The Reluctant Duke (Love's Pride Book 1) (17 page)

“No, I don’t imagine they would,” Thomas said. “Any employee prefers a strong, decisive boss. Even if they are fourteen years old.”

Gwen blushed then went on. “Life goes on. Mr. Grant, my new step-father was all right. A little taciturn but nothing terrible. Not until I turned seventeen. Then things began to change. I would catch him looking at me. At first I thought I was mistaken. But one day one of the maids approached me and warned me to be careful around him.”

She glanced over at the Duke to see how he was reacting. His knuckles had turned white where he gripped his cane. His eyes had taken on that hard look again. She swallowed and took another deep breath.

“I wanted to tell my mother, but there was nothing specific, nothing I could point to and say he did something wrong. But I could tell.

I was able to avoid him for a while. Then my mother died.”

Thomas’s brow creased in concern and pity. Gwen could tell he hurt for her, and that made her feel stronger.

“It became more and more difficult. For two years, I managed his house for him. I ate dinner with him every evening. But I made sure there was always a servant around. Someone whom I could trust. They knew what was going on, and I had their support. That is one of the many things I regret about leaving. I wonder that they are all right.”

“I am sure that they are,” Thomas said with a light voice, as if afraid any loud noise might make her bolt. “If you give me their names I will make inquiries’ and ensure they are okay. If necessary we will find positions for them here.”

“Oh, Thomas … I mean, Your Grace. That would be so wonderful. I have worried and fretted about the situation I left them in. Especially the younger maids. Would you really give them positions here?”

“Of course,” he said with a reassuring smile. “Please tell me exactly why you left your step-father’s house and what does it have to do with the Earl of Grainbell.”

Gwen swallowed hard and blushed again. Would her face ever be normal again?

“It’s simple really,” she said as she stared at the distant wall. “My step-father sold me to him to pay off a gambling debt.”

Thomas sucked in a deep breath and fought not to overreact. One thing for sure, Mr. John Grant was about to have his world crash down around him. The only thing Thomas was worried about was if there was enough left to destroy.

“Go on Gwen, Please. I need to know everything.”

She didn’t look away from her distant stare.

“One night, my step-father brought home a man. That in itself was unusual. But the man was like no one I had ever met before. He was dressed very expensively, with an arrogant tilt to his head. My mouth dropped when he was introduced as the Earl of Grainbell.

I had never met someone from the peerage. I became nervous as I curtsied. I remember him walking around me, looking and appraising me. I can still feel the ugly crawl of his eyes over me. When he was done he didn’t smile, just nodded his head.

’You were right, she will do.’ It was as if he was inspecting a broodmare or prize heifer at some county fair.

My stepfather smiled and turned to me. ‘Go pack,’ he said. ‘I’ve found you a husband.’”

Thomas cringed inside at the thought of her as another man’s wife. His stomach had tied itself into knots as she had told her story. Every hurt, every insult had stoked his anger. They would pay. They would all pay, long and hard.

“At first,” Gwen continued. “I was in shock. The idea of getting married. Marrying an Earl no less. It was all so much. I thought commoners like myself couldn’t marry into the peerage. But I grabbed the possibility. It meant I could escape my Step-father’s house. Start a family. All of the things a girl dreams about. Of course, I didn’t know this man, but many girls end up in arranged marriages, and they work out.

Something in his eyes, though. Something made my soul quiver with dread. I didn’t know what to do, what to say.

I think the Earl saw my hesitation and worry because he took my hand his and bent over and gently kissed it. ‘Don’t worry, everything will be perfect I assure you,’ he said.

I actually believed him. The way he stared into my eyes. I actually believed he would try to make me happy. And really I couldn’t ask for much more.”

Thomas scooted to the edge of his seat and took her hand in his. He gently squeezed it, encouraging her to go on. He wondered briefly if she was thinking back to the Earl and his taking her hand.

She looked down at their hands then smiled back, returning his squeeze.

“I left to go pack. My heart racing I couldn’t stop smiling. This was my way out, my way to freedom.”

Thomas held his tongue, let her finish he told himself. She’s on pin and needles as it is. If you say the wrong things, she’ll never be able to finish.

“I had only taken a few steps before I realized that I had no idea where I was going. Were we headed north to Scotland? Or south to the continent. Would I be able to obtain a wedding dress or would I have to use something I already owned?

I returned to ask for some clarification. I mean a girl can’t be expected just to throw a few things into a valise and go off and get married. Besides, I wanted to know more about the man I was going to be spending the rest of my life with.

When I got to the door, I froze for a moment, curious. I could hear my step-father singing my praises. ‘I told you Grainbell; she is beautiful.’ Something he had never said to me directly I might add.

The Earl grunted and said. ‘You do realize that when I am done with her I will be returning her to you?’

My insides turned to stone. What did he mean? Done with me? What kind of marriage would this be?

‘Yes, of course,’ my step-father said.

‘Once we are on the way to get married, well a man can’t be blamed if he can’t wait until his wedding night.’

‘I wouldn’t be so sure. She may resist.’

‘Oh, I am counting on it.’ The Earl said. I can still remember the feel of dread that washed through me.

My step-father laughed. ‘Maybe then she might be more receptive to me. If not, oh well, I am sure you will have removed all of the fight out of her.’

‘We will never reach Scotland of course. Somewhere along the way I will change my mind, and we will return. I may or may not invite some friends of mine to join us prior to that of course.’

‘I understand,’ my step-father said. ‘You do whatever you want, as long as our debt is erased.

‘Yes, one thousand pounds. I know,’ the Earl said with an exasperated sigh as if the idea of talking about money was the most boring thing in the world.

Thomas stood up fast. His actions made her jump and lean away from him.

“I’m sorry, so sorry,” he said as he sat on the bed next to her. His hand gently reached out to caress her shoulder.

She closed her eyes and paused. He was sure she was lost back in that room with two very evil and soon to be dead men.

“I ran to my room. I was confused. And didn’t know what to do. I was only there a minute when my door opened without anyone knocking. It was the Earl, my intended. I fought a scream that threatened to erupt. I was sure that if he knew that I knew what he was planning that I would never get a chance to escape.

I should have screamed.

He smiled at me then said that because we were betrothed there was no need to wait. He started walking towards me. He had an evil look in his eyes as if he was mapping out what he was going to do and what he was going to make me do.

I don’t know what had happened. Why the plans had changed. I had hoped to get away later. Ask the innkeeper for help. I couldn’t stay in my step-father’s house. Not after what I had heard. My only chance was to get away from my Step-father first then the Earl later. At least that had been my plan.

My mother’s jewelry and a little pin money were all that I had; it would have to be enough.

Gathering what little strength I had, I smiled up at him and tried to act as if the plans had not changed.

‘Should I pack warm clothes,’ I asked him as I continued to put things in my suitcase.

I should never have turned my back on him. I didn’t hear him move. He grabbed me around the middle …”

Gwen had stopped again. Thomas wanted to make her pain go away, craved desperately to take her in his arms but held back. The wrong word, the wrong move would scare her away. She needed to finish, to get it all out so they could move on.

She hesitated for a moment then stared at her hands as she continued.

“I fought him. He ripped my dress,” she said. “I was exposed for him to see.” Her face became pink with embarrassment. Thomas gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

“His hands grabbed and raked at me. It hurt. It was as if I was not really there. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

“I know honey,” Thomas said. The emotions tumbling inside of him kept pushing at him, kept demanding that he take actions. Somehow he held them at bay. That’s not what she needs now; he told himself. Later, deal with them later.

“He uh … threw me to the ground. My head erupted into stars. Then he was on me. I don’t know why I did what I did, I just reacted. I didn’t think …”

“What did you do,” Thomas said as he held her.

“I grabbed the fire iron and hit him in the head. I can still remember the hollow thunk sound it made.”

“Ah, so that explains it, your aptitude with a fire iron. I wondered where that came from.”

She laughed at his little joke, and he knew she was going to be all right. Eventually, she would be all right, and they would be able to get on with their life.

“I thought for sure I had killed him,” she continued. “I was convinced that I was going to be executed for killing an Earl. I wondered if they’d do it at the Tower of London. Do they cut off your head for killing a peer?”

“Not if they deserve it,” Thomas answered.

“There is not much more to tell. The Earl was laying on my bedroom floor in a pool of blood. My dress was in shreds. I grabbed a nightgown and fled into the night. I used what little money I had to buy a dress and take the first coach out of London.”

“And ended up at Brookshire,” Thomas said.

“Yes. I was convinced either he was alive and still looking for me. Or he was dead, and the crown was looking for me. I should have given you a different name that day, your first day at Brookshire but you were so intimidating the thought of telling you a falsehood scared me more than the thought of being discovered by the crown.”

Thomas’ heart broke. She’d been holding this inside. What must it have meant for her to return to London? How she must have dreaded running into the Earl of Grainbell again.

Someone was going to pay. Several someones.

“What happens now?” she asked. “Once he recognized me. Won’t he have the authorities take me? I hurt him. A lot. Even I know you can’t do that to someone like the Earl of Grainbell.”

Without thinking, Thomas took her into his arms. She melted into him. Soaking up his strength. The need to protect and care for her rushed through him. No man, no person, nothing, would ever hurt this woman again, he would die first.

“It will be all right Gwen,” he said as he slowly rubbed her back. “Everything will be all right.” He quietly muttered as she began to cry. He knew she had been holding it in all this time. Months and months of fear and stress were finally let loose.

After a long moment, she pulled back to stare into his eyes with a look of adoration and love that melted his heart. No woman had ever looked at him that way. As if he was important to her. The most important thing in the world. Everything about this woman made his blood turn to fire, made him want to hold and protect her. To make her laugh, scream with ecstasy, and cry with happiness.

He slowly lowered his lips to hers. Gently, carefully caressing her. Letting her know how much he cared. How special she was. Her hands came up around his neck, holding him tighter, bringing him closer as if she couldn’t get enough.

“Don’t worry my dear,” he whispered when the broke for air. “As my wife no one will ever bother you again.”

Gwen’s fingers tingled where they locked behind his neck. She stared into those gorgeous silver eyes and became lost. He was so handsome, so strong. She had told him her deepest darkest secret and he hadn’t been mad. Not shocked, nor upset.

She wanted him, desperately. With every fiber of her being. She knew it was a risk. She was a ladies companion. Any scandal would bring shame to Aunt Celeste. Her heart fluttered, and she knew that she didn’t care. Nothing else mattered.

Wait, what?

“What did you say?” she asked as she pulled back, her brow crossed in confusion.

Thomas smiled, “I said when you are my wife no one will hurt you.”

“Your wife? What do you mean?” Her voice was beginning to rise in anger. How dare he?

Thomas frowned in confusion. “As my wife …”

“I tell you about my step-father selling me into marriage, and you think that allows you to order me to be your wife. That obviously, a weak, servile woman like me can be told who and when she will marry.”

“No, that’s not what I meant,” Thomas said as he stepped back. Obviously realizing that he had upset her.

“I told you I couldn’t be your wife,” Gwen said, noticing that she didn’t say anything about not being his mistress.

“That’s not what I meant,” Thomas said his face finally registering some concern and confusion. “You know how I feel about you …”

“No Thomas I don’t. You’ve never said. All you’ve done is order me about like I’m the hired help.”

“Well, to be honest,” he said with a small chuckle.

“Oh! You beast. Get out. Now,” she said stomping her foot for emphasis. “Go on, get out,” she repeated as she pushed at his chest. She needed him to go before she said or did something she would regret.

“Gwen, listen, I uh … “

He looked like a lost little boy with no idea of what he had done wrong. She was so mad she could scratch someone’s eyes out. How dare he? To ruin such a sweet, gentle moment by assuming she would marry him just because he told her too.

“What? No apology. You didn’t seem to have a hard time apologizing before. Now you can’t?”

“I don’t have any idea what I did wrong,” he answered, his voice also rising in anger.

This was getting out of hand. If it continued, the entire household would be up to investigate what was happening. A flash of Aunt Celeste and Elizabeth barreled into her room thinking she was in trouble only to find The Duke still there and her dressed in her night clothes. No. She must stop this now.

“Thomas, please leave,” She said with a calming voice.

“And if I don’t,” he demanded, obviously still in fighting mode. Didn’t the man know when to shut up?

Gwen sighed heavily. “If you don’t leave then I will have too. It won’t be the first time I’ve run from an overbearing man intent on using his power to force me to do something I didn’t want too.”

Her heart jumped as she realized she’d gone too far. The stricken look on his face shocked her. It was as if she had shot him in the heart. A mortal blow.

He lowered his head for a moment as if gathering himself. Please, Thomas she whispered to herself. Please understand what I need, what I want. But the words didn’t come out. Instead, she stood there waiting.

He finally raised his eyes to look at her again; he squared his shoulders.

“Very well Miss Harding,” he said as he snatched his walking cane from where it leaned against a chair. “But I assure you, this is not over.”

Her heart lurched. What had she done? All she wanted was to spend the rest of her life in this man’s arms, but her temper had ruined everything. She should have just accepted the inevitable, and they’d be making sweet passionate love right now. Instead, she was watching his back as he stormed from her room.

What had she done?

.o0o.

Thomas paced back and forth in his study, wearing a path in the carpet, his mind lost in thought as he planned, examined options, and reviewed everything that had happened. He might have made a mistake but for the life of him couldn’t see it. He loved her, and he was sure she loved him. He could offer her protection, wealth, status. He could raise her to heights no merchant’s daughter could ever hope for.

He had placed her with his aunt, introduced her to society. Ensured every detail was handled. But still, something was wrong.

His thoughts were interrupted by a downstairs maid stepping into the room.

The girl’s eyes grew as big as saucers when she saw the Duke standing in the middle of the room.

“Um, I’m sorry Your Grace,” she blurted as she quickly curtsied. “I’m to start the fire. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

Thomas stopped pacing and glanced at the girl. She looked like she was afraid he was going to shot her at dawn. Did he really scare people that much? Why? He’d never even spoken to this poor girl. Why did she think he would be upset? She was only doing her job.

A memory of his grandfather flashed into his mind. The way the servants would worry and scurry whenever he would start to rumble and yell. Everyone in the household quaked at the thought of upsetting him. Was that how his servants looked at him?

He smiled gently and nodded towards the fire. “Please continue, I assure you that you didn’t interrupt anything.”

“Yes Your grace,” she said with another quick curtsy before almost running to the fireplace to start removing yesterday’s ashes and laying the morning’s material.

Thomas watched her for a moment as a plan began to form in his mind. Yes, it might work.

Once the young maid finished, she curtsied again and began to leave the room. Obviously eager to escape the big bad, terrible man. Shaking his head, he smiles at her.

“Please ask Woods to come see me.”

“Yes, of course, Your Grace,” she said.

He could see the fear flash through her eyes wondering if he wanted to see the butler to tell him to let her go. The fear was real. The thought of being on the street with no job, no references. It could be a death sentence.

Was this what Gwen felt? She had worried every day about being discovered. His heart went out to her. Even now. He might be angry at her, but it didn’t stop the admiration and love he felt for her. He would make it right. Whatever it took he would make it right.

Returning to his desk, he began drafting the necessary correspondence. When Woods arrived a few minutes later, he had the first two letters complete.

“Please have these sent right away. And ask the Sergeant Major to step in when he gets a chance.”

“Of course,” the butler said as he retrieved the two letters. “But I believe the Sergeant Major is still asleep. He returned only an hour ago sir. It is rather early Your Grace.”

The Duke glanced out the window, surprised to see it was still dark with only a light gray beginning to touch the edges of the night.

“Of course,” he said with a nod. “Please have someone wake him, this can’t wait.”

“Yes Your Grace,” the butler said as he backed out of the room.

Within ten minutes, the Sergeant Major stepped into the room without knocking. “You wanted to see me, Your Grace,” he said as he finished buttoning his coat.

“Yes Sergeant Major, Sorry to wake you so early, but I need your help.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” the Sergeant Major said with a furrowed brow. “I should have the necessary information on the Earl within a few hours.”

“Good. Whom do we know on the docks?” The Duke asked.

“We! Don’t know anyone. I know several people.”

The Duke laughed. Of course. “All right, who do you know that can be trusted? I need information.”

“Jack Carp, Your Grace. He was a private in the second platoon, A company.”

Now it was Thomas’s turn to narrow his brow as he tried to remember.

“He was wounded at Badajoz,” The Sergeant Major said.

“Yes, now I remember,” the Duke said. “This is what I need you to tell him ….”

The Sergeant Major listened carefully to each instruction; he didn’t write anything down, but Thomas knew that every detail would be completed quickly.

Only a few minutes after the Sergeant Major left there was a quick knock at the parlor door, and Woods opened it to announce Viscount Somerset.

“You sent for me sir?” the Young lord said.

“Yes, Somerset thank you for coming so quickly. Woods, hold on, please add these to the post.” The Duke said as he handed the butler several more letters.

Lord Somerset raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. He had learned a long time ago to let the Major work through his process.

“Brandy?” The Duke asked as he got up from behind his desk.

“Um, it is a little early sir. I haven’t even broken my fast yet.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” the Duke said as he returned to his papers. “Woods,” he yelled.

The butler stepped back into the room. “Yes Sir,”

“We will have our breakfast in here, something quick and hardy.

“Of course, Your Grace,” the butler said now it was his turn for his brow to rise in confusion. Obviously the Duke was not all there.

“So Your Grace,” the young viscount said. “What is so important that I had to leave the arms of my beautiful wife and has you still dressed in last night’s evening clothes.”

The Duke looked down at himself, obviously surprised to see he still wore what he had been wearing at last night’s dance.

“We have things to do Somerset,” he said. “Many things.”