by Regina Darcy
“I did not expect to find a beauty such as yours, at such a gathering,” Douglas drawled in a deep voice. The lady in question startled and looked up. Believing she was alone, she had taken off her mask. She was even more breath-taking face to face. Curled up in the chaise lounge, a brown leather book in her hand, she was the very epitome of seduction, beauty and brains. Whose mistress was she? He swiftly pushed the question aside. It did not matter, because by the end of this evening she would be his.
“I have no doubt there are more beautiful women than I in the ballroom, sir,” she replied icily and turned her gaze back to the book in her hands.
Douglas Montgomery had never had a woman ignore him in his entire life. As a child, women doted over him and as an adult, they fell for him in droves. He was perplexed and a bit insulted that this enchanting slip of a girl did not deem him worth more than a glance. Annoyed, he realised that his pride was slightly bruised. Clearly, as a healthy man, with family, fortune and everything in his favour, he thought highly of himself.
Never had he ever entertained using his title as a means to impress any lady. However tonight, he intended to do so shamelessly.
“But I have met no lady with such a witty tongue,” he replied. “I have failed to introduce myself,” he continued, then bowed with flourish, “David Montgomery, the Duke of Staffordshire at your service.” Douglas noticed with satisfaction that his mysterious lady startled when she recognised his name.
“The Duke of Hazard?” she replied, in a hesitant whisper.
“The very same,” the he answered with a smouldering smile. To his surprise, the lady did not so much as blink. Instead she just nodded and turned back to her book. An icier dismissal he had yet to meet.
“And you might be?”
“A complete stranger,” Georgette replied. “And a stranger I shall remain.” With no additional comment, she pretended to get back to reading her book. If truth be told, her heart was racing and her hands were clammy.
Had you asked why that was in that precise moment, she would not have been able to tell you whether it was due to the predicament of finding herself alone with a strange man in an empty secluded room, or that, that strange man was the Duke of Hazard himself.
The man with the luck and skills of the Devil at the gaming table and between the sheets. He was said to be able to impregnate your mind with sinful thoughts, with nothing but a look. Georgette had enough sense to realise that the Duke would have to be the devil himself to possess such unnatural powers. Particularly as, despite these rumours, a woman had yet to appear who could corroborate having been impregnated by the Duke, through only a stare or otherwise for that matter. That said, the quick glance he had given her had been enough to make her heart flutter. Pull yourself together!
Her cold brush off seemed to have only precipitated the Duke’s interest in her.
“What must I had done to deserve such an icy reception my lady?” Douglas commented, not in the least put off. The game was afoot and he intended to conquer this particular quarry.
“Is it not the duty of all well-bred young women to protect their virtue from charming rogues and other male characters that would wish to engage them in inappropriate endeavours, Your Grace?” she replied.
“My Lady can not mean to imply that this includes depriving me of your name?”
“Sir, I can but quote the bard; ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet’. Shakespeare was right. A rogue by any other name, be it Duke, Earl or otherwise is still a rogue. So I see no reason why my name should be in your possession Your Grace, as this is the beginning and the end of our acquaintance,” Georgette replied.
“Surely there can be no doubt that you are a rare rose, if but with thorns,” Douglas countered, looking decidedly amused.
Georgette brushed aside the compliment as of no consequence. She was not afflicted by vanity. She regarded her beauty as an accident of birth.
“Then you must surely have been blinded as I would characterise myself as being more like Ivy— poisonous.”
“But what man could refuse to sample the nectar from your lips. Surely the death would be worth it,” he responded with a smile.
“Why are you here, Your Grace? Should you not be sharing your favours with the enchanting ladies in the ballroom? I would not want to keep you from your current mistress,” Georgette said poignantly.
“I would have thought it was obvious,” Douglas replied moving further into the room, until he was only an armslength away.
“You are mistaken. It is not obvious at all,” Georgette replied. It suddenly struck her, that she was in a darken room with a man, who was neither a relative nor a family friend. Cautiously she put her book down. “Your behaviour, Your Grace, is very forward and completely inappropriate.”
“On this we will have to disagree. As you are so lovely my dear, you must allow me to tell you so and of course let me seal my words of admiration with a kiss.” He sank on to the lounge chair.
“No…of course not,” Georgette stammered. Her words were failing her, when she had never needed them more. “Your behaviour, Sir, is not only improper but scandalous. Please do me the courtesy of leaving at once,” she said in her most serious tone.
“I think”, he replied in a voice that most women found irresistible, “that you have played a very clever game my lady, but you need not resist me further. I am completely and utterly enthralled.”
He moved even closer, only a handbreadth away. Georgette shrunk back. It dawned on her that he really did think she was the kind of woman who was looking for a liaison.
“I am sorry for appearing more than I am. I beg you, please leave me be,” she stammered. Her eyes darted about the room. If he would not leave, she certainly had the intention to.
“I cannot believe you are saying this. I promise, I will make you very happy during our time together and of course I will be sure to shower you with the appropriate gift, to show my gratitude.”
Georgette stared at him. She was an innocent, but even she knew the dangers of staying unchaperoned with any man, least his beastly urges become too much for him. Then as realisation of what he was indeed proposing hit her, her cheeks flamed in both indignation and embarrassment.
Before she could voice one more protest, he put his hand on her shoulder. His lips would have found hers if Georgette hadn’t screamed. “Leave me alone… Please leave me alone.”
She put out her hand and pushed him away with all her strength. She took the Duke by surprise.
Frightened, scrambled off the chaise lounge and ran to the door and pulled the handle. Once she realised it was locked, her terror went up a notch. She stared at the closed door. Not on to give up she turned around and ran to the window. Frantically she pulled aside the curtains, desperately looking for a way out. But as she stared at the sharp drop from the window to the gardens below, she knew there was nowhere to run to.
Shaking like a leaf and wishing fervently her brother was there so she could wring his neck, she turned around and faced the Duke of Staffordshire. Hands clenched, her body trembling, she stuck out her chin, looking defiant. Georgette Danford had no idea she had never looked more beautiful.
Douglas frowned. He had somewhat recovered from the young beauty’s violent rejection and reaction to his advances. He was no lecher. Every woman he had ever been with, had been more than willing. He felt like the worst cad at the look of terror on the unknown beauty’s face. Shame was not a feeling he had ever been familiar with. Apparently today he was about to become very acquainted with it. He rose and held up his hands in an effort to provide reassurance.
“I offer my sincere apologies little robin, I did not mean to assault your sensibilities with matters better suited for the shadows or the marital bed.” Georgette continued to stare at him in silence. But her trembling decreased. The Duke had the advantage, she had no way out. Had he wished to rob her of her virtue, he would have done so already.
“Am I to assume that you are an innocent?�
� Douglas asked.
“Why should the state of my innocence play any role in the matter at hand? Any woman innocent or otherwise should be afforded the peace of the realm in public,” Georgette replied, her spirit somewhat restored.
“You are without a doubt right, but you must admit, no decent woman currently roams Sheperton Manor or its grounds.”
“I defer to your superior knowledge on these indelicate matters Your Grace. Please may I leave now?” she asked, defiance still in her eyes.
With no further ado, the Duke walked to the door, unlocked it and stepped to the side.
Taking her courage in her hands, Georgette took a tentative step towards her freedom. As she brushed by Douglas, he whispered, “I might not know your name little robin, but I have a feeling we will spar again in the near future and I look forward to it.”
“Well, the pleasure will be all yours,” Georgette replied cheekily, rushed through the door and slammed it behind her. As she fled down the hall, her mask clutched in her hand, she could hear Douglas Montgomery’s hearty laugh, following hot on her heels.
CHAPTER 4
“Ah, there you are Monty,” Nathaniel exclaimed, “I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
“I am sorry old chap, I got waylaid,” Douglas replied, a look of embarrassment briefly colouring his features. His mind still lingered on the encounter with his mysterious enchantress. It was beyond him why anyone would bring an innocent to a soiree at Lady Archer’s and then leave her to be beset by any unsavoury gentleman. As much as he wanted to continue pondering on it, he would have to solve the riddle of his little red robin at some other point. He had a matter to attend to for King and Country.
The assignment he had been tasked with was not one he was looking forward to. But the order had been sent down by the Prime Minister himself, Lord Spencer Percival, or Pitt as Douglas knew him in Cambridge, before he became King’s Counsel and gained all his other achievements including Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Pitt was worried that some senior members of the House of Lords were supporters of Napoleon. Douglas had been tasked with finding out the true feelings of one member in particular. That member was currently at in a game room in Sheperton Manor. All he needed to do right now was find him.
Douglas looked across the room. He noticed an unusual amount of people congregated outside one of the gaming rooms.
“What is all the raucous about?” he asked Nathaniel.
“As you can imagine, some young pup is in the process of losing his inheritance,” Nathaniel replied with a frown.
It was not unusual for such gambling soirees to end with someone losing all they possessed. What was unusual, was for this to happen at Lady Archer’s. All guests were strongly encouraged to behave with more gentlemanly restraint than they would at White’s or any other gentleman’s club. The dowager demanded that a gentleman be left with enough to support his own living. If her rules were broken, future invitations to her balls would not be forthcoming. But on rare occasions someone felt the need to flex their muscles to such an extent that they brought someone else to their knees. It was all a very nasty business and thoroughly disapproved by both men.
“Who is it?”
“I seemed to have caught whiff that it is the son of General Danford.”
“The late General? Hero of the Anglo-Maratha War?” Douglas asked with a frown.
“The very same,” Nathaniel sighed and continued, “You will never imagine whom he is losing to.”
“Whom?”
“Rayner,” Nathaniel replied, looking away. Silence stretched between them. Lord Marcus Rayner, the Earl of Chesterton, had, until a couple of years ago been a very close friend to the Duke. What had caused a rupture in their friendship was unknown to all, including Nathaniel. But it was no secret in the Beau Monde that they could not stand to be in each other’s presence.
Lord Chesterton was also unfortunately, the night’s assignment. Douglas had been tasked to engage him in a debate about the current war and provoke him to reveal his true stance. Since they were known to be at odds, riling him up would be easy.
Douglas refused to believe that the friend he had known could turn traitor. But he had promised Pitt he would look into it and tonight was the first opportunity for that. He had roped Nathaniel in to provide an opposing opinion, which is how they would start the debate. That is if they managed to corner the Earl.
“Chesterton has always been an impatient man, quick to jump to assumption and even swifter to anger,” Douglas said. “But he has never been prone to fleecing the small inheritance off of young men. His fortune is vast enough that he need not worry about money for another hundred lifetimes.”
“Well, right now he is in the process of acquiring the young man’s fortune of £15,000. I am a bit worried that this game will get out of hand,” Nathaniel added.
“How so?”
“When I left the room, the young pup was clearly intoxicated, Lord only knows what else he will be betting away.”
Both men looked at each other and then nodded. Drawing Chesterton into a political debate would have to wait. The Duke was the luckiest bastard in all of England. If someone could win the money back it was him. And that was exactly what he intended to do.
“Well I guess it is time I go and say hello to my old friend,” Douglas muttered and strode towards the gaming room.
There was already a considerable crowd gathered around. The ton had an unhealthy fascination with a man’s downfall. If they could watch it unfold, they would not hesitate to do so, as long as they were afforded the moral high ground. There were not many amongst his peers he respected. But one of them had been the Earl of Chesterton.
The man in question was impassively staring down young Mr. Danford.
“The young man’s behaviour has been reckless to say the least,” Nathaniel whispered.
“This is the last hand, Mr. Danford. I would suggest quitting now, whilst you still can,” the Earl whispered humorously. Stephen Danford looked around the room and theatrically proclaimed, “I have a sure hand my Lord Chesterton, quitting would be foolish to say the least.”
“So you say,” the Earl replied unruffled.
“Let’s up the ante. I will stake my entire fortune, including my sister’s hand in marriage and the inheritance that comes with,” Danford declared with flourish. The entire room took a breath in stunned shock. These kind of bets were never undertaken in mixed company. It was the height of vulgarity, best suited for a gentleman’s club. Discreetly, those handful of women that had surrounded the players removed themselves.
For a split of a second the Earl’s expression changed, but it disappeared so quickly only the most astute of observers would have noticed it.
“Are you sure you want to put that much at stake, Mr. Danford?” the Earl asked in an icy voice. “The measure of a man’s leadership is in his ability to restrain himself from the follies that afflict others.”
“I assure you, I have my full faculties,” Danford slurred. Douglas looked at Marcus, surely he would not go ahead with this. It was clear the young man was acting more foolishly than he would have if not under the influence.
“As you wish,” Lord Chesterton said with a sigh. With no further ado, he revealed his cards. The entire room gasped. There was no way the young man could beat the cards that had just been placed on the table.
Douglas had seen enough. He decided to make his presence known.
“Well, well, how nice to see you again Lord Chesterton,” he voiced. There was a silver of truth underlining his greeting. The Earl of Chesterton looked up and their gaze locked. Oh Marcus, how I have wronged you, will you not forgive me? But none of the Duke’s thoughts were voiced. They hadn’t been for years and it was unlikely the Earl would want to hear them today.
“Your Grace,” the Earl replied with a nod. The entire room was silent. The event unfolding was of such magnitude that the gossip mongers would have fodder for years to come.
“You
are playing an interesting game with the young man here. Fancy doing something more challenging?” Douglas asked in a nonchalant voice as he sat down at the table.
“However amusing that would be, I believe I am done for the day. You will just have to find someone else to play with… Monty,” Marcus whispered his nickname quietly so it only reached his ears. The disdain it was said in, cut deep. He started putting away his playing cards and made to leave. Douglas said the only thing he knew would get him to sit back down.
“I met Lady Arabelle last week. She sends her regards.” The Earl’s impassable face coloured in uncontrolled anger. He clenched his fists. “How gracious of her,” he replied icily. “On second thought, I am happy to play a game with you, Your Grace.”
“Smashing. How about a game of hazard,” Douglas replied, his gaze unwavering.
“A game of Hazard, with the Duke of Hazard himself?” Lord Chesterton replied, smiling cynically, “Now that doesn’t seem very sporting.”
“Don’t tell me you are afraid to lose to me again,” Douglas taunted. That should do it. I am sorry my friend.
“A game of Hazard it is.”
“What are the stakes?”
“Your entire win from Mr. Danford, including the sister’s fortune.”
In the background Stephan Danford seemed to regain his senses. Looking distressed, he stared from one man to the other.
“Interesting, and what pray tell, is in it for me?”
“Devonport House,” Douglas replied. The entire room gasped in shock. Devonport House was the seat of the Dukes of Staffordshire. It was surrounded by acres of ground, and the manor house itself was so opulent that only last month it had entertained the Prince Regent himself.
“Done.”
The game lasted all of five minutes. True to his reputation, the Duke won.