The Illegitimate Duke

by Sophie Barnes

  Vivien stared at her. Her gaze dropped to the paper. “Let me see that.” Juliette handed her the calculations and watched as her friend went over them. “Amazing,” Vivien murmured. She met Juliette’s gaze and smiled with wide abandon. “And to think you were worried.” She shook her head and gave the paper back to Juliette, who carefully folded it before placing it in her reticule.

  Juliette glanced toward the table where her family and Florian still sat. “Shall we have some refreshments to celebrate?”

  “As much as I would love that, I really ought to get going,” Vivien said. “I told my aunt we could go for a walk together this afternoon if I didn’t get home too late.”

  “Will you call on me tomorrow then?” Juliette asked. Knowing she hadn’t been spending much time with her friend lately except when she’d needed her help, she decided to try and give her some attention. “We could play a game of battledore in the garden if the weather is good and then have tea afterward. It will give us a chance to catch up properly.”

  “I’d like that,” Vivien said.

  Thanking her once again for all her help, Juliette told her to give her aunt her best regards. She then pulled an empty chair toward Amelia and Gabriella, who instantly scooted sideways and made some space so she could sit down between them.

  “Congratulations on your success, Juliette,” Raphe said as he raised his teacup in salute. “I am so proud of you.”

  “You did well,” Florian agreed. He was looking at her so attentively, her cheeks began to burn. “The funds you’ve made here today will be incredibly helpful.”

  Snapping out of the momentary daze his attention wrought, Juliette said, “In truth, I have Amelia to thank.” She looked at her sister. “Whatever were you thinking to offer such a staggering amount? Not that a waltz with Florian isn’t worth it,” she hastened to add while her cheeks grew increasingly hotter, “but—”

  “It’s not the dance,” Amelia said. “It’s the cause.” She then whispered, “Although I was also thinking of you. And Florian.” Raising her voice while Juliette tried to make sense of that statement, she added, “Coventry and I decided to match your donation before coming here. But then when I saw how grasping those women were, like starved animals descending on a carcass, if you’ll pardon the analogy, I couldn’t sit and watch them continue. So I used the three thousand pounds at my disposal to bid.”

  “And I thank you for it, Duchess,” Florian said.

  “But considering the current state I am in,” Amelia went on, “and the time it will take for me to recover after my child is born, I think I ought to donate the waltz to Juliette.” She sipped her tea as if her comment was perfectly normal. As if her plot to put Juliette back in Florian’s arms was not completely transparent.

  Cringing, Juliette looked everywhere but at Florian. Until he said, “Once again, you have my utmost thanks. Dancing with Lady Juliette is always a delight.”

  It was impossible for her not to glance across the table at him. And when she did, she saw that he was smiling. At her. As if the rest of the world had vanished and nothing else mattered.

  Her heart swelled and her stomach bounced, knocking the air from her lungs.

  “Gabriella and I have also decided to match your donation, Juliette,” Raphe said, ruining the moment with his wonderful declaration and forcing Juliette’s attention to him and her sister-in-law.

  As she thanked them, she looked at everyone sitting at the table and acknowledged how lucky she was to have them all in her life. Their support was invaluable, and with their help she had no doubt that she and Florian would be able to do what was necessary, not only for St. Giles, but for the rest of England.

  “Will you call on us tomorrow then?” Gabriella asked Florian as they prepared to take their leave of each other.

  “Of course. I will visit with you in the afternoon.” He acknowledged the rest of the group and allowed his gaze to settle on Juliette. “It’s been a pleasure.” Touching the brim of his hat, he turned and walked away with a swift stride.

  Juliette watched him go. “What was that about?” she asked Gabriella.

  “Oh, nothing serious.” Gabriella waved her hand dismissively. “David developed a cough right before we came here and his nose started running,” she said in reference to her son. “It’s probably just a cold, but I thought it wise to have Florian take a look at him just in case.”

  Juliette agreed. Asking Florian for help was a very good idea, even if it proved to be unnecessary.

  Juliette raced after the shuttlecock Vivien sent her way, laughing as she almost tripped in order to hit it back toward Gabriella. It was a hot day, but the shade from an overhanging elm made the exertion the game provided bearable. “Pardon the interruption, Duchess,” Pierson called from the terrace, “but Florian is here to see Master David. Shall I show him up to the nursery?”

  “Please do,” Gabriella told him. Panting, she swiped a hand across her brow and excused herself to Juliette and Vivien. “I must hear what Florian has to say about David’s cold. I won’t be long.” She started walking away. “Why don’t you have some refreshments on the terrace while you wait? Unless of course you prefer to carry on without me.” She disappeared up the steps and through a pair of wide French doors.

  Juliette glanced at Vivien. “Let’s play a quick round first, shall we? The first to get five points wins.”

  “You don’t stand a chance.” Vivien grinned, tossing the shuttlecock into the air and whacking it hard in Juliette’s direction.

  “You’re a devil in disguise,” Juliette cried as she leapt toward her target, watching as it bounced off the edge of her battledore and onto the grass. Picking it up, Juliette put one hand on her hip and gave her friend a put-out look. “Does that count?”

  “No. I just like teasing you.” She laughed while Juliette plotted her revenge.

  “Really?” Juliette glanced toward the garden gate and allowed her eyes to widen. “Oh my goodness! What on earth is that?”

  Vivien turned and Juliette aimed the shuttlecock at her friend. It bounced off her shoulder and landed at her feet before she had a chance to realize what was going on. Her expression was comical and Juliette laughed, until she realized that Vivien was preparing to strike once more.

  They were just taking their seats on the terrace after finishing their game when Gabriella returned, accompanied by Florian. He pulled out the vacant chair beside Juliette and sat. Doing her best to ignore his presence, Juliette picked up a biscuit and took a bite. She chewed carefully while trying not to focus on how intensely the man was radiating masculinity. It was in his scent, now so familiar her body came swiftly alive the instant she smelled it, and it was in the haphazard locks of copper falling across his brow, the broad set of his shoulders and the firm outline of his thighs beneath a pair of snug buckskin breeches.

  Juliette drew a shuddering breath. Her gaze dropped to his hands and the long elegant fingers now taking hold of the lemonade glass Gabriella had served him. Tearing her eyes away by sheer force of will, Juliette looked up to find herself the subject of his regard. He raised an eyebrow and her mind went blank.

  “Sir?” As if he deserved chastising.

  “Forgive me, my lady, but there is a crumb where one ought not to be.” He quickly abandoned his lemonade and picked up a napkin. “Allow me.” And before Juliette could discern what was going on or what the man planned, he was gently dabbing at the edge of her mouth in a manner that might have been intended as an intimate caress if they’d been alone.

  But they weren’t. Gabriella and Vivien were both sitting across from them, seemingly undaunted by Florian’s attention toward Juliette or the sound of her pounding heart which was, to her own ears, quite deafening.

  “There.” Florian turned away from her and addressed Gabriella. “As I mentioned, David will be fine.” He reached for his bag and pulled out a piece of paper on which he proceeded to write with a pencil.

  Juliette, her nerves all jumbled together, wat
ched him with disappointed incomprehension. How was it that he could evoke in her a fiery response with so little ease while he himself remained seemingly unaffected? It wasn’t fair! Not to mention that his effect on her was steadily increasing, leaving her horribly bewildered and overwhelmed.

  “Have your cook prepare this for him,” Florian said, handing the paper he’d been writing on to Gabriella. His manner was infuriatingly sober. Not a hint of emotion could be detected in either his features or his bearing. “It should soothe him and allow for better rest.”

  “Thank you, Florian.” Gabriella handed the note to a nearby footman with instructions to pass it on to Cook immediately. “If only I were the one afflicted,” she said once the footman had gone to tend to his duty. “Watching either of my children suffer is intolerable.”

  “At least you have had the foresight to separate them,” Florian told her gently. “If you are lucky, Rose will not be infected by her brother’s malady.”

  “Speaking of maladies,” Vivien said, “I was thinking of putting some baskets together for the people of St. Giles. It’s not much, considering what they are suffering through, but trapped as they are for the time being, I thought it might be nice to get some fresh produce to them.”

  “That is an excellent idea,” Juliette said. She was surprised she hadn’t thought of it herself. “Healthy sustenance may even encourage those who are sick to recover while saving the healthy from falling victim to the disease. Is that not so, Florian?”

  He held her gaze briefly, but it was long enough for something tangible to pass between them, something Juliette thought might be respect. “It certainly can’t hurt. If you let me know when the baskets have been completed, I will make sure they reach the people who need them the most.”

  Vivien beamed. “Thank you ever so much. It eases my heart to know I am helping if only a little.” She picked up her reticule. “I must be on my way now. Thank you for a lovely afternoon.”

  “You are very welcome,” Juliette told her. “I hope to see you again soon.”

  Agreeing, Vivien stood, as did Florian. She gave them each a swift parting nod and then left, promising to give her aunt their best wishes.

  “She is very kind,” Florian murmured upon resuming his seat.

  “Unfortunately that is not enough,” Juliette said. When Florian gave her a curious look, she explained. “Miss Saunders’s greatest hope is to marry and start a family of her own. She longs for children to love, but with her limited funds and lack of status, most gentlemen ignore her. They’re either too high in the instep or too poor to marry for anything other than convenience.”

  “It is the driving force behind most marriages,” Florian said. “Choosing a spouse who’s your friend or whom you might actually love is a luxury few can enjoy. There’s no doubt in my mind that you and your sister-in-law are the envy of many young debutantes, Duchess. Your fortune cannot be denied.”

  “Perhaps,” Gabriella agreed. “But what about you, Florian? If you were to marry, would it be for convenience or because you’d found the woman you cannot live without?”

  Juliette didn’t dare look at her sister-in-law or at Florian. She couldn’t believe Gabriella had just asked such a forward question. And although part of her wanted to know the answer, another part dreaded hearing what he had to say.

  “If I chose to marry, and I say this hypothetically, I would want my wife to share my interests.”

  “And would you make an effort to enjoy hers?” Gabriella asked while Juliette shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

  “Naturally.” He paused before saying, “I would enter the union expecting to spend the rest of my life with her, so it seems only reasonable for us to support each other, to engage in conversation and keep each other company. I would like for her to be my friend before all else, because I believe it to be a strong foundation from which love is likely to grow.”

  “I do believe you’re more romantic than most people give you credit for,” Gabriella said.

  Florian didn’t answer right away and Juliette finally hazarded a look in his direction, only to find his gaze riveted on her. “Perhaps,” he murmured.

  Feeling hotter than when she’d been playing battledore, Juliette snatched up her glass of lemonade and took a quick sip.

  Gabriella chuckled as if completely oblivious to the impact Florian’s response was having. “I’m sure you’ll find the right woman, Florian. Maybe you already have.”

  Choking on her lemonade, Juliette sputtered ever so slightly and took another sip while wishing she could go back in time to when Vivien left so she could go with her. But since that wasn’t possible, she was stuck with hoping this conversation would soon be over so things could return to some sort of normal.

  “Are you all right?” Florian asked, forcing Juliette to address him.

  She nodded. “Mmm-hmm . . .” She coughed again. “The lemonade went down the wrong way, that’s all.”

  “Well,” Gabriella said when Juliette regained her composure. She glanced at Juliette and then at Florian. “The weather is lovely and there is scarcely a breeze. If you’re not in a hurry to leave, Florian, perhaps you’d like to play a game of battledore with Juliette?”

  Snapping to attention, Juliette threw a look of warning at Gabriella before saying, “That’s really not necessary. I’ve already played a few rounds with you and Vivien and I’m sure Florian is terribly busy. Too busy to waste time on sport.”

  “On the contrary, I have time to spare.”

  Juliette gaped at him. “You do?”

  He nodded. “I wasn’t sure how long my visit here would take, so I made arrangements.”

  Befuddled, she wasn’t sure how to respond, except to say, “I see.”

  “And besides, I haven’t been getting nearly enough exercise lately. The exertion a game of battledore provides will do me good.”

  “Then it’s settled,” Gabriella said before Juliette could ruin her matchmaking plans. Which was obviously what this was. And since it didn’t take much to see that, Juliette knew Florian must have realized it too, making her wonder all the more about his reason for choosing to stay.

  He proved to be an excellent opponent. His skill and agility were impressive. Gripping the battledore, Juliette raced after the shuttlecock, almost falling over the hem of her gown in the process while stretching her arm out to send the feathery projectile straight toward Florian.

  He caught it with ease and tossed it back with sharp precision. Juliette whacked it through the air, forcing him to chase it this time. Concentration showed on his brow as he studied the angle of the shuttlecock’s descent and prepared to hit it straight back in her direction. He did so soon enough, and this time, Juliette lost her footing in her pursuit of it. She stumbled and went down onto her knees in the grass. From the terrace came laughter, not just from Gabriella but from Raphe, who’d come to keep his wife company.

  “Well done, Juliette!” Gabriella shouted with as much encouragement as was possible under the circumstances.

  Juliette blew out a breath and prepared to rise when an outstretched hand filled her vision. “Allow me to help you up.”

  Florian’s hand was completely bare, which wasn’t surprising considering the nature of their activity. With hers equally so, however, the thought of placing her palm in his sent a dart of heat shooting straight down her middle. Her pulse leapt and for a second she thought of denying him the courtesy. And yet, the secret thrill of surrendering to her own desire for increased contact was too great to be denied. Here was the perfect excuse for her to revel in it discreetly and without anyone thinking much of it.

  So she reached up slowly and savored that moment when her hand connected with his, the warmth of his skin pressing firmly against her own and the feel of his fingers wrapping tightly around hers. There was a pause during which he simply held on, and then, with a flinch, as if reminded of what he was meant to do, he pulled her up and released her as if she were a gemstone he’d just been caught steali
ng.

  “Would you like to continue playing?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said, her answer coming as naturally as it would have if he’d asked her if the grass was green. “Would you?”

  Something indescribable surfaced from the depths of his blue eyes. It lingered for a second before it was once again gone. He inclined his head. “Yes. I like playing with you.”

  “Then you are in luck,” she told him lightly while moving away and adding some distance, “for I am more than happy to continue playing until I win.”

  Florian grinned, his expression relaxing with humor. “Then I encourage you to do your best!”

  She laughed, loving the banter and the sport while savoring the chance she’d been given to see him like this. Unwilling to let it end, Juliette picked up the shuttlecock and aimed it straight at him.

  His battledore connected with it with a thwack and it shot back toward her. It continued back and forth, forcing them both to run left and right until she, catching him slightly off guard, managed to send it past his reach.

  He shook his head and met her gaze. “Minx,” he muttered, just loud enough for her to hear. And then, before she was fully prepared, he launched another attack.

  They played until Juliette was gasping for breath and he insisted they stop. “I said I was happy to play until I win,” she complained.

  He cut her a stupefied look. “Are you saying I should have allowed you to do so?”

  “Of course not.” She was having some trouble speaking on account of her ragged breathing. “I am merely saying that I do not need to rest.”

  Coming toward her, he took the battledore from her hand and offered his arm. “As your physician, I highly recommend a fair amount of exercise. I do, however, also ask that you do not push yourself to the point of collapse.”

  With happy reluctance—strange concept that—she looped her arm with his and allowed him to escort her up to the terrace where Raphe and Gabriella sat waiting. Keeping a slow pace, Florian said, “You played well. With practice, you may become quite proficient.”