The Duke and the Spinster_Clean Regency Romance Read online

  Across the room from Lady Prudence, the Earl of Fondleton also scanned the room. Lady Juliana was nowhere to be seen. That was annoying, especially after she had escaped his arms the previous night. He still was not sure how that had happened. One minute he’d had her trapped, about to capitulate and accept his plans for her, the next, something had grabbed him with immense force, and knocked him unconscious – he had not had time to see who, or what – the world had gone black.

  He had woken hours later, to a servant wiping his face with a very cold cloth. The servant had assumed that he had over indulged in the brandy, fallen, and knocked himself on the stairs. The bruising on his face could certainly have been caused by such a fall. But, even if he did not know who, he knew that he had come by that bruise from a man, not a staircase.

  To add to his annoyance, Kilmerstan was not present either. What if Kilmerstan had spirited her away somewhere? But no, he simply couldn’t credit that – the man was far too honourable and upright to take sensible advantage. He would have to wait. Surely, she would be in attendance tomorrow.

  ~~~~~

  Garrett travelled far into the night, only stopping at moonset, when it became too dark to continue. They rested until just before dawn in a tiny Inn in a village that barely existed, then were on their way again. He had struggled to sleep, worried about what might have happened to Lady Juliana, if she had not reached Lady Bellinghaugh’s home before dark. In the end, exhaustion took him, and he slept deeply for the few short hours available.

  As the sun rose on a beautiful summer’s day, his heart rose too. Hope filled him, that she was safe, that no harm had befallen her. The closer they came to Bath, the more hopeful he felt. Perhaps it was foolishness to hope so, but he could not help himself – for to believe that anything bad had overtaken her would be far too hard to bear.

  By the time they reached Bath, it was nearing midday. He asked the coachman to pause a few minutes on the outskirts of the city, whilst he straightened his clothes, tied a fresh cravat, and pushed his hair into some semblance of order. It would not do to appear on Lady Bellinghaugh’s doorstep looking like a ruffian.

  Satisfied that he looked respectable, he signalled the coachman to drive on, giving him Lady Bellinghaugh’s direction. When they drew up before the door, he was glad that he had stopped to tidy himself – perhaps, he realised, he should have brought Timms, yet he had been in a hurry. When he had sternly told the valet that he could dress himself for a day or two, Timms had looked doubtful, but had not argued. The house was imposing, in a row of imposing houses. This was not a place to arrive looking disreputable.

  As he stepped down from the carriage, it occurred to him that he had no idea how to ask the question he needed to ask. He shrugged, and went up the steps to the door. Somehow, he would get through this – it was worth any embarrassment to ensure Lady Juliana’s safety.

  The butler who opened the door was old, but still stood straight and proud. He looked at Garrett, unflustered, as if having strangers appear on the doorstep was a normal occurrence.

  “Good day, I am the Duke of Kilmerstan. I apologise for appearing here without warning, but I must see Lady Bellinghaugh with some urgency.”

  “I see. Please, come in, Your Grace, and I will see if she is available.”

  He was shown into a parlour, which was decorated in rich shades of plum and burgundy, with comfortable couches, and a cat on the windowseat in the sun. It felt welcoming. He hoped that was an indication of Lady Bellinghaugh’s nature. Minutes later, the door opened, and he rose as Lady Bellinghaugh entered the room.

  Her expression was bland as she accepted his bow, but her eyes were clever, their astute gaze taking in everything about him.

  “Kilmerstan. I expect you’ve come chasing after my niece.” At his shocked look, she laughed, shaking her head. “Oh no, she didn’t expect it, or, I suspect, want it. But from what she told me, I wondered if you might. But before you see her, and before I tell you any more, I want to hear the story from you. Tell me about what has happened to her. Tell me why you are here – you, a Duke, not some lackey.”

  Garrett felt as if he had stepped into some story, invented for the stage, so unexpected was Lady Bellinghaugh. But he found himself liking her, instantly.

  “My Lady. As you wish. And yes, I have come ‘chasing after’ Lady Juliana, and I am most relieved to know that she is here. I gather from your words that she has told you of the events of the last week? That she has done so speaks to me of how much she trusts you.”

  The old woman’s eyes sparkled – he suspected that she had been a true beauty in her day.

  “Indeed, yes, I appear to have been honoured with her trust. And she has badly needed someone to trust, I gather. But now, tell me everything, from your perspective.”

  Garrett nodded, and began. It took some time, and somewhere in the midst of it, she reached out and rang for tea and food, all without interrupting him. When she did speak, it was to ask astute questions, never to comment on his words.

  She watched him, all the while he spoke, as he told of what he had discovered about Lady Juliana’s life, her terrible Season, the vicious gossip that had dogged her. He spoke of her inability to believe that he found her beautiful, and of the guilt he felt for what Lady Prudence had done, because of her obsession with him. And, finally, he spoke of the events in the library, when he had saved her from Fondleton’s grasp. He spoke only of her – her struggle, and of his desire to protect her. He made no attempt to impress Lady Bellinghaugh with his actions – she had asked him to speak about Lady Juliana, and he did. When he had finished, she nodded.

  “Very well, you may see her. Everything you have said agrees with what she has told me – although I think that, perhaps, you see her more clearly than she sees herself. I assume that you have come here, intending to convince her to go back to her family?”, he nodded, and she continued, “You will find that a challenge, unless you have conceived a magical way to protect them all from those who seek to hurt and use her. But you may try.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I will bring her to you.”

  Lady Bellinghaugh rose, and left the room. Garrett sat, pondering her words – how was he to protect Lady Juliana? If he returned her to her family discreetly, her reputation would be intact, but what then, what of Lady Prudence, and Fondleton? He did not have an immediate answer – and Lady Juliana would expect one, if he knew her at all.

  He took a deep breath – he would deal with it all, somehow. He would protect her, but the first and most important thing was to return her to her family – for if her disappearance became known, that would destroy her reputation, and her family as a result, just as surely as either of the other threats. To have any chance of resolving the situation, she had to be with her family, and appearing as if nothing had happened.

  Soon, Lady Bellinghaugh returned. Lady Juliana followed her into the room, and stopped, a startled expression on her face.

  “Your Grace… My aunt said I had a visitor… but I did not expect…!”

  He rose, and went to her.

  “Lady Juliana. I am glad to see you well, and unharmed. Your family were cast into a panic by your disappearance. They were wise enough not to make it public knowledge, but I happened to call upon them, and your sister, in her distress, told me that you were gone, and that they did not know where. I promised them that I would find you, and ensure your safe return.”

  “Your Grace,” she sank onto the couch, her face filled with shock, “I do not understand why you would offer to help. But, tell me, how did you know where to find me, if they did not?”

  Garrett considered his answer – he had to be honest, but that would be revealing his family secrets. So be it.

  “My Lady, I have had some experience with young ladies running off. My sister scared us all not long ago. It is not known outside the family, but her visit to a friend in London was not the premeditated and ordinary thing that we made it out to be. So, once I felt reasonably
certain that you had not been abducted, but had left of your own will, I considered who you might go to. For you are far too intelligent to have simply run off without a plan! I asked your family a series of questions, and concluded that your great-great aunt was the only person you could reasonably have reached easily.”

  She was staring at him, a slightly shocked expression on her face, and he waited for her response with a degree of fear – if she chose to be angry with him, then his chances of persuading her to return to her family were low. After a moment, she turned her gaze away, and her hands twisted together in her lap. Her voice was low, and filled with that bitter edged sadness he had heard from her before.

  “Then I cannot even do this correctly. I had intended to simply disappear. My family could have claimed that I had travelled home, due to illness, or that I had gone to visit someone, anyone. They could have been free of me, free of the threat that my very presence is, to their happiness, to Eleanor’s prospects. But it seems that, even in this, I am clumsy and useless!”

  “Never! You are not clumsy, and certainly not useless, as I have said before. You are beautiful, and elegant, and do not deserve the way that you have been treated.”

  She made a small strangled noise of disbelief.

  “I will not argue with you, for I have come to realise that it is impossible for you to see me as others do. But why should I return? Surely my disappearance is a far better solution than any other.”

  Garrett had settled onto the couch beside her and now, cautiously, he reached out and took her hands. He wanted to do far more, to pull her into his arms, to hold her close and defend her from the world, but he could not – propriety did not permit it, nor had he earned the right – yet.

  “I can see how it might have seemed so to you, but no, it is not a solution, not at all. For your family will not be protected by your disappearance – far from it. You disappearing will still hurt them, for, unless they, and the servants lie, and lies require ongoing care, and are nearly always eventually revealed, your disappearance will cause still more gossip and scandal. Disappearing will ruin Eleanor’s prospects as surely as any other kind of gossip will. Better to be there. We will find a way to deal with the rest, all of it. I promise you.”

  She stared at him again, as if his words had torn away all her hope, and a glitter of unshed tears filled her eyes. Her hands lay limply in his. In that moment, he knew that he would do anything, anything at all, to protect her, to ensure that she never had to face cruelty from others again. The enormity of the strength of his feelings scared him – yet he would not deny them. But he would not think too closely about them, not yet. She sighed, her shoulders drooping.

  “I do not know how that could be possible. But now that you say it, I see that you are right. Running away solves nothing.”

  A great sense of relief rushed through him, and his fingers tightened on hers. When she spoke again, her voice was very soft.

  “But how will I return without anything being noticed? Without my reputation being ruined, anyway? This is hopeless. I wish that I had never agreed to come to Upper Nettlefold with my family. I could have been happy, staying at home, reading, and ignoring the world. Then, none of this would have happened!”

  “But, if you had not come with your family, I would never have met you – and I cannot wish for that to be the case. Your family have stayed in since you disappeared. If asked, they will say that you are ill. I have my carriage, with only my coachman to know anything of it, and I told my family that I was coming to Bath for an urgent piece of business. If we leave here before dawn tomorrow, we will be back in Upper Nettlefold late in the afternoon. We will find a way to get you into Hardcastle House, so that none are the wiser to the fact that you ever left the town.”

  Lady Juliana looked at him, a faint trace of hope in her face, then nodded.

  “It is worth the attempt. If it fails, I am no worse off than I am now, nor are my family.”

  “That is true. Thank you for agreeing, for I fear that, if I did not succeed in returning you, your family would never forgive me, would likely give me the cut direct.”

  She laughed, a sudden bright sound in the otherwise solemn conversation, shaking her head.

  “I do not think my mother capable of choosing to cut a Duke, no matter what the provocation!”

  His fingers tightened on hers again, and she looked down, startled, as if she had not realised that he held her hands. She flushed, a delicate pink colouring her cheeks, and gently pulled her hands away. At that moment, Lady Bellinghaugh spoke, surprising them both, for they had completely forgotten her presence.

  “Your Grace, will you join us for dinner? At least have a good meal before you set off early tomorrow?”

  “I will, and gratefully, my Lady. But for now, I will take my leave of you, and arrange myself lodging for the night.”

  “I will inform the cook immediately. Juliana, perhaps you could arrange that for me?”

  Lady Juliana rose, smiling, and turned to him.

  “Certainly, Aunt. Your Grace, I bid you farewell until this evening.”

  Once she had left the room, Lady Bellinghaugh turned to him and spoke.

  “You’ve done well. I didn’t expect her to be so easily convinced. You’re correct of course, her disappearing would not serve her purpose at all well. I trust you to get her back, even without a maid – perhaps that is best – less people knowing of the deception – I trust you to be honourable. But… should this be discovered, that you have spent such a long journey, alone with her in a closed carriage, I would also expect you to do the honourable thing. Watching you, I do not think that you would find marrying her a hardship.”

  Chapter Ten

  They were on the road just before first light. Garrett was filled with a sense of unreality. The dinner the previous evening had been ordinary, as if there was nothing unusual about it, yet everything had changed. Lady Bellinghaugh’s words had left his mind in turmoil, had forced him to consider how he felt about Lady Juliana, in far more depth than he had contemplated before.

  Lady Bellinghaugh was right. He would not find marrying Lady Juliana a hardship. Which fact was remarkable, and turned his world upside down. Here he was, a man who had, for the last few years, been actively avoiding the idea of marriage, now looking at it as a thing that he could consider. It was obvious that Lady Juliana had no idea of what Lady Bellinghaugh had said to him – for which he was grateful. But he found his interaction with her suddenly more constrained, as the word ‘marriage’ echoed in his mind at every moment.

  As a consequence, he had not slept well. Neither, it seemed, had Lady Juliana, for tiredness showed in her face.

  He had planned to spend the time in the carriage discussing exactly how they might do things upon reaching Upper Nettlefold, but, within a short time of them setting out, her tiredness overcame her. She drifted into sleep, sliding sideways on the carriage seat until her head rested against his shoulder. Gently, he lifted his arm and slipped it around her, cradling her to him. She murmured in her sleep, then settled.

  That she trusted him so left him full of warmth, and the scent of her hair, some unique mixture which he suspected she had created herself, surrounded him. He could not help himself – he lifted his other hand and slid it through the fallen tendrils of gold, where they lay across her shoulder. It felt as silkily beautiful as he had imagined it to.

  Easing himself to lean against the corner of the seat, with her weight resting against him, he watched the countryside roll by. Soon, he was close to sleep as well. As he slipped beyond true wakefulness, a thought drifted through his mind – it would, indeed, be pleasant to hold her, every day.

  ~~~~~

  Juliana woke slowly, uncertain of where she was. Something warm and solid lay beneath her. The steady beat of a heart against her ear made her realise that she was leaning against someone, cradled by an arm. That recognition brought her to full awareness, and she felt a flush spread on her cheeks, and heat rushing through
her body. The Duke. She was in his carriage, going back… and it seemed that she had fallen asleep. In his arms! She shifted carefully, attempting to move without waking him.

  But, when she lifted herself up to sit properly again, she found his deep dark brown eyes regarding her. There was something in his expression, something she did not understand, some odd combination of pleasure and uncertainty. She looked away, embarrassed.

  “I apologise Your Grace. I should not have…”

  “There is nothing to apologise for, Lady Juliana. It seems that neither of us slept well last night.”

  “You are right, I did not sleep well at all. Still, that is no reason for me to be so rude as to fall asleep, and to… impose upon your person…”

  She could not go on; the blush had coloured her cheeks again.

  He reached out slowly, and his finger traced the curve of her cheek where the colour rose. Heat followed that touch, even more so, and her breath came short. He allowed his hand to fall away, and shifted his position on the seat.

  “I do not feel at all imposed upon, I assure you, my Lady. But, now that we are both awake, I think it best that we turn our thoughts to how we may best manage your successful return to Upper Nettlefold.”

  She had not wanted his hand to leave her, she realised, and felt the loss of it acutely. But he was right. They needed to concentrate on planning.

  “I confess that I have not the slightest idea of how that may be managed, without destroying my reputation. For we cannot simply drive into the town – if anyone sees me descend from your carriage, it has all been for nought.”

  “That is very true, but I am certain that we can find a way to avoid that.”

  They spoke as the countryside passed, and the day wore on, the heat of the summer sun filling the carriage, and the scent of flowers coming to them on the breeze. At first, neither could imagine an effective way to avoid discovery. But, after some time, the Duke grinned.