Lord Love a Duke (18 page)

Margaret's eyes rose again to Juliet and she
saw understanding and camaraderie in her visage. “I have been
exceedingly glad for this day in total. We are blessed to have such
fine weather for Her Grace's outing.”

“I am sure my mother marked 'sun, no clouds'
on her list of requirements for this day,” offered the Duke in a
lighthearted manner. “She was determined we should picnic on this
day, so it would certainly not dare to rain,” he joked.

“Quite true, Your Grace. And should the
opportunity arise I will be sure to offer your mother my
appreciation for her weather controlling capabilities. They are
positively mystical,” Juliet teased.

The Viscount cleared his throat noisily in
effort to rejoin the conversation. “Have you no berries, Lady
Juliet? I would be happy to accompany you into the fields for
picking after we finish our repast.”

Juliet thought she heard the Duke groan and
swore in quiet agreement before she could restrain herself. She
talked quickly to cover her gaffe while the Duke choked on a laugh
after hearing her curse. “I thank you, my lord, but I prevailed on
Dartmouth earlier, and we filled our basket splendidly. I have
exhausted myself thoroughly in our efforts. I instead see a lazy
rest in my immediate future.” Both Melville and the Duke frowned at
her familiar address of the Earl.

“In that case I would be happy to escort you
to the house and facilitate your rest.” Lady Margaret gasped at her
brother's word choice, fully knowing he meant the crude meaning in
his thinly veiled comment. The Duke sat up straighter, taking a
breath to offer his remonstrance, but Juliet spoke first.

“I fear I fail to understand how you think
to help me in that regard, Lord Melville,” Juliet replied frostily,
“and assure you, your company is not required. In point of fact, it
would be an impediment to my leisure, and I am sure you would never
want to make an annoying nuisance of yourself,” she added with eyes
narrowed and nostrils slightly flared. No one who knew Juliet could
doubt her understanding of Melville's indecent insinuation and her
restraint at addressing him still with politeness.

Lady Margaret looked mortified, the Duke
looked fierce, and the Viscount looked strangely pleased, his
unfamiliarity with Lady Juliet's mannerisms giving rise to a false
sense of security. He mistakenly believed as Lady Juliet had not
roundly set him down, she was instead engaging him in intriguing
repartee. He felt encouraged and emboldened. “Oh, no, my lady. I
would certainly do all I could to ensure your comfort in a most
assuredly helpful way. I would consider it an honor and a pleasant
duty,” he finished with a salacious grin.

“George!” exclaimed Lady Margaret as the
Duke jumped to his feet. Juliet rose as well, deciding to use her
height to her full advantage while the Viscount sat in smug
confidence. She offered a genuine smile to Margaret and a nod
toward the Duke, trilling a small, insincere laugh before
addressing the Viscount.

“You wield your words as for weapons, my
lord, but they are too dull for the job. I will excuse myself and
leave you to find a more interested target.” She turned her back to
Melville to address his sister. “Lady Margaret, would you care to
remove with me? I am sure we could persuade the Duke to deliver us
to the house.”

Jonas provided a helping hand to raise Lady
Margaret from the ground before turning his back on the Viscount
and escorting the ladies away from their dining area. The trio
departed, leaving a seething Lord Melville sitting suddenly alone,
their abrupt withdrawal having drawn several curious stares. He had
not received a direct cut per se, but it was obvious his company
was undesired of a sudden.

That evening, following supper, Juliet was
prevailed upon to play for the group while conversations and card
games commenced around the room. Conspicuous in his absence from
both meal and socializing was Viscount Melville, but his lack of
presence was also unlamented. The evening was subdued as the guests
were understandably fatigued from the warmth and duration of their
earlier outdoor activities, so it was no surprise when many began
to repair to their chambers before the chimes had struck ten of the
clock. Miranda and Juliet ascended the stairs to their rooms
arm-in-arm and deep in whispered conversation, unaware that the
Countess of Ashford followed closely behind.

“Juliet, come to my room before you retire.
We must plan our next adventure,” Miranda commanded with a
whisper.

Juliet squeezed her friend's arm in mute
acceptance and followed her into the room. She almost had the door
secured when a light scratching was heard. Opening the door, she
looked into the bemused face of her Aunt Catherine.

“Aunt! May I do something for you?” The
Countess raised a brow and grinned sardonically, side-stepping her
niece to enter. Setting herself in the plush chair nearest the
unlit fire grate she shifted her gaze from one lady to the
other.

“Shut the door, Juliet, and you both attend
me, if you please.” Her words and manner brooked no argument from
the friends, and they immediately complied. “What is your next
secret plan, and how may I help?” she asked without delay.

Juliet and Miranda gasped simultaneously,
looked at each other, then moved together to sit on the bench
opposite the Countess. Juliet recovered her composure first with a
self-deprecating chuckle.

“You are wise beyond us and too crafty by
far, dearest Aunt.” She paused to stare unblinkingly with a
calculating look before continuing. “You will not be dissuaded from
this pursuit?”

The Countess laughed as she patted her
coiffure with a regal affectation. “I will not,
dearest
niece
,” she said with inflection. “I must
have my part or I shall surely go mad in expectation of the next
spectacle. I have heard of Earls with blue teeth, which I
dreadfully lament not seeing, and a nude Marquis, of whom the
descriptions did not do enough justice, I am sure. Another Marquis
and Duke remain from the LOO. I assume they are your targets? I am
all anticipation of what happens next. I dearly hope it involves
fireworks or trained monkeys or some other nonsense.”

Juliet muttered a curse under her breath
while Miranda emerged from her stupefied silence with alacrity.
“What splendid ideas! We should definitely consider fireworks. I am
ever so fond of the noise and the colors.” She looked to be in
serious contemplation before glancing at Juliet and continuing.
“Our next scheme is guaranteed to strike only Jonas, as all before
were meant to do. However, fond as I am, the use of fireworks would
surely bring him chasing my skirts in blame, bugger it all. We must
stick to the original plan. I am to sew all of his garments
together. Every stocking, cravat, shirt, coat, and kerchief. While
it is nothing so shocking as the earlier foolery, this joke will be
assuredly for him alone.” Miranda's eyes were alight with mirth and
expectation of their success.

The Countess thought about the plan at
length while pretending to study the fine lace gloves covering her
hands. She raised her gaze first to Miranda then Juliet. Her eyes
narrowed and her countenance was changed by a scheming look.

“What say you to this? Tomorrow we are to
tour the gardens then arrange flowers whilst the gents fish or hunt
or partake of some other outdoor foolishness. I foresee the
headache to plague me after two days of sunshine, so I will beg off
following supper. I will require Juliet hie me to bed and apply her
healing ministrations. However, after depositing me in my chamber,
Juliet will take on the sewing assignment while you, Miranda, keep
your brother occupied.” The Countess smiled in devilish triumph
while Juliet looked askance.

Juliet sat up straight and emitted an
unladylike oath. “Aunt Catherine! I cannot enter the Duke's
chambers let alone molest his property. It would be highly improper
and unseemly on too personal a level.”

The Countess merely smirked, ignoring her
niece's objections but not her language. “Juliet, really, you and
Miranda comport yourselves with the basest of speech sometimes. I
enjoy a salty curse here and there, but my ears are positively
scorched. And while I agree it sounds very pretty in French, you
are still yelling about excrement,” she chided.

Juliet flushed but was unrepentant, feeling
justified in her vulgarity and vindicated by the nefarious plot she
was now to orchestrate on her own. Lost in her own thoughts, she
failed to see the heads of her dearest friend and Aunt now lowered
to near-touching as if in conspiracy.

“
Miranda,” whispered the
Countess, “I haven't time to explain, but I think your brother and
my niece have developed a mutual
tendre
. We can talk more of this later, but I propose we push these
two together in a more private setting and see what develops. My
guess would be a little kissing and some discovered shared
feelings. Let us put the focus of the Duke's attentions on Juliet
and off of your unmarried state. Let us expand the prank to include
dear Juliet.”

Miranda looked at the Countess in amazement,
then began to grin with her own Mephistophelian delight. “I think
the plan quite brilliant, actually. If your guesses be true, Jonas
will surely forget his mad plan to marry me off and will find
something more pleasing to occupy his mind. And body.” She looked
over at Juliet then straightened her posture. Speaking louder to
catch her friend's attention, she began her campaign before Juliet
could voice further complaint. “Think of it, Jules. How will you
keep my brother from leaving the room? His only interest in this
party is the promotion of his sister's attachment. I can occupy him
in this pursuit without difficulty for one evening. You will be
alone in his room. No one, save us three, need ever know. This
scheme will, in reality, help deflect suspicion from our persons
since I will be in the room with Jonas and the rest of the guests
while you will be known to attend your Aunt. I am mad for this
plan, actually!”

Juliet's shoulders dropped in resignation
while her Aunt rubbed her hands together in satisfaction. “I agree.
You are quite mad,” grumbled Juliet as she listened to her friend
and aunt bandy about further suggestions and ideas.

The next evening, after a seemingly brief
supper, the few bites which she could choke down tasting like
sawdust, Juliet dutifully rescued her “ailing” aunt and attended
her to her chamber. Her stomach churned, and she feared she would
disgrace herself in front of her aunt and maid. The Countess gave
her many words of encouragement, checked her reticule for the
necessary sewing items, and bade her niece
bonne
chance
, sending her firmly on her way
.
Juliet moved quickly and quietly through the halls, as familiar
with Edgecliff as her own home. Before anyone might stumble upon
her, she turned the knob and slipped into the Duke's room, shutting
the door behind her with a gentle snick.

Juliet nervously looked around the room and
took a deep breath in an effort to calm her nerves. It was a
beautiful chamber, the room spacious and well appointed. A large,
four poster bed took up most of the left wall, the canopy and
drapings a navy and gold brocade that richly accented the dark
mahogany of the wood. A fire was already burning in the grate on
the far side of the room, in deference to the cool night, with two
chairs separated by a small table flanking the fireplace. Heavy
curtains were already closed against the dark across a seemingly
large but hidden window. Juliet walked across and drew back a panel
to look. The sky outside was too dark to reveal the Duke's view,
but she discovered the curtains hid not only a window but also a
padded seat at least six feet in length.
What a pleasant place
to read a book
, she thought, then chuckled at her distraction
as she turned around to get after her mission. Spying an enormous
wardrobe in occupation of the wall opposite the bed, Juliet made
for this piece of furniture to begin to work.

She opened her reticule and removed the
spools of thread and needles. Opening wide the two large doors she
pulled out the first drawer of four that made up the bottom of the
clothes press and gave a small gasp at its contents. Despite having
two brothers, she could not contain her shock at seeing the Duke's
private garments. She efficiently threaded a needle and gritted her
teeth before removing his drawers from their compartment. She
quickly began to stitch them together, desperately trying to ignore
the nature of the clothing and what parts of the Duke's body they
usually encased. One leg after the other she sewed until she had a
long line of attached garments. She restacked them with efficiency
and deposited them back in the wardrobe.

Opening the next drawer she discovered his
stockings. Following the same routine, she stacked them carefully
onto the carpet and proceeded to stitch them together with
precision and dexterity. When she had achieved one long line of
connected stockings, she replaced them and moved to the next drawer
containing cravats. Juliet removed the first neck cloth and ran her
fingers over the soft silk. Realizing she had never touched a man's
neckwear before, she was surprised to find it soft and almost
delicate yet still sturdy with starch. She paid careful attention
to remove them in stacks so she would not have to refold them
later, then proceeded to stitch each successive corner to the next.
As she neatly replaced them in the drawer she could not stop her
hand from touching the cool silk one last time.