Duke 0f Chance (Regency Stories Book 2) Read online

  “I appreciate the offer, but I believe I must decline,” she replied firmly. “I have more than enough funds I need for a very nice dress, and I will use that to get what I need. However, thank you again for the generous offer.”

  Miss Treesing studied her, and Hannah could feel her cheeks burn under the woman’s scrutiny. “You are a very interesting woman, Miss Newmont,” she said as she tapped her finger to her lips. “A very interesting woman indeed.”

  Hannah turned away from the woman to hide the deepening blush that she could feel creeping across her face. Then her eyes fell on a white linen cloth printed with purple flowers intermingled with green leaves.

  “That,” she said, pointing to the bolt on the wall. The shop attendant brought the bolt over and Hannah ran her hand along the fabric. “Yes, this is exactly what I want. Can the dress be completed by the thirtieth?”

  The woman smiled. “Oh, yes. In fact, it can be ready as early as the twenty-third. If you come by then, it should be waiting for you.

  “Marvelous!” she said as she went over to one of the many books on top of a counter that lined one wall. She browsed the various plates until she found a style she liked—a lovely dress with flowing skirts and puffed sleeves—and pointed it out to the attendant.

  “Very good, Miss,” the woman said after noting the plate number. “And you already met with the girls in back?”

  “I have,” Hannah replied. She understood that the woman was speaking of the assistants who did the measuring, which she had done as soon as she first entered the shop. One had to jump right in when one of the younger assistants was available or be left standing and waiting, something for which Hannah had little patience, especially with something as exciting as a new dress.

  “I believe you made an excellent choice,” Miss Treesing said. “I hope I did not embarrass you with my offer.”

  “Not at all,” Hannah assured her, though the thought of it did make her uneasy. Perhaps it was a reaction to her family’s current financial situation, but she felt the need to prove she did not need the help of anyone. “But it was an appreciative gesture, nonetheless.”

  “I’m glad I did not cause you any discomfort.”

  They went quiet as they walked at their leisure. Hannah remembered how busy the town was, and commented about it, “It seems people are disappearing. When I was younger, one could hardly move about for the crowds of people filling the footpaths.”

  Miss Treesing sighed. “Times are hard for many,” she said. “Be thankful that the Duke has his eye on you.”

  Hannah stopped and turned toward her new friend. “I do not seek his money,” she said. “I hope you do not think as such.”

  “Forgive me,” the woman said with a sigh. “I did not mean to imply such a notion. I simply meant that there are many suffering, and I’m happy you are not.”

  Hannah smiled but inwardly she chastised herself. What more did this woman have to do to prove she wished only to befriend Hannah?

  “You still do not trust me, do you?” Miss Treesing said sadly as they continued their walk.

  “Of course I do,” Hannah replied. “If I did not, then why would I agree to come with you today?”

  “It seems that every time I speak of Joseph, I make you uncomfortable.” She peered left and then right and led Hannah across the cobblestone street. “I do not know what I have done to offend you, but I must have done something.” The sadness seeped into her words as they stopped before the shop of a cobbler, the window covered in a thin layer of dust.

  Hannah could not help but sigh. “It is not you,” she said. “You spoke of hard times and, well, it has come upon my own household.”

  Miss Treesing gasped. “I did not know!”

  Hannah placed a hand on the arm of the woman. “It is true, and though it is disconcerting to discuss it outside the walls of my home, my family is on the verge of losing that home.”

  “I am sorry,” the woman said and then hugged Hannah. “No wonder I have upset you. Forgive me, I implore you.”

  The embrace broke and Hannah smiled. “There is nothing to forgive,” she said. “I apologize if I grew angry or was in any way disagreeable with you.”

  “Think no more of it,” Miss Treesing replied. “What is done is done. We have had a marvelous day, so let it end just as wonderfully as it began.”

  Hannah could not agree more. The day had been pleasant, and she had no reason to focus her attention on the bumps in the road when the remainder of the journey had gone rather smoothly.

  As they approached where their carriage sat awaiting their return, a man Hannah recognized stood leaning against the vehicle, his arms crossed over his chest and his foot resting on the back wheel.

  “Lord Whitely,” Hannah said with a smile she had to force. She had not forgotten their limited conversation at the party two months prior and his unpleasant words to her. “It is nice to see you again.” The lie did not sit well with her, but courtesies had to be followed, even if one did not necessarily like another.

  He gave her a nod, his smile wide. “You as well, Miss Newmont.

  “Did you come to town to simply stand in front of the carriage?” Miss Treesing teased. Hannah suppressed her laugh. Cousins could say things to one another and laugh about those words, but acquaintances did not have that luxury.

  “Hardly,” he said with a sneer. “Joseph is due any moment, and we are off to conduct some business with the toss of a coin.”

  Hannah wondered at the moniker attributed to the Duke of Chance and wanted to ask this man about it, but he spoke before she could.

  “I grow weary of waiting for him,” he said with frustration. “I’d bet my left shoe he is in that pub there.” He nodded toward a nearby establishment and, without another word, walked away.

  Miss Treesing sniffed. “He might be my cousin, but I do not like how he tries to anger me.” She signaled to the driver, who rushed over and opened the door to the carriage.

  Hannah followed the woman and took the bench across from her as the driver closed the door.

  “You know that Joseph is also called the Duke of Chance, do you not?” Miss Treesing asked as if hearing the thoughts in Hannah’s head.

  “I do,” Hannah replied carefully. “My cousin Tabitha believes his luck is due to witchcraft.” She gave a small laugh to show she did not believe such nonsense.

  Miss Treesing, however, laughed heartily at this. “Perhaps,” she replied as the carriage began to move down the street. “Though I am glad he does not gamble as he once had.” Then her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand with a gasp. “Forgive me. Forget I said anything.” The last was said with a wave of her hand as if the words were no import.

  Hannah, however, could not help but be confused. “You may tell me,” she said, hoping the woman would open up. This was one of the reasons she accepted the invitation for this outing, that and to spend time with a new friend.

  Margaret placed her hands in her lap and sighed. “Very well, if you insist. However, I ask that you do not repeat what I tell you.”

  “No, of course not,” Hannah promised. “Never.”

  “Joseph has always been prone to games of chance.”

  Hannah already knew this, of course, for it was how she had come to the point of being courted by him, though she did not reveal this to Miss Treesing.

  “Many estates have been won through his propensity to gamble. Money, land, even business agreements are won or lost in this manner. Granted, he is not the only one to enjoy an occasional game of chance from time to time, but Joseph tends to…revel in it.”

  “I gathered as much,” Hannah said, though until that moment she had not realized how much the man relied on chance to help make his decisions. “Men do like their games.”

  Margaret sniffed derisively. “All too much, in my opinion,” she replied. “Though he has won many games, he has lost many, as well. I always feared he would lose his own fortunes in the process.”

  Han
nah smiled. “I believe that particular duke has long since disappeared,” she said, certain in the words she spoke. “He speaks of no such things to me, at least not anymore.”

  Miss Treesing tilted her head and squinted in thought. “I wonder why,” she said. “It is not like him to not like a good game from time to time. How strange that he would suddenly stop.”

  Hannah could not stop the way her mind raced. Was there something the woman was not telling her?

  “No matter,” Miss Treesing said with a shake of her head. “I suppose you are correct. Now, would you care to return to Lord Whitely’s estate for a drink?”

  “I don’t know,” Hannah said. She did not hear an invitation anywhere in the conversation Miss Treesing and Lord Whitely had in that short span of time beside the carriage.

  “I suppose that would be fine,” Hannah said after weighing whether doing such a thing was a good thing or not. Honestly, what harm could it do?

  They conversed the entire ride, but Hannah could not shake off a feeling that something was not quite right. Yet, when she tried to place what that something could be, her mind kept drawing a blank.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Chapter Twenty

  As luck would have it, the time spent at Lord Whitely’s estate was pleasant, and nothing of any great consequence took place. Hannah felt herself enjoying time spent with Miss Treesing, and though her overall opinion of Lord Whitely did not alter much, she could admit that he was not nearly as terrible as she had first thought.

  The days flew by faster than the best Thoroughbred earning its best time in a race, and Whitehall Manor was abuzz with anticipation for the upcoming party. Hannah’s father had spared no expense in order to empress the men and woman of the ton in hopes that he could set minds at ease that he was a viable man with whom to do business. Granted, not everyone who would be in attendance was of the ton—Mr. Franklin, like Mr. Newmont, was of the Gentry—but he had received responses from at least ten members of the Nobility that they would be happy to attend. Most were of the lower Nobility, but this had no bearing on the happiness Mr. Newmont displayed, for anyone with any social level who trusted him was all he needed to get back on his feet once again.

  Hannah was in her new dress as she looked at herself in the mirror. The seamstress had done a marvelous job on the dress, and Hannah was quite pleased with how it fit her. The fabric was soft and flowing, giving her the feeling of a Roman goddess without the sheerness that would have had her hiding behind bushes to keep from being seen.

  “You look beautiful,” her mother said as she gave her a quick appraisal. “Perhaps the Duke may ask for your hand in marriage soon.”

  Hannah could not stop the blush that crept onto her face. “Mother!” she admonished lightly. “It is much too early to be thinking such things, is it not?” The idea did excite her, though she knew she first needed to express her feelings to the man. It was strange how difficult it was to tell someone you cared for him, even when he had called several times since those feelings had sprouted. About the time she thought she could muster the courage to do so, it was time for him to leave, and she was left frustrated with herself for not saying the words. Of course, he had not commented on his feelings either, but men did tend to be less open about such things. Then he did express that he did care for her, but was it the same caring she had for him?

  “It is never too early in matters of love,” her mother said as she pushed back a wisp of hair from Hannah’s face. “Yes, my dear, though I am old, my eyes do not fail me. It is a beautiful thing to be in love, is it not?”

  Hannah laughed. How her mother knew her thoughts was something she could never understand. “Yes, Mother, it is, though I have not told him as of yet. However, I will.”

  “Tell him when you are ready and not a moment before,” her mother advised. “If you are meant to be together, he will be ready and waiting at the appointed time.”

  A knock came to the door, and her mother said, “I must go downstairs and see that everything is ready; the guests will be arriving soon.”

  Hannah gaped at her mother. “But, Mother,” she said incredulously, “my hair! I thought you would be helping me with it.” The woman had promised to help her and now she was leaving her to fend for herself? And on such an important night?

  Her mother turned and smiled, her hand on the door handle. “I cannot help you with that, my dear,” she said, “but I know someone who can.”

  She opened the door and Hannah gaped. “Jenny!” she exclaimed as the woman who was once her lady’s maid—and friend—stepped into the room.

  “Miss Hannah,” the woman said with a wide grin as she curtsied.

  Mrs. Newmont slipped out the door and closed it behind her, but Hannah took little notice as she hugged the woman who held some of her best-kept secrets.

  “You look beautiful,” Jenny said as she held Hannah’s hands out to her sides.

  “What are you doing here?” Hannah asked, still unable to believe the woman stood before her. Then her heart tightened. “Have you not found new employment?”

  “Come and sit,” Jenny said as she led Hannah to the stool in front of the vanity mirror.

  Hannah did as she was told, the old feelings of security returning, reminding her of when times were better in her household.

  Jenny picked up the brush and immediately began working it through Hannah’s hair as if she had never been gone. “In answer to your question, yes, I have found employment. A very nice family with a girl who is but five took me in.”

  Hannah smiled as the familiar strokes of the brush soothed her in a way that only Jenny could.

  “Your mother wrote to me and asked me to come tonight. She told me it was a special occasion for all of you, but especially for you.”

  “How did she know?” Hannah asked. “I did not tell her my feelings for Joseph until tonight. Oh, he is the Duke, the man who has been courting me.”

  Jenny laughed as she placed a pin in Hannah’s hair. “Yes, your mother told me. She believed you to be in love and thought you might want me to have your hair styled specially for this occasion.”

  Hannah smiled at the reflection of the woman in the mirror. Her heart was filled with happiness. “I’m so glad you are here,” she said. “And yes, tonight, when the time is right, I plan to tell him how I feel.”

  “My little Hannah,” Jenny said with a sigh. “The young girl has become a woman and is in love. I told you to find happiness, and I’m so glad you did.”

  For some time, the two spoke of the future and brought up instances of the past, both humorous and sad. Soon, Hannah stood and admired the lovely chignon the woman had created, tiny curls pulled up on top of her head, as well as framing her face, with tiny purple flowers that matched the print on her gown interspersed throughout.

  “Oh, it’s lovely!” Hannah said as she patted her hair carefully with a hand. “Thank you, Jenny,” she said as she turned to the older woman. “Will you remain here tonight?”

  “I will,” Jenny said as she gathered the bag she had carried into the room. “Mrs. Newmont says I can have my old bed for the night. It sure will be lonely there all by myself, but it will be nice to have that familiarity once more.”

  “I hope you do not become bored,” Hannah said worriedly.

  However, Jenny laughed. “I’ll be helping in the kitchen during the party, but maybe later you can share with me your good news.”

  “I promise,” Hannah replied as she hugged Jenny. She could already imagine the reaction of the man she loved when she shared her feelings with him and then he did so in return. Then a thought crossed her mind as Jenny headed to the door. “How do I tell him how I feel?”

  Anna simply smiled as she opened the door. “That’s easy, Miss Hannah. Tell him what is in your heart and if it’s the truth, he will recognize it as so. That will make it that much easier for him to tell you. Now, hurry and do not keep the guests waiting or you’ll end up working in the kitchens with me!”

&n
bsp; Hannah laughed and then followed Jenny out of the room. Jenny turned left toward the servants’ staircase, and Hannah drew in a deep breath and turned right toward the front of the house. The sounds of voices of those guests who had already arrived rose to greet her as she made her way to the top of the stairs. Tonight, her father would find new business ventures, their home would be saved, and she would express her feelings to the man she loved. Things had been horrible recently, but this night, everything would change for the better.

  ***

  Hannah glanced around the ballroom, her eyes stopping on Lord Whitely and Miss Treesing before continuing to Joseph. He stood beside her father, as he had been for some time now, and Hannah had to stop her toe from tapping in impatience. It was difficult enough to do the deed of sharing her feelings, but waiting could be even more difficult when one had made a definitive decision.

  Her heart swelled with pride as she watched the two men talking. Joseph was helping her father secure new friendships, which hopefully would lead to new financial attachments. Not many men in his position would do such a thing for a man not of his class, but Joseph was not like most men of the ton.

  Her mother was speaking with a much older woman who had her hand at her ear every time her mother said something.

  “What was that?” the woman shouted so loudly even Hannah could hear her from across the room and over the sound of the music being played in a far corner.

  Hannah smiled. Lady Pennyspill had been old when Hannah was a child, so now she had to be ancient.

  Not a single guest had an empty hand, the glasses remaining full as the stringed ensemble played a lively tune. With all her heart, Hannah wished that one person of the ton would show mercy on her father and agree to invest with him, but nothing in anything she had seen so far said that any offers had been made. Nor was there any indication that suggestions had been given.

  Joseph came walking up to her, and Hannah’s smile grew wider. His blond hair was combed forward, as was the style, and it shone under the light of the chandelier above them. His suit was a rich blue with a fitted coat and even better-fitted breeches, not a muscle left undefined.