Too Hot For A Rake (26 page)

He watched in silence as the woman he loved slammed shut the door between their chambers. He heard the click of the lock quite clearly.

When the duke descended the stairs the next morning, his eyes were heavy from lack of sleep, but they flew wide open when they met with an unexpected sight, for the hallway was littered with portmanteaus and trunks. A bevy of servants carried even more belongings from the direction of the back staircase. He sought out his butler. “What’s all this, Dunston?”

“Her grace and the children are removing to Bodmin Castle,” the butler said, unprepared for his grace’s lack of knowledge of this event. He carefully hid his surprise at the question.

The duke’s good breeding caused him to show no outward signs of distress at this terrible news. Instead, he asked casually, “Where is her grace?”

“In the breakfast room, your grace.”

The duke turned and made his way there without another word. He entered to find his wife in the process of eating her customary breakfast of toast with jam and strong tea.

“Good morning, your grace,” she said in an arctic tone of voice.

The duke dismissed the attending footmen with a wave of his hand. “I don’t approve of your hasty departure, Ellen. Georgiana’s debut ball is only weeks away. You must stay home and attend to the details.”

The duchess put her toast down. “Are you forbidding me to go, your grace?”

“No. I’m merely suggesting…”

She took a sip of tea, wiped her mouth with her napkin, folded her hands in her lap, and raised eyes filled with fury to her husband. “My daughter Helena is in distress. She needs her mother. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must gather the girls. I’m taking the children with me. I mean to take advantage of daylight travel. We leave within the hour.”

His tone did nothing to mask his wretchedness. “Don’t punish me like this, Ellen, my love. I’m only doing what I think is right for my daughter.”

“And
I’m
only doing what
I
think is right for
my
daughter, your grace. However, you may put your mind at ease on one point. Your daughters and I will return in time for Georgiana’s ball.”

He attempted to lighten the mood. “At least I’ll have my grandson to keep me company.”

“No, you won’t, your grace. He and his nurse are coming with us. The child needs his mother.”

His face fell and he changed the subject. “Will Helena return for the ball, do you think?”

“I have no idea.”

Tuesday, the Nineteenth of May, 1818
London: Heatham House

“Lord Fairchild, your grace,” announced Dunston, but the duke’s younger brother was hard on his heels.

“Come in, Charles. I was never more glad to see you in my life.”

The vicar took in the troubled signs writ large on the duke’s pale face. “You look like the very devil, Tony. What’s the matter?” The duke never sent for him unless he found himself in trouble.

“Ellen has taken the children and gone away,” the duke said.

“Why?”

“We’ve had a terrible row. She’s furious with me.”

“Your wife has put up with your stormy tantrums for years without so much as raising her voice. What have you done this time to earn her displeasure?”

“It’s my daughter Helena. She wants to marry a notorious rake, the Marquis of Waverley, and I refuse to give my consent.”

“Helena is in love with the marquis, I take it?”

The duke sighed in exasperation. “You remember Darlington, the lad next door, don’t you? Helena hectored me to distraction about her great love for him only to cry off in the end. My foolish child falls in and out of love with disturbing regularity,” the duke added bitterly.

“Helena and your wife do not agree with your decision to withhold your blessing, I take it.”

“I’m only doing what I think best for my daughter. Am I not her father? It is my duty to see to it that she doesn’t ruin her life.” His voice cracked on the last word. “She’s fallen in love with the wrong man again, Charles. What shall I do?”

The vicar poured brandy into two glasses, measuring out a small amount for himself and filling his brother’s glass to the brim. “For a start, you must pull yourself together. Drink this, Tony and let me hear the whole of it.”

When he heard the full tale, he said, “Have you sent for me to give my stamp of approval for the position you’ve taken, Tony?”

“You’re my brother. Where else can I turn, if not to you?”

The vicar fell silent for a time, as if searching for a diplomatic way to answer this question. “I’m flattered that you seek my advice, but I can’t support you in this, Tony. Not when I have a strong suspicion that you are in the wrong. Are you prepared to listen to some sound advice, or are you just going to wallow in pity and whine like a petulant child?”

“Harsh words from you of all people, dear brother. I had hoped for some solace. A vicar surely knows how to ease the pain of a tortured soul, does he not?”

“A vicar is not required to prevaricate to ease the pain of a tortured soul when he believes him to be in the wrong. If that’s all you desire, convert to Catholicism and confess your sins to a priest. He’ll absolve you with a recommendation to say a few Hail Marys or something like to cleanse your soul.”

The duke glared at him, but he saw something in his younger brother’s eyes that melted his heart and he burst out laughing. “Damn you, Charles. You’ve always been able to coax a laugh out of me. Can you imagine me fumbling with rosary beads?”

“That’s better! All that remains is for you to give orders to pack your things.”

“Pack my things? Why?”

“You’re going to Bodmin to straighten out this whole family mess.”

“You’ll come with me?”

His brother sighed. “I suppose I have no choice. Seems I can’t trust you on your own, big brother. I can’t allow you to muck things up with your high-handed ways.”

London: The Home Office

“What are you doing here, Hugh?” asked Sebastian.

The spymaster grinned. “Try saying hello before you pepper me with questions, my friend. Classes have ended for this session and the home secretary sent for me to review the plans for graduation next month.”

“Sorry, my friend. How are you?”

“Never better. How is your family?”

“Olivia is fine. She’s at Bodmin Castle with her sister. And little Tony’s on his way there with his grandmother as we speak.”

“Bodmin, eh? The scene of your triumph, I recall. That’s where you wooed and won Olivia.”

“I couldn’t have won her hand without your help. I’m taking some time off to…how would you like to come with me, Hugh? I’d be glad for the company and Livy would be delighted to see you again. Matter of fact,” Sebastian added with a bit of mischief, “the whole family’s taken up temporary residence there. Someone else besides my wife would be delighted to renew her acquaintance with you.”

“Are you trying your hand at matchmaking?”

Sebastian laughed. “You’d have to catch her first. Georgiana’s just turned seventeen, a stunning beauty, Hugh. She asks after you every time we meet. How about joining me?”

“If I won’t be in the way?”

“Nonsense. You’d be most welcome.”

“Then I’d be delighted. I have some free time. When are we leaving?”

Waverley Castle

“Welcome home, my lord,” said the butler taking Waverley’s greatcoat.

“How is my grandmother, Paynter?”

“Her ladyship is well, my lord. You will find her resting in her chamber.”

Waverley took the stairs two at a time. He opened her door quietly, reluctant to wake her, but she was sitting up in bed, a book in her hand.

“Desmond!” the dowager said in happy surprise. “I missed you. Come here and let me look at you.”

He kissed her cheek. “You look radiant, love. I’ve missed you as well.” He took the seat opposite her, still holding her hand.

The dowager searched his face, guessing by the despair she saw that all had not gone as she had hoped in London. She turned to her nurse and dismissed her with a nod. “We are quite alone, my dear. Something tells me you met with resistance from the duke. Tell me the whole of it.”

He rose and paced back and forth, deep lines forming on his forehead.

“Take your time, dear. Shall I ring for some brandy?”

“No. I’ll do it.” He rang and gave the order to a servant. While he waited, he unbuttoned his vest and loosened his neck cloth. He pulled his chair closer to his grandmother and gripped its arms so tight, his knuckles turned white, yet he did not speak until the servant had returned.

“Better?” his grandmother asked when he had downed his first glass.

He smiled at her. “Somewhat, but brandy doesn’t do enough to ease the pain I feel. I dread having to tell Helena that her father continues to spurn my suit.”

“That hypocrite! What reason did the duke give this time? Be precise, Desmond.”

As if to cleanse his soul, his bitter words tumbled out in a rush. “The duke was adamant, Grandmother. Nothing I said would change his mind. ‘Once a rake, always a rake,’ he said. He’s right, you know. The
ton
will treat Helena as an outcast if she marries me. I can’t do that to her, Grandmother. She’s suffered enough pain from their vicious tongues. There’s nothing left for me to do but give up the woman I love.” He drew in his breath. “I’ve decided that it’s best, for her sake, to leave the country as soon as I can arrange for a suitable companion to care for you. It’s the only way. She’ll need time to forget me.”

The dowager rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Leave the country? Give Helena time to forget you? What nonsense. Have you lost all your senses?”

He took her hands in his. “No, I haven’t. This act is the only unselfish thing I have ever done, dearest. And I do it for love of her. I’m determined not to destroy her life. Her father is right. Can’t you see that?”

“Her father is wrong! You’ll do no such thing! If you think I’ll let you go after all the years I’ve suffered without you, think again, my dear. Is the duchess in London?”

“The duchess and her children are on their way to Bodmin Castle to be at Helena’s side in her time of need. I’m glad, for it will soften the blow for her.”

The dowager rose from her seat. “Ring for a footman and send word to Cook. We dine early tonight.”

“Why? Are you not feeling well, Grandmother?”

“Never better. You’ll need a decent night’s sleep if you are to leave for Bodmin Castle in the morning.”

“What purpose would that serve?” he asked wearily.

“If the duchess has left London with her children, I have a strong suspicion that she and his grace do not share the same opinion on the question of your suit for Helena’s hand. If I’m any judge of character, the duchess is likely to take your side. Have you forgotten that I am her grace’s godmother? We women don’t think like men, my dear. We’re much more sensible. Humor your grandmother and summon Mrs. Hubley to help me dress for dinner. I have a great deal to reveal to you, my boy. I’ve never told anyone, for I don’t hold with gossiping. Nor do I hold with scandalmongers. They cause too much pain with their vicious tongues.”

Waverley was alarmed by the uncharacteristic anger in his grandmother’s voice. “Calm yourself, dear. It won’t do for you to be upset over this, Grandmother.”

“So that charlatan thinks he can turn my grandson’s suit for his daughter’s hand down, does he? Not if I have anything to do with the matter!”

Mevagissy: Bodmin Castle

Olivia lifted her head, distracted for a moment by a familiar, yet unexpected sound. “I hear a carriage coming.”

Helena put down her book and went to the window of the first-floor drawing room, idly wondering who would be coming to visit them this late in the afternoon.

As the sound grew louder, Olivia joined her at the window. The sisters exchanged puzzled glances, their eyes trained on the long driveway. “Sounds like a whole army,” Olivia said drily. “Are we under attack, do you think?”

“I see two carriages, Livy.”

“There’s a third coming round the bend.”

“I count four in all, Livy.”

They looked at one another as the truth dawned on them. “Can’t be anyone else, can it?”

“Mother!” the sisters shouted in unison and raced out the door.

The cacophonous noise of a large family greeting one another after a prolonged absence was like an orchestra tuning its instruments before a concert. Most welcome, but discordant. With a silent nod from the butler, several footmen hurried down the steps to open all carriage doors and assist their inhabitants to descend the steps, others to help in the unloading and transfer of baggage to their proper chambers.

Lord Edward, the last to disembark, reached in for the baby and handed him to his sister. “Take your brat and good riddance, Livy. I have the headache because this popinjay did not shut his mouth for a moment.” Before he relinquished his nephew to his sister he whirled him around, to the infant’s delighted shouts of laughter.

As for Helena, she dissolved into tears at the sight of her mother and wrapped her arms around her. “You can’t know how glad I am to see you, Mother.”

“I too, dearest. We must make some time to talk privately.”

“I’ll come to your chamber after you’ve had a chance to rest, dearest.”

She turned to her sister Georgiana and held her at arm’s length to admire her. “I feel like an old crone next to you, Georgie. How is it you grow more beautiful by the day?”

“Georgie primps at her mirror all day long. That’s how,” said Jane pettishly.

“Have you been spying on your sister again, brat? Try eating less and exercising more and you’re bound to grow even prettier than Georgie,” Helena said.

Mary looked upon the scene with delight, but her shyness prevented her from joining in the merriment. She was forced to leave London without her tutor, Maestro Bartoli, for he was occupied with his own examinations at the London Philharmonic Society. But he had provided her with enough instruction to keep her at the pianoforte practicing for hours. She couldn’t wait to begin.

“Lord Waverley is no longer an irresponsible rake, Mother,” Helena said once they were alone. “I’ll tell you how good a man he is. When the marquis and I first arrived at Waverley Castle, it was in a terrible state. He’s worked very hard to correct the damage done by his traitorous cousins, the Traskers. They’re the ones who helped the Earl of Glynhaven try to abduct me. If it weren’t for the fact that the marquis sent for Livy and Sebastian, I would be wedded to the earl, an unwilling slave of the cruelest master in creation.”

Her mother hugged her. “We must thank God as well, my dear. When shall I meet this paragon of yours?”

“I don’t know where he is at the moment. I do know that I won’t give the marquis up, Mother. If I did, it would destroy both our lives.”

The duchess smiled. “You’re as stubborn as your father, my child. Come to think of it, with the exception of gentle Mary, all his children seem to have inherited this unfortunate trait. If only he recognized it. No matter. At any rate, it’s not yet time to worry, my pet. Be assured you have my support.” The duchess rang for her abigail. “Allow me to dress for dinner. Afterward, you must tell me all about my godmother.”