by Laura Beers
“Did John lecture you about jumping over the hedge again?”
“He did.”
Edward gave her a stern look, but it did little to intimidate her. “I do wish you would avoid doing something so foolhardy,” he cautioned. “You race your horse entirely too fast in the fields behind the townhouses.”
“My horse took no issue with the terrain.” Amelia came to sit down to the right of him and gave him a knowing look. “Did my sister ask you to speak to me?”
A small smile came to the edge of his lips. “Kate is just worried about you.”
“You do not need to fear on my account,” she assured him. “I am a proficient rider.”
Edward glanced over at the door before saying, “I must admit that you can ride as well as any man.”
Amelia raised an eyebrow. “Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
“It was.”
“It was awful,” she observed.
“That wasn’t my intention.”
Amelia placed her white linen napkin onto her lap. “I am sure that I can outride most men I associate with.”
Kate’s voice came from the doorway. “Aren’t you being a tad bit cocky?” she asked, walking further into the room.
“I don’t believe I am,” Amelia replied as she picked up a fork.
Her sister walked up to her husband and kissed him on the cheek. “Good morning, husband.”
“Good morning, wife,” Edward said tenderly. “I am glad to see that you are finally awake.”
Kate smiled as she leaned back. “I have been up for nearly an hour reading through our correspondences, and I just found the most unusual request.”
Amelia swallowed her bite of food and asked, “Which is?”
“The Dowager Duchess of Harrowden has asked us to secure a bride for her son, the duke,” Kate revealed.
Amelia’s lips parted in disbelief. “She did?”
Kate walked around the table and sat across from her. “It appears that her son has tasked her with finding a bride for him.”
“I can’t imagine that would be too difficult. Ladies will be lining up to be the next Duchess of Harrowden,” Amelia remarked.
Edward interjected, “I am not entirely sure if that is true. After all, the duke hasn’t been seen in Society for more than five years now, and he doesn’t have the most pristine reputation.”
“That hardly matters to the scheming, matchmaking mothers,” Amelia remarked. “They would do just about anything to ensure their daughter becomes a duchess.”
“Exactly!” Kate exclaimed. “Which is why the dowager duchess wants to hire us to find him a bride.”
Hannah stepped into the room. “Who is attempting to hire us?” she asked.
“The Dowager Duchess of Harrowden is hiring us to find a bride for her son,” Kate explained.
With wide eyes, Hannah declared, “The Duke of Harrowden is a recluse, and if the rumors are true, he killed his own wife.”
“I don’t believe those rumors to be true,” Amelia contended. “The duchess died during childbirth.”
Hannah came to sit down next to her. “It was common knowledge that the duchess and duke were miserable together. Don’t you think it was rather convenient for the duke that she died?”
“That was just an unfortunate coincidence,” Amelia insisted.
“I am not so sure,” Hannah remarked as a footman placed a cup of chocolate in front of her.
Kate unfolded a note. “The dowager duchess has reiterated over and over that she wants to find a love match for her son,” she said, “and she has carefully outlined her plan.”
“A plan?” Amelia asked, amused. “My curiosity has now been piqued.”
Reading the note, Kate shared, “She wants to bring one of us on as her companion at Harrowden Hall so we can become acquainted with the duke without him realizing her intent. Then, she wants to host a ball where she invites all of the eligible brides that we have selected to meet her son.”
“Interesting,” Amelia said over the rim of her teacup. “We are to engage in subterfuge, then.”
Kate laughed. “I thought you might enjoy this assignment.”
Hannah glanced between them with disbelief on her features. “You can’t be in earnest!” she exclaimed. “The Duke of Harrowden is a dangerous man. He very well may have killed his wife.”
Placing her teacup on the saucer, Amelia shifted in her chair to face her sister. “You shouldn’t be so quick to believe everything that the gossipmongers say.”
“I agree,” Kate said. “Our mother was dear friends with the dowager duchess growing up, and that has certainly influenced why she has reached out to us for help.”
Hannah pursed her lips. “I don’t think it is safe for any of us to be around His Grace.”
“I’ll do it,” Amelia announced, placing her napkin onto the table. “It will only take a day in the coach to travel to Harrowden Hall, and I can stay for a few days to become more acquainted with the duke.”
“What happens if he kills you?” Hannah asked, a deep frown furrowing her brows.
Amelia smirked. “If it will ease your mind, I will carry an overcoat pistol in my reticule.”
Hannah turned her attention towards Kate. “You can’t possibly allow Amelia to go to her own death.”
Kate stifled a smile on her lips. “I hardly think Amelia is going to die if she travels to Harrowden Hall.”
“Besides, if I go to Harrowden Hall, then I don’t have to attend Mrs. Stover’s soirée or the theatre this weekend,” Amelia remarked.
“You said you were excited to attend those events with me,” Hannah huffed.
“I did,” Amelia replied, “but truth be told, I was dreading going to both of them.”
Kate placed the note on the table and addressed Hannah. “We will attend Mrs. Stover’s soirée with you.”
“We will?” Edward asked in disbelief.
Kate bobbed her head. “We will.”
Amelia smiled at her brother-in-law’s crestfallen expression. “It won’t be so bad,” she attempted.
Edward cast her an annoyed look, but she continued smiling at him. She found him amusing in the same way she found everything amusing.
“So, it is settled,” Kate said, rising. “I will send a rider ahead of your carriage to inform the dowager duchess that you will be her companion for a few days.”
“Do you suppose I can bring Leah with me?” Amelia asked.
Kate grinned. “Generally, a companion does not travel with a lady’s maid,” she said, “but I believe we can make an exception in this case.”
Rising from his chair, Edward remarked, “I will also direct the footman and driver to stay at Harrowden Hall until you are ready to return home. That way, you can make a hasty retreat if the situation warrants it.” He raised his eyebrows and snuck a glance at Hannah, belying his amusement.
“Thank you,” Amelia responded, stifling the desire to chuckle. “That is very thoughtful of you.”
Edward acknowledged her comment with a brief nod. “If you will excuse me, I am late for a meeting.”
After her brother-in-law left the room, Amelia rose from her chair. “I’d better start packing for the journey.”
Hannah frowned as she glanced between them. “You are both mad,” she muttered.
“In what way?” Kate asked innocently.
“If the duke discovers that Amelia is there as a matchmaker, he could kill her,” Hannah explained.
“Pray tell, can you think of one scenario with the duke that will not lead to my untimely death?” Amelia joked.
Rising, Hannah’s frown intensified. “This is a bad idea,” she declared. “The duke is a recluse, and I daresay that he won’t give his mother’s companion a moment of his time.”
“If that should happen, I shall inform the dowager duchess that we are unable to find a suitable bride for the duke, and I will depart from Harrowden Hall at my earliest convenience,” Amelia remarked with a wave of her hand. “But I can be
quite persuasive when I want to be.”
“I’m not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I?” Hannah asked.
Amelia shook her head. “I have always wanted to be a spy, and Harrowden Hall is the perfect place to practice my craft.”
“We are not asking you to spy on the duke,” Kate said with laughter in her voice, “but rather befriend him.”
Amelia tapped her fingers to her lips as she mused, “I wonder if Harrowden Hall has secret passageways.”
Kate huffed good-naturedly. “Are you even listening to me anymore?”
“Not really,” Amelia replied lightly. “Now, if you will excuse me, I must inform Leah that we need to pack for our journey.”
As Amelia spun on her heel, she found herself growing excited about this little adventure. She never had a problem with befriending a gentleman before, and she had little doubt that the duke would be any different.
2
Amelia stared out of the coach’s window and watched as the sun dipped below the clouds on the horizon, casting splashes of red and orange that filled the evening sky.
“Do you suppose we are almost there?” Leah asked as she pulled a needle out from the fabric she was sewing.
“I can’t imagine it is much farther,” Amelia replied as she saw a flock of sheep grazing peacefully in a fenced meadow.
“I must admit that I am nervous.”
“Why is that?” Amelia inquired, turning her attention toward her lady’s maid.
“I fear everyone has heard the rumors about the Duke of Harrowden,” Leah replied. “Do you suppose he had something to do with his wife’s death?”
Amelia waved her hand dismissively. “You must not believe everything you hear.”
“But a duke is powerful enough to get away with murder,” her lady’s maid pressed.
“That may be true, but I don’t believe that to be the case. If I truly thought he had something to do with his wife’s death, then I wouldn’t be trying to arrange a match for him.”
Leah lowered the fabric to her lap. “I worry this may be an impossible case. What if the duke won’t speak to you?”
“Now you are starting to sound like Hannah,” Amelia teased. “Besides, I believe I could garner enough information about the duke from his mother and household staff.”
“You would talk to the servants about the duke?”
“That is the most logical place to gather information about the master of the house,” she explained. “But that is only if I can’t befriend the duke.”
Leah shuddered. “I wish you luck.”
The coach turned down a gravel road and an enormous country house loomed ahead. It was four levels, square in shape with towers protruding off each corner, and covered in stone.
“No wonder the duke hasn’t left Harrowden Hall since his wife’s death,” Leah muttered. “This place is magnificent.”
“I agree.”
As they approached the country house, Amelia admired the well-maintained topiaries that lined the drive and the green lawn that seemed to go on forever. I would have loved playing here as a child, she thought.
The coach came to a stop in front of Harrowden Hall, and she felt it dip to the side as the footman stepped off his perch. He put the step down, opened the door, and placed his hand out to assist them as they exited the coach.
Amelia stepped down and stood in front of the country house, admiring the stone portico over the main door. Then, she glanced down at her grey traveling gown, hoping she appeared somewhat presentable to meet the dowager duchess.
Leah must have read her thoughts, because she said, “You look lovely, miss.”
The door opened and a middle-aged man with black hair slicked to the side greeted them. “Welcome to Harrowden Hall, miss,” he said in a clipped tone, but there was kindness behind his words. “Do come in.”
Amelia walked slowly inside, chiding herself for feeling the least bit nervous. There is nothing to be nervous about, she thought. She was here to do a job, nothing more.
The butler closed the door behind her, and she stared up at the grand double-height entry hall in amazement. Ornate columns ran the length of the room, a black fireplace sat along one wall, and a wooden staircase dominated one side of the hall.
“The Dowager Duchess has been expecting you. If you will wait here, I will ensure she is ready to meet with you,” the butler said. He didn’t exactly smile at her, but he didn’t frown, either.
“Thank you. I brought my lady’s maid; would you ensure she is shown to my room?”
If the butler was surprised that his mistress’s companion had brought a lady’s maid, he hid it well. “I will, miss,” he replied, then walked towards the stairs, his polished black shoes clipping on the marble floor.
Amelia stepped over to a red settee situated in front of the fireplace and ran her hand along the fringe. There was a coldness that she could feel in Harrowden Hall, but not the kind one would feel from a draft. Something indescribable hung in the air, as if the walls knew a secret that no one else was privy to.
The sound of a man’s gruff voice came from behind her, startling her out of her musings. “You have arrived earlier than expected.”
Amelia turned around and found herself staring into amber-colored eyes. The man was undoubtedly handsome with his square jaw, straight nose, and chiseled features. He had a commanding presence about him, albeit slightly intimidating, and he was dressed in expertly tailored clothes, marking him as a gentleman. It was abundantly clear that this was the Duke of Harrowden.
She must have been staring at him longer than she intended because he asked, “Are you dumb?”
Taken aback by the harshness in his tone, Amelia replied indignantly, “No, Your Grace, I assure you that I am not.”
The duke gave her a curt nod. “We have much to discuss, and I don’t have time to tarry.” He spun on his heel and started walking down a narrow hall.
Even though he didn’t issue a command, Amelia assumed that she was supposed to follow him. She hurried to keep up with his long stride. He stepped into a room with striped, red-papered walls and a mahogany desk placed in front of a large window.
The duke walked around his desk and sat down. He pointed at a chair positioned in front of the desk and ordered, “Take a seat.”
Amelia went to do his bidding, sitting rigidly in the upholstered chair.
His critical eyes perused the length of her, and she squirmed slightly under his scrutiny. “I do appreciate you coming as soon as you did,” he said, but his words didn’t seem genuine.
“You are welcome.”
The duke barely acknowledged her response as he continued. “Despite that, I will not hesitate to dismiss you for any infraction. I do not tolerate idleness, laziness, or incompetence of any kind. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Amelia said, glancing over at a longcase clock situated in the corner of the room.
“Do you like children?”
“Pardon?” she asked, bringing her gaze back to meet his.
The duke gave her an exasperated look. “That was not a difficult question,” he remarked dryly.
Amelia brought a smile to her face. “I do like children,” she replied.
“That is a relief,” he muttered. “You will have a firm schedule that you must adhere to. You will take two walks during the day, one at nine in the morning and the other at three. Under no circumstances are you to take walks during the heat of the day.”
“I understand.”
“Bedtime is observed sharply at eight in the evening.”
Amelia lifted her brow. “Eight?” she asked. “Isn’t that rather early?”
The duke looked at her as if she was a simpleton. “I think it is generous.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” she muttered.
“You will be allowed two small breaks during the day, but I am hoping you use that time wisely to better yourself,” he said. “I will allow you to select books from the library, but you mu
st return them to the precise place you found them. If you do not, you will be terminated immediately.”
“Duly noted.”
The duke leaned back in his chair and studied her. “You will be given a uniform to wear,” he stated. “You will not alter it in any way.”
Amelia gave him a baffled look. “You wish me to wear a uniform?”
“I do,” he replied. “Furthermore, you will eat and sleep with your charge.”
“You wish for me to sleep with her?” she questioned. “As in the same bedchamber?”
He brought his hand up to the bridge of his nose and didn’t speak for a long moment. “Pray tell, where else would you sleep?”
Amelia remained silent, afraid of aggravating him even more.
“The missive I received implied that you weren’t incompetent, but I am beginning to question that,” he remarked.
She sat straighter in her chair as she grew tired of his pompous attitude. “I assure you that I am wholly competent.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” he responded, dropping his hand, “because I don’t give second chances.”
“Nor would I expect you to.”
The duke rose and walked over to the window. “Your predecessor only lasted a few weeks, I’m afraid,” he shared, clasping his hands behind his back. “She didn’t adhere to the rules, and I was forced to let her go.”
“That is most unfortunate.”
“It was,” he agreed. “But it is nearly impossible to find a competent nurse.”
Nurse?
Did he think she was here to fill a nurse position? Now this entire conversation was beginning to make sense.
“Your Grace—” she started.
The duke spoke over her, clearly deeming whatever she had intended to say as unimportant. “Are you ready to meet your charge?”
“I think there has been some kind of misunderstanding.”
His brow furrowed as he unclasped his hands. “You will discover that I don’t make mistakes.”
“My name is Miss Amelia Blackmore, and I am here to fill the role of companion to your mother.”
Surprise flickered in the duke’s eyes before they narrowed. “My mother told me nothing about this.”
Rising, she said, “Well, it would make it no less true.”
