Ann swallowed as she glanced back at Her Grace. The woman was furious. Ann’s stomach turned over. This was not a woman she wanted for an enemy. But what choice did she have? His Grace was demanding to dance a waltz with her. What woman could say no?
As he took her into his arms for the dance, he looked down at her with a smoldering expression that made her knees grow weak. It was the same look he had given her before their kiss.
Thankfully, the music started. He took a deep breath, resigned to social necessities and began to twirl her across the floor.
It was like floating on a cloud, she thought. Being in His Grace’s arms. The couples weaving and twirling around the floor. Could any woman have ever been so lucky?
“You have succeeded, I think.”
She frowned up at him as she fought to pull herself out of the heaven she had found herself.
“My mother,” he told her. “She is now adamant that I not marry any time soon. That I should wait until after the war.”
Ann’s insides squeezed tight with mixed emotions. She had achieved her task. Yet it meant everything was coming to a close.
“I am glad I could be of service, Your Grace,” she forced herself to say. The sudden sense of loss that filled her threatened to remain forever. Would she ever know happiness? she wondered.
He continued to stare down at her as he guided her around the floor. A strange look crossed behind his eyes. What was he thinking? she wondered. How happy was he that he had deceived his mother? And really, should a man be that pleased? She was his mother after all.
The sadness inside of her threatened to overwhelm her emotions. It took every bit of her will to stop a tear from falling.
It was all so cruel. Exposing her to this world. Showing her what she would never have. How could she ever return to cleaning fireplaces and polishing the silver? All the time, knowing what she was missing.
Her heart felt as if it were breaking.
“I think I should go,” she said to him as the dance came to an end. The night had been so special. A night to treasure.
“Go? Where?”
“Home, I mean the Dowager’s house.”
“Why?” he asked with an obviously confused expression.
Oh, how she wished she could tell him the truth. That one more minute with him would destroy her forever. She had fallen in love, she realized. With a man so far out of her world that he could never return her affection.
No, she must leave before she became a blithering idiot in front of him and ruined everything.
“We have won,” she told him. “It is best that we consolidate our victory and not allow anything to happen that might change the outcome.”
He scoffed as he shook his head. “I will escort you to your carriage.”
She could tell that he wasn’t pleased. “No, Your Grace. It is better if perhaps the Duke of Suffolk did so.”
He frowned, obviously upset with the idea. Could he perhaps be jealous? she wondered. Was it possible? No, of course not. No, he was worried about anything that might impact his victory.
“Of course, Miss Parker. I will arrange it.”
She sighed internally. This was it then. The end of a beautiful evening. She looked up at him and realized that she would never forget this night. Never forget this man.
The realization tore her heart in two.
Chapter Sixteen
The Duke of Bedford watched Young Ann walk away on the arm of his best friend and every part of his soul screamed in protest. This was wrong. She shouldn’t be walking out of his life like this.
He once again captured the feeling of her in his arms and sighed. That was the truth. That was the way the world should be.
But she had accomplished their goal. How could he demand any more from the woman? She had been spectacular. Poised, graceful, a calm presence that told the world of her confidence. As if she had been born into this world.
No, she had done everything he had asked of her and much more.
Yet, it felt wrong to see her walk away.
“I say, Bedford,” his mother said with that disappointed tone. “While I can see why you might be drawn to her. Really, the woman will never fit in.”
Thankfully, Lady Radcliff had been pulled away by friends. He didn’t wish to have this discussion in front of others.
He scoffed as he turned to study his mother. “Miss Parker had half this room wrapped around her little finger. I don’t think I have ever seen a better performance.”
His mother gritted her teeth. “Regardless, the woman will never be a true Duchess. Surely, you can see that.”
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm himself. “I would be careful, Mother. You know me. The more you tell me I can’t do something, the more likely it is to occur. You are the one who said I must marry.”
Her face grew pale as she realized just how right he was.
“After all,” he continued just to drive home the point. “There is no law against a Duke marrying a commoner.”
“No,” she said with a firm set of her lips. “But there is society’s expectations.”
He scoffed and shook his head, “Since when have I ever cared for such things?”
Turning away from his mother, he looked out across the room to see that Young Ann had already left. A sinking disappointment filled him as a realization began to set in. It was true. There was no reason he couldn’t pursue the woman.
Except for the fact that she worked for him, he reminded himself. Even he had limits. An employee was as far out of bounds as a woman could be in his world. No, that would never work. Besides, she couldn’t wait to get away from him.
He’d seen it in her eyes. The woman was afraid of him. Who could blame her? He held all the power. Of course, she had been afraid. Yet, she had willingly helped him deceive his mother and his friends. Without her, his mother would be pressing Lady Radcliff’s case constantly.
A cold shudder ran down his back. No, he owed Miss Parker a great deal.
Yet, a feeling of loss wouldn’t go away.
The remainder of the night was like a long hard hike through a wet bog. A drudgery that served as a constant reminder of what had disappeared.
Thankfully, his mother was in as bad a mood as himself. It seemed the woman didn’t like being disregarded by her son. Something she was just going to have to get used to, he thought.
“We should be going,” she finally said to him.
He purposely did not sigh in relief, instead, he simply nodded and asked one of the footmen to call their carriage.
They said their goodbyes. His mother made a point of finding Lady Radcliff, giving her one last chance to impress him. He could see it in the young woman’s eyes. She so desperately wanted the title of Duchess.
That was all he would ever be to this woman. A way to a higher title and connections for her family. He wondered if she ever thought of love. If she ever considered that life had to be more than simply climbing the social ladder.
A cold chill ran down his back as he imagined spending his life with such a woman. It would drive him insane within six months. There was no doubt.
Once he and his mother were settled in the carriage, he taped the roof. Instantly the carriage rocked and they were off.
“I hope you enjoyed yourself, Mother,” he said. “I believe that tonight meets my annual obligations. One Ball a year. We agreed.”
She harrumphed as she pulled the curtain back to look out the window. “That was when you were young. But now …”
The muscles in his shoulders clenched, didn’t the woman ever give up?
“Careful, Mother. I have given you fair warning. If I must marry. It will be to a woman of my choosing. And as you know. I have met every Lady of the ton in England. Or at least most of them. And it won’t be from that group I assure you.”
“No, no,” she said without turning from the window. “No, you win. I will no longer press you of marrying. At least not yet.”
He sighed. They h
ad done it. His heart swelled thinking of how well Ann had done.
Without warning, his mother gasped. “Why is there a light showing at the Dowager’s house?”
His stomach clenched as he leaned over to look. Yes, a soft yellow candlelight could be seen in what was the parlor of the Dowager’s house.
“I have caretakers watching the house,” he told his mother as his mind race. “With workmen coming next week, I wanted someone to keep an eye on things.”
His mother nodded and his insides relaxed.
“Tell them to be careful. They shouldn’t be leaving a candle unattended like that. Especially not in the parlor.”
“Yes Mother, I will inform them.”
A silence fell over them as his mother let the curtain fall back into place. Both of them were lost in their own worlds. His mother was probably trying to develop some scheme to get him to marry the woman she chose for him.
He, on the other hand, couldn’t help but think of that candle burning in the parlor. Was Ann still up and about? What had she thought of the night? Had she been impressed? Or, had she thought it all rather silly? People pretending to be more important than they were.
Of course, there was also the mystery of what she had thought about him. He smiled to himself as he tried to remember the last time he had worried about what a woman thought about him?
Really, he couldn’t. Not unless it was Agnes the milkmaid at Norwich when he was a boy.
No, Miss Parker had worked her way into his thoughts like no other woman he had ever known.
The memory of their kiss and the way she felt in his arms when they danced filled him with a need to see her again. Even if it was but to learn that she was well. That she was not upset at him. Didn’t despise him for deceiving his mother. For putting her through all of this.
But if he were honest, the need was to hold her again in his arms. That was all that was important in this world.
.o0o.
Ann threw another log on the fire before she turned and continued to pace. It was impossible to ignore the worry eating a hole in her stomach. The night had been a triumph. An awe-inspiring special night. Yet she couldn’t shake this sense of disappointment.
The house was now quiet at last. Lizzy had finally learned enough about the Ball to relax and go to bed. Ann smiled to herself. The young girl had been like a buzzing bee as soon as Ann had stepped into the house. Demanding to know everything. What had the Ladies’ gowns looked like? Were the men as handsome as the stories said? Had she been asked to dance?
Ann had provided the necessary details as Lizzy had helped her out of her dress. The girl deserved to know everything. Of course, she held back the fact that she had fallen in love with the Duke.
No, that was a fact that would never be shared with anyone. It was a lonely pain that she would keep close.
Now, with everyone in bed, Ann pulled her robe tight as she reviewed every moment. She must, she realized. Perhaps it would allow her to rest. To begin to put this all behind her.
Sighing heavily, she knew it would be no good. This night could never be forgotten. Much like the kiss she had shared with the Duke. It was one more thing that had burned itself into her memory.
Sighing again, she came to halt and examined the parlor. The single candle cast just enough light. How long would she continue to live here? When would the Dowager leave for the home estate and allow her to return to her duties as a maid at the Duke’s residence?
What if she didn’t? Ann thought with a gasp. What then? Would the Duke dismiss her? Would Mrs. Jensen be able to work her magic and obtain employment elsewhere for her?
Perhaps that would be best. Regardless, she thought with a sudden sadness. Maybe she should not return to work in the Duke’s residence. The thought of him seeing her covered in ash from a fireplace, or her hands raw from the weekly laundry. It was enough to send a shudder through her entire body.
No, never. She would die a thousand deaths every day having the Duke reminded that she was but a maid. A servant, nothing more than an employee. No, it would never work. She must leave him.
A sadness filled her as a single tear spilled from the corner of her eye and slowly worked its way down her cheek.
It was the only way. She would continue with this deception until the Dowager left. But then, she must leave. If Mrs. Jensen couldn’t help, then she would leave anyway. She could no longer be the Duke’s maid. It would be too painful.
Sighing, she turned to retrace her steps. She had gone but a short way when a soft tap at the window pulled her attention. Her heart jumped. Was it Grainger’s men? Had they found her?
Biting back a scream, she peered through the window and froze. His Grace, still in his fine dress with his top hat stood on a turned over barrel, smiling through the glass at her.
What did he want? Why? Her mind tumbled over itself as she fought to understand. Why was he here? Had she failed? Had he come to tell her that she was no longer needed?
These and a thousand other thoughts fought for supremacy when she realized she had been standing there staring at him while he beckoned her to come open the window. She took a deep breath as she tried to calm her racing heart.
Screwing up her courage she opened the window and frowned at him, silently asking him what he was doing.
The man smirked at her like a boy getting away with something, as he reached up and pulled himself through the window.
Ann’s stomach fell for a dozen different reasons. It seemed wrong for someone to be entering the house this way, yet, it was his house after all she reminded herself. The man could enter however he liked.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed as a sudden fear filled her. If Mr. White caught the Duke here, he would think she was nothing more than the man’s mistress and the tale would be told up and down the street in every servant’s quarters within a mile.
“I wished to see to you,” he said with that devastating smile of his. The smile that turned her knees to water.
Chapter Seventeen
Ann studied him for a moment. The soft candlelight and the faint fireplace glow made the man look almost mythological. A man from every girl's best dream. A cold terror flashed through her as she gasped when she realized she was standing before the Duke in nothing more than a night shift and her robe. With her hair down no less. What must he think of her?
“Now, Your Grace,” she whispered as she pulled her robe tight at the neck and used her other hand to brush her hair back behind her shoulders. “Is everything all right? Your mother, did she discover …”
He held up a hand to stop her rambling. “Everything is perfect. Or at least it is now. We didn’t have an opportunity to talk earlier and I couldn’t sleep.”
Ann rolled her eyes. That was so typical of him. He couldn’t sleep so everyone else must bow to his desires. What if she had been in bed? Would he have crawled up the side of the building to reach her window?
Her heart jumped at the thought. He had come to see her.
The Duke smiled again, then walked to the far corner of the room to pour himself a whiskey. His body moved like a majestic lion, she thought. In command, in control. After he finished pouring his drink, he held up the decanter to silently ask if she wished one.
Ann turned up her nose as she shook her head vigorously. Why was he acting this way? she asked herself for the thousandth time.
“I realized,” he said as he took a long sip of the whiskey before sitting on the settee, “that I enjoyed myself tonight. Which is an oddity. I usually despise such events.”
She continued to study him as she frantically tried to understand what was happening. Her body hummed with energy as she realized she was alone with this man. It was just him and her.
“Won’t you please sit down,” he said, pointing to the opposite end of the settee. “I feel uncomfortable sitting while a Lady is standing.”
“I’m not a Lady, Your Grace,” she said before she could stop herself.
His lips pur
sed as he thought about what she said. Again, he nodded to the settee.
It was obvious, Ann realized, the man refused to continue or explain until she was sitting down. She bit back a caustic remark, pulled the belt of her robe even tighter before she sat on the far end of the settee, as far from the man as possible.
He frowned for a moment then took a deep breath, “As I was saying. I enjoyed myself and don’t really want the evening to end. I have thought a lot on the matter.”
Ann sighed, she needed to end this. The man sitting but a few feet away was driving her to distraction. That smirk, those shoulders. The way his hair fell across his forehead. All of it made her mind whirl.
But most of all, the love in her heart. She couldn’t continue like this. Not and retain her sanity.
“So,” she began, her voice quivering just the slightest, “you believe we were successful and there will no longer be need of my assistance in this matter?”
He frowned then slowly nodded. “Yes, Mother has agreed that I need not marry. As I said, you were wonderful.”
Her heart fell. “In that case, Your Grace. I believe I should move on. I will send Mr. White with your necklace tomorrow. Lizzy can return to her duties in the kitchen.”
“What? Why must you move on?” he barked as he sat forward.
Ann sighed internally as she called up the lie she had prepared. “We cannot risk me being seen in your home, Your Grace. Your mother may return and find me there. Or the servants might discover the truth. I care for Lizzy with all my heart. But the girl does love to gossip.”
The Duke’s brow furrowed in a deep frown. “What will you do?”
Ann took a deep breath. “I will ask Mrs. Jensen to help me find another position. After all. The job is pretty much the same everywhere. What difference does it make where I do it?”
Again, he frowned as he looked down at the whiskey in his glass as an awkward silence fell over them.
She held her breath as she waited for him to respond. Would he even care that she was leaving? At most, he might be concerned that she would be needed in the future to carry on the farce.
A Duke's Desire (The Duke's Club Book 1) Page 11
