The Duke's Blind Temptation

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Copyright © 2011

Chapter One

Night after night, Raeford Anthony Kenton, Earl of Leyland, awoke, drenched in sweat, to find the nightmare continued.

He was blind.

Rafe sat up. His feet touched the satin-like finish of his
Wilton
carpet. Cool air filled his lungs when he breathed deep. He rolled his shoulders back and moved his head from side to side.

Through the dark mist clouding his vision, he saw vague shadows, unrecognizable shapes, and a slight lightening of the darkness. Early morning silence closed around him.

He reached for the cup on his bedside table. Stale-tasting water slid down his parched throat. Hands outstretched, Rafe walked around the room, feeling along the cool, damp wall. His hand touched the side of his large, mahogany armoire, and he let his fingers trail around the smooth sides of the wardrobe. A short distance farther, he felt the edge of the crisp linen drapes. Pushing them further apart, he opened the window.

His mind screamed in anger.
See, damn you
. But nothing changed. Leaning out, he took deep breaths of fresh morning air. The musty smell of the earth, after another recent rain, filled his nostrils. They’d had very little summer this year, only rain and cold. His mood mirrored the chilly weather.
 

Rafe raked his fingers through his hair and swore under his breath. He’d exhausted any hope of recovering his sight with the recent visit from a recommended physician. His last doctor had scurried away two weeks ago when Rafe lashed out at him with his ever-ready temper. The esteemed doctor had finally admitted he had no explanation for Rafe’s continued blindness. Rafe’s injury to his temple had healed months ago.

Against his father’s wishes, Rafe had moved into his hunting lodge. Here he could be alone, except for one trusted servant. With Rafe’s ill humor, he was poor company for anyone.

He rang the bell for Booth, his butler, cook, and man-of-all-trades. After Booth helped him dress, Rafe would prowl the house, waiting for what? Nightfall and more sleep filled with darkness and nightmares?

Always, the nightmare was the same one. He saw a figure point a rifle at him, but in his dream, he never saw the person clearly. Someone wanted him dead. But who and why? Restlessness clawed at his insides. He needed to regain his sight before they finished the job.

Rafe heard Booth’s steps as he came into the room.
 
“You called for me, my lord.”

“I’m ready to put on my clothes, but I’ll skip breakfast.”

“You have to eat.”

“Don’t be my nursemaid, Booth, or I’ll send you away, too.”

Booth made a harsh sound and strode across the room. “Your good nature might make a body decide to seek other employment.”

“I doubt I could beat you away with a stick.” Rafe failed to stop a smile from curling his lip.

He prowled around the room while Booth laid out his attire. He seldom ran into the furniture. His hunting lodge was familiar territory.

Life had been nearly perfect, until the war. He hadn’t been required or expected to go. Still, he hadn’t been able to watch others risk their lives for
England
while he stayed behind in comfort. He went against his father’s wishes, and joined his fellow Englishmen in the fight to beat Napoleon.

So many bullets flew around that last day, but the battle had already ended when the fateful shot hit his head.

“My lord.”

Booth’s words brought him back to the present. He walked toward the sound of Booth’s voice.
Time to dress and get through another day.

* * * *

Eleanor, better known as Ellie, the youngest daughter of Baron Upton, had ridden her horse through the woods to see Rafe. Going alone to a bachelor’s residence was not acceptable behavior for a refined young lady, but Rafe needed her. She wasn’t sure how she knew. The strong feeling burning inside kept pushing her along.

When she was younger, she’d often seen Rafe riding around the area with his father. But on one occasion he’d been alone and she’d slipped away by herself. They accidentally met at the stream that crossed both properties.

She was wading in the cool water. Her hair had been wrapped in a bandana, and she’d pulled sections of her skirt up, tucking it into her waistband to keep it dry.

He’d chuckled and called her a little gypsy. She’d been embarrassed to be seen in such disarray, but his warm smile and the endearing nickname had stayed with her. In her mind, he’d become special.

Their last encounter occurred when he came to say good-bye to her family before going off to Napoleon’s war. She’d waited until he left her house, and then had met him on the path to the stables.

Memories of that day were seared into her brain.

“What are you doing out here, Ellie?” His roguish smile had captivated her.

Her heart had beaten double-time. She didn’t have a coherent thought. Only that he was leaving and might die.

“Don’t go, please.” Tears filled her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

“Don’t worry.” He handed her his handkerchief. “I fully intend to return home. This war will be over soon.”

“Do you promise?”

He gently cupped her chin and leaned down. “I promise.”

He had smelled of sunshine and spicy cologne. His warm lips lightly touched hers. He pulled her close. For a brief moment she was enveloped in his embrace, held against his strong, hard body, listening to his heartbeat. All too soon, he’d stepped away, kissed her forehead, and waved as he continued toward the stables.

 
Ellie touched her bodice where she still carried his linen handkerchief. The memory of his kiss and touch remained as clear as though it occurred yesterday. She’d dreamed he’d come for her when he returned. Unfortunately, when he did come home, he preferred to live as a recluse.

 
This was her chance to help him, the man she had grown to love and wanted to marry. In fact, she was determined not to marry anyone else. So, taking the risk to see him was worth any peril to her reputation.

She rode into the yard surrounding the elegant, beautiful lodge. The windowpanes glistened in the sunlight, and yet a sense of disregard and isolation hung in the air. She dismounted, tied her horse to a nearby tree, and, with a trembling hand, knocked on his door.

“Miss Upton.” Booth’s voice conveyed his shock.
 

With his graying hair slicked down and perfect suit of clothes, he was the epitome of a gentleman’s butler.

“I want to see Rafe,” Ellie said with determination.

“It’s best you go home, Miss Upton. It’s not proper for you to be here, and he is in a mood not likely to welcome anyone.”

“I won’t leave without seeing him.” She reached her hand out in a pleading motion. “Please, Booth. I can help him.”

The old man shook his head and mumbled as he turned to the left corridor, took several quick steps, and went inside the second doorway on the right.

Ellie had slipped inside the small, circular foyer just in time to see him enter. She heard a raised voice, and Booth hurried out and back to her.

“He refuses any company.”

“Well, he won’t refuse me.” Ellie brushed past the butler and quickly strode to the room Booth had just exited.

Rafe sat on a straight chair facing the windows. When he turned, she’d have sworn he saw her. Her breath caught in her throat.

Three years had passed since their good-bye kiss. He was no longer the charming young man she remembered. While his shoulders were broader, his face was thin and drawn. Worse, the spark had gone from his eyes.

“Ellie, don’t stand there gawking. I told Booth I didn’t want company.” He rose from his seat and started hesitantly toward her.

“How did you know who came to call? Did Booth tell you it was me?”

His laugh was not pleasant. “I’m blind, not deaf. I heard your voice. You should have heeded Booth’s advice.” His harsh tone and movement toward her made her want to step back. She didn’t move. He faced her, almost toe-to-toe. Without thought, she raised her hands and touched the sides of his face. He flinched.

“Are you in pain?” she whispered.

For a second his hands covered hers, and then he pushed her back from him and against the wall. He leaned in, bringing their bodies into contact.

“Are you here to give the blind man sympathy?” He snarled. “Why do you all insist on invading my privacy?” His hands curved around her face.

Ellie felt his hard muscles against her body, his heat, toughness, and his arousal. Her heartbeat quickened. She’d dreamed of being this close to him, but not this way with anger heating the air between them. She stared into those midnight-blue eyes, still so beautiful.

His hands moved into her hair and pulled the pins out, letting the long tresses fall loose. He breathed deep. “You smell of fresh air and lemons. I always equated that particular lemony fragrance with you.” His lips came close to hers. She started to lean forward to kiss him. Suddenly, he lurched away.

“Damn. See. I’m not fit for respectable company. Forgive me for frightening you.”

“I wasn’t frightened.”

“Then you should have been.” He turned and yelled, “Booth.”

“Yes, my lord.” Booth hurried into the room. He gave a quick glance at Ellie and raised his eyebrows.

My hair!
She’d forgotten how she must look. She knelt and gathered her hairpins from the wool carpet. Pulling her hair up, she twisted the strands into a bun and tried to restore order to her appearance.

“See her out, and don’t let her in again, or you’ll no longer work for me. Is that understood?” Rafe snapped.

“Yes, my lord. Come, Miss Upton, you’d best follow me.”

Ellie stepped around him and went to Rafe’s side. “I won’t let you hide yourself away. You need company. We can ride and fish.”

“Are you a fool? Yes, you must be to have come here in the first place. I can’t see. So I don’t ride or fish or anything!”

Her head snapped back as if he’d physically slapped her. But she was determined not to give up on him. She hadn’t expected it to be easy.

“You’re the fool and a coward.”

His breath hissed through clenched teeth, and Booth stepped away from them.

Ignoring the rising color in Rafe’s face, Ellie continued. “People have let you get away with being disagreeable. They’ve probably catered to your every whim. Of course, you can ride with someone. Later, when you feel comfortable, you can ride by yourself. You know this area exceptionally well. There are many things you can do, if you try. You still have the ability to smell, taste, touch, and hear. Use them. Being angry and bitter never helps.”

“How did you get so smart at the young age of twenty? Close your eyes and try to move around, to feed yourself, to feel caged inside a small area. Please go.”

Ellie decided now might be the best time to retreat. Tears blinded her as she ran out of the house. She managed to remount and gallop off. Not home, not yet. Her family mustn’t see her like this. There’d be too many questions.

She rode to her favorite spot on her father’s estate—a small, secluded area surrounded by trees where birds fluttered merrily in the branches, and the clearing was covered in wildflowers. She wiped her tears with his handkerchief and lay amongst the sweet-smelling flowers.

Peace and quiet surrounded her. Above, a few wisps of clouds sailed along on a light breeze. She closed her eyes and saw Rafe. She’d never give up on him. If she did, he’d remain locked in his dark prison. She’d help free him from his self-imposed confinement. He’d been so bitter. Had the happy, carefree man gone forever to be replaced by this angry one? She refused to believe the real Rafe wasn’t still inside waiting for someone to reach out and help him find his way back.

She’d overheard her brothers-in-law talk. They had said war damaged men in many ways, not just the outward physical damage, but in how they reacted to what they saw and did. Rafe wasn’t coping well with his blindness, but could something else also be upsetting him?

Ellie stood and stretched. In the distance, she saw workers heading out of the fields toward home. Her mother had expected her to return before now. She untied her horse, mounted, and let her mare pick her way back to the stables.

Ellie’s mind was still filled with Rafe. His eyes had darkened to almost black when he started to kiss her. Did he remember their previous kiss? Did he care about her? If there was even a remote possibility, then she’d make him love her.

She’d thought of a plan. A dangerous one. If it didn’t work, she’d lose both her love and her reputation. Ellie considered the risks again. Life had become complicated. If she didn’t take this chance, her dreams were definitely gone. Instead, she hoped to win everything.

* * * *

Rafe heard the door shut. Hell, he hadn’t needed to be quite so harsh. He remembered her as the younger sister of three girls. She was the only one with wild, curly brown hair and large green eyes. Always laughing and getting into trouble for climbing trees or fishing dressed in her good gowns. While she had run barefoot through the meadows, her very ladylike sisters dressed impeccably and behaved very properly.