Perfect Harmony

by Cee, DW

  “Does the coffee meet with your approval?”

  She nodded. “It’s delicious. Who’s the purveyor? I must ask Father to procure some for our humble, untitled, family.”

  This time, her sweet smile told me she spoke in jest. Perhaps this woman needed a cup of coffee and a pound cake to soften her.

  “The coffee comes from Africa, but was brewed in the way the Turkish like to drink their coffee. I’m sure the duke wouldn’t mind opening his larder for the poor,” I jested right along with her. I, too, was rewarded with a giggle. “I think I might have placed my large foot in my small mouth earlier. If you’d allow me, I’d like for us to start again.”

  With her lips embracing the china, those big blue eyes looked up from her coffee cup. I would have bartered my future dukedom to transform into that china cup. “Please,” I requested. She nodded her consent and gave me the opportunity to correct my earlier mistakes.

  “My name is Harry Bennington. I am a third-year student at UCL, studying economics and politics. My parents earlier stated that you’re attending the same school? How very avant-garde of you. You must be incredibly bright to have been accepted into UCL.”

  “Is that a sly way of complimenting yourself, Your Grace?”

  This was the very moment I knew I wanted this woman—for life! One-and-twenty was too young for a man to marry, but as soon as my studies were done, I’d marry Estelle Cowper and make her my duchess.

  “If the title fits,” I continued the joke. “What made you continue your education? Why put yourself through the obvious discrimination and deal with pompous arses who’ll look down upon you because you’re a woman?”

  Withholding her laugh, she answered, “I don’t want to marry like all girls. There’s so much more to learn. Why settle down at eighteen and never know what life is like outside of England?”

  “So it sounds like you’ll study on the continent at some point?”

  “I’ll start at UCL, but would eventually like to transfer to a fashion school in Paris. I’d like to design clothes, jewelry, scarves, and belts— anything fashionable.” Her eyes turned dreamy. I’d like to think I put that look on her face, but it was her imagined future that made her this happy.

  “That’s a beautiful and lofty goal. Have you designed anything before?” She splayed her hand and gestured to her outfit. “I created this.”

  “Ah.” Now I understood why she was mortally offended with my statement. “It’s as brave and forward thinking as the woman donning it. You are fascinating, Estelle Cowper. Tell me more.”

  “Well, there’s a lot more, but my parents will hardly allow me to attend UCL. I doubt they’ll allow me to leave for Paris. Speaking of,” she searched the door, “where are my parents?”

  “I’m sure they’re having tea somewhere in the house. They’ll be just as well provided for, Miss Cowper.”

  “I mean, why aren’t they here? Didn’t you tell me we were having tea together?”

  “I believe I told you that your parents asked me to escort you to tea. There were no promises that they would join us.”

  One eyebrow shot up. “Your Turkish coffee saved you from an earful, Your Grace. I don’t think this is proper—the two of us having tea and a tête-à-tête on the balcony.”

  “Proper? You’re concerned about proper when you wore trousers and a blouse to a duke’s house party? I can’t imagine the look on your parents’ faces when they saw what you were wearing. That outfit, while beautiful on you, is hardly proper.”

  No surprise, she was upset—again.

  “You come to me with fancy coffee and sweet words, but all your offerings do you a huge disservice!”

  Damn. She was mad, but adorable. I had to ask, “How did I do you a disservice?”

  “It’s not me you need to worry about. It’s the future lady I worry for, you...you...cad! You sit there and praise my designs and my forward thinking, but in the end, you’re no different from my parents who encourage me to do well in my studies, but dissuade me from attending UCL. You’re all talk, Harry Bennington. Find another woman who’s interested in listening.”

  Before she stood up and stomped out, she finished her cup of coffee. Perfect. She was perfect for the role of the future Bennington duchess. I’d found my future in a fiery, dark-haired, blue-eyed maiden. I’d make her mine before this house party ended.

  *******

  Estelle

  “Jackanapes. Cad. Imbecile.”

  Did he think a fancy cup of coffee and some teacakes were going to fool me of his real character? For a brief while there, I thought I finally met someone who understood me. He seemed to be a kindred spirit of sorts. Until, of course, I realized he was no different from all the other men and women. They all thought men and women had roles that couldn’t change. I’d forever be fighting to assert my right as an accomplished human being.

  Whatever! I was done with Harry Bennington.

  “Stella? Whatever are you doing out here by yourself?”

  “Hello Mother. I’m headed to my room is what I’m doing. Why are you not at tea?”

  “Why are you not with Harry?”

  “You knew?” I accused.

  “Of course I knew. Did you think a man like Harry would be in a room with you all alone without asking our permission?”

  “Mother.” I was so tired of telling her the same thing. “This is the twentieth century. A man and a woman can have a private conversation without expecting to walk down the aisle. We are friends, though no longer.”

  I walked off before she could ask more questions.

  “Stella.”

  “What?” I bit out a little too angrily.

  “Whoa, what’s wrong?” Roland stepped into me and pulled a ringlet of hair behind my ear. “That pompous arse bothering you again?” I started laughing hysterically at his statement.

  “How did you know?”

  “Harry Bennington has that effect on people.”

  “And what would that effect be?” Harry asked ominously. Damn. I didn’t know he was nearby.

  “Angering women and children.” Roland answered with a straight face. I couldn’t help but laugh again.

  “Gentlemen, I haven’t finished my tea/coffee and when I’m hungry and parched, I tend to get a little cranky. Let’s play nice and enjoy our afternoon respite.”

  I didn’t care if they followed. I chose to walk toward the garden and join the rest of the party.

  “Why don’t you and Roland join me in the sitting room? It’ll be quieter and I was told that the coffee was delicious.” I continued to walk outside, ignoring the voice behind me. I was almost there when Harry grabbed my arm and asked, “Please?”

  What could I do? “Oh, all right,” I agreed, “but only if Roland Ascot III can join us.”

  Harry led us all to our unfinished feast.

  *******

  Roland

  “Beautiful, you ran off before telling me anything about yourself,” I started the conversation.

  “I believe I followed a man who promised me tea with my parents,” she accused Harry while sipping her coffee. I’d never met a woman who enjoyed this bitter drink. Estelle Cowper was no ordinary woman.

  “Never follow a duke. He’ll promise you the world, but eventually will do only what he wants. That’s how they breed them.” I spoke in part-jest.

  Harry was giving me his stately, duke-worthy glare. “If that’s how dukes are bred, then how are the sons of Barons bred?”

  “I thought you were a nobody, like me.”

  “I am a nobody. The Ascots aren’t noble by blood. My grandfather earned a barony after fighting in the war. Whoever acknowledges anything less than an earl nowadays?”

  “Well, I personally think being titled is ridiculous. A man or a woman should be judged on his or her merit, not birthright.” This woman was one after my own heart.

  “You are absolutely correct. I couldn’t agree more.”

  “That’s what women say until a dukedom is promi
sed with marriage.” Harry was always so sure of himself. That would be his downfall with Stella.

  “Beautiful, I believe this conversation was about you?” I preferred to hear Estelle talk to Harry’s inane gibberish.

  “I’ve been accepted to UCL and I hope to attend as soon as this house party is over.”

  “Brava!” I congratulated this extraordinary woman.

  “That is, of course, assuming my parents will allow me the honor of joining my fellow students.”

  “Your parents want you married by the end of this weekend and with child by the end of the month?” I kidded.

  The smile was unmistakable. “You are all knowing, Roland Ascot III.”

  “I wouldn’t go as far as all knowing. Just observant. What do you think of Miss Cowper’s achievement, Harry?” Knowing how old-fashioned the Bennington family was, Harry’s answer was sure to put him on the outs with Estelle for good.

  *******

  Harry

  Roland Ascot was as challenging as ever. He was doing his damnedest to put me in a difficult spot with Estelle. I’d show him how we dukes were really bred. “I would love to have Miss Cowper join me as a fellow student at UCL. Then, I could be in her lovely company all the time.” Those words hit all the right notes. Estelle’s eyes widened in surprise. Roland glared at me in disgust.

  “I thought you didn’t approve of forward-thinking women? Shouldn’t we all flounce around in dresses and give parties in our London townhouses?” Estelle was ever challenging. That was one of her more exasperating, but adorable traits.

  “Can’t I want the best of both worlds? An educated wife who is able to enjoy a hobby, as well as one who could give parties in our London town home and our summer home?”

  “You’d approve of a woman studying?”

  “I’d approve of her going abroad to study, too. Assuming, of course, that we were married and I went with her. Why we could take a year-long honeymoon on the continent before she started her studies in Paris.”

  “You presume too much, Sir,” Estelle whispered. She understood my intentions. Fortunately, so did Roland.

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I only speak of what I know I’d like to provide for my bride. If she wished to study, she could. There must be a happy medium, though. She must desire to further our family lineage. That’s a non-negotiable. Do my ideas meet with your approval, Miss Cowper? If you were a miss in need of a husband, would you consider my proposal and think it adequate?”

  “I don’t know,” her voice was still lost. “I haven’t ever thought of proposals. I only know of what I’d like for my own life.”

  “Well, if you’d accept a proposal like mine, you’d have no worries for your own life or of your parents’ desires. They’d have no say,” I sensed she was about to shut down my idea, so I added, “hypothetically speaking, of course.”

  “Those are big words from a man who can’t do everything he wishes. You have no obligations to the dukedom? You can go around throwing out proposals to any woman you come across without approval from your father and grandfather?”

  “I can do any damn thing I want, Roland. That’s how we dukes are bred.” I threw his words back at him. That would teach Roland to stop challenging me if he wasn’t ready to fight.

  10,000 Reasons

  No little girl grows up thinking she’s going to become an escort, call girl, prostitute—or whatever other kinder names one would call it. That was not on my radar—ever! When my roommate begged me to help her out one evening, I didn’t think a simple, “OK” and a huge misunderstanding would change my life...but it did.

  *******

  Every little boy grows up thinking he’s going to become the master of the universe. I was no different. I knew I’d succeed in every facet of life and I had no qualms about crushing anyone who got in my way. I was successful, rich, handsome, and mysterious—or at least that’s what the women I bedded told me. When I went to meet a client at a high-end society club one evening, I didn’t think my life would change…but it did.

  Chapter 1

  Unknown Reasons

  “Come on, Jenna. You’ve got to help me.”

  “Katie-Rose, I cannot go out tonight. I have a midterm tomorrow.”

  “Puleez! I can’t miss out on this double date. Jackson has all but forgotten me this past month and now that he’s called, I can’t say no.”

  “Why can’t you ask someone else? Why me?”

  “Loren was supposed to be my double date partner but she just called to say she’s sick. It’s too short notice to get a hold of anyone during midterms. You have like straight A+s. You don’t even need to study since you’ve been studying for weeks. I promise you, dinner and then straight back home. It’ll be two hours, tops.”

  My college roommate, Katie-Rose was in a bind and so was I with her request. I didn’t want to go anywhere tonight. No matter how much I studied the past week, tomorrow’s English exam was going to be tough. They always were.

  “Why does it have to be a double date? Why can’t Jackson just take you out by yourselves?”

  Katie-Rose hesitated. “Well, it just is. He has this business meeting and he’d like me to be there by his side. He’d also like for his associate to have someone there so it isn’t an awkward situation.”

  Damn. Why did she have to put in me on the spot? “All right,” I sighed. “When’s the dinner?”

  “In twenty minutes. Change.” She threw one of her black dresses at me.

  “I can’t wear that. It’s too short and too revealing.”

  Katie-Rose was about to say something but decided to pick her battles. She let me be as I picked out a demure black dress that fell below the knee, showed no cleavage, and had three-quarters sleeves. I rarely wore makeup so I went with my natural look, plus a little blush and lipstick. I knew Katie-Rose thought I looked lame, but she didn’t mention it.

  We were headed to the Downtown Club. This was where couples celebrated special occasions, high-powered business meetings took place, or important-looking people were out to see and be seen. In a large city like Los Angeles, there were many places similar to this restaurant, but none quite as prestigious.

  I did not belong at the Downtown Club. I didn’t think my roommate did, either, but I suppose there were facets of her life I never questioned. Katie-Rose and I met our freshman year and we got along well enough where we decided to room together the next three years. Though she was a good friend, I couldn’t consider her my best friend. In truth, I didn’t have any best friends. I’d always been a bit of a loner. I had hoped that by our third year together, Katie-Rose and I could become close, but there were too many secrets in her life. If she didn’t want me in, then I wouldn’t pry.

  “Do you know the name of the man I’m to meet tonight?” I asked my roommate who was busy reapplying her makeup.

  “I’m unsure. Jackson didn’t say.” She hurried her primping and pushed me out the cab door when the valet stood there waiting for our arrival. “Let’s go have some fun.”

  Fun was not what I was thinking when I stepped inside the Downtown Club. It was more opulent than I’d imagined. Now I really felt like I didn’t belong. I just hoped when faced with all the cutlery and glasses, I’d know which was which, and whether I should grab from the left or the right.

  “Katie-Rose. Come.” A man who looked old enough to be her father called her.

  My friend excitedly ran to him, despite his disapproving glare. This man, Jackson, looked as blue-blooded as could be. Between the waspish skin complexion to his salt and pepper hair, to his deep voice, he was the stereotypical high-powered, sit-at-the-head-of-the-conference-table man who normally wouldn’t associate with the likes of college girls, unless they were his daughter’s friends.

  “You look so handsome, Jackson,” my roommate gushed. She forgot entirely that I was there as her sidekick.

  Her “date” didn’t miss a thing. “And you are?” he asked.

  “Hi. I’m Jenna.” Geez. I sounded as ridicu
lous as I felt. I was so out of place here.

  A few seconds of looking me over, I must have passed the silent test. He slightly motioned for me to follow. Katie-Rose excitedly called me over by flailing her arm, which Jackson immediately pulled down. My friend giggled to Jackson’s chagrin.

  I walked several steps behind the mismatched couple and wished I was anywhere but here.

  “Jenna?” Jackson called.

  I looked up and that’s when I saw him.

  Tall.

  Dark.

  Handsome.

  Powerful.

  Intimidating.

  He was utterly disarming. For the first time in my life, my body went into shock. It was like a thousand chrysalis to butterfly metamorphoses happening simultaneously—wanting to fly away, but trapped in my body. It was like an electric panel about to overload—sparks flying everywhere just before the breakers burst into flames. I felt eerily like a balloon about to burst because the helium tank wouldn’t shut off.

  The man staring at me made me feel like a little girl walking into the principal’s office—nervous and curious as to why I was called. I couldn’t wait to meet him, and yet, I didn’t want to meet him at all.

  “This is my business associate, Xander.”

  “Hello.” I spoke in a bare whisper.

  He nodded his head and put out his hand for me. What I was supposed to do with his hand, I had no idea. I spied a small grin as he placed it on the small of my back and led me to my seat.

  *******

  This was going to be another damn boring dinner with an asshole of a business associate whom I hated. Jackson White was the epitome of a lazy, self-centered, bastard who wouldn’t have done shit with his life had he not inherited his millions from his father and grandfather. If I never saw this man again, it’d be too soon.