Duchess by Chance (32 page)

“I think Lord Huxley needs to make a new life for himself in America,” Daniel said.

“I will not!”

Daniel knelt beside Huxley so he could see into his pain filled eyes.
 

“Heed me, Huxley, because if you do not take this opportunity I give you and you choose to remain in England, then I will hunt you down and this time I will not aim to wound you.”

“B-but America,” the man groaned as Simon pressed harder.

“America will offer you more than you leave behind in England.”

“Wh-why?” Huxley said.

“Because killing you would mean I’d have to leave for France and you have caused my duchess and I enough trouble already.”

“The carriage awaits, Daniel.”

“Simon, take his legs. I’ll get his arms,” Daniel said, slipping his hands under Huxley’s shoulders.
 

“Go to your room now, Eva, and change your dress and go back down to the ballroom. Simon will escort you when he returns.”
 

“But, Daniel…”

“I need you to do this for me, love. No questions or arguments. There is too much at stake.”

Nodding, Eva hurried inside just as Molly appeared.

“Your Grace, I was just about to tidy up.”

“Pl-please, Molly, don’t ask any questions just help me change quickly.”

“Tis lucky we have a spare,” the maid said, noting the ripped bodice. She instantly whisked the dress over Eva’s head and then went to collect the other one. This one was emerald green although the style was not dissimilar to the last. It was scalloped around the hem with silver thread and had a silver underskirt. Slipping on a clean pair of white gloves, Eva noted her hands still trembled. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the white slippers Molly was slipping onto her feet. Had she not come up here to change earlier, none of the events she had just witnessed would have happened.

“You are ready now, your Grace.” Molly helped her to stand.
 

“Thank you.”

Simon was waiting outside and took her arm as she walked through the door and silently they returned to the ball.
 

“I will stay with you until he returns, Eva.”

They slipped into the ballroom and then followed the flow of people into the supper room. Forcing a smile onto her face, she unclenched her fingers on Simon’s sleeve and let him lead her to the buffet table.
 

“Eva! I have looked everywhere for you.”

“Hello, Claire. I-I had an accident in my dress and was forced to change.”

Claire looked from Eva’s fearful gaze to Simon’s anxious one but said nothing. Instead she said, “I shall get you both something to eat if you will find seats for us, Simon.”

Simon found Eva’s grandmother and her friends and lowered her into a chair beside them. He then stood behind her chair, resting one hand on her shoulder.

“Is all well, Granddaughter?”

“If you would be so kind as to not ask any questions, your Grace,” Simon said in a voice only she could hear. “We have had an incident that the duke would rather keep between ourselves. Therefore, I would ask that you keep the duchess at your side until he returns.”

The Dowager Duchess looked at Simon and her granddaughter, then she nodded and started to talk, including both Simon and Eva in the conversation. If both chose not to add much, it went unnoticed.

Before long, Claire returned, moving to Simon’s side. Eva heard her begin to question him. Her tone was gentle, unlike the other times they had conversed. No one commented on the duchess’s pale face or shadowed eyes. They all just stayed close to her side, listening as the Dowager Duchess and her elderly friends talked endlessly of amusing stories from their past.

When Daniel walked into the ballroom, he was once again the immaculately attired Duke of Stratton. His arm had been cleaned, stitched and bandaged and stung like the devil beneath his jacket. His eyes swept the room but could not find his wife. Prowling around, he finally felt his body relax as he saw Eva’s head beside Claire’s. Simon stood at her back and his grandmother to her right. His heart eased at the scene; they had formed a circle around his duchess, protecting her. Nudging Simon aside, he moved into position behind her. Placing one hand on her shoulder, he caressed the soft skin.

“I hope you are not telling stories of my youthful indiscretions, Grandmother.” He felt the shudder that ran through Eva at his words and tightened his fingers on her. He stood there for a while, talking and stroking her skin until she slowly relaxed.

“Come, Duchess, it is time for our second waltz.” He took her hand in his. “Thank you,” he then said to each of the people who had cared for her while he could not.

“It’s all right now, love,” he whispered as she gripped his fingers tight. “I am here, Eva, with you,” he added soothingly, dancing her slowly down the room. “Look at me, love,” he coaxed.

“I was scared I would lose you.”

Daniel felt her despair like a fist to his stomach as she looked up at him. The blue depths were wide with remembered terror. He had vowed to keep her safe from those who would hurt her, and again he had failed. “You will never lose me, Eva.”

Lowering her eyes, she kept them trained on his necktie for the rest of the dance.
 

For the remainder of the evening, Daniel watched Eva closely. Her smile was brittle as she danced and chatted and he knew her well enough now to see the turmoil hidden deep inside.
 

“We will leave soon, love,” Daniel whispered in her ear as he stood at her side. Her only response was a quick nod. Finally, an hour later, the guests started to depart.

“Come, sweetheart, let’s go home.”

“I don’t understand.”
 

“We need to be in our own home tonight,” Daniel said, leading her down his grandmother’s front steps and into the waiting carriage. They were silent on the journey. He held her close to his side. She stared out the window into the darkness and Daniel wanted to tell her how proud he was of the way she had gotten through the evening, yet knew now wasn’t the time. First, they would have to discuss the duel.

 
“I will say goodnight, Daniel,” she said as soon as they entered the house. “I am in need of sleep. Therefore, I shall see you in the morning,” she added in a tight voice.
 

Daniel admired his wife’s slender ankles as she picked up her skirts and ran from him up the stairs. If she thought she would be spending the night alone, she could think again.

“Will you require anything further, your Grace?”

“That will be all, Wernham,” Daniel said, following his wife. His valet helped him remove his clothing and then Daniel dismissed him. After washing, he slipped on his dressing gown and moved to the connecting door between their rooms.

Pushing the door open, he saw Eva lying on the bed, still dressed in her gown and slippers, with the puppy nestled under her arm. Closing the door behind him, he watched her eyes widen as he stepped up to the bed.

“I want to be alone,” she whispered.

“I think not, now get up and I will help you undress.”

This time it was her turn to say no.

Daniel lifted the sleepy puppy and walked back into his bedroom, where he placed him on his bed and then closed the door. Eva had moved as far to the opposite side of the bed as she could. Leaning on the mattress, he grabbed her ankles and tugged her gently toward him.

“Daniel, your shoulder!” She tried to wriggle free from his grasp.
 

“My shoulder is fine,” he said taking her hands and pulling her to her feet before him.

“I want to be alone.
 
I-I need time…”

“Time for what?” Daniel said, undoing the buttons at her back and pulling the dress from her shoulders.
 

“To…” She struggled to put her thoughts into words. “To come to terms with what happened tonight.”

“I don’t remember needing isolation when you were nearly killed in that carriage accident.” Daniel unlaced her corset and manfully tried to ignore the generous swell of her breasts. “In fact, I needed only you that night.”

“You should not have fought that duel!”

Now that was better, Daniel thought. The look of terror had left her face to be replaced by the flush of anger. Sinking to his knees, he untied her stockings and rolled them down her thighs.
 

“Would you have had me thank Huxley instead for mauling you and trying to kidnap you, or perhaps I could have taken off one of my gloves and slapped his face?” Daniel now stood before her. She was gloriously naked, and his body fired to life.

“I would have you live, damn you!”

“As I do.” Daniel removed his robe.

“But I will not allow you to fight a duel every time someone challenges me.”

“It was more than a challenge, Eva, as you very well know. Huxley hurt and terrified you and let us not forget that he also shot at our carriage.”

The bandage around his arm drew her eyes and he saw the terror as she remembered the moment he got it.

“I-I could have lost you,” her fingers shook as they traced over the cotton.

“Never.” Daniel hauled her into his arms, then tumbled them onto the bedcovers. Covering her lips with his, he kissed her hard. She struggled against him but Daniel held her closer and deepened the kiss until he felt her resistance flee. Only then did he ease back.

“You gave yourself to me, Eva,” he whispered against her neck. “Body and soul,” he added, running his hand over her breasts in soft strokes. “And I will protect you with my life if and when I believe it is necessary.”

She shuddered as his fingers moved over her stomach. Daniel watched as she arched toward him as his they delved into her silken core.
 

“You are mine as I am yours, Eva.” Daniel moved down her body, kissing and licking until he reached his goal. “Do you understand what that means?”

He ran his tongue down the dew-drenched folds between her legs, tasting her essence.

“I-I understand.”

He sucked on the hard little bud between her legs until he felt the pressure build inside her. Only then did he climb back up her body and drive himself deep inside her slick heat.

“We belong, Eva,” Daniel rasped as he withdrew and pushed slowly back into her.
 

“I love you, Daniel, so very much, now and forever.”

Her whispered pledge drove Daniel over the edge. Thrusting into her until she clenched around him, they scaled the heights of passion together.

“And I love you, Duchess, forever and always,” Daniel said, gathering her close in his arms as he felt sleep pulling him under. Resting a hand on her stomach, he imagined their child and dreamed of the future that now dawned bright and beautiful before them.
 

THE END

Wendy Vella is a lover of all things romantic. She started reading her first Georgette Heyer book at a young age and instantly fell in love with the Regency era. Writing is something she has always found time for; she penned her first novel at eighteen, though she says it will never make an appearance outside the closet in which it currently resides.

After having her two children, Wendy joined RWNZ and started honing her chosen craft by entering competitions with some success and attending conferences.
 

She has an addiction to reading, and loves a wide range of romance genres, but her first love will always be historical. She relishes novels steeped in romance and excitement, with feisty heroines and delicious heroes, especially when they are set amongst the treacherous waters of London society.

Wendy is a sucker for a happy ending, having secured her own. She has been married to her dark brooding hero for twenty-eight years, and shares her home with two wonderful children, two dogs, and anyone else who happens to be visiting at the time. Born and raised in a rural area on the North Island of New Zealand, Wendy loves the beaches and lush green rolling hills of her homeland, and is proud to call herself a very patriotic Kiwi!