by Tia Siren
She gasped and put one hand over her mouth. “Why, Cornelius Argabright, I’ve never heard such a lovely compliment. Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome, my dear. Now tell me, what was so urgent that you sent a messenger to fetch me at this time of the morning?”
“When you talked to Duke Arlington at the ball the other day, what did he say? Did he say anything about me?”
“Not a lot. He said you were the piano player. Didn’t you see him looking at you?”
“I did, but he did not hold eye contact for long.”
“What’s happened to make you think of this?”
“He has asked Papa for Jenny’s hand. He wants to court her.”
Cornelius frowned. “Really? How peculiar. I would have put all my money on him waiting to at least dance with you. I wonder why he chose to do this out of the blue?”
“He gave you no indication that he was sweet on Jenny?”
They were walking through the garden toward the house, and Cornelius couldn’t help admiring the beautiful flowers, shrubs and apple and cherry trees all around him. “None whatsoever, Marie, I promise I would have told you. He did mention her but not in a context that he would do something like this.”
“Well, something must be done. I have made a plan, and I would like for you to be present when I speak to my Papa about it.”
“I will be here for you, Marie. What do you want me to do exactly?”
She grabbed his arm and squeezed it, smiling up at him. “Just be my support, Cornie. Okay?”
He placed one hand over hers and smiled back at her. “All right, Marie. Whatever you need, dear.”
“Have you made any progress with your sweetheart?” Marie asked, curiously.
He chuckled. “A little. But let’s focus on your situation today.”
They both laughed.
Marie’s Papa didn’t seem surprised when she told him of her affections for Duke Arlington, and she wondered if she had somehow given herself away. He assured her that she had not been making a fool of herself. After all, she was usually behind the piano. He agreed to send her on the carriage ride in place of her ill sister.
“Do you think he will be angry, Papa?” Marie asked.
He chuckled. “No, I dare say, he won’t be. He would probably be flattered if I told him you volunteered to go.”
“Do you think it would be wise to tell him that?”
“I think I might.” Her father said, a contemplative look on his face.
“It would be nice for him to feel…”
“Wanted?” Her father supplied. She nodded. “I agree. Do you know much about Phillip?”
“No, I don’t.”
“I think you will find that he is a very agreeable man.”
“I’m sure he could be nothing less if you were in agreement that he could court and marry Jenny.”
“You are a smart girl.” Her father grinned at her. “He is a very open man and can be very kind to people. He has been angry and bitter for years now. But he has a good soul under the rough exterior.”
“I’m terribly glad to hear that, Papa. I was hoping he was just that way. I…I could see it in his eyes the times we have been together at the balls and dances.”
“Why have you never approached him?”
“I…I don’t know. He always seems upset when he’s at the gatherings.”
Her father nodded. “He has been rejected and spit upon by both ladies and gentlemen for some time now. Because of the scar. Do you not find that unattractive?”
“I feel it brings certain character to his face that he would not otherwise have.”
“The blade came dangerously close to taking his eye, did you know that?”
“I did not.” Marie lifted her hands to put over her mouth in surprise. “He was blessed to keep his eyes then!”
“Yes, he was. All right, dear, he will be here any minute. I will go out and greet him and see if he is willing to do the swap.” He smiled, and she grinned back.
“Thank you, Papa.”
As they pulled away from the house, Marie’s heart was thumping in her chest so hard she thought it might come out somehow. She looked up to the second floor and saw Jenny standing in the corner of her window, watching them. She lifted one hand slightly and waved. Jenny waved back.
“So your sister has taken ill, has she?” Phillip asked, looking down at her. She felt herself being analyzed and wondered what he thought of her.
“Yes, she has a migraine.”
“Oh, that’s very unfortunate then. My good wishes go to her.”
She smiled, scanning his face the way he was with her.
“I have not danced with you, have I?” Phillip asked.
She tilted her head slightly to the side and responded, “Only last Season, sir. Not this one.”
“Please dispense of the ‘sir.' I would ask that you call me Phillip.”
She blushed. “Thank you, Phillip.”
“And I’ll call you Marie.”
“Yes, si..Yes, Phillip.”
He chuckled. “You are always behind the piano, aren’t you?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“You play well. The music is lovely every time.”
“Thank you so much.” Her cheeks were on fire, and she had to hide her smile behind her hands for fear it might look silly for her to be smiling so big.
Phillip was secretly glad that Jenny had not been able to come on the carriage ride. As soon as he had left the Downing mansion, he’d known he’d made a mistake. There was no reason to choose so soon and so abruptly, especially when he didn’t know the young woman, Jenny, very well. She was pretty, delicate and young. He knew that she was not abrasive or the kind of woman who would shame him in public. Even if they never found love, at least, he would retain his dignity, and her beauty was outstanding.
But the longer he looked at Marie, the more he realized that she held a special kind of beauty he hadn’t seen before. At the balls and dances, she always seemed like a part of the furniture…or the musical instruments anyway. She blended in with her piano. He didn’t know any of the other key players in the orchestra either. But this one…his interest was growing by the moment. When she looked at him, it wasn’t with hard eyes, curious eyes that always landed on his scar or a look of mindless obedience. Her eyes screamed that she cared about him, even though she barely knew him.
Marie wasn’t used to be scrutinized in such a manner. She was aching to know what he was thinking about her. She didn’t have to wait very long.
“Did you send Cornelius over to talk to me at the ball, Marie?” he asked. She blushed furiously, and he knew what the answer was.
“I did. I hope that wasn’t too forward of me.”
“Not at all, Marie, not at all. Have you been thinking about doing that for a while?”
Marie hesitated. “All…all season.”
“Well.” He didn’t continue, and she was forced to look up and see how his face looked. She didn’t see his scar anymore. She saw a pair of soft brown eyes, wavy brown hair and a trim beard and mustache. She saw a handsome, kind-looking man and hoped he was seeing what he desired in her.
He held out his hand, and she rested hers in it. He lifted it and gave her hand a soft kiss. “You are a very sweet young lady.”
“I admire you, too, my lord.”
He shook his head. “Phillip, my dear. If we are to court, you will need to call me Phillip. I cannot have a future wife calling me “my lord.”
His words sent a shockwave of excitement and warm pleasure through her whole body. Her smile beamed out at him. He couldn’t help smiling back.
“You are lovely, Marie.”
“Oh, Phillip.” She giggled.
“Were you hoping I would feel this way?”
“I was, yes.”
He nodded. “Good. I see you are an honest woman, unafraid to speak the truth. I like that. I think we will get along well.”
He took her hand and kissed it a
gain, sending chills up Marie’s arm. She felt weak in the knees and was glad they were taking a ride instead of going for a walk.
“I believe we will, Phillip,” Marie sighed. “I believe we will.”
*****
THE END
CLEAN REGENCY Romance - A Deal with A Duke
Chapter One
Cynthia Vogel was stretched out on her sun deck; her light robe parted slightly so the sun would get to her bare legs underneath. She had a pair of shades covering her eyes so that she could lay back and enjoy the warm rays on her skin. It was rare she was able to sit outside without all of the layers required of a woman in her position. But Cynthia was beginning not to care what they all thought of her.
Cynthia’s nearest neighbor was miles away, and her land was vast, stretching out around her on all sides. Her late husband had amassed quite a lot of land, and the house behind her was enormous. Unfortunately, his untimely passing had left her with a great fortune but also with a huge debt that she was still trying to decide what to do about.
Soon Alexander would be here and extinguish her candle of loneliness. He always made her feel so much better about life. It was unfortunate he was so young. She couldn’t imagine being with someone eight years her junior. Besides, she had been friends with him since he was ten years old, almost twelve years ago, when she was his governess. Their friendship was more like a brother-sister relationship and Alex never failed to lift her spirits whenever he was around. She didn’t have to pretend to be someone else. She didn’t have to watch what she said. She could be herself.
Cynthia reached over and picked up her glass of sherry, taking a long drink from the glass before replacing it on the table next to her. She sighed. Life was so boring. Nothing to do but get ready for parties and talk to people all day long. She wanted to accomplish something. Something other than being a wife to some Duke, Earl or Lord. Whatever his station, she was unimpressed. The King himself could come for a visit and ask for her hand in marriage, and it wouldn’t happen.
She giggled, her thoughts bringing her some amusement. She heard Alexander calling to her from the doorway of the house behind her and turned to look back at him.
“Come along, darling. I’m here, and I have sherry!”
She could see him smiling and was immediately relieved. He strolled across the green lawn to get to her, leaning over to give her phantom kisses on both cheeks, which she returned as he did.
“Hello, gorgeous,” Alexander said. “How is my lovely lady today?” He took his usual place in the lounge chair on the opposite side of the table.
“I’m doing well, Alex, thank you for asking. Waiting for you to come along and lift my spirits!” She turned and gestured to her servant, who had let Alexander in. The girl disappeared into the house and would reappear moments later with a glass for Alex. “How have you been today?”
Alex shrugged, his eyes looking out over the beautiful landscape. “It’s been the same for me today as any day, dear. Just taking care of a bit of business for my father.”
“Is his business still floundering?”
Alex nodded, taking the glass from the servant and smiling up at her. “Thank you, Alice.”
“You’re welcome, sir.” The girl curtsied slightly, turned and hurried back to the house, her face slightly flushed.
“She likes you, Alex. Why do you tease her so?”
Alex looked offended but had a sparkle of amusement in his green eyes. “I’m not teasing her!” he exclaimed and then smiled. “She deserves to feel appreciated. And she knows there would never be anything further to explore here.”
“If you say so.”
“Yes, father’s business is still in the red since he made those bad deals earlier this year. It is a shame that he was fooled in such a way, but there can be nothing done about it.”
“I wish I could help you more but at this point…” She drifted off, not wanting to continue. Alexander knew of her predicament.
“I understand, Cynthia. Believe me, I do understand. It is almost as if the men who betrayed my father of his money also betrayed your late husband of his.”
“It would seem so.”
“You are dealing well with his passing. You were back to your old self much faster than I would have predicted.”
Cynthia took his words as a compliment. “Thank you, yes, I just couldn’t see staying in mourning for an entire year or longer. I loved James, don’t think I didn’t. But I have also enjoyed being alone. I like being able to do what I want to do when I want to do it.”
“And you have me to bring you male companionship. Friendship.”
She smiled at his clarification and glanced at him. He was such a handsome young man. It was too bad their relationship could never be more. “Have you found a bride yet, Alex?”
Alex snorted and gave her a sarcastic look. “You mean since yesterday, which was the last time you asked me that? No, Cynthia, I haven’t found a bride.”
“Don’t you think you are getting up there in age? You’re 21. You should be married by now. If it were me, they would be writing me off as a spinster!”
“That’s the difference between men and women, Cynthia. We can go well into our years before marrying and never suffer a stigmatism. It’s called being a lifelong bachelor. That’s praised in many circles!”
“I wouldn’t know why.” Cynthia huffed. “It certainly takes more effort to be a spinster than it does a bachelor.”
Alex nodded. “I’ll give you that, dear. It is very much a man’s world. Would you like to attend the ball this Friday with me?”
“That would be lovely, Alex. Tell me, though, how will you attract a lady if you always take me everywhere you go?”
Alex laughed loudly. “I do not take you everywhere I go, my dear! You should know better than that.”
Again when Cynthia looked at him, his eyes sparkled back at her, and she felt a warm affection for him.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Alex.” She gushed. She raised her glass into the air. “Here’s to our friendship.”
“To our friendship.” He picked up his glass and clinked it against hers.
Duke Daniel Willingham looked out over the green field, scanning it closely for animals or any changes that may have been made since he last took a ride out this way, which was exactly a week ago. He sighed. There was no change. No one ever trespassed on his land poached or camped out there. No one threatened his family in any way. It was always boring and tedious, these ritualistic tasks his father made him do. Normal people aren’t still held under their parents’ thumbs when they reach the age of 21, much less 30. His thirtieth birthday was only a few months away, and his parents were itching for him to find a bride and create an heir.
“They’re not even that old,” Daniel grumbled as he pressed his heels into the horse’s side to get it to move forward. He leaned forward and patted the horse on his neck. “We got this, Your Majesty,” he said to the horse. “You know nothing’s out here, don’t you, boy?”
Over the years, Daniel’s father had built quite an empire from almost nothing and would defend it for his very life. He had fought a war to protect his land and lived to tell about it. Now, many years later, his father was still fighting that war, but he’d brought it to his own back yard. Grand Duke Isaac Willingham was a tyrant and a bully but only when it came to his suspicions. If he felt taken advantage of, he would light up like a fire in the night. He was loud and could be rude. Daniel couldn’t fathom what kept his mother from running for the hills at some point over the last 30 years. He had ruled his district with an iron fist since he inherited it from his father.
Daniel supposed it was the other side of his father, the one that only a few people were privileged enough to see that kept his mother with him and his family loving him. The strength that his father exuded when angry was matched for his other emotions as well. He was a fierce defender of his wife and three children. He was loyal to the core and honest as the day is long. Daniel couldn’t r
emember a time when his father had lied to him. He may have been mistaken or confused, but Isaac never lied. Daniel had learned from that. He strived, to be honest in everything he did.
Unfortunately, that meant he was open about his feelings for the women he courted. He had been through many in the last ten years. Many. They had been fun for a time. Each one of them had special qualities that he adored. But there was always some kind of problem. They were too clingy, too naggy, too homely, too tall, too short…there was always something wrong that made him turn away from them. After they had fun, though.
That meant a lot of the ladies in town and that he had to dance with during the Season were already onto him. They already knew what he was about and would only deign to give him a quick Waltz or Polka because he bothered to come to the ball in the first place.
He sighed, seeing the faces of his most recent encounters in his mind and reviewing each of them quickly to see if a second or third date would be possible. His father had given him an ultimatum. Find a bride or be disinherited.
That was the last thing he needed. He had no money of his own and lived off of his father’s allowances. He had few duties when it came to taking care of their dukedom. Any that might have been his fell to his older brother, Mark, who had been successfully in charge since he was about 21. Now, fifteen years later, Mark was well-known and highly regarded all through the lands. He wasn’t going to be able to match up to his brother. He’d stopped trying long ago.
But recently his mother and father had bestowed a new responsibility. He was now in charge of the Eastern portion of their lands and was expected to rule the district in a manner his father approved. That meant being a married man with at least one heir. He was getting older, and it was starting to annoy them.
Always willing to listen to his father’s suggestions and obey when told something to do, Daniel had decided to press forward and really find a bride this time. The new Season started on Friday, and he would be at the ball.
He sighed again, rocking back and forth in the saddle as his horse trotted back to the stable. If there weren’t any new ladies at the ball, he wasn’t going to find what he was looking for.