The Wild Duchess/The Willful Duchess (The Duchess Club Book 1)

by Renee Bernard

  “Oh, my!” Caroline pressed her hand against her heart. “Let’s just pledge not to hit anyone, shall we?”

  “Yes,” Scarlett said quickly. “Let’s do that and then remind ourselves of the need to courageously make the best of the Season for Starr.”

  “Girls! This conversation seems to have gotten away from us.”

  “Sorry, Mother,” they said in unison.

  “Starr, you are not hiding in corners and holding coats. Scarlett, you are not encouraging anyone to hit anyone with fans. Understood?”

  “Yes, Mother,” they answered dutifully.

  “Things will get better for you, Starr. You’ll see.”

  “If Lord Hayle was…you didn’t see him, Mother. He was so…” Starr struggled to find the right words. “If I look at it with a cool detached eye, if Lord Hayle is the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, which I regret to say he is, and things went so horribly wrong, which they did, then does it not stand to logic and deductive reasoning to dictate that any lesser man will only prove to be even more horrible? I don’t see how things will get better.”

  Scarlett shook her head. “Logic should never be applied when a man is involved.”

  “Ladies, please. Tomorrow you’ll have a lovely day with Mrs. Hastings and with Ivy at the Royal Museum of Art and you can put all of this unpleasantness out of your head, my dearest.”

  Starr’s demeanor brightened immediately. “Not a dance card in sight at the museum! I can’t wait!”

  Scarlett sighed. “Not a dance card in sight…”

  “Oh, come now. A day without a duke is not such a dreary thing, is it?”

  “No, of course not,” Scarlett replied dutifully. “I am looking forward to a quiet afternoon.”

  Caroline smiled. “The quiet cannot hurt.”

  “Will you come with us, Mother?”

  “We’ll see,” Caroline said then reached across to touch Starr’s hand. “But if I cannot, I pray you will see fit to tell me all about your adventures—the good and the bad, yes?”

  “Yes, Mother.” Starr squeezed her mother’s hand, capturing them with her own. “No more secrets. We just didn’t want to upset you, or Father.”

  Scarlett nodded. “Especially Father. He is very…protective.”

  “A blatant understatement,” Starr added. “We should send a note warning Lord Hayle to flee if he sees Father coming.”

  Caroline shifted on the carriage seat as she gave the matter some thought. “We cannot send a note but we may need to do what we can to ensure his continued well-being. We shall say nothing of what happened to your Father, at least, for now. Agreed?”

  “I thought we weren’t keeping secrets,” Scarlett said quickly.

  “Not from your mother,” Caroline replied with a blush. “But in this case, I don’t want my husband to dig out his great-grandfather’s dueling pistols and make a fool of himself, so I shall exercise my prerogative to make an executive decision. This secret will stay among the ladies of the family.”

  “Yes, Mother,” they said together and then failed to keep from laughing.

  The following day, as promised, the twins were out with their friend Ivy and her mother for an afternoon at the museum. Mrs. Hastings was a wonderful guide and very well-informed. Ivy was just as knowledgeable about the various works on the walls and they were a lively group as they sauntered through the displays at a pace of their choosing.

  “Mrs. Hastings!”

  “Lord Sheffield,” Eleanor said. “I was just here to enjoy the day.”

  “Yes, I see!” He nodded at the girls but did not slow to seek an introduction. “Mrs. Hastings, may I have a word with you? Alone? Some of our patrons have expressly asked me to seek you out and now fortuitously you are here before me!”

  “I’m…” She looked at the girls, clearly uncertain about leaving them unattended.

  “Go on, Mother. We’ll be fine and will not leave the main halls,” Ivy reassured her. “I can fend off any unwelcome attention.”

  Scarlett nodded quickly. “That is something you can take completely on faith, Mrs. Hastings. We are as safe as churches.”

  Eleanor smiled. “Very well. Lead on, Lord Sheffield, but please, I cannot take too much time.”

  “Of course! Excuse us, ladies. I’ll bring her back as quickly as I can.” He guided Mrs. Hastings away, immediately launching into his campaign. “As you know, Mrs. Hastings, we are very interested in your husband’s work to…”

  His voice faded as he escorted her beyond their hearing and Ivy sighed. “They’ll not win the day and get Father’s paintings.”

  “No matter,” Starr said. “Sheffield seems the kind of man who enjoys the fight.”

  “True, but Mother will wear him out with denials.” She turned back to her friends and the next hall. “Come! Let’s make the most of our adventure and tell me more about this Lord Hayle. Did you really hit him on the nose in the midst of a crowded room?”

  “Starr has surpassed me for causing a sensation,” Scarlett teased. “I think I could dance with every duke in the realm now and no one would notice!”

  “Gracious!” A woman’s voice cut in with an edge so sharp it made them wince. “How is it that every time I run into you, Miss Blackwell, you are pronouncing the most horrifyingly unladylike things!”

  “Lady Durham.” Scarlett tried not to groan in dismay as she said it. “You…remember my friend, Miss Ivy Hastings? And this of course, is my sister, Starr.”

  “I’ve no wish to engage in conversation with so rude a creature as Miss Hastings. Nor do I desire to meet your sister.” Lady Durham shifted to prepare to walk away. “I apologize for my exclamation. I was just so shocked to hear that you aspire to collect men the way some children collect butterflies. It is disgusting! You are disgusting!”

  She turned with a firm flip of her skirts to attempt to underline the impact of her words with a departure and instead froze in place.

  Scarlett looked to see what had stopped her and realized that the Duke of Stafford was walking toward them with purpose in his stride.

  Oh, God.

  “Y-your Grace! It is—”

  “No. Do not try to tell me it is a pleasure to see me, madam. If what I overheard is even a small sample of your treatment of others in unguarded moments, then I think all of the shame and disgust I am feeling at witnessing this incident is yours to bear. And you alone.”

  “Whatever you thought you heard, it was out of context and I have every right to speak as I wish to young women without—”

  “Good day, Lady Durham. I suggest you leave us before I speak as I have every right to do with your husband to ensure that he is aware of his wife’s behavior in a public sphere.”

  The woman retreated in a fury yet again, and Ivy was the one who spoke first after they all stood in stunned silence to watch her go. “She is not quick to learn a lesson, is she?”

  Starr was nearly in tears. “W-why was she so hateful? Why is everyone so hateful?”

  Scarlett’s concern was immediate. “Starr, it’s all right, dearest. Lady Durham was just continuing a bit of—it’s all right. I don’t like her either, so there’s no surprises there. All right? Ivy, can you take her to get some cold water? Go with Ivy, darling, and let her help you. You cannot—we’ve made so much of a scene already and if you cry now, we’ll be done!”

  “Done in,” Ivy added. “She’s right. There was some lemon water in the reception hall outside of the Botticelli exhibit. I’ll take you there if that’s—is that even acceptable, Your Grace?”

  He nodded. “It’s a public hall. I am hardly alone with Miss Blackwell with a dozen chaperones on hand. By all means, you must see to Miss Starr’s well-being.”

  Ivy led her friend away and Scarlett let out a long, slow exhale to regain her own equilibrium in his presence. “Just once, Your Grace, I would like to meet you when I am in a very regal and calm state.”

  “Why would you wish that?” he teased.

  “Probably on
ly to prove that I can be regal and calm.”

  “I have no doubt of it.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Chesterton asked me to get his nephew out of the house and I couldn’t think of anywhere to really go at this hour—so we luckily chose to wander about and look at dead men’s paintings. An inspired choice, I now believe.”

  “Chesterton’s nephew is here? I don’t think Starr will survive the shock if she sees him after what happened at Sussex House.” Scarlett anxiously looked past him in the direction Ivy had taken her sister. “I should warn her.”

  “He is the soul of contrition. You should have seen him the other day when he took flowers to your mother. He presents no threat and if he doesn’t apologize to her soon, Chesterton is going to lock him in the basement to starve and beat him. Perhaps it’s an act of mercy if we give him a chance to do the right thing and make amends to your sister as best he can.”

  “The flowers. They were left without a card and…” Scarlett shook her head slowly in amazement. “He was very brave to call.”

  “Chesterton is hoping he is.”

  “You were very brave, just then. Lady Durham is—I think she could scare a horse out of its hide.”

  “She’s a viper without teeth.”

  Scarlett smiled. “Those looked like fangs to me. Perhaps you’re too tall and couldn’t see them from your vantage point.”

  “Perhaps,” he conceded with a smile. “I hadn’t considered the disadvantages of my height.”

  “Understandable. You’re so accustomed to it.”

  “Scarlett, that night in the theatre was—”

  “Please, let’s speak of something else. This is a public place as you said to Ivy and I think far too public for…certain topics, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Yes, of course.” He surveyed the room as if weighing his options. “Would you like to look at the exhibits? The sculpture hall is over there. Perhaps it interests you?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  They walked together toward the sculpture hall. “You handled Lady Durham with a good deal of strength, Miss Blackwell. I hope your sister’s distress passes quickly.”

  “She feels all of it for me, so deeply, that I almost don’t have to worry about how bruising anyone’s words are. I just have to worry about Starr.”

  “Has there been a great deal of…ugly incidents?”

  “No. Lady Durham alone accounts for much of my misery and as you said, she is a lot of air and hissing. She resents my friendship with Chesterton.”

  “I’ve made it worse.”

  Scarlett smiled. “Between your championing of me in the park with Lady Carlyle and today’s great defense, I would say that you have definitely made things—more interesting for the gossips. But I don’t mind. None of it matters, does it? What people say? If it has no truth behind it, they can prattle on until the end of time.”

  “You are an astonishing person. So many live their lives to anything and everything to avoid one single word from people like Lady Durham. Yet you are…fearless.”

  “I’m not fearless. I’m stubborn. There is a terrible difference between the two but they do resemble each other from a distance.” Scarlett slowed as they entered the sculptural hall, her cheeks growing flushed and pink. “Speaking of seeing things from a distance…”

  Talon looked out to see what had caught her attention and immediately realized his mistake. Classical statues recovered from the Mediterranean sounded lofty and appropriate in the museum’s guide but standing there looking across a room full of naked marble figures; many larger than life and lacking even a nod to a fig leaf made him groan at the misstep.

  He stepped in front of her to alleviate the view. “Shall we try to find a few paintings of landscapes, Miss Blackwell?”

  “Yes. Landscapes. How I long to see greenery at this moment!”

  He walked her out as quickly as he could. “That did not go as planned, Miss Blackwell.”

  “Nothing ever does.” Scarlett sighed. “It’s starting to feel as if there is a grand conspiracy to get me into trouble in your company, Your Grace. I am grateful for your interventions but I only wish…”

  “Yes?”

  “That you were less handsome while doing so.”

  Talon smiled. “I shall do my best to be less appealing in the future.”

  “Can you do that? Have you some control over this power of yours?”

  “With that expression on your face, I’m beginning to worry. What would you suggest?”

  “Well, I probably can’t ask you to smudge your nose with soot in this company. Perhaps a mismatched waistcoat? Or a less successful cravat?”

  His horror was impossible to disguise. “I would rather ride into the next ball on top of a donkey.”

  Scarlett laughed. “You share your firm attachment to fashion with my father. If he’d been born in another age, he’d have given Beau Brummel stiff competition, Your Grace.”

  “Do I?” Talon grew more thoughtful. “Do you mind me asking why your parents do not accompany you out into society more often?”

  “My mother’s been somewhat unwell and my father is uncomfortable away from her at such times. He adores her so completely and she him.” Scarlett smiled wistfully. “Starr and I long ago decided that it was perfect that there should be two of us as well. We are never lonely, you see? Not that we were ever neglected! The opposite, in fact. I cannot imagine being more loved. Father spoils us in ridiculous measures and we’ve never failed to enjoy it, but we know that Mother has his heart in her keeping and who would wish it otherwise?”

  “I’m sorry to hear of her illness…if…” Some vague phrase of sympathy evaporated from his mind’s grasp and Talon stopped. The habit of evasion was deeply ingrained but he shook it off at the look in her eyes. Scarlett Blackwell deserved more than a hollow speech about something he knew nothing about. “Miss Blackwell. I think I might be envious of you.”

  “Envious? How is that possible?”

  “You speak of love as easily as others speak of the weather.”

  “Do I? I don’t think I said anything extraordinary.”

  “No? My point is made then,” he said firmly. “Your father is formidable but when I hear you speak of his motives, it is hard to fault him for disliking me so intensely.”

  “Father doesn’t dislike you. Not yet.”

  “He most certainly does. The man is not subtle in his speech.”

  “Wait. Father has spoken to you? About…me?”

  “I came to call yesterday while you were out. I was anxious to see you again. Frankly, I was concerned that I’ve been far less than gentlemanly in our encounters—one way or the other—and I didn’t want a silence to grow between us.”

  “He said nothing at dinner! What do you mean he isn’t subtle in his speech?”

  Talon smiled. “He was on the balcony the night I danced with you at Pellham’s. The night I…expressed a distaste for a broader education for women.”

  “Oh, no! He’d have taken everything you said to heart—and it is Mother’s great cause and so important to her.”

  “It is more than a matter of disagreeing with my stance on reforms, Miss Blackwell. I have failed to measure up.”

  Scarlett shook her head slowly and began to smile. “Probably the opposite is true. It is no matter. I will speak to him and reassure him that we have made peace you and I.”

  “Is that what we have achieved?” he asked softly. “I far prefer it over being at war.”

  “It is all new to me, this strange battle and the…thrilling victories. I should tell you, Your Grace, that I was concerned as well. I have not ever...allowed a man such liberties. It is important to me that you not mistake the weakness of a moment for a broader judgment of my character.”

  “No. I would never make that mistake, Miss Blackwell.”

  “But I am breaking my own rule. I asked you not to speak of it and then I did, didn’t I?”

  “It is a woman’s p
rerogative to change her mind.”

  “No truer words…”

  “Have you spoken to Chesterton?” he asked softly.

  “I did not have an opportunity, Your Grace. But there is—so much time yet. I won’t squander the chance when it comes.”

  “Good.” He leaned over to whisper into the shell of her ear. “I wish I could kiss you now.”

  “I wish you could, too, but this time, Your Grace, I shall have to be strong. If only to protect your reputation,” she sighed. “And mine, of course.”

  “Of course. It is another reason to admire you, Miss Blackwell.”

  They continued on, speaking only of the paintings on the walls and the effort of the artists, but Scarlett knew that every step she took was one more down a path by his side that would change her forever.

  And it is more and more clear that I don’t want the journey to ever end…

  Ryder sat on a bench near the reception hall, in no mood for museums and the crush of a strolling public. The call with the flowers had gained him almost nothing. His face had healed completely but his uncle was still icily unimpressed with his efforts to apologize to Miss Starr.

  Damn it. It’s not as if I can park outside her home or just stumble into her publicly to—

  Starr Blackwell walked by him with another young lady at her elbow and he nearly fell off the bench.

  The planets just aligned to make me a liar!

  He stood to catch them. “Miss Starr! Miss Blackwell?”

  She turned and he almost regretted it at the sight of her already distressed countenance and pale face. Almost. Because it was hard to forfeit any chance, no matter how uphill it may be, to climb out of his disgrace.

  “Are you unwell? Is everything all right?”

  “I’m fine. We… Ivy, would you mind getting that lemon water and…bringing it to me here? I need to speak to Lord Hayle alone, if I may.”

  Ivy’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked at Ryder and seemed to come to a reluctant decision to trust her friend to his temporary care. “Very well. I’ll be back in just a few minutes. A very few minutes. And expect to find you here. Exactly and precisely, here.”