“Ah, just the man I wanted to see,” the king said, suddenly appearing by Roderick’s side and slapping him on his back. “You are in good health, I see. Curse it all, I was worried when I heard the news.”
The king looked at Lady Trayton in an appreciative manner. “And Lady Trayton. It has been a time since the earl passed away, has it not? God bless his soul.”
Lady Trayton let out a small curtsy and smiled. “Indeed, Your Majesty.”
“Ah, well,” the man said, winking at her. “If you do not mind, I need to take the duke off your hands for a few minutes. I am certain we will be seeing more of you this weekend, eh?”
Lady Trayton flushed.
Roderick was glad to step aside from the snake of a woman, but he hated to leave the ballroom and Jane. Where had the captain taken her? He could no longer see them on the dance floor.
“Elbourne,” the king announced. “This way.”
Reluctantly, Roderick followed the king to a salon off the ballroom.
After the doors closed behind them, the king stood before him, with drink in hand. “Never told you in person. But I must thank you for taking care of that cursed Devereaux situation. In fact, I intend to give you anything in my power that you want. Even if it is Miss Greenwell.” His eyes glittered with pride. “What say you to that, my boy? The lady is looking quite the thing tonight, is she not?”
Roderick stared at the king’s happy face and curled his hands. Thunderation, his monarch thought this a mere fly in the ointment. It was his life, confound it! All Roderick wanted to do was leave and grab Jane from the dance floor. But it seemed she did not want him anymore. Well, blast it all! He would make her want him again if it was the last thing he did!
“It is rather good of you to help,” Roderick said stiffly, pacing about the room. “But to put it mildly, the lady seems to have another admirer.”
The king seemed flustered and downed his drink, setting the glass on a nearby table. “Well, well, do away with him. You have done that before. Do it again.”
Roderick spun around. “Do away with him?” he asked, his voice rising.
The king lifted a serious gaze. “Curse you, Roderick! You are no puppy! If you want the girl, go after her. Take her from Argyle. You seem to have recovered quite nicely. Not that I don’t like the captain. I do. I do. Fine man, and all that. But I always liked a good fight, don’t you know?”
Roderick’s jaw tensed when he thought about his lovely Jane in the captain’s arms. “I believe I might kill the man if I get my hands on him,” he ground out.
The king frowned. “Well, curse me, don’t want that. Too messy. We have a special license with a proper date, so it’s up to you to work your magic on that girl. I owe you and will not let it pass. Now, what in the name of the king, would you like me to do?” He chuckled at his own words.
Roderick lifted an interested brow when he realized the king truly meant to help him retrieve Jane in any way or form. “Do you think you could take Lady Trayton off my hands.”
The king’s brows rose in surprise. “Jupiter, thought you liked the chit. Have her on the side after you marry. We all do it.”
Roderick scowled. “I want only one woman when I marry. No mistress. But I have no idea if Jane wants me at all.”
The king gulped down another glass of wine. “The way I see it, you should kidnap the lady.”
Roderick chuckled. Devil take it, the king was ape-drunk. “Someone tried kidnapping my newest sister-in-law,” Roderick added, trying to compose himself. “It didn’t work though. Marcus intervened, and he was not happy.”
The king plopped onto the sofa. “Heard all about it. The little lady will be at the festivities, will she not? Millicent is her name?”
Roderick nodded, but in the back of his mind he hoped to hurry back to the ballroom. “I believe Marcus and his bride will be here tomorrow. I have not seen them since they married. They’ve been in Europe for months.”
“And you have not see that pretty blue-eyed angel since you have been to France.” The king peered over the rim of his glass. “I say, I have a fancy for Miss Greenwell myself. Looked lovely in that blue gown. Matches her eyes, don’t you know. Looks quite fetching. Quite fetching indeed. If things don’t work out, let me know.”
Roderick saw red. “If you think—”
“Gentlemen, I think I should make my presence known.”
Both men turned in surprise when Agatha’s voice stabbed the air. The older lady sprung from the wing chair seated by the fire and strode toward them. The chair was so large she had been swallowed up in it.
“Miss Appleby,” the king said, stuttering as he rose. “Agatha.” He seemed to visibly swallow. “I did not think you were going to be here.”
Roderick noted with dismay that the lady had an iron grip on that blasted parasol. He backed up a bit.
The king turned white in the face. “Now, Agatha, I have done all I could in the matter.”
Agatha huffed. “Your last comments were quite interesting, I daresay.”
Roderick shifted a wary gaze between the two, wondering what the older lady had over the king. One would think their positions were reversed, and she was the queen overlooking her serf.
“Well, well,” the king said, patting his belly. “It’s time I look for some food. Good seeing you, my dear lady.”
He peered at Roderick with a pleading gaze.
Roderick blinked. “I am at your service.”
The king visibly relaxed. “Well, well, I uh, think it best you go after that girl. In fact, I demand it. You hear, I demand it!”
The older man turned took one more glance Agatha’s way, nodded grimly, then hurried from the room.
“My dear Agatha,” Roderick said, crossing his arms over his chest. “What information do you hold over his head?”
Gray eyes drilled into his. “You, Your Grace, should worry about your own affairs.” She strode toward him.
He skirted the sofa, chuckling. “Very well, I will not interrogate you any further on the matter, as long as you keep that weapon by your side.”
“I fail to see how that will help you. Because if you do not take care of your matters concerning Jane, I shall haunt you the rest of your days.” She whipped the parasol his way, coming around the sofa with a determined stride.
He made his way to the door and glanced over his shoulder, shaking his head. He could not very well charge the lady. And if he confiscated that parasol, he knew she most likely had a spare in her trunk.
He whipped open the door, thinking about Jane and the captain. “I will take care of matters, but do not think it is because you are threatening me. I have wasted enough time in here as it is. Between you and the king, I can scarcely take a breath.”
Agatha halted. “Well, what are you waiting for? Sweep her into your arms and make mad love to her, you ninny.”
“Confound it! I believe I can handle this situation without the added suggestions of a lady who is old enough to be my mother!”
This evening had become his worst nightmare. Lady Trayton, Captain Argyle, the king, and now Agatha. Blast it all. He was a duke. He should be able to come and go as he pleased without the interference of four people with their own agendas.
Parasol swinging, Agatha scooted around the table and started his way. “One whack. That’s all I want. One hard whack!”
Roderick let out a snort of laughter and hurried out the door.
Chapter Eighteen
Jane was furious as she swung about the room in the captain’s arms. She would not cry any more tears over Roderick. She would not! Not after seeing him with Lady Trayton a few minutes ago.
“He does not want me anymore,” she said stiffly.
The captain’s green eyes flickered with fury. “I am sorry he hurt you.”
Jane tried to ignore the pain in her heart. She was stronger now. She would not crumble. She did not need anyone. But her son did need a father.
“Do not take this the wrong way,”
she said, lifting her chin. “I want to be honest with you. But I may have to accept your marriage proposal. You must see that I am a fallen woman now. I do not worry over my situation, only my son’s.”
The captain chuckled and tipped her chin with a gentle finger. “My dear Jane, I would take you in a minute, but your heart belongs to him. I am not a poacher.”
She opened her mouth, but he shook his head. “No, let me finish. My guess is that Lady Trayton attached herself to him the minute he walked into the ballroom. I am not happy about how he handled the situation, but sometimes men in love do stupid things. And the duke is in love with you, no one else. He hungers for you, my dear. Those silver eyes turned black with wanting when he saw you. Believe me, they were on fire for you.”
Hope sprang in her chest. “They were?”
“Indeed, and as soon as this waltz ends, I want you to leave the ballroom and find that stupid man. Can you do that?” He regarded her with a playful grin. “Or would you like me by your side?”
She laughed. “I believe I should do it myself. The thing is, he is quite jealous of you.”
The captain’s emerald eyes lit with amusement. “Roderick and I were good friends once. But this entire situation has put us at odds. Now, now, I see that frown. Do not think you were the cause of all our disagreements.”
“I applaud your efforts, Captain. But if it were not for me, I could only assume that you and Roderick would still be friends.”
Before the captain could respond, the music ended and the dancers paraded off the floor. But Jane felt accusing eyes upon her.
“There she is.”
“Can you believe she came?”
“The king demanded she be here.”
“Not married. Shame on her.”
Jane stiffened at the cruel comments. The captain held tight to her arm as he escorted her to the far corner of the ballroom. “Lift your head high and act if you didn’t hear a thing,” he said, smiling. “I will not leave you.”
She nodded, smiling back. But she could not help the tears that seeped into the corners of her eyes. Her lips quivered. “Forgive me. I have become such a watering pot lately.”
He put his back to the crowd to shelter her. “I think you have good reason for that, my girl.”
A country set started on the floor and many of the people staring at her became interested in the dancers once again. To Jane, the ballroom became one big blur. She wished Emily were by her side. But Emily had been so confident that Roderick would sweep Jane off her feet, her friend had left the moment Jared had appeared.
Jane could not blame her. Yet, her stomach knotted as she gazed over the sea of people and could not detect another friendly face in the crowd.
The captain handed her his handkerchief and frowned. “I think it’s time you found your duke, do you not?”
She wiped her cheeks and peered up at him. “Will you be here if I need you?” she asked quietly. “It seems Emily and Jared have run off together, and I have no idea when they will return. I can only suspect they thought I would be with Roderick.”
The captain’s green eyes twinkled. “They have not seen each other for months. I do believe the lovebirds have found a little nest. If my guess is correct, we will not see them for some time.”
Jane’s smile faltered as she returned his handkerchief. “I suppose you are right.”
The captain took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “The set is still keeping everyone’s attention. This is the perfect time to find Roderick. I saw him sneaking away with the king earlier. Probably in one of the nearby salons. I shall be here if you need me. And for goodness sake, do not take no for an answer.”
His admiring gaze slid over her body and he chuckled. “Believe me, he will cave in to any demand you make. Bat those long lashes, give him a nice pout, and the man will be yours.”
Her heart fluttered. “Do you truly think so?”
He pulled at his cravat and cleared his throat. “The dress does you justice in more ways than you can ever imagine, my girl. Now get to it.”
She touched his shoulder and smiled. “Thank you.” Then without a moment to spare, she hurried from the room.
Jane peeked into the first salon off the ballroom. It was a tiny room with two overstuffed bottle green wing chairs flanking a little fire on the far wall. A small beige sofa sat near a sideboard, which held a few bottles of wine and some glasses. The candles flickering on the mantelpiece gave the place a charming touch.
“Roderick,” she whispered, tiptoeing past the door. She walked a few feet into the room and was just about to leave when the door slammed closed. She jumped in shock.
“Ah, Miss Jane Greenwell,” a voice drawled.
Jane turned. “Lord Garette?”
Alarm skittered across her body as she stared into the young man’s red-rimmed eyes. It was obvious he had been drinking quite heavily.
She moved around him, reaching for the door handle. “Forgive me. I thought my husband was here.”
Laughing, the man slapped his hand against hers, barring her exit. “Ha! Your husband? Come now, my dear girl. He is no more your husband than I am.”
Her brain swam with fear. He was ogling her like a dog would his favorite bone. Instinctively, she put a hand to her neckline, afraid of what he was thinking. “Well, then, if you will excuse me, I think I will be going. So sorry to have bothered you.”
She ducked beneath his arm and yanked on the handle one more time. It didn’t budge. His raucous laugh sent the hairs on her nape standing on end.
She looked up, her eyes widening in panic.
He pulled out a key from his pocket and dangled it before her. “Not so fast, little lady. Or are you a lady?”
A cold finger of terror slid over her heart. The man was quite broad, very muscular and very drunk. She could not fight him.
She lifted her chin and shot him her most imperious glare. “Sir, you cannot keep me here. I demand you unlock that door at once.”
“You demand, do you?” He leaned forward.
She caught the distinct scent of spirits on his breath and stepped back. “You are foxed to the gills!”
“Ah, I am, am I not?” He hiccupped and wobbled toward her. “That duke of yours, or is he yours…well, never mind. It don’t signify. Man fleeced me at cards the last time I saw of him. Never will forget it. Made me a laughing stock. Didn’t like that at all.”
Her stomach clenched in fear as she stared at the door. The man had dropped the key onto a nearby table. She could do this, she thought as she tried to stay calm. The man could scarcely stand.
She shifted her gaze back to the inebriated man. “Be that as it may, I believe you should take that up with the duke and not me.”
He laughed and took another step toward her. She staggered back, her knees hitting the wing chair behind her.
“Take a seat, Miss Greenwell.” His big hand flew up and pushed against her shoulder, shoving her into the chair. She fell with a plop.
The man took out a metal flask, swallowed the liquor, and snarled. “Tastes strange. Think I shall stop and move onto the wine.” His gaze drifted to the wine bottles and decanter on the sideboard. “The earl has a fine cellar, don’t you know?”
Jane refused to talk to this man. He had a wicked look in his eyes that sent her nerves on edge. She glanced toward the door one more time.
Without warning, he braced his large hands against the sides of the wing chair and blew against her cheek. She swallowed hard. He was definitely drunk.
She was determined not to buckle under this man’s savagery. Blond hair hung over one eye, giving him a rather boyish look. But he was no mere boy. She raised her knee to kick him, but he easily grabbed her leg and laughed.
“Ah, a woman with spirit. I think Miss Greenwell, that we will do well, you and me.”
She flinched when his finger trailed down her neck. She slapped his face. “That is out of the question.”
He leaned back and put a hand to his red chee
k. His expression turned nasty. “Fiery one, aren’t you? Didn’t expect that. Thought you some meek little thing.” He dug his fingers into her shoulders, yanking her up. “But I don’t believe you understand. It is not a question of you and me. It is a fact.” He hauled her against him and crushed his lips against hers, smothering her, sucking the very breath from her lungs.
She yelped and squirmed as he pushed her against the chair, landing on top of her. Panic like she had never known swirled within her. She could barely breathe. He bit her ear and pressed his lips hard against her neck.
She pushed wildly against his massive chest. “Please, st-stop!”
He looked up, laughing. “Ah, a bold lady with manners. I like that. I have wanted you for years. And now I have you. No one will care at all. You are used goods. A fallen woman. Even the king told me so.”
In one swift move, he picked her up and tossed her on the nearby sofa. She barely knew what was happening when her head hit the arm with a thump.
He leaned into her. “You need to be taught a lesson.”
Just as she opened her mouth to scream, his hand sliced through the air, smacking her face. The shock of the blow snapped her head back. Stars flashed before her eyes as darkness danced around her. She felt the blackness snatching the life from her. A man’s laughter echoed in her ears.
“Roderick,” she mumbled, before she saw nothing at all.
Roderick marched into the ballroom with one thing on his mind. Jane.
He had enough of this cat and mouse game. Chandeliers and candelabra flickered about the room, setting off shadows and hidden alcoves. Was Jane sitting out the dance? Was she with the captain? Had she left without telling him? He was determined to have this out! Blast it all! Where the devil was she?
The sounds of the small orchestra floated in the background as he made his way through the crowd. His senses were spinning with regret as his gaze swept the dance floor. Suddenly, he caught the captain frowning his way.
The man strode toward him. “Lose something, Your Grace?”
The Duke's Bride: Book 5 (The Clearbrooks) Page 18