His Bewitching Jewel (A Regency Holiday Romance Book 7) (12 page)

The Duke had left Ruby in peace. Leaving her to eat alone, and giving her the time to think about what would be her next step. Every fibre of her being told her to run, it told her to go while she could—before he broke his word and contacted her family, and yet, she couldn’t leave. Whenever she considered it, her thoughts immediately went to Miranda and Cordelia. She would give it until Allantide. If she didn’t think she could trust the Duke at that point in time, then, she would depart Penryn House never to return.

She placed her fork down, and stood up. Feeling a gust of air blow through the room, she turned around to see that the window had opened itself.

Splendid.

The spirits had decided to play with her again. She just prayed she wouldn’t hear that infernal madman’s laugh again. It had truly spooked her. It made her feel fear the likes of which she had never before encountered.

Not wanting to remain alone in her bedchamber a moment longer, she walked out of it, and made for the sanctuary of the nursery. Her eyes settled on the Duke and panic welled within her. She had turned on her heel to walk back out the door.

“Oh, please, don’t go, Miss Massey,” Lady Miranda said. “Uncle was about to tell us a bedtime story.”

With her back still to them, she rolled her eyes, and prayed for patience.

“You shouldn’t beg her to stay, Miranda. She is afraid of me. She thinks I bite.”

“Cordelia thinks the same way, but I do not, Uncle. I think you are wonderful.”

Ruby sighed, and slowly turned around to face them. “Why doesn’t Miss Massey regale us with a tale? I am quite certain she has a few stories to tell.” He looked at her expectantly. “Have you ever encountered any fairies or pixies, Miss Massey?” he asked, a delighted twinkle in his eyes, and a slight curve to his full lips.

“Alas, I have no fairy stories to relate to you, my ladies, but I could come up with a tale to ease you into dreamland.” She could? She sounded more confident than she felt. She had to think hard and conjure something out of thin air. “Perhaps, perhaps, I should leave the story to your uncle after all. I am afraid I am not gifted with a silver tongue.”

He chuckled. “Why don’t I tell you about how your mother and I met the giant that took Queen Joan?”

Lady Cordelia had been hiding under her bedclothes, but at his announcement, she peeked up over at her uncle. A lump started to move under her covers, and seconds later, the kitten popped her head out, and curled up onto Lady Cordelia’s pillow. “Oh, do tell us, Uncle Phineas. However did you get away from him? Didn’t he try to eat you?” Lady Miranda asked, quite excited by it all.

He laughed. “Let me tell the story first. Not long after the day that we rescued Queen Joan, we were walking in the woods, and we heard a terrible thundering noise. Thinking that it was about to rain, we determined that we had to hasten home, and that was when we saw him.”

“Saw who?” Lady Miranda asked, quite enchanted by his tale.

“We saw the giant. He had felled a tree and he sat on it as if we would sit on a log. He was crying, and the awful sound we had heard was when he had blown his nose. He looked so very sad that your mother, Isolde, told me we had to stay and ask him what was wrong. I wanted to run, and she wanted to stay. That was your mother for you—she was unfailingly kind, and unfailingly brave.”

“We know,” Lady Miranda whispered.

He smiled at them, and then continued, “So, we walked boldly up to the forlorn giant, and we asked him what was wrong. He didn’t hear us at first, so we had to shout to be heard.”

“Did he hear you?”

“Oh, yes, he heard. He stopped sniffling, and stared down at us. He told us that he had lost his one and only true love. That she had decided to leave him. He caught her once and put her in a cage, thinking he could keep her that way, thinking that he could woo her and win her back, believing that he could appeal to her heart.”

With those words, he locked gazes with Ruby. She swallowed thickly, and looked away, feeling her cheeks burn.

“He told us that his heart would never heal. He told us his heart would be broken forever if she didn’t come back to him.”

“Oh, no! The poor giant!” Miranda gasped.

“He said that being reunited with her would be the only way to heal his broken heart.”

“Queen Joan couldn’t possibly want to marry a giant,” Lady Miranda said, and Ruby looked over at Lady Cordelia who was adamantly shaking her head.

“We thought so, too. We told him it was sheer folly for him to think he could win her hand. We told him he was nothing but a big ugly giant. Well, I told him that…Isolde, could never be so cruel, and I still had a lot to learn back when I was nine years old.”

Ruby had to hand it to the Duke. He could tell a wonderful bedtime story, even she wanted to hear how it ended.

“We thought so, too, until we turned around and saw her. She was resplendent. Dressed in emerald green, and wearing a crown that glittered like starlight, she sighed, and put her hands on her hips. Oswald, said she, would you stop blubbering, you are dampening the spirits of my people. We cannot make merry with you wailing away.”

“She doesn’t sound very nice now,” Lady Miranda said thoughtfully.

“He brightened when he saw her, and asked her if he would be his one true love. She told him she could not marry a giant, but if he was willing to be changed into a pixie, she would take his hand in marriage, and make him her consort, as she, too, loved and missed him.

“He told her that he would do anything for her. He told her would go through any trial, and if he had to change himself into a pixie, that he would do it. She told him that once she kissed him, her magic would transform him into a pixie. He would never be able to return to his giant family. He would be an outcast. He told her that none of that mattered. His family had returned to the old lands, and the only thing keeping in him Cornwall was his love for her. Smiling, she told him to pick her up, and she planted a kiss on his cheek, and then, used her magic to float back down to the ground, as sparkles of light started to envelop him. Isolde and I stepped back, as the light almost blinded us. We shielded our eyes, and once the light stopped glowing around us, we tentatively peeked out, and saw that Oswald the Giant had become Oswald the Pixie Prince.”

“Did they live happily ever after?” Lady Miranda asked. Lady Cordelia was just as enthralled with the story as Lady Miranda was.

“That my darling girls, is a story for another night.”

“Oh, Uncle Phineas, that isn’t fair,” Miranda said, pouting.

Ruby had to concur. However was she going to hear the ending of the story? She couldn’t sneak into the nursery every night.

“Fair or not, that is how it is,” he said, kissing Lady Miranda’s forehead. 

“If we can’t hear the next part of the story, could we go out riding tomorrow on our ponies? Please?”

He looked over at Ruby. “We can, but Miss Massey must come with us.”

Lady Miranda and Lady Cordelia instantly looked at her. She sighed. She had never cared for riding. “I…I am not that good on a horse.”

“Uncle Phineas shall have a nice calm mare saddled for you,” Lady Miranda said calmly.

Ruby bit her lip. “I…fine. I shall accompany you, but heed my words, I am not an accomplished horsewoman.”

He winked at her. “If you find you cannot ride alone, Miss Massey, you can always ride with me.”

She looked away. “I think…I think I should away.”

“You may kiss us goodnight, Miss Massey, if you would like,” Lady Miranda said, her eyes blue eyes wide and oh so innocent. So innocent it broke Ruby’s heart. Sighing, she walked over to Lady Miranda and bestowed a kiss on her forehead, and then, she turned to do the same to Lady Cordelia, who smiled shyly at her.

“What do you think, Cordelia? Should we play the part of matchmakers, and throw Uncle and Miss Massey together?”

She groaned. They wouldn’t need to encourage the Duke. She was the one that needed a little push.

Lady Cordelia nodded her head. “Mama would have liked Miss Massey, don’t you think, Cordelia?”

Lady Cordelia nodded again, and the kitten let out contented purrs, as she fell asleep.

“We shall take our leave, now. Goodnight, and sweet dreams, Miranda and Cordelia,” the Duke said.

“Goodnight, my ladies,” she said, as she followed him out into the hallway.

“Now, then, Miss Massey, would you like me to tell you a bedtime story?”

Finn was teasing Ruby again, and by the dancing of her eyes, she might just be about to rise to the occasion.

“What would you do, sir, if I told you, yes?”

His stomach dipped. She probably didn’t want to know what he would do if she told him yes. He might be attempting to act like a saint—but he was still trying to cast aside his rakish ways.

“I would sweep you up into my arms, and I would take you to my bedchamber, where I would finally make you mine.”

“Well, then, sweep away,” she said impishly, shutting her eyes, and waiting for him to proceed. The question was—was she in jest or was she serious? He didn’t know how to take her act of submission. Was it just a challenge that she expected him not to accept?

He moved toward her and swept her up into his arms. Her astonished gasp told him what he had already thought. She hadn’t expected him to take her challenge. He held her cradled in his arms, and strode to the staircase that would take him to the floor where his bedchamber was located. Her eyes popped open, and they looked wonderfully wild. She thrashed about in his arms, looking as if she would give him a bloody good struggle.

“You take me back to my bedchamber at once.”

“You cannot go back on your word, darling Ruby. You gave me leave to do this—this isn’t something you should joke about. I am quite serious when it comes to my affections for you.”

“You are quite the dangerous duke, sir.”

He considered her words thoughtfully, as he carefully walked down the steps and then turned in the direction of his bedchamber.

“I think you should put me down, sir,” she said indignantly.

“I shall put you down once we are safely in my chambers.”

“Your Grace, you must cease this foolishness at once!” Now her voice had raised to a fevered pitch, and she looked as if she was tempted to slap him.

He laughed. “Your eyes are quite bright right now, my lady. I think it makes you look even lovelier than you do when you are even tempered.”

Reaching his bedchamber, he strode through the doorway and placing her down on her feet, he shut the door securely. Now, she had moved into the next level of her indignation. She had her hands settled on her hips, and she looked inclined to give him a good and proper tongue-lashing. He was besotted, bewitched, and quite undone by her.

“I would like to leave,” Ruby said, darting forward. He blocked her path, and gave her his best roguish grin. “You said you wanted a bedtime story from me, so go ahead and settle yourself down on my bed, and I shall give you one.”

“I do not think you have stories in your mind right now, Your Grace. You are being quite churlish.”

He placed his hand over his heart. “You slay me with your words. They are like an arrow to my heart,” he said dramatically.

“Oh, go on,” she laughed. “You should have taken to the stage, sir.”

“That was exactly where I wanted to be when I grew up. Alas, I had to become a duke instead,” he said.

She sighed heavily. “You, sir, need to move out of my way, so I can make my escape.”

“You said you wanted a bedtime story, now go along and sit down so I can tell you one. It shall be a story about how love conquers all, and how the lovers live happily ever after.”

“Until they grow tired of one another—or until one of them dies,” she said pragmatically.

He stared at her in disbelief. “Don’t you believe in the magic of love, Ruby?”

“I only believe in tangible things, and while I have seen many of my cousins and friends find that magic, I do not believe it is something I can ever obtain.”

He truly felt sorry for her. What kind of a person had made her so down on herself?

“My mother told me once that I should be thankful that Reverend Beasley was willing to marry me. She told me I was nothing to look at, and that my personality was quite dull. She said I was someone that had to be thankful that anyone wanted me, and that I couldn’t be choosy.”

“And yet, you said you had two other duke’s bewitched by your charms. I think your mother might be jealous of you, Ruby. I think she hates seeing you get the attention that she was probably always denied, and instead of wanting better for her child, she is one of those mothers who wants her daughter to pale in comparison to her.”

“My mother…you do not know her.”

“I feel as if I know about her just listening to you speak. It is a very wonder she allowed you to ever leave her side.”

“You…pray, step aside, sir.”

He leaned down, and kissed her on the lips before she could anticipate his intent. He pulled her close, and while she struggled at first, it didn’t take her long to relax, and soon, she was responding to him. God, it was heaven kissing her. She was full of fire—she was so much different from any of the other women he had ever been with.

He broke the kiss, and looked tenderly down into her eyes. Leading her over to the bed, she willingly went with him, and gasped when he put his arms around her waist and lifted her up onto the high bed. She smiled at him, as he moved forward to join her.

“And now for your story,” he said, settling on the bed beside her. The bed shook suddenly, and the force almost sent him crashing onto the floor. His bedchamber was thrown open, and a gust of wind blew through the room. He groaned. The ghosts were doing it again.

Damnation.

“Leave me alone,” he grumbled. “She will come to no harm with me.” His stubborn refusal to believe that what he was doing was wrong, made him hesitate. He had to catch a hold of himself before he did something he would later regret—and more importantly something, she would later regret. He walked over and slammed his door shut. Turning to smile at her, “Now, where were we?”

“Your Grace,” she said, her eyes wide in horror.

He turned back to the door. “Damnation. Why won’t you bloody well leave me alone?” he growled.

The door was open again, and it seemed that it would stay that way until he admitted defeat and told her to leave.

“I…I think we should put this off for another night. The ghosts, it would seem, have a higher moral code than I do.”

A smile twitched at the corner of her mouth. “I rather think they are passing judgement on your sins, sir.”

“They bloody well are,” he said exasperated. “They think that you are an innocent damsel in need of protection from me.”

“And…” she paused. “Mayhap, I am. You, sir, are leading me into temptation, and I don’t know if I have the willpower to decline your invitations.”

He laughed. “You don’t, eh? Just as well. I shan’t ever stop desiring the honour of your company, Ruby, but I think you and the ghosts that brattle throughout this old place are right. You are…above reproach. You have a good heart, and you deserve more than what I can give you at the moment. Allow me to court you, Ruby. Give me that one boon, and I promise you, you won’t ever regret it.”

“If you dare, sir, and, if I dare. I shan’t want a scandal from it all.”

“You needn’t fear. I pay my servants for their discretion.”

Confliction passed across her serene features. “I am no prize, sir.”

“I disagree with that sentiment, Ruby. Let me show you how beautiful and desirable you are.”

Her eyes filled with unshed tears, and he felt miserable.

“Thank you, sir,” she said, slipping off the bed, and walking toward him. She reached for his hand, which dwarfed her small one. “Thank you for giving me the gift of your affection. I am not entirely convinced it is the right thing to accept it—but for just this once, sir, I dare to throw caution to the wind. Once you see what a terrible horsewoman I am—you might have second thoughts. You might not want me anymore.”

“Nothing on God’s Green Earth could make me stop wanting you, Ruby. Please believe that.”

“I have lived my life not thinking anyone like you could come along, Your Grace. I have had other men interested in me, but you…you want nothing but my love. You want me for who I am…and perhaps, the way that I have been raised—maybe I have been conditioned not to hope. Not to dream, and you, Your Grace, seem far too good to be true.”

“You are the one that is far too good to be true, Ruby. And now…before I find myself wallowing in sentimentality, and wanting to recite you poetry and make sweet love to you, I think you should go. Our supernatural chaperones shan’t be happy if you remain one minute longer.”

She sighed. “I think you are right, much as I am loathe to admit it. I don’t mind the other ghosts that ramble through these halls, but what…the man who laughs like a madman…do you think he is the Earl?”

“Do I think he is Miranda and Cordelia’s father? Aye. However, that my dear, is a story for another night. I shan’t want to you lose any sleep over it. The other ghosts have taken you under their wings. You won’t be bothered by him anymore.”

“Are the children quite safe?” she asked softly.

He sighed. “Aye. The nursery never experiences such things. It never has—and I daresay it never will.”

“Some would think us quite mad to be talking about ghosts in such a blasé manner.”

“Those people would be the skeptics, the ones who have never experienced such things. The people around here—well, they wouldn’t doubt it. This land is filled with magic…this land is touched by the supernatural, Ruby.”

“And touched by pixie queens, and their consorts?”

“Aye,” he said. “They are grand stories to tell, Ruby. They make my nieces quite happy, and I can be assured that they shall dream of fairy stories instead of dreaming about the demons that sometimes haunt them. They almost lost their childhood—and I am bloody well determined to make sure they have it back.”

“How…how did their father die?” she asked softly.

“That as I said, is a story for another day. It is a grim tale, and it fills my heart with sorrow whenever I dwell upon it, for I just didn’t lose that bastard that night, Ruby. I lost my sister. I lost my precious Isolde.”

A tear slipped out of its watery prison. “I am so sorry, Your Grace. I have overstepped my bounds. I shall take my leave now.”

He caught her hand, as she turned to leave. Lifting it to his lips, he kissed it gently.

“Never apologize to me, my dear. You have a genuinely caring soul. Souls like yours, are a rarity in this world, and people like you must be cherished. And, I shall endeavor to cherish you for the rest of my life.”

Ruby pulled away from him, and raced back through the house to her bedchamber. Closing the door, she let out a shattering sigh. She couldn’t keep doing this. She couldn’t fall in love with him, only to have it all taken away.