What a Devilish Duke Desires

by Vicky Dreiling

  “I’ve heard enough. If I escort her, I will be sending the message that her behavior is acceptable. It is not. She did this to herself, and she will simply have to live with the consequences.”

  “Very well,” Mina said. “Will you inform Lord Everleigh that I’m unable to participate in the dancing competition any longer? I’m not allowed to correspond with him because of the proprieties.”

  “The devil,” he said. “Sorry.” How could he deny sweet Mina?

  “Harry, you must follow your own conscience.”

  “You and Everleigh are well and truly entrenched in the dance competition. I do not want to ruin it for you.”

  “I know it’s frivolous, but I enjoy being able to dance exclusively with Everleigh. We are able to talk freely during the dance. There, I’ve all but admitted my tender feelings for him.”

  “I will provide the escort tonight. I don’t want to disappoint you and Everleigh.”

  Mina kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Harry.”

  Almack’s, that evening

  Harry looked out the carriage window. After speaking to Mina, he’d chastised his mother at length for her ill-mannered behavior in the drawing room and made it clear that he’d only relented for Mina’s sake. He had thought Mrs. Norcliffe would be chastened and demonstrate remorse. Instead, she’d called for her maid, a pot of chocolate, and a rose in a vase.

  As the carriage drew closer to Almack’s, Harry realized the crowd was twice as large this week. “Every Tom, Jane, and Frank in London turned out to gawk at us,” he said. “We must appear like so many peacocks strutting in our feathers and diamond stick pins.”

  His cousins laughed, but Mrs. Norcliffe inhaled audibly. “Harry, your irreverence is not appreciated.”

  “I suppose that depends on one’s sense of humor—or lack thereof.”

  “You are disrespectful of long-standing tradition,” Mrs. Norcliffe said.

  “The dancing competition has not been in existence long enough to qualify,” he said.

  “Harry, let me be clear. Either you dance tonight or I will not speak to you for a fortnight,” Mrs. Norcliffe said.

  He was tempted to ask her if that was a promise, but thought better of it. Her demand, however, gave him an excellent idea. “As it happens, I do plan to dance tonight, and I know the lady I wish to ask.”

  “This is wonderful news,” Mrs. Norcliffe said, clasping her hands. “I do hope this is not one of your horrid jests.”

  “You may rest your fears,” he said. “I would be surprised if you did not approve of my choice of partner.”

  “Who is she?” Mrs. Norcliffe said.

  “Patience,” Harry said.

  She snapped her fan closed, letting him know she was unhappy.

  “Aunt, be patient,” Mina said. “Harry will dance tonight and make you proud.”

  When the carriage rolled to a halt, Harry helped his mother and cousins step out. Everywhere he looked, there were costermongers selling their wares. The scent of roasted chestnuts wafted in the air. One seller hawked sweet cherries. Another offered hot eels. The area around Almack’s resembled a fair once again. Someone was playing a flute and two women were stepping merrily to the tune. Undoubtedly these folks would have far better refreshments than the pitiful fare inside Almack’s.

  Naturally a number of the lower orders were selling rotgut gin again. Harry had fortified himself with an excellent brandy at home. If all went well tonight, he would send his female relatives home in the carriage while he spent the rest of the evening at White’s.

  He offered his arm to his mother and they slowly made their way through the dense crowd queuing up to enter Almack’s.

  “It will be a grand squeeze tonight,” Mrs. Norcliffe said with glee.

  His mother was definitely puffed up tonight.

  Harry couldn’t resist needling her. “I do hope your nerves aren’t pinching.”

  “I am perfectly recovered,” she said. “Now, Harry, I know your propensity for mischief, but you will choose an acceptable young lady as your dance partner. For my sake, please do not select Miss Forsythe. She’s on the shelf. You do not wish to dance with a lady others ignore.”

  He bit back a grin. “I’m fairly certain no one ever ignores this lady.”

  “Well, you must tell me her name,” she said.

  “You will discover that soon enough. Allow me to escort you to the chairs for the patronesses.”

  Once he’d settled his mother, Harry spied Everleigh. He’d already found Mina. As usual, Helena and Amelia had managed to escape to the wallflower row. He looked around and spotted Charles Osgood. He was an amiable fellow known to be a favorite of the ladies for his good humor.

  Harry greeted him. “Osgood, I haven’t seen you in an age. Do you know my cousins?”

  “I’ve not had the pleasure of making their acquaintance,” he said. “Unfortunately, your mother appears too busy at present to do the honors. Ah, but there is Mrs. Amy Darcett. She was always one of my favorite ladies. Let me appeal to her for an introduction.”

  A few minutes later, a tall redhead wearing a striking jade gown appeared with Osgood. “I am honored to help with the introductions, Mr. Osgood,” Mrs. Darcett said.

  “First, may I introduce you to my friend, the Duke of Granfield?”

  Harry bowed. “Ma’am, I believe we have a mutual acquaintance in Bellingham.”

  She smiled. “Indeed we do. Now, I understand there are two young ladies in need of partners.”

  Harry nodded. “Yes, my cousins Miss Amelia Radburn and Miss Helena Radburn. Amelia met Lord Chesfield previously.”

  “Well, then I shall introduce Mr. Osgood to Miss Helena Radburn,” Mrs. Darcett said.

  “I’m obliged,” Harry said.

  A short time later, the orchestra struck up an introductory piece.

  The roar of voices in the cavernous building gradually lowered.

  Harry looked over his shoulder to the refreshment area. Lucy was nowhere in sight. He pressed through the crowd until he was near the patronesses.

  Lady Jersey stepped forward. “Tonight’s dancing competition involves the quadrille. Gentlemen, choose your partners with great care. We shall begin momentarily.”

  Harry walked to his mother. “May I have this dance?”

  “What?” she said under her breath.

  He projected his voice intentionally so that others would hear him. “I realize you must judge the competition, but I hope you will not object to one dance with me.”

  “How sweet. One cannot fault such a dutiful son,” Mrs. Drummond-Burrell said.

  Other ladies were smiling fondly at him. Everyone but his mother.

  Harry offered his arm and escorted his mother toward the dance floor. Thunderous applause sounded.

  “You did this on purpose,” Mrs. Norcliffe said under her breath, all the while maintaining her smile.

  “Of course. I thought it would please you.”

  “I wasn’t born yesterday,” she said. “You devised a means of avoiding dancing with an eligible young lady of good birth.”

  “So I did. For the entire evening. I shall bear it as best I can.”

  “We will have a discussion tonight,” she said. “I’ll not stand for your tricks.”

  His smile faded. “Let me be clear. If not for Mina, I would not have escorted you here.”

  Lucy set up the pitcher of lemonade and glasses in the refreshment area. She’d missed seeing the first set of couples, but in between serving lemonade, she caught glimpses of the dancing. The second set of couples was dancing the quadrille as well. Mina had partnered with Lord Everleigh again. When they finished their set, they strolled toward her.

  Lucy stiffened. She’d never minded teaching the children of the nobility to dance, she’d never minded serving lemonade, and she’d always ignored any callous comments. But she’d never felt inferior until Mrs. Norcliffe had humiliated her in front of Harry.

  She had learned the art of making her expres
sion as neutral as possible and employed it now. “May I serve you lemonade?”

  “Yes, that would be nice,” Lord Everleigh, said. “Dancing makes me thirsty.”

  Mina sipped her lemonade. “Thank you for the excellent dance instruction.” She paused and her face flushed. She looked as if she meant to say something else, but she bit her lip and set her glass aside. “Thank you, Miss Longmore. I am not as thirsty as I thought.”

  Lucy suspected that Mina was embarrassed by Mrs. Norcliffe’s brusque manners at the dance practice. Lucy liked Mina and hated the awkwardness. “I hope you and Lord Everleigh win the dance competition.”

  Mina smiled. “Thank you, Miss Longmore. That is very kind of you.”

  Lord Everleigh set his glass on the table and offered his arm to Mina. “Let us find Harry.”

  “He’s probably hiding in the game room,” Mina said. “He’s avoiding all of the matchmaking mamas.”

  Everleigh scoffed. “He’s also avoiding the dance floor.”

  “But we will not,” Mina said, smiling.

  Lucy noted the way Mina and Everleigh gazed into each other’s eyes and thought it must be heavenly to be in love.

  The next set began and Lucy lifted on her toes to watch. Mina and Everleigh danced as if they’d danced together all of their lives. They never took their eyes off of each other. Lucy sighed, wishing that she could take part in the dancing tonight, but of course that wasn’t possible. No one seemed interested in the lemonade, and that gave Lucy an opportunity to watch the dancers closely. She didn’t recognize any of the other dancers.

  A rotund gentleman turned in the wrong direction and stepped on Everleigh’s shoes. Lucy covered her mouth upon seeing the obvious pain on Everleigh’s face. “Oh no,” Lucy said under her breath. Concern was written all over Mina’s face, but Everleigh managed to keep dancing, although he winced now and then.

  When the set ended, Everleigh bowed to Mina. The crowd came to their feet and cheered the couple. Obviously they were a favorite among the guests.

  Lucy sighed. Two days ago, she’d learned Granfield’s Christian name. Now she knew he was in attendance and hoped he would stay away. She would not care a jot what these nobles thought of her if not for him. In truth, most of them took their glasses of lemonade and ignored her. She might as well be part of the wall for all of their notice, and she preferred it that way. But she’d come to the ton’s attention while teaching dance. She’d borne the brunt of rude comments when she’d worked as a seamstress. She’d never taken it personally. But when Mrs. Norcliffe had demeaned her in front of Harry, it had humiliated her.

  Harry bided his time by playing a few hands of whist in the gaming room. He wished to speak to Lucy, but he didn’t want to be too obvious, because she was working. The last thing he wanted was to create trouble for her with the head maid again.

  He couldn’t imagine that Lucy earned enough to make this job worthwhile, but obviously her choices were limited. Harry knew he could help her if she would allow it. His new secretary would start work next week and could draft the necessary letter of character, and his solicitor could inquire into respectable positions for a young lady in need of employment. A better job would allow her and her grandmother to move into a safer neighborhood, too. Just thinking of her walking along those dark streets made him wild to protect her, something he knew she would resist.

  When Harry emerged from the card room, he looked at her. She saw him and turned away. It was a clear signal not to disturb her. Fair enough, but after he sent his mother and cousins home, he meant to wait for Lucy.

  The music ended, and the guests surged closer to the chairs where the patronesses conferred below the balcony. He checked his watch. It was almost midnight. Obviously the patronesses were attempting to judge the dancers and narrow the field of candidates.

  Someone clapped him on the shoulder. “Oh, Bellingham, I didn’t know you were here.”

  “We arrived late. Stephen insisted upon a bedtime story. One story led to another, and then he kicked up a fuss when nurse tried to put him to bed.” Bell looked chagrined. “Well, enough domesticity. Laura told me you were dancing to a lady dance master’s tune in your mother’s drawing room recently.”

  “I made an untimely appearance. My cousin Mina roped me into dancing.”

  Bell laughed. “I’ve no love for Almack’s either, but Laura insisted upon watching the competition tonight.”

  “Shall we meet at White’s tomorrow night?” Bell said.

  Harry nodded. “Absolutely.”

  “I’ll send round a note to Colin,” Bell said. “I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  After the orchestra played the last note, the crowd surged forward. The cacophony of voices grew louder, echoing in the enormous building. Harry found an empty chair on the deserted wallflower row and stretched out his legs. Then he looked back at the refreshment tables. Three young bucks had surrounded Lucy. One of them touched her hand lingeringly when she gave him a glass of lemonade.

  Harry’s blood boiled. He fisted his hands and strode through the crowd. When he reached Lucy’s station, he stared daggers at the trio. Damn it. She was his. “Leave her in peace,” he gritted out.

  The three disappeared quickly.

  Lucy regarded him with narrowed eyes. “I do not need you to rescue me.”

  “They were bedeviling you. I won’t stand for it.”

  She arched her brows. “Are you jealous?”

  “Certainly not. I wished to protect you.”

  Her lips twitched. “From what? The lemonade?”

  “You do not know what those men were thinking.”

  “You read minds, Your Grace?”

  He folded his arms over his chest. “They swarmed you.”

  She regarded him with a knowing expression. “I’m not the one who got stung.”

  Damn and blast, he was not jealous.

  “I want to talk to you,” he said. “Will you meet me at Green Park tomorrow?”

  She hesitated, giving him hope. “I shouldn’t. I feel as if I’m standing too near a rushing river and am in danger of falling in.”

  He figured her use of the word falling was no accident. “You are in no danger from me.”

  There was a stark expression in her green eyes. “Yes, I agree,” she said. “You are not a threat to me, but I am.”

  He was stunned by her confession and wanted to question her, but the roar of the crowd startled him. Harry took several steps forward and craned his neck in time to see Everleigh turning Mina in circles. The applause was deafening. The pair appeared to be a favorite with the crowd again tonight.

  When he turned back, Lucy had vanished, though the lemonade pitcher and glasses remained on the table. He wanted to hunt for her, but he mustn’t ignore Mina. Damn it all to hell. He didn’t like having to choose between them, but Lucy had disappeared, giving him no choice.

  As he walked away, he vowed to find her when the festivities concluded tonight. He managed to press through the crowd and kissed Mina on the cheek. “I take it you won tonight’s competition,” he said, raising his voice.

  “Thanks to Lord Everleigh,” she said.

  Everleigh regarded Mina with tenderness. “No competition compares to Miss Radburn.”

  Mrs. Norcliffe finally broke ranks with the other patronesses and joined them. “Oh, what an exciting evening. I’m so proud of all my girls,” she said as Helena and Amelia joined them.

  “Aunt, I thought it very sweet of Harry to dance with you,” Mina said.

  “Well, he did impress the other patronesses,” Mrs. Norcliffe said.

  “My life is made brighter now,” Harry drawled.

  Mrs. Norcliffe tried to swat him with her fan, but he stepped out of harm’s way. “Shall we head to the carriage?” he said, leading the way.

  When they left the building, a fine mist dampened the air. Harry turned to Everleigh. “I have other business this night. Will you escort my mother and my cousins in your carriage?”

&
nbsp; “Certainly,” Everleigh said. “Is all well with you?”

  He nodded. “Let me break the news to my mother.”

  Predictably, Mrs. Norcliffe complained. “Harry, it is your duty to escort us.”

  He leaned closer to his mother. “I wanted Everleigh to spend a bit more time with Mina. I’m fairly certain he’s on the verge of proposing. Best to take advantage of the situation.”

  “Very well, but we will discuss your own single state tomorrow morning, Harry.”

  He ignored her statement. “Here is Everleigh’s carriage now.”

  After Everleigh and the ladies boarded, Harry waved them off. The mist turned into rain. When he returned to the building, he was walking against the departing crowd, but eventually the room emptied of all the guests. Harry heard voices in the back of the building and strode there.

  Mrs. Thompson called out, “Jane, bring those cakes here and don’t be eatin’ any of ’em on the way.”

  Jane gawked at Harry.

  Mrs. Thompson turned around. “Your Grace.”

  “Where is Lucy?” He intended to take her home in his carriage to keep her off the streets.

  Mrs. Thompson sighed. “She’s gone.”

  “When did she leave?”

  She sighed. “Your Grace, I mean no disrespect, but I don’t make it a habit of givin’ out information about the servin’ girls.”

  “I understand, but I need to know how long ago she left.”

  “Your Grace, I could tell ye somethin’ if you’ve a mind to listen.”

  He folded his arms over his chest. “Very well, I will listen.”

  Mrs. Thompson frowned. “I know from experience what it’s like for girls like Lucy. They work dawn to dusk and sometimes longer. Lucy is bound to have more than one job. I know she didn’t leave here until after midnight,” Mrs. Thompson said.

  His chest filled with guilt. Lucy was probably exhausted after a long day working. He scuffed his shoe on the floor. “I didn’t want her to walk home in the dark.”

  Mrs. Thompson sighed. “Your Grace, I know your heart’s in the right place, but she’s probably been doin’ that long afore you come along. You’re not the first nob I seen fall for a pretty maid. I’ve been in service for thirty-odd years. I never seen it turn out well for the girl.”