A Hidden Duke For The Passionate Lady (Regency Historical Romance)

by Lucinda Nelson

One look at Edward and a small nod later, and Selina could barely help herself from grinning.

  “Shall we, Mr. Clifford?” the Duke asked, turning to the other man.

  “Yes, of course. We should go to my office.” He hesitated in front of Edward.

  “Mr. McAlister is with me, sir. This concerns him as well, so if you would be so kind to let him stay with us.” His words were nice, but Selina could hear it in his tone, him telling her he was a Duke and would have his way.

  “Of course, Your Grace,” her father eventually said and led the way to his office and just before leaving, Edward gave the same wink as his father had done just a few moments before She had a very different reaction, though. Her stomach filled with butterflies.

  Once they were gone, her grandmother turned to her, confused. “What is going on?”

  Selina just smiled.

  * * *

  Edward Egremont, Duke of Bellford

  After the three men were inside Mr. Clifford’s office, seated and ready to talk, the Duke looked at Edward and it was a little funny to see his son, his brave, fearless son, look a little apprehensive.

  “Mr. Clifford, I hear we are to join our houses soon, through marriage.”

  The man’s face was red as he nodded. “Yes, Your Grace. My Selina had a proposal from your nephew, Lord Reginald Ainsworth a few weeks ago.”

  “So I have heard.” The Duke leaned back in the chair he was seated on. His son may have been good at many things, but not in manipulation and sadly it was needed to be done with poor Mr. Clifford. “Lord Ainsworth mentioned it to me and I thought it was a good match. His connections, your money, it made sense and I knew eventually I would have had to meet his future bride.” Mr. Clifford nodded while Edward’s whole body stiffened. The Duke could see doubt in the corner of his eye. “That was before, though.”

  “Before?” Mr. Clifford asked, confused.

  “Before I met Mr. McAlister,” the Duke said calmly.

  Mr. Clifford looked from the Duke to his son and then back at him. “Your Grace, I know what is happening. It came to my attention that-”

  “I am being blackmailed? Manipulated?” the Duke asked, amused. “Yes, I heard those rumors as well.”

  “They are not true, then?” Mr. Clifford looked, dubiously. “None of them?”

  He was debating to what he would answer, when his son surprised him by answering it.

  “It was true, to some extent.” He looked at the Duke. “I am not lying. It would do no good and it has been enough lying.”

  The Duke felt proud of his son even if it diminished his chance to get what he wanted. He’d rather not lie to get it.

  “Our first encounter was… eventful.” The Duke tried to use a more malleable language. “There were things I was unaware of and one of them was that Edward McAlister is my son.” It was almost comical to see Mr. Clifford’s eyes widen. “As you can see, there should not be any doubt.” Once again Mr. Clifford looked to both, comparing and cataloguing the many similarities of their physiognomies. “What I want to discuss with you is your daughter’s marriage.”

  “Sir, with all due respect, Lord Ainsworth-”

  “Is currently my heir, yes, and he will inherit the title. Sadly I can’t change that, but I am not sure he should marry your daughter.”

  Mr. Clifford looked at the Duke with curiosity. “Why is that?”

  “Because, sir, I think you are aware Miss Clifford would rather marry my son instead.” The Duke said, bluntly. “Is it not right?” When no response came, he nodded. “I thought so. She has told you about this, I assume. My daughter did the same when a gentleman gave her hope to get a proposal. Daughters, eh? We love them to death but they can be a handful.”

  Mr. Clifford’s only reason not to snort out loud was because of the Duke’s presence, His Grace was sure. He had loved Kathleen with all his heart, but she could be quite spoiled when she wanted to. His fault, of course. She knew he couldn’t deny her much whenever she used her big green eyes against him.

  “Your Grace, I know this is a sensitive matter, but my mind is made.”

  The Duke looked at him for a moment. “Do you mind me asking, Mr. Clifford. Did you marry for love or money?” When he didn’t answered right away, the Duke asked again.

  “I loved my wife, Your Grace.”

  The Duke nodded. “I see. That is why you are not seeing things as they are. My marriage was arranged and I had no real affection for my wife. I did not mistreat her, I never hurt her physically or was abusive, but it took us years to get something, even remotely to affection. I did hurt her, though, because she developed those feelings first and I did not. I loved another and if only circumstances had been different, a lot of heartache would have been prevented.

  You were lucky, Mr. Clifford, to have someone you shared affections with. Most of us aren’t. My son is not a pauper who won’t provide for Miss Clifford. He is his own man and the future heir of most of my business.” Mr. Clifford looked at him in surprise. “My nephew is to inherit only a part of my business and my title.”

  Mr. Clifford leaned in. “Are you really not being blackmailed, Your Grace?”

  The Duke chuckled. “I am not, sir. Mr. McAlister doesn’t want any of it, in reality. All he demanded from me was a title I couldn’t give so he could marry your daughter. They really care for one another, Mr. Clifford, and I know you love your daughter and you do not wish her to be unhappy.

  Trust me when I tell you that a title does not bring happiness on its own. If Miss Clifford marries my son, she will have even more comfort than before. He carries my blood, will inherit my business and lands. That is how much I trust him already. What is a title compared to that? This, sir, is stability, not a title.”

  The Duke could see Edward’s hands gripping the armchair. The poor boy was nervous as he wanted to do things the right way.

  Mr. Clifford sighed. “For as long as I can remember, I wanted my daughter to be accepted in society, to not be looked down upon. She has been telling me all along what she wishes for, even my mother has told me about putting her happiness first. That is all I want for my girl; her happiness and for her to be treated as she deserves.”

  “I promise you, Mr. Clifford, I will never let anyone hurt Miss Clifford.” Edward said and Mr. Clifford looked tired.

  “I know you won’t. It is I who has been hurting her.” He shook his head. “I have been greedy and I shouldn’t have, not with my daughter’s future.” He looked at Edward. “Since I already said he could court her, I shall allow Lord Ainsworth to continue to do so. I will, however, let you, Mr. McAlister, do the same. In the end, it will be Selina’s choice and I have a feeling whom she will choose.”

  The Duke looked at his son and smiled when he saw the grin on his face. He was very happy to have helped, even though he was certain Mr. Clifford would have gotten to the conclusion about matching his daughter and Edward.

  “You won’t regret it, sir.” Edward got up and offered a hand to Mr. Clifford, who took it. Edward tried not to look anxious, but it was hard not to notice his eyes darting towards the door. He wanted to tell his beloved about the good news.

  “My mother is with her; you may tell her. I will talk to the Duke for a moment.”

  “Thank you, sir.” The young man said and all but ran out of the office, giving the Duke a grateful look before disappearing.

  “He truly is a good man, Mr. Clifford,” the Duke said.

  “I know, my lord. My Selina is very good at judging people’s characters, and so is my mother. I think I should open my eyes, instead.”

  The Duke hummed in agreement. “I think in the past few weeks, we are all learning more about life than we could have imagined.”

  “Can I interest you in a glass of gin, Your Grace? I know it is still early, but-”

  “Say no more. Yes, I would like one. Maybe we should drink to our children’s happiness.”

  “Always, my lord, even if I forgot for a while, it’s always about their h
appiness.”

  Chapter 28

  Mr. Edward McAlister

  He would never forget the smile on Selina’s lips when he told her about her father’s permission for him to court her.

  Edward couldn’t deny it. There were a few times he almost lost hope, that he was tempted to just ask her to run away. He didn’t, though. He didn’t want to make her the object of gossip and unhappiness.

  In the end, it paid off.

  They were not officially engaged, no, but they were allowed to court in public and it was supposed to be Selina’s choice whom she would choose, and he knew whom she would choose in the end.

  A few days after Mr. Clifford’s blessing, Edward sent a message to him, asking if Selina would be allowed to go out on a stroll with him. Mrs. Clifford was more than welcomed as a chaperone, of course. Edward liked the older woman quite a bit.

  “Oh, you should have seen, Mr. McAlister,” Mrs. Clifford said, holding his arm while Selina walked by her other side, completely content and amused at her grandmother’s stories. “The last time the Thames froze, it even held a fair. You would have been a babe, if that, when it happened, but Mr. Clifford took me and it was marvelous.”

  “I believe you, Mrs. Clifford. I saw the river freeze one time, I think, since I lived mostly in Wales,” he told the older woman. “It is a sight that is for sure.”

  “Indeed, sir.” Mrs. Clifford looked at the river and pointed at a bench. “I think I would like to sit for a bit, if it’s all the same to you, dear Selina. Mr. McAlister.”

  “Of course, Granny.” Selina grabbed the older woman’s arm and helped Edward lead her towards the bench and both watched her sit and take out her lace fan. “Are you feeling well, Granny?”

  “Yes, dear,” she said with a smile. “You and Mr. McAlister can go see the river closer, I will watch you like a hawk.” Edward then saw the older woman wink at her granddaughter and realized she was giving them an excuse to speak alone.

  “Thank you, Granny.” Selina smiled brightly and kissed Mrs. Clifford’s cheek.

  “Miss Clifford.” Edward offered her his arm, and Selina took it, blue eyes bright and filled with happiness.

  “Mr. McAlister.” Selina said as they walked towards the small wall between them and the river. “I have missed you so,” she whispered.

  “As have I,” he answered, trying not to smile. “I didn’t know if your father would have agreed even with the Duke on our side, but he did and I couldn’t be happier.”

  “Neither could I,” she replied and they started to walk alongside the wall for a bit, looking at the glimmering water. “Papa said I could choose in a month and that I should give both you and Lord Ainsworth the same level of attention.” Selina sighed. “I suppose it’s the least we can do even though I do not like spending time with that man. He is nobility whether we like it or not and a blunt denial would be more than disrespectful. It needs to appear as if I am considering him.”

  “As much as I do not like him close to you as well, I can see your point.” Edward and Selina were too far away from where Mrs. Clifford was and they swiftly changed directions to return slowly on the same path. “We can wait another month before I propose, can’t we?”

  “Oh, dear Edward.” Selina gripped his arm a little to reassure him. “We have waited this long, and so many things have happened. A few weeks will fly by as long as we know what we will obtain by the end.”

  Edward nodded and said, in barely a whisper. “If we weren’t in public, I would kiss you, Miss Clifford.”

  Selina blushed slightly and cleared her throat. “If we weren’t in public, I would let you, Mr. McAlister.”

  He couldn’t help but to smile and he didn’t know exactly what made him look at the direction he did. Perhaps he wanted to check on Mrs. Clifford, but he also saw a man.

  He didn’t even know why his attention was solely on that man. Maybe it was his expression, or the conspicuous way he was reaching inside his coat, but when he did pay attention, he had little time to think.

  The man had a gun.

  The man raised the gun in Selina’s direction.

  The man wanted to kill Selina.

  It was instinct the way Edward pushed her away putting himself in front of her.

  Then, the man shot the gun and Edward felt pain on his shoulder but breathed hard through the pain. He could hear screams and chaos around him, but all he could think of was to protect Selina.

  He heard Selina yell his name. “Edward! Don’t hurt him, please!”

  Edward looked over his shoulder and whispered, “Run.” She heard his short request. He knew she did, because she looked away from the gunman and back at Edward.

  “Never.” And then she locked eyes with him, hers shining with unshed tears, as if expecting another bullet but wanting to keep looking at him if it was the case. He knew the feeling. If he was about to die, he’d rather do it looking at her beautiful blue eyes; even if it wasn’t supposed to end that way.

  Edward heard the familiar sound of a gun cocking and he knew the gunman was reloading. He would try it again and that moment was his chance.

  He felt a surge of energy, the pain was forgotten for the moment, as he ran towards the unknown man. Edward had never seen him before, he was certain.

  The gunman’s hand was shaking so much he was struggling to put the lead ball inside the barrel, thankfully. Edward didn’t know if the man would miss a second time. He was fairly certain the gunshot would have hit Selina to kill, had he not put himself between them.

  The punch with his uninjured arm was enough to throw the man far away from them and drop the weapon. Edward quickly kicked the weapon even father to be certain it wouldn’t be used.

  Seeing the man was now unarmed, some gentlemen who were passing by and had witnessed the struggle, were moving towards the man, pinning him down to the ground.

  With the threat gone, at least for the moment, Edward finally let himself feel his body. The pain returned tenfold, his left arm was limp and his clothes were glued to his skin. He thought it was odd until he looked down and saw his fingers were red with blood dripping from his wound.

  ‘Huh,’ Edward thought rather silly ‘that’s why my sleeve is sticky. I’m bleeding quite a lot. Mrs. Yates will tell me off for ruining such a good shirt.’

  Later on, he would remember, amused, how he was concerned about what his housekeeper would think of the mess, instead of the fact that the bullet was probably still lodged in his shoulder. He was in a lot of pain and getting light-headed.

  He fell on one knee, dark spots in his vision as he tried to stay conscious.

  “Edward!” He heard Selina’s voice and saw her kneel in front of him. She would ruin her beautiful dress that way, he thought. She really shouldn’t; he liked that dress.

  “Edward,” her tone was desperate “Edward McAlister, don’t you dare! Don’t you dare leave me!” It was all it took to not let himself fall down. “Open your eyes. Please.” When did he close his eyes, he wondered? He did what he was told, though, not wanting to scare her even more. Her eyes were so beautiful, blue like a sunny sky.

  She was safe, and it was all that mattered. He tried to speak as relief spread through him. He didn’t fail in protecting her, but was unable to let the words come out.

  “Shhh, don’t speak. Help is coming,” Selina said to him, and Edward could hear people talking around them.

  “I am fine.” He managed, trying to lessen the pain but he was feeling rather faint.

  Selina tried to smile. He could see the tear-stained cheeks and how red her eyes were. She put a hand on his cheek. “Of course you are. Now we just need to take you home and have a doctor look at you.” She looked around. “Can someone please, help us?”

  A man, tall and blonde whom had helped pin the gunman, down, was prompt to help. “I will, Miss. If you could point me to where your carriage is.”

  “This way, please.” Selina got up and Edward felt the man put his good arm around his shoulder and
hoist him up.

  “Hey there, mate. I’m Daniel Rowland and I’m going to help you,” he said, helping Edward, who was feeling even more tired. “What’s your name?”

  “Edward McAlister.” He managed to say, even though he knew Mr. Rowland was just talking to him to keep him awake.

  “I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but nice to meet you. You have a strong right hook. I bet that man’s jaw will have a sizeable bruise in no time.” Edward snorted. “Where do you live?” When Edward told him, Mr. Rowland nodded.

  “Not too far from here, then. Good.” Edward’s eyes were almost closing when he heard commotion and saw the local authority arriving. “The man who attacked Mr. McAlister is being contained by my guards. I will take him home. He has been shot and needs immediate attention.” Mr. Rowland recited Edward’s address to the constables. “If anyone asks for a witness, tell them Lord Kilcanny will testify.”