They were greeted by the Duke and Duchess of Derbourg, Donald’s parents. Gordon Stafney, the Duke, was a stooped heavy-set gentleman with a thick flowing mustache. His physical presence often caused others to assume a more placated and even jovial nature, but His Grace suffered from the Stafney curse of a down and dour disposition to a severe extent. It was inherited from his father, Donald’s grandfather, who allegedly came down with it after his mother death when he was very young. It was jokingly referred to as the family curse. This caused his resting face to appear distressed even if the gentleman was in a happy mood.
Donald’s mother, Amata Stafney, the Duchess of Derbourg, was a slight lady with a rosy, almost pink, complexion. She was considered more at home in the flower house than anywhere else on the estate grounds. Not only because of her investment in her flowers, but because she seemed to take on an appearance of one herself.
Both of his parents met Matthew and him with open arms, offering them excited hugs. Matthew was regarded as family on the Derbourg Estate grounds, even going so far as having a room.
The two carriages carrying Lord Westfolk and his family were also received warmly, if more polite and less exuberant. The Earl and the Duke had a brief exchange in the manner of old friends, inside jokes and all. The Dowager Countess was warmly received, a long-time friend of the family since she had been an acquaintance of Donald’s grandfather. Introductions were exchanged for Lady Henrietta who was the only true newcomer to the estate.
“The footmen will escort you all to your rooms, and your luggage will, of course, be unloaded from the carriages. I am sure you will all feel the need to freshen up from the long trip. Hot water has already been prepared in all of your rooms,” the Duchess informed everyone with a pleased smile.
* * *
Donald opened up the windows in his own room, one of the few lucky ones that featured a window that faced the outside of the estate. That is to say, he had picked out this room at a young age and had considered it lucky. Most lords and ladies who stayed at the Derbourg Estate were kept away from the rooms that faced the greater estate.
The primary export of Derbourg was beef. And raising so many cattle meant the lands of the estate proper carried a certain odor. Not that it was entirely unpleasant, but it had a certain strong musky animalness about it that most in the ton found off putting.
Not Donald, though. The first thing Donald did when he got to his old room was to open the windows wide to let in the lush summer air. For him the smell of bovine, hay, and manure was a nostalgic one that filled him with youthful invigorating energy. It reminded him of life and growth. Just a few deep breaths of the Derbourg air made him fight the compulsion to take a healthy jog around the estate.
The air also made Donald restless. While being home had melted away a good portion of the stress that had accumulated in London, it didn’t dispel the anxiety that had sat in his chest for weeks on end. Now he had all of the energy and none of the reason, and nowhere to put it.
It made him want to move and jump. It made him want to find Emma and put some of that excess energy to good use.
Before he could come up with a reason to stop himself, there was a knock at his door. “Yes?”
“It’s me,” came the beautiful voice of his betrothed. Donald smiled, he would have to get used to being visited by her unexpectedly. Much more often in the near future. Still, he made sure his desire was in check with another deep breath before inviting her.
“Come in,” he called and stood with his back to the open window.
Emma entered, followed quietly by Josephine. She had changed since visiting her room, now wearing a tan dress with heavy lace accents.
“You look lovely,” Donald said, and he meant it from the deepest part of his heart. Before he even realized he was in love with Emma, he always thought she was the most beautiful lady to ever enter a room.
He found his eyes lingering on the way her dress hugged her hips. Since he realized how much he loved Emma, he couldn’t help but be pulled in by her powerful physical beauty. The thought of being able to touch her, to hold her, to have her in the most desperate of ways in just a few days was almost too much to bear.
I am almost scared of what I’ll do to her after being pent up for so long.
A lady of delicateness needs to be treated gently on their wedding night. But it would take every ounce of willpower he had not to devour her. And the last thing Donald wanted was to scare Emma away.
He realized that too much time had passed since he had said something and cleared his throat in embarrassment. “What do I owe the pleasure of this particular visit?”
“Does a lady need an excuse to visit her betrothed?” Emma asked playfully. “Could I not have simply missed you after the long journey?”
“I suppose you could. Wasn’t that long of a journey, though,” Donald observed. “How was the trip?” he asked, now becoming somewhat concerned.
“Mostly dreadful,” Emma admitted with a sigh and leaned into Donald, half falling between his arms so she could lean against his chest. Donald’s ears burned, still unused to gestures of physical affection from his lady love, especially with Josephine still present.
Donald leaned in and kissed Emma’s forehead gently, over and over, brushing his lips against her soft skin. “What happened?” he asked softly.
Her words were muffled against his shirt, “I was angry at my Father for not telling me about his debt. And he was doing business in the carriage to pass the time, and that only made it worse. So do you know what I did?” She looked up at Donald. Her eyes were teary but her voice was filled with a quelled fire.
“What did you do?” Donald asked, genuinely curious but also urging and encouraging Emma to finish her story.
“I told him I knew about his debt,” she said harshly. “He admitted to hiding it, but he told me he never meant to do it to manipulate you into marriage. My father is a proud man. He didn’t want his debt to harm me or his family.”
“And you know your father? Know he is telling the truth?” Donald wasn’t asking out of doubt, but wanted to hear what Emma thought of what her father had to say.
“I do. I believe that he is truly sorry and that he never even meant for you to know, let alone for you to settle his debts,” Emma said, her voice almost pleading.
“If that is how you feel, then I believe you,” Donald assured her and Emma gasped in relief. He pulled her close into his grasp, her body shaking with emotion in his arms.
I want to hold her forever, to pull her close, closer than we ever have been before. Kiss her neck, her shoulders, her chest. Taste every inch of her and claim her in the way only her husband can.
He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and lifted her chin with his hand, the cloth dabbing away her tears. “I feel like I have cried too much when we are this close to the wedding,” she admitted.
“A wedding is an emotional time. I don’t wish it, but I imagine that you’ll shed a few more tears before we get to sign the marriage papers,” he told her with a wry smile.
She nodded. “You don’t think it’s because we are poorly suited then?”
“I have never believed a more perfect couple exists or will ever exist. We have the basis of our friendship, Emma, and that will be the wall that weathers everything that the world throws against us,” Donald said assuredly.
“Donald?”
“Yes?”
“Kiss me.” Emma’s voice hinged as she spoke, pleading.
He fulfilled her request gladly, pressing his lips to her and feeling her hot desperate need to be close to him all bubble up at once. Her fingers clutched at the back of his shirt and she pulled herself even closer to him. He could feel how much she truly missed him. He also wondered if she could feel how much he missed her. If she could feel the weight of his arousal pulse between them.
He was suddenly very aware of Josephine’s presence in the room, pulling away suddenly, albeit reluctantly. Their eyes met, and their breathing was
hot and shallow.
A knock at the door pulled their attention away from one another.
“My Lord, dinner is about to be served and your presence is requested in the dining room,” the house servant said.
“Best we hurry,” Donald commented. “You know how my father hates to wait.”
* * *
The dining room of the Derbourg Estate was one of the most beautiful rooms in the manor. The center-piece table was composed of intricately hand-carved dark wood. The same rich dark wood went into the accents for the room. Long tall stained-glass windows rescued from the former chapel of the castle made light dance around the room.
The meal was an exquisite feast and so rich that no one doubted that it had been made special for the occasion, though the sentiment had not been spoken.
“I can’t thank you enough, Mother, Father, for welcoming the family of my betrothed into your home,” Donald said and stood with his glass raised high. “I could think of nowhere more beautiful than my childhood home and nowhere else that I would rather make my wedding vows.”
The rest of the dinner party raised their glasses and accepted the impromptu toast. After Donald sat back down, the Duke commented. “You know I have been friends with Lord Westfolk for a very long time. Not really much of a gesture on my part to have him as a guest.”
“I know, Father. I am just so excited to be here with everyone,” Donald smiled and turned to rest his hand on Emma’s arm. “A toast was the only way I could think to express it.”
“I would normally say whatever gets us through the door of the Derbourg Estate is a reason to celebrate,” Lord Westfolk chuckled. “But I am especially happy to find myself on the grounds for this occasion.”
“I am just happy for the chance to get out of London,” the Dowager Countess said with an exasperated tone. “That city makes me feel like I can’t breathe.”
“Indeed, I find it quite noisy and confining, and not to mention the smell that permeates that city. I couldn’t describe if someone offered to pay me. But whatever it is, it is unpleasant,” Lord Derbourg chimed in.
“I don’t find it particularly off putting but I will admit, I am always happy to make my way back to Westfolk,” Emma’s father added.
“Respectfully, I think you all miss the point of living in such a fine city,” Lady Henrietta broke in, opinionated as ever. “The culture and the science. Museums and shows. Not to mention being at the very center of the season.”
She was met with rebuffs from all the older lords and ladies but Donald was soon to come to her aid, simultaneously agreeing but also pitying Lady Henrietta for being ganged up upon. “I love Derbourg more than anywhere—”
“As you should,” the Duke interjected.
“And I do, but London has something, few other places in the world do. The city has a pulse. It bumps and thrums. It is alive. London is a living city. And there is an energy that can’t be found anywhere else.”
Matthew raised his glass to Donald and smiled. “Here here, My Lord, I’ve heard no one better able to sum up the concept into words.”
“So then your intent post marriage would be to live in London rather than your estate in Stapleton?” the Dowager Countess asked.
Donald hesitated to answer for a moment. The question was innocent enough but with the previous connotation he felt like it was being loaded against him.
“I believe a majority of our time would be spent at the London Estate, yes,” Donald answered. “With Lord Thetmont and my business, there would be little opportunity to leave London for very long. Though the Stapleton countryside is lovely, perhaps during the next summer when business is slower, I would be able to visit my lands for the holidays,” he mused.
“It will be nice to have you so close by. I will like to visit my granddaughter from time to time. I am sure Lady Henrietta will appreciate the opportunity as well,” the Dowager Countess said while gesturing, forcing Lady Henrietta to blush, smile, and nod as she was put on the spot.
“Let’s keep wedding talk to a minimum shall we, at least for now,” the Duchess said, catching many members of the dinner party off guard, as this was a rather odd thing to say.
“Yes, I am sure my mother will have her fill of wedding talk for days to come. After all, she and I are the ones doing most of the planning,” Donald said, guessing at his mother’s mindset for the off comment.
“In that case, I have a question for the two youngest investors at the table.” The Duke of Derbourg gestured to Donald and Matthew.
“I would be happy to help in any advice I could offer. I know our expertise is sought after, especially after our most recent successes in the fur industry,” Matthew said, the praise he was heaping onto both of them made Donald feel nervous.
“Of course. I actually heard recently from a few of my business connections that America is suffering from some harsh trade conditions right now. Sickness affecting crops and animals. Has that affected Atlantic Animal Fur Company?” Donald was unsure if his father was asking out of concern for Donald’s business or simply because these are the matters that often sparked his interest when he heard about them. With The Duke it was hard to tell.
“We are aware of the situation. Have been for a while now. I didn’t spend my entire time in America with my head in a mug,” Matthew laughed. “We don’t think it will be much of an issue.”
“Well, let us not let them think we are overzealous, Lord Thetmont,” Donald cautioned as he tried to convey his discomfort to Matthew without speaking it directly. “We understand the risks as they are and we are making choices to combat them. You know as well as I do, Father, that business can be a tricky thing. Of course we are taking all of this seriously.”
The Duke nodded to his son approvingly and Donald let out an inward sigh of relief. He didn’t see the need to bring his business troubles to his father’s attention, especially since he didn’t want his father to think this was a subtle way of asking for assistance.
It was in that moment that the last remaining animosity that Donald had for Lord Westfolk dissipated. Donald could completely understand how the man’s pride drove him to hide things, if not necessarily to deceive anyone. Because that was what he was doing right now.
As Donald settled in to enjoy the remainder of his evening and his meal he couldn’t help but notice small sour glances coming from Matthew every time he glanced his way. Was he upset about what Donald had said about their business? That was silly, this is what they were known for.
Matthew was the partner who talked highly, who knew when to take big chances and make big bets. Donald was the prudent one, he knew when to bring it in, to play it safe. He knew no one at the table judged Matthew for being his usual zealous self.
Does Matthew really hold it against me?
Chapter 24
Donald and his mother sat in her flower house. It was the most modern piece of architecture and technology on Derbourg Estate and stood out for it. It was specially built to remain consistent in temperature and humidity. So the flowers not only grew in the winter, but the flower house could actually be a cool respite in the summer.
His mother had chosen this spot for them to do wedding planning in regards to the estate. She had plans to meet with Emma and Donald together later, but his mother was particular about some things, like how to decorate her home. Donald thought it wise to sort that out with his mother ahead of time.
It made sense to Donald that she would want to have this conversation here. This is where some of the most important conversations with his mother had taken place. It was her private and favorite spot in the whole estate. He was grateful when she would invite him here.
Their table used to be in the very center of the flower house but had been moved recently, since the very center was taken up by the irrigation mechanism. The table had been set for tea and beautiful golden sunlight lit the spot, which made it a little warmer than the rest of the house.
“I am surprised, Mother, you have been usually compl
iant about my choices for flower décor this morning. Especially considering I am bringing in an outside decorator,” Donald commented, trying to figure out where his mother’s mind was at. He had expected her to put up a fight against The Duke of Castron’s role in his flower arrangements.
“I am afraid my heart isn’t in it this morning,” the Duchess said with a sigh. “I must admit, Donald, I am worried.”
“Worried, Mother? About what?”
“Your upcoming marriage.” The tone of the Duchess’ voice was dire.
“My marriage? Mother, I am surprised. I always thought you cared about Lady Emma. I thought welcoming her into the family would feel as natural to you as sunrise. Was I mistaken?” Donald’s voice was a mixture of frustration and concern for his mother and he wasn’t sure which outweighed the other.
“Lady Emma is fine and upstanding, Donald, that isn’t what I am worried about. I am worried about her family.”
Unleashed Desires 0f A Noble Lady (Steamy Historical Regency) Page 16