Duchess by Chance (19 page)

CHAPTER NINE

Wernham intercepted Eva as she took her parcels to her room. “A note has arrived for you, your Grace.”

Taking the missive, she thanked him. Hopefully, it was from Claire. Eva would love to speak with her new friend because she knew so much about society. She was aware that Daniel was not pushing her to attend any functions, yet she also understood that speculation was mounting about her. His grandmother had told her that in no uncertain terms today.
 

You need to get out there, gal. Your husband will become a laughingstock if you don’t!

And because her husband had been so generous to both her and Reggie, she did not want that to happen. Therefore she would go to a function soon. She just wanted to have a bit more coaching from Claire first.

Opening the note, she quickly scanned the contents.

Come alone to the park across the road now or I shall be forced to journey to Edinburgh to collect my son.

Pushing aside the instant wash of icy fear as she read the words, Eva quickly pulled on her gloves and bonnet and hurried from the room. The note was from her father and she knew he would do as he stated and she could not allow that, would not allow Reggie to be hurt anymore. Heart thumping, she reached the front entrance.

“You are going out, your Grace?”

“Just to the park, Wernham, a friend is awaiting me there,” she lied. “I shall return soon.”

“His Grace would be displeased if you did not take someone with you, your Grace.”

“Molly is coming, Wernham, she will be along shortly so do not fret and please do not bother my husband as he is very busy.”

Reaching for the door, Eva forced a bright smile onto her face as she opened it herself and ran down the steps before he could stop her.
 

The day was warm and under different circumstances she would enjoy the walk. Hurrying along the path she reached the park. Pushing open a small gate, she held it for a lady holding the hand of little girl.

“Lovely day for a walk, don’t you think?”

Eva nodded and mumbled a reply and then found the path that ringed the park. Plenty of people were here. Some had dogs; others, children, and all were enjoying the sun and the simple act of being outside.

“Hello, daughter.”

All the old uncertainties resurfaced as a hand touched Eva’s back and she struggled to remain a duchess and not the scared girl she had been.

“What do you want, Father?” Eva stopped walking and turned to face the man who had sired her.

He was big - not as big as Daniel, but still, he could and had hurt her without too much effort. Large and broad-shouldered, he and his two elder sons shared the same unfortunate pale skin which tended to turn pink in the sun. His hair was now grey, freckles dotted his face, and as usual, his brown eyes held a belligerent expression.

“Adjust your tone, Daughter.” Eva didn’t flinch as his fingers pinched her arm.

“What do you want, Father?” she repeated, fighting to stay calm.

“Lord Huxley and I have had a bad run on the tables lately and need a bit of blunt to turn things around.”

“You would dare to ask me for money after the life you subjected me to!” She couldn’t breathe. Her chest felt tight and she struggled to force air into her lungs.
 

“Think you’re better than me now, Duchess?” He spat the words at her. “You’re still the worthless girl you always were and no clothes or title can change that! You should be thanking me for giving you the life you now live.”

“I know I’m better than both you and Lord Huxley.” Eva kept her voice low.

“If you don’t give me money, I’ll go to Scotland and make your brother’s life hell.”

“No! Leave Reggie alone.” The sense of despair that she could not fight him returned. How had he found Reggie so soon?

“Then you better do as I ask, girl, because if you thought Scotland was far enough to hide him, you were wrong. You’re the only one now who can keep Reggie safe.”

“Do you care nothing for your son?” Eva rasped.

“You’re both as weak as your mother was. Should never have married that woman. My first wife was much stronger. Shame she died of that rotted tooth.”

Eva didn’t speak, just stared into his hated face. Why had she believed she would ever be free of him?

“And don’t think about asking your husband, either. I can have him hurt just as easy as your brother.”

“You can’t touch the Duke of Stratton, Father. He is both stronger and smarter than you.” Eva felt better just saying the words. Daniel would help her if she went to him, help rid her of her family once and for all.

“If you don’t pay up, girl, then Lord Huxley will challenge the duke to a duel and we both know the outcome now, don’t we.”

Eva felt a physical pain at the thought of anyone hurting Daniel.
 

“Lord Huxley has never been defeated, Eva, and he loves to fight. He told me to tell you he hates the duke enough to want to see him dead if you don’t do as I say.”

Eva knew she was trapped. She could not allow Daniel to fight Lord Huxley, but knew if the man challenged him, he would not back down. She would have to pay her father or see her husband dead or maimed.

“I want the first payment tomorrow. One of your brothers will be in this park at two. Be here or I will be on my way to Scotland before your brother has settled into his new life.”

He was gone before she could say anything further and numb Eva began to walk home. She had no money of her own – well, not enough to appease her father, anyway. She would have to give him the ring her husband had given her when first they married. It was big and ugly and surely Daniel would not miss it or ask for it back. So much had changed between them lately and she had even begun to believe that they could share a life together. Have children and a family. Eva struggled to hold back the tears as she approached the townhouse. Damn her father for forcing her into the one thing she had always vowed she would never do to her husband, no matter the provocation. She was about to betray him and now everything between them was about to change.

“Will you play for me, Eva?” Daniel looked across the table to his wife. She had been quiet this evening, her face pale and drawn. He’d asked her what was wrong and she had used missing Reggie as an excuse. She was lying. He knew it by the way her eyes dropped when she answered and he wondered what had taken place between him spending a few hours in his office and now.

“I have not had a lot of practice on the new piano, Daniel. Indeed, I will sound almost rusty when compared with some.”

“Then I shall listen and point out your mistakes.”

His taunt did not even produce a smile.

“Eva, has something upset you?”

“No, I am well, your Grace, just missing my brother.”

He was suddenly ‘your Grace’ again.

“I would like to thank you again for my beautiful piano, Daniel. Will you play it also?”

“I’m not sure I remember how,” Daniel said. Memories of his mother always surfaced when he played so he had just stopped. “Eva, we are to attend the Stratton Ball tomorrow.”

Any color she had in her face had just leeched away.

“Must we?”
 

“Yes, we must. I am a duke and you, my duchess. Therefore, there are expectations upon us.”

She looked ready to faint. Where the hell had the woman he had kissed this morning gone? He would speak with Wernham and see if she had had any visitors. Something had unsettled her and he wanted to know what.

“I have no gown.” She was digging deep for any excuse.

“Eva, it is decided and tomorrow night you will go with me to the Sutton ball. Claire and Simon will both be there, as will my grandmother. For all the good she will be.”

“Excuse me. I…I will go and choose some music.”
 

He watched her bolt, then picked up his wine. He had no doubt it would take only a short time for her to win over society and he predicted the ton would have a new darling by the end of the season.
 

Daniel slipped into the music room and seated himself in the big chair he had placed before the fire. It was angled perfectly so he could see Eva’s face as she played. Her hands flew over the keys and her eyes were fierce as she followed the sheets of music. He could almost feel her passion as she poured everything into her playing. She made love with the same intensity and she was his - every delectable inch.

He let her play for some time, then rose and went to stand beside the piano.

“Will you play with me?”

Eva saw that her words had surprised him. Reaching for his hand, she urged him down onto the seat beside her.
 

“It has been many years since I have touched a piano.”

He was nervous, his fingers stiff as he ran them down the keys. He looked suddenly unsure, almost vulnerable, and she pushed aside her worries to comfort him. “Did your mother play for you?”

She saw the answer in his eyes as he began to play. “She played like you, from the heart.”

Eva joined him as he began a slow ballad. He was good, very good, and she enjoyed the feel of his strength sitting beside her, his warmth surrounding her. When the ballad finished, she started another and he followed. They sat there side by side through many more songs until finally their fingers tired.
 

“I had forgotten how much I loved to play. Thank you for reminding me.”

She heard the emotion in his words. Playing had stirred the memories inside him. “Did your mother teach you to play, Daniel?”

Absently, he took one of her hands in his as he thought about what he would say. “Yes, she taught me to play. She also taught me to love and laugh. She was my life.”

She didn’t know what to say to that so Eva just squeezed his fingers and laid her head on his shoulder.

“Where she was everything that was good and kind, my father was everything that was evil and in the end he killed her.”

“Dear God!”

“It seems we have that in common, Duchess. Fathers who hated us.”

“How did he kill her?”
 
The devastation in his eyes had her reaching for him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Eva held him.

“He was punishing me and she died as a result.”

His scars were just as painful as hers but buried deeper.
 

Slipping one arm under her thighs, he lifted her against his chest and strode from the room. Neither spoke again as they undressed and then he kissed her, his mouth seeking something that tonight only she could give him and when he drove deep inside her, she wrapped her arms and legs around him and held him close. For tonight she would give him her comfort and love and tomorrow she would betray him.

...

“Ooh, don’t you look lovely, your Grace.”

Eva stared at the lady in the mirror. “Good Lord, it is me!” Molly had piled her hair high, leaving a few curls to lie on her bare shoulders. Several small diamond clips held it in place. “Molly, you can work magic!”

Ignoring the comment, the maid bustled Eva into her dress. Madame Monterio, her grandmother’s dressmaker, had obviously worked her seamstresses into the ground all afternoon, Eva thought with a tug of guilt. The dress was quite simply the most beautiful thing Eva had ever worn. Made of sky blue satin, it clung and swirled in all the right places, falling in soft folds to the floor. The overskirt made of deeper blue was sheer, and opened at the front to show the beautiful rose satin skirt beneath. The bodice was fitted and her breasts swelled above the neckline once Molly had tightened Eva’s corset.
 

“Is the neckline not too low, Molly?” Eva chewed her lip, eyeing the expanse of exposed bosom.

“No more than many and a great deal less than some.” The maid moved to do up the tiny buttons that ran the length of Eva’s spine.

The sleeves were fitted to the elbow and Eva slipped on a pair of ivory gloves, while on her feet were matching slippers. Molly draped a gossamer blue shawl around her shoulders and then urged her from the room as Eva thanked her profusely.

“Daniel.”

He turned as she walked into the parlor and the look in his eyes told Eva everything she needed to know.

“I have no words to describe your beauty, Duchess.”
 

She felt beautiful with his eyes on her as she walked toward him.

“You take my breath away.”

“Thank you, it is the loveliest dress I have ever owned.”
 

“That neckline is very low.”

Eva felt a flush color her skin as he looked at her breasts. “No more than others, Daniel,” Eva solemnly quoted Molly.