The Unsuitable Duke

by Suzanna Medeiros

  “I’m not about to raise this subject with my sister. She’s moved on and is happy again, especially now that her friendship with Ellen has been restored. I’m not going to jeopardize her happiness. It took her a long time to get over what almost happened.”

  “Ellen needs to know.”

  Deuce take it, did the man never blink? He’d never been on the receiving end of his friend’s stare when he wanted something, and it was unnerving. He could see why Brantford was so good at his job. If this was even a fraction of what his enemies went through when he questioned them, they didn’t stand a chance.

  “When the time is right, I’ll tell Ellen myself. But it’s too soon. She’s barely tolerating my presence.”

  “You’re giving me excuses.”

  “Yes, I am. You know as well as I that courting your sister is a delicate business. As you pointed out, it’s a miracle she hasn’t tried to gut me yet. Let me make some progress—show her that we can be good together—before I tell her how her husband really died.”

  “We both know she didn’t mourn his death. Whatever feelings she had for Laughton died during the first months of their marriage.”

  “Good. I just hope that if I can get her to accept me, any newfound feelings she might discover won’t suffer a similar death when I tell her the truth.”

  Chapter 13

  To say the dowager duchess was displeased when she returned home from her visit to find Lord Brantford and his new wife had arrived while she was out paying a social call would be a vast understatement. Ellen found it amusing to watch the chagrin cross Castlefield’s face when his mother chastised him over dinner for keeping their impending arrival a secret. Still, from the twinkle in his eyes when he glanced at Ellen, it was clear he had no regrets about his subterfuge.

  Dinner was a lively affair. And afterward the group retired to the salon. Jane and Lord Eddings had gone upstairs to spend some time with their children before they turned in for the night, but they promised to join them later.

  Brantford took it upon himself to smooth over Her Grace’s annoyance with her son. It never ceased to amaze Ellen just how charming he could be when the mood struck him.

  She listened as he shared an abbreviated version of the circumstances leading up to his hasty marriage to Rose before he moved on to share some amusing tales about just how far some had gone to gain his approval this past spring.

  Rose, who sat next to her on the settee, leaned closer and lowered her voice so only Ellen could hear. “All that time I was trying and failing to gain Lucien’s attention, I never imagined he could be so amusing. I’m torn between feeling sad all of society will never see this side of him and being relieved that is the case. I’ve seen the looks other women cast his way. They’d never cease their pursuit if they realized what lay beneath his icy exterior.”

  Ellen held back a wince. “Please don’t share any details with me.”

  Rose smiled, and much to Ellen’s dismay lowered her voice even further. “Let’s just say your brother is far from unaffected in the bedchamber.”

  Ellen twisted her mouth in an exaggerated frown, spurring Rose to let out an unladylike snort before she raised a hand to cover her mouth. Ellen had known that Rose and her brother were well suited after seeing them together, but she still found it impossible to believe what her new sister-in-law seemed to be suggesting. She’d certainly never enjoyed any of the intimacy she and her husband had shared before she’d finally banished him from her bedroom.

  Rose’s gaze drifted to Castlefield before returning to Ellen. “Maybe you can find a similar happiness close by?”

  Ellen shook her head. “Not you as well. You should know that not everyone seeks to wed.”

  If there was one thing Ellen had discovered during the brief time she’d known Rose, it was that the young woman sitting beside her was very observant.

  Rose placed a hand on her arm and gave it a brief squeeze. “You weren’t happy in your marriage.”

  “No,” Ellen said, letting out a soft sigh. “But that is a subject for another time.”

  “I understand.” Rose tilted her head and seemed to look right through her. “But I’ve noticed the way he keeps looking at you when your attention is elsewhere.”

  It took everything in her not to glance at the man in question. “You’re being ridiculous. He’s probably just planning how best to annoy me.”

  Ellen decided it was prudent to change the subject before Rose could comment further. Being the focus of speculation had never sat well with her. It was bad enough people were thinking about her and Castlefield as a potential romantic pairing, and she wasn’t about to discuss it with Rose or Jane. Especially since his continued insistence on pursuing her was causing her more than a little confusion.

  “How are your parents?”

  Rose’s smile lit her entire face. “Wonderful, thank goodness. Lucien was able to prove that my father was blackmailed into confessing to treason. The real culprit almost succeeded in escaping detection.”

  Ellen drew Rose into a brief hug. “My brother shared the details of your trip with me. You were very brave.”

  “I think the word you’re looking for is foolish. Lucien told me to stay at the inn, but I ignored him and headed to my family’s estate. Where, of course, Lord Standish was waiting for me. If Lucien hadn’t arrived in time…” She gave a small shudder.

  “My brother has excellent instincts. Although it wasn’t his wisest decision to leave you alone at the inn. You’re hardly one to sit still when you could be acting. And you had no idea Lord Standish would be waiting for you. How could you?”

  “Well, I can tell you that’s the last time I ever go against my husband’s advice.”

  “I plan to hold you to that.”

  Their heads whipped up, and they saw Brantford now stood next to the settee. His gaze rested on his wife with censure, but it was impossible not to see the affection in his pale blue eyes.

  Rose let out an exaggerated sigh, and Ellen couldn’t hold back her amusement. Her brother never forgot anything, and she had no doubt Rose would come to regret that statement.

  The dowager duchess stood then, followed by Castlefield.

  “I’ve enjoyed this evening very much.” Her smile included Rose, Brantford, and her. Her eyes narrowed slightly when she glanced at her son, and it was clear that he wasn’t yet forgiven for his earlier transgression. “I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

  She swept from the room amid a chorus of “good evenings.”

  “You survived that relatively unscathed.” Brantford didn’t hide his amusement.

  Castlefield’s gaze met hers for a moment before he replied. “I hope to make it up to her soon enough.”

  When he looked away, Rose nudged Ellen with her shoulder. Ellen didn’t rise to her friend’s teasing. She opted, instead, for another change of subject.

  “We should play a hand of whist.” She stood and moved to the table that had been set up in the corner of the room for that purpose.

  “Shall we play men against the women?” Castlefield asked.

  Ellen shook her head. “It’s been a number of years since Brantford and I partnered.”

  Rose shook her head as she joined them. “No one would have a chance if the two of you played together. The only fair partnership is for me to claim my husband and allow the two of you”—she nodded toward Ellen and Castlefield—“to form the second pair.”

  Brantford regarded his wife with cool speculation. “Are you any good?”

  Rose shook her head, her grin widening. “I’m horrible at cards. But since I imagine you’re quite good given how these two are fighting over you, I’m sure we’ll balance each other out. Give someone else a chance to best you for once.”

  A corner of Brantford’s mouth lifted. “I’m quite formidable. I’m sure I can bring you up to scratch.” He drew out a chair for his wife, his smug expression enough to be insufferable.

  Castlefield groaned and drew back another chair for Ell
en. He leaned close when Ellen had lowered herself into the seat. “I’m sure that together we’ll be unstoppable, despite your brother’s attempts to rattle us before the cards have even been dealt. I recall us being a formidable team ourselves in our younger days.”

  Ellen turned her head and met his gaze. “That was quite a number of years ago. I’m not sure our playing styles would suit now.”

  “We’ll see soon enough, my lady.”

  Chapter 14

  Ellen woke with a smile on her face. With the arrival of her brother and his new wife, the last of her worries had faded away. And it turned out that Castlefield had been correct. They did make a good team.

  It had been a near thing though. Despite the fact Brantford and Rose had never played whist together, they’d almost come out ahead, thanks in large part to her brother’s skill. And even though the two had only been wed for such a short time, they’d already developed a knack for knowing what the other was thinking. She’d lost count of how many times a slight frown on her brother’s face had kept Rose from making a disastrous move that would have cost them the game. But in the end, she and Castlefield had emerged victorious.

  Rose admitted defeat after that game, pleading tiredness after their long day. She and Brantford took their leave when Jane and Lord Eddings returned from their visit to the nursery shortly after the game had ended. They’d played another hand of whist, with Ellen and Castlefield continuing as a team against Jane and her husband, and had come out victorious a second time.

  The sly glance Jane cast her way said everything when Castlefield commented again on what a good team they made.

  With a stretch, Ellen reached for the bellpull by the headboard to summon a maid. Her fingers had just touched the braided rope when her gaze landed on a box wrapped in bright blue paper that sat atop the dressing table. It could only have been placed there sometime during the night.

  She dropped her hand from the bellpull and stood, crossing the room to the table. It had slipped her mind that today was her birthday. Laughton had never remembered, and she’d had no reason to celebrate the day during her period of mourning. Brantford must have remembered and arranged for the surprise. It was just like him to have a maid slip into her room with the gift instead of giving it to her directly.

  She lowered herself onto the seat before the dressing table and moved the brightly wrapped package closer. She wasn’t surprised that he’d remembered blue was her favorite color.

  She pulled open the blue paper with care and smiled when she revealed the beautiful box it covered. It was made of a rich red wood and etched with seashells along the edges of the lid.

  She didn’t think there’d be anything inside it since the box was beautiful enough to be a gift on its own. Still, she braced herself for disappointment as she lifted the lid back on its hinge. Blue silk lined the interior surface of the box, but what had her gasping with surprise was the object placed within the box.

  A conch shell.

  Her heart rate increased and her thoughts spun with the implications behind this gift. If she wasn’t mistaken, it wasn’t from her brother. No, this could only have come from Castlefield.

  She lifted the shell from the box, and only then did she see the folded paper that had been placed under it. Her hands trembled slightly, and she took a deep breath as she put the conch back inside the box and unfolded the note.

  Ellen,

  * * *

  I think it’s time to return this to you. I know I used to tease you about it, but I, too, hold fond memories of the day we found this while playing on the beach in Brighton.

  * * *

  I’ll admit that I recently took a page from your book and made a wish on it. The fact that you’re here now and we are on speaking terms tells me that you were correct in thinking it a good-luck charm.

  * * *

  I hope you’re not past the time of hoping and dreaming about the future. If the girl who once used to make wishes upon a conch shell is still somewhere inside you, please accept this and keep it close.

  * * *

  —Charles

  Ellen turned the shell over and saw the telltale scratch along one side that proved it was the same one they’d found so long ago.

  She could scarce believe Castlefield had kept it all these years. She wasn’t sure she believed he’d actually made a wish upon it—and who could have imagined he’d be so clever as to use this to pull on her heartstrings—but the fact that he’d kept it went a long way toward showing her he actually treasured their friendship.

  She remembered how she’d sneaked into his bedroom at her family’s estate all those years ago when he’d visited and she’d announced her betrothal to Laughton. But instead of a frog, she’d left this conch on his pillow. She hadn’t needed to include a note. Leaving the seashell was a message that any hope she still held of remaining friends had disappeared.

  Try as she might, she couldn’t hold back the emotion that swelled within. She remembered well the fondness she’d held for the boy Castlefield had once been. Her disappointment when he’d stopped spending time with her. And, finally, her anger and feelings of betrayal when he’d told her that Laughton didn’t care for her. She’d believed at the time that he meant she was unlovable, but given what he’d recently revealed, she now knew the real reason behind his angry words. He’d been jealous.

  The fact that he’d held on to the shell all these years was proof that he cared for her, otherwise he would have disposed of it. Her husband certainly would have. But instead, Castlefield had kept it safe and now he was returning it to her.

  The walls she’d carefully constructed around her heart now sported a crack, and that thought terrified her.

  Chapter 15

  Ellen tried to ignore the sense of anticipation she was powerless to push aside as she made her way downstairs.

  When she entered the breakfast room, everyone was already present. Even Castlefield, who’d normally eaten and gone for what she’d learned was his daily ride by the time she was up. His gaze was intent, and she realized he was trying to discern whether she’d opened his gift. She toyed with the idea of letting him wonder a little longer, but in the end decided he deserved nothing less than honesty.

  The only unoccupied seat in the room was beside Castlefield, and she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d arranged for that to be the case.

  “Thank you for your gift,” she said after taking her seat. “It’s been many years since anyone has remembered my birthday.”

  Brantford, who was seated opposite, raised a brow. “I thought you no longer celebrated your birthday.”

  A corner of Castlefield’s mouth lifted. “Just doing my part to make you look bad, old man.”

  “Now children, don’t argue.” The duchess’s exaggerated frown had everyone in the room laughing.

  Jane looked toward one of the footmen, giving her head a slight nod. The man left the room to return a few moments later with another wrapped gift.

  “I wasn’t sure if we’d be doing this now or later, but since my brother already made the rest of us look bad, I can’t wait.” At her words, the footman handed the small package to Ellen.

  “This was completely unnecessary—” Ellen began.

  “No, it wasn’t,” Brantford said. “It’s about time you started allowing others to show they care for you.” He reached into a breast pocket inside his coat and removed a slim package.

  Ellen couldn’t conceal her surprise. “What were you saying about not celebrating my birthday?”

  Brantford’s tone remained even as he said, “I am, as always, prepared for any eventuality.”

  Rose placed a hand over her husband’s, and he turned to smile at her. Emotion threatened to clog Ellen’s throat at the obvious sign of affection between the newly married couple.

  She opened Jane’s gift first, letting out a small gasp when she saw that it contained a pair of silver hair combs, accentuated with an ornate blue-and-white enamel pattern. Her gaze met Jane’s. �
�Is this…?” At her friend’s nod, she gave her head a small shake. “But you love these.”

  “I love you more,” Jane said. “And I’m so happy to have you back in my life.”

  Tears threatened at her friend’s sweet words. To keep them at bay, she turned next to her brother’s gift. As she looked down at the long, slim box, she realized she knew what it would contain.

  She met Brantford’s gaze, wondering whether this could be a mistake. At his nod of encouragement, she opened the box. Nestled within the snowy white satin that lined the interior, she found a simple gold necklace with a large teardrop-shaped sapphire. It had been her mother’s favorite necklace because it was the first gift Ellen and Brantford’s father had given her. Ellen had always loved that necklace, but she’d assumed it would go to her brother’s wife.

  She didn’t bother to hide the tears that glistened in her eyes as she thanked him. He replied with one of his rare, genuine smiles.

  Unable to help herself, she turned again to meet Castlefield’s gaze. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected to see when her eyes met his, but it wasn’t the warmth and affection that radiated from him. An affection that she now realized she’d never once seen on her husband’s face, not even when he’d been courting her. Laughton had won her with slick displays and honeyed words, but when she’d looked at him, she’d never seen what was so evident to her now.

  Castlefield was not at all like her former husband. Unless she’d taken complete leave of her senses, it was obvious that the man seated beside her truly cared for her. They’d been friends once. Was it possible they could become more?

  Chapter 16

  Ellen was on edge all morning, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She could only blame her lack of control on the stark realization of everything she’d lost when she’d wed Laughton. Since then, her birthday had always been melancholy, and so she’d done everything in her power to act as though it was a day like any other.