The Irish Duke (6 page)

“Feel free to join me here in the library any afternoon,” John invited. “We shall soon be thick as thieves.”

“Thank you, sir.” His dark countenance lit with pleasure. “I am most gratified.”

John Russell looked up as his steward entered the library. “Ah, here is Mr. Burke come to show our guests to their rooms. I’ll see you gentlemen at dinner.” He signaled to Charles, who remained behind, as the others left with Burke.

“James Hamilton’s stepfather is the Earl of Aberdeen—a lofty, dour Scot who has rich estates in Scotland. Yet James’s heart lies in Ireland.”

“He and Aberdeen don’t get along. He doesn’t remember his real father. He inherited the Abercorn title from his grandfather, as well as his grand estate of Barons Court in County Tyrone.”

“I knew both his father and grandfather. His grandsire and I were both Members of Parliament for Cornwall. He was one of the few aristocrats who held Irish, English, and Scottish titles. The Hamiltons were a great dynastic family. I am glad James takes such pride and interest in his Irish heritage.” John took a sip of his claret. “I wanted to ask you about Jack. How is his condition?”

“He’s still suffering occasional fits, I’m afraid.”

John’s brow furrowed with concern. “Jack hasn’t passed his exams. He’ll never make a scholar. I’m afraid he’s wasting his time at Oxford.”

“Unlike Edward and me, he has no interest in the military, and unlike you and Johnny, no passion for politics.”

“He’s a good lad. We’ll think of something for him to do.”

 

From the second-floor gallery, the Russell sisters’ interest was focused on the young men who had just left the library with their brothers. Or more to the point, they were transfixed by one of them.

“My God, look at his shoulders. His coat does nothing to hide his powerful muscles.” Georgy licked her lips.

“He’s extremely tall and dark.” Louisa shuddered. The male moved with the grace of a panther. He held his dark head high; pride showed in every line of his body.
Without exception he is the handsomest male I’ve ever seen. He looks like a young god, come down from Olympus to walk among men.
She knew immediately that his male beauty made him dangerous.

“My prayers are answered,” Georgy declared. “An eligible man who is so good-looking he makes me weak at the knees just gazing at him.”

Louisa wrinkled her nose in distaste. “It is my belief that the handsomest men are also the most arrogant and selfish. They love themselves above all others.”

“Oh, Lu, who the devil cares?”

“I see Teddy Fox is here. Why on earth doesn’t he go home to his own estate?”

“The same reason his father, Lord Holland, is always here. It’s the fatal allure of the Russell women, no doubt. I wonder who Jack brought to Woburn?”

“Lord Rancid Pinchmyarse, if the last one he brought home is anything to go by.”

“He was rather randy, but I considered that an attribute rather than a liability.”

“Our brothers are a year older now. Let us hope they are more mature and have learned to exercise decorum.”

“Our brothers, yes . . . that tall, dark, handsome brute, no. He’s got dalliance written all over him.”

“Georgy, you are incorrigible.”

“Lu, you are incorruptible.”

“Mr. Burke will accommodate them with bedchambers in the west wing, close to our brothers’ rooms,” Georgy surmised.

“Yes, in his wisdom he will keep all the troublemakers together.”

“Let’s wait for him. Burke will know who they are.”

“Surely you recognize George Grey, my lady? He’s been here before with his parents. And speaking of Earl and Countess Grey, they are coming for a visit.”

Georgy laughed. “I would have recognized him if I’d looked at him, but I had eyes only for the dark, attractive devil.”

“Ah, that would be James Hamilton, Marquis of Abercorn.” Burke kept a straight face. “If you will excuse me, ladies.”

Georgy stared at Louisa openmouthed. “Good God! We met him when we were children at Carlton House. He was good-looking then, but now he is an Adonis.” She ran after the steward. “Mr. Burke, be sure to seat me next to him at dinner.”

Louisa found Abercorn a little too confident. His black curls and dark eyes alight with laughter would be a snare for Georgy.
I don’t want her to have her heart broken, as Lanny broke mine.

 

Louisa entered the Van Dyke dining room with trepidation. She did not wish to be seated anywhere near Edwin Landseer. She also was determined to avoid William and his wife, Bessy. She felt alarm however, when she realized that Mr. Burke had seated her on James Hamilton’s left, and her sister on his right.

James, towering above her, held her chair while she took her seat and then he did the same for Georgy. When all three were seated, his smile moved from one to the other. “Ladies, at long last, we meet again.”

Louisa raised her lashes and stared at him blankly. “We have met before?”

“When we were children . . . at Carlton House. I’m James Hamilton.”

“I do not recollect the occasion.”

“You performed a Spanish shawl dance.”

“Yes, so I did. How strange that I don’t remember you.”

He held her glance with his dark, compelling eyes.
You remember me, Lady Lu. You remember me well enough to lie about it.
She had a vulnerability he couldn’t resist. She fought so fiercely to keep it hidden that he was tempted to wrap his arms around her and keep her safe. Always.

“I remember you, James,” Georgy said. “I am delighted that Charles invited you.”

The duchess introduced her sons’ Oxford friends to the others at the table. “This is Teddy Fox, Lord and Lady Holland’s son, and this young man is George Grey. Both sets of parents will be joining us in the next few days. Last but not least is James Hamilton, Marquis of Abercorn. At Oxford he is a champion oarsman.” Her smile of welcome was radiant.

“Wasn’t your sister Susan’s husband a champion oarsman?” Bessy asked sweetly.

Georgina threw her a quelling glance. “We will not discuss the Duke of Manchester at my dinner table.” Her smile returned. “There is plenty to keep you occupied at Woburn. More than a thousand acres have been set aside for riding and hunting. There is the lake for swimming or boating. We have a menagerie, an aviary, and tennis courts. There is a maze, a grotto, and a folly. Inside the abbey we have one of the most extensive libraries in England, as well as sculpture and picture galleries. There is a ballroom, card rooms, and a theater, which I hope you will make use of.”

Georgy added, “We have a conservatory that leads to a greenhouse.” She glanced at Abercorn. “We have some rare camellias I’d be happy to show you, among other things.”

“Next Saturday, we will have a celebration. Since Georgy’s birthday is at the end of June and Louisa’s is the first week of July, and mine shortly after, we will have a grand party to celebrate all three.”

“This will be Georgy’s
twentieth
birthday, I believe?” Bessy’s smile was smug.

Lu was furious. “And this year, I believe you turned
thirty-six,
Bessy.” Louisa threw her a pitying smile.

Bessy choked on her wine.

The duchess hid a smile. “I forbid anyone to mention my age. A lady’s age should be a mystery. It adds to her allure.”

“The most beautiful women are ageless,” Edwin Landseer declared.

“Who the devil asked you?” Lu muttered under her breath.

James immediately sensed the tension, but the meal progressed without incident until the strawberries were served. He knew Lady Louisa had a sweet tooth, so he picked up the small sugar bowl and handed it to her.

She covered her strawberries with the white crystals, helped herself to the clotted cream, and carried a spoonful to her mouth. The taste was intense and overpowering. By sheer willpower she stopped herself from gagging, lifted her napkin to cover her lips, and glanced about to see which wretched brother had replaced the sugar with salt.

Across from her, Charles was a picture of innocence, so she suspected him immediately. She wondered if his friend Abercorn had been in on the prank. It was entirely possible. She swallowed without batting an eye and, smiling at her dinner partner, returned to the subject of the earlier conversation. “I think age is relative. It is
maturity
that reveals a man’s character. There is nothing in a male quite so unattractive as immaturity.”

Her brother Charles immediately agreed. “However, there is nothing in a female quite as attractive as a sense of humor.”

Louisa reached for a plum and managed to accidentally tip Charles’s glass. Red wine splashed across his white neck cloth. “You are right, Charles. We all needed a good laugh.”

All five of his brothers suddenly found him amusing.

Abercorn didn’t know exactly what was going on, but he knew it was a game of tit for tat and he secretly longed to be a part of this large, fun-loving family.

After dinner everyone moved into the long gallery. Its walls were lined with comfortable sofas as well as gaming tables for cards. There was also plenty of room to play charades and games such as blind-man’s buff.

Charles picked up a pillow and took off after young Henry. When he caught his brother, he began to pummel him. “That was a rat-faced thing to do to your sister. An apology is in order.”

Henry held up his arms to protect his head. “I’m sorry, Lu. I won’t put salt in the sugar again.”

Louisa stood transfixed. “Charles, you are actually sticking up for me. Will you forgive me for drenching you with wine?”

“In the past I’ve played too many loutish tricks on you. It’s childish to pit the boys against the girls. From now on we should all be friends and look out for one another. That’s what families are for.”

A pillow hit him square in the head and Charles charged after his brother Jack. It wasn’t long before the rest of the siblings and their friends joined in the melee. Games tables were overturned to act as barriers against flying cushions, cards, and candles.

James, thoroughly enjoying himself, pulled Louisa behind a card table to shield her from the onslaught. “Lady Louisa, will you—”

“You mocking swine. No, I will not marry you!” She balled up her fists and thumped him in the chest. “I gave you my answer at Carlton House and I certainly haven’t changed my mind since.”

His dark eyes filled with amusement. “I was merely proposing that you keep your head down, not proposing marriage.” His mouth curved into a grin. “You said you didn’t remember me.”

“I lied. And what’s more, you know I lied, you arrogant devil.” She blushed. When he threw back his head and laughed, her sense of humor deserted her. She felt humiliated and furious at both him and herself.

Georgy, armed with a sofa pillow, flung herself at Abercorn and began to hit him across the shoulders. Instead of snatching it away and overpowering her, as she was hoping he would, James rolled to the carpet in submission. She went down on her knees before him and whispered, “Damn, I’m the one who wants to roll on the rug.”

Louisa jumped to her feet and held up her arms. “A truce! A little more decorum, ladies and gentlemen, if you please. Why don’t we settle this with a race tomorrow?”

James got to his feet and towered above her. “I know Woburn has its own racecourse. Will your father allow us to use it?”

“Yes, if we ride our own mounts. We cannot use the Russell racehorses.”

They set the event for eleven the following morning and then went about restoring the gallery so they could play cards. Lu felt disturbed by Abercorn’s presence and distanced herself from him. She played fiercely against her brothers, determined to win money from them, which she could use to wager in the horse race.

Georgy, on the other hand, was playing for higher stakes. She gambled recklessly with her brother’s friends, Teddy Fox, George Grey, and James Hamilton. She flirted outrageously and hinted that she might be persuaded to play for certain
favors.

 

Georgy followed her sister into her bedchamber. “It is no wonder James Hamilton has an athletic build if he is a champion oarsman. Muscles maketh the man!”

Louisa did not dare to even think of the Irish charmer, let alone discuss his muscles. She quickly changed the subject. “It was wicked of Bessy to bring up Mother’s sister Susan. She knows the divorce caused a terrible scandal.”

“From all I’ve heard the Duke of Manchester was an Adonis like Abercorn. He kept a string of mistresses. Women simply threw themselves at him. Poor Susan had one affair and the vindictive devil divorced her and took away her children.”

“Men can be so selfish and cruel . . . especially those who are good-looking. And, unlike women, they never have to pay for their sins.” With difficulty, she banished the image of Abercorn from her mind. “The wicked shall flourish as the green bay tree. The Crown appointed Manchester governor of Jamaica.”

“I warrant he planted a fine crop of bastards in the islands.” Georgy yawned and opened the adjoining door to her own bedchamber. “Goodnight, Lu. I wish you sweet dreams filled with lusty bachelors.”

As Louisa lay abed she pondered the wager she’d made with her sister about the kiss. Her birthday wasn’t that far away and she had few options open to her.
I shall have to approach one of my brothers’ friends and explain about my bet with Georgy. Surely one of them will take pity on me. I’ve known Teddy the longest—I’m sure he will oblige me.
She thought of Abercorn and stiffened. Under no circumstances could she ever ask the handsome, arrogant Irishman for anything.
His mocking dark eyes strip me of my confidence and turn me into a seven-year-old.

When Louisa fell asleep, she dreamed that she was in the Highlands on a recruiting mission with her mother and sister. They offered a guinea and a kiss to any male who would join the Gordon regiment. The line of braw Scots stretched out for a mile, but as she offered each one a kiss, he refused and passed her on to the next man in line. To add to her humiliation, they were clamoring to fuse their mouths with Georgy and the alluring Duchess of Bedford.