The Orphan and the Duke

by Jillian Chantal

  “It was very hard. Still is.” He took her hands in his. “It does my heart good to see you with my mother’s necklace on, though.”

  “Then for that reason, I shall wear it with pride . . . even if someone makes a comment about it.”

  “Thank you for wearing it. Now, I must go present each of my sisters with a bauble to wear as well.” He bowed and kissed Amelia’s hand.

  After Basil left, she retrieved her reticule and pulled her prized possession from its hiding place—her mother’s ring. She removed it from the ribbon she kept it tied to and slipped it on her finger. She was surprised to see that it was still too big.

  Not remembering much about her mother except for a vague figure, she was a bit disappointed to find it wasn’t snug on her hand. She thought someday it would fit as if it were made for her.

  Shrugging her shoulders, she picked up her wrap and covered her shoulders. It was nearly time to face the crowd. She prayed for strength and kissed the ring. She asked God to send her mother to act as her guardian angel upon her debut into society. Such as it was.

  The duke and his sisters stood at the door to the ballroom and greeted their guests as Swinton announced each one. Amelia was thrilled to see how happy both Saffron and Jonquil were. They were smiling and laughing and thoroughly engaged with each guest as they were greeted. She wasn’t sure if Saffron and Basil had come to some sort of rapprochement, but they didn’t seem to be at odds as the older of the twins stood by his side with Jonquil on her other side.

  Amelia moved among the crowd, listening to the discussions going on around her. She didn’t worry about finding anyone to converse with since she didn’t expect to see anyone of her acquaintance except for Myles and Augusta Cuthbert and perhaps Vonda Van Eizenga, but she knew Vonda wouldn’t deign to speak to her. She had no desire to discuss anything with the snobbish older woman whom she knew Basil felt obligated to invite.

  Amelia’s ears perked up when she passed a couple of ladies whom she presumed were dowagers. Their very presence intimated Amelia.

  One of them whispered to the other, with the whisper of a deaf person, one that everyone around could hear. “I see the Duke of Darnley has snubbed his aunt Caroline again. That scandal at the palace was unforgiveable, and now he’s done it for a second time. As the eldest member of the family, she should be up there greeting the guests with them.”

  “I agree.” The other lady sniffed. “And I saw that young man—what’s his name? Longthorne?—outside near the hedges.”

  “You mean the one Darnley tossed off the dance floor?”

  Amelia’s heart fell to her feet. First, she wanted to correct the old lady. Basil didn’t throw anyone anywhere. He escorted his sister away from the cad. Second, she felt it her duty to tell Basil about Longthorne. It would not do at all for him to happen upon the man and have another scandal touch the family. After all, my being here is scandalous enough for one evening.

  She turned to make her way across the crowded room but was waylaid by the arrival of Myles and Augusta.

  Augusta reached out and hugged Amelia almost mid-stride. “You look lovely this evening, Amelia.”

  “Thank you, and so do you, but if you’ll excuse me, I really must get to Basil and tell him something I just learned. It’s rather urgent, I’m afraid.”

  “Basil?” Augusta said with a quirk of her eyebrows.

  “Yes.” Amelia felt her face flush. “He’s given me leave to address him thus.”

  Augusta exchanged a look with her husband that Amelia didn’t understand, but she didn’t have time to figure it out.

  She attempted to move away from the Cuthberts.

  “Look, they’re starting the first dance. You’ll have to wait. Everyone would notice if you interrupted them.” Augusta nodded toward the dance floor.

  Amelia wanted to stomp her foot in frustration. What if the blackguard makes an appearance before I can warn Basil?

  “That’s a beautiful necklace,” Augusta said.

  “Thank you. Basil loaned it to me to wear this evening since it matches my gown.” Amelia fingered the bauble nervously as she watched Basil dancing with Jonquil.

  “And the ring as well?” Myles leaned in and looked at the ring.

  “Oh no. This is actually mine. A family heirloom. The only item of my mother’s I have.”

  “May I?” Myles reached for her hand. He turned it from one side to the other as he studied it.

  “What?” Amelia asked, afraid to remove her hand from his as he was so intent on the piece.

  “You say this was your mother’s?”

  “That was what I was always told. It’s the only thing I have from her.”

  “I’m sorry to ask you this, but when did you lose your mother?”

  “I’m not really sure. She died before my father. The story I always heard was that she died first of some disease, and then he followed some time later. He’d asked his brother to raise me after he learned he was ill. My uncle sent someone to France to retrieve me. I was four, I think. Maybe five. Why?”

  “France? You’re French?” Myles finally let go of Amelia’s hand.

  “I don’t even know if I’m part French. My father is from London, and I’ve no idea why he was in France or if my mother was of that nationality either.”

  “So, you’ve got a family mystery?” Augusta asked with a squeeze of Amelia’s hand. She looked at her husband. “I think you’re frightening Miss Mandeville.”

  “Sorry. No harm meant.” Myles bowed.

  “My husband can be intense, Amelia. Try not to let him bother you.”

  “Look, the first dance is over. I must speak to Basil.” Amelia wanted to tell the duke about Longthorne, but she also wanted to free herself of the uncomfortable conversation she was having with Myles. Why is he so interested in my past and my mother’s ring?

  “Will we see you at supper then?” Augusta asked.

  “Certainly. We must sit together.” Amelia turned to step away and found Basil at her side.

  “I believe you promised me this dance.” Basil bowed.

  “I certainly did, and I need to talk to you as well.” Amelia took his hand and led him away from the Cuthberts.

  He caught up to her and smiled. “I think I like this Amelia.”

  “What Amelia?”

  “The one who’s eager to dance with me and show the ton she doesn’t care about idle gossip.”

  She’d completely forgotten about the gossip in her concern for Basil.

  They stepped on the floor and joined the group in the reel. Each time Amelia passed him, she tried to tell him about Longthorne being somewhere on the premises.

  When it became clear to him what she was saying, his face flushed with suffused rage. He glanced over Amelia’s head as if searching the ballroom. She didn’t know if he was looking for Saffron or Longthorne but feared he’d find Longthorne first.

  When she met up with him again in the dance, she said, “When this is over, we will find her.”

  “I hope she hasn’t done anything foolish. I should have known when she appeared so docile at the door she had something planned. She’s always been the wilder of my sisters.” He glanced at Amelia in horror. “Do you think Jonquil is aiding her?”

  “No. I think Jonquil believed you.”

  They separated again. Even though Amelia was enjoying her first official dance, she wished it would end so they could find Saffron. She remembered the two times she’d waltzed with Basil. That memory warmed her heart and distracted her for a second from the urgency of finding Saffron.

  As soon as the song ended, Amelia and Basil stepped aside and conferred.

  “I will find Jonquil and see if she knows where Saffron is.” Amelia squeezed Basil’s hand and didn’t care one bit who saw it.
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  “I’m going to call out Longthorne when I find him.”

  “No. Don’t. What if something happens to you? What will become of your sisters?”

  He nodded. “You’re right. I’ll just beat him. Hard.” Basil whirled around and left her side.

  Amelia was unhappy with the turn of events. She decided she needed to enlist the aid of Myles Cuthbert and maybe one of Augusta’s brothers if they were there.

  Amelia found Augusta chatting with another lady. She placed a hand on her elbow. “I’m sorry, Lady Augusta. May I have a moment of your time?”

  “Of course, but first, let me introduce my friend, Cassandra” Augusta said.

  Amelia nodded at the dark-haired woman. “It’s nice to meet you, but I really need to talk with Augusta.”

  The other lady nodded and stepped away.

  After Amelia finished filling Augusta in on the situation, she said, “Let me get Myles.”

  Leaving Augusta to find her husband and assist Basil, Amelia turned her search to either Jonquil or Saffron.

  Seeing Jonquil on the dance floor, Amelia turned her thoughts to where Saffron might be if she were meeting a beau for an assignation. Never having had that kind of temptation in her own life, she was at a loss. She hoped the girl hadn’t done anything irrevocable.

  Deciding to check the terraces, Amelia walked toward one of the doors that led outside. She was waylaid by Vonda.

  “What’s the rush, Miss Mandeville?” Vonda asked as she looked down at Amelia from her considerable height.

  “I’m looking for someone. Please step aside.”

  Vonda reached out and flipped the emerald that hung from Amelia’s neck. “You may be wearing a Staunton heirloom tonight, but this will be the last time. Better enjoy it while you can.”

  “What does that mean? I hardly think you’re in a position to say to whom the duke can loan his family pieces.”

  “I may not be today, but I will be tomorrow.” The vixen raised one eyebrow in an insolent way.

  Amelia did not want to take the bait Vonda dangled in front her but felt she had no choice. “What happens tomorrow?”

  “You will see, but suffice it to say, I will be in a position to make demands. You know, in order for me to keep my mouth shut about his sister.”

  Amelia’s blood turned to ice. Her gut clenched, and she almost vomited. They are setting poor Saffron up to be debauched and then going to blackmail Basil into something awful. I just know it.

  Deciding she couldn’t idly stand by and let it happen, she shoved Vonda as hard as she could and dashed out to the terrace.

  Standing in the shadows were Longthorne and Saffron. He had his hands on her breasts.

  Without taking the time to think about a proper course of action, Amelia ran up on them and leapt on Longthorne’s back. She pommeled him with her fists.

  He turned with a roar and threw her off. “What the hell?”

  “Get away from her! Now!”

  Saffron cowered in the corner.

  Longthorne lunged for Amelia and smacked her on the side of the head. She reeled and almost fell but managed to remain standing.

  Because Saffron’s reputation was at stake, Amelia tried to focus but found it difficult. Her ears were ringing, and it seemed her eyes were crossed as well.

  While Amelia bent over to catch her breath, Longthorne reached for Saffron. Amelia recovered and ran for him again and butted her head into him. It was her only choice as there were no ready weapons on the upstairs terrace.

  He turned around as if to club her, but his hand stopped midair.

  “Stop. Move away from my sister.” Basil was ready for a fight.

  “No. She loves me, and we will be together.”

  “Only if I’m dead first.”

  “That can be arranged.” Longthorne took a step toward Basil at the same time the door opened and two more men stepped onto the terrace—Myles Cuthbert and Lancelot Covington.

  “As you were saying?” Cuthbert asked.

  “This isn’t over, Darnley. I’ll have that land one way or another.” Longthorne turned on his heels.

  Saffron let out a cry of dismay.

  Longthorne turned back to her. “I’d have taken you, too, as a kind of two-part deal. You’d have been happy with me.” He bowed. “For a while anyway . . . until I tired of you.” He spun on his heel, but before he could take a step, Basil knocked him out with a punch to his jaw.

  Longthorne landed hard on his back. Basil held his hand out to Saffron. “Come inside.”

  She moved to her brother. “I’m so sorry, Basil. I truly believed he loved me.”

  Amelia was glad Basil didn’t say anything about trusting him next time. She didn’t want there to be a next time, but she also didn’t want to see a rift in Basil and Saffron’s relationship.

  Basil turned to Amelia. “Are you all right?”

  “My face is a little sore from the punch, but as I’ve been struck before and survived, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  “What will we tell our guests, Basil?” Saffron asked.

  “Augusta is inside making sure no one comes out, and since Lancelot and I are going to remove the blackguard from the premises with no one the wiser, there will no need to say anything to your guests. I suggest you go inside and dance, Lady Saffron.” Myles looked at Basil. “And you may want to find a way to take Amelia to a private place to recover her hair and face.”

  “I know the perfect spot.” Basil took Amelia’s hand, opened the door for the two ladies, and let Saffron pass first, followed by Amelia.

  Before they separated, Basil said, “I suggest you stay in public areas the rest of the evening, Saffron, and find Augusta if you need anything before I get back with Amelia. We’ll discuss all this in the morning.”

  Saffron kissed Basil on the cheek. “Thank you. I may return to my chambers and go to bed. I’m not in the mood to dance any longer.” She walked away.

  “Don’t you think we should go with her?” Amelia asked.

  “You can’t go back inside. You may not realize it, but your hair is loose and you have a bruise forming on your cheek. Saffron is not in such a state and will pass unnoticed, unlike you.”

  “Then I need to hide. I don’t want to bring any gossip on your family.”

  Basil led Amelia to the curtains beside one of the window seats. “How about taking a few minutes to repair your toilette and then rejoining the ball?”

  “Behind this curtain? Are you now a lady’s maid?”

  “You’ll see.” He grinned as he pulled her behind the draperies.

  Chapter 17

  Basil pressed against the part of the wall that opened the secret passageway to his study.

  Amelia gasped as the hole appeared. “What is this?”

  “One of my ancestors had it installed for when his wife’s balls became too tedious for him. It’s a pathway to my downstairs study. I disappeared into it that day Vonda entered the ballroom. Come down with me, and I’ll call for your maid to repair your hair.”

  Amelia stepped through the doorway with Basil right behind her.

  She immediately turned to face him. “It’s dark. Are you sure it’s all right?”

  “Yes. I have a torch in a sconce on the wall. I’ll light it in a trice, and we’ll be on our way.” His skin warmed with her closeness. It would be one quick movement to have her in my arms. How can I resist? Would it scare her?

  “Why wait?” she asked, her sweet breath in his face. She still smelled of the fragrance he loved.

  “Because I want to do this first.” He placed his right arm around her waist, leaned in, and brushed his lips gently against hers.

  She let out a small sound he took as encouragement. He brushed across them again and t
ightened his hold on her.

  Her body pressed against his was almost his undoing. Since her hair was already mostly down, he ran his left hand through the tresses, meeting the resistance of the ribbons.

  “This is nice,” she whispered.

  “I agree, my angel.” He captured her mouth with his and made sure she was amenable to his touch. He then opened his mouth slightly to encourage her to do the same.

  As soon as he had access, he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She let out a surprised gasp, but to his delight, she didn’t pull back. Rather, she relaxed into him even more and allowed his tongue full access.

  He moaned and slid his tongue down the side of her neck, nibbling as he went, then returned to her mouth to deepen the kiss even more.

  After a few moments, she whispered, “Is kissing always this wonderful?”

  Basil laughed and hugged her. “When it’s between people who love each other, it is.”

  “Have you kissed others then?”

  He did not want to have that conversation in a dark place while the woman he wanted to marry was resting in his arms. “Never mind that, darling. Even if I have, I won’t be doing so ever again.”

  “Why?”

  “Because from this day out, I will only be kissing my wife.”

  “I’ve told you I’m illegitimate. How can a duke marry a girl with no name?”

  “A duke can do as he wishes. There is no one to tell me no.”

  “And that is what I fear.”

  “What’s that, my love?”

  “That you’re making a hasty decision you will come to regret.”

  “Never. Tell me you’ll marry me, Amelia, and make me the happiest man in Christendom. Please.”