by K. Young
Derrick was annoyed. A woman usually meant trouble, and he'd had plenty of that for the day, thank you.
"Well, who is she?"
"She wouldn't say, m'lord. Only that she needed to speak with you on a matter of great urgency."
"Unbelievable." Derrick rolled his eyes.
"Shall I have her thrown out, sir?"
"It would have been better not to let her in at all."
"Forgive me, m'lord, but as I said, she's rather pushy."
"Very well. I will deal with her."
"Yes, m'lord." Williams bowed formally and walked away stiffly.
Derrick felt a twinge of regret at the tone he had taken with Williams. It wasn't the old man's fault Derrick was having a terrible day, and Derrick wasn't normally the type to take it out on his staff, either. He would have to find a way to make it up to the old man. In the meantime, he strode over to his study to see what the lady wanted. But, when Derrick opened the door, he was not expecting the person standing there to be the same woman who had come to his rescue less than an hour before.
Kristen turned at the sound of the door opening and her heart stopped in her chest. She had always seen Derrick from afar, never up close, and even this morning she had been preoccupied with her rescue. But, up close, she was treated to a vision she was sure no woman on Earth had any right to. He was tall and broad of shoulder but not so large as to be brutish. His legs were powerfully built and molded to his breeches perfectly. His hands hung by his side, but the fingers were long and graceful. Kristen was certain those hands could be warm and just as powerful as the rest of his body.
His hair was the color of a raven's wing, and he wore it fashionably long so that it curled around his ears at the end. One lock fell over his equally dark brows into his eyes, and made his sun-tanned skin seem golden by comparison. But, the most compelling feature about Derrick Shane was his eyes. They were the color of brandy by firelight; an amber so rich and vibrant that they seemed to glow from within. Kristen had heard rumors that he was born of the devil, and had a terrible temper to match. She had always shrugged the rumors off, not believing them for a second, but standing there in his study, there was a moment in which she began to wonder.
Kristen licked her parched lips and cleared her throat to bring their attention back to what needed to be discussed.
"Forgive my staring, Lord Shane, but subtlety has never been my forte." She curtsied her greeting and stood with her hands behind her back.
Derrick was taken aback. He had never laid eyes on a more beautiful woman. He took his time and admired her from head to toe, taking in every detail and committing it to memory, certain that it would never do the original justice. She was tall for a woman but perfect for his towering height. He liked them rather tall and didn't understand why a man would prefer someone he had to bend over to kiss. Her body was slender, but curvy in all the right places.
Her breasts were full and perky, and he could just tell they would be quite the handful, a thought that gave him a good deal of pleasure. Those magnificent globes gave way to a tapered waist and slightly flared hips. After admiring her body for what was too long to be polite, he lifted his gaze to her face and his heart nearly stopped. He was certain it took him a full minute to recover his breath, and only then because he felt the pressure in his head. Beautiful is the only word that came to mind, though even that wasn't a sufficient description.
She had honey blonde hair that fell gently down her back in soft curls with wisps delicately framing her face. Derrick was certain it would be just as fine as any silk, and he suddenly wanted to reach out and touch it. Her eyebrows were finely manicured, and a shade darker than her hair. Her lashes were long and rather alluring, and they framed clear, oceanblue eyes that seemed to be just as mysterious as the depths they resembled. Her ivory skin and striking cheekbones suggested that she was a lady, though he still hadn't figured out what she was doing in his study. He would have to remember to ask her that question when he was done looking her over. At the moment, her full, pink lips were demanding his attention. He watched as her tongue darted out to lick her lips and was nearly undone.
"Think nothing of it." Derrick said, amused as he looked her over once more.
"My lord, now you are staring." Kristen pointed out as she felt the blush creep up her neck.
"I know." He said wickedly.
Kristen cleared her throat. It would do neither of them any good to get distracted from the business at hand. "Lord Shane - "
"Please, call me Derrick."
"Derrick. My name is Lady Kristen Ashby. Since we're dispensing with formalities at this point, you may call me Kristen."
Derrick grinned and inclined his head politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kristen."
"Likewise. I have some rather shocking news to discuss with you, and then a proposition if you're interested. It might be best if we sit down to discuss this."
He lifted a brow but walked around to his desk all the same, lowering his large frame into his chair, his eyes never leaving Kristen's. She gracefully sat in one of the chairs across from him and promptly laid some documents out on the desk before him. Derrick began a cursory glance through them as she launched into her explanation.
"I do not know the how or the why of it, but it seems my mother and your eldest brother have betrothed us."
"I beg your pardon?" Derrick asked in disbelief.
"The contract is there. That is your family seal, is it not?"
Derrick looked. It was, and it bloody well was his brother's signature, too. Derrick read through the contract as Kristen continued.
"As I was saying, for reasons apparently unknown to either of us, our respective families wanted us to marry. My mother has passed away recently, and I need to fulfill the contract rather quickly."
"Is this some sort of joke?" Derrick demanded angrily.
"Not that I'm aware of."
"You cannot honestly expect me to agree to some supposed contract on your word that these documents are legitimate. I've never heard of this arrangement, and my brother is a fool in most things, but he has never meddled this much without my consent."
"Lord Shane - "
"Derrick."
"Fine. Derrick, you are implying that my mother, and by extension me, are trying to trick you into marriage. I am a great many things myself, but I don't need to trick you into marriage. Perhaps you should listen to my entire purpose for being her before you make such a judgment."
Derrick nearly squirmed under her hard stare. He had thought he was the one doing the intimidating in this meeting, but he was clearly mistaken. This woman, whoever she was, was a vixen, and she had teeth. Derrick waved his hand for her to continue, intrigued despite himself.
"Thank you. Now then, my mother has recently passed away leaving me in the very precarious situation of needing to find a husband. Given the circumstances, I am willing to accept the contract if you are; however, I understand if you would rather not. I won't hold you liable to me based on a contract our guardians signed, but I need an answer rather quickly. If you're not interested, I need to take my offer elsewhere."
Kristen took a breath to give Derrick time to respond, but since he was removed from speech, she continued.
"That brings me to the marriage contract. My family was not without money and titles, if those things matter at all. I can provide you with more than a satisfactory dowry, as well as land and additional titles to accompany your own."
"Stop."
"Is something wrong?"
"Well, your very matter-of-fact tone about it all is a little distressing, yes."
Kristen sighed. "Derrick, I don't have time for games. Either you are interested in my proposal, or you are not."
Derrick couldn't breathe. Surely there was some mistake. Surely his brother had not been foolish enough to sign a marriage contract on his behalf. Well, he was talking about Scott, so yes he was probably foolish enough to do just that. But, it didn't change the fact that Derrick still
felt trapped. He was sure there was a reasonable explanation for this whole affair.
"I need time to speak with my brother, to - "
"I'm afraid there is no time. My stepfather is waiting outside. If you do not agree to uphold the contract, then I'm to return home with him and choose from the suitors he has arranged for me. I'd prefer not to do that, but I will not hold you to a contract that you did not personally sign. So, what's it to be?"
Derrick looked at Kristen. She was quite beautiful, and he was most certainly drawn to her in a strange way, but marriage was a bit sudden for someone he just met. He barely knew her name, though he did give her credit for her willingness not to hold him accountable for the contract. Nevertheless, he couldn't marry her. He was certain Scott hadn't told her about their family, and when she found out, she would turn away in disgust just as every other woman with an association to his family had. There was a reason, despite his willingness to marry and start a family, that he had not.
"Kristen, I'm sorry. I'd like to - " He stopped when her head fell and her shoulders slumped forward. Derrick got the uncomfortable feeling that he had just let her down, and that did not sit well with him.
"Lord Shane, I'm very sorry to have wasted your time. You may keep the paperwork to dispose of as you wish."
Kristen stood up from her chair and walked to the door, her skirts swishing briskly behind her. The knot in her throat expanded and it was devilishly difficult to breathe, but she squared her shoulders as she opened the door and crossed the foyer to the front door. She would be damned if she would let her stepfather see her cry.
Derrick stood from his chair and watched as Kristen walked out of his house. She hadn't been angry, only disappointed. Whatever she was trying to escape must be pretty grim indeed to cling to an arranged marriage. Derrick scowled. He didn't know why he should feel guilty for letting the girl down since he wasn't the one who signed the contract in the first place, but he bloody well did. And, since he had no idea what the hell was going on, he felt like the biggest cad for letting her walk out the door. He knew just whom he needed to take his frustration out on, though.
"Williams!" Derrick bellowed.
The old butler wasn't far and stepped into the room with all due haste.
"Yes, m'lord?"
"Have the stable boy fetch my horse and bring it 'round, then send a missive off to Scott telling him I'll be stopping by...again."
"Yes, sir." Williams bowed and left the room to do his bidding.
***
Kristen climbed into the carriage. Her stomach was twisted in knots, and it didn't help that her stepfather, lecherous git that he was, sat there smiling at her.
"So, how did it go?" He asked saccharinely.
Kristen wrinkled her nose in disgust at him, hating to admit that he was right about Derrick Shane. "Just as you said it would."
"Then he said no?"
"Yes, he bloody well said no."
Stephen Ashby leaned back and regarded Kristen with
calculating eyes. Truth be told, he couldn't abide the girl, but she was Marie's daughter and that meant she was his way to Marie's money. He had worried over the marriage contract and how he was going to get Kristen out of it, but then she went and solved that problem for him. She had been appalled to find out her mother had done such a thing, and she would not force a man to marry her without his consent. Ashby, knowing Marie as he did, thought she'd done it to protect Kristen from him, but that hadn't worked out quite as planned.
"Then we have an agreement?"
Kristen looked at Ashby knowing this was a trick. She knew he wanted her mother's money, and since Marie hadn't been inclined to give him anything, Kristen wasn't either.
"I will meet your gentlemen, Ashby, but nothing more. If I do not like them, I will not marry them."
Kristen leaned back and stared at Ashby. She had no idea what game he was playing, but she was certain it wasn't one she was going to like. She watched as the muscles in his jaw ticked violently several times before he relaxed. The one thing on Kristen's side was that Ashby, while resourceful and cunning, was an utter coward. She was certain she could handle her own with him.
Ashby rapped sharply on the roof of the carriage, and it rolled down the street. The two occupants were both lost in their own thoughts, so the ride back to Ashby manor was fraught with tense silence.
Chapter 3
Derrick trudged up the front steps of the Duke of Hollingsworth's home. Actually, Scott Shane, as he was more casually known, was Derrick's older brother. But, that wouldn't help Scott when Derrick got his hands on him. The nerve of him actually signing a marriage contract without at least consulting Derrick first was inconceivable. Derrick wanted to smash Scott's face in, and that was saying something since the only brother Derrick ever fought with was Tristan.
Scott, being the oldest of five brothers, was left to run the family and the dukedom when their parents had died nearly thirteen years ago. Scott had taken the responsibility seriously and made it a habit of involving himself in this brothers' lives, however much they wished he wouldn't. They knew Scott meant well, but sometimes he was too involved, at least that's how the others felt. Scott felt he wasn't involved enough.
As Derrick reached the top of the stairs, Harrington, the old butler that had been with the family since before Derrick was born, opened the door and greeted him with a cheerful smile.
"Lord Derrick, twice in one day! I haven't seen you round so much since you were little. We received your missive, naturally. His Grace is waiting for you in his study, sir."
Derrick handed his things over to Harrington and smiled. He clapped Harrington on the shoulder affectionately before heading toward the study.
"Thank you, Harrington."
"You're welcome, sir."
But the smile Derrick had for Harrington vanished as he
opened the study door without even knocking. Scott, who was behind his desk with several ledgers before him, looked up and scowled at Derrick.
"You could knock, you know." He said haughtily.
Derrick strode angrily toward the desk and slammed the papers Kristen had left him on the topmost ledger in front of Scott.
"And you could bloody well mind your own business." Derrick barked.
Scott lifted a brow at his brother's tone, but picked up the paperwork before saying anything about it. As he read through, he flushed a bright shade of red. He cleared his throat and lowered the paperwork.
"I can explain."
"Oh, you'd better."
"We had this conversation this morning. It's time for you to settle down. If you had any real prospects, I wouldn't have signed the contract, but since you didn't I thought this would be an easy solution. Besides, the girl is rather lovely, and eccentric, which I don't doubt will intrigue you to no end."
"My future, or decision to marry for that matter, is not your concern. My titles are not in immediate need to be transferred, and I'm not the next eldest in line anyway."
Derrick shoved off the desk and began to pace angrily in front of the fire place.
"Derrick, you're not even trying to meet an eligible lady these days. You're too wrapped up in your smuggling...oh don't look at me like that, I'm perfectly aware of the illegal activities you participate in."
Derrick had stopped his pacing at that bombshell and turned to stare at his brother in horror. So, this was what all the fuss was about then? Scott had somehow learned of Derrick's activities and was trying to tame his wild ways by saddling him with a wife. He resumed his pacing, his mood not at all improved with this newest turn.
"This does present you with the opportunity to marry someone and not have to go through the social whirlwind to do it."
Derrick scowled. "Really? Does she know our little secret?"
"Well, no, but I hardly think that matters - "
"It matters, Scott. You know that as well as I do."
"Listen, if you just got to know this girl - "
"I've already t
old her no."
"I beg your pardon?" Scott asked indignantly.
"Her mother is dead and she came to me just this morning with those documents. She said that she needed to find a husband, but that she would not hold me responsible for a contract that I did not sign myself."
"She what?"
"I was rather grateful for that part, actually. It was damned uncomfortable to be told you are expected to marry someone you have never even met." He glared at his brother.
"Like it or not, I do have the authority to make such an arrangement for you, Derrick. I did what I thought was best."
"And whether or not you like it, Scott, I'm an adult who can make decisions for myself. I'm twenty-eight years old, hardly the age in which I need my big brother to sign marriage contracts for me."
Derrick had hoped to make Scott squirm under the pressure, but it was simply not easy to make that man uncomfortable. Derrick supposed that was a good thing since he was the Duke of Hollingsworth. Their family didn't have the formidable reputation it did by being easily intimidated, even amongst each other. However, just now, Derrick found it infuriating.
"You'll go back to this girl and tell her you'll agree to the contract. That's not a request, Derrick."
"Absolutely not. If I decide to marry, it'll be someone of my choosing."
"What do you mean, "if?"" Scott asked, his temper getting the best of him.
"It's not like it's easy to find someone willing to marry into this family, Scott. Remember how well that worked out the last time?"
"Nonsense. I married Nicole, didn't I? Besides, that girl was nothing but a fortune hunter and Oliver is better off without her. We're all better off without her in the family."
"And yet you still bought her off after that, didn't you? What was the point of that if not to ensure she kept her mouth shut so as not to ruin our chances?"
"Because our lives are hard enough. We are constantly in the public eye as it is and the fact that our situation could cause quite a stir if it came out as true would simply make our lives that much harder. I'm merely trying to keep anyone from having to endure that.”
