The Duke nodded. “I don’t disagree with you,” he said. “And there will be consequences for their actions. Many things will have to change around here. I must be sure that the members of my staff—not to mention my daughter—always feel safe in my household.”
“Will you involve the law?”
“No,” the Duke said. “I could never do such a thing to my own family.”
“Will you send them away, then?”
“Is that what you would do?” The Duke was regarding Lord Galdhor carefully, and Lenora got the feeling her father was very interested in the answer to this question. “If it had been members of your household behaving in such a fashion, would you send them away?
Lord Galdhor hesitated for a long time.
“No,” he said finally. “No, I suppose I wouldn’t. I would find a way to make sure they didn’t pose a threat. But I couldn’t send someone under my charge away. Especially my own child.”
The Duke nodded. “Then you understand my plight,” he said. “I have spent almost twenty-five years denying the existence of one daughter. Now she is restored to me, but I must accept that the other daughter is not to be trusted. And yet how can I give her up?”
“You could make her a chambermaid.” Lord Galdhor smiled slightly to indicate that it was a joke.
The Duke sighed. “Lenora, what would you have me do with your sister?”
“Me?” She was surprised. “Why would you ask me?”
“You’re the one she was cruel to. You’re the one she’s abused all these years. You should have some say in how she’s dealt with.”
What would I do with Lady Katherine? Lenora had never honestly asked herself this question before. It was a weighty one, bearing a tremendous amount of responsibility. What could be done with Lady Katherine that would neutralize her without being overly harsh?
It came to her.
“I would marry her off,” she said.
The Duke raised his eyebrows. “You would give her the thing she desires?”
“I have no need to see her unhappy,” Lenora said. “Find her a nice husband. Marry them, and she will be his problem. And perhaps her joy will mean a little less vindictiveness directed toward you. That would be for the best, don’t you think?”
“And what of the Duchess?” the Duke asked. “Your stepmother. I cannot marry her off. And she was complicit in Katherine’s machinations, even if she was not directly involved. Would you not say so?”
“I would,” Lenora agreed. “She must have agreed to help Lady Katherine spread the lie about what had happened to me, at the very least.”
“Precisely. What’s to be done with her? I assume you wouldn’t have her dismissed from the house either.”
Lenora hesitated. “I’m not sure that’s my decision to make,” she said. “You’re married to her, Father. I can’t tell you what to do with your wife. Do you wish to maintain your marriage?”
“Perhaps not,” the Duke said slowly. “It would be difficult, to be sure. Extremely difficult. How could I ever look at her again, knowing what she was willing to do to my child? I brought her here to be a mother to you, but from the moment she set foot in this manor, she has endeavored to sabotage your prospects.”
“Perhaps sending her away would not be the worst choice,” Lenora said thoughtfully. “That is, if you sent her to somewhere. You can’t turn her out on the street; that would be cruel. But there are places women can go when their marriages end.”
“Her parents live,” the Duke said. “I could send her back to them.”
“That would disgrace her,” Lenora said.
“Do you object?”
“I have no opinion,” Lenora said. “As long as she is not harmed. I would not want to see anyone harmed over this.”
The Duke smiled. “Do I not have a wise and compassionate daughter?” he asked Lord Galdhor.
“I certainly think so,” Lord Galdhor said. “That’s what I love so much about her.”
Lenora blushed. He loves me. Every word out of Lord Galdhor’s mouth made things feel more and more surreal.
“If only I could take more credit for the way she’s turned out,” the Duke said. “If only I could claim some responsibility for raising her! But she has her good qualities in spite of me, not because of me.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” Lord Galdhor said. “She’s seen the way you treat members of your household, Your Grace. She has learned from you, even when you weren’t actively trying to teach.”
“More wisdom,” the Duke said. “You two are a fine match.”
“Are we a match, then?” Lord Galdhor asked. And he turned his gaze to Lenora.
Her father looked at her as well. “What say you, daughter?” he asked. “You declined Lord Galdhor’s offer of marriage before, but that was before he knew your true identity.”
“It changes nothing,” Lenora said.
Lord Galdhor’s face fell. “I had hoped you would reconsider.”
“A moment,” Lenora said, holding up her hand. “Hear me. My identity changes nothing. It does not matter that I was born a lady instead of a commoner. But my father’s acknowledgement of me…that changes everything.”
“How so?” the Duke asked.
“I would have done anything to preserve my loyalty to you,” Lenora said. “I would never have betrayed you, Father, as long as I lived. Your choice was for me to serve in your manor, not to live a noble life. I would have honored that choice.”
“Even now that you are being offered something more?” the Duke asked.
“No matter what,” Lenora said.
The Duke shook his head admiringly. “You are dutiful as well. Your virtues are beyond number, Lenora.”
“But now that you have seen fit to claim me,” Lenora said. “The position has changed, has it not?”
“I believe it has,” the Duke agreed.
“Then, Lord Galdhor,” Lenora said, turning back to him, “You must ask my father for my hand, as you would have asked his permission to wed my sister,” she gave a little grin. “It’s only proper.”
Lord Galdhor smiled. “Very well. You’re right. Your Grace, your daughter is lovely, well spoken, witty, and charming. She has captured my heart, and I ask you for her hand.”
The Duke turned to Lenora. “What do you say? I certainly approve of this union, if it’s what you desire.”
And now they were both looking at Lenora, both awaiting her response.
She couldn’t believe this had happened. She couldn’t believe that after everything, after all they had been through, it was she and not Lady Katherine who sat at this table with the Duke and the Marquess. It was she who was being offered a marriage contract.
She allowed the feelings she had been suppressing for far too long to surge up and overwhelm her. Did she want him? Yes. Did she admire him? Yes. Did she love him? Yes.
Would she marry him?
“Yes,” she said softly., “yes, Lord Galdhor. My hand is yours.”
“Very good, then!” the Duke said. “The documents will be signed come morning, but for now I think all of us could do with a bit of rest. Don’t you agree, Lord Galdhor?”
“I do,” Lord Galdhor said. “But, Your Grace, before I take my leave for the evening, might I be permitted a moment to speak with Lady Lenora?”
“Of course,” the Duke agreed.
Lenora felt hot. “You don’t need to call me that,” she said. “I can just be Lenora to you, as I’ve always been.”
“It’s who you are,” Lord Galdhor said. “You’re a lady by birth. Lady Lenora McLean of Brackhill Manor.”
“It feels funny. Hearing myself referred to that way, I mean. I’ve always been simply Lenora.”
“And I have longed to hear you speak my Christian name,” Lord Galdhor said. “Now that we are to be married, now that rank and social differences no longer stand between us, won’t you grant my wish? Call me Adrian, and you may be Lenora to me.”
“Adrian,” she said s
oftly, stepping close to him, looking up into his eyes.
He smiled down at her. “My name has never sounded so fine.”
“And what if people do ridicule me? Or you, for marrying me?”
“Do you care?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t mind if people made a mockery of me,” she said. “I don’t need their approval. But I would hate to see you brought low because of me.”
“That could never happen,” Lord Galdhor assured her. “Having you in my company will do nothing but enhance my life, I can promise you that.”
“Are you certain this is what you want?” she asked. “Lady Katherine was right when she said I know nothing of the way nobles should behave.”
“You know more than you think you do,” Lord Galdhor said. “You’ve been around nobility your whole life. Your father did well to have you raised in the home of a duke. Now you’re prepared for whatever social situations you might face.”
I hope he’s right, Lenora thought. The truth was that, even as she offered him opportunities to withdraw his proposal, she desperately hoped he wouldn’t do so. She wanted very much to marry Lord Galdhor.
He took her in his arms and drew her close. “I look forward to spending more time with you, My Lady,” he said softly. “And to planning our wedding ball together.” And he bent to kiss her.
It was like nothing else in the world. At the first touch of his lips, Lenora forgot everything. She forgot that she was dirty and unkempt and standing in the dining room of Brackhill Manor. All that mattered was Lord Galdhor.
No, she corrected herself. Adrian. He is Adrian now. A handsome name for a handsome lord.
Behind her, she heard a throat being cleared, and she and Adrian broke apart, but when she looked back, her father was smiling indulgently as if to say he understood.
“Thank you, My Lord,” she made a little curtsy, “Adrian.”
“Good evening, Your Grace,” Adrian said.
“Good evening.” The Duke nodded his dismissal and Adrian took his leave.
“Well, Lenora,” the Duke said. “You and I have some catching up to do, don’t we?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Perhaps that can wait until morning? I’m sure you’d like to get out of those dirty clothes and into something more comfortable.”
She nodded her thanks. “Father?”
“Yes?”
“Where am I to sleep tonight?”
He assessed her. “Where would you like to sleep?”
“In my bedroom on the top floor.” It was where she was comfortable. It was where all her things were. “If you wish to move me, we can do it in the morning, but for now—”
He nodded. “Say no more. Go and get some sleep.” He hesitated, considering, then embraced her cautiously.
She returned his embrace. For the first time in a long time, she felt truly cared for.
Epilogue
A knock came at the door. “My Lady?”
Lenora recognized the voice, and happiness lit her from within. Turning away from the full-length mirror, she went to the door and opened it. “Jimmy.”
He held a bouquet of flowers. “His Grace asked me to go to the market to fetch these for you. Lilies.”
“They’re lovely, Jimmy, thank you.”
“Yes, My Lady.” He gave her a little smirk.
“You don’t have to call me that, you know,” she said. “We’re still friends, aren’t we?”
“Always,” he agreed. “But you’re a lady now. It’s only proper.”
She smiled. “I spoke to Adrian, and to my father as well. If you’re willing, we’d love to have you accompany us to Galdhor Manor to tend the stables there.”
Jimmy cocked his head. “Really?”
“Jimmy, I don’t know what I would do without your friendship,” Lenora said. “You were there for me at a time in my life when no one else was.”
“I can’t believe I never knew you were His Grace’s own daughter,” Jimmy said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I swore not to speak of it to anyone,” Lenora protested. “I couldn’t break my oath to my father. Not even for a friend such as you. But please, come to Galdhor Manor with me. I couldn’t bear it if I had to leave you behind.”
“What about the horses here?” Jimmy asked. “Someone will have to care for them.”
“Adrian’s own stable hand has agreed to come and work at Brackhill Manor,” Lenora said. “And besides, my father is making a wedding gift of Chester. You wouldn’t want to say goodbye to Chester, would you?”
“Well, no,” Jimmy agreed. “I couldn’t possibly say goodbye to Chester.” He gave her an insouciant grin.
“You’re impossible,” she said with a laugh. “So you’ll do it? You’ll take the job?”
“I’ll take it,” he agreed, smiling. “Of course, I’ll take it. I wouldn’t want to end our friendship either, Lenora. Thank you for thinking of me.”
“Of course, I thought of you.”
“Besides,” he said, “I definitely don’t want to stay here with only Lady Katherine for company.”
“That would be pretty terrible,” Lenora agreed, laughing. “She’s been in quite the snit lately, hasn’t she?”
“That’s certainly one way of putting it.”
Lady Katherine had been tormenting the staff ever since it had been revealed that Lenora was in fact her half-sister. She seemed to feel that the best way to assert her power and authority, to remind everyone that she was still, to some degree, in charge, was by ordering them around.
Unfortunately, she could no longer vent her spleen on Lenora, which meant that other members of the household were now feeling the full brunt of Lady Katherine’s wrath. Jimmy had become one of her favorite targets, due to the fact that he had always been friendly with Lenora.
“She hates riding,” Jimmy said. “She hates horses. And yet she’s down at the stables every single day, asking me to saddle one up for her. And every single time, she finds fault with the way I’ve done it and makes me start over.”
“You’re jesting.” Lenora couldn’t believe it. “She knows nothing about saddling a horse.”
“And I flatter myself I’ve done it a time or two,” Jimmy laughed. “Still, if it keeps her from pestering Mr. Henderson and the cook, I’m happy to saddle as many horses as she feels she needs.”
“You’ll like it at Galdhor Manor,” Lenora promised. She had now visited Adrian’s home twice, had met his mother and had the chance to acquaint herself with his staff. They had all been very curious about her, but very welcoming. “Everyone there is kind.”
“That will make a nice change,” Jimmy agreed. “Although I hate to leave the Duke. I did enjoy serving His Grace.”
Lenora nodded. It was difficult for her to leave her father’s house as well. Even with the promise of everything that awaited her in the future, all the beautiful things her life at Galdhor Manor would contain, it was hard to say goodbye.
Brackhill Manor has been my home all my life, she thought. Not everything that has happened to me here has been pleasant, it’s true. Some things have been downright horrifying. And yet, this has been my sanctuary. It was hard to leave it behind.
And then there was the Duke himself. My father. They had only just begun to get to know each other again, to repair their long-damaged relationship. A part of Lenora wanted very much to stay here and spend time with her father.
But there were other things she wanted as well. And she knew that if she did not pursue those things now, while she had the chance, her window of opportunity would close.
You only get a few chances to change your life, she thought, turning back to face the mirror. This is one of mine. I won’t let it slip through my fingers. I won’t be afraid to seize my moment.
And besides…it’s Adrian. I love him. It was a strange thing to think. Never in her life had she felt such unbridled affection. Never had she fully been able to put her trust in another person’s hands. But Adrian cared for her ju
st as much as she did for him. She knew it. She was sure.
He loved me even when I was nothing but a chambermaid, she thought. He never needed me to be the daughter of a duke. He always thought me worthy. The knowledge filled her with confidence and surety that she was doing the right thing. As intimidating as it might be, she had made the right choice.
“You look lovely,” Jimmy said quietly. “Have I told you that yet?”
“No,” she said, smoothing her hands down the front of her ivory-colored gown. The bodice was fitted and detailed, displaying her figure to best advantage, and the skirt was full and opulent. The gown had been specially ordered, tailored to fit her.
A Game 0f Chess With The Marquess (Historical Regency Romance) Page 26
