Last Night with the Duke

by Amelia Grey

  “Were you talking to me?”

  “No, to myself,” she answered honestly. “An annoying habit of mine, I’m afraid. I hope your aunt is all right and that she wasn’t disturbed too greatly by all the barking and crashing.”

  Lady Vera continued on into the room. “She wasn’t. She’s fine. I knew she would be.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  “She’s much stronger than Griffin thinks she is. But then he does like to take care of everyone. His duty I suppose. Auntie Eve said she assumed there would be mishaps and mayhem with a dog and a child in the house.”

  “I’m going to do my best to see it doesn’t happen again.”

  “I told her it was really quite comical, though she was surprised to hear you and Griffin were having a tiff about it.”

  Esmeralda blinked slowly and whispered, “Oh dear.”

  “She wasn’t overly concerned, but glad to get the news that no one had fallen down the stairs.”

  “I was glad of that too.”

  “There is no reason for Griffin to worry so much about her. Perhaps other than she is getting old, and now sickly. He worries too much about everything, if you ask me.” She paused. “But I suppose you didn’t.”

  Nor would Esmeralda ask Lady Vera anything about the duke or anyone else in the household. Miss Fortescue’s rules on getting mixed up in a family’s affairs were quite clear: “Don’t do it.”

  Remaining neutral, she answered, “I may not always ask, so please feel free to tell me anything you want me to know.”

  “I will.” Lady Vera wandered over to the desk. She looked down at the neatly stacked cards. She picked up the appointment sheets and asked, “Will we really attend this many parties?”

  “Yes. I assume the afternoons where nothing’s planned, you and Lady Sara will be free to accept rides or walks in the park with gentlemen who show interest in you.”

  Lady Vera’s eyes brightened and she laid the papers down. “You mean with all the handsome beaus who will be seeking my hand.”

  “Yes,” Esmeralda said on a laugh. “And perhaps some young ladies might invite you to go to the park with them, as well, so you can talk about all the gentlemen.”

  “Oh, I can’t wait for the Season to begin,” Lady Vera said anxiously. “I’ve decided I agree with Sara. I think I should like it that you are our chaperone instead of a stuffy old woman who will be constantly sniffing into her handkerchief and telling us what we can and cannot do.”

  “I don’t believe I’ll have need to keep a handkerchief at my nose, but other than that, I’m not sure I’ll be any different from an older woman, Lady Vera. There are rules you must adhere to no matter who is your chaperone.”

  “Perhaps you’re right about the rules,” she said as she picked up the letter that was addressed to Esmeralda from Lady Evelyn. “I don’t get the sense you are the condemning sort.”

  “I am in no position to condemn anyone nor would I even if I were.”

  “I thought as much.” She looked down at the note and skimmed it before replacing it on the desk. “You know I love my sister, don’t you?”

  That was an odd thing for her to say, but Esmeralda answered, “Yes. That goes without saying.”

  “Good,” Lady Vera said pleasantly. “Then you will understand that though I know many gentlemen will seek my hand, I have already set my cap for Lord Henry.”

  From Lady Evelyn’s notes, Esmeralda knew Lord Henry Dagworth was the Earl of Berkwoods’ youngest son and one of the five gentlemen Lady Evelyn had mentioned as a highly favored prospect.

  “So you’ve already met him?”

  “No, of course not.” Lady Vera moved from behind the desk. “How could I have? Auntie Eve would have never permitted that. But she assures me he will be at the first ball and I will meet him there.”

  “Yes. Most likely. I mean, I’m sure he will be. Do you mind telling me why you have already settled on him before you’ve met him?”

  “Because I know everything there is to know about him. He’s the one I want. That is, I know everything Auntie Eve has told me. She has gone into great detail about all the eligible gentlemen she feels will be suitable for us to marry. She has met them all, and she said he is the most handsome by far.” Vera smiled dreamily.

  Esmeralda couldn’t imagine a man more handsome than the Duke of Griffin, but of course she couldn’t tell his sister that so she remained quiet.

  “I simply can’t wait to meet him and dance with him.”

  “And you know for certain you want to marry Lord Henry and not any of the other eligible bachelors you haven’t met?”

  “Yes,” Lady Vera said without hesitation.

  That comment took Esmeralda by surprise. She hoped Lady Vera wasn’t setting herself up for a broken heart. “There will be many young ladies other than you and Lady Sara making their debuts, as well as ladies who made their debuts in years past but haven’t made a match. They will be looking at Lord Henry too, you know. Being an earl’s son, and if he is as handsome as you say, many of them will be trying to gain his attention too.”

  “Yes, I know,” Lady Vera said as if she didn’t have a concern in the world. “I know all about the ladies and their pushy mamas, but I’m not worried about any of them.”

  Her tone was so nonchalant that Esmeralda knew Lady Vera believed that she would have no competition to win the young man’s heart.

  “Auntie Eve has assured us we will have our pick of all the gentlemen because we are daughters of a duke. None of the other young ladies who are making their debut this year are. I’ve decided he’s the one I want.”

  “All right. Do you know if Lady Sara has already decided on someone she is interested in?”

  “Yes,” Lady Vera said as if she was shocked Esmeralda had to ask. “She also expects to win the heart of Lord Henry.”

  Oh no. That couldn’t be good.

  Lady Vera added, “That’s why I want you to see to it that she doesn’t and I do.”

  Chapter 14

  Do find someone you can trust to share your thoughts. You’ll never regret having an ally in the house.

  MISS MAMIE FORTESCUE’S DO’S AND DON’TS FOR CHAPERONES, GOVERNESSES, TUTORS, AND NURSES

  Griffin strode through the door of his Mayfair home. He took off his hat and placed it on the side table. He started removing his gloves, then stopped and listened. There was no sound of chatter or movement in the house. Just the ticking of the clock that stood beside the door. That was odd for a place that had five females, a dog, and several servants in it. The first glove off, he tossed it on the top of his hat.

  It had been only three days since he’d seen Miss Swift, but he couldn’t stay away any longer. He wanted to see how she was managing. A short laugh passed his lips. There was no use lying to himself. He knew she was managing just fine. With her strength of mind, how could she not? Besides, Lady Evelyn would have sent for him if there had been any problems.

  Griffin had come over because he wanted to see Miss Swift.

  The second glove landed on the hat, and he remembered once again how close he’d come to kissing her right there in his drawing room—with Josephine looking on. He should have never touched her, because now he wanted to touch her soft skin, brush her full lips with his own.

  But he couldn’t.

  He wouldn’t stoop to seducing one of his staff, no matter how desperately he wanted to. Contrary to what all of Society thought, he had a code of honor that he wouldn’t break. He had changed from the reckless youth he had been. He would want Esmeralda, but he would not have her.

  “Esmeralda,” he said aloud. He liked the way her name sounded when he said it.

  Yes, he would think of her as “Esmeralda.” And though it would be difficult, he would show restraint and not take her in his arms until she was out of his employ.

  Unhooking the medallion at his throat, he swung the heavy cloak off his shoulders.

  “Your Grace,” Sparks said, hurrying down the corr
idor. “Let me help you with that.”

  “Not necessary, Sparks. I have it. Tell me, why is the house so quiet? Is everyone in the garden?”

  “No, Your Grace. Only a few minutes ago, Miss Swift took Lady Sara, Lady Vera, Miss Josephine, and Napoleon for a walk. In Hyde Park, I believe.”

  A rare stab of disappointment struck Griffin. So Miss Swift wasn’t at home. It was probably for the best.

  He handed his cloak to the butler and said, “It’s a nice day to be outside.”

  “Yes, Your Grace. May I get you something to drink?”

  “No, thank you. I’m going up to see Lady Evelyn.” With that, he turned and headed up the stairs.

  Griffin knocked on the door and waited for the reply for him to enter. He opened the door to his aunt’s bedchamber and walked inside, closing it behind him. Lady Evelyn sat in a straight back chair in front of a window, which was opened a few inches. To his surprise she was wearing a dark plum dress. Her gray-threaded hair had been arranged neatly on top of her head, and secured with silver combs.

  She smiled. “This is a pleasure. I didn’t know you were going to stop by today, Your Grace.”

  “A pleasure for both of us then,” he said even though he was sure there was a grimace on his face. “I didn’t know I was going to find you out of bed, dressed, and sitting in a chair in front of an open window.” He grabbed a brown velvet robe from the foot of her bed as he passed and laid it on her lap as he stopped in front of her. “Do you think that it’s wise for someone who has been as ill as you have?”

  Her aged, blue eyes stared purposefully into his. “What? Being up or sitting where I can get some fresh air for the first time in over a week?”

  “Both.”

  “Probably not.” She faced the window again. “I decided if I was going to be in pain anyway, I might as well be in pain sitting up enjoying spring air and this glorious blue sky instead of spending yet another day looking at these four walls.” She cut her eyes around to him again. “They don’t change much, you know.”

  He shook the robe down to cover her legs and then bent on one knee and tucked it snugly around her feet. “Then I will have Sparks change out the furniture, the paintings, mirrors, and all the rest of it so you’ll have something new to look at.”

  She smiled and patted his cheek affectionately as he rose and seated himself in the chair opposite her. “You’ll do no such thing. I rather like the familiar. It’s comforting. Besides, I knew it was getting close to time for Fenton’s flowers to start blooming and I wanted to see if any of them had. Unfortunately, they haven’t. None that I can see from my window anyway. I suppose he’ll enter his Persian irises in the May Day Fair again this year.”

  “He has enough planted that at least one of them should bloom on the right day so he can.”

  “Good. I know he wants to win for the fifth year in a row.”

  “I have no doubt that he will.”

  Griffin looked at the angry, welting red rash of blisters that covered one side of his aunt’s face from her hairline to her jawline. It was a devilishly hard thing to look at. The pain she endured must be great, yet she had never once complained about suffering.

  “I think you are looking better today,” he lied without guilt.

  “You say that every time you come. I appreciate it, though you and I know it’s not true.”

  “If not today, it will be one day soon,” he said, though he admitted to himself that he really hadn’t seen much improvement in the past few days. The only good thing was that, once the rash had made it down to her jawline, it hadn’t gone any farther.

  “I suppose it will.” A wistful sigh passed her lips. “The doctor, the alchemist, and the apothecary who visit me almost daily say that it will go away. They just don’t know when. In the meantime, I will continue to drink their concoctions and bear their foul-smelling creams and ointments on my face. So don’t stop saying I’m looking better. It does cheer me, even if it’s untrue.”

  “Well, at least you haven’t lost your ability to brighten my day.”

  She gave him a wilted smile that ended on a long-held sigh. “Nor shall I. I hope.”

  His aunt’s undaunted spirit reminded Griffin of Esmeralda. She and his aunt had the same outspoken disposition. They would get along well together, if his aunt could accept visitors. Once again he thought about the possibility of meeting someone during the Season, someone who appealed to him and stimulated his body and his mind.

  “All ladies should be as forthright as you are, Lady Evelyn. Unfortunately most of them are too timid. So tell me, what has you feeling so down today?”

  She laughed softly. “Life, I suppose. If not for the twins coming to visit me a couple of times each day, and your visit too, I think I’d go mad.”

  Griffin picked up her hand. It was cold. He kissed the back of her palm and then pulled the robe over her hands. “You know I won’t allow that kind of talk.”

  “And you know I don’t usually either.” She looked out at the blue sky again. “I’m feeling sorry for myself today, so if you don’t like it, you can leave me.”

  “Does it have anything to do with the house being so quiet? Sparks told me that Miss Swift has taken Sara and Vera to Hyde Park to spend the afternoon.”

  “And her sister and that dog.”

  Griffin smiled. “You’re still ill-tempered with me about hiring her and meeting all her demands without consulting you, aren’t you?”

  “Of course I am.” She slid her hand out from under the cover and rearranged the robe on her lap in a testy manner. “Everything about her is highly unusual.”

  “I’m not known for doing what’s expected.”

  “And you probably never will.”

  “What did the twins have to say about her?” he asked.

  “Exactly what you told them to: She’s lovely and clever but they’d much rather have me and will I please get well quickly and join them at the parties.”

  Griffin laughed. “I said no such things.”

  “I know. I was making it up. It matters not to Sara and Vera who escorts them during the Season. It only matters to me.”

  “So that’s what’s bothering you?”

  She looked out the window and sighed again. “Isn’t it obvious? It was my place to see the twins through the Season, and I’ve let them down and they will be with a stranger.”

  “Listen to me,” he said firmly. “You’ve not let anyone down. Least of all the twins, so don’t mention that again.”

  “That’s good of you to say, and I know that someone had to fulfill my duties for me. In truth, I probably wouldn’t have liked it any better if you’d been able to secure one of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting to chaperone them.” She paused. “But if you had, I’m sure she wouldn’t have brought along her sister and her dog.”

  “Look on the bright side,” Griffin said with a grin. “How many people in London would ever have the opportunity to entertain Napoleon and Josephine in their home for a few weeks?”

  She turned back to him and gave him a weary smile. “How many would want to?”

  Griffin chuckled. He could never get the best of his aunt, so he said, “There is still hope that one of these treatments you’re using will dry up your rash and you won’t miss all of the Season.”

  In the bright sunshine streaming through the windowpane, he could see the furrow in her brow had deepened, the wrinkles around her eyes and the lines marring her upper lip were more pronounced from the pain she’d suffered.

  “How can I help?” he asked.

  “You could try feeling sorry for me and treating me like the old woman I am.”

  “You wouldn’t like that,” he said and pulled the edge of the robe up over her cold hands again.

  “You’re right. I wouldn’t. So stop doing it.” She pulled her hands out from under the cover. “I was glad she suggested it, though.”

  “Who and what?” he asked, though he had a pretty good idea what she was referring to.
<
br />   “Miss Swift asked if she could accompany the twins to the park for the afternoon. It was a good idea, so I agreed because I’ve been indisposed. I know Vera and Sara were ready to see something other than the inside of this house and the back garden. And, on such a glorious spring day as this, it was the perfect time. I insisted they both keep their parasols open at all times. The last thing we need is for their noses or cheeks to be too rosy for the first ball of the Season.”

  “They are very good about following your instructions.”

  “As far as we know. Now tell me, are you any closer to finding out any more about the rumor that is circulating about the twins being in danger from a scoundrel?”

  “Not much,” Griffin said as he leaned against the window frame. “I talked with the barkeep who worked in the taproom the night Sir Welby heard the men talking. I will get nothing from him. Whatever he knows will go to the grave with him.”

  “Sounds as if he was simply being discreet.”

  “My thoughts too. I can respect a man who stands by his honor, but I am determined to find out who is behind this. Perhaps there are others who might remember who wandered in and out of the taproom that evening around that time.”

  “Perhaps you should speak to someone on Bow Street and let others try to find the answers for you.”

  “What kind of man would I be if I let another handle this for me?”

  “The intelligent kind. The first ball is in two nights. You haven’t much time.”

  “I’m well aware of that. But Rath and Hawk will be there helping me and Miss Swift keep watch on Sara and Vera. If any man shows with mischief on his mind, we will be ready.”

  “By the saints, Griffin, you can’t let those two rakes near your sisters. They’ll be ruined for sure if anyone thinks either of those two have designs on the twins.”

  “The last I heard titled gentlemen were much preferred over younger sons. I told you Rath and Hawk have mended their ways.” He paused. “Well, Hawk for sure.”

  “I don’t believe you.” She sighed heavily and pulled the robe up to cover her chest.