Christmas in the Duke's Embrace

by Amanda Mariel

  How fortuitous that he’d chosen this moment to join Marina. A flicker of joy sparked within him as he said, “Very good. Have two trays sent up.”

  “Right away, Your Grace.” Mrs. Greer’s eyes twinkled as she dipped into a curtsey before continuing on her way.

  With a bit more bounce in his step, Evan strolled the remaining distance to his bedchamber then rapped on the door. “May I enter?”

  “Yes,” Marina called back to him.

  He pushed the door open then stepped into the room. His gaze went directly to her. She lay in the bed, her head propped up on pillows and a book in her hands. His chest tightened at the sight of the bruise on her cheek. In the day's light, it appeared darker than it had before. An angry patch of black and blue covering her entire cheekbone and spreading toward her jawline.

  “I thought I would join you for luncheon if you have no objection.” He swallowed back his anger and moved to sit beside the bed.

  She closed the book and rested it on her lap. “I’d be pleased to dine with you.”

  Warmth spread through him at the tone of her sing-song voice. Probably because it had been so long since he’d spent time with a woman. Seeking a diversion, Evan’s gaze flickered to the book. “You enjoy poetry?”

  “I do.” Marina’s lips curved into a bright smile. “I had Mrs. Greer bring me some books. I hope you do not mind.”

  “Not at all. It is my wish that you will be comfortable while you are here.”

  She winced, her lips twitching as uncertainty flickered across her bright green eyes. What an odd reaction. Evan could not imagine what he’d said to make her react in such a way, but he desperately wished to make her comfortable once more. He changed the topic. “Who is your favorite poet?”

  “I’m fond of so many it’s hard to choose a favorite. Perhaps Keats or Goldsmith.”

  Evan could not stop himself, the verse tumbling from his lips, “Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art—”

  Marina sat a little straighter as he recited the line. When his voice trailed off she said, “Not in lone splendor hung aloft the night…”

  “You know it?” Evan grinned.

  She nodded her head, her blond curls bouncing on the pillows. “As I said, Keats is a favorite.”

  “Indeed you did say that.” He glanced at the fire burning in the hearth for a moment then looked back at her. Another poem came to mind. “Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate…” His gaze remained captivated by her sparkling eyes as he recited each line and when he finished the poem she rewarded him with a becoming smile.

  “That is Shakespeare and I dare say another favorite of mine.”

  Evan could not deny the kinship forming between them. Perhaps in time, they would become friends. “I must confess.” He leaned forward and said in a low, teasing voice, “I’ve made a study of poetry.”

  Marina laughed, a sweet string of joyous sound as she studied him. “It seems we have something in common, Your Grace.”

  He arched a brow. “I thought we were beyond formalities?”

  She sobered, her gaze darting away from his for a heartbeat. “Oh yes, excuse my slip of the tongue, Evan. I will endeavor to not do so again.”

  The lady was teasing him—how…refreshing. He'd forgotten what it was like to spend time with others outside of his servants and the nearby townsfolk. He found himself taken rather off guard by the fact that he was so deeply enjoying Marina’s company. A warning echoed from the depths of his mind. He’d better be careful to guard his heart.

  “Is something the matter?” Marina tilted her head, concern swimming in her gaze.

  Evan shook his head. “I was just thinking.”

  “About?” she prodded.

  He couldn’t very well tell her the truth of his woolgathering. Evan cleared his throat to buy time while he tried to come up with something to say. His gaze traveled back to her bruised cheek and he reached for her hand, wrapping it in his. “What happened to you?”

  She averted her gaze just before a rapping sounded at the door. Evan released a breath as two maids bustled in with their lunch trays. Devilishly bad timing to be sure. He scooted back in the chair and waited for the maids to set up their trays. When they left, he turned back to Marina. She was already chewing on a biscuit.

  Rather than press her for answers, he lifted a finger sandwich from his plate. He turned his attention back to her, his eyes going directly to her lush pink lips. Something stirred within him—desire? No, it could not be. Suddenly parched, he reached for his wine glass and took a deep drink.

  “I fear it’s a long tale.”

  He met her gaze, taken aback. He’d not expected her to broach the topic without his prodding, but it was the pain and fear in her eyes that truly unsettled him. Evan forced a shaky grin meant to reassure her. “I have lots of time. That is, if you want to tell me about it.”

  Her tongue darted out, lapping wine from her lips. Good God, she was stunning. His groin tightened and he readjusted his position on the chair. He had no business lusting after her—not when she was recovering and clearly unsettled—not ever.

  “You are sure to think poorly of me once you know what I’ve done.” Her gaze drifted downward, her eyelashes concealing the striking green of her eyes.

  At that moment he doubted anything she could have done would cause him to think badly about her. He patted her hand to offer reassurance. “I promise you that nothing you can say will change my opinion of you.”

  She moved her hand from beneath his and placed it over her rounded belly. “I got quite swept off my feet by a gentleman. He professed his love and promised to marry me.” She paused for long moments before meeting his gaze. Her cheeks blossomed pink, a deep blush staining them. “My actions are my own. I’m afraid I proved to be quite the fool in this instance for I allowed passion to rule me.”

  Evan’s blood simmered as he guessed where the tale was going. “The scoundrel left you with child and no offer of marriage?”

  Marina nodded, confirming his suspicions.

  Evan wanted to pummel the man. Challenge him to a duel. Make the rogue pay for what he’d done. He wished he could have done as much for Rosa, his sweet, innocent little sister. She’d fallen victim to a smooth talking rogue who’d promised her the world only to leave her alone and disgraced. “I’ll make him pay for what he’s done. Give me his name.”

  Marina’s eyes rounded. “The fault is mine. It would do no good for you, or anyone else to confront him.”

  Evan fisted his hands. The devil it would not, but if Marina did not wish for him to meddle then he’d honor her request, leastwise for now. He tugged his cravat to lose it a bit and said, “You cannot blame yourself. Many a good woman has found herself ruined by no fault of her own.”

  “I could have denied him,” She said.

  The air left his lungs, Rosa’s final words slamming into him. “No.” Evan’s tone came out with a hard edge. “The blame is his alone. He knew you were an innocent and he took advantage. The very thing happened to my sister.”

  Marina sat forward, her gaze studying him. “You have a sister? I should like to meet her.”

  “I wish that were possible.” His throat tightened as sorrow swept over him like a great ocean wave. “The scandal proved too much for her. After being shunned from society and retreating to the country, she hung herself.”

  Evan should have left it at that, but he could not stop himself from continuing on. “Rosa, that was her name. She was witty and intelligent. Many called her a Diamond of the first water. She’d held London in the palm of her hand, ruling the ballrooms and parlors. Every door had been open to her. She had such promise for the future. A zest for life. She saw the beauty in everything. There was always a smile on Rosa's lips. Even in the worst of circumstances, she found a reason to be optimistic…until she did not.” Evan drew in a deep breath. “She’s been gone three years.”

  Marina squeezed his hand and he wondere
d when she’d captured it. “Oh Evan, how horrible.”

  Why the devil had he confessed so much to this woman he hardly knew? And what a cad to have interrupted her, turning the conversation to himself. Worse, to have taken comfort from her when she was the one suffering. He squeezed her hand back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go on about my own life. Please tell me how you came to be on the roadside?”

  “Do not apologize. I’m glad you confided in me. It makes it a bit easier for me to tell you everything” She gave a shaky grin. “Does that taint your opinion of me?”

  He shook his head. “Gads no. You are brave to trust me and I admire you all the more for it.”

  She sighed, her shoulder’s relaxing. “When my father discovered my…condition, he sent me away. Ordered me from the house and demanded that I never return. I was to go to my aunts home until after the baby was born and then…” She closed her eyes. “Afterwards, I was to find a position somewhere far from London and Dorset in order to shield my family from the scandal of it all.”

  Evan’s heart hitched. He could not understand why a father would send his daughter off. Turn his back on her. What sort of a man behaved in such a way? Anger burned through his veins for all she’d suffered. “Then your father’s country seat is in Dorset?”

  She nodded.

  Ellis… Evan rolled the surname through his head. He’d been gone from society for quite some time, years in fact, but he was still familiar with most high ranking peers. Ellis in Dorset… “Your father is the Earl of Langmore?”

  “You know him?” Marina asked.

  He'd come across the man on occasion. Langmore was considerably older than Evan. All the same, they'd crossed paths over the years. The man had a reputation for being quick to anger as well as violent. Langmore was rude to servants, demanding, and brash. Evan pressed his lips together in distaste and shook his head. “I know of him.”

  Though he doubted it would help, he planned on dispatching a letter to her father. He’d let the man know his suspicions as well as the fact that Marina was now under his protection. At the least, it should rankle her father to know that Marina had found her way to safety and that she was now untouchable.

  Marina started to speak again and he returned his focus to her.

  “I was sent away without the benefit of a maid or outriders. Just me and the coachman.”

  It was as if her father had wanted disaster to befall her. The muscle in Evan’s jaw ticked. “Do you think your father arranged for your mishap you suffered?”

  Her eyes rounded and she shook her head. When she met his gaze again disbelief etched fine lines on her face. “I…he couldn’t have.” She closed her eyes for long heartbeats and she paled. “The coachman was not one of ours. Nor was the coach.” The shade of her eyes deepened as unshed tears pooled there. “He wouldn’t.”

  Evan would wager that her father had done just that, but he'd not press the issue for he had no wish to cause her more grief. Instead, he moved to sit on the edge of the bed and took her hand. “What happened next?”

  “It was so fast. I heard the horses fretting then the coachman yelling and a loud bang.” She nibbled at her lower lip. “Do you know what became of the driver?”

  Evan had seen no-one else along the road. There’d been no sign of a carriage either when he’d found her. He’d wager the whole thing had been orchestrated—by her father. “I don’t.”

  She sighed. “At any rate, one of the men entered the carriage. He tried to take liberties with me, but I fought him off. After getting free, I darted into the woods but was soon discovered. When I continued to fight the highwaymen, one of them struck me.” She touched the bruise on her cheek. “The next thing I knew I was waking up,” she fiddled with the blanket that covered her, “in your home.”

  “I’m glad I found you.” Evan reached out and dashed a tear from her cheek. “I promise you are safe now. I will find a way to help you.”

  “You are very kind.” She snuggled deeper into the blankets, pulling them to her chin. “I think I would like to rest for a bit.”

  Evan pulled his legs onto the bed and held out his arm. “Let me hold you while you sleep.” He could not say why she allowed it, but Marina settled against him. Her head came to rest on his chest and he wrapped his arm around her. While he lay there considering how he might help her, she drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 5

  Marina came awake in slow measure, her mind fuzzy and eyes heavy. She’d had the most remarkable and yet unsettling dream about Evan. In it, he’d been the father of her baby, the man to woo her, and he’d married her. What a fanciful imagination. Surely the dream had been sparked by the kindness he showed her.

  Perhaps allowing Evan to hold her while she’d slept had been a bad idea. But then, she’d never slept so soundly before. A smile played at her lips as she opened her eyes. A quick glance around the room revealed that she was alone, and a pang of disappointment lanced her heart.

  Had her confession changed his opinion after all? Perhaps he’d changed his mind about her after he’d had time to think on the matter. She’d never had a champion before, though she’d been quite certain she’d found one in Evan. Her heart had soared at the way he comforted and defended her—then broke when he spoke of his sister. Perhaps that was the reason for his absence. It would make perfect sense if he required his own respite after all he shared.

  Marina determined not to drive herself mad fretting over why Evan had left. Time would provide the answers. She did hope she hadn’t offended him for she enjoyed his friendship and hoped for it to continue. Not that she’d been the best judge of character, but she believed Evan to be a good man. The very opposite of her father and Lord Banfeld.

  Unable to sleep any longer, she reached for a book. Marina spent the next several hours reading until Mrs. Greer entered with her supper tray.

  “Hello, dear.” The housekeeper greeted. “Cook outdid himself tonight. I dare say you’ll be pleased with the offering.”

  “I am certain I will be.” Marina smiled. “Do you think I might eat at the table? I’m dreadfully tired of being in bed.”

  “Of course, dear. I’ll set it up by the fire so you do not catch a chill, but once you’ve finished I must insist you return to the bed. Doctors orders.” She gave a cheeky smile then bustled about the chamber preparing Marina’s table.

  Her legs shook when she stood, likely because she’d not done so in days. She took hold of the bedpost and allowed herself a moment to gain her balance.

  “Allow me to assist you.” Mrs. Greer ambled over and wrapped her arm around Marina’s waist.

  “Thank you,” Marina said. She allowed Mrs. Greer to guide her to the table then sat. Her gaze roamed across the offerings—soup, pheasant, an assortment of fruits, cheese and bread, wine, fish, and sweet tarts. “It looks delectable.”

  Mrs. Greer gave a satisfied nod. “I’ll have a maid sent up in a little while to aid you back into bed.”

  Marina gave a sheepish glance. She detested being so needy, but there was little she could do about it. “Thank you.”

  “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  Marina unfolded a napkin then laid it across her lap. “If it’s not too much trouble I would like the necessary supplies to sketch. It’s awfully boring being stuck in bed.”

  “No trouble at all. I’ll send a pad, pencils, and whatever else I can find up with the maid.”

  Marina’s smile widened. “I feel like I am wearing out the phrase, but nothing else suits so I’ll say it again. Thank you.”

  “Nonsense.” Mrs. Greer laughed then dipped into a curtsey. “Enjoy your meal, my lady.”

  True to her word, a maid arrived about thirty minutes later and helped Marina back to bed. She brought along the sketch supplies Marina had requested as well. After spending some time on a drawing, Marina settled down to sleep. The day had been long and as much as she wished to bemoan being trapped in bed, she had to admit to being tired. One more good nigh
t's sleep, then on the morrow the doctor would come back, and God willing he’d allow her some activity.

  Evan could not say how long he’d remained in the bed with Marina secured in his arms, but he dare say it wasn’t long enough. The moment he’d released her, he’d regretted doing so. The warmth and softness of her had warmed his soul. For reasons beyond him, she’d seemed to belong in his embrace. The realization startled him and he reminded himself that she did not belong to him—would never belong to him.

  He had to protect himself at the same time he did her. For that reason, he determined to put some space between them. He would not join her for supper. He’d not visit with her again until after the doctor came tomorrow. By then, perhaps he’d have a solution to her predicament. He strolled to the sideboard in his study and poured four fingers of whisky into a tumbler then tossed it back, savoring the warmth that resulted.

  After placing the tumbler back on the sideboard he went to his desk. He’d start by penning a letter to her father. Evan retrieved a piece of parchment and laid it on the mahogany surface before him.

  Lord Langmore,

  I am writing to inform you that your daughter, Lady Ellis is safe. I regret to inform you that I found her half frozen and unconscious. She had been attacked by highwaymen and left for dead in a snow bank. There was no sign of her driver, nor of the coach. Rather peculiar as I am sure you will agree. Do not let me discover that you played a hand in her plight.

  Against my better judgment, I will grant you the benefit of my doubt. Lady Ellis will remain under my protection for the foreseeable future.

  The Duke of Rowley

  Evan rang for a footman then sealed the letter as he waited. When the footman came, he strolled to him not wanting to waste any time. He held out the letter. “See that this is posted right away.”

  “Yes, Your Grace.” The footman bowed then backed from the room.

  Evan poured another tumbler of whisky and settled into a plush chair near the fire. Her father would receive the letter sometime between tomorrow night and midday the following day. If he wrote back, Evan would receive the reply within four days time. Did it even matter what the earl had to say?