The Duke's Predicament (The Reluctant Duke Book 3)

by Fenella J Miller

  She was woken by the slight sound of Richard removing his garments. She pushed herself up onto her elbows and could just see him in the shaft of moonlight that filtered through the shutters. ‘Did you accomplish your mission, Major Sinclair?’

  ‘We didn’t bother with the carriage, Patrick slung him over a horse and we led him there. He didn’t stir and is now secure in the chamber that Beth used to occupy. Patrick’s excellent valet has taken over the task of being both guard and nursemaid until Carstairs is fit to become a sailor.’

  ‘I’ve been thinking, my love, that you need to speak to Mr Carstairs, his father, before you implement your plan. Imagine his distress when he eventually learns that his son is missing.’

  ‘As always, my darling, you have the right of it. However, it will be a fait accompli – I don’t intend to tell him until his rat of a son is safely on his way.’

  ‘I see. Do you think it might be possible to arrange for him to have sufficient funds given to him to buy his passage back? He would still be absent from the country for a year or more but then we could be sanguine that he would be able to return to his family eventually and…’

  He slid in beside her and she had no opportunity to finish her sentence. She fell asleep naked in his arms and didn’t wake until he leaned over and kissed her. As often happened they both were late for breakfast.

  Chapter Six

  Hannah scarcely slept so excited was she at the prospect of becoming Patrick’s bride. Whatever his thoughts on the matter she was determined to persuade him one way or another to marry her immediately. Obviously, she couldn’t arrange for a special licence but what she could do was visit the vicarage and have the banns called. That would mean in three weeks they could legally marry in the village church. Patrick rarely attended church so was unlikely to hear them being read out at matins.

  Although she had been given a further day’s leave she had no intention of taking all of it. Beth needed her and Paula must return to her duties as companion to the dowager duchess. Notwithstanding, she was determined to visit the vicarage immediately after breakfast. She tingled all over at the only certain way she could think of to make Patrick change his mind and marry her immediately.

  Eventually she fell into so deep sleep she didn’t wake until someone came into her room carrying a tray with what smelt like chocolate and sweet morning rolls. This was unheard of – a custom only for the family not for a servant, which was all she was really.

  A smiling girl bobbed in a curtsy when she sat up. ‘Good morning, miss, I’m Ellie, I’m to be your personal maid. I’m to pack all your belongings and move them down stairs.’

  Hannah stared at her unable to comprehend what had been said. ‘That can’t be correct, Ellie, are you sure you heard aright?’

  The tray was placed across her lap and her stomach gurgled in anticipation of this unexpected treat.

  ‘I have that, miss. It comes from her grace herself. You are to be considered as part of the family from now on.’

  She could hardly continue to argue with a maid, but as soon as she’d broken her fast she would go and see her grace. Her role was as governess and companion to Beth and as such she had to have her accommodation adjacent to her charge.

  ‘Is Mrs Marchand taking care of Lady Elizabeth?’

  The girl looked puzzled at the question. ‘No, Nanny and the two nursemaids are doing that. There’s Johnny working up here too.’

  ‘Who is Johnny?’ The more she heard the less she understood.

  ‘Johnny is a junior footman, and he’s to accompany Lady Elizabeth whenever she goes out for a walk. I reckon she’ll like having him along as he’s a handsome lad.’

  This was a highly unsuitable conversation to be having with one’s personal maid. ‘I intend to ride this morning so please put out my habit. Also, send word to the stables to have a suitable mount ready for me in half an hour.’

  Talking to the duchess must wait until she’d accomplished her own important task. At least she knew she wouldn’t bump into Patrick as he had spent the night in his own home back at Denchester. She was a novice rider and was somewhat apprehensive about going out on her own for the first time, but the head groom was well aware of her limitations and would no doubt put her up on the docile mare she’d learned to ride on earlier this summer.

  It was no more than two miles to the vicarage and she accomplished this at a steady jog and was feeling far more confident in her abilities by the time she arrived. Dismounting would be a problem and getting back into the saddle even more difficult if there wasn’t a mounting block available.

  This problem was solved as Mr Carstairs was just leaving as she rode up. ‘Good morning, Miss Westley, how can I be of service to you this fine day?’

  She handed down to him the paper with the necessary details and he offered his congratulations and promised to do as she asked.

  ‘Do you have a date in mind for the wedding?’

  Hannah was finding it more difficult than she’d anticipated to talk to this kind man about her wedding when she knew that his oldest son was about to be shipped off to India for attempting to rape an innocent girl. The fact that the person he’d chosen for his debauchery was the sister of the Duke of Denchester just made the offence so much worse.

  ‘I believe that once the final calling has been made we can marry at the church without giving further notice as long as it is before five of the clock.’

  ‘That is quite correct, Miss Westley. From this I take it that you will be having a simple ceremony, just witnesses, and don’t require the church to be decorated in any way.’

  ‘How much notice do we need to give you?’

  ‘None at all, my dear Miss Westley, because if I’m away from home visiting a sick parishioner then my curate can conduct the service in my stead.’

  Satisfied she had everything in place now all she had to do was somehow arrange for Patrick to come to her bedchamber or for her to go to his. So absorbed was she in trying to work out how this might be achieved, since she was going to be living on the family floor, that twice the old mare stopped to eat from the hedge.

  She trotted back up the drive with the horse still chewing a large mouthful of something tasty that she’d snatched whilst Hannah had been wool-gathering.

  So much had changed, and so quickly, that she scarcely knew whether she was on her head or her heels. The grounds were full of eager labourers dismantling the various booths and tents from yesterday’s celebrations. It might take some time for the grass to recover its former lushness after being trampled on so thoroughly yesterday.

  The aeronauts were packing their balloon onto a large diligence drawn by two farm horses. One day she would ask Patrick to take her on a real flight – but obviously not today. She entered through the side door and was immediately met by a footman who told her that she was expected in the drawing room immediately.

  She gathered up the trailing skirt of her habit and hurried down the passageway. What disaster had occurred in her absence? She really should have asked permission before leaving the estate as she had. The church clock had struck as she’d left the vicarage so it could hardly be later than ten o’clock.

  ‘There you are, Hannah, you must have so many questions. Come in and sit down, coffee will be fetched for us immediately. Are you hungry after your ride?’ Her grace looked quite radiant and beckoned her over as if she was someone other than a governess.

  ‘I shouldn’t be in here until I’ve changed. I smell of horse…’

  ‘Fiddlesticks to that. If I cared about such things then Richard would soon have cured me of it. Please sit down.’

  She did as she was told and waited to hear why she’d suddenly been elevated from employee to dear friend or distant relative.

  ‘I should have asked permission before taking the mare, but I had something most urgent to do.’

  ‘Richard and I have decided that you and Patrick are now part of our family. Consider yourselves under his protection, and in future you
will only need to ask permission as a daughter or sister would from the head of the household.’

  ‘Am I not to take care of Beth? I was surprised to find her usual retainers back on duty when I thought they had been dismissed.’

  ‘As my sister came to no real harm we reconsidered and they were, quite naturally, overjoyed to be reinstated. You can be very sure that nothing like that will ever happen again. I intend to employ someone else to take over as companion and governess and I’m hoping that you will help me select a suitable candidate.’

  This nonsense had gone on long enough. ‘Forgive me, but this makes no sense to me. I’m not related to any of you in any way and neither is Patrick. Why should the duke be responsible for my upkeep?’

  ‘I told Richard you would say this, but he is relying on me to persuade you to change your mind. Patrick is his man of affairs, that’s true, which makes him an employee of sorts. However, he is first and foremost like a brother to him. They have been side by side through the most terrible battles, are closer than most siblings are because of this.’

  ‘So, I am being included in his generosity because I am betrothed to Patrick?’

  ‘No, I think of you as another sister. You’ve been part of this family for years – remember you were companion to Sarah and I before our papa died. Everyone residing under this roof is considered a blood relation.’ She laughed at the absurdity of her comment. ‘Obviously, I’m not including the staff in this statement.’

  ‘Then thank you, I’m delighted and overwhelmed to accept your generosity. Now, forgive me, I’m not comfortable sitting here smelling of the stables. It won’t take me long to change. I need to talk to you about something else.’ She smiled knowing that Amanda – no, her grace, she wasn’t comfortable using her given name – would help her with her shocking plan to seduce Patrick into marrying her in three weeks’ time.

  *

  Patrick was up with the lark none the worse for his excessive consumption of brandy the night before. He was fortunate in that he didn’t suffer from the after-effects of alcohol like others did. He could drink what he wanted, remain upright and clear-headed when others were under the table, and this had often proved invaluable in his years as a soldier.

  He went to check that his unwelcome guest was awake as there were one or two things he wanted to say to him. Carstairs was propped up in bed and his eyes widened when he saw Patrick walk in. Good. He wanted the little bastard to be terrified.

  ‘I know who you are, I know what you did and if you wish to carry on living you will do as you’re told and make no attempt to leave this room. Do you understand?’

  The young man attempted to nod but it was obviously so painful he couldn’t complete the gesture. Patrick felt a moment of sympathy, of regret for having broken his jaw. Then he considered what would have happened to Carstairs if the major had got hold of him first. On balance, a broken jaw was better than a broken neck.

  ‘Good. You will be fed and taken care of whilst it’s decided what will become of you. If you’d been in my brigade you would now be hanging from the nearest tree. Think yourself lucky to still be alive – although I can’t guarantee how much longer that’ll last.’

  His valet locked the door and grinned. ‘That’ll keep the little bugger quiet, sir. I’ve put your shaving water out and there’s been a message from his grace. I put it beside the hot water.’

  Patrick was laughing as he returned to his bedchamber. He hadn’t intended to shave this morning, thought it a waste of time and energy and was quite happy to remain without recourse to the razor for several days at a stretch. John obviously had other ideas and wished to keep his master looking like the gentleman he obviously wasn’t.

  He broke the seal on the letter and read it with incredulity. The world had gone mad this past day. The major insisted that he moved back to Radley Manor and considered himself as a member of the family not an employee. He was expected to join the family for luncheon.

  He looked around with amusement as he saw that his trunks were half-packed already. The letter hadn’t been opened so obviously the groom who’d delivered it had somehow learned the contents. It was all very well for Richard – he might as well give in and use his given name if he was to be considered a relative in future – to tell him to appear by midday but it would take him several hours to pack the ledgers and papers that he needed from the study. As he was to do Paul’s work as the estate manager alongside his own for the next few weeks this meant that these ledgers and documents must also be packed.

  God knows where he and Paul would be expected to work at the Manor – one thing was quite certain he didn’t intend to be a drain on anyone’s pocket. He would earn his keep as he’d always done. Moving also meant he would be obliged to leave behind his excellent valet and he’d become used to his efficient services.

  The baggage cart arrived and the four grooms who’d come with it shifted his trunks – Paul’s belongings had already been moved – and then carried out the boxes of papers. The staff at the Dower House was being reduced as there would only be Carstairs and his carer living there now. One groom remained to take care of the two horses left behind.

  He rode his own beast, a groom drove the cart, and the other two rode the spare horses. Things were moving too fast for him. He liked time to contemplate decisions and wasn’t comfortable with being rushed. He had always been the voice of reason in times of danger when Richard had wanted to do something rash.

  Living under the same roof as Hannah and not being able to share her bed was going to be difficult. He’d had women, too many to count, during his life but had never been in love. The brief liaisons he’d indulged in had been with light-skirts and camp followers. He’d always taken care of them when they parted and was convinced that he’d left behind no unwanted babies.

  This probably meant he was incapable of fathering a child but only time would tell. His mouth curved. He was going to have a damn good try – that was for sure.

  When he entered the house the butler was waiting to inform him that Richard was in his study. Patrick strolled along the wide passageway looking at things differently now this was to be his permanent home. Then, as he was about to knock on the door, he froze. He couldn’t marry Hannah unless he had somewhere for them to live and he could hardly set up home here. Radley Manor was a spacious house but once the inevitable babies started to arrive it would soon become overcrowded.

  ‘Don’t dawdle out there, Patrick, there are things we need to discuss before we can breakfast.’ Richard had somehow worked out he was outside the door.

  ‘Good morning, at least I thought it was until I realised that being obliged to move here means I can’t now marry Hannah as I’ve nowhere of my own to take her.’

  ‘Sit down, man, and let me explain.’ Richard waited until he was seated before continuing. ‘This house is big enough for a dozen families. My mother-in-law has her own rooms, Sarah and Paul have the east wing, Amanda and I occupy the central section of this house and when you marry Hannah you can live in the west wing.’

  ‘I would like to have been consulted, Richard, I don’t take kindly to being manipulated. Why in God’s good name do you wish to have us all under this roof?’

  ‘Do you want my honest answer?’

  ‘I do, of course I do. What’s going on that I don’t know about?’

  ‘If you and Paul are here then I can take Amanda on an extended wedding trip. Things have changed between us recently and I want to spend time alone with her and discover why she’s no longer as happy as she was.’

  ‘I can tell you one reason. For three years she ran the estates, managed on a pittance compared to the income she was used to before. Since you turned up she’s nothing much to do.’

  ‘That’s my interpretation of the situation too. Being a lady of leisure doesn’t suit my wife any more than it suits me to be idle. If you and Paul can run things for me then I intend to be away for a year. I’ll stay in contact and you and Paul can make decisions in
my name.’

  ‘And the new house?’

  ‘I’m certain between the two of you you can deal with any problems that might arise. Sarah knows exactly what Amanda would like in the way of furniture, colour and so on. The new house isn’t as vast as the original but has more than forty chambers. Paul and Sarah will remain here but I’m hoping that you and Hannah will make your permanent home with us. I’ll make over an entire wing to you so you can be independent.’

  ‘And what if they return to arrest me in your absence?’

  ‘I don’t intend to leave until Carstairs has been dispatched on his journey and your status as a civilian has been agreed.’

  ‘Forgive me for saying so, old friend, but I can see one flaw in your plans. You can hardly gallivant about the world if Amanda’s in an interesting condition.’

  ‘Being pregnant isn’t an illness, Patrick, it’s as natural for a woman to have a child as it is for a man to fight.’ Richard smiled at his comparison.

  ‘Not every woman has an easy time. It won’t matter if I don’t have children, although I’d like a nursery full, but you must have an heir. Maybe it would be sensible to wait until one arrives before you set off on your travels.’

  Richard looked at him as if he was an escapee from an asylum. ‘Do you honestly think that Amanda would agree to leave a child behind whilst we went off for months? No – if we’re going to travel, which I promised her we would – we must do it now before our first child arrives.’

  Chapter Seven

  Amanda was delighted to have both Patrick and Hannah included in the family as she’d been dreading Sarah going away for months. Mama, after a long conversation with the doctor, decided that she’d been a little premature in locking herself away and she too was going to join them for dinner in future.