On the Duke's Authority (Ducal Encounters series 4 Book 3)

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘No, nothing like that. I didn’t mean to frighten you. May I come in?’

  She hesitated, then opened the door wide enough to admit him. She looked so delightfully dishevelled that Amos regretted his decision to invade her private space—her bedchamber, no less. He hadn’t been thinking with his customary clarity since Mrs Brooke’s arrival—which was no excuse at all. He felt himself stirring as he stood rooted to the spot, staring at her as the lifeblood slowly flowed through his veins and he felt his emotions emerging from a two-year hibernation.

  ‘What is it?’ she asked, looking directly back at him through wide green eyes that lent her lovely face an exotic appearance. Her lips parted, shiny and moist, further distracting Amos. He waited for the guilt that ordinarily accompanied such feelings of disloyalty, but it failed to materialise. Crista, he knew, would approve of Ariana, especially since she was so totally dedicated to their children.

  ‘Mrs Brooke is staying for another day,’ he told her.

  ‘Oh, is that all?’ Her lush lips curved into a gentle smile. ‘I thought that perhaps Josh had finally succeeded in killing Leo at the very least.’

  Amos smiled. ‘Not as far as I am aware, but we cannot afford to dismiss the possibility out of hand.’

  The tension between them was defining and palpable, the silent awareness of shared sensibility as they continued to lock gazes. Amos wanted to speak, to set the tone for this most unorthodox of meetings, but couldn’t get the words past the lump in his throat. He swallowed, found the strength to look away from her and the spell was broken.

  ‘I wanted you to know, in case she comes to the nursery and upsets the children’s routine.’

  ‘She is their grandmother. It is not for me to question her right.’

  ‘No, but I don’t want them unsettled by her—Charlotte especially.’

  ‘I understand.’

  Amos turned away from her, aware that he should leave before instinct governed his behaviour. ‘The weather is improving. We might be able to ride later.’

  He glanced back over his shoulder and noticed answering confusion reflected in her expression. ‘I would like that.’

  ‘Good. Well, I will leave you to finish getting ready. I apologise for disturbing you.’

  He thought he heard her mutter, as the door closed behind him, that he was always a disturbance.

  *

  Leona was breaking her fast in her chamber when Frankie tapped at the door.

  ‘Am I interrupting you?’ she asked, putting her head around it.

  ‘Not in the least.’ Leona smiled. ‘I had just finished. It looks as though the weather is improving,’ she added, glancing out the window and smiling at a thrush picking at a shrub that had recently given up its snowy blanket.

  ‘We have not had an opportunity to discuss the possibility of Devonshire and Yaris being acquainted. I wondered how you feel about it,’ Frankie said, perching on the edge of Leona’s bed. ‘Zach told me all about it.’

  ‘We must assume that Yaris is the man to whom Devonshire was referring in his conversation with Mrs Brooke, but he didn’t expect her to pass that snippet on to Lord Amos,’ Leona replied reflectively. ‘He had every reason in the world to suppose that your family and Mrs Brooke were not on intimate terms. I have been thinking about it and I imagine he would have been more guarded about his disclosures had it been any other way. But it was reckless of him to say anything at all.’

  ‘I agree with you, but I’m not sure what Zach hopes to achieve by keeping them all here for another day.’

  ‘Whatever his reasons, I won’t be safe until they have been stopped. I am secure enough here, but I cannot trespass on your hospitality indefinitely, nor will I. Besides, it occurs to me that if Devonshire and Yaris cannot steal my property by legal means, which seems unlikely now that the duke is backing my cause, they…well, they might arrange for me to meet with an accident.’ She looked up at Frankie. ‘I will never be safe, and it is beyond time I fought back without hiding behind others.’

  ‘In your situation I might feel the same way, but I cannot see what you could possibly do.’ Frankie frowned. ‘Please don’t act rashly, my dear.’

  ‘I cannot abide bullies,’ Leona said adamantly. ‘I wonder about confronting Devonshire, telling him what I know and that my suspicions have been put in writing and lodged with my solicitor, just in case anything should happen to me. Or that the duke knows all about them and will not let the matter rest if I am harmed.’

  Frankie shook her head. ‘It will not serve, Leona. Not unless you have actual proof to back up your suspicions. Zach has almost boundless authority, but he will not invent evidence to condemn a man, even if he suspects that he is guilty.’

  ‘Of course not.’ Leona dipped her head. ‘And I would not ask him to.’

  ‘We would be better advised to try and find the connection between Devonshire and Yaris. That, in my opinion, is the key to the entire affair, and that is where Clarence comes in. He has informants in the most surprising places. Yaris and Devonshire are nothing to do with his work but that won’t stop him. It will, however, take more than a day. In the meantime, I would caution…well, caution. Keep yourself occupied today and don’t allow Devonshire the opportunity to corner you alone.’

  ‘Mr Conroy said something about our going for a ride.’

  Frankie smiled. ‘And I can see that you are tempted. I would be too if I were in your situation and it meant that I would have an hour or two alone with the rather enticing Mr Conroy.’

  Leona widened her eyes. ‘Frankie!’

  ‘I did say if I was in your position,’ Frankie replied laughing. ‘I am deeply in love with Zach but that doesn’t mean that I am blind to the attractions of an engaging gentleman.’

  ‘Mr Conroy has demons hidden beneath all those layers of Irish charm. Aspects of his life, past disappointments that colour his judgement, I think.’

  ‘Perhaps you are right, my dear, but then we all have pasts that we prefer not to revisit. I know I do. And yours is not yet resolved. You cannot get over your loss until you dispose of Yaris, but think carefully before you take matters into your own hands.’

  ‘What would you do in my situation?’

  ‘Pretty much what you are plotting to do.’ Frankie flashed a wry smile and stood up. ‘Even so, I must advise patience. Come down when you are ready and join me in the small salon. Unless of course you prefer to ride with your Mr Conroy, in which case you can be sure that I shall excuse you.’

  Leona smiled. ‘You are very gracious,’ she said.

  She stared at the door after it closed behind Frankie, weighing up her options. She knew Frankie was right. She should let matters be and give Max Sheridan and Lord Romsey time to resolve her problems for her. But a small voice at the back of her head was telling her to stand up for herself and fight her own battles.

  She rang the bell for Ethel and had her lay out her habit. Regardless of Mr Conroy’s plans, the sunshine breaking through the early morning mist made up her mind for her. She would ride out with or without his company. Hopefully the fresh air would clear her head and she would have formulated a plan by the time she returned.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Doran left the breakfast parlour, fully intending to keep Leona within his sights during the course of the day. He wouldn’t mention the interlude in the gallery the previous evening unless she did, and would certainly not apologise for it, since he knew his regret would lack conviction. He couldn’t be sorry about something that had felt so intrinsically right.

  The nature of his thoughts gave him pause. After Coleen, the delectable young woman who had brought light, love and laughter into his life and then disappointed him so bitterly, he had determined never to allow his heart to rule his head again. And nor would it, he vowed anew. Leona was brave and intelligent, opinionated and beautiful. They both had good reason to want Yaris destroyed, and once they had managed that objective—if they did—they would go their separate ways.

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nbsp; Doran loitered on the threshold of the drawing room, surprised at the pang of regret that coursed through him. He chased it away as a light tread on the stairs had him glancing through the open drawing room door to see Leona briskly descending, dressed for riding.

  ‘Good morning,’ he said, intercepting her in the hallway. ‘I had not expected to see you so early.’

  ‘I am not one for languishing in my bed.’ She pulled on her gloves and smiled at him in a detached manner. She wore a blue velvet habit that nipped in at her narrow waist and a matching hat that sat on her head at a jaunty angle.

  ‘I hope you will accept my company,’ he said.

  ‘I would welcome it. Otherwise I might well get lost on this sprawling estate and the duke will have to send out a search party.’

  ‘Then we shall get lost together. Come along.’ He placed a hand on her elbow and steered her away from the breakfast parlour when he heard Devonshire push his chair back. He didn’t want her to see the man, or he her. ‘I have been told to consult with the duke’s head groom, who will supply us with suitable mounts.’

  ‘Then by all means.’

  Faraday materialised. ‘This door will take you directly to the stables, sir,’ he said, preceding them down a side passageway at a stately pace and opening a door for them. ‘I hope you have an enjoyable ride sir. My lady.’

  ‘Thank you, Faraday.’ It was Leona who responded. ‘I am sure we shall.’

  They stepped outside to the prospect of a much warmer day. The steadily melting snow allowed patches of grass to show through on the lawns that surrounded the house. The wind had lost its bite and the winter sun had burned off the early morning mist.

  ‘Is it all the duke’s land?’ Leona asked, a little awestricken. ‘As far as the eye can see?’

  ‘I believe so.’

  ‘It’s so peaceful. I am accustomed to life in London, where it is never quiet.’ She breathed deeply, inhaling the morning air deep into her lungs. Doran tried not to watch the manner in which the gesture emphasised the swell of her breasts. ‘I could easily grow accustomed to this.’

  ‘You will enjoy your lands in Ireland, then. Peace and quiet abound, and they say that if you don’t like the weather, wait ten minutes.’

  She smiled. ‘All four seasons in one day.’

  ‘Yes, that’s not uncommon.’

  The duke’s dogs came bounding up to them, wagging their entire bodies with an excess of energy to burn after being more or less restricted to the house since the blizzard.

  ‘It looks as though we have escorts,’ Leona said, laughing as she bent to pet the creatures. ‘Presumably they know their way around.’

  ‘Very likely.’ Doran whistled as they continued to make their way towards the stables, and the dogs immediately fell to heel.

  ‘How do you make them obey you so willingly? It’s not as though they know you.’

  ‘Ah well, perhaps not, but I know collies and these chaps almost qualify. They are essentially working dogs, they recognise a voice of authority and like to be obliging.’

  ‘You mentioned that you have collies of your own in Ireland.’

  ‘Two of them, and they are arguably the most intelligent dogs on God’s green earth.’

  ‘Of course. And you are not biased?’

  He rolled his eyes and sent her a wry smile. ‘Heaven forbid that an Irishman should exaggerate!’

  They reached the stables, where they were greeted by the head groom, who produced two lively-looking geldings for their use, one of them complete with sidesaddle. They mounted up and listened to the groom as he suggested the best route for them to follow.

  ‘If you go that way, sir,’ he said, pointing to the start of a track that had already seen plenty of equine activity that morning, as evidenced by the hoof marks that had almost eradicated the snow, leaving the mud beneath exposed, ‘the ground won’t be frozen because it gets the sun. But have a care for all that. These two have been confined to stalls for several days and will be lively. Anyway, the dogs know the best way.’

  ‘Thank you, we will be careful.’ Doran glanced across at Leona, who looked perfectly at home in the saddle. ‘Ready?’ he asked.

  ‘Absolutely.’

  She gathered up her reins and turned her mount in the direction the groom had indicated. Doran whistled to the dogs and they ran ahead down the track, their noses pressed to the ground as they sought out aromas left by rabbits, tails constantly wagging. They rode side by side, taking care to keep to the worn track. Doran felt the wind biting into his face but looked upon it as a minor inconvenience. He glanced frequently at his companion, who seemed oblivious to the conditions. He could tell that she enjoyed being outside and didn’t want to speak about her problems. He would respect that wish, since he was of a similar mind.

  ‘Where does this path lead?’

  ‘To the common between the Park, Shawford and Compton, I believe. It explains why it’s so well used.’

  ‘Don’t tell me that we shall be leaving the duke’s estate.’ She grinned. ‘I am shocked that he doesn’t own the entire county and that we might be obliged to share the track with others.’

  ‘Can you imagine the responsibility he bears for all of this?’ Doran waved an arm in an extravagant arc. ‘It must be daunting, even though he has known since the cradle what to expect. I don’t suppose he gets much leisure time. There must always be something demanding his attention, and I respect him enormously for taking on the mantle of our problems too.’

  ‘Frankie told me that he delegates far more than he once did. Since he became a father, he makes sure that he has time for his children, especially Leo, whom he must groom to eventually take over, as he himself was once groomed.’

  ‘Do you want to go into the village or shall we remain on the estate?’

  ‘I don’t…Who is that?’

  They both turned when they heard a horse approaching behind them, going faster than was safe in the conditions.

  ‘Quickly.’

  Doran called the dogs and rode behind a stand of trees, encouraging Leona to follow him. She did so without arguing and they concealed themselves just in time to see Devonshire canter past. He was riding too fast and since he concentrated his gaze directly ahead, he could not have seen them.

  ‘I wonder where he’s going,’ Leona said, frowning as the sound of another rider approaching them reached their ears. Doran wasn’t surprised when Tyler passed at a more modest pace. His man was considerate enough to know that one slip in these conditions could be fatal for his horse. ‘And who was that?’ she asked, watching Tyler as he raised his hand in a salute to Doran and rode on.

  ‘That was my man, Tyler. I tasked him with keeping Devonshire in his sights today. It’s safe to rejoin the track now,’ he added, leading the way back out.

  ‘He saw you, your man, so we can’t have been very well hidden. I am surprised that Devonshire didn’t.’

  ‘Tyler saw us because he was alert and because the trees have no leaves. They are not an adequate hiding place at this time of year. Devonshire didn’t bother to look. As to where he’s going, I hope Tyler will be able to tell us. There could be an innocent explanation. Devonshire might be going to make enquiries about his carriage repairs.’

  ‘But you don’t think that’s all there is to it?’

  ‘No, I do not. If we’re right about his connection to Yaris, I shouldn’t be a bit surprised if there’s a go-between waiting for word from him in Shawford. Perhaps the man who accosted you there has returned. Anyway, we shall know when Tyler returns. Come on, let’s explore in this direction,’ he said, turning his horse away from the village track. The dogs responded to Doran’s whistle and ran ahead.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Doran said, after they had ridden on in silence for a while.

  Leona turned to look at him and raised a brow. ‘What for?’

  ‘Devonshire spoiling our pleasure.’

  ‘That’s hardly your fault. Besides, he didn’t see us.’

 
‘I wanted to spend the morning not speaking or thinking about the man.’

  ‘That was rather ambitious of you, given the circumstances.’

  ‘I am an Irishman. We’re known for our whimsical aspirations.’

  She smiled. ‘I suppose we could have avoided actually talking about him, but our thoughts are not so easily controlled.’

  Doran chuckled. ‘And there was I thinking that my potent Gaelic charm would intoxicate you to the exclusion of all else.’

  She laughed. ‘You flatter yourself.’

  ‘Well, since you appear to be determined not to…’

  ‘Incorrigible man!’ she said, shaking her head, still laughing. He liked to see her laugh. It eradicated the desolation from her eyes and brought her fully alive.

  ‘I wonder what that place is up ahead,’ Doran said, shading his eyes with the flat of his hand. ‘A woodman’s cottage perhaps.’

  ‘I think it’s a ruin. Possibly a folly.’

  ‘The dogs seem familiar with it,’ Doran said, watching as Marley and Mungo ran inside the place. ‘Shall we explore?’

  ‘Certainly.’

  She slipped from her saddle before he could dismount and help her down. He took her reins and his and tied the two horses to a branch in the lee of the wind.

  ‘They’ll be all right for a short time, but we can’t leave them too long,’ he said, taking her elbow and leading her into the ruined building. ‘Someone’s been living here, and recently,’ he said, a suspicious edge to his voice as he poked at the warm embers of a fire.

  ‘A poacher, perhaps,’ Leona suggested.

  ‘Very likely. I’m surprised the duke’s keepers aren’t aware.’

  ‘There won’t be much game to be had at this time of year, so I don’t suppose they are that vigilant.’

  ‘Even so, I will mention the matter to the duke.’

  ‘This is just a ruined house, not a folly.’ Leona shuddered. ‘Unless I mistake the matter, there has been a tragedy here. Perhaps more than one.’

  ‘You would like to leave?’