The Duke's Bride (19 page)

I
t had been three weeks since Jane had given
birth, and now she was off to Lady Vexfield’s ball, thirty miles from London,
where she would see Roderick for the first time since he had left for France.

The clatter of carriage wheels along the cobblestone
street mimicked her rattling heart. The destination made it almost mandatory
for the guests to stay at Vexfield Hall during the weekend festivities. But the
thought of being with Roderick, after everything that had happened between
them, made her hands sweat.

As the carriage approached the mansion, she stared at
the shadows cast along the road and felt a prickle of alarm. The moon gave off
a strange glow, only adding to her nervousness. Did Roderick still love her?
Did he still want her? What would he think of the baby?

She would have preferred to meet with him privately,
but the king had insisted Roderick and Jared attend the house party because the
king would be a guest as well. Hopefully, George IV’s presence and his added
demand that she attend the ball would outweigh anything Society had to say.

She had left the baby with Mr. and Mrs. Baskers who
lived in a quaint little cottage in the country. The kind, older couple was
friends of both Stephen and Elizabeth, and Jane had been staying at the cottage
for a much-needed rest. Agatha had thought it best for her to relax far away
from everything. Although Hemmingly Hall had been nice, the cottage was heaven.
Jane had to admit, the clean country air had revived her senses. In fact, Emily
had been staying with some nearby friends as well.

Though nervous to leave her young baby, Jane decided
she would only be away for one night. Tomorrow, she would be back with her son.
Hopefully, Roderick would agree to marry her, then return with her and see his
son as well.

 “Do you think I should attend?” Jane asked Emily.
Her nervousness was evident. “You do know that Lady Vexfield only invited me
because the king insisted. But I am a black sheep because of that marriage
license.”

Emily’s violet eyes sparkled with concern. “If the
king insisted, that is enough to get you back into the
ton’s
good
graces. So stop your fretting. The biggest scandal now is Lady Vexfield’s
daughter who ran off with Lord Dripwood.”

Jane sat up as the vehicle past through the gates. “Lord
Dripwood?” She burst out laughing. “Is that truly his name?”

Emily sighed. “Indeed, it is. It seems Lord Dripwood
enticed Rebecca, Lady Vexfield’s daughter, to fly away to Gretna Green. But
Lord Vexfield stopped them in time, before they married that is, but not in
time to stop the gossips. I believe poor Rebecca is now engaged to Lord Hackley.”

Jane gasped. “Roderick would never let me talk to the
man. I have heard things that would burn your ears, Em.”

Emily’s violet gaze narrowed. “I know Rebecca. She is
young, but a good girl. I wish there was some way we could help her.”

Jane picked at her skirt. “If I were not in such dire
straits myself, I could help. But I fear, any help from my direction would only
hurt the girl.”

She swallowed past the lump in her throat and lifted a
hesitant gaze. She did not want to face Society. She was not as courageous as
Emily thought. “Will there be anyone else we will know?

“Captain Argyle will be attending the party.”

Jane’s face brightened. “That is comforting. I will
have one more friend to talk to until Roderick arrives.”

She chewed her bottom lip. Thoughts of Roderick giving
her the cut-direct flashed through her mind. Her heart seemed to stop. “To tell
you the truth, I am quite fearful your brother will not want me anymore.”

Emily laughed. “Impossible. But I would worry about Roderick
making a spectacle of himself.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Oh, Jane,” Emily said, grasping her hand. “He is
going to sweep you into his arms, hasten to the nearest room, bolt the door,
and make mad love to you.”

Jane blinked back tears. “I think you are recalling a
different Roderick. I just hope he does not completely avoid me.” Her bottom
lip trembled. “For if he does, I think I will not be able to endure it.”

The rattle of wheels came to a halt. Jane froze.

“We are here, dearest,” Emily said gently. “Now, do
not worry about a thing. Roderick still loves you. And that new gown will make
his eyes fall out of his head.”

Jane gave a little laugh, adjusting her bodice. Things
were not fitting the same after she had the baby. “I hope you are right. I have
never worn something as daring as this since we were first married. In fact,
had I known it would fit like this, I would never have worn it. But I had
nothing else to wear because this was all last minute.”

Emily smiled. “You look lovely. Now, hold your head
high and act like a duchess and everything will be fine.”

Roderick could not believe Lady Trayton had hooked
herself to his arm the minute he had walked into Vexfield Hall. It seemed she thought
she would be the next duchess. Her French perfume overwhelmed him. She must
have used the entire bottle. It was nothing like the dab of rosewater that Jane
used. And even when Jane had used French perfume, she only used a drop or two.

Not only that, Lady Trayton’s bosom was almost falling
out of her ruby red gown. It was shameful. She was nothing like his sweet
little Jane, who kept her gowns on the simple and modest side.

“You were my knight in shining armor, Your Grace,”
Lady Trayton replied, batting her long lashes. “La, I do not know what I would
have done without you. A woman does need a chaperone in such a situation, and
since my man-of-affairs was ill, what was poor little me to do?”

Roderick’s keen gaze drifted over the crowd. The notes
from a light country dance filled his ears, reminding him of Jane. Anticipation
ran through his veins. Where was she?

“I believe Lord Stonebridge did help in the scheme of
things,” he said, wishing the lady would move on. And where the devil had Jared
gone? Probably looking for Emily, no doubt.

Lady Trayton squeezed his arm in a vice-like grip. “I did
hate to bring up the subject on our journey because I know you were still
recuperating from your injury, but if you are seeking Miss Jane Greenwell, I believe
you should first look to Captain Argyle.”

Roderick’s head snapped to hers. His back had healed
faster than he thought. He was almost normal now. But what was she saying about
Jane?

He regarded her in silence as her eyes sparkled with
delight. “Your Grace…Roderick, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is
gossip the man visited Miss Greenwell at Hemmingly Hall. In fact, if my sources
are correct, he was there quite a bit since you were gone. Of course, the king has
made it known Miss Greenwell was not to be ostracized because of the license situation.
But la, she probably will not come tonight. That is, unless the captain is in
attendance.”

The lady’s light laugh did nothing to calm Roderick’s
thumping heart.

She sighed, tapping his arm in sympathy. “Your little problem
with the marriage license has given the lady
carte blanche
, if you know
what I mean. And it seems the king approves.”

Roderick stiffened. Her story sounded quite warped,
but it was the mere thought of the captain with Jane that made him jealous.

Lady Trayton leaned toward him, whispering. “Of course,
you have no need to worry about me, Your Grace. I would never run to someone
else if you were there.”

Roderick’s lips thinned. He would not want this lady in
a hundred years!

“Oh, my,” Lady Trayton cackled. “There is your dear
sister with the lady in question. Miss Greenwell looks a bit plump, don’t you
think?”

Roderick’s gaze fell on the creamy expanse of white
skin below Jane’s neckline. His heart banged against his brain. She appeared
plumper, but in all the right places. Devil take it! His eyes narrowed. That
gown was too…too confounded tight. Too confounded low. Too confounded
beautiful. And too cursed blue! Her eyes were like two sparkling sapphires,
drawing him in and every other man within ten feet of her.

He thought this meeting would be simple. He thought
she would fly into his arms, and he would kiss her senseless. He thought wrong.

Suddenly their eyes met. Her beauty made his chest
tighten. Every nerve in his body was on edge.

“My, my, they are coming our way.” Lady Trayton
clenched Roderick’s arm in a tighter hold. “How quaint. The captain is looking
quite debonair, don’t you think?”

Roderick’s gaze instantly shifted to the side of the
room where Captain Argyle was making a direct path toward Jane. And
thunderation, the hungry look on the man’s face was not brotherly at all.

It took all Roderick’s self control not to box the
captain’s ears. Jane was his wife! It may not be correct on paper. But their
marriage was sealed in his soul. And by Jove, no man on earth was going to take
her away from him, including the debonair captain!

“Roderick.” Jane’s sweet voice met his ears like bells
from heaven. He had dreamed of her. He watched as Emily ran into Jared’s arms,
and they quickly disappeared from the room.

“Jane.” Roderick took her hand and kissed it. “It has
been too long, my dear.”

He paused, thinking he smelled French perfume. It was
more than Jane usually used. It was a different scent too. It was just like
Lady Trayton’s. He scowled as Captain Argyle walked up to them. Had the man
bought it for her?

Jane nodded to Lady Trayton. “I did not realize you were
in attendance. What a pleasure, Lady Trayton.”

The lady stroked Roderick’s arm. “It is a pleasure, is
it not?”

Captain Argyle cleared his throat, glaring at Roderick.
“Jane, would you like to dance? It appears they are going to play a waltz.”

Jane?

Roderick wanted to grab the man by his cravat. When the
devil did his wife become
Jane
to this man?

No, she does not want to dance
, Roderick
wanted to say.
And certainly not a waltz!
He looked over her gown and grimaced.
She needed to cover up. He wished to throw his jacket over her and haul her out
of the place to somewhere safe…like his arms.

Roderick’s blood raced as he stared at her. She was
lovelier than he remembered. His gaze drilled into hers, begging her to look at
him. Those beautiful blue eyes hardened as she took in the lady attached to his
arm.

Then Jane turned her face toward the captain, lifting
her chin. “A waltz would be wonderful. It was so nice seeing you again,
Your
Grace
.”

Roderick froze as Jane moved onto the dance floor. His
stunned gaze followed them.
What in the blazes had just happened?

“Ah, just the man I wanted to see,” the king said,
suddenly appearing by Roderick’s side and slapping him on his back. “You are in
good health, I see. Curse it all, I was worried when I heard the news.”

The king looked at Lady Trayton in an appreciative
manner. “And Lady Trayton. It has been a time since the earl passed away, has
it not? God bless his soul.”

Lady Trayton let out a small curtsy and smiled.
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, well,” the man said, winking at her. “If you do
not mind, I need to take the duke off your hands for a few minutes. I am
certain we will be seeing more of you this weekend, eh?”

Lady Trayton flushed.

Roderick was glad to step aside from the snake of a
woman, but he hated to leave the ballroom and Jane. Where had the captain taken
her? He could no longer see them on the dance floor.

“Elbourne,” the king announced. “This way.”

Reluctantly, Roderick followed the king to a salon off
the ballroom.

After the doors closed behind them, the king stood
before him, with drink in hand. “Never told you in person. But I must thank you
for taking care of that cursed Devereaux situation. In fact, I intend to give
you anything in my power that you want. Even if it is Miss Greenwell.” His eyes
glittered with pride. “What say you to that, my boy? The lady is looking quite
the thing tonight, is she not?”

Roderick stared at the king’s happy face and curled
his hands. Thunderation, his monarch thought this a mere fly in the ointment. It
was his life, confound it! All Roderick wanted to do was leave and grab Jane from
the dance floor. But it seemed she did not want him anymore. Well, blast it all!
He would make her want him again if it was the last thing he did!

“It is rather good of you to help,” Roderick said
stiffly, pacing about the room. “But to put it mildly, the lady seems to have
another admirer.”

The king seemed flustered and downed his drink,
setting the glass on a nearby table. “Well, well, do away with him. You have
done that before. Do it again.”

Roderick spun around. “Do away with him?” he asked,
his voice rising.

The king lifted a serious gaze. “Curse you, Roderick!
You are no puppy! If you want the girl, go after her. Take her from Argyle. You
seem to have recovered quite nicely. Not that I don’t like the captain. I do. I
do. Fine man, and all that. But I always liked a good fight, don’t you know?”