Ducal Encounters 03 - Portrait of a Duke

by Wendy Soliman

  “She is a very silly girl, but I believe she has learned her lesson.”

  “Let us hope so.” He paused. “Zach hopes to arrange a private viewing of his portrait in two weeks’ time. I know it is no longer strictly necessary, since we know the identity of the forger, but he is determined to do it.”

  “He has not seen it yet. It might be unflattering.”

  Vince laughed. “He is not so conceited that he would let that concern him. You have declared it to be amongst your grandfather’s best work, so too has Sophia. That is enough for Zach.”

  “Then I am sure it can be ready in time. Then we can concentrate upon arranging the exhibition in London and return to Ireland until it is time to return for it. But this time we shall be living without the usual entourage my grandfather manages to attract. I only have Miss Tilling to be rid of and we will be ourselves again.”

  “Just so long as your grandfather does not adopt any other good causes.”

  Nia shuddered. “We shall be on our guard and ensure it doesn’t happen. Grandpapa means well, but we now have definite proof of just how ungrateful people can be.”

  “Quite so.”

  “I never did like Mr. Kenton. He definitely had an inflated opinion of his own self-worth. I just did not realise that by adopting him, for want of a better word, Grandpapa had only made matters ten times worse.”

  “Your grandfather had faith in him, reinforcing Kenton’s self-belief. And by having the good sense to reject his proposal, to his warped way of thinking, you gave him justification to feel resentful.”

  “Odious man!” She shrugged. “He was convinced I would accept him with open arms. However, enough of him. I have yet to thank you for recovering Sophia’s sketches and exposing Mr. Drake’s treachery.”

  “When one understood his reason for feeling aggrieved, he was the obvious suspect.”

  “Not to me.”

  “That is because you underestimate the effect you have on the opposite sex.”

  Nia laughed, already shaking her head in denial. “You mistake the matter.”

  “I am obviously not the first man to appreciate your compelling femininity. You have a lot to answer for, Miss Trafford.” His smile was deliberately provocative as he gently traced the curve of her face with his forefinger. “You inspire men to great love, and equally great iniquities, without having to lift a finger. That must be a very heavy burden to bear.”

  “No, Lord Vincent, this has nothing to do with me.”

  “It has everything to do with you,” replied softly.

  She shook her head, clearly not convinced. “It is ladies like Sophia who inspire men’s artistic souls, not I. Kenton and Drake both wished to exploit me for their own personal gain. I am not such a numbskull that I cannot recognise false flattery when I hear it.”

  Vince was filled with admiration for the modest, headstrong and determined female who had so effortlessly captured his heart. Part of him wanted to shake her modest attitude out of her, turn her in front of a mirror and make her see herself as others did.

  As he did.

  Now was not the time to tell her how he felt, but there never would be a right time. He guessed she would already be formulating plans to leave these shores for Ireland, and could not let her go without a fight. He reached for her hand and held it between both of his own, drawing patterns on her palm with the pad of one thumb.

  “I have no reason to offer you false praise.”

  “I don’t know what to say. I…”Her pale cheeks were suffused with a pink glow. Her lips parted as though she knew precisely what to say, but no words came out.

  “I admire your dedication to your grandfather, your determination to do the right thing by him and all of your family, regardless of the personal sacrifices involved.”

  “I cannot take any credit for that,” she replied, looking embarrassed. “Grandpapa is an impossible person not to love. I am fortunate to have him in my life.”

  “I dare say he would say the same thing about you, and he would be in the right of it.” He wagged a finger at her. “Now stop interrupting when I am attempting to pay you compliments.”

  “I beg your pardon, Lord Vincent,” she said with an engaging smile. “Pray continue.”

  “Very well. Now, where was I? Ah yes, I adore your staunch defence of Sophia, your efforts to keep the twins from running completely wild, and so many other things about your character.” He paused to offer her an intensely passionate smile. “But most of all, I love your modesty, your sharp mind, the natural beauty and vitality you don’t seem to be aware of.” He shook his head. “The list is endless, you know.”

  “Lord Vincent…Vince, I don’t quite know what to say to all of that.”

  “There is only one thing you need to say,” he responded in a stirringly passionate tone. “Say you will do me the very great honour of becoming my wife.”

  Nia’s mouth fell open. “Your wife!”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Nia trembled with a combination of dizzying shock and momentary joy. She was acutely aware of the honour of his proposal, even though it would be impossible to accept it.

  “Thank you.” She shook her head, dazed and deeply disappointed. “If circumstances were different I would accept you with pleasure. But alas, we are not all masters of our own destinies.”

  Still holding her hand, Vince pulled her onto her feet and into his arms. Nia definitely should not go quite so willingly into them. All the time he was simply holding her hand, she could find the strength of will to disappoint them both—just about. But if his arms closed around her or, worse, if he brought his lips into play, then it would be a very different matter.

  “I know you have decided against matrimony, but then you did not expect to ever fall in love. Situations change.”

  She moistened her lips and attempted a haughty toss of her head. “What makes you suppose I am in love with you?”

  He chuckled. “Then deny it. Convince me, if you possibly can, that I have got it wrong and that you do not return my feelings.”

  She immediately lowered her gaze. “Even if what you say is true, I cannot leave my grandfather.”

  “Your grandfather has Sophia, your brother and the boys. Besides, once the exhibition is over, he will have the money to live wherever he likes. This place could be renovated. I will pay for it if your grandfather cannot.”

  She looked up at him and gasped. “You would do that. For me.”

  “I would do that for my wife, and much more besides, with gladness in my heart. Your grandfather could divide his time between here and Ireland. Or, if he decided to live permanently in Ireland, we could visit as often as you wish. We could even purchase a house of our own, close to his. My duties for Zach do not require my continual presence at the Park.”

  He linked his hands behind her waist and pulled her fractionally closer. She really should not allow him to. Passion overcame clarity of thought whenever he crowded her with his masculinity. Worse, her hands appeared to have taken up a position on the back of his coat quite without her giving them leave to do so. She could feel sculpted muscles rippling beneath her touch through the layers of his clothing. Dear God, this simply would not do! She instructed both her hands and her body to distance themselves from him.

  Absolutely nothing moved and she remained captive in the circle of his strong arms. Rather too willingly.

  “Painting Zach’s portrait appears to have reignited your grandfather’s ambition,” Vince said in a velvety drawl that sent shudders running through her entire body. “It would be criminal if he did not do more portraiture. I am sure we can find sympathetic subjects who would understand his fragile state of mind. People will overlook much, put eccentricities down to artistic temperament, to acquire an original masterpiece.”

  “Are you suggesting that painting landscapes contributed to Grandpapa’s deterioration? Lord above, please do not say it is so. It was my idea that he take a different direction.” He had shocked her limbs into
activity with his words and she was able to remove one hand and clap it over her mouth. “I was trying to help.”

  “You did help, my love. You did what you thought best for the grandfather you adore.”

  “And sent him into a spiral of depression?”

  “Not at all. You gave him the breathing space he did not realise he required. Now it is time to think about what you want for yourself.” His hands gently caressed her back as he pulled her closer again, closing the distance she had briefly managed to put between them. “Anything is possible, if one has the will and the means. Do not throw away your own happiness for the sake of an ideal.”

  “You do not know what you are saying!” She found the strength to wrench herself out of his arms. “I don’t know what has brought this declaration on—”

  “Do you not?”

  His knowing smile told Nia what she already suspected. He could see she had fallen in love with him—to a man of his experience the signs must be obvious—and was not permitting her to keep her secret. He must be accustomed to women falling for him. Frankie had told her once that all four brothers spent their time dodging young ladies determined to tempt them into matrimony. Nia was not trying to do any such thing. So why did he feel the need to declare himself? She shook her head. It made no sense at all.

  “Putting aside for one moment my disinclination to marry, I can think of a dozen different reasons why we would not suit.”

  “Name them.”

  “Oh, for goodness sake, you do not intend to make this easy for me, do you?”

  “If I thought you were serious in your refusal, if I thought you did not care about me, then I would accept your decision. Although, if those circumstances existed, I probably would not have declared myself.” His smile was infuriatingly confident. “As it is, you will have to do better than citing nebulous reasons. I can be very determined, you know, when there is something I want. And I have never wanted anything more passionately, with more single-minded determination, than I want you for my wife, lovely Nia. I think I have known it almost since first setting eyes on you.”

  Nia could not remain insensible to a compliment, so obviously genuine, spoken with so much desire writ large on his face. She ought to turn him down and have done with the matter. If she could convince him that she genuinely did not wish to marry him, then he would do the gentlemanly thing and walk away.

  The only problem was, that with a few tender words and a scorching expression, he had made her doubt the future she had always envisaged for herself. She was not unaware of the honour he had bestowed upon her—how could she be—but did he really mean it? Had he spoken in haste, following the extraordinary events of the past day? She couldn’t think straight while he hovered over her. She needed quiet and solitude in which to think the matter through.

  “You must excuse me, Vince,” she said softly. “This has all come as a huge shock. Give me time to consider, if you please.”

  His smile was victorious; as though she had already agreed, which she most emphatically had not.

  “By all means. Take all the time you need. I shall call tomorrow afternoon and expect your answer.”

  “Tomorrow! That hardly gives me any time at all.”

  “You know your own heart, sweet Nia,” he replied softly, briefly resting his knuckles against her cheek. “Even if you are not ready to admit what it tells you. Yet.” He raised her hand to his lips and chastely kissed the back of it. “Until tomorrow,” he said, turning on his heel and leaving her standing on the crumbling terrace.

  ***

  Nia watched him with the twins as they produced Forrester and plagued him with their usual barrage of questions. He hunkered down and answered them, seemingly in no hurry to escape. Was she out of her senses, even hesitating to accept such a handsome, compassionate gentleman? A man whom she loved with single-minded passion, and who could offer her and her family every advantage in life.

  A man who was so sure of himself that he seemed to think one day was sufficient time for her to reach a decision that would affect the rest of her life.

  This timely reminder of his forceful personality helped to put the matter into perspective. With a disgruntled harrumph, she resumed her seat as she watched him ride off down the weed-strewn driveway, waving over his shoulder to the twins as he went.

  “You look as though you still have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

  Nia had not heard Sophia approach, but smiled at her and patted the seat beside her. “How is Grandpapa?”

  “Sleeping.”

  “Ah, that’s good. This portrait must have exhausted him.”

  “More to the point, my dear, how are you?”

  “Oh, I am perfectly fine.”

  “Was that Lord Vincent I saw with you just now?”

  Nia treated Sophia a droll look. “You know very well that it was. You ought to have joined us.”

  Sophia chuckled. “I think my presence would have been unwelcome and unnecessary.”

  Sophia said nothing more, leaving Nia to fill the silence. She felt a sudden urge to confide in the one woman whom she could rely upon for sound advice. The woman who was more of a mother to her than her own had ever been.

  “He asked me to marry him,” she said offhandedly.

  “Ah, I imagined he might.”

  Nia was unsure what reaction she had expected, but it had definitely not been calm acceptance of such a monumental and highly surprising development. “You suspected he might propose and did not warn me?” Nia glowered at Sophia. “You are supposed to be my friend.”

  Sophia raised an ironic brow. “Would you have believed me if I had said anything?”

  “No, I suppose not, but you might at least attempt to conceal your amusement. I am a tangle of uncertainty and you find it amusing.” Nia scowled. “That is not at all helpful.”

  “Ah, I knew it would be too much to expect you to follow your inclination, and your instincts, to say nothing of your heart.” Sophia sighed. “Foolish child!”

  “He does not really love me,” Nia said, sounding less than sure of herself.

  “Believe me, my dear, Sheridan men do not say what they don’t mean. If they did, all four of them would have become leg-shackled long since.”

  “Hmm, but what if he decides he has made a mistake? What if I do?”

  Sophia lifted her shoulders. “I very much doubt if that situation will arise. But life is all about risks. You ought to have learned at least that much by now.”

  “Anyway, it is quite impossible. I have Grandpapa’s welfare to consider.”

  “Excuse me, my dear, but that is not precisely true. I have never liked to mention this before, what with me being a courtesan and all, but Patrick is more my concern than yours. After all, it is me who shares his bed.”

  “Sophia!”

  “I am his wife in every respect, except in the eyes of the law. If it would make you feel better, I will marry him and make it completely legal. He has asked me often enough—”

  “He has?” It was Nia’s turn to exercise her brows. “You never said.”

  “The subject did not arise.”

  “But you love him. Why would you refuse?” When Sophia remained silent, the truth dawned on Nia. “You refused for my sake. You thought it would reflect poorly on my…on my what precisely?”

  “I thought a situation might arise when you decided against remaining single. I was not about to hamper your prospects of making a good marriage by tarnishing your family’s name.”

  “Oh, Sophia!” Nia threw herself into the older lady’s arms. “You should not have made those sorts of sacrifices on my behalf. If anyone who cares for me disapproves of you, then they are not worthy of my regard.”

  Sophia flashed a wicked smile. “Lord Vincent does not disapprove of me. In fact, I think he rather likes me.”

  Nia shook her head, endlessly amused by Sophia’s irreverent attitude. “I really was sincere in my intention never to marry.”

  “Bec
ause you had not met a man who stirred your passions.”

  “And now I have?”

  “You don’t need me to answer that question for you.”

  “He has given me until tomorrow to offer him a response.” Nia puffed indignantly. “One day to make such a huge decision.”

  “A decision which, unless I mistake the matter, you have already made, which implies he was very generous in his allocation of time. The poor man must be in a plethora of anxiety.”

  “The suave Lord Vincent in a fit of anxiety.” Nia giggled. “That I would very much like to observe for myself.”

  ***

  Nia was again on the terrace when Vince called the following day. The boys did not run to greet him and so he was obliged to stable Forrester himself. He raised a hand in greeting as he strode onto the terrace, nervous yet optimistic as he tried to read Nia’s face for early signs of her decision.

  “Where is my reception committee?” he asked by way of greeting.

  “Sean has taken them tadpoling. He thought it important that they return to the pond and not be afraid of it. Not that they showed much fear, but then this is normally the time set aside for their lessons, so I suppose that might have had some bearing on their enthusiasm.”

  “Very likely.” He proffered his arm. “Come and walk with me.”

  “Matrimony seems to be in the air,” she remarked as they strolled down a track beneath the unpruned apple trees.

  “Is someone other than you and I planning a union?”

  “We have no such plans.”

  “Not yet, no.”

  “I was referring to Sophia. She is thinking of accepting my grandfather’s proposal.”

  “How very sensible of her.”

  Nia looked at him in evident surprise. “You do not mind?”

  “Why should I mind if he makes an honest woman out of her?”

  “Yes, but if I were to accept your proposal, which is far from certain by the way, then you would be related by marriage to a courtesan.”

  “She would not be a courtesan, she would be your grandfather’s devoted wife.” He stopped walking and pulled her into his arms. “But, enough of Sophia. That is not my immediate concern. Stop keeping me waiting, Nia, and tell me if you will devote your life to being my wife.”