Once Upon a Duke's Dream

by Ellie St. Clair

  Frustrated with Belrose’s attempts to run from them, even though it was more than obvious that the game was up, Bradley pushed his horse just a little more and, together with Alastair, drew alongside the carriage horses. It did not take much for the horses to begin to slow, as the carriage driver was forced to tug at the reins, not wanting to have an accident. Reaching out, Bradley caught the bridle of one of the horses and, despite the loud and vehement protests from Charles Belrose, managed to bring the carriage to a halt .

  Throwing his reins to Alastair — who caught them deftly — Bradley slipped from his horse and made his way to the carriage, pulling the door open. Charles Belrose stared at him in horror, his skin milk white and eyes wide .

  “Get out, Belrose,” Bradley spat, his anger spiking. “This is all over .”

  “I haven’t done anything,” Belrose protested, scrambling back in his seat. “I swear I have not. I am loyal to the Crown !”

  “But Durand is not, and you knew about it,” Bradley replied, firmly. “Get out now, Belrose. You are going to tell me everything you know or I shall hand you over to the executioner myself.” He waited for a moment or two for the man to consider what he was saying, and, finally, Belrose made a move to shift forward out of his seat .

  It took all of Bradley’s patience not to reach in and grab the man by the collar and drag him outside, gritting his teeth as Belrose descended from the carriage carefully .

  “Speak,” Bradley demanded, as Alastair came to join them. “What do you know of Gerard Durand ?”

  “He is a French spy,” Belrose squeaked, his skin going a light shade of grey. “I had nothing to do with it, however. I simply became aware of what he was doing .”

  “And why did you not tell someone?” Alastair asked, his eyebrows furrowing. “You could have reported the man to the authorities .”

  Belrose did not reply, looking quite uncomfortable with the question. He dropped his head and stared at the ground as one foot twisted in the dirt .

  “Ah,” Bradley murmured, suddenly aware of why Belrose had not done such a thing. “Because he offered you his sister’s hand .”

  Belrose’s head shot up. “He threatened me,” he said, with a flash of anger in his eyes. “The man is powerful. I could have been killed if I had said anything. There are more than just Durand in the country !”

  Bradley shook his head. “And he sweetened his threats by telling you that you could wed Isabella, provided, of course, you give him half of her wealth in return.” His lip curled as he looked at Belrose, seeing him as the weak man he was. “You have been so easily caught up in that man’s lies and falsehoods, Belrose,” he continued, disdain filling him. “You should have stood up to him .”

  “You should have stood up for your country,” Alastair added, firmly. “You have brought shame to yourself, Belrose .”

  Belrose said nothing, his stance drooping even further .

  “Did you know of Gerard Durand’s communication with a man called Vaquelin?” Bradley asked, recalling how he had overheard Durand talking with Belrose that day he had been forced to hide in the cabinet .

  “No,” Belrose replied, looking up at Bradley with desperation in his eyes. “I swear it. I did nothing to involve myself .”

  “Durand would not have included you whether you wished it or not, is that not so?” Bradley queried, seeing the defeat in the man’s eyes. “He did not think you reliable. No, do not argue,” he continued, seeing Belrose open his mouth to protest. “I overheard a conversation between the two of you. I am quite aware of the man’s estimation as regards you .”

  There was a short pause. Belrose said nothing as Alastair and Bradley exchanged glances .

  “Why did you run, Belrose?” Alastair asked, taking one step closer to the man. His voice became low and threatening as Belrose stood silently, refusing to answer. “You will speak to me, man, or it will be all the worse for you .”

  “Why? What is going to happen to me?” Belrose quavered, betraying the weakness that had gotten him into this situation in the first place. “Am I to face the noose?” His eyes roved from Alastair to Bradley and back again, terror evident on his face .

  “Why did you run, Belrose?” Bradley asked again, refusing to answer the man’s question. “Did you speak to Durand before you left ?”

  Belrose sighed heavily and shook his head. "I did not tell him I was going, but he will notice my absence and will suspect it is because of you ."

  “He knows who I am then ?”

  Nodding, Belrose lifted one shoulder. “You are not surprised by this revelation, however. You knew he was trying to get you out of the way .”

  “I was .”

  Belrose nodded at Bradley’s words. “Then the reasons for my absence will be clear to him. He will know that I thought you were getting a little too close for comfort and so left .”

  “You must have heard us,” Alastair said, quietly. “Or seen us, this evening .”

  There was no use in Belrose denying it. "I did. I was not able to sleep and when I saw you walking down the stairs by candlelight to the study, I realized you had closed in on Durand and it became too much to bear. I had to leave before I was arrested ."

  “And yet, arrested you shall be,” Bradley said, quietly .

  "But I have told you everything!" Belrose exclaimed, horror-struck. "Please, I am not a traitor. I would not betray the Crown!" One of his hands went to his neck, as though he could already feel the hangman's noose. "Please, I beg you to have mercy ."

  Bradley shook his head, stepped forward and indicated that Belrose should enter into the carriage once more. “That is not for me to decide, Belrose,” he said, as the man climbed back inside. “That will be a matter for the Foreign Office. Now, get in. We have no time to waste .”

  Once Belrose was inside, Bradley turned to Alastair. “You must go with him, Kenley,” he directed. “I shall have to ride on more quickly than the carriage can travel. Thank goodness London is not too far from here !”

  “You are worried about Miss Marriott .”

  Bradley nodded, unable to shake the feeling that she was in danger. "Once Durand realizes that we are gone, as well as Belrose, then his suspicions are bound to spike. I must fetch officials from the Foreign Office and return to her as soon as I can ."

  Alastair agreed, his expression serious. "I am sure she will have hidden the letters, Carrington, but you are quite right to be concerned. Durand is a dangerous figure, more dangerous than I first realized. Be on your guard ."

  Slapping Alastair on the back, Bradley shook his hand firmly and made his way over to his horse. Alastair would ensure that Charles Belrose was held firmly at the Foreign Office until Bradley returned, hopefully with Gerard Durand in tow .

  A vision of Isabella rose in his mind as he began to ride towards London. She had been so strong and courageous thus far, even though the consequences of her stepbrother’s actions could reach far and wide. She could, simply by the consequence of her relationship to Durand, become shunned by all of society, though he was not quite certain that she would find this a particular trial .

  She was seeking freedom, to live as she wished and, he was quite sure, to live quietly. After all that had gone on, the solace of living without her stepbrother beside her was sure to be a healing balm. He realized that once he had Durand arrested, there would be no particular reason for him to remain by her side, at her home, but his heart simply refused to allow that idea to take hold. He did not want to lose her .

  Was matrimony an option that she might consider? He would give her the freedom she wanted, without being apart from her. The truth was that when Bradley now thought of marriage, he could not see any other woman as a potential wife, thinking that Isabella was a far lovelier, far better creature than any ladies of his acquaintance, regardless of their status. He had come from pretending he cared nothing for her to desiring her body, to admitting to himself that he did
not want to be without her. To return to London and to his life without Isabella being a part of it was a painful prospect .

  She had returned his kisses with a passion that had both surprised him and heated his blood. It was not as if she had turned from him or pushed him away, for her arms had come around his neck and she had clung to him as though he were the anchor in her stormy seas. Could he hope that what he felt was shared by her? Could she hold any affection for him in her heart ?

  He thought of the way she had helped him tonight, how she had trusted him, believed in him, and supported him in his quest. How even still she remained waiting for him to return, despite what it would mean to her and her future .

  I think I love her .

  The thought sent shockwaves through him. He had never considered himself in love before and had not even been open to it, but now, with only a few weeks acquaintance, he was feeling such a depth of emotion for Isabella Durand that it overwhelmed him. She was in his every thought, his every consideration. Her smile made his heart sing, the touch of her skin warmed his blood. He saw her jet black hair and warm brown eyes in his mind and his heart softened as desire for those pert lips raced through him. It was more than that now, however. He could not go back to a life empty and devoid of any kind of love or affection. It seemed to be an empty, dark expanse that he had already escaped from and did not want to return to .

  “Then I shall have to tell her how I feel,” he said aloud, as a sudden flurry of nerves rattled around his bones. “After the matter with Gerard is at an end, I shall declare my love and hope she will accept me .”

  Even his horse seemed to agree, for it tossed its head and snorted, making Bradley chuckle. He had every hope that she would accept him and that, together, they could start a new life together, free from the sins of Gerard Durand .

  19

  “I sabella!”

  Befuddled, Isabella sat up on her bed, rubbing one hand across her eyes. There was a loud hammering on her door and her name was being called repeatedly .

  “Isabella! Open up at once !”

  Groaning, she looked at the still drawn curtains, seeing the beams of light that shone through. She had very little idea of how long she had been asleep for, but evidently Gerard had discovered the absence of some of his guests, and possibly his papers. A shiver ran across her skin as she thought about last night's events. If Bradley was not back yet — and it seemed too early for him to have returned — she was entirely at her stepbrother's mercy .

  The pounding on the door became more insistent, her stepbrother’s voice growing even louder. Isabella knew she could no longer pretend to still be asleep, for his knocking was loud enough to wake the dead. Remembering that she had planned to deny all knowledge of what had taken place, Isabella stumbled from her bed and opened the door, putting on a pained expression .

  “Gerard? Whatever is the matter ?”

  “Still abed, sister?” he sneered, one lip curling. “Or is there someone there with you ?”

  A frisson of fear raced through her chest. “Do not be so ridiculous, Gerard. I did not sleep well last night and my headache has returned. Please, I must go back to my bed .”

  “I do not think so .”

  He shoved the door, hard, and she was forced to step back to let him in. She frowned as he stood, his hands firmly on his hips as he surveyed the room. Isabella did not want to anger him further, even though his actions were quite intrusive .

  “Gerard,” she said, placatingly. “Whatever are you doing? Can you not see that I am still in my night things? I must return to bed. My head is quite painful .”

  “The Duke is not with you, then ?”

  Isabella gasped, a flush of heat racing through her, coloring her cheeks. "How dare you suggest such a thing? No, indeed he is not! Do you wish to search for him ?"

  Gerard sneered mockingly. “Don’t think that I have been unaware of his attentions towards you, Isabella. His room is next to yours, after all. Have you hidden him in that small dressing room, which you’ve been using for liaisons ?”

  Isabella shook her head. “Gerard, you are being ridiculous.” She waited with her heart in her mouth as he moved towards the small room, turning the handle but finding it locked. As she had hidden the letters there, she tried not to let her anxiety show on her face, and, even when he demanded that she find the key to open it, she did so without question. Once the door was unlocked, Gerard stormed inside, while she remained in her room. The letters were well hidden, and she did not think that Gerard would find them. After a few minutes, her stepbrother returned with a furious look on his face. His lips were almost white with rage, his eyes narrowing .

  “The Duke is not in his room,” he breathed, fury in every word .

  Isabella tried to look surprised, as well as entirely innocent of any knowledge of where the Duke was, though relief flooded through her knowing that Bradley and Lord Kenley had managed to escape without notice .

  “Tell me where he’s gone, Isabella .”

  “Gone?” she repeated, only for him to step forward and strike her full across the face. Stunned by the pain now throbbing through her head, she stumbled back, pressing one hand to her cheek. Blinking through the stars that spun around her head, she tried to keep her composure .

  "You will not strike me again, Gerard," she said, firmly, refusing to be intimidated. "Do not raise a hand to me or it will be all the worse for you ."

  He laughed scornfully, his lips thinning as he surveyed her. "You have always been too stubborn, Isabella, although I must say that I find your threats quite laughable." He shook his head and began to advance towards her, and Isabella could not help but panic. "I'm going to ask you again, Isabella. Where has the Duke gone to? Where is his friend ?"

  “I do not know, Gerard,” she repeated, in as firm a voice as she could manage. Unfortunately, the door to her bedchamber was just behind Gerard and Isabella did not think she could escape past him. Why had she not run out when he had gone to the dressing room? Frustrated with herself for not thinking of it before now, she tried to keep her voice light. “I did not know that he was not in his room, Gerard. As you saw, I keep the door to the adjoining dressing room locked and I have been in bed with a headache since last evening. Do you think he has left the estate entirely ?”

  “Yes, I believe he has,” Gerard grated, his eyes narrowing. “As has his friend, Lord Kenley and even Lord Belrose !”

  “Lord Belrose?” Isabella repeated in a puzzled voice. “I had not thought them a friendly pair. Why should they leave together? And what is it about their disappearance that concerns you so? Perhaps they have simply gone for an early morning jaunt .”

  There was a long pause and Isabella held her breath, aware of just how much Gerard was studying her .

  "You are not a particularly good liar, Isabella. The reason that I am so concerned is that my study door was unlocked this morning, even though I am the only one who has a key to that particular room ."

  Isabella tried to laugh, although it came out as a croak. “You cannot think that I somehow broke into your study to steal documents, Gerard. I do not even know what tools would be required and I certainly could not get the key, given that you have the only copy on your person !”

  She saw Gerard give her a wolfish smile and, with dawning horror, realized what she had just inadvertently revealed. Fear raced through her veins, turning her to ice. She was now clearly in Gerard's sights, the bird in range of the bullet. His eyes were trained on her, a stealth in his stance that had her shrinking inwardly .

  “Now, sister dear,” he said, quietly, moving closer despite her efforts to back away. “How did you know that some of my documents have been taken if you were, as you say, tossing and turning in your bed all evening ?”

  "I – " Her mouth went dry as she saw the fury in his eyes, her back now pressed against the wall by the fireplace. Her hands scrabbled for something she could use to defend
herself, and she found the cold metal of the fire poker behind her .

  "He took them, didn't he?" Gerard growled, a murderous look in his eyes. "And you saw your opportunity to get rid of me, did you?" He lunged at her, but Isabella brought the poker up at once, knocking his arm away from her .

  “You will not touch me, Gerard .”

  “You will not be able to stop me,” he growled, his face red with anger. “You have no one to defend you .”

  “Carrington is returning,” she replied, still holding the poker towards him despite the growing ache in her arm .

  He sneered. “By the time Carrington gets back to this estate, you and I will be long gone. A brothel in Paris for you, I think .”

  She shuddered, grasping the poker with both hands as she slowly moved towards the door. She was determined to escape this situation, quite sure that her stepbrother meant every word he said. "Carrington will find me, Gerard," she said, softly. “I believe he cares for me ."

  Gerard laughed and reached out for her again, but Isabella struck out and hit him across the forearm, forcing him to back away .

  “He will never find you in the depths of the Paris slums,” he snarled, his eyes darkening with fury. “You must realize the man doesn’t care for you, Isabella. You were a pawn, a means to an end. He had a little fun with you on the way, but he’s gone now that he has what he wants. Give it up now, Isabella. You will never be able to defend yourself alone .”

  “She is not alone .”

  The words came through the door as it flew open and Isabella almost collapsed with relief at the sight of Bradley standing there with a group of men behind him. She dropped the poker, which landed with a clatter, and backed away from Gerard .

  “Any threats made to my fiancée are threats made to me, Durand,” she heard Bradley say, and she lifted her head in disbelief. “You have already killed my best friend. I will not allow you to take any more lives.” There was a pause as he crossed to her, tightening an arm around her waist. “Your time as a free man is over,” he finished, as two of the men came in to lead Gerard away .