What Desire Demands, My Duke: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel

by Olivia T. Bennet

  It was hard to believe how much he’d grown, despite the proof being right before her eyes. The hard edge of his jaw was made even sharper with the scowl he wore, his eyes narrowed to slits. He seemed to be thinking hard on something, and whatever it was clearly upset him. But butterflies filled her belly nonetheless. Heat sparked in the pit of her stomach, spreading throughout her body as she took in the midnight black of his hair, cut short and styled differently than the usual Brutus fashion. Though she could not see them, she knew his eyes glowed a brilliant green in the sun. And though he was fully dressed, she could not stop her gaze from wandering down the slope of his neck, to the muscular arms he boasted despite the layers. She’d felt that hardness of his body last night, when she’d grabbed at his sleeve. Elizabeth suddenly wished she’d had the courage to hug him outright, the way she’d so badly wanted to.

  Suddenly, he looked at her. “Do you plan on standing there the entire day?”

  “N-no,” she responded quickly, then mentally cursed herself. She shouldn’t be so skittish around him. Yes, he was far more frightening than he used to be, but this was still William. Deep down, she was sure the boy she’d once known was inside. And he wouldn’t hurt her.

  Steeling herself, she made her way over to the table and sat across from him, praying that he wouldn’t sense her anxiousness. Without looking at her, he picked up a piece of toast and proceed to coat it in preserves.

  What should I say?

  Needing to do something with her hands, she poured herself a cup of tea, trying to keep from looking at him. That act proved more difficult than anything else.

  “How did you find me?”

  The question was so sudden, she didn’t know how to respond. She paused in the act of lifting the teacup to her lips, blinking at him.

  William leaned back, chewing slowly. His eyes never left her face for a second and each leisurely movement of his jaw making her stomach tighten.

  “I…” Getting her thoughts together was proving difficult watching him do something so simple as eating. Elizabeth quickly averted her eyes, but it didn’t help much.

  “I have gone through quite a lot to ensure my whereabouts were a secret,” he went on. “I am quite curious to see what led you to me.”

  “You have been trying to keep your whereabouts a secret?” she blurted out. “But why?”

  “Answer me first,” he ordered gruffly. He moved with ease and comfort, with clear authority that had her submitting to him without hesitation.

  “It came as a surprise to me as well,” Elizabeth murmured. “I did leave home that night after learning a clue as to where you resided, but that was all I knew.”

  “Where I resided? How did you find that out?”

  “A ball,” she explained. “There were two ladies who were talking with each other about your father and…and his passing.”

  As impossible as it seemed, William’s eyes grew dark. A shadow seemed to come over him, and the room was suddenly filled with tension. He said nothing, only continued to eat, but Elizabeth had lost all her appetite.

  “My condolences,” she said after a moment. It was difficult meeting his eyes, but she wanted him to see her sincerity. It didn’t help that he looked back at her with no sliver of warmth.

  “I did not know the late Duke well. At all, in fact. But I had always hoped to meet him one day.”

  Elizabeth wanted him to ask her why, to question her statement. She wanted any reason to tell him what she truly felt. That she thought they would be married one day, that their families would be joined by their union.

  But again, he stayed silent, continuing to eat and no longer looking at her.

  Desperate to fill the silence, Elizabeth went on, “In truth, I did not have much of a plan. After learning that you might live on the outskirts of London, I’d only thought to leave home and search around wherever I could. Had it taken me days or weeks, it would not matter.”

  “A very foolish thing for you to do.”

  “Yes,” she agreed instantly, effectively drawing his eyes back to her. “But I would stop at nothing to find you. I would stop at nothing to get the answers I need from you.”

  William’s moving mouth slowed to a stop. Then he swallowed, not taking his eyes off her as he tapped a single finger against the table. Elizabeth swallowed herself, more in fear than anything else, but she wouldn’t back down from his challenging eyes.

  “Do not think that because you are here, Beth, you have any right to my life,” William told her. Elizabeth’s heart sank with every word. “I only brought you here because I am sure you would have found yourself in even more trouble had I not. But after you have eaten, I will send you back to your father’s home.”

  “And I will return the very next day.”

  His eyes narrowed. “I will not allow you to.”

  “What will you do, William?” she challenged, even though her heart pounded and her voice was barely above a whisper. “Will you move homes again? Will you leave the country altogether?”

  “Watch your words, Beth.”

  “I cannot.” Elizabeth shook her head fiercely. Though her hands trembled, though her throat burned with tears and William’s intense glare made her falter, she would not let him quiet her. She’d waited far too long to get here. “Why did you leave me, William?”

  “I did not leave you.”

  Elizabeth gripped her gown under the table, trying to keep her pounding heart from overtaking her. “Then, what happened?”

  “That, Beth, is none of your concern. All you need to know is that I am not the same person you once remembered. You’d do well to forget about all that has happened between us and return to your peaceful life.”

  With that said, he stood. As Elizabeth watched him walk away, anger filled her. It was a foreign feeling, something she’d hadn’t felt in a long time, but it came so sharply she could taste in on her tongue. She shot to her feet, the chair scraping back from the sudden movement.

  “I don’t believe you,” she exclaimed. William stopped, but he didn’t turn. “You can say all that you wish, but I won’t believe a word of it. I can’t. I know you still feel at least a twinge of warmth for me, despite all the time we’ve been apart. You would not have brought me here had that not been the case.”

  William huffed a laugh, turning his head slightly to the side. “You are quite stubborn, aren’t you? Did you not hear what I said? I only did so because I knew you would have gotten yourself in trouble otherwise.”

  “You could have brought me home,” she insisted. She knew she was grasping at straws but she forged on nonetheless. “If you are truly as cold as you would like me to believe, you would have left me behind. You would not have brought me to your home when you’ve spent so long trying to stay away from me.”

  “Do not flatter yourself, Beth. You are not the reason I stayed out of the public eye.”

  She wouldn’t let his words bother her. At least, not while she was trying to be brave. “I intend on staying here, William,” she told him strongly, curling her hands into fists at her sides. “I won’t return home. I can’t.”

  William said nothing for a moment. Elizabeth held her breath, bracing herself for the scathing words that would come next, but none came. Keeping his silence, William left the room. The air rushed out of her all at once and she sank back into the chair, her limbs sagging with a horrible mixture of fear and relief.

  Saying that much had taken a lot of out of her but she was happy she’d managed it. And now that she’d said her piece, she would ensure she wasn’t taken lightly. For seven years she’d searched for him. She was not about to let him push her away again.

  There seemed to be a cloud hanging over Gillet House. James felt it the moment he arrived on the land, the moment the shifty-eyed footman opened his carriage door and escorted him up to the front steps. But he didn’t think anything of it, not until he was brought to the parlor to find Lord Gillet pacing back and forth, mumbling to himself.

  “My L
ord?” he spoke up with a frown and watched as Lord Gillet swiveled at the sound of his voice, letting out a small gasp of a surprise. James drew closer, looking around the room. He saw nothing that could give him some insight as to the Earl’s odd behavior.

  “Lord Horenwall! I did not hear you come in.” Lord Gillet made his way to the sideboard in the corner of the room, gesturing to the decanters that sat atop it. “Would you like a drink?”

  “Whiskey would do,” James accepted with a nod. He didn’t take his eyes off the Earl, watching his slightly agitated behavior as he poured the drink. Lord Gillet managed to keep his face neutral, even wearing a little smile as he brought the drink over.

  “Is something the matter, My Lord?” James asked, once he’d taken a sip. He sank into a nearby armchair, watching as Lord Gillet did the same and ran his hands down the length of his trousers.

  “I am only a bit taken aback by your appearance, My Lord,” Lord Gillet responded. “When I’d heard you’d come to call on Elizabeth, I was not prepared.”

  “She is my betrothed, after all. I did not think it would be such a shock to see her so soon again. Where is Lady Elizabeth?” James sipped his drink slowly. Lord Gillet had not touched his. He had not stopped moving since James entered. Fiddling with his fingers, touching his brow, tapping the armrest of his chair. Something was evidently wrong.

  Lord Gillet licked his lips, scratching a spot on his chin before saying, “She is unable to meet with you right now, My Lord.”

  That made James frown, sitting up a bit straighter. “Has she fallen ill? We have only just returned from the ball last night. I surely hope she has not passed along the illness to me. I am quite an important man, My Lord, so I cannot afford to be bedridden.”

  “No, My Lord, that is not the case.” Lord Gillet finally reached for his drink and downed the harsh liquor in one go. That only made James nervous, but he said nothing, waiting for the Earl to gather his courage. “I assure you, My Lord, it is no issue.”

  “It doesn’t appear that way,” James pointed out without hesitation. He leaned closer, his pose casual even though his eyes narrowed slightly. “Lady Elizabeth and I are to be married in a matter of weeks, My Lord. I think if something has happened to my betrothed, I should know of it. Unless you will disrespect my position as her future husband even further?”

  “I would not do such a thing, My Lord!” Lord Gillet gasped.

  James only tilted his head to the side. He knew what tone to take with noblemen, knew very well that a gentle yet cold tone was the best way of getting what he needed out of them. Commoners never got that level of grace, but it was no matter to James. “Then?” he probed.

  Lord Gillet obviously still did not want to say. He could not hide it form his face, evident in the way he bit his lip to the anxious way he moved his hands about. He looked James in the eye, no doubt seeing how serious he was, and then the Lord Gillet’s shoulders sagged.

  “I do not know how best to say this,” he began, taking a deep breath. “It appears as if Elizabeth has disappeared.”

  “Disappeared?” James echoed, frowning deeply.

  Lord Gillet nodded. His white-blond eyebrows knitted together in worry, no longer holding back his distress. He shot to his feet and began pacing back and forth. “I only just learned of her disappearance myself but I cannot understand how it could have happened. After we returned from the ball last night, she retired to bed. What could have happened since then?”

  The only thing James could think of was that she’d run away from home but it didn’t make much sense to James, either. Last night, Elizabeth had been perfectly fine. A bit quiet, yes, but he’d learned that was simply in her nature. She’d shown no signs of discontent and why would she? She was set to marry one of the most handsome, most eligible bachelors in London! She should be ecstatic, eager.

  Which only meant one thing. “She must have been taken,” James claimed.

  Lord Gillet stopped his pacing, looking at James in complete horror but no surprise. As if he’d considered the possibility but hadn’t wanted to believe it. At that moment, there came a knock on the door and Lord Gillet visibly collected himself before he called out, “Enter.”

  James didn’t turn to see who it was but recognized the butler’s voice when he said, “Here is Lady Elizabeth’s lady’s maid, My Lord.”

  Only then did James look over his shoulder. A woman stepped forward, chestnut hair sticking out from under a mobcap. She clasped her hands before her, her eyes lowered to the floor before she made a small curtsy.

  “Good day, My Lords,” she greeted, her voice strong.

  “Ah,” Lord Gillet spoke up. “You are Patience, are you not? You have been at my daughter’s side for the past two years, if I remember correctly.”

  “You do, My Lord,” Patience responded. For a brief moment, her eyes flickered up to James, filled with curiosity. Even when she saw him looking at her, she did not avert her eyes until a moment after.

  “Very well, then,” Lord Gillet continued. “You should be able to tell me what has happened to my daughter. Why is she not in her bedchamber? Where has she gone?”

  Patience didn’t move a single inch, her eyes glued to the floor. “I am unsure, My Lord.”

  Lord Gillet let out a frustrated hiss, stalking away. He lifted his hands to his hair, clearly growing more agitated, so James thought it best he stepped in. He rose and faced the maid. “You are her lady’s maid and you are not privy to her movements?”

  Patience looked up and had the audacity to meet his eyes head-on. James tightened his grip on his glass. “As it were, My Lord, I retired to bed shortly after Lady Elizabeth did. When I awoke today, I found her gone. I decided to go in search of her, thinking she might have gone for a walk in the gardens, but my attempt proved futile. Only then did I report her missing to the housekeeper and the butler.”

  “Then are you saying you have no idea where she might have gone?”

  She shook her head slowly. “I do not.”

  Annoyance lanced him. No maid dared to look him in the eye like this. He was an Earl, more important than such a lowly woman could ever dream of being. It was obvious Lady Elizabeth and Lord Gillet had been quite lax in their control over the help, but once Lady Elizabeth joined his home, she would see just how detrimental her actions could be.

  Treating the help kindly will only inspire them to be defiant.

  Patience did not look away from him until the Earl spoke again. “Does she go to the gardens often in the morning? Even before being dressed?”

  Patience nodded. “Yes, she does, My Lord.”

  “Goodness.” Lord Gillet let out a shuddering breath before he waved a hand. “That is enough for now. You may leave.”

  Patience curtsied again, glanced at James, then turned to leave. James downed the rest of his drink, his annoyance shooting through the roof.

  The Earl came to James side, eyes filled with worry. “Do you know what this might mean, Lord Horenwall?”

  “Yes, Lord Gillet,” James responded slowly. He tempered his aggravation, putting the maid’s brazen behavior to the back of his mind as he faced the Earl. “It appears our fears might have been true. Lady Elizabeth has been kidnapped.”

  Those words became a lance that pierced through Lord Gillet and he sank into his armchair, raising a hand to his temple. James calmly made his way over to the sideboard and poured himself another drink, lifting it to his lips. It was quite bothersome to have his betrothed taken so close to the wedding. If this were to cause a scandal, he would have to find some way to punish her for being foolish enough to be kidnapped.

  But at the same time, it could prove beneficial to him. Many would not stop talking about the length he’d gone to in order to find his betrothed, in order to bring her back to safety.

  It was his duty, after all, to maintain the reputation he’d done so well to develop. Soon, Lady Elizabeth would be by his side once more and all things would fall back into place the way they should have f
rom the very start.

  Chapter 6

  Glass splintered against the opposite wall, expensive brandy running down the dark wallpaper. William watched the liquid go to waste and wished desperately he had another glass he could chuck, just to rid himself of the rage boiling within. It was all he could do not to throw everything off his desk.

  His steward, Samuel, managed to keep himself out of the way. William hadn’t been aiming for his head when he’d thrown the glass, but with the way the man shook, it was clear he believed so. Samuel clutched the papers in his hands with such a grip, they were being crushed. William let out a long breath, then looked at the documents Samuel held.