The Duke's Blind Temptation

by Paige Cameron

  “There were still a few balls being given. I have had my eye on one particular lady. She and her family are headed back to the country now.”

  “You are thinking of marriage?”

  “Possibly. What about you, Rafe? After all, you’re the heir.”

  There was a particular off tone in Ralph’s voice. Rafe didn’t respond, but tried to remember when he’d heard something similar said before. Ralph was his half brother, both having the same father. Rafe’s mother had died shortly after his birth. He’d been close to his stepmother, but he and Ralph had such different taste.

  “Well?” Ralph asked.

  “Sorry, I was thinking. No. I don’t plan on marrying. You will be my heir or your children.” A log on the fire crackled in the silence, and Rafe felt the increased heat as it flared up.

  “Let’s hope nothing happens to you, brother. By the way, Booth said you went riding yesterday. Isn’t that rather dangerous?”

  “I stayed close. This area is very familiar to me. My horse trainer, Ned, went with me.” The lie came easily. He didn’t want even Ralph to know that Ellie had been here. Ralph had a sharp tongue and liked to repeat gossip. Ellie’s reputation and Rafe’s freedom might very well be in danger if his brother found out.

  “I have a new foal. Ned has done his best to describe her to me. Let’s walk to the barn and I’ll show her to you. You can add your description.” Rafe took the last swallow from his glass and stood. “You may as well stay the night and leave for home in the morning.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Ralph reached out and took Rafe’s arm. “Let me help you.”

  Rafe yanked his arm back. “If I need help, I’ll ask.” He didn’t like being treated like an invalid. Ellie never made him feel this way.

  * * * *

  Ellie hid her horse behind several trees at the edge of Rafe’s property. She’d just come into sight of Rafe’s house when he and his brother came out the door and headed for the barn.

  Everything had conspired to go wrong today to keep her from a much needed visit with Rafe. First, Mrs. Brown talked a good hour about the local gossip, her daughter, and her new grandson. To add to her frustration, Rafe had company. The sun hung low in the sky. She’d better ride home. Tomorrow, she’d sneak out early and hope to be able to talk with Rafe.

  When she arrived home, both sisters and their husbands had stopped for a visit and planned to stay the night. Ellie had one cup of tea and excused herself to dress for dinner.

  The setting sun cast a pink glow across the sky. Ellie stood at her window and imagined she saw the roof top of Rafe’s home in the distance.

  “Miss Ellie, this water is getting cold. You’d better hurry and change or you’ll be late downstairs,” Trudy warned her.

  She’d started to turn when she caught a glimpse of something. She looked back. Was that smoke? Without a word, she ran downstairs and out the back door. She threw herself onto the bare back of her mare and left the stable boy staring after her.

  She yelled back, “Tell my father there might be a fire at the Earl of Leyland’s hunting lodge. Don’t say I told you.”

  Wind whistled in the air. It had to be her imagination, but she couldn’t rest tonight without checking. She smelled the smoke before she got to Rafe’s.

  Jumping off her horse, she flew to the stables and unfastened the door, letting out the horses. Rafe’s horse trainer had gone home for the night and no one was about.

  “Booth,” Ellie shouted and ran down the long path to the front door.

  “What is it?” Booth asked before he saw the smoke.

  “Tell Rafe there’s a fire in the barn.”

  Booth stepped outside. “He’s in the barn. He and his brother.”

  “What?” Ellie whirled around. “Come help me.”

  Flames were licking their way up the sides of the building.

  “You can’t go in there,” Booth yelled.

  Ellie ignored him and bent low as she entered the smoke-filled area. She couldn’t see. Feeling with her hands, she stumbled over a body. Rafe.

  Wood crackled around her, and several beams fell not two feet away. She tried to pull him, and then Booth was there, and with an immense effort, they dragged him to the doorway. The roof collapsed right after they crawled outside. Several pieces of wood flew through the air. One hit Ellie in the shoulder, and another smacked Rafe across the head.

  “Did it kill him, Booth?”

  “I don’t know, but you have to get away from here, Miss Upton. I hear horses. Whoever it is must not see you.”

  She nodded and hurried to her horse, then headed in the opposite direction away from the riders. Glancing back, she saw men rushing across the yard to pull Rafe farther from the fire. Others began to make a line with buckets to try and save what was left of the building. Seeing help had arrived, she turned her horse homeward.

  Wearily, Ellie slipped inside the house and ran up to her room. She’d ridden as fast as she could, but still her mother might have discovered her missing. Trudy didn’t ask any questions. She helped Ellie undress and spoke in low tones.

  “The men heard the alarm and went to the Earl’s home. Your mother and sisters have been so upset they didn’t ask where you were. They were concerned about the fire spreading, but they thought since it has been such a wet summer it was unlikely. I assured your mother that you were fine, and that I’d just washed your hair and you were drying it. We’d better hurry, though, or she might come to check on you.”

  Ellie nodded. “Help me get this smoky smell off my skin and hair. I’ll use my new scented red rose soap that I received for my birthday and put a drop of rose oil on my hair.” Ellie sank into the tub and began to scrub her skin as Trudy helped clean her hair. “I appreciate your covering for me, Trudy.”

  Her shoulder began to ache, and she tried to see if there was any damage.

  “You are going to have a bruise,” Trudy warned her.

  “Then get out one of my gowns with long sleeves.”

  “That might work for tonight, but I doubt that swelling and bruise will go away any time soon,” Trudy said.

  Weariness swamped her. “I’ll have to think of an excuse about how I hurt myself. At least hiding it tonight will give me some time.”

  * * * *

  They waited for the men and ate late. In their concern over the fire neither her mother nor sisters questioned her late appearance. When her father and brothers-in-law returned they talked of the fire and of how brave Booth had been to save Rafe.

  “The barn is completely gone, but the horses all got out. I guess Booth released them when he went inside for the earl,” her father said. “I don’t understand how Billy became aware of the fire while he worked in the barn. Nevertheless, I’m glad he did.”

  “Maybe he stepped outside and saw the smoke,” Ellie said. She regretted her statement when her father gave her a studied glance. She swallowed. “I mean the sunset was so red that I thought for a moment I saw smoke from my bedroom.”

  Her two brothers-in-law snorted at that idea, and the conversation continued between the men. Ellie wished she’d kept quiet. Her mother glanced at her several times during the meal.

  “Booth said the earl’s brother had been visiting. Guess he left before the fire,” Andy, Claudia’s husband, remarked.

  “Strange. Booth said he’d planned to stay the night. Booth didn’t realize Rafe was in the barn by himself,” her father added.

  “Is Lord Leyland all right?” Ellie couldn’t stop from asking. Now both her parents looked her way.

  “The doctor was with him when we left. He got hit in the head by some flying wood, but he was coming around when the men carried him inside.”

  The ache in Ellie’s chest eased at her father’s words.

  “A messenger rode to the duke’s estate to tell him what happened to his son. He’ll probably be there by tomorrow.” Her father looked at Ellie again. “You look pale. Are you all right?” he asked.

  “It’s just the
worry. Fire is frightening and it could happen anywhere.” Ellie forced a smile and turned her attention to her uneaten food.

  Where was Ralph? She’d seen him enter the barn with Rafe. Something wasn’t right. But if she asked anymore questions, she’d be in trouble. She had get to Rafe and see for herself that he was not seriously hurt. Something didn’t feel right. How did the fire start, as an accident or started by someone on purpose? The only person in the barn besides Rafe was his brother, and he magically disappeared.

  Ellie was relieved when her parents and the rest of the family retired shortly after the meal. Her body ached, and her mind raced with questions that had no answers. She’d just climbed into bed when her mother came into her room.

  She sat beside Ellie and brushed her hand over her hair. “You do so remind me of my mother. Those intelligent green eyes and inquisitive nature.” Her fingers brushed underneath Ellie’s eyes. “You have dark circles. We’ll need to use cucumber slices tomorrow.”

  Ellie lay quietly and watched as her mother walked to the window facing Rafe’s home. “I can see how you might see smoke from your window. I doubt Billy had that ability from our barn.” She turned and faced her daughter. “I hope you haven’t done anything to bring disgrace on our name, daughter. There were times the ton regarded my mother as not quite proper. I lived in fear she would stop me from making a good marriage. Perhaps if she’d been different, I’d have married an earl or marquis.”

  Lady Upton came back to Ellie’s bedside. “Your father is a good man, but I always wanted my daughters to do better. Claudia married a viscount and Sophia a marquis. You have turned down several fine prospects. You need to make a decision about your future. Lord Marshall and Turner will be at the party we’re planning. Your father and I hope you will find one of them a favorable choice.” She bent down and brushed her cool lips over Ellie’s cheek and then gracefully walked out of the room.

  Tears flowed down Ellie’s face. Her dream gone, she had to face reality. She had no more time to convince Rafe to marry her. She must choose one of these men to marry.

  Yet, her heart had belonged to someone else since she was sixteen. Ellie had made her choice a long time ago. She just didn’t expect to be able to keep it.

  Chapter Six

  Cannons boomed in the distance, and the smell of firepower filled his nostrils. Rafe tried to step carefully around the bodies of comrades and enemies strewn throughout the battlefield. This had to be hell on earth.

  The smell of death seeped up from the ground. His eyes stung from the thick, acrid clouds of smoke as the boom of the distant cannon vibrated through his body. The battle was over except for a few men fighting on that distant hill. Had they won? With all the dead, how could anyone claim a victory?

  Through the smoke, he saw the outline of a man, vaguely familiar, moving toward him. A sharp blast flashed before his eyes. He felt the white-hot pain of the bullet as it creased his scalp, and he fell among the other bodies in the muddy field.

  Rafe’s head pounded. The nightmare had returned, only this time he had seen his attacker’s face. Rafe heard voices in the distance. His father must be here. Crooking one eye open, he saw the figures of two men whispering in the doorway to his bedroom. How did he get to bed? He vaguely remembered Ralph visiting.

  Wait. He opened his eyes again. The darkness had lightened. He saw the outline of objects and watched as the two men stepped into his room. He sat up abruptly and grabbed his head when the pain jabbed between his eyes.

  The doctor rushed to his side. “Your head hurts?”

  “Like demons beating the inside of it with sticks.”

  “Lay back and let me examine you,” the doctor ordered.

  “What happened? Why are you here?”

  “Son.” Rafe heard his father’s voice. “There was a fire in your barn last night.”

  “The horses?”

  “All safe, but you inhaled smoke and got hit in the head with a piece of flying wood.”

  The doctor’s hands probed gently along the side and back of Rafe’s head. When he opened his eyes, the doctor’s face suddenly came into view. Rafe jerked.

  “What is it?

  “I can see you. You’re fuzzy, but I see your face.”

  “It’s possible the recent blow helped you regain your sight. Possible, but not likely,” the doctor concluded.

  “I don’t care how it happened,” his father said. “I’m just glad it did. This is wonderful.”

  “Temper your excitement,” the physician warned. “This might only be transitory.”

  Rafe ignored the doctor’s remarks. “Father, I must talk with you privately.”

  “Of course. Please excuse us.”

  Rafe heard the haughtiness in his father’s voice and smiled. The doctor nodded and scurried out of the room.

  His father pulled up a chair by the bedside.

  How did Rafe tell him what he suspected? Ralph was his father’s son, too.

  * * * *

  The days went by slowly after the excitement of the fire. Ellie helped her mother prepare for the few overnight guests and the neighbors who planned to attend the dinner and country ball.

  “Ellie, go outside for awhile,” her mother said. “The first of our guests won’t begin arriving until afternoon. You look peaked and all this help without complaining is getting on my nerves.”

  Ellie glanced across at her smiling mother and then at the open window. Outside the sun shined. Restlessness filled her, but the only place she wanted to go, she had to avoid. Her father had said Rafe’s parents had arrived and planned to stay with him until he fully recovered.

  She put down her feather mop and walked toward the door. The fresh air beckoned her outside. She’d visit her mare. Nothing else, she promised herself.

  Father and several other men arrived home as she entered the shadowed barn. They didn’t see her.

  “The barn is well on its way to being finished. Having extra workers hired from the village has helped get the job done in record time,” her father said.

  “The duke is certainly happy about his son’s recovery. Can’t blame him. No one wants their heir to be blind,” Mr. Brown, the short, stout husband of Mrs. Brown, remarked.

  “It is nothing short of a miracle,” Ellie’s father agreed.

  “Strange, though, that the half brother hasn’t been seen, and now the news is he’s headed for the continent.” The tall man standing by her father shook his head. “I asked the duke about it, but he raised his eyebrows in that way he has when you know you’ve stepped over the line. He obviously doesn’t want to discuss anything regarding his second son. Seems suspicious, but I’m not going to start any rumors. Don’t want to make the duke angry. Rather not have him as an enemy.”

  “Some matters are best left between families,” Ellie’s father stated bluntly.

  Ellie tiptoed back out of the barn. Rafe had regained his sight! Her heart trembled with despair. Every mother with a beautiful daughter would be after him for a son-in-law. Her chances just went from a little hopeful to no hope at all.

  She didn’t want to witness the disappointment in his eyes when he saw she was not beautiful. Maybe she wouldn’t have to see him. Interesting was how she’d heard one of her suitors describe her appearance. Only in Rafe’s imagination could she be more. Even then, he’d probably remembered her as the rather plump, plain, dark-haired sister. Thank goodness he’d not be able to come to the ball.

  If they did meet again, she’d be engaged to a proper gentleman, putting all her childhood dreams out of reach.

  * * * *

  The weather was perfect for the Saturday gathering. A cool breeze came through the open french windows as the small country quartet tuned their instruments. Ellie hurried upstairs after dinner to check her appearance and collect herself. She stood at the window imagining what might be happening at Rafe’s hunting lodge. As far as she knew, his parents were still in residence. She hadn’t overheard any further conversations regarding Ra
fe and had decided she’d best not ask questions.

  Her mother stepped into Ellie’s room. “Ellie, what are you doing upstairs? The musicians are ready to start playing. Lord Marshall asked me about you. I assured him you would be right down.”

  “I will be, Mama.”

  “Whatever is the matter? You haven’t been yourself these past few weeks.”

  “Deciding on the man I’m to spend the rest of my life with is a very serious matter, Mama. I have been pondering my future.”

  “Good. It’s time you married. Although, you’ve shown no particular preference for any of the young men that have been interested in you in the past. Both your sisters have made advantageous marriages. As I told you the other day, I expect no less from you.”

  Ellie gathered her silk shawl tight around her shoulders. “I’m ready. Let’s go find me a proper husband.” If her mother noticed the cynical tone in her daughter’s voice, she ignored it.

  Feet dragging, Ellie followed her mother downstairs. Lord Harvey Marshall stood at the bottom, a smile on his round face. He was a cheerful sort, liked by his male friends and viewed as a nice man by the ladies. His brown hair had begun to thin on top, and Ellie noted the beginning of a paunch. He’d make her a dependable husband.

  “May I have this dance, Miss Upton?” Lord Marshall bowed.

  She curtsied, took his arm, and they entered the crowded ballroom that had been decorated with fragrant flowers and numerous candles. Couples had begun to arrange themselves in sets around the dance floor. Ellie smiled at familiar faces and took her place across from Lord Marshall.

  Lord Turner nodded to her from farther down the row. This promised to be a trying night. Pasting a smile on her face, she stepped forward to the music.

  * * * *

  “Son, I really do not believe you are recovered enough to go to a country ball,” the duke reiterated for the fourth or fifth time. “Your neighbors will certainly understand your not attending.”