A Duke for Miss Townsbridge

by Sophie Barnes

  This was personal now. Miss Townsbridge was watching. She’d said she wanted the fish and if getting it for her was what was required in order to earn her respect, then so be it. He sure as hell wasn’t going to fail.

  With this in mind, he handed the fishing rod to the man whose help he’d enlisted and began removing his boots.

  “What are you doing?” Miss Townsbridge asked as she rushed to his side.

  “Catching that fish,” Matthew said. He handed her his hat and gloves, shrugged out of his jacket, and retrieved the blade he always carried with him.

  “Lord Brunswick.” Miss Townsbridge said, her voice both stern and perplexed, and containing something else - something that sounded a lot like admiration. “You’re not going in there are you?”

  She pointed at the murky water.

  “That is my plan.”

  “But you’ll get wet.”

  “I expect so. Yes.”

  “But–”

  “You told me you want that fish. The reel is done for, so this is the only way.” He leaned in close to her and quietly murmured, “Most women would have settled for the bouquet. I must confess you’re quite unusual. Interesting, I should say.”

  “You really don’t have to do this.”

  Matthew merely smiled and headed for the water. It no longer mattered if Miss Townsbridge retracted her request. He was still going in. Because nothing ever got the better of him. Not even a damn fish.

  Chapter Three

  SARAH COULDN’T STOP smiling. It was ridiculous how happy she was right now in light of how irritated she’d been with Brunswick earlier. The superior tone he’d used as he’d presented her with the roses had grated on her every nerve, prompting her to completely forget her reason for wanting to see him again. The comment he’d made later about not wanting her as a friend or confidante but solely as a means by which to secure his lineage hadn’t helped.

  His stance on marriage had bothered her to the point where she’d wished herself a million miles away from him. Perhaps because it stood in stark opposition to everything she wanted for herself. Allowing high emotion to guide her actions had not been the least bit useful. Thank goodness, he’d followed her. Otherwise she’d be cursing herself right now for wasting the chance she’d been given to further her acquaintance with him – to give him the friendship he’d clearly stated he did not want.

  She glanced at him now. Drenched from head to toe, he walked beside her, a sack containing the carp he’d harpooned with his knife flung over his right shoulder.

  A smile threatened to capture her mouth. “Thank you for catching that for me.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She bit her lip, told herself to resist the urge to tease him, only to find herself saying, “We should do this again sometime.”

  He glared at her. “I don’t think I’m ever going near a lake again.”

  She understood. Even though the water had only reached his waist, the lakebed had been slippery, the carp impossible to wrestle while keeping his balance.

  Sarah laughed, earning her another glare. It wasn’t funny. It really wasn’t. But the memory of him splashing about in the Serpentine made her laugh once more. “I’m so sorry.”

  His only response this time was a grunt.

  “At least you got it in the end.”

  “Indeed.”

  “And might I add that you looked quite dashing when you emerged from the water, holding the carp up like a trophy.”

  Truth was, he’d looked rather scandalous with his white shirt and breeches plastered to his solid frame. She flushed just thinking about it.

  He shook his head and finally smiled, just a little. “I think I’m beginning to understand why you’re still unattached, Miss Townsbridge. You’re clearly attracted to the bizarre.”

  “Not at all,” she answered gamely. “But I did enjoy your company today. Far more than I expected.”

  “Then I gather you still intend to call on me tomorrow for a tour of the folly?”

  “If you will permit.”

  They arrived at her door and she called for the butler to come and assist them. Brunswick handed over the fish and the servant went to deposit it in the kitchen.

  “You’ll have to bring your parents or one of your brothers. A maid won’t suffice when it comes to paying an unmarried man a visit in his home.”

  “Not to worry. I have no interest in ruination.”

  “Good. Let’s keep it that way.” He cleared his throat and gave a short bow. “Good day, Miss Townsbridge.”

  Sarah bobbed a small curtsey. “Your Grace.”

  “Well?” Athena asked as soon as the door was shut.

  Sarah jumped. “Goodness. Where did you come from?”

  “I live here as well. Now tell me, how did it go?”

  Sarah started climbing the stairs with Athena in her wake. “He’s not an easy man to ignore.”

  “So what happened?”

  “We talked, argued, made up, and caught a fish.” Sarah turned left at the top of the landing and continued toward her bedchamber in silence. Apparently, her sister had no idea what to say to any of this. Which was fine since Sarah wasn’t sure how to explain it or what to feel or anything really. The morning hadn’t gone as she’d expected - not even close. Rather than hating every second she’d spent in Brunswick’s company, she’d ended up enjoying herself tremendously. “He’s actually not that bad.”

  “What?”

  Sarah blinked. She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Well, what was done was done. Turning, she told Athena, “I’m going over to his home tomorrow to see a folly he’s building.”

  “Next door?”

  “Yes. In his back garden.” The more she thought of it, the more excited she was to see his creation. She’d not lied when she said he’d spoken of it with great passion. It was his project - something he cared about - and this alone was enough to spark her curiosity. She realized Athena was gaping at her. “I’ll have to have a proper escort, of course. Hopefully, Mama and Papa won’t mind.”

  Athena just nodded.

  “Did I not tell you to stay away from him?” Sarah’s father asked that evening at dinner when Sarah mentioned her walk with Brunswick. He and his wife had both been out for most of the day, so Sarah had not had the chance to broach the subject until now. “I thought I was very clear.”

  “You were, Papa, and I did not thwart your wishes,” Sarah assured him. “The duke came to call on me entirely of his own volition. I couldn’t very well turn him away when he went to the trouble of bringing flowers.”

  “The bouquet of roses in the parlor?” Mama asked. “I wondered where those had come from.”

  Papa shook his head as if in defeat and groaned before taking another bite of his food.

  “Brunswick has invited me to visit his home tomorrow afternoon,” Sarah said, “and since I cannot go alone, I’m hoping you will be able to join me.”

  “Unfortunately, we have a prior engagement with the Glenfitches tomorrow,” Sarah’s mother explained. “I’m sorry, but it would be horribly rude of us to cancel at such short notice.”

  “Of course,” Sarah said. She pondered her less agreeable options. “I’ll have to ask one of my brothers then.”

  “Are you sure you want to further your acquaintance with him, Sarah?” Her father gave her a direct look. “Visiting his home immediately after he brought you flowers would suggest an interest on your part.”

  “You could postpone until next week,” her mother said. “I believe our schedule is more open then.”

  “I’d rather not wait,” Sarah said.

  Everyone stared at her but it was her father who spoke. “I’m not sure I understand why.”

  Sarah shrugged and took another bite while wondering what Brunswick might be doing at that same moment. Was he sitting in a big empty dining room all alone, or had he gone out to his club? “My encounter with him today was a great success. I feel as though the duke and I have begun forming a
friendship of sorts, and I would like to take advantage of that.”

  “For the sake of helping him with his broken heart.” Papa took a deep breath – the kind that seemed to suggest he needed additional strength to deal with his daughter. “He is not your responsibility, Sarah.”

  “I am aware, but we’ve been over this already so you know my position.” She wasn’t ready to suggest she might eventually marry him. That particular conversation would have to wait until she’d figured out whether or not Brunswick could be the sort of man she’d want to spend the rest of her life with.

  “The fish is excellent by the way,” her father added. “Carp, is it?”

  “Indeed.” Sarah beamed. “Brunswick caught it.”

  Her father choked on the bite he’d just taken. Coughing, he reached for his wine and drank. “You went fishing with him?”

  “Yes. It was actually a great deal of fun.”

  “Really?” A secretive smile teased Mama’s lips. “Perhaps we were too quick to judge him.”

  “I seriously doubt that,” Papa grumbled. “Marching into a garden party and asking a woman you’ve never met to marry you is not normal behavior.”

  “I agree,” Sarah said, “but I have decided to give him a second chance.”

  “Just don’t ask Charles to go with you tomorrow. He’s too overbearing.”

  “She’s going to visit an unmarried man in his home,” Papa said. “I don’t think I’d mind a bit of overbearingness from her eldest brother.”

  “Nonsense, my dear,” Sarah’s mother responded. “We’ve raised a responsible young woman. I’ve no doubt we can trust her.”

  “Neither do I,” Papa said. “But we’d also be trusting a duke who’s very determined to wed her.”

  “I see.” Sarah’s mother’s eyes twinkled. “You’re worried he might be as daring as you were with me.”

  “We need to put an end to this conversation right now,” Athena told Sarah. “Before they say something we can’t un-hear.”

  A bright pink blush colored their mother’s cheeks “Remember how you used to–”

  “I’ll ask them all and see which one can spare the time,” Sarah blurted. She took a long swallow of wine. “If you will excuse me, I think I’d better dispatch the missives right away. It’s already rather late.”

  “I’ll help,” Athena said.

  “Yes, yes,” their mother murmured, her attention fixed entirely on her husband while he looked at her in a way Sarah hoped she would soon forget.

  She fled the room with Athena close behind and went to find her writing supplies. Two hours later, she had her answer. Charles, James, and William would all be joining her for the visit. Because, as they’d each written back, they didn’t know Brunswick well and what they did know, they didn’t like. In other words, they wanted to know what she saw in him and why she’d developed a sudden interest.

  Sarah sighed. This wasn’t what she’d wanted. Enjoying a bit more laughter with Brunswick while getting to know him better would be impossible with three protective men guarding her against the threat of inappropriate innuendos and stolen kisses.

  Not that she anticipated any of those.

  With a groan of frustration she got into bed and did her best to clear her head. Now was not the time to start wondering what Brunswick’s lips might feel like against her own. And yet, it took longer than she wanted for sleep to finally claim her.

  WHEN FRIEDRIECHSEN showed Miss Townsbridge onto the terrace where Matthew had chosen to wait for her, he did not expect the lady to be followed by all three of her brothers. Of course, it was his own fault. If he’d only told his butler to announce her arrival instead of showing her straight through, the man would have had a chance to mention it.

  Schooling his features in an effort to mask his surprise and his growing unease, Matthew stood and greeted his guests. “Miss Townsbridge. It is a pleasure to see you again.”

  Ignoring the three stony-faced men flanking her, he stepped forward, took her hand in his, and placed a swift kiss upon her gloved knuckles.

  “Your Grace,” she murmured, allowing a smile to curve toward the pink blush now filling her cheeks. “I must apologize for my entourage. It wasn’t my intention to invade your home like this, but my parents were otherwise occupied, and when I asked my brothers if they could spare the time, they all insisted on coming along.”

  “It’s quite all right,” Matthew assured her even though his stomach was now tied in a knot. Proving himself in front of Miss Townsbridge’s parents was one thing, but her brothers? He’d rather eat crud. “They’re just being protective.”

  “And nosy,” she told him slyly.

  Matthew grinned. He’d been right to look forward to seeing her again.

  “I thought you said he always scowled,” the youngest Townsbridge, whom Matthew believed was called William, told his oldest brother. The middle brother - James, was it? - promptly stepped on William’s foot. “Ouch!”

  Miss Townsbridge rolled her eyes, sighed, and swept her hand in her brothers’ direction. “Allow me to introduce Misters Charles, James, and William Townsbridge.” She made a face at them - the sort that seemed to warn they’d better behave. Matthew pressed his lips together while she gestured toward him next and said, “His Grace, the Duke of Brunswick.”

  Matthew dipped his head toward his hopefully soon-to-be brothers-in-law and exchanged a few more pleasantries with them before addressing the only person present in whom he had any interest. “Would you like refreshment before we take a closer look at the folly?”

  “Perhaps after?” Miss Townsbridge peeked past him at the part of the garden she could glimpse from where they stood. “I’m rather eager to get started.”

  “As you wish,” he said and offered his arm. Her interest in his project pleased him more than he would have expected.

  “The fish was excellent by the way,” she told him as they took the few steps leading down to the neatly trimmed lawn.

  “Truly?”

  Miss Townsbridge nodded. “I actually brought you a piece so you can try it. Your butler had a maid deliver it to your cook.”

  Warmth crept under his skin on account of her thoughtfulness. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  “It only seemed fair considering all the trouble you went to in order to catch it.” Her lips twitched. “In fact, I am almost relieved to see you looking so well.”

  “Why Miss Townsbridge, do I finally sense a bit of remorse over the spill I took?”

  “It can’t have surprised you.” He raised an eyebrow and she added, “You were wrestling a large, slippery carp while standing in a lake. Your fall was expected, but yes, I would have felt slightly bad if you’d also caught your death.”

  It was impossible not to find humor in her dry wit. So Matthew rewarded her with another one of his reacquired smiles. “Only slightly?”

  “Well,” she said with a prim little sniff. “Anything more would suggest I might care about you, and that, my dear duke, would only go to your head.”

  Matthew’s chest expanded with pleasure. He genuinely liked her. So much it almost seemed a pity to marry only to try and avoid her.

  But what choice did he have? She was the woman he wanted, the one he’d spent two years selecting. He couldn’t walk away now - didn’t want to. But neither could he risk the threat she posed to his heart, for if there was one thing he could not ignore, it was how easy it would be to love her.

  He clenched his jaw and tried to rid himself of that terrifying possibility. All he had to do was romance her a bit. Just enough to convince her to change her mind. It shouldn’t take long. Certainly not as long as it would for him to develop those dangerous feelings he’d sworn he’d never fall prey to again. As long as he focused on his goal and kept a clear head, he’d be fine.

  “DID YOU REALLY BUILD this yourself?” Sarah asked as they drew closer to the folly. She’d only glimpsed the left side of it from the terrace due to the coniferous trees flanking the edge.
>
  “It’s not complete, but yes. No one else has placed a single stone.”

  Pride filled his voice, as well it should. Sarah wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but it hadn’t been this perfectly crafted wall made to look like it was centuries old. Uneven along the edge, as if some of the stone had corroded with time, it rose up to join with an overhead arch.

  Like a child eager to explore, she let go of his arm and passed underneath to a neatly paved courtyard containing a pit filled with firewood at its center. Partly melted candles were placed in nooks around the periphery, promising a magical escape after dark.

  “I’m quite impressed,” Charles said, speaking to Brunswick as the men joined her. “You clearly put a great deal of thought and effort into this.”

  “All it’s missing now is the last bench,” Sarah said, noting that only three had been completed.

  “My plan is to start on that next,” Brunswick said while leaning one shoulder against a pillar. His gaze followed Sarah as she continued observing the structure.

  “I could use a retreat like this in my garden,” James said. “My wife would love it. Might you be willing to make another, Brunswick?”

  Brunswick responded with a wry grin. “Not a chance.”

  Sarah smiled while giving her attention to the far corner. She allowed her hand to slide over the stones Brunswick had carried and hauled into position. “You should plant some fragrant climbers, Your Grace. I can just picture this wall overgrown with honeysuckle. Imagine it spilling over the top edge right there and–”

  “No.”

  His clipped tone caused her to turn and look at him with surprise. A muscle in his jaw flexed. “There won’t be any honeysuckle or any other plants for that matter.”

  “But–”

  “I believe I promised refreshments. After you, Miss Townsbridge.”

  Sarah only hesitated for the amount of time it took to give her brothers a questioning look. When Charles jutted his chin in the direction they’d come, she started forward while trying not to feel too put out.