Stealing the Duchess

by Marie Higgins

  Last night’s disaster had kept him awake most of the night after she’d left the room. Disappointment washed over him, remembering everything that had happened, and especially what didn’t happen. Yet, it wasn’t just feeling upset for the turn of events that kept him restless throughout the night, it was knowing that he’d hurt her and he didn’t know how to repair the damage.

  During the night, he tried recalling the talks he’d had years ago with his older brother about women. The only thing he could recall Forbes telling him was in order to earn a woman’s forgiveness, a man must buy them trinkets, gowns, or women’s accessories. Forbes promised that was the only way to win a woman’s heart. So, first thing this morning, Julian had instructed Alexandria’s maid to get the duchess ready so he could take her into town for some shopping.

  He hadn’t seen his wife until they met at the carriage. He tried to charm her with light banter, but she chose to ignore him.

  Sighing heavily, he tapped his foot impatiently on the floor of the carriage and drummed his fingers on the seat. What else could he do to soften her heart? He wanted her forgiveness, and couldn’t wait another day to get it. Yet, it had seemed the more he tried, the harder she pulled away.

  The carriage wheel hit something large and jerked the vehicle. Alexandria squealed and flayed her hands for protection. Immediately, Julian reached out to her, steadying her on the seat.

  “Are you all right, my dear?”

  “Yes.” She adjusted herself back in the corner and turned her attention out the window again.

  Inwardly, he growled. This silence has got to cease before he went mad. “Are you thinking about what items you will purchase today?”

  She swung her gaze to him before shaking her head. “No. Was I supposed to be thinking about that?”

  “Of course, my dear. Are you not excited about purchasing new clothes?”

  She shrugged. “Not entirely.”

  “Why not, may I ask?”

  “I don’t think I need more clothes.”

  “But my dear,” he leaned forward and touched her hand, “you are now a duchess. It’s expected that you will have nicer things. Since my wife is lovelier than any other woman I’ve seen, I would like her to have all her heart desires.”

  Gradually, the corners of her mouth lifted, but not into a full smile. Still, he’d take that as a good sign that her heart was softening.

  “I thank you for thinking I’m lovely. I assure you, I don’t deserve the compliment.”

  He grinned and took one of her hands in his. “You, out of anyone I know, deserve the compliment. You are lovely not only in your appearance, but in your style and grace. You are one of the kindest women I know, as well.”

  She released a light chuckle. “Kind, Your Grace? I’m surprised you would say that, even after what happened last night.”

  “Believe it or not, your actions last night have proven how kind-hearted you are. I had hurt you, and yet you showed me that changing your feelings toward me will not happen overnight. Because you tolerated me for a little while last night, that quality makes for a wonderful woman with a tender heart.”

  Nodding, she dropped her gaze to her hands again, but didn’t say anything. He wished she would talk to him about this.

  They were quiet for the remainder of the ride. When they reached town, she perched on the edge of her seat, staring out the window with wide eyes. He grinned. For sure, she appeared to be excited about her shopping trip even though she’d said differently. Seeing the enthusiasm dancing in her eyes made his heart leap. Perhaps he had made the right choice by bringing her here after all. With any luck, she might come into his bed tonight so he could finally make her his wife.

  As soon as the coach stopped and the footman opened the door, Julian jumped down and turned to assist Alexandria. She took his hand and climbed down. With her hand still in his, he hooked it over his arm as he strolled down the street. His chest burst with pride as he felt like the luckiest man in the world to have such a lovely creature as his wife.

  He ran his fingers softly over her hand. “Which shop would you like to visit first, my dear?”

  “Oh, Your Grace, there are so many of them,” she exclaimed cheerfully. “I couldn’t possibly choose one.” She tugged on his arm and looked up at him. “You pick one.”

  Chuckling, he loved seeing the giddiness on her face. “I think we should start with this shop,” he nodded to the closest one, “and continue down the street. What do you say to that suggestion?”

  “Splendid idea.” She beamed.

  It did his heart good to see her with a smile. As they strolled from shop to shop, she became more talkative and she touched him often. He wondered if she hadn’t realized she was doing that. Yet, he wasn’t going to remind her of the fact. He enjoyed sharing the warmth from her body, no matter how slight it was.

  Within an hour, Alexandria had returned into the woman he’d gotten to know before she discovered his identity. She laughed and appeared to thoroughly enjoy herself. When acquaintances came up to him, he introduced his new wife. He wondered how Alexandria would handle things, and like a true duchess, she smiled politely and was very friendly. Gradually, his heart softened. She was making everyone believe they were the perfect couple...and that she adored her husband.

  He suspected she was doing it all for show, but deep in his heart, he really wanted her to adore him, as he worshipped her. The realization that he felt this way brought a smile to his face. Perhaps she would in time.

  They walked into a shop that made and sold bonnets. She studied each one, but didn’t seem satisfied in the work for some reason. As she moved from one table to the next, he stood back and watched her. Strange, but she appeared as if she were looking for something in particular. Were all women this precise when shopping for a mere head covering?

  The bell on top of the door chimed, announcing another perspective buyer. He glanced at the person, and recognition slammed him in the face as though a brick had hit him. Pain rushed through his head as his temper mounted. Fisting his hands, he bit the inside of his cheek to hold back the vulgar words which he was ready to spout. Keeping his thoughts to himself would be hard considering what this particular woman had done. And pray, what could she have possibly said to Alexandria? They were lies, to be sure.

  But what bothered him most was how Lexie would act.

  TWENTY-TWO

  JULIAN HELD HIS BREATH when Miss Theresa Dickson met his glare. She arched a haughty eyebrow and lifted her chin, walking past him as if he wasn’t even standing there. But when she headed for his wife, he had to intervene. There was no way he could allow this to happen.

  Miss Theresa stopped in front of Alexandria. “Miss Templeton, what a surprise it is to see you in town.”

  Alexandria’s eyes widened and her gaze jumped between him and the other woman.

  “Miss Theresa, good morning. Nice to see you again.”

  “Pardon me, Miss Theresa,” Julian interrupted, stopping beside his wife and slipping a protective—and possessing—arm around her waist, “but she is no longer Miss Templeton. Yesterday she became Duchess of Linden, so I would expect you address her properly from now on.”

  The woman’s eyes widened in shock and her face paled slightly. Anger and agony were the expressions coating her eyes when she looked at him. “You actually...married her?”

  “Indeed, I did.” He moved his focus to Alexandria and stroked her cheek. “And I wish I had married her sooner. Isn’t she lovely?”

  Bright pink highlighted Alexandria’s cheeks and she rolled her eyes. “Your Grace, you are over-flattering—”

  “Nonsense, my dear. I cannot stop saying endearing things about the woman I married.”

  “I...I...” Miss Theresa cleared her throat before exhaling roughly. “I’m very happy for both of you, then.”

  “Thank you,” Alexandria said with a sweet voice before lifting her gaze back to Julian. “I do believe I married a wonderful man.”

  He s
miled wide. He just couldn’t help it. The burst of happiness that shot through him from her words warmed him all over. He was certain she didn’t mean them, but she would eventually. He’d make certain of it.

  “Ah, my love,” he whispered. “I’m only wonderful because you made me this way.”

  He’d almost forgotten about Miss Theresa, but when she huffed in an indignant fashion, he realized he must have really upset her this time. He didn’t care. He had Alexandria’s attention, and he wouldn’t trade it for all the money in the world, especially, now that the twinkle in her eyes had returned. She looked upon him as she’d done those few days before his identity had come out. This moment he’d treasure always.

  “Well...” Miss Theresa cleared her throat again. “If you will excuse me, I shall leave you two alone.”

  He didn’t know when the other woman left, because he couldn’t take his eyes off Alexandria long enough. She smiled at him, and thankfully, she didn’t look away. He stroked his knuckle across her cheek, slower this time.

  “I love seeing that beam in your eyes. Indeed, you will make the sun envy your radiance.”

  “Come now, Your Grace, you don’t have to keep up the pretenses,” she replied in a low voice.

  “What makes you think I’m pretending?”

  A blush reddened her face again. “Then perhaps I should say you need to stop complimenting me so much in front of your acquaintances. I don’t wish them to get the wrong impression.”

  He chuckled. “What if I want them to think I’m happily married to the most beautiful woman on earth?” He lifted her hand and brushed a kiss on her fingers.

  Her smile widened and she rolled her eyes. “Really, Your Grace. You can be so wicked sometimes.”

  She pulled away and moved to the next table. Hope grew inside him, and he prayed she would stay this way throughout the day. Perhaps tomorrow she’d have a different outlook toward him, as well.

  “So tell me, my blossom,” he moved beside her as she studied yet another bonnet, “what are you looking for exactly?”

  “If you must know, I’m making certain the bonnets don’t have any straw in them.” She picked one up. “See this one right here?” She pointed inside the bonnet. “There is a small amount of straw, and I don’t want one with straw because it bothers my ears.”

  “Ah, yes. That does present a problem. Do you wish me to help you look?”

  She chuckled and turned back to the table. “Not at all. I can accomplish this on my own.”

  They finally left the shop—without a new bonnet—fifteen minutes later. Julian quickly ushered her in to another shop, and then another. For lunch, they dined at the best hotel in town that had a chef directly from France. Julian had been here before, and knew this was the place to take a woman to impress her.

  Their meal consisted of fish, chicken, sweetmeats, vegetables, cheese and crackers, along with dry cakes, trifles, and chocolates. He enjoyed watching her eat as she tried to figure out which dish she liked the most.

  By the time they were in their coach ready to journey home, both were overstuffed with food and wine and tired from a morning of shopping. Drowsiness consumed Julian, and Alexandria appeared to be having the same problem. Most of their purchases were tied to the back, and only a few boxes were inside the vehicle with them. He used this as an excuse for sitting next to her on the seat as the packages occupied the other seat.

  After they had been traveling a few minutes, she released a heavy moan. Relaxing back into the seat, she laid her head on the wall of the coach. After a few seconds, she adjusted herself, looking as though she couldn’t get comfortable.

  “What is wrong, my dear?” he asked.

  “My bonnet is bothering me.”

  “Then let’s remove it, shall we?” He didn’t wait for an answer and in haste, pulled the ribbons under her chin, loosening the bonnet before removing it from her head.

  She smiled and sighed. “Yes, that is much better, Your Grace.”

  “Lexie, we are alone, I think you can call me Julian.” He turned on the seat to face her better. “I would like it better if you did, actually.”

  “Fine.” She grinned. “Julian, I thank you for removing my bonnet and making me more comfortable.”

  “I shall be your servant any time you wish.”

  She closed her eyes and rested her head back against the wall again. All he could do was stare at her, wishing he could caress her face and her neck. He longed to kiss her, to resume where they had left off last night, but this time he’d be certain to continue. He wouldn’t make the mistake of talking again. As long as he kept her mouth busy, her mind would be occupied, as well.

  Perhaps the time for talking and discussing their problems was in the daytime—and out of the bedroom.

  “Lexie?”

  “Yes,” she answered without opening her eyes.

  “If it’s agreeable with you, I would like to discuss Miss Theresa now.”

  Alexandria’s eyes popped open and she met his stare. “You would?”

  “Yes. I think it’s time to tell you what really happened with her.”

  She nodded and straightened. “I would like that very much.”

  Collecting his thoughts, he traced his finger along the edge of her sleeve. Her skin looked so tempting to caress, but he resisted. This was the moment to be honest with her, and he prayed she would believe him.

  “Before enlisting in the military, I was an accomplished rogue.” He glanced at her to see her reaction. She didn’t look surprised at all. Then again, if she’d heard the rumors about him, she would know this. “Most ladies were innocent, and so I avoided them at all costs.”

  “Then who did you seduce?”

  “Wealthy widows. They were easy prey because they were not looking for a husband to support their lifestyle.”

  She nodded. “Go on.”

  “Then there were the calculating women who wanted to sink their claws into me and turn me into marriage material.”

  “Like Miss Theresa?”

  “Exactly like her.”

  “But she was innocent when you met her, correct?”

  He shrugged. “So I had thought, but some of the things she said and some of her actions made me suspect she wasn’t the woman who she presented herself to be in society.” He licked his dry lips. “I wasn’t courting her. I saw her on occasions at gatherings, and she would accidentally run across me while I was out riding. Soon, I noticed she was purposely trying to put us in a situation where we were alone.”

  She hitched a breath. “She did?”

  “When I finally realized what she was trying to do, I stayed far away from her. I wasn’t ready to marry, especially to someone like her.”

  She turned to face him. “Then how did you get caught in an intimate position?”

  “One evening, I was attending a dinner party for one of my friends. I left earlier than planned, so when I walked to the stable to retrieve my horse, I heard a woman screaming. It sounded as if someone was attacking her. My first thought was that one of the stable hands was trying to rape one of the maids.” He shook his head. “When I rushed in the stall, I saw a woman whose dress had been torn off her and who wore only her petticoat and stockings. Her hair was mussed and hanging in her face, and she was crying. But there was no man around. Out of concern, I hurried to her, hoping to discover who had attacked her. I was determined to find this man and turn him into the magistrate.”

  “You didn’t know it was Miss Theresa?”

  “No.” He exhaled deeply. “As I’d mentioned before, her hair was hanging around her face. Not only that, but her hands were rubbing at her eyes.”

  “Oh, dear. That’s not good.”

  “Indeed, it wasn’t. I still thought her to be one of the servants. When I finally got close enough to her, she fell into me, sobbing against my chest. Of course I was going to console this poor woman, so I put my arms around her. Just then, her brother came in the stable and caught us.”

  Alexand
ria remained silent for a few seconds. She tilted her head, narrowing her gaze on Julian. He waited patiently for her to say something. He prayed she would believe him since nobody else had.

  “Did you not think it was coincidental that her brother would happen by right at that precise moment?”

  “I did, but he would never tell me why he was out there at that time.” Julian frowned. “When Lord Senwick started making threats and telling me I must do the right thing and marry her, I knew it was wrong. I had not compromised her...although, in a way I did. I just happened to be there at the wrong moment and took the blame. I was determined not to marry her, no matter how it made me appear in society’s eyes, and I for certain didn’t give one iota about how it ruined her name.”

  “Do you think,” Alexandria ventured, “that she had staged all of this? Perhaps she hadn’t been attacked after all.”

  He nodded. “Indeed, that is what I had thought. You see, mere minutes after her brother had caught us and demanded I marry her, the woman’s attitude changed. No longer did she appear like the victim of a near-rape. Just the opposite, in fact. She wanted to cuddle next to me, and her sweet words sounded planned. After that, I started wondering if her brother was somehow in on the charade. It felt like I was being set up.”

  He raked his fingers through his hair, staring down at his lap as he experienced again the frustrating emotions that had altered his life five years ago. During the week after the incident, every day he felt like a sinking ship. He’d discussed the issue with his father and brother, and thankfully, they believed him. They both decided on a course of action. If only Miss Theresa would have called off the wedding as he had suggested, instead of letting it happen the way it had, perhaps she could have repaired her reputation. Yet, she was the one at fault, so he shouldn’t feel guilty about the way her life turned out.

  “Julian?”

  Her heavenly voice brought him back to her and he lifted his gaze, meeting her kind, sapphire eyes. “Yes?”