Devilish Games 0f A Virtuous Lady (Steamy Historical Romance)

by Scarlett Osborne

  Letitia’s stomach fluttered. She couldn’t decide if the sensation was pleasant or uncomfortable. “I must,” she said. “I need to get as far away from the Duke as possible. I must start a new life where no one knows who I am. I thought I could do that in London, but I was mistaken. I was far too close to home.”

  The girl in the apron returned to the table carrying two steaming bowls of stew. Lord Radcliffe nodded his thanks.

  “Eat then,” he told Letitia. His voice was husky and flat with resignation. “You’ll need your strength for tomorrow’s journey.”

  * * *

  It was still dark when Algernon awoke. He could hear drops of rain plinking into the mud outside his window.

  He rubbed his eyes tiredly. He had slept little, his thoughts knocking together wildly.

  Letitia Caddy’s confession had been an uncomfortable one. Hearing the things Banfield had done to her and her family had made his stomach roll. Though a part of him knew it was foolish, he couldn’t shake his guilt at having invited the Duke into his home.

  Anger at Banfield bubbled beneath his skin. Algernon had always known the Duke to be a private gentleman, but he had not believed him the sort to take a wife in such a manner. And he’d had the nerve to speak ill of the Baron? Claim him a difficult gentleman to work with?

  Algernon snorted. He knew Lord Mullins too, of course. Knew him to be heavily focused on his business. And this certainly explained the string of irritable letters he had received from the Baron of late.

  A dead dog, or an unfaithful wife, Algernon had thought. But no, it was far more than that. Of course Lord Mullins was being difficult to work with. The Duke had been bargaining with his daughter. What had Banfield been expecting? That Lord Mullins would simply hand over his daughter without a fight?

  In spite of it all, Algernon was glad to have learned the truth. Was glad Miss Caddy had trusted him enough to share. As they had sat huddled in the corner of the tavern the previous night, Algernon had stifled the urge to leap from his seat and take her in his arms. Hold her, comfort her, feel her warmth against his body. The need to kiss her again had been so overwhelming that he had been forced to clasp his hand around the leg of the table to stop himself from moving.

  Learning of Miss Caddy’s nobility had made his desire for her intensify. Despite their feeble attempts to appear otherwise, they were both members of the ton. And that made his love for her far from forbidden.

  Algernon sighed heavily as he climbed out of bed. His love may no longer have been forbidden, but Miss Caddy had made it achingly clear that she was desperate to leave London.

  Would it change things if she knew the way I felt about her? Would it change things if she knew how desperately I long to make her my wife?

  Algernon emptied the water jug into the wash stand and splashed his face. The icy water went some way to washing away his tiredness.

  The coach was due to leave for Nottingham at eight. And if Letitia Caddy insisted on being aboard, then he would go too. What he would do when he arrived, he had no thought of it. He only knew he could not let her disappear from his life.

  Algernon made his way downstairs, buttoning his greatcoat to his throat. He could hear the rain pattering against the windows. It would be a long and uncomfortable journey to Nottingham for certain.

  He stopped abruptly at the bottom of the stairs. Standing in the middle of the tavern was the Duke of Banfield.

  Chapter 27

  Algernon stared for a moment. “Banfield.” He spat the Duke’s name out as though it were poison. “What in Heaven’s name are you doing here?” But he knew, of course. Knew he had come for Miss Caddy.

  Just as she had feared.

  Algernon fixed him with hard eyes. “Just go. You’re not welcome here.”

  Banfield’s stare was unflinching. “Miss Caddy. Where is she? I need to speak with her at once.” His voice was hard.

  Algernon felt suddenly, fiercely protective. “You are not getting anywhere near Miss Caddy.” His anger flared. “You followed us all the way from London? Haven’t you done enough to her already? Just go. Leave her in peace.”

  Banfield pressed his lips into a thin white line. “I need to speak with her at once,” he repeated tersely. “It’s very important.”

  Algernon shook his head. “No. I’ll not allow it.”

  Banfield raised his thick gray eyebrows. “You will not allow it? And who are you to speak on her behalf, Radcliffe?”

  He’s right. I’m not her husband. I’m no longer even her employer.

  The realization was a bitter one. But it didn’t matter. No matter what role he played in Letitia Caddy’s life, Algernon was determined to protect her.

  Banfield glared. “I’m not leaving until I speak with her,” he said firmly.

  Algernon turned at the creak of the steps behind him. At the top of the staircase stood Miss Caddy, her eyes fixed on the Duke, her body frozen in shock.

  “Go back to your room, Miss Caddy,” Algernon told her, his eyes darting between them.

  Miss Caddy did not go back to her room. Instead, she began to walk slowly down the staircase, her blue eyes growing fiercer with each step. “You followed me,” she hissed. “What do you want?”

  Algernon glanced at her, then looked back at the Duke. “He’s leaving, Miss Caddy. Isn’t that right, Banfield?”

  “No,” Banfield said firmly. “No, I’m not. There are important things we need to discuss.”

  “Important things?” Miss Caddy spat. “Like manipulating my father? Taking a wife as payment?” Algernon had never heard such fire in her voice.

  “Yes,” Banfield said firmly. “Exactly those things. You don’t understand any of what’s truly going on.”

  Miss Caddy laughed coldly. “I understand, Your Grace. I understand the kind of gentleman you are. And I’d rather scrub dishes for the rest of my life than give myself to you.” She pushed past the two gentlemen and charged out of the coaching house, the door slamming noisily behind her.

  Algernon hurried after her, trailed by Banfield.

  Outside, the morning was dull and gray, rain drumming steadily into the enormous puddles outside the inn. Mist hung thick over the rolling moorland beyond the stables.

  Miss Caddy was charging down the road, seemingly desperate to get as far away from the Duke as possible. Algernon ran after her and grabbed her hand.

  “Stop,” he said breathlessly. “You can’t go running off in weather like this.” Raindrops ran down the back of his collar. “Come back inside. Please. Banfield is leaving. I’ll make sure of it.”

  But Algernon could hear the Duke’s footsteps crunching behind him. Could see Miss Caddy’s eyes flashing as he approached.

  “Get away from me!” she hissed.

  Banfield held out a hand, palm up, in a gesture of peace. “Let me explain,” he said, in a voice that clearly said he would not tolerate an argument.

  Miss Caddy’s frown deepened, but she said nothing.

  “None of this is what you think,” said Banfield. “I’m not the one who wanted this marriage, Miss Caddy. It was all your father’s doing.”

  Chapter 28

  “What?” Letitia hissed. “What did you say?”

  The Duke kept his hand held out towards her as though she were a wild animal he didn’t want to provoke. “Your father is the one who wanted this marriage. It was his idea from the beginning.”

  Letitia clenched her hands into furious fists. “How dare you!” she spat. “How dare you make such accusations?!”

  On the edge of her vision, she could see the coachman bringing the horses and carriage out of the stables. The passengers she had shared the coach with yesterday were milling about the front of the inn, huddled under the awnings to keep out of the rain.

  I need to go. I will not stay here and listen to these lies.

  She began to walk. The Duke grabbed her arm.

  “Miss Caddy. Stop.”

  Her eyes flashed. “How dare you touch me?!”


  The Duke let his hand fall at once. “I’m sorry.” His eyes met hers. “Please. Let me explain.”

  “I’ve heard quite enough,” Letitia said bitterly. “And I need to be on that coach.”

  “Why? So you can run away from me? I followed you here. If I wanted to, I could follow you all the way to Nottingham.”

  Letitia clenched her teeth. She turned away. She couldn’t look at him. If she did, she was sure she would strike him.

  “I’m not going to follow you,” the Duke said, his voice gentler. “But if you are going to Nottingham to run away from me, I can only assure that there is little point to it. I followed you here because you need to know the truth. You need to know your father is not the person you believe he is.”

  Letitia’s glared fiercely. “You have no idea who my father is.”

  “I know exactly who your father is,” the Duke said firmly. “He is a liar who will do anything to advance himself. A gentleman who will do anything to see himself climb the ranks of society.”

  Letitia stiffened. Suddenly, she was back in the parlor at the Mullins manor, listening to her father spell out the details of her impending wedding.

  “Do you have any idea of what this marriage will mean for our family?”

  “You will be a Duchess, Letitia. A Duchess. Does that not mean a thing to you?”

  Letitia felt bile rise in her throat.

  No. It’s not possible. Father has always wanted to best for me. He would never betray me like this.

  The coachman’s voice crashed through her tangled thoughts. “Nottingham! Last call!”

  Lord Radcliffe reached a hand towards her. “Miss Caddy, please. Let’s go back inside. Discuss this in there.”

  Letitia hesitated. Finally, she placed her hand in Lord Radcliffe’s and trudged back into the inn.

  He let his hand fall from hers as they stepped into the tavern. The fire was roaring and Letitia made her way instinctively towards it. She held her frozen fingers close to the flames and stared into the fire until her eyes grew glassy. Everything felt unsteady. Was she truly here in a coaching house with the Duke of Banfield? Could she truly bring herself to believe these accusations he had made about her father?

  The thought of him having done such a thing was near unbearable. And yet Letitia knew there was more than a small part of her that believed the Duke. Had she thought him lying she would have climbed onto the carriage to Nottingham.

  She heard Lord Radcliffe call her name, and turned to see him and the Duke sitting at a table close to the fire. Three tin mugs sat on the table in front of them, steam rising from them.

  The Duke gestured to the empty chair opposite him. “Please, Miss Caddy.”

  Reluctantly, Letitia pulled herself away from the fire and sat at the table. She wrapped her hands around her mug, glad to find it was filled with milky tea. She brought it slowly to her lips, the warmth of it steadying her a little.

  She couldn’t bring herself to look at the Duke. Couldn’t bring herself to look anywhere but into her cup.

  “My father loves me,” she said. “He would never do anything to hurt me. All he has ever wanted was to see me married well.”

  To a Duke…

  She took a mouthful of tea to try and steady herself. The pain in her throat made it difficult to swallow.

  No. I refuse to believe it. I trust my father.

  She told herself again, in a desperate attempt to make herself believe it.

  I trust my father.

  The Duke took a long breath. His brow furrowed, and Letitia saw suddenly that this conversation was as difficult for him as it was for her.

  She cleared her throat. “Please, Your Grace. Tell me what happened.”

  “The truth is,” the Duke began, “I’ve never been much of a businessman. I’m afraid the tobacco trade has never been as good to me as it has been to Lord Radcliffe. At first I told myself it didn’t matter. I had family money; monthly rents coming in from our lands. I saw my business as little more than a hobby.” He swallowed heavily. “Until I realized the family money was gone. My debts began to pile up. I owed money to many people.” He glanced at Letitia. “The Baron of Mullins among them.”

  Letitia knotted her fingers together. “My father told me it was he who owed you money.” Her voice was tiny.

  The Duke gave a pale smile. “I wish that were the case.” He looked into his clasped hands. “Your father offered to lend me money. Enough to pay what I owed. It was foolish of me, I know, to borrow money in order to pay off another debt. But I had little choice. I assured him I would begin to pay him back the moment my next rents arrived.”

  Though her stomach was turning over, Letitia nodded for him to continue.

  “The farmers renting my land have suffered poor harvests for the past several years. One by one they began to leave to seek more fertile lands. My income dropped substantially and I was forced to tell Lord Mullins it would take me longer than I had anticipated to make the repayments.”

  “So he told you to marry me instead.” Letitia’s voice was trapped in her throat.

  The Duke nodded. “I came to see it was my title that drew the Baron towards me. It was the reason he lent me the money in the first place, despite my terrible business record.” He smiled wryly. “I suppose he believed a business association with a Duke would see him climb society’s ranks somewhat.”

  “And having that Duke as a son-in-law would advance him even further,” Letitia finished. The words felt bitter in her mouth. The last hint of doubt was gone, she realized sickly. She knew how much status meant to her father. She had just never believed him willing to climb the social ladder at any cost.

  For all of Letitia’s life, he had spoken of finding her a husband. She had seen his desire to secure a good marriage for her as a sign of his love. But now she saw with clarity. It had never been about ensuring his daughter was happy. It had been about ensuring his own advancement.

  She closed her eyes.

  “I’m sorry,” the Duke told her. “I had little choice but to accept his terms. I was in no position to bargain.”

  She gave a slight nod. “I understand,” she coughed. How misplaced her anger had been.

  The Duke turned to Lord Radcliffe. “I’m sorry I kept things from you.” He gave a wry smile. “The truth is, I’m rather ashamed of the path my life has taken. I can’t help but feel like something of a failure.” He wrapped his hands around his cup. “It’s why I came to see you yesterday, Radcliffe. Because I needed help digging my business out of the hole it’s fallen in. And I knew you were the one to help me do so.”

  For a long time, Lord Radcliffe said nothing. “We will speak on it,” he told the Duke finally.

  The Duke stood. “I plan to return to London this morning,” he said, eying them both. “I hope you will return with me.”

  Letitia stared into her clasped hands. She managed a tiny nod. The floor creaked as the Duke left the table.

  Lord Radcliffe reached over and covered Letitia’s wrist with his hand. “Are you all right?”

  Am I? I don’t even know.

  It felt as though the ground were shifting beneath her. Everything she had thought she knew had been upturned.

  No, not everything. I am still as certain as ever of my feelings for Lord Radcliffe.

  How glad she was that he was here.

  Daringly, she moved her wrist out from beneath his hand and laced her fingers through his. She squeezed hard.

  Lord Radcliffe slid forward to the edge of his chair so his nose was inches from hers. “You’re not alone,” he said softly. “You know that, don’t you?”

  Letitia nodded, her throat tightening. She was more grateful for his words than she could express.

  Impulsively, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. At once, her entire body was heated. All thought of where they were and who could be watching flew from her mind. Her lips parted beneath his and she found herself moving instinctively closer, needing more of
him, aching for more of him.

  Lord Radcliffe pulled away and, all too soon, the real world came crashing back.

  He reached forward and tucked a damp strand of hair behind her ear. “What are you thinking?”

  Letitia swallowed heavily, then cleared her throat. “I want to go back to London,” she said. “I want to see my father punished.”

  Chapter 29

  And so she was to return to the city she had fled. No, not just return to the city. Return to the city in the company of the Duke of Banfield.