by Darcy Burke
“Where?” Ned suspected he knew what was coming next and could hardly believe the man’s audacity.
“Jail. After you’re arrested for stealing your brother’s title. You see, I did a bit of research after the real earl came to the coffeehouse today. You had an older brother who would be his age if he hadn’t died in a fire.”
Ned clenched his fists lest he lose control of his ire. “Except he did die in a fire.”
Lindsell cocked his head to the side and made a mockery of contemplating Ned’s statement. “Did he? I wonder, if I look, will I find proof of his death?”
Ned had always hated this lie, felt such guilt that his father had orchestrated all this and stolen George’s true identity. No, he likely wouldn’t have been the earl, but he would still have been Peregrine, his brother. But now, he was glad this blackguard wouldn’t have the satisfaction of creating havoc. “Go to St. Nicholas Church in Sutton. You’ll find everything you need.”
“How convenient. That lunatic looked too much like you. I don’t think it would be difficult to convince the necessary people that he’s actually your brother, that he never died.”
Lindsell’s red eyes were wild, and he sounded as if he’d been touched by lunacy. However, the veracity of his claim needled its way into Ned’s mind—here was the moment of truth he’d always worried might come.
Ned took a step forward, closing the gap between them. “And what if he is my brother? You’d never be able to prove it. What I said is true—you’ll find the record of his death at St. Nicholas.” Inhaling deeply, Ned worked to bury his anger and guilt. “The man you saw, the man who claimed to be the earl, is my cousin, who is, in fact, a lunatic.”
Lindsell stared at him, his jaw working.
“Go home and recover your wits.” Ned gave him a dismissive glower. “You appear to have a drinking problem.”
Lindsell opened his mouth but then clapped it shut. His eyes darkened as they filled with anger. “This isn’t finished,” he sputtered. “I’ll find a way to take something from you as you did from me.” He looked toward Aquilla, his meaning clear.
She narrowed her eyes at Lindsell. “I was never yours.”
Ned’s rush of pride and admiration was quelled by Lindsell moving toward her. At last, Ned’s composure snapped. He grabbed the baron by the collar of his shirt and dragged him toward the door. Skern rushed to open it.
Lindsell twisted, trying to get out of Ned’s grasp. “Unhand me!”
“You’re lucky I don’t beat you to a pulp. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at Jackson’s, and I’m a regular visitor.” He lowered his voice. “In case you don’t understand, that means I can pulverize you with little effort.”
Ned pushed Lindsell out the door. He lost his balance and tumbled down the steps.
“Don’t bother us again,” Ned called after him. “You’ll be sorry.”
Ned turned, and Skern closed the door. Aquilla remained on the bottom stair and applauded. “That was an excellent show. Thank you.”
Ned bowed. “My pleasure.” He looked at Skern and asked to have dinner sent up to their room.
As they ascended the stairs, Ned shook his head. “I’ll never understand why your father agreed to marry you off to that jackanapes. I guess it was because of that land.”
“Partly. But mostly he just would’ve enjoyed knowing I would be miserable.”
They’d reached the landing, and Ned stopped. He turned to look at her. “What do you mean?”
“He’s a cruel man.” Her shoulder twitched. “He delights in hurting other people and watching them suffer.”
Ned’s eyes rounded, and he clasped her hands. “Tell me he never hurt you.”
She shook her head, but her eyes were glossy with unshed tears. “No, never. At least not physically. I learned from a young age to stay clear of him whenever possible. As a daughter, I was of very little use to him. Not until I was of marriage age, and then I was an abysmal failure.”
Ned realized these were the things she didn’t want to tell him. The secrets that families keep. “You are not a failure. You are everything I dreamed I would find and so much more.”
She sniffed and smiled. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done if we hadn’t found each other.”
“We must thank the rain.” He turned and tugged her into his bedchamber, closing the door behind them so he could quickly pull her into his arms and kiss her.
When they broke for air a moment later, she curled her arm around his neck. “The rain?”
“Without it, we may not have met.” He pressed kisses along her cheek and jaw.
“Of course, how silly of me to forget. I’m afraid your kisses leave me quite senseless.”
He licked along her neck. “That is precisely my goal.”
“Ned, do you think I could invite my mother to come and stay with us? I’m not sure she’ll want to, but I’d like to ask.”
He stopped kissing her long enough to look into her eyes. “If you can put up with George, I would be delighted to have your mother with us for as long as you like.”
She gave him an exasperated look. “I’m not putting up with George. He’s your family, and now he’s my family too. I’d like to have one that’s worth having.”
He kissed her again, this time on the mouth, with all the love swelling in his heart. “I adore you.”
She brushed his hair back from his forehead. “And I you. I’m sorry for ever doubting you.”
His gaze was intense as he brought his hand up to gently stroke her jaw. “I am more sorry for not telling you the truth sooner.”
She pressed a kiss to his lips, then gave him a saucy look. “How much time do you think we have before dinner arrives?”
“I think if we dash into my dressing chamber and close the door, it won’t matter.”
She picked up her skirt and ran across the room. “Last one there has to undress first.”
Ned chuckled as he watched his wife’s backside. “Just so long as you do the undressing.”
She turned at the threshold and crooked her finger at him, her eyes raking him with seductive intent. “With pleasure.”
Epilogue
Sutton Park, July 1816
Sutton Park was everything Aquilla had dreamed and more. Not because of the stunning Palladian exterior or the elegant Kent interior or the lush, expansive parkland or the meticulous garden, but because of the people. From Ned and George and Aunt Susannah to every retainer, Aquilla felt as though she’d finally found where she belonged.
The cold, wet spring had turned into a cold, wet summer. It had even snowed one day in June. But today was warm and clear, and they were taking advantage of it by having a picnic on the back lawn.
Aquilla watched from the blanket as Ned and George were playing battledore and shuttlecock. George was having difficulty hitting the shuttlecock, but instead of growing frustrated, he kept falling upon the grass laughing. This was likely due to his puppy’s attempts to “help,” which generally involved running between their legs and barking and otherwise causing them to lose their focus.
Ned stood with his racquet and grinned at his brother, who was now bent over petting Blake, whom George had named after his favorite poet. The delightful scene made Aquilla’s heart feel as if it might burst from her chest.
Which wasn’t to say everything was perfect. Today was one of George’s good days. He was lucid and engaged, quite charming really. But there were many days when he was quiet and withdrawn or agitated and confused. Dr. Paget seemed to have an excellent hand—his presence was truly a blessing.
Aunt Susannah chuckled as she set down the letter she’d received a short while ago.
Aquilla turned to the woman whom she now also called Aunt Susannah. “An entertaining letter?”
“It was from my friend Lady Chalmers. She said people are beginning to doubt Lindsell’s sanity. He simply won’t stop claiming that George is the true Earl of Sutton.”
Aquilla shook her hea
d, finding pity for the man in spite of his actions. “It’s a shame.” He’d been at it for weeks now, even after visiting St. Nicholas Church in Sutton and seeing for himself that Peregrine Bishop was indeed deceased.
Though Lindsell’s claims were unheeded, Aquilla knew it troubled Ned. He would always feel guilty that George had lost his identity. Aquilla understood and was glad that Ned was able to care for his brother and give him the best possible life—a life he deserved.
“How was your letter from Lady Satterfield?” Aunt Susannah asked.
Aquilla had finished reading it a few minutes before. “She is doing well. With the Season drawing to a close, she and Satterfield will be coming here for a visit before going to their country house.” Ivy and Lady Dunn would also be visiting before they sojourned in Bath for the remainder of the summer and perhaps into the autumn.
It was the time of year when Aquilla and her friends had typically been forced to separate, which meant a frenzy of letter writing. She noticed it had slowed a bit in the last few weeks, likely due to both her and Lucy being married. She felt bad about that, she realized, and vowed to do better.
Aunt Susannah leaned forward and plucked a biscuit from the tray. “Lady Chalmers mentioned that the Duke of Clare is in the scandal sheets again.”
Aquilla didn’t doubt it. She and her friends had dubbed him the Duke of Desire because of his reputed liaisons with countless married women. “I’d ask what he’s done now, but I imagine it’s just more of the same.”
“Somewhat. There’s talk that he sired Lady Goodwin’s son.”
“I’m not sure I know who that is,” Aquilla said.
“She’s one of his many affairs, but this was a few years ago. Someone recently saw her son and reported that he has jet-black hair.” Aunt Susannah pursed her lips. “This is of note because both she and her husband are fair-haired.”
“I see,” Aquilla murmured, feeling bad for Lord Goodwin.
“At least the boy isn’t his heir,” Aunt Susannah said. “And apparently Lord Goodwin doesn’t particularly care.”
How would anyone know that for certain, Aquilla wondered. She doubted he’d make his opinions of his children known to the public. Not even Aquilla’s thoughtless father would do that.
Her mind turned to her parents. She’d invited her mother to come stay, but she’d declined. Aquilla wished she hadn’t, but surmised that her father had forbidden her to come. The control he exerted over his wife was frightening—Aquilla couldn’t imagine it. Especially not when she looked at her husband. Ned had just dived to hit the shuttlecock and instead sprawled facedown on the lawn.
Aquilla half rose. “Ned, are you all right?”
He held up his hand and waved the racquet as Blake ran to him and began licking him madly. Ned rolled to his back, petting the dog, and George, laughing, helped him to stand. Ned lumbered to his feet, brushed at his breeches, and called out, “I’m fine!” Blake barked as if to add his opinion as well.
Ned clapped a hand on George’s shoulder, and they made their way back to the blanket with Blake following behind. Soon after, Dr. Paget took George for his afternoon rest, where he often painted or wrote poetry. A few nights ago, he’d regaled his brother and Aquilla with his latest verse.
Aunt Susannah also excused herself, which left Aquilla blissfully alone with her husband. Ned barely waited until his aunt had entered the house before leaning over and pressing Aquilla back into the blanket.
The scents of grass and sunlight and man rushed over her, and she inhaled deeply as he nuzzled her neck.
He spread light kisses along her throat as she exhaled. “Was that a sound of contentment?”
“Most definitely. With perhaps a touch of arousal thrown in.”
He lifted his head and peered down at her. “Indeed?” He untied the ribbon of her bonnet and pushed the hat away. He traced his finger along her hairline and tugged a curl loose, twirling it as he looked into her eyes. “We’ve yet to explore the outdoors.”
His meaning was clear.
“The weather has been too contrary.”
He kissed her temple and then down along her cheekbone. “I thought we agreed we liked the rain.”
She thought of making love in the rain, water sluicing over their nude bodies, and decided that sounded rather decadent. And yet cold.
“I think I might like a warm rain even more.”
His lips trailed to her ear, where he used his teeth and tongue to play with her lobe. “Ah yes. We should go to Italy someday.”
“How will we do that with George?”
He paused in his attentions. “I am hopeful that there will come a day when we can leave him. In fact, I’d like to take you to Tintern Abbey in September, and I think it’s more than possible. The arrival of Blake has helped.” The adorable spaniel had gone inside with George and Dr. Paget. He spent most of his time with George, and Aquilla found she might want a dog of her own.
“Do you suppose Blake needs a friend?” she asked.
“He has one,” Ned said, going back to kissing her, this time along the column of her throat. “George.”
“No, of the canine variety.”
He chuckled against her, tickling her flesh. “My sweet wife. Do you want a dog?”
She tugged at his hair so he looked up at her. “Yes?”
“Then you shall have one. I am powerless to resist you.”
She smiled happily. “As I am you. Now, where are we to go exploring? This blanket seems a bit too…central.”
“Indeed it is.” He cupped the back of her neck and kissed her, his mouth and tongue stoking her arousal to full, unabashed lust. He pulled away and got up, tugging her to stand. “I have a place in mind.”
She slipped her hand in his. “Wherever you lead, I follow.”
As they walked down the slope of grass toward the copse of trees, he quoted Coleridge:
“And in Life’s noisiest hour,
There whispers still the ceaseless Love of Thee,
The heart’s Self-solace and soliloquy.”
She picked up where he left off,
“You mould my Hopes, you fashion me within;
And to the leading Love-throb in the Heart
Thro’ all my Being, thro’ my pulse’s beat;
You lie in all my many Thoughts, like Light,
Like the fair light of Dawn, or summer Eve
On rippling Stream, or cloud-reflecting Lake.”
They’d reached the copse, and he drew her into his arms.
“And looking to the Heaven, that bends above you,
How oft! I bless the Lot that made me love you.”
She leaned up and kissed him, twining her arms about his neck. She paused long enough to say, “And I love you.”
The end
Thank you for reading! Check out the next book in The Untouchables series: The Duke of Desire.
Thank You
Thank you so much for reading The Duke of Deception. I hope you enjoyed it!
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The Duke of Deception is the third book in The Untouchables series. The next book in the series is The Duke of Desire. Watch for more information! In the meantime, catch up with my other historical series: Secrets and Scandals and League of Rogues. If you like contemporary romance, I hope you’ll check out my Ribbon Ridge series available from Avon Impulse and my latest series, which continues the lives and loves of Ribbon Ridge’s denizens – Love on the Vine.
I appreciate my readers so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Books by Darcy Burke
Historical Romance
The Untouchables
The Forbidden Duke
The Duke of Daring
The Duke of Deception
The Duke of Desire
Secrets and Scandals
Her Wicked Ways
His Wicked Heart
To Seduce a Scoundrel
To Love a Thief (a novella)
Never Love a Scoundrel
Scoundrel Ever After
League of Rogues
Lady of Desire
Romancing the Earl
Contemporary Romance
Ribbon Ridge
Where the Heart Is (a prequel novella)
Only in My Dreams
Yours to Hold
When Love Happens
The Idea of You
When We Kiss
You’re Still the One
Ribbon Ridge: Love on the Vine
So Good
So Right
So in Love
Acknowledgments
This was one of the tougher books to write, perhaps due to the subject matter, but mostly due to just a lot going on in Life. I love how Aquilla and Ned’s love story turned out and hope you enjoyed the ride. I also hope you’re excited to read Ivy’s story in The Duke of Desire—it’s going to be a fun one!
As always, I want to thank my cover designer, Carrie Divine for another gorgeous cover. I also want to thank the lovely folks at Period Images for pure awesomeness. Thank you to my fabulous editing team of Linda and Toni and my fantastic beta reader, Elizabeth Wright. Huge thanks to Danielle Gorman and Corinna Varilek who really are the glue keeping me together some days.
