A Duke in Shining Armor

by Macy Barnes

  Chapter 4

  The next three days Clint and his companions stayed at the Blue Lioness. Clint spent all of his time it seemed waiting to catch Emily alone. After catching another gentleman accosting her in the hallway he had been filled with white hot rage and made a point to look for her. Jon gave up on him after the first day not understanding his infatuation with a maid and spent the nights out enjoying drinks and card games along with Tom.

  Feeling everything Emily told him should only be something she should tell others he decided not to confide in his friends his intentions of removing her from her families grip just yet. He came downstairs on the third day and he caught her walking towards the kitchen. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the side. “I have made a decision about my promise to help you.”

  Emily’s eyes grew wide. She thought he had just spoken the words, not that he actually had the ridiculous notion to try to help her. The second night he sought her out she grew uneasy of his intentions. But after he told her tales of his sisters and she could tell he adored them both, she had felt herself begin to relax around him and genuinely found him to be likeable. “I cannot accept your help and you must know this, I am a maid you are a Duke.” She stated firmly.

  He scoffed in reply. “You are of noble blood, and one with the misfortune of being given to the only two animals left you could call family. My sister Juliet is coming out for her season this year and would befriend you in a second, and if you do not want a coming out you may simply watch in the background” She stared at him in disbelief. He was serious.

  “My aunt will not hear of it, she already makes me work my fingers to the bone for the roof over my head. She will inform you how inappropriate it is for you to fund me any way.” He rubbed his chin for a moment in deep thought. The action brought her eyes to his masculine face. He had strong cheekbones and his face seem to be chiseled from stone. Feeling herself being distracted by his good looks she focused her eyes on the wall behind him in an attempt to avoid any unladylike thoughts.

  She found herself having those frequently in his presence during his stay and her attempts to avoid him had been unsuccessful. If she did not know any better she would think he had sought her out. “I will handle your aunt and uncle.

  In the meantime, gather your belongings. We will leave tomorrow morning.” She opened her mouth to protest and he quickly put a finger to her mouth to silence her. That simple act sent a wave of desire down her spine all the way to her toes. She was shocked at the urge that she had to throw her arms around his neck and kiss his mouth. She seemed to get lost in the depth of his eyes and the kindness that she saw in them.

  She cleared her throat. “Very well, but I am afraid my aunt may give you a hard time concerning my leaving.”

  He chuckled under his breath. “That maybe so, we shall see if she is foolish enough to try.”

  *****

  Emily took one last look around the room that had been her home for the last four years. She ran her hand down the front of her dress in a useless attempt to make herself feel better about her appearance. She was not sure why the Duke felt obligated to help her all she knew was when she was in the same room with him, she could hardly breathe. He was a magnificent man.

  She soaked in every detail of his body as he had paced in front of her two days before in concentration. She had a yearning deep down she had never felt before. If she could ever wish for her old life back it would be while she was in his presence. What would it feel like to kiss his lips? Run her hand down his muscular arms and wrap her arms around him to love him as a woman was made to love a man.

  She was no complete fool as to what went on between men and women; she had been working at a gentleman’s establishment the past four years. All she had ever heard was moaning and thumping and when the men came out of their rooms they had a sly look upon their faces.

  The worse ones were the wedded men who came to escape from their wives and partook in their mistresses charms for days on end. Sometimes all the thumping kept her up and robbed her of her much needed sleep. Emily had no doubt that the Duke could make her moan. Shaking herself of her brazen thoughts she turned and headed down the stairs to the Dukes room.

  She stopped as she overheard raised voices coming from within. “You did what?!” she heard one man say in a stunned tone.

  “Jon, man calm down, Clint is in charge of this trip anyway, not you, he can make the decisions how he sees fit.” another male voice chimed in. She lightly tapped upon the door. The door was swung open by one of the men that she showed to their room the day before. He was tall and dark and silent. She assumed he was the cool headed one of the group.

  “Tom, don’t just stand there, please let Emily come in so we may make our arrangements and be on our way.” Clint said from the other side of the room.

  Tom presented her with a bow, “My lady, please join us.” Emily walked in and faced Clint and his companion and could tell by the red in his friends face he was not happy with the decision to bring her along.

  “I do not want to be a bother to you or anyone of your party.” She said tersely. Clint shot his friend a glare before walking over to Emily to take her by the hand. Her stomach went into knots just from his touch. He pulled his hand back and looked down at it in wonder and she knew he had felt it too. “You are most certainly not a bother, you are my guest, the arrangements have been made, we are returning to my townhouse in London where my mother and sisters currently reside. Jon just hates that he will have to be on his best behavior instead of being the cad he is most of the time.” He replied gruffly.

  She looked uncertainly at him and his companions before taking a deep breath and nodding her head in agreement. Clint led her downstairs and came upon her aunt in the foyer of the inn. She would not look at Emily, she keep her face down as she wished them a safe trip and thanked the Duke once again for staying at her establishment.

  As Clint led her to the carriage she wondered briefly where her uncle was and felt tears at the back of her eyes because her aunt had not even given her a personal goodbye. If she had any doubt before that her aunt did not love her she knew it for fact now.

  Clint opened the door and helped her climb in the carriage before he lifted himself in and closed the door behind them. Rich maroon velvet seats with the family scroll embodied in them stretched out across both sides of the carriage. Hot coals were placed in the middle of the carriage so they may warm their feet during the journey.

  She sat down and was trying to make herself relax; when it dawned on her she was alone in the carriage with the Duke. “Your friends, they will not join us?” she asked.

  He cast her a small smile as he sat down across from her, “No, I am afraid it will be bad enough to your reputation that you are traveling alone with three men much less all three in a carriage un-chaperoned.” He took off his jacket and adjusted his sleeves. “I will see to it we get you a maid before we reach home, and see she tells no one of your circumstances before.”

  Emily’s heart pounded. How would she manage to be confined with him in a carriage when she could barely be in the same room with him and not wonder what his hands would feel like on her? She yearned for his kiss and she knew not why. Surely she was must be as wanton as her aunt had accused her mother of being. That must have been how her mother got herself pregnant. She hoped she would not let herself get in the same predicament. Now that she knew she could possibly have a father out there somewhere it would be her mission to find him.

  Clint cleared his throat and interrupted her thoughts. “I have informed my footman we are to stop in town and purchase you proper clothing for travel and any toiletries you would need.”

  Emily felt herself turn red with embarrassment. “I could not ask that of you, I do appreciate the offer, but my dress is fine.”

  Clint leaned forward and took her by the hand, “Emily, I took it upon myself to approach your uncle in the regards of your inheritance. While you may not have the money you once had left to you,
fortunately those swine’s who claim to be your family had not spent it all.”

  Emily looked deep into his eyes. She was in shock. She had money? Not only did she have money, but she had it this whole time. Her aunt and uncle used her for free labor and had been living on her inheritance. All feelings for her aunt and uncle changed in that moment. She would think of them no more.

  She looked down at his hand that tenderly held hers. He stroked his thumb over the top of her hand. It had been a long time since she felt the way this Duke was making her feel. He made her feel special, like she was somebody. She raised her eyes to his and as her first tear fell she asked him “How will I ever repay you for your kindness to me?”

  He wiped the tear from her cheek and cupped her face in both of his hands. “I have only done what any gentleman should do with the matter at hand, but I will not lie to you Emily, there is something about you I find fascinating. From the first moment I saw you I have wanted to do this.” Before she could reply he touched his lips softly to hers. His lips felt like satin on her lips. He nuzzled her bottom lip with her teeth and when she gasped he opened her mouth and explored her with his tongue. White hot heat shot through her body. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he drew her over into his lap.

  This was no school boy kiss; this was a kiss of pure passion. She lost herself in his embrace. She was vaguely aware of his hands as they slid down her back to grasp her hips and to rub her intimately to the hardness in the middle of his thighs. A moan escaped her lips at the feel of wetness came to her woman’s place.

  He broke off the kiss and trailed butterfly kisses down her neck to the top of her breast. “I will never see you put in rags again.” He stated with a vengeance. He lowered her dress from her shoulders to expose her creamy globes. As he took the first perk nipple into his mouth, she gasped and pressed herself into his hardness. He teased and suckled her until she was withering in want.

  “Clint, please.” She begged but she knew not for what.

  Her pleading brought him crashing to reality. He leaned back and took in several ragged breaths before covering her back up. She immediately felt ashamed. He must have sensed it because he wrapped his arms around her and drew him to her for a soft kiss. “Do not feel bad about what we feel, Emily.” He undid her hair from her pins and let it flow down her back. “I know you have no other living relatives than those we have left behind, so I would like to ask if you would allow me to court you once you are settled into society.”

  Emily was speechless but only for a moment. “You would like to court me your grace?” she asked incredulously.

  “More than you can imagine.” He chuckled as he ran his hands of and down her arms. “My mother has been after me about settling down and having children, and I have not even considered any of the women she has put before me.” He leaned up to kiss her again. “Now I know why. None of them were you.”

  Emily stared down at him in wonder. She always heard of men who were knights rescuing ladies in distress, but she had long ago given up any dreams of having a life of her own. “Are you sure?” she asked. “You just met me; I would hate to disappoint you.” She bit her bottom lip in thought. When she looked back down at him he was staring at her mouth and his eyes were hooded with desire.

  “I have never been surer about anything in my life. I have never felt passion with a woman the way I do with you.” As he twirled a piece of her hair around his finger he told her “I will dress you in the finest gowns, you will have anything you want. Emily removed herself from his lap and sat next to him on the seat.

  “But, you do not love me.” She stated. “No, I do not love you yet Emily; I will not make false declarations. I do know of all the women I have ever met, you are the only one I have wanted to love.”

  He shifted in the seat to face her squarely eye to eye. “Tell me you do not feel what I feel when we are together, you have not felt it since the first time we laid eyes on each other?” A sharp tap upon the door stopped her from anything she was about to say. She was so caught up in the moment she did not realized the carriage had come to a halt.

  “Clint, we are at the shop you wanted to visit before we got well on our way to mommy dearest.” Tom said from outside.

  Clint opened the door and stepped down from the carriage. He turned around to assist Emily down; she was still a little shaky from the passion she had felt.

  “Great, I know the lady who owns this shop, feel free to get whatever you need, I will accompany you in to settle the bill and we will wait for you outside.” Clint escorted her across the walkway and opened the door to Bethany’s Boutique and she was hit with a smell of rose petals and lavender.

  A stocky older lady came from the back and squealed Clint’s name. He ran to her and grabbed her in a bear hug and swung her around. Emily really liked this side of the Duke and felt herself smiling at them both as they laughed and caught their breath.

  “Emily Moncrief, I would like you to meet the best seamstress this side of England, my cousin Mrs. Bethany Wells.” The older lady patted Clint on the shoulder.

  “He is too kind dear; I doubt I am the finest seamstress anywhere.” She bustled over to Emily and gave her a hug. If all of Clint’s family welcomed her with open arms then maybe this dream she felt she was living at the moment would come true.

  She still had to tell Clint what she overheard about her mother though, before she let her heart get involved. He may not want to marry a bastard daughter. She listened as Clint told his cousin about her situation and she would basically need everything and to send the bill to him. He smiled at her as he started to go out the door.

  “Bethany will take care of you Emily and I will be right outside. Get everything you need or want.” He kissed her hand and left the store.

  “So, my dear tell me, what is your favorite color?” She listened to the woman prattle on as she picked out some soaps and hair clips that would allow her to wear her hair down. She had left it down since Clint had removed her hair pins in the carriage.

  She picked out simple white undergarments and ran her hand over the smooth fabric. It had been so long since she had undergarments and clothes that were not threadbare; she could feel herself choking up as she got to the night gowns and paused to gather her composure.

  “I do not like to meddle child, but I could not help but notice how our Clint was looking at you.” Bethany said with a big smile. “Let’s pick out some night garments that can be for later on as well?” she asked.

  By the time she was through shopping Clint, Tom and Jon had to come into the shop to tote out all the belongings. Bethany had insisted she change into a nice traveling gown in which she had on hand that just happened to be Emily’s size. It was high in the waist and flattered her slim figure. The deep green color accented her creamy skin. She felt like a brand new woman as she climbed back into the carriage.

  She couldn’t help but notice the looks Clint’s friends were giving her. Tom’s was a look of knowing and Jon’s was one of astonishment she had cleaned up so well. Clint was silent as they took off from the shop and remained that way and until they were moving at a brisk pace.

  “You are beautiful.” He told her. A blush ran up her neck and face. She was not used to getting compliments from handsome noble men.

  “Thank you.” She said shyly. He patted the seat next to him.

  “Sit with me?” he asked. She moved and sat beside him. “I can’t wait for you to meet my sisters, Juliet is coming out on the ton this year for her first season and I know she would love to have you accompany her.”

  She looked down at the floor and gathered her nerve up to tell him about what she had discovered about her birth. “Clint, I need to tell you I overheard my aunt and uncle talking. They revealed I may not be my father’s daughter. I want you to be aware of this fact as it will surely lead me to not be accepted into society. It will not be suitable for you to court me.”

  The silence was deafening followed her confession. “I realize you do
not know me that well Emily, but please give me more credit than to think I would not want you based on something you heard those horrible people discussing.” She searched his face for clues as to his feelings on the matter. “I am sorry if I offended you, but I felt like you should know who it is you are getting involved with and allowing to be around your family, especially since your family may not approve of me anyway.” He chuckled and made himself for comfortable for the journey. “My family’s opinion of who I should court has never weighed on my personal decisions; let us cross that bridge when we get there.”

  Emily leaned back and peered out the window. She knew her future was uncertain and was scared to believe that anything good could come her way.

  Chapter 5

  The journey was over too quickly for her liking. Emily was weary and nervous when they pulled up to the Duke’s impressive townhouse by nightfall. They had stopped to take lunch in a small restaurant and Clint sent his footman out to inquire whether or not any local women would be interested in being a ladies maid. A shy red headed girl named Alice sat across from her with eyes that shone bright with excitement.

  She tried to convince Clint she would have no need of a maid, but he had politely reminded her she would need to secure a maid before they made it to his home to protect her reputation. With her stomach tied in knots she allowed Clint to help her down from the carriage and lead her to the door of his home. He greeted his butler jovially and inquired as to his mother’s whereabouts. The butler informed him the ladies were in the parlor.

  She heard Clint mumble something under his breath as he led her down the hall. “Is something wrong?” she asked. He paused and ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

  “I forgot my mother has guests and these guests in particular she wants me to be interested in, although we have only sibling affection for one another.”

  Emily felt sick. “Oh, well maybe I should just go to an Inn for the night.” She suggested hopefully.