An Unlikely Duchess (7 page)

She hadn’t made her excuses so could not just run away, much as she’d like to.

She could feel panic well up inside her and knew she’d have to get herself under control before entering the drawing room again.

Oh to have some of Caroline’s stiff upper lip right now.

As her thoughts turned to her sister, the tears she’d been battling burst forth and she slumped back against the wall and buried her face in her hands.

Oh, God. What had she done? What had she done?

She looked around as if an answer to her problem was lurking in the hallway.

I
need to calm down and think this through
.

He had said he had no idea about the contract and, though she only knew him a day, she instinctively knew he was trustworthy. He wasn’t lying. He really had no idea.

That meant that he
hadn’t
come here to ask for Caroline’s hand in marriage. The thought gave her more relief than she had a right to feel.

And what about what he’d said? That he could not stop thinking about
her
. Not Caroline. Not a perfectly proper, gently bred paragon of femininity but little old her.

Rebecca could not help a small smile at this. He’d seen her at her worst today— she’d assaulted him, accidentally of course, but still. And he still felt — well,
feelings
for her.

Her heart slammed against her chest.

He’d kissed her.

Her first kiss. And how glorious it was.

Rebecca had suspected when he’d stepped toward her that his intentions were to kiss her. She’d been rooted to the spot by excitement, a delicious, almost frightening anticipation. Having never been kissed she had no idea what to expect. She’d read the romance novels that her mother disapproved of so, but she’d also heard enough from the local married women to know that what was written was very different from what actually happened, which sounded rather disappointing to be frank.

Never had she imagined though that the reality would be so much
more
than anything she’d ever read. The women who complained were obviously kissing the wrong men.

As soon as his mouth had touched hers she had lost herself completely. Her heart had exploded and she’d seen actual stars behind her closed lids. Sensations that she’d only ever read about and even then hadn’t fully understood had raced through her body as his lips had met hers.

She’d found her body reacting quite of its own accord, pressing itself wantonly against his hard, muscular frame, her arms reached up to twine themselves around his neck, clinging to him like a brazen hussy and she hadn’t cared!

She’d heard the sound of moaning and had been shocked to realise it was her. And still she did not care. And still the kiss went on.

His tongue had darted out to dance with hers and she’d almost perished on the spot. Only his strong arms wrapped around her had prevented her from swooning to the ground.

When she’d read of such kisses she’d felt a little ill, not knowing how something so disgusting could bring pleasure to anyone. Oh, how wrong she’d been.

She could have spent the rest of her life kissing him.

But when he’d suddenly pulled away and pushed her from his body, the hard reality of the situation slammed into her like a runaway carriage. She could do nought but stare at him while desperately struggling to get her breathing under control.

She could not speak, could not move, and could not tear her eyes from his. He’d looked as dazed and confused as she felt. What had just happened between them? She was an innocent but was sure that the power of their kiss was rare.

His silver eyes bored into hers, as if seeing into her very soul. And she was terrified of what he’d see there. Terrified of what she was beginning to feel for him.

The sound of laughter had splintered the air and Rebecca had felt panic like she’d never known. She could not be seen there with him like that. She would be ruined! The scandal, her parents… Caroline!

Rebecca had tried to say something, anything, to make sense of what had happened. In the end though, she had felt the very last shred of her control slip and knew she would have to leave before the tears came.

And now, here she was. Hiding in the hallway of her own home and wondering what the blazes she was to do now.

****

Edward entered the drawing room as inconspicuously as he could. Which was rather difficult considering the second he walked in three pairs of female eyes honed in on him with disconcerting intensity.

He was most definitely
not
in the mood to talk politely with the Carringtons. He was furious with his mother, baffled by the contract his father had supposedly made and driven to distraction by the brown-eyed daughter of the house that seemed to have disappeared.

“Edward,” Tom’s voice came to the rescue and bowing slightly to the ladies, he made his way toward Tom and Carrington who were taking tea by the large fireplace.

“Where did you disappear to then?” enquired Tom, a glint in his eye. What the devil was he up to?

“I was taking some air on the balcony. When I returned to the dining room you had already left so I came here directly. Why? Is anything amiss?”

“Not at all, Edward,” the earl addressed him now. “Just wondering where all the young people were disappearing to, eh? Say, you did not happen across my daughter did you? It seems Rebecca has disappeared also.”

Edward kept his polite ducal expression in place and thanked his lucky stars that the earl did not seem to be suspicious of the two disappearances. A quick glance at his cousin’s amused expression however, told him that Tom was decidedly suspicious.

“Afraid not. Perhaps she retired early—” he began.

“Ah here she is,” the earl’s voice interrupted him and Edward snapped his eyes toward the door.

Lady Rebecca had entered quietly and made straight for the ladies, studiously avoiding even glancing in the direction of where he stood.

He swallowed hard. She looked pale and shaken and, if he was not mistaken, seemed a little red around the eyes. The idea of her crying because of his actions made him feel an utter cad. He knew better than to take advantage of innocents in darkened corners.

He’d left his rakish ways far, far behind him when he became the Duke of Hartridge.

“Rebecca,” called the earl. She stopped on her way across the room and he saw her physically draw back her shoulders before turning and making her way toward the earl.

She curtsied prettily as she reached them and kept her eyes fixed firmly on her father.

“Where have you been, darling? We’ve been wondering.”

She blushed self-consciously and her eyes darted toward Edward for a split second. He suddenly knew that she had no idea what to say. Neither of them had given any thought to what they should say about being missing at the same time.

“I, um.”

“I was just telling your father that I’ve been on the balcony and had not seen you, my lady.”

The duke’s soft tones interrupted her frantic thoughts as she tried to figure out what to say. Relieved that he’d stopped her from making a
faux pas
she rushed to answer, “I was just in the library Papa. I had, er, thought to play something and seemed to remember I had left some music there.”

“Capital idea my dear.” Her father beamed at her. “Where is it?”

“Where’s what?”

“The music you went in search of.”

“Oh. Well, it wasn’t what I wanted after all,” she answered weakly. Really, she just wanted to get as far away from Hartridge as the room would allow.

What must he think of her? What sort of lady kisses a virtual stranger? Rebecca wanted to cry again.

“Well, never mind. You can play something from memory,” said her father jovially.

“No. That is to say, I do not think — her grace must be tired from her travelling and—”

“My lady, I am sure we would all be honoured if you would consent to play for us.”

She looked up to find Mr. Crawdon smiling kindly at her. She refused to look at the duke and so did not know what his expression held.

Contempt and disapproval probably.

“What’s that, Rebecca?” her mother’s voice called from across the room.

“We were just asking Rebecca to play for us,” her father answered. “She sings like an angel,” he boasted proudly to the gentlemen.

“Really?” her mother sounded a little angry and Rebecca, seeing Caroline’s thunderous expression, began to realise why.

Rebecca should not be the one performing and drawing attention to herself. Rebecca wasn’t the bait to catch the duke, she thought bitterly.

She should blend into the background and let Caroline do all the performing and talking. And kissing.

Caroline’s angry words from earlier came back to haunt her.

Even if he felt no attachment to her sister. Even if he had no plans to marry Caroline. Rebecca was so far from duchess material it was laughable.

There could be no future for her with the duke. Even if he wanted one, which she very much doubted.

“No. Not really,” she answered interrupting whatever her father was about to say. “What I mean is, I had thought about it but, really, if we are to entertain our guests then surely Caroline should be the one to perform. She is exceptionally talented and will do us proud, I think.”

Caroline looked closely at her for a moment and then smiled softly and Rebecca felt a sort of reconciliation.

“Thank you, Rebecca.” Only the sisters knew that she was thanking her for more than the compliment. For Caroline, this meant that she had Rebecca’s support in endearing herself to the duke. Little did she know that he was not here to marry her and would very likely refuse to do so.

Caroline made her way to the pianoforte and Rebecca took the opportunity to take her seat immediately, avoiding all temptation to sit beside Hartridge.

From now on, she would stay as far away from him as possible. Though it felt very close to heart breaking, she would keep her distance and do all she could to help Caroline.

Caroline was duchess material. Caroline had been preparing for this since wearing long skirts. Rebecca had been left to scamper around the countryside at her leisure and, though she was well loved, she could not help but feel that there’d been little or no thought given to whom she should marry!

The idea had never crossed her mind before. There was no rush. But her feelings for Hartridge and Caroline’s harsh words were enough to make her take stock of her situation.

Rebecca was old enough for a Season. She had avoided one because, frankly, she did not want one. But she could not stay single forever. She must marry.

She had hoped to marry for love…

Caroline began to play and sing a famous Italian piece, much favoured by the sisters. . The song was a good choice for Caroline as it showed off her obvious talent for the language. Plus, there was an ever so slightly husky note to Caroline’s voice when she sang which lent the song a dramatic flair, perfect for the flamboyant Italian emotions of love and betrayal which the song described. Rebecca risked a glance across the room to see if Hartridge was enraptured with the sound of Caroline’s voice.

Her stomach jolted when she looked at his strong face and realised that he was staring at her. She blushed profusely and quickly looked away before anyone saw their heated exchange. Good Lord, if he continued to pay such particular attention, people would start to notice. And then what would she do?

She thought again of her future prospects. She had no desire to remain a spinster, relying on the kindness of her brother for a home.

Imagine being underfoot whilst he married and began to have children. The thought did not appeal in anyway.

And, if Caroline
did
marry the duke? What then? Would she be expected to spend time with them? Watch them go about their married life, always in the background, always pining for—

No! She stopped the thought in its tracks.

She would not live that life, would not be that girl.

If she could not marry for love, she would marry for all the usual reasons— security, safety, family connections.

And who was to say that she would not find love anyway? Rebecca could easily meet and fall desperately in love with the perfect gentleman. Of their own accord her eyes drifted once more to the duke.

She had not known him long enough to feel anything. The kiss, it had been sheer folly. A moment of complete madness. A sign of her immaturity!

Well, it was time for Rebecca to grow up. She would speak to her father and make arrangements to have her Season.

She would hunt for a husband and would finally and firmly put the Duke of Hartridge from her mind.

CHAPTER SIX

Edward listened politely as Lady Caroline sang and played. The lady clearly had talent which made the performance very enjoyable and, he had to admit, her face was beautiful when she played. Obviously, the music helped her to relax some of her rigid control.

She seemed softer, more approachable. Any sane man would find her immensely attractive as a potential bride.

Unfortunately, he had been driven to insanity by her younger sister.

He looked at her again. It seemed he could not
stop
looking at her. Damn the woman! This was a complication he just did not need!

He intended to speak to his mother at the very first opportunity. Find out what the devil was going on here.

Then, he intended to make his excuses to the earl, apologise to Lady Caroline and get the hell out of there.

He did not intend to spend every agonising second lusting after Lady Rebecca, driven to distraction by her mere presence in the same room.

What an absolute mess.

Lady Caroline finished playing and the assembled groups showered her with well-deserved compliments. She curtsied charmingly and made her way toward her mother and sister.

Edward heaved a sigh of relief and was about to make his excuses when the earl’s booming voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Thank you my dear, you did very well. And now, your sister’s turn.”