To Dodge a Duke (Entangled Nobility Book 2)

by Naomi Boom

  “Isn’t there?” Everyone’s head swung to the duke who leaned back in his armchair. He smirked and eyed Logan. “I would suggest whoever wins this next round gets to accompany Miss Ashford on a stroll through the gardens.”

  Mrs. Westfield giggled. “What a marvelous idea!” She leaned toward the duke and whispered in a not-so-quiet voice, “Naturally, Your Grace, I hope you are victorious.”

  “What if I don’t wish to take a stroll in the gardens?” Eleanor asked, heat rising to her face at such a presumptuous wager. While she would enjoy an outing with Logan, she did not desire to go anywhere with the duke.

  Everyone ignored her and turned to face each other. Lady Gammon, as the dealer, could not win, and Lord Gammon along with Mrs. Westfield expressed their desire to not play that round. So, it was left to His Grace and Logan.

  Eleanor leaned back against the settee as she kept her leg pinned in place and crossed her arms. She exhaled and waited for the outcome of the next round. Lady Gammon shuffled and dealt both gentlemen a single card. Logan received a nine, and His Grace a queen.

  Eleanor waited for Lady Gammon to continue the game, but when nothing happened, she asked, “Well, what are we waiting for?”

  His Grace stood and smiled lazily at her. “I had not realized you were in such a hurry for our stroll, Miss Ashford.” He extended his arm, and Eleanor eyed it, not moving a muscle.

  “Hold on, Your Grace. Let me fetch my parasol so I may chaperone you two.” Mrs. Westfield beamed at them and rose to depart the room.

  “We can take a groom,” His Grace said before Mrs. Westfield could take a step. Mrs. Westfield sank back down and nodded. Her expression suggested she was pleased by the outcome of the wager, whether she was to chaperone or not.

  Eleanor feared she had allowed her mouth to hang open. She clamped it shut and asked, “Didn’t you need to deal more cards, Lady Gammon?”

  “No, dear.” Lady Gammon shot her a look of sympathy. “We determined whoever received the higher card would win. That way, we could resume the game.”

  How had she missed that? She was much too preoccupied with Logan whenever he was near. She shot Logan a dark look. Why had he allowed the duke to win? His Grace coughed, and she turned her attention back to him. He still stood before her with his arm stretched out to her. She accepted it, no matter how she despised the idea of a walk with him, and he led her from the parlor.

  He glanced down the hall with a brooding frown and muttered something. She raised a questioning brow and asked, “Is something amiss, Your Grace?”

  “I forgot there are no servants.” He led her to the foyer and shook his head. “Hold on, my lady. I will find someone to accompany us.”

  She was not about to argue with the duke on the matter of a chaperone. She turned to inspect a painting below the grand staircase and smiled. If she were to guess, she would say it was a Titian. A young lady was portrayed with the most alluring smile. It was a true work of art, and Eleanor could easily enjoy it for hours.

  “We are in luck, my lady, I have found someone.”

  Eleanor turned to find the duke at her elbow. Behind him hovered a nervous footman, and she nodded. He would do just fine.

  The warm air embraced her as she stepped outside. She inhaled the clean scent of spring and swore she could detect a note of rain on the breeze. When she looked at the sky, however, there was not a cloud in sight.

  He caught her elbow and led her down a graveled path toward the gardens. They walked slowly, neither speaking for several minutes until the duke asked, “Why do you like him?”

  Eleanor caught herself before she could trip from the shock of his question. Her eyes darted to his, and she was unprepared for the somber look in his gray eyes. “I—” She swallowed and looked away. “There is something special about him. I think he is the first man to see past my beauty and accept me for me.”

  He remained silent as he directed her to a bench. She sat, and he turned to examine a caterpillar perched on the leaf of a tree. “So, if I accepted you for you, would you choose me over him?”

  “Of course not!” she said, shocked by his forward question. She shook her head. “I meant no offense, Your Grace. I know you are superior to most, and you will have no trouble finding a lady in London.”

  He shrugged and turned to her. “I know. Women are easily replaceable. I just want to ensure you will not break Logan’s heart.”

  Her jaw dropped open for the second time that day. “That is why you wished to walk with me?”

  He grinned, and his eyes lit up as he nodded at her. “Yes, that, and I enjoy teasing Logan. It is one of my greatest sources of amusement. I guarantee he is inside fuming right now.”

  No wonder the duke had acted so interested in her. Suddenly, the dynamics between the duke and Logan made sense to her. “You can’t possibly believe he is jealous?”

  “Of course I can.” His eyes scanned her face, and he said, “I believe Logan would move heaven and earth to be with you.”

  Eleanor blushed. She couldn’t help it, but his words were so sweet and reassuring. She stood. Why continue this outing when she could return to Logan? “Thank you, Your Grace, for this enlightening stroll. I believe I should return to the house now.”

  He smiled and offered her his arm. He led her back to the manor, and as they reached the entryway, the door swung open to reveal Logan.

  “What a surprise to find you here,” the duke said with a smirk.

  Logan’s eyes looked like marble and his face a hard mask. It was fascinating to observe, really, but not in this moment. Right now, his anger was almost frightening. He stepped up to the duke and whispered something in His Grace’s ear. The duke grinned in response and entered the house after performing a mocking bow.

  Logan turned to Eleanor and growled, “Shall we take a stroll, Ellie?”

  ****

  She smiled her enchanting smile and accepted his arm. The footman began to follow them, but Logan sent him a quelling glare which sent the footman running back to the house.

  “You really need to calm down, Logan. Your anger is disproportionate to the situation.”

  “Who said I was angry?” He tried to slow the blood rushing in his ears. The entire time Ellie and Charles had strolled about his garden, he had worried about her. Lord Thornwick was known as a ladies’ man and a reprobate. No matter what Charles had said the previous night, she was not safe with him. Of course, Logan liked to give his cousin the benefit of the doubt, but not when it came to Ellie.

  “While I appreciate the fact that you are jealous, it is unnecessary.”

  Yes, he was jealous. He had told her the one person who could make him jealous was the duke, and that sentiment still remained true, even if the duke was Lord Thornwick, or anyone else, really. He shook his head and led her down the path. Until she was his, he was afraid any gentleman would make him jealous. He could not risk her with anyone, not when he cared as much as he did.

  They rounded a bend in the pathway, and she left him to sit on a wrought-iron bench. The garden lay behind her, sprawling out in a manicured rectangle of green with a plethora of colors from the flowers. A row of apple trees lined the garden, which gave shade from above. She looked picturesque as she waited for him to join her, her ankles crossed and tucked neatly behind her. She was the most charming of all the blooms, besting every tulip, every azalea, and every violet in sight.

  There was something wonderful about their budding relationship, something which bordered on impossible. His breath caught as his heart constricted. Could it be he loved her? He had never considered the possibility that he could fall for her and she remain indifferent. What if he could not win her as a baronet? He thought he could, but what if she had been swept away by a duke mere minutes before?

  He took a seat next to her on the cold iron bench as a gust of wind tore through his hair. It was chillier outside than he had presumed. Their backs were to the garden, which left them with a glorious view of the pond and the manor, but
he could not appreciate the scene. Not now.

  He looked to his booted feet. He might as well find out what had transpired between the two. “Well, what did he say?”

  Her voice was soft as it floated to him. “He said you would move heaven and earth to be with me.”

  He looked at her then. Her hands were clenched tightly in front of her, but the smile on her face belied her nervousness. “Did he?” He chuckled as relief washed over him. His rake of a cousin had walked with a renowned beauty and talked about Logan’s love for her? It was astounding, yet the words were true. He would do anything for her, but what if that meant nothing to her? How could he live without her?

  She shifted closer to him and laid her hand on his arm, drawing his attention back to her once more. “Was he correct? Do I truly mean that much to you?”

  He looked down at her hand as it clutched the sleeve of his jacket. She had admitted she liked him, but love was something different. Love meant that she would sacrifice everything for him, just as he would for her.

  He followed the elegant line of her hand to her arm and then to her face. Her eyes were shuttered as she waited for his response. The wind blew gently, and a tendril of her hair fell to her collarbone. It was so like her that even when mussed, she looked perfect. He inclined his head toward her and closed his eyes, silencing the nagging voices of doubt that plagued him. She must love him. She had to.

  Had his cousin spoken the truth? He almost laughed out loud, because yes, Charles had. For Logan’s heart brimmed with love for her. “Yes, Ellie. I love you.” He didn’t dare look at her. His heart was in the palm of her hand, and most likely, she would crush it.

  He heard a rustle of fabric and felt her press against him. Her fingers touched his face, and he opened his eyes. Instead of the look of indifference he expected, there was enrapturement. “I love you, too.”

  A weight lifted from his shoulders, and a victorious smile tugged at his lips. Never had he understood joy as he did now. Pulling her to him, he inhaled the sweet scent of her.

  Darkness washed over her clear eyes, and she stilled in his arms. “I love you…” Her voice faltered. She coughed and squared her shoulders. “But that may not be enough.”

  “Of course it is.” He placed his finger to her lips and shushed her. “Remember, I will move heaven and earth for you.” Her lips parted, and he shook his head. What more was there to say?

  His lips descended on hers as the chill of the day receded with her nearness. She was sweet, delicate, and his. His heart swelled with the thought, even as his blood boiled to have her within his arms once more. Every motion she made, whether the press of her hand on his back, or the give and take of her tongue against his, caused him to want her more.

  He kept his hands glued in place on her back lest he lose himself. Whatever she offered was enough for him because she had given him the most precious part of her. The thought made him smile, even as he kissed her, and he forced himself to end the kiss on that magical note.

  “When shall our wedding take place?”

  She sighed, laying her head against his chest. “It matters not. Sooner is better.”

  A chilling gust of wind hit him. The wind had picked up, as evidenced by the furious ripples on the pond before them. “Should we return inside?” As much as he appreciated her tucked away in his arms, he appreciated her health much more.

  She stood and took a moment to set herself to rights. Once finished, he caught her hand in his and intertwined their fingers. They turned to the manor and strolled along in silence as a cloud passed over the sun, turning a brisk day even colder.

  He wanted ever so much to warm her, to make her feel the depth of his passion for her. For this vixen with her many frigid tendencies had laid siege to his heart with her honesty and vulnerability. All her actions in the past had shielded that vulnerability from those around her, but he knew her, and he loved her.

  His thoughts were interrupted as a tremor passed over her. Even with the sunlight streaming through the clouds, she grew colder. He grimaced as guilt ran through him. “I should not have kept you outdoors for so long.”

  She grinned as she batted her eyelashes at him. “At least you admit one thing you have done wrong.”

  What did she speak of now? He wrinkled his brow as he gazed down on her. Matters today had progressed quite swimmingly, at least he thought they had. “Were there others?”

  “Yes.” Her eyes sparkled with mischievous intent, and she said, “You toyed with me the entire time we played cards.”

  “I did no such thing.” He remained seated near her on purpose, but that was all.

  “You brushed your leg against mine on multiple occasions, and you did all manner of other bothersome things.”

  “From what I remember, you are the one that brushed your leg against mine.” He leaned toward her as they walked and said, “I quite liked it, you know.”

  Just then, a clap of thunder rang out, and it started to rain. “Good lord,” she muttered, glancing skyward.

  He raised his eyes to the heavens. Fat droplets poured down on them from a sunny sky. The sky to the west, however, did not look as friendly.

  He placed a kiss on the hand interlaced with his, and they ran back to the house before they could get too drenched. The entryway was devoid of people, which allowed Logan to place a small kiss on her before sending her to her room to dry off. He smirked as her hand left his and he said, “You know this means I won our bet.”

  Ellie scowled and nodded. “You should learn to stop when you’re ahead.” Then with a sweet smile up at him and a look in her eyes that suggested she was not displeased by his comment, she departed.

  ****

  Eleanor dried off in front of the fireplace, her heart soaring with the day’s events. Every movement she made felt lighter, as if she floated in a fairy tale. And wasn’t she in a fairy tale, even if she would not marry a prince? Her knight in shining armor was superior to a prince, and he would move heaven and earth for her. Not only had he confessed his love for her, but he had also offered marriage. It was all so perfect.

  A clap of thunder filled the room, and she turned to the window. The hue of the sky made her gray walls appear cheery in contrast. The tumultuous weather beckoned to her, so she pulled her chair over and watched the rain fall until a knock sounded on her door. Mrs. Westfield strode in, placing herself next to the window so she could face Eleanor. Her demeanor was grim, and the rhythmic tapping of her foot suggested she was agitated about something.

  “Are you in love with him, also?” her aunt asked with a reproving frown.

  Startled, Eleanor cocked her head and tried to appear unruffled. “What do you refer to?”

  “I saw how you looked at him during our card game. I am not an idiot, you know.” Mrs. Westfield scowled and shook her head. “To think, a duke would offer marriage right after meeting you and even win a stroll with you in a wager, but you would turn him down for that.”

  Eleanor bristled at her aunt’s tone. All her life, she had tried to act in an exemplary fashion, but she couldn’t now. Not when her future happiness was on the line. “I think Sir Logan is the one I shall marry.”

  “I thought you might feel this way.” Mrs. Westfield sounded weary as she said, “Your parents will never allow such a match. You have been trained since infancy to be mistress of a grand household. Not some small estate far to the north.”

  “Don’t you want me to be happy?” Her aunt, of all people, had always cared for Eleanor. When Eleanor would fall and skin her knee, it was her aunt kissing it to make her feel better. Her aunt was the one to slip her a cookie when her mother placed her on a strict diet. Eleanor had always found an ally in her aunt.

  “Of course I do.” Her aunt softened. “But I know how your parents will react. They won’t approve of him, even if I do.”

  “You do?” Eleanor’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “Of course I do. He’s a likeable fellow and handsome as sin. You two would have some
beautiful babies.” Her lips dipped in a frown as she added, “But it’s not my approval you require.”

  Eleanor turned back to the window and sighed. “Mother will not begrudge me my happiness. It’s not as if he is some pauper. She will accept him.” Her words sounded implausible, even to her own ears. Her mother had always set the minimum standard at an earl, with viscounts and barons some sort of consolation prize in case she failed.

  Mrs. Westfield shook her head and spoke in a faint, sad voice. “You are so young.” She strode to the door and turned to say, “Your parents spent a lot of money to ensure you make an advantageous match. There is no benefit to them if you marry this gentleman, and they will likely deny him your dowry. Your gentleman professes to love you now, but will he feel the same when you go to him without a dowry or penny to your name?”

  The faint rustle of fabric could be heard as her aunt left. Eleanor’s feeling of floating lessened with each patter of the rain, and the desire to cry welled up within her. Could Logan want her without a dowry? She shook her head as her spirits waned. He may profess his love for her, but no man wanted a penniless woman. One with an aunt she wished to support. Her mother was cold enough to withhold a chance of happiness from Eleanor, but could she be devoid of a heart?

  She placed her head in her hands and allowed a tear to escape. Of course she could. Her mother had never been the sort to show emotion. Hell, Eleanor had barely known her mother existed until she turned five. Up to that point, her mother had been some vague entity that Eleanor was paraded before for the occasional inspection.

  Eleanor rose and went to her bed. There, she lay down and tried to sort out her thoughts. As a young lady, she had very few options. She could not defy her parents unless she knew with absolute certainty that Logan would marry her, and if she did defy her parents and they disapproved, they could easily marry her to the first gentleman who would agree to a match.

  The room began to darken as she reclined on the bed, and she breathed in a deep, reassuring breath. Each moment she spent in her room was torture. She should go to Logan and present him with her dilemma. If he still wanted her without a dowry, well, that would certainly lessen her worries, but if he did not want her…She shuddered. She would not dwell on that at present.