The Duke Who Loved Me

by Rachelle Stevensen

Rhia nodded, “True. Why didn’t you tell me? I apologize if I said anything wrong or offended you by not addressing you correctly.”

  Aidan still didn’t meet her eyes. “I didn’t think you needed to know. I was afraid you would be frightened if you knew, most people are. I wanted to save you from that fear. And you could never offend me. I don't always like being addressed that way.”

  Rhia was not quite sure what to think. So, she kept quiet. She was still in shock, that Aidan, the man who slept in her room and cared for her while she was sick was a Duke. He was practically royalty, but he didn’t look like it, nor did he act like it. A household of this kind of significance never even spoke to someone of her lesser status. But here they all stood, and had been caring for her like she was someone who mattered.

  And from the little she knew of the ton, appearances and titles were everything. Yet Aidan didn’t seem to care. And she was uncertain of what to think of the enigma that stood at the end of her bed.

  Cole came over to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. “I have some news. While I was downstairs, there were somethings that came up. And mother, Koryn wants you to come and finish with the plans for Katarina’s ball. They are frantic that things aren’t perfect yet and their guests are set to arrive any day now.”

  Rhia cleared her throat. “I apologize if I am keeping anyone from their duties. I am quite all right to be here alone. You may go attend to whatever else needs attending.”

  Cole looked down, and smiled. “Aidan, I need to speak with you about this. It is important.”

  Aidan nodded and he looked down at Rhia. “If you will excuse us, we will leave you to rest.”

  Rhia nodded, “Thank you your Grace.”

  Aidan looked back at her. “Please, call me Aidan. I promise Rhiannon, it will not offend me if you address me by my Christian name. I ask it of you.”

  Rhia studied him for a minute. He put his head down. As if he was uncomfortable with her scrutiny. His hair fell forward in front of his face.

  “If you say so Your, I mean Aidan.”

  His lips quirked in a slight smile. Then he turned and left with Cole.

  Lydia stood from where she had been sitting and bustled over to where several bottles stood on a table. She poured one into a cup, and mixed it with some water and then poured another into it.

  Then she turned and handed the cup to Rhia. “Here, this will help you sleep and hopefully clear away the worst of the sickness.”

  Rhia looked down into the cup, “I hope I didn’t offend Aidan. I didn’t know he was the Duke. Honestly. I thought the Duke was older.”

  Lydia sighed, “Aidan has only been the Duke for about six years. It was sudden, and he has never wanted the title. He doesn’t go to London much, if at all. At least, not any longer. Cole manages the entire Dukedom in his stead. Having his twin help him is the best thing for Aidan and for Cole. So, yes Aidan holds the title, but Cole and Aidan work together for it. With everyone so afraid of him, he doesn’t like to go into public. Not often that is. Everyone is horrible about his scars, but they know nothing of him. Of his heart, his mind. They don’t know his past. He has a reason why he does what he does, and why he doesn’t wish to hold the title, nor be addressed by it. He does not like to tell people about his title. He lets Cole be the face of the Dukedom.”

  Rhia sighed. “That must be so difficult for him. He seems so kind, and though I won’t be here for too long, I hope I can get to know you all a little better.”

  “He is a good man. The very best. They both are. You could never offend him. He isn't the sort of man to be bothered by trivial things like that. I'm certain you have noticed how informal everything is. That's the way we like it. Trust me, Aidan wouldn't ask you to call him by his name if he didn't want you to.”

  Rhia nodded in acquiescence. “All right. Thank you.”

  “May I ask you one question?” Lydia asked.

  Rhiannon nodded, “Of course. Ask me anything.”

  “Who is Julia? You said her name several times while you were sick.”

  Rhiannon smiled, “Julia is my best friend. Her family worked for mine, but they weren't servants, not in the real sense, they were and are family. She is the one who helped me to learn to walk again, to be able to live again. I miss her terribly. She is a governess in a household in London.”

  Lydia smiled too, “How truly wonderful for her to help you so much. She sounds like a beautiful person.”

  Rhia smiled again as well, “She is. I will need to write to her soon, she was expecting to hear from me soon. After I arrived in Scotland. Since I didn’t, I should send her a letter, if that isn’t too much trouble?”

  Lydia grabbed her hand, “Let’s get you feeling better, and then we can see about that letter and getting you to Scotland, if you so wish to go.”

  Rhia was not sure what that meant, but Lydia turned to her, “Drink up and I promise we will speak more later. Get some rest.”

  Rhia drank the cup and shuddered at the taste. Lydia smiled and took the cup for her. She helped Rhia get situated under the coverlet, and sat back down on her bed, smoothing Rhia’s hair out of her face.

  She hummed softly and combed through Rhia’s hair with a brush, and Rhia felt her eyelids get heavy, and she was asleep before the brush finished it’s second stroke through her hair.

  Chapter Eight

  Aidan

  Northumberland, England Sept, 1812

  Aidan walked out of Rhia’s room with Cole and shut the door behind them. Cole let out a breath, “Well, brother. Who knew you could find such a beautiful angel out here in the middle of nowhere?”

  Aidan grimaced but didn’t answer. “What? She is beautiful is she not?” Cole asked.

  Aidan nodded, “The most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I have never seen one her equal. She makes my stomach hurt. Not in a bad way, it just feels different. I have never felt like this before. And what makes it worse is, she is our guest, found out in the storm, she has only just started to feel better, and yet I want to know everything I can about her. Talk to her for hours and hours, just after hearing her voice.”

  He shook his head again, defeat flashing through him. A beautiful woman should be on someone’s arm that didn’t have his body scarred, one that didn’t live like a recluse in the middle of the country.

  “I don’t know what makes me feel this way. It is not like me at all. It matters not though; she wouldn’t want a man like me. Scarred as I am.”

  Cole scoffed. “Aidan, are you listening to yourself? You didn't see what I did in that room. She barely spoke to me, hardly acknowledged my existence. Which didn’t bother me, because she was staring at you brother.”

  Aidan felt his cheeks heat and looked down. “She was probably looking at my scars. That is all people see when they look at me.”

  Cole shook his head, “No Aidan. She was not looking at your scars. She was looking at you. Looking in your eyes. I don't think she has even really noticed your scars.”

  Aidan looked into Cole’s eyes as they reached Aidan’s study. “Well, it hardly matters anyway, because she wants to go to Scotland to live. She doesn’t want to live out here in the country, never going anywhere and having people always scared of her husband. She also isn’t of noble blood -not that that matters to me- but I don’t want people saying anything about her in London. I don’t want to ruin her life or circumstances by having her associated with me. Not that any of this matters, because nothing will come of this. I can tell you it won’t.”

  Cole shook his head, his brows drawn together. “Aidan, trust me when I say this, she didn’t even know we were gentry and didn’t treat us any differently when she did find out. She was shocked and worried, more than anything. She thought she had offended you. But she never tried to gain your favor. You have seen people realize who we are and they immediately fawn and scrape for our attention. She doesn’t seem to care about your wealth, your title, or the scars on your face. She has more kindness in her eyes than I have ev
er seen in one person. She was nothing but polite and even when she found out you were the duke, she chastised you for not telling her that you were. Most women would use that to their advantage. But she doesn’t seem the type to do that. A good salt of the earth girl she is. The majority of the debutantes in London are wolves. They are the ones to avoid. But a beautiful woman like her? With such kindness in her eyes? She is the one to hold onto.”

  Aidan looked down again. “I know. She certainly is not one of the women of the ton. And I like that. The things I have learned about her are heartbreaking Cole. She has gone through so much, like us. But she still holds her head high like a queen. She is brave as well. She walked here, in the pouring rain, and she doesn’t walk well. She fell several times and injured herself, multiple times, but she pushed through and made it almost to our house.”

  Cole’s eyebrows raised, and Aidan continued, “She had an accident when she was younger that affects her walking. And yet she walked miles to get to her destination. Alone. She barely asked for help out there in the storm. She never complained or anything. Just asked for help to stand, and then damn near fell again because she couldn’t walk. I had to catch her. She is stubborn and strong.”

  Cole shook his head. “I want to hear more about her. Truly. She seems like a very interesting girl. Someone I would actually talk to.”

  He paused for a breath, “But, Aidan, this can’t wait. Koryn has plans for us, and her daughter. I don't know exactly what they are, but I have a feeling that it isn't something good. Since she cornered me at that event, she has been a force of nature. Something that can't be stopped. I worry what she or Katarina will do. They are so much like our father it frightens me a little. I worry it will be too overwhelming. What if she does something to one of us or to the girls if she doesn’t get her way? You know how vindictive she is. Koryn wants a husband for her daughter and I think she will stop at nothing to get one.”

  Aidan shuddered, knowing exactly what Cole was talking about. And hating the innuendo of it. “I know brother. We do need to be careful Cole. I heard what Katarina said about trying to corner one of us to marry her, but if she is engaged why would she do that? What do we do?”

  Cole shook his head again, “I am at a loss brother. Koryn practically attacked me in London, saying for all to hear about the great ball she was throwing at the Duke of Ablewood’s home. Since we were at a large crush, I could hardly refute her. She is not one to be stopped. She will get her way, one way or another.”

  Aidan grimaced. “I am just grateful that mother is here to help us to even get the ball hosted and done. I have no idea about the workings of any of this. Nor do I want to know.”

  Cole sat down in a chair by the fire, and Aidan sat in the other. “I am glad for that as well. It shouldn't be our concern, but yet she made it ours. They had already had this planned before she came up and talked to me about it. Someone tried to say something to me about the ball my family was hosting, but I disregarded it. It wasn't something you or I would do, hosting a ball, so I didn't even respond.”

  Aidan looked disgusted. “That she had the entire thing planned and executed is beyond me. Just showing up and surprising us with a ball is unheard of. But they are the sort who only care for themselves.”

  Cole nodded his agreement. “I know. I am sorry Aidan. I wished I would have known about this sooner. It could have been stopped. It should have been stopped.”

  Aidan sighed and looked up as his mother walked into the room. “How is Rhia?” He asked her as she came to stand before them.

  Lydia smiled, “I mixed her some tea to help her sleep, and hopefully dispel any lingering sickness.”

  Aidan gave a quirk of his lips. “I am grateful. Thank you, mother.” He was grateful for her, and her knowledge of herbs and healing. If she didn’t know, Aidan would have probably died. And so would Rhia.

  Lydia nodded and sat down on the settee by the fire. “I heard what you said about Koryn, and while it is something most people would never do, Koryn would. And as obvious, has. She was always the sort to get her way, and she won’t stop now. I worry about Katarina getting her way too though. I am simply glad that I know how to get this done quickly. The extra servants are already on their way, the decorations should be here tomorrow, and the rooms have all been cleaned and are prepared for a good number of guests. I also made sure we had plenty of food for the ball and their guests. Do not worry. We will do this silly nonsense ball and then get them out of our hair.”

  Aidan and Cole both looked at their mother. “Thank you. If we can help at all, let us know.” Cole said as he faced their mother.

  Lydia nodded, “Well, I do think we need to let them know this will never happen again in the future. But, I don’t think that will stop them. We have to figure out a way to truly make them believe that this will not happen here, ever again.”

  Aidan sighed and Cole said, “Well, Aunt Koryn feels that since it was her brother's home, she is entitled to use it. Since she also grew up here, she feels that it is free to use since she is family. She will not stop until she gets what she desires, and she desires for her horrible daughter to have a ball for her and her future husband.”

  Lydia looked at Cole in shock. “The entire time I have been helping them, not once has anyone said a word of her groom or about their engagement at all. It is like they are planning Katarina’s life without the man involved at all. I feel sorry for the man.”

  Cole nodded. “Oh, Aidan and I do as well.”

  Lydia sighed. “Who would ever marry that spoiled witch? He had to be most desperate to be stuck with her. I wonder who it is? If I know his family?”

  Aidan and Cole both looked at each other, and Aidan wanted to know the answers to those questions as well.

  Cole then looked down. “Well, it is rumored that she wants to marry,” he coughed and then continued. “Aidan. I believe there is already a rumor about the engagement. And that they have been betrothed since they were children. She just hadn't said anything about it to us.”

  Aidan jumped to his feet. “WHAT?”

  Lydia looked at him shocked. “You cannot be serious Cole. Aidan would never marry that girl. And I never entertained thoughts of betrothing either of you to anyone. I thought she was betrothed to someone from the ton? Isn't that why we are hosting the ball? To celebrate her engagement? How do we celebrate something that will never happen?”

  Cole shook his head, “I don't know. I simply heard a rumor. But it was just that. Rumor. She has told everyone she is engaged, and she is going to try to make that rumor truth. She has her sights on a Duke, and who better than her cousin who just happens to fit that mold?”

  Aidan started to pace. He didn’t like this in the least. He knew she was thinking of trying to trap Cole or himself into something, but he assumed since she was engaged that it would be for a friend. Which, Aidan didn’t relish and would be vigilant of never going in a room without checking it first.

  “We need to be careful of this. She has always been proud and is prone to fits of temper and violence. Especially when she doesn’t get her way. Remember when we were children, and the only time she came to visit, you wouldn't let her play with one of your toys?” Cole asked Aidan, and he nodded.

  “She broke that toy, threw the remains of it in the fire and blamed me for everything, so she wouldn’t get in trouble. Father was so angry with the whole situation, that he beat us both with a belt and sent us to bed without dinner.” Cole reminded Aidan and Lydia.

  Aidan wouldn’t let her get her hooks into him though that was for certain. Katarina was a spoiled wretch of a female. She whined constantly, always complained and she was one of the rudest people Aidan had ever met. Aidan would never let her be anything to him, besides his cousin. It would never happen. He couldn’t stand either her or Koryn.

  Koryn was a grasping, devious woman who always wanted more, even though she had plenty. She too was spoiled and selfish and gave her daughter everything. But the world still held no joy
for them. They always had to have more, the best of everything. And it turned them into complete snobs. They felt they were better than everyone else and he knew Koryn would not stop until she had a title for her daughter.

  But Aidan would do everything in his power to keep it from coming to pass. He would never marry Katarina, even if that meant handing over the Dukedom to Cole. Aidan would do it, in a heartbeat. Gladly and with no reservations or sadness.

  Now though, they had to make a plan. One that would protect both him and Cole away from the devious hands of the worst women around.

  Aidan finally sat down and turned his thoughts back to the conversation Cole and his mother were having. “We need to find a way to not let Koryn and Katarina get what they want.”

  Cole nodded his head, “Of course brother. I would never let you down. Nor do I want the responsibility. I would rather rot first. So, what do we do?”

  Aidan nodded, “Thank you Cole. I worry as well. I can protect myself, just as you can. Thank you for understanding.”

  Lydia had tears shining in her eyes as she looked at him. “We need to take care with Koryn and Katarina, but I have a feeling that everything will work out like it should.”

  Aidan got up from his chair and hugged his mother to him. “Thank you, mother.”

  “I think we need to involve Lily and Rose in this discussion.” Lydia said.

  The brothers nodded. “Go get them mother, we will wait.”

  Lydia hurried from the room and Cole turned to Aidan, “So, tell me more about the mystery woman upstairs.”

  Aidan told Cole everything he knew about Rhiannon, which wasn’t a lot. He told him again about finding her in the rain, and the injuries she received. Bringing her here, and her sickness, up to where Cole had come home. And what happened when Rhia first awoke. Telling them about herself, and how she had come to be here in the middle of northern England by herself. How she hurt her leg and what had happened to her family.