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

  The man looked up quickly and shook his head. “No, never,” he said. “The drought last year did not help with the livestock I traded. The price of wool fell. I also lost money on a venture…” He reddened even further. “To be honest, I was taken like a fool.”

  Joseph snorted. “I can see how that would happen.” He grabbed the wine bottle and poured himself a glass. He did not bother to offer any to the man before him. “Is there anything else?”

  “No, Your Grace,” Mr. Newmont said. “That’s all.”

  Raising the glass to his lips, Joseph took a drink as he wondered how big a fool the man really was. By all accounts, he appeared to be honest, and that in itself was a rare trait in any man of any class. “Tell me, Mr. Newmont, what will happen if you lose everything? For that is a very real possibility, is it not?”

  The man cleared his throat and looked back down at his hands in his lap. “It is. I would have to sell off my remaining land. It would break Horatia’s heart. And Hannah…I fear what will happen to her if I lose it all.”

  Joseph was intrigued by the words the man spoke and leaned back in his chair. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, she now of an age to be married, but if I have nothing, I’m afraid she will marry a man as destitute as us.”

  Joseph smiled, for now the man’s true motives came forth, and the greed he knew would be with them showed brightly. “So, you wish her to marry for money so she can wear the finest dresses?”

  The man’s head shot up. “No. I wish her to marry as her heart desires, but I also do not want her to suffer any more than she has. I would be lying if I did not want her in fine dresses and the like, but to see her smile is something I have not been able to do as of late.”

  The words shocked Joseph, for he could detect no lie in them. His eyes glanced down at the book on his desk. A simple request to read it was all she asked. A man in front of him just short of begging, and yet the first time he could recall, Joseph felt no joy in a man’s suffering. It was a strange feeling.

  “Very well, then,” Joseph said as he set down his wine glass. “If we are to engage in business together, then I need to know something of what you still possess.”

  With eagerness, Mr. Newmont spoke, and Joseph listened, though his mind kept drifting back to the man’s daughter. Her father did not want to see her suffer, and though he could not explain why, neither did Joseph.

  ***

  The party at Lord Brumpton’s had begun some time ago, and much to Joseph’s annoyance, he had been in deep conversation with the Earl discussing matters of business.

  “Well, I believe that settles it, then,” Lord Brumpton said, rising from his desk. “We can resume this discussion at a later point. I suppose I should attend the event I am hosting.”

  “Yes, you should,” Joseph said, agitated that the man had delayed him a feat which would not go unpunished. “Though, I do believe we could settle the account now if you wish.”

  “There is too much to discuss,” Lord Brumpton replied as he came around to the front of the desk. “These matters are delicate and need just the right amount of consideration before a final decision can be made. Otherwise, we find ourselves in muddy waters trying to break free.” The man laughed at his attempt at humor.

  Joseph forced a grin. This was the reason he had attended this party. The party itself was of no consequence as far as he was concerned. “The matter is simple. I want to buy your land, and you need to sell it,” he said.

  “Yes, Your Grace, that is correct,” Michael replied. “Though the price you are offering is much too low. You must understand that I cannot let it go for that price when I can sell it for twice as much to the next man.”

  Joseph smiled at the Earl. Like many others, the man’s empire was crumbling and he was desperate, even if he tried to hide that fact. Reaching into his pocket, Joseph grabbed both coins and produced one of them. “On this side is the sun, representing brighter days ahead. And the sum of one thousand pounds for your land.”

  “A thousand pounds,” Lord Brumpton whispered with a lift of his eyebrows. “That’s more than double, triple, what you initially offered.”

  “On this side,” Joseph said, turning the coin over, “is a skull, representing me and the sum of two hundred pounds for your land.”

  “I cannot play a game of chance,” the Earl bellowed. “I need the money, to be sure, but to chance earning only two hundred pounds? It is incredible you would even suggest it.”

  “And I do not need the land so badly that I will continue our meetings. In other words,” Joseph focused his eyes on the Earl, “you can play my game of chance or look for others who are interested. And we both know that I am the only person interested in them at all.”

  The man swallowed hard and then gave a nod. “The last of my money has gone into this party. I am desperate for funds.”

  “Yes,” Joseph said, not caring if the smile he produced neared a sneer, “I know.” He shot a glance to a bookcase, and as expected, the Earl followed his gaze even though Joseph had not said a word. In the time before the man looked back at him, he was able to easily switch out the coins, though he more than likely would not have even needed that. It was best, however, to never allow your opponent to catch you. “The best of luck to you.”

  Lord Brumpton grunted what Joseph took as agreement, and watched the coin in Joseph’s hand.

  Joseph flipped the coin into the air and allowed it to fall the carpeted floor. “Have the deed ready in no later than one week’s time.”

  The Earl’s jaw hung open, regret clear on his face. “I will, Your Grace,” he mumbled.

  Joseph knew the man regretted the game of chance, but he did not care. The man had disrespected him, playing a game of wasting time Joseph held as precious. Now the Earl would understand that no one crossed the Duke of Chance.

  “Hopefully you did not spare any expense on your drinks,” Joseph said with a hearty smile. “I shall see you the ballroom.”

  And with that, Joseph walked out the door and headed toward the sounds of laughter.

  ***

  Joseph entered the ballroom, an ostentatiously ornamented area with too much gilt and crystal. If the Earl took apart this room, he would probably be able to pay off most of his debt and still have some money left over. Joseph hated frivolity, and the room reeked of it.

  The guests, however, were enjoying themselves, laughter and conversations competing with the music that played on a raised dais at one end of the room, a small orchestra that went far beyond what should have been considered perfunctory for such a gathering. Numerous tables filled with wine and food lined one wall, and the man clearly had to hire more servants just for this evening.

  Joseph’s eyes swept the room, and then a smile played at his lips. In the corner beside her parents stood Miss Newmont in a white dress with yellow flowers and yellow and white ribbons. Even from this distance there was no doubt she was the most beautiful woman in the room, and Joseph wondered at how she could catch his eye so easily.

  “Well, Joseph, I’m glad you finally decided to join us,” Albert said, breaking Joseph from his thoughts.

  Joseph turned to his friend and then scrunched his brow when he noticed the woman standing beside him. Her hair was an even brighter red than Albert’s, and it hung past her shoulders in large curls. Her green gown was expensive and emphasized the full bosom that she displayed with great pride.

  “You remember my cousin Margaret Treesing?” Albert said with a smile.

  “Yes,” Joseph replied. “I do.” At one time Joseph had thought the woman beautiful and did not know how to express such thoughts at such a young age. She was still lovely now, but when compared to Miss Newmont, she paled by far.

  She gave him a curtsy. “Joseph, or should I refer to you as Your Grace now that we are older? Either way, it is an honor to see you again,” Margaret said, her eyes never leaving his face.

  “Margaret has come to stay with me for a few weeks,” Albert said. “T
hough I warned her, we are no longer children and cannot engage as we once did.”

  Joseph smiled remembering their times as children playing under the sun. It had been many years ago, and thinking on it for that brief moment, he wished he could return to that simpler time.

  “It is a shame,” Margaret said, a lilt to her voice that showed she had received training. “I do miss spending time with you.” The woman’s attraction to him was obvious, and Joseph noticed Albert’s grin.

  “I’m afraid Joseph is courting a Miss Hannah Newmont,” Albert said with that cheeky grin. “Do you know her?”

  Margaret tapped the tip of her fan to her chin. “I do not,” she replied after a few moments. “Who is she?”

  Albert motioned to where Miss Newmont stood laughing with her parents, and Margaret smiled, though Joseph recognized it as false. He had given enough of them to recognize such a smile.

  “Oh, I see,” the woman said. “You know, leaving a woman such as she alone would be quite a travesty. I would love to meet her.”

  Albert laughed. “You know, Margaret is right, Joseph. You really should not leave a lady alone. Surely you should hurry to her.”

  Hot anger rushed through Joseph, for he knew what Albert was up to. Well, he would not take the man’s bait. “No,” he replied after glancing back at the woman across the room. “I believe she is just fine for the time being. We shall continue to talk.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Chapter Seven

  Hannah stood beside her parents, shame and humiliation coursing through her. She had purchased the new dress in hopes that it would help her gain favor with the other guests who attended the party. However, those people, the Duke included, paid her as much mind as they did one of the servants. Her parents seemed oblivious to her plight as they stood talking to one another. They did not seem to notice that no one approached them to make introductions, but Hannah felt the slight firmly, as if she and her family had not been in the room at all.

  She must admit that she was not being completely truthful in that observation. Lord Brumpton had stopped by during one of his rounds as host; therefore, stating that she and her family were ignored by all at the party was untrue. Then Lord Foxworthy had also introduced himself. The Marquess had been pleasant enough, as had his wife, but they moved on to others soon enough. Hannah did not believe they were being rude, for the did the same to most of the attendees.

  Perhaps Hannah’s ire stemmed from the fact that the Duke was speaking to the redheaded woman in the green gown. The woman drew every eye, and her gown made the new dress Hannah wore seem downright destitute. The Duke was supposed to be courting Hannah—granted, they were only courting because she had lost in a coin flip, but there he stood enthralled with that woman. When the man had glanced over at her and their eyes had locked, there was no greeting in his gaze. In fact, it was as if he kept away on purpose, which only angered her all the more.

  However, that was not what upset her the most. That was relegated to the fact that she had felt any jealousy in the first place. The man was a horrible man who had taken the plight that Hannah and her family had endured and belittled them by boiling it down to a game of chance. How could she have felt even the slightest bit of pity for such a man?

  She looked back across the room. The Duke and the woman were now standing alone, and the man wore a wide smile. Yet, he made no pretense of speaking to her at all. Hannah did not agree to three months of humiliation, and she wanted to leave this very moment. Then she thought of her father and mother and knew that her suffering had to continue for their sakes.

  “What is wrong?” her mother asked as she leaned in closer. Hannah had failed to notice that her father had walked away, she was so focused on the Duke and what he was doing.

  Hannah sighed. “The Duke has left me waiting alone,” she explained. “Now I fear that a woman with red hair has gained his eye.”

  What she had expected was her mother to agree that the man was a scoundrel; however, Hannah was surprised when her mother replied, “That is the way of men, especially a Duke.” She said the words in an almost nonchalant way! “Don’t worry about that woman, or any other woman. Remember, the Duke is courting you, not her.”

  “Yes, you are right, but that does not make it any easier.”

  Mrs. Newmont turned to her. “I don’t understand. It seems you are not happy with him. Your reaction to him is not what I would expect from a young woman who has caught the eye of a duke.” Hannah had decided it be best of her parents did not learn of the wager she and the Duke had made, therefore they believed that he had taken a real interest in her at the party where they met.

  “Duke or not, I do not understand why he has not at least spoken a greeting to me,” Hannah said in a frustrated reply. “I will wait, however. What else can I do?”

  Her mother smiled and then looked over to a group of people Mr. Newmont had joined. “Your father calls for me.” Before Hannah could respond, her mother walked away.

  Letting out a sigh, embarrassment came to her cheeks as more people joined the redheaded woman and the Duke. No matter how hard she tried, she could not temper the jealousy that boiled inside. It made no sense. She did not care for him, nor did she want anything to do with him. As a matter of fact, if she had not entered into their agreement, she would have been quite happy standing there ignoring him and the woman at his side. Yet, she could not help but feel an urge to walk over, take his hand, and lead him away from that woman. The idea was ludicrous, of course, for to do so would bring such shame to her and her family that they would not be invited to any other parties for the foreseeable future.

  Thus, Hannah resigned herself to stand alone as those around her laughed. With each minute that passed, the anger and humiliation that plagued Hannah grew, and she found herself near tears when the Duke finally came to speak to her.

  “Your dress,” he said as he studied her, much like a lion studies its prey, “I’m glad to see that you purchased a new one.”

  She gave him a derisive sniff. “Of course. It is what you wanted, is it not?” Keeping her voice under control took great difficulty. “Does it meet your expectations?”

  He peered at her again, and her cheeks burned. “Yes, I believe it will do. Now, I want to introduce you to some friends. Please remain quiet and do not embarrass me.”

  Hannah had to grab her skirts to keep her hands from balling into fists. How easy it would be to simply pull back her arm and punch him in his regal nose! However, with one glance at her father, who was engaged in conversation with several other men with a smile on his face, she knew she could do nothing to jeopardize the connections he was making. So, she forced a smile and said “Yes, Your Grace” before placing her hand on his arm.

  The Duke led her to a small group of people. She recognized Lord Whitely immediately, and beside him stood the redheaded woman, whose sneer did not go unnoticed. Next to them stood a couple, both appearing to be about thirty years of age.

  “Miss Hannah Newmont,” the Duke said, “may I present Miss Margaret Treesing.” The red-haired woman gave a slight nod but no smile. “And this is Lord and Lady Montgomery.” The couple gave short, but pleasant courtesies. “And Lord Whitely, who, though is my friend, I would also consider an enemy.” Hannah found the words odd as both men let out a soft chuckle.

  “His Grace is under such stress,” Lord Whitely said with a grin that could only be described as mischievous, “that he confuses his friends with his enemies.” Everyone in the group gave a polite laugh.

  “I could not imagine the responsibilities of a duke,” Miss Treesing said in a tone that was nothing short of simpering. “Though, I do know that word of His Grace’s eye for business is known far and wide.”

  Once again, Hannah had to keep her hands from balling into fists and had to bite her tongue before words sprung from her lips, unbidden.

  “Miss Newmont, I feel as if I know you,” the woman continued. “Who are your parents?”

  “My parents
are…”

  The Duke interrupted her. “Are busy, as most parents are tonight, enjoying conversation with friends as well as a nice drink. Which I believe we should all do, as Lord Brumpton has opened his coffers and actually bought decent wine for a change.”

  The group laughed, all except for Hannah, for she did not understand how what the man said was humorous. Soon, the group broke and everyone walked away, leaving the Duke alone with Hannah.

  “Do not defy my wishes again,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “No one cares about your parents, and you were told to keep quiet.”

  Before Hannah could ask if she was to be rude and simply not respond to a direct question, the Duke glared down at her. Her heart fell to her feet. She would have to tell her parents the truth about why she allowed the Duke to court her, for she could not deal with the man’s arrogant behavior for three months. She could not handle it for one night!

  So, with a nod, she turned and walked away, ignoring the Duke’s call after her. She would not tell her parents during the party, of course, but she did not want to remain if she did not have to. There had to be a place she could go to be alone, and she would find it and not come out until her parents were ready to leave.

  ***

  The stars and moon provided plenty of light where Hannah stood alone in the garden—the only place that was quiet enough no one would bother her—wishing the night were over. Why she had agreed to the flip of the coin, she did not know, and now she regretted she had. Was there any way she could break the agreement without her father paying dearly for her mistake?

  Hurried footsteps came to her ears followed by the voice of the Duke. “Why did you walk away from me?” he demanded. “The embarrassment you have caused me is great.” Hannah said nothing as she turned away from him, and the man stepped in front of her. “Can you not speak…?” he began and then frowned. “You have been crying?”

  Hannah nodded and then wiped away the tears, wishing he had not seen them. Oh, why did women have to cry when they were angry? Somehow it gave men the wrong impression about their feelings. “I have,” she said as she steeled herself. “However, I will not again.” Let the man rebuke her; she did not care any longer.