A Duke in Shining Armor (2 page)

             
Emily groaned inwardly and trudged over to the stool behind the tub and sat down to take on the task of washing her aunt’s hair.  “You realize the Duke of Norchess staying at our very own establishment is the greatest honor bestowed upon us since the tragedy four years ago?  After what your scandalous mother did, then your father had the audacity to get him and your mother killed and the manor burnt down from the ground, our name has gone to ruin.”

  Emily rolled her eyes and set in to listen to her aunt’s set downs on her parents, for what seemed the hundredth time, she muttered “Yes Aunt Evelyn.”

She knew how important her aunt thought this Duke was because dear Aunt Evelyn had been merciless on her for the past week.  She had cleaned and shined every corner of the room he was to stay in.  Extra card games were arranged so the Duke and his party would be entertained during their stay.

  She vaguely listened to her aunt prattle on about the Duke and thought of her mother.  How she missed her mother, her smile and kindness.  Regardless of what her aunt and uncle had told her when she was finally found in the woods and brought to them, she never once doubted the memory of her mother’s love.  Nothing they said would change her mind about that.  Her father on the other hand, seemed to love her mother dearly but was hesitate in giving his affection to Emily.  

Her aunt and uncle had welcomed her with open arms even though it was said her father had stolen his fortune which is why his family and home were destroyed, she thought she would have the love and nurturing needed to recover from such a tragedy.  They had assured Mr. Benton, the Moncrief’s longtime neighbor they would love Emily as their own since God had not blessed them with a child.

  Just as soon as Mr. Benton left and her uncle had closed the door her aunt verbally attacked her telling her they had no time for a snotty freeloader.  “Your father always thought he was one step ahead of me and my Albert, well you will work for your keep here missy!”

             
Ever since that day Emily had worked from early morning until the wee hours of the night and had not been paid one shilling for her services.  Her mended dress she was found in was still the only thing she owned, she had to let it out at all seams as she grew into a woman and the fabric was near to paper thin.  Her precious stallion Fury had been sold off within days of her arrival at the club to help pay for her keep she was told, and Emily cried for weeks.  He was her prize possession and the only reminder of life before this dreadful place.

  “The Duke is said to be very handsome. He has several of his close friends with him.  If they need anything at all Emily, you make sure they have it no matter what.” Her aunt’s chatter broke through her daydreaming once again.

“Yes, I will do my best to see that they are accommodated.” She replied with a yawn.  

“You do get my meaning girl don’t you?”  Her aunt stood from the tub and turned around to look down at Emily.  “You give them anything they want even if it means yourself!”

“Myself?” Emily was confused.  “No, Aunt, I am afraid I do not understand.” she said cautiously.  “I mean, if they want you to warm their beds you are to do so!” Emily realized what she meant.  “But Aunt Evelyn, I will be ruined!” Emily exclaimed, as a deep feeling of dread crept upon her. “And I have never lain with a man before!”

She on more than one occasion recently had to fight an enamored gentleman from her.  They tried to kiss her and fondle her, and she had managed to escape such a fate thus far. 

Evelyn delivered a viscous slap across Emily’s face that left her reeling.  “Child you were ruined the day you were conceived now be gone from my sight!”  Emily stood up and ran blindly back to her own room.  Despair filled her as she realized what the all mighty Duke and his party would take from her on the morrow.

Chapter 2

Clinton Wells, the grand Duke of Norchess rubbed his chin in concentration as he read a letter from his mother for the third time.

“I don’t rightly know old chap; maybe you should cancel our plans for your year of freedom and run back to mommy dearest.” His best friend from childhood Jonathan
Radcliffe, the future Viscount
Cornwell said from his chair in the carriage house they had stopped in for the night. His friend he met while at school, Thomas Faircloth
,
the future Marquis of Ridgewood raised his eyebrows but made no comment.

All three had recently completed their studies and were out for their year among the ton sponsored by the Duchess herself.  It is a way for the young men to sow their wild oats before settling down with a wife and children.  His mother’s correspondence most surely was important if she sent a footman on a wild chase to find him.  His mother though, could act quite dramatically when it came to her eldest child and heir.

He sighed and crumbled the letter up in his hand, it was obvious from the letter it was not a life or death situation.  “I do recognize the sarcasm in that statement friend, and I choose to ignore it.”  He turned to the weathered footman. “Please sir, go to the kitchen and refresh yourself while I prepare a letter for you to take back to the Duchess of Norchess.”  The footman gave him a quick nod and hurried down the stairs.  He got a parchment and ink from a corner desk in the room and wrote his mother a quick reply.

  Jonathan watched him carefully as he sealed the letter. “What Jon? Just say it.” Clint said getting a little perturbed by his friends knowing stare.

“We are going back aren’t we?” Jon said as if he knew for certain that would be Clint’s reply.

“Actually we are not Jon, have a little faith in my ability to see us have a grand year at the ton of society.” 

“By God, that is grand news, I daresay I was sure you would run back to fix whatever ails your mother.” Jon slapped his leg and stretched his arms behind his head.

             
Clint cocked his head at his friend with a smile, “Grand news indeed, Jon seems that my mother sent a poor servant all this way just to inform me that the widow Mary Ellenburg and her lovely unattached daughter Elisabeth have arrived and were sorely disappointed by my absence.”  He poured a glass of whiskey and took a long swallow.

“Mother and her matchmaking will be the death of me.” Clint muttered. Jon broke out into infectious laughter that soon caught on to Clint.

  “Do you remember the last time the lovely widow and her daughter visited, Elisabeth boxed both of our ears for putting a frog in her bed all the while swearing she would hate you to the day she died?”  Jon said once their chuckles had subsided.

 
             
“Yes, terrifying her was always a great game, Elisabeth and I have a brother and sister affection nothing more.”  Clint paused to take another drink.  Clint was sure his mother would have several suitable mates for him by the time the beginning of the season came about.

“So what have we planned for tonight?  I am sure you have something up your sleeve to guarantee us the reputation as rakes before our year is over.”  Jon grimaced “Nothing in this godforsaken end of town. I am saving the best for last tomorrow at The Blue Lioness that sits in on the middle of London.  We have never visited this gentleman’s club and I am hoping for beautiful women and fair card games.”

             
  Thomas gave a chuckle from where he was sitting and said “Not that it matters with you among our party Clint, ladies barely bat an eye in our direction when you are around.”

“Speak for yourself chum, I intend on finding my share of beautiful ladies to make acquaintances with.” Jon said joyfully.  Clint rolled his eyes at his comrades.

  They always made such a fuss about the attention that he received from women, but little did they know how much it bothered him that women flocked to him for his title before even knowing of his devilishly handsome good looks.  At six foot two inches, he had broad shoulders and a muscular build that went perfect with his jet black hair and eyes of grey steel. 

Almost every silly young chit he had encountered in the last five years since his father’s death threw themselves at him with their senseless prattle; he had begun to tire more so of it this year than ever before.

.
             
He had restlessness about him he could not quite explain.  Life was boring, seemed to have no meaning.  He longed for a woman in his life he could share his thoughts with, a companion to share his dreams and to give him children.

  But, before he could marry such a woman his mother insisted she put her stamp of approval on the union.  His brow wrinkled as he thought of his mother.  Lord knows he loved her dearly, but she could be so trying at times.  Celeste Wells, the esteemed Duchess of Norchess, was the very symbol of society herself.  She gave grand balls, associated with the wealthiest of the ton and expected perfection for her son.

If he thought he had it bad, his two sisters definitely had it worse.  Poor, Juliet was about to make her grand debut into society at the age of ten and six, and this had luckily kept his mother off his back for some of the year.  Juliet was a true tomboy at heart and could always be found with himself and Jonathan in whatever escapades they could conjure up at the Norchess Estates. Whether it was fishing or horseback riding she was always hanging from their shirt tails.   She had fancied herself in love with Jonathan for several years now, and Jon was oblivious to the fact.

  Olivia still had a few years to go before mother focused all her attention on her coming out.  She was the youngest of the family at ten years and he was sure she would endure the most hardship of the three.  Turning back to face his friends, he put a smile on his face and pushed his mother from his mind.  “Well, I for one am going to take a stroll down to the Ladies Wake before we bed down for the night. Either of you care to join me?”  Thomas stood and threw back his glass and drained the contents.

  “Not tonight, I think I will save up for tomorrow to see if this gentleman’s club meets Jon’s expectations.”  As Thomas took his leave of them, Jon clapped his hands.

“Shall we?” he asked with a grin.  Clint shook his head at his friend as he followed him out of the room and into the night.

             
There was a constant pounding somewhere.  Clint struggled to open his eyes with a groan.  Who in the bloody hell was pounding on something so hard in the middle of the night?    He tasted sour whiskey in his mouth and his body ached all over.  He sat up in the bed trying to grasp his surroundings.

  “Ah the prodigal son awakens at last.” Thomas chuckled from his bedside. 

“Tom, for Christ sakes man, I feel like I have been beat to death. What the hell happened?”  Tom grinned and slapped his friend on the shoulder and Clint grunted in pain. 

“Well old boy, I am afraid that is because you and that sodden fool Jon did almost get yourselves beat to death.  Seems you and he decided to partake a little too heavy of the spirits the other night and somehow found it would be acceptable to proposition the bartenders daughter in a not so lady like fashion.” 

Clint laid back and closed his eyes.  “Oh, what I thinking going off with that man, when will I ever learn?”  Tom stood up and stretched.  “No better time than the present I always say.”  He walked across the room and opened the door to quietly speak to someone out in the hall.  He shut the door and returned to Clint’s bedside.  “I have just informed the maid she may go tell Jon you are finally awake, so he can make his way down here.  Clint was confused.  “Finally awake?" What do you mean finally awake?”

Tom lit his cigar and took a long drag before replying.  “You have been unconscious for a full three days.” Tom told him smoothly.

“Three bleeding days?” Clint exclaimed.

“I daresay I was beginning to wonder if I should summon your mother to your bedside, you started to worry me.” Tom said as he rose to answer the door when two loud knocks rang out.

  Tom swung the door open wide and put his arm out leading Jon in who was nursing what looked to be broken ribs.  “Clint, my friend, glad to see you finally back among the living.” Jon cheerfully chirped.  Clint shot him a cold look.

  “Really Jon, one day you are going to get us both killed with your crude advances to women”

Jon threw his head back and laughed. “Me?” he exclaimed, “Did that bump on your head cause you memory lapse? I was not the one trying to convince the girl to be my mistress!”

 
             
Clint threw the covers back and made to stand.  A wave of dizziness washed over him.  He immediately sat back on the bed.  “When I recover from this Jon, I am going to throttle you.” he growled.  Jon burst into another round of laughter.

  “Well see to it you recover quickly. We are already behind on schedule, I hope The Blue Lioness still has a place for us to stay, we will leave at first light.”  Jon slowly limped out of the room flashing Clint a toothy grin before Tom shut the door behind him.   

Tom walked to the bed slowly shaking his head.  “I will go order you some dinner, once you eat and wash up you need to rest for the night so we can be on our way, the people in this town are not too happy that you have continued to be holed up in their inn.”  Clint glared at Tom.

  “You do not believe that this is my fault?” he asked through clinched teeth.