The Reluctant Duke (Love's Pride Book 1) (16 page)

Aunt Celeste looked at her nephew with a sad smile and shook her head.

“Don’t worry, I am sure there is no such contract. If there is, there won’t be for long,” Thomas said.

Thomas let out a huge sigh of relief as the last guest left for the evening.

“Woods, Please tell the staff that they were wonderful tonight and to thank them for me. I think they all deserve a bonus and an extra day off. Don’t you.”

“Yes Your Grace,” the butler said with a smile.

“Well Ladies, if you will excuse me I need a few minutes with the Sergeant Major. Celeste, I assume Miss Gwen and yourself will be staying the night? Woods have rooms been made up? Has Lady’s Celeste maid, Jenny, been given a room?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I also believe Miss Gwen is already upstairs and resting comfortably.”

“Good,” The Duke said with a short nod. “Sergeant Major, with me.”

The Sergeant Major fell into step behind his boss as they marched to the study. He closed the door behind himself and waited.

His Grace, the Duke of Bathurst, paced on the carpet, lost in thought. Then turned to his friend.

“I need you to find out everything possible about the Earl of Grainbell.”

“Yes sir,” The Sergeant Major answered.

“I want to know where he goes, whom he sees. Who are his friends? Who are his enemies? His debts, and investments. Everything. If the man thinks about sneezing, I want to know about it. Understood.”

“Yes, sir. What about the trip to the Lake District for next week.”

“That will have to wait. And Sergeant Major, I don’t want your inquiries linked back to me. Not yet. I will let you know when.”

“Yes Sir, of course. I understand.”

“Good, I will expect a report at breakfast.”

“Of course sir.” The ex-soldier paused for a moment. “Sir, if I might … Well, you know how we all love Miss Gwen …”

“Go on Sergeant Major,” His Grace said with a frown.

“Well sir, if you were … to need something to happen to the Earl. Well … I’m your man. I’ve heard of him and it ain’t a nice thought. I would … “

“That is enough Sergeant Major,” The Duke said quickly, interrupting him. “I will not hear of any plans or thoughts about someone conspiring against a peer of the realm. Is that understood?”

“Yes, of course, sir,” the Sergeant Major said as he came to full attention.

“Besides,” The Duke continued. “If anything needs to be done, I will be the one that does it. Understood?”

“Yes sir,”

Thomas sighed. “Thank you, my friend. I do appreciate it. But for now, get me the information I need.”

“Yes, sir. Tomorrow at breakfast you will have my first report.”

“Again, thank you,” Thomas said as he patted the large man on his shoulder.

After The Sergeant Major had left Thomas continued to pace. His head bent in thought. He needed to face her. It couldn’t be avoided. He needed to find out the truth, but he hesitated. What would he do if he found out she belonged to another man? What if she wanted to marry the Earl? Maybe it had always been her desire.

Had the feelings between them. The sparks, the energy. Had it all been a lie? Or worse. Had he been the only one to feel it? Maybe she was oblivious to his thoughts, his desires.

No. She came to you remember. That night. She had come to him.

But still, what did that mean. Maybe she had given up on ever seeing the Earl of Grainbell again. Now that he was here. Maybe that was why she fainted. The realization of all of her secret dreams and wishes.

Squaring his shoulders and gripping his cane until his knuckles hurt he left his study. It had to be one of the longest walks of his life.

Her bedroom door was slightly ajar. Using the head of his cane, he pushed the door open and peeked inside. Gwen was sitting up in her bed, surrounded by Celeste, Elizabeth, and Isabel. His heart let go. She looked fine. Her rosy cheeks glowed. Her hair was up in a cap. All looked right with the world.

Slumping in relief, he gathered himself and stepped into the room.

“Thomas!” Elizabeth said, her eyebrows rising in surprise.

Gwen saw him and their eyes locked for a moment. That look told him so much. She was going to be all right. He hadn’t realized how worried he had been until that moment.

They continued to stare into each other’s eyes for what seemed like a lifetime until she broke the gaze and stared down at her hands. She seemed to gather herself.

“I am so sorry Your Grace. I should have been more careful. Lady Celeste did warn me. I am sorry for ruining Lady Elizabeth’s coming out ball.”

“Oh Posh, Gwen.” Lady Elizabeth said. “You know that doesn’t matter. In fact, it added a little drama to the evening. The important thing is that you are all right. Isn’t that right Thomas?”

“Yes, quite right. The important thing is that Miss Gwen is all right,” Thomas said without looking away from the woman in the bed.

An awkward moment settled over the group. No one seemed to know what to say next. The issue of the possible betrothal hung over everyone like a giant rock ready to fall at any moment.

“If you will excuse me, ladies. I need to talk to Miss Harding alone,” Thomas said.

“Your Grace,” Isabel said with a gasp. Obviously the idea of him being alone in a bedroom with an unmarried young lady was unthinkable. But he didn’t care. He needed to talk to her. Alone. Now. This could not be put off any longer.

“Come along girls,” Celeste said, shooting him a look that could have frozen water. If he did anything to hurt Gwen, he would be answering to her.

“But … “

“No buts. It will be all right. It is only for a few minutes, and Gwen is family. There is nothing to worry about I assure you.”

The three women left. Celeste turned at the last moment and glanced back, but Thomas remained rigid. She sighed to herself then gently closed the door.

Once they were gone, he turned back to Gwen. “You truly are all right?” he asked.

“Yes, Your Grace. I am fine. Again I am sorry. I can assure you in the future I will endeavor to ensure I eat something the day of a ball. Especially one given by the family. I am sorry for any embarrassment I caused.”

Thomas didn’t really listen. He had heard what he wanted when she said she was fine. Instead, he started to pace. His leg hurt. But then it always hurt. The energy and worry buried deep in his gut wouldn’t allow him to stop.

He would take three steps in one direction then turn and march three more in the other. All the while his mind raced as he tried to figure out what to say.

Gwen watched him. She bit her lower lip but didn’t say anything until it seemed she couldn’t keep quiet anymore.

“Please Your Grace, Sit down. It doesn’t feel right to be here, in bed … with you standing. I would feel more comfortable if you sat.”

He stopped and stared at her bed for a moment. His eyes lingered on the edge. A perfect place to rest. Instead, he let out a deep breath and pulled a chair from near the fireplace. Turning it towards her, he sat down.

“Are you betrothed?” he blurted out.

.o0o.

Gwen swallowed hard. She had dreaded this moment. Had cringed in bed at night thinking about what it would be like to tell him. Her heart ached to see his worried frown. There was no avoiding it. She would have to tell him and live with the embarrassment.

Lowering her head, she stared at her hands again. “No,” she said. “I am not betrothed.”

“But?” He asked. He didn’t smile. That simple answer would not be enough. “Why would the Earl of Grainbell be under the impression that you were?”

She took a deep breath then looked at him, her eyes had become misty, and she was terrified she was going to cry. Not now she begged. Not in front of him.

“The Earl of Grainbell is mistaken; I never agreed to any such betrothal. Not officially, at least.”

His Grace winced. “What does ‘Not officially’ mean?”

“It means,” she said with a small sigh. “That I never signed any papers. My step-father may have. But I didn’t. I never agreed to marry him.”

His Grace seemed to relax for the first time since coming into her room.

“Does that mean you do not wish to marry him? That …”

“Of course I don’t want to marry him. How could you think such a thing? The man is a cad, a reprobate, and evil scum. How could you think that?”

The Duke actually smiled. “I didn’t think you did, I just thought … never mind what I thought. It isn’t important. I need to find out what is going on here.

“Why?” she demanded as her anger started to rise.

“Why do you need to know what is going on. I am your aunt’s companion. What happened in my past should not be of concern to you. At least not unless Lady Celeste has reason to be concerned, and I can assure she does not.”

He stared back at her for a moment. She felt the urge to squirm. If she hadn’t been in bed, she would have started pacing. And how dare he come into her room and demand answers of her.

“Why? You ask. I will tell you why. I cannot fix things if I do not understand what is going on. …”

“Who asked you to fix things,” she said.

“You did, the moment you fainted in my ballroom. At my sister’s coming out party. Right now you and my sister are the talk of the town. People are trying to figure out what is going on. Why did I scoop you up and carry you out of the room? Was it true that Lady Celeste’s companion was engaged to that evil scum, as you call him, the Earl of Grainbell? So yes it is my problem.”

She sighed in resignation; it could not be avoided she had to tell him everything.

“Besides,” he continued. “If this is not handled correctly there is every chance that Grainbell and I could be facing off over pistols some morning in the park. We might very well end up there anyway if he says one wrong thing about you.

Gwen gasped and brought both hands to her mouth. Thomas in a duel. The thought sent shivers of fear down her spine. No, she could not allow that. Never. No.

“Please Gwen, you know me. Probably better than anyone else in the world. You know that I care too much about you to let anything bad happen. I have to know about your past so that I can fix your, no our, future.”

What did he mean? Our future. Was he talking about their individual futures? Her future as his aunt’s companion. Or maybe he still had thoughts about her being his mistress. Had he thought of her that way? Her face grew warm with a blush then warmer as she thought about blushing in front of him.

Sighing she said, “Very well, I will tell you everything. But you have to promise. No duels. You won’t do anything rash.”

“Oh, I can assure it won’t be rash. My actions will most definitely be well thought out.”

She saw the hard look in his eyes and shuddered inside. A part of her almost felt sorry for the Earl. When she was done telling Thomas everything. All hell was going to break loose.

Sneaking a peek from under her brow she began her story.

“As I have told you. My father was a merchant. Importing things from all over the world. He died when I was thirteen. The fever.”

“I’m sorry,” The Duke said.

“Thank you. My mother didn’t handle my father’s death very well. She became frail and took to her bed. She hardly ever left it.” Gwen sighed remembering her mother’s sadness.

“By default I became the lady of the house. Telling the staff what to do. Making sure bills were paid. Talking to the lawyers.”

“That must have been very difficult for someone so young. Did you get a chance to mourn your father?” Thomas asked.

A small tear spilled over her cheek and fell down her face. She hadn’t mourned her father. Not truly. She had never really accepted the fact that he was gone she realized.

Wiping the tear away with the back of her hand, she continued. “My father was partners with a man named John Grant.” Gwen continued as she tried to maintain her courage. “Almost a year after my father’s death. Mr. Grant came to visit my mother. It seemed that the ships that my father had invested in had been lost at sea.

He explained that although they were partners, they had each invested in separate ventures, sharing information, warehouse space, staff, etc. But that my father’s investments had failed, and there was no more money. In fact, his business was heavily in debt.”

“Did you believe him?”

“I didn’t know right away. My mother didn’t tell me. Not until later. Not until she informed me she would be marrying Mr. Grant.”

“Seems rather convenient,” Thomas said as he leaned forward.

“That’s what I told her. But she wouldn’t hear about it. She said I was only a girl and didn’t know about such things. I tried to explain, tried to argue, but she wouldn’t hear me. I think deep down she knew something wasn’t right, but I think she wanted to believe Mr. Grant. Wanted a husband. It might very well have been her only path out of the depression she had been suffering from for a year.”

Thomas didn’t say anything, just nodded his head for her to go on.

“I told her it sounded like the steps a person takes when their favorite dog dies. They get another one.”

Thomas smiled.

“Anyway, they were married, and our money problems were solved. I continued to run the household. I liked it, and I was good at it. The servants didn’t to seem to have a problem.”