smoothing her coiffure, making sure that the wisps fell just so against her cheeks. She blinked smugly at her reflection. “He won’t be able to resist me.”

  “Yes’m,” Sarah said, and Dorothea turned, eyes narrowed.

  “I was not speaking to you,” she snapped.

  “Sorry’m,” Sarah bowed, taking a step back, out of whipping range.

  Dorothea sighed with annoyance and then went back to admiring herself in the glass. There was a knock at the door.

  “M’lady? Your guest has arrived.”

  Dorothea gasped. “Sarah! Bring my slippers!”

  Sarah hurried into the room, diving to her knees and holding out the gold slippers for Dorothea to fit her feet in. She slipped on her shoes and then gestured impatiently at the door. Sarah got to her feet quickly and opened the door so that Dorothea could sashay through it.

  She pulled her chin up, took a deep breath and prepared to go and greet her future husband.

  * * *

  Harry spent the entire dinner shooting puzzled glances at Dorothea. She had seemed so different when he met her
in the street. It was as if she was a different person. Harry could not find the sense in it.

  “Do you enjoy walking, Lady Cornhill?” he asked, studying her intently.

  “Well…it depends on the company,” she preened at him, blushing becomingly. He could see how contrived it all was.

  “Would you care to walk with me in the morning?” he persisted.