Nicola Cornick

by The Dukes Mistress

  ‘Before you arrived on the scene she accused me of spreading vile rumours about Belle. There was some suggestion of running me through as well.’

  ‘Good God! One would never guess she was that blood-thirsty from her demure appearance. It is a good thing, then, that she doesn’t know what you have planned for Lady Milborne or I would very much fear for your demise.’

  ‘What rumours is she talking about?’

  ‘You have not heard?’ Brandt asked carefully.

  ‘No. I’ve only been in town a few hours.’ He did not like the look on his cousin’s face. ‘What are they?’ he asked softly.

  ‘Only that Belle Milborne was a very willing participant in the orgies her husband was fond of attending.’

  Justin stared at him. He gave a short, harsh laugh. ‘You do not think I started them, do you?’

  ‘She is completely ruined. It would be a very complete revenge.’

  ‘I’ve no desire to destroy her reputation. Nor would I ever stoop to telling such vicious lies.’

  ‘I did not think so, but I wonder who did. I cannot think of anyone else who would profit by doing so.’ Brandt eyed him. ‘But aside from the threat of death by Lady Chloe’s hand, are you really concerned what becomes of Lady Milborne?’

  Justin met his cousin’s eyes. ‘I do not want her ruin laid at my door.’

  ‘Then I suggest you be careful. For I fear you are still very much in her thrall.’

  He left shortly after that and went to Belle’s house. Several lights still burned and so he trusted she had not yet retired.

  He signalled the coachman to stop and jumped down. He mounted the steps to her house and rapped on the door. Belle’s housekeeper opened it and regarded him with a frown. ‘Lady Milborne is not receiving visitors, your Grace.’

  ‘If she is still up, I would like to speak with her,’ he said impatiently. ‘It will not take long.’

  She looked at him for a moment and he decided to take advantage of her hesitation, stepping past her into the dim, narrow hallway. ‘You may tell Lady Milborne that I am here.’

  She opened her mouth to speak, but was stopped by the sound of footsteps. He looked up to see Belle above him. She held a candle and looked at him for a moment before coming down the stairs. She paused halfway down. ‘Were we to meet tonight?’

  ‘No.’ He started up towards her. ‘I wanted to talk to you. It will not take long.’

  She bit her lip. ‘It is past midnight.’

  ‘I know. I will not stay long.’

  ‘Very well.’ She turned and he followed her up the stairs and into a small drawing room. She set the candle down on a table.

  ‘Do you wish to sit?’ she asked politely.

  ‘No.’ He stopped in front of her. ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ She looked up at him and he saw the shadows under her eyes and knew she wasn’t at all.

  ‘Brandt told me of the rumours,’ he said bluntly.

  ‘Yes. I imagine everyone knows of them.’ She looked away.

  ‘I did not start them.’

  She glanced back at him and said nothing.

  He took a step towards her and swore. ‘I had no idea I appeared so completely despicable. First your sister-in-law and then Brandt and now you. But I vow I would not hurt you in this way.’

  ‘My sister-in-law? Chloe? What does she have to do with this?’

  ‘She accosted me tonight and accused me of spreading rumours about you. She also plans to make me very sorry if I hurt you.’

  ‘Oh, dear.’ Her face clouded with worry. ‘I do not want her involved in this. I cannot bear for her to be hurt. I have no choice but to leave London.’ She spoke almost to herself.

  ‘Come to Devon with me.’

  ‘To Devon?’

  ‘I have my colt. I need to take him there but I do not want to send him with only my grooms. I swear I won’t touch you if you don’t want me to. At least you’ll be away from here and protected.’

  She stared at him. ‘But our contract?’

  He gave a short laugh. ‘Consider it paid in full.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘Where else are you to go? You cannot stay with your in-laws.’ He paced away from her. ‘You have your house here, but I agree—staying in London is impossible. I would offer to buy you a house anywhere you wished but I’ve no doubt you would throw it back in my face.’ He watched her. ‘I have one other thing to offer you, however.’ He hardly knew what he was saying. ‘My name.’

  She turned so white he thought she might faint. ‘Your what?’

  ‘My name. I am asking you to become my wife.’

  She took a step backwards. ‘No. Never!’ The horror on her face suggested he had asked her to be guillotined.

  Something wrenched in his stomach. ‘What choice do you have? You are ruined,’ he said harshly.

  She caught the back of the sofa for support. ‘No. I would rather be your mistress a thousand times over than be married. I would rather die than be a wife again.’

  The pain of her rejection and betrayal he thought he’d buried spilled out and enveloped him. ‘Very well. I will withdraw my offer and accept yours. You will be my mistress. We will leave for Devon the day after tomorrow.’ He started towards the door and then paused. ‘And two nights from now you will lie with me.’

  He left the room without looking at her.

  Belle heard his footsteps recede and then sank down on the sofa. Had she imagined the pain she had glimpsed in his face when she refused his offer? As if she had hurt him. Surely she did not have that sort of power over him. He did not even like her so how could anything she said possibly affect him?

  Then why had he cancelled their contract and then asked her to marry him in order to save her reputation? She had thought that ruining her was what he wanted.

  None of it made the least sense.

  She had spoken unthinkingly, for she could never marry again. Even if she was not barren, she never again wanted to turn her life, her very destiny, over to a man. But she had never dreamed that her words might wound Justin.

  Belle doubted he would ever forgive her. How could she possibly go with him?

  She slowly rose and knew she could no longer deny the truth to herself.

  She would go with him because she still cared for him.

  Chapter Seven

  Two mornings later, Belle sat at her desk and finished the last of her correspondence. She had been up since dawn in an effort to finish all that must be done before she left London. She sighed and resisted the urge to drop her head into her hands. She had a slight headache and her stomach was unsettled. She only hoped it was from nerves and lack of sleep.

  She shoved the last letter aside and looked up in time to see Arthur entering the study. She rose, having no idea why he should call on her. He surely must have heard the rumours by now and she could not imagine a man with his fastidious morals even deigning to look at her. ‘Good day, Arthur,’ she said politely.

  He stepped into the room and to her surprise, he closed the door behind him. He looked at her and tugged at his stock in a nervous gesture. ‘Good day, Belle. I trust you are well.’

  ‘I am.’ Puzzled, she stared at him. ‘Did you have a purpose for calling?’

  ‘Yes.’ He cleared his throat. ‘First allow me to express my regret for the unfortunate rumours that are circulating. Unlike many of those in Society, I believe in your innocence.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She had no idea why he wanted to tell her that.

  ‘However, it does not mitigate the fact that you are now beyond the pale of society. I fear your rash and ill-judged liaison with the Duke of Westmore has only contributed to both the rumours and the unfortunate position you now find yourself in.’ He folded his hands behind his back. ‘I have heard that Westmore is leaving London today, which is no more than I would have expected from a man who is reputed to be a rake. Unfortunately, when he is gone you will have no protection. Which brings me to the rea
son for my visit.’

  ‘And that is?’

  ‘I wish to offer you my protection.’

  ‘Your protection?’ She stared at him, not certain she had understood him. ‘What do you mean?’

  He tugged again at his stock. ‘I am asking you to become my mistress.’ His face was now suffused with high colour.

  ‘Your mistress?’ She undoubtedly sounded like a parrot, but she was shocked beyond belief.

  ‘Yes.’ To her horror he suddenly advanced upon her. She backed up and found her desk inconveniently behind her. ‘It cannot have escaped your notice these past years that I hold you in the highest regard. The fortitude with which you endured what must have been a situation of the most repugnant to you in your marriage to my cousin. The bravery in which you have faced widow-hood. And although you have erred very gravely I cannot hold you to blame for I have no doubt Westmore seduced you. Which is why I cannot abandon you now.’

  ‘So you wish me to become your mistress because you hold me in regard?’

  ‘Yes. I will see to it that you are comfortably situated, perhaps in a town such as Cheltenham, which is conveniently near Braddon Hall. I would, of course, demand the utmost discretion, but there is no reason why I cannot visit you often. Of course, I would see to it that your allowance is increased and that you are provided with the little luxuries a woman wants.’

  Surely she was in a bad dream? But no, Arthur was in front of her, the scent of his cologne nearly choking her. The blemishes on his skin were even more pronounced. ‘I fear I must decline your offer,’ she said.

  He gaped at her. ‘Decline?’ Then he gave a startled laugh. ‘My dear Belle, you have no choice.’

  Everyone seemed to be telling her she had no choice. ‘Yes, I do. I am turning down your offer. I have no desire to be your mistress.’

  ‘Westmore is leaving town. You will have no protector, no one to defend your honour. You will be prey of every rake in London. At least under my protection you will be safe from their advances.’

  He planned to defend her honour by making her his mistress? She bit back the inappropriate desire to burst into hysterical laughter. ‘You are most kind, but I cannot accept. I—’

  ‘She cannot accept because she is still under my protection.’

  They both slowly turned. Justin stood behind them. His face held almost no expression, which was more frightening than if she had seen fury.

  ‘Move away from her,’ he told Arthur.

  Arthur stared at him and then took a few steps. ‘I will own I am surprised to see you here, Westmore. I thought you had left town.’

  ‘As you can see you are wrong.’

  ‘But you will be leaving.’

  ‘You are correct.’ Justin folded his arms. ‘And Lady Milborne is leaving with me.’

  Arthur stared at him and then swung around to look at Belle for a long moment. He finally spoke. ‘I see. You did not tell me that. However, I will be at your service if you should need me.’

  He started towards the door only to find Justin in his way. ‘She will never need your assistance. I will warn you that if I discover you have had a damn thing to do with the rumours I will ruin you. And if you come near Lady Milborne again, I will put a bullet through you.’ Justin spoke with a deadly calm.

  Arthur’s eyes bulged, but he stood his ground. ‘And if you fail to protect her I will do the same.’ He picked up his hat and cane and left without looking back.

  Justin crossed the room to stand in front of her. ‘Did he hurt you?’

  ‘No. He…he made me an improper offer. I am becoming quite used to them so it was nothing to signify.’ She gave a strangled laugh. ‘Can you imagine what Maria would say if she knew? I wonder if Arthur thought it through. How would he explain it if I actually did accept?’

  She found Justin in front of her, a black look on his face. ‘Don’t even consider it.’

  Surprised, she met his gaze. ‘I assure you I have no intention of doing so. And I pray you will give up your ridiculous notion of shooting him.’

  ‘I don’t want him near you.’

  The day was growing more and more peculiar. ‘He did not mean me any harm. In his own way I suppose he wished to protect me.’

  ‘You are amazingly naïve if that is what you think. He wants you, my dear, in his bed, and in his power, and that is the whole of it. I suspect he has wanted you for some time and finally saw his opportunity. For all I know he started the rumours in order to force you into his arms.’

  Stung, she said, ‘I hardly think Arthur is capable of that!’

  ‘You are defending him? Is it possible you actually have a tendre for that pompous idiot?’ he demanded.

  ‘Of course I do not! I am beginning to think you are as mad as he is! I do not have a tendre for anyone and if I was so foolish as to have one it would not be for Arthur!’

  His gaze locked with hers, his expression still dark. ‘I would hope you had better sense,’ he said shortly. ‘You said you were becoming used to such offers. Has anyone else approached you?’

  She was still miffed at him. ‘No, only you.’

  ‘It is hardly the same thing. I did not…’ His scowl deepened. ‘I trust you will be ready to leave today?’

  ‘Yes. I have packed what I need. Mrs Bates will stay a few days to close up the house. I am sending her to stay with her daughter-in-law, who is approaching her confinement.’

  ‘If you need anything else you can tell me and I will see to it.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Will you bring a maid with you?’

  ‘No, but I have managed before without a maid.’ She had considered taking Hetty, Mrs Bates’s niece, but the girl had suffered such bouts of homesickness since coming to London, even with her aunt present, that Belle had not the heart to insist she accompany her to Devon.

  ‘Once we reach Falconcliff my housekeeper will procure a suitable girl for you.’ He hesitated. ‘I will send my carriage for you shortly after noon. You will travel with my secretary, Jackson. I plan to be with the colt and will most likely not see you until we stop for the night.’

  ‘Very well.’ She clasped her hands, a knot starting to form again in her stomach.

  ‘Then I will see you later.’

  She watched him go and wondered if she was doing the right thing. But she really had no choice at all now.

  Shortly after noon, Belle stood by the window and watched as a carriage came to a halt in the street below her house. She was about to turn away from the window when the occupant of the carriage stepped down. Instead of the man she had been expecting, she was stunned to see Lady Georgina alight. She stifled a groan. It was too much to hope for that Lady Georgina did not intend to call here. The rap on the door told her otherwise.

  She went out to the small hallway and heard Mrs Bates’s soft voice and then Lady Georgina’s more forceful one. ‘I insist on seeing her. I do not care if she is about to depart. If you do not show me in, I will show myself.’

  Oh, dear. She could not allow her to bully poor Mrs Bates. She went to the head of the staircase just in time to see Lady Georgina brush past her startled housekeeper. Then Lady Georgina spotted Belle. ‘There you are. I will see you now, if you please.’ She continued up the stairs. The militant look in her eye was not promising.

  She followed Belle into the drawing room. Without preamble she said, ‘Is it true you are travelling to Devon with my nephew?’

  ‘Why do you wish to know?’

  ‘Because, my dear Lady Milborne, I do not intend to allow you to go with him.’

  ‘I see.’ She had no idea whether she was angry, or curious or merely numb.

  ‘He has certain duties that are associated with a dukedom. One of those is marriage and ensuring that the line continues. If he has no heir, the title will pass to a lesser branch of the family.’

  ‘How very interesting.’

  Lady Georgina eyed her sharply. ‘You are impertinent.’

  ‘Only because I fail to
see what this has to do with me.’

  ‘It has to do with you because as long as he is obsessed with you he will not look for a wife. I do not intend to allow this to go on. Anything can happen, accidents, an illness. He has a duty to secure the succession as quickly as possible.’

  ‘Then perhaps you should discuss this with him.’ Her temper was starting to fray.

  She did not appear to hear Belle. ‘Which is why I am prepared to offer you a substantial sum to disappear for an extensive amount of time. You will no longer present a distraction and he will see he must marry. When it is accomplished and his wife increasing, then you may return if you wish.’

  ‘And where am I to go?’

  ‘Perhaps Italy. It is very pleasant, warm and sunny. My husband’s mother was Italian and I still have a villa there. I’ve no doubt you would be very comfortable.’

  ‘Thank you, but I do not wish to go to Italy. If you will excuse me, I still have some business to attend to before I leave.’

  Lady Georgina caught her arm. ‘Do you know why he even wants you? For revenge! For the harm you and that knave of a husband did him!’

  ‘I know that.’ Belle attempted to pull her arm from the old lady’s grasp but Lady Georgina’s hand only tightened.

  ‘Then why do you go with him? Do you think he will marry you? You are a fool! You would bring nothing but disgrace upon him and upon this family! You would never make him happy and he would hate you once he discovered you were barren!’

  Belle felt as if she had been slapped. She stared at Lady Georgina, feeling ill. ‘You do not know that.’

  Lady Georgina released her arm. ‘You were married for three years and there was no child. I have heard that your husband has sired more than one bastard.’

  ‘I knew nothing of them.’ She vaguely heard a rap and realised that Justin’s carriage must have arrived. ‘I must leave.’

  ‘You will regret this. I will not allow you to ruin him.’

  Belle did not reply or look at Lady Georgina as she walked past her. A sandy-haired young man stood in the hall. He looked at her, his gaze impersonal. ‘Lady Milborne?’