The Duke's Dilemma

by Fenella J Miller

  She froze; she hadn’t realized she was to be naked, wasn’t sure she was ready for such a revelation. He felt her hesitation and his fingers stilled.

  ‘My darling, I want to feel your skin against mine, want to kiss every inch of you. When two people are in love there can be nothing between them, not even the cotton of a nightgown.’ He didn’t wait for her response; his fingers took each end of the ribbon and released the bow by tugging it sharply.

  It joined her robe on the floor and she was standing naked as the day she was born in front of a man she scarcely knew. She closed her eyes not wishing to see him remove his final garment. She was glad the room wasn’t lit, that only the flickering of the fire bathed them in a rosy glow.

  There was no turning back, her reputation was gone, she was utterly ruined; whatever happened if Ralph didn’t make an honest woman of her, no one else would. She was a well- brought-up young lady - what had possessed her to behave like this?

  It was too late to repine. She had made her decision and must live with the consequences. She was about to spend the night in the arms of the man she loved, loved so much she was willing to give him her most precious gift. This thought gave her courage and instead of flinching away in embarrassment she raised her head and stared shyly at him.

  His lips curved and he straightened his shoulders enjoying her inspection. Her glance travelled to his chest enticingly covered with a sprinkling of golden hair. She wanted to entwine her fingers in it, see if it was soft or springy. Her eyes were drawn lower and she was unable to keep back her shocked exclamation.

  ‘I cannot - you are … you are too big ….’ Her mother’s words of warning echoed in her mind. ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come.’

  ‘Sweetheart, I promise I’ll not hurt you.’

  She shuddered and began to turn away, embarrassed by her lack of clothes. ‘Mama told me how it would be - how the bride is treated on her wedding night.’

  His arms circled her and he gently gathered her close. One hand rested in the small of her back the other stroked her hair away from her face. ‘Darling, forget what you were told.’ His hand cupped her face. ‘Look at me, my love.’ His smile was tender, the darkness in his eyes banked down. ‘Do you trust me?’

  She nodded, her mouth to dry to answer.

  ‘I’m going to show you how much I love you and I guarantee you’ll enjoy the experience as much as I do.’

  ‘But your - your manhood will not fit inside me. You will tear me apart.’

  He chuckled and kissed her. ‘The good Lord has arranged things perfectly. Remember that a woman’s parts are made to accommodate the birth of the child.’

  ‘Of course they are, but… seeing you …’

  His warm breath lifted thehair at the nape of her neck and the strange, internal tension returned. Her fears were forgotten as his fingertips brushed her shoulders; the faintest of touches but the pleasure was so intense she gasped and her legs all but buckled.

  Her breasts hardened and heat pooled between her legs. She wanted him to make love to her, teach her how to be a woman.

  He swept her up and his mouth closed over hers in a passionate kiss and they tumbled onto the bed. Her desire was as fierce as his and she clawed at his back with a wanton wildness.

  She stretched languorously, feeling sated, feeling like a woman. The fire had burned down and was now a mere flicker in the grate. Her head was resting against his shoulder, her legs tangled with his, his arm heavy across her breast. She had never been so happy. She wanted to lie there forever, secure in his love,

  A faint scratching noise at the door alerted her. What was it? The noise came again, a little louder. Jet was awake making the noise he used when he wished to attract her attention.

  ‘I have to go, my love, it must be almost dawn. Birdie will be waking up. She mustn’t find me gone.’

  She tried to wriggle out from under his arm but it tightened, holding her captive. She felt the rumble of laughter in his chest. ‘An impossibility, my love. Miss Bird can hardly find you if you’re gone.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. You know exactly what I mean. I would prefer my whereabouts not to become common knowledge; I’m very fond of my companion and have no wish to embarrass her if it can be avoided.’

  The weight of his arm lifted. ‘In that case, darling, return at once to your room.’

  ‘I would, but I’m stuck fast, I’m pinned beneath the covers on one side and by your bulk on the other. Kindly get out, your grace, so that I can also do so.’

  ‘It’s you that want to remove yourself from this warm nest, my angel, not I. However, as a gentleman I’m obliged to accommodate your slightest wish.’

  Two hands gripped her firmly about her middle and next thing she was sitting on her bare bottom, on the floor, whilst he remained snugly in bed.

  Definitely not amused by his antics she scrabbled about until she located her nightgown and wrapper. Remaining on her knees, out of his view, she quickly donned her night things. Her fingers were clumsy and refused to tie the bow so she dropped the ribbon and left it floating. Her hair was in the way - impatiently she tossed it behind her back.

  ‘You can’t return with your hair like that, darling. Can you find the ribbon? I’ll braid it for you whilst you search.’

  He smoothed it back from her forehead and then with nimble fingers began to plait. Silently she handed up the ribbon and there was a slight tug as he fastened it around the end. Although he’d completed his task, she was strangely reluctant to move. Her limbs were heavy, she glowed all over from his touch.

  After one night in his arms already she loved the feel of his hands on her body, loved the exquisite feeling he had given her as he’d kissed every inch of her. This would not do. If she sat here much longer he would fling off her nightgown and they would tumble back into bed to repeat the blissful experiences of the night. There had been a little pain at first, but the pleasure that followed had more than made up for it.

  ‘I shall be getting up very soon, darling. After the men have taken care of the livestock I’ll leave my band of intrepid heroes across to Bracken Manor to confront the man behind all this. You’re safe here. On my return I’ll locate the vicar and arrange for our bans to be called; which means we can be wed in three weeks.’

  He sounded confident, didn’t consider matters might go awry. He and Robin were the only ones trained to fight, Tom was a fine shot and could hold his own at fisticuffs, but he wasn’t a soldier and neither were the two grooms. They were going to face six or more ex-soldiers who would be fighting for their lives.

  A shudder of apprehension shook her and sensing her distress he lifted her from the rag rug and placed her on the edge of the bed whilst he cradled her.

  ‘Please don’t worry, my sweet. I know what I’m doing and we have surprise on our side. This matter has to be settled; I want to be able to spend time with you, plan our lives together in peace, and we can’t do that until it’s done.’

  ‘I know, but for all your confidence, you’re out numbered and your men lack experience. I shall say no more on the subject. I’ll remain here and busy myself with domestic duties and pray you all return safely.’

  ‘When it’s over, I’ll send Tom to fetch the militia. I promise you, everything will be over today.’

  ‘What about the snow?’

  ‘Listen, what can you hear?’

  She cocked her head to one side. At first all she could hear was the faint crackle of the fire and his steady breathing, then she heard something else: the sound of water against the window panes.

  ‘Good heavens! There’s been a thaw. If it’s raining hard enough to hear then it must be heavy indeed.’ She scrambled to her feet. Jet had accompanied his scratching with a faint bark, and she knew from bitter experience if she ignored him, he would start to howl and then all would be disaster. ‘Take care, my love, and come back safe to me.’

  She had said all she wished to say; he knew how she felt, that her very existence was in
his hands, but there was a job to do and she wouldn’t expedite matters by remaining weeping at his side.

  The seating area was deserted and only her dog there to witness her disgrace. She walked over to the fire and threw some logs on the burning embers; she had no wish to go back to bed and pretend to be asleep. When Birdie emerged at dawn it would be to find her curled up on the chaise-longue, her pet beside her, reading a novel.

  Jet having completed his greeting seemed content to flop down across her toes. She was relieved he didn’t wish to be let out as she didn’t have the energy to struggle with the heavy bolts on the door this morning.

  She sat for ten minutes before becoming chilled. She would have to go back to bed; it was nonsensical to remain where she was. She ought not to be sitting here when the men got up.

  ‘You stay here, boy, I’m going back to bed. Ralph can let you out when he rises.’

  She crept back, carefully arranging her robe on the end of her bed before climbing in. Her feet were frozen and she tucked them inside her nightgown. Under the thickness of her comforter slowly she warmed up, but she couldn’t relax. Her eyes filled as she contemplated a

  life without him at her side; her dreams were not filled with images of delight but of death and despair.

  She didn’t stir until Miss Bird shook her gently by the shoulder.

  ‘Wake up, my dear. You’ll be delighted to hear that the snow’s gone. We shall be free to leave this place today.’

  Chapter Nineteen

  ‘Leave? I have no wish to leave, Birdie. Ralph and I are to be married as soon as the bans are read - we cannot possibly leave Neddingfield until after our nuptials.’

  ‘Congratulations, my dear. Although I believe it’s more customary to congratulate the gentleman when a couple become betrothed. Do you think you have given yourself enough time to be sure your affections are engaged? After all, you’ve known each other for less than a sen’night.’

  ‘I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life, we’re a perfect match. We haven’t known each other long but have experienced more in the past few days than most couples do in a lifetime.’

  She turned away from her mentor under the pretext of slipping into her chemise, she had no wish for her secret to be revealed. She hadn’t had time to examine her face in the glass but was certain there would be tell-tale signs that she was no longer an innocent.

  ‘I heard his grace go down; I should think all the fires are lit and the range burning by now.’

  The sound of footsteps passing the door made her hurry her morning ablutions. Polly and

  Meg couldn’t be expected to do everything themselves; the fact that she was about to become a duchess was unimportant. She would do her part until they were able to re-staff the hall.

  ‘Go down, Birdie, I’ll be there directly. With luck the men have found themselves breakfast and we’ll only have ourselves to prepare for.’

  She realised that her appearance no longer mattered; Ralph loved her and even in her oldest garments she would be beautiful to him. Her mood swung from elation, at the thought off what had passed between them, to despair as she worried about what might happen when he confronted their nemesis.

  He had told her the bad men had been discussing quite callously how they had been paid to murder them both. They had killed no one so far; the only killing had been done by them. Was it possible he’d misheard? What sort of person was prepared to pay to have two people murdered in cold blood but then hold back when it came to their employees?

  Her stomach roiled as she remembered pulling the trigger on the pistol and watching the man stagger away to die. Had the intruders just been going to abduct them? She shivered and pulled her shawl tighter. No; what possible use would they be as prisoners? There would have been no one left to pay their ransom for Aunt Agatha had already left the country. However hard it was to understand that a stranger should wish her dead, she was forced to accept this was the only possible explanation.

  This man was a ruthless murderer. His only motive was to remove them from his path and give him access to the title and their fortunes. What if? She shook her head. This wouldn’t do. She would run mad thinking of what might happen. Her hair successfully arranged on top of her head she was ready to descend. Keeping herself busy baking and attending to James should help her forget about the danger Ralph was in.

  The kitchen was redolent with the smell of baking bread and frying ham. The kettle boiling, the plates and cutlery laid out for breakfast, but the room was empty. For a moment she felt a lurch of fear then smiled at her nonsense. The girls would be in the dairy milking the cows and Birdie would be … where would she be? She heard the door to the root cellar bang shut and relaxed. ‘Do you require any assistance with the vegetables?’

  Her friend appeared, a smudge of dirt on her nose and a basket bulging with potatoes, onions and carrots. ‘Thank you, my dear, I have everything I need for soup. Would you like to wait until the bread is ready? The ham and eggs are done to a turn and you could make toast to eat with it.’

  Hester removed the long-handled, three pronged fork from the hook by the range and pulling up a chair speared a piece of yesterday’s bread on the end. ‘Shall I toast all this? Have you and the girls eaten this morning?’

  ‘We haven’t, but do enough only for yourself. It wouldn’t be seemly the girls to eat with you and I’m far too busy at the moment.’

  After eating her solitary breakfast Hester offered to carry a tray up to James. His more personal needs had been dealt with by Tom so she wouldn’t be expected to do anything other than keep him company.

  The young man inordinately pleased to see her. ‘Miss Bird insists I stay put today and I’m going daft with boredom, Miss Frobisher. There’s much I have to tell you and we haven’t had the opportunity to talk yet.’

  ‘You must eat your meal first, I’m quite content to sit and stare into the fire until you finish.’ She wondered what news he had; she’d no wish to know the sordid details of his incarceration and couldn’t imagine what else there might be that he had to tell her.

  The clatter of his tray being dropped on to the floor startled her from her reverie. ‘You should have asked me to help you; you’re not supposed to put any stress on your shoulder.’ She removed the remains of his breakfast and placed it on the top of his chest of drawers. ‘James, I shall bring my chair a little nearer so you can see me.’

  ‘I know where Miss Culley is, and the rest of them,’ he announced baldly. He had her undivided attention now.

  ‘Tell me, James, I have been desperate for definite news.’

  ‘I was that scared first, thinking I was trapped by ghosts, but I overheard them talking together. I reckon they forgot I was listening and their voices carried down that tunnel. I knew then they were mortals, just like me.’ He paused, making the most of his moment. ‘Lord Colebrook was right; they did dress up as soldiers. They marched to Neddingfield and told Miss Culley that her sympathies towards the French had been noted in Whitehall and she was going to be arrested as a traitor. She was given the choice of going into permanent exile and she took it The devils laughed about it; they enjoyed the fact they’d tricked her into leaving.’

  Hester could hardly credit that someone as awake to every suit should be gulled in this way. There was only one reason that would have prompted her intrepid aunt to leave in such a precipitous fashion. What she and Ralph had feared must be true - or at least partially so.

  ‘It seems incredible her staff agreed to accompany her. At least one of them, Sam Roberts, was supposedly a follower of Polly’s. The poor girl will be devastated he abandoned her so easily.’

  ‘I shouldn’t worry too much about her, miss, from what Tom said I think there’s already something between the two of them. She’ll not be lonely for long if he has his way.’

  ‘I hope his intentions are honourable. ‘James turned an unbecoming shade of beetroot.

  ‘He wants to marry the girl, miss, you’ve my word on that.
’

  ‘I’m relieved to hear you say so. ‘She wandered across to look out of the window at the dripping landscape. She could hardly believe the snow had melted overnight leaving only piles of slush where it had been deepest. A depressing sight, the sky overcast, the trees drooping and dismal.

  ‘My word! There’s a closed carriage just turned into the gate. If I’m to receive visitors I’d better go downstairs and make myself respectable. Do you have everything you need, James?’

  ‘Yes, thank you, Miss Frobisher. Tom left me some pieces of wood and I have my penknife - I thought I might carve a few animals to pass the time, but I can’t do it one-handed. I shall rest and watch the flames until someone has time to keep me company.’

  Hester checked her hair was neat, her skirts free of cobwebs and dust and went to wait in the makeshift drawing-room. Being careful not to dirty her hands she threw several more logs onto the fire and gave it her rattle with the poker. The cheery blaze made the space seem more acceptable.

  She hadn’t been waiting long before Polly burst in, a trifle breathless after her dash up

  the stairs. ‘Miss Frobisher, there’s visitors from London come to see you his grace. Miss Bird wants to know if she should send them away, or if you’ll see them on your own?’ The girl grinned. ‘At the moment they’re standing under the back porch trying to shelter from the rain and the door’s firmly shut. Miss Bird won’t budge until you’ve given permission.’

  The carriage had come from the direction of Little Neddingfield and if the gentlemen had asked to speak to both her and Ralph she was sure it was something to do with Aunt Agatha. ‘Please have them come up here. Ask Meg to bring refreshments; I’ll require you to remain with me, Polly.’

  The girl dipped. ‘It’s a good thing Miss Bird has baked this morning or there would be nothing suitable to offer them.’