A Deal with a Duke

by Christie Kelley

  Ainsley smiled as he looked down at Harry. “Why would I do that? Perhaps she deserves an earl and not that idiot Collingwood.”

  Harry sighed. There was one way to keep Ainsley away from Louisa. “Five thousand.”

  “Five thousand? What are you talking about, Harry?”

  “Stay away from Louisa, and I will give you the money. Think about it, Ainsley. You can pay down the death debts you owe. You won’t need to marry for a while.”

  “You would pay me to keep me away from her?” he asked incredulously. “Would you rather see her with Collingwood?”

  Harry slammed down his drink. “No, she deserves better than either of you.”

  “Then you’d better be willing to give Collingwood the same amount because he appears damned determined to have her. But quite honestly, I’m not sure it will be enough, at least for me. I find Miss Drake greatly intriguing.”

  Harry shot out of his seat as Ainsley rushed from the room with a low chuckle. Damn him! Ainsley wasn’t supposed to find Louisa intriguing. Only Harry found her captivating.

  What if Ainsley wasn’t jesting? He had been paying particular attention to her. Harry had to know.

  He strode out of his study and searched the crush of people for Ainsley who had disappeared into the crowd. Scanning the room, he glanced over to the threshold and noticed Simon standing next to Louisa, Emma, and their mother. The breath swept out of him as he saw Louisa in her blue silk gown. The lace sleeves covered her slim arms but must leave her chilled.

  What the bloody hell was she doing here?

  Daphne would kill him, assuming he had given her the invitation, but he could tell by the self-assured smile on Simon’s face that this was all his idea. Why? Why would his brother deliberately try to vex him? Because that was Simon.

  “What are they doing here?” Daphne whispered angrily in his ear.

  “I believe you should ask Simon.”

  “I hate that bastard.”

  “He is truly an annoying little brother.”

  “Yes, he is. Just like you always are.” Daphne strolled away with a tight smile on her face to greet her new guests.

  Harry leaned against the wall and watched her from afar, feeling a bit like a voyeur. Was this to be his lot in life, watching another man escort her to various events? He wasn’t convinced he could do that without going mad.

  Marry her.

  His insecurity had fostered doubts about what she would say when she found out what he’d done in India. How poorly he had treated Sabita.

  Marry her.

  The sound of Simon’s voice echoed in his mind. If he failed Louisa...he didn’t want to think how much that would hurt. The overwhelming doubts hammered at his head. Pressing his fingers to his temples, he realized there was only one thing to do.

  LOUISA HAD SPOTTED Harry earlier but now couldn’t find him anywhere in the crowd. She had even checked his study to see if he might, by chance, be avoiding her. But he was nowhere to be found. Disappointment surged in her as she made her way back to the ballroom only to discover Collingwood waiting for her.

  “Good evening, Miss Drake,” he said with a quick bow.

  “Good evening, my lord. Are you having an enjoyable time?”

  He smiled kindly at her. “I would have a most enjoyable time if you were to dance with me.”

  “Of course, it would be a pleasure.” Not really, but she might catch sight of Harry while they danced. Where the bloody hell was he?

  Collingwood led her to the dance floor as a reel started. At least that would limit conversation, she thought.

  As the dance started, he asked, “Have you had time to think about the question I asked you?”

  “I have not, my lord. It has been quite hectic with all the rigors of preparing for the ball.”

  “Of course. I apologize if I seem overeager.”

  “It is to be expected, my lord.”

  “Please call me Robert.”

  Until that moment, she realized she didn’t know his Christian name. “It is not appropriate in public, my lord.”

  “As you wish.” He frowned as they danced away from each other. She scanned the room for Harry until the dance brought her back to Collingwood.

  Thankfully, the set was two quick reels, which ended quickly, allowing her to continue her search for Harry. Perhaps Kingsley might know where his brother happened off. She searched for Kingsley, but he was speaking in hushed tones with his half-sister. As Lady Radley moved away, Louisa walked toward the man, but as she approached, he strode through the crush as if eager to be away from her.

  “Miss Drake?”

  Louisa turned at the sound of Lord Ainsley’s voice. “Lord Ainsley, good evening.”

  “Good evening, Miss Drake. Are you enjoying yourself tonight?”

  “Very much so,” she lied. Until she spoke to Harry, she would be miserable. And since she’d seen no sign of him, she assumed she would be miserable all evening long.

  He smiled at her. “Why do I feel you are lying? Might I persuade you to dance?”

  “That would be lovely, indeed, my lord. Have you seen His Grace tonight? I had hoped to speak with him for a moment.”

  Ainsley shrugged with a little smile. “I had an interview with him in his study before you arrived. He seemed a tad out of sorts with the idea of me calling on you every day.”

  “That is good.”

  “I thought so too, until I heard a few moments ago that he left the party.”

  Chapter 19

  TWO DAYS PASSED WITHOUT a word from Harry. Louisa sat in the salon, staring at the book on her lap, wondering where he might have gone. And why hadn’t he told her where he was going. She wasn’t sure she could wait for him to return from wherever he’d wandered off. She had to find him and tell him how she felt. He deserved to know that she loved him.

  She set off to his home to ask Jenkins where Harry had disappeared. As she climbed the steps, the door opened, and Lady Radley walked out, holding Charlotte’s hand.

  “Miss Drake!” Charlotte squealed with excitement. “Did you come to walk with us in Hyde Park?”

  “Miss Drake,” Lady Radley said with a nod. “You must excuse us. We were just off for a stroll.”

  “Of course,” Louisa replied, noting the tight grip the woman held on Charlotte. “I am sorry, Charlotte. I only stopped by to pay a call on your father.”

  “He’s not at home,” Lady Radley said coldly, pulling on Charlotte’s arm. “Come along, Charlotte.”

  The little girl started to pout.

  “Charlotte,” Louisa urged. “Go along with your aunt.”

  “All right,” Charlotte said with a petulant sigh.

  Louisa turned to Harry’s sister. “Lady Radley, do you know when the duke might be at home?”

  “He did not say.” Lady Radley assisted Charlotte into the carriage for the drive to the park. “Good day, Miss Drake.”

  Louisa stood there with her mouth agape as the carriage rolled away. She had always known that Lady Radley disliked her, but the woman was insufferable today. With a determined stride, Louisa headed for the door where Jenkins stood watching her.

  “Jenkins, can you please tell me where His Grace has gone?”

  For once, the older man’s face softened. “I am sorry, miss. I cannot.” He leaned slightly closer and whispered, “Lady Radley has informed all the servants that they will be let go if we should give out any information on the duke’s whereabouts to anyone.”

  Her shoulders sagged under the weight of disappointment. “Thank you, Jenkins. You have been most kind.”

  “It is a fine day to go to Hell, is not, Miss Drake? There is always a great deal to learn there.”

  She smiled at the butler, surprised he would disobey Lady Radley. “Thank you, Jenkins.”

  As she walked home, she wondered how she could meet with Simon Kingsley. His gaming hell was in a decent section of town but one that even she would never dare go to alone. She supposed her only option was t
o write to him and pray he replied quickly.

  Entering the house, she thought of a way to accomplish her mission without writing. “Emma, is Mamma at home?”

  Emma looked up from her sketch of roses in a vase. “No, she and Lady Huntley went to pay a call on Mrs. Amberley.”

  “Did she take the carriage?”

  “No, they went in Lady Huntley’s. Why all the questions, Louisa?” Emma put her pencil down and tilted her head.

  “I need your help with something,” Louisa whispered. “But we must do this in secret and tell no one where we are going.”

  Her sister sat up straight, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “Where are we going?”

  “To Hell,” Louisa whispered.

  “To where?”

  “A gaming hell owned by Mr. Kingsley. It is imperative that I speak with him today.”

  Emma’s face scrunched. “I do not like that man, Louisa.”

  Louisa knelt by her sister and clasped her hands. “I understand, Emma. I need to go with someone. I shall do all the talking. You can stand in the back by the door. Please do this for me. Normally, I would ask Tessa but with her being with ch—”

  “I will do it!” Emma rose and then smiled. “I never thought you would include me in any of your adventures. I still long to know where you went on Christmas Day. I am quite certain you didn’t go to aunt’s house as Mamma told everyone.”

  “Do this for me, and I will tell you all about my trip on the drive back home.”

  “Very well. I shall call for the carriage.” Emma started toward the door and then stopped. “But Louisa, what if the driver tells Mamma where we went?”

  “Once I have my answer from Mr. Kingsley, it won’t matter.” Because she had no intention of being here to listen to Mamma’s screeching.

  Louisa went upstairs and threw a small amount of clothing into a valise. With Emma now on her side, Louisa felt confident that nothing could go wrong. She raced back downstairs to where Emma stood with her bonnet in her hand.

  “Why do you need a valise?”

  “I just do. Now, please hurry,” Louisa said with a bright smile. Hopefully, in an hour, she would be on her way to find Harry.

  Once they had situated themselves in the carriage, Emma asked softly, “Does this have anything to do with the duke?”

  Louisa nodded. “I am taking your advice, Emma. You told me to tell him how I felt. I cannot do that if I have no idea where he is.”

  Emma’s eyes lit. “You mean to run off to him.”

  “Yes, but you mustn’t let Mamma learn the truth. If she discovers I ran off to find Harry again, she will have my head.”

  “Again? Is that where you went at Christmas?”

  “I did,” she whispered.

  “Oh my God, does Mamma know?”

  “I told her when I returned.” Seeing the shock on her sister’s face, she quickly added, “But you do know that Harry is a gentleman and nothing untoward happened.”

  Emma’s mouth gaped. “Just being in the same house without a chaperone is scandalous, even if nothing happened between you both.”

  “I realized that. As did Mamma, which is why she made up that story of me going to our aunt’s house.”

  Emma giggled softly. “I cannot believe what an adventure you have had, sister. I am quite envious as I have had none.”

  “You are still young. I am sure you have plenty of time for you to have adventures.”

  The carriage rolled to a stop. Louisa glanced up at the old church as she stepped down from the coach. It certainly didn’t look like a gaming hell to her. She wrapped her arm around her sister and walked to the front door. After knocking, a small opening appeared in the middle of the door.

  “I hardly think we shall fit through that,” Emma whispered with a nervous giggle.

  “Put your card in the opening,” a deep voice sounded from behind the oak door.

  Louisa fished out a card from her reticule and slid it through the opening. “I am only here to see Mr. Kingsley if you please.”

  They were quickly ushered inside what must have been the vestibule of the old church. Behind the large, carved wood doors, the gaming beckoned those with the urge. Louisa assumed the silence in the room beyond was due to the time of day.

  A giant of a man with a shock of red hair stared down at them with a scowl. “Why do you wish to speak to King?”

  “It is a private matter, sir,” Louisa replied primly.

  “Remain here. I will let him know you are here.” The man skulked off down the hall until he disappeared into a room.

  “We should not be here, Louisa,” Emma said with a trembling voice.

  “Oh, yes, we should.” Yanking Emma’s arm, Louisa said, “Come along.”

  “Where are we going?”

  Louisa smiled impishly. “We are following that man.”

  “Oh, this is not good,” Emma whispered.

  “Shh, just remember this is an adventure.”

  They reached the man’s location as he started to close the door to a room. Seeing them approach, he shook his head. “King is occupied at the moment. Give him ten minutes, and then you can see him.”

  Emma slipped passed the man, pulling Louisa with her. “You’re right. We are having an adventure, and I’m going to embrace it.”

  They both halted as soon as they stepped in the room. Louisa looked over at the desk to find Mr. Kingsley with a woman on his lap in the throes of ecstasy.

  “You vile man,” Emma said, slamming the door behind her.

  “Miss Drake, what an inopportune time to pay a visit,” he said, as the woman slipped off his lap and adjusted her gown with a scowl. He buttoned his trousers and then rose to escort the woman out of his office.

  “What are you doing here?” Mr. Kingsley asked Louisa after closing the door behind them. “And you brought your sister into your folly, too?”

  “Leave Emma out of this,” she retorted. “If you are angry then be so at me, not her. She is innocent in this.”

  The man looked at Emma intently. “Of course, the angel is innocent.”

  “Do not call me that,” Emma said tightly.

  “Hush, dear.” Louisa approached the desk Mr. Kingsley had taken refuge behind. “I am only here for one thing, and then we shall leave you in peace.”

  He smiled in almost a feral manner. “I do like you, Miss Drake. Ever so direct in your speech. Go on then, what is your question?”

  “I need to know where Worthington went, and I believe you know.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  Mr. Kingsley leaned back in his chair in a position that reminded her of Harry. The man must look far more like his mother than the late duke as there was little physical resemblance. Except, those hard eyes reminded her of Harry the few times she’d seen him truly angry. And their mannerisms were remarkably similar.

  “Why would you believe I know where the duke is?”

  She leaned forward and stared at him. “Because Jenkins told me you would know.”

  “Bloody butler! He should know better.” Mr. Kingsley held her gaze. “Why do you want to know?”

  “I need to tell him something.” She finally broke away from his stare. “Something of great importance.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her with those piercing blue eyes. She could have sworn his gaze would steal her soul away. No wonder Emma disliked the man.

  “Do you love him, Miss Drake?”

  Louisa closed her eyes and nodded. “Most desperately, Mr. Kingsley. I fear he may not love me in the same manner, though.”

  “I see.”

  “Will you help me?” she pleaded.

  He paused for a long moment, deliberately Louisa assumed to agitate her. “He is at Worth Hall. Send your sister home in your family carriage. I shall provide you with a comfortable coach for the trip. It is unmarked, so no one will know I lent it to you.” A slow smile lifted his lips. “And do tell my brother that I assisted you. I am starting to enjoy v
exing him.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Kingsley.” She turned toward Emma, who stood near the door staring at Mr. Kingsley with a touch of panic in her eyes. “Emma, will that suit you?”

  “Yes, I will tell Mamma you decided to stay with Tessa for a few days.”

  Louisa ran to her sister and embraced her. “Thank you!”

  “Come along, Miss Drake,” Mr. Kingsley said to Emma. “I shall escort you home.”

  “There is no need, Mr. Kingsley.” Emma opened the door and raced down the hall.

  “I don’t believe she likes me,” Mr. Kingsley said with a low laugh. “Smart girl.” He turned toward Louisa. “Do you have a valise, or will you need clothing?”

  “I have a valise in the carriage.” She did wonder for a moment how he would procure clothing for her if she hadn’t brought hers. No, she decided. She did not want to think about that.

  “I shall order my best coach for you and have my cook pack you some cold food. It is only a few hours’ drive, so you should be there around nightfall.”

  “Thank you again.”

  Within a few minutes, she was packed into the carriage with some food and heading out of London. Having not eaten all day, she dug into the basket and discovered a ham sandwich, an apple, and a jug of wine. In no time, she had a full stomach and sleepiness overcame her.

  HARRY ARRIVED BACK at the estate just after ten. After spending the day with Mr. Fernwood, his estate steward, they had stopped for dinner at a tavern in Worth. He entered the house through the side door closer to the stables. Passing a footman in the hall, he requested a bath then went to his bedchamber.

  Three days had passed since he left London during the height of his sister’s soiree. All to get away from Louisa and somehow stop thinking about her. He’d hardly been successful, although, today was slightly better. He’d only thought of her half the day instead of the entire day.

  The footmen filled the copper tub in the adjacent bathing room. His body ached from all the riding he’d done since he arrived. A few weeks in town and he’d become soft already. The hot water would ease his body, and brandy might ease his mind. He poured a snifter and then slipped into the tub.