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

by Teresa McCarthy

  His expression turned furious. “She would die if she had another child!”

  “How do you know?”

  “My personal physician told me when she lost the last one. He is the best man in London!”

  “Pshaw! She lost some babies. She lost some blood. What is life without pain?”

  Roderick’s face turned pale. “How can you talk so if you love her?”

  “I love her enough to let her try for her dreams. There are other doctors who would disagree with your London man.”

  “Yes, and there are others who would agree. She could die. That is enough for me.”

  “Enough?” Agatha snapped. “You are a stubborn, arrogant duke. Death comes in many different ways, Your Grace. Jane was dying inside, and it was not because of the loss of those babies all these years. It was because of your treatment of her these last few months. Keeping your distance from her in a variety of forms was far worse pain than anything else you could imagine, no matter what your intentions. You were her love. Her life. And yet, you abandoned her at her most delicate time.”

  Roderick felt as if the lady had yanked his heart from his chest and stomped on it. He walked toward the window, wishing the last few months had never happened. “And that is what you came in to tell me?”

  “Partly. And partly that you must consider children again.”

  He spun around, his gaze simmering with unbridled fury. “You have overstepped your bounds, madam.”

  “I think not.” She pulled her rounded shoulders back, as if ready for a fight. “Captain Argyle made a point of telling me that you had asked for me, if you do so remember.”

  Roderick’s eyes widened in shock. Confound it.

  “Jane has seen other doctors,” the lady continued, her authoritative tone making him stiffen in outrage. “No, let me finish,” she said, putting up her hand. “They say she is quite capable of carrying a child. That London doctor who first took care of her - oh, I forgot his name - well, he went off to Europe with Lord Bashford, did he not? But there have been many other people who have been taking care of her since. One doctor was from Bath. Mr. Hillside, was it not? One from near Hemmingly Hall. Another person…” She pursed her lips. “Never mind, let us just say many people believe Jane can have more children, if only she has the proper care.”

  Roderick closed his hand into a tight fist. “I cannot, will not, take that chance.”

  “Because of Cecile?”

  He flinched as if she had slapped him. He set his teeth and pulled back the curtains. The dark sky stared back at him, reminding him of nights in Paris when all he wanted was Jane by his side.

  He glanced over his shoulder, checking on Jane, making certain she was still sleeping. “I loved Cecile,” he whispered. “We were in France. She was fighting for England and was caught intercepting a missive that was meant to compromise my position. I discovered it in time, and was able to move, but I could not save her. I tried. But devil take it, it was too late. Earlier that evening, I told her to leave. She refused and ended up saving my life.”

  His heart clenched at the memories. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to feel as if you are the cause of someone’s death? Someone you love? The guilt is pure hell.” He gazed at Jane and grimaced. “I vowed never to go there again.”

  “Well, Your Grace,” Agatha said, closing the distance between them. “You have two options. Let Jane go, or love her like a wife should be loved. Which one do you choose? Think it over carefully, because if you dare choose the former, I shall secure another parasol, and you will be very sorry indeed.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Jane was half asleep, and wanted to wake up, but her body was slow to obey. Vague images of Garette’s leering eyes invaded her mind. His wicked laugh echoed in her head. His hot breath crept along her skin. His sour smell made her stomach churn. His despicable words sent her heart racing.

  A knot rose in her chest as she tried to forget, but she was back on the sofa and had awakened to him shaking her. He seemed scared and pleaded with her to wake up. He hadn’t meant to harm her. When she had finally opened her eyes, he walked to the sideboard and poured himself more wine. He had watched her like a hawk as she crawled toward the fireplace, anywhere away from him. She heard his heels brushing against the rug, coming nearer. Shaken, she grabbed the first thing she saw. The fireplace poker.

  “Do you have any idea what it’s like to feel as if you are the cause of someone’s death? Someone you love?”

  The sound of Roderick’s voice pulled her from the nightmare. She lifted her lids and peered through heavy eyes to see Agatha and Roderick arguing. She fought back the bile climbing up her throat and tried to sit up, but her strength had fled.

  More words were passed between Roderick and Agatha, but they were talking too softly for her to understand. A few minutes later, Agatha was crying. And then, she seemed able to hear everything.

  “Forgive me,” Agatha sobbed. “I had no wish to cause this much pain. I did it for Jane.”

  Jane tried to focus on Roderick. His face had turned white with shock. He grabbed Agatha’s shoulders. “By Jove, tell me! We are still married then! You forged the license, is that it?”

  Agatha’s face crumpled. “I knew it was the only way you would realize how much you loved her. How much you needed her.”

  Tears flooded Jane’s eyes. She was married to Roderick! She had always been married to Roderick!

  “Does she know?” Roderick asked, his voice softening.

  Agatha shook her head. “I wanted to tell her. But I needed you to change your ways. She was in such pain when you denied her the life she wanted. And when I did have a chance to tell her, well, some things came up. Uh, many things actually. One of them included your mission, and I had to rush to London. At the time, Jane was not in any shape to hear the truth about my part in all this. She needed her strength. But when I look back on it now, I should have told her. I may have impacted her health. But I was foolish. Yes, there were times that I had the chance, but words failed me. She was in a delicate state, shall we say. But I should have told her. I had a great fear she would push me from her life and the ba—” The lady’s eyes rounded in guilt. “Uh, the bane of it all would cause her to disown me.”

  Jane’s breath caught when she realized Agatha had almost said baby. She did have an inkling Agatha had been the cause of the marriage license mess, but she had other things on her mind. Mainly, her son.

  Roderick grabbed Agatha in a hug and lifted her off the ground. “Ah, dear lady, you will lead us a merry tune through life, will you not?”

  The older lady wept onto his chest. “You forgive me then?”

  Roderick burst out laughing. “Hell’s bells, I should have you tarred and feathered. But I am married to Jane, and that is all I need to know. I admit a part of me is still livid at the way you went about this and the pain you put both of us through. But I cannot be upset now. Although, perhaps a week from now.”

  Agatha sniffed as Roderick set her on the floor. “I deserve whatever punishment you decide, Your Grace.”

  Roderick took the lady’s hands and sighed. “Let us get Jane well. That is enough for me.”

  Agatha sobbed again.

  Jane thought the scene the sweetest thing she had ever seen.

  “Well, well, then,” Roderick said, with a chuckle. “Where do we go from here? I am guessing you blackmailed the king into this little farce?”

  She nodded, her gray eyes twinkling. “He could not deny me.”

  Roderick broke out into another round of laughter. “My dear girl, I think Napoleon could have used you on his side. If he did, we would all be speaking French.”

  Jane swallowed a smile. This had gone on far enough. She rested on her elbows and pulled herself up. They seemed unaware of her alert state.

  Agatha seemed to recall something and shot Roderick an icy glare. “However, I do wish I had my parasol to whack you with.”

  Roderick looked shocked. “What the devil
did I do now? It has been only a minute since we were best of friends.”

  Agatha’s expression turned deadly. “You let that woman hang onto you like a lobster, that’s what?”

  Roderick scowled. “Lady Trayton is a nuisance.”

  “She is a parasite, if you ask me,” Agatha said sharply. “I saw her speaking to Lord Garette earlier, and I have a strong feeling the woman had something to do with Jane’s unfortunate incident.”

  “Roderick,” Jane whispered, trying to get his attention.

  Roderick turned. “Jane!” He hastened to her side. “Jane, sweetheart.”

  Jane held his face in her hands. The very touch of his skin made her heart flutter. “Oh, Roderick,” she cried, “I missed you so.”

  Roderick slipped beside her, his big hand engulfing hers. “And I missed you, sweetheart.” His teeth gleamed against the candlelight. “But I have good news...”

  Jane smiled at Agatha who was watching them with eagle eyes. “I know all about it,” Jane said. “I heard you two talking.”

  Agatha hurried toward the bed. “Oh, forgive me, child. I should have told you. There was a time when—” The older lady looked up at Roderick and pinched her lips. She shifted her gaze back to Jane. “Well, dearest, you know what I am talking about, but I thought if I did tell you then, Roderick would return to his old habits and you would never be happy. I almost told you before you, uh, fell into that delicate situation, and then I felt you would throw me to the wolves. Forgive me.”

  “Forgive you for loving me?” Jane asked, smiling. “I think not. Though I admit, I am quite vexed that you did it. But we can discuss it all later. Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to say hello to my husband.”

  Agatha blushed. “As long as you are happy.” She quickly turned and retreated from the room.

  Roderick laughed. “Why, my dear duchess, that is the quickest I have ever seen that lady move. Now, what is this about your delicate situation? Were you ill? I can see your body is not the same.” His loving gaze roamed over her, sending a liquid fire through her veins.

  His bright white smile touched Jane’s heart. “It’s not that I’m complaining,” he said teasingly.

  Jane laughed, holding his large hand to her cheek.

  “You look more beautiful than I remember,” he said with a great amount of tenderness and smoothed a hand down her side. “More womanly, in fact, if that is possible.”

  Her face filled with heat. Although, there still existed a certain uneasiness about there relationship, this was enough for now.

  “My body has changed a bit,” she said shyly.

  “I can see that.” The huskiness in his voice sent her senses spinning.

  She giggled. “Roderick, people are still waiting for supper. Someone may come. With Garette’s death—”

  He put a finger to her lips. “Enough. I do not care what time it is or who comes to that door. I shan’t answer it.”

  “But I have something wonderful to tell you. I—”

  He kissed her ear and trailed his lips down her neck. “Not now, Duchess. I know we have things to discuss. Things we need to set straight. Let Garette’s death wait. Just let me kiss you for a while. Hold you. I missed you, sweetheart.”

  “But…Roderick.” His gentle touch shot warm tingles down her spine. She could barely keep her thoughts together.

  What about Lord Garette? Would she be blamed for his death? And how would Roderick react to her news about the baby? How could she be a mother with Garette’s death hanging over her head?

  “Jane, sweetheart. Come back to me.”

  Jane blinked as the loving heat of Roderick’s breath fanned her face. But the night’s tragedy kept racing through her mind.

  Before she had a chance to hit the young lord with the fire poker, he had cursed, then his eyes had rolled back, and he had gasped for breath. Horrified, she had watched him crumple to the floor. She had not struck him with the poker at all. She remembered shaking uncontrollably when she heard him mumble someone’s name. Who was it? Lady…Lady…

  “Jane, let it go. Let me love you, sweetheart.”

  Roderick’s words were whispered along her neck, pulling her out of her thoughts. She sighed in delight as the scent of sandalwood and fine brandy tickled her nose. She wanted to talk to him, tell him about the baby.

  “Roderick,” she whispered, trying to get his attention. But the passion he was stirring in her heart was taking over her brain. She could not think about anything but him.

  He kissed the top of her nose and chuckled, as if reading her mind. “That’s it, sweetheart. Don’t think about anything. We can talk about everything later. I cannot be without you. I yearn for you. Forgive me.”

  His warm lips touched her eyelids, and she felt herself drifting into his arms. Her mind almost stopped thinking, only to be replaced by a tender loving that made her weak. But she had to tell him. “Roderick, I—”

  The knock on the door made her flinch.

  Roderick jerked up and swore. “Confound it! We must have a black mark on our door that says knock at any time.”

  Jane let out a strained giggle. She wished he would talk to her. She had a feeling he was ignoring the truth. Ignoring their problems. Could they have what they had before? Could they ever love each other without holding back?

  “I thought you were not going to answer any knocks on that door,” she said, almost shyly, when he swung his feet off the bed.

  He glanced at her, his eyes devouring her. “I won’t be but a minute.” He mumbled something and stalked across the room. “If that is you Agatha—”

  “It’s Lord Vexfield,” came a gruff voice. “Your Grace, I need to speak with you. Now. It is imperative.”

  Roderick swung open the door. A tall, gangly man stood before him.

  Jane gasped, pulling the covers up to her chin.

  Lord Vexfield blinked, turning pink in the cheeks when he saw Jane in the bed. He switched his horrified gaze back to Roderick. “Your Grace!” he said, obviously quite annoyed. “I do not care what you do behind closed doors, but please remember, I am a married man! And I have guests! Any clandestine activities must not be for pubic display.”

  Jane swallowed a chuckle, but beneath her amused exterior, her nerves were frayed. What if the man decided she had murdered Lord Garette?

  Roderick smiled. “My good man, the lady is my wife.”

  “But—”

  “Ask the king. She is my wife. Always was my wife. And always will be my wife. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”

  The man’s eyes widened as he took another peek at Jane. “But the license?”

  “The date on the license was altered. The true license was valid from the beginning.”

  “My goodness.” The lord swallowed. “What a terrible jest. Um, do you have the name of the man who altered it, by chance?”

  Jane gulped, hoping he would not say Agatha. “Roderick!”

  Roderick snapped his head around, his gaze wide with innocence.

  She glared at him. His gray eyes twinkled.

  He turned back to Lord Vexfield. “No, I do not have the man’s name. I fear you will have to stay married to Lady Vexfield.”

  Jane gaze lit up in surprise.

  The man sighed. “Don’t hurt to try, you know. Nevertheless, just wanted you to know Garette did not die from a fire poker. No mark on him except a scratch.”

  “And?” Roderick seemed rather bored, causing Jane to frown. Was he so sure she had not done the deed? Was he so sure she would not be tried?

  Lord Vexfield asked to step into the room. Roderick moved back while the man entered, then he closed the door.

  Lord Vexfield turned to Jane. “Uh, you will have to forgive me, Duchess, but this conversation requires the utmost secrecy. No, you do not have to leave. However, I would rather no one else hears us. Forgive me if I have put you in a compromising position at the moment.”

  Jane felt her cheeks heat as she patted her hair back into place. “I
am not offended. Go on.”

  Behind Lord Vexfield, Jane saw Roderick’s gray eyes gleam with laughter.

  She glared at him, pulling the covers tighter about her neck.

  A bit flustered, Lord Vexfield turned back to Roderick. “Well, it’s like this, Your Grace. My physician believes Garette was poisoned. His face has turned a ghastly blue.”

  “Lady Trayton!” Jane exclaimed, suddenly recalling Lord Garette’s mumbled words before his last breath. “He said her name when he fell.”

  Lord Vexfield turned, his face full of interest. “Are you certain?”

  Jane grimaced, recalling the scene. “Yes. And if it helps matters any, Agatha believes the lady sent Lord Garette to trap me in that room.”

  Lord Vexfield frowned. “Ghastly thing to happen in one’s own house. Lady Vexfield is beside herself. She does go on, you know. Well, well, shall have to call on Lady Trayton then. She may have more information on this. We shall have the right of this soon enough.”

  The man winked at Roderick. “Sorry to bother you. But duty calls. Eh?”

  Roderick looked pensive as the earl turned to leave.

  “Roderick?” Jane asked, watching him.

  Vexfield halted and glanced over his shoulder. “Is there something else, Your Grace. Something you remembered?”

  “I could be wrong,” Roderick said with a grimace. “But I believe Lady Trayton might be our killer. Her acquaintance with Jane, me, and Garette, together with her actions today, are all too much of a coincidence. Of course, I have no wish to paint anyone a murderer. However, I believe she is someone we must take into account.”

  The earl pursed his lips in thought. “If she assumed you were not married, she probably thought she could be a duchess. Putting your lady in a compromising position with Lord Garette would only advance her agenda. But it does not mean she killed the chap. But then again, she is quite a sly one.”

  Roderick glanced back at Jane, then grabbed Vexfield’s arm and headed for the door.

  Jane sat up. “Roderick, where are you going?”

  He didn’t turn around. “I am going to find Lady Trayton.”

  Jane grabbed her shawl near the bed and swung her feet around. “Well, I am going too. I would like to say a few things to her.”