The Lady and the Duke_A Dangerous Season Read online

  Elaine was in the kitchen supervising the unwrapping of dozens of Christmas puddings which Mary had boiled in December, when Anne entered the kitchen, looking beautiful, but distracted.

  "Felicity wants to speak with you," Anne said.

  Of all her sisters, Elaine admired Anne the most. I don't wish to speak with her, she thought. "Do you think Catherine will be home for Christmas?" She asked.

  Anne shook her head. "I don't think so my dear. I think we shall have to manage without her." She turned to the cook. "Mary, do you think you could magic up some more oyster puffs? Everyone loves them. All the puffs on the trays you sent up vanished within a couple of minutes."

  Mary preened. Gostwicke Hall's cook was a tall thin woman in her sixties. Her face was lined, her hair was white, but she had the energy of women half her age. "Thank you my lady. It's my secret — I add anchovies to the oyster mixture. It makes the puffs very tasty. I'll do another three dozen — I have the puff pastry done and resting. I'll get a girl to pipe out some pastry while I cook the filling. I'll send them up within half an hour."

  "You're a treasure. That's wonderful, thank you. Now I must find Mr. Morley. We need more mulled wine."

  Anne picked up a tray of small meat pies, and would have carried them out of the kitchen herself, but Cormac took the tray from her. He was shocked. "My lady!"

  Anne merely laughed. "I'm capable of carrying a tray…" She asked Elaine to hurry, and left the kitchen.

  Suddenly she reappeared in the door way. "Elaine — remember Felicity. I know that we're busy, but please speak with her for a few moments. She's asked for you several times — and the child looks worried about something."

  Elaine winced. Had Oliver said anything to Felicity? She told herself sternly that she was a coward for wanting to avoid her friend. She'd have to speak with her.

  A few moments later a groom entered the kitchen looking for Elaine. One of the duke's mares had bitten Joy. The young man turned his cap in his hands nervously. "I'm sorry ma'am, but it was an accident. I was leading Joy past the mare's box when she shot her head out."

  Elaine dropped the pudding she was unwrapping and wiped her hands. She rushed out of the kitchen, forgetting her cloak and gloves.

  When she got to the stables, Bendish and three grooms were standing around Joy. The mare was calmly munching hay in her loose box. "How is she?" Elaine asked Bendish.

  "Don't concern yourself," he muttered. "Just a little mishap. The nip didn't break the skin – well, mayhap a little."

  One of the grooms held up a lantern so that Elaine could look at the injury on Joy's neck. Elaine spoke to Joy calmly, and petted her. "Do you think it will leave a scar?"

  "I think not. It's just a welt and a bit of blood. Nothing to be concerned about… I can't fault the lad, we've so many horses that it's very hard to move around the stables."

  "Yes, I know… just an accident." Elaine leaned closer. The wound was small, only just visible. She sighed with relief, and scratched behind Joy's ears. Joy nuzzled her, then looked at her reproachfully. "No, I didn't bring you any treats. You're a greedy lady," Elaine chuckled.

  She left the loose box, and grimaced, as she looked down the double row of horses. "We must manage as best we can for two more days. Some of the guests will send their horses home on the day after Boxing Day, and that will give us some space. I'll come back later to check on her."

  Bendish handed her a heavy cloak. "Put this around you," he said gruffly. "It's cold. You shouldn't be running around out here without so much as a shawl."

  Elaine walked down the double row of loose boxes with a lantern, checking on the horses. Some were already sleeping. Others were munching hay, or watched her inquisitively.

  When she turned, she saw Felicity walking towards her. "What are you doing out here? It's very cold." She knew that Felicity didn't care for horses. Felicity was a timid rider, and wouldn't be taking part in the Boxing Day hunt.

  "I know it's cold," Felicity said peevishly. "I want to talk to you about Oliver. He's been odd — when I see him. I rarely see him. I have to speak to someone — I don't know what to do."

  "Fee, you're engaged. You surely aren't expecting Sir Oliver to live in your pocket?"

  "Of course I don't. There's something… I don't know what it is, but something about Oliver has changed. Did you know that he has a mistress?"

  Elaine sighed and rolled her eyes. "What of it?" Her toes were icy. She set down the lantern and pulled the cloak more tightly around her body.

  There was one consolation when the weather was so cold. The Boxing Day hunt should proceed as planned. "All men have mistresses. My father had a mistress – and many more than one, besides. I don't recall Mother ever being concerned about anything except the money he spent on them."

  "I hoped that he might turn off his mistress when we became engaged." Felicity sighed. "But I suppose that that was too much to hope for."

  "Fee, you don't sound happy with Sir Oliver. Why did you agree to the engagement?"

  "I'm not happy. And I didn't have a choice. No one gave me a choice."

  Elaine knew that love wasn't something that people of their station looked for in marriage. Marriages weren't for love. "If you're unhappy you must tell someone. Have you spoken to your Mr. Baynes? When does his guardianship end?"

  "I don't know… When I'm 25 I think, unless I marry, but I wouldn't dare speak to him. He wouldn't listen. No one ever listens to me."

  Elaine laughed. "You're such a little fool — you were happy when I left Foxton Park. You'll be happy again. You're having doubts. That's natural. Come here."

  She pulled Felicity into her arms and hugged her. "You'll feel better soon. You're nervous because everything is new to you. I would have doubts too. I think you're very brave. An engaged lady — I'm completely envious, I assure you."

  When Elaine released her, Felicity looked happier. She smiled.

  "Are you still coming to London?" Elaine was curious. Did Felicity know that Sir Oliver had no intention of taking her to London for the season? If Felicity didn't know, then Elaine needed to be very careful with what she said.

  Felicity pulled her handkerchief from her sleeve and blew her nose.

  Elaine picked up the lantern again. "Come on, it's much too cold out here. I can't feel my feet. Let's go and warm up."

  "Of course I'll be in London… I imagine that we will have an engagement ball – Oliver hasn't mentioned it, but he's been so busy, I've hardly seen anything of him."

  She didn't say anything for a moment. Then she shook her head. "You're right — I daresay I'm unsettled because the thought of marriage frightens me."

  Elaine took her arm. "I wish Catherine were here. You could speak with her. Catherine always knows what to do."

  What a mendacious thing to say. Elaine winced, feeling ashamed of herself. Felicity was her friend. If Felicity knew that Sir Oliver had kissed Elaine at Foxton Park, she would be shocked… And, Elaine realized, she would no longer have a friend.

  She cleared her throat.

  Cormac met them at the entrance to the stable yard, and extended his arm to Felicity. "Quickly now," he said to Elaine. "Inside with you, my ladies — you'll get a chill like Mrs. Eardley, and that would not do."

  On Christmas day, Elaine had barely a moment to herself.

  The day began with the Christmas Day service at the church in the village. Most of the guests had been in church for the Christmas Eve midnight service, and wanted to attend the Christmas Day service too.

  This meant that Anne was busy supervising carriages and horses to convey them them to church. She also had to find carriages and carts for those servants who wished to attend.

  Elaine saw to their guests' comfort and managed the meals. She took charge of the Christmas Day breakfast which had to be waiting for everyone when they returned from church on Christmas morning. Her biggest concern was dinner.

  The Christmas Day dinner party would begin at five in the afternoon. "Yes, everythi
ng is ready," Mary assured her. "The meat's coming up from the baker's at four o'clock. Mr. Morley will bring everything from the village."

  Elaine knew that the village baker was roasting the joints of beef and mutton, as well as the geese and other poultry in his large ovens. "I need to see to the arrangements for tomorrow's breakfast," she said to Anne, who entered the kitchen, having just returned from the Christmas morning service.

  After Christmas dinner, the servants would be released. They would enjoy their own dinner, and a dance. That meant that all the food for the guests' late night supper had to be prepared, and set out, so the guests could serve themselves later that evening.

  Denise had left on Christmas Eve to spend Christmas with her own family. She wouldn't return until the New Year. Elaine had to make do with a housemaid as a dresser. She'd managed her own hair — badly.

  "Does my hair look outlandish?" She asked Anne when she met her on the back staircase. She'd plaited her hair in a thick braid, entwined with red and gold ribbons. The housemaid had attempted a style, but her thick hair had escaped its pins.

  Anne laughed. "Very schoolgirlish — no, don't frown at me. Here," she reached up, and undid a pearl and sapphire hair clip. "Come…"

  With a few deft movements, Anne pinned up Elaine's hair into an elegant twist. "That's better, much more grown up." She kissed Elaine's cheek. "Quickly now my dear… I'll go and check the table. Will you ask Mary to ready the first course?"

  Cormac found Elaine checking place settings in the large dining room. "Is everything ready for tomorrow?" She asked him.

  "Yes ma'am. And Mary's compliments — she says that Mr. Morley can announce dinner as soon as Lady Kingston gives him the order. Also, Mr. Bendish asked to see you in the estate office at your earliest convenience… I'll tell Lady Kingston that all is ready if you wish it?"

  "Yes — I'll see Bendish. You tell Anne."

  Half an hour later, Elaine left Bendish to his last-minute preparations for the Hunt. She heard the sound of carriages and realized that the guests were returning from the service. With her head down, she thought about the Hunt as she hurried back to the house.

  Sir Oliver was the last person on her mind — until she walked directly into him.

  His arms closed around her.

  Elaine stepped back, and pushed him away, her face heating. She stared at him for a moment. He was still wearing his heavy riding coat. Grinning at her, he swept off his hat, and bowed. "My dear Elaine, this is a treat indeed. You look busy, and bustling. And very pink. I think I'll kiss you!"

  She took another step back, refusing to smile. "Sir Oliver, how good to see you. I wish you a merry Christmas," she said formally. "How is Major Grove? And Catherine?"

  "Grove is on the mend. A couple of arguments with Catherine and his wounded shoulder no longer bothered him."

  That puzzled her. She'd thought the major merely ill. "What wounded shoulder?"

  He rubbed his forehead. "I'm sorry. I misspoke. I promised Mrs. Grove that I would say nothing – don't tell her that I said anything."

  Elaine folded her arms and stared at him. A wounded shoulder… Had the major been fighting a duel? "You might as well tell me, since you mentioned it. A duel?"

  He looked chagrined. "How you take one up, no!"

  She knew that he was lying to her. "Please tell me."

  "No — Mrs. Grove will —"

  "Oh for heaven's sake, tell!"

  He shook his head at her. "All right, but it was nothing. The merest flesh wound. Mrs. Grove asked me to tell you that she would return within a couple of days. He should be well enough to leave Eardley House by then." He looked concerned. He was well aware of Catherine's temper. "You won't tell your sister that I said anything?"

  She didn't care about the major, she was much more concerned about Felicity. "Felicity has been complaining to me about you. You should be kinder to her."

  "What? What's she been saying?"

  "She thinks that she's coming to London for the season. It would be most unkind of you to forbid her."

  He held out his arm to her. "Come. It's cold. I want my breakfast."

  "You can't forbid her." She persisted, and rested her gloved hand on his sleeve.

  He sighed heavily. "You're the most determined… Listen to me, Elaine. It's all very well for you my dear, but I'll tell you why Felicity won't be going to London. One main reason. I haven't got the money."

  He was lying again. "Sir Oliver — please. Felicity has her own money. She was promised a season, and she is an heiress. Whatever can you mean?"

  "It's not any concern of yours," his tone had become cold.

  "It certainly is my concern. Felicity wants to come to London, and I want her to come. We've talked of nothing else but our first season this past year."

  He was silent for a moment.

  She waited.

  Finally, he said, his voice low, "I tell you, I can't afford it. It's the truth my dear… A sad truth. Baynes won't release any more of Felicity's fortune until she is 25. That's seven years away. He's paying for our wedding, he'll maintain Foxton Hall and Lowther Park, and she has a fine allowance, but that's all… There's no money for a season."

  No money? That could only mean that Mr. Baynes had paid off Sir Oliver's debts when he agreed to marry Felicity.

  "I don't know why I'm telling you this." His gaze narrowed on her. "I hope you haven't been making trouble."

  Elaine bit her lip. Felicity was her friend. They'd been friends for years. If Oliver wouldn't spend the money, she knew that Fee would be distraught.

  But Sir Oliver was right. Strictly speaking, it was none of her concern. She inhaled deeply. "What if someone else paid for Fee's season? If it's truly only about money…"

  "Of course it's only about money. I tell you that I can't afford it. Baynes won't pay for it, but if you want to pay, then you have my blessing."

  "Very well." Elaine had no idea how she would do it, but she would find the money to pay for Felicity's season. "I'll see to it. But you mustn't tell her."

  "You're serious?"

  "Indeed I am. I'll ask Catherine to invite Felicity to Eardley House for the season…"

  "You can't tell Mrs. Grove!"

  He sounded outraged. "No, I won't," she agreed, her voice cold. Catherine would agree, because Elaine had spent months at Foxton Park. However, Catherine would think it odd if she were asked to cover Felicity's gowns. Elaine would need to pay for them.

  They'd reached the kitchen garden, across the courtyard from the back of Gostwicke Hall.

  "I'll leave you now,” he said.

  She extended her hand, and he bowed over it.

  Elaine squared her shoulders. She would do it, she decided, somehow. She would ensure that Felicity came to London with the Eardleys. She and Fee would have their season together, as they'd always planned.

  The Boxing Day Hunt, Gostwicke Hall

  The day had finally arrived. Everything was ready.

  Anne and Elaine entertained the Master of the Hunt, Colonel Marsden, in the library. Tall, with a military bearing despite his age — he was the proud grandfather of six — he owned a pack of hounds that was the envy of the county.

  Since Mr. Eardley's death, he'd taken a proprietary stance over the Boxing Day Hunt, and over Mrs. Eardley. Elaine knew that the colonel wouldn't leave her mother's side at the Hunt Ball, which took place that evening.

  He stood with his back to the roaring blaze in the hearth, and sipped his second glass of brandy. "What time's Sommerforth arriving? Huge honor to have him with us. Hope we'll give him a good run."

  "He should be here shortly. The duke's horses arrived earlier in the week. He sent a message last night," Anne said. "He's putting up with connections of his, Lord and Lady Ayrtown."

  The colonel left to see to his pack, and Elaine went to the stables.

  Elaine missed the duke's arrival completely. Later, a groom told her that the duke had arrived with Lord Worley, and a small party, and that An
ne and the master had greeted them. But she was too busy with Christobel to concern herself with the duke.

  She reminded herself that when she saw him, she needed to thank him for Lilly. Lilly had been her most delightful Christmas present.

  When she arrived at the stables, she found Bendish red-faced, glaring down at the tack room floor with folded arms while Christobel raged at him.

  Elaine had heard Christobel's screeches from the stable yard. "You can't mean to give me that disgusting nag! It's too small!"

  Christobel rounded on Elaine as soon as she entered the tack room. "I won't have it — you're doing this deliberately. You want me to look ridiculous. You're jealous because the duke pays me so much attention."

  Elaine stared at Christobel. She bit her lip, determined not to laugh. Christobel would have looked delightful in Hyde Park, in spring or summer, but her cherry-red wool riding habit was totally unsuitable for riding over rough ground in winter.

  "Where's your coat? Don't tell me you intend riding without…" Elaine told herself that she wasn't Christobel's mother. Christobel wouldn't listen to her. If she wanted to spend the day cold and wet, that was up to her.

  Christobel intended looking wonderful for the duke, and she did look a picture. Unfortunately, hacking in Hyde Park was the limit of Christobel's abilities. Christobel didn't usually hunt, and had had no intention of joining the hunt until she heard that the duke was attending.

  Where was Talverne? Elaine wondered. No doubt he was in hiding from Christobel.

  "I suggested to Lady Burnley that she might enjoy riding Midnight," Bendish explained. His voice was tight, and Elaine knew that she would have to calm the situation.

  "Allow me to see to Lady Burnley," she said. Dealing with difficult women wasn't part of Bendish's duties, and she didn't want to lose the steward.

  Catherine had complained to her that the steward had been offered several positions over the summer. It seemed that every landowner who called at Gostwicke Hall tried to steal the steward away from them.

  "I want to ride Joy."

  Bendish's eyes widened. He glared at Christobel in disgust. Elaine shook her head and hurriedly motioned to him to leave her and Christobel. He left the tack room quickly.