Enchanting the Duke of Demoon (Touched by Fire Book 4)

by Jenn Langston

  “If that’s true, why didn’t you tell me any of this?” he demanded, but Carolyn could see how much he was desperate to believe her.

  “I wanted to. So many times, but it was impossible. Over and over, he’d threatened to kill you. I needed him to stop using you as leverage. Needed him to believe my lies. To believe I was the heartless person he wanted me to be.”

  “Your story may be true, but you enjoyed playing the part too much.”

  The duchess vehemently shook her head. “It killed me every time. Please, believe me.”

  Knowing Edmund enough to realize he needed time to accept his mother’s words, Carolyn cleared her throat. “I hate to interrupt, but I believe time is an issue here. We don’t want Joseph to become suspicious regarding everyone’s sudden disappearance.”

  “He’s out making his rounds,” the dowager explained. “He doesn’t like the idea of the tenants looking to the duke, so he’s trying to solidify his place.”

  Carolyn cringed, wondering what kind of rumors the man would begin about Edmund. It didn’t matter, they would handle whatever arose. Right now, they needed to concentrate on how they were going to proceed with Joseph.

  “That’s good that he is not at home. He shouldn’t know of our presence here. Now, I have a plan.” Carolyn looked at both faces, sincerely hoping this would work.

  ~ ~ ~

  Edmund paced his study, not liking any of this. If everything was coordinated properly, the magistrate would arrive in just enough time for his uncle to see Carolyn and confess what he had done. They were placing a lot of emphasis on the man’s shock at seeing the supposedly dead woman.

  Feeling his nerves tugging at him, Edmund slumped into his chair and held his head in his hands. The stress of the day beat down on him. In such a short time, he had almost lost Carolyn and had discovered he knew nothing about the woman or the man who’d been living in his home for years.

  His mother’s claims ran through his head as the pained look on her face tortured him. How could this be true? Although he wanted to believe her, he wasn’t sure he could. Too many years of being treated like he was less than nothing overruled everything else. Likely, she was only trying to manipulate him the way she always had.

  A knock at the door came as an unwelcome sound. Knowing he could easily ignore the person, he remained as he was. However, the thought that it could be the magistrate arriving too early brought his head up. Or, it could be Carolyn, unable to locate his uncle and not sure how to proceed. With a sigh, he granted them entrance.

  When Uncle Joseph walked in, an easy smile on his lips, Edmund had to clench the arms of his chair to keep himself seated. This man had tried to kill Carolyn. And, if his mother was to be believed his list of sins spanned much further than that.

  “Good afternoon, Edmund. I see you have decided to go back to locking yourself up in the study.”

  Swallowing down his bile, Edmund nodded. “Everything is easier when I’m in here.”

  The man chuckled. “Of course it is, but you can’t remain in here when you have such a delightful wife to entertain you. Where is your duchess while you hide yourself away?”

  Edmund froze as prickles of unease stabbed into his flesh. Either Carolyn had been mistaken, or the man was anxious for him to find her. Considering he’d taken Carolyn to an unknown location, Edmund wondered how his uncle intended for her to be discovered. Clearly no one beside him had seen the smoke.

  “Likely visiting her sister. She made mention of the desire yesterday.”

  Seemingly satisfied, Uncle Joseph nodded. “Of course. Well, then, I suppose I’ll not fault you for remaining here today.”

  Desperate for some sort of acknowledgment from him without putting Carolyn in danger, Edmund sat back and studied the man. “I’d like to talk to you about my father again.”

  “If you must.” Uncle Joseph’s jaw tightened. “You know none of us like talking about him.”

  “Then, this will be a better topic than the last time I requested information, since I’m more interested in his death than in his life.”

  “His death?” The man’s eyes narrowed. “I cared for my brother. How can you believe talking about such a thing would be preferred?”

  Edmund shrugged. “When he died, I’d been so relieved, that I never stopped to think about anything else. After that, my scars blinded me to, well, too much over the years.”

  “That is understandable. Which is why it’s better to allow the past to remain where we left it. Behind us.”

  “How did he die?” Edmund pressed, ignoring his uncle’s recommendation. “When I try to picture my father’s body, all I see from my memory is bruises on his face and on his neck.”

  The direct look his uncle fixed upon him gave no hint to his thoughts. “Perhaps your mother was able to provide a little defense for herself.”

  Forcing a mirthless laugh, Edmund leaned forward. “You expect me to believe the weak, battered woman strangled her husband? Try again.”

  Uncle Joseph stood, and Edmund did the same.

  “Edmund, I implore you, leave it be. You will not like what you find.”

  Moving around the desk, Edmund drew up to his full height. The man may have been able to overpower the old duke, but he had no chance over him. Edmund was not afraid.

  “Although I don’t mourn him, there are a number of other ways the situation could have been handled.”

  Uncle Joseph let out a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. “I really didn’t want to do this, but just like him, you have forced my hand.”

  Before Edmund could react, the man pulled out a pistol and aimed it at his chest. With narrowed eyes, Edmund calculated the movement it would take to disarm his uncle.

  “Not a very good choice. How are you going to claim my death is an accident while you stand by with the smoking gun?”

  A chilling smile turned up the man’s mouth. “That’s a simple one. You see, once you found your wife dead, you didn’t want to live any longer. I tried to stop you, but I was too late.”

  Fury at the situation overwhelmed Edmund. The man so confidently stood there and talked about having killed Carolyn all the while planning to commit murder again.

  “She’s not dead,” Edmund ground out.

  Laughter filled the room. “She wasn’t an easy one to kill, but I assure you, it is over. The accident would have been so much more believable, had she remained dead when I strangled her with the vines in the garden. But, this is more poetic. You see, the stubborn woman decided to build up a fire in the hunting cabin and left the tender too close. It may be some time before her body will be discovered.”

  “You will never get away with any of this,” Edmund growled.

  “I already have.” Uncle Joseph lifted the pistol.

  The door opened, taking the man’s attention just long enough for Edmund to lunge forward and grip his uncle’s wrist. Squeezing, he tried to dislodge the weapon while his uncle punched at him with his free hand.

  With a cry, Uncle Joseph let go of the pistol. Quickly, Edmund twisted the man’s arms behind his back. He held his uncle completely at his mercy. Rage pumped through his entire being. It would be so simple to end the man’s life right there.

  Forcing his blood to cool, Edmund relaxed his grip, ever-so-slightly. He wasn’t his father who needlessly inflicted pain for his pleasure. Nor was he his uncle who killed at his whim. He was his own man.

  The cocking of the pistol drew his attention. His mother stood there, eyes wild as she held the weapon pointed directly at them. His heart stopped. He wanted to believe she cared for him too much to accept the scene before him. Which one of them was her target?

  “Step aside, Edmund. Let me end this.”

  “Gwyneth?” Uncle Joseph exclaimed. “You wouldn’t. I love you. I’ve taken
care of you all these years.”

  “No. You’ve use me. Force me to do things, to say things. You don’t love me.”

  His uncle fought against his hold, trying to lunge toward her. Edmund held him tighter. With narrowed eyes, his mother lifted the pistol to the man’s head.

  “Mother, don’t. If you care for me at all, put the gun down.”

  Indecision raced across her face.

  Edmund refused to give up. “Please. I need to see the truth of your words. Prove it to me now. That your actions over the past years have been the lie.”

  “But, you have no idea all the terrible things he’s done. He deserves to die.”

  “There’s been enough of that in our family. Let’s allow the magistrate to handle him.”

  Her lips wobbled as tears formed in her eyes. He breathed easier as she lowered the weapon. She crumpled to the floor, her sobs deep, but Edmund could do nothing for her at the moment. With the threat of the pistol taken care of, the butler helped Edmund tie up his uncle until the magistrate could arrive.

  It wasn’t long before the man came in with Carolyn trailing behind. Seeing the color drain from his uncle’s face gave Edmund a small bit of pleasure.

  “You can’t be here,” Uncle Joseph whispered, as if believing only he could see her. “You’re dead.”

  “Not this time.” She glared at him before rushing into Edmund’s arms.

  It was more than an hour later before the house had finally settled, and Edmund was able to be alone in his study with his wife. He held her tightly to him, inhaling the flowery perfume of her skin mixed with the acrid smoke that attempted to take her life. The reminder of how fleeting life could be had him holding her tighter.

  “I missed you,” he breathed across her skin.

  She pushed back against his chest. “Is that why you ruined the plan? You could’ve been hurt, or even killed. The man has murdered before, and he had a pistol.”

  With a nod, he brushed a stray lock of her hair from her cheek. “Yes, I know. That’s an obstacle you would have been less prepared to deal with had everything gone according to the plan. You know I couldn’t allow you to be alone with him. I love you too much to take the chance.”

  “But, still, that wasn’t how . . . What? What did you say?”

  He smiled at the utter shock in her eyes. “I said I love you, and I’ll say it again. I love you, Carolyn.”

  Joy spread across her face as she threw her arms around his neck. He laughed as he caught her and spun her in a circle. This was what he expected from his life now. Love and happiness.

  The realization that he truly was nothing like his father had seeped into his soul and changed him. There was good in him, and that was the part he intended to pass down to his children.

  “I love you too, Edmund.”

  Overwhelmed with the new sensations swimming around inside him, he crushed Carolyn’s lips with his. She clasped onto him, pressing her body further up against his. He groaned. Her eagerness was more potent than anything he’d experienced before. Needing her right now, he pushed her backward toward the sofa.

  It was past time he provided the dukedom with an heir.

  Epilogue

  Edmund held up his glass in a toast to his new friends. The fact that he could be comfortable sitting here with these three men would have been a completely foreign thought not too long ago. It was astonishing how drastically his life had changed. All because of Carolyn.

  The only regret he had was not having Thomas present. His cousin had been his only friend for so long, and Edmund felt the lack of his presence. However, he was content in knowing Thomas was happy. For all his help, Edmund had set him up with enough funds to carve out a home and happiness in London.

  “I’d like to make a toast to you three.” Edmund fought against the thickening in his throat. “I haven’t been awarded with many occasions to see the lot of you together, and I’ll not let another chance be lost. Had you all not risked your lives for me all those years ago, I wouldn’t be here today. I wish there was some way for me to repay you, but I want to offer my heartfelt thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, but as I’ve told you before, there’s no need for mentioning repayment. We were happy to help,” Gordon said.

  “I agree with Gordon,” Marcus chimed in. “Besides, we did no differently than you would have done in our position.”

  “Yes, but you have suffered injuries—”

  “As have you,” Ian pointed out.

  As the conversation returned to mundane matters, Edmund let out a breath. The men may wish to downplay their part in saving him, but it felt good to be able to thank them.

  “Are you happy now?” Ian slid into the chair beside him. “I told you there was no need to offer thanks. We are pleased to have been able to help you.”

  “I know, but I feel so responsible for—”

  “Stop right there. The only person responsible for our injuries is your uncle, and he is paying for his crimes. Now, I’m much more interested in hearing how you are handling that little baby of yours.”

  A smile twisted Edmund’s lips. Diana was everything he could have hoped for. Her sweet face was a nice mix of his mother’s and Carolyn. Nothing like his father. Two months old and she had already won his heart.

  “She’s something special. I’ll have you know, she won’t want for anything.”

  Ian returned the smile. “I’ll bet. And, how is Carolyn holding up?”

  Seeing an opportunity, Edmund grinned. “I think the duchess has been suffering as of late.”

  Ian’s back stiffened as his face grew serious. “What is wrong? What can I do?”

  “I think my wife needs a little alone time with her husband." Edmund couldn’t contain his lecherous grin.

  ~ ~ ~

  Carolyn touched her finger to her daughter’s palm and smiled when the small bundle grasped her fingers. Diana had managed to steal her heart completely from the second Carolyn had laid eyes on her. It was the strangest thing.

  “And, here I thought you didn’t like babies.” Annalise chuckled.

  “I discovered you were right. It’s an entirely different matter when the child is part you and part of the one you love.” Carolyn looked down at her two nephews playing on the carpet. “Just like those two.”

  Claire handed her toddling son, Daniel, a toy. “Yes. We are beginning to have quite a growing family. I’m looking forward to welcoming Isabella’s little one into it, too.”

  With a proud smile, Isabella rubbed her growing stomach. “You and me both. Marcus will not let me do anything fun with this small one kicking around inside me. Why must men act like the most natural of things is so dangerous?”

  Claire laughed. “I know. I was ready to move into the dowager house until after Daniel was born, simply to get away from Ian’s constant worry over my every move.”

  As the conversation moved to the troubles with overprotective men, Carolyn’s eyes fell back on her daughter. The girl was already proving to be stubborn just like her father, and Carolyn hoped Diana would also receive Edmund’s strength and his capacity to love. Where the other women lamented over their husband’s protection, the feeling had always made Carolyn feel cherished.

  Looking around the room, happiness shone from the faces of all three of her guests. Carolyn shook her head. Regardless of the complaints, these women loved it as much a she did.

  “Excuse me, Your Grace,” the dowager duchess said from the doorway. “I believe it is my turn to put our sweet little Diana to bed.”

  Although reluctant to lose even one second with her baby, Carolyn gave Diana to Edmund’s mother. The woman squeezed her arm in an understanding gesture before disappearing out of the room. These past months brought healing to both the woman and her relationship with Edmund. The d
ifference in her was astounding.

  After a few more minutes of pleasant conversation, the gentlemen showed up in the doorway to join their wives. Instantly, Carolyn’s eyes sought out Edmund, but he wasn’t present. She frowned. What had happened to him?

  “Well, Carolyn, I say you’ve made a fine little girl there,” Gordon praised. “The duke seems to be rather pleased with himself.”

  “I can’t imagine why.” Marcus’s eyes met Isabella’s. “He has yet to obtain an heir, which is what my wife is carrying for me presently.”

  Isabella scoffed. “Nonsense. I already told you I’ll have a daughter first. Exactly like Carolyn did.”

  As the group argued about the benefits of Marcus having a firstborn daughter versus a son, Ian made his way over to her. These past months Edmund had become close friends with her sister’s husband. As Thomas had returned to London, Carolyn was pleased Edmund had found someone else he felt comfortable with.

  Although, she had her family around her, at times she couldn’t help but miss Thomas’s presence. He was quick to make her smile and always had a kind word. However, she wouldn’t begrudge him the move to London. From his missives, she was pleased to know the money Edmund had gifted his cousin with enabled him to live free of his mother. In truth, Thomas was happy. Happier than he’d ever been, she’d wager.

  “Carolyn.” Ian pulled her from her thoughts.

  “Yes?”

  “The duke has asked that I deliver a message to you,” Ian said, low enough for only her to hear. “He wants you to join him at the place the two of you first met.”

  A smile spread across Carolyn’s face. “When does he desire my presence?”

  Ian shrugged. “I suppose right now, but considering he’s not in the ballroom, I think we need to have a little chat.”