Taming the Duke (16 page)

Her heart leaped with joy at the look of happiness on Dalton’s face. The loneliness she often sensed, although he covered it well, was gone from his eyes.

She rubbed Bashshar’s powerful neck as she studied Dalton. His blue eyes met hers, and he knew she had caught him off guard. She averted her eyes to Bashshar, who stood proudly, gleaming in the sunlight.

Dalton took her hands into his own large palm. “You’re truly amazing, Alicia. What you’ve done with Bashshar is a miracle.”

She felt her cheeks flush with pride. “Your horse is very special. He has amazing insight and sensitivity.” She basked in the glow of his admiration, and she realized how very much his approval meant to her.

His eyes darkened as his gaze dropped to her mouth. She wanted him to kiss her. No, she wanted more.
She wanted him
. The words burned into her brain.

He drew her closer, then finally his warm, firm mouth took hers. Strong, hard arms circled her as she leaned against his chest. Through the thin cotton of her shirt, her breasts pressed against his hard-muscled chest.

He deepened the kiss, and she felt as if her mind had flitted away any trace of reasonable thought. She found her hands sliding up around his neck,
her fingers twining into his black hair at the back of his collar.

How many times had she imagined this? But not in her wildest dreams had she ever thought a kiss could be so wondrous. She heard a low moan from deep in her throat. Dear God, what was she doing? It was one thing for her to desire him. But she would be a fool to let him know it. Once they were married, she could enjoy their coupling, but he must never know that she truly desired him. Better to have him think she was only honoring their agreement. She had too much pride to let him know that she truly did have romantic feelings for him.

She drew back. His mouth stilled, then she felt his arms release her.

“What is it, Alicia? Certainly you aren’t surprised that I would want to kiss you?”

His stark words broke through her trance as she gathered her wits. “When I am your wife, I know that I’ll have no say in what you do with me, your grace. But until then—”

“I’m sorry if I frightened your…tender sensibilities, but I would hardly think a woman such as yourself would be filled with foolish romantic ideas—”

“What do you mean, a woman such as I?”

“You’re a practical lass. You know about animals and what goes on about begetting young—”

Alicia gasped. “How can you make such a comparison? Begetting an heir is more than two common animals rutting in a pasture.”

His face reddened. “Alicia, I never suggested—”

“But that’s what you meant, isn’t it?” She tossed her hair back from her shoulders. “Very well, Dalton. We have an arrangement. One I will uphold, you can be sure. And I promise you that I hold no romantic notions about why you want to marry me. For you are correct—I’m well versed in practical matters. But even my stock mares at Marston’s Heath do not breed with a stallion unless they choose.” Her chin lifted a notch. “Apparently I will not be given that same option…”

A muscle tightened in Dalton’s jaw. “You know that’s not what I meant. Don’t try to make this appear as though I’m forcing you.” He raised a black brow. “Are you saying that you wish to back out of our marriage agreement?”

She eyed him warily. Oh, why did she have to let her temper get the better of her? Why did she have to respond to him with such emotion? Why couldn’t she just have stood, like a post, and let him kiss her?

Because she had enjoyed kissing him, and he knew she did. She pushed back her shoulders. “As you well know, I’m financially responsible for my family. And as you also know, I have no choice but to marry you. Of course I won’t break our contract.”

He folded his arms across his broad chest. The corner of his mouth lifted into an infectious grin. “Oh, you poor, little maid. How tortured you must be for having to marry one of the most wealthy, sought after, handsome dukes in England.”

She couldn’t keep her face straight. “Don’t forget pompous, overbearing, arrogant, stubborn, and—”

“Yes, and don’t
you
forget it.” His grin deepened, showing a dimple in his cheek.

Her small chin lifted, and she straightened her shoulders. “I must return to my duties,” she said, pacing back to Bashshar without giving Dalton the courtesy of name or title. “

Dalton chuckled, watching the feisty young woman who would become the new duchess of Wexton by week’s end. He never realized before how much he was going to relish being her husband.

Dalton found Justin Sykes in the billiard room, practicing a two-cushion bank shot.

Justin paused, midshot, then looked up as Dalton strolled into the room. “What’s the matter, ol’ chap? You look like you’ve just been challenged to a duel.”

“Nothing quite so dramatic, Justin.” He strode to the sideboard and poured himself a whiskey. “Care for one?”

“No. I haven’t had a drink since last night. All the fresh, country air, I imagine. Being sober is rather a strange feeling, I must say.” He bent over the table, cue in hand. The crack of ivory sounded after he followed through on the shot, the white ball banked off two cushions, banking off the opposite white ball, then into the red ball.

“Your game is improving,” Dalton said, picking out a cue from the rack inside the walnut cabinet.
He studied the table as he chalked the cue tip. “Care to place a wager?”

“Hmm, I don’t think so. I don’t want you taking advantage of my newfound sobriety.” He shot Dalton a short look. “Or taking out on me whatever has your dander up.” Justin chuckled as he picked up the small leather resin bag and dusted his hands.

“Nothing has my dander up,” Dalton charged, duplicating the shot Justin had just made.

Justin let out a low whistle as he watched the cue ball roll across the table. “Maybe it’s more than your dander that’s up,” he said, grinning wickedly. “What has the lovely Lady Alicia done? Or is it What she hasn’t done that has you so in a tither?”

“I’m not in a tither.”

Justin chuckled. “Don’t deny it, old chap. I know all of the symptoms.”

“Women. I’ll never understand them. But I thought Alicia was different from the others.”

“Mistake number one, you fool.”

Dalton glared at Justin, who noisily chalked his cue. “Alicia should be different. She’s more comfortable in a horse stable than a ballroom. She’s much too intelligent to indulge in the boring gossip that keeps most of the ton in such a flutter, and Alicia is as comfortable in leather breeches as I am.”

Justin raised a brow. “Sounds like you’re made for each other. So what’s the problem?”

Dalton paused over his next shot. He wasn’t certain there was a problem. All he knew was that she could turn his world upside down with so little as one glance of those large, soft brown eyes. “When
we’re alone together, she makes me feel as though I’m…I’m some sort of…ogre.”

“I thought so!” Justin slapped his hand on his thigh. “You’ve asked her to go to bed with you.”

Dalton scowled. “I have not,” he said indignantly. “Well, not in so many words—”

“That’s why I have no use for maidens.” Justin waved his hand dismissively and leaned against his cue. “They behave for the first time as though they’re being sacrificed. Once you bed Lady Alicia, she’ll realize what a valuable token she has to barter with. Then your marital woes will truly begin, old friend.”

Dalton cracked the white ball, ricocheting it across the green baize. “She’s agreed to give me an heir, and then once the child is born, she is free to do as she pleases. But I think she wants something more from me, but I can’t be certain.” Dalton took two steps around the table, leaned and shot again. The cue ball almost jumped off the table. “Damned fool notion—love.”

Justin grinned. “Olivia seems to believe in love, and you sound like you’re up to your neck in it, ol’ chap.”

Dalton glowered back at him. “Olivia has been protected by the family all her life,” Dalton said quickly. “Luckily, she married a man who continues to patronize her romantic dreams.”

“Why can’t you do the same with Alicia?”

“Because I don’t believe in perpetuating lies.” Dalton finished his tenth billiard, then chalked the tip of his cue.

“I have eyes in my head, ol’ chap. I see the way you look at her. I think you’re afraid.” His mouth twitched. “Good God, you’ve fallen head over heels in love with her, and you don’t know how to handle it.”

Dalton glared at him from over his cue stick. “Don’t take me for a simpleton, Sykes! Love only makes men weak and women foolish.” He turned to walk around the table when he noticed Alicia standing in the doorway. Her face was a stony mask.

Justin’s grin faded and he straightened, holding on to the cue stick. He cleared his throat in the lengthening silence.

Alicia glanced from Justin’s embarrassed face to Dalton. “Olivia said you might be here, Dalton.” Her voice couldn’t hide the hurt in her face. “A man is waiting for you in the drawing room. He’s just come from London with a message he says is of grave importance.” She turned and rushed down the hallway.

“Alicia, wait!” Dalton’s long strides quickly caught up with her. “Please hear what I have to say.” He swung her around.

She jerked her head away. “I heard what you said, Dalton. You made yourself perfectly clear.”

“I was frustrated, I—”

“I understand your feelings, and I agree with you.” Her eyes widened as he looked at her in surprise. “I’m not a silly flibbertigibbet who believes in love. There’s no need to explain yourself to me.”

“I owe you an apology. I’m sorry, Alicia.” Dalton drew back and studied her. From the guarded
look on her face, he knew she had been hurt by his foolish comments to Justin. Damn, why did he feel so defensive when it came to admitting that he cared for her? Justin knew him well enough to see through him. But Alicia?

She straightened. “The gentleman from London is still waiting for you. And I must be getting back to my letter writing. Should I tell him you’ll be along shortly?”

“Never mind, I’ll go to him presently.”

“Very well.” Alicia brushed off her skirts and made a hasty retreat down the hall.

Dalton felt like he had just whipped a puppy. Why did he have this need to cradle her in his arms and keep her safe? Instead, he behaved like someone he didn’t know.

Love was a weakness, which created chaos, that was why. Love had blinded his father to his wife’s infidelities. Dalton vowed never to let emotions destroy him so. He would put further carnal thoughts of Alicia from his mind. Or try to, anyway.

A few minutes later, Dalton threw open the door to the drawing room and strode inside. Inspector Humphrey Leary, the private inspector from Bow Street stood up from his seat at the fireside chair and turned to him. “Good evening, your grace.”

“Leary, this is a surprise.” Dalton noticed the crease of worry between the man’s eyebrows. “Have you found any leads?”

The solicitor’s dour features tightened with concern. “We’ve begun our inquiries, sir. What we’ve found is interesting.”

Dalton felt an uneasy thread of trouble. “Can’t be as bad as you look,” he said with a slight smile. Leary came with excellent credentials, but Dalton had heard that the man was a stickler for detail. “Sit down. I’ll fix you a drink.” Dalton strode to the sideboard and splashed whiskey into two glasses, then handed one to the older man.

Leary took the drink. When both men were comfortably seated, he opened his leather portfolio and shuffled through a sheaf of papers. “I’ve just received this report from my most trusted runner.” He handed Dalton the letter. “Everything is in the report, sir.”

Dalton sipped his drink and glanced over the findings. “Lord Templestone?” He glanced up. “He’s not family. Why would he be included in this report?

Leary straightened in his chair. “Forgive me, your grace, but he has, shall we say…been in close company with your mother, the dowager duchess.”

Dalton flinched inwardly at the carefully worded phrase that suggested that his mother and Templestone had shared quarters. “Tell me what you found out.”

“Templestone has been gambling heavily and losing, yet he appears to be able to cover his debts.”

Dalton’s eyes met Leary’s. “In the past, he’s married rich women. He’s a widower again, and he spends money as he pleases.”

“True, his marriages have garnered him large land holdings, but not cash, sir.”

Although Dalton hated the rumor mill, he was
aware of Templestone’s mysterious past. “Since he’s one of my mother’s friends, perhaps you should continue investigating him.”

“Of course, sir.” Leary jotted a note in a book. “You also wanted us to check on everyone’s alibi during the shooting.”

Dalton nodded, scanning the report. “Where was Templestone?”

The inspector withdrew a handkerchief from his vest pocket and wiped his shiny forehead. “With your mother, Sir.”

Dalton hid his surprise. “I see.” His tone was as casual as a man’s asking about the weather.

The inspector nodded. “There’s no mistake. I can read the details to you if—”

“No, that’s not necessary.” Dalton strode to the window, unsettled by the new information. His mother was still a handsome woman at five and fifty. With the generous allowance he gave her, she was wealthier than most widows. Did she fancy herself in love? He couldn’t quite believe it.

“There is more news, sir.”

Dalton clenched the glass in his hand and waited.

“Your brother-in-law has been borrowing large sums of money of late.” The inspector handed a paper to Dalton.

“You mean Olivia’s husband, Robert Seabrook?” Dalton grabbed the paper from Leary’s hand. “If my sister had needed money, she would have come to me.” Dalton glanced at the figures. “Damn, he’s borrowed almost three thousand pounds.” He
couldn’t keep the surprise from his voice. “Do you know why Robert needed money?”

“Not yet, but I have a man pursuing the situation. These matters must be handled delicately and can’t be rushed.”

Dalton shrugged. “Anything else, Leary?”

“One minor thing, your grace, but it might mean something. A wager was recently placed in the betting book at White’s.” His bushy eyebrows lifted. “Templestone placed a large wager on Desert Prince, favored to come in first at Newmarket this fall.”