Authors: Stella White
“I believe we will, Phillip,” Marie sighed. “I
believe
we will.”
*****
THE END
CLEAN REGENCY Romance - A Deal With A Duke
Chapter One
Cynthia Vogel was stretched out on her sun
deck;
her light robe parted slightly so the sun would get to her bare legs underneath. She had a pair of shades covering her eyes so that she could lay back and enjoy the warm rays on her skin. It was rare she was able to sit outside without all of the layers required of a woman in her position. But Cynthia was beginning not to care what they all thought of her.
Cynthia’s nearest neighbor was miles
away,
and her land was vast, stretching out around her on all sides. Her late husband had amassed quite a lot of
land,
and the house behind her was enormous. Unfortunately, his untimely passing had left her with a great fortune but also with
a huge debt that
she was still trying to decide what to
do about
.
Soon Alexander would be here and extinguish her candle of loneliness. He always made her feel so much better about life.
It was unfortunate he was so young.
She couldn’t imagine being with someone eight years her junior. Besides, she had been friends with him since he was ten years old, almost twelve years ago, when she was his governess. Their friendship was more like a brother-sister relationship and Alex never failed to lift her spirits whenever he was around. She didn’t have to pretend to be someone else.
She
didn’t have to watch what she said. She could be herself.
Cynthia reached over and picked up her glass of sherry, taking a long drink from the glass before replacing it on the table next to her. She sighed.
Life was so boring.
Nothing to do but get ready for parties and talk to people all day long. She wanted to accomplish something. Something other than being a wife to some Duke, Earl or Lord. Whatever his station, she was unimpressed. The King himself could come for a visit and ask for her hand in
marriage,
and it wouldn’t happen.
She giggled, her thoughts bringing her some amusement. She heard Alexander calling to her from the doorway of the house behind her and turned to look back at him.
“Come along, darling. I’m
here,
and I have sherry!”
She could see him smiling and was immediately relieved. He strolled across the green lawn to get to her, leaning over to give her phantom kisses on both cheeks, which she returned as he did.
“Hello,
gorgeous,
” Alexander said. “How is my lovely lady today?” He took his usual place in the lounge chair on the opposite side of the table.
“I’m doing well, Alex, thank you for asking. Waiting for you to come along and lift my spirits!” She turned and gestured to her servant, who had let
Alexander in
. The girl disappeared into the house and would reappear moments later with
a glass
for Alex. “How have you been today?”
Alex shrugged, his eyes looking out over the beautiful landscape. “It’s been the same for me today as any day, dear.
Just taking care of a bit of business for my father.”
“Is his business still floundering?”
Alex nodded, taking the glass from the servant and smiling up at her. “Thank you, Alice.”
“You’re welcome, sir.” The girl curtsied slightly, turned and hurried back to the house, her face slightly flushed.
“She likes you, Alex. Why do you tease her so?”
Alex looked offended but had a sparkle of amusement in his green eyes. “I’m not teasing her!” he exclaimed and then smiled. “She deserves to feel appreciated. And she knows there would never be anything further to explore here.”
“If you say so.”
“Yes, father’s business is still in the red since he made those bad deals earlier this year. It is a shame that he
was fooled
in such a
way,
but there can be nothing done about it.”
“I wish I could help you more but
at this point
…” She drifted off, not wanting to continue. Alexander knew of her predicament.
“I understand, Cynthia.
Believe
me, I do understand. It is almost as if the men who betrayed my father of his money also betrayed your late husband of his.”
“It would seem so.”
“You are dealing well with his passing. You were back to your old self much faster than I would have predicted.”
Cynthia took his words as a compliment. “Thank you, yes, I just couldn’t see staying in mourning for an entire year or longer. I loved James, don’t think I didn’t. But I have also enjoyed being alone. I like being able to do what I want to do when I want to do it.”
“And you have me to bring you male companionship. Friendship.”
She smiled at his clarification and glanced at him. He was such a handsome young man. It was too bad their relationship could never be more. “Have you found a bride yet, Alex?”
Alex snorted and gave her
a sarcastic
look. “You mean since yesterday, which was the last time you asked me that? No, Cynthia, I haven’t found a bride.”
“Don’t you think you are getting up there in age? You’re 21. You should
be married
by now. If it
were
me, they would be writing me off as a spinster!”
“That’s the difference between men and women, Cynthia. We can go well into our years before marrying and never suffer
a stigmatism
. It’s called being a lifelong bachelor.
That’s praised
in many circles!”
“I wouldn’t know why.” Cynthia huffed. “It certainly takes more effort to be a spinster than it does a bachelor.”
Alex nodded. “I’ll give you that, dear. It is very much a man’s world. Would you like to attend the ball this Friday with me?”
“That would be lovely, Alex. Tell me, though, how will you attract a lady if you always take me everywhere you go?”
Alex laughed loudly. “I do not take you everywhere I go, my dear! You should know better than that.”
Again when Cynthia looked at him, his eyes sparkled back at
her,
and she felt a warm affection for him.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Alex.” She gushed. She raised her glass into the air. “Here’s to our friendship.”
“To our friendship.” He picked up his glass and clinked it against hers.
Duke Daniel Willingham looked out over the green field, scanning it
closely
for animals or any changes that may have
been made
since he last took a ride out this way, which was exactly a week ago. He sighed. There was no change. No one ever trespassed on his
land
poached or camped out there. No one threatened his family in any way. It was always
boring
and tedious, these ritualistic tasks his father made him do.
Normal
people aren’t still held under their parents’ thumbs when they reach the age of 21, much less 30. His thirtieth birthday was only a few months
away,
and his parents were itching for him to find a bride and create an heir.
“They’re not even that
old,
” Daniel grumbled as he pressed his heels into the horse’s side to get it to move forward. He leaned forward and patted the horse on his neck. “We got this, Your
Majesty,
” he said to the horse. “You know nothing’s out here, don’t you, boy?”
Over the years, Daniel’s father had built quite an empire from almost nothing and would defend it
for
his very life. He had fought a war to protect his land and lived to tell about it. Now, many years later, his father was still fighting that
war,
but he’d brought it to his
own
back yard. Grand Duke Isaac Willingham was a tyrant and a bully but only when it came to his suspicions. If he felt taken advantage of, he would light up like a fire in the night. He was loud and could be rude. Daniel couldn’t fathom what kept his mother from running for the hills at some point over the last 30 years. He had ruled his district with an iron fist since he inherited it from his father.
Daniel supposed it was the other side of his father, the one that only a few people were privileged enough to see that kept his mother with him and his family loving him. The strength that his father exuded when angry was matched for his other emotions as well. He was a fierce defender of his wife and three children. He was loyal to the core and honest as the day is long. Daniel couldn’t remember a time when his father had lied to him. He may have been mistaken or
confused,
but Isaac never lied. Daniel had learned from that. He
strived,
to be honest in everything he did.
Unfortunately, that meant he was open about his feelings for the women he courted. He had been through many in the last ten years. Many. They had been fun for a time. Each one of them had
special
qualities that he adored. But there was always some
kind of
problem. They were too clingy, too naggy, too homely, too tall, too short
…
there was always something wrong that made him turn away from them. After they had fun, though.
That meant a lot of the ladies in town and that he had to dance with during the Season were already onto him. They already knew what he was about and would only deign to give him a quick Waltz or Polka because he bothered to come to the ball in the first place.
He sighed, seeing the faces of his most recent encounters in his mind and reviewing each of them quickly to see if a second or third date would be possible. His father had given him an ultimatum. Find a bride or be disinherited.
That was the last thing he needed. He had no money of his own and lived off of his father’s allowances. He had few duties when it came to taking care of their dukedom. Any that might have been his fell to his older brother, Mark, who had been successfully in charge since he was about 21. Now, fifteen years later, Mark was well-known and highly regarded all through the lands. He wasn’t going to be able to match up
to
his brother. He’d stopped trying long ago.
But recently his mother and father had bestowed a new responsibility. He was now in charge of the Eastern portion of their lands and was expected to rule the district in a manner his father approved. That meant being a married man with at least one heir. He was getting
older,
and it was starting to annoy them.
Always willing to listen to his father’s suggestions and obey when told something to do, Daniel had decided to press forward and
really
find a bride this time. The new Season started on
Friday,
and he would be at the ball.
He
sighed again, rocking back and forth in the saddle as his horse trotted back to the stable. If there weren’t any new ladies at the ball, he wasn’t going to find what he was
looking for
.
Then again, if he looked at women he hadn’t considered before, that might help his cause. He shook his head
instinctively
as if to wipe away the thoughts. Who hadn’t he considered except the old hags and the wallflowers? He didn’t want a lady who would follow him around like a puppy dog or one who would behave like she was his mother. He didn’t want
a lady
who just sat there doing what she
was told
either. He had his
own
life to live and wanted to find a woman who had her own, as well. He had no idea if he would find her but it was going to be too late very soon.
Chapter Two
Cynthia needn’t have worried about her impact on Alexander’s social reputation. They were barely seated when he was surrounded by several women, flirting and hinting they would like to
be seen
with him during the Grand March. He gave her a smile and stood up to move off with the women following close behind him. He knew it didn’t bother Cynthia to have the women all around him as much as it made her feel crowded. He tried to show as much respect for his friend as he could.
There were three other people at the table, chatting and drinking. One man and a woman were drinking white wine. The other gentleman’s glass looked to
be filled
with something
clear,
but Cynthia couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
She scanned their faces while they were chatting with each other, trying to remember who they were. Slowly, she found their names in her memory banks. The
couple
that
was
obviously
talking to each other were Lady Catherine MacGregor and Sir Anthony Duke. She remembered his name suddenly because she remembered thinking it was a good thing he was an Earl and in the military rather than being a Duke.
She lowered her head and hid her grin behind a fabric hand fan, which she flipped open. She couldn’t help giggling behind it, thinking he would
be called
“Duke Duke
.”
She feared she was going to fall into a fit of
giggling
if
she
didn’t get her mind off of that phrase and quickly, so she lifted her eyes and looked directly into the gaze of the third person across from her, the hardy Duke Daniel Willingham. His direct gaze instantly halted her
giggling,
and she lost her smile. He had a strange look about his
face,
and she didn’t mind staring right back at him. He didn’t look away. Their attention
was suddenly broken
when the couple stood
up,
and Sir Anthony said to Duke Willingham, “I’m going to dance this one with Lady Catherine, old chap. You should find someone to take out on the dance floor.” He glanced over the table at Cynthia. “Perhaps Lady Vogel would care to dance?” Without waiting for a response from Cynthia, he put his hand on Lady Catherine’s waist and ushered her out
onto
the dance floor.
She decided not to say anything in response. She reached out slowly, picked up a glass of wine that had
been set
in front of her and took a long drink from it. Her nerves were on
edge,
and she couldn’t pinpoint the
reason
. It could have been the way Duke Willingham was looking at her. Or it could be that she was staring back at him with just as much determination.
What is he
looking at
?
She thought, feeling a bit of anger at his audacity to just sit there and stare at her. His face did not register the feelings of a love-smitten suitor. He was looking at her as if to analyze her without asking questions.
There’s certainly a lot more to me than just my outer appearance!
She thought and was suddenly wondering if her dress was in style this Season or if she had accidentally worn an old one. She forced herself not to look down at her gown. Perhaps she had spilled something on it somehow?
She was nervous all of a
sudden,
and that unnerved her even more.
Daniel leaned forward abruptly. “Well?”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Well, what?” she replied.
“Do you want to dance?”
“If you wish it.”
“If I wish it? Do you want to dance or not?”
“I don’t
want
to step on your toes, sir, as I am not a very graceful dancer.” She found herself speaking more openly with him than she typically did with men. The whole situation made her feel strange and confused.
“I don’t mind that.” Daniel stood up and held his hand out toward her. “I might be the one stepping on your delicate
toes,
and that would not be a good thing, would it? We’ll be clumsy together.”
Cynthia smiled at
that
though she was still feeling awkward. She took his
hand,
and he led
her
out into the throng. He put his arm around her waist, pulled her close to
him,
and they began to spin along with the rest of the dancers.
“This can’t be your first Season.” Daniel said, his warm breath whispering through her hair
to
her ear. It gave her chills. “Why have I not seen you before?”
“I have been to two previous Seasons, my lord. Before that, I was betrothed and wedded to
a fine
young man who died
suddenly
.”
“How tragic! You have my condolences. What happened, if I may be so bold?”
Cynthia was able to speak of it casually now. It had been four long years. “He was thrown from his horse, struck his head on a rock and died instantly.”
“Good Lord! I am sorry, my lady.”
His voice sounded genuinely sorry when he said it. Though she had heard genuine sympathy before, she had previously thought that would not be possible for this brash Duke. She knew who he
was,
and she knew his reputation among the ladies of the town. He
was known
as a scoundrel by some, a rake by others and a charmer by still others. She was going to have to decide for herself who he
really
was. She looked up into his dark brown eyes. “Thank you, my lord.”
“Do you have an opinion of the ladies and gentlemen of the Season?”
“The pickings are light, my lord.”
“What makes you say that?” He was curious.
“I have been to two of these, as I said. The same young men and women
are recycled
through when they do not find a match. New arrivals
are quickly absorbed
. It can sometimes be a bit
chaotic
if you ask me.”
He nodded. “I
truly
agree with you.
This has
been my thought for some time, as well.”
She looked at him. “Forgive me for speaking honestly, my lord, but you have a reputation that precedes you. There are many women here that you have courted, even for a short
period of time
. In fact, would I dare say most of them?”
He was a
little taken
aback by her frankness. He gazed into her blue eyes the way he had across the table. She interested him. She was quite a
character,
and he felt
instinctively
that he could trust her. So he decided to be perfectly honest with her, as well.
“I have, in fact, courted most of these women, yes. I can probably mention on one hand those that I haven’t courted. At least those between the ages of 18 and 30. It was what made me curious that I do not remember seeing you here before.”
“It is my instinct to stay on the sidelines, my
lord,
” she responded. Her head was becoming a bit
dizzy,
and the dance floor was hot. She longed for her fan. She wondered if he noticed how faint she was becoming.
“But you are not a quiet woman.” As soon as he said it, Daniel wished he could take it back. His surprise had gotten the better of
him,
and he blurted the words out without thinking. She was not a wallflower. She was a bright and interesting woman. He supposed being a widow could have made the difference in her approach to the Season.
She gave him an amused look. “I am not sure whether to thank you or to take offense, my
lord,
” she said with a small smile.
“I just meant…I apologize, I usually do not pay attention to the ladies who do not come out to dance. I am surprised I did not notice you before.”
“I know who
you
are.” She wanted to stick her tongue out at him playfully but did not dare push her luck.
“So you
mentioned,
” he responded. The song was finally
over,
and he was leading her back to the table. She was slightly out of breath and gestured for a new drink as soon as she reached the table. When it
was brought
to her, she drank half of it at once.
“All you all right, my lady?” Daniel asked, sitting in a chair that was closer to hers this time. He leaned in
closely
and looked at her
face;
concern openly displayed on his. She nodded and held open her fan, waving it so that
a nice
breeze blew over her.
“My, I was just so out of breath. Dancing is
fun,
but sometimes it can wear a girl out.”
“Would you like another drink?” He watched her down the second half of her wine and was on his feet to retrieve another.
“Thank you, my lord.”
Without a word, he disappeared.
Cynthia’s head was spinning. It felt like she hadn’t left the dance floor. She couldn’t decide if she had had too much wine or if the motion of the dance was just lingering in her mind. She didn’t remember having this much trouble in the past. But then, it was quite a few years ago since she was looking for a man.
And she wasn’t
really
looking for a man. She thought about Duke Willingham, who certainly didn’t seem like the bad boy all of her friends made him out to be. But then, how would he have gotten time with them all if he wasn’t a charmer?
Her mind became even more confused. Was he using that charm on her now? Was she mistaking his behavior as genuine because he was so good at playing the role?
She felt a bit angry now. She wasn’t one to be taken
advantage of
.
When he came back with her drink, she had worked herself into believing he was not genuine with his actions. She looked at him
through
narrow eyes when he sat opposite her. He looked a little surprised at her odd behavior.
“Here you go. Is everything all right?”
“I’m not
sure,
” Cynthia said. “I…You…” She made herself angrier by not being able to express herself the way she wanted to. He surprised her by leaning close to her and placing one hand very close to hers on the table. She didn’t pull her hand back. When the tips of their fingers touched, she noticed. It made her heart pound.
“Let me put your fears to rest as best as I can.” Duke Willingham’s voice was low and smooth. “You don’t know if you can trust me because of my reputation. You hope that I’m
genuine,
but you think I’m probably not because
I’m used
to charming all the ladies I can. Am I close?”
She sniffed quietly and nodded.
“I do have that reputation, Lady Cynthia. And the rumors that I am going to
be disinherited
soon are also
true
. This knowledge makes it even
more difficult for
women to trust me. But with you
…
I haven’t seen you before, my lady. I would like to ask you to take a ride with me tomorrow around the park, or go for a walk if the weather is nice. Please give me the opportunity to get to know you more and to show you that my behavior with you is genuine.”
Cynthia lowered her head, thinking hard. It wasn’t just her doubt that Daniel could be trusted. It was also the fact that, deep in her heart, she knew she never wanted to marry another man.
She
was happy alone and functioned best that way. She had always known it. She would never marry again.