The Forbidden Duke

by Burke, Darcy

  His mouth was tight, unyielding. “I did.”

  “Is that why you helped me? Is what why Lady Satterfield is sponsoring me?”

  “No.” His response was immediate and vehement. Emotion stormed into his eyes. “Yes, I felt guilty, but when I learned whom she’d hired as her companion, I welcomed the opportunity to right the wrong I’d done you. Yes, I wanted to help you.” His gaze softened. “Only I never imagined you’d be the one to save me.”

  She’d saved him? She wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but the sentiment was so lovely and so pure, she knew Titus wasn’t at all the man he’d been nine years ago. And neither was she the same naïvely innocent girl. Right now, with Titus, she could put the past to rest at last. She could be the woman she longed to be—a woman with a choice.

  She looked between the two men. The hope and vulnerability in Titus’s eyes, coupled with the power to choose, which he was once again ensuring she possessed, made her decision quite simple.

  She turned her head to look at Dawson and said, simply, “Yes, I choose Titus.”

  Titus had watched the joy fade from her face after Dawson had spilled the truth. Now he stared at her, uncertain of what he was seeing.

  “Titus.”

  The single word came from the doorway. His stepmother had followed them and had clearly heard everything Dawson had said. The anguish in her tone cut straight to his soul. It was like watching his father lose his faith in Titus all over again.

  Dawson scoffed. “Of course you’d choose a duke over me.”

  Titus’s stepmother moved onto the terrace. “She chose the better man, you dolt. You should take the stairs down to the garden and escape that way. If you don’t, I fear you’ll be eaten alive by everyone in the drawing room. The second they find out that Nora is betrothed to my son, you’ll be a laughingstock.”

  Dawson pursed his lips and gave Nora a final beseeching look. “I didn’t want to lose you to Markham.” He shot a perturbed glance toward Titus. “I didn’t even realize he was in the hunt too.” He turned his attention back to Nora. “My apologies. I shall be gracious in defeat. I wish you both well.”

  Nora smiled at him, which was more than he deserved. “Thank you. I wish you the best as well.”

  Titus marveled at her poise and her generosity of spirit. If he hadn’t already been head over heels in love with her, he would be now.

  Dawson turned and left.

  The countess cleared her throat. “This is going to cause quite an uproar. The mess Dawson created was exciting enough, but I fear this may break the entire ton.”

  Titus looked at Nora. The love he felt for her threatened to surge from his chest like a living, breathing thing. A veritable dragon of emotion, the likes of which he’d never encountered. “I don’t care.”

  “No, I’m sure you don’t,” his stepmother said. “However, Nora may feel differently.”

  Nora didn’t look away from Titus. She stroked his hands with her thumbs. “Actually, I don’t. If I’m to be the Forbidden Duchess, I don’t need to care about anything. At least not about anything I don’t want to. And I choose not to. Titus, I may never hold a ball. Is that all right with you?”

  “It only makes me love you more.”

  Her mouth curved into a smile that was equal parts joyful and seductive. Titus wanted nothing more than to have her alone.

  Nora turned to look at the countess. “Must we go back inside?”

  His stepmother shook her head gently, her expression resigned but happy. “No. I’ll make your excuses. Titus, I regret to inform you that your notoriety will only soar, not that you’ll pay any attention to it.”

  He pulled Nora closer. “Not a bit.” He bent and inhaled the floral fragrance of her hair before pressing a kiss to her temple.

  His stepmother smiled widely. “You’ve made me very happy. Both of you.” She turned and went back into the house, closing the door behind her.

  Nora looked up at him. “Did you mean what you said? About loving me?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I think I realized it the other night. It just… It took me by surprise. I’m not good at this sort of thing.” Loving people. Letting them get close.

  “I know. You hold yourself so apart from everyone. Is it because of what happened with Haywood?”

  He could scarcely understand her compassion. “I wanted to tell you. I just didn’t know how. You should be furious with me. I had a hand in ruining you.”

  “You were young and foolish—like me. What did you mean when you said I’d saved you?”

  “I hated myself after what happened to you. Not just because of how it affected you, but because of the disappointment I caused my father. He died shortly after that, and I was, quite simply, wrecked. I’ve been doing penance all these years. Helping you, loving you has set me free.”

  Tears glistened in her eyes. “Oh Titus, I feel precisely the same.”

  He brushed a fingertip along her cheek. “I wish my father had known you. He would’ve liked you immensely.”

  She grinned. “I’m sure the sentiment would’ve been quite mutual.”

  “Are you certain you won’t mind being the Forbidden Duchess? You were the most celebrated woman in town for a moment.”

  She laughed. “Yes, my brief time in the sun. Only, I don’t need the sun when I have you. You’re all I want, Titus. All I need. I love you.”

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her full on the mouth. She kissed him back, igniting his desire. He decided right then that a special license would definitely be in order.

  After a long moment, he lifted his lips from hers and looked into her eyes. “I’ve waited my entire life for you, and I’d wait a thousand more. You’ve made me the happiest man alive. Do you think they’ll start calling me the Smitten Duke?”

  She giggled. “I don’t care what they call you, so long as everyone understands you’re my duke.”

  He bent his head to kiss her again. “For eternity.”

  Epilogue

  London, 1816

  While some things had changed over the past five years—the most important being the addition of Nora and Titus’s two children—many things had not. Lady Satterfield still hosted the first major event of the Season, and Titus still only danced the first dance, though only with Nora. And Nora went to the ball early to help her mother-in-law prepare.

  As she entered the ballroom, Nora was struck with a familiar sense of nostalgia. Every year she recalled the night that had changed her life. The night she’d started falling hopelessly in love with her husband.

  She smiled as she thought of him at home reading to their children. He’d come to the ball in a little while, in plenty of time for their dance.

  Lady Satterfield strode into the drawing room, which had once again been transformed to a glittering ballroom and would soon be filled with Society’s finest. Titus and Nora kept to themselves for the most part, but they weren’t hermits. Nora attended many events with Lady Satterfield during the Season, but her primary focus was always her family. She paid little attention to the ton, and supposed that in the process, she’d become what she once mocked—an Untouchable. However, not in the sense one might think. She was untouchable because she’d learned not to care what people said or thought. And it was a blissfully freeing state of mind.

  “Nora, you look lovely as always,” Lady Satterfield said before giving her a quick hug. They exchanged kisses on the cheek, and Nora returned the compliment. “How are my grandchildren?” the countess asked eagerly. She saw them several times a week.

  “Very well. They are enjoying the solitary attentions of their father at present.”

  Lady Satterfield smiled warmly. “He just dotes on them. His father would be so proud.”

  Though Nora had never known him, she agreed wholeheartedly. Titus had spent far too long bearing the guilt of not living up to his father’s expectations, and of not telling him how much he’d loved him. He’d finally found a way to fo
rgive himself, and he credited Nora. However, she believed that they’d conquered those old demons together.

  The first guest arrived just then—Lady Dunn with her new companion. The elderly viscountess now walked with a cane, but she was as alert and sharp as always. Nora greeted her along with Lady Satterfield.

  “It’s always a delight to see you, Your Grace,” Lady Dunn said. She seemed to take special pleasure in addressing Nora since she’d become a duchess.

  Nora bussed the woman’s soft cheek. “You look especially lively this evening.”

  “You may credit my new companion.” Lady Dunn inclined her head to the tall young woman standing just behind her. “This is Miss Ivy Breckenridge. She suggested this concoction in my hair.”

  The “concoction” consisted of a feather and some flowers. It gave her the height she always sought—Lady Dunn was rather petite and often employed a feather to make her appear taller—as well as a splash of youthful charm due to the posies.

  “It’s lovely,” Nora said. She looked at Miss Breckenridge, whose expression was impassive. “Well done.”

  The companion nodded slightly. “Thank you. Come, Lady Dunn, we must get you settled.”

  “Yes, yes, a chair would not come amiss.”

  “We’ve just the spot for you in the sitting room, with a perfect view of the dancing through the open doorway,” Nora said, leading them from the ballroom and leaving Lady Satterfield to join her husband in order to greet their guests.

  Within the next half hour, the rooms were nearly full with the usual crush. The dancing would soon begin, which meant that Titus would sneak in the back just in time to dance with her. Nora smiled to herself in anticipation as her feet carried her toward the open terrace doors.

  She caught sight of three young women standing in the corner, one of whom was the enigmatic Miss Breckenridge, whom she’d met earlier. The women were huddled together, but Miss Breckenridge kept an eye toward Lady Dunn.

  Nora strolled toward them. “Hello again, Miss Breckenridge. And good evening to your friends.” She looked at the pair, one of whom possessed average height, dark hair, and spirited hazel eyes. The other was a bit shorter, with brown curly hair and the most striking blue eyes Nora had ever seen. “Good evening, I’m Lady Kendal. It’s my pleasure to welcome you to Satterfield House.”

  The curly-haired woman’s jaw dropped, but only briefly for she blurted, “You’re the Forbidden Duchess.”

  The other dark-haired woman elbowed her in the ribs before smiling brightly. “Ignore Miss Knox. She’s already had too much ratafia.”

  Nora laughed softly. “I am the Forbidden Duchess.”

  The woman who’d elbowed Miss Knox winced. “Our apologies. It isn’t polite to call people names.”

  “Do you know that when I was your age, I referred to all the loftiest gentlemen in London as the Untouchables—men who were so far above my station that I couldn’t imagine speaking to them, let alone marrying them. Men like my husband.” She couldn’t help but laugh again.

  They all stared at her, and then the woman who’d apologized laughed with her. “I like that—the Untouchables. I’m Miss Parnell, and this is Miss Knox.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you both.”

  Miss Knox cocked her head to the side. “Does that mean…you were like us?”

  “I can’t say, but I was a fairly poor girl from the country who was lucky enough to have a cousin to sponsor her.” She moved closer and lowered her voice. “And then I had the nerve to be caught in a compromising position with a gentleman who refused to wed me. I was shipped back to the country posthaste. Ruined.”

  Their eyes had widened. Miss Knox sputtered, “But you’re a duchess.”

  “Only by fate. And the kindness of my mother-in-law, Lady Satterfield. She gave me a second chance when no one else would.”

  “It’s like a fairy tale,” Miss Breckenridge said. She pursed her lips. “I don’t believe in fairy tales.”

  Miss Parnell rolled her eyes. “Of course you don’t, but clearly this one is real.” She grinned at Nora. “Pay no heed to Ivy. She’s content to be a companion and focus her energies on helping those who are less fortunate.”

  Nora looked at the young woman, intrigued. “Indeed? I should like to hear more about that some time. Perhaps you and Lady Dunn will come for tea soon.” Nora rarely invited people to their town house, but Lady Dunn and her companion were part of a special circle of friends.

  Ivy blinked. “If you insist.” She sounded surprised by Nora’s interest.

  Nora supposed it was unusual for a woman of her station to pay these women notice, let alone invite them to her home. She looked at the other two women. “You shall come too, since it seems you’re all friends.”

  Miss Knox sniffed. “Unfortunately, I have to return home in a few days.”

  “You’re not here for the Season?” Nora asked.

  Miss Knox shook her head. “My parents refuse to fund any more Seasons. They said three was more than enough and that if I couldn’t find a wealthy husband in London by then, I’d have to hope someone in our district would come up to scratch.” She smiled at Miss Parnell. “Lucy and I became friends a few years ago, and she invited me to visit her this week.”

  Miss Parnell linked her arm through Miss Knox’s. “I wish you could remain for the entire Season.”

  “She can,” Nora interjected without thinking. “Miss Knox, please allow me to sponsor you.” It was a spontaneous offer, but one she didn’t regret. She warmed to the idea of doing for someone else what Lady Satterfield had done for her. In fact, Lady Satterfield would most certainly help her—or perhaps even try to sponsor Miss Knox herself.

  Miss Knox’s jaw dropped again, but for a bit longer this time. “Your Grace, that’s… I don’t know what to say.”

  Nora smiled at her. “Just say yes. If not for the kind and generous sponsorship of my mother-in-law, I might not have married Kendal. It would give me great pleasure to provide the same for you this Season.”

  Miss Parnell turned to her friend, her expression animated and her tone eager. “We’ll write to your parents immediately. How can they refuse the duchess’s kind offer? They’ll be thrilled to have you out of their hair and in the hands of a duchess, no less.”

  Miss Knox looked at Nora. “Do you think I could find a duke too?”

  Nora laughed. “I don’t know. I didn’t set out to snag a title at all. That I landed an Untouchable still mystifies me sometimes.”

  “I daresay we need to steal that phrase—the Untouchables,” Miss Parnell said. “Would you mind?”

  “Not at all.”

  “It’s an excellent term, and will pair rather well with our naming convention.” Miss Parnell exchanged humored glances with Miss Knox, who giggled, and Miss Breckenridge, whose lips curved into a charming smile—the first Nora had seen from her.

  “Do tell me,” Nora urged.

  Miss Knox looked past Nora into the throng of ball goers. “We have names for certain gentlemen.” She gestured toward the Earl of Dartford. “Take Dartford, for example. He’s the Duke of Daring.”

  “But he’s not a duke,” Nora said.

  Miss Parnell shrugged. “No, however in our view, they may as well all be dukes.”

  “And Dartford is certainly daring,” Miss Breckenridge noted, and not without a touch of disdain. “He races in the park every Tuesday, can be found gambling in the worst hells, and I hear he’s swum nude in the Thames.”

  Miss Knox nodded primly. “Just so. We call the Earl of Sutton the Duke of Deception.”

  “Because he’s led so many young misses to believe a proposal is in the offing, only to drop them cold,” Miss Parnell said.

  “A thoroughly deserved nickname,” Miss Breckenridge said. “And don’t forget the Duke of Depravity.” She curled her lip as she said the name.

  Nora looked between them. “Who is that?”

  Miss Knox sighed. “The Duke of Clare. But we actually call him the Duke of
Desire. Ivy insists on labeling him depraved.”

  Miss Breckenridge narrowed her eyes at Miss Knox. “Because he is.”

  Miss Parnell tapped her finger against her chin. “He’s also a degenerate, debauched, and disreputable, if you’d like to expand his naming options.”

  This provoked another smile from Ivy, and everyone else laughed.

  Miss Knox glanced around. “Was he even invited?”

  “I’m certain he was,” Nora said. “He may be debauched, but he’s still an Untouchable. Whether he actually attends is another matter.”

  “Like your husband.” Miss Parnell inclined her head toward the doorway to the terrace.

  Nora turned and met her husband’s emerald gaze. She felt a familiar rush of excitement and anticipation. Five years of marriage had done nothing to diminish their attraction or their connection.

  “Please excuse me. I do look forward to our tea,” she said before making her way to Titus.

  Garbed in a splendid gold-threaded ivory waistcoat with pitch-black coat and trousers, he was easily the most attractive man in the room, but then he always was. His hair was still quite dark, though he had a few silver strands here and there that he preferred to ignore.

  “Sorry I’m late.” His voice caressed her as she linked her arm through his, and they walked into the drawing room for the first dance. “Rebecca begged me for one more story before I left.”

  Their daughter was four, and she loved nothing more than to listen to her father read to her. Christopher, who was just two, wasn’t yet able to remain awake for an entire story, but the time would come.

  “And you couldn’t refuse,” Nora said, smiling up at him as they approached her in-laws, who were forming the line for the dance.

  “Who can refuse those beautiful hazel eyes? She is the image of her mother, and since I’d do anything for you, it follows that I would do anything for Becky.”

  Nora took up her place across from him, and the music started. “Can you believe it was five years ago that we met?”

  “Yes and no. It seems like it was just yesterday, and yet I can barely remember my life before you came into it.”