Duke of fire

by Monroe, Jennifer

  “It does not matter, Your Grace. I’m afraid in my old age, I must have misheard you. The fault lies with me.”

  “It does matter. What did I tell you?” he repeated with more force.

  “Your Grace requested that his black coat be prepared for today and to have the blue mended,” the man said with great reluctance.

  Michael gave him a nod. So, it was happening again; his mind was worsening though his heart had never felt more alive. Here he was sure that the madness would dissipate with his newfound freedom from the guilt he had carried; however, this incident was only a reminder that one day he would forget everything.

  “This coat will do,” Michael said with a sigh as he stretched his arm once again to allow the valet to put it on him.

  As the man helped prepare him for the day, Michael realized that he had been fighting his brother’s advice because he was afraid of the truth: he was truly losing his mind. As Dalton brushed out the coat, Michael’s mind went to Samuel and he feared what would happen to the boy as Michael descended further into madness. Thankfully, his brother and Catherine would look after the boy, raising him to be the man he was meant to be. The thought saddened him, but he was not one to turn away from the truth.

  “Shall I mend your blue coat, then, Your Grace?”

  “Yes, thank you,” Michael replied, though he did not remember what exactly needed mending.

  The man nodded his head and left the room.

  Michael walked over to the large mirror and gazed at his reflection. In just an hour’s time, he would be leaving with Samuel and Jane to go into town, something Robert had been adamantly against. Now doubt made him question that decision. If he could not remember something as simple as the color of the coat he had asked his valet to ready for him, how could he take such a large step as to go into town? What if he endangered his son in the process as Robert had suggested?

  Glancing over to the dresser, he went and opened the top drawer and removed a chain of fine silver that held a pendant of blue sapphires. It was a present he had given Elizabeth during their first year of marriage, and as luck would have it, she had kept it here rather than at their home, which meant it had not been lost in the fire.

  “She is after your wealth.” His brother’s words played in his mind and made him cringe. Although the idea of doing so twisted his stomach, he needed to test the woman to assure himself that what he believed of her was true. Such fine jewels would attract any woman’s attention, but most especially one filled with greed.

  Clutching the necklace in his hand, he left the room and waited for Jane to come down the stairs.

  “I apologize for being late,” she said with a wide smile. “I had forgotten my gloves and had to return to retrieve them.”

  “They look beautiful,” he said and was delighted to see her cheeks redden.

  She wore the blue silk dress she was fond of wearing, and later he hoped she would select another of the same color as one of her choices for a new dress.

  “Blue suits you,” he said, “and with your eyes, I thought these might complement them.” He held up the necklace and waited to see her response.

  “What a lovely piece,” she gasped. “The blue in the gems are the brightest I have ever seen.” Then she laughed. “Not that I have seen many sapphires in my life, of course.”

  “Well, they were Elizabeth’s, and though it may seem crass, I thought they would suit someone such as you.” His heart raced as he moved toward her. “I would very much like for you to have them.”

  Her smile widened and his heart began to sink. So, Robert had been right after all. Not only was she after his wealth, but she also found no issue with taking something that once belonged to his former wife.

  “Although your offer is kind,” Jane said, her hand closing around the pendant as the chain swung down, “I could never accept such a gift. For one, it belonged to your wife and should be given to Samuel first so he can give it to a woman of his choosing.” She placed the necklace in his hand and wrapped his fingers around it. “Second, even if that were not the case, I do not need expensive jewelry to make me feel beautiful. You do that for me.”

  Michael’s heart leapt as he realized what a fool he was to believe what Robert had told him. His heart had not deceived him; she truly had a kind spirit and was a woman who held no amount of selfishness.

  Slipping the necklace into his coat pocket, he looked into her soft gray eyes. “I understand your concern, and I thank you for your honesty.” He offered her his arm. “Are you ready for our outing?”

  “I am quite ready. However,” a look of concern crossed her face, “are you certain you are ready?”

  To have a woman worry for him as she did made his soul jump for joy. “It has been some years, but I am ready to make my first appearance,” he said, the nervousness he had been feeling melting away with the touch of her hand. “And with you joining me out there in that big, wide world, I will have the strength I need.”

  Jane stood on the tips of her toes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Your strength is your own, Michael,” she assured him. “Never forget that. Now, I believe Samuel has been ready for practically hours to take this journey into town, so we should probably be on our way.”

  Michael could only stare at her. The woman was all the strength he needed. It was the strength he would need for the time ahead. For the first time, he began to consider that there was a chance he could ask to be his wife.

  ***

  “Father, why is Miss Harcourt leaving us?” Samuel asked as the woman entered the dress shop.

  Placing his hand on the boy’s shoulder, they began to walk. “Miss Harcourt is going to purchase some new dresses, and it would not be fitting for gentlemen such as we to be seen in such a place. But do not worry, she will be joining us again later.”

  The boy gave a nod, although his face still showed reluctance at leaving the woman behind. Perhaps he was concerned she would not return, which was ludicrous, but there was nothing Michael to do to ease the boy’s mind.

  Michael had instructed Jane to purchase as many dresses as she saw fit. Yet, he had a feeling she would only choose two, for she was not greedy, and he would have to chastise her later for it. Playfully, of course.

  As they passed another shop, a man looked at Michael and then turned again to stare. Then he hurried his steps as if he had suddenly remembered that he was late for an important meeting.

  Yes, the Duke of Fire is out. Run as fast you are able, Michael thought, yet he wore a smile despite the fact he should have been angry by the man’s reaction. Michael had confronted his greatest obstacle—himself—and he now walked with confidence. Although Jane denied it, it was the strength which came from the memory of her words that helped him as he took each step.

  “Your Grace!” Alan Shafer, a graying man who owned the local butcher shop, called from his shop door as he gave Michael a deep bow. “It has been too long.”

  Michael stopped and smiled at the man. He was one of the many shop owners who had always been kind to Michael, as well as Elizabeth, and it was clear the butcher had not forgotten him.

  “It has been far too long, Shafer, but I am no longer going to be a stranger.”

  “Very good, Your Grace,” the man replied. “And who might this young gentleman at your side be?”

  “This is my son Samuel. Samuel this is Mr. Shafer. He owns this butcher shop.”

  Mr. Shafer squatted down to eye-level with the boy. “It is a pleasure to meet a fine gentleman such as yourself, my young lord.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Samuel said. “I enjoy being a gentleman.” His voice held such a sincerity that Mr. Shafer chuckled, as did Michael.

  “We best be on our way,” Michael said, “but I will have an order coming to you soon for a ball I am hosting.”

  “Very well, Your Grace. I will make sure only the finest cuts are delivered.”

  Michael nodded and walked away. His first conversation had gone much better than he had ex
pected, and he could not wait for more. Granted, it had been with a man of the working class, but regardless, he still saw it as a success. Then a couple approached him, both of them wearing familiar faces from long ago. They had once claimed his friendship, but as the rumors spread concerning the death of his wife, their invitations had stopped. Although it had caused him sorrow before, it no longer did so.

  “Your Grace,” Lord Percy Hughes, the third Earl of Bramblestoke, said, his eyes wide. Lady Mary Hughes stood gaping at Michael, looking as if she had seen a ghost, but quickly recovered and dropped a curtsy before him. “It is an honor, Your Grace.”

  “Hello, Hughes. It has been a long time, has it not? I feel as though we have not spoken…in years.”

  The man straightened and jutted out his chin. “It is true, Your Grace. I hope I have caused no offense by not dropping by to call on you after the death of your wife, but we wanted to give you time to grieve. Is that not true, Mary?” The woman beside him nodded, although all she seemed capable of doing was to stare.

  “Well, I have grieved long enough,” Michael said.

  “That is wonderful news, Your Grace,” Lord Hughes said. “And may I say, it is wonderful seeing you again.”

  Michael smiled as his hand went to Samuel’s shoulder. “I knew you would be happy, and that is why I look forward to seeing you both at my ball, which will take place in a month’s time. The invitations will be sent out shortly, but I thought you should be the first to know.”

  Lord Hugh's face went an off-white. “Of course, Your Grace.” He swallowed visibly. “What an honor.”

  Michael suppressed his smile. He knew that Lord Hughes was worried about how it would be perceived that he was told of the ball in person, and he knew the man’s wife to be an incredible gossip. He wanted everyone to see that their idle rumors were unfounded and that he was now happy once again. He also knew, however, that Lord Hughes might need some sort of incentive to convince him that Michael had indeed changed for the better, thus creating a means to influence the man’s wife to speak highly of Michael in her rounds of gossip.

  “I do hope you will have time to speak with me,” Michael said. “I will be looking into investing in some new ventures, and I understand that you may have just what I need.”

  This seemed to excite the Earl, for he gave Michael a low bow. “Thank you, Your Grace. There could be no greater honor.”

  Of course there would not, Michael thought, for I have coffers in which you would do anything to place your hand.

  “Excellent,” Michael said aloud as he grasped the man in a tight handshake. “I shall speak with you soon.” Then he turned to his son. “Come, Samuel, we have business to attend to.”

  He turned and walked across the street, not surprised to see through a reflection in a window that Lord and Lady Hughes were staring after him as if in shock. However, he pushed the pair out of his mind, for he had others with whom he needed quiet contemplation. Yet, even as he thought on those men who would eagerly agree to completing business with a man of his stature, Michael found that his mind continuously returned to Miss Jane Harcourt, the woman who at this moment was selecting a new gown just for that cause.

  For the next few hours, he talked to shopkeepers, bankers, and a host of other people, and his confidence grew tenfold with each passing moment. Few of these people gaped at the scars on his face, many tried to hide their surprise when he walked by, but either way, he simply ignored them. The majority of his time, his mind returned to Jane, and he could not wait to tell her the outcome of this monumental outing.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jane had never purchased dresses from such a fancy shop, and she found herself overwhelmed with the entire experience. She had been pushed into a back room, asked to remove her dress, and then one of the assistants had measured her from head to toe, stating that once they completed her measurements, she would be able to choose any dress she wanted and they would be able to make it for her.

  Other women in the shop held their head high as they discussed the various gowns and dresses available in the many books that sat on the tables and counters. Jane tried to emulate their looks and movements, but what she ended up with was a stiffness that made her body ache. It took her some time to realize that the best thing she could do was to be herself, for that was the only way she knew.

  Although Michael had told her to buy whatever she wanted, she decided that she would select only one new day dress and one gown, for he had insisted on the latter, even if she had no plans to attend the ball. The day dress would be white and the gown would be blue, for that was his favorite color.

  “That should do it, Miss,” the heavyset woman said as she put away her measuring tapes and made a final note on a pad. “You may return to the front.”

  “Thank you,” Jane said as she redressed and then put on her slippers. When she was finished, she went back out to the front of the shop and began to browse the plates.

  A woman walked up and introduced herself as Mrs. Linden, the shop’s proprietor. “What kind of dresses are you seeking,” she asked as her eyes looked her over with a hint of disapproval. “I’m afraid we do not do burlap.”

  Jane pursed her lips. Was her silk dress not enough to show this woman that she was not just some simple scullery maid? However, she held her tongue. “I am not certain,” she said instead. “I am a governess and I need a dress suitable for day wear and then I need a ballgown.”

  The woman raised a single eyebrow. “A ballgown,” she repeated, the words dry as dust. “And for what would one such as yourself being needing a ballgown?”

  Jane felt humiliation rise inside her. If this was how they would be treating her, she would take her business elsewhere. How did this woman know she did not come from at least the gentry?

  As if reading her mind, Mrs. Linden said, “That dress is years out of fashion, and I do not have anything similar or doubtless within your budget. You might wish to consider another dressmaker to meet your needs. I believe Mrs. Samson the next street over has options more appropriate to a woman of your…stature.”

  “Judith?” a woman’s voice said from behind her. “What is the problem with my friend?”

  Jane turned to find Catherine looking at the dressmaker with a stern expression and felt a sense of relief wash over her.

  The dressmaker also looked at Catherine, but it was clear she held no sense of relief. “My Lady,” she said with a deep curtsy. “I was merely suggesting that the young lady here…” Then as if realization had hit her, she said, “Your friend, My Lady?”

  “Yes, my friend. This is Miss Jane Harcourt and is held in high esteem by the Duke of Hayfield, and she here per his request. Shall I inform the Duke, as well as my husband, that their money is no longer welcome here?”

  Mrs. Linden blanched significantly. “No, My Lady, not at all.”

  “Then I suggest you treat my friend with the respect she deserves.”

  The woman dropped another curtsy, this one deeper than the first, and then turned to Jane. “I apologize, Miss Harcourt. Now, how may I help you?”

  Jane had to stifle a giggle before explaining what she wanted.

  “Yes, of course,” Mrs. Linden said smoothly once Jane recounted her needs. “Please, allow me to help you with the plates.” Jane followed the woman to a counter where several books lay, and she flipped through the pages, stopping on one in particular.

  “This is the latest fashion,” the woman said, pointing to a high-waisted dress with puffed sleeves and lace collar. “This one would be perfect with your figure. Now, you also mentioned you would like to order a ball gown?”

  “Yes, please,” Jane said.

  Catherine, however, would have none of it. “Nonsense. You must select at least six new dresses and two gowns,” she said with a click of her tongue. “You must have several dresses available in case you are invited to tea or some other gathering. And one must not be seen in the same dress on too many occasions.”

  Jane laughe
d. “Tea? I have Samuel to look after; I have no time for invitations to tea. Plus, who would invite me?”

  “After this grand ball Michael has said he will be throwing, you will be surprised by the number of ladies wishing to spend time with you.”

  Of course they would, Jane thought. To collect more gossip. However, she did not voice her opinion; she would not be in attendance at this ball anyway. Perhaps Catherine was not aware of this fact.

  “Six dresses and two gowns,” Mrs. Linden repeated with a wide smile. “I will have one of my girls attend to you.”

  Catherine clicked her tongue in vexation. “With an order of this magnitude, do you not believe it would be appropriate that you attend to Miss Harcourt yourself. After all, she will be putting in such a large order. I would hate to see if she is better treated at Mrs. Valentine’s shop.”

  “No, not at all,” Mrs. Linden said hastily. “You are quite right, My Lady; I will take care of Miss Harcourt personally.”

  “Good. Now, I only came in to see about an order I had placed earlier in the week.” When she saw how nervous Jane was, she placed a comforting hand on her arm. “There is nothing to worry about,” she said. “The Duke likes his women in the finest clothes. Now, Mrs. Linden will be sure you have the latest styles made of the best fabrics. And you,” she pointed to Jane, “will see how much fun it is to shop for new dresses.”

  And with that, she was gone, leaving Jane to fend for herself. However, the woman’s words lingered for several moments, and Jane found herself wondering what she meant when she said that Michael ‘likes his women in the finest clothes’.

  ***

  Catherine returned two hours later to check on Jane’s progress. It had been a daunting task selecting her new dresses and gowns, but Mrs. Linden had been much more accommodating after Catherine’s interjection. Jane, however, continued to be concerned with the number of items she had purchased.

  “You seem upset,” Catherine said as they strolled down the street. “Was your time at the dressmaker’s not pleasant? Do I need to return and give Mrs. Linden a rebuke?”