The Duke's Bride: Book 5 (The Clearbrooks)

by Teresa McCarthy

  Meanwhile, Lady Trayton was growing quite bored with the women and the tour of the new wing. She had told the king she would meet him for a little after dinner wine in the same salon where Lord Garette had died. No one would bother them there, she thought smiling. She eased down the stairs and was going to make her little rendezvous when a servant handed her a note, informing her the king had retired. She crumpled the note in her hand and looked up when she saw Captain Argyle and Roderick marching toward the back door, looking like two bulls ready to charge. Curiosity got the best of her, and she followed them outside.

  Roderick glowered at the captain who was leaning against a thick oak, as if he had not a care in the world. A cool breeze whipped across their faces, rattling the leaves above them. The captain looked quite bored as clouds floated in front of the moon causing dappled shadows to play against the man’s fine features.

  “You think I will not kill you?” Roderick asked, astounded by the man’s calm behavior. “Thunderation, have you no remorse?”

  The captain flashed him a sardonic smile.

  Roderick’s temper flared. The man looked both dangerous and handsome. A wicked combination. No woman could deny the man if he tried using that charm to his advantage. Roderick had seen him at work.

  Jane was sweet and innocent, and this man had dishonored her. Not that the captain would force himself on her, but—

  “What exactly did your wife tell you?” the captain blurted out.

  “My wife,” Roderick said sharply, “did not tell me a thing. I was informed about the baby through Lady Trayton.”

  The captain frowned and kicked the dirt beneath his feet. “I see. And you believed what?”

  “How can you stand there and strike the ground with your shoe as if nothing is amiss? Are you insane, man?”

  The captain straightened. “I think you underestimate me, Elbourne.” His voice was dangerously low.

  “I certainly did,” Roderick snapped. “You took my wife from under my nose. Gave her a child—”

  The blow to Roderick’s jaw was swift and painful. He staggered back in shock, rubbing his face. He looked up and sneered at the captain. “Ah, the jealous lover. Have you forgotten I am her husband? Oh, you thought she was not married to me, did you? But wait! If the babe was born early and healthy, you must have known we were married. A tangled web, Argyle.”

  The captain started taking off his jacket. “Curse you, Roderick! Your wife does not deserve you!”

  Roderick ripped off his jacket, popping the buttons. His waistcoat came next. “I shall kill you, James. Confound you! I will keep the babe as my own, before I lose her to you! Do you hear me?”

  Argyle scoffed. “She may be your wife! But you certainly do not treat her like one! She deserves better!”

  Roderick plowed his fist into the man’s stomach. “By Jove, you will pay for everything you have done to her.”

  Argyle bent over and charged, ramming Roderick to the ground. “You do not know…what a jewel you have.”

  Roderick’s fist threw the man into the bushes. “You took advantage—”

  The captain recovered quickly, planting his fist into Roderick’s face. “You should get on your knees and ask forgiveness, you fool.”

  Roderick stumbled backward. “You, sir, are the fool!”

  The captain and Roderick rolled in the dirt.

  “You let Garette attack her and did nothing,” the captain heaved, sitting up, wiping the blood from his lip. “What kind of husband are you?”

  Roderick stood and bent over, trying to catch his breath. He was not as fit as he thought after the shooting incident. To add to his misery, the captain was a better fighter than any of his brothers, and that was saying a lot.

  “How the devil could I attack a dead man?” Roderick panted. “Only someone with your depraved brain would think such a thing.”

  “Oh, ho,” the captain ground out. “Depraved? By Jove, you are too much! Humiliating Jane further, you took Lady Trayton to supper, of all things!”

  “The seats were set. You know that. And I do not have to explain my dealings with you!”

  “No, but you will have to explain your cozy conversation with Lady Trayton to your wife! What Jane sees in you, I will never know! You conniving, despicable rat!”

  Roderick bunched his hands, ready to finish the man. “You dare call me names? You, of all people! Hell’s teeth! You go too far! You had best take yourself far from this party, and far from my wife! For I vow, I will kill you in the very next minute if you do not take your leave!”

  “Ah, perhaps you were the one who killed Garette,” the captain snapped, glaring at him. “Perhaps it was not natural causes after all. I know the signs. The man was poisoned. Someone killed him! Do not play me the fool. I worked for the Crown as well. Our host is hiding something, and so are you!”

  The captain muttered something about stupid dukes.

  Roderick glowered at the man. “Lady Trayton is the one we believe murdered Garette. And that is why my conversation with her at dinner appeared more than it was. Don’t know why I’m telling you this because you deserve nothing but my fist in your face!”

  A rustle in the bushes startled the men. They spun around. The sound of silk swishing against shrubbery followed by the crunching of footsteps faded into the darkness.

  Roderick caught a hint of red that looked all too familiar. “Lady Trayton. I think she heard us. Confound you, James.”

  Roderick’s glare drilled into the captain. Cursing, Roderick straightened his cravat and snatched his waistcoat and jacket from the ground.

  “Never mind about her, you idiot,” the captain said, wiping his hand against his mouth. “It’s your baby.”

  Roderick’s head jerked. “What?”

  “I do not think it my story to tell, you dimwitted fool!”

  “Then whose story is it?”

  Argyle’s face turned to stone. “You are an arrogant devil, did you know that? If you were not married to Jane, I would take her away from you faster than a fox from the hunt. But the lady loves you to distraction! She had no wish to tell you about the baby because you would not allow her to see other people for help. But why a husband with your intellect could not see that his wife was with child is beyond me. You must have avoided her for a very long time.”

  Roderick stiffened. The man was too close to the truth. “What other people?”

  “My servant, Mrs. Hobbs, had a hand in saving your baby, you idiot. She lived in China for years. Oh, there were doctors too, but your wife asked Mrs. Hobbs to personally use any remedies the lady thought could help an unborn child. But Jane knew you would refuse any treatments your London doctors did not agree with, Chinese or otherwise.” The captain threw on his jacket and swore, picking up a button near his shoes.

  Roderick rubbed his jaw. Something in his heart warmed. “My baby?”

  The captain tossed him the button. “I have no idea why I am even telling you this. You are one wretched husband, Your Grace.”

  Roderick watched the man closely.

  The captain looked up at him. “What the devil is it now?”

  “I have a feeling I am going to have to apologize,” Roderick said, pursing his lips in regret.

  “You have a feeling?” Argyle responded icily. “My, that would be a first. If I were you, I think I would ask myself why my wife could not talk to me about a baby she carried.”

  Roderick’s cheeks flamed as memories began to squeeze his heart. He vaguely recalled Jane trying to talk to him about children. But any time she had uttered a word about a baby, he had halted the conversation. There was a small part of him that thought perhaps she was carrying his child. Her body had changed. Her words had hinted at such, but he had been so worried about losing her, he dismissed the notion as pure nonsense.

  He had not realized he had been slowly losing her.

  The captain started walking back to the house. But suddenly, he stopped and glanced over his shoulder.

  Ro
derick cleared his throat in embarrassment. “What else?” he replied, knowing he was not going to like whatever the captain said to him.

  Beneath the moonlight, the captain’s green eyes shimmered with anger. “She thought you would force her go to London and see those doctors again. The doctors who could not save her other babies, I might add. Whatever you think, whatever you do, know that your wife’s decision to continue to see Mrs. Hobbs probably saved the life of your son. Oh, yes, we will never know for certain, will we? There were other doctors involved in her health when she visited Bath and Hemmingly Hall. They helped, of course, But what are the odds after so many losses? Tell me that, Your Grace!”

  Inwardly, Roderick cringed at the thought of Jane not trusting him. Of Jane having to go it alone. What kind of man was he?

  The captain sneered. “Not only that, your wife left the baby in the country with an older couple who live about three hours away. She left a newborn baby to be with you. An arrogant, conceited, duke of a husband. How lucky for her. I wished she had stayed with the child instead. Her heart would be much lighter and happier than it is now.”

  Uttering a vile oath, the captain disappeared into the house, leaving a stunned Roderick to stare into emptiness.

  Jane looked up from her conversation with a few of Lady Vexfield’s guests when Lady Trayton paused inside the drawing room door. For some reason, the lady had left the group when they had been taking a tour of the new wing. But now, the lady appeared before them, as if she were looking for someone. Jane had been afraid the lady had been with Roderick. And maybe she had. That had been their plan, had it not?

  But anxiety overwhelmed her when Roderick had not appeared with the rest of the gentlemen when they had walked into the room.

  A knot of dread began growing inside her as questions bombarded her brain. Had Roderick been with Lady Trayton? Had the lady poisoned him too? Had he discovered that she was indeed Lord Garette’s killer? Had the lady truly tried to make it seem as if Jane had killed Lord Garette?

  Jane’s heart felt as if it were going to jump out of her chest. What should she do? Agatha had retired to her room with an upset stomach. Captain Argyle was nowhere to be found. Emily and Jared had not been seen all evening. And where was Lord Vexfield? She needed to speak with the man!

  Knowing that time was of the essence, she was just about to look for their host when Lady Trayton starting walking her way. The lady’s gown swirled about her figure like a fierce wind. But it was the vicious expression on the lady’s face that sent alarm bells ringing in Jane’s brain.

  “He knows,” Lady Trayton said, coming up to her, smiling. “He knows all about you, the captain, and the baby.”

  Jane’s stomach clenched. She hated the thought of Roderick knowing about the baby before she could tell him. “Anything else?” she asked, calmly.

  Lady Trayton snickered. “La, do not try to trick me, Duchess. You are devastated that your husband has knowledge of your murky past. The king told me about the baby, if you want to know. Of course, I had no evidence Captain Argyle was the father until I happened to see your dear husband and the captain fighting with one another in the back gardens.”

  The color drained from Jane’s cheeks. “That’s…that’s the silliest thing I have ever heard. Roderick would never believe such story.”

  “Oh, Duchess, you act so innocent, it makes me laugh.” The lady chuckled, pulling out a silk fan and fluttering it over her heart.

  Jane felt the bile rising in her throat. “I do not believe you.”

  “Perhaps you will believe me when you see their faces. The captain has a split lip and the duke has a bruised jaw. And their jackets are a little worse for wear, not to mention their breeches. You do not believe me? Check the buttons on your husband’s jacket.”

  Jane bit down on her teeth, fighting back a wave of pain. “I think you should leave,” she replied, narrowing her eyes.

  The lady seemed quite amused. “Do you now? I think you should be a little more careful about your associations. I admit the captain is a handsome man. But you could have been a little more discreet. Society knows the man rented a place near Hemmingly Hall these past few months. And with the duke gone, well, people do talk, my dear. Your baby does not have a drop of Clearbrook blood in him.”

  Jane could barely control herself. “You are a despicable, self-absorbed woman who can do nothing to me.”

  The lady looked stunned. “I forgot. You do have claws. Well, my dear, your poor husband was not happy about the baby, I can tell you that.”

  “Don’t you dare talk about my baby,” Jane hissed. “Don’t you dare insinuate anything! Do you hear me?” She pointed her finger into the lady’s chest. “If you think I will melt into a puddle of tears, you are fooling yourself.”

  “My, my, the lady does protest too much.”

  Jane arched an imperious brow. “I vow, if you continue this little charade, I will make certain you are the one who will fall. Society will never open their doors to you again. You will be a pariah. No one will even offer you a cup of tea.”

  The lady glared at her. “You dare threaten me? A Countess?”

  Jane did not think she could do such a terrible thing to this woman, but she would not have her baby hurt by this lady’s words. “As a mother yourself, Lady Trayton, I would think you would want to do the best for your own son. Spreading lies does not help him.”

  When the lady’s’ lips began to tremble, Jane almost backed down. But no! The lady had most likely killed Lord Garette. Moreover, she had made threats against her baby. And that is where she drew the line.

  Before the lady could get in another word, Jane’s face hardened. “Do I make myself perfectly clear?”

  Lady Trayton turned white. “Perfectly, Duchess.” Her face took on a vengeful twist. “But remember your words. Because some day, they may come back to haunt you.” And with a swirl of skirts, the lady strode from the room.

  A few minutes later, Jane made her way to her bedchambers and closed the door. Her knees were shaking so much, she could barely stand.

  She turned to stare at the fire dancing in the hearth. One of Lord Vexfield’s maids must have set it while they had been touring the new wing. The red and orange flames barely warmed the chilling sensation that coursed through her. How could Roderick ever think the baby was not his?

  She dropped her head in her hands, fighting back tears. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be with her son. The viciousness of Lady Trayton’s verbal attacks haunted her. What else was the lady capable of?

  The door whipped open, jerking her head around.

  Her eyes widened in shock as Roderick marched into the room. His jacket was torn. His breeches were filthy. His jaw looked bruised, and his face was hard with anger.

  “When were you going to tell me about the child?” he replied in a menacing tone.

  Jane walked toward the bed for support, trying not to lose control. How dare he act so high and mighty when he was the one who believed she had been unfaithful! Fury engulfed her as she stared back at him. “I fail to see why you would be angry with me.”

  “Angry?” he growled. “Angry? You have my child, my son, while I am in France, and you never told me! Yet you calmly stand before me and say such a thing.”

  He clenched his fists and started to pace about the room. “I would never have gone away if I had known. I only—”

  “I! I! I!” she screamed. “Is that all you think about? What about the baby? We have a son, Roderick. A beautiful little boy. Why are you not asking about him? What color hair does he have? What color eyes, blue or grey? Does he look more like you or me? Or both?” She swallowed past the pain choking her. “I should be the one who is angry.”

  He spun on his heels. “I am the father. I should have known. Confound it, Jane. You had plenty of time to tell me.”

  She shot him a haughty look. “Did I? Did I indeed? Do you remember how many times I tried to talk about the baby? Our baby? But you continued to cut me off.
You left for the club. You went to the races. You avoided sleeping in the same bedchambers with me so you could avoid the topic. And avoid me!”

  His face twisted. “I considered the situation…and thought it best!”

  “You thought it best?” she said between a laugh and a cry. “My, how honored I should have been for you to run my entire life. I must have seemed such a child to you!”

  “That is not what I meant and you know it.”

  “Oh? And what does Lady Trayton have to say about it?”

  He actually flushed. He was obviously hiding something. And she knew exactly what he was hiding.

  She advanced on him, putting her hands to her hips. “Did you discover any more information about Lord Garette? That was the point of your discussion with her, was it not?”

  “The lady did give me a few leads.”

  “Ha, you found nothing, is that it?”

  He took off his jacket and hung it on a nearby peg. “We need to search her room for poison and anything else that could tie her to the man’s death.” He spun around, scowling. “But do not go changing the subject on me, madam. You had my baby and never told me!”

  She bristled at his arrogance. “You are not listening to anything I have to say. You are a conceited peer of the realm! You believe the world revolves around you. I do not care if you are the duke or the king! I will not take your highhandedness anymore.”

  His silver eyes flashed with impatience. “You will hear what I have to say, madam. Having my baby in the country while Captain Argyle was within sleeping distance has set the tongues wagging.”

  Jane wanted to scream. How could he not know how the captain had helped her? The man was all that a friend should be.

  Her heart sped wildly as she clenched the bedpost for support. “At first, you believed Lady Trayton, did you not?” Her tone had softened, but it was still accusing.

  She watched the guilty look on his face and forged on. “I see. You do not deny it. Well, how comforting that you can listen to a lady who has been with so many men, but you cannot, or should I say, will not, listen to your very own wife!”