Taming A Duke's Reckless Heart: Victorian Historical Romance (6 page)

Her aunt was fixedly staring at Piper. After Barrett’s appraisal on the carriage ride, Piper’s nerves were frayed. She wanted to yell at everyone to stop looking at her so. But she maintained a calm façade. Her aunt was like a second mother to her, and her interest was out of concern. Though Piper often found her English sensibilities tedious.

“Why don’t you go check on your mother?” her Aunt commanded while Sybil squeezed her hand.

“Yes Auntie.” Piper turned towards the stairs.

TAMING A DUKE’S RECKLESS HEART

CHAPTER FIVE

Barrett was listening
to the doctor; the news wasn’t good.

“She’s running a low grade fever now. Started coughing blood,” the doctor said.

Barrett tensed. What would happen to Piper if her mother passed away? She had her aunt, he reassured himself, but part of him wasn’t satisfied with that.
If I married her, I could take care of her
. That would be impossible. He could, at least, make sure she married well if he stayed to help. A small whimper came from the hall. He turned abruptly to see what was happening.

Piper stood in the hall swaying on her feet. Barrett stepped out of her mother’s room. Without thinking, he collected her into his arms. Leaning against him, she tucked her head into his chest. She fit against him perfectly. “It’s all right.” He whispered in her ear.

“It isn’t. I know it isn’t.” She let out a tiny sob. He crushed her up against him. Despite his best judgement, he leaned his cheek against her hair. So soft.

“Piper. What are you doing?” Her aunt’s voice called from the stairs. The sound ruined the moment.

“I-I w-was just…” Piper lifted her head and Barrett felt her try to move away. His arms tightened even as he told himself to let her go.

“Piper simply needed some small measure of comfort. It has been a difficult day,” Barrett stepped in, offering up an explanation. While he understood the English need for propriety, he even cowed to some of his mother’s demands for it, now was not the time for Piper to be worried about what was proper.

“Piper?” The single word from her aunt’s lips held a great deal of accusation. Barrett should have been calling a woman he had only known a day Miss Baker. He shouldn’t be holding her in his arms.

Barrett’s lips thinned and he drew himself up, eyeing her with a measured glare. “Perhaps we should speak in private.”

“I’ll call for tea.” Piper’s aunt looked down her nose at him before she turned on her heel and left again.

Barrett sighed before his eyes returned to Piper, stroking her cheek. “Go sit with your mother. She’s asleep already. I’ll be back shortly.” Piper nodded and headed into the room.

***

Barrett squared his shoulders. How in bloody hell had he gotten himself into this situation? Why didn’t he just walk out the damn door? Because he couldn’t just leave Piper. Every time he looked at her, he was compelled to touch her. He couldn’t ever remember being so instantly infatuated with a woman.

And when he had seen her in a shift this morning. Bloody hell, but it had nearly been his undoing. Every curve had been highlighted by the sunlight filtering in behind her. It took every ounce of his strength not to carry her off then and there. He had never wanted a woman so instantly and so completely.

It was a dangerous game he was playing because he knew he couldn’t marry her. His family had arranged a marriage ages ago. Though there was no formal agreement, his father had made promises on Barrett’s behalf. Penelope could not be less suited to him but that was hardly the point. They’d have a few children to carry on the family line. Utterly boring.

Even as he thought it he shook his head. He had been wildly successful in the States. His shipping business had made two fortunes. Enough to bolster his family and another besides. He couldn’t picture ever leaving that behind.

He walked into the formal living room where tea was being served. The aunt and the cousin were there. Barrett quickly appraised the cousin. Sybil, he remembered her name.

He could tell by Piper’s tone she thought Sybil had all the qualities that Piper herself lacked. He dismissed it. Sybil had none of the courage Piper possessed. She was beautiful, there was no doubt. But Piper could light a man on fire.

Bloody hell, he was hardening at the thought of her auburn hair and her perfect pink shell lips. Those lips had been so soft.

Sybil’s beauty was far colder. He turned to the aunt. His arms crossed over his chest. He had faced many haughty matrons. This one would not intimidate him.

“Please have a seat. Would you care for some tea?” She coolly appraised him as she herself sat.

“No, thank you,” he replied, equally cool. He chose to remain standing.

“You’re a duke?” Her eyebrows lifted slightly as she took in his appearance. Her face held haughty disbelief. A ghost of a grin touched his lips. He looked every bit the sailor today and not even a little aristocratic. She was good.

“My younger brother performs the duties.”

“How unconventional,” she took a sip of her tea.

“Yes,” he needn’t defend himself to this woman.

She smiled then. “You certainly carry yourself like a member of the peerage.” It didn’t sound like a compliment.

He cocked on eyebrow. “Thank you,” he replied anyway.

“Why have you inserted yourself into my sister and my niece’s life?” she changed tactics.

“I didn’t get your name, besides Aunt Lizzie of course. But I don’t think you would approve me addressing you as such.” He delivered his return blow with deadly ease.

She gasped at the impropriety and Barrett tried not to roll his eyes. He hadn’t missed the formality of England and he wondered briefly if he could ever live there again.

“Lady Elizabeth Vesser.” She sniffed slightly.

Barrett could only guess she was the daughter of a nobleman but had not inherited the title. Sybil had a title but he had assumed it had been her father’s.

“Lady Vesser, a pleasure.” He turned to Sybil. “Viscountess,” he addressed her title.

“Pleasure, Your Grace,” she murmured as he turned back to the matriarch.

Lady Vesser’s eyebrows rose slightly and she continued to assess him. He was sure she was planning her next form of attack.

“Sybil dear, could you give us a few minutes alone?” the older woman continued to look at him.

“Of course,” the lady rose and walked out of the room.

She turned back to Barrett. “Let’s not pretend. You are a rake. No respectful gentleman would have his hands all over my niece the way you did. Especially after having met her yesterday. You know Piper has no fortune so I can only assume you mean to ruin her.”

Barrett nearly choked on his own spit. Nothing would please him more than taking Piper to bed. But he wouldn’t ruin her. The old lady had taken him by surprise though. Maybe Piper got her fire from her mother’s side. “I have no intentions towards your niece whatsoever. They were attacked by thieves yesterday,” he paused as Lady Vesser gasped. “I chased off the thieves and then, seeing the ladies were in distress, escorted them to their destination.”

It was actually one of the more gentlemanly things he had done recently if you didn’t count kissing Piper. And really, if he were honest, it had been a kiss befitting a virgin. Warm but brief. It hadn’t even involved tongues. He hardened again at the thought of Piper’s tongue. In his mouth, on his body. He gritted his teeth. Piper’s aunt should be worried, he thought ruefully.

“That was kind,” she frowned as she spoke. It was obvious she didn’t like admitting it.

“We then realized my mother and Mrs. Baker were girlhood friends. Upon learning it, Mrs. Baker asked if I might assist them.” He stopped. If he heeded Mrs. Baker’s request and helped Piper into the upper crust of New York’s society, he would have to tell this aunt about the specifics of Mrs. Baker’s request. But he wouldn’t do it now.

“I see. By assist you mean escorting them here?” She looked at him pointedly. Damn, the woman was good.

“She has made some additional requests,” he answered vaguely, meeting her glance.

“What were they?” Her eyebrows rose to her hairline.

The woman was persistent. He would give her that. Barrett cleared his throat, “She asked me to help ease Piper’s transition into society and to keep an eye on her until she finds a husband.” He rubbed his neck. This part of the conversation was making him more uncomfortable than any other.

“I see,” she gave him a sharp look.

“Let’s talk about Mrs. Baker’s care. I have hired the doctor to stay on and care for her, provided you will permit him in your house.”

She looked surprised, “Of course. That is most generous.”

“I was planning on leaving the city after a brief stop but I will stay to be of any assistance I can.” He frowned at his own words. When had he decided to heed Mrs. Baker’s requests?

“Again, that is most generous.” Her tone had softened.

“My mother would want it that way.” He shrugged, moving to the window.

“Do you usually do what your mother wants?” Lady Vesser’s tone dripped with disbelief.

He smiled despite himself. He actually liked this woman. “Not usually, no. I would like to say goodbye to Miss Baker before I leave. But with your permission, I would like to check in with them again tomorrow.”

“Provided that goodbye is chaperoned, I will permit it.” She pursed her lips.

He quirked his eyebrows. “How do you feel about having two young girls to see through society?”

He could see the hesitation in her eyes. “I didn’t have children of my own. If they were two normal girls it would be fine but…”

He understood. She had been strapped with two beautiful women who would send the men of New York into a frenzy. “Shall we head upstairs? I have business I have been neglecting all day.”

***

Barrett walked back into the bedroom. Piper sat next to her sleeping mother. Her head was bent. Her eyes were closed. The woman coughed in her sleep and Piper snapped to attention and pulled the covers up tighter around her mother’s figure. A little of Barrett’s heart broke to watch her care for the other woman.

“Piper, dear. Mr. Maddox would like to say goodbye,” her aunt called from the door.

“You’re leaving?” Panic laced her voice as her eyes sought his. Every time he looked at her, he wanted to pull her close.
What was happening to him?

A part of him was tempted to stay with her. To soothe her but he had to leave. Spending this much time with her was dangerous. “Yes, Miss Baker. But I will be back tomorrow or the next day to check on you both.” He reached his hand down, she lifted hers up. They held hands for a moment and then he slipped his out of her grasp.

He walked out the door and Piper slumped down in her chair. “Miss Baker,” Dr. Thompson called.

“Yes.” Her voice sounded desperate but Barrett straightened his shoulders. He had to leave her.

“You should leave your mother be. Most consumption patients are quarantined so they don’t get others sick. She’ll be fine. I will look after her.”

“And do what?” Barrett stopped in the doorway; he could hear the panic in her voice.

Lady Vesser eyed him from the hall. “Come along, Your Grace.”