One Less Lonely Earl (A Duke of Danby Novella: Halliday Sisters Book 2)

by Samantha Grace

  She didn’t quite have the courage to broach the topic, but he ended her suspense. “Am I to understand you wish to take a governess position?”

  She flinched. Her brother-in-law wouldn’t have presented her desire to enter into service in a favorable light. Her sister had been outspoken about her opposition. Meredith didn’t dare hope the duke would take her side in the argument, or even understand.

  Felicity was expecting her second child, and she’d seemed insulted when Meredith offered to become the baby’s nurse. Her sister wanted to see her happily married like she was, but Meredith felt one of them needed to be pragmatic. Marriage was not in her future, and she couldn’t expect her brother-in-law to support her forever.

  Her fingers twitched on the duke’s arm. “I—I believe I would make a fine governess. I am well versed in arithmetic, literature, Latin, and the arts.”

  “Indeed.” Danby’s mouth settled into a firm line.

  Her brother-in-law had hired a tutor for her when Felicity fretted over Meredith becoming bored with the lady’s education she’d been receiving. It seemed the duke was aware of her unorthodox studies, and he wasn’t impressed.

  “Y-your grandson h-has been very g-generous with me.” Heat rushed into her cheeks as she tripped over her words.

  In silence, they followed the path as it wound back toward the house. The duke turned clever eyes in her direction. His weathered face showed the signs of aging, but his mind was as sharp as a young man’s. “What about marriage? Are you not also suited for the position of wife?”

  Her gaze dropped to the path as if she was watching for rabbit holes. “I believe my failed Season proves I am not.”

  “You are a girl of nineteen, Meredith. Spinsterhood is far away for one so young. You’ve had but one Season.”

  He didn’t understand that no matter how many Seasons she had, she would never find a husband. What gentleman wanted a wife who stuttered? Everyone would think he’d married an idiot who would bear him idiot children.

  She peered at him from beneath the rim of her bonnet, pleading with her eyes. “Please, Your Grace. I cannot withstand another Season. I would die if I had to go through the humiliation again.”

  “Of course you wouldn’t die. Chin up. Theatrics do not suit you any more than spinsterhood, so there will be no more of that nonsense. You would bear up to it if you must.”

  Meredith’s heart thumped heavily in her chest. He was going to force her back to Town next year. She briefly considered, and discarded, the idea of falling on her knees and begging for mercy. As he had already indicated, drama was not allowed.

  “But perhaps I can help.” He sighed, the corners of his lips drooping in a show of displeasure. “I have recently come across an advertisement seeking a governess.”

  She gasped. “You would help me secure a position?”

  He stopped to pluck a stem of lavender and held it to his nose, closing his eyes and inhaling slowly. When he exhaled, he sighed with satisfaction. “I will help you find a suitable situation.”

  Meredith barely refrained from tossing her arms around his neck and laughing with relief. Ladies did not comport themselves in such a manner, and while she didn’t truly belong in the ranks of the upper class, she hated to disappoint the duke. Therefore, she imitated one of the bland smiles the society ladies in London used in most every situation. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

  They headed back toward the castle in companionable silence. She was pleased their conversation had gone well, and she hadn’t allowed her nerves to drive her to her chambers with complaints of a headache when the duke had ordered her to join him. She feared she had misjudged him.

  At the doors leading into the castle, the duke’s butler intercepted them. He sketched a bow to Meredith and awaited permission to speak. The duke canted his head.

  “Pardon the interruption, Your Grace, but Lord Blackwood has arrived at the door and claims you summoned him.”

  “Splendid. I had hoped I wouldn’t be required to send a second invitation. Escort him to my study.”

  “As you wish, Your Grace.” Dawson turned on his heel and stalked back toward the castle.

  The duke offered a gracious smile to Meredith. “Forgive me, Meri. The earl and I have a matter to discuss that cannot wait. Tea will be taken in the green drawing room across from my study. I will join you after I see to the earl. Invite your sister to keep you company while I am occupied. I am told ladies enjoy their time without gentlemen present, so they may engage in gossip.”

  The twinkle in his eye clued her in to his teasing. Even if he was serious, there was very little gossip to be had at Danby Castle. The past two weeks had been uneventful, although the family at large would descend on the castle soon enough when grouse season opened. Considering Meredith had met many of Danby’s grandchildren—some she had known since she was fourteen—their arrival didn’t cause her any concern.

  “Thank you, Your Grace. I will retrieve Felicity at once.” She was anxious to tell her sister about the duke’s offer to help her find a governess position.

  Three

  Colin remained standing when Danby’s footman invited him to have a seat to await the duke. He would meet his neighbor on equal footing, eye-to-eye. Colin had witnessed Danby subtly assert his dominance over other men within the House of Lords enough times over the previous session to realize it was best to stand one’s ground when dealing with the duke.

  He studied the colossal painting above the fireplace. Red-jacketed men seated on horseback were forever frozen in mid-flight as their hunters sailed over a rock wall. The door creaked, alerting him to the duke’s arrival, and he turned to greet the other man.

  Danby paused in the arched doorway as if Colin had caught him unaware. “Did my man offer you a drink?”

  Colin nodded curtly. “I declined.”

  “Very good.” The duke’s grey eyebrows lifted slightly. With an enigmatic smile, he closed the door behind him and crossed to his desk, moving with dignified grace. “Have a seat, Lord Blackwood.”

  Colin set his jaw, waiting until the other man lowered into the chair behind his desk before claiming one of the wingback chairs opposite him.

  Leaning against the seat back, Danby made a steeple with his fingers and regarded Colin with his head marginally cocked to one side. “I thought I might need to send a second summons. It has been two days since the first was delivered to your door.” The duke’s tone held a note of accusation.

  “Pressing matters have required my attention. I apologize for the delay.” In truth, Colin would have ignored his neighbor’s summons indefinitely, but it was necessary to set aside his prejudice toward the duke for the good of Blackwood Castle.

  “I am aware of your troubles,” Danby said.

  “Oh?” Colin’s spine stiffened. Suspecting the duke was privy to the state of Blackwood’s flock hadn’t bothered him nearly as much as knowing it was fact. The man likely had spies everywhere.

  “I like to keep abreast of my neighbors’ situations,” the duke said, “so I might offer my assistance when needed. Love thy neighbor as thyself. Isn’t that what we are charged to do, Blackwood?”

  “I believe that is the saying.” Colin was careful to maintain a neutral expression. There had never been any love between the Danbys and MacBrides, but allowing a decades’ old feud to interfere with reaching an agreement with the duke would be foolhardy. Colin had a family to feed now.

  “May I ask what rumors have reached you about Blackwood Castle?”

  “I put no stock in gossip.” Danby flicked his hand as if shooing a fly. “But if there is any truth to your flock being unwell and your fields poor, perhaps we can help one another.”

  Colin issued a humorless chuckle. The duke’s assistance would come at a steep price, of course.

  “Your Grace, you may not believe everything the gossipmongers say, but you seem to lend them your ear.”

  “It would be unwise to refuse to listen, Lord Blackwood. A kernel of truth o
ften is buried within the retelling of salacious tales.” The duke’s eyes gleamed with mirth. “I also read the newssheet.”

  Colin didn’t understand the connection, but he wasn’t interested in drawing out the meeting by asking the duke to explain. “I am afraid you heard correctly about the condition of Blackwood’s flock and fields, and I have come prepared to offer a proposition. The pastureland bordering our estates is unused. I would like your permission to winter the flock on the land in exchange for a portion of the profits when the sheep are sheared in the spring.”

  “Interesting,” Danby said. “I had another arrangement in mind, but I like the sound of this. Please continue.”

  Colin suppressed a victorious smirk. James had called him a fool for approaching Danby, and he would relish crowing about his success when he returned to the castle.

  “I am willing to offer you twenty percent of the profit,” Colin said. “Once the sheep are sheared and the wool has gone to market, you may count on receiving your due.”

  “I am a wealthy, old man, Lord Blackwood. What am I to do with more coin?”

  “What about your heirs? Fortifying the coffers will only benefit them.”

  “You are family-minded. I admire that quality in a man.” Danby smiled like a fat barn cat toying with a mouse and folded his arms on the desktop. “You have presented your terms, and now it is my turn.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Negotiations are not one-sided, young man. I have my own demands before we finalize an agreement.”

  “Demands?” Colin eased back against the seat cushion, a cold wariness seeping into his bones. James’s words rang in his ears. Danby always wants something more. “And what would those demands be, Your Grace?”

  “Nothing you are unable to deliver.”

  Colin suspected he knew exactly what the duke would demand, but Colin wanted to hear the words before he refused Danby’s terms. Taking on a wife to support for years to come was not a fair trade for limited use of the land. Danby had to know he would be overreaching.

  The duke drummed his fingers against the desktop, hesitating as if contemplating how to proceed. “As you may be aware,” he said eventually, “my grandson Julian Beckford is in residence with his wife and young son. They intend to stay until Julian’s wife delivers her second child. My grandson’s sister-in-law has accompanied them, as would be expected of a lovely young woman in need of a gentleman’s protection. Dr. Halliday died when the poor dear was a girl. To lose a parent at a young age is tragic. I would not wish it upon any child.”

  Colin’s wariness blossomed, and a weight settled in his gut. His own mother had died soon after his youngest brother was born. He didn’t care for the sense of commonality he suddenly felt with the young woman.

  “Miss Halliday is concerned about becoming a burden to my grandson,” Danby said. “She is a reasonable sort, although it is impossible to consider such a charming young lady could be a burden to anyone. I believe you will find her quite impressive. She has mastered many subjects one would not expect the fairer sex to study, in addition to those tasks required of a lady. I am sure you will find her manners are well refined. I feel confident in saying Meredith Halliday would be an asset to any household of import.”

  “Undoubtedly,” Colin drawled, his mouth hitching up on one side. He hadn’t expected the duke’s machinations to be quite so transparent. Colin had given him more credit than Danby deserved. “Miss Halliday sounds lovely, but—”

  “Qualified,” the duke cut in.

  “Er... Qualified?”

  “Correct. Miss Halliday is lovely, as you say, but most importantly, she is highly qualified.”

  Colin gaped. Granted, marriages were often a business arrangement, but Danby made the institution sound decidedly unromantic—not that Colin had ever entertained the thought of making a love match. If anyone asked, he would be forced to admit he hadn’t considered marriage at all. Had his older brother lived out his full life, Colin’s bachelorhood never would have come into question.

  “I wouldn’t be recommending her otherwise,” the duke continued, tactfully averting his gaze as if he didn’t notice Colin’s slack jaw. “Miss Halliday will make a fine governess for your nieces. I assume the position has not been filled since the advertisement continues to be printed in the newssheet.”

  Colin snapped his mouth closed. “You want me to hire her for a governess position?”

  “I do.”

  That did make more sense than asking Colin to marry below his station, but he didn’t quite trust that the duke was being forthcoming. “Is that all you want from me?”

  Danby’s forehead creased. “Would you like me to ask for something more?”

  “Not particularly, no.” Colin hesitated when the duke flashed one of his mysterious grins. Danby was masterminding something, but damned if Colin could determine his hidden agenda.

  “Very well. I am pleased with the proposal.” The duke planted his hands on the desk and pushed to his feet. “Do we have an agreement?” He rounded the desk to seal their deal with a handshake.

  Colin eased from the chair, eyeing the other man’s hand as if it were a serpent. He reached to finalize the agreement, noting the gleam in Danby’s eyes. Colin jerked his hand back before he made contact and dropped it by his side. “You are scheming. I see it in your demeanor.”

  The duke scoffed. “Paranoia seems to be a MacBride family trait.”

  “We have learned the hard way that blindly trusting the Danbys is unwise. If my great great-grandfather hadn’t put faith in your great-grandfather—”

  “Must you revive old grudges?” Danby asked with a beleaguered sigh. “I’ve granted permission to use the land, and all I ask in return is for you to hire Miss Halliday. It should be no hardship, especially when I expect her to tender her resignation within the first week.”

  “You expect her to quit.” Colin couldn’t have heard him correctly. “Why the bloody hell are you recommending her if you expect her to resign?”

  “Meri is not meant to become a governess. I have other plans for her, but first she must come to realize a position in service is not her calling.” The duke paused, his shrewd gaze sweeping over Colin. “I am fond of the girl and desire her happiness. I want to see her well-settled in marriage.”

  Just as Colin had suspected, the duke was trying to play matchmaker. His lips twitched with a barely contained smile. He was enjoying matching wits with Danby, and coming out the victor. Not many gentlemen were successful at avoiding the man’s well-laid traps.

  Colin inclined his head, offering him due respect. “May your search be fruitful, Your Grace.”

  “Your best wishes are appreciated but unnecessary. I have found a suitor for Miss Halliday—Baron Lovell. We spoke prior to my departure from London. He is eager to make the lady’s acquaintance upon his return to Yorkshire.”

  Maximilien Lovell owned a modest estate north of the town of Danby, and it was little wonder the baron was in the market for a wife. Rumors among the ton purported a large inheritance from his mother’s family was being held in a trust until Lovell married and produced an heir. Undoubtedly, the young buck’s grandfather had hoped matrimony and fatherhood would tame him.

  “Lovell is eager to marry so he can gain access to a fortune,” Colin said. “He isn’t likely to be selective, but I am certain you are aware of his situation.”

  “I heard rumblings to that effect.” There was a twitch at the duke’s temple.

  Colin narrowed his gaze. Danby was withholding information. “What is wrong with Miss Halliday?”

  “Nothing. As I mentioned earlier, she is a lovely young lady.”

  Yet, she required the duke’s assistance to attract a husband. Colin didn’t trust Danby for a moment. “I won’t expose my nieces to a woman of questionable morals or judgment. What are you hiding?”

  “Your imagination is running amok, Blackwood.”

  The glower Danby aimed at him might have sent another ma
n scrambling for safety, but Colin crossed his arms, holding out for an answer. Like his father and brother before him, he refused to be taken in hand by anyone.

  The older man made a sound of disgust deep in his throat. “Meri had her difficulties in London, but nothing of a depraved nature. I won’t stand for you insinuating otherwise.” Danby rounded his desk once more, retrieved a sheet of foolscap from a desk drawer, and grabbed a pot of ink and a quill. “I am changing the conditions of our agreement, and I want it in writing.”

  “You cannot go back on your word.”

  The duke’s eyebrows lifted as he took his seat. “You did not accept the first offer. Now it has been withdrawn.”

  Danby dipped the quill in the inkpot and scrawled something across the paper. Colin’s heart pounded against his ribs when the duke continued writing.

  “Tell me what you want. I need that land.” He cringed at the note of desperation underlying his words.

  Danby’s quill halted and he glanced up. “Hire Miss Halliday to be your nieces’ governess, and make certain she resigns before Lord Lovell arrives. I estimate you have three weeks at best to convince her that accepting a position in service is a mistake.”

  “Three weeks? God’s blood! How am I supposed to make her resign?”

  “I am certain you will think of something—if your sister-in-law doesn’t chase her away the first day. I understand Lady Blackwood has become an expert at running off the help.”

  The urge to defend Malcolm’s wife gripped him. Audrey might vex him to no end, but she was family.

  Danby returned to writing. “One additional stipulation. Be charming with Miss Halliday. Compliment her. Engage in harmless flirtations. She is bashful by nature, but I expect a bit of attention and flattery on your part will help settle her nerves before she is expected to meet Lord Lovell.”

  “You want me to teach her how to flirt?”

  Danby’s gaze flicked toward the ceiling as if silently appealing for patience. “I want her to become comfortable speaking with a man, and you can assist in the task.”