To the Duke, With Love--The Rakes of St. James

by Amelia Grey

  The look in his eyes was wary. “And go where?”

  She bent down in front of him and started tucking the wrap around his legs. He must have been treated very badly at some time because he was very watchful. “Only to the other end of the house—which in this old place can be quite a stroll. I thought I’d take you to the music room with me. There’s a big window there that overlooks a garden and a fountain.”

  “What do I want to look at flowers for?”

  “Well, I hope you don’t want to today. You’d be disappointed if you did.”

  “What’d ye mean? Ye said a garden.”

  It pleased Loretta that she’d actually gotten him talking. “There aren’t any flowers to see right now. Just barren trees, bushes stripped of all their leaves, and a few dead vines that are still clinging to the trellises as they flap and fly in the wind. It’s too early in the year for flowers to bloom, and the freezing storm that brought you to our door killed almost all the budding that had already started. So I expect it will be a while before we have any color in the garden this year. And it’s also too early for Mr. Huddleston to put the fountain into working order.”

  “What ye want me to look at that for?”

  “Oh, I don’t,” she said, lifting his feet and folding the blanket under them. “This time of year you can clearly see the stone-and-tile pathway that was laid in the garden when the house was built. It’s a beautiful, intricate circle pattern. There are paths leading off the circle that are mosaics of some of the constellations, most of them having to do with hunting because this used to be a hunting lodge. There’s Orion, which is the hunter. Sagittarius is the archer. Taurus is a bull and—” She looked up and saw that Farley’s mouth hung open and his eyes were glazed. He had no idea what she was talking about. Not knowing about the constellations meant he hadn’t had much schooling—and she wondered if he’d had any at all.

  “But never mind about all that right now,” she said. “We’ll just leave it as the pathway is interesting to look at when there are no colorful flowers or overgrown bushes to distract from it.”

  Satisfied the blanket was tightly tucked, she rose. “If you want to continue to stare at these four walls and wish you were tall enough to look out the one small window over there, I’ll leave you be and go play the pianoforte alone.”

  “I’ll go with ye,” he mumbled.

  More progress.

  “Good.” Loretta moved behind the chair and gave it a push.

  She soon realized it was not as easy to roll the big chair as she’d expected it to be. It was definitely easier to move on the wooden floor than on the rugs. With a lot of effort she managed to get it out the door and start it down the long corridor toward the music room. She hadn’t played the piano since Farley had arrived because she hadn’t wanted to disturb his rest. Sounds carried very easily from one room to the next in the mostly empty house. Now that Farley was better, perhaps a little music might lift his spirits.

  It would hers.

  Loretta finally stopped the chair in front of the double window in the music room. She should probably just call it the pianoforte room. There was no harp, lyre, violin, or any other type of instrument, and by the size of the room there must have been at one time.

  She drew the draperies back as far as they would go. It would have been lovely to see sunshine streaming in and feel its warmth on her face, but it was not to be. The sky was a vast expanse of smoldering gray clouds that promised rain before the day was at an end.

  “There,” she said, turning back to face Farley as she took a resting breath from the exertion of getting the heavy wooden chair in place. “Can you see the pathway? I know it’s not as good as being outside, but it’s better than not even being able to look outside.”

  He leaned forward, shook his head, then lifted his eyes to her and said, “I can’t see a ’unter or the archer.”

  “That’s because you are looking at the constellations of them—the pattern of the stars in the night sky. We’ll take a walk outside as soon as the weather gets better and I’ll explain more about it. I have a book with some drawings in it that will help you understand.” She hesitated and then asked, “Can you read?”

  “Don’t need to,” he said defiantly. “Don’t want to. Don’t ’ave nothing to read.”

  Loretta knew many people couldn’t read so that wasn’t unusual, and suddenly she wondered if Arnold could. She would ask Mr. Huddleston if he knew whether his helper could read. If not, maybe she could teach them both to read and write their names, too. Liking that idea, she smiled to herself. It would certainly give her more to occupy her time, especially when the days were either too cold or too rainy to take a stroll around the grounds and through the garden.

  “Well, we don’t need to talk about reading today,” she answered, feeling heartened by his honest response and her thoughts to rectify that situation. Loretta walked over to the pianoforte and sat down. She immediately started playing a slow, melodic score she knew from memory. It felt good to hear music again. She’d missed it. But she could only concentrate on the tune for so long. While her fingers pressed and moved across the keys, her thoughts drifted to the duke and her conversations with him.

  It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about their discussions, their kisses. She had. Many times. She couldn’t seem to stop herself from thinking about him and the time he made the bold statement that he was in a battle with her for her.

  He had stunned her with those words, more so maybe than even by his ardent kisses. Was it because she’d let him be so intimate with her that he now wanted more from her? And God help her, she’d wanted more from him, too. But she couldn’t, wouldn’t allow it. The risks were too great.

  It was no wonder the Duke of Hawksthorn was called a rake. An apt name for such an alluring man.

  At night, it was becoming common for her to lie in her bed, long after she should have been asleep, and think about the duke. About his kisses. About his most recent proclamation: There would be more kisses. Sometimes it soothed her to remember his presence in her home, to think about how wonderful it had felt being in his arms. And more times than she could count, she’d had to chastise herself when she’d found herself wondering if she wanted him to win the battle they were waging.

  Still, at other times she’d wonder if the duke had talked to her uncle about her going to Hawksthorn or if the duke had completely forgotten about her once he’d left. It had been well over a week since he’d been at Mammoth House, and still there was no word. And he was an admitted rake. Perhaps he’d only hoped to seduce her into his bed and when that hadn’t happened, he’d simply brushed her from his mind.

  One thing was sure: She didn’t doubt the duke’s persuasive powers if he had spoken to the earl. They had been used on her and they were strong. But neither did she doubt her uncle’s harshness. She knew his strength as well. And would it be best for her if the duke won or the earl?

  She believed Paxton needed her to keep him strong in his conviction that he wouldn’t accept the duke’s offer if he didn’t desire with all his heart a match with Lady Adele. And while it would be like making a trip to heaven to get away from Mammoth House for a time, would it also be her downfall? She desired the duke and wondered if she could resist him if he chose to pursue her again.

  Lost in her thoughts, it took Loretta a moment or two to realize she was hearing a pounding knock at the back door. For an instant her stomach jumped. She thought it might be her uncle and that he’d come to talk to her about a visit to Hawksthorn, but then she smiled at that foolish notion and kept playing.

  Her uncle would never arrive at the back door of any home and most assuredly not his own. It must be one of Mr. Huddleston’s relatives. They would occasionally hunt pheasant or some type of fowl in the area and offer to share some of whatever they’d shot for the evening meal. The rumble of voices didn’t last long and Loretta soon went back to thinking about the duke until she noticed Paxton standing in the doorway. Smiling as usual.<
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  He motioned for her to come join him.

  She looked over her shoulder at Farley. His eyes were closed and his chin had fallen to his chest. The piano music had put him to sleep. She played another chord or two and then quietly rose and walked over to greet Paxton.

  “How’s Farley doing?” her brother asked in a whispered tone as they walked down the corridor.

  “The cough is still with him. It worries me that it’s still so deep in his chest.”

  “Perhaps in another few days it will be gone, because it looks as if he’s making progress. He’s out of bed.”

  “Yes, he’s eating well and regaining strength.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Paxton pulled a hand from behind his back and held up two notes. “Look what I have from our uncle. Letters. One for you and one for me.”

  Loretta’s stomach felt as if it fell to her feet. “Did the duke speak to him? Did he give in to the duke’s wishes? Will I be going to Hawksthorn with you? What did he say?”

  Paxton chuckled. “So many questions, and I don’t know the answer to any of them.”

  “Why not?” she queried.

  “I haven’t opened my note and you haven’t opened yours. They just arrived.” He threw his hands out wide and laughed. “I thought it would be better if we did it together. Ladies first.” He handed her one of the letters.

  Now her stomach felt as if it were tumbling over and over inside her. How like Paxton to be so carefree and make a game of this when she was full of apprehension. Would she be allowed to go or wouldn’t she? Did she want to go or didn’t she?

  “No, you go first,” she said anxiously, utterly dithering about her feelings on this.

  “All right, my dear sister. To please you, I will. Though it is not a gentlemanly thing to do.”

  Loretta held herself stiffly while Paxton opened the letter and read it. Silently. Oh, heaven’s gate! All her earlier muddled thoughts be damned. Yes, she wanted to go to Hawksthorn. Of course she wanted to see the duke again and to know if her heart would still feel like it was skipping a beat every time she looked at him. But would she be allowed?

  Paxton continued to look at the sheet and was quiet for so long she finally blurted, “Oh, for the sake of the jitters in my stomach, Paxton, what does he say?”

  “Nothing much, as usual. He has instructed me to not agree to anything the duke says, nor to sign anything that the duke might give me. Uncle said that once I have made it known to him that I find Lady Adele acceptable to make a match, which he has all confidence I will do, he will then take over and handle everything with the duke for me so that he can ensure all will be settled for my best benefit.”

  Loretta could see the parchment he was holding. It had a lot of writing on it. “Is that all he says?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  Her insides calmed. Her shoulders relaxed. Her breathing eased. The decision had been made. “So I wasn’t mentioned.”

  “No, but I’m sure you were in the letter you are holding.”

  A lump formed in her throat. Yes, she was sure of that, too. But if the earl didn’t mention her going in Paxton’s letter, that probably meant she wouldn’t be going.

  “Then it is as I expected,” she said softly. “Uncle is encouraging you to go to Hawksthorn and make the match with Lady Adele.”

  “Yes and he says the quicker the better. To quote him”—Paxton looked down at the letter and read—“‘Before another, more worthy gentleman snatches her from beneath your nose while you dally about life doing nothing of importance.’” He lifted his head and smiled at Loretta.

  How he could smile after such a callous remark, Loretta didn’t know. “That was unkind of Uncle.”

  “But expected. Our father wasn’t his favorite brother so we never had a chance at being favored, either. Now read yours.”

  She didn’t want to but knew she must. She turned the parchment over, broke the earl’s seal, and read. He was allowing her to go. Her legs turned weak. The duke had won. He had convinced her uncle to allow her to travel.

  Loretta looked up at Paxton. “Uncle is giving me permission to go to Hawksthorn. But says the only reason he is allowing it is because he wants me to make friends with Lady Adele and do all within my power to see to it you and the duke’s sister marry with all haste.”

  Paxton laughed heartily and, grabbing Loretta’s forearms, kissed first one cheek and then the other. “I hope you are happy, my dear, because I am delighted you’ll be with me!”

  “Yes, I do want to go,” she said knowing in her heart it was the truth, despite her troubling thoughts about what might happen between Paxton and Lady Adele or with her and the duke while she was there.

  “See, I told you it is difficult to refuse a duke,” Paxton said.

  Oh, she knew how hard it was.

  “But if you don’t refuse him,” Loretta said, “will you always wonder about Miss Pritchard and what could have developed between you two? You seemed quite taken with her when you returned home and said you wanted to pay her a visit in the spring.”

  “So I do. Just now I was referring to it being difficult for our uncle to refuse the duke. Not me.”

  “Oh.” Loretta smiled. “I was thinking you were talking about yourself. I’m happy you are taking your time about this and not rushing into saying you will marry Lady Adele.”

  “If your experience with Lord Denningcourt taught me anything, it was that one doesn’t rush into making a match.”

  “I wonder what the duke said to make the earl soften his heart and agree to let me travel this time. It’s been so long since I’ve asked to go anywhere.”

  “I can’t know for sure, but he probably had to promise to give the earl something in return. That is the way people usually do things. Even children. Remember when I used to say to you that I would play with you and your teacups if you would play hide-and-seek with me?”

  “I do remember that.”

  Happy memories of their early childhood came flooding back to her: When they lived in their own home. When they chased each other up and down the stairs. When the governess taught them their lessons together and when they threw stones into the pond behind their house. When their mother brushed their hair and patted their cheeks affectionately. A warm feeling washed over her, and she smiled.

  All that was before their mother died. Before Paxton went to boarding school and she to Switchingham to learn how to be a lady.

  “I don’t know for sure how it came about,” Paxton said, his earlier statement obviously not jogging memories as it had for her. “I don’t care, Loretta, and neither should you. Not only am I pleased you’re going to get away from this monstrosity for a while, but I also want to know what you think of Lady Adele.”

  “I want to meet her, too.”

  “To make sure she doesn’t have a wart on her nose or a missing front tooth.”

  They both laughed.

  Paxton then reached into his pocket and said, “There’s another letter that has come. It was given to Mr. Huddleston by a messenger earlier this morning. He stuffed it in his pocket and forgot to bring it inside until the other messenger arrived.”

  “From Uncle?” she asked, suddenly wary that he might have changed his mind and sent another letter rescinding his earlier one.

  “No. The duke.”

  Loretta’s heartbeat raced. “Really? What does he say?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t read it.”

  She huffed and felt like stomping her foot, as well, but was able to refrain from doing so. “Merciful heavens! Have you no curiosity in any of your bones! Do so at once and tell me what he says.”

  “I would be happy to, but I can’t.”

  “Why?”

  Paxton laughed. “I’ve already read my letter from the duke, dearest sister. This one is addressed to you.”

  Chapter 14

  A gentleman must never bring up an objectionable subject such as politics or money in front of a lady’s delicate hearing.
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  A PROPER GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO WOOING THE PERFECT LADY

  SIR VINCENT TYBALT VALENTINE

  “Oh, you are a wretched brother!” Loretta exclaimed. “Why didn’t you say I had a letter from the duke?”

  He laughed. “I was trying not to overwhelm you with news.”

  “I’m not that easily overwhelmed and you know it.” She took the note, hoping Paxton wouldn’t see that her hands were trembling—from excitement and a little fear, too. “But I do wonder why the duke wrote to me.”

  “I suppose you will have to read it and discover for yourself. My thoughts are that he simply wants to make sure you are coming with me. He seemed quite determined.”

  “Yes, I’m sure you’re right.”

  Carefully, she lifted the seal so she wouldn’t break the wax and cause it to crumble away. She didn’t know why, but wanted to keep everything about the letter perfect so she could look at it again and again. She unfolded the paper and read:

  Miss Quick,

  The battle has begun and I am well armed. I am working on my strategy for our next meeting, and I have no doubt you are working on yours. Until we meet at Hawksthorn.

  Hawk

  Loretta’s heartbeat pounded. He hadn’t forgotten about her. He was preparing for her. Oh, dear, what was she going to do? What defenses could she muster that would win against his alluring offenses? How could she resist him when he’d already showed her the pleasures she could experience in his arms?

  “What did he say?” Paxton asked.

  She folded the letter over and kept it firmly clutched in her hand. “Nothing really, other than he’s preparing for our visit.”

  “That was kind of him to remember to send you a personal note as well. He’s a very busy man, you know.”

  “Yes, it was,” she answered cautiously. “And I’m sure he is busy. What did he have to say to you?”

  “He explained the details of our visit. He’s very thorough. He’ll send two coaches for us. We’ll leave promptly at first light and stop only to change the horses, which he’s already arranged. Baskets with food and drink will be in each carriage. He said we should arrive at Hawksthorn late in the afternoon but before dark. We should be ready to leave a week from Friday. That will give us several days to get ready. Can you do that?”