The Heart of a Duke

by Victoria Morgan

  Her lips parted at the sight meeting her. Jonathan dangled precariously over Daniel’s shoulders, his legs kicking, his fists pounding Daniel’s back. His protests were interspersed with high-pitched yelps of delight as Daniel dipped and twirled the wildcat he carried like a sack of seed over his shoulder.

  Daniel’s state of dress—or rather undress—kept Julia frozen in place, as riveted to the sight before her as she had been to the foreign exhibits at the fair.

  He had discarded his hat and jacket, and his dark waistcoat stretched taut over his lean torso. The sleeves of his white linen shirt had been rolled back, leaving his muscular forearms brazenly bare. Beguiled, Julia’s gaze was glued to the teasing display of naked skin, and she swallowed.

  “Jonathan could use a big brother, being coddled and cosseted by the two of us.”

  Julia snapped her mouth closed as Emily joined her. Her sister’s comment gave her pause. Edmund would be Jonathan’s brother, not Daniel. But she could not fathom her haughty duke with one gleaming button undone, let alone wildly frolicking with her brother. Or perching him on his shoulders as Daniel had done earlier at the fair.

  Truth be told, Edmund bowed politely in Jonathan’s direction and gave him a proper how-do-you-do. He then sought out Jonathan’s nurse, as if greeting her brother was another duty to be dispensed with and the boy summarily dismissed.

  “Few men interact well with children, Julia,” Emily said softly. “I am sure it’s different when it comes to their own.”

  Disconcerted at her sister’s astute reading of her thoughts, Julia summoned a brave face and forced conviction into her tone. “Of course. I am sure Edmund will make a wonderful father.”

  “Mmh,” Emily said.

  Julia worried over her sister’s noncommittal response, but another cry from Jonathan returned her attention to the scene below. A breeze combed through Daniel’s dark hair, and as if it carried her scent, his head lifted and those compelling green eyes caught hers. As their gazes locked, he flashed her a white-toothed smile.

  His gaze roamed over the blue ribbon securing her recalcitrant curls into a tight chignon, her bare shoulders, and the décolletage of her bodice. Like a ray of sun, his bold, admiring perusal warmed where it touched.

  His smile abruptly vanished and he grunted, doubling over. With his guard down, Jonathan’s foot had managed to connect with Daniel’s gut. Recovering, Daniel caught Jonathan in time to slow his snakelike slither down Daniel’s lean body and smooth the boy’s landing on the ground.

  The spell broken, Julia stepped back and savored the breeze that cooled her body.

  Emily’s laughter trilled, and she curled her arm through Julia’s. “Shall we rescue our guest before Jonathan inflicts serious damage?”

  She allowed Emily to draw her inside as a voice piped up in the back recesses of her mind.

  And who would protect them from their guest?

  “HE IS AN American sailor,” Jonathan explained over a mouthful of succulent duck as he bounced up and down in his seat. “My ship captured him to help us fight Napoleon. He is my prisoner now.”

  “I see. While I am impressed by your exploits, I cannot say the same in regard to your display of table manners, or lack thereof,” the Earl of Taunton said dryly, addressing his son. “Manners dictate one finishes chewing their food before speaking and refrains from fidgeting at the table.”

  Chastised, Jonathan slumped in his seat and regarded his father balefully. He dropped his fork with a clatter onto the fine Limoges china, the earl’s crest gracing the top rim of the plate. “Done! Can I take my prisoner to walk the plank now?”

  Her father eyed Jonathan’s discarded fork and sighed. “It appears we have more work to do before you are ready to join the adult table. Your prisoner is our guest for the remainder of the meal, so plank walking will have to commence at a later date. You are excused, but next time ask.” He waved his hand dismissively. “See to your ship in the kitchen.”

  “But you’re eating with the enemy!” Jonathan protested.

  Julia had to agree with her brother as she observed Daniel glower at him in a mock threat, which Jonathan met with a ferocious scowl of his own.

  They had settled in the family rooms, their intimate party too small for the cavernous formal dining area. Julia was stationed at the head of the table opposite her father, Daniel to her right, and Emily across from him. Jacket securely in place, snow-white cravat neatly tied, tousled hair tamed, Daniel was the portrait of a proper English gentleman. But like her brother, Julia knew what dangers simmered beneath his handsome, well-groomed façade.

  “I think we can brave his company for the remainder of the evening. That will be all, Jonathan.”

  Jonathan sighed dramatically as he slid from his seat, snatched his napkin from his neck and stomped from the room, muttering under his breath. “As the captain, I should be giving the orders.”

  “Yes, well, if our Navy had refrained from conscripting, or rather, impressing American sailors in the first place, it might have saved us the expenses of what our foreign minister called that millstone of an American war,” her father grumbled. “Waste of men and money with nary a thing to show for it.”

  “Actually, the Navy’s poor compensation to their sailors planted the real seeds of the war,” Daniel corrected. “Bad business practices.”

  “Bad business?” Her father furrowed his brow.

  “The Navy first began seizing American merchant ships to recapture their own sailors who had fled by the thousands to the American vessels because they paid twice the amount in wages as the Royal Navy. You cannot blame the poor blokes for deserting in droves. The Royal Navy should have increased the sailors’ pay, but with resources stretched to cover two wars, they were unable to do so.” Daniel shrugged. “Inadequate wages breeds disgruntled workers, which leads to mutiny, or in this case, desertion.”

  “Hmph, good point,” her father conceded.

  “Is the war the reason you were unable to return home, Lord Bryant?” Emily asked, and Julia’s interest perked at the question. She noted Daniel’s slight hesitation before he responded.

  “Partially. I left in 1810, and as the Royal Navy had blockaded all of America’s eastern ports by 1814, a return trip would have proved difficult. That being said, the blockade proved a fortuitous boon for my company, so I am grateful to it despite its inconvenience.” Giving a rueful smile, he lifted his glass and took a sip of his claret.

  “How, pray tell, does a blockade benefit a transatlantic shipping company?” She could not hide her bafflement in response to his curious words.

  Daniel faced Julia, a spark of interest lighting his eyes, and his smile broadened. “You are aware of my company? Curtis Shipping?”

  She shifted in her seat, not willing to admit to having avidly scoured the morning papers for news on Curtis Shipping.

  Her father rescued her from a reply. “Don’t let her skirts fool you. Julia’s head for business is more keen than mine. She and my bailiff ran Taunton Court the year following my wife’s death. I . . . Well, I was not as focused on matters as I ought to have been.”

  Pleased at his praise, Julia smiled at her father. When her eyes met Daniel’s, she was surprised to see a shadow darkening his features as he twirled his wine glass in his hand, staring into the liquid depths.

  “Grief does take its toll. I am sorry for your loss, sir, but you are fortunate that Lady Julia was able to step in and manage matters. Not many would be able to do so. Not because of your gender, but rather your age.” He smiled at her, quick to allay her protest as he continued. “Five years ago, you had barely turned eighteen. That is very young to have shouldered such responsibility. I am impressed.” He dipped his head and lifted his glass in a toast. “As to your earlier question, you are very perceptive. Curtis Shipping did not benefit from the blockade, but rather the end of it.”

  “How so?” her father asked, leaning forward.

  “While it was in place, Britain was starved of Ame
rican goods such as timber, cotton, and tobacco. During the war, my partner, Brett Curtis, and I cultivated relationships with the New England mill owners as well as the tobacco and cotton farmers riddling the south. We invested in a fleet of ships so when the blockade ended, we were poised to take advantage of the renewal of trade between the countries.” Daniel grinned. “We exported the coveted goods, and the relationship benefited both parties, unlike the war.”

  “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” her father said, admiration lighting his eyes. “Someone should have profited from that quagmire of a war.” Mirroring Daniel’s earlier gesture, he raised his glass in a toast. “Considering our poor harvest last year, your arrival home is fortuitous.”

  Daniel looked bemused. “Is there a correlation between exports and agriculture?”

  “No. But there is a need for someone with a keen eye for accessing successful business ventures as well as reading those that are less profitable. You appear to possess an aptitude for both.”

  Puzzled, Daniel turned to Julia for further explanation, but her father’s words equally baffled her. “I thought Lady Julia has managed—”

  “It is not for me. I do not need assistance, but I am concerned that your brother does.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Julia saw Daniel’s smile falter, and she hastened to smooth over the impact of her father’s words. “Daniel has no experience in running estates. I am not sure—”

  “Running a company is not so different from running an estate,” her father said, cutting her off. “There are men to manage, finances to be addressed, products to be obtained whether they are acquired through mills or farming.” He paused and his eyes narrowed on Daniel. “Have you visited Bedford Hall yet?”

  “No,” Daniel replied after a slight hesitation. “To be honest, I was just discussing with Robbie Tanner my plans for the duration of my visit. Bedford Hall came up, but Robbie informed me that my brother is away hunting in Kent.”

  “Yes,” the earl conceded. “However, that might be to your advantage, as Bedford is proprietary about his estate and has a right to be. That being said, you are family and Julia is his fiancée. As such, I doubt your visiting the property should arouse his ire. If you combined your keen head for business with Julia’s talent for estate management, the two of you can assess matters, or at least determine the root of the tenants’ concerns that have come to my attention. Together you can present your findings to Bedford and get the man to listen, as he refuses to do with me. Of course, Emily will join you as well.”

  Julia stared at her father, but when she glanced at Daniel, he appeared as stunned as she.

  Daniel recovered more quickly, for a dazzling smile split his handsome features. “That’s a brilliant idea, I’d be delighted to assess matters with Lady Julia and help in any capacity that I can. That is, if she is willing to accept my assistance and my company.” He lifted a brow, awaiting her response.

  He appeared thoroughly amused at her quandary.

  She also recognized a challenging gleam in his eyes, as if he were tossing a gauntlet at her feet. She met his gaze straight on, for she was no coward. While wary of any joint venture with Daniel, Bedford Hall was to be her home—that is if her Damn Duke ever set a wedding date. Taunton had shared with her the grievances of Edmund’s tenants. When she had questioned Edmund about the matter, he had assured her that the estate was turning a profit, and he had dismissed the matter with a haughty wave of his hand.

  While she had not been successful, she balked at the idea of Daniel waltzing back, and like Homer’s Odyssey, setting everything to rights after a decade away. As if he was the only one who could.

  She had managed Taunton Court for nearly two years. She could take care of Bedford Hall once she was married. If working with Daniel gave her a rare opportunity to assess what she would be facing, she would not squander it. She lifted her chin and snatched up the gauntlet. “Maybe Lord Bryant and I can talk to a few tenants and get a better understanding of their needs. They might speak more freely without Edmund’s presence, and once we have gathered some information, we can share it with Edmund.” Anticipation filled her at the prospect of doing something active. Finally.

  “Good, then it is settled.” Her father appeared pleased. “Now then, I believe it is time for port. If you ladies will excuse us, I promise to keep an eye on the prisoner until your return,” he grinned.

  “You might want to curtail Lord Bryant’s walk down the plank if you need his assistance for the foreseeable future,” Emily added as she stood with Julia.

  “You are right. After a lesson on table manners, I will teach Jonathan the meaning of clemency.”

  “I am indebted to you for your mercy,” Daniel said, his eyes on Julia. His gaze swept over her bare collarbones and dipped to linger briefly upon the round curves of her breasts.

  His look left her breathless, as if she had run up a flight of stairs, and her resolve momentarily wavered. Had she been too hasty in agreeing to this idea? No, she had not. Together they could accomplish so much, and her growing anticipation reaffirmed her decision. It was the right one.

  In the future, she would simply dress more appropriately.

  Chapter Six

  DANIEL did not know how the stars had aligned so that the next morning he found himself riding with the Chandler siblings to Bedford Hall. It was like Christmas morning had arrived early, and he had been given a precious gift.

  Julia’s straight-backed figure rode sidesaddle ahead, Jonathan beside her on his pony. She wore a sky blue riding habit and a bonnet set at a jaunty angle on her head with a scattering of flowers adorning its rim.

  As he admired her competent handling of Constance, he mulled over how to get into her good graces. He needed to do so in order to decipher her true feelings for his brother. He could then determine the best way to tell Julia her fiancé was a coldhearted, good-for-nothing bastard. She’d be better off ruined through the scandal of a broken engagement than through marriage to him.

  Such news had to be delivered delicately.

  He shrugged off his misgivings. Julia was a strong woman. She would weather the news. Her management of her father’s estates demonstrated her courage and strength.

  An image of her blazing blue eyes and stinging slap had him shifting in his saddle and flexing his jaw, his confidence wavering.

  So much for Christmas morning. Truth be told, his Christmases had never been all that grand, because they were spent with his father and Edmund. Why the devil should this be any better if he were given a present that he could never touch, let alone ever unwrap?

  “You are scowling. Are you having doubts already?”

  He jumped to find Julia beside him. “I am not allowed second thoughts, because I have been threatened with the dungeon should I fail. Worse, I am to be deprived of iced pudding and apple tarts.”

  “I see. Dire repercussions indeed.” The twitch to her lips belied her somber tone. “’Tis a pity that we are finally at peace, and yet you remain a prisoner of a war that ended nigh on five years ago.”

  “Perhaps my timing was not as fortuitous as your father believes.” He grinned. “Speaking of wars, peace, and my arrival, I am afraid we got off to a poor start with each other. I would like to make amends for that, as I am sorry for it.”

  A flicker of surprise crossed her features, and her gaze shot to Emily, who was pointing something out to Jonathan, oblivious to their exchange.

  Daniel lowered his voice and pressed on. “I’d like it if we could begin again. This venture is important to both of us. You are protecting what will be your future, and I suppose I am safeguarding my past, or more specifically, my father’s legacy. For our venture to succeed, we need to work together. If I promise to behave and try not to—”

  “I understand. So a new beginning for the sake of what we find at Bedford Hall?” She appeared to ponder his words. “It might be wise to consider one for the sake of our future relations as well. After all, we will be brother and sis
ter.”

  His hand shot up to cover his sudden spasm of coughs. Over his dead body. But he held his tongue. No point in negotiating an issue that might be rendered moot.

  She looked at him strangely, clarifying her meaning. “Well, one does not . . .” Her words tapered off and a pink flame streaked the slim column of her neck. “That is, sisters and brothers do not . . .”

  “I understand.” Unfortunately, he did. All too well. “So shall we begin again?”

  “I can agree to that,” Julia replied, looking relieved at his steering them back on topic. “Yes, I would like that. That is if you stop behaving like a—”

  “And I agree to that.” He did not let her finish. Her words might include arrogant, brazen, or arse. None of which were diplomatic or flattering.

  “Well, then. Welcome home, Daniel. It’s been too long.”

  “Thank you.”

  She smiled, and when he returned her smile, something hummed between them. An awareness of each other that hovered in the air like a warm breeze. For a few moments, he savored the connection, which was severed when Julia tore her gaze from his.

  “Is it strange to be traveling over familiar ground after so many years away?”

  Distracted over thoughts of Julia and Edmund, Daniel had paid little heed to the countryside they traversed. He stared out over the lush, verdant rolling hills where splashes of sunlight created pools of yellow and gold on the lush green carpet. His family seat was situated north of the Earl of Taunton’s property in Bedford, with Lakeview Manor dividing the neighboring estates.

  The familiar scents of sun-warmed grass, hay, and crisp fresh air brought back a rush of memories. His father’s love of the land had been a tangible thing, a coat he wore like a second skin and bequeathed to his sons. Years later, the rich timbre of his father’s voice resonated in Daniel’s memories, his pride palpable as he recounted their family’s centuries-old connection to it.