“Oh yes, very.” Miss Peabody sipped her tea. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious,” Dorothy answered, but the truth was that she wanted him to be her husband. She wanted him to fall in love with her. If he thought he ruined her reputation, perhaps he’d do the right thing and marry her. Yet…she didn’t want him to marry her if he didn’t love her.
Calvin came from noble blood. She didn’t. And if by chance she did make her mother’s mistakes, would Calvin want to do the right thing by her, or would he run away like Lord George had?
Dorothy shook her head and frowned. It didn’t matter. By the way Miss P had practically become Dorothy’s shadow, there was no way she and Calvin could have another private moment, anyway. She would just have to be satisfied with what they’d shared that incredible night.
The thing was…she would never be happy with anyone but Calvin.
Longing for him every time she looked his way became tiresome. One day turned into two, then stretched into a week—then two weeks—and soon the voyage was at an end.
Miss Peabody accompanied Calvin and Dorothy to the Longdale Castle. Dorothy wrung her hands together in her lap as she watched out the window of the carriage. Thoughts tumbled through her mind, and she imagined how it would be when she met her grandfather for the first time. Would she throw accusations at him for the role he played in her life, or would she be docile and let him explain?
She rolled her eyes. One thing was for certain, she was not going to be docile!
Soon the carriage turned up the long, curvy drive, and the castle loomed before them. Truly, this place was a castle—like the kind she’d read about with beastly lords—for she had never seen anything so large in her life. And she feared the beast who resided inside was, indeed, her grandfather. Massive towers stood before her, giving an eerie sensation to the mood. How could anyone sweet and loving live in a place like this?
They reached the castle early in the evening, but from the lights from the windows, and the many shadows, Dorothy realized they had arrived at an inopportune time. “Calvin?” She casually touched his arm.
“Miss Paxton,” he said sweetly, “remember to address me as Mr. Seton in front of others.”
She nodded. “You are correct. Forgive me. But,” she paused and looked at the windows again, “I believe this is a bad time to visit. It appears the duke has guests.”
“I know, Miss Paxton. Your grandfather has invited all his family for his birthday celebration.”
“But it’s still two days away.”
“True, but I’m certain some of the family has come early.” He took her cold hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Not to fear. Your grandfather is expecting us. We will not be turned away.”
Dorothy was almost disappointed from Calvin’s comment. In a way, she wanted her grandfather to turn them away. She wanted to return home to America. But…she didn’t want to leave Calvin.
The vehicle stopped and the footman opened the door. Calvin jumped down first then helped Miss Peabody down before reaching his hand to Dorothy. She slipped her gloved hand inside his and locked her stare on him. His warm gaze was encouraging, and his smile reassured her he would remain by her side. She wanted it to be forever instead of just tonight.
A light rain fell around them, and Calvin helped both her and Miss Peabody up the steps at a quick pace. Dorothy would rather wear her boots than these dainty slippers, especially in this kind of weather.
Calvin knocked and a moment later, a butler opened the door.
“May I help you?” the old man asked.
“Yes, you may.” Calvin nodded. “I am Mr. Seton, and I have brought the duke’s granddaughter, Miss Dorothy Paxton, and her companion from America.”
A light of awareness showed in the butler’s eyes, and he stepped back, opening the door wider. “Of course, Mr. Seton. You are most welcome. Please let me show you in.”
As the three stepped inside, fear clutched Dorothy’s throat. The guests peeked out from one of the ballrooms as they danced by the double doors, making her very uncomfortable. Although she didn’t feel as if they were laughing at her, she still felt out of place.
A beautiful, dainty blonde woman rushed out of the ballroom. Her brow was creased, hands clutched into fists, and she frowned. But when she saw the guests at the door, her countenance took on a different look.
“Milne, who do we have here?” the woman asked the butler with a bright smile.
“Miss Fanny, this is Mr. Seton, Miss Dorothy Paxton, and her companion, Miss Peabody.”
The woman’s eyes widened as her gaze swept over Dorothy. “Miss Paxton, Grandfather has mentioned your name several times. I’m happy to finally meet you.” She curtsied. “I’m Miss Fanny Longdale. My father is Lord Henry, the duke’s third son. I’m his youngest daughter.”
Remembering her lessons, Dorothy also dipped in a curtsey. “It’s a pleasure.”
Miss Fanny looked at Calvin. “Mr. Seton, it does my heart glad to see you again. How are you faring?”
“Just fine. Are you enjoying yourself with your family?”
She clutched her hands in front of her and beamed. The smattering of freckles across her nose became prominent. “Immensely, Mr. Seton. It’s so enjoyable to meet with my cousins since I don’t get to see them often. In fact, my sister Elizabeth just returned home with her husband.”
He chuckled. “How very delightful.”
Dorothy tried not to stare wide-eyed at the girl who looked just a little younger than herself, but the girl jabbered like a magpie. And the remarkable thing was she smiled the whole time as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
Fanny returned her focus back to Dorothy. “You probably would like to be shown to your room. I imagine you are exhausted from the trip. I know whenever I travel—”
Here she goes again! Patiently, Dorothy listened to the chirping squirrel. But she was a lovely squirrel, nonetheless, and Dorothy couldn’t stop the smile stretching across her own face.
When Fanny stopped, Dorothy quickly replied, “Yes, I’m exhausted and would like to rest for a bit.”
Fanny motioned to an older, heavy-set woman who bustled to their side quickly. “Will you please show Miss Paxton to her room? Then make sure her companion and Mr. Seton are settled in a room as well.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Fanny grasped Dorothy’s hand before she could walk away. The other woman’s smile softened Dorothy’s fear only slightly. “We shall talk again soon.”
Dorothy nodded. “Yes, we shall.”
She pulled away from the woman and followed the housekeeper up the stairs. Beside Dorothy, Calvin nudged her with his elbow until she met his eyes.
“I think you have made a friend already.”
“I assume she is my cousin.”
“Yes. Both she and her sister are sweet ladies.”
As they passed several rooms, the housekeeper pointed to which rooms Calvin and Miss Peabody would occupy. When they reached Dorothy’s room, Calvin grasped hold of her hands.
“Do not be fearful of your grandfather,” he told her. “Longdale may look frightening at first, but I’m quite certain he will have a soft heart when you meet with him.”
She clutched his hands and stepped closer. “Will you be with me when I talk to him?”
“Do you wish me to be?”
The tenderness in his gaze nearly had her weeping with happiness. She did want him there. Then again, she didn’t want Calvin to witness her losing her temper if Dukie-ole-boy pushed too far. “No, but I thank you for offering. Just knowing you would help me is very reassuring.”
He leaned closer and kissed her cheek. “Rest for a little while. We shall talk after you have had time to visit with your grandfather.”
Nodding, she backed into her room, hoping this evening went quickly. The wait would kill her, she was certain.
Chapter Ten
“Come in.”
The husky, powerful summons boomed through the hal
lway as Dorothy stood outside the door to her grandfather’s study. Her knees knocked together, and she might swoon any minute. Remembering she was not a simpering female, she squared her shoulders, opened the door, and entered.
The Duke of Longdale rose from his desk. Taller than she had imagined, he appeared robust for his age. So why had she heard he was sickly? He studied her as she walked toward him. Still quite handsome for his older years, she wondered if her father looked like this as well. If so, she could see why her mother fell in love with the duke’s son.
When finally she stopped in front of Longdale, his expression shifted. Instead of his critical, intent stare, the lines of distrust smoothed away and, dare she say, tenderness magnified in his eyes.
“You look a lot like your father,” Longdale said in almost a reverent whisper. “Even the way you hold your stubborn chin and square your shoulders.”
She swallowed hard. “Indeed?”
“Yes. The resemblance is remarkable.”
Emotion clogged her throat, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. For years she’d wondered why she didn’t have her mother’s brown hair and eyes. For years she wanted to know her father and wanted to ask him why he left them when they needed him so.
No! I will not cry! She needed to do something—say something to keep from weeping in front of this older man. “So are you telling me my father is a very feminine looking man? Or are you saying I’m a masculine looking female?”
Longdale’s eyes nearly bulged out, and within seconds, a smile broke across his face and he laughed. “Actually no, my dear. Your father was tall with broad shoulders, and very handsome. He had the bluest eyes imaginable. You have his eyes…and his smile.”
Ease washed over her, knowing she could make the duke laugh. “I’m pleased to hear this. Will I meet him today?”
His expression switched again and he frowned. An expression that resembled regret washed over his features. “Unfortunately, no. I have learned today that George died several years ago. He was a good man who fell on bad luck, I was told.”
She nodded and folded her arms, suddenly feeling angry. Why she cared that she would never see her father again, she didn’t understand. “I know how it feels to fall on back luck, Your Grace. Because your son refused to support my mother even though she had his child, we lived in squalor and had to survive by begging for food.”
Longdale sat on the edge of his desk. He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “I know.”
Energy surged through her and she stepped closer to the old man, feeling the need to throttle him, but knowing she couldn’t. “If you knew, why did you do nothing to help? I am Lord George’s child. We—you and me—are blood-related, whether you want to admit it or not.”
The duke dropped his hand and met her stare. “I did nothing because I did not believe your mother when she first wrote to me. Can you imagine how many money-hungry people send me letters all the time telling me they are my relation?” He shook his head. “That’s why I dismissed the letters sent by your mother. But then, a few years ago I couldn’t find my son and hadn’t heard from him in quite a while. I sent investigators out looking for him. That’s when I remembered your mother’s letter, so I sent investigators there. The reports told me of a girl who worked at an inn—one who resembled my son quite a bit. This was why I decided to summon you now.” Suddenly he straightened and lifted his chin. “That is why it took me so long to welcome you into the family, but I’m doing so now. You are my granddaughter Dorothy, and I will announce it to the world if I must. I can become your greatest champion if you allow it. The decision is yours.” He sighed heavily. “Can you not forgive me so we can start fresh?”
It surprised her to hear him say these words. Calvin had led her to believe the duke was an honest man, so… Should she put the past behind her and welcome her new family into her life?
In the back of her mind, she worried what her mother would say. But heaven must have opened for Dorothy—for just a moment—because she saw her mother smiling down at her and giving a nod of approval.
Dorothy blew out a pent-up breath. “Yes. I can forgive and forget.”
“Dorothy,” her grandfather said as he gathered her in his arms. “Having you here brings peace to my heart. Now I will always have a bit of George in my life. And that means the world to me.”
Tears collected in her eyes. Although she wanted to hold a grudge against the man who’d turned his back on her for all these years, her heart slowly softened for him.
Her grandfather cleared his throat and broke the contact. She folded her arms and stepped back, wondering what would happen now. The awkward moment only lasted for a few seconds, before he smiled the clapped his hands.
“Now that we have put that behind us, tell me about your trip. I trust you fared well with Mr. Seton?”
“Indeed, I did. He is a very kind and wonderful man.” If only she could get him out of her heart, but the truth was, she didn’t want him out. Yet, for some reason Calvin seemed to think her grandfather posed a threat to their would-be relationship.
“Splendid.” He nodded. “I am good friends with his father, and the Seton’s are fine people, I assure you.”
“Yes, well…Mr. Seton seemed like he was raised with fine parents.”
Narrowing his eyes, the duke scratched his chin. “Dorothy, I detect there’s something else you are not telling me.”
She hitched a breath. Dare she mention what happened during their voyage? Maybe she could hint about her feelings for Calvin. One way or another, she must sway her grandfather not to ruin Calvin’s career if he decided to return her love.
* * * *
Calvin leaned against the bedroom window to look out on the rainy night. The more the evening advanced, the faster it rained. He used to enjoy the rain because it made him feel so relaxed, but once he’d injured his leg, the cold air made his bones feel like shards of glass.
He rubbed this thigh, hoping the pain would soon disappear. Yet another kind of pain grew inside him. Soon he would collect his money from Longdale and leave, but just thinking about that made Calvin’s chest ache with sadness. He’d grown close to Dorothy, more so than he could have ever imagined. But the young beauty had left a mark on his heart and mind—one he didn’t think he’d get over.
The night they had kissed so passionately in his cabin had been the best night of his life. Never had a woman’s kiss tasted so sweet. Never had a woman’s voice sounded like angels singing. At that one moment in time, there were no barriers between them. They were equal in everything, and he liked thinking about her in such a way.
Why couldn’t he court her? Was he really that fearful of what Longdale would do? Calvin supposed that if it came down to it, he could always return to New York with Dorothy and they could live there with her brother, running their inn—The Once Proud Goose. Of course, Calvin would miss his family, and especially what he did for the army, but women like Dorothy didn’t come along very often, and he couldn’t even imagine his life without her in it.
He glanced at the door, wondering how her meeting with Longdale was going. Would she anger the duke? Or would her worst nightmare come true and her grandfather dismiss her as he’d done her mother?
Calvin really wished she had asked him to accompany her, because he would have. He would stand by her side any time she asked. The duke could be a cold man when the mood suited him, and Calvin feared this might happen in his meeting with Dorothy. Then again, he shouldn’t worry. She wasn’t one to take anyone’s temper lightly.
Smiling, he relaxed his posture. He loved how she made him smile. He loved how she made him laugh. He loved…
The knock on the door jerked him out of his thoughts and he hurried to answer. What if something bad happened during Dorothy’s meeting with the duke? What if—
He yanked the door open. Standing in front of him was the woman he couldn’t get out of his mind or heart. He grasped her hands and pulled her inside. “Dorothy, what’s amiss?”
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“Nothing is wrong.” She smiled.
He closed the door before taking her in his arms. “I worried about you.”
“What?” She pulled back and arched an eyebrow. “Why would you worry about me? Do you not think I can take care of myself? You were there when I took care of Mr. Slater, were you not?”
“Of course, but if you remember correctly, I helped you take care of Slater. And…Mr. Slater is not like your grandfather.”
She gave him a dismissive wave. “I meet a lot of men like the duke and I can handle them just fine.”
“Will you tell me what you and your grandfather talked about?”
She drew a finger along his cravat. “He welcomed me into the family and I told him I’d give it a try.”
Calvin laughed. “Give it a try? Pray tell, what does that mean?”
Her blue eyes twinkled. “That means I need to decide if my brother can fare for himself in New York a little while without me so I can get to know my family in England.”
“The doctor assured me before we left New York, your brother would recover quickly.” He stroked her cheek lovingly. “But do you even know what you truly want?”
“Yes, I believe I do.” Leaning into him, she brushed her fingertip across his mustache. “I want to become a lady.”
“You are a lady now.”
“Not yet. There is one last thing that will make me truly feel complete.”
“And what is that?”
She swallowed hard. “I want to find me a good man…a man I can love with all my heart, and marry him.”
His heart jumped to his throat. “And tell me, my sweet, how will you find such a man?”
“I…I was hoping you might be able to help me out some way.”
Breathless, he cupped her face. “There are a few ways I can help. Which one do you suggest?”
“Since that night in your cabin on the ship, I’ve thought of nothing else but being with you.” She shrugged. “Calvin, I don’t want to be without you. Ever.”
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