Authors: Claudy Conn
BECKY HAD INSISTED on hearing the whole of the story twice and finally sat back to burst out laughing and wagged a finger. “If I wasn’t acquainted with you two, I would say it was all a hum!”
“I wish it were, but so it has always been.” Scott grinned. “She is, as you say, a madcap, forever running about without thinking and dragging
me
into her schemes.”
“Dragging you?” Felicia took offense. “And who made you rush off after highwaymen? I tried to stop you.”
“Aye, there is that. But, Flip, dragging me about is what you do most of the time,” he barked. “Don’t deny it.”
She sighed. “I suppose that is the truth of it.”
“Well, things have now turned around, haven’t they? Your guardian is not the old grumpy fellow attempting to bury you in some absurd town, is he? You shall go off to London and have a glorious season, won’t you,” Becky said.
“
Becky
, I thought you would understand,” Felicia said dolefully.
Becky got up and went to the edge of the bed where Felicia sat and hugged her. “I do, dearest, I do.”
A sound at the open doorway turned their heads, and Felicia felt her heart sink. The duke was looking coldly stoic, and his sister, who Felicia had thought a magnificent figure from the moment she had clapped eyes on her in the parlor, also had a ‘no nonsense’ aura about herself.
Life would now drastically change
.
She had made love with a man she had hoped to wed. That hope was forever blasted off into the universe, for that man was her guardian and a duke. He would not want her … a country bumpkin who was also his ward.
Lady Daphne stepped into the room and swept her gaze over the young people while Felicia eyed her warily. She could also see that Ashton, as she would always think of him, seemed to soften as he glanced her way.
A touch of pity lined Lady Daphne’s words as she said, “Please, everyone, I am not an ogre about to eat you all. Do relax, and we shall do.”
“Shall we? Not sure exactly what that means,” Felicia answered, determined not to be ‘handled’.
“I think, first, introductions are in order,” said Ashton as he stood, looking withdrawn and somewhat grim. “I am the Duke of Somerset and your guardian, Felicia, and this is my sister, Lady Daphne Waverly.”
No one spoke, and he swallowed a long breath of air and turned to his sister. “Apparently, Daffy, this is my ward, Felicia Easton, and her friends, Scott Hanover and Rebecca Wilson.”
Felicia was not going to allow this new spoke in her weathered wheel to discompose her. Her life was falling apart around her ears in very quick order, but she would manage. She had to manage. She didn’t know how it was that Ashton had somehow turned into her guardian. She was sure it had not always been, and it did render her situation most uncomfortable, but she was, as ever, an optimist. She was sure that somehow she would survive this and find a way to mend this new and enormous problem.
Her chin was well up as her mind raced, and she said, “Lady Daphne, I am very pleased to meet you, but first I should like to inquire how the deuce is Ashton the Duke of Somerset?”
Lady Daphne put a hand to her mouth, and Felicia could see she was trying to keep down a laugh, but she turned her gaze to Ashton, who now blinked and inclined his head.
When he spoke she saw a twinkle in his silver eyes. “As it happens, my uncle, who was both the previous duke and your guardian, passed on two months ago. That left me the title, the estates,
and you
.”
She almost choked on this and bit back a smile. Becky interrupted and said, “I think it is time
for me
to go home.”
“No, Becky, you must not.” Felicia grabbed for her hand and held her fast as her eyes pleaded for her friend to stay.
Becky looked from Scott to Felicia and apparently was unable to do what she obviously wanted to do, which was escape. She sighed and said, “Very well …”
“I have explained how it is that I am your guardian,” the duke said quietly, also looking from Scott to Felicia. “Now, it is your turn to do some explaining.”
Scott cleared his throat and offered, “I … I may be able to help with that.”
“There is no need,” Felicia said, getting to her feet. “My guardian here carried on with a lie … no different, no better than what we did. It is all done now. What is, apparently
, is
.”
The duke’s laugh was harsh, and he took a step towards her. “You silly madcap … do you never give
anything
any thought whatsoever?”
“Whatever can you mean, Your Grace?” she said, one shoulder going up as she looked away.
She looked back at him and found his eyes narrowing as he said, “It is my intention to do what I started out to do when I was originally headed for Easton.”
“I shall never go to Swindon with you!” retorted Felicia.
He shook his head. “
Blast
Swindon, blast this notion you have of me taking you off to hide you away and marry you off to some nonexistent relative,
blast, blast, blast!
”
Felicia’s temper exploded into a fit of the giggles.
Everyone else blanched.
Lady Daphne recovered from watching this scene, opened her mouth to say something, closed it, and finally settled on uttering, her hand to her chest, “Well, indeed, as my brother says, no one shall take you anywhere, except to London for your season, and you shall like that very much, my dear, I do promise you.”
“You are most kind, Lady Daphne,” Felicia conceded as she sobered up and got control of her nerves. “However, I want nothing more than to return to Easton and go on as I have been doing. I managed quite well, and in no time at all, will … as it were, come into my own.” She pulled at her fingers fretfully. “I won’t know anyone in London … and I don’t want to go to balls … I want to stay at Easton … near Scott and my friends and the life I love—”
“Stop!” the duke demanded and eyed her. “
Where is my spitfire?
Where is my indomitable girl, ready to take on the world?”
Under his gaze she bucked up. “Yes, but there is a difference between wanting and
having to,
isn’t there?”
“You won’t regret this, I promise you, madcap,” he returned softly.
Lady Daphne stared as she watched their exchange, and suddenly she made up her mind. She had intended to stay well out of this and hand off the chit to a cousin to bring out. All at once, she rather thought bringing out this … what did her brother call her, ah, yes, ‘his spitfire’, how very interesting … would be just the thing.
“Felicia, you know, I have quite made up my mind that what I need is to have you with me for the season. I would like nothing better than to have a friend to go about London with … and then to present to the
haute ton
. Why, it would quite secure me a place as a London hostess. Would you not help me in this?”
Felicia eyed her. Was she just being kind, or did she really want to take her under her wing and launch her season? “Secure you? I am not a fool. You are just being kind.”
“Madcap,” Becky objected. “Say thank you to her ladyship.”
Felicia bit her lip. “Indeed, I do thank you.”
“Does that mean you will allow me this pleasure?” Lady Daphne turned and allowed Rebecca to enjoy a grateful glance, “And of course, my dear, I would hope your family will allow you to join Felicia and visit with us for a time at Waverly Place. My Freddy … will find it quite entertaining to have us all fritting about in his well-ordered life. He wrote me just the other day that he is heartily bored and if I don’t return home at once, he means to come and fetch me, so I am certain he will find this very entertaining.” Lady Daphne smiled over this.
“Can Scott visit as well?” Felicia asked, suddenly warming to all of this.
“Indeed,” Lady Daphne agreed at once.
“I shall, Flip. Won’t be able to keep me away. I will set up a bachelor residence nearby … and escort you and Becky about,” Scott offered gleefully. “This will be a lark, see if it won’t.”
“Well then, yes, Lady Daphne, I think your invitation is most gracious, and I do heartily hope to do you proud. I know I have been a hoyden of a girl, but I shan’t give you cause to regret giving me a season. In fact, I am most flattered that you want me,” Felicia said.
Daffy was a warm soul and immediately took Felicia into her embrace. “Want you? Of course I want you.”
The duke looked at his sister, and a small smile curved his lips. “Ah then, as usual, Daffy, you have sewn up the matter right and tight.”
“Have I?” she said on a low note. “I rather think our Felicia has done that. But we shall see.”
Felicia suddenly wanted to cry. She knew that Lady Daphne was of course doing this for her brother, but at the same time she was very aware of the woman’s kindness and immediately took to her.
On the other hand, she was aching inside because it occurred to her that the duke wanted her to have a season. What did that mean? It meant that he wanted to present her to the world and
marry her off
. In turn that meant he did not want her for himself. He was willing to see her married off to someone else. Oh, he might have a fondness for her. He might even still lust after her, considering their night together, but he was able to forget that, wasn’t he? Men could forget such things. She had often heard Scott say something like that regarding men and women.
Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe. She had to get out of Scott’s room. She excused herself and started out.
The duke called, “Felicia …?”
She did not look back but hurried off toward her own room. Once again, his sister was astounded as he stomped after her.
In the hall just at her bedroom door, he caught up with her and took her hand to pull her towards him. “Felicia … I don’t know what you are thinking, but I know some awful thought popped into your head. You are my own little zany, and I am beginning to know you very well.”
“Are you?” She nearly choked on the words. “You are my guardian. I am your ward. What happened between us must be forgotten. You and your sister are about to present me to your world and sell me off to the pinkest of the ton, no doubt. That, Your Grace
, is that
.”
So saying, she entered her room and closed the door.
FELICIA SAT CURLED up on the very luxurious yellow damask sofa in the morning room of Waverly House. Her rich black hair had been trimmed and styled in a profusion of curls, which Lady Daphne had told her was the very latest in fashion.
She had spread her A-line morning gown of amber velvet around herself, and the duke’s sister had said only a moment ago that she was about to collect a profusion of hearts.
Felicia had sighed to answer, “I don’t want to collect hearts.”
“You may not, but I fear, my girl, you shall. Why only look at you!” Daffy had sighed and picked up her book to read.
Felicia let it go and was glancing at the pages of the morning paper in her lap when the morning room doors opened and the duke strode inside.
A gasp formed in her throat. She hadn’t seen him in two days and had, in fact, felt as though she was about to go mad with missing him. He stood a moment, looking to her like a god in his blue superfine, his top hat in his ungloved hands. He was so tall, so broad, and with his black silky waves windblown about his handsome, too handsome face, stunning.
He stood staring at her, even as she pulled her legs out from under herself and sat up straight. He went to her as though no one else inhabited the room and bent over her fingers. “Felicia.”
“Your Grace,” she whispered.
Daphne cleared her throat. “Hallo, brother … good to see you too. Where have you been?”
“Where have I been?” He seemed momentarily befuddled. “Oh, I called yesterday, did your man not tell you? The two of you were out shopping.”
“And last night? I thought you might join us for a little family dinner. Freddy invited one of his friends over, and we had a lovely time.”
“Freddy’s friend? Who?” he was momentarily diverted.
“Tony … you know him, young squire, has a place near Somerset, in fact.”
“Ah, young scoundrel.” He eyed Felicia. “I hope he didn’t turn your head? I hear he is a charmer.”
Felicia beamed. “Oh, he is, indeed, very good fun.”
“Hmm,” the duke answered.
“So, where were you? You didn’t even reply to my invitation,” his sister pursued.
“Ah, my man got a hold of me and, as it turned out, I had to take a quick ride over to Billings House.”
“Billings? Whatever for?”
“Well, inherited the damn place from Uncle, and it is in a bit of a mess. Have to make a decision. Do I keep it or sell it to that American who seems to want it?”
“What are you going to do?”
“Not sure, thought Felicia might like to accompany me now and give me her opinion of the place,” he said softly.
His sister eyed him thoughtfully. “Why, that is an excellent notion. I fully agree, Glen, Felicia must see it before you let it go.”
Felicia watched his face as he glanced thoughtfully at his sister and said, “Need we bring her maid with us?”
“Nonsense. You
are
her guardian. Of course you can take her to see a property on your own. Besides, ’tis only just across from Hyde Park. Exceptional neighborhood.”
“Right then,” said the duke, holding out his bent arm. “Shall we?”
Felicia almost squealed as she got to her feet. “I shall fetch my cloak.”
* * *
Daffy eyed him as Felicia hurried out of the room. “Why all of a sudden, Glen … do you need to inspect this property?”
“The dratted American needs an answer, he says, so I suppose we must give him one, and I do want Felicia’s opinion.”
“I see,” she said, and her eyes twinkled. “Indeed, of course you do.” She sighed. “Very well, then, but don’t keep her too long, as we have the rout tonight, and it is Felicia’s first formal event, and you must be there … right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said softly.
* * *
The duke sat beside Felicia in his coach, and she was very aware of the stares they received from people passing by as they made their way out of Kensington Square.
She turned and found the duke’s silver eyes alive with pleasure. “You look fetching in that little chip bonnet.”
She beamed. “It is pretty … and matches my amber gown and brown Spencer, don’t you think?”
He chuckled and gravely inclined his head. “I do.”
She laughed. “Ah, you are making fun of me.”
“Felicia,” he said softly. “Are you excited about this evening?”
“Yes, and no … I would have been more comfortable if Becky were here already. I had hoped she would have been allowed to accompany us, but I expect she and her father will arrive in London soon, and that will be wonderful.” She brightened. “And Scott said he will attend, so there is that.” She cocked a look at him. “Where is Scott, do you know? I have not seen him since yesterday morning.”
“He went off with some friends he had bumped into at the club. I think they mean to lease some lodging together for the season.”
“Do you mind … his staying with you in the meantime?”
“Not at all. He is a very good fellow.”
Felicia sighed. “It is, you know, dashed inconvenient … being your ward.”
“Is it? Because it is dashed inconvenient being your guardian,” he answered, his voice low and suddenly husky.
“
Because
I know you would like to kiss me, and now
you can’t.”
She dimpled at him.
“You are a she-devil, but, yes, I would like to kiss you, and
now I can’t
,” he said on a hungry note.
“Why?” she returned. “Why can’t you? Whose business is it but ours?”
“Stop. You know why,” he answered on a frown.
“I do. You want me to make a suitable match and cannot in good conscience make love to me and still accomplish that.”
He choked. “It is no such thing.”
She did not answer and said as she looked curiously out the window, “Ah, your driver has stopped … we must be here.”
A quick tour of the townhouse had Felicia smiling as she turned to the duke and said, “This is charming, but how many townhouses do you already have?”
“Three,” he said and grimaced. “My own, the one I bought before I became the duke. Then there is Ashton House, which I shall be deeding to my cousin, who will now take the title and some of the holdings, and of course, there is Somerset Place in Kensington, where I am now installed. It is not far from Daffy’s. So this would make four if I don’t sell it.”
“Then you should decide if you wish to reside here …
ever
, and allow your decision to emerge from that,” Felicia said, picking up a dusty linen to peer at the upholstered chair beneath.
“Ah, so then it goes to the American—unless, you like the place …?” he said.
“Not especially, and if you have three others, it is simply too much too think about, isn’t it? Silly really.”
Suddenly she found his arm slipping around her as he pulled her up against himself. “Felicia …” His voice was low and hoarse.
“Yes?” She saw the smoldering look in his bright silver eyes, and all her hurts and resolves seemed to melt beneath that fire.
And then, just as suddenly, he released her and turned away. “We should be going.”
“Right,” she said. He seemed to be at war with himself, but why? If he were in love with her, would it not be an easy decision to simply tell her?
He said as he stopped and took her hand, “You know, you must have every advantage. It is
my duty
as your guardian to present you to the
haute ton
and allow you to meet eligible bachelors … as many and as varied as possible, so that when you decide on one, it will be because
you had a choice
.”
She eyed him. He was ready to let her go.
Very well, so be it
, she thought as her heart took a pounding. She would not break. The night she had spent with him had been at her instigation. She had known full well that she might never win his heart. Apparently, she had not.
“A choice, you say. How very exciting. Well, I suppose it all starts tonight.” She started forward, but the next thing she knew, he had her spun around and back into his arms.
His mouth on hers was desperate, and she responded with a heat that surely must show him how she felt about him?
His tongue melted hers. His hand swept over her breast, and then he groaned and stepped away, holding her shoulders apart from himself. “I am the worst scoundrel imaginable. I have to get control. You are an innocent. You came to me an innocent, and I took you knowing you were vulnerable. I will not do so again.” He took her hand and pulled her along. “This was very wrong of me … bringing you here, like this … we must get back.”
He saw her situated within his coach, and the short ride back to Waverly House was made in silence. He saw her to the door, turned on his heel, and she bucked herself up as she went inside. She had used every ounce of strength not to call him back and not look after him.
She went indoors and took the stairs, only mildly aware that Lady Daphne peeked out of the morning room and watched her.
Throwing herself onto her bed, she couldn’t stop the wrenching sobs that escaped her lips. He did not love her. He was about to watch her being launched and perhaps engaged to someone else.
Could she give herself to anyone else?
No … oh, no …