by Ella Edon
Esther was crying profusely now. She turned abruptly and ran out of the corridor. She ran past Katherine, whom she knew had been eavesdropping. Esther clapped her hands over her mouth and ran through the twin doors that served as the main entrance of the ballroom, leaving curiosity at her wake.
She was so sure of what would happen when she opened her eyes the next morning. The news would have spread like wildfire, and she would be tongue-tied, unwilling to tell why her engagement to Nicholas had broken off.
Chapter Two
Stefan Hamilton, Sixth Duke of York, stood outside of Sands Castle, home to his mother, the Dowager Duchess Elena Hamilton, and his brothers and sister. It felt wonderful to be in the arms of his family once again. He had missed them so much.
"Stefan!" The young boy called, running towards him. The blonde that followed behind him had a scowl etched on her beautiful face, and a much older boy stood by the pillar, arms crossed, a smug smile on his face.
"Help me, Stefan!" Robert giggled, rushing behind Stefan for cover.
Alexandra glared at Stefan, "Hand the lad over."
Stefan laughed. "Calm down, Alexandra. I'm sure the lad made a mistake. He'll never trouble you again, I promise."
"You always promise that Robert will never cause trouble, but he always does! There's no escaping him. And he troubled me because he knew you'd arrived. So he could run to you and take cover. Hand him over, Stefan! I'll spank him, so he knows never to do that again."
"And what would mother say about you spanking her beloved, Alexandra?" Robert chided.
"Argh!" Alex growled. "You see now what he does?"
Behind her, William hid his chuckle behind a cough. Although his siblings’ disagreement entertained him, he did not want to be drawn into the fray.
Stefan tried to mediate between the two. He touched Alexandra's shoulder and grinned down at her. "Come on now, Alex. We all know Robert always says you're his favorite. Teasing you is his way of getting to you."
"By troubling me, you mean. I find no favour in that."
William couldn't hold his laughter anymore, he burst out, clutching his sides.
Stefan hid his laughter behind a somber look. Acting as the arbiter to one of his siblings’ disputes was not the welcome he had anticipated.
"Alex, my dear sister. I've come a very long way from France. Is this the welcome I get?" He spread his arms wide and grinned at her.
Even his little sister could not refuse him when he smiled. She smiled back and jumped on him, hugging him dearly. "We have all missed you, Stefan!"
William sauntered over to them. Robert hugged his legs. He saw his mother emerge from the door, a smile on her face.
* * *
He had been gone for nearly three fortnights. When he was handed the duchy and everything involved in its running after the sudden death of his father, Stefan was shocked. He hadn't been emotionally ready to take over such responsibility.
After a year of being the Duke of York, he found that he was doing it all wrong, unable to make the right decisions, unaware of what was truly happening around him. He had been trained for the day he would take over but he had not expected it to be so soon.
His mother had sent him to France, to meet with the Duke of Guise, who was her father's longtime friend and confidante. She had said he would help her son pull through. And he had because Stefan was back— stronger and better.
"Who made this meal?" Stefan asked, nearly choking on how much salt had been added to the stew.
Robert pouted his small lips, shaking his head. "Alexandra thought she'd surprise you upon your return, so she persuaded the cook to let her prepare this. But it's not much of a surprise anymore since the meal isn't so good. Am I right, Stefan?"
William, who sat beside the eight-year-old burst into laughter. "Sometimes I forget you're still a babe, Robert."
"Am not!" Robert snapped. "Stefan said I'm a lad!"
"A lass, you mean." Alexandra smiled sweetly from where she sat. She had been quiet while everyone ate. Except, no one was eating. They had not touched their meal at all. Only Stefan had been eating. They all knew that a lady of fine breeding with no practice whatsoever, couldn’t possibly master the art of cooking.
Stefan dabbed the side of his mouth and tossed the napkin aside. Alexandra cast her gaze down, ashamed. Stefan smiled at her. "Come on, Alex. You're a noble lady of seventeen. Cooking isn’t for you. Mama must have taken care of the things that a girl of your status should know by now. How to dance, paint, sew and —"
"Lady Castleroy has demanded that I learn to sew now!" Alex cried, unable to hold her tears any longer.
Robert no longer laughed or pouted. He stared at his sister in pity. William looked away.
"Who is Lady Castleroy?"
"Lady Castleroy is her chaperone." William cleared his throat.
"Chaperone? Hmm... And she...?"
"Has been giving Alex a tough time. She's too hard on her. And her debutante is a year away, not days away. Mother would not agree to what me and Robert say. She believes Lady Castleroy will prepare Alexandra to appear before the ton," William hissed.
He seemed furious. "It's quite unfair! The lady gives her almost impossible tasks. She asked Alex to walk with heavy books from papa's library on her head! It was outrageous! And mama wasn't around to see!"
Stefan rubbed his jaw. Although Alexandra was older than William by two years, the boy was very protective of her. Even Robert, who bothered her often, was protective of her as well. His siblings were close, they understood each other. And he liked that they did. He was proud that they were so loving. That they understood each other’s pain. Even though he was much older than they all were, he often stayed around talking with them. He didn't want to be estranged with any of them. Not ever. Not after what had happened to —
"Stefan! Will you talk to mama? Alex wants another chaperone."
He rose instantly. "Of course, Robert. I will speak with her now."
With substantial strides and a growling stomach, he headed towards the salon. He pushed the doors open and stepped in. His mother sat there, rocking back and forth in a chair and reading one of the poems she enjoyed so much. He stopped by the door when he smelled something. He tilted his head, his nose flaring.
"Mother, is that chicken —?"
"Oh, of course, dear. I've had a meal prepared for you. I knew that after eating Alex's surprise, you'd still be hungry." She chuckled. Then she gestured to the table beside the settee opposite her. "You should help yourself."
His mother always knew what to do. He took a seat and began eating immediately. "So, Mother, what is this I hear about Alex's chaperone giving her a difficult time?"
The dowager scoffed. "Nothing of such, dear. Lady Castleroy is strict, yes. But, at this point, she is what Alex needs."
"But —"
"Alex wore breeches a month ago and went to shoot arrows at trees. I think she has forgotten she is a lady and not a boy. Her debutante is less than a year away, and if she keeps this up, she may end up a spinster for life. I don't want that for her."
Stefan pressed his lips together. After taking a sip of the wine his mother had placed before him, he inclined his head. "No one says anything good about Lady Castleroy."
"It means she's doing her job then. I want Alex to be a proper lady before the season ends."
Stefan saw the point in what his mother was saying. Alexandra liked to behave like a lad. And maybe he had a hand in that somewhat by humoring his sister so much.
"And you!" The Dowager Duchess tossed her book aside and sat up, startling him a little. "You need to find a bride before the season has ended. I want you wed within two months!"
"Mother," he sighed.
"That's final, Stefan. Your reputation already precedes you. Everyone knows about all the women you bed." The Dowager Duchess scowled. "I want nothing of that! You will bring home a proper young lady, not one who behaves like a lad, not an actress — oh definitely not — not one with a dotte
d background either. I want the future Duchess of York to be perfect."
"Mother —"
"I suggest you stop sleeping around and settle for one. I will have no more word of you spending the night with any random woman. If word gets to me, you won't like what I will do."
He raised his brows at her threat. If there was one thing he was with her, it was honest. Touching his neatly combed blond hair, he flashed his heart-winning smile at her. "Mother, pray tell, why one lady should be allowed to have all of this?"
The Dowager scowled. He went on. "Mother, you know my feelings. I’ve always been plain-spoken with you regarding my views on marriage. Besides, William would be of age soon, and I assure you, you'd see your daughter-in-law then. But certainly not from me."
"Stefan, stop that. It only works on other women, not me." She had caught him. He was trying to win her over with his smile.
"Does my smile not remind you of father?" he teased.
She glowered at him, but he could see she was trying not to smile as well. "Stefan."
He chuckled. "I'm not doing anything." He shifted the table aside. The plate left was filled with bones, as he had eaten everything that had been on it.
"No, Stefan," she called as he rose. "You will do exactly as I say. Keep away from all those women who let you bed them! Stefan —"
He bit his lips so he wouldn't smile. When she threatened her children, one would think she had no love left for them. But he knew exactly how she felt about her beloved children.
He walked over to her and kissed her chastely on each cheek. She froze. "Where are you heading to?"
"I have...business to tend to tonight."
"But you have just arrived!" The dowager massaged her temples. "Oh, dear Lord."
Stefan knelt beside her, his hands on both sides of her chair. "Mother, you know I can't get married. I don't want to, ever. I am happy just the way I am. I need no lady to fill any space in my heart."
The dowager's eyes softened. "Child, there is a void in your heart, and when you find love, you will be free. All of this burden will be lifted from your shoulders. I know why you fear —"
He rose to his feet, shoving his hands in the pockets of his coat.
"No, mother. Don't." His smile disappeared and was replaced by a stony look. "I will not get married. I don't want a bride. Love is an illusion; it does not exist."
"What I had with your father was no illusion Stefan."
"I know...but you were lucky. Not everyone is in luck when it comes to love, and you know it."
"You have to let it go Stefan."
"I have."
"I hope, for the sake of Alexandra, William, and Robert, that you have. Because you have to, my child."
He nodded at her once. "I'll see you later Mama."
"You're getting older, and you need to wed."
"I'm barely seven-and-twenty, Mama, I'm not quite old yet," he muttered dryly and pulled open the salon door.
He had plans for the night. Thank God he'd made out those plans before going to see his mother. Because now more than ever, he needed to escape. He needed to escape Sands Castle and its pressures.
He had sent word to Miss Althea Bagsaw. He was to spend the night with her at Morton's Place. Even his mother's insistence of abstinence would not stop him. He didn't need a damned wife. He just needed someone to satisfy him, and that was all. He had missed bedding English women. While in France, he had his fair share of women, but he had kept it at a minimum because the Duke watched him like a hawk.
* * *
The orphanage was swamped with little children, who despite everything provided, still looked unhappy, some angry, some sad and most seemed indifferent. He suspected it was not hunger that kept them this way but a void. A void which they hoped would someday be filled. Their parents had abandoned them, leaving them to endure the pains of the world alone. Stefan didn't know what that was like, because all his life had his parents at his side. But he did know what it was like to lose a loved one. He donated to the orphanage a while back, and upon his return, he had announced that he was going to be there much more often, overseeing things for himself. After all, it was his duty to look out for his property — as the Duke.
While he watched the children, at the other end of the large room, by the doors that led to the nursery, there stood a lady. A few more other ladies surrounded her, but this one caught his eyes because she was... What? Because she was simply standing there?
He wasn't quite sure. She looked delicate, fragile even. She stood, talking to a little girl and handing her something from a bag. She was dressed in blue and her light brown hair was left to tumble down her shoulders in waves. Her skin was pale, her long delicate fingers held on to sweets, which he presumed she was giving out to each of the children. She was slender, and not so tall, which made her look almost petite. Maybe that was what made him stare at her.
"Your Grace," a lady said as she bowed, coming to stand in front of him. Lady Kinross. She was in charge of the orphanage. "You requested to see the children who are gravely ill. We have their room ready for you to visit."
He blinked twice, before nodding. "Yes, yes. But who are all these people here?"
He gestured around to people walking by, and to the ladies at the end of the room.
Lady Kinross shrugged. "People who want to do good by helping children. They come to visit as they please. But we have marked out this day for visitors..."
"I see." he nodded. "Take me to the children."
The lady smiled, and he walked behind her.
* * *
He moved the horse closer to the river and the animal neighed. When they stopped at the bank, Stefan made no effort to get it to drink from the river. One could bring a horse to the water, but one can never force it to drink from it.
The horse neighed again, shying away from the water. Stefan sighed, looking up. He glanced ahead to see that the other side of the river was higher, with rocks built atop and dried to the earth. It seemed beautiful, staring at it from where he stood. Behind it, the horizon had risen. The sun glinted partly, for its image was covered by the rock. His horse seemed restless and nearly distracted him from staring at the sun. He held onto its reins firmly, but set his gaze high.
The horse neighed again, walking away from the river. Stefan almost gave in, but he remained where he was. He wanted to watch the sun as it changed colors across the horizon. Another neigh made him sigh. "Oh, all right. Let's head out."
He turned, and almost as though the sun was calling out to him, he heard a gasp. He swung back sharply. Standing at the edge of the rock and staring down at the river was a lady. He couldn't make out her face because the sun shone her way and into his eyes, blocking his full view.
"Don't move!" he screamed. But it was too late. Small stones rolled gently down the rocky hill, the lady gasped again and jerked forward a little. Stefan caught his breath as she stumbled down the stony hill and fell into the water with a loud splashing thud. She fell at the center, where the river was the deepest. He cursed, let go of his horse, took off his boots, and walked quickly into the river. The path where he stood was shallow, but as he drew near, the water's current increased and his feet sunk deeper.
Soon, he was under, his breath held and his hands moving before him, clearing his path. He looked around, searching for the lady. When he neared the edge close to the rocky hill, he saw her sinking. Her hands were limp and the water was carrying her away from him. He swam quickly to her. Trying to fight the current, he tugged at her left hand with his right and used his left hand to fight against the pull of the water. He swam them both to the surface and toward shallow water. Once he could stand, he walked towards the riverbank, pulling her along with him.
His horse nickered, watching him. It was a miracle the beast had not fled. While the lady remained still, he pulled her to him and laid her on the riverbank. She was still motionless. He cursed. The water must have gotten to her. He pushed her hair aside, as it had been covering her face
, so he could perform artificial respirations by placing his mouth on hers and breathing into her to extract water from her system.
He was stunned when he saw it was the lady from the orphanage. He held his breath and stared at her gown. It wasn't what she had been wearing at the orphanage.
Sighing loudly, he bent his lips to her parted lips, placed his lips over hers, and blew his breath into her body mightily.
He repeated the process a few times and moved away from her, waiting for her reaction. He watched as the lady moved a bit, then gasped, her eyes flying open. Her lips parted, and water sputtered out if it. She was soon coughing and his hands instinctively rubbed her back. He sighed, thankful that she was alive. Soon, she laid back down on the sand, her breathing rough, like she was trying to catch her breath.
