Duchess by Chance (28 page)

“Ask me nicely,” Simon taunted.

Lunging, Daniel slashed and swiped with little skill but plenty of enthusiasm.

“Your fencing master would be most displeased with your lack of grace, your Grace,” Simon panted.

“Shut up!”

They fenced until their clothes were drenched with sweat and eventually Daniel struck the winning blow. Simon slumped against the wall while Daniel bent at the waist to suck in several deep breaths.

“How deep is Huxley in debt?” Daniel rasped.

“According to my source - ” Simon wiped his face on a piece of cloth
 
“ - he is in very deep, owes money to everyone and is gambling heavily to try and recoup his losses.”

“But why shoot at us the other night. It makes no sense. What did Huxley or Winchcomb hope to gain out of it?” Daniel queried. “If, indeed, it was either of them.”

The men were silent while they thought things over, the only sound in the room their harsh breathing for several seconds.

“The first shot came as I reached forward to close the carriage curtains,” Daniel said slowly as his mind ran through the events of that night.
 

“So it’s possible it was you they were after?”

Daniel looked at Simon as he spoke. “Perhaps with me gone, Winchcomb thinks he can intimidate Eva to give him money or - ”

“He could control her completely. After all, he is one of those men who believe all women can be gentled by force,” Simon added. “Perhaps he has promised Huxley a share of anything he gets out of Eva or worse…”

“With me gone, he could hand Eva to Huxley,” Daniel growled. “It seems he did not take my threats seriously.”

“I think we should pay him another call,” Simon suggested.
 

“Yes,” Daniel’s smile was feral. “After we buy you a decent horse.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Eva spent the next hour discussing the ball with her grandmother and then when she thought her head would burst from the lists of things she was charged to do, the Dowager Duchess rose to leave. This time, she kissed both of Eva’s checks and told her to take care and then stomped from the house.

The note arrived that afternoon. Restless, Eva had been reading a book in the library when Molly tracked her down and handed it to her. She knew instantly that it was from her father. Opening it, she read the words.

I have your brother. Therefore, you will come at once and bring money or jewels. We may have failed to kill your husband but we will not fail again. Don’t doubt that Reginald is here, or that I won’t make him suffer because you, Berengaria, did not fulfill your obligations to me.
 

With the note clenched in one fist, Eva ran to her room and wrenched off the sling. Ignoring the stab of pain in her shoulder and aches in her body, she pulled on her coat, gloves and bonnet and then grabbed her reticule. Opening a drawer, she found some money and stuffed it inside. Neither Molly nor Wernham were thankfully in sight as she reached the front door. Slipping out, she ran down the stairs and onto the street. Making her way to the corner, she kept walking until she found a hackney.
 

“Tattersall’s Horse Sales, please, and hurry.” Slamming the door, she sat on the seat and prayed. Visions of Reggie at the hands of her father filled her head as they journeyed through London until finally the carriage stopped. Looking around her as she stepped down, Eva saw a group of boys. Signaling to one, she urged him forward.
 

“Yes, Miss?”
 

His face was eager, especially when she opened her reticule and handed him several coins. “How can I help you?”

“I need you to go into Tattersall’s Horse Sales and find the Duke of Stratton. When he is before you, inform him that his wife is awaiting him outside. Can you do that?”

“Of course, Miss.”

“You must hurry. The matter is urgent.”

She watched him disappear into the crowd of men before her and then she waited and watched. Daniel would be furious that she had left the house alone but she had had no choice. She had needed to reach him as soon as she could and calling a carriage and finding Molly would have taken up precious time.
 

It was only a matter of minutes before she saw Daniel striding toward her. Uncaring of who was watching, Eva picked up her skirts and ran to meet him, launching herself at him when close enough. Strong arms caught and held her.

“I told you not to leave the house, wife.” His cheek rested briefly on top of her head.

“I had to. Please, Daniel, we must talk now.”
 

Sensing the urgency in her words, he lowered her to the ground, then placed an arm around her waist as they made their way along the row of carriages until they reached his. Opening the door, he urged her inside and then followed. Taking the seat across from her, he placed his hat beside him and then stripped off his gloves.

“Did you bring servants with you? Where is your carriage?”

“I called a hackney and no, I did not bring Molly. Daniel, I need-“ 
      “What!” His roar bounced off the walls. “You were injured and shot at and you left the house unprotected?”

“Daniel, you must listen to me!” Eva grabbed his hands and he stilled, his grey eyes now intent as they focused on hers.

“Are you finally about to tell me the truth, Duchess?”

Oh God, now the moment was upon her, Eva felt her courage waver. Fierce pain lanced through her. Would she lose this wonderful man now? Could he forgive her?

“Talk to me, Eva.”

“Yes, I must.” The words were as much for herself as him. “I have been dishonest, Daniel. Betrayed you and abused your generosity. And I will understand if you wish to send me back to Stratton, but I beg of you, no matter what you think of me, you must help Reggie.”

Leaning forward until their knees brushed, he lifted her chin so their eyes met. “I can do nothing until you tell me everything, Eva.”

She did, starting with her father’s blackmail notes and the jewels she had given him. She told him of Huxley’s visit to Stratton and how he had spoken to her at the theatre and his threat to fight Daniel. She felt purged as she spoke. Finally, the burden was gone. However, she wondered at what price.
 

“I understand you did not trust me when your father first approached you, Eva, but after the theatre, you should have told me about Huxley.”

“I wanted to but I was injured and there never seemed to be the right moment, and I had betrayed you and given my father your ring and the pendant, Daniel.” The words tumbled out one on top of the other as she tried to make him understand. “Plus, I was afraid you would challenge Lord Huxley and he never loses a sword fight, so my father told me. He has killed and maimed many.”

“You think I care about jewels or money? You think those baubles can hold the same place as you in my life? Christ, woman, I love you! Them I can replace; you, I cannot.”
 

Eva felt the air squeeze from her lungs as she looked at him. “You love me?”

“Of course I do.” His anger made the words harsh, yet Eva didn’t care. Was it possible he would forgive her for what she had done?

“But the threat from Huxley and my father, Daniel - surely you can see I could not ignore that. Especially after the carriage was shot at. My fears multiplied after that.”

“And this is why you have come to me now?”

Shaking her head, Eva pulled the note from her reticule and handed it to him. “I had decided to tell you, Daniel - you must believe that - but this note made it imperative I do so immediately.”

“That was what you wanted to tell me this morning?”
 

Eva nodded and watched as he read the note before handing it back to her.

“And you know where they are?”

“Yes, I dropped the pendant there.”

His mouth tightened but he said nothing further, instead reaching above him to open the hatch.

“Daniel.”

“What?” He returned to his seat after barking instructions at his driver.

“I love you, too.”

“I know.”
 

“You do?” Eva slumped back on the seat, suddenly exhausted. Her body still ached and her shoulder throbbed but telling Daniel everything had taken the last of her energy.
 

“You told me the night of the accident.”

“I did?”

Opening his legs, he reached for her, pulling her to the edge of the seat until she was trapped between his thighs, his face now inches from hers.

“If you truly love me, Duchess, you will never lie to me again. Do you understand?”

Eva nodded.

“I don’t care if someone threatens me or Reggie or our bloody dog, you will never again keep anything this serious from me. Do you understand?”

Eva nodded again.

His kiss was hard and fast.

“I knew you were hiding something and that whatever it was put shadows in your eyes when you thought I wasn’t looking. I was caught between shaking you and hugging you because you were carrying these burdens alone.”

Her fingers shook as she touched his cheek. The love inside her was so strong it hurt. “The only worthy thing he ever did for me was give me to you.”

“I would say the same thing.” Daniel’s words brushed her lips. “Our fathers in their greed actually did right by us.”

“I’m sorry about the ring and my pendant, Daniel.”

He cupped her cheeks as his eyes roamed her face. “I will get them back if they mean that much to you, my love, and just for the record, I’m Huxley’s equal with a sword.”

“You are?”

“I am,” he said, opening the door after someone knocked on it.

“What the hell is going on? I was talking to that insipid creature Rockwell and when I turned around you were storming away.” Simon’s eyes went from Simon to Eva. “Hello, Eva.”

“Get in here, Kelkirk, and close the door. I need your help.”

“I’ve never known a duke and duchess get into so much trouble,” Simon grumbled as he seated himself.

“Show him the note, Duchess.”

Eva handed it to Simon at Daniel’s prompting and then, much to her shame, he relayed everything she had just told him. However, Simon simply squeezed her hand when he had finished.

“It’s all right, Eva. We’ll get Reggie back safe.”

“That’s the house.” Eva pointed to a brick building thirty minutes later.

“And am I wasting my breath asking you to stay in the carriage and let Simon and I deal with this?”

“Yes, you are.”

“Where the hell is your sling?” Daniel then demanded, obviously just noticing it was missing.

“I left it at home.”

He sighed but soon they were standing outside the front door.
 

Pounding on the wood, Daniel tried the handle and when it failed to yield, they had to wait several tense seconds before a servant finally opened it.
 

“I want to speak with Spencer Winchcomb,” Daniel demanded.

“He’s busy.” The man then tried to shut the door but Daniel placed one boot in the doorway and pushed it open. The force sent the servant stumbling backwards.

“If you value your health, sir, stay out of this.” Daniel added, walking past him. Then he heard it - the sound a fist makes when connecting with flesh. Followed by Eva and Simon, he ran to the stairs. Taking them two at a time, he reached the top in seconds. Everyone stopped as Daniel held up one hand. They could hear voices coming from the room located at the end of the hallway.

“You will pay for defending that worthless little bitch over us!”

“I care nothing about what you do to me, father, and will laugh in delight when her large husband realizes what you have done to her.” 
      
“She will pay next for turning her back on her family.”

Daniel grabbed the back of Eva’s jacket as she tried to run past him.
 

“I can’t worry about you and Reggie, Eva, do you understand?”

She didn’t want to but she nodded and then allowed him to push her behind him.
 

 
It was unlucky for the Winchcombs that the first sight Daniel had, when he opened the door, was of Reggie taking a fist to the stomach from Bartholomew Winchomb.
 

“Release him now!”

Montgomery Winchcomb, who’d been holding his brother, lifted his hands straight up in the air and took a step backwards, leaving Reggie all alone. He then looked at the large, angry beast that was his brother-in-law and started sweating profusely. Quickly, he stepped sideways until he stood beside his father and brother.

“Reggie!”

Eva’s cry was from the heart as she took in the battered and bruised sight of her brother, and even though Daniel knew it cost her a great deal, she did not take a step toward him. She understood the situation was volatile and one wrong move could harm Reggie further.