A Regency Lord's Command: The Disappearing Duchess / The Mysterious Lord Marlowe

The ball was over and the guests who had but a short journey to their homes were taking their leave, while those who had come some distance were saying good-night and going up to their rooms.

‘It was a lovely evening,’ Jane Lanchester said as she kissed Lucinda’s cheek. ‘I enjoyed myself so much. You must dine with us soon, Lucinda.’

‘I shall look forward to it. I believe we have two engagements for next week, but nothing the following week.’

‘Then keep the Tuesday night free,’ Jane said. ‘Andrew will ride over with the formal invitation in a day or so.’

‘Yes, I shall put it in my journal,’ Lucinda said. She offered her hand to Andrew, who took it and kissed it. ‘I hope you enjoyed yourself, Lord Lanchester?’

‘Indeed, I did, Duchess,’ he said and grinned at her. ‘Alack, there were no damsels in distress, but perhaps another time.’

‘He is incorrigible,’ Jane said and gave him a push towards the door. ‘I pity his poor wife when he marries.’

‘Why should I need a wife when I have a sister to nag me?’ he asked, but his eyes were merry and there was affection for her in his voice.

‘Is that the last?’ Justin came up to her as she went back into the hall. ‘A few of the gentlemen wish to play cards. You must be tired, Lucinda. I shall not come to you tonight—or should I say this morning? We shall begin our new life this new day, my love.’

‘Good night, Justin.’ Lucinda wasn’t certain whether she felt sorry or relieved that he did not intend to visit her that night. When she was in his arms she longed for more than the sweet kisses that turned her flesh to melting need, but how would she respond when he wanted more of her?

For a moment a memory flashed into her mind, causing her to shudder. Resolutely, she dismissed it. She had faced and conquered her fears before promising to wed Justin. That evil man would not ruin her chance of happiness! She refused to let what he’d done to her overshadow her life.

Justin was a gentleman, courteous and caring. She had believed she was ready to overcome her memories and become his proper wife. However, their estrangement had left her feeling a little uncertain of her husband’s true feelings. For a moment as he’d looked at her earlier, she’d felt he truly cared for and wanted her and she wanted nothing more than to be that man’s wife—but she would hate it if he came to her in anger or with indifference.

She wanted Justin to love her, deeply, passionately, as she loved him, but she was very afraid that he never would now. He wanted a wife to give him heirs, a woman he could be proud to call his duchess. Lucinda must strive to become that woman.

Going upstairs to her room, she found Alice sitting up for her.

‘You should have gone to bed, Alice. I could have managed.’

‘It is my job to sit up for you and my privilege,’ Alice replied. ‘You know I would do much more if you asked it of me.’

‘I have not asked yet, but I may do so quite soon,’ Lucinda said. ‘If I told you a very private secret, you would not repeat it to a soul?’

‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’

‘Then perhaps I shall soon now,’ Lucinda said. ‘But for now you may retire.’

Lucinda was thoughtful as she sat down to brush her hair. Justin disliked her going for long walks. If she furnished the two attic rooms with Alice’s help, she might bring her daughter and Nanny to the house.

She ought to ask Justin, of course, but if he was almost ready to forgive her she did not want to spoil things between them again. The empty rooms were above the guestrooms. Except when they had house parties that wing of the house was usually empty. No one would notice if a child cried sometimes.

She was sleepy as she slid into bed and pulled the covers up around her. It was outrageous to think of hiding her daughter in the attics of her husband’s house, but Angela had been coughing recently and Nanny said she thought the cottage might be damp.

‘It had not been used for a while and I think the roof leaks when it rains,’ she’d said. ‘It will do during the summer, Lucinda, but repairs will need to be done before the winter if we are to stay here.’

She must think of something to tell the servants and Mrs Mann. Alice would be privy to the truth, but they could not hope to keep the child’s presence a secret for long.

She had told the doctor that Angela was her dead cousin’s child. It might be best to continue with the same tale. Perhaps if she told Justin she wanted to help her cousin’s child…

As soon as he saw Angela he would guess the truth. No, she could not lie to him, so she must try to keep her secret a little longer. Perhaps she could find another cottage for Nanny and her daughter, though if they were farther away it would make it difficult for her to visit.

Lucinda knew that she had been deliberately shutting out the thoughts uppermost in her mind. Justin had allowed her one more night to sleep alone, but after that he intended to claim his rights as her husband.

Her heart was racing as she settled down to sleep. She was apprehensive, because she was not sure how to receive him. He could be charming and gentle, but he could also be cold and forbidding—which man would come to her bed?

Justin yawned as he sought his bed after the last of the gentlemen had retired for the night. As host he had no choice but to keep his guests company until the end, but he had never felt less like playing cards.

Why did Lucinda have to be so very beautiful? Watching her laughing and dancing with their guests, he had felt a hot surging desire—a need so strong that it had taken all his willpower to keep from sweeping her up into his arms and running off with her somewhere private where he could make love to her.

He was not sure when his feelings had become more intense. At the beginning he’d believed he felt affection and liking for the shy sweet girl he’d asked to be his bride, but of late he had been aware of a change. Perhaps it was merely the frustration of knowing she lay such a short distance from his bed. A few strides and he could be with her—he could take her into his arms and…but he must be patient. He had quarrelled with his bride over something that was not her fault and could not expect her to fall into his embrace with cries of love.

He did want her to love him. Justin wrinkled his brow. He had not thought love important when he proposed, imagining that mutual respect and liking would suffice—but now he knew it would not. Something had changed. He was not sure what or why, but it had suddenly become important that Lucinda should want him in her bed.

‘She has the snuffles again,’ Nanny said when Lucinda asked where her daughter was the next morning. ‘She was hot and miserable and so I left her in bed.’

‘This cottage is not suitable,’ Lucinda said. ‘I must make different arrangements for her.’

‘The child is strong and will be better soon,’ Nanny said. ‘But the bedrooms are cold and damp. I think I might bring our mattresses down here to the kitchens when it rains.’

‘It is not fit for either of you to be here,’ Lucinda said. ‘Leave it to me, Nanny. I shall find somewhere for you very soon—and now I must sit with Angela for half an hour. I do not wish to be away too long this morning, because we have guests.’

Lucinda found her daughter flushed and hot. She complained of a headache and a tummy ache, but after a while went back to sleep.

She must find somewhere for the child that was warm and dry, Lucinda thought as she walked back to the house that morning. Two of the attic rooms should be sufficient for their needs. Some of the rooms needed attention, but the two rooms she had thought in good condition would house Nanny and Angela—at least until she could find a better cottage close by.

Making up her mind to confide her secret to her maid, Lucinda quickened her step. Alice could carry up bedding and one of the footmen could take up clean dry mattresses. There was a bedstead in each of the rooms, also a chest in one and a table and chair in the other.

It was not ideal, but it would have to do for the moment.

When she had eaten breakfast, Lucinda kept her appointment with Lady Morgan. They had spent a pleasant hour talking together before some of the gentlemen joined them for refreshments.

After nuncheon, the gentlemen had played a game of cricket on the lawns while the ladies had sat in basket chairs and applauded. Justin had scored the most runs for his team and, flushed with success, he had come to perch on a cushion at Lucinda’s feet when tea was brought.

At a quarter to six the ladies went up to change for dinner, the gentlemen following a few minutes later. As Lucinda was changing, the door to the dressing room opened and Justin came through. He was clad only in breeches and shirt, his feet bare. Lucinda’s heart caught, her breath coming faster because he looked so handsome and there was something very sensual about bare feet and his tight breeches. She felt her stomach tighten, a spasm of what she dimly recognised as desire shooting through her. In that moment she longed to be alone with him, to be held in his arms and kissed, feeling disappointed as he addressed the maid, ‘No, you need not go,’ he said as Alice curtsied and prepared to leave them together. ‘I came only to bring my wife a trinket.’

He laid a box on the dressing table. ‘You did very well today, dearest. I think we shall have permanent guests if you continue to make them so comfortable.’

‘Most are leaving tomorrow, Justin.’

‘Yes, I know, but my cousins will stay another day or so—and some of my friends have already invited themselves for the shooting next month.’

Lucinda opened the box he’d given her, gasping with pleasure as she saw the beautiful baroque pearl on a slender gold chain.

‘This is lovely, Justin. Thank you.’

‘I think you deserve it for all your hard work.’ He bent to kiss her cheek. ‘I shall come to you tonight,’ he murmured against her ear.

Lucinda nodded, but said nothing. She glanced at Alice as her husband went back through the dressing room to his own bedchamber.