The Lady and the Duke

by Olivia Kelly

  "Oh, you did. Come now, Miss Ellis. It's quite obvious that you are taken with the man." Audrey stared at her in horror. Was it obvious? Did everyone know? Beatrice leaned in, as if whispering a girlish confidence. "A peer so high never look lower than an earl's daughter, such as myself, for a wife. He might however make a baron's daughter his mistress, so you might be in luck after all."

  Audrey wrenched her arm away, heedless of the startled looks she received from the other guests close to them.

  Had Will been playing with her?

  Head spinning, she thought back to their conversation in the garden. The duke had never mentioned marriage; she had just assumed that it was his aim. But what if it wasn't? Audrey felt as though her heart was being crushed by an iron fist, and it was then she realized her exact predicament.

  She was such a fool. A fool in love with a man who represented nothing, and everything, of what she wanted.

  Beatrice still stood close, her expression cruelly amused. "Of course, if I marry him, I shall not share him with the likes of you, but perhaps someone of less exacting standards would."

  Fury hazed Audrey's vision. Two years of insults and snide rumors. Two years of being laughed at, gossiped about and looked down upon. For no reason at all, except that the high and mighty Beatrice Lettington had decided she didn't like her.

  Audrey wheeled on the other girl, her hands clenched in fists at her side, two years of bubbling wrath brewing inside her. "Shut your mouth, Beatrice Lettington, or I will shut it for you."

  Paling, Beatrice opened her mouth, then shut it. She must have realized that she had pushed too far this time and was in actual danger of having her lovely face rearranged, because she turned and quickly walked away without another word.

  Audrey's fierce flare of victory was too brief.

  She looked across the room at Will as he laughed, enjoying the company of the beautiful woman on his arm, and her chest felt sliced by a thousand tiny, lethally sharp daggers. The lady was exactly the sort one chose for a duchess, refined and delicate. Audrey wanted to flee, to disappear, to nurse her grief in private, but of course her mother chose that inopportune moment to appear with a gentleman who then begged a dance of her. Miserably, she agreed, biding her time as she plodded down the quadrille line, doing her best to keep her gaze from Will's corner of the room.

  The fact that he did not ask her to dance, or even a stroll around the ballroom, confirmed that he must want to keep their relationship secret. His intentions could not possibly be honorable. In fact, though his gaze roamed the room constantly, Will barely looked at her at all.

  A surge of fiery anger burned through Audrey.

  Perhaps he thought her desperate enough to accept such a scandalous position, to be his mistress, while he made another his wife. After all, her lack of prospects had never been any secret, thanks to Beatrice's relentless rumor mongering. The girl had industriously circulated the gossip that stained Audrey's reputation, painting her as a dullard and soon to be old maid. Her back stiffening at the thought, Audrey fairly stomped down the line, causing her dance partner to shoot her a startled look.

  Well. If the duke had believed those rumors meaning she was easy pickings, then he had best prepare himself for disappointment, for she had no plans to succumb to such a low existence.

  Damn him.

  She had been perfectly happy at the idea of going back home to the country and finding some nice gentleman farmer to marry. Spending her life with a husband whom she felt comfortable with, and who would never expect her to hold high tea or dress in silks had always been eminently acceptable to Audrey before.

  But he had made her want more. Oh, not the wealth or society position. Will—no—The Duke of Halford had ambled into her life and kissed her senseless. Made her feel special. Made her fall in love with him.

  She sucked in a breath as the blonde lady smiled up at Will and adjusted his cravat, her hands obviously familiar with the task. The dance ended and Audrey dipped low into a curtsy, barely waiting for her partner to complete his bow before turning and pushing her way through the crowd. Really, enough was enough. She would plead an aching head, take the carriage home and send it back for her parents. One more moment in the ballroom with Will and his lovely friend, and the red haze Audrey was experiencing might prompt her to do something regrettable.

  Although...she might not regret it at all.

  Still, it was a bad idea.

  She made it to the front hall and hastily collected her cloak without incident, breathing a bit easier now that escape was imminent.

  "My name is Miss Ellis. Please inform my coach that I am ready to leave," she said to the footman who hovered nearby. He nodded and slipped out the door. The cloak tangled in her hands and she muttered under her breath as she attempted to swing it over her shoulders. The cloth crumpled in her grasp as it smacked into something solid behind her.

  "Hey—be careful with that thing, would you?"

  "Oh, drat. I do apol..." Audrey whirled around at the male voice, her apology sticking in her throat at the sight of Will standing behind her. Legs braced in leathers molded lovingly against his form, dark hair tousled, he crossed his arms and smiled slowly.

  Chapter Ten

  Audrey braced herself against the traitorous longing that swept her as Will's heated gaze drank her in. Silly, stupid girl that she was, it was an effort not to smile back at him. She told herself that he was only paying attention to her now because his lady was not with him, and only the butler and a lone footman were there to witness their exchange. She looked away, refusing to share the intimacy of eye contact.

  "Are you leaving? Now?" The joviality in his voice faded a bit as he took in her cloak and poised for flight stance by the door.

  Audrey glanced at him. "Yes."

  Keep the conversation short and leave as soon as possible. It was the only way to not surrender her dignity.

  Will's dark eyebrows drew down in confusion and he raked a hand through his hair, dislodging his mask in the process. With an impatient sound, he pulled it off, fixing her with a narrow gaze. "What's happened?"

  "Nothing." She looked away. No. She wasn't going to look away as though she were the guilty party. He was the one who had deceived her as to his true intentions.

  "Actually, Your Grace, I have changed my mind. I don't believe our...arrangement would work after all. Thank you for the lovely offer—" Here she dipped into an insultingly low curtsy. "—but I don't think it would suit me. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

  Audrey took advantage of Will's stunned state to wrench the front door open and escape.

  "Miss Ellis. Audrey!" Will followed, snagging her arm and halted her attempt at evasion. His face was a welter of confused feelings, but insult was beginning to take the forefront. "I don't understand."

  "If you think on it for a while, I'm sure you'll be able to come to some satisfactory conclusion. If you will excuse me."

  He dropped her elbow at her sharp tone, his expression even more bewildered, while Audrey struggled to maintain her mask of slight boredom.

  "What has changed since this afternoon? Was it the flowers? Did you not like them?"

  "No. I mean, yes." Even in her anger, she couldn't be that rude. "They were lovely. Thank you."

  When Will reached for her again, Audrey stepped back, evading his touch. She lifted one shoulder, her chest aching with unshed tears. Why didn't he just let it go? It's not like he couldn't procure another mistress from among the ton. "It wasn't the flowers, Your Grace. I've just decided that we wouldn't suit."

  "Stop saying that."

  "Saying what? Your Grace? It is your title after all." Audrey paused. "Your Grace."

  "Damn it, Audrey. I don't—" Will paused as a couple dressed in dominos, their hoods raised, brushed past them and climbed into a waiting coach. Audrey winced silently at the tight grip the man had on his lady's arm as he propelled her in the door, then slammed it shut.

  "I don't believe you," Will continued, low
ering his voice, glancing over at carriage again. His eyes narrowed, a thoughtful expression overtaking the frustration he wore.

  "I don't care," Audrey threw back, her frayed temper flaring, unable to maintain her pretense of indifference any longer. She didn't owe him an explanation. He was the one trying to fish from both sides of the river.

  Will stood silently, his sight fastened on the carriage as it began to move slowly down the street, edging into traffic. Audrey followed his gaze, but found nothing unusual, just a plain coach, unmarked by a family crest. Just as it began to pick up speed, something fluttered from the window, landing on the cobblestones in front of the townhouse.

  ***

  Just a handkerchief, or possibly a scrap of newspaper. There was no reason for the sick feeling twisting Will's stomach. The couple in the retreating coach were likely some unassuming lord and lady, out for an evening of entertainment.

  Nothing more.

  Except, he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that watching the woman stiffly walk past he and Audrey had instilled in him. The way she moved was familiar. Too familiar.

  Will cursed, incapable of just turning around and walking back inside the town home. He left Audrey on the steps and loped down the drive toward the scrap of white, praying his half-formed suspicions were wrong.

  Bending down, he picked up the handkerchief and the sick feeling in his stomach transformed into a writhing pit of fury. Will balled the material in his fist, but he could still smell his sister's distinctive perfume on it. It had been a mistake to allow her to accompany him to the ball, and more of one to leave her dancing so he could seek out Audrey for what he thought would be a small flirtation. Then he become distracted by her sudden turnabout in affections and forgotten his sister completely.

  The thought drew his gaze back to Audrey, where she stood ready to enter the Ellis' family coach.

  Oh, no, she wasn't getting away that easily.

  He needed transportation, fast, and she had some explaining to do. Will wasn't letting her out of his sight until she confessed the reason she had lied. And it was clearly a fabrication. When he had said she had no talent for deception, he had not been dissembling.

  Might as well kill two birds with one stone. Will reached the carriage just as she attempted to pull the door shut behind her, but he blocked it with an arm.

  "What are you doing?" Audrey gasped as he yanked the door open and hopped in.

  He ignored her for the moment and spoke through the small window to the driver's seat. "I am the Duke of Halford, and I will take full responsibility for commandeering this carriage. We must catch the coach that just left. Do you know the one?"

  "Yes, Your Grace. Believe I got a good look at it."

  "Good man. Go."

  Will turned back around on the seat opposite an aghast Audrey and folded his arms over his chest as the coach lurched into action. He braced one boot against her seat, next to her knee, as they swung around the corner onto the main throughway. The carriage began to pick up speed and she flung one arm out, gripping the handle swinging from the ceiling.

  "Are you daft?"

  "Not more than most men."

  "So, that's yes." Audrey clenched her jaw and glared at him. "I demand you stop this carriage at once and get out. When my father hears of this—"

  "He will most likely demand we be married, which would suit me just fine."

  She stared at him, gnawing on her sweetly plump bottom lip in confusion. "But..." she protested weakly, interrupted by the violent sway of the vehicle.

  The coach jolted over a bump in the road, and for a moment, Will was airborne, lifted right off his seat. They both landed with an Oomph, slamming back against their respective cushions. The quiver on his back, part of his ridiculous costume, dug into his back but he didn't take it off. There wasn't anywhere to lay the thing without it spilling arrows all over the carriage floor.

  Leaning forward, Will lifted the curtain and peered out the small window, but it was too dark and foggy to see ahead. He could only hope that the coachman was following the right carriage.

  If his suspicions were correct, Viscount Claremont had kidnapped Lisle, and nothing good would come of it.

  They rounded another corner and Audrey slid down her bench, sticking one hand out to prevent crashing into the wall. She blew a few wayward curls out of her eyes—Christ, he loved her hair—and eyed him from across the coach.

  "Did you mean it?"

  "Mean what?"

  She pressed her soft pink lips together into a flat line. "Did you mean it when you said being married to me would suit you?"

  Will stared at her in disbelief. Had he not made himself perfectly clear on the matter earlier that day in the garden?

  "Yes. It would please me greatly if you were my wife." Her doubtful expression cut deep. What had he done to make her doubt him so? Will switched sides of the carriage, settling next to her on the bench and taking her ungloved hand. "Audrey. I want you. I thought you understood."

  "I did too, and then I didn't, and then I thought I did, but in a different way." She sighed, and looked him right in the eye. Will could see the doubt and hurt swimming in her gaze, but he hadn't understood a word she said. Shaking his head, he brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers, not knowing how to reach her.

  They slammed over another bump and Audrey suddenly lurched forward, her forehead connecting with his nose. Pain blossomed, leaving him seeing spots. Holy hell, that hurt. Will pulled back with a vicious curse, clutching his face. That fragging bastard Claremont would have a lot to answer for.

  "Ow!" Audrey rubbed at the large red spot their collision had left on her forehead. "What is going on, Will? Really. This is ridiculous. We're going to jolted to pieces."

  Cautiously, Will wiggled his sore nose. It was swelling already but there was no blood, which was a good sign. "We are following the carriage of the man who has abducted my sister."

  "Your sister is in London?"

  He nodded, noting the odd look on her face. "She's supposed to be home, taking care of my nephew, not following me to Town and hovering. Having an older sister is a great pain in the arse."

  "That's a horrible thing to say!" Audrey swatted him with her gloves.

  "I try to be truthful."

  "About that..." Taking a deep breath, she turned slightly on the seat to face him. "Er...does your sister have blonde hair? Was she the one with you earlier this evening?"

  "Yes, of course." Will replied absently, checking out the window again. The coach had slowed, and they seemed to be heading out of the city. The trees grew thicker, the buildings further and further apart. He dropped the shade again, turning back to see Audrey's face pale. "Who else would it have been?"

  "Yes. Your sister. Of course," she echoed, twisting her gloves in her lap.

  "You saw me with her and thought me faithless, didn't you?" Will sat back against the cushions with a thump, the shock of realizing the extent of her distrust like a sharp jab to the gut. It hurt that she thought so little of him.

  Audrey said nothing, but she didn't need to. It was in her expression, the slump of her shoulders. Then she straightened again, her forehead wrinkling.

  "Wait. Did you say she was abducted?"

  Feeling uncharitable, Will shrugged, not looking at her. "It's a long story."

  Her voice tightened. "Does it have anything to do with why you said you had reasons for acting the way you did in the gazebo, but refused to enlighten me to just what they were?"

  Oh, damn.

  "Ah..."

  "But now you have no compunction in dragging me along with you, because you need my help." Audrey waved her hand at the interior of the coach. "Is that the sort of relationship you envision for us?"

  Double damn and blast it to hell. How did she manage to turn it around on him so quickly? He hadn't even had time for a good brood.

  "No. No, of course not. I'd never—" Will broke off as the carriage slowed, then rolled to a stop. The little door over
the rear facing seat slide open and the coachman peered in at them.

  "Had to stop aways back. Man and woman got out of the other carriage, went into an inn."

  Will nodded his thanks, his thoughts already halfway to the inn, and his sister. If Claremont had done anything to hurt her, he would be wishing for death before the night was out.

  Chapter Eleven

  Audrey stared as Will grabbed his bow, slung his quiver over his head and climbed out of the carriage, starting up the road without a word. Did he honestly think she would sit out here in the carriage, waiting for him to come back? Having been a complete fool about her assumptions earlier, she wanted to make it up to him. To help. Scrambling out of the coach behind Will, she refused to step back when he spun around and glared at her.

  "You need to stay here."

  "No. I need to come with you."

  She could practically hear the grinding of his teeth. "No. You need to stay here."

  Audrey just shrugged, her heart thumping beneath the light cloak she wore. Nothing was as she had thought it to be an hour ago and she wasn't letting him out of her sight until things between them were resolved, one way or another.

  "God save me from stubborn women," muttered Will. He glanced up the road at the inn, then back at her. "Fine. But don't get in the way. The man who I believe is holding my sister is unpredictable."

  Audrey swallowed, but firmed her chin under his close inspection. "I'm not a fool. I'll stay out of the fray. I just want to be there in case I'm needed."

  With a sigh, Will gave a bad-natured shrug, then turned to address the coachman. "Do you have a pistol?" The man nodded. "Good. Keep it close. I hope it won't be needed, but it's best to be prepared."

  Without sparing Audrey a glance, Will started down the road, the coachman trailing them. She ran a few steps to catch up and huffed a few dangling curls out of her eyes. It was late, maybe three o'clock in the morning and she was tired, but she refused to even yawn. Will would use any excuse to banish her to the carriage.

  Light on the bumpy road was spotty at best, with fast moving clouds sliding over the moon and when she had stumbled for the second time, Will cursed and slowed his steps, taking her arm to guide her around the larger dips.