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

  Joseph had always thought Margaret beautiful, even when they were children, and now she had surpassed that as a woman with her thick red curls and warm smile. “Tell me, Margaret, you have remained a spinster. Why?” he teased. She still had two more years before she would be considered a spinster, but a good turn had to be give to everyone, not just the men. The was the way it had always been.

  Albert walked over and handed them each a glass and then took a seat on a red leather armchair on the opposite side of a heavy oak coffee table.

  “Many beg for my hand,” she replied, as if stating a fact, for her words held no pomposity. “What I have learned is that none are worthy. Perhaps we have entered an age where women do not care for marriage as they once did?”

  Albert snorted. “Then you would starve. It is only because of your father’s money that you survive.”

  “And you are different?” Margaret asked huffily.

  Joseph laughed, for the woman had not changed at all. She was always the first to give her opinion on any matter, and many of her opinions would have made any other lady flush with shame.

  She turned her attention to Joseph. “Since you asked, might I inquire why you have not married?”

  Joseph shifted in his seat. It was one thing to ask her why she was a spinster and quite another to be asked much the same, even if a man could never be considered a spinster. “I have been too busy with University and returning to my estate business to bother with such things.”

  “Though that will change soon enough,” Albert inserted into the conversation. “You met the woman he’s courting. Would I dare say that marriage might soon be announced?”

  Joseph took a large drink of his brandy, the alcohol causing his head to feel light. “No, I will not be marrying her.”

  “Then why court her?” Margaret asked.

  Joseph let out a frustrated sigh. He had spoken without thinking, a trait he despised in others. He did not want the truth behind his reasons for courting Miss Newmont to be known to anyone but him and Albert.

  However, Albert had no such compunction. “Because she is the object of a bet!” he said with a loud laugh as he rose from his chair. “She is a woman meant to test the high-mindedness of the ton!”

  “You speak out of turn!” Joseph said, anger building inside him. “You have no right to share such matters with anyone, even her!”

  Margaret reached out a hand and took his fisted hand in hers. “I do not judge,” she whispered.

  He looked at her and gave a nod. Albert, however, yawned deeply. “You two speak of old times,” he said as he placed his now empty glass on the table. “I need to go to bed before I fall asleep in the chair.”

  Before Joseph could respond, the man was gone, leaving him and Margaret alone. The candles flickered around them and he glanced down when he realized she still held his hand.

  “Oh, forgive me,” she said as she pulled her hand back. “Your glass is empty. Allow me to refill it.” She stood and walked over to the liquor shelf. “Now, tell me, old friend, what is this bet about?”

  ***

  Not only did Joseph find himself sharing about the bet, but he also shared everything about the years since he had last seen Margaret. In that time, they had gone through two more drinks, and Margaret was now returning with a third, this time sitting much closer on the couch than before.

  “If I may be so bold,” she said, handing him the new drink, “you are as handsome as when we were younger. I must admit that you have changed little since the last time I saw you. We were what? Twelve?”

  Joseph could not help but smile, for she had changed much since then, and womanhood had treated her well.

  “I wonder if the young man who was afraid to speak to me then will do so now.”

  Joseph looked at her. “How did you know?” He had not even told Albert of his attraction for his best friend’s cousin.

  Margaret laughed. “Women know many things we do not reveal. I waited patiently for you to ask, though I suppose we were much too young back then.”

  “We were,” Joseph agreed. “And now we are old.”

  She laughed again. “You speak as if we are nearing death.”

  He shrugged. “It does not matter. That was a different season.” He took another drink of his brandy and felt his body tense as her breasts pressed against his arm.

  “We could relive those moments,” she said in a silky voice as she raised her hand to his face. “We could escape to a time when we had no worries—a time of innocence.”

  He swallowed hard, his heart thumping against his chest and his mind racing. Then an image of Miss Newmont came to mind, tears streaming down her face, and he pulled back.

  “I cannot,” he said, reaching up and placing her hand back down on the couch. “I am courting Miss Newmont.” He stood up to distance himself from the woman. “It is getting late and I should return home. Good evening.” He headed to the door, but she was behind him before he could reach for the knob.

  “Joseph, I did not mean to upset you,” she said. “This bet with this woman, I can see the nobleness of remaining true, but it is only a bet. It is not based on reality. However, I can be.”

  “No, I don’t need anything to lead me astray until this bet has come to an end,” he said as he pushed away the hand she had placed on his arm. “There is honor in bets.” Somehow the laughter that should have followed such a statement did not come. What was that woman doing to his mind? Miss Newmont would be a plague to him if he did not control his thoughts soon enough.

  “That is why I will wait for you,” she said. Then she placed a small kiss on his cheek. “Finish your bet and then return to me.”

  Although he did not know why, he gave her a nod and then hurried out to the waiting carriage. Once inside, he leaned back into the cushioned seat, trying to understand what was happening to him. Margaret had all but thrown herself at him, and yet it was Miss Newmont who he fought to keep near him, at least in his thoughts. Miss Newmont wished to speak to him of poetry; Margaret spoke only of him. Margaret came from a titled family, whereas Miss Newmont came from a family struggling to keep its head above water. The two women were as different as light and dark, and his old friend was more suited for him, but he could not stop thinking of Miss Newmont and how beautiful she looked in her new dress and how innocent she seemed with tears streaming down her cheeks.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Chapter Ten

  Four days had passed since the party, and Hannah could not stop her mind from turning to the Duke. Every time he entered her thoughts, she would push him aside only to have him return soon after. She battled inside as to whether she wanted the man to call on her or whether it would be best if he stayed away. It did not matter to the wager they had made, so if she chose the latter she could still settle the bet. Unfortunately for her—or fortunately; she could not decide—she found the former pushing the latter back.

  Now, standing beside a window in the parlor, Hannah once again considered that it would be nice if the Duke called over. Her cousin Tabitha, who had arrived some two hours ago for a visit, sat on the couch with an embroidery hoop and needle, working on a flower in the corner of what would be a handkerchief once she finished.

  “You gaze out that window as though you are expecting someone to arrive,” Tabitha said with a bit of suspicion. Hannah turned to her cousin to find the woman wore a mischievous smile. “Is it the Duke you wish to appear?” Hannah was compelled to tell her about what had happened at the party, but she could not break her word. However, the story balanced on her tongue like a man on the edge of a cliff. She had told Tabitha, however, that the Duke would be calling upon her, for that was to be public knowledge.

  Hannah smiled and came to sit beside her cousin. “I never could lie to you,” she said with a heavy sigh. “He is handsome, that much is true, and yet he is as arrogant as they come. What I find is that he is a mystery that I wish to unravel.”

  “Men are a conundrum, most certainly,” Tabit
ha said with a sigh.

  “Oh?” Hannah asked with a raise of her eyebrows. “And what makes you say that?”

  Tabitha glanced at the door. “Come,” she said as she set her embroidery aside, “Let us go outside for a walk where we can speak more freely. I have something I wish to share with you.”

  Hannah nodded. “We can walk down the drive; it is less likely that someone will come upon us there.”

  The two women headed down the hallway just as Mrs. Newmont came down the main stairway.

  “And where are you two off to?” Hannah’s mother asked.

  Hannah flashed a quick glance at Tabitha and then said, “Outside to get some air.”

  “And sunshine,” Tabitha chimed in.

  “Very well,” Mrs. Newmont replied. “Do not forget your hats. You certainly do not want to freckle. Oh, and do not make too much noise if you are outside of your father’s office. He is in a business meeting at the moment. Let us hope that all goes well.”

  Hannah nodded, understanding all too clearly the pointed look her mother gave her. If Mr. Cripton did not reconsider resuming business with her father, it would have dire consequences on the Newmont family. More exigent than they had already been through.

  The skies were overcast, though the sun was making an attempt to break through. Hannah and Tabitha strolled down the white pebbled drive, arm in arm. Tabitha might be her cousin, but Hannah considered her more a best friend. They had shared secrets with one another since they were children, and when either of them had an issue with what life tended to throw at them, the other would be there to help in any way she could.

  “So, what is it that you wish to tell me?” Hannah asked when they were far enough away from the house to be overheard. “Is there a man that has caught your eye?”

  Tabitha had just turned eighteen and was eager to marry. Many times she had expressed an interest in one young man or another, but now that she had been introduced to society, Hannah suspected it would not be long before the woman had a suitor. She had always turned heads with her honeysuckle hair and deep-blue eyes. The girl reminded Hannah of a true-to-life porcelain doll. Of course, considering her cousin as a girl made Hannah want to laugh; Hannah herself was only one year her elder.

  “No, there is no man who has caught my eye,” Tabitha said with a giggle. “None that are worth mentioning, that is.” Her face became serious and she added, “I wanted to speak with you about the Duke. The Duke of Chance.”

  Hannah raised her chin in an attempt to appear less interested than she was. “What about him?”

  Tabitha sighed. “I do not want to be the one, but there is something I must tell you.”

  “Of course,” Hannah said, bringing them to a stop halfway down the drive. “What is it? You are frightening me.”

  “I’m sure you realize that his name is derived from that coin he carries.”

  “I assumed as much,” Hannah replied with impatience. She wished the woman would get to the point at hand. Tabitha always did have a way of skirting an issue until the listener wanted to pull her hair out in frustration.

  Tabitha leaned in and lowered her voice as if worried someone would overhear. “Rumor has it that he went to Scotland and had a witch place a spell on it.”

  Hannah smiled. She had heard this rumor before and everyone knew that witchcraft was not something that truly existed. However, her cousin did have a propensity to believe just about anything she heard.

  “The truth is,” Tabitha continued, “I worry that he has laid a spell upon you, for I have never seen you look so lost!”

  Hannah embraced her cousin. The poor girl meant well. “Do not worry, for he has not placed a curse on me.” She pulled from the embrace and gave Tabitha a pointed look. “It’s simply…” She paused. Could she find words to describe how she felt? “I admit that I do like the man. He is handsome—when he smiles. And he is entertaining—when he does not focus everything he says on himself.” She sighed. “I guess there is simply a charm about him.”

  Tabitha nodded emphatically. “That’s it! His spell. He has transfixed you with some sort of charm!” She shook her head and began pacing. “I knew it! There must be a way to break the spell before…”

  “Perhaps one day you can meet him,” Hannah broke in before the woman could make that spark into a fire. She did agree that she was transfixed by some sort of spell, for she could not get the man out of her mind no matter how hard she tried. However, that spell had nothing to do with witchcraft, and to believe such drivel was nonsensical. “Would you like that?”

  The now dark-gray clouds began spitting bits of rain, and the two women pulled their wraps over their heads.

  “I would like that,” Tabitha said as they hurried their steps back toward the house. “I’m not afraid!” She did not sound certain.

  Hannah laughed. “Excellent. You will love the cauldron he keeps at his estate.”

  “Cauldron?” Tabitha asked as she stared at Hannah with eyes as wide as saucers.

  “Oh, yes,” Hannah replied, trying to keep her face smooth, “the one he keeps the bones in.”

  This had both women laughing as they ran up the stairs and into the house just as the clouds broke open and the rain came crashing down behind them. Hannah was glad the girl was not so transfixed on the silly notion of witchcraft to believe the man actually had a cauldron in his home. At the she had some sense.

  ***

  The following day bloomed bright—and dryer—and Hannah and Tabitha were given permission to go into the village of Pensford for the day. Though Hannah had no money with which to make any purchases, Tabitha did, and she had just finished putting in an order for a new dress.

  “The rudeness of them all,” Tabitha said as the two left the shop and began to walk down the footpath. “It’s as if we do not exist at all.”

  “In their world, we do not,” Hannah replied. “It does not matter, though. We do not need their approval.”

  Tabitha gave a light snort. “Those are kind words, but easy for a woman who a duke parades on his arm.”

  A young boy ran between them as another followed, both pealing with laughter, and Hannah had to move aside so she was not pushed into the street. She did not hold any ill feelings toward the two youngsters, however; children should be allowed to be children for as long as possible, for being an adult could be a challenge.

  “He does not parade me,” she said with indignation once she had positioned herself beside her cousin once again. “Even when I am in his company, people do not look at me any differently than when I am not. Oh, they might be politer, but it only lasts as long as I am near him.”

  The door of a shop opened and the two women stopped when a man stepped out. Hannah had to force her heart to return to beating when she realized who the man was.

  “I beg your pardon,” the Duke of Chance said with a polite nod. When he realized who he had almost run down, he nodded again. “Miss Newmont, what a pleasant surprise.” She was pleased to see that he also smiled.

  Hannah dropped into a curtsy. “Your Grace,” she said, hating how breathy her voice sounded. “My cousin, Miss Tabitha Newmont.”

  “An honor,” the Duke said as he took Tabitha’s hand and kissed the knuckles.

  The horrid girl grinned so widely, Hannah wondered if her face would split in half. Hannah would have to have a talk with her, a good, strong talk.

  He did not seem to notice. “Fine day today, is it not?”

  “It is,” Hannah replied. She could not help but admire the finely cut blue overcoat he wore, not for its quality but rather how it fit him. He truly was a handsome man. How was it he was unmarried thus far? A man as lovely as he should already have a wife and several children.

  She had to shake her head to bring her mind back to the conversation at hand. What silly thoughts she was having of late! “I’m sorry, Your Grace. What was that?”

  He chuckled. “I was just saying that, since you seem to have a chaperone on hand, would you mind if I
joined you.” He held a twinkle in his eyes that she could not miss.

  Tabitha’s grin now reached her ears, and Hannah wanted nothing more than to slap her into behaving. It was bad enough she struggled to keep her mind on what the man said, she did not want to have to make sure her cousin behaved herself!

  “I appreciate the offer, Your Grace, but I would not want to disrespect my cousin,” Hannah replied. “We made plans to spend the day together, and I would not her to feel as if I had abandoned her.”

  “Oh, I would not feel that way at all,” Tabitha said with a bit too much excitement as she fingered one of her earrings. “I do not mind at all.” What the woman needed was a good boxing of those ears!

  As they continued down the path, Tabitha not far behind them, people who had taken no notice before began calling out greetings to the Duke and including her in their nods.

  “You see, all eyes are upon you,” the Duke said.

  “I do see that, Your Grace,” she replied, “though it is because I’m at your side. There is no other reason than that.”

  A man came hurrying up behind them, and just as he went to pass, he called out to someone further down the footpath.

  Hannah jumped in startlement, her body pressing into the Duke’s arm. This caused her legs to weaken when she felt the hard muscles under his coat. “Forgive me,” she said breathily, “he startled me.”

  He gave her a nod but said nothing, which somehow disturbed her. What she hoped he would say in response, she did not know, but apparently she had expected something more than a simple nod.

  They continued their stroll, her arm in his, at a pace set for leisure.

  “I had planned to call on you today,” the Duke said. “However, I will not be able to do so.”

  “I understand,” Hannah replied, though she did not. “Perhaps tomorrow you might have some time?”

  “Yes, that had my thought exactly,” he said. He came to a stop and looked down at her. “I must ask you something, and I would appreciate your honesty.”

  “Of course,” she replied.