Desperate Measures (Regency Undone) (3 page)

Her face was bright red, reflecting her effrontery and Guy
’s cheeks acquired a duller red, as he was forced to acknowledge that on first appearances, he could not blame her for her accusations against his household, even though it was the first - and certainly the last - time he would be inviting this particular group of acquaintances back to his home.  Before he could make any response, however, a loud knock was followed by the door being opened in hurry and the butler entering with a missive in his hand.

‘
Beg leave to interrupt, Your Grace, but this has just come from Mansell House.  I fear there is bad news concerning your mother.’

Guy took the note and read it, a frown marring his brow as he did so.

‘Ask Williams to bring the coach immediately,’ he ordered.

He turned back to Isabelle. 
‘I regret this rather settles matters for us.  My mother has apparently suffered a heart attack and the doctor attends her as we speak.  I would ask that you accompany me while I visit her and I will undertake to drop you back to Avalon Hall on our return.’

For a moment Isabelle toyed with the idea of requesting a private carriage for herself but the Duke was already departing the room, which left her little option but to follow suit.

The journey in the magnificent carriage was conducted in silence and Isabelle took advantage of the fact that the Duke was observing the landscape lost in thought, to study him more closely.  A worried frown creased his brow and she sensed his anxiety for his parent even though he made no mention of it.

He was not strictly a handsome man she decided; his features were too strong for that.  But he was undoubtedly an attractive one, his height and breadth being above average and displaying his perfectly tailored clothes to perfection.  He held himself with an indolent arrogance that she was well used to amongst members of the tonne and she could quite believe that he was a gentleman who put himself out for no-one, unless it was to his benefit.

He turned unexpectedly and caught her looking at him.  ‘Are you satisfied with what you see, My Lady?’ he enquired, an amused gleam in his eye.

She held his look bravely.
‘I have not yet decided, Sir.  You are a difficult man to fathom out.’

‘
Oh, I think as men go my needs are relatively few and simple, but now is not perhaps the time to go into that.  We were interrupted in our conversation in the Library.  You were saying how you would prefer not to remain in Hertfordshire or work in a household such as mine?’

Pink tinged her cheeks. 
’I have nothing to add, Your Grace.  I believe I made my feelings perfectly clear.’

‘
Abundantly so, I would say.  I can perceive you are in a difficult position but do you not feel that at least here in Hertfordshire you have friends and perhaps family, who care for you?’ 

‘
I prefer not to speak of my personal situation, Your Grace.   My family are not able to assist me and indeed I am fed up with being a burden on them and having them interfere in my life.  In future I shall depend upon myself and I daresay I shall make a far better job of it than they have so far done on my behalf.’

She tilted her chin at him, as if expecting him to disapprove of her little show of independence, but when he did not respond she felt a trifle foolish. 

Instead he gave a grim smile.  ‘I can sympathise with those sentiments.  My mother constantly plagues me about the need to acquire a new wife and a mother for my son.  It is very irritating even though I know her wishes are out of concern for me.  Do you like children, Isabelle?’

She blinked. 
‘Why of course I do.  How else could I consider being a governess?’

‘
Yet I would guess your experience of children is limited?’  He looked at her in a considering manner.  ‘I do not wish to put too fine a point on it, but does it not occur to you that you may find it difficult obtaining the sort of position you desire?’

Isabelle bit her lip.  He had voiced her innermost fear but she would not let him see that he had unsettled her.

‘I am well versed in all the basics of education, I play the piano and I speak the French language.  I am quite sure that those accomplishments will be quite enough to benefit any child until they reach an age where a more formal level of education is required.’

 
‘Hmm … I still fear it may not be as easy as you seem to think, but I wish you well of it.  Aah, we are here.  Pray come with me and I will arrange for refreshments to be brought to you while you are waiting.’

He seemed to be gone an age and Isabelle had not only finished the small jug of cordial she had been brought but also a whole plate of sandwiches.  She looked up as the door opened and the Duke walked in.  One look at his face was enough to know it was not good news.

‘I trust your mother is not too severely incapacitated, Your Grace?’ she said, rising from her chair.

‘
It is touch and go,’ he said abruptly.  ‘Please come with me.’

Before she could anticipate his action he had taken her hand in his and was drawing her out into the large hall and up the grand staircase.

‘I would ask a favour of you, Isabelle,’ he said, holding her hand tightly so she had no chance of escape,  ‘and if you agree, there need be no more talk about governesses and companions.  I will set you up in a home of your own with a modest income for the rest of your life.’

She stopped dead in her tracks, only to be jerked forcibly back into motion as he carried on walking up the stairs. 

‘Wh … what?  How can you be serious?’ she gasped, clutching at her cloak so as not to trip over it.  She was having difficulty keeping up with him and was mightily glad when finall
y
they came to a halt outside a solid oak door.  

He looked at her frowningly. 
‘The doctor is with her but he believes she may not last the day.  The favour I have to ask is that you pretend that we are to be married.’

Isabelle looked at him aghast. 
‘What are you talking about?  That is the most preposterous …’

‘
We do not have time to argue.  And there is not time to explain in detail.  Suffice to say, as I mentioned earlier, my mother has been on to me almost since my divorce to find myself another wife and mother for my son.  And now she is not so sick that she is beyond pulling the health card to obtain her wishes.’

His features softened. 
‘However, if these are indeed her final hours, then I am inclined to put her mind at ease and indulge her.   I am a rich man Isabelle.  If you will agree to pretend to an Engagement with me while she lives, I will promise to release you when she dies and provide you with a comfortable living for the rest of your days.  Do we have an agreement?’

Isabelle
’s heart was pounding.  She could not believe her ears.  It seemed immoral, and yet …
a house of her own.  Independent means.  Not to have to work for her living. 
Dear Lord, it was such a temptation.

The Duke of Rotherham placed a hand on each of her shoulders, requiring her gaze to meet his. 
‘I realise I am asking a lot of you,’ he said abruptly, ‘but I am very fond of my mother and I know it would bring great peace to her to know that I am settled.  You need not fear that once she is gone I will hold you to the engagement.  I am in no more of a hurry to marry again than are you, but if I can do this one small thing before she dies-’

Isabelle was stunned to realise that she was moved to compassion by the genuine
grief she saw in his eyes.  She who had never thought she would look with anything other than contempt at a man again.  Of course it would be completely improper to let him set her up in a house of her own – whatever would people say?  Quite rightly they would wonder about the set up.  Question her morals.  But did she really care about that?  She was surprised to find that despite everything, she did. 

On the verge of sharing this decision with him, she became aware of how tightly his hands were clasping her shoulders, how intent was his regard.  He really did care about his mother she realised looking back into those sombre grey eyes and for a moment it was as if
she
could see through the mask that he
wore.

‘
People would talk.’

‘
I would be absolutely discreet.  No one would know where the funds for your house and income came from.  Most people would assume it was the inheritance left to you by your late husband or your parents.’

It was so tempting.  And - her expression hardened - she was no longer the na
ïve innocent she had once been.  If she didn’t look to her future, then no-one else would.  This was undoubtedly the best opportunity she would ever get to acquire security.

Without giving herself time to reconsider, she found herself nodding her agreement. 

A tight squeeze of her shoulders was the only acknowledgement she got before his hand moved to the door knob and he was pushing the door slowly open.  ‘Just follow my lead and all will be well.’

The room was not dark as Isabelle had imagined, but bright and airy, with the crisp cool draught of early
autumn blowing gently through the slightly opened windows.

‘
Is that you, Guy?  Have you brought her?’

The voice was not that weak as to be unintelligible but it had obviously taken a great effort to speak the words and the woman lying in the bed looked sallow and devoid of energy as Isabelle approached.

‘We are here mother.  This is Lady Isabelle Pennington, of whom I spoke.’

He drew Isabelle gently forward, his hand on hers warm and reassuring. 
‘My mother,’ h
e
introduced, ‘The Duchess of Rotherham.’

‘
I am very pleased to meet you, Your Grace,’ Isabelle said, taking a feeble hand in hers.  ‘His Grace has told me much about you.  I am sorry to see you laid so low.’

‘
Yes … well …not for too long I hope.  So you are … to marry … my son?’  Each breath was forced out through bloodless lips and Isabelle crushed her guilt at the lie, feeling her heart go out to this woman she had never met until today; whom she was unlikely to see again.  Surely it was not wrong to satisfy a person’s dying wish?  She forced herself to meet the other woman’s gaze equably.

‘
I am,’ she said, ‘and I trust I will make a good job of it.’

The older woman
’s features cracked into a weak smile.  ‘It will be no easy task, but I hope you do too.  I was very happy when my son told me of his intentions.  I wonder … would you indulge a romantic old woman my dears … and let me see you embrace just one time?’

Isabelle froze.  She did not dare look at the Duke as embarrassment warmed her cheeks.

‘Mother, you are a rogue.  And if it weren’t for Dr. Gabe insisting that we don’t distress you in any way…’

His mother gave a weak smile. 
‘I fully intend to see Christmas in,’ she took another breath, ‘but just in case I don’t, it would be a nice last image to hold in my heart.’

There was a moment
’s silence.  Then …

‘
Isabelle, my love?’

She was aware of firm fingers on her arm, turning her towards him.  If he saw the panic on her face he didn
’t show it; instead smiling whimsically down at her in a way she could never have imagined as he gently drew her into his arms.  He was taking his time, giving
her
time to adapt to this unasked for situation, she realised.

Her whole body tensed as the memories of other kisses - another man, leapt into her mind; but this gentle persuasion
was unlike anything she had experienced before.  The palms of his hands on her arms slid warmly up to her shoulders as he drew her closer, soothing her rather like one might a nervous filly, and the sudden heat that spread through her in response was unfamiliar.  If he had simply moved in, like the man in the library that morning, she would have been unable to prevent her instinctive recoil; but now as she stared up at him, it was as if she was held in a trance.  She felt his thumbs gently tracing the outline of her jaw and she trembled, catching her breath as his face moved closer to hers. 

‘
It will be alright,’ he whispered for her ears only.  ‘Trust me.’

She didn
’t trust men; had never had reason to, but as his lips finally descended on hers she found she was doing just that, her hands gripping feebly at his sleeves as his mouth softly covered hers.

Ye Gods, her body was taut as a wire, he thought.  And so, shockingly, was his.   How could he have moved from being completely unaroused when he’d first reached for her, to being as hard as houses in the course of a few short moments?  He was shaken by his response.  How he longed to deepen that kiss, explore her ripe softness.  Yet somehow he constrained himself knowing that such behaviour would be totally inappropriate.  Exhibiting enormous strength he drew back, a frown marring his brow as he stared down at her.  Now what the deuce was this all about?  He certainly did not intend complicating matters by developing a desire for her.