A Duke's Decision (The Duke''s Club Book 4) Read online

  But the rewards more than justified the risk.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Emily sat still with her chin up and back straight as Lizzy finished putting up her hair. Sighing internally, she tried to calm her racing heart. Could she do this? Flirt with men she wasn’t interested in. Men who could never approach the specialness of the Major. Could she really use them to manipulate the man?

  No, not manipulate, she reminded herself. Demonstrate what he might lose, she told herself. Yes, she realized. In a heartbeat. She would do anything to have him feel for her what she felt for him. Only then could she find happiness.

  “There, Miss,” Lizzy said as she stepped back and examined her work.

  “Thank you,” Emily said as she glanced up at the maid in the mirror. “As always, excellent.”

  Lizzy smiled, “His Grace prefers it this way.”

  An empty sadness filled Emily. “He won’t be there tonight, unfortunately.”

  Lizzy grimaced, “When do you think they will return?”

  The obvious worry was written on the young maid’s face. She is very concerned about Corporal Jones, Emily realized. Her heart went out to the young woman, how well she knew that feeling of fear and anxiety. A thousand things could have gone wrong. The King’s highways were notorious for brigands and blaggards. A carriage could go off the road and over a cliff. Disease and pestilence were known to appear from nowhere. But worst of all, they were chasing down desperate men who would do anything to stop them.

  Her insides clenched up as her mind raced.

  “Soon, I suspect,” Emily told Lizzy as she rose and took her reticule from her table. She needed to focus on the task before her, she realized. It was critical that she become the talk of the parlors and ballrooms of London. Miss Emily Winslow, the most desired young woman of the ton, pursued by every man of any standing.

  It was her only chance.

  “How do I look?” she asked Lizzy as she ran her hands down the front of her dress. A deep blue, it was her most attractive. The waist was lower than fashionable. But, Emily believed it enhanced her female shape. Especially, when combined with the plunging bodice.

  Lizzy frowned as she slowly examined her, then smiled before reaching up to adjust the neckline. “Like a princess.”

  Emily smiled, Lizzy was expected to say what her mistress wanted to hear, but something made her think that the maid actually believed it. Please, Emily silently prayed. Please make this work.

  “Emily,” Lady Denton called from downstairs. “We must hurry. I want to be late, but not too late.”

  She gave Lizzy a quick smile, took a deep breath, then stepped out of her room and looked over the banister to the older woman waiting below.

  “I’ve sent Johnson to find us a carriage,” Lady Denton said up to her as she pulled on her gloves. “It should be here in a moment. Really, a hired coach, it is almost embarrassing. I am having second thoughts on Duncan taking his carriage and leaving us here without appropriate means. It is almost Unbecoming.”

  “I know he intended to return on time,” Emily said before she could stop herself. Once again, a nervous fear filled her. Something had gone wrong. She was sure of it.

  Lady Denton scoffed and waved her hand, “His future wife should insist on a carriage of her own, don’t you think?”

  The smile Lady Denton gave her made Emily’s heart sink, had Lady Denton just cursed any chance she ever had at becoming the Major’s wife?

  Later when they entered the ballroom, Lady Denton took her arm and pulled her to the side as she looked out over the ballroom.

  “Lord Benton,” Lady Denton said as she nodded, indicating the young Lord on the other side of the room. “An Earl’s heir. Mr. Parker, he’s richer than a Sultan, and of course, Lord Hawley. More than enough to upset our Duncan.”

  Emily felt her insides tighten with fear. Flirting wouldn’t be that great a task. They were handsome, intriguing men. It was the idea of deceiving the Major that troubled her. It went against every instinct.

  “And, there is Duchess Bedford,” Lady Denton continued. “Excellent. The perfect person to make sure word gets back to Duncan. Two dances with one of them will be more than enough to get the rest of the tongues wagging.”

  Taking a deep breath, Emily nodded then slowly entered the crowd, greeting friends, and acquaintances. People kindly welcomed her back to society. More than one mentioned that they thought she had taken the right actions by observing the mourning period along with Duke’s family. A few asked after His Grace, disappointed to learn that he was away on business.

  Within minutes, Emily felt welcomed into their world. As if she had not been absent these last six weeks. The same stories, the same observations. A comfortable familiarity that surprised her. Granted, she knew very well it was only because of her connections to the Duke and Lady Denton. It was those connections these people respected, not her.

  Taking another calming breath, she turned to find both Mr. Parker and Lord Hawley approaching. Now was the time, she thought as she gave them each her best welcoming smile. Both men arrived at the same time, each bowed and asked for a dance.

  Emily swallowed before agreeing to their requests, making sure to bat her eyelids and laugh at Mr. Parker’s joke about the band. Lord Hawley frowned for a moment so she quickly rested a hand on his arm and mentioned how she admired the complexity of his cravat.

  And that was how her night began. Smiling and teasing with men she wasn’t interested in. The quadrille with Mr. Parker had just finished when Lord Hawley stepped forward for his dance. Within moments she was once again weaving her way between different couples.

  Lord Hawley looked at her as if she were the most important person in his world. Her stomach turned over at the thought of deceiving these men. It wasn’t right. But at the same time, the knowledge that she had been seen dancing with Lord Hawley would trouble the Major the most.

  When the dance finished, she leaned closer to the Viscount and whispered, “If you wish, My Lord, I will save a waltz for you later. There is one scheduled for just before the dinner break.” It was violating so many rules, A woman only danced with a man more than once if she was extremely serious about furthering a relationship. And only with parental or guardian approval.

  His eyes grew very big as he dipped his head and said, “That would be wonderful, Miss Winslow. It would make my night a great success.”

  Emily smiled as she gently touched his arm then curtsied before turning to search for Lady Denton.

  As she approached her employer, the older woman gave her a large smile and nodded in approval. “There is already talk, the way Lord Hawley looks at you has been noticed. I made sure of it.”

  A sick feeling of dread washed over her. This was becoming too much. The deceit and subterfuge. It felt so wrong, so unladylike. Her mother would have been ashamed of her. To lead men on like this.

  It would be different if she planned to ever marry. But she knew deep in her heart if it were not the Major then it would be no one.

  It felt as if her soul was being squeezed. The steady drum of a hundred conversations, the strong aroma of too many perfumed bodies on a hot night. It was all too much. It was as if the room were shrinking, threatening to crush her. Pushing the air from her lungs.

  She had to get away. Somehow, she desperately needed to relieve this crushing weight. The only solution was to take a few minutes to sort out her feelings and gird herself for another round.

  Smiling weakly to reassure the older woman, she whispered, “I will be back shortly.”

  Lady Denton patted her hand and nodded that she understood. “You are doing wonderfully. I know our Duncan. He will be livid.”

  Emily could only nod before she wove her way through the crowd and out into the hall. Only once she was free, was she able to take in a deep cleansing breath.

  The hall stretched out to the left with multiple doors leading off into parlors and studies. Her body hummed with nervous energy as she began to wa
lk away from the ballroom. Anything to put a little space between her and the crowd.

  As she reached the end, she turned to find Lord Hawley standing before her. Gasping, she stepped back. She had been so lost in her own thoughts she hadn’t heard him approach.

  “Excuse me, My Lord,” she said. “You startled me.”

  He gave her a strange smile then nodded. “Miss Winslow, I was wondering if I might have a moment of your time. I feel there is something we need to discuss.”

  Her heart jumped. She could see it in his eyes, he was going to propose. The thought made her sick inside with guilt.

  “In here, I think,” he said as he opened a door to expose the library. Two lamps lighting the room.

  “Um …” Emily mumbled, this was wrong. Being alone with a man, people would talk. “Sir …”

  “Just a minute,” he pleaded. “This is too important to discuss where we might be interrupted.

  Still, she hesitated until he gently took her hand, and subtly pulled her into the room. Emily held her breath as she quickly examined her new surroundings. A typical library, all four walls filled with books. A desk at the far end, a fireplace opposite.

  The click of the door closing behind her made her jump. Turning, she found Lord Hawley staring at her for a moment, a strange smile on his face.

  “As you know Miss Winslow, I have always found you intriguing.”

  “And I you, My Lord,” she responded as she frantically tried to find some way to stop him “But …”

  “I believe we should marry,” he interrupted as he took both of her hands in his. “It would solve so many issues.”

  Emily’s brow furrowed. Another un-romantic proposal. What was it about her that failed to inspire men?

  Her heart pounded with guilt. She should never have led him to believe she wished for such a thing. “My Lord, I am sorry if …”

  “No, Miss Winslow, please here me out,” he said as he stepped closer. “Really, we must marry.”

  The creases in her brow grew as she tried to understand. Something in his eyes made her stomach cringe with fear. This was a man who did not like being told no. Oh, she had been such a fool, how could she have ever chosen this man to flirt with and lead to false assumptions?

  Suddenly, she desperately wished the Major was there. He would save her.

  Squaring her shoulders, she tried to appear strong and resolute. This must end now. “Again, I am sorry. But I must decline, My Lord. I am sorry. It is not you. But, I don’t believe I will ever marry.”

  His smile disappeared as his brow furrowed. The look of anger behind his eyes made her step back. But, he held her hands tightly, refusing to allow her to get away.

  “As I said Miss Winslow, you will have no choice in the matter.” Then, without warning he reached up and grabbed the bodice of her dress and tore it away, exposing her.

  Emily gasped as she quickly reached to hold her dress in place. What? How was this happening? A deep terror filled her as she realized this man was mad. Yet, if she screamed, no one would hear her. They were all lost in their own world. The band and conversations fighting with each other to make any attempt on her part useless.

  “The Major will kill you,” she hissed as she tried to weave past him and reach the door. If she could escape, she would be free. But his arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her back in front of him.

  “Not if I am willing to marry his ward,” he said. “In a few minutes the door behind me will open and we will be discovered. Two young lovers caught in a tryst. It is all planned and as I said, you will have no choice in the matter.”

  Emily gritted her teeth as she stared back at the man. “You are a fool if you think I will ever marry you. I would rather be cast into the gutter than share my life with you.”

  He smiled slowly, “Somehow I doubt that. Are you willing to destroy Richmond’s and Lady Denton’s reputation as well? They will be shunned, laughed at behind their backs. And believe me, the life of a woman alone on the streets of this city would be worse than being married to a Viscount.”

  Again, he took a step towards her, a hungry, predatory look behind his eyes. That was all she was to him, she realized. A conquest, a meal to be savored.

  “Why?” she asked. “Why marry a woman who despises you?”

  He reached up to grab her hand holding her dress in place. “Because,” he said as he stared into her eyes. “Our families would be joined and it is the only way to get your precious Duke to stop his infernal inquiries. No British Lord wants to bring scandal to a family member. It has a habit of spilling over and everyone is dirtied.”

  Emily gasped, “Spain. It is you. You are the one behind the corruption.”

  His smile took on a mad glint, “It will be nice having an intelligent wife. And a pretty one as well.”

  She slapped him with all of her strength, the flat of her hand catching him full on the cheek with a resounding crack.

  His smile dropped as he glared at her, “I am going to enjoy making you pay for that,” he said as he slowly pulled her hands away, allowing the front of her dress to fall.

  Emily twisted to get away only to hear the click of the lock announce the fulfillment of the Viscount’s plans. Her entire body flushed with shame and guilt. As she looked up expecting his friends to be staring at her exposed body.

  Instead, there in the doorway like a mountain stood her Major with a scowl that could scorch iron.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Emily’s heart sank until she realized the furious glare was focused on Lord Hawley and not herself.

  The evil smile on Lord Hawley’s face fell away to be replaced by a look of fear.

  She quickly twisted away from her attacker and pulled her dress up to cover herself then turned her back to the door but not before seeing Lord Riverstone and Corporal Jones staring at her with open mouths.

  “You Bastard,” The Duke said as he marched across the room and punched the Viscount without ever taking his injured arm from his coat pocket.

  Lord Hawley’s nose erupted in a crimson shower of blood as he fell back several steps before being stopped by the bookshelves.

  The Duke’s stepped in front of the Viscount, his feet wide, as if ready to block any escape. As he stood there, he slowly unbuttoned his jacket, being careful as he slid his injured arm out of the sleeve. “Here,” he said to Emily as he reached back to hand her his coat, all without ever taking his eyes off his target.

  Emily quickly slipped the coat around her shoulders, pulling it tight and for the first time feeling safe and secure. The Major was here. He was safe and home.

  “In addition to being a bastard,” the Duke growled, “you are a coward. And tomorrow, all of England is going to know that you were beaten senseless by a one-armed cripple.” Without warning, he swung again.

  Emily cringed inside at the sound of breaking cheekbones. “No, Your Grace,” Emily called out as she tried to stop the Duke. “He told me he was involved with the corruption with the army’s supplies.”

  The Duke ignored her as his only good arm snatched the Viscount by the neck to stop him from falling, pushing him into the shelves behind him. The Duke paused for a moment to make sure the man would remain in place then let go before throwing another punch into the man’s gut. A rush of air escaped before Lord Hawley sputtered and groaned as he started to slide down once more.

  The Duke pushed a hand on the man’s chest to stop him from falling.

  The look in the Duke’s eyes made Emily falter. Such anger. A wild monster had been unleashed.

  “No,” she said again as she grabbed the Duke’s arm, “Don’t kill him. You need the information he has.”

  The Duke scoffed as he shook away from her grip. “We have his brother in the Tower, along with the two men in Riverstone’s office. Hawley was behind it all. Believe me, we have all the information we need. But it isn’t going to be necessary because I’m going to kill him here and now.”

  Emily grabbed his arm and trie
d to pull it down and away from holding the man in place. “No, Your Grace. Please no.”

  The Duke frowned down at her as if trying to understand such a ridiculous request.

  “A trial in the house of Lords will put the fear of God in anyone thinking of defrauding the army,” she pleaded. “Believe me, it is better this way. And he will either hang, or spend the rest of his life in a cold dank cell. It is better this way I assure you. Please.”

  He continued to stare down at her and she could tell he was fighting to bring himself back to this world. Was this what he was like in battle? she wondered. A beast unleashed. For a long moment, she held still, afraid if she moved, he would ignore her and return to killing the Viscount.

  At last, she saw it in his eyes. His better nature had won. Barely. His shoulder slumped as he let out a long sigh and pulled his arm back. Lord Hawley immediately crumpled to the floor.

  The Duke turned back to the Lord Riverstone and Corporal Jones and said through gritted teeth. “Take him to the Tower, have them put him in next to his brother. Liverpool will have sent word, there should be no problems.”

  Corporal Jones stepped into the room and grabbed the Viscount to pull him up off the floor. “There won’t be any problems, Your Grace. Prison is the only safe place for him now. If they won’t take him, I know what to do, he’ll never see the morning sun.”

  The Viscount’s face grew even whiter as he realized he was being passed from one monster to another.

  Emily turned to watch them lead the Viscount from the room, then gasped when she realized a crowd had gathered outside the door. Instinctively she clasped the Major’s coat to her throat. Then to see Lady Denton push her way through the crowd only made things even worse.

  “Close the door,” the Duke barked to Riverstone before shooting a look at Lady Denton and shaking his head. Only when the door had closed did he turn to her as his brow softened when he stared into her eyes. “Are you all right?”