by Wendy Vella
“James, come and meet Mr. Brown, he is a representative from the Bow Street Runners. He received your summons.”
“Mr. Brown,” James said, pushing thoughts of Eden aside. He would return to them later when her brother was not nearby. “I had not expected to hear from Bow Street at such an early hour.”
“You are a duke, if I may speak frankly, your Grace. My superior does not like to tarry when summoned by a man of your station.”
At least someone respected his title.
“Mr. Sinclair has been telling me of the attempts on your life, including the suspected poisoning last night here in your home.”
“How thoughtful of him,” James drawled, sinking into a seat. He was rarely tired, yet it seemed to be a constant state after an encounter with a Sinclair, and the day had only just begun.
“I believe you have employed the services of one Mr. Spriggot, and with your permission I will have a chat with him about his progress before I settle myself in here, your Grace?”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, James wondered why he was surprised that he was now to be burdened with a Sinclair and a runner. His life had always been orderly and controlled, yet now it was anything but. In fact, it was like a runaway carriage, which he could only partly blame on the Sinclairs no matter how much he wished otherwise.
“And in what capacity will you live here, Mr. Brown?”
“A footman, your Grace. Mr. Sinclair and I have come up with an excellent cover for my appearance in your household.”
“This should be good.”
Cam merely smiled at James’s words.
“If you will inform the staff you have employed me as a favor, as I served under you during a campaign?” Mr. Brown said, looking very pleased with his story. Beside him Cam nodded, endorsing the idea. “I may seem a bit on the rough side if an explanation is not offered.”
“James?”
Looking at the door, James saw his sister’s head appear.
“Good morning, Samantha.” He held out a hand. The gesture was natural to him now, and when she hurried forward to place her fingers in his it went some way to easing the turmoil his meeting with Eden had created inside him.
“I’d like you to meet Mr. Brown. He fought beside me during a campaign, and is in need of a position now he has returned to London. He is to be one of our new footmen.”
He had told her nothing of the attempts on his life and had no plans to. Hopefully he would find whoever was responsible before they succeeded.
“How do you do, Mr. Brown,” Samantha said, as if she were introduced to the staff every day. However, James wanted Samantha to be aware of Mr. Brown. If there was any trouble and he and Cam were not there, it would be Mr. Brown she could turn to now he had linked himself to the man.
“Are you having tea, James?”
Laughing for the first time that day, James tweaked one of her curls. “I am yet to have breakfast, minx, however I suppose I could manage tea, especially if cook puts some of those apple tarts you’re partial to on the plate.”
“Apple tarts!”
“Yes, Cam, they are the very best and seeing as you are now living here to help James with his library, you will get to eat them too,” Samantha stated.
“Excuse me for a moment, Samantha, Cam; I will introduce Mr. Brown to Buttles.” Rising from his seat, James left them discussing the merits of apple against cherry tarts. Finding his butler, he then made the introductions and left Mr. Brown in Buttles’s care after ordering tea.
“So how was your ride, James?”
“Very good thank you, Samantha,” he said, avoiding Cam’s eyes as he returned to his chair.
“Did you see my siblings? I believe they were riding this morning also.”
“I did.” James did not elaborate and felt Cam’s eyes on him. He would go to his study soon, and there he would work through what must be done to get Eden to be his wife, because now he had made the decision it had become a burning need inside him to do so.
“So it is just me you are incapable of loving then.”
Her words had settled uncomfortably inside his head. Could he love her, now he had already admitted loving Samantha? Surely if the emotion was inside him, then it could be shared?
Squeezing his eyes shut, James prayed the day deteriorated no further. If it did, he may just lock the door to his study and to hell with everyone beyond it.
Chapter Nineteen
“We have many invitations, my darlings! Tonight we are attending the theatre and as you know tomorrow is the Simpkin ball, and of course next Friday we are... um.”
Eden looked up from her toast as her aunt stuttered to a halt. She had not heard much of the conversation, but the stutter had drawn her attention.
“We agreed they would come to no harm with us all there, Sally.”
“Are you sure, Elijah? They are such innocents,” Lady Wynburg said, pleating her napkin.
“What are you both discussing?” Essex said. The twins were also looking at their aunt, Warwick was lost in a plate of food as usual.
“Your uncle has given you both permission to attend the Middleton-Smythe masquerade ball next Friday, and I am unsure such an event is suitable for two young ladies in their first season,” Lady Wynburg said, glaring at her husband.
“A masquerade?” Essie murmured. “Why do you not wish us to attend, Aunt?”
“They are very smoky affairs. People think because they are covered by masks and costumes they are at liberty to behave in an inappropriate manner.”
“Not always, Sally, and I fail to see how too much can happen in a ballroom filled with people. So they may dance too close to a man or converse on subjects a little more outrageous than every other evening. Let them have fun.” The Earl gave his wife a smile that spoke of his feelings for her. “If I remember correctly, you fell madly in love with me at just such an evening—”
“Elijah!” Lady Wynburg gasped.
This was true love, Eden thought, and she would accept nothing less. Her heart ached just thinking of James’s proposal. Until that moment she had not realized that she loved him, yet the pain she had felt at his cold words had been swift and fierce, forcing her to realize how deep her feelings went for him. But she would not marry him if he could not return those feelings, in that she was adamant.
“Is it a fancy dress with masks, Aunt?”
“Yes, Essie dear, and we will go shopping today to get your outfits. Your brothers too must be appropriately dressed.”
“And I will take these three terrors to the park and we shall have to have an ice from Gunthers on the return journey, for I will be quite fatigued by then.”
Squeals of delight greeted Lord Wynburg’s words, followed by kisses and hugs from everyone except Warwick, who was still steadily consuming his food.
“Are you sure, Uncle? I do not want you to be overburdened by these three. Perhaps I should accompany you?”
One large hand covered Eden’s as she finished speaking. “Devon is coming with me, Eden. He has things he wishes to discuss.”
“Do I hear my name?”
“Dev!” Dorrie and Somer squealed, launching themselves at him.
Putting one under each arm, he spun them round several times before lowering them back into their seats. He then ruffled his little brother’s hair before kissing his aunt and Essie. Cupping Eden’s face, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“I am well, Eden, don’t fret,” he whispered so only she could hear.
Nodding, she lifted her teacup and sipped. Cam arrived minutes later to the same greeting from the girls, and soon he too was seated with a large plate of food before him.
“I understand you have been staying with the Duke for the past week, Cam. To help him catalogue his maps? Surely you could do that from next door; after all, it is not as if he lives streets away.”
“I am sure he has his reasons, Sally. Now, I must just run a few things past Devon. You three terrors go and gather your things, we will
leave shortly,” Lord Wynburg said.
Dev had not told Aunt Sally, only their uncle, about the threat to the Duke’s life, and he had offered his assistance in any capacity should it be required.
“And we must also leave, ladies,” Lady Wynburg added.
Eden was collecting her bonnet when she heard a knock on her door. Opening it, she found Dev outside.
“May I talk to you, Eden?”
“Of course.” Standing to one side, she motioned for him to enter, closing it behind him.
“Cam and I rode with Raven this morning, you however were noticeably absent.”
“I wanted to sleep late.” What she had wanted, in fact, was to avoid seeing James. But she would not tell her brother that.
“He asked after you... several times actually. In fact he seemed disturbed that you were not riding.”
Eden said nothing to this.
“What lies between you and the Duke, Eden?”
“I—Why would you ask me that?” As her knees felt suddenly weak, Eden sat on the bed. She had expected him to question her further about their father, not the Duke.
“Just answer the question,” her brother said, impaling her with a steady look.
“No, I bloody will not!”
Dev smiled. “I am pleased society has not managed to chisel away all your hoydenish tendencies.”
“I have no wish to continue this discussion.”
“Yet you will.”
“No.” Eden shook her head. “And you have no right to ask me to.”
“As your guardian I have every right.”
The bed dipped as he settled beside her.
“Listen carefully now, love. Because as a man who has lived in society and among these people I have knowledge of how men like Raven work.”
“He is not a piece of farming equipment.”
“He is, however, not a man to toy with, Eden. Men of our breed are not malleable fools like most of the male populace who fawn upon your every word. He is a man who understands the power he holds in this country. A man of considerable wealth and one who is linked to our family, for better or worse.”
“There is no need for this, Dev, I assure you.”
Ignoring her, he continued. “My original dislike of the Duke stemmed from his obvious interest in you, Eden, no matter how much he fought to hide it. But should you and he come to an agreement, then I would not stand in your way, as I have never doubted his honor. Although I question his ability to make you happy.”
Eden tamped down the little spark of hope at her brother’s words.
“He is incapable of love, Dev. So you can rest easy that there will ever be anything between us.”
“And how do you know this?”
“I just do, so leave it alone if you please.”
“Has he hurt you in some way?”
“He was honest,” Eden said, refusing to acknowledge the pain James had inflicted on her.
Dev took her hand in his.
“He seems to care for Samantha a great deal.”
“Yes, she is the only one he loves.”
“He told you that?”
She nodded. Why did it hurt so much to know he could not love her? Surely he had given her no reason to believe he ever could.
Except those kisses, Eden thought. They were from a man who should be able to love.
“He was raised without love, Eden; that cannot have been easy.”
“No, it cannot, and perhaps that is why he will never love a woman, only his sister. Maybe he has the capacity to only care for one person?”
“Do you love him?”
“It matters not what I feel for him, only that he can never care for me. Therefore, this conversation is meaningless.”
Something in her tone must have stopped further enquiry. “Very well, but should you wish to discuss this further, then please come and speak with me.”
“I will. Now I have a question for you, brother.”
He nodded for her to continue.
“Why do you dislike Miss Braithwaite so vehemently, when in fact she is no different from many, and politer than some?”
Dev’s teeth snapped together as his face drew into a grim mask.
“I told you to stay away from her.”
“You did, but of course Essie and I have not. Therefore, perhaps you should enlighten me as to why you have formed such a dislike for the woman?”
“I have told you why, and cannot believe you have gone against my wishes in this matter.”
“We have merely conversed with her in a social setting, nothing more,” Eden said, glad the conversation had moved from her to him.
“Good, ensure you keep it that way.”
Eden had never seen her brother so visibly upset by a woman before. It was intriguing, and she really needed to talk further with Miss Braithwaite to ascertain why. Yes, the woman had hideous fashion sense, and appeared to behave in silly manner when in society. However, after observing her closely, Eden was almost certain there was more to her.
“Are you all right, Dev? I mean after what I told you about our father.”
“Yes. What you said shocked me, but in truth I should have realized what he was capable of.”
“I hate him.”
“As you have every right to, love, but to heal you must at least try to forgive him.”
“Such a wise man you are, brother.”
“Experienced more than wise, sister.”
“And now I need to go, because I can hear Essie calling for me, as the carriage is waiting.” She kissed Dev’s cheek. “Don’t worry about me, I shall be just fine, and there will be a handsome prince out there somewhere whom I shall tumble madly in love with.”
“Perhaps,” he said, getting to his feet and pulling her up beside him. “Or perhaps you have already found him.”
On these ominous words he led her from the room.
Chapter Twenty
Fourteen days after his disastrous attempt at securing Eden’s hand in marriage, James lay on his back staring at the canopy above his bed. Having just opened his eyes, one would think he would be rested; alas, that was not the case. His sleep had been filled with restless dreams and visions of that raven-haired witch.
He had attended every event and social gathering the Sinclairs were also attending, and still James had not managed to get Eden alone. She was always otherwise engaged when he asked her to dance. She was polite in her attempts to rebuff him, he’d give the little witch that. “Oh forgive me, Duke, I have promised this dance to another,” or “I am afraid I must refuse, Duke, my hem is torn and I must fix it at once.” He was sure she’d had more torn hems or flounces in one season than other women had in three.
“Your bath is drawn, your Grace,” his manservant called from the foot of the bed.
“Thank you, Brenton.”
He was tired but the minute he closed his eyes his sleep was filled with dreams of a highly sensual nature involving Eden. Beneath him, on top of him, in each vision she would look at him, her gray eyes filled with the need that rampaged through his body.
She had men dangling after her, and that blithering, brainless twit Lord Cowley on a string. Picking up his pillow he gave it a good thump then hurled it across the room, narrowly missing his manservant, who retrieved it and replaced it at the bottom of his bed without blinking.
What the hell was the matter with him? No woman had ever made him behave like this. He was a Duke, for Christ’s sake, he commanded and ordered and he was never ignored. Damn her!
“No more,” he said, rolling out of bed. “I will stand for this no more. Tonight she will talk to me.”
Thirty minutes later he was washed and dressed and on his way downstairs. The problem was he was jealous, and the emotion was as foreign to him as many others. Muttering under his breath, he headed for his breakfast parlor, maybe a full stomach would ease his anger.
“Did the cow poo really make your feet warm then?”
Walking into his breakfast ro
om, he looked at Cam who was talking with his sister… correction, teaching his sister bad habits, he realized as Samantha picked up her saucer and drank from it.
“Yes, we would follow the cows around then quickly take off our shoes and—”
“Yes, thank you, Cambridge, I believe we have the general idea,” James said, glowering at the younger man then at his sister until she giggled.
“Coffee please, Buttles,” James said, filling his plate and then taking a seat at the table. The problem with having a Sinclair in the house was that they didn’t do anything quietly. In the days since Cam had arrived, he had learned everything about him and his siblings. If a thought came into Cambridge Sinclair’s head it came out his mouth seconds later.
“Jane and I are going to visit Somer and Dorrie this morning, James.”
“That will be nice,” James smiled at his sister. Her brown eyes sparkled; no longer world weary and sad, they glowed as every young girl’s should. Her cheeks were a healthy pink and anyone looking at her would not guess the life she had been forced to live with their sadistic father. His personal life may be turning into a carriage wreck but at least his relationship with his sister was flourishing.
“Would you like me to come with you? We could bring along the tales of Robinson Crusoe?”
“No thank you, James, we are going to play with our dolls today,” Samantha said, getting off her chair.
“And are you happy with Jane?” he said, doing the same.
“Oh yes, she is a wonderful companion, James.”
At least he could make one of the ladies in his life happy, he thought, bending to give her a kiss on the cheek. She in turn wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him hard.
“Buttles will call the carriage for you, and please make sure you have warm clothing on before you leave. Is Lucinda going with you?” Lucinda was her new doll.
“Yes, and it is warm outside today, James, so I will not need a coat.”
“All right, but—”
“James.” Samantha looked up at him with her hands braced on her hips. “I promise to stay warm and act politely, you really have no need to worry.”
