Lord Love a Duke (2 page)

Miranda tapped the top of her quill on her
chin, dusting the feather back and forth in thought. Her brow
furrowed as she tried to remember any specifics about brandy. "I
have never tasted the concoction myself so we shall rely on your
butler to direct our selection.” She paused to scratch out her next
line. “'
Number Two, obtain dye
.' I have heard my modiste
talk of dyeing fabric with various leaves and herbs. Our garden is
full of plants that would surely do the trick."

A look of alarm passed across Juliet's face
at this pronouncement. "No, Miranda! I know not what we need but we
cannot use the same media that would dye clothing only. We need
something edible,” she laughed nervously at the absurdity and
possible danger of this deed. “We need to stain his mouth, not kill
him!” She looked off in thought then brightened. “I once watched
our cook make syrup for a trifle, and when she crushed the berries,
they stained the cloth she used. She then boiled the berry juices
with sugar to make a thick syrup. The spoon and cloths were stained
for days and required much soaking and laundering." Juliet began to
laugh in earnest as she remembered Mrs. Selby's shocking hands. Her
own tongue had even turned blue after eating some of the berry
pulp.

"Heavens, I never thought about possibly
poisoning Jonas!” She stewed for a moment. “We have whortleberries
that taste ever so good in pie, and I noticed they leave their
color behind on the plates. They shan't alter the taste of the
brandy too much, do you suppose? But how are we to make the syrup
without being caught? Oh! This may be harder than I anticipated."
She dropped her quill onto the desk and looked out the window. It
was a beautiful day in London, with bright sunshine and shockingly
blue sky nearly free of its usual smoky haze. Miranda stared at the
street below without focus. The family carriage pulled up to the
house, her brother and mother returning home, but this likewise
escaped her distracted notice.

Juliet jumped up from her seat on the chaise
and ran over to the desk. "We can use the small stove in Father's
fishing cabin! It is near the stream by the fence between our
houses. No one would see us there."

"Perfect, Jules! Now '
Number Three, add
dye to brandy and put it in Jonas' study
.'" She watched as
Juliet began to walk a path from the desk to the door, pacing back
and forth in thought. "The easiest time would be during the day,
when Jonas leads the hunt or fishing or whatever man-games he has
planned for the sample husbands. I do not wish him to drink it
until late, so his mouth is dyed in the evening or next
morning."

Juliet stopped in front of the door. "We
replace it after dinner, while the men drink, smoke, and
commiserate in the dining room and we ladies get exiled to the
drawing room. One of us can sneak off to switch the bottles
then."

"Another perfect idea. My-my, Lady Juliet,
but aren't you the crafty one today? Is there no end to your
devious machinations?" Miranda dipped her quill and began to write
out the next phase of their plan, her blonde curls bobbing against
her head as she scribed.

"I think, my lady, you shall find me always
to be an incredible asset, a veritable fount of good ideas, sound
judgment, and prudent actions. Would that I were a man, for I would
be the perfect catch as a husband," she finished on a laugh. She
twirled around and ran with a grunt into a solid object previously
missing from Miranda's room. Miranda looked up from her desk to see
her brother standing in the room, his hands on her friend's
shoulders to stop her fall. She hastily capped her ink, blew
briefly on the sheet, and moved to hide the list in the drawer of
her escritoire.

"I do not even want to know what that last
comment was about, do I? Lady Juliet, pardon me for startling you."
The Duke removed his hands and dropped a brief bow, sparing her a
glance as he addressed his sister. "I trust you will have your maid
begin to organize you for packing at some point today? We leave in
two days, Random, with or without all your pretties. If you are not
ready at the departure time, I will scoop up the first five gowns
and unmentionables I find and that will be the whole of your
wardrobe for the next two weeks." He gave her an imperious look to
lend credence to his words.

Juliet stumbled back at the removal of the
Duke's hands as Miranda's brother swept masterfully into the room.
As was typical, he failed to give Juliet much notice. As was also
typical, she silently seethed that he still thought her to be of so
little consequence. It was not that she wanted him to notice her
romantically, so she reasoned to herself, as she once did when she
was a child. Her mind drifted briefly to the moment they first
met.

For her eighth birthday, Juliet had received
a most unusual yet treasured gift from her beloved Papa – her very
own pistol. It was an unconventional gift for a most unconventional
girl, but their family was rather known for following Society's
rules in public and their own unorthodox constructs in private.
Thus, a daughter, who desired and was permitted to learn to shoot
and hunt, was nothing out of the ordinary for the Quinns.

Juliet took the care and use of her firearm
quite seriously and was devoted to becoming as fine a shot as her
father, and better than her brothers. She practiced daily, and it
was during one such session that she met the Duke, then the Earl of
Middlesex, for the first time. He arrived across the fields, from
she knew not where, and she had never seen a more handsome boy,
with his wind-reddened cheeks, wavy black hair, and startling blue
eyes. She knew herself to be in love immediately, with the surety
that only an eight-year-old can claim, and she had yet to discover
his name.

He was here to meet with her brothers; they
were to discuss the details of a hunt they had planned later in the
week. Juliet was ecstatic. She would go on her first hunt with this
charming boy so unlike her vexing brothers, and she would test her
newly acquired skills. Her day had improved ten-fold . . . until
she revealed her plan to join in this hunt. Her brothers arrived in
time to hear her declaration and deny her dream. They jeered and
taunted her with good measure, and she was mortified to be called a
'little girl,' 'shameless hoyden,' and precocious child.' Her
brothers grabbed their friend, dragging him off to the house and
their hunt arrangements, and Juliet's heart plummeted to her
feet.

What happened next remained one of those
moments that became a lasting memory for her: her new acquaintance
turned back to her and dropped a formal bow, declaring, “this is
not destined to be your hunt, but I've no doubt you shall be ready
soon. You are a remarkable shot.” He smiled, dimples appearing in
his cheeks, before turning to join her siblings in their trek to
the house. She still did not know his name, but that trifling
detail did not prevent her from vowing in her heart,
I shall
love you forever, whoever you are
.

Juliet's mind rejoined the present and she
could not prevent the grimace on her face as she remembered her old
infatuation. She silently made a new vow, that the Duke would
notice her now for her maturity and lack of fawning behavior that
marked her schoolroom crush. She now wished him to see her as an
independent and intelligent lady. Which would be hard, she had to
allow as she chuckled to herself, since his sister was constantly
exasperating him with what he perceived to be immature behavior
that likely made her guilty by association. The six year difference
in their ages had separated them effectively as well, as the Duke
left for university then began traveling extensively to learn the
management of the ducal properties.

"Oh, bugger off, Jonas! I will be packed and
ready to go by your scheduled time. As if it matters whether we
leave at exactly ten of the clock or not. And stay out of my room!
You must ask permission before entering, you know."

"Watch your language! You sound like a
hoyden! No wonder you are still unattached, with a mouth like that.
And I will enter any room in this house any time I wish, you silly
girl. Shall I ring for your maid?" Jonas moved toward the bell pull
but waited for her answer, his booted foot making quiet taps on the
uncovered floor by her bed. “And we leave at daybreak, which is
much nearer seven than ten of the clock. I will advise your maid of
this as well.”

"Ring it or not, it makes no difference to
me. I will not start packing until I am good and ready," she added
with a pout. At the return of her brother's ducal glare she stuck
her tongue out in response. "You may now leave." Miranda waved in
dismissal and fluttered her hands about her desk in an affectation
of busyness.

Jonas stalked to the door. “Pack, Random,"
he tossed over his shoulder on his exit. The way these two talked
to each other gave Juliet hope that all siblings talked as
spiritedly as she and her brothers. She also gave thanks silently
that her brothers were content to harass her verbally without
physically meddling in her life. So far, they seemed content to
engage in wars of words rather than deeds, which suited her very
well.

"Bugger off!" Miranda yelled again before
seeing the look of bemusement on Juliet's face and dissolving into
a fit of giggles.

Jonas Leighton, seventh Duke of Dorset, was
a man in torment as he quickly exited his sister's room, descended
the stairs, and took refuge in his study. When he had first met
Lady Juliet Quinn, the sister of his friends Charles and Marcus
Quinn, and best friend to his own sister, she was but five years of
age and he eleven. She was lively and precocious even at that early
age, although he merely thought her too like his own sister, whom
he regarded as an unfortunate responsibility, as brothers at that
age often do. He and the “Quinn Twins,” Charles and Marcus, spent
their boyhood days fighting mock battles, building fortresses, and
making mostly harmless mischief. None were interested in spending
time with their sisters.

The Duke collapsed in the strong leather
chair behind his desk and dropped his head into his hands, lightly
massaging his temples. He could still remember the time and place
when he noticed that the Quinn's youngest child had ceased to be a
child and was fast becoming a beautiful and intriguing young woman.
Both families had decided to spend Christmas in London one year,
the year all three sons were off to Oxford, as staying in Town
would mean less travel for them to undertake over their winter
break. The mothers decided to host a small affair of close friends
and family to celebrate the New Year. Miranda and Juliet were
allowed to attend, although both were only sixteen and not yet out
in Society.

Jonas had not fully understood the meaning
of the word breathtaking until he saw Lady Juliet that evening.
Thankfully, she descended the curved staircase at Leighton House
with Miranda, so when the teasing started over his gaping
expression his friends assumed he was surprised at the appearance
of his sister. His eyes saw only Lady Juliet, her hair styled not
in braids but in an upswept twist, with several tendrils escaping
to tease her cheek and neck. She wore a white gown with gossamer
overlay, simple and demure in design but also hinting at the body
of a lady rather than a girl. Her eyes were bright with excitement
over her first true party, her face slightly flushed and glowing.
For a moment time ceased to move and he had to remind himself to
breathe.

Jonas paused his reminiscing to rub his eyes
wearily. He suddenly felt all the pressures of his title and
position weighing heavily on his shoulders. He further felt the
irritation of his sister over the upcoming house party and he was
not without some sympathy. He was dreading the party for entirely
different reasons, however. With a deep sigh he leaned back in his
chair, propping his booted feet on the corner of his desk. He
closed his eyes and lost himself to the memories once more.

He had seen numerous debutantes at numerous
balls, widows and the unhappily wed who simpered for attention, and
women of the demimonde who populated the hells, but none had ever
captured his attention like the young sister of his oldest friends.
While not the new definition of a true English beauty she was still
an arresting combination of creamy skin, chestnut colored waves,
and startling silver-gray eyes. Within moments of his first
awareness of her he began to feel every inch the lascivious
cad.

From that night on, Jonas had sought to
maintain as much distance from Lady Juliet as possible. Given the
close relationship between their families it was often more
difficult than not, but he had learned to school his thoughts and
features to remain politely neutral. He threw himself into his
studies and was persuaded to join the drunken revelries of his
friends more often, although he rarely participated to their level
of excess. After Lady Juliet's come out with his sister, he had
dutifully danced the required quadrille or Roger de Coverly when
called upon, but had otherwise covertly watched from the wings or
eavesdropped on conversations from a polite distance. The more he
observed, the more he courteously inquired after her health, the
more infatuated he became. All of this he kept strictly to himself.
Gentlemen did not pine for ladies. Gentlemen did not become
enamored of any female. And gentleman certainly did not have any
thoughts of any manner toward the sister of a friend.

His current torment lay in the coming house
party and two weeks of country confinement with the woman he had
secretly coveted, revered from a distance, and was forbidden to
touch. He resolved to focus on the task at hand, of finding his
sister a suitable husband, with the secondary objective of
surviving the fortnight with as much retained sanity as
possible.