Taming A Duke's Reckless Heart: Victorian Historical Romance (13 page)

Barrett gave his friend a hard look, but a lump was forming in his chest. Ethan pressed on.

“I will tell you something else. If you ruin Piper and don’t marry her, our business is over. I won’t stand by and watch you ruin a girl who is already on hard times. Those two women need some men to look out for them. If it isn’t going to be you then it will be me. You will have to find a new partner because I will be out.” Ethan turned on heel and stomped out of the room. Three seconds later Barrett heard his front door slam.

Barrett sat back down in his chair and poured a third drink. “Bloody bullocks!” he yelled to the room at large. Was Ethan right? Was he just making excuses as to why he couldn’t marry Piper? He had known his entire life he would enter into a loveless marriage like his parents. It was a beast he understood. But a marriage full of love?
That
he didn’t understand at all and it was frightening beyond belief.

He was supposed to return to England and attend to the Ducal obligations. He had left because his brother had been too young, and too inexperienced, to take on the role of provider. And Barrett had a natural head for business, but he promised his mother he would return once he secured the families’ finances. He would marry Penelope and live miserably ever after. She was a perfectly lovely girl but his every look seemed to frighten her half to death which in turn irritated him. She had none of Piper’s gumption.

He had long since secured the funds needed, but he found himself delaying his return. He loved his shipping business.

Something else nagged at his brain. Piper was making him think all kinds of things he hadn’t before he met her. What it would be like to marry a woman he chose? A wife that suited him perfectly. But to wed her was to shun the unwritten laws of his society. Was Ethan correct that Barrett was mistreating Piper? He cringed at the thought, but to abandon Penelope now would be to trade one evil for another.

He raked his hand through his hair. To wed Piper was to have her in his bed every night. To watch her grow large with his child. To hear her wit and her laugh that was as beautiful as a bell.

She wasn’t afraid of him—not even a little. Not when he glowered or growled. She said he made her feel safe. There had been plenty of women willing to share his bed but somehow Piper seemed to fit his entire life.

Living without her sounded cold and lonely. It would be exactly like his parents’ marriage.

He gave a small shudder. It had been difficult on his parents but he guessed it had been worse on himself and his brother. They had married because it was mutually beneficial, but that was where their feelings ended. And the lack of love had grown into hate over the years. His father had had affairs. His mother had manipulated. It pained him to remember.

He pictured his life here with Piper next to him. It was full of laughter and happiness. His mother would hate him too for choosing an American bride. While he could easily withstand his mother’s wrath, it was his duty to the title that nagged his conscience. Could he ignore his duty for love?

***

The clock downstairs chimed two o’clock in the morning. Piper sat by the window in her mother’s room. Her mother had hardly spoken, but Piper still didn’t want to leave the other women’s side. She dreaded going to this dinner party. She had not wanted to go to the ball either, but her aunt insisted this was what her mother would want.

She especially didn’t want to see Barrett. Now that her passion had cooled, she was embarrassed by her own behavior. And the connection between them grew stronger. How could she possibly concentrate on Phillip Stanford or any other man with Barrett in attendance?

Mrs. Fox had reminded her Barrett’s offer as his mistress was a temporary position. He would tire of her, and then she would be just another woman at a party trying to get a scrap of his attention. She had to face the fact she must let Barrett go. She couldn’t be around him and control herself. It was growing more difficult. She could not see him anymore.

She sighed heavily and then got up to walk to her room, desperate to get some sleep. In the morning she would pen a note to Phillip stating she couldn’t attend the party, but she would like to make other plans with him. Plans that did not involve Barrett.

It took a long time for sleep to come.

When she woke in the morning, her mood was even worse than it had been before. Dragging herself out of bed, Piper got herself ready for the day. After breakfast she would pen a note to Mr. Stanford explaining why she couldn’t attend.

When she arrived, she found Mr. Abbott dining with her Aunt Lizzie. “What brings you here, now?” she couldn’t keep the irritation out of her voice. He was supposed to have been on the
Maria,
but they had not heard from him in days.

“Piper.” He smiled in his simple way. “I was delayed in Boston. Business, you know, you wouldn’t understand. How is your mother?”

“You left us on the docks at night in a terrible part of town. We were attacked by thieves. Now you ask after her wellbeing?” Piper’s back straightened with every word.

“Now see here Piper, you cannot talk to our guest that way.” Her aunt stood as well. She looked furious, and Piper hadn’t even told her about the dinner. Piper bit her lip.

She turned back to Mr. Abbott. “My mother is very ill. I’m sure my aunt has told you, but you may visit if you like.”

“Oh, I couldn’t. Wasting disease. No, I couldn’t possibly.” He shook his head and then went back to devouring his breakfast.

Piper looked at the man in complete awe. How could her mother ever have thought this man would save them? He couldn’t get out of his own way. She shook her head. She had to save them. There could be no doubt. Barrett flashed in her mind. She told herself for the thousandth time she had to move on from him. He wouldn’t make her his wife. This wasn’t just about her. She had to do this for her mother too. She would find another man who made her feel as anchored as Barrett did. She had to.

Piper seated herself to be served. As she did, a note arrived for her. Her name was slashed across the front in the strongest letters she had ever seen. It could only be Barrett’s writing.

She scanned the contents. He wanted to pick her up to attend dinner tonight. Had he gone mad? It was completely indecent. Not to mention, she absolutely could not be alone with him.

She got up and went to the study. Then she wrote a quick note back saying she wasn’t attending. She gave no other explanation and then sent the message on its way.

She returned for breakfast. A cup of tea and some pastries would help improve her mood. She sat and ate, which would have made her feel better but Mr. Abbott kept blathering on about his important business and special affairs. Piper had to pinch herself under the table several times to keep from rolling her eyes.

Forty-five minutes later Barrett came bursting through the door. Piper nearly jumped out of her chair at the sight of him in the dining room. When she wasn’t with him, she could convince herself she never wanted to see him again but when he stood there, she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

He was so powerful and tall. Everything about him screamed masculinity. She looked at his muscular thighs, thighs that had held her up. His muscled arms had wrapped around her and held her tight to him. Her cheeks turned pink to remember their time in the hall yesterday.

“Who is he?” Barrett growled.

“Mr. Abbott, my mother’s fiancé,” Piper replied as she stood.

Barrett glowered at the man. “The one who left you on the docks?”

“Now see here,” Mr. Abbott started.

Barrett stepped up to the man. “Get out and don’t come back.”

Mr. Abbott was rendered speechless but Aunt Lizzie was not.

“Mr. Maddox! You cannot go ordering people about in my niece’s house.”

“Get out.” Sybil entered the dining room.

“Sybil, this is not acceptable,” Aunt Lizzie blubbered.

Mr. Abbot placed his napkin on the table and headed for the door. “Tell Mrs. Baker I will not be treated this way by her family. Good day.”

A small amount of satisfaction rippled through Piper. With any luck, Mr. Abbott would never return.

Barrett turned back to her. “Why are you not going to dinner tonight?” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“Oh dear Lord, I give up! Piper you are attending that dinner or I am returning to England,” her aunt railed.

Piper stepped around the table. “Shhh, Auntie. You’re not going anywhere. And I can’t go tonight. You are going with Sybil to the Senator’s dinner.  I have no chaperone.” Piper turned back to Barrett. “I will tell you plainly Barrett…”

“Piper you can’t call him that!” Aunt Lizzie sat heavily in her chair.

“I can’t go with you. I can’t see you anymore.” She turned her face away. It was so very painful to say after what they had shared the night before. Tears threatened to burn down her cheeks but she held them in. She had cried enough. Her fists clenched at her sides to hold the emotion in.

“Thank the Lord!” Aunt Lizzie exclaimed from the chair.

“Love, that is hardly the solution. I am sure we can still see—” His hand reached towards her but didn’t touch her.

“You know we cannot. You will marry your English lady, whoever she is, and I will marry some business man. You have already admitted we have no future. We are only delaying the inevitable.” Piper bit her lip. A tiny part of her wanted to beg him to reconsider but she would not.

He stepped very close to her. His eyes scanned her face as if he were searching for something. His voice dropped so low she could barely hear. “I meant it when I said I would always take care of you.” Then he stepped back and raised his voice. “I need to speak with your mother. Lady Vesser, could I see her briefly?”

“Of course,” her aunt agreed. “I will accompany you.”

Barrett gave her a brief nod before he walked out the door toward the stairs.

***

Twenty minutes later, Barrett was gone but Piper was summoned up to her mother’s room. Her aunt was still there and she gestured for Piper to take a seat.

“Your Great Uncle Walton Barrist has passed.” Her aunt gave her a side long look but didn’t make eye contact.

“I’m sorry.” Piper raised her eyebrows in both confusion and suspicion. She had no memory of such an uncle.

“He has left you a nice sum of money. It should buy you some time at any rate.” Her aunt looked everywhere but at Piper.

This whole thing was odd, not just because of the way her aunt was acting, but it was suspicious that when they were their most destitute, money suddenly appeared. Barrett had just left. Did he have anything to do with this? “I don’t know what to say…” she started.

“His Grace has also requested to escort you to the party this evening.”

“Do you really think that is wise?” Piper was growing more certain Barrett had something to do with this.

“You will both be properly chaperoned.” Her aunt did not make eye contact and Piper tilted her head. Something strange was happening.

“I heard shouting downstairs,” her mother croaked out.

“It was nothing, Mother. You need your rest,” Piper soothed.

“Tell me.” Her mother lay back on the pillow but her eyes stayed on her daughter.

Piper sighed. “Did you really ask Barrett to be my guardian?”

Her mother closed her eyes. Piper instantly felt guilty. “I couldn’t leave you alone in this world. He hasn’t proposed?” her mother asked as she sank deeper into the pillow.

“No, Mother. He has feelings of some kind for me but his first allegiance is to the Dukedom.” She bit her lip.

“Well, start looking for someone else then,” she said before she drifted off to sleep.

Piper and her aunt exchanged a long glance. She had been prepared to marry to save the family, but her mother had wanted her to wait to find love. Was her mother still worried the illness would claim her life? Why else would she want Piper to continue husband hunting?

Her aunt returned to breakfast; but Piper sat with her mother for a few more minutes and then wandered downstairs. It was ten o’clock which meant calling hours would begin. Any gentleman who was interested could stop by for a chaperoned visit.

She tried not to sigh as she heard the many voices coming from the drawing room. Several gentlemen had arrived early.

By the time Piper walked through the door, Phillip Stanford and Asher Grey had already arrived. She squared her shoulders. How could two such opposite men be together?

Asher jumped from her chair and hustled to her side. Even his movements were abrasive, and Piper found herself taking a half-step back. He had sandy colored hair and light blue eyes but there was a hardness about his lean figure that set her on edge.

“Miss Baker, a pleasure,” he remarked as he kissed her hand. It was forward of him to do so after one meeting and his lips lingered on her skin. She fought down a shiver of revulsion.

She withdrew her hand, as Phillip also stood. He smiled, kindness lighting his face. He bowed to her and offered the seat next to himself. Piper sat.

“Good morning, Miss Baker. A pleasure to see you again.”