The Duke's Bride: Book 5 (The Clearbrooks)

by Teresa McCarthy

  Jane smothered a laugh. Emily let out a giggle.

  Lady Philomena’s lips thinned in anger as she regarded Jane. “Your blue eyes do you justice, Duchess. But perhaps if you ate fewer cakes, the duke would be inclined to pay more attention to you.”

  “Yes,” Lady Horatio added, her eyes narrowing. “I have noticed that the duke’s tastes have wandered more toward thinner females, wouldn’t you say that, Philomena?”

  Philomena smiled wickedly.

  Jane blinked at the women as she held an irate Agatha from charging the two. Good gracious! These women had been taking more than the waters! They were foxed!

  “Are you saying I am fat?” Jane asked.

  She may have put on a few pounds after her loss a month ago, and she may not be the delicate girl she was when she had married the duke, but Lady Horatio was twice her size. And what did they mean about her husband’s tastes?

  “Ladies,” Agatha ripped out, ignoring Jane’s warning. “You, Horatio, can barely walk through the doors. I see no reason for you to be telling other people that they have put on a few pounds! Your name is that of a man’s, and you look like one!”

  Lady Horatio gasped. “How dare you talk to me that way! I was only trying to help the duchess. Everyone knows her husband refuses to accompany her about town anymore.”

  Jane’s eyes flashed. “My husband has been quite busy. And you are sorely mistaken if you believe his actions are your affair. And another thing—”

  Emily gently pulled Jane back and glared at the ladies. “I believe you have crossed the line, ladies. My family does not take well to people who interfere in our lives.” Her tone was filled with fury. “I am sure you understand.”

  Lady Philomena blinked. “La, yes, well, a woman never wants to know when her man is seeing another.”

  Lady Horatio lowered her voice and winked at Jane. “But I daresay,” she whispered for only Jane to hear. “You have caught on rather well at your young age. Captain James Argyle is quite a catch with that shipping line. And that chocolate brown hair that curls at his nape makes a woman want to swoon. Yet, it is the danger that lurks in those emerald green eyes that makes a lady giddy, don’t you think? Goodness me, if I were ten years younger—”

  Jane took another glass of water and dumped it on top of Horatio’s head. “Good day, ladies!” She grabbed Emily and Agatha and retreated from the room, not caring a whit about the whispers following in their wake.

  Emily stared back in horror at the door to the Pump Room. “I have never been so insulted in my entire life. What else did she say to you, Jane?”

  Agatha didn’t let Jane say a word. She swung her parasol and pointed toward the door. “If you would only let me return! I will see to it that they never say another bad word again. To treat our poor Jane like that.”

  Jane scowled. “I am not poor Jane.”

  Agatha frowned. “Forgive me, dearest. But some of the reports I have been hearing seem to be true. What the devil is the matter with that husband of yours? The gossips are out for blood.”

  Jane’s face fell. “The gossips are correct. Roderick barely accompanies me anywhere.” She lifted her chin. “He actually avoids me if you want to know. And yes, I have been seeing Captain James Argyle.”

  The ladies looked on, their eyes widening in surprise at her bold words.

  “The captain is a long time friend of Roderick’s,” Emily finally said, but there was concern in her words.

  Jane sighed. “He’s only a friend. Nothing, and I repeat, nothing more. Yet Roderick is not happy about it.”

  Emily tugged her along. “We can speak about my stupid brother some other time. Now, what is this secret you wanted to tell us?”

  Jane wiped her eyes, standing in the shadows of the Abbey. “It’s…nothing.”

  Agatha tapped her parasol against the cobblestone streets. “I would like to throttle Roderick.”

  Jane shook her head. “Please, don’t.”

  “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t?” Agatha grumbled, as they entered the carriage for home.

  Jane sat down on the plush velvet seat and waited for the door to close. She patted her stomach. “Well, I do not believe you would want to hurt the father of my child, would you?”

  Agatha’s jaw dropped along with her parasol that clattered to the floor.

  Emily froze. “W-what?”

  “You must not tell a soul,” Jane said, smiling, knowing they thought it too soon for her to know anything about another baby. “I wish to inform Roderick myself.”

  Emily frowned, grabbing one of Jane’s gloved hands. “I hate to cause you pain, dearest. But I think it is quite early to know you are with child.”

  Agatha’s eyes filled with tears as she held Jane’s other hand. “You lost your baby a month ago, dear. Don’t you remember? These things take time.”

  Jane squeezed their hands and smiled. “I am six months along,” she announced proudly. “And I am not addlebrained from my loss. And of course, that baby’s loss still causes me anguish, but I have another baby to look forward to.”

  Agatha shifted a wary gaze Emily’s way, then moved her attention back to Jane. “Now, dear. I can count, and if you lost that baby a month ago. You are not six months along.”

  Jane touched her stomach with a gentle hand, then pulled Agatha’s gloved hands on top of hers. “It’s a long story. The doctor said I lost the baby. I did lose one. But there were two babies.” She pressed Agatha’s hand against the moving mound. “One was lost, but one is still kicking.”

  “Twins,” Agatha squeaked, her eyes rounding in shock.

  “What?” Emily jumped from her seat. She almost fell over Agatha as the carriage continued to roll along the streets of Bath. The clip clop of horses’ hooves echoed in Jane’s ears as the two ladies continued to gape at her.

  Jane laughed. “Now, you must keep this a secret. Can I count on you two?”

  Emily whooped for joy. “Of course!”

  Agatha looked on, her face hard. “I would like to box the duke’s ears. How could he not know this?”

  Jane blushed.

  Agatha growled, clacking her parasol hard against the carriage floor. “You obviously have answered my question. The man is an addlepated nincompoop, and I shall tell him so! And I can only guess at the reasons you have kept this a secret.”

  Jane felt her cheeks turn redder. “I had my reasons.”

  The parasol whacked the floor again. “I suppose you did. But keeping this from the duke is only going to make things worse.”

  Jane stiffened. “I am the mother of this child. I will do what I think best. And there are some things Roderick does not understand.”

  Emily’s smile wobbled. “Well, then, I think this calls for a pot of tea, don’t you think?”

  Both Jane and Agatha sat tight-lipped until the carriage came to a halt in front of the family’s home in Bath. Jane felt her stomach churn. She knew she would have to tell the women about Captain Argyle’s place in this, but now was not the time.

  Chapter Three

  A frown fell upon Roderick’s lips as he sank into the leather chair located in the study of his Bath mansion. Biting back an oath, he tossed the recently delivered missive from Whitehall onto the large mahogany desk in front of him and shifted his gray gaze to the blue silk ribbon resting near his ink well.

  His jaw clenched as he picked up the delicate strip of material and slid it through his fingers. The subtle scent of rosewater drifted to his nostrils.

  His heart gave a sudden twist. Devil take it. His wife had forgotten the ribbon last night after their argument. He regretted having hurt her. He had never meant to cause her pain. But the last month had become a balancing act. He would not have her die on his watch. A baby would kill her.

  “Roderick,” Jared asked. “What do you think?”

  Roderick turned toward his friend Lord Stonebridge. “I am shocked, to put it mildly. I thought we had put the war behind us.” His expression turned dark
as he raised his face to the sunlight that poured through the windows.

  Roderick narrowed his gray eyes on the fanning of dust particles floating in the air. The heat of the day did nothing to warm the chilling memories that churned in his head. Cannon shots boomed across the fields. Smoke filled his nostrils. Men fell one after the other as shots were fired.

  “We were at war,” Jared said as if he knew what Roderick was thinking. “Whitehall needed us for those missions.”

  Roderick let out a frustrated sigh as he rose and leaned against the marbled mantel. “I thought it was over. Done. I have no desire to revisit any of it.”

  His chest tightened at the very thought of his reconnaissance assignments. Guilt pierced his heart as he recalled the lies. The secrets. The taking of a life to secure his. Even the woman he loved had died. He had failed to protect her. There was no question that she had not listened to him, but it had been his fault when she had been caught behind enemy lines.

  The horrible memories only reinforced his resolve to never give in again. He would not plead. He would not beg. He was a duke now. He could control his emotions and to devil with what people thought. He would wield his power, no matter what the consequences, even if it meant losing his wife’s love. He had a duty to fulfill. A duty to his family. And now, with this latest news, a duty to England. Jane would have to come to terms with his decisions. He would keep her safe, even if their marriage had to suffer.

  Beyond the double doors, a little girl’s voice sounded, snapping him out of his memories. Gabby, Jared’s daughter, was playing with her dog Nigel. The laughter of the little six-year-old tugged at his heartstrings. Though not of his blood, the girl was part of his family now. She was another person who could be hurt if he didn’t answer the call to travel to France. He didn’t need the enemy coming here. And Jane. By Jove, she could be caught in the line of fire too.

  He could not hide his irritation as he turned toward his friend. “After all these years, something like this pops up? I thought this nightmare with Napoleon was behind us.”

  Jared grimaced. “I thought so too. To add to that, Lord Dunston would have been working with us, but the man just lost his wife last night.”

  Roderick’s brows dipped in concern. “I didn’t know. How did she die?”

  “Childbirth. They lost her and the baby.”

  Roderick scowled. That made two of his friends’ wives who had died in childbirth the past four months. His lips thinned as he stared at the empty hearth. Another reason to keep Jane safe. He would not lose her. She had lost five babies in the last four years. The next time it could be her too.

  The creak of the leather chair made him turn. He shifted his gaze back to his friend.

  Jared leaned forward in his seat and flicked his hand toward the missive. “This certainly complicates things.”

  “Complicates things? This puts our family in danger! That’s what it does!”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” Jared shot back. “Don’t you think I wish I could shove this under the rug?”

  “Then what are we going to do about it?” Roderick strode across the room and poured two brandies. He tilted the snifter toward his mouth and let the strong, amber liquid slide down his throat. “If Devereaux’s son is alive and wanting revenge, we will have to find to him first.”

  Jared rose and made his way across the room, accepting the brandy offered to him. “And how the deuce are we going to do that? Monsieur Devereaux was a Napoleon loyalist. If his son is anything like him, the young man is in hiding. And the man has friends.”

  The clatter of carriage wheels turned their heads. Roderick peered out the window. “Confound it. The ladies are home. I think it best we keep this to ourselves.”

  Jared scowled. “Best? It would be best if this thing disappeared altogether.”

  “It’s not a question,” Roderick said, yanking the curtain closed. “We will have to go to France.” He swore and filled his snifter again. “No doubt this could take weeks or even months.”

  Jared stared out the window, frowning. “Emily will have to know. I cannot keep this from her.”

  “I won’t be telling Jane,” Roderick replied, staring into his drink. “She’s too delicate. Still recovering, you know. That’s why she didn’t walk to the Pump Room today.” He looked back up at his friend. “We will have to have some excuse for the others.”

  Jared sat on the corner of the desk and scowled. “Ha, that should be interesting. And speaking of Jane, this makes things easier for you, I daresay.”

  “What?”

  Jared clanked his empty snifter onto the desk. “You have been keeping a wide path between you and your wife. And I don’t like it.”

  “She’s my wife, not yours,” Roderick snapped.

  “She was my ward. I still have an obligation to her.”

  “Your obligation ended the day I married her.”

  Jared glared at him. “If you wish to destroy your marriage, I cannot stop you. But if you leave that sweet girl with a broken heart...”

  The rest was left unsaid.

  Roderick tightened his hand around his glass. “I am not destroying my marriage.”

  “Oh, no? Then why are you avoiding Jane?”

  “Stay out of it,” Roderick warned.

  Jared stood, glowering at him. “Very well. Let us forget she was my ward. I am family now, whether you want me or not. Emily is sad because Jane is sad. And if my wife is sad, I will do everything in my power to make her happy. And you, Roderick, are the cause of it all.”

  Roderick’s jaw hardened. Jared had no idea how he felt. When he had seen his wife in pain, losing all that blood, his heart had all but stopped. It had happened too many times. One more time and Jane could be gone forever.

  Cursing, he flung his snifter into the fireplace, shattering the glass into hundreds of tiny pieces.

  “Ah, very nice,” Jared said with a bite of sarcasm. “That solved everything.”

  “You have a son,” Roderick growled. “And a daughter! How dare you lecture me!”

  “Oh, because Jane cannot give you an heir, you have banished her to the corner of your heart, is that it? Or should I say, the corner of the house, any place away from your bedchambers.”

  Roderick’s eyes narrowed. “I would not push this conversation. Not if you don’t want my sister to be a widow.”

  Jared laughed. “Hell’s bells. You act like a spoiled school boy.”

  In one quick move, Roderick grabbed his friend by his cravat.

  Jared didn’t even flinch. “Ah, kill me and that will solve your problems, eh? Would solve Devereaux’s problem too, I daresay.”

  Roderick swore and dropped his hand. “Get out!”

  Jared stood his ground. “Are you afraid Jane will die in childbirth? Is that it?”

  Roderick smacked the marbled fireplace with his fist. The man was too close to the truth. “Get out!” he snarled.

  “Ah,” Jared said, walking toward the door. “I hit the nail on the head, did I? Why the devil don’t you have her see another doctor then?

  Roderick swiveled his head around to glower at the man. “A doctor attends to her now! But I will not take a chance of having her die. Not on my watch. I am not that stupid. She tried...we tried too many times. I don’t care if I have an heir. But thunderation, I will not be the man who kills my wife!”

  Jared let out a low whistle. “Ah, I understand now. You are thinking about Cecile?”

  “Don’t go there,” Roderick warned.

  “Why? Because the lady died on your watch? Because you loved her? Because you made a mistake? It was war. Anything could have happened. She made her choice, not you.”

  “Choice? I did not get her out of harm’s way. Well, curse it all! That shan’t happen again.” Roderick clenched his hands. “No matter what it takes, I will make certain Jane does not die on my watch.”

  Jared crossed his arms over his chest. “Does Jane have a say in this?”

  “No, she
does not!”

  “You have made the decision, and that’s all there is to it?”

  “Correct. I am a duke. My word stands.”

  Jared let out a sad chuckle. “Being a duke can only take you so far. It does not define the relationship between you and your wife. It does not define what love truly means. Take it from me. I’ve had plenty of time to make those mistakes. If you do recall, I almost lost your sister. Don’t be so pigheaded. You are not God to pick and choose life.”

  “How comforting. Don’t know what I would do without you telling me what to do.”

  “You called me stupid once,” Jared continued. “Pig-headed even. You fought me when I wanted to marry your sister. You fought me when you wanted to marry my ward. And now you are discarding Jane as if she were nothing but a speck on your starched white shirt because you want to be noble! I may be a peer, but by Jove, save me from a peer of the realm who thinks he is above us mere mortals.”

  “I think that is quite enough,” Roderick said, his tone dangerous.

  Jared’s eyes clashed with his. “Enough? I tell you this, if you hurt that girl anymore than you have already, I shall box your ears and more.”

  Roderick clenched his teeth as grief ripped through him. “You cannot hurt me anymore than I am already hurting. So, go ahead and take your best shot. I am numb to it all.”

  “If you were numb, you never would have loved Cecile or married Jane.”

  Roderick’s eyes blazed with fury. “Don’t. Go. There.”

  “Why the blue blazes are you acting so stupid?” Jared countered icily. “Cecile was the past. Jane is your future. A long lost love does not define the rest of your life.”

  The knock on the door made them turn. To their surprise, the door opened.

  Jane peeked into the study, her blue eyes wary. “Hello.”

  Roderick’s heart slammed against his ribs as he took in his wife’s pale face. Her body had changed in subtle ways since the loss of their unborn babe last month. Though she still seemed frail, there was a plumpness to her middle now, an added padding to her womanly curves. Not that he minded. But he wondered if she was eating her way past the pain.