The Duke's Bride (20 page)

Roderick’s jaw tensed when he thought about his lovely
Jane in the captain’s arms. “I believe I might kill the man if I get my hands
on him,” he ground out.

The king frowned. “Well, curse me, don’t want that.
Too messy. We have a special license with a proper date, so it’s up to you to
work your magic on that girl. I owe you and will not let it pass. Now, what in
the name of the king, would you like me to do?” He chuckled at his own words.

Roderick lifted an interested brow when he realized
the king truly meant to help him retrieve Jane in any way or form. “Do you
think you could take Lady Trayton off my hands.”

The king’s brows rose in surprise. “Jupiter, thought
you liked the chit. Have her on the side after you marry. We all do it.”

Roderick scowled. “I want only one woman when I marry.
No mistress. But I have no idea if Jane wants me at all.”

The king gulped down another glass of wine. “The way I
see it, you should kidnap the lady.”

Roderick chuckled. Devil take it, the king was ape-drunk.
“Someone tried kidnapping my newest sister-in-law,” Roderick added, trying to
compose himself. “It didn’t work though. Marcus intervened, and he was not
happy.”

The king plopped onto the sofa. “Heard all about it. The
little lady will be at the festivities, will she not? Millicent is her name?”

Roderick nodded, but in the back of his mind he hoped
to hurry back to the ballroom. “I believe Marcus and his bride will be here
tomorrow. I have not seen them since they married. They’ve been in Europe for
months.”

“And you have not see that pretty blue-eyed angel since
you have been to France.” The king peered over the rim of his glass. “I say, I
have a fancy for Miss Greenwell myself. Looked lovely in that blue gown.
Matches her eyes, don’t you know. Looks quite fetching. Quite fetching indeed.
If things don’t work out, let me know.”

Roderick saw red. “If you think—”

“Gentlemen, I think I should make my presence known.”

Both men turned in surprise when Agatha’s voice
stabbed the air. The older lady sprung from the wing chair seated by the fire
and strode toward them. The chair was so large she had been swallowed up in it.

“Miss Appleby,” the king said, stuttering as he rose. “Agatha.”
He seemed to visibly swallow. “I did not think you were going to be here.”

Roderick noted with dismay that the lady had an iron
grip on that blasted parasol. He backed up a bit.

The king turned white in the face. “Now, Agatha, I
have done all I could in the matter.”

Agatha huffed. “Your last comments were quite
interesting, I daresay.”

Roderick shifted a wary gaze between the two, wondering
what the older lady had over the king. One would think their positions were
reversed, and she was the queen overlooking her serf.

“Well, well,” the king said, patting his belly. “It’s
time I look for some food. Good seeing you, my dear lady.”

He peered at Roderick with a pleading gaze.

Roderick blinked. “I am at your service.”

The king visibly relaxed. “Well, well, I uh, think it
best you go after that girl. In fact, I demand it. You hear, I demand it!”

The older man turned took one more glance Agatha’s
way, nodded grimly, then hurried from the room.

“My dear Agatha,” Roderick said, crossing his arms
over his chest. “What information do you hold over his head?”

Gray eyes drilled into his. “You, Your Grace, should
worry about your own affairs.” She strode toward him.

He skirted the sofa, chuckling. “Very well, I will not
interrogate you any further on the matter, as long as you keep that weapon by
your side.”

“I fail to see how that will help you. Because if you
do not take care of your matters concerning Jane, I shall haunt you the rest of
your days.” She whipped the parasol his way, coming around the sofa with a
determined stride.

He made his way to the door and glanced over his
shoulder, shaking his head. He could not very well charge the lady. And if he
confiscated that parasol, he knew she most likely had a spare in her trunk.

He whipped open the door, thinking about Jane and the
captain. “I will take care of matters, but do not think it is because you are
threatening me. I have wasted enough time in here as it is. Between you and the
king, I can scarcely take a breath.”

Agatha halted. “Well, what are you waiting for? Sweep
her into your arms and make mad love to her, you ninny.”

“Confound it! I believe I can handle this situation
without the added suggestions of a lady who is old enough to be my mother!”

This evening had become his worst nightmare. Lady Trayton,
Captain Argyle, the king, and now Agatha. Blast it all. He was a duke. He should
be able to come and go as he pleased without the interference of four people
with their own agendas.

Parasol swinging, Agatha scooted around the table and
started his way. “One whack. That’s all I want. One hard whack!”

Roderick let out a snort of laughter and hurried out
the door.

J
ane was furious as she swung about the room in
the captain’s arms. She would not cry any more tears over Roderick. She would
not! Not after seeing him with Lady Trayton a few minutes ago.

“He does not want me anymore,” she said stiffly.

The captain’s green eyes flickered with fury. “I am
sorry he hurt you.”

Jane tried to ignore the pain in her heart. She was
stronger now. She would not crumble. She did not need anyone. But her son did
need a father.

“Do not take this the wrong way,” she said, lifting
her chin. “I want to be honest with you. But I may have to accept your marriage
proposal. You must see that I am a fallen woman now. I do not worry over my
situation, only my son’s.”

The captain chuckled and tipped her chin with a gentle
finger. “My dear Jane, I would take you in a minute, but your heart belongs to
him. I am not a poacher.”

She opened her mouth, but he shook his head. “No, let
me finish. My guess is that Lady Trayton attached herself to him the minute he
walked into the ballroom. I am not happy about how he handled the situation,
but sometimes men in love do stupid things. And the duke is in love with you,
no one else. He hungers for you, my dear. Those silver eyes turned black with
wanting when he saw you. Believe me, they were on fire for you.”

Hope sprang in her chest. “They were?”

“Indeed, and as soon as this waltz ends, I want you to
leave the ballroom and find that stupid man. Can you do that?” He regarded her
with a playful grin. “Or would you like me by your side?”

She laughed. “I believe I should do it myself. The
thing is, he is quite jealous of you.”

The captain’s emerald eyes lit with amusement.
“Roderick and I were good friends once. But this entire situation has put us at
odds. Now, now, I see that frown. Do not think you were the cause of all our disagreements.”

“I applaud your efforts, Captain. But if it were not
for me, I could only assume that you and Roderick would still be friends.”

Before the captain could respond, the music ended and
the dancers paraded off the floor. But Jane felt accusing eyes upon her.

“There she is.”

“Can you believe she came?”

“The king demanded she be here.”

“Not married. Shame on her.”

Jane stiffened at the cruel comments. The captain held
tight to her arm as he escorted her to the far corner of the ballroom. “Lift
your head high and act if you didn’t hear a thing,” he said, smiling. “I will
not leave you.”

She nodded, smiling back. But she could not help the tears
that seeped into the corners of her eyes. Her lips quivered. “Forgive me. I
have become such a watering pot lately.”

He put his back to the crowd to shelter her. “I think
you have good reason for that, my girl.”

A country set started on the floor and many of the
people staring at her became interested in the dancers once again. To Jane, the
ballroom became one big blur. She wished Emily were by her side. But Emily had
been so confident that Roderick would sweep Jane off her feet, her friend had
left the moment Jared had appeared.

Jane could not blame her. Yet, her stomach knotted as
she gazed over the sea of people and could not detect another friendly face in
the crowd.

The captain handed her his handkerchief and frowned.
“I think it’s time you found your duke, do you not?”

She wiped her cheeks and peered up at him. “Will you
be here if I need you?” she asked quietly. “It seems Emily and Jared have run
off together, and I have no idea when they will return. I can only suspect they
thought I would be with Roderick.”

The captain’s green eyes twinkled. “They have not seen
each other for months. I do believe the lovebirds have found a little nest. If
my guess is correct, we will not see them for some time.”

Jane’s smile faltered as she returned his handkerchief.
“I suppose you are right.”

The captain took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “The set
is still keeping everyone’s attention. This is the perfect time to find Roderick.
I saw him sneaking away with the king earlier. Probably in one of the nearby
salons. I shall be here if you need me. And for goodness sake, do not take
no
for an answer.”

His admiring gaze slid over her body and he chuckled.
“Believe me, he will cave in to any demand you make. Bat those long lashes, give
him a nice pout, and the man will be yours.”

Her heart fluttered. “Do you truly think so?”

He pulled at his cravat and cleared his throat. “The
dress does you justice in more ways than you can ever imagine, my girl. Now get
to it.”

She touched his shoulder and smiled. “Thank you.” Then
without a moment to spare, she hurried from the room.

Jane peeked into the first salon off the ballroom. It
was a tiny room with two overstuffed bottle green wing chairs flanking a little
fire on the far wall. A small beige sofa sat near a sideboard, which held a few
bottles of wine and some glasses. The candles flickering on the mantelpiece gave
the place a charming touch.

“Roderick,” she whispered, tiptoeing past the door. She
walked a few feet into the room and was just about to leave when the door
slammed closed. She jumped in shock.

“Ah, Miss Jane Greenwell,” a voice drawled.

Jane turned. “Lord Garette?”

Alarm skittered across her body as she stared into the
young man’s red-rimmed eyes. It was obvious he had been drinking quite heavily.

She moved around him, reaching for the door handle.
“Forgive me. I thought my husband was here.”

Laughing, the man slapped his hand against hers,
barring her exit. “Ha! Your husband? Come now, my dear girl. He is no more your
husband than I am.”

Her brain swam with fear. He was ogling her like a dog
would his favorite bone. Instinctively, she put a hand to her neckline, afraid
of what he was thinking. “Well, then, if you will excuse me, I think I will be
going. So sorry to have bothered you.”

She ducked beneath his arm and yanked on the handle
one more time. It didn’t budge. His raucous laugh sent the hairs on her nape
standing on end.

She looked up, her eyes widening in panic.

He pulled out a key from his pocket and dangled it
before her. “Not so fast, little lady. Or are you a lady?”

A cold finger of terror slid over her heart. The man
was quite broad, very muscular and very drunk. She could not fight him.

She lifted her chin and shot him her most imperious
glare. “Sir, you cannot keep me here. I demand you unlock that door at once.”

“You demand, do you?” He leaned forward.

 She caught the distinct scent of spirits on his
breath and stepped back. “You are foxed to the gills!”

“Ah, I am, am I not?” He hiccupped and wobbled toward
her. “That duke of yours, or is he yours…well, never mind. It don’t signify.
Man fleeced me at cards the last time I saw of him. Never will forget it. Made
me a laughing stock. Didn’t like that at all.”

Her stomach clenched in fear as she stared at the
door. The man had dropped the key onto a nearby table.
She could do this
,
she thought as she tried to stay calm.
The man could scarcely stand.

She shifted her gaze back to the inebriated man. “Be
that as it may, I believe you should take that up with the duke and not me.”

He laughed and took another step toward her. She
staggered back, her knees hitting the wing chair behind her.

“Take a seat, Miss Greenwell.” His big hand flew up
and pushed against her shoulder, shoving her into the chair. She fell with a
plop.

The man took out a metal flask, swallowed the liquor,
and snarled. “Tastes strange. Think I shall stop and move onto the wine.” His
gaze drifted to the wine bottles and decanter on the sideboard. “The earl has a
fine cellar, don’t you know?”

Jane refused to talk to this man. He had a wicked look
in his eyes that sent her nerves on edge. She glanced toward the door one more
time.

Without warning, he braced his large hands against the
sides of the wing chair and blew against her cheek. She swallowed hard. He was
definitely drunk.

She was determined not to buckle under this man’s
savagery. Blond hair hung over one eye, giving him a rather boyish look. But he
was no mere boy. She raised her knee to kick him, but he easily grabbed her leg
and laughed.

“Ah, a woman with spirit. I think Miss Greenwell, that
we will do well, you and me.”

She flinched when his finger trailed down her neck. She
slapped his face. “That is out of the question.”

He leaned back and put a hand to his red cheek. His
expression turned nasty. “Fiery one, aren’t you? Didn’t expect that. Thought
you some meek little thing.” He dug his fingers into her shoulders, yanking her
up. “But I don’t believe you understand. It is not a question of you and me. It
is a fact.” He hauled her against him and crushed his lips against hers,
smothering her, sucking the very breath from her lungs.

She yelped and squirmed as he pushed her against the
chair, landing on top of her. Panic like she had never known swirled within
her. She could barely breathe. He bit her ear and pressed his lips hard against
her neck.

She pushed wildly against his massive chest. “Please,
st-stop!”

He looked up, laughing. “Ah, a bold lady with manners.
I like that. I have wanted you for years. And now I have you. No one will care
at all. You are used goods. A fallen woman. Even the king told me so.”

In one swift move, he picked her up and tossed her on
the nearby sofa. She barely knew what was happening when her head hit the arm
with a thump.

He leaned into her. “You need to be taught a lesson.”

Just as she opened her mouth to scream, his hand
sliced through the air, smacking her face. The shock of the blow snapped her
head back. Stars flashed before her eyes as darkness danced around her. She
felt the blackness snatching the life from her. A man’s laughter echoed in her
ears.

“Roderick,” she mumbled, before she saw nothing at all.

Roderick marched into the ballroom with one thing on
his mind. Jane.

He had enough of this cat and mouse game. Chandeliers and
candelabra flickered about the room, setting off shadows and hidden alcoves.
Was Jane sitting out the dance? Was she with the captain? Had she left without
telling him? He was determined to have this out! Blast it all! Where the devil
was she?

The sounds of the small orchestra floated in the
background as he made his way through the crowd. His senses were spinning with
regret as his gaze swept the dance floor. Suddenly, he caught the captain frowning
his way.

The man strode toward him. “Lose something, Your Grace?”

“Where is she?” Roderick replied harshly.

The captain seemed to pause for a moment. “Do you mean
to tell me you have not seen her in the last half hour?”

Something in the captain’s troubled gaze sent
Roderick’s brows slanting in concern. “She left the ballroom unescorted? Without
you?”

The captain scowled. “Obviously.”

Roderick stared at the man. The captain may be
involved with Jane, but he had always been straightforward. Honesty was part of
his character. But in truth, Roderick didn’t like the thought of this
good-looking man having anything to do with Jane.

“Where is my sister?” Roderick finally asked. “She
should have been with her.”

“I am not your sister’s keeper,” the captain snapped.
“And you should have been the one with Jane, not me, and not Lady Emily. Devil
take it, Roderick. If you were anything like Stonebridge, you would have swept
Jane into your arms and departed for a place unknown.”

Roderick’s jaw stiffened. “Easily said. Perhaps you
wanted to do the same.”

“Listen here,” the captain said, his expression
turning hard. “I have had just about enough from you. Jane deserves better and
you dashed well know it.”

Roderick was ashamed this man had to reprimand him
over Jane. But he was not about to give in. “You are almost as good with your
words as you are with your fists.”

 They regarded each other with shrewd stares. The
boxing ring at Gentleman’s Jackson’s had been one place they had exchanged
cuffs and neither of them could have been called the winner.

The captain’s green eyes glittered with fury. “You had
best set your anger aside. I am nothing to Jane, not in the way you are
thinking. Nothing but a friend. And if you can douse that cursed jealousy of
yours, you will know that the woman is in love with you.”

“You are not one to pull punches, are you?” Roderick
replied in a harsher tone that he wanted. The man seemed to care more than he
thought.

“Blast it all, I may be her friend. But do not fool
yourself. I would rather be more.”

Roderick eyes flashed. “By Jove, you are truthful. I
give you credit for that.”