The Orphan and the Duke

by Jillian Chantal

  A small section of hair was missing from her scalp, but she’d figure out a way to cover it up until it grew back.

  “It’s a surprise for you,” Jonquil said. She set the load she carried on the floor.

  “I think Basil wanted to be here before we opened it, but he’s still downstairs,” Saffron said.

  Archimedes strolled in and leapt onto the bed. He padded over and snuggled against Amelia’s side.

  “He’ll be here any second, then.” Jonquil turned to the door as Basil entered, carrying another box.

  “How did you know?” Amelia asked.

  “Archimedes is almost his constant companion now. For a man who didn’t like cats, they sure have become fast friends.” Jonquil laughed. “Did you ever think you’d see the day, Basil, that you’d have such a faithful companion?”

  “I have to confess, I’m a little embarrassed at how much I enjoy his company. Most men of my station have a dog that follows them on their estates. I’m stuck with a stable cat. Can you imagine the jests about that state of affairs if it were known?” Basil set the box he carried on the foot of the bed.

  “What’s in that one?” Saffron asked.

  “You’ll see. Let’s let Miss Mandeville open the one Jonquil brought up, and then she can open this one.”

  “Basil, she can’t get out of bed with you in here. She can’t be in front of you in my dressing gown.” Saffron shook her head at her brother. “I’ll open it and show her.”

  “Good idea,” Amelia said. “But can you hurry so I can see what it is? You’re all talking about it, and I’d love to know what’s in there.”

  Saffron tugged the lid off and lifted out a pale pink gown. “It’s gorgeous.”

  “Wait, here’s something else,” Jonquil said as she pulled out another gown, in green.

  Amelia recognized the fabrics and ribbons she and the duke had looked at in the dressmaker’s shop. She clapped her hands in delight. “How wonderful! You let me pick out the colors for the girls’ ball gowns. It feels good knowing you trusted my judgment.”

  “No, you ninny. These gowns are for you.” Jonquil turned to Basil. “You got two instead of one? That was a good idea.”

  “For me? Why?” Amelia could scarcely breathe.

  “For you to come to our ball. You needed something lovely to wear,” Saffron said.

  “I can’t come to your ball.” At the look on both sisters’ faces, Amelia added, “Much as I would love to.”

  “Why not? You’re our friend, and we’re inviting you,” Jonquil’s lips quivered.

  “Please understand. You have been the best friends—no, really—the only friends I’ve ever had, and I wouldn’t hurt either of you for any reason. But the truth is, if I came, everyone would be gossiping again about your family. I can’t bring that on you all again after everything you’ve done for me.”

  “We’ll talk about it later,” the duke said. “I want to discuss it with you when you’ve had a chance to think about the fact that we all want you to come.”

  “What’s in the other box?” Amelia almost didn’t ask the question, but she wanted to know.

  “When we found you the other night and learned that your uncle had sent you away with nothing, I decided to send the gown you were in to the dressmaker and ask her to use the measurements to make you a few day dresses as well as some nightclothes and other unmentionables.” The duke removed the lid from the second, larger box. He smiled when he said unmentionables, and Amelia could have sworn he blushed.

  “I cannot accept all this generosity.” Overwhelmed by the gifts and the kindness of a family who were no relation to her, Amelia sniffed back the tears that threatened to fall.

  “Yes, you can.” Saffron patted the mattress. “Unless you want to spend your life in this bed in a borrowed night rail, that is.”

  “She has a point,” Jonquil said.

  Amelia had to concede defeat. “You’re both right. How about this? I will take the day dresses, and when I find employment, I will repay you.” She looked up at the duke, begging him with her eyes to say yes. Please let me keep some dignity. What little I still have.

  “I find that acceptable.” He smiled as if he understood.

  “She can’t leave us to be a governess, Basil. We won’t stand for it.” Saffron walked over to the second box. “Let’s see what’s in this one.”

  Saffron and Jonquil pulled out three more dresses. Each one was lovelier than the one before it.

  “You’re going to have to go now, Basil, so we can help Amelia into one of these. We need to see how they fit, and I think it’s time she came downstairs for our next meal.” Jonquil practically pushed her brother out of the room.

  “Come down soon. I confess, I wonder how Miss Mandeville will look in the colors I picked for her.” He smiled. “I’m not sure about ladies’ gowns, so I hope they suit.”

  Amelia desperately wanted to see how they looked on her as well. She was touched that the duke took the time to choose the materials himself. What a kind man he is.

  As soon as Basil was gone, Amelia tossed the coverlet back and climbed out bed.

  “Let me call for Mary to help,” Saffron offered and pulled the cord to connect to her lady’s maid in the servants’ quarters.

  In a short while, Mary entered and assisted Amelia into the first of the gowns. It was a silver day dress with a ruched bodice as well as some light lavender ribbons hanging from the shoulders. It fit perfectly, which surprised Amelia. The gown she’d worn when she was rescued by the duke was one that used to belong to her married cousin Jane. It was almost too short, but for some reason, the seamstress had made the new one longer.

  When she turned to look at herself in the mirror, all the emotions that had been threatening to shatter her composure since the first box was opened burst forth. Amelia collapsed on the floor in a puddle of tears.

  Both Staunton sisters huddled on the Aubusson rug next to her. “What’s wrong, Amelia? It looks beautiful on you.” Saffron rubbed Amelia’s back.

  “Don’t cry. You’re lovely. Once Mary fixes your hair, you’ll be even better,” Jonquil said.

  “It’s not that I don’t love it. It’s that I don’t deserve it. You have all been so nice to me, and I don’t know why.” Amelia sobbed into her hands so she wouldn’t soil her new finery.

  “Nonsense.” Saffron stood. “You need to get up and let Mary do your hair. Basil is waiting downstairs, and we don’t want to keep him.”

  “Remember, we love you, Amelia, and when you love someone, you do things for them. Not that they need to deserve it, as you say. When you can make someone happy, you do it. That’s all it is.” Jonquil reached her hand out to help Amelia up. “Trust me when I say it’s money that Basil won’t even miss. He wants you to look nice, and all you need to do is say thank you when you see him.” She smiled. “That’s all he ever wants. A thank you.”

  “I can do that.” Amelia gave a watery smile to her friends. “Let’s see what Mary can do with my hair. I’m not used to a lot of assistance with it, so I’ll be happy with something simple.”

  Mary made short work of Amelia’s locks and even covered the small bald spot left by her uncle’s attack.

  Once she was ready, the three ladies made their way downstairs. Basil stood beside the table in the foyer where the silver tray of calling cards sat beside a massive flower arrangement. He held what appeared to be a letter.

  When Jonquil called out to him, he looked up. He smiled at Amelia with a look she could only interpret as approval. The smile made her knees weak, and she almost fell. She clutched the handrail to keep her balance.

  Basil watched Amelia as she made her way down to the bottom step then held his empty hand out to assist her to the main floor. “You are stunning. The gown flatters you.”

&nb
sp; “Thank you for both the compliment . . . and the garment.” Overcome with shyness, Amelia almost couldn’t get the words out. As it was, they were in such a soft whisper, he leaned close to hear her.

  The duke turned to Saffron. “This is a note for you. Swinton just brought it in. Any idea who sent it?”

  “No. Let me see it.” Saffron held her hand out, and he passed her the letter.

  “You know I don’t allow correspondence from unapproved sources. Who do you think it’s from?” Basil asked.

  “I’m quite sure it’s from Gwen. You know her. It looks like her handwriting.” Saffron answered her brother, but Amelia could tell the girl wasn’t telling the truth. Her face was red, and she didn’t face him. Maybe she has a secret beau she doesn’t want her brother to know about, but she shouldn’t be dishonest about it.

  Amelia had no way to verify her suspicions, so she refrained from speaking. She vowed to try to cajole Saffron into confiding in her so she could convince the girl to tell the duke the truth.

  “Go ahead and read it while I call for the barouche. I think we need to take Miss Mandeville out for a drive to show off her new gown.” The duke called for Swinton, who dashed off to make preparations for their vehicle.

  Saffron stepped over to the side of the hallway near the parlor. She opened the envelope and scanned it.

  Amelia noticed Saffron’s face reddening again.

  “Where do you think we should go on our ride?” Jonquil asked.

  “I’m not too sure we should be out at all. Since I’m not with my guardians anymore, I’m afraid a ride through the park would merely land us back in the papers. Is it worth it to do that?” Amelia asked.

  “Nonsense. We don’t need to hide. We’ve done nothing wrong. Showing the world we aren’t behaving illicitly is part of why we need to be out in public.” The duke turned to Saffron. “Come along. I’m sure the barouche is out front by now, so let’s go.”

  “I think I need to stay here. I’m getting a headache, and the sun will make it worse.” Saffron placed the back of her right hand on her forehead. “Yes, I may even have a fever. I better rest instead.”

  “Perhaps we need to call Doctor Martin. He’s going to think he needs to move in since he’s been here so often seeing after Miss Mandeville and now you,” the duke said.

  “No. There’s no need to call him. I merely need a little rest.”

  Amelia was positive the girl wasn’t being truthful. Something in that note made her want to stay home. But I don’t want to accuse her of anything. The memory of being alone on the street at night was still too fresh. She didn’t want to be ousted from another home. Amelia wondered if she’d ever feel safe and secure again.

  “All right then.” The duke held his hand out for Jonquil to take. She did, and he led the way out the door Swinton held open for them.

  The duke handed them both into the barouche. He took the driver’s seat after letting the coachman know he wasn’t needed. Amelia was sure he wanted to drive so everyone would notice he was out with his sister as well as her. It was almost as if he were daring the ton to take notice.

  It seemed odd to her that someone would court attention like he was, but she decided if he didn’t care, she surely didn’t. He’s the one with the reputation to lose, not me.

  Ignoring the implications of the outing, Amelia held her head high and let the sun warm her. She reached over and squeezed Jonquil’s hand. “Isn’t this wonderful?”

  “I love it. The breeze is nice, and the sunshine feels so good. I wish Saffron had felt like coming.”

  Amelia cast a glance at the duke’s back. Satisfied he couldn’t hear her, she asked Jonquil the question that had been bothering her since Saffron received the letter. “Does Saffron have a young man?”

  “No. Not that she’s shared with me.” Jonquil looked confused. “She doesn’t keep secrets from me, and I think she would tell if she’d formed an attachment.”

  “Would she? You’re sure?”

  “As sure as I can be. She’s always talking about being the older twin and saying she will have to be the first to marry, so I truly believe she wouldn’t be able to keep from telling me. Why do you ask?”

  “I think that note was from someone else and not her friend Gwen. She seemed like she wasn’t telling your brother the truth.”

  Jonquil sat quietly for a time. “Now that I’ve had a chance to think about it, you might be right. She did seem not quite right.”

  The duke stopped the barouche and spoke to a couple of ladies in their own open-top conveyance. They both looked at Jonquil and Amelia and nodded a hello.

  Relieved they both were amiable and didn’t give her the cut direct, Amelia smiled at them. She even made eye contact with the ladies and was proud of herself for doing so.

  They continued down the street. Jonquil waved to a few other ladies of her acquaintance. Just as Amelia was relaxing enough to really enjoy the outing, she spotted her uncle’s carriage at the intersection of two streets. Susan and her mother walked down the sidewalk.

  As the barouche passed the two ladies, her aunt glanced at the driver and then the passengers.

  Amelia was surprised to see all the color drain from her aunt’s face. She stopped and gaped at them then poked her daughter in the side.

  Susan looked up and made eye contact with Amelia. Her cousin’s face turned red, and she began walking toward the barouche.

  “Basil, go. It’s Miss Susan Mandeville. She’s coming this way,” Jonquil called out.

  He turned his head, and as soon as he did, he clicked his tongue at the horses. They moved out of reach as Susan placed her hands on the side of the carriage.

  Amelia’s heart tumbled in her chest as the carriage began to tip. Will the carriage roll over Susan? She had never been kind to Amelia, but Amelia still didn’t wish any harm to come to her.

  When they’d passed on, Amelia glanced backward. Susan was standing in the road staring at the barouche, but she was still on her feet.

  “They’re going to be part of my life forever, aren’t they? Even though they threw me out of their house, I’ll never be free of them.” Amelia wanted to cry. All her feelings of inadequacy came back to the surface, and all she wanted to do was sob. She was wearing a beautiful gown, but nothing had really changed. She was still hated and reviled by her own kind.

  “Forget them. It’s true they live in the same city, but you don’t have to speak to any of those people.” Jonquil patted Amelia’s hand. She leaned forward and spoke to her brother. “We should go home. Amelia isn’t well.”

  The duke immediately turned on the next street and drove them back to the house.

  When they arrived, a carriage was out front.

  The duke made a noise in his throat and climbed down from his seat. “Wait here for the coachman. I’ve got to put a stop to this.”

  He turned and ran at a trot to the front door that Swinton held open for him.

  Basil entered his home with a full-blown temper. He wasn’t sure what made him angrier, his sister’s treachery or Cecil Longthorne’s audacity.

  He continued his forward momentum until he slid to a stop in the doorway of the morning parlor. “What is going on here?”

  “Oh, good to see you, Darnley. Miss Van Eizenga and I decided to come by on a social call. Imagine our delight when we learned that Lady Saffron was at home. She explained that you and Lady Jonquil were away, but since Miss Van Eizenga could act as her chaperone, she allowed us to come in for some refreshment. Won’t you join us?”

  “Let me get this straight, Longthorne. You’re inviting me to partake in my own hospitality?” Basil stepped over to where Longthorne stood beside a cabinet.

  “Basil, you seem angry. What’s the problem?” Vonda asked.

  “You know quite well what
the problem is, madam. I have asked both of you not to call, yet I arrive home from a nice outing with my sister and find you in my home.”

  “You mean your sister and your paramour, correct?” Vonda asked as Amelia and Jonquil entered the parlor. Vonda looked down her nose at Amelia. “New gown?”

  Amelia didn’t respond to the comments clearly meant to cause her distress. She merely took a seat on one of the chairs and crossed her feet at the ankles.

  “Miss Mandeville is not my paramour.” Basil took a minute to catch his breath then looked at Saffron. “Go upstairs. Right now.”

  “You can’t make me. I’m entertaining, and you have no right to do this.”

  “I have every right. I am your guardian, and you will obey me. This instant.”

  “What will you do if I don’t?” Saffron jutted her bottom lip out as if she were a spoiled child.

  “This.” Basil stormed across the room to where his sister sat and picked her up by the arm. He walked out of the room with her screaming in his ear and beating on his upper chest and shoulder. Carrying her up the staircase to her chamber while she pummeled him wasn’t easy, but he did it.

  Once they were inside, he sat her on the bed. “You stay right here until I get back, and then we’re going to have a long talk. I am going to want that letter Longthorne sent to you.” He turned on his heel and made his way back down the stairs, not sure if she’d stay there but knowing he’d never lay a hand on her if she didn’t.

  Once again I have to be the strict guardian, but by Jove, they need a strong hand. Both of them. For all I know, Jonquil is also communicating with unacceptable suitors.

  When he entered the parlor, he was surprised to find Jonquil and Amelia alone.