Deceiving the Duke of Kerrington (Ladies of Deception)

by Ginny Hartman

  Soren watched as a mixture of emotions played out on her beautiful face, knowing there was much more for her to consider than love alone. For him there was nothing to lose and everything to gain, she would be the one sacrificing everything she knew and everything she was for him, a simple man with no titles or estates to offer her. But he was a hard working man who had built his shipping company from the bottom up and knew how to be successful. He would be able to provide her with nice things and a fine house and more importantly, with love. His heart was brimming with the unfamiliar emotion and he knew that she felt it too.

  “Oh Soren, as much as I want to do that I can’t help but think about the damage it would do to my family’s name. I’m not sure I can be so selfish.”

  He had already anticipated her response and had prepared his own in return, “But Noelle, what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if you could come away with me and avoid any negative repercussions for your family? Would you agree to come with me then?”

  “Of course,” she replied airily, not daring to hope that could be possible.

  “I cannot believe the solution isn’t obvious to you—you’ll just have to convince your lady’s maid to take your place. If she’s been able to pull it off before, she can do it again.”

  “But this would be permanent, I had to practically force her to take my place for a few hours, I know she would never eagerly agree to such a preposterous idea. Her whole world would change forever.”

  “Exactly, and that’s the part you will use to convince her. What servant wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to advance their situation in life? She would be a real lady and would marry into a wealthy, titled family and have a large estate of her own to run. She would have fine dresses, the likes of which she has never known, and she would never again have to perform manual labor to earn her keep. It sounds like a fairytale and she’d be foolish not to agree to such a life.” When he put it that way, she had to agree, it did seem rather convincing.

  Noelle moved to the chair, suddenly finding herself too weak to stand. The possibilities that lay before her were overwhelming and she felt slightly faint at the idea of such immense change. Soren moved to kneel before her, taking her hands once more into his, “Darling, I can’t promise you that you’re life will be the way you’ve always known it to be because it won’t. But I can promise you a life full of adventure; you’ll have a house and lovely dresses and someday children of your own.” The thought of having children with him made her cheeks flush with heat, “and you’ll have me, heart and soul forever. That’s all I can offer you but it’s all that I have.”

  And she realized that it was all that she wanted. She nodded her head slowly as she began to speak, “Yes, yes, I’ll go with you. I couldn’t possibly stay here and be content with letting you leave my life for good.”

  He rewarded her with a smile that made her insides melt, “I’ll ensure that you never regret your decision. Now, my ship sails three days from today. I realize that doesn’t give you much time to convince your maid that she needs to take your place, but it’s all the time you’ve got. Pack a few things in your valise and meet me here before sunup on the third day, our ship will set sail at dawn. I’ll take care of all the other necessary arrangements and we’ll be free to sail forth into our new life together.”

  Excitement and anticipation were rapidly taking root in Noelle’s heart for she knew she was making the right decision, she just fervently prayed that Hope would agree to help her, to be her salvation.

  Chapter 7

  Hope spent an uneventful evening in Noelle’s bedchamber. She had taken her time finishing up some mending that needed done on a number of Noelle’s dresses before making sure her room was completely tidied up. After she had finished attending to all of her chores she decided to indulge in writing. She had been working on a story with magical creatures in a mystical world, one where animals could talk and humans could fly as free as the birds in the air. She went to her own small room and retrieved her stack of parchment along with her quill and ink and made herself comfortable at Noelle’s desk before being swept away into the wondrous world she had created.

  She must’ve fallen asleep at the desk because the next thing she remembered was a hand on her shoulder shaking her awake. She opened her eyes and slowly sat up, confused for a moment by her strange surroundings. Her neck felt stiff from the awkward position she had fallen asleep in at the desk. She reached up and wiped away a smudge of drool that had escaped one corner of her mouth in her sleep before brushing a lock of hair out of her face, tucking it behind one ear.

  “Hope, we need to talk.” It was Noelle.

  “Couldn’t it have waited until the morning?” Though she was relieved to know that she had made it back from Soren’s safely, she was slightly annoyed at being awoken in the middle of a deep slumber.

  “No, this is important.” Hope knew she was being foolishly optimistic to hope that whatever it was Noelle was going to say somehow wouldn’t involve her but she knew she couldn’t be so lucky. She focused her sleepy eyes on Noelle’s face and reluctantly waited.

  “Soren has asked me to sail with him to America and become his wife.” Hope inhaled sharply, “and I have agreed. We leave three days from now.”

  “Don’t be irrational milady, you can’t possibly leave your family, your home, your—”

  Noelle cut her off. “I’ve already made up my mind to do so, so please kindly refrain from trying to convince me otherwise. But I can’t do it without your help, I need you to become me, to take my place as Lady Noelle.”

  “Then I regret to inform you that you won’t be leaving because I refuse to be a pawn in this foolhardy plan.”

  Noelle had the gall to appear shocked at her refusal, “You won’t do this for me?”

  “I wouldn’t do it for anybody. Now let’s put this nonsense behind us and after we both get a good night’s sleep I’m sure it will all seem silly and unwise and you’ll be thankful that I wouldn’t agree to your plan.”

  Much to Hope’s great annoyance, Noelle jutted out her bottom lip in a pout. And even further to her horror, her eyes began to water. Hope could not stand a blubbering woman and wondered if Noelle somehow knew that and was just doing it to try to make her feel sorry.

  “You do realize that by doing me this great favor you would only be helping yourself? You would become a lady, no longer having to be a servant. Instead of taking care of someone, you would be taken care of. You’d have all of my beautiful gowns and many more over the years, not to mention a life of ease and luxury. And by marrying the Duke of Kerrington you’d have an honorable and coveted place in society.”

  Drat, she had forgotten about marrying the duke, which was the worst part of all. “If your life is as wonderful as all of that then why don’t you stay here and live it yourself?”

  Noelle huffed, “Because despite having all of that I wouldn’t have the one thing my heart truly desires—love, true love.”

  Hope snorted, “And after knowing Mister Johannsen for a few days you’re convinced that you know what true love is? Pardon me for sounding doubtful but I can’t very well let you run off with a practical stranger and destroy your life as well as the life of your family. No, I simply won’t allow it.”

  “Well good thing I don’t require your approval. My mind is made up and I will do it with or without your help. I will be leaving in three days time and either my family will have to face the scandal that will inevitably break due to my actions or they can go on with their lives as if nothing untoward has occurred, it’s up to you.”

  Hope felt angrier in that moment than she had ever felt in her entire life. She could not believe Noelle would stoop so low as to manipulate her into thinking that the fate of her family was all on her shoulders. How had it come to this?

  Hope quickly retrieved her writing supplies from the desk before turning towards the door and calling over her shoulder, “I’m going to bed and I suggest you do the same. Hopefully a good night�
�s sleep is all you need and by morning you’ll be more reasonable.” And with that, she left. She knew she was being bold in her speech and that she should’ve stayed and helped Noelle ready for bed but she was so mad at her that she didn’t even care.

  Once she was back in the confines of her own small quarters she quickly put away her stuff then began pacing back and forth along the length of her room. She knew she should attempt to go to sleep and pray that when she woke up the next morning it had all been a bad dream but she knew that with her mind racing the way it was sleep would be impossible.

  Part of her was scared that Noelle would actually go through with her disastrous plan. Not only would it bring great shame to her family and cause quite a scandal, not to mention make her father appear foolish when he had no daughter to present to the duke, but it would also leave Hope without a job. She would have to attempt to secure another position with another lady which would be next to impossible after her current mistress had up and run off to America. She highly doubted the earl would write her a glowing letter of recommendation after that.

  Feeling hopeless, she eventually sat down on the corner of her bed as she thought about the ramifications of Noelle’s decision. She thought about the two options that had been presented to her; the first option would only bring the Earl of Brattondale and his family great shame and leave Hope jobless. The second option, though unthinkable to Hope, would leave no one hurting. Noelle could have her life in America with what she claimed was her true love and her family could go on living their lives as if nothing had happened, because they would never know anything had changed. Hope would be the one left in a precarious position—aware her whole life of the lie she would be forced to live, deceiving everyone she knew, even her own husband for that’s what Kerrington would be, her husband. The thought settled uncomfortably upon her.

  Of course there was a third option; the possibility of Noelle deciding to stay in London to marry the duke herself, but knowing her mistress as she did, she doubted that would be any option at all. Once Lady Noelle got something into her pretty little head, it was hard to talk her out of it. She felt so confused, not sure what she should do and completely terrified either way. She glanced at the small clock on the table beside her bed and decided that if she hurried she’d be able to catch the grooms still in the mews settling the horses after the earl and Devon’s return from the ball.

  She quickly slipped on a cloak, blew out the candle flickering on the mantle of her small fireplace and snuck out of her room, careful to tread lightly so Noelle wouldn’t hear as she walked past her door. The last thing she wanted at the moment was an encounter with her mistress. She had one goal in mind and that was to go to Shepard’s Bush and discuss the outrageous plan with her mother. If she was quick she knew she could be there and back before sunrise and no one would have to know of her absence.

  Hope breathed a sigh of relief as she slipped through the servants entrance largely undetected, for she was in no mood to talk to anyone at the present. She walked briskly to the back alley and quickly entered the mews, hoping she’d have no problem finding Geoffrey, the groom who had often let her borrow one of the horses for her infrequent visits to her mother. Although Shepard’s Bush was only a few miles away from the earl’s townhouse in Mayfair, by foot it took her much longer to get there than she liked and she felt safer being atop a horse where at least if she encountered something unsavory she could gallop away at much faster speeds than she could on foot.

  Luckily Geoffrey’s lofty form was easy to spot in his navy blue and yellow livery. He was much taller than any of the other grooms that were employed by Lord Brattondale and had a lanky form to match. Hope sauntered over to where he was standing next to a marvelous looking mare, stroking her coat with one hand as he fed her an apple with his other.

  “Oh Geoffrey, I’m so glad you’re here tonight.”

  Geoffrey turned in surprise to look at her, smiling the minute his eyes settled on her face, “Of course miss, where else would I be?”

  She couldn’t help but smile back at him. Although she suspected he was much older than her twenty-one years, his expressions were youthful and he had an innocence that made him seem younger. She had always liked him and he had always treated her with kindness in return.

  “I have an urgent need to see my mother and was wondering if you’d be so kind to allow me to take Tabitha?” Her eyes briefly flickered to a chestnut gelding standing in the far stall. Although she wasn’t an expert rider, she could mount and dismount a horse with some sort of suitability and manage to get herself where she needed to go.

  Geoffrey’s smile faltered, “Is everything alright with your mother?” Hope was touched by his concern.

  “I believe so, it has been awhile since I last saw her. I just have an urgent matter to discuss with her and had to get away while I could. I promise to have Tabitha back before sunrise so neither one of us gets in trouble.” She flashed him an encouraging smile, hoping he couldn’t see beyond it to the anxiousness she felt inside.

  “Of course. Let me just get her saddled up and you will be on your way.”

  “Oh thank you Geoffrey, how can I ever repay you for your kindness?”

  With another boyish smile and a wink he replied, “I’m sure we can figure something out.” It had been no secret to her that Geoffrey fancied her but she had always just chalked his mild flirtations up to his easy going personality. Now she wasn’t so sure and knowing the events that could transpire in the very near future, she knew that she’d never have a chance to get to know him better as he was implying.

  By the time Tabitha was saddled, Hope’s thoughts had been pulled back completely into her present dilemma, preventing her from responding fully to anything Geoffrey was saying.

  He finally cleared his throat, “If you come over here I’ll help you mount so you can be on your way, the hour grows late.”

  Hope startled, “My apologies Geoffrey, my mind is a million miles away.”

  “I understand.” He said as he bent to assist her up into the saddle, but she knew he couldn’t possibly understand something she didn’t fully comprehend herself. She gave him a quick goodbye and with that she was off.

  The ride to the small village of Shepard’s Bush where her mother lived usually took just under an hour but because of the darkness of the night she had to go at a slower pace. She had counted on the fresh air being able to clear her head and help her to sort through some of her racing thoughts but it didn’t seem to do much to ease the torrents of emotions that were swirling inside of her.

  By the time she trotted up in front of the small stone cottage she was no closer to knowing what the solution to her problem would be than she had been when she left. She slid clumsily off of Tabitha’s back, stumbling slightly as she hit the hard ground beneath her. She quickly righted herself and went and tied Tabitha to a post on the side of the cottage that was there for that exact purpose.

  Once the horse was settled she went and knocked gently on the cottage’s front door. She knew her mother had probably been in bed for hours by now and she deeply regretted having to wake her but she knew she couldn’t make a decision without first consulting with her. When nothing happened after a few moments she knocked once more. Finally she heard some shuffling and then the click of the lock before the door was pushed back a few inches and a small light illuminated her mother’s worn face.

  “Oh!” Matilde exclaimed, “Child, you startled me. What’s the meaning of this? Is everything well?”

  “Let me in and I’ll explain my visit.”

  Matilde stood back from the door as Hope pushed her way in. The first thing she noticed was the cottage was not much warmer than the outside air had been. She glanced to the fireplace and saw only a small dying fire in the grate and instantly walked over to add another log to the fire.

  “No, no,” Matilde waved frantically, “don’t add that log or it will get too hot in here for me. I find that I feel better when the temperature drops.”<
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  Hope looked at her mother quizzically, “Are you well mama?”

  Matilde glanced down, “Of course, now, do tell me what brings you here in the middle of the night.”

  Hope moved to sit at the small worn table in the center of the room while her mother set about brewing a pot of tea to warm her up with. When the tea was finished and the scalding liquid set before her, Matilde sat and looked at her daughter expectantly.

  Hope allowed herself to take a long sip of tea to warm her chilled body before speaking, “I find myself in the most horrible predicament and I’m distraught at what to do so I came seeking your advice.”

  Matilde’s eyes widened in horror, “You are not with child are you?”

  It was Hope’s turn to look horrified, “Of course not, mama! No, my trouble is with my mistress, Lady Noelle.” She watched as her mother visibly bristled at the mention of Noelle’s name.

  “What sort of trouble Hope? Tell me now.” Her voice was firm and demanding.

  She wasn’t exactly sure what her mother was anticipating but she knew she surprised her when she said, “Lady Noelle thinks she has fallen in love with an American gentleman and insists that she is fleeing to the continent with him to become his bride by the week’s end.”

  “So you will lose your position, is that what all this fuss is about?”

  “No, that is not all—she has this crazy idea in her head that I resemble her,” Matilde let out a strangled gasp, “and she wants me to impersonate her, to take her place and marry the Duke of Kerrington so that her family will not face scandal and ruin because of her actions.”

  She had expected her mother to react as passionately as herself at the news so she was surprised when all she did was sit there silently, mulling the news over in her head. Hope watched her in silence, noting how much she had aged since she saw her last. Her skin appeared more wrinkled than before and hung loosely on her face and neck and hands. She realized that she had lost a significant amount of weight as well. For a moment her concern for her mother overshadowed her concern for herself.