Panic overtook Jaclyn, “He’s more interested in my dowry than in me.”
It would be rude for Halifax to show up on their doorsteps without an invitation. Radolf would be annoyed, to say the least. And so would she. His letter had dominated her thoughts. She did not want to see him at all. Certainly, he could not stay at their manor house. Did he have an invitation from someone nearby? Heavens, what would happen if he showed up here?
“Lord Halifax did mention he was a visitor on a nearby estate.” Monsieur Dupree grinned. “I’m sure the two of you can handle one Greek god.” He smiled at Camille and raised an eyebrow. In jest, he said, “Do you know anyone who has a thunderbolt to wield to rid us of this unwanted nemesis?”
Jaclyn widened her eyes in surprise. There was no way he could know about the Guardians. Or….
Chapter Forty-One
A Friendly Reunion
Wolferton was in the upper corral with the major and two grooms. A footman advised the guests had arrived early. He frowned. “I’ll be home momentarily.” He turned to the major. “We’ll continue the review of the schematics for the renovation later. I’ll see you at dinner tonight.” He handed his horse to a groom and walked home.
Halbert opened the door and took his accessories. Wolferton strode directly into the smaller drawing room. “My apologies,” he said to Monsieur Dupree. “I wasn’t aware of your exact arrival time or I would have greeted you sooner. Welcome to our home.” He nodded with a smile.
The older man arose. “Your Grace, it’s an honor to be here at your kind invitation. When Josette realized she’d reunite with your ward, she was…as you English say…over the moon.”
“From the bright expressions and the pealing of laughter, I can see and hear their elation at reuniting. ” Wolferton answered. Both men sat.
“They haven’t stopped their chatter,” Camille added. “It’s good to hear such gaiety again.”
Halbert entered to announce the luggage was deposited in the guest rooms, then left.
“If you would excuse me, sir, the ride was not as long as I thought, but, I’d like to change into something more comfortable. I’ll return in a few moments.”
Wolferton nodded. Dupree left the room. Halbert had a footman usher him.
“Looks like a good chap, sister. Quite tall and well built. I wonder if he rides. I could give him a tour tomorrow.” His gaze went frequently to the outside, and he came to the realization that both girls were grown and comely. Jaclyn had a unique beauty, but Josette Dupree had long blonde curls piled high on her head, secured with jeweled combs. Her blue travel dress complemented startling blue eyes, but it was her vivacious laughter that filtered through the French doors. It appeared she was used to an aristocratic lifestyle.
Following his gaze, Camille asked, “Jaclyn’s friend is beautiful, isn’t she?”
“She reminds me of someone I used to know.” He shook away the memory of Isabella. “Yes, but my ward stuns any onlooker. Dupree’s daughter has her father’s eyes and stature.”
“Monsieur Dupree is a handsome man for his age, carries himself well, and in the small time we’ve spoken, seems knowledgeable about world affairs. He has a sartorial elegance about him. I rather like the way he carries himself.” She moved her hand to the side of her chignon and secured a hairpin, then lowered her gaze. “I know your thoughts. Don’t tease me.”
He joked, “My sister seems to be attracted to the Frenchman. That’s of interest.”
“Stop. I merely think Monsieur Dupree is a fine specimen of a man. No piggish jowls and no paunchy mid-waist. It tells me he’s fastidious in his lifestyle. His daughter is lithe and slim. I believe he said his wife passed many years ago.” She went to her embroidery basket but did not grasp the hoop. “I believe I need a new hobby. The cross stitches no longer appeal. With these delightful ladies about us, I feel decrepit.” Her laugh faded. “I understand Dupree is a wealthy merchant with offices in London and Paris.”
“What does he offer for sale?” Wolferton went to another window to get a different view of the women.
“He’s a cordwainer, distinct from the shoemaker. You’ll remember we discussed this before about the craftsmanship of shoes, dancing slippers and boots. His export business thrives, and he’s about to expand into additional countries.” She raised her chin with pride of knowledge.
“You discovered all this in twenty-minutes of conversation?” Radolf laughed as he sat in the wingback chair and took full note of his sister’s obvious interest in the man.
“Of course not. When Jaclyn purchased her satin shoes, I took the liberty to investigate him and the shoes he produced. He is a fierce competitor to George Hoby of London where you purchase yours.”
“Perhaps when we return to London, we’ll go on a jaunt to his shop and avail ourselves of Dupree’s superior craftsmen.” His broad grin was to let his sister know she went through a great deal of verification of his merchant background.
“I’d like that and a pair of evening shoes. They say the comfort of Dupree’s shoes makes a woman feel like she dances on air.” She blushed visibly. “I long to do so for a wonderful reason to celebrate.”
Meanwhile, Wolferton contemplated the seating arrangements for the night’s dinner. He would speak to Halbert about place cards for he wanted his sister seated between Monsieur Dupree and the major. Yes, he might be a matchmaker yet. He’d never seen his sister so taken with a man. Perhaps it was the casual comfort of the country estate that lent itself to endeavors of the heart? He longed to see Camille happy with her circumstances.
“Radolf, do not embarrass me further,” she pleaded with an uplifted gaze. “I see the young ladies coming toward us. I’ll let Jaclyn introduce you.”
They arrived arm in arm. Jaclyn moved forward. “Your Grace, may I introduce you to my friend, Miss Josette Dupree? Josette, this is my guardian, His Grace, Duke of Wolferton.”
Josette lowered her head and performed a deep curtsy. “Your Grace, thank you for this invitation.” She arose.
“Welcome, Miss Dupree. We trust there will be enough activities to engage your interest while you are here. Camille has arranged for a trio of musicians for tonight’s event. Ladies all, excuse me while I change my boots. Had I remembered your father was a famous purveyor to the Crown, I would have changed my footwear immediately. I wouldn’t want him to think me a country bumpkin.”
He relaxed and spoke with ease with the young lady. However, the manner in which she stared at him confirmed her vivacious personality. Had she winked at him…or perhaps something was in her eye?
“Your Grace, did my father mention we met an acquaintance of yours at the local inn?”
“He mentioned it to me, my dear girl.” Camille turned to Wolferton. “She speaks of Lord Halifax who appears to be a guest of a nearby colleague.”
Josette giggled. “His appearance takes one’s breath away.”
And your billfold, thought Wolferton. Shocked to hear the news, he’d have to take action to guard the grounds. Bloody hell! The bastard.
Silence deafened the air, and Josette looked to Jaclyn for assistance at whatever faux pas she’d committed.
To the rescue, Jaclyn did say, “Lord Halifax has that effect on most ladies. However, I’m reminded of the cliché ‘all that glitters is not gold.’ He hones that particular skill with much practice. Come, let’s you and I go to my room where I can show you some items of interest. Will you excuse us?” She glanced at Radolf with an impish smile but addressed Camille.
“Yes, I’ve planned high tea at four, after which, there will be dinner. The dancing follows.”
Their exit was not as boisterous as their entrance. Wolferton raised his eyebrow an inch and spoke with aloofness. “Tell me you have not invited that rogue Halifax to the house.” He stood and paced behind the settee.
“I was unaware of his presence and have not extended any invitations, brother. He is not a favorite of mine either. I, too, would like to enjoy this visit and not concer
n myself with possible duels. I now go to my room with your leave.”
He nodded, then went to the liquor cabinet and poured three fingers of the cognac into his crystal glass. “The blackguard should be shot. On second thought, that would be too good for him. Something slow and torturous for all his allegations would suffice.”
Chapter Forty-Two
The Words of Wisdom
In his suite, Wolferton asked Halbert to find his dress shoes for evening wear since Hoby was a premier purveyor to the Crown, so he was in good company by wearing them.
The business about Halifax near his country estate did not set well. He gave instructions to Halbert to have guards placed at strategic entry places around the property. The option to lock Jaclyn in her room was not a solution.
Of primary importance was that Jaclyn relax, enjoy her guests and all that he and his estate could offer. He wandered along the corridor hearing the ladies’ voices. Their conversations ranged from whispers to loud laughter. To him, the signs were propitious. Upon entrance to his study, Halbert had his cognac sitting at his desk.
He toasted the guardian angel figures. “To a grand evening.” Golden Boy archangel winked. “If you can manage it,” Wolferton added, “keep Halifax far away. Maybe he could fall down a country well? Better yet, he could encounter a red wolf and become dinner. That thought interests me. Can you arrange it?” He laughed.
He stared at the guardians, “I guess not. Very well, I’ll think of something awful to befit his lies.”
At that moment, Monsieur Dupree joined him. They shared drinks and chatted amiably about politics, merchant issues, the Corn Laws, and of course, the impact of the Industrial Revolution.
“May I speak frankly, sir?” asked Dupree.
“Yes, I’d prefer it,” he answered. “Somehow I feel we are old friends. Perhaps because we have two young beautiful female charges that are a handful to protect?” He sipped before adding, “My room is adjacent to Miss Moreux’s. They speak freely in front of me. Jaclyn…Miss Moreux has strong feelings about a possible suitor.”
Wolferton frowned. “I wasn’t aware she had a preference. Did she mention a name?”
“Perhaps I did not explain that she will not accept a suitor not of her choice.”
“While we have discussed this at length, Camille, Jaclyn, and I, my impression was that we would stay here for a few weeks and then she could determine if she wanted an official introduction ball. There was too much pressure in London, and we felt she wasn’t ready. Thus, we are here. She seems content.”
The smile on Dupree’s face indicated otherwise. “Sir, she’s strong-willed. Sometimes, the less said, the better. You wouldn’t want to drive her away. I don’t envy you.”
“Yes, Dupree, I do admit my nerves are on end. She’s young, beautiful and vivacious.”
“The gentleman in question, Halifax…in your estimation, he is not a suitable man?” asked Dupree.
“My opinion is that he seeks a woman with a large dowry and a small mind. I will not consent to such a marriage.”
“Sometimes it is best to walk softly on such matters. Forbidden fruit always tastes the sweetest. Jaclyn has led a cloistered existence until now. She reminds me of an untamed mare with a desire to break free from her restraints.”
“What you say may be true, but I cannot hide her under a bushel. I’ve tried to reason with her, but she’s hard to fathom.” What he didn’t say was she tempted him beyond his endurance. The fates were cruel, and his guardians held secrets he could not read. “Another drink?” he asked, his mind in deep thought at the vision of a naked Jaclyn in front of him. No man could endure such a test without an arousal.
“Yes, thank you.” Dupree accepted a well-filled goblet.
“Since Jaclyn has entered my household, I drink more cognac and sleep with one eye open. Do you have the same problems with your daughter?” The corner of his mouth lifted in humor as he took another gulp from the crystal glass.
“Josette has not led that sheltered a life. She’s spent holidays with cousins in France and in general, has seen only a few suitors. No one has caught her fancy as yet. Jaclyn visited us on vacation when you were in service, I could see she missed the familial atmosphere. My sister schooled my daughter not only on etiquette but the ways of disreputable men. We had a family member, twice removed, who disgraced her mother and father. There was a good lesson to be learned.”
Restless, Wolferton walked to the French doors, glass in hand. “My widowed sister loves Jaclyn like a daughter. I’m happy to have her here, especially as my ward.”
“Camille is a lovely lady and seems content with her lifestyle. And now, she has Jaclyn to love and nurture.” Dupree pulled on his lace-cuffed sleeves and looked into the distance. “Sir, you are a fortunate man.”
“You don’t know my history, Dupree.” He gazed at the stained-glass window where the guardians were at peace.
“I see before me a man who vowed to raise his dying friend’s daughter. Your pledge was generous and honorable. You kept your word. We’ve all had youthful escapades, some worse than others. Jaclyn talks highly of you—not only now, but over all the years of your absence. She read some of your letters to us. You did the best you could under the circumstances. She is a beautiful, intelligent woman.”
“Monsieur Dupree, she’s also young and headstrong. It is said that the best way to tempt a sinner is to offer him a saint. Jaclyn would tempt Satan himself.”
Chapter Forty-Three
The Revelation
Jaclyn led her friend to her room and closed the door behind her.
“Tell me more about your guardian. His Grace is so tall and handsome, but his demeanor seems to hold dark secrets. Has he told you any of them?” Josette asked as she fussed with a porcelain figurine of a lady on the table and placed it with its mate.
“I’m not aware he has told me any. When we converse, it’s usually about mundane subjects. He’s a man onto himself in thought, word, and deed. Every once in a while, he does or says something that intrigues or scandalizes, and then he apologizes.”
Josette fingered a dog figurine on a table. “Hmm, has he mentioned the subject of suitors to you at all?”
“Too much. Radolf knows I’m not in favor of a hasty marriage. It is now a taboo subject.” Jaclyn frowned. “He sends mixed messages. You know that I’ve been fond of him for ages.”
“Yet you are allowed to address him as Radolf in private conversations? What is going on?”
“Those private conversations are just that—private between the both of us. Camille is aware of it and does not object. Most of the time, it’s just the three of us.”
“Tell me, Jaclyn, has he indicated a desire for a closer relationship with you?”
“Josette, it’s none of your business,” she defended. “At times, he only sees me as his ward to whom he has responsibilities and wants me off his hands. He doesn’t quite say it that way, but his intent is clear. At other times, he gazes at me with hungry eyes.”
“How hungry?” Josette asked.
“Ravenous,” Jaclyn uttered.
“Why don’t you encourage him further? He’s rich, famous, and handsome. Why not set out to entrap him?”
“Josette, you’re such a schemer. I don’t want to entrap anyone. I want to love someone who will return my affection. Enough about me. What do you want in your future?”
“At one time, I wanted to be an actress, but Papa had a fit. I got a lecture about a certain cousin who ruined her life when she ran away with the son of a preacher.”
“Did they not live happily-ever-after?” asked Jaclyn, who skipped toward her friend.
“No, he lost his job. My beautiful cousin couldn’t find work on the stage.” She sighed. “No one would tell me the final piece of the story except to shake their heads. The official words were, ‘It did not turn out well. The family ostracized them.’” She turned to Jaclyn. “Another cousin whispered to me that she died in childbirth, a sad end to an infat
uation.”
“And you still desire to be an actress?” Jaclyn shook her head, and a barrette slipped from her hair. She reached for it and peered in the mirror. “I rather like my curls without it.”
“Dear Jaclyn, I am French. Actresses in Paris enjoy different treatment than here. Papa sent me to his sister’s house there, and the excitement of the balls and masterful young men turned my head. I don’t think I now want such a vocation, but my cousin, Pierre, introduced me to all his friends. I never lacked for a dance partner.”
“Did they make inappropriate advances?” Jaclyn asked, tingling all over.
“Not in particular, but they’d steal a kiss on a balcony, or in a corner, or whisper in my ear confidentially.”
“Intimately?” Jaclyn arched an eyebrow at the salacious statement of her friend. “How did it make you feel? I need to know.”
“Yes, it was a thrill, but Pierre obviously forbade anything further.”
Josette reached for her friend’s hand. “Has your guardian kissed you?”
“Yes.” She tossed her dark curls. “Most of the times, it was to show me what not to do, or tell me of the consequences if I went further.”
She pulled Josette down beside her on the settee and leaned back into its comfort. “But, oh, there was a time or two, when it was more than a kiss. The sensation rained over me from head to toe. I swear I would have done anything he asked, but then again, this game he and I play always has one of us in retreat. It’s a frustration to say the least.”
Her friend’s eyes grew larger. “Do be careful, Jaclyn. Before you know it, you’ll be naked in his arms, and he’ll make love to you with his firm male member.”
Shocked at her descriptive words, the words barely escaped, “Josette, have you…have you had a man do such a thing to you? Does it hurt?”
“No. Papa and Aunt Mimi keep strict surveillance over me. I don’t know if it hurts although I’ve overheard some of the female servants say that the first time is awful. After that, it can be pleasurable, but there’s a risk of his seed.”
The Blue-Eyed Black-Hearted Duke Page 20