My Daring Duchess

by Julie Johnstone

  “I very much doubt he ever would. I don’t believe he is even in England any longer, and honestly, I cannot fathom why I even told you what I did. No one truly knows my secret, except my sister and her husband. Not even my grandfather knows. He thinks Lord Cad merely broke my heart. I was very lucky not to be scandalously ruined in the eyes of the ton. It would have devastated my grandfather.”

  When Simon flinched, Anne stilled, realization hitting her like a cold bucket of ice. That was what Simon intended to do—ruin her publicly to strike the only blow he could at her grandfather. She felt betrayed, angry, hurt, and disappointed all at once, but most of all, she felt a desperate need to flee before Simon succeeded in his revenge. “I need to take my leave,” she blurted, scrambling to her feet.

  Simon was standing in a flash and caught her fingertips with his hand. “His name, Anne.”

  At this moment, she would have told him almost anything to be allowed to depart. “Ian Frazier.” She tugged her hand away, and fled the ballroom and Simon without looking back.

  Ten

  Simon let Anne flee without chase. She’d return tomorrow. He understood that now. She was honorable to her core and would sacrifice herself to save her friend. He could not seduce her to ruin her. The very thought was repugnant to him now as he considered what he had learned about her today.

  Ian Frazier. The name of the man who had taken Anne’s innocence—and quite possibly her heart—filled him with anger. He knew Frazier from business, as Simon sold lumber to the man’s railroad company. He was going to crush Frazier and take his company from him for Anne.

  But what of Anne’s goal to aid Lady Fanny? His business dealings would not save her from ruination. And given Rutledge’s unyielding and understandable position yesterday, Simon could not fathom the man having a change of heart and agreeing to wed Lady Fanny simply because Simon had suggested it.

  And what of revenge?

  Simon paced the room. Could he really relinquish the desire? If he still pursued revenge against Rowan but with a different course, it would hurt Anne. As he paced back and forth in the ballroom, he considered every possibility. He was truly fascinated and drawn to Anne, as he had never been to another woman. What if he honestly courted her and then wed her? Would Rowan allow it? Simon almost wished the man would oppose it so Anne could defy him for Simon. That would be sweet revenge, indeed.

  Before he could think more on it, the sound of his sisters’ laughter outside of the ballroom door reached him. They appeared together in the doorway, arms locked, and smiles on their faces. “Simon!” Elizabeth gushed, rushing across the room to him. “I had the most amazing time at the Duchess of Scarsdale’s home today.” Elizabeth prattled on for a good ten minutes about all the delicious food, the duchess’s exquisite gowns, and the decorations of the home. Simon did not think he could take much more, and Caitlin looked as if she felt the same, when Elizabeth took a deep breath, grabbed Simon by the arm, and said, “You will never believe what we learned that may be of some interest to your friend Lord Rutledge.”

  Simon frowned and looked from one of his sisters to the other. Elizabeth looked eager, but Caitlin appeared uneasy. “Lady Jocelyn, sister to Lady Fanny Simpell, told us in the utmost confidence of her sister’s scandalous and unfortunate bad decisions—and all because of love!”

  “What does this have to do with Rutledge?”

  “Well,” Elizabeth said, coloring, “we—” she motioned between herself and Caitlin “—happened to overhear Lord Rutledge tell ye of the rumors involving himself and Lady Fanny.”

  Simon frowned at both his sisters. “Have I not told ye both explicitly not to eavesdrop at my study door?”

  Caitlin glared at Elizabeth. “I told ye he’d linger on that small detail,” she accused.

  “Really, Simon!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Ye must listen to me and set aside the lecture ye wish to deliver.”

  He clamped his mouth shut and nodded.

  “It seems Lady Fanny has been quite infatuated with Lord Rutledge for some time now. Ever since he apparently rescued her bonnet from the Thames. Anyway, Lady Jocelyn said that she believes Lady Fanny may have actually planned to follow Lord Rutledge into the library that night in the hopes that he would kiss her and fall in love with her! If she plotted for that…”

  “It is not so farfetched to believe the lady plotted to trap him in marriage,” Caitlin finished. “Simon, ye must find out. This could make all the difference for Rutledge. If he can clear his good name, he can still make a good match to save his family from ruin.”

  “The two of ye must have planted yerselves at my study door and pressed yer ears to the wood.” The guilty looks his sisters exchanged confirmed his guess. “Rutledge no longer needs to make a good match to help his family, but I’m quite certain he’d like to clear his name. I need to somehow get the truth from Lady Fanny herself.” Maybe then, he could resolve that particular issue of tension between him and Anne, and then actually court her.

  “We can help with that,” Elizabeth exclaimed.

  “How?”

  “Well, Lady Jocelyn has invited us to tea at the end of the week,” Elizabeth explained. “Ye can escort us there.”

  Caitlin nodded. “Lady Jocelyn says her sister has been mostly cloistered in the house since the gossip started, except to go out for some ridiculous—Lady Jocelyn’s words—Sisterhood meeting, at none other than Miss Adair’s grandfather’s home.”

  “What sort of meeting?” Simon asked, completely intrigued.

  Elizabeth and Caitlin exchanged another uneasy look. “She wasn’t completely certain,” Caitlin said. “Her sister would not tell her when she inquired, but she did overhear Lady Fanny and one of her friends—a Lady Mary—say that they would see each other at the next meeting of the Sisterhood for the Ruination of Rogues.”

  “I’ll be damned,” Simon muttered, completely forgetting himself. When both his sisters gasped, he quickly said, “I beg yer pardon. I am shocked and forgot yer delicate sensibilities.”

  “Think nothing of it,” Elizabeth and Caitlin said as one.

  He nodded absently, pondering all he had learned. He felt certain the Lady Mary his sisters spoke of was one and the same as the Lady Mary from his past. The Sisterhood for the Ruination of Rogues, indeed! He very nearly laughed. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, and he was not angry but intrigued that Anne would be a part of such a group. Actually, the more he thought upon it, the more he suspected that the group probably had been Anne’s idea. Most surely it had to have been started with the best intentions, yet it had taken a dangerous turn in attempting to ruin a good man, and that problem would be a continued one. Anne could not keep the Sisterhood going as it was, but how to persuade her to stop?

  The next afternoon, Anne stood outside Simon’s home, debating the wisdom of returning, which she had done since the moment she had fled him last night. But she was here, personally wise or not, to aid Fanny, so she had to knock. Taking a deep breath, she did so, and the door immediately opened to reveal the butler.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Adair,” Perceval said. “I was wondering how long you would stand outside.”

  Anne blinked. “You’ve been watching me?’

  “Oh yes. For quite some time actually. I thought to open the door at first, when I first glimpsed you through the window, but you seemed to be having a nice little chat with yourself. When I’m arguing with myself, it can sometimes take me quite a long while to settle my dispute, so I decided not to interrupt you.”

  How mortifying! Anne was glad no one else knew she had stood there talking to herself. She cleared her throat. “Is His Grace in?”

  “He’s out on an errand,” Perceval answered. “You are an hour early.”

  She was. That was true, but she was surprised Perceval was aware she was supposed to be here for her next dance lesson at noon. “Did His Grace tell you I was to be expected at noon?”

  Perceval nodded. “He did. He said he would be
back a few minutes beforehand, but if you were early to make you comfortable, and ‘for the love of all that is holy,’ not to let you leave if you appeared to want to do so.”

  Anne laughed at the butler’s bad impersonation of Simon. “I don’t think you were supposed to tell me that last bit.”

  The older man frowned. “His Grace did not say not to.”

  Anne bit her lip on another laugh. She was quite sure Simon had not considered that he needed to say not to. It seemed poor Perceval was becoming rather daft in his advancing years. She thought of Simon’s words. Was he so desperate for her to stay, so he could continue his plan to seduce and ruin her? Undoubtedly so. “I can sit in the parlor if you wish,” she said by way of hopefully helping Perceval decide what to do with her.

  “Excellent idea! Lady Elizabeth is in the parlor waiting for you.”

  “Elizabeth knows I’m here?”

  “Of course. I told her you were standing outside the door talking to yourself. She watched with me for a bit, then decided to await you in the parlor.”

  How unlucky! Anne prayed Elizabeth would not ask what she had been debating herself about.

  Perceval saw Anne to the parlor, and Elizabeth gave her a knowing smile when Anne walked in. “Ye mustn’t be embarrassed,” Elizabeth gushed. “I frequently debate with myself! I completely understand.”

  Anne nodded, embarrassed nonetheless. “Have you sewn long?” She motioned to Elizabeth’s embroidery basket.

  Elizabeth nodded. “I find it soothes my nerves. Do ye embroider?”

  Anne shook her head. “I used to,” she confessed, feeling a sudden need to talk.

  A confused look swept over Elizabeth’s face.

  “I used to be a strict rule-follower,” Anne added, “doing all the things the ton thought women should do.”

  “And now?”

  “And now I find I don’t care to follow rules that are not to my liking.”

  Elizabeth smiled, set down the embroidery she had just picked up, and studied Anne. “Ye and Simon will make a good match.”

  Anne startled at the statement. “We are not—That is, your brother and I are not—”

  “He is teaching ye to dance, yes?”

  “Did he tell you that?” Anne asked, surprised Simon would share their meetings.

  “No, Perceval did. Simon does not know that I know.”

  Perceval’s tongue was entirely too loose, but Anne would not say anything and risk getting the man in trouble. “That is all he is doing,” she said instead, though she knew it wasn’t.

  “I don’t think so,” Elizabeth countered. “Simon has never given any woman but ye this much time of day. Not even Caitlin and me, unless we were unwell. He is always so busy working.”

  Anne could not very well confess to Elizabeth that the only reason Simon was taking so much time for her was because he was using her. Instead, Anne focused on Elizabeth’s words about Simon caring for them when they were in poor health. “Are you telling me Simon personally takes care of you and your sister when you are ill?”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Especially when we were younger. He would sit by our sides nonstop if we had a fever, forgoing sleep, food, all, until we were well. He is a wonderful caretaker.”

  That did not sound like a coldhearted rogue. Anne sat with Elizabeth, plying her with questions about Simon. He’d taught both his sisters to read, write, and defend themselves, if the need should ever arise. She was just about to ask Elizabeth if she knew anything about why Simon had been turned away by their grandfather, but the door opened and Caitlin stomped into the room looking down at what appeared to be an invitation.

  “We’ve been invited to another ball,” she moaned, glancing up and stilling. “Miss Adair, I did not realize we had company. I beg yer pardon.”

  “Anne, remember. Please, call me Anne.”

  Caitlin smiled. “Simon is not in,” she said, giving Anne a knowing look that seemed tinged with a touch of pity. Did Caitlin know Simon’s plans for Anne, then? How utterly embarrassing!

  “Yes, so I’ve been told,” Anne murmured. “I was awaiting him here with Elizabeth. I was early. I was to be here at noon.”

  Caitlin glanced at the desk and frowned. “It’s two hours past.”

  Anne gasped and glanced to the clock. Caitlin was correct. She could not believe she had been here for three hours! And where was Simon?

  As if reading her thoughts, Caitlin said, “It’s not like Simon to be late for an, er, appointment.”

  Anne felt her cheeks heat. Caitlin most definitely knew what her brother was doing with her. Did the woman condone it? Did she think Anne a nitwit? Caitlin likely thought Anne was unaware that Simon was only using her so he could ruin her for revenge? “Perhaps I should take my leave?” Anne offered, thinking Caitlin may not want her there.

  Caitlin waved. “Ye’re welcome to stay. Perhaps ye could aid me and my sister.”

  “With?” Elizabeth interjected, eyebrows raised in question.

  “Fashion,” Caitlin replied.

  “Oh aye!” Elizabeth agreed.

  Caitlin touched a hand to her skirts. “We seem to be woefully unaware of the fashions of the ton. I dread attending a ball and being the recipient of odd looks.”

  Anne smiled. “When is the ball you are to attend?”

  “Saturday night,” Caitlin replied. “I’m certain it will be a dreadfully boring affair. It’s at the Duke and Duchess of Aversley’s home.”

  Anne chuckled. “I know them both. They are lovely people. I’m attending, as well. Hmm…” She quirked her mouth while studying both sisters. They were shaped very similarly, and both happened to have a figure more like Jemma’s than Anne’s. “I know a wonderful seamstress, but she is not magic and could never have two bespoke gowns ready in six days. However,” she hurriedly rushed out after seeing both women’s smiles droop, “my sister has more gowns than she knows what to do with, and you both are about her height and shape. If you could call on her with me, then I’m positive she would be thrilled to lend you both gowns.”

  “Ye’re certain she would not mind?” Elizabeth asked.

  Anne gave a dismissive gesture. “She’ll be thrilled. We could go to see her now,” she offered, thinking it would be good to talk to Jemma, tell her what she had learned of Simon and seek her sister’s counsel.

  “We can leave Simon a note so he will know where we have gone,” Elizabeth said, scrambling to her feet. “I’ll just go fetch paper and write the note. Give me but a few minutes.”

  When Elizabeth had departed the room, Caitlin said, “He likes ye, ye know.”

  Much to Anne’s dismay, her foolish heart leaped at Caitlin’s words. “Did he tell you that?” she asked, which seemed the appropriate question, yet she knew he would never have said any such thing. When Caitlin shook her head, Anne’s heart seemed to crash as quickly as it had sped up. My, she was silly.

  “No, but I can tell by the way he sounds when he talks of ye.”

  Before Anne could respond to that, Elizabeth returned. “We’re ready to go,” she announced. “I’ve left a note with Perceval, but in case he forgets to deliver it to Simon, I also left a note on Simon’s desk where he will surely see it.”

  All three of them chuckled at that, but when Anne finally sobered, she asked, “Why does Simon keep Perceval on when he so obviously lacks, er, the usually wanted qualifications in a butler?”

  The sisters exchanged a knowing look. “Perceval was our father’s personal valet before he left. He is like a connection to our father. Sometimes, when his memory is working well, Perceval will tell us stories of what Father was like as a young lad.”

  Anne frowned. “Your grandfather retained him after your father left?”

  Both sisters nodded. “Odd, isn’t it? Grandfather wanted nothing to do with Father. He cut all ties. He never asked or tried to meet any of us, and when Simon came to him for aid, our grandfather turned him away based on untruths,” Caitlin said, giving Anne a pointed look. “
Yet, Grandfather kept Perceval employed when surely his mind must have been slipping before Grandfather died. It almost makes one think Grandfather actually had a sliver of goodness in him.”

  Anne nodded. “Yes, it does.” And it made something click in her head. Her own grandfather had seemed as if he had guilt that weighed on him in regard to the old Duke of Rowan. She would have to question him more. “Shall we depart?” she asked.

  Both women nodded, and shortly after, they were rumbling down the road in one of Simon’s carriages toward Jemma’s country home.

  Eleven

  “Your Grace,” Mr. Davis, Simon’s solicitor, said, surprise flashing across his face as the dark-haired, thin man scrambled from his desk chair to stand. “Did we have an appointment today?”

  “No,” Simon replied, taking the seat opposite Davis’s cluttered desk. “We did not. I’m sorry to drop in to yer office unannounced—”

  Mr. Davis waved a dismissive hand. “Think nothing of it,” he said pleasantly. “I’m the only one in the office today. Merely catching up on paperwork.”

  “Aye,” Simon nodded. “I noted yer clerk is not here.”

  Mr. Davis smiled as he pushed his spectacles up the long bridge of his bony nose. “How might I be of assistance?”

  Simon took a deep breath, quickly thinking over the decision he had come to after Anne had told him of Ian Frazier and how the man had tricked her into thinking he loved her and wanted to marry her when all he had truly wanted was her fortune. Rage on Anne’s behalf still curdled in Simon’s gut. Simon leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “I’m going to take over a company, and ye are going to help me do it.”

  “Of course,” Mr. Davis immediately agreed. “Whose company do you wish to purchase?”

  “A Mr. Ian Frazier. But first, I wish to bring the company almost to the brink of ruin. Then I will purchase it for a fraction of what it is now worth.”

  Mr. Davis grinned, showing he was far more hard-edged than his unassuming appearance would make one think. Simon had known this, of course, which was precisely why he had chosen Mr. Davis to be his solicitor.