Enchanting the Duke: Sweet and Clean Regency Romance (His Majesty's Hounds Book 5)

by Arietta Richmond

  The Baron and his friends sat in the library the next day and sipped a restorative glass of Madeira together before Setford set off once more for London.

  The Baron sighed. “I will always be grateful to you, Canterwood, and you, Setford, for what you have done for Cordelia. I’m sure she will quickly get over the Fitzhugh boy.”

  “You are truly blessed with a fine and beautiful daughter in Cordelia, Tillingford. If I were a younger man, I’d be courting her myself.”

  The Baron looked at his friend.

  “You are not so old, my dear Canterwood.”

  The men sipped their Madeira in silence for a long moment.

  There was a polite knock at the door and Cordelia stepped shyly into the library and asked her father if she might intrude. The Duke smiled as he stood to greet his friend’s daughter.

  “Lady Cordelia. How are you feeling on this fine morning?”

  She looked down at her feet, slightly overawed, in the light of a new day, by the Duke’s imposing presence.

  “Your Grace, I wanted to thank you for your kindness. I know that I have been a little foolish over Lord Fitzhugh’s intentions, and my companion has reminded me that I owe you my gratitude for everything that you did last night. I must apologise for being in no state to thank you properly at the time.”

  The Duke stepped forward and took Cordelia’s delicate hand in his own, raising her fingertips to his lips and kissing them in a gesture of courteous respect.

  “Your happiness and welfare will always be my concern, my Lady.”

  Cordelia raised her eyes to look into the Duke’s kind face and, in that moment, her heart fluttered and she felt a warmth in her chest that quite surprised her and took her breath away. It had never occurred to her young heart that she might find a man of the Duke’s maturity so attractive but his distinguished appearance and his aura of power suddenly seemed deeply alluring.

  There was a twinkle in the Duke’s eye that her father noticed with a wry smile. A marriage to the Duke would certainly secure Cordelia’s future and, as the wife of a Duke with vast wealth and extensive lands in England and the Colonies she would be guaranteed a life of comfort and a position of influence in society.

  He could see the flush in her cheeks and nodded quietly. A match made in heaven.

  “My dear Canterwood,” said the Baron as he raised himself with some difficulty from his comfortable chair. “I have a feeling that we might be seeing much more of you in the future and I am sure that I am not the only one who will be pleased to welcome you in this house!”

  The Duke laughed, still looking at Cordelia, and he nodded his agreement.

  “Aye, Tillingford. I do declare that you may well be right. You will, at least be seeing quite a bit of me for the next week or so, before I find it necessary to return to London. After that, we shall see…”

  Cordelia curtsied to the Duke, who was obviously charmed and delighted by her presence, and then asked her father if she might be excused to attend to Miss Millpost who was waiting for her, as they intended to take advantage of the delightful weather, with a drive through the town and surrounding countryside. Bath, at this time of year, was a most pleasant place to be.

  She left with a spring in her step and a smile on her lips, sensing that something wonderful had just taken place. At the back of her mind, she could not help trying on a new title for herself – Duchess of Rotherhithe. As she met her companion, she felt sure that the title was absolutely perfect for her. It was probably a foolish girl’s thought, she admitted, yet… the Duke was, undeniably attractive, now that she truly looked at him. Her heart beat faster at the thought.

  The Duke and the Baron resumed their seats and picked up their unfinished glasses of Madeira.

  An unspoken agreement was unfolding between them, an understanding that involved the Duke and the young Lady Cordelia. It was as if, in a matter of moments, a new chapter had begun in their lives and it made the Duke feel younger and more vital than he had felt in many a year. He smiled as he contemplated the implications of having such a young and beautiful wife. The girl had, somehow, in just a matter of days, broken through the shell he had held around him since Angelique’s death, and stirred his heart. He could, he suspected, come to love her, easily. All he need do now was to engage her affections. For he would not wish a wife who did not wish to be with him.

  The Baron coughed to stir the Duke from his reverie.

  “But tell me, did you not take a terrible risk when you played Fitzhugh for his winnings? Heavens, Canterwood, but you might’ve lost.”

  The Duke smiled. “Might’ve lost, you say, Tillingford?” He laughed out loud and nearly spilled his drink. “Spotted a damnable cad and a cheat as soon as I saw him shuffle the pack - it was marked - so I shuffled the pack instead.”

  The Baron looked at him, uncomprehending.

  “Dash it all, Tillingford. Only a fool would try to cheat a man who knows how to cheat.”

  The two men laughed and laughed until the tears of mirth rolled down the Baron’s cheeks.

  “By heavens, Rotherhithe,” the Baron was still laughing. “What a pack of fools these young men are!”

  The following day, many of the house guests had left, and the small contingent who remained had decided upon a trip to the baths, to take the waters, and test whether they felt that the reputed health benefits were real. Some, who had been before, declared their faith in the efficacy, whilst others declared the opposite. Baron Tillingford took the opportunity to join them, and start doing as his physician had suggested.

  Georgiana had gone with them, determined to see it first hand, no matter whether it was efficacious of not. Miss Millpost turned up her nose at the idea of sulphurous smelling waters, and declined to join them. Cordelia agreed with her, and decided on a quiet day at home, after all of the excitement of the events at the Ball.

  Rotherhithe, it appeared, shared their opinion. As Cordelia sat at the pianoforte in the drawing room, playing gently for her own entertainment, he appeared in the doorway, drawn by the sweet music.

  He stood for a while, watching silently, appreciating the elegant line of her neck, where the artful drape of curls fell to one side as she concentrated on playing. She was, quite obviously, lost in the music, and beautiful in her intensity.

  When she at last paused between pieces, he stepped into the room, applauding. Cordelia spun on the seat, a blush rising immediately to her cheeks.

  “Oh, Your Grace, I did not know you were here. I do hope that my playing has not disturbed your morning.”

  “To the contrary dear Lady, it has, rather, improved my morning immeasurably. Your playing is so skilled that I could almost see the birds and flowers in a summer field, the music invoked such a sense of peace. I am sorry to have disturbed you. But… I was seeking you, to ask if you would care to join me for a walk in the gardens to enjoy the quiet on this fine summer morning?”

  Cordelia rose, a smile lighting her face, and she looked to where Miss Millpost sat, on the other side of the room, embroidering what seemed to be a cushion cover. Miss Millpost looked up, a wide smile on her face.

  “Oh, you two go and enjoy yourselves, I’ll just keep an eye on you through the terrace doors here. I want to finish this embroidery today!”

  Cordelia blinked in surprise, a little stunned, for Miss Millpost was generally an absolute stickler for propriety. Then she shook herself out of her amazement and took full advantage of the opportunity presented to her.

  “Why certainly, Your Grace, I would be delighted.”

  He offered her his arm, and she stepped forward to take it, intensely aware of everything about him, finding herself a little breathless and suddenly warm. That sense of safety surrounded her, and she knew, suddenly, that he cared for her, this deeply honourable, quiet, powerful man. His simple sincerity, his plain speaking, which had once seemed dull and austere, she now understood to be more valuable than any flattery, for they showed his true feelings, undisguised. That was worth m
ore to her than any pretty flattery, covering a hollow shell.

  ~~~~~

  He watched her face as they walked, pleased with what he saw there. Each time he was in her presence, she enchanted him further, and it seemed, from her expression, that she was not averse to his company either. They strolled through the gardens, the scent of the early summer flowers surrounding them, the only sounds the faint sounds of the horses in the stables and the buzz of the bees around the flowers. He had not felt so peaceful in years. Such a simple thing, to make him so happy.

  But he needed to be sure of her feelings, her thoughts, for it would not do at all, if she still harboured some tenderness for that young fool Fitzhugh.

  “Lady Cordelia, I am glad to see you looking so well today. I had feared that the events of the last few days might have left you distressed and unwell. I know that you were fond of Lord Edward, and it must be most unpleasant to know that he has disappointed you in this terrible way.”

  She stopped, and he, perforce, stopped as well. She turned to him, taking a deep breath and meeting his eyes fully. Her eyes were windows to her soul, full of sincerity and sadness. He fell into them, suddenly lost to all else.

  “You are correct. In truth, I fancied myself in love with the man, I was so taken in by all of his pretty ways. I was a foolish child, looking for a fairytale, and so taken in by the pretty packaging that I could not see the man underneath. Of a certainty, I am deeply disappointed by his behaviour. But I am even more disappointed in myself. I had, before, always thought myself a good judge of character, and a sensible person.” She blew out a little huff of air, which expressed her frustration completely. “It seems that my sister is correct after all, and I am a woolgathering ninnyhammer who can’t see what is clearly before her face.”

  He laughed, a joyful appreciation of her courage, her truthfulness, and her self-deprecating humour, then lifted her hand to his lips, watching her face as he turned it over and placed a kiss, with slow intensity, on her palm, his lips resting there for far longer than propriety deemed suitable. She flushed again, her eyes sparkling with something that looked like excitement and perhaps, he dared hope, the beginnings of desire.

  “My dear Lady, I must greatly admire your honesty, and your courage in seeing the unpleasant truth. But that is in the past now. The young man will, undoubtedly, learn from his mistakes. As, it seems, you already have from yours. I fear that I am not one for flowery phrases, or light banter, so, perhaps my words will not thrill you as his did, but I am compelled to speak nonetheless.”

  He held her gaze, his warm brandy eyes shining with sincerity, and his grip on her fingers, which he had not yet released, grew tighter.

  “Lady Cordelia, I find you most beautiful, and admirable in all ways. I should like to know you better. If you will permit it, I will be more than delighted to spend time with you over the coming weeks, to take you to the Assembly rooms, to drive out through the countryside, and to ride with you wherever you may wish to go. Will you do me the honour of allowing me to engage you in these activities?”

  His heart pounded in his chest as he awaited her answer, and he felt more alive than he had in many years. He was terrified that she would refuse him this.

  She simply stood, as if absorbing his words, a look of almost disbelief on her face. She nibbled on her lower lip as she considered, and his body tightened in response.

  “I… I am most honoured, Your Grace, I would enjoy any of the activities that you have suggested. I find your direct manner most refreshing and… I would like to know you better, also.”

  Her smile was radiant, and he found himself smiling in return, as a warmth of happiness and relief washed through him. It was a beginning, an opportunity which he had no intention of wasting.

  ~~~~~

  True to his word, the Duke spent his time with Cordelia almost every day of the next few weeks, extending his stay well past the time that he had originally intended to depart.

  They drove out around the countryside, with Miss Millpost for chaperone, they rode out with a groom following discreetly, stopping for delightful picnics in secluded spots, they attended the dances at the assembly rooms, where the other ladies present followed Cordelia with envious eyes as the Duke escorted her everywhere, and danced with her a little more often than was proper, and each day was more delightful than the one before.

  Cordelia found herself drifting about dreamily at times, her mind full of the sound of his voice, the smell that was uniquely his, the feel of his lips on her hand when he kissed it, and every other tiny thing that made him the person that he was. The longer she knew him, the more his honesty, sincerity and plain speaking appealed to her.

  Miss Millpost appeared to heartily approve, and often intentionally left them almost completely alone – which, whilst it utterly shocked Cordelia at first, was something she rapidly came to deeply appreciate.

  Even Georgiana, who Cordelia had fully expected to be unimpressed, had surprised her by turning to her one morning and saying, “I like him. He actually cares about you. He’s even nice to me, and Miss Millpost. Maybe you should marry the Duke.”

  Cordelia had giggled, hugged Georgiana, and left it at that. But secretly, she was very pleased. She would not want to marry a man that her sister hated.

  One afternoon a week or two after that first walk in the gardens, they were strolling there again. They stopped in a secluded spot, where a bench, shaded by trees which screened it from the house, overlooked a small pond, and settled comfortably beside each other.

  It seemed so natural now, to sit beside him like this. Cordelia sighed in delight, and the Duke slid his arm around her waist, drawing her to him, her head naturally falling to rest upon his shoulder. She tilted her head and looked up at him, their eyes connected, and seemingly in slow motion, his mouth came down to hers, his lips gentle, then stronger on her own, his tongue slipping out to trace the line of her lips, to tease and taste, as she sighed and melted into him. His tongue slid into the gap of her lips where the sigh had escaped, and she shivered at the taste of him, the feel of his tongue reaching for hers, exploring. It was better than she could have imagined – so much more than that tiny brush of lips from Lord Edward, which had once so excited her.

  Minutes or hours passed, and warmth flooded through her body, heating her in ways and places she had not felt before, and she simply gave herself to the wonderful sensation, feeling safe and treasured in his arms.

  Eventually, he drew back, smiling, his golden-brown eyes glowing, and reached to gently tug her bonnet back into place, from where they had pushed it as they kissed.

  It was a wonderful day.

  The following day, however, was far more difficult.

  ~~~~~

  In the evenings, once the ladies had retired, Rotherhithe had been spending his time with Baron Tillingford, finding as much joy in appreciating his old friend’s company while the man still lived, as he was finding in Lady Cordelia’s company during the day.

  But, whilst the company was wonderful, the conversation, perforce, touched on subjects that were not. The Duke had been working hard to convince Tillingford to tell the girls, and his staff, the truth about his health. Now that all of those who had come for the house party had departed, except for the Duke, the time had come to deal with that issue.

  “My dear friend, I fear the time has come to tell them – you cannot put it off any longer. I swear that you grow more frail by the day. Despite your physicians hopes, those odorous waters do not seem to have worked a miracle.”

  “Ah, Rotherhithe, would that they had. I regretfully have to agree – it is time to tell them. It leaves me heartsick to think how they will react, yet it would be worse if I did not tell them, and they lost me without warning. I will call everyone together after luncheon tomorrow. But I will tell the girls first, in the morning. I depend upon your support at the time.”

  “Of course, I will do whatever I can to assist you.”

  “There is one thing you can do to
assist me right now, Rotherhithe. You can tell me if you’re going to marry my daughter.”

  The Duke laughed, amused at the Baron’s somewhat belligerent tone.

  “Old friend, I very much hope so. For Lady Cordelia has captured my heart, as I thought no woman ever would again, after Angelique died. I am almost certain that she has developed feelings for me – I blush to tell you that I kissed her yesterday, and she most certainly showed no objection – quite the opposite!”

  “Good, good. Do ask her soon. If I don’t manage to last long enough to see the wedding, I at least want to know that she’ll have you!”

  “So do I, more than you can imagine…”

  Smiling, comfortable with their agreement, and having long ago discussed the distribution of monies and properties that the Baron had arranged for his daughters, the old friends settled back in their chairs, for one last evening of peaceful company, before the impending tragedy began to disturb the house.

  ~~~~~

  Cordelia tapped on the door of her father’s study, a little nervously – whatever could he want? When bidden to enter, she opened the door, and Georgiana and Miss Millpost followed her in, closing the door behind them.

  Her father sat at his desk, and the Duke sat in a chair near the window. They both looked alarmingly serious.

  “Yes father? You wanted to see us?”

  “Do sit down, all of you, please. There is something I need to tell you.” The Baron’s voice was a little shaky, and his expression sad. They sat, Georgiana uncharacteristically quiet, and waited for him to go on. He looked at them all, hesitant, as if unsure what to say, where to start, then glanced at the Duke, who nodded imperceptibly. Taking a deep breath, the Baron began.