The Duke's Love

by Stephanie Maddux

  Sarah whirled around, and ran out of the room.

  Lady Felicia faced Jake and spoke her greatest fear. “As much as I hate to say this, I think you need to keep an eye on my daughter, your Grace.”

  Jordan was stunned that Sarah's own mother could think such things about her daughter.

  “You think she did this, don’t you?” Jordan accused.

  “I hope that is not the case, but she has not been herself since the theater. I have never seen this side of Sarah, and frankly, she is beginning to frighten me.” Lady Felicia said.

  That statement was met with questions and curiosity. Before anyone had a chance to explore this new revelation, the lady walked away. The doctor arrived and set the room in motion. He sent everyone out of the room. Lady Felicia was helping her daughter pack, and his mother was sitting calmly by the fire. No one spoke, aware that Jake’s temper was on edge. The doctor absolutely refused to allow Jake to remain in the room with Ana, so he just kept pacing, alone in his own world.

  "Do you think Sarah did this on purpose?" Eliza asked Jordan.

  Jordan looked at Eliza sitting beside him and pondered her question. “No. I do not. I think Sarah is a spoiled brat, but I just can’t believe she would be capable of this,” he said confident of his answer. Eliza didn’t look convinced. “Don’t worry, Ana will be okay.”

  “I know, but it’s just… this is the second serious event that has happened since she has been here, and Sarah was there both times.” She was skeptical, she did not believe in coincidences.

  “Eliza, you can’t condemn her just because she was there. Her reputation is already damaged. Anymore speculation would ruin her,” he said. Jordan really didn’t believe Sarah would go to such lengths to get what she wanted, spoiled or not. The doctor came into the room at that moment.

  “She’s awake. She needs to stay in bed for at least a day or so. She has a sprained ankle, bumps, and bruises, but otherwise she’s fine,” he said.

  Jordan got up and went to pour his brother a drink. He looked like he needed it.

  “Did she say how she fell?” Jordan asked the unspoken question.

  “She said the last thing she remembered was talking to Miss Fairchild and then she remembered falling. I wouldn’t worry too much. Some memory loss is expected with the hit to the head she sustained,” the doctor informed them.

  Jordan handed his brother some brandy and went to the window. How convenient for Sarah. It was still raining, which was very fitting, considering what kind of day it had been.

  “She is resting now. I would like to check on her again when she returns to London. Do I still need to look at the other patient that I was originally called to care for?” The doctor asked, as he gathered all his supplies, getting ready to leave.

  “No, she is leaving, so her mother can see to a doctor. I’ll make sure Ana gets to your office to see you,” Jake said returning to the original topic.

  Jordan looked at his brother and thought if this was what being in love does to a person, then he never wanted to experience the emotion.

  “He took this incident well, I’d say,” Jordan joked. Katherine smiled at Jordan and politely kissed on him the cheek. Then she instructed him to act nice and walked away. Jordan was left alone with Eliza. He caught Eliza’s eyes and held them He was amused when she jumped up and tried to walk past him to get out of the room. His arm shot out and connected with the doorframe, preventing her from leaving.

  “Are you scared darling?” He drawled

  “Of you? No, now excuse me. I want to check on my friend,” she said.

  “Be careful, I might bite,” Jordan laughed as she ducked under his arm and flew from the room. He had always been attracted to Eliza. He was sure from her reactions that she was just as attracted to him as he was to her. Jordan finished his drink and went to bed. He was exhausted.

  Sarah was extremely disappointed when Ana was not injured more than she was. That she couldn’t remember what had happened, was a blessing in disguise. It would give her enough time to escape back to London. Mother was constantly questioning her, and now Jake had the audacity to want to question her. Everyone seemed to forget about her feigned illness earlier. Jake was in the parlor looking over papers when she entered. She braced herself for the tongue-lashing she knew was coming.

  “You want to tell me what happened, Miss Fairchild?” Jake asked with quiet fury.

  “I suppose she tripped and fell.” She wanted to stick to her story and didn’t want to get confused by adding more details.

  “She has bruises on her chest that weren’t there this morning,” he said. Sarah was biting back a sarcastic remark about how he would know, before it dawned on her exactly how he would know.

  “How am I supposed to know how she got them?” She shot back defiantly.

  Jake looked as if he were ready to strangle her. In fact, it looked like he was taking every bit of resolve that he had to hold back. “I think you know. I just wanted to hear you say it,” he bit out.

  Sarah was not about to admit what she had done. “I don’t appreciate what you are accusing me of.”

  “That’s too damn bad for you then, isn’t it?” Jake sneered.

  Jake was standing by the fireplace looking down his nose at her. Sarah thought, who was he to judge?

  Jake continued, “I never gave you any indication I was considering you for a wife”

  “Then why would you single me out and court me?” She asked.

  “I felt bad for the way I had treated you two years ago. I wanted to make amends,” he continued.

  Sarah didn’t like that answer. “So, are you saying that I was a charity case?” She sputtered.

  “If you want to look at it that way,” he said coldly.

  Sarah was furious. Of all the things, he could have said, the pity he bestowed on her was the thing that shook her up the most. “You’ll pay. I’ll make sure of it,” she said in a deadly voice.

  She fled the room, and returned upstairs to pack. Her mother was sitting on the bed calmly waiting for her.

  “I tried to tell you dear,” she said in a calming tone.

  “Shut up, Mother. I don’t need to hear you say, ‘I told you so’. It is so degrading and I don’t want your pity,” she said. "Can we please leave this godforsaken place?” Sarah finished packing with lightning speed.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ana had a splitting headache. Her body was bruised and she felt battered. Several people have been in and out, but she really wanted to be left alone. Eliza had just left. Now, Jordan was keeping her company. Jake was downstairs, talking to Sarah and her mother. She was confused. Why couldn’t she remember how she had tripped and fallen? She was talking to Sarah and then she fell down the stairs and now here she was in bed. That was all she could remember.

  After being told what happened, she had been desperately trying to recall events. She couldn’t even remember what she and Sarah were discussing. Jake walked into the room and gently lay down beside the bed.

  “You feel better love?” He asked.

  “I am now,” Ana answered.

  Jake smiled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. “I’m having lunch brought up. Lady Felicia and Sarah are leaving and Eliza is also leaving within the hour. I thought that maybe you two would want to eat together. She will be here in a second,” Jake informed her.

  “Thank you, Jake, I owe you a lot,” she said, lying on the bed looking up at him. Jake sighed, leaned down, and kissed her.

  “If you are up to it, we will leave tomorrow and head back to London,” he said. Jake got up, lit some candles, brought over a wooden tray, and put it next to her on the bed.

  Eliza entered and sat down on the bed beside her. Jake exited quietly, leaving the two women alone.

  “What are you going to do with the Duke?” Eliza let the maid fuss over the meal tray as she asked this.

  “What do you think I should do?” Ana asked.

  “I think you need to give him a chance,” El
iza said as she took a bite.

  “I don’t know if I can,” she confessed to her.

  “Ana, I know about everything. Your mum told mine and when we came to be good friends, I was told. I don’t think it would matter to him. He loves you. All you have to do is look at him to see that.”

  Ana just stared at her friend. “You knew all this time and never said anything?” She asked.

  “I felt you would tell me in time,” Eliza said.

  Ana didn’t know of which secret Eliza was referring. Did she mean her parentage or the inability of conceiving a child? Ana decided just to let the matter drop. She still wasn’t ready to talk about it. Besides, Jake needed to hear it first. They continued to chat about the latest gossip, returning to London and other nontrivial matters. They had finished eating when Katherine came in and announced that Eliza’s carriage was ready whenever she was.

  Jake watched Lady Felicia and Sarah leave the estate from the upstairs window and was thankful she finally understood that he was not interested in her. He no longer felt any sort of bad feelings when it came to Sarah. Her behavior and actions spoke louder than anything else she did. She had shown her true colors. He agreed with Jordan’s assessment of her character. He was disgusted with himself for even courting her.

  “Is Ana well enough to travel to London?” Katherine asked her son as she came into the room and interrupted his thoughts.

  “The doctor said she would be fine to travel, so we are leaving tomorrow,” he said.

  “Why are you in such hurry to return?” Katherine asked.

  “There are things I need to look into and I don’t want Ana’s reputation in tatters, which will happen when Sarah returns and word gets out that she was here alone. Especially, since we told our guests she had left days ago,” Jake answered.

  “I’m here with you. I am an appropriate chaperon,” his mother pointed out the obvious.

  Jake knew he was being irrational. The last few days he had been anxious. He needed to get Ana to London. He felt she would be safer there. He knew Sarah was behind the two incidents, he just needed to prove it. God help her if he does prove it. Jake was confident that he had reached the correct conclusions. He wanted to get back to London, put some Bow Street runners on her, and have her followed.

  The last three days, he had been put through hell and back. Ana had given him a scare. It didn’t help matters when Ana was balking at marrying him and this too had his anger up. “We need to get back mother, you stay and get the house closed back up. I’ll see you when you return.” Jake dismissed his mother and ordered the butler to have Ana’s and his things packed. They would be traveling in the same coach, alone if he had his way.

  Jake went to his study to finish some last minute work. Later in the evening, he sought out Ana and dined with her in his room.

  “I hear we are returning to the city tomorrow,” Ana stated cheerfully.

  “Don’t sound so relieved. I’m not letting you out of my sight from now on.” Jake halfway joked. He watched as Ana put down her silverware and looked him straight in the eye.

  “I told you, Jake, that I can’t marry you,” she said quietly and calmly.

  “Why?” He demanded. Jake knew they needed to hash things out. He also knew he did not have the patience for it right now.

  “I’m betrothed to Viscount Langley. It is not official yet, but I have already given him my word,” she said in a low voice. She was also lying through her teeth and praying that the Viscount would help her. Jake was speechless.

  “Cry off then. I can personally attest that you are good at it,” Jake snapped.

  “I already used up the one pass I had. I can’t do it again,” she said with courage.

  “I’ll make sure he withdraws his offer,” Jake replied.

  “I can’t do that to Gregory,” she said.

  Angrily Jake thought that she didn’t have a problem when she did it to him, but she couldn't with the Viscount?

  “I really don’t care. You were screaming out my name, not his. You might be carrying my baby. It’s…” Jake broke off when Ana threw the napkin she was using on the table.

  “You just don’t get it do you! I cannot marry you. I can’t be pregnant! I can’t have children. It’s not possible!” She screamed at him. Then realizing what she had blurted out, she turned and fled, fled as best as she could in the state she was in.

  Jake sat there in shock. What did she mean she could not get pregnant? He was confused. Didn’t she know he needed an heir to the Dukedom? Of course she did. She was just using this as another excuse. Jake figured it out. She didn’t want to marry him so she would stoop that low to deny him. Jake was outraged. He belatedly stormed after Ana. He would play her games. He would just play them better. He found her in the library and immediately told her what was going to happen.

  “You will marry me, Ana. I don’t care if you cannot have my child. I want you. I intend to have you one way or the other,” Jake grounded out.

  “But you need an heir,” she said.

  “Not really, Jordan can fill that spot. If you do not marry me, I will ruin you. I will make sure you are never welcomed in polite society again and it is only the start at what I would do,” he said in a deadly calm. She would marry him. He would not consider any other option!

  “You’re in a sad state when you have to blackmail someone to marry you,” Ana teased.

  “I don’t care what you think, love. It will happen, so you better get used to it,” he spoke rigidly.

  “You want me so much that you would marry me knowing that I am illegitimate, and I can’t have your children,” she asked carefully.

  “Obviously, I am willing to go that far to have you. Now, if we are done playing games about nonsense, we are leaving tomorrow morning. When we get there I will put the notice out in the papers,” he said, ignoring her comment about not being able to have children, and letting her play her games. She wouldn't win this one.

  Ana flew into his arms and hugged him tightly. Jake was slow to put his arms around her. “I lied to you about being engaged to Gregory, We are good friends, but I’ve been trying to find him a wife,” she said with her words muffled in his chest. She felt Jake’s breath release and she smiled. She let go of him and kissed him full on the lips.

  “I confess. You had me confused. Are you willing to accept our marriage so easily?” Jake asked holding her tight.

  “Are you going to question your good fortune? Maybe I just wanted you to work at it,” she joked, not wanting to bring the subject back up.

  “How much more good fortune do you think I can get?” He whispered as he leaned down and kissed her.

  “I think you could use a lot more if you want,” she responded coyly.

  Jake gave a little laugh, as he pulled her over to the bed and proceeded to collect his good fortune.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Two Months Later…

  Sarah was back at home in London and she was brooding. Her mother and father stayed way for the most part. Her mother refused to talk to her, and her father treated her as if she had a disease. She was willing to concede her loss and go on with her life. She thought her parents might be able to arrange a marriage. She was okay with that until the notice came out in the paper earlier about the engagement of the Duke of Ashbury to Lady Ana Carmichael.

  The wedding was set for one month from now, which was too soon for such a lavish affair. Sarah had come home to be a laughing stock among her peers. Sarah stayed indoors and barely left her room. She was contemplating her options, which were limited at this point. She knew from the gossip sheets that Ana was always in the company of the Duke. They made it out to be the loving reunited couple of the century. It made her sick to her stomach and livid with rage.

  Sarah knew they were attending the Worthington's soirée tomorrow evening. One she had been invited to for the past few years. She had waited for the invitation, but it had never come. It was just another reminder of the injustice that was done to he
r.

  “We are leaving now, dear.” her mother called up the steps, not even bothering to make sure their daughter heard. Her parents were going out again this evening, as they had done every evening for the past few weeks. She listened as the front door opened and then banged shut. She waited about twenty minutes, before she went downstairs. She ate in the solitude of the sitting room without any interruptions. The servants were even careful about not getting in her way. She thought of a decent plan. She just needed to put it in action. This one would not fail like her other two plans.

  Could she really bring herself to do it? Father used to love to hunt and had a large collection of guns. She was no longer concerned about the consequences her actions would bring. She had decided if she couldn’t have Jake, than neither would Ana. It was only fair, after all. The only way it was going to happen was to get rid of the girl once and for all.

  Setting her meal aside, she went into her father’s study and tore it apart looking for the particular gun her father always kept hidden in the room, for intruders mostly. She was throwing books and papers off the desk, objects were out of place and scattered about, when a servant walked in asking if she needed any help.

  “When I am done, you can grab some of the other servants and clean this mess up,” she snapped and went back to looking for the gun. An hour later, she found what she was looking for. She found it stashed behind some antique books high on a shelf. She studied the gleaming weapon in her hand. She had never shot a gun before. It couldn’t be that hard.

  She heard dogs barking in the distance and she hid the gun in the folds of her dress. After telling the servants she wanted the room spotless before her parents returned, she went back upstairs. She would go to the soirée, play nice, lure Ana outside, and then attack her. By the time someone would come to the rescue, Sarah would be gone and no one would know it was she. She hid the gun under her mattress, satisfied that her plan was in place, and this time she would succeed. Her parents would not be home for hours and she was bored. She went to seek out the footman that had once provided entertainment so well. He would do to keep her mind off her troubles.