UNCOMMON DUKE, AN

by BENSON, LAURIE

  ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ she asked, moving her head away from him.

  He climbed on top of her and propped himself up by his elbows. ‘Like what?’ he countered, rubbing his nose on the side of hers, needing to touch her in even the smallest of ways.

  ‘Please move. We must get dressed.’

  ‘But I like the way you look without your dress.’

  ‘Gabriel.’

  He placed coaxing kisses along her mouth. If he could only get her to kiss him back, he was certain he could easily convince her to let him enter her again. When her lips parted to accept his kisses, he hardened in anticipation. She was heaven and sin wrapped all in one. Mornings such as this came flooding back to him. ‘I love being inside you when we are both half-asleep.’

  The loud crash startled them both and they swung their heads to the doorway in unison.

  Colette stood frozen, the remains of Olivia’s chocolate and a broken cup at her feet. Gabriel let out a low curse and jerked the sheet up to his waist. This day was not starting out as he planned.

  ‘I...I...knocked but...I saw his lordship leave and thought you’d be needing my assistance getting dressed.’

  ‘I will ring for you shortly, Colette,’ Olivia murmured while covering her eyes. ‘You may tend to the mess later.’

  The maid dashed from the room and thankfully closed the door behind her.

  Gabriel sighed and dropped onto his back. Hopefully the remainder of his day would not hold any more unexpected interruptions.

  * * *

  When Gabriel entered his breakfast room at the unusually early hour to the smells of chocolate, coffee, eggs, ham, warm bread and strawberry jam, he found it hard not to smile. Olivia had shooed him from her room without one more taste of her tempting lips. If he was not able to make love to her this morning, at least he would eat well. He went directly to the sideboard, filled his plate with his favourite morning fare, then took his seat at the head of the table between his wife and son.

  As Bennett poured him coffee, Gabriel could have sworn he heard the man humming. ‘Can I get you anything else, sir?’ he asked with an unusually cheerful lilt to his voice.

  ‘No, that will be all, Bennett.’ Gabriel scanned the freshly ironed copy of The Times. Thankfully there still was no mention of the assassination attempt. The fewer people who know about it, the safer Prinny would be.

  ‘This just came for you, madam,’ Bennett said, handing Olivia a missive sealed with red wax.

  Who would send his wife a note so early in the day? Was that common as well? How was it that he knew the exact time Prinny rose each morning, but he did not know the most mundane things about his own house? Gabriel surreptitiously looked at the handwriting and tried to identify the imprint on the seal. Without tilting his head to the side, he would not be able to distinguish the mark.

  ‘You do eat a lot of food in the morning, Papa.’

  Olivia placed the note down and pursed her lips. His opportunity was lost.

  ‘Nicholas, it is not polite to comment on what other people place on their plates,’ she corrected him.

  Their son turned to her in amazement. ‘But do you see his plate?’

  Olivia picked up her cup of chocolate. ‘I see it. Grown men have rather large appetites.’ Her fine dark eyes met Gabriel’s over the gold rim of her blue Sèvres cup and she took a slow sip.

  If he didn’t know any better, he’d think she was being flirtatious. The very idea of it made him smile.

  ‘Lord Andrew is here to see you, sir,’ Bennett announced from the doorway. His previous cheerful demeanour seemed to have got lost on his way to escorting Andrew to the breakfast room. Apparently, this morning, when he wanted his family all to himself the outside world seemed determined to disrupt their private moments.

  It was just after seven o’clock. Gabriel hoped the urgent news that brought his brother to his doorstep would be good.

  ‘I realise I am calling early, but—’ Andrew froze in the doorway and his wide-eyed gaze travelled from Gabriel to Olivia and finally to Nicholas.

  ‘Uncle Andrew,’ Nicholas screamed. Jumping out of his chair, he hurled himself at his uncle. Andrew easily caught him and spun Nicholas around so that the boy rested around his neck like a scarf.

  There was no indication from Andrew’s demeanour the direction this visit would take. From the playful attention Andrew was paying to Nicholas, it was impossible to tell the urgency of his call.

  ‘Is everything all right, Andrew?’ Olivia asked with concern.

  He stopped trying to drop Nicholas to the floor. ‘Yes. Forgive me for the early hour.’ His gaze darted to Gabriel and back to Olivia. ‘I found I could not sleep and I know that Gabriel is an early riser. I thought a good ride through the park would clear the cobwebs from my head.’

  Patience was a virtue. As much as he wanted to ask the reason for Andrew’s visit, Gabriel would bide his time so as not to draw undue attention from Olivia. ‘Would you care for breakfast, or have you eaten already?’

  ‘I would never refuse to dine at your table.’ Andrew dropped his nephew into the seat Nicholas had vacated and strolled to the sideboard as if the domestic scene was commonplace and he was in no hurry to speak with Gabriel.

  While Gabriel watched Andrew sit next to Nicholas with a plate full of food and accept coffee from Bennett, he fought the urge to lean past his son and swat his brother on the head. He had offered food to Andrew to appear polite. The arse wasn’t supposed to accept it.

  Andrew was halfway through eating an enormous serving of ham and eggs when he finally noticed Nicholas, watching him with an open-mouthed stare. The acknowledgement pulled Nicholas out of his stupor, and he studied his bowl of porridge.

  ‘Mama, may I have eggs and ham instead of porridge?’

  Olivia shifted a glance between Andrew and their son. ‘If you’d like.’ She signalled for a footman to bring another plate to Nicholas and opened the note that had been taunting Gabriel since it arrived. Her brow wrinkled as she scanned the paper.

  ‘Have you received distressing news?’ Gabriel asked.

  The footman re-entered the room with a plate for Nicholas as she turned to Gabriel. ‘It’s a note from—’

  ‘Papa never eats breakfast with us, Uncle Andrew, but since he slept in Mama’s bed last night we asked him.’

  The plate slipped out of the footman’s hand, landing on the table with a thud as Gabriel choked on his coffee and Olivia turned crimson.

  Andrew leaned closer to Nicholas and arched a brow. ‘You don’t say,’ he said through a devilish grin.

  Nicholas opened his mouth to continue when Olivia quickly chimed in.

  ‘Your bruises have not improved. Perhaps now you will agree to take some healing salve home with you.’ Bless his wife’s polite diversionary tactics.

  Andrew shot Gabriel a meaningful look and removed his hand from her inspection. ‘It is nothing.’

  ‘Papa has a scar. Mama and I saw it this morning since he wasn’t wearing a nightshirt.’

  Andrew was quite familiar with that scar. It was thanks to his brother’s quick actions that Gabriel’s body hadn’t received another wound—a fatal one. Still, he needed to speak with his son about the importance of keeping certain aspects of their family life a secret. The sooner he learned that lesson, the better.

  Meanwhile Andrew seemed to be thoroughly enjoying Nicholas’s loquaciousness and propped his head in his hand. ‘It seemed rather cool last night to be sleeping without a nightshirt.’

  ‘I said the same thing,’ Nicholas said in astonishment as his stomach rumbled loudly. Excusing himself, he hopped off his chair to fill his plate at the sideboard. It seemed discussing his parents’ private activities was not as interesting as selecting the perfect slice of ham. Thank heavens for small miracles.


  Andrew went back to eating his breakfast and Olivia returned to that mysterious note.

  ‘I hope the news you’ve received is not too distressing,’ Gabriel said. ‘I gather from your expression that you have not received happy tidings.’

  She eyed him intently. ‘I suppose it depends on who you ask. Mr West is not well and has asked me to go to the Royal Academy this morning to settle the arrangement of the paintings for the upcoming exhibition in his place. I will have to cancel my sitting for today.’

  ‘That is unfortunate. Did he say what is troubling him?’ He took a sip of his coffee to hide the smile that was about to spread across his face at the very notion his wife would not be continuing that bloody portrait session.

  Shaking her head, Olivia leaned close enough that he could smell her honeysuckle perfume. ‘I am certain this pleases you immensely,’ she said for only his ears.

  ‘I would not wish ill on Mr West. You should know that.’

  Olivia leaned back in her chair and rolled her eyes. She took a sip of her chocolate and her soft pink tongue slipped out to lick her lip. It was almost impossible for Gabriel to hold back a sigh of yearning.

  Andrew shifted in his seat, taking Gabriel’s attention away from Olivia’s lips. Prinny’s safety was his priority. Why was he having difficulty remembering that? ‘I have appointments today, Andrew. What say you we go for that ride now?’

  Andrew gulped down the remainder of his coffee before he tossed his napkin on the table. ‘Excellent. Thank you for breakfast, Olivia.’

  Nicholas stuck out his lower lip. ‘You’re leaving already, Uncle Andrew?’

  ‘I’m afraid so. However, I’d venture to say you will see me again.’ He ruffled Nicholas’s hair as he walked past him.

  Gabriel crouched next to his son and Nicholas gave him a tight hug. ‘I rather like having breakfast with you, Papa,’ he said, releasing his hold.

  And Gabriel realised how much he rather liked having breakfast with his wife and son. It was an improvement from eating alone, reviewing paperwork. Without thinking, he kissed Olivia on the forehead on his way to the door.

  Chapter Ten

  Why was everyone riding so slowly down Piccadilly at this hour? Even Gabriel’s horse was pitching forward, trying to poke his nose past all the slow goers. If they did not arrive at the park soon Gabriel feared he would no longer possess any patience at all. In the meantime he continued to scowl at every driver, rider, merchant and pedestrian he saw.

  When they finally turned into the park, they steered their horses sedately onto Rotten Row. At this hour, the only people on the bridle path were a few servants exercising horses some distance ahead. Finally, he would get some answers.

  ‘Tell me what brought you to my door.’

  Andrew guided his horse closer to Gabriel’s. ‘You will not be pleased.’

  ‘Is that meant to soften the blow?’

  ‘Mr Clarke is dead.’

  Gabriel’s blood ran cold as he jerked the reins to hold his ground. ‘Care to explain?’

  ‘Dead. I think that just about explains it.’

  ‘I beg to differ. How in the bloody hell is the man dead when he is being hidden away in the Tower under lock and key? No one was to be informed he was there.’

  Andrew rubbed his lips together. ‘We were all shocked by the news. He was alive last night when they brought him his food. Hours later they found him dead on the floor.’

  ‘Poison?’

  ‘It appears so. We have questioned everyone involved and have no leads. It’s as if some spectre appeared and disappeared just as mysteriously.’

  ‘Then no one involved in holding him and the interrogations can be trusted. Perhaps this is why they have been unable to uncover any tangible leads. Say nothing of what we suspect and keep me apprised of anything suspicious.’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘From this moment forward, finding out who wants Prinny dead falls solely on our shoulders. We must make certain he is not harmed. I do not know how much longer I can keep him safe inside Carlton House. Each day he becomes more and more restless. He is like a child and I cannot force him to follow my directions. I only wish he were not so trusting.’

  Gabriel went to turn Homer around when his brother stopped him.

  ‘We are not finished,’ Andrew said. ‘I believe there is one more thing that requires discussion.’

  What more could they have to discuss?

  ‘You are honestly not about to acknowledge that ideal family portrait I just witnessed? I believe an explanation is in order.’

  Gabriel did not agree. Pulling the brim of his beaver hat low over his forehead, he shaded his eyes from the sunlight filtering through the branches above them. ‘Olivia and I are attempting a reconciliation of sorts.’

  ‘Of sorts?’

  ‘Yes.’

  When Andrew raised an expectant brow, Gabriel let out a sigh.

  ‘You did not arrive at my doorstep so early to discuss the state of my marriage.’

  ‘No, I did not, but after that unusual display, I find myself too intrigued not to. Now why is it normally you barely speak to her, the other night at dinner she was throwing daggers at you with her eyes and today you are kissing her goodbye? And please note, I am not even mentioning the entertaining information which Nicholas kindly provided.’

  ‘It’s complicated.’

  ‘Women always are.’

  Andrew had no idea. ‘Olivia and I would like to have another child.’

  ‘Well, it’s about time.’

  ‘Pardon me?’

  ‘You know it is best for you to have more boys for the ducal line. Don’t count on any of us to help you fulfil your obligation. Michael broods too much. No woman would ever want to marry him. And by the time Monty is old enough and finds a woman who can ignore his exasperating nature, you will be long dead.’

  Gabriel narrowed his eyes at Andrew. ‘Skeffington is in his dotage. When he gives up the ghost, I am certain his Duchess would be more than happy to lower herself to marry you. In fact, it would not surprise me if she attempted to pull you behind a tree while he was being lowered into his grave.’

  Andrew visibly shuddered. ‘Do not even jest. That woman is becoming more and more difficult to avoid. But we are getting away from our discussion of you and Olivia.’

  ‘No, that discussion is over. I told you why this morning’s events were a bit unusual.’

  ‘A bit? I would say the events I witnessed were monumentally unusual.’

  Gabriel could feel Andrew studying him and he kept his gaze fixed firmly ahead of them. He’d had a remarkable night with his wife. He did not need Andrew poking him with a stick to make him analyse what it meant.

  ‘Have you told her that you have always been faithful?’

  He knew this would happen. ‘Of course I have not told her.’

  ‘She is your Duchess.’

  ‘It is not that simple. I would need to reveal everything to her. Our father never disclosed anything to Mother. To this day she does not know what we do and what responsibility he had. I put my trust in the wrong person once. I will not let it happen again.’

  ‘Olivia is not Uncle Peter and the situation is vastly different.’

  ‘Is it? Is it truly different? Tell me how?’

  ‘She is your wife.’

  ‘And he was our beloved uncle. A man I looked up to all my life, much as my son does you. I went to him for advice after Father died. I told him what we do, foolishly believing he already knew. When Father said to suspect everyone and trust no one, he was right. My mistake cost Matthew his life. I was the one who felt his life slip away in my arms that night. No amount of rain could have washed his blood from my hands. Every day it eats away at me that I continue to allow his famil
y to believe he was the victim of a robbery that night. Lord Scarbury should have known his youngest was a man of heroic actions who gave his life protecting the Crown. Matthew deserved at least that.’

  ‘You had me give his widow a substantial amount of your money and say I was settling a gambling debt to help support her and their son. You did all you could do considering the circumstances.’

  ‘I couldn’t bring him back!’ It was the first time he allowed Andrew to see how deeply he had been affected by the events of that night. If he could help it, it would be the last.

  ‘You are not the only one to feel the sting of one’s actions where that night is concerned.’

  And now he felt even worse. ‘Forgive me. I didn’t mean to imply it had been easy on you.’

  The muscle in Andrew’s jaw twitched. ‘I’m glad you realise that.’

  They rode in silence towards the path out of the park. Eventually, Andrew cleared his throat. ‘If you explained you never tupped that woman, she would not think you’re a bounder.’

  ‘And tell her what exactly? She knows I was with Madame LaGrange. Shall I tell her that I was, in fact, with the woman in her brothel while Olivia’s life was in danger bearing our child, but I did not bed her? Then the question becomes what was I doing there? Olivia is an intelligent woman. You cannot give her half-truths. I will not reveal Madame’s secrets. Not now. Not ever.’

  All this talk of Olivia had distracted him. He needed to readjust his priorities—quickly. Prinny was in danger and he had no idea from whom.

  * * *

  Olivia dangled a small basket from her hand as she stood in the Blue Drawing Room of Carlton House and smiled at the man seated before her.

  ‘You are truly an angel, my dear. Have I mentioned that to you?’ the Prince Regent said, his eyes fixed on her basket.

  At times he could be so easy to please. ‘You are only saying that because I brought you marzipan.’

  ‘That is simply not true. I would have said it if you brought me macarons instead.’ He motioned for her to sit near him as he took the basket she held out and began to sample the sweet confections.