Of Dukes and Deceptions (17 page)

Nick had little difficulty in believing that the chit was deranged and less difficulty still in accepting that she’d be a dangerous adversary if she didn’t get her way. He’d royally underestimated her cunning. She’d clearly noticed his partiality for Alicia and had been tipped over the edge with jealousy. If she’d been covertly watching his activities, she would also know that he’d spent a great deal more time with her cousin than was generally known about. She couldn’t be aware of their sojourn in Alicia’s chamber last night. Gibson would have intercepted her if she’d ventured into that part of the house. But it all likelihood she knew how much time he’d spent with her in the barn today.

Damn, he should have seen through the footman’s message and known Alicia would never have sent it. What the devil had he been thinking? Nick rapidly reviewed his options. The situation required tact and discretion but he didn’t have the time for either. Anyone might come upon them at any time and reach inappropriate conclusions. That was clearly Maria’s intention. She truly believed that he had feelings for her. She thought too well of herself to imagine he’d be able to resist her. She’d set her heart upon becoming the next Duchess of Dorchester but wasn’t entirely sure of succeeding in that ambition. So she’d contrived a means to exact revenge. No doubt a signal of some sort would bring the rest of her family crashing in upon them.

Only one course of action seemed prudent and damn Maria’s pride. He threw her a scathing glance and turned toward the door. Maria’s hand, still clutching his lapel, tightened its hold. She was surprisingly strong. Presumably it was a strength derived from desperation.

“There’s no need for caution, Your Grace, not any more. I appreciate your concern is only for my reputation. Your consideration does you credit, but we’re well enough acquainted now to ignore convention. I can sense that you’re overwhelmed by the desire to kiss me, but your sense of honour holds you back. Don’t deny yourself, sir. After all, we’re practically engaged.”

Nick rolled his eyes. Definitely demented! The combination of madness and steely determination in her eye removed any lingering doubts in that respect. He removed her fingers, none too gently, from his lapel and reached for the door.

Her response was a bloodcurdling scream. He watched, appalled, as she ripped the bodice of her dress and gouged her fingers across the top of one breast, drawing blood. She tugged at her hair and it tumbled around her shoulders, pins flying in all directions.

Nick sighed as, predictably, footsteps sounded on the tiled floor of the vestibule almost immediately. They were too close to mean anything other than that someone had been waiting close by for Maria’s signal.

He glanced at her, repulsed.

“Why?”

“You may not realise it now, but it’s me you really want. Alicia has temporarily blinded you to reason. Your attentions have turned her head, poisoning her against Frederick. You can’t be allowed to upset our family in such a fashion.” Her eyes were sparkling with malice. “You should have followed your heart and pursued me,” she whispered. “But it’s not too late.”

Nick wasn’t surprised to see Frederick at the head of the deputation pouring into the room, a smile as malicious as his sister’s twisting his lips. Blood poured from the corner of Maria’s mouth, presumably because she’d bitten the inside of her cheek. She hurtled herself into her father’s arms as soon as he pushed through the gathering throng.

“Oh, Papa!”

“There, there, child, don’t distress yourself.” Woodley glanced over his daughter’s head directly at Nick. He looked furious and, at the same time, totally perplexed by the situation. Nick understood then that he’d not been a party to the ruse. “What’s the meaning of this outrage, sir?”

What indeed? Nick didn’t bother to answer his host and lifted his shoulders in an attitude of casual disinterest. His only concern was the amount of time it would take him to extricate himself from this ridiculous farrago.

“Well, sir, I’m waiting.” Woodley clutched a sobbing Maria against his shoulder.

“His Grace has clearly taken leave of his senses,” Frederick said, his expression appropriately outraged.

“On the contrary, Woodley. My senses have never been in better order, I thank you. It’s your sister, I fear, who wants for perception.”

“Because she very properly rejected your vile advances? No, sir, it’s obvious that you’re the person at fault here. My sister’s an innocent and you’re a man of the world. What do you intend to do about the situation?”

“In the circumstances I’d recommend a good seamstress to repair that bodice, and the application of warm water and iodine to cleanse the scratches Miss Woodley inflicted upon herself.”

“That’s a rum-un,” Frederick said, his face red with a convincing display of anger. “And don’t it just take the biscuit.” He paced in front of Nick, who was almost tempted to laugh at his ridiculous parody of the incensed brother. He swivelled toward Nick again, narrowly avoiding impaling himself on the points of his collar. “You take advantage of my poor sister and then try to blame her for your lack of control.”

“Do you see any blood under my fingernails?” Nick flashed his pristine nails in front of Woodley’s face. He then picked up Maria’s hand. She wasn’t wearing gloves and the nails on one hand were flecked with blood.

“She obviously scratched herself whilst fending off your loathsome advances.” Frederick sounded a little less bombastic. They clearly hadn’t considered that the absence of blood on Nick’s person would prove to be an impediment to their scheme and were incapable of adapting their plan to make allowance for this oversight. “Just because you’re a duke, you seem to think you can do anything you please with the likes of my sister. You think of her as nothing at all. Well, let me tell you sir, it won’t do. It won’t do at all.”

“That it won’t.” Woodley senior handed his daughter over to the care of his wife and moved to stand beside his son. “However, I dare say it’s all a misunderstanding. It would be better to leave matters until tempers have cooled. We’ll discuss the affair in a rational manner in the morning.”

“Papa!”

Maria’s tears had dried up as quickly as they’d started. She stared at her father as though he’d somehow let her down. She wasn’t the first female Nick had met who could turn on the waterworks at the drop of a hat. Such theatricals had had no effect upon him in the past and certainly wouldn’t influence him on this occasion.

“Don’t distress yourself, my dear. His Grace is a gentleman of honour. I feel assured he’ll do the right thing when he’s had time to reflect.”

“I wouldn’t advise you to count on it,” Nick said.

“Oh, but we do count on it,” Frederick said. “Honour means everything to a man of your ilk. If particulars of your behaviour were to become known to society at large, your good name would be besmirched. That would be worse than death for you.”

“You seem to have it all worked out.” Nick looked down the ducal nose at Frederick. He gave every appearance of being totally unconcerned by his threat, even though he knew what he said was true.

“Oh, my, what is to become of us?” Mrs. Woodley sank into a nearby chair. “I feel quite faint. Elsbeth, ring the bell. I must have my smelling salts.”

“Don’t ring the bell, Elsbeth.” Woodley halted his daughter as she was about to pull the rope. “I doubt there’s a servant in the house who doesn’t already know about this unfortunate incident, but I wouldn’t have them witness it firsthand. Run and fetch your mother’s smelling salts yourself, Elsbeth.”

Everyone was briefly quiet and only Mrs. Woodley’s anguished sighs interrupted the heavy silence. Nick’s mouth was drawn tight with irritation, and he was so deep in thought that Frederick’s voice, unnaturally loud in the otherwise quiet room, startled him.

“We can’t leave matters thus, Father. The duke has taken shameful advantage of Maria, and if he won’t do the right thing, then I’ll have to call him out.”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Nick and Woodley said in unison.

Frederick puffed out his chest. “I can assure you that I’m perfectly able to—”

“No, Frederick,” Mrs. Woodley wailed. “Think of me before you do anything rash. His Grace is reputed to be an excellent shot. You’d be killed for sure, and then what would become of us all?”

“No one is going to fight with His Grace, my dear,” Woodley said. “The matter will be settled in the morning, when we’ve all had time to reflect.”

“Indeed,” Nick said. “Those are the first sensible words I’ve heard spoken in this room this evening. My man and I will remove to the village inn first thing, and you and I will discuss matters after that, Woodley. I won’t stay in a house in which deliberate efforts are being made to entrap me by a chit who ought to receive a good spanking for causing such trouble.”

Maria and Frederick exclaimed together.

“Enough!” Woodley’s tone immediately silenced his children. “It will be as you suggest, Your Grace.”

“Don’t let him leave here until matters are settled, Father.” Frederick was starting to sound a little desperate. “He’ll only run away and hide at Dorchester Park. We’ll be denied access to him there and will never receive satisfaction.”

A penetrating silence greeted this ill-advised statement. “I suggest,” Nick said glacially, “that you withdraw that remark at once. I’d also advise you to think carefully about the consequences before you spout any more of your rot. There are only so many allowances a man can make for the stupidity of his lessers.”

Frederick’s mouth gaped open but it appeared that even he now realised he’d gone too far. “Beg pardon,” he mumbled almost incoherently.

Nick knew that if he didn’t leave this scene immediately he’d no longer be able to contain his temper. Gibson had often told him that his impetuous nature would be his undoing, and he was on the brink of being proved right. Without another word he walked from the room. As he passed them, he noticed the Woodley men exchange an anxious glance. Frederick’s clumsy and rather desperate plan had not turned out the way he’d hoped, and Woodley senior must realise that he’d now never persuade Nick into a partnership with any members of his family.

In any capacity whatsoever.

As Nick left the room, he caught sight of Alicia standing at the back of the crowd, her face pale with shock. Her eyes swivelled from his face to Maria’s distraught one and then came to rest upon him again.

Nick’s heart plummeted. It was clear from her horrified expression that she actually believed he’d attempted to ravish her silly cousin.

Alicia sat beside the fire in her chamber, her thoughts a hopeless tangle. She pleated her sash nervously between her fingers, anger and embarrassment playing havoc with her strung-out emotions. She glanced repeatedly at the clock. Where on earth was Nick? The household had settled for the night hours since. It was deathly quiet and she jumped at every little sound, unable to decide if he’d still have the nerve to come or if he’d now consider it too dangerous. Well, if he did deign to keep his engagement, there was something of a delicate nature she specifically wished to say to him. She practised the words in her head. It was important to get them exactly right. She’d almost given up hope of being afforded the opportunity to voice them when a gentle tap on the door made her start violently.

“Who is it?”

Nick slipped into the room and stood there, looking at her intently without speaking. Alicia regarded him with every outward appearance of calm but her insides had twisted into an anticipatory knot almost too painful to endure. He had come! In spite of all the problems he’d encountered, all the obstacles that had been placed in his path by her wretched family, he was here.

Once again he was dressed in an open-necked shirt, his breeches and, she was prepared to wager, nothing more. Alicia’s pulse quickened as she observed him. Her mouth felt inexplicably dry. Her heartbeat thumped irregularly.

“I didn’t think you’d come,” she said quietly.

“I needed to explain about earlier.”

“You feel that you owe
me
an explanation?” Alicia suspected that her incredulity must be apparent in her expression.

He levered himself away from the door and stepped closer to her. “Whatever must you think of me?”

“At this precise moment I couldn’t begin to articulate my thoughts.”

“It’s as I feared. You are repulsed by me.”

Alicia had never seen such an expression of utter devastation on his features before.

“No, there’s no necessity to deny it. I can see it in your eyes and don’t altogether blame you for the conclusion you’ve reached. The evidence
is
pretty damning.”

Alicia stood and boldly met his gaze. “I can assure you that repulsion is the last emotion I entertain toward you, Nicholas.”

Hope flared in his eyes but his tone remained wary. “You still feel inclined to use my name. How can that be?”

“I undertook to entertain you here and don’t understand why you’re being so hesitant, my lord duke, unless…I suppose…could it possibly be?” She shook her head. “No, I won’t allow myself to think that.”

“What? What is it, my love?”

“Well, you’re usually so self-assured that I can only surmise your uncharacteristic hesitation has been brought on by doubts about my character. You consider, perhaps, that I was in cahoots with my cousins in their efforts to entrap you. In which case you will only have come here to tell me precisely what you think of me.”

His dour expression was replaced by a smile with enough heat behind it to melt stone. He covered the distance between them in one athletic bound and pulled her into his arms.

“Oh, Alicia!” He threw back his head and laughed aloud. “When I saw your expression as I left the library, I honestly thought you held me at fault for ravishing your cousin. Had that been the case, you’d naturally want nothing more to do with me. It has taken me all this time to think of things to say to try and convince you otherwise.”

“If you thought I held you at fault, why did you bother to come at all?”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t seem to help myself.”

She smiled, feeling as though a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

“It seems I’ve wasted two hours which we could have put to much better use.”

“Don’t you think I know my cousins well enough to appreciate when they’re telling clankers?”

“Yes, perhaps, but you looked so very severe and I thought—”

“I was acutely embarrassed by what they tried to do. I couldn’t bear to look at you for fear of what I might see in your expression.”

Nick dropped his head and kissed her with a hungry passion that left them both struggling for breath. He released her only so that he could sit in the chair she’d just vacated and pull her onto his knee.

“What will you do about it?” she asked.

“What indeed.” Nick shifted his position, sinking more deeply into the well-upholstered chair. “I shall move to the inn, as arranged. That will give me a proper reason to be there and execute our plan tomorrow.”

“You still intend to go ahead with that?” She eyed him with genuine surprise. “I had supposed that you’d simply wish to be done with us all forever.”

“I already told you that I plan to find out who wishes to kill you. It would take more than a jealous minx to deter me from that purpose.” He reclaimed her mouth and this time his hands caressed her breasts through the thin silk of her robe.

“Thank you. I appear to be causing you a deal of trouble.”

“Not at all. Besides, if our plan to uncover your uncle’s misdeeds bears fruit, it will also absolve me from any blame in respect of your cousin’s supposed assault. In other words, I’ll keep his secret if he’ll keep mine.”

Alicia frowned. “But that hardly seems fair. You did nothing to be held accountable for and ought to be able to leave here with your good name unblemished.”

“Indeed I didn’t misbehave with Maria Woodley. But I did put her cousin across my knee and spank her bare backside in broad daylight, so I suppose I do have some sins to answer for.” Nick smiled but Alicia thought she detected genuine contrition in his expression. Incredibly her haughty duke seemed humbled by his treatment of her. “I’m somewhat surprised that you still wish to have anything to do with me.”

“Has it occurred to you, Nicholas, that Maria’s cousin might have enjoyed being thrashed? In fact, she might even have deserved to be punished.” Alicia tilted her head and offered him a challenging smile. “She had, after all, been exceedingly rude to her uncle’s guest. If intelligence of her bad manners were to reach his ears, he might well have had reason to thrash her himself. I venture to suggest she wouldn’t enjoy that experience nearly so much.”

“Hussy!”

Nick pulled her into a deep, drugging kiss. She could taste the port and tobacco on his tongue as it lingered in her mouth, meticulously exploring its contours. His arms pinned her against his chest so tightly that she could hardly draw breath. But she was too aroused to worry about the trivial necessity of filling her lungs. She could feel the heat building inside her and was ashamed of her desperate need to experience his next punishment. But she attempted to tamp down her desire. She’d never seen him behave with contrition before and sensed that she was catching glimpses of the real man beneath all that pomposity. The small boy Mr. Gibson had taken under his wing and moulded into the man he’d become.

“Janet tells me that word of what happened earlier is all over the servants’ hall but that no one holds you responsible.”

“Gibson told me much the same thing.”

“Well, there you are then. Servants are seldom wrong about such matters.”

“Yes, but I would prefer it if it hadn’t happened at all. It’s deuced inconvenient and will distract me from the business with the stallion tomorrow.”

“Frederick was a party to the scheme but I dare say you’d already worked that out for yourself.” A gust of wind rattled the windowpane, startling Alicia. She jumped on Nick’s lap, eliciting a groan from him.

“Sit still, sweetheart.”

“Sorry.”

“Yes, I did realise Frederick was involved.” Nick rubbed his chin. “I wish I knew what was going through that young cub’s mind. He’s clearly sweet on you, which is the only aspect of his character which does him any credit. But he knows I’m leaving here tomorrow. He’s keen to see the back of me so why run the risk of delaying my departure with this business?” Nick shook his head. “I can’t seem to make any sense of it.”

“Unless he thinks you’re on the verge of investing in the stud, which would give you a reason to linger.”

“Yes, that’s a possibility I hadn’t considered.” Nick offered her a glamorous smile. “I did give Woodley a more favourable reaction to his crooked books than they deserved, just so he wouldn’t realise I was on to him. If that news reached Frederick’s ears then it might have made him desperate.”

“Frederick isn’t the brightest of people, to be sure, and I’m very vexed with him. But as to him being sweet on me, I don’t believe it for a moment.”

“A thought has just occurred to me,” Nick said slowly. “Perhaps Frederick heard your cousin bemoaning her lack of progress with me and suggested the charade we witnessed this evening. He assumed I’d either have to offer for Maria or make financial recompense for insulting her. Either way, your uncle’s financial worries would be at an end, and Frederick would take the credit for resolving matters.”

“And he wouldn’t have to marry me. They’d be able to afford a new stallion and Fabian’s services would no longer be crucial to them.”

“My first impression of the young clunch was that he only cares for his own pleasures. Nothing has changed in that respect. He probably imagined that if he got me to surrender some blunt, his father would let him return to his hedonistic pleasures
.
”

“Yes.” Alicia nodded slowly. “I dare say you’re right.”

They both lapsed into silence, thinking the matter through. A logged hissed in the grate and sent a shower of sparks shooting up the chimney. Alicia watched their progress distractedly before speaking again.

“You spoke of Mr. Gibson earlier,” she said. “Please set my mind at rest and tell me that you didn’t give him notice just because I wouldn’t let him accompany me in the barn today. I couldn’t bear to be responsible for him losing his position.”

Nick tickled her ribs. “Alicia, I’d cut off my own right arm before I let Gibson go, and he’s well aware of the fact. That’s why he takes such shocking liberties and behaves exactly as he pleases.”

“Like master, like servant,” she suggested with a smile.

“I feel compelled to lay down the law from time to time with Gibson, just to give the impression that I’m the one in charge of our relationship.” Nick lifted his shoulders. “Not that it makes any difference because we both know the truth.”

“I’m relieved to know his position is secure.” She wrapped her arms round Nick’s neck and placed a chaste kiss on his lips.

“But enough chatter, I have more pressing matters on my mind.” He lifted her to her feet and patted her bottom. “Stand over there in front of me and remove your robe.”

“Oh, aren’t you going to do it?”

“I’d prefer it if you did it yourself and I watched you. I’ve been anticipating your doing precisely that for the entire evening.”

Alicia scrambled from his lap and stood in front of the fire. “Is this where you’d like me?”

“No, darling, I’d like you to be naked and spread beneath me on your bed. And you will be in a very short time. But first, I want you to undress in front of me. Slowly,” he said, holding up a hand, “and seductively. Don’t forget that you must make me feel rampant if I’m to be of any service to you.”

“Humph, you don’t appear to experience too much difficulty in that respect.”

“Ah, yes.” He looked as though he was having trouble keeping his lips straight. “But every time it affects me differently. Who knows, I may not be able to manage it on this occasion.” He clapped his hands. “Now, stop talking and loosen your hair.”

Alicia had forgotten it was still in the braid Janet had fashioned. She pulled it free of its ribbon and loosened the tight plait by running her fingers through it. One shake of her head and her heavy tresses cascaded about her shoulders.

“Lovely!” There was a gentle light in Nick’s eye as he observed her. He had one foot balanced on his opposite thigh and she could see that he was already very rampant indeed.

She loosened the sash at her waist and slipped the robe slowly from her shoulders. It fell to the floor and snaked round her feet, almost tripping her. She kicked it aside, unsure how one was supposed to undress in a sensual manner without a maid’s assistance. Entrapping oneself with discarded garments was probably not what Nick had in mind. But judging by his rapt expression and the way his smouldering eyes were focused squarely upon her, he hadn’t noticed how clumsy she was being. Encouraged, she undid the tie at her throat and made to lift her nightgown over her head.

“Not yet! Touch your own breasts through the fabric first.”

“Oh, no, I’m not sure I could—”

“You can. Do it, Alicia, and don’t argue with me.”

Tentatively she cupped her breasts, watching his reaction to make sure she was pleasing him.

“That’s right. Now massage them in the same way that I do. Good, now how does that feel?”

“Strange. Not nearly so nice as when you touch me, but exciting because you’re watching me.”

“Good. Now, touch your nipples. That’s right. Pinch them between your fingers. Are they hard?”

“Yes, and sore from this afternoon.”

He chuckled. “They’ll be sorer still when I’ve finished with you.”

Alicia knew her eyes were sparkling in shameful anticipation but she simply didn’t care. “Nick, if I asked you a question,” she said, continuing to massage her breasts, no longer feeling quite so self-conscious, “would you give me an honest answer?”

“That rather depends upon the nature of the question. What is it?”

“Well, do you have a mistress?”

Nick was afflicted by a spasm of coughing. “What in the name of the devil do you want to know that for?”

“It’s just that you seem so very experienced. It makes me suppose you must have a mistress tucked away somewhere.”

“Yes, Alicia.” Nick sighed. “I have a mistress.”

“I thought you must have.”

“Would you like to know about her?”

“Yes, please.”

His eyes gleamed as though an idea had just occurred to him. “Would you like to know what we do together?”

“Indeed I would. You see, I’ve always wondered what purpose they serve.”

Nick laughed aloud.

“Oh, I can understand why one would be necessary in your situation. An unmarried gentleman has his needs, after all.” She frowned. “But why would a married man wish to take another to his bed?”