The Duke's Lady (Historical Romance - The Ladies Series) (14 page)

“Good momin’, lass. ’Tis a mite chilly this momin’.” Annie appeared bright and cheerful, as she did every morning. “Good Lord, the fire is cold. I’ll be stirrin’ it up before ye catch yer death of cold.” While Annie added kindling to the fire, a maid brought in some hot cocoa and warm rum buns.

“Mmm, the chocolate sure helps this morning,” Jewel said as she held the cup between her hands to warm them. “I’m a bit colder than I thought.”

“Don’t be mentionin’ it, lass. Adam said tae be takin’ special care of ye.”

Jewel glanced up with widened eyes. “He did?”

“Of course he did.” Annie opened the curtains, then walked over to Jewel’s side, lowering her voice so no one could hear. “I think he likes ye, lass, more than even he’d like tae admit.” Annie had a knowing look as she winked at Jewel.

“Did he say so?”

“Nay, didn’t have tae. I raised the lad, and can see it in his eyes.” Annie smiled. “I’ve seen the way his gaze follows you round the room. And I’ve been seein’ Adam round other women before, but never have I seen him look at them the way he looks at ye.”

“You’re imagining things. He’s just being kind.” Jewel knew what Annie said wasn’t true, but she had managed to brighten her spirits anyway.

“We’ll just be seein’, lass, if ol’ Annie ain’t right. Now, what would ye like to do today?”

“I’d like to stay busy, and since Adam isn’t here to fuss and order me about, I’d like to do some cooking.”

“There no be a need. We’ve a cook.”

“I know,” Jewel admitted, “but for some strange reason, I’ve a desire to work, and it’s something I feel familiar with.” Jewel helped Annie around the house, or as much as Annie would let her. But eventually Jewel grew bored, and decided to spend the afternoon in the kitchen. At first, Marie was reluctant to let anyone in her kitchen, but when Jewel expressed a desire to learn how to make rum buns from the very best cook, the ice melted from around Marie’s heart.

Jewel found she knew quite a bit about cooking, and she ended up teaching Marie a few new tricks with spices and seasonings.

When Jewel told the cook her desire to make rum buns one morning for Adam, she could see she had risen another notch in Marie’s estimation.

Jewel moved from one task to another, giving herself little time to sit and ponder her future—she also didn’t have time to think of Adam. Sometimes at night it was all she could do to climb the stairs and fall into bed. Keeping up this hectic pace, she found the time went by quickly, and before long a month had passed. And still no word from him.

In the three months she’d been at Briercliff, her hair had grown, and now hung just below her shoulders. Jewel gazed at her reflection in the mirror while she ran a silver brush through her tresses. She’d gained weight, she noticed, touching her cheeks with her fingers. But something was still missing, and she couldn’t quite figure out what. Hearing a knock at the door, Jewel turned.

“Jonathan has come tae take ye ridin’, lass,” Annie announced. “He’s waitin’ downstairs.”

Jewel quickly dressed in a black and white riding habit. Jonathan had promised to spend the day with her. She found herself looking forward to seeing him again because she’d missed the way he made her laugh, and she hoped he might have some news of Adam. Just maybe Jonathan could tell her a little more about the duke.

Glancing out the window, she could see the low, gray clouds indicating another damp and cold day. Didn’t the sun ever shine in this godforsaken country? But even the weather wouldn’t dampen her spirits today. She truly enjoyed the cool, crisp mornings, even though she felt the chill more than everyone else. Annie had suggested Jewel might have come from a warm climate and wasn’t used to the cold like the people in Cornwall.

Jonathan choked on his tea when she entered the drawing room. And it took him a minute to recover.

Jewel’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He stared as if he’d never seen her before. “Is anything wrong?” she asked. “Perhaps I’m not dressed correctly, but you said we could go riding.” She glanced down at her outfit.

He chuckled. “No, my dear, nothing is wrong. I was just admiring your beauty, and it simply took my breath away.”

“You’ve the tongue of a silver fox, Jonathan Hird. I’ll have to be most careful,” she bantered back. “But thank you for the compliment.”

“Here, I’ve brought you something I think you might want.” Jonathan handed her a sealed note.

Recognizing the seal of the duke of St. Ives’s, she carefully broke the wax open, holding her breath. Adam had written to her! How often she had wondered if he ever thought of her.

Dear Jewel,

Business has taken longer than I expected. I hope
to be home the week of Christmas. We are invited to Jonathan’s for a Christmas Eve party.

I hope things are well for you—and Jewel, I do miss you.

Adam

Looking up at Jonathan, she smiled. “Adam said you’re having a Christmas party and I’m invited.”

“That’s correct. And I’m sure you will be the belle of the ball.”

“Will there be many people there?” Jewel asked excitedly. “I do say, London turns out for one of my gatherings,” Jonathan boasted.

“I haven’t been around strangers. I’m a little frightened,” she admitted. “Won’t they ask questions? Wonder who I am?”

“Oh, they’ll wonder.” Jonathan chuckled. “Don’t worry, my dear, Adam and I will both be by your side at all times.

The only thing you have to worry about is the gown you’re going to wear.”

“A dress! I don’t have a party gown, Jonathan. What will I wear?”

“I’m sure Annie will find something. Now, let’s go for that ride.” He took Jewel by the elbow. “Worrying about a dress is such a silly waste of time.”

Rays of sunlight broke through low clouds gilding the ocean’s surface with golden light as the waves rolled to shore and flung themselves onto the dark sand. Salty air tickled her nose, enticing Jewel to breathe deeply.

She had hoped to stir some memories, but nothing here looked familiar or brought back anything. Would she ever learn her true identity?

Jonathan climbed up on a large gray rock, pulling her up beside him.

“How long have you known Adam?” Jewel blurted out.

Jonathan grinned. “We grew up together.”

“Then you knew his parents,” Jewel pressed on, not looking at Jonathan as she spoke. “Did they ever allow Adam to have fun?” She heard Jonathan chuckle, and she blushed at her boldness. “It’s just that he seems so intense all the time.”

“I suppose he does. But you have to know Adam’s childhood.”

“Will you tell me about it?”

Jonathan propped his elbow up on his knee, his gaze directed to the sea. “I can’t see that it’ll hurt anything. Let me see, where do I start?” He rubbed his chin as he thought. “Adam’s mother died when he was but nine. He found her on this very beach.” Jonathan paused, then turned and looked at her. “Much like he found you. After that, Adam was no longer a carefree child of nine. He grew serious and learned to hide his emotions from everyone. I think that experience changed him completely. I suppose you’d say he’s successfully built a wall around himself that few can penetrate.”

“What about his father?” Jewel asked, feeling sad for the child Jonathan had just described.

“I think Adam’s father loved him, but the man had a hard time showing it. Instead he constantly groomed his son for the duties he expected him to assume one day. Unfortunately, that all happened sooner than expected.” Jonathan looked at her abruptly. “Tragedy struck again when Adam was fifteen. His father was killed in a hunting accident.”

Jewel held her breath, spellbound at the tale, her heart again going out to the young boy not yet a man. No wonder Adam seemed so distant and remote. Jonathan continued speaking, his tone conveying his own compassion.

“Adam, with the help of his grandfather, took over Briercliff. At eighteen, he grew restless and left the estate in his grandfather’s hands. He eventually built a shipping business and made his home in America, but he had to come back to England when his grandfather died.” Jonathan smiled. “I think you know the rest.”

“Thank you,” Jewel murmured as she stared out across the sea, thinking of what she had learned. It sounded as if Adam had lived a very lonely life as a child. She could picture him as a boy with dark hair cut in a bob, trying to please the man he looked up to. And somehow she had the feeling Adam’s father had never complimented him. Instead, it was probably constant complaints. No wonder he’d grown into a hard man with a shell as thick as armor. An ache in her chest was a small reminder that Adam was becoming a part of her life. She couldn’t imagine never seeing him again.

The roar of the waves and the rhythmic pounding of the surf seemed to hypnotize her into a peaceful contentment. To think she had come from somewhere out there. She was sure she had lived around the water before, because of the tranquil feeling it gave her. Perhaps she had come from someplace on the map Adam had given her. Tonight she would study the drawing with the hope of recognizing something. Anything. She clenched her fists against the warm rock. She had to find out where she belonged.

Jonathan watched her with an odd expression on his face. She pulled her knees up and rested her chin on them, wrapping her arms around her legs much like a child. Suddenly, Jonathan voiced his thoughts. “Jewel, how old are you?”

“Eighteen, and I’ll be nineteen on July first,” Jewel answered spontaneously, then stared at Jonathan round-eyed, seeing her own surprise mirrored in his eyes. “I remember!” She gasped and reached for Jonathan’s arm. “Can you believe it?”

“Yes, I can.” He smiled back at her, clasping her hand. “We told you your memory would return. It just seems you never know when a chunk will fall into place.”

“I know, and I don’t understand why.” She frowned. “I’m healthy now. I should remember everything.”

“You will, my dear.” He squeezed her hand. “But let’s not spoil today. I want to show you where I live. I’ve something special I want you to see. I think you’ll like my surprise.” “What is it?” Jewel asked excitedly as Jonathan helped her off the rock.

“You’ll just have to wait. Come, I’ll race you to the horses.”

When they arrived at Foxmore, Jewel wondered about the name and said, “Jonathan, how did you come by the name of your estate?”

Amusement flickered in his gaze. “I’m an avid foxhunter and I raise hounds. Therefore, the name came from fox, which is my passion when in the country, and because I love to do
more.
I put the two names together. Fox—more.”

Jewel giggled at his explanation of the name. What a carefree rake he was. There wasn’t a serious bone in his body. From the size of his house, Jewel could tell he wasn’t a pauper by any means. Foxmore was not as large as Adam’s home, but impressive nonetheless.

They had a light lunch of pork pie and warm gingerbread, and Jewel felt content. “Tell me, Jonathan, why have you never married?”

He grinned. “Because I could never find anyone I thought very interesting. That is, until you came along.”

“Be serious!” She laughed at his flirtation.

“I am, my dear. If you ever get tired of Adam, you’re welcome at my home anytime.” A dimple appeared in his cheek; then his gaze grew serious. “Have you thought about what you’ll do when Adam returns to America?”

She shook her head as a dejected look crept into her eyes. “No, I haven’t. I just pray my memory is restored by then. I pray that I’ve a home somewhere. It’s frightening not belonging.”

Her unhappy expression twisted Jonathan’s heart. He wanted to take her in his arms and offer her comfort. However, she belonged to Adam. So he decided to distract her mind with something else.

“Come, let me show you my humble abode.” Jonathan guided her on a tour of his home before going to the stables.

Magnificent horses lined the stalls on both sides of the bam. Jonathan pointed out one horse that was sired by Adam’s horse, Star, and sure enough the colt had the same star on his forehead. Jewel could shut her eyes and picture Adam on his prancing stallion, frowning at her with that peculiar stare of his.

They moved on to the kennels located in the back part of the stables. Jewel spied little white and black beagles darting about in play. They moved past the dogs to an empty stall.

“This is what I wanted you to see.” Jonathan grinned.

Peeking into the stall, Jewel saw a mother dog with very long ears and her offspring. In all, there were five puppies wobbling on shaky legs around their mother. “They’re adorable! Can I hold one?”

“Sure, I don’t think Daisy will mind. Their eyes just opened a couple of weeks ago, and they’re learning to walk. As you can see, they’re not too good at it yet.”

Moving over to Daisy, who had large soulful eyes, Jewel bent down and patted her head.

Jewel plopped down on the straw. That was the only invitation the puppies needed. Soon they began crawling on and off her lap. “What kind of puppies did you say they are?”

“Basset hounds. They hail from France and are well known for their ability to hunt small game. They have well-developed noses, and their ears actually help them to smell better. I hear their keen sense of smell is second only to a bloodhound.”