A Suitable Bride

by Fenella J Miller

  She nodded and sniffed. ‘Yes, but I don’t think she’s gone yet.’

  Bennett frowned as he considered the problem. Should he find his brother and draw his cork or make sure that Grace was still on the premises. There was no way on this earth that the woman he loved was going to be turfed from his familial home. They would leave together in the morning and he would make damn sure everybody here was aware of that fact.

  As he reached the French doors Perry stepped in front of him. Although his younger brother was almost as tall as he, he had half his bulk. ‘No, Bennett, I’ll not let you pass. Not until you’ve heard what I’ve got to say.’

  ‘Go ahead – but make it brief.’

  ‘Our imbecilic older brother told Miss DuPont to leave but she refused to go and gave him a dressing down that’s the talk of the drawing room.’

  This was the last thing he expected to be told. ‘How the hell do you know this?’

  Perry grinned. ‘Although they were out here a couple of tabbies were lurking by the door and overheard it all. I’m not sure which bit of information is being relished more – the fact that Miss DuPont is not who she says she is and that Beau wishes to evict her, or that she refused to go and told him he was arrogant and objectionable and that she wasn’t surprised he remained unmarried.’

  Some of his fury abated at this news. ‘Where is our brother now? Why haven’t we been called into dinner?’

  ‘He’s gone off in high dudgeon and the butler doesn’t want to send us in without him.’

  ‘Tell him to announce dinner. There’s no point in the meal being spoiled because our brother has behaved like a nincompoop. I’d better tell you, this is my fault. I’m sure he didn’t intend to send her packing, just to warn me off making her an offer. I told him I intended to marry her, whatever his opinion, and that must have been the trigger. It doesn’t excuse what he did, but perhaps it explains it.’

  ‘This is going to be interesting, Bennett. I can’t remember when I’ve had such an entertaining time.’

  ‘Collect Giselle, she’s sniffing on the terrace. You know how she hates unpleasantness of any kind. I’ll not be coming into dinner so you must take the lead tonight.’

  He decided to make his way to Grace’s apartment by a circuitous route and thus avoid the speculation and sniggers he’d encounter in the drawing room.

  He knocked on her sitting room door and was pleased to hear a firm command to come in. Somehow he expected her to be in floods of tears, needing his comfort and reassurance. What he found was something else entirely. She viewed him with something bordering on dislike and his optimism began to fade.

  ‘Lord Sheldon, what an unexpected surprise. No doubt you’ve heard what happened. I do hope you’ve been sent to physically eject us. I’m quite looking forward to creating a disturbance that will never be forgotten.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Grace. Of course I haven’t. I’ve come to apologise…’

  She looked even more disapproving. ‘I don’t recall giving you permission to use my given name, my lord. I am Miss DuPont to you.’

  This was not going well. ‘I apologise…’

  ‘So you’ve already said. If there’s nothing more, I suggest you go and eat your dinner and leave me in peace.’

  ‘Devil take it, will you let me get a word in?’ He hadn’t meant to sound so terse, but his temper was fraying badly. She raised an eyebrow and half-smiled in a most irritating way. This was too much for his fragile control. ‘I’m not surprised that you’ve angered my brother for you must be the most aggravating young lady I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet.’

  Instead of recoiling from his anger she stepped closer, her eyes flashing dangerously. ‘I had no wish to come here; I was given no choice by my father. I despise your kind – you think yourselves above the common people, that you can behave despicably, treat people not of your class as of no account and never feel a moment of remorse for doing so.’ She moved nearer forcing him to be the one to step backwards.

  ‘I’m certain the duke would not have even considered sending a member of society from his house in the middle of the night. I doubt that anyone else would be denied food as we have been. I cannot wait to leave here. I dislike you and your kind and regret every moment I’ve spent under this roof.’

  She raised her hand and pushed him violently in the chest. He lost his balance and tumbled backwards through the open door. He heard her laugh as she slammed it behind him.

  He surged to his feet with the intention of barging back in and putting her straight on a few matters but then something she’d said prevented him. Surely he’d misheard – his brother couldn’t have ordered the kitchen not to send supper trays.

  He stood with his hand against the door frame breathing heavily, controlling his anger. This was no longer directed at Grace, but at his brother. Before he acted precipitously he would check the facts.

  ‘Miss DuPont, did you say that the kitchen has refused to send you food?’ He spoke loudly knowing she could hear him quite clearly through the door.

  To his surprise the door opened. ‘I did say that. Are you saying that you didn’t know?’

  ‘Of course I didn’t, you pea-goose. I shall attend to the matter directly, you will have your supper very shortly.’

  ‘Thank you. I’m sorry for pushing you – I don’t know what came over me. Ever since I met you I’ve been behaving out of character and I cannot understand why this should be so.’

  He bowed. ‘I accept your apology. Pray excuse me, my love, but I have a matter of the utmost urgency to attend to. I’ll return and join you for supper.’

  *

  With a casual wave he strode off and Grace watched him go with a deep sense of foreboding. He’d called her ‘my love’. That could only mean one thing. For some inexplicable reason he’d developed feelings for her, and she feared she might actually reciprocate these.

  This was not something to celebrate because whatever her feelings for Lord Sheldon she could never marry him and become part of this family. She was a commoner, well, perhaps not quite that, she was gently born, but definitely not of their aristocratic class.

  However, she’d no wish to be the cause of a permanent rift between the brothers and she had a horrible suspicion that her would-be suitor had gone in search of his grace and intended to wreak physical punishment on the duke, and this she couldn’t allow.

  Without a moment’s hesitation she picked up her skirts and ran pell-mell along the corridor, down the stairs and into the grand hall. The drawing room was now empty – she sighed with relief. Lord Sheldon would hardly accost his brother at the dinner table.

  She saw a footman emerge from a narrow passageway and called him over. ‘Has his grace gone into dinner?’

  ‘No, miss, neither he nor Lord Sheldon are there.’

  Where could they be? She would try outside in the stables – no – the duke would have gone somewhere more private. She thought for a moment and then decided to go to the boathouse. Which would be the quickest route? Fortunately she was no longer dressed in an evening gown, but something more practical, a muslin day dress and had sturdy slippers on.

  The sun was just sinking below the horizon bathing the water of the ornamental lake in rippling gold. The reflection made it difficult to see but she was certain she'd spotted Lord Sheldon striding in that direction. She picked up her skirts and raced after him. Should she call out? It would be most unladylike – but she no longer had a reputation to protect so she might as well.

  ‘Lord Sheldon, stop. I wish to speak to you immediately.’ Her voice echoed and she was certain that anyone within five miles would have heard her shout.

  Her quarry certainly did as he shot round as if poked by a large hatpin. He didn’t walk towards her, but he didn’t continue on his journey either.

  She arrived at his side breathless and scarcely able to speak coherently. He waited with narrowed eyes until she recovered but offered no comment.

  ‘My lord, I wish to
know why you called me ‘my love’.’ This was a nonsensical thing to say, but she could think of nothing else and she could hardly ask him if he had come out here intending to fight with his brother over her.

  ‘You have run after me, screamed like a fishwife, and this is the reason? I scarcely know how to reply. I thought some further catastrophe had occurred.’

  She was still floundering, unable to think of anything sensible to say when a third party joined them. The duke had overheard them. ‘I believe, Bennett, that Miss DuPont is here in order to stop you from assaulting me.’ His eyes glimmered with amusement as he looked at her. ‘Am I not right?’

  ‘You are, your grace. Although why I should wish to do so, I’ve no idea, after the way you’ve behaved towards me this evening.’

  Before she could reply, or warn the duke, Lord Sheldon drew back his arm and punched his brother square on the nose. The duke staggered backwards clutching his face and for an awful moment Grace thought more punishment was to come.

  ‘You deserve to be horsewhipped, Beau, but a bloody nose will suffice. It’s too late to turn your charm on us, the damage is done. My future wife and I will leave here tomorrow and will not come back. What you did was unforgivable.’

  The duke was holding a handkerchief to his injured nose and it was rapidly turning red. He offered no reply but his eyes were sad and she regretted with all her heart that she’d been the cause of this catastrophic rift between Lord Sheldon and his brother.

  She was given no opportunity to offer her assistance to the injured man as her elbow was gripped firmly and she was marched away. She wasn’t a recalcitrant child to be dragged across the grass. ‘Let go of me, sir, I dislike being manhandled.’ She threw her weight back on her heels and he was forced to stop unless he wished to pull her over.

  Once they were stationary she was ready with her question. ‘I wasn’t aware, my lord, that I was betrothed to you. I don’t remember you having asked for my hand in marriage – I can assure you that’s not something I would easily forget.’

  His cheeks flushed and he looked uncomfortable. She allowed him no opportunity to respond but continued. ‘Indeed, sir, I’m as likely to accept an offer from a member of this family as I am to sprout wings and fly. I’m sorry that you’ve fallen out with your brother, but that’s not my concern. I intend to leave here tomorrow and I shall do so without your company.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  Grace opened the door to her sitting room and stopped in shock as Aunt Sarah rushed forward to greet her.

  ‘See, we have our supper, and what a magnificent one it is too. The only reason we didn’t get our food earlier was because dinner was delayed and the kitchen was too busy.’

  ‘I didn’t think matters could get any worse – Lord Sheldon has just punched the duke and he did it because I told him we had been denied food as well as being evicted.’

  ‘How dreadful! Well, I for one am starving and have no intention of letting this delicious repast go to waste. If his lordship wishes to fight with his brother then it’s no concern of ours.’

  The food did smell appetising and Grace overcame her qualms. Eventually she was replete and pushed away her empty plate with a sigh of satisfaction. ‘That was absolutely delicious. I was half-expecting our supper to be interrupted by Lord Sheldon but am relieved that he listened to what I said to him and didn’t come.’

  Her companion wiped her lips on a napkin and waited expectantly for the rest of the story. ‘You’ve yet to explain to me exactly what took place in the garden.’

  When Grace had finished her friend was astounded. ‘Received an offer from Lord Sheldon and rejected it out of hand? Surely it was worth giving it a moment’s consideration…’

  ‘I couldn’t marry into a grand family such as this as it would mean spending the remainder of my life being treated as an inferior. For people like this birth is everything – what’s inside a person is of no account. And anyway, I’ve no wish to cause further difficulties for Lord Sheldon. Until I arrived a few days ago this was a close and happy family and I’ve ruined that.’

  ‘I shall retire. I wouldn’t have returned if Annie had not sent word that food had arrived. Goodnight, my dear, I shall see you at first light tomorrow.’

  The door closed quietly leaving Grace to her thoughts. Then she noticed that her companion had forgotten her reticule. A few minutes later there was a soft tap on the door – Aunt Sarah must have come back for her bag. ‘Come in, I’ve been expecting you.’

  ‘Have you indeed? I’m relieved that you’re prepared to speak to me after what you said outside.’

  She was on her feet and staring at her visitor in horror. ‘What are you doing here? I thought it was my companion returning – if I’d known it was you I wouldn’t have invited you in.’

  *

  Bennett kicked the door closed behind him hoping that being closeted with his beloved girl would compromise them both and force her to accept his offer. She was wise to his move and dodged around him and threw the door open again.

  ‘Go away, my lord, I’ve no wish to speak to you.’

  ‘I’ve come to tell you that the duke has reconsidered his demand that you leave and you are now free to stay. My sisters and brothers are circulating through the guests making sure that everyone is aware the whole episode was a dreadful misunderstanding.’

  She didn’t appear particularly pleased to hear this. ‘The fact that your brother has a broken nose could not have gone unremarked. How have you explained that away?’

  ‘He was drunk as a wheelbarrow and walked into the boathouse. The first is true – the second appears to have been accepted. And his nose isn’t broken, merely a little bent.’ What could he say to convince her? There was little point in pursuing his courtship as she’d made it perfectly plain she wanted none of him. However, he wasn’t going to let her go without a fight. If he could somehow persuade her to remain here he was sure he could change her mind.

  ‘My brother heard you reject my offer, and now he knows you’re not here in the hope of becoming my wife his objections to your remaining have been removed.’

  ‘How typical of someone like him – he cares little for anyone’s feelings and will only be happy if you marry a young lady with an impeccable pedigree.’ She stopped and he was almost sure her eyes filled. He wasn’t mistaken – for all her protestations she did have feelings for him. All he had to do was wait and she would be his.

  ‘I’m sorry that I misled you about the food – that was an unfortunate misunderstanding.’ She gestured towards the half-empty trays and his stomach rumbled loudly. He hadn’t been fortunate enough to find himself anything to eat and was sharp set.

  ‘Forgive me, but if you’ve finished with that meal I’ve not eaten since first light.’ He didn’t wait for her to refuse but moved swiftly to the table and filled up a plate.

  ‘Do help yourself, my lord, I’d hate to think that you were going hungry on my account.’ She pointed to the jug of lemonade. ‘I’m sure you would prefer wine with your meal, but you’ll have to make do with that instead.’ She turned to go towards her bedchamber. ‘I’ll leave you to eat. Forgive me, I have to be up very early tomorrow and it’s already past ten o’clock.’

  ‘Please, don’t go. If you retire I’ll have to take this to my apartment to eat and then I’ll get no second helpings.’

  ‘Very well, I’ll remain until you’ve finished.’ She picked up a book and took it to a chair on the far side of the chamber. She couldn’t have made it clearer – she wished to have nothing else to do with him and he didn’t blame her.

  This was an unmitigated disaster. How could he have found the young lady he wished to spend the remainder of his days with only to have her slip from his grasp? He came to a decision. There was one slim chance of getting her to stay. If he could convince her that he’d accepted her rejection and was looking elsewhere for a wife then maybe she’d remain.

  ‘It’s a great shame that you are leaving tomorrow as I was
looking forward to beating your stallion in the races that start on Saturday. In fact, one of the younger gentlemen is running a book on the result.’

  He had her full attention now. ‘I didn’t know such a thing would take place. If I did decide to stay, would it be possible for me to place a wager?’

  He continued to eat trying not to show his excitement. After a suitable pause to swallow his mouthful he replied. ‘You couldn’t, but one of your men could. As far as I recall Rufus is considered an outsider – Lucifer is favourite.’

  ‘Then I’ll stay and put my guineas down as a wager for my stallion to win all the races that he’s entered in. Which reminds me, my lord, I believe that I’ve yet to be awarded my prize from the treasure hunt.’

  He dipped into his waistcoat pocket and tossed her a golden coin. ‘Here you are, I collected it for you as I was, please correct me if I’m wrong, part of the team.’

  She gave him the first genuine smile of the evening. ‘I’m sure that as a member of the family you don’t wish to have the prize divided. I’m assuming that, in the unlikely event that I come second to you, you’d be happy with the applause and donate the prize money to myself.’

  He refilled his plate and tucked in with relish. She could hardly send him packing whilst he was eating. She returned to her place at the far side of the chamber and left him to his meal. He couldn’t help thinking that for a young lady with a massive fortune she was remarkably interested in acquiring money. He would make some subtle enquiries with her outside men and discover why this was. ‘I shall convey the fact that you no longer intend to leave to everyone downstairs. Why don’t you give me your purse and I’ll hand it onto your groom so he can put his name down in the book?’

  She hesitated and then nodded. ‘Just a moment, I’ll fetch it from my bedchamber.’ She vanished and he heard her rummaging around. He could hardly contain his excitement that his ploy to keep her here had worked.