The Duke's Predicament (The Reluctant Duke Book 3) Read online

  Hannah nodded and her eyes shone. She’d never looked lovelier. Small wonder that two eligible gentlemen were eager to gain her hand.

  ‘Do I have your blessing? I would continue to take care of Beth, have no concerns on that score.’

  ‘I know Richard would be delighted. I promise I’ll say nothing to him until things are settled between you.’

  Chapter Five

  Hannah wondered if she was being a little premature in discussing a possible match between her and Patrick. After all, hadn’t he had a year to suggest such a thing but until today had not shown her any special attention. She smiled at her silliness. Of course he hadn’t said anything as he still didn’t know if he was going to be arrested as a deserter and forced to re-enlist for five years. Until that was settled he would feel honour-bound not to tie her to him.

  The doors opened at last and he was standing behind the duke, his startling red hair and his impressive size made him easy to see as he was taller even than his grace. He looked across the drawing room and his smile made her warm all over.

  He said something to the duke as he passed and then strode across to join her. ‘The other guests are beginning to arrive, Hannah, so we’ve no time to talk privately.’

  ‘I’m content to be in your company, Patrick, and intend to enjoy every minute of this occasion. I’ve only ever attended one other such event and was never a genuine guest before.’

  ‘Although we might be considered somewhat older than the other young sprigs and their partners, I believe I can safely say that we make a handsome couple.’ He picked up a fold in the skirt of her gown and let the silk slip through his fingers. ‘Is this colour peach or called something more exciting? You look quite beautiful tonight – I’ll be the envy of every gentleman here.’

  ‘I come a poor third to her grace and Lady Sarah, but thank you for your compliment. However, I’m not sure mentioning my maturity was tactful. Some might consider that at the age of four and twenty I am at my last prayers.’

  ‘I didn’t know exactly how old you are, thank you for telling me. I’m nine and twenty – in my prime – but then gentlemen consider themselves in their prime until they are in their fifties.’

  ‘Are you fishing for compliments, sir? You are a handsome man but if I’m being brutally honest, I prefer you in your everyday clothes. Black doesn’t suit your colouring.’

  He laughed as she’d hoped he would. ‘I always thought I cut a fine figure in my best regimentals. I still have them – would you like to see me dressed in my uniform?’

  She detected there was more to this light-hearted question and all desire to laugh disappeared. ‘I hope you don’t have to wear those again, Patrick, but if you do, it won’t change the way I feel about you.’ She hadn’t intended to blurt out something so revealing but now he knew how she felt.

  His eyes blazed. ‘Will you walk with me on the terrace until the music starts, Hannah?’

  She looped her hand through his arm and could feel the tension in the muscles beneath her fingers. There were two other couples enjoying the early evening sunshine and watching the antics of the less fortunate who had obviously, from their lively behaviour, already broached the barrels of ale intended for the evening party.

  They walked to the far end, away from prying eyes, and then he turned. He took both her hands in his. ‘I love you, Hannah, and can hardly believe my luck that you reciprocate my feelings. You understand my perilous situation and must know that I cannot make you an offer until matters are settled.’

  ‘I think I would make an excellent soldier’s wife, Patrick, and I’m quite prepared to follow the drum. I never thought to marry and can hardly credit that I have two gentlemen interested in me.’ His expression changed and she wished she hadn’t been quite so honest. ‘Doctor Peterson hasn’t spoken in so many words, but I know that if I gave him the slightest hint that I was interested he would make me an offer. He’s too much of a gentleman to do anything that might embarrass me.’

  ‘You would do better to marry him, he can give you so much more than I. I’m not much more than a rough soldier and he’s an educated gentleman. I’ll never own my own property, I’ll always be dependent on the good offices of the duke. I’ve no idea where we would live as once the new house is completed the dowager duchess and her entourage will wish to live in the Dower House.’

  ‘We’ve both waited many years to find each other, there’s no rush to make this official. Just knowing that you return my feelings, that one day we can be together, God willing, will be enough for me at present.’

  He twisted so his bulk was between her and anyone wandering about on the terrace. Then he cupped her face and kissed her. The touch of his lips confirmed what she already knew. She would marry Patrick or remain a spinster.

  ‘We could marry immediately, my love, make it three weddings in a row. Then, whatever happens, we’ll have a few weeks together. If you go away to fight you might well be killed.’

  He drew her closer so her cheek was resting against his chest. ‘It’s a grand thought, sweetheart, but I could leave you carrying my child…’

  ‘That would make losing you a little more bearable. I would always be part of this family and so would a child. Why should we deny ourselves what little time we might have?’

  ‘Let me think on it. You’re a beautiful young woman and if I wasn’t here then you could marry Peterson.’

  She stood on tiptoe and was the one to initiate a kiss. This time was quite different, she was swept along by a feeling so intense that, if he hadn’t been holding her, she might have collapsed in a puddle of silk at his feet.

  Eventually he raised his head. She was breathless but thought she’d proved her point. ‘If I can’t marry you, Patrick, I’ll not marry anyone. I think it highly unlikely the doctor would want to make me his wife when he would always be second best.’

  There was a constant rattle of carriages arriving which meant the ball would be beginning soon. Belatedly she realised that although the two couples on the terrace with them had seen nothing, anyone in the gardens – and there were dozens of them – would have witnessed she and Patrick behaving disgracefully.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ He was aware immediately that she was upset.

  ‘We should have been more circumspect, my dear, everything we did was in full view to those enjoying the garden party down there.’

  He said something extremely impolite and she raised her eyebrows. He grinned but didn’t apologise. ‘We should have known better especially after what happened with Beth this morning.’ He held out his hand and she placed hers within it. ‘Too late for regrets, my angel, I’ll not have anyone tarnish your reputation. Do you wish me to go down on one knee?’

  ‘Absolutely not. We’ve made sufficient spectacle of ourselves already.’ Then she reconsidered. ‘Actually, it might be exactly the right thing to do. Then anyone who witnessed our embrace will applaud our actions and not speak ill of us.’

  He kept hold of her hand but dropped smoothly to one knee. ‘Miss Westley, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife? Please make me the happiest of men.’

  ‘Thank you for your kind offer, Mr O’Riley, I’m delighted to accept.’

  He stood up and kissed her again for good measure just in case anyone was in doubt about his intentions.

  When he stepped away there was a cheer, albeit a somewhat drunken one, from the gawping crowd. Patrick put his arm around her waist and they turned and waved and received another cheer. Satisfied they’d prevented any unpleasant gossip they hurried inside.

  ‘We must speak to our employers immediately. There must be something in the air as this will be the third engagement in a short space of time that has taken place here.’

  *

  Patrick kept a tight hold of his precious girl. Speaking to any member of the family was impossible as they were waiting in line to greet their guests.

  ‘It might be some time before they’re free. Shall we join the line of guests and pretend
that we’ve just arrived in a carriage? That way we can guarantee they hear our good news before anyone else tells them.’

  ‘It’s not an entire fabrication, Patrick, as you did indeed arrive in a carriage a short time ago. I think it’s a sensible suggestion although somewhat unusual.’

  When they stood in front of the duke and his duchess there was no need to explain why they were there.

  ‘Congratulations, my good friend, I couldn’t be happier for both of you. I’ll announce your engagement later this evening if you wish me to.’

  ‘No, I thank you, your grace, but this is Paul and Lady Sarah’s celebration. Word will spread soon enough as we were seen kissing on the terrace.’

  Hannah was being embraced by the duchess and then he too was hugged and Hannah received the same from the duke. Nobody could have been in any doubt that the two of them were intimates of this illustrious family.

  He danced four times with his betrothed including a waltz at the end of the evening. Paul had sought him out and added his best wishes to those they’d received from everyone else present.

  ‘I always thought you had feelings for her, but until tonight I wasn’t sure that she reciprocated.’

  ‘Neither was I – I’m not certain I should have asked her when things are so undecided. I just pray that word from Horse Guards arrives soon confirming that I’m no longer considered a deserter.’

  ‘Robinson is a good man, he’ll have got that letter to the right person by now. He might be an ensign but he’s an excellent officer and will go far in the army.’

  ‘Let’s hope that you’re right. I gather that you and your new bride will be leaving at dawn on your wedding trip. When can we expect you to return?’

  ‘Before the bad weather sets in – so no later than October. I hope you don’t intend to tie the knot before then as I’d like to stand up for you if you wish me to.’

  ‘I’d be honoured. I truly hope that I’m still here and not back in regimentals in Portugal. Hannah wants me to marry her immediately just in case that happens but I’ve no intention of doing so. I’m hoping that if I was forced to go that the quack will step in and take my place and give her a better life than I could.’

  ‘Good luck with that, my friend. I think our women are reluctant to do what’s expected of them. If I was you I would marry her immediately and thank God for the opportunity, even if that means Sarah and I won’t be there to witness the ceremony.’

  They parted with a handshake and Patrick watched him stride away to join his beautiful wife. Lady Sarah looked nothing like her older sister – she had golden curls and blue eyes like Beth. What he found quite extraordinary was the fact that the duke and duchess could be siblings so similar were they in appearance. They were only very distant cousins which was what made their resemblance so odd.

  The guests departed, the noise from the revellers outside abated, the ladies retired, leaving the duke and himself to decide on what they would do with the vicar’s son.

  ‘Let’s repair to my study, Patrick. I’ve sent for coffee and sandwiches. I fear it’s going to be a long night.’

  ‘I heard a while ago that Carstairs is sleeping comfortably and showing no signs of waking.’

  It would have been more pleasant outside but voices carried at night and they had no wish to be overheard. It had already been agreed that he would stay the night so he hadn’t the prospect of walking four miles in the dark when this conversation was done.

  A large silver coffee jug was waiting for them and alongside was a pile of sandwiches that would have fed half a dozen hungry soldiers. His host handed him a glass filled to the brim with cognac. Once they were settled with their drinks and food the discussion began.

  ‘If the vicar believes his son to still be at university then he won’t be worried about his absence. This gives us a week to come to some decision. I fear that whatever he might promise, whatever bribe he might take – if that’s the route I decided to go – he won’t keep his word. Do you agree?’

  ‘I do, your grace…’

  ‘For God’s sake, cut rope, Patrick. If you can’t bring yourself to call me Richard then call me Major. I refuse to answer to your grace.’

  ‘Major, I think you’re right to be dubious about this villain’s ability to keep his trap shut. I’m not comfortable with murdering the vicar’s son – in fact I wouldn’t want to murder anybody’s son in cold blood. I have a suggestion. He could be put aboard a ship sailing for the colonies, or India – it would be the making of him and when he returned it wouldn’t matter one way or the other what he said to anybody.’

  ‘Press-ganged? I don’t think we could put him on board a naval ship, but the idea’s sound. I own two trading vessels. Somewhere I’ve got the information about their whereabouts. It would be a stroke of good fortune if one of them was actually in port or on its way here.’

  ‘Better you’re not involved with this, Major. I’ll arrange things. I just need to transport him to London docks and then bribe some sailors to take him aboard. Once they’re at sea it doesn’t matter what he says as he’ll have to work his passage. He could be away for two years.’

  ‘He can’t be moved until he’s fit. How long did the doctor say it would be before he can eat normally?’

  ‘Several weeks at least. His jaw will be bound up until then so he won’t be able to speak. Obviously, he can’t remain under your roof, but he could be transferred to the Dower House. I’ve plenty of staff and they’re all loyal to the core.’

  ‘We’ll move him now, whilst he’s comatose. There’s bound to be someone awake upstairs who can help us.’ He drained his glass and poured them both a second. He grinned making him look years younger. ‘If there isn’t, there soon will be.’ He opened the door and yelled for attention down the passageway.

  Patrick choked on his coffee. ‘God’s teeth, Major, you’ll have everybody up now.’

  ‘It’s like the old days, my friend, I’ve not had so much fun in weeks.’

  *

  Amanda dismissed her maid as soon as she was in her nightgown. She slipped on her robe, pushed her feet into indoor slippers and went to see if Beth and her mother were still sleeping. Mrs Marchand, who insisted she should be addressed by her given name, Paula, in future, was reading in the nursery.

  ‘Your grace, Lady Beth is sleeping peacefully. I’ve had a truckle bed set up in her bedchamber and will sleep there as promised.’

  ‘If I am to call you Paula in future then you must call me Amanda and desist from using titles when addressing any of the family. Is Hannah abed? Did she give you her good news before she retired?’

  ‘I heard her come up a few minutes ago but she’s not been in to speak to me as yet…’

  There was a rustle of skirts and Hannah appeared, also in her nightwear. ‘I was just coming to tell you that Patrick and I are now betrothed. How is Beth?’

  Amanda left the two of them chatting quietly and headed for the rooms set aside for her mother and her retainers. She was on the gallery when Richard’s voice echoed through the house. What was he thinking? He would have everybody up wanting to know why he was yelling.

  Hannah appeared at the top of the nursery stairs. ‘Was that his grace shouting for attention?’

  ‘It certainly was. I’m going down to investigate but I think it sensible that only one of us appears incorrectly attired. I’ll let you know what all the fuss was about when I come back.’

  In this house not all the wall sconces were doused at night – some of them were replenished before the butler retired. This meant it was always possible to move about the place without carrying a candlestick.

  She could hear her husband laughing in the study and it sounded as if Patrick was with him. Neither of them were entirely sober.

  ‘Good evening, Richard, might I enquire why you thought it necessary to rouse the entire household in that way?’

  His smile, as always, rocked her back on her heels. ‘There’s something I have to tell you, my love, a
nd I apologise in advance for not doing so earlier.’

  She listened to his story in silence. ‘That man is the son of our vicar? How unfortunate that is.’ Richard and Patrick laughed at her quite sensible remark. She stared at them attempting to look cross but her mouth began to twitch and soon she was joining in the merriment.

  ‘Have either of you sent word for a closed carriage to be brought round?’

  ‘I’m waiting for someone to come here so I can send them to wake the stables.’ He poured himself another generous measure of brandy and Patrick held out his glass for the same. This was quite ridiculous. They were behaving in a most reprehensible manner and this would end in disaster if she didn’t intervene.

  ‘Enough brandy, sirs. You need your wits about you and at the moment they have flown. If this is supposed to be a clandestine operation why did you consider it sensible to wake up everybody in the house first and then do the same for the outside men?’

  ‘A good point, my love, well made, don’t you think, Patrick? Perhaps it would have been wiser to do this ourselves.’

  ‘Right, Major, I’ll fetch Carstairs whilst you sort out the transport.’

  ‘First I must reassure those I can hear coming to your aid that it was merely drunken high spirits that caused you to shout. I’ll send them to bed.’ She didn’t wait for his response but moved swiftly outside and waylaid the two senior footmen and the butler who were approaching at a run. Satisfied they’d accepted her explanation and were going to their beds she returned to the two inebriated gentlemen.

  To her astonishment the room was empty. They hadn’t come past her so must have exited via the window. She ran across the room and leaned out. She could hear nothing. Perhaps neither of them had been as drunk as she’d thought. They were soldiers and used to night manoeuvres and would accomplish this transfer without any more interference from herself.

  She doused the candles in the study and closed the window. After explaining to Paula and Hannah what the racket had been about she returned to the apartment she shared with Richard. There’d been no need to visit Mama as Hannah had gone in her stead.