It's All About the Duke--The Rakes of St. James

by Amelia Grey

  “I’ll help her with the tea,” Marlena said, wanting to prolong meeting the duchess and quite happy to leave the duke’s presence for a few minutes to collect her thoughts.

  “Thunderbolts and lightning, Marlena.” Justine placed the box of tarts on a nearby table. “That will never do. Neither of us should have to do it, but it will be better if I take care of this until other arrangements can be made for us. It’s my house. Imagine one of us having to answer the door for a duchess!” She turned to the duke and smiled. “If you’ll excuse me, Your Grace.”

  He nodded.

  “I’ll take care of the door, Mrs. Doddle,” Justine called as she swept out the room with her tiered skirts billowing behind her. “You continue in the kitchen and add two more cups to the tray.”

  The duke walked closer to Marlena. “You are looking quite fetching today, Miss Fast.”

  “Am I?” she asked, tilting her chin up and realizing she still felt a little miffed at him about the sweets even though she didn’t want to care enough about him to feel that way.

  “I should have said you are fetching every time I see you, but your cheeks are a little more flushed today and your hair is curling beautifully about your face.”

  She made a move to swipe her hair behind her ear again.

  He softly grabbed her wrist to stop her. “No, don’t change it. There’s something enchanting about it.”

  Marlena looked down at his hand on her. It was warm. There was strength in his fingers even though he wasn’t holding her tight. Little pricks of delight were dancing inside her.

  When she met his gaze, he said, “I like it the way it is now.”

  “And how is that, Your Grace? Untidy? No,” she answered herself. “I believe your word was unruly.”

  The duke chuckled huskily, and all the pleasurable feelings swirling inside her multiplied.

  “Yes. It reminds me you are innocent, wholesome. Desirable.”

  “I suppose Justine is quite desirable, too,” she responded, unable to stop herself from saying it, though she knew she shouldn’t. Why did it bother her so and why was she letting him know?

  His eyes narrowed. “Most ladies are, Marlena.”

  “So after you kissed me quite thoroughly you bring Justine confections and me smelling salts.”

  The amusement he was so obviously experiencing didn’t leave his features. And she was too wrought to do anything about it other than continue her annoyance at him.

  “Is that a jealous remark, Marlena?”

  “What? Jealous of you favoring Justine? Of course not. I was simply stating a fact.”

  “You are piqued at me for bringing her sweets and not you.” His thumb gently rubbed the underside of her wrist.

  Marlena was. It was ridiculous. It was horrifying that he knew it. And the duke was enjoying her distress about it. What was wrong with her? Why should it bother her a fig if he brought Justine confections, flowers, or sachets?

  It should mean nothing to her.

  Yet it did.

  He was her guardian, not a beau. Yes, they had kissed. And kissed. Touched, too, but there was a certain amount of curiosity in it. A small amount perhaps but it was there.

  “I’m still upset that you brought so many smelling salts,” she said, giving him half of the truth. “Wrapped so lovely. In such beautiful bottles. I will never have to buy more during my lifetime.”

  His attractive grin was letting her know she wasn’t fooling him for a moment.

  “And I thought a box of confections was the least I could do for Mrs. Abernathy because I didn’t remember our first meeting or the dance she and I had.”

  Marlena wanted to tell him that was probably because neither of them had ever happened. Justine not only lived to remember the year of her first Season, but embellished it to suit herself.

  He let go of her wrist. “I should have brought some for your young friend Miss Everard, too, for always making her faint. How is she? Did she recover with no aftereffects from the strong smell of the salts or witnessing our kiss?”

  “She’s perfectly fine,” she answered truthfully. “We didn’t go into any details about that. It was easier for us to just avoid an in-depth reflection about what she saw.”

  “I find that unusual, Marlena, considering the effect it had on her. How was that accomplished? I would think our kiss would be the first thing she wanted you to explain when she was feeling better.”

  “She’s very shy. I know she didn’t want to pry too much. I, in turn, didn’t want to have to confess anything other than the truth, which was that I had first kissed you. Never having had a kiss herself, she understood my inquisitiveness.”

  “Your capability of amazing me amazes me. Inquisitiveness, was it?”

  “Yes. I’m sure there’ll come a time when she and I will talk about it in more depth. When she’s a little older. Maybe after she’s had her first kiss. My answer for what she’d seen between us seemed to satisfy her for the time being. Now I hope it satisfies you and we don’t have to mention it again, either.”

  “No, Marlena. We will talk about kissing again.”

  She was afraid of that.

  No, she couldn’t fool herself. She wasn’t afraid they’d talk about it again. She was hoping they would.

  Feminine voices drifted in from the corridor.

  “But not today,” he added. “However, there is something you can do for me.”

  “If I can,” she said, feeling a little wary at having no idea what he might ask of her.

  “Could you arrange it so I can visit Mr. Portington and inquire about his collection at a time Miss Everard isn’t home? I would hate to arrive at her door and distress her in her own home.”

  “Yes, of course,” Marlena said, thinking Eugenia and Veronica needed to be away from the house and not see the duke. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”

  “I’m only keeping my promise to see if I can persuade him to relinquish some of his fossils and artifacts so that money might be returned and Miss Everard can have her Season as planned.”

  “I’m grateful—as you know.” She cleared her throat and clasped her hands together before she did something foolish like hug him as she had in the garden a few days ago. Though this time she wasn’t fearful the hug would end in a kiss. But she could very well be caught in his arms. “Let’s plan it for tomorrow afternoon. I’ll prepare a picnic and take Veronica and Eugenia to the park at half past two. Would that work for you?”

  He nodded. “And then, since you are right next door, I’ll come to your house and wait for your return so I can fill you in on what I find out.”

  “Yes, yes, thank you.” Excitement that she might be able to help Eugenia make the Season bubbled inside Marlena. “I’d like that very much if we can find a way to get Justine to give us a few minutes alone.”

  He smiled. “I’ll think of something.”

  “I have no doubt you will,” Marlena said, and looked up to see two beautiful ladies walk into the drawing room. What startled her for a moment was that both were so young. She expected one of them, the one who would be assisting her with the Season, to be much older than the duchess and even older than Justine. Both these ladies were younger than her cousin.

  The duke greeted them: the Duchess of Griffin and Lady Vera. After she heard that name the rest of the introductions were like a reverberating echo in her ears. Lady Vera was one of the Duke of Griffin’s twin sisters. She was another young lady Marlena had written about.

  Heaven help her! What was Lady Vera doing here? Maybe the duke knew she was Miss Honora Truth after all, and he was proving it by bringing these two ladies to taunt her. Marlena went through the motions of following the introductions even though she was once again swamped with guilt.

  Coming face-to-face with the duchess and her sister-in-law was even worse than meeting the duke for the first time. He deserved being written about in the scandal sheets after the secret admirer letters. The two ladies standing in front of her were complet
ely innocent of any wrongdoing, yet she’d splashed their names all across London and beyond with her quill.

  Marlena’s thoughts scrambled again as she tried to remember what she’d written about Lady Vera. She couldn’t remember it word for word but something about: It was Lady Vera and Lady Sara’s misfortune that it was up to their brother, the Duke of Griffin, to see they married. And it may be his twin sisters who pay the price of his misdeeds.

  Oh, my. Marlena wanted to sink through the floor. The fear the sisters must have felt, thinking someone might want to do them harm or ruin their Season. There was no doubt that the worst thing she and Eugenia had done was to talk Mr. Bramwell into going to White’s with Mr. Portington to start that rumor.

  She remembered clearly what she’d told Mr. Bramwell to say because she’d taken such pains with the wording: The Rakes of St. James never had to pay a price for their scandalous behavior of sending the secret admirer letters. Maybe it is time they did. Would it be fitting if something happened to ruin the Duke of Griffin’s sisters’ first Season?

  Why had Marlena ever thought that was a good idea? Was it because she was a young, rash seventeen-year-old who thought to do something good and punish someone who’d done something bad? Was it because she was in London with nothing to do but wait for her debut into Society? Was it because at heart she was a horrible person?

  No. She didn’t want to believe she was a horrible person. Maybe it was only that she’d been too zealous in her approach to help her neighbors. She really didn’t know, but she had to remain calm. And remembering that her parents were watching over her was always a good way to settle conflicting emotions.

  “Miss Fast,” the duchess said.

  “Yes, Your Grace.” Marlena answered the duchess with what she hoped wasn’t a hint of the turmoil leaping in her thoughts.

  “I was telling Lady Vera about you. How the Duke of Rathburne was now your guardian and I mentioned you needed someone who could help you with your Season. Lady Vera offered to do that for you.”

  Marlena looked at the lovely young lady with light-brown hair and eyes as blue as the sky. “You’re to be my finishing governess?”

  “Heaven’s gates, Marlena,” Justine exclaimed. “Lady Vera is not a governess of any kind for anyone.”

  “Indeed I am not,” Lady Vera answered pertly. “I can understand why you thought I might be since I offered to help you with the particulars.”

  “I meant no disrespect, my lady,” Marlena said.

  “None taken. I am not shocked, offended, or embarrassed easily, Miss Fast.” And as if to prove it, she walked over and slid her arm around the duke’s elbow, and looked into his eyes. “I am doing this for Rath. He knows I adore him and I’ve wanted him to marry me for years. He won’t give me the pleasure of offering for my hand. Perhaps my helping him with you will entice him to favor me.”

  “You have and always will have my favor,” the duke said to her.

  Marlena watched Rath smile down at Lady Vera and felt her whole body stiffen. It was quite clear the duke and Lady Vera knew each other very well. The way she smiled at him, spoke so brazenly to him, and had touched him. Marlena was astounded by how forward Lady Vera was being, and that the duke had responded so honestly. That was when Marlena realized she was jealous!

  Jealous of Justine.

  Jealous of Lady Vera.

  Jealous of any other lady who tried to lay claim to the duke.

  That was maddening.

  It was time for Marlena to get her feelings under control, and fast. The duke would have many ladies seeking his attention and favor and she shouldn’t be one of them.

  Justine cleared her throat rather loudly. Obviously she’d hadn’t approved of Lady Vera’s open display of affection either.

  The duke took hold of Lady Vera’s wrist and slid her arm from around his, placing it down by her side. “You know I can’t marry you because I think of you as my sister.”

  “That has never bothered me,” she added with a smile most men would be more than happy to receive from a duke’s sister.

  “But it would me,” he said affectionately.

  “Well, I always like to try in case there is any chance you’ve changed your mind about me.” Lady Vera turned to Marlena. “I will be attending my third Season, Miss Fast, and if anyone knows gowns, parties, and gentlemen, and their way around them all, it’s me. I’ll be glad to guide you through and tell you all the gossip I know about everyone.”

  Marlena was certain she must have gulped before she repeated the word, “Gossip?”

  Good heavens! Did the duke, Lady Vera, and the duchess know she was Miss Truth or was she just feeling so guilty that everything they said made her feel that way?

  She sought out the duke’s face. His gaze was on her, too. She took in a long, deep breath and felt better for it. The duke wasn’t one to hold his tongue. Of that she was sure. If he suspected her dual life, he wouldn’t be playing this game with her. He would just ask her about it. She was being overly suspicious for no reason. If they knew she was Miss Truth they wouldn’t be so polite to her. And right now she wished she wasn’t. It simply hadn’t been clear in her mind that she might one day meet the people she was writing about in her scandal sheet. And regret it.

  “Why don’t I try explaining it a little better, Miss Fast,” the duchess said, glancing at her sister-in-law with an indulgent expression. “First, I’ll do my best to see Lady Vera doesn’t teach you anything you shouldn’t know. Since you really don’t need any lessons, nor do you have need of a chaperone because of Mrs. Abernathy, I thought having someone near your age would be best for you when deciding fabrics, patterns, and all the latest fashion of clothing. And Lady Vera will certainly know which parties you need to attend and how to get the invitations for you.”

  “And I also know which gentlemen are really looking for a bride and which ones are merely looking,” Lady Vera then glanced at the duchess and added, “And there will be a few other things I will tell you along the way.”

  “You’ll be just perfect for her,” Justine said, clasping her hands together at her waist. “We can’t thank you enough for offering to do this for her, Lady Vera.”

  “Yes, Your Grace, Lady Vera, I’m delighted that both of you are so willing to help me.”

  “Good,” Lady Vera answered. “We’ll start tomorrow. I’ll arrive for you and Mrs. Abernathy at half past twelve.”

  “Could we please make that the day after, my lady? I’ve already made plans for tomorrow.”

  “What?” Justine asked.

  “I’m taking Eugenia and Veronica for a picnic in the park. I failed to mention that to you today.” Marlena turned to Lady Vera again. “Will the day after work for you?”

  She smiled. “Of course. We will go to my modiste first so she can get started making your gowns. I have some wonderful colors in mind already that will go beautifully with your hair.”

  Marlena reached deep and pulled up her courage. It appeared she and Lady Vera were going to be spending quite a bit of time together. She might as well get used to it. She’d brought this burden on herself by trying to help Veronica and now she’d have to find a way to accept the consequences.

  Lady Vera turned her attention back to the duke, put her arm through his again, smiled, and said, “I take it we have no limits concerning your plump pockets, Your Grace.”

  “I would never put those kinds of limitations on you, Lady Vera. It would do me no good anyway.”

  “That’s what I wanted to hear.”

  “That’s what I wanted to hear, too,” Justine added with a broad smile. “Ah, the tea has arrived. Let’s all sit down and have some.”

  Marlena looked over at the duke and saw that he was watching her. His brows drew together. Maybe he sensed her misgivings about Lady Vera. Maybe he sensed her jealousy. Maybe he felt she hadn’t been gracious enough for the help Lady Vera was going to give her.

  And then for a moment or two as their gazes were locked together ac
ross the room, Marlena wondered what it would be like if he wasn’t her guardian and she wasn’t Miss Truth. Would they then be able to look at each other as they had when she’d rounded the corner of her house and looked up to see him standing on her front steps? The way they had looked at each other before she knew he was the Duke of Rathburne.

  My Dear Readers,

  My latest wisp of scandal will come as no surprise to any of you, unless perhaps if you have been on the Grand Tour. And then, even so, I’m assured this weekly column makes its way to France, Portugal, and many countries beyond. Though I’m told, some devoted fans refuse to read anything about their homeland while traveling so as not to disturb their entertainment and pleasure.

  Today it is with abundant fanfare and much ado that I tell you the latest I’ve gleaned about the notorious rake, the Duke of Rathburne. I have it on the most privy authority that the duke was seen coming out of a ladies’ shop carrying a ribbon-and-lace-covered package! That he entered a ladies’ shop is scandalous enough, but that he walked down the street to his carriage carrying his purchase goes beyond the pale. My source tried to follow him to see where he was going with an item from an unacceptable place for a gentleman to enter, but the duke’s landau was much too fast. If anyone hears who received a gift from the duke, let me know. I’ll tell it right here next week.

  MISS HONORA TRUTH’S WEEKLY SCANDAL SHEET

  Chapter 15

  He could be a rake if he fails to take a lady at her word that a situation is serious.

  MISS HONORA TRUTH’S WORDS OF WISDOM AND WARNING ABOUT RAKES, SCOUNDRELS, ROGUES, AND LIBERTINES

  No rain fell and the gray skies didn’t appear threatening as Rath stepped down from his carriage. He was proceeding with his plan to pay a call on Mr. Portington as arranged with Marlena. If something had happened and Marlena hadn’t been able to leave with Miss Everard, maybe she wouldn’t faint if she knew her brother-in-law was there to protect her. And if she fainted again, maybe Portington could shed some light on why.