Fate Is A Stranger: Regency Romance (5 page)

Well,
he, the Duke of Hawkinston, no less
, was helping to elevate them further, he thought with chagrin. But there was not another choice. His hunger for Violet grew by the minute and if it took the monumental task of forcing his sister to be hostess at the party, he would undertake it gladly, so long as it advanced his pursuit of Violet.

* * *

Hawkinston would have been jolted had he known that Violet's interest in Cynweir Castle other than its historical value was mostly for her father's and her mother's sake. And had he been able to see into Violet's mind and her steely resolve, his conviction that Violet would eventually be his mistress would have been considerably shaken.

Violet regarded the duke with growing interest. She could not deny that she was drawn to him and to his rare smile. She noticed that he smiled seldom and only to her. This was extremely flattering to a girl who had known great hardship, danger and humiliation in her life.

"I have learned of your heroic actions of six years ago," said the duke, as they walked their horses over the misty green, "and was impressed by your courage, Miss Durbin. I don't believe there are many young ladies who would have taken the chances you took to save another person from extreme harm."

"I’m glad that I was able to be of assistance to Lady Arandale, who at the time was Miss Cecilia Sentennel," responded Violet, "but I can’t say it took any great courage on my part. I don’t believe I thought much of what I was doing, only that it needed to be done."

"That is what courage and resolve are made of, Miss Durbin."

"I always imagine courage to be more like the courage displayed by our officers and soldiers in their direct combat in the battles against Napoleon, sir. They saved our nation from being conquered and enslaved."

"Courage is not counted in numbers alone, Miss Durbin. You saved one person, while they saved a whole nation."

"Thank you, sir," said Violet and asked, in an effort to divert attention from her: "And did you participate in the battles?"

"I was for three years in the Peninsula, Miss Durbin, under Wellington. Though the battles were bloody and the conditions often appalling, I do not regret one minute of it."

CHAPTER 5

The following week, Violet's time was taken up with visits to the lending library and with fittings.

One afternoon, on returning from shopping in Bond Street with her maid, Violet went in search of her parents. Her mother had gone to the Bond Street but she found her father in the library.

Lord Kelly was smoking a cheroot by the window and Violet went up to kiss him. He turned to her with the delight in her that he always showed. This sweet daughter he had acquired late in life was surely a gift from heaven.

"Papa, my dear," she said as she hugged him, "I have seen little of you in the last two days. I’m glad you will now be able to be with us a bit more before you leave again."

Lord Kelly was organizing the estate of an uncle who had died and left everything to him. The estate was in Northampton and required much of his time of late, for his uncle had been ill for the last five years of his life and the estate had been dangerously neglected.

"I am glad too, my sweet," said Lord Kelly as he kissed her and hugged her back.

"I noticed a plumper correspondence tray this week," he added. "Sir Bentwell has sent us an invitation for a musicale and dance at his house in Berkeley Square. This bodes well for our Season in London this year."

"I’m very glad of that, Papa. The duke's invitation will perhaps open other doors for you and Mama," Violet removed her chip bonnet and gloves and handed them to her maid.

A cloud passed over Violet’s blue eyes once the maid had left. Even after six years, Violet often had the fear that her present life would suddenly go up in smoke and that she would be thrust once more into that violent horrible past that seemed more like a nightmare she had endured than actual reality. She often thought that she may not deserve her present good fortune and the love of her father and that it might be taken away from her.

"What is it, my dear," her father asked with concern.

"Nothing, Papa; why do you ask?"

"Just that the saddest look clouded your eyes for a moment and it appeared you were in extreme mental pain. You'd best tell me, for I do not want that look in your eyes ever again."

"I—I suppose I sometimes can’t entirely grasp my good fortune in being recognized by you, Papa. It seems sometimes an incredible gift that may be taken from me at any moment."

"That’s an awful way to live your life, my dear, in such fear, and I take exception to it. You must promise me you will never doubt your present life—ever again. You didn’t earn any of it so that it may be taken away—you were
born
to it, just not immediately acknowledged as such, because I didn’t know of your existence. Had I known, you would not have known any other kind of life because you would have grown as an infant within these walls."

"Thank you, Papa," said Violet, her eyes welling up with tears. She hugged him and sighed in relief. Until the next time, she thought sadly, when similar thoughts would send shivers throughout her body.

She would long ago have become accustomed to this life and not doubt that it would last if all she had to do was to see the love in her father's eyes. Unfortunately, she had to deal with others and those others reminded her with word and deed that she had not been born to her present life and with their disdain made her vulnerable to such dark thoughts that sometimes invaded her.

Society men reminded her by their belief that she could easily be made their mistress and society women by their whispers and remarks as she went by, loud enough for her to hear.

An incident at a milliner shop on Bond Street had upset her so much at the beginning of the Season that she had been unable to leave the house for a whole week.

Seldom did members of the aristocracy, other than the royals, acknowledge their offspring. And the few who were intrepid enough to dare do so aroused great disdain and anger toward them, which was meant to discourage such acts. "Ellen," the woman in the shop had said to her companion, "Perhaps we should buy our hats at an establishment that does not cater to strumpets."

Once the women had left the shop, the proprietor of the shop had taken Violet aside and advised her that she would only serve her needs if she came in the afternoon. Violet knew, as did all of the ton, that the afternoon shopping was relegated to the demimonde.

"Now, let’s talk of happier things, my sweet," said her father, unaware of Violet’s sad thoughts. “Here is the invitation from the duke. Your mother and I are very happy for
you
more than for ourselves."

Lord Kelly smiled with great satisfaction as he took a sip of his brandy. Outside, the park beyond the front gate seemed a faraway place. It occurred to him for the hundredth time, how happy he was with his little family. And to think that this wonderful change in his lonely life had come about purely by chance! He could not imagine his life now without Sadie and Violet.

"And how is my young miss faring with her callers?" he asked Violet, in order to put a lighter tone to their talk for he did not like that Violet seemed unfairly tormented by unworthiness. "Has the duke's invitation made changes for you in the way young men now consider you, my dear?"

"A little," laughed Violet. "But I would not put too much stock on the duke's invitation. Society is finicky. We may have just seen a momentary lapse in their attitude toward us."

Violet went to the window and glanced out at the rare blue sky and at the small orchard and bit of garden below. The sliver of sky above the treetops in the garden was a bright cobalt and the day seemed made for enjoyment.

"I hope not," said her father. "You have been snubbed by society and undeservedly so. I hope this marks a turning point toward better times for you, my dear."

"Papa, don’t fret over it so
. I
do not mind
.
I’m blessed with you and Mama; to ask for more would be greedy."

"Let me be greedy for you, then, my dear," said her father. "I believe Jared will, under our changing circumstances, offer you a marriage proposal."

"Under other circumstances that would be, for instance, that his uncle not be in this earth," said Violet laughing.

She turned back from the window.

"I believe he would tie Jared to the nearest tree were Jared intrepid enough to ask me to marry him, Papa," she said, and added, "Besides, Jared's purse strings are tightly controlled. You can’t see him as a serious prospect for a husband. Why, he spends his time in gaming halls and horse auctions. He looks even younger than his years, too.

"His uncle has forbidden him to see me. He has told me so himself."

"Well, the duke seems to have an eye for you himself, Violet, and that may be the reason he would not allow Jared near you. He did act strangely at the musicale; several people remarked on it and he seemed not to be able to take his eyes off you. I heard a report that you left him standing in the middle of the ballroom, even in the middle of the waltz you were dancing with him, my dear, is this true?"

"It is true, Papa, and I assure you it was well-deserved. Hawkinston's reasons are best left unexplored."

Violet frowned as she did whenever she recalled the duke’s reasons for his pursuit of her.

"Men in his position seem to believe no wish of theirs can be denied," said her father. "I’m glad you do not encourage his advances, my dear, for he is a powerful man.

"Instead, I believe it would be advisable to encourage Jared. Hawkinston cannot forbid his nephew to marry, though he is his guardian, once Jared reaches his majority. I have observed him and I’m certain that young man’s feeling for you runs deep. Your influence would instill in him the seriousness and maturity he lacks, my dear."

"Forgive me, Papa, if I prefer not to encourage Jared, for I don’t want to complicate his life. He is too young to know what is in his best interest. He would find himself using his better judgment
after
a marriage with me if such a marriage ever took place, and after he attained more maturity. It would then place me in a very uncomfortable position. He is much too young to make such a decision and I would not encourage him to do so. I consider him only as a sweet friend. He may be smitten with me but he lacks the depth and maturity to make such a decision. In this I am on his uncle’s side."

"You take a much too insightful view of it. Jared is an ardent admirer and would be even more so
beyond
a wedding to you, should such a felicitous event take place," insisted Lord Kelly, his face earnest. "I have hopes that his admiration for you will give him such eloquence that he will convince Hawkinston to allow him to marry you. And convince
you
too, by and by."

"But his youth, Papa," objected Violet.

"I have seen marriages between even younger couples," pressed her father, "So his age does not pose a significant reason to oppose the marriage should he propose. I would certainly agree wholeheartedly to it. I have seen men even more immature than Jared grow in stature when allied to the right woman. You, my dear, would improve the character of any man who married you."

"You endow me with more attributes than I possess," said Violet, blushing at her father's words, yet happy that he held such views of her.

"I cannot endow you with what you already possess, my dear," said her father. "The duke is used to having everyone bow before him, so he may already be set in his ways. I recall the father he had and it’s no wonder he didn't turn out even worse than he did."

"What sort of a man was the duke's father, Papa? I recall a description of him as a scoundrel. Was it so?'"

"The fourth Duke of Hawkinston was a scoundrel all right and lived only for his own pleasure. He neglected both his wife and his children while he lived a desultory life in which womanizing, gambling and drinking were his three interests. It was the drinking that took him to his grave. I remember hearing that he had demolished his liver with alcohol. He died while the present duke was in the Peninsula, alongside Wellington."

"I hope the present Duke of Hawkinston fares better, Papa. He seems to be very intelligent, which may help him in the long run."

Violet wondered at herself. She could easily banter with her father as to the duke's character, yet a delicious shiver had gone through her when his name had first come up. Was she always to be torn between what her heart felt and what her duty dictated? Perhaps avoiding him after this house party would be the healthy choice, for one cannot be pulled in two opposite directions and withstand the pressure for too long.

"That he is and brave, also," continued her father. "His contribution to the war was admirable. But I do not believe matrimony would be in his plans if he directs his full attention to you. Jared's interest in you on the other hand is an entirely different matter. I believe the duke would in time agree to Jared's courtship of you."

"Papa, that’s a very optimistic view. I have become a little more acquainted with Hawkinston, and I believe he would not allow Jared any such plans. Even though Jared will soon be of age it would cause a rift with his uncle."

"Well, things may change," said Lord Kelly frowning, and added, "I will be leaving shortly after we reach the castle, for my trip north, Violet, and I do entreat you to care for your mama as best you can. I shall try to return before the house party is over so that I may cross a word or two with Hawkinston. I really believe he could not oppose his nephew's good faith marriage proposal. Young Jared has hinted to me of his interest in you and I would not want to give him my consent without first talking to the duke about it."

"Papa, I would rather you did not discuss this subject with the duke," said Violet, alarmed. "I believe it’s premature to do so. I entreat you!"

"Very well, my dear, I shall hold off for a while. But not for very long, you must allow, for I believe an alliance with Jared is in your best interest and I will not let this opportunity for you pass you by for lack of a response. It is not as if you are being showered with marriage proposals. We cannot ignore the only good proposal you have received and one that I wholly approve of.

"I do want your word that you will begin to consider Jared's suit, my dear. I’m very serious about this. It is my heart’s desire to see you settled with a young man of character. Although Jared is a bit silly in his choice of clothes, it is only because he wants to be more like his friends than like his uncle.

"I have had a few conversations with him and I am absolutely certain he will improve with age. for his character is sterling. Besides, you could have a longer engagement in which he would grow into the role, but not too long, for I’m certain both the duke and the trustees of his estate, as well as his other relations would try to dissuade him but I see in Jared a strength of character that could withstand the pressure."

"I’m sure the duke would not allow it, Papa. Since there is no other than Jared as his heir, Jared is very important to him. And apart from that, the circumstance of my birth is another great barrier…"

"I’m sure Jared can withstand the pressure,” her father interrupted on seeing Violet suddenly blush. So much of her background was now common knowledge.

"So certain are you of Jared, Papa? It would take great strength of character to withstand the duke. Do you believe Jared possesses that at his young age? "