A Deal with a Duke (The Daring Drake Sisters, #2)

by Christie Kelley

  “Or forty-five minutes to be exact,” Louisa commented, glancing at the mantel clock.

  “Raynerson, good evening,” Harry said with a nod. “Help yourself to a brandy if you wish. Although it would have been pleasant if you had given us enough time to finish our conversation before barging into my home.”

  “Conversation?” Jack said, suspiciously glancing about the room.

  “Yes, as I told you and Tessa, I needed to speak with His Grace alone about some personal business.” Louisa rose and looked over at Harry. “I suppose you now realize that we must be more circumspect due to Emma and Bolton. Most people cannot fathom how a man and woman could be such good friends without something scandalous going on between them.”

  “Of course,” he said without emotion.

  “We mustn’t meet on the terrace or gardens during balls. I took a risk even coming here tonight. We should only speak when accompanied by others.”

  “I do understand, Miss Drake.” He stared at her eyes now welling with tears and wanted to throw Raynerson out of his house and hold her, tell her everything would be fine. Even though he knew nothing was fine or good without her. And he could never have her the way he wanted. “Good evening.”

  He watched as she followed her brother-in-law out of his study. “Like bloody hell I understand,” he whispered before gulping down the rest of his brandy. “I don’t understand a damned thing.”

  How could he have done such a foolish thing?

  She deserved someone so much better than him. A man who would think of her reputation and that of her family, not a man who could destroy her name just by association. And not a reprobate who came far too close to taking her on top of his desk. He knew they shouldn’t see each other again. He had to keep her away.

  Marrying Louisa would ruin her life with the association of his family name. As he’d destroyed Sabita’s life.

  And he would never allow that to happen.

  Chapter 15

  HARRY SIPPED HIS BRANDY as the sun rose in the sky, lighting his study in pink hues. After Louisa left last night, he hadn’t moved except to refill his snifter. What the bloody hell was wrong with him? After spending all night in his cups, he’d understood that there was only one option. He had to leave her alone. Not see her beautiful face any longer. Forget this idea to have her find him a wife. Louisa was right. The best thing to do was stay away from each other.

  There were any number of unmarried ladies from which to choose. Even Simon had said Harry could have any lady he wanted, and the woman’s family would be thrilled. He rather doubted most families would be elated to have a possibly insane duke marry one of their daughters. But some men would not care as long as their daughter became a duchess.

  “Where the bloody hell is he?” a feminine voice sounded from the front hall.

  “My lady, let me introduce you,” Jenkins said as the door to the study opened.

  “I believe my brother knows who I am, Jenkins.” Daphne sailed in the room and then stopped short. “You look like shit, brother dear.”

  “And you still have a mouth like a sailor, Daphne. How does your husband deal with that?”

  Daphne laughed before taking a seat near him. “He loves it when I curse...at least in the bedroom.”

  Harry shook his head. “I did not need to hear that, Daph.”

  “So, long night or starting early?”

  “Why are you here?”

  “I believe you know why I am here,” she replied, softening her voice. “This must stop, Harry.”

  Damn. Was his sister here to scold him now? “To what are you referring?”

  “Do you think we don’t hear gossip in Dorchester? I’ve heard the rumors that you are sneaking about with Miss Drake. Lady Gringham made a point of writing to inform me of the disturbing news that everyone believes Miss Drake is your mistress.”

  “She is not my mistress.” Goddamn Lady Gringham! He should have let her freeze to death.

  “It must stop, Harry.” Daphne sighed as she looked over at him with a touch of pity in her eyes.

  “Miss Drake is a dear friend, nothing more.” A dear friend he’d almost made love to last night.

  “After all that has happened between our families, it is for the best to have nothing to do with any of those Drake girls.”

  “I understand.” He knew precisely how the gossipmongers worked to tear down people. If he wanted Louisa to find a gentleman, her reputation needed to be impeccable. If. He must want that for her. Her sister needed Louisa to be the perfect lady with no mars on her name.

  Daphne frowned as she waited for the footman to deliver the tea for her. Once he departed, she continued, “Understanding is not the same as doing something about it.”

  “She already has,” he rasped.

  “Oh,” his sister whispered before sipping her tea. “That explains drinking at eight in the morning.”

  “I suppose it does.”

  Silence filled the room as Daphne sipped her tea, and Harry became lost in his thoughts. He genuinely wanted the best for Louisa, and the best wasn’t him. If he were a better man, Harry would encourage her progress with Collingwood. The viscount was a good man who would take care of her and wouldn’t disgrace her name.

  “How is Charlotte?” Daphne finally asked.

  “She will be bounding down the stairs any minute.”

  Daphne looked him over with a frown. “Then perhaps you should switch to tea and get your priorities in order.”

  His older sister was right as usual. “Pour me some tea.”

  He raked his fingers through his short hair before putting his waistcoat and jacket back on. “Better?”

  “You’re still foxed. I see it in your eyes.”

  Perhaps he needed to act far more like his sister. Daphne had done the proper thing, the responsible thing, and married the earl Father had picked for her. She’d had her heir and spare. Other than the occasional curse muttered—and always in private—she was a lady of quality.

  “Where are Radley and the boys?” he asked and then picked up a piece of toast that had been delivered with the tea.

  “They will come down in a fortnight. I am going to stay here until they arrive. I hate being in the house alone.”

  “Of course.” He looked over and noticed her nibbling on the dry toast, which didn’t make sense because she only ate dry toast when.... “Are you with child again?”

  Daphne paused in her eating and stared at him. “How did you know?”

  “The dry toast. You only eat it that way when you are carrying. How exactly did this happen?”

  She tilted her head and stared over at him with gray eyes so much like his own. “The usual manner, Harry. Do I need to explain that to you?”

  “I thought you and Radley were distant.”

  She blushed. “We had been. Then a few months ago, we had a terrible quarrel. For a while, I thought we might live apart. But once we got through it, we made up and then we made up some more and haven’t seemed to stop making up for all the time lost.”

  “Well, congratulations, Daphne. I hope you are happy.”

  “I am,” she replied with a secret smile. “More than I have been in the past ten years.”

  Harry smiled tightly. At least one of them was content. The sound of running steps announced Charlotte before she even entered the room.

  “Good morning, Papa!” His little ball of energy raced into the room and climbed up on his lap. “You don’t smell good,” she whispered.

  Daphne laughed before covering her mouth with her hand.

  “Aunt Radley!” Charlotte scrambled off his lap and onto her aunt’s lap. “I’m so glad you’re here. You can meet Miss Drake! We shall all go back to see the elephant.”

  Harry looked up at the ceiling, ignoring his sister’s prying stare. “Charlotte, we are not going back to the menagerie. We have already discussed this matter.”

  “Then Aunt Radley can go to the park with us. Miss Drake loves to walk,” Charlotte a
dded.

  “Charlotte, return to the nursery while your father and I talk. I will come up in a few minutes, and we will have tea together,” Daphne said, still staring at him.

  Charlotte clapped her hands. “Thank you, Aunt Radley.”

  As soon as the door shut, Daphne started in again. “Have you lost your bloody mind, Harry?”

  “Many people believe so,” he said in a dry tone. “Charlotte met Louisa when she came out to Northwood Park around the new year. That is when the Gringhams arrived too. She only stayed for three nights, but she made a big impact on Charlotte. When we came to town, Miss Drake accompanied us to The Exchange.”

  “And the park?”

  “We have seen her there, too.”

  “Of course.” She pressed her fingers to her temples. “I arrived just in time.”

  “How so?”

  “To save you from yourself. You do realize that Miss Drake is only chasing you for the title and fortune?”

  Harry fisted his hands. “Have you ever met Louisa Drake?”

  “Of course, I have. Why?”

  “Then you would know that she is not the type of woman to trap a man into marriage. She doesn’t care about my title or the fortune that goes with it.”

  Daphne released a long sigh. “Oh, Harry, you are so naïve. That is all she is after. Her eldest sister made a point to befriend our father to gain his trust and climb up into Polite Society. When she failed to land him as a husband, she married her way from baron to earl. Obviously, they left duchess to Louisa who could twist you around her little finger to get what she wants.”

  “Enough!” He shot out of his chair and stared down at her. “Louisa Drake is not like her mother or her sister. She doesn’t care if she marries into a title or not. All she wants is a man who will love her.”

  “She wants you,” Daphne whispered.

  “She is going to marry Collingwood,” he stated, collapsing back into his chair.

  “Collingwood? Why would he be interested in her?”

  Sometimes his sister drove him mad. And this was one of those times. “Louisa Drake is a fascinating person. She is beautiful and intriguing. What man wouldn’t be interested in her?”

  “That is not what I meant,” she muttered with a shake of her head. “Collingwood is low on funds. His father spent a fortune on horses but had a terrible eye for horseflesh. He lost huge amounts by buying overpriced horses, which couldn’t win a race. I heard Collingwood sold the estate in Suffolk to pay back what he could but wasn’t enough. Rumors are he is still in for at least ten thousand, and some say closer to twenty.”

  “Collingwood needs funds?” He should have known that. But still, the viscount had danced with her twice and called on her once. Collingwood should know she didn’t have money, as everything her family lived on was from Tessa’s late husband or Lord Hammond’s kindest to his mistress.

  Harry didn’t think Collingwood was the type of man who would go after Tessa’s money. Perhaps he was intrigued by Louisa. Harry’s stomach roiled with too much drink and a slow ache pressing into his heart.

  He had to find her another man. A better man than Collingwood...or himself.

  AFTER FOUR DAYS OF not seeing Harry, Louisa didn’t want to get up in the morning. She missed Harry dreadfully, but she’d been foregoing the few social events scheduled so she wouldn’t see him after what happened in his study. She didn’t know how she could ever face him again after what they had done that night.

  How could she?

  How could she see him without wanting him to do what they had done and more?

  “Louisa, you must get up today,” Emma said as she raced into the room. “Lord Collingwood sent a note stating he would like to take you to the park for a walk and Mamma replied that you would go with him. You only have an hour to eat and dress before he arrives.”

  Louisa threw the covers over her head. “I am not going.”

  “Oh, yes you are, young lady,” her mother’s voice sounded from the hall. “Get up this minute and be ready by one. And you will attend Lady Huntley’s ball tomorrow night.”

  Louisa wanted to scream but knew it would do no good. Her mother wouldn’t listen to her. She only saw a viscount calling on her plain daughter, which meant finally marrying her off.

  “Come along, Louisa,” Emma said softly. “Before the dragon returns.”

  Louisa flipped the covers off her head and stared at her younger sister. “I have never heard you be so mean, Emma.”

  Emma closed the door and then returned to Louisa’s bed with a long sigh. “She is driving me mad over this wedding. She is pressuring me to tell Bolton that we must set a date now.”

  “Is that what has her ire up this morning?”

  “I believe she wanted to discuss something important with Lord Hammond, but he sent a note stating he was occupied today.”

  Louisa didn’t want to hear any more about Lord Hammond and her mother. Or hear any more about her pressuring Emma to wed Bolton. “Emma, if you don’t wish to marry Bolton, then you should not marry him. It is your life. Tessa sacrificed so much so that we would be able to marry for love.”

  Emma blinked in confusion. “I do want to marry Bolton, Louisa. I am weary of Mamma trying to force the wedding sooner than Lady Bolton wishes. I need to be considerate of my future mother-in-law’s desires.”

  Louisa drew her sister into a tight hug. “Mamma suggested I stay away from Harry. She fears Lady Bolton will influence her son to toss you over.”

  “Nonsense,” Emma said with a laugh. “Bolton loves me. While he always considers his mother’s opinion, he would never toss me over. You will pursue Harry and win his heart.”

  “I hope you are right.” But at this point, she had no plan on how to win his heart or any other part of him.

  “We need to get you dressed,” Emma said, pulling away from her. After searching the linen press, she pulled out a dark blue striped walking dress. “This is perfect.”

  “Why are you pushing me toward Collingwood today?”

  Emma giggled. “It’s a beautiful day, and as such, you should be seen in the park with a man at your side. How else will you make the duke jealous?”

  Louisa tossed the coverlet off her. Emma helped her dress and put up her hair. She had no wish to tell Emma that she’d already told Harry they could not see each other because of her.

  “Perfect,” Emma said, placing the last pin in Louisa’s hair. “I suppose if all else fails, I could become a ladies’ maid.”

  “And mother would have an apoplexy fit,” Louisa replied with a laugh. “What time is it?”

  “Half twelve.”

  “I need to eat something, or my belly will be complaining throughout the walk.” She trudged downstairs and thankfully found tea and toast with strawberry jam set out for her. She finished quickly then brushed the crumbs off her skirt as a knock hammered the door.

  She greeted him in the receiving salon. “Lord Collingwood, how lovely to see you today.”

  He rose slowly and gave her a bow. “I do hope you don’t mind a walk today. The weather is quite fine, and I know you enjoy walking in the park.”

  “Thank you. Taking some air is just what I need today.” He was a handsome enough man. So why didn’t he make her feel as Harry did when he looked at her? No matter what Emma said, Louisa didn’t quite believe Bolton would disobey his mother if she ordered him to break off the engagement. Louisa needed to be prepared to give up her obsession with Harry.

  They walked to the park. Her maid trailed slightly behind so they could talk but was escorted. Louisa discussed some of the recent books she’d read, and he did the same. At least they had that in common, she thought.

  “I read an interesting article yesterday about the progress of the steam locomotive. If someone can figure out a better design for the rails, I believe it will be a useful machine.”

  “Hmm,” Collingwood said as if barely listening to her.

  They headed toward the path near the Serpen
tine when she looked up and saw him. And Mary Gardiner. She could barely breathe as they approached. Harry tipped his hat to them, but Mary stopped him from passing by.

  “Good afternoon, Lord Collingwood. Miss Drake,” she said with a quick curtsy. “I do hope you are enjoying your walk.”

  Louisa slid a glance at Harry just as he did the same. She immediately moved her gaze back to Mary. “Yes, it is a lovely day.”

  “Miss Drake, I had hoped to see you,” Harry said. “I must speak with you rather urgently. Collingwood, would you mind seeing Mrs. Gardiner home? I will escort Miss Drake home.”

  Collingwood looked back and forth at them before saying, “If that is acceptable with you, Miss Drake?”

  “Of course it is,” Harry interjected before she could say a word.

  “Miss Drake?” Collingwood pressed.

  She wasn’t about to make a scene in the middle of the park. “Of course.”

  She blinked and watched as Collingwood held out his arm for Mary, who glanced back at Harry with a frown. Louisa couldn’t blame Mary for being vexed. Harry had acted very highhanded.

  “You are...are...insufferable,” she sputtered as he led her back toward her home.

  “Hush.” He led her away to a small copse of trees.

  The man was impossible! And very handsome today. No, she should not think of Harry in that manner. But he was striking in his walking clothes. The stark white cravat tied in a barrel knot matched the simplicity of his black wool greatcoat. And all she wanted to do was strip every stitch of clothing off him.

  “Are you all right, miss?” her maid asked in a worried tone. “Should I get assistance?”

  “The duke is a gentleman, Mary.” Louisa glared up at him. “Or at least he used to be,” she whispered.

  “I need to speak with you about something.”

  “You should have sent a note.”

  He moved her behind a tree to prying eyes from seeing them. “No, it could not be written where anyone might read it.”

  “What is it, Harry?” She refused to meet his intent gaze. She refused to let the sensation of his nearness overwhelm her. Or the familiar hint of leather and cinnamon. Or the memories of what they had done.