Beguiling the Duke by Darcy Burke

Chapter6

As Sadie entered the botanical gardens that evening on Law’s arm, she glanced over at his face. It had not yet regained its normal shade, but the color had faded to pale pink at least. She’d said he didn’t have to accompany her, but he’d insisted—unless she preferred not to be seen with him. Sadie had rolled her eyes in response and said she would’ve gone with him when his face was still red.

“Good evening, Your Grace, Miss Campion!” Mrs. Sneed hurried toward them, one of her close friends, Mrs. Whimple, at her hip. Mrs. Sneed’s gaze swept over Sadie, her nose wrinkling briefly as if she found fault with Sadie’s rather plain ball gown. Or perhaps it was with the thick shawl Sadie had draped around her shoulders because it was somewhat cold this evening.

“You’ve arrived together again!” Mrs. Sneed said. “But I suppose that’s to be expected since His Grace is lodging at Fieldstone.” She turned her expectant gaze on the duke. “If you’d prefer to be in town, you could always stay with us.” She smiled broadly, revealing her mostly straight teeth.

“Oh, yes.” Mrs. Whimple, a woman in her fifties with wide brown eyes and white hair, nodded.

“That’s very generous of you, Mrs. Sneed, but I’m quite comfortable at Fieldstone. Besides, my coach is being repaired there.”

Sadie was fairly certain her brothers were dallying on purpose, probably at her father’s behest in order to ensure the duke remained at Fieldstone. She ought to speak with Jarvis personally and ask if he could ensure the coach was fixed with due haste—and skill. While she hated to bother him in his retirement, she also knew he’d do anything she asked. Indeed, if he later learned that she hadn’t come to him with her concerns, he might take offense. She’d talk to him first thing tomorrow.

Mrs. Sneed pushed her lips into a brief pout. “Well, if you change your mind, you’ve only to let me know. I do hope the Campions are taking proper care of you.” The insinuation in her tone was that they were not.

“I’ve no complaints,” the duke said merrily.

“Should we take our seats?” Sadie asked, even though there was probably a quarter hour until the performances were due to start. She looked up at the duke, hoping he would catch her hint.

“Let’s.” Law smiled quickly and somewhat unenthusiastically at the ladies. “Have a nice evening.” He inclined his head, and he and Sadie continued walking along the path.

Sadie noted he was walking rather quickly. She had to work to keep up with him and his longer legs. “We don’t need to hurry. We actually have plenty of time.”

“I’m aware of that. I just wanted to put some distance between us and Mrs. Sneed. I don’t think I care for her.”

“She’s harmless. During the festival, she puts on a cavalier attitude with people who are not from Marrywell. The higher your station, the haughtier she’ll behave.”

“How very London of her.”

Sadie laughed. “Is that how it is in the ton?” She gave the word her best French pronunciation. Though she’d studied the language, she’d never mastered it.

“Most definitely.” His gaze moved to the side where their path was about to intersect with another. “Here come your father and one of your brothers.”

Indeed, her father and Adam were striding right for them, as if they were on a mission. “Sadie! Your Grace!”

“How lovely you look this evening,” her father said with a doting smile. He could be difficult to live with, but Sadie never doubted his love for her. “I see you’re wearing your mother’s citrine necklace. It sparkles quite nicely on you.”

“Thank you, Papa.” She felt a surge of love for him, but also for her mother. Sadie wished she could be here now.

Her father pivoted to the duke. “How are you finding our festival, Your Grace?”

“It’s quite something. Honestly, these events would rival many in London. I’m looking forward to tonight’s performances. I do enjoy musicales and the theatre.”

“I haven’t ever been to the theatre,” Sadie said rather wistfully. She’d never imagined visiting London, but the more the duke mentioned it, the more her curiosity grew. A stiff breeze blew into them, and Sadie pressed herself against the duke’s side as she shivered.

“This isn’t the best weather,” Adam observed, glancing up at the dark sky. A thick cover of clouds completely obliterated the stars and moon.

Sadie followed his gaze and was rewarded with a raindrop on her cheek. “Oh dear, that’s rain.”

“Just a drop or two,” her father said with a wave of his hand.

The rain began to fall steadily in large, dampening drops. People began to rush for the gates leading out of the park.

Pulling her shawl up over her bare head, Sadie looked to the duke. “If we try to leave, we’ll be trapped in the crush. There’s a folly down that path.” She gestured to where her father and brother had come from. “We could take cover there.”

“Capital idea, Sadie.” Her father was already turning in that direction, as was Adam.

“No, no, don’t have your daughter precede you,” the duke muttered with sarcastic heat.

“They don’t mean any harm,” Sadie said, feeling as though she must defend her family.

“They certainly don’t mean any aid either. Come, I’ll get you to the folly.” Law swept her into his arms.

She gasped as he began to walk very quickly after her father and brother. “You can’t carry me.”

“It seems I can.” He passed them, but was moving quickly enough that she didn’t hear or see their reactions. “I see the folly.” Impossibly, he started to run.

Sadie clutched at his coat and pressed herself against him, as if that might help. Not that he needed any help.

They arrived at the folly, an octagonal structure with, thankfully, a roof. Some of the follies in the gardens were faux ruins, but this wasn’t one of them.

Law set her down and shook out his shoulders. “All right?”

Shivering again, Sadie pulled her now very damp shawl back down around her shoulders. “Good enough. Hopefully, the rain will stop.”

Though many people had gone directly for the gates, a very large number had dashed to this folly. As more and more entered, she and Law moved farther back into the structure. There were so many people that Sadie didn’t see whether her father and brother had come in. She tried to find them and, in that moment or two, was separated from Law.

Glancing about, she couldn’t see him among the crowd. She stood on her toes to no avail.

“Miss Campion, how pleasing to find you here.” The male voice came from her left.

Sadie turned to see a man she’d met and danced with last night, Mr. Percival Finch. “Good evening, Mr. Finch. Or perhaps not, since I think the musicale is quite ruined,” she added with a smile. “I wonder if they’ll simply postpone it until tomorrow.”

“But aren’t there other events tomorrow?” Mr. Finch asked.

She recalled that it was his first time at the festival. “Yes, but it will be simple enough to delay the dancing until after the performances. I should hate for the singers and dancers and musicians to not be able to perform.”

“Mmm, yes, a shame indeed.” His gaze roved over her, pausing briefly at her chest. “Your shawl is wet. Shall I shake it out for you?”

Sadie reasoned that it would probably be more useful if it weren’t so wet. “Thank you, that would be very kind.”

She swept it carefully from her shoulders and handed it to him. His gaze again locked on her bodice as he halfheartedly shook her shawl.

“Careful!” someone said, and Sadie realized Mr. Finch was sending water from her shawl onto other people. While still staring at her overly large chest.

Glancing down, she saw that her dress was also damp, and the fabric was clinging to her in a bawdy fashion, as if her breasts needed any help drawing attention. Realizing what Mr. Finch was about, she folded her arms across her chest.

Law was suddenly there, ripping Sadie’s shawl from Mr. Finch’s grip. The duke towered over the man, his eyes narrowed and his lip curling. “If you don’t stop staring, I’ll make sure every unmarried female at the festival knows what a despicable bounder you are.” He clipped the words out in a harsh, icy tone. “And that is after I plant my fist in your face.”

Mr. Finch opened and closed his mouth like a fish flopping on the bank of a stream. Without a word, he rushed through the crowded throng as if the folly were on fire.

Sadie realized several people around them had overheard what Law said. They were watching Sadie and him with keen interest.

“I’m sorry we were separated.” Law’s demeanor had changed completely, softening as he put the shawl back around her shoulders, careful to ensure the drier side was next to her. Still, the garment wasn’t going to provide much help in its current condition.

Sadie began to shake with cold. “Thank you for intervening. I thought he was trying to help.”

“He was helping—himself.” The duke frowned. “Damn, you’re far too cold. Here.” He shrugged out of his coat and replaced the shawl with it. Instantly, Sadie was enveloped in his sandalwood scent, reminding her of when he’d caught her in his arms the day before. Had that only been yesterday?

“It’s wet on the outside, but it’s thicker than your shawl and will keep you warm,” he said. “I need to get you home.”

Looking out at the gardens, Sadie was surprised to see they were nearly empty. People had found their way out or into this folly or perhaps others. The rain, however, was still falling steadily. “If we leave now, we’ll get drenched. I think we have to wait until the rain at least slows.” She faced him, grateful for his coat but worried that he wasn’t wearing it. “You’ll be cold. If you aren’t already.”

“It’s fine. I have this lovely shawl to keep me warm.” He draped it around his shoulders with a flirtatious smile. “As an extra benefit, it smells like you.”

Did he find her scent as arousing as she found his? Wait, arousing?

Yes. She was reminded of the stolen kisses she’d shared at her first festival, when she’d been foolish enough to think the first man who paid her interest would also marry her. Then she’d learned that kissing in the labyrinth was a rite of passage in Marrywell. All the girls did it.

But all the girls did not attend the festival with a duke who caused their heart to race and said things that made them feel singularly…wonderful.

Except none of this was real. He was pretending to show interest in her to help her gain attention. She’d certainly been successful at that tonight. Of course, Mr. Finch’s behavior wasn’t the sort of attention she wanted.

She wanted what the duke was doing. He was kind, solicitous, and even flirtatious. This pretend courtship was starting to feel very real.

She only had to remember that it wasn’t.

The day after the rainstorm, Law spent the late morning with Holden, who was still quite sore from their accident but much happier now that he wasn’t lodging with Yates. He felt certain he could go to the stables later that afternoon once he took a rest.

Law had then gone to see what Yates was up to, but the valet had disappeared somewhere.

In the early afternoon, Law had walked around the estate, where he’d encountered Mr. Rowell, the land manager. He was a stoic fellow, but he’d warmed up when Law had queried him about crop rotation and livestock usage—just as Sadie had said he would. Law had learned a few things that he looked forward to implementing.

Now, as he walked back toward the house, he saw Richard coming from the path that led to the stables. Law waited until the young man reached him. “Afternoon, Richard.”

“Good afternoon, Your Grace.”

“How is my coach?”

“It’s coming along well, actually.”

Law saw this as an opportunity to get the truth. Of all the Campion brothers, Richard seemed the most transparent. “I was wondering if you have everything you need? Do you, ah, feel confident that you can complete the repair properly? I know this isn’t what any of you typically do.”

Richard looked down briefly and brushed his hand through his blond hair. “I confess we were somewhat lost without Jarvis.” He lifted his gaze to Law’s. “He came to the stables this morning and is ensuring everything is done right. It may very well be finished by this evening. If not, tomorrow morning at the latest.”

“That’s surprising.” Perhaps Holden wouldn’t need to supervise after all. “I’m pleased to hear it.”

“I think Sadie must have spoken with Jarvis. He wasn’t happy with our lack of progress when he arrived this morning. He’s still there directing things, but then, he’ll do anything she asks.”

“Jarvis was the coachman before he retired?” Law was fairly certain that was his position, but wanted to make sure.

“Coachman, groom, stable master—everything to do with horses. He still cares for two of them at his own cottage because, like him, they are retired from work. He likes to pretend he’s gruff, but he has a soft heart, especially for horses. And Sadie.”

“That’s why he doesn’t say no to her.” Law wanted to meet this fellow. “Are they close, then?”

Richard nodded. “He taught her how to ride and drive.”

“Did he teach all of you?”

“Yes, but it was different with Sadie. Our father demanded we boys all learn those things, but with Sadie, she was the one who demanded it. So, Jarvis made sure she learned.”

Her father seemed bloody ineffectual where she was concerned. “I have no trouble imagining your sister managing her own education. Has she always commanded things?”

Richard laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Always. Especially in my experience, since I don’t remember our mother. Sadie has been the only mother figure I’ve known.”

“That must have been a great deal for her to take on since she was only eight when your mother died,” Law said softly.

“You know that?” Richard sounded surprised, but quickly nodded. “I suppose you would.”

Law ignored the implications of that statement. “What I don’t know is why there isn’t a housekeeper to alleviate Sadie’s burdens. I realize you had one who also died, but that was over a decade ago.”

Richard lifted a shoulder. “Sadie wouldn’t want to have a housekeeper.”

“Are you certain of that?”

“Father and Esmond say so.” Richard’s eyes rounded briefly. “Speaking of my father, please don’t tell him you know the coach is nearly repaired. He doesn’t want you leaving until after the festival.”

“Indeed? I would have thought he didn’t want me to leave until after I wed your sister,” Law didn’t disguise his sarcasm.

Richard laughed again, but this time, it carried an uneasiness. “That is what my father hopes, yes. But you mustn’t let that influence you,” he added earnestly.

Law stifled a smile. “I’ll try.”

Glancing toward the house, Richard nervously asked, “You promise you won’t tell him about the coach? He’ll be furious if he finds out I told you.”

“I promise. It will be our secret. Anyway, I can’t leave because my coachman can’t drive until the festival is over.”

Richard stared at him. “Certainly a man of your import and station can drive a coach and four. You’ve been driving the gig to town.”

“Of course I can, but now I’ll tell you a secret. I don’t actually want to leave before the festival concludes.”

“Because of Sadie.” Richard grinned. “You do like her. My father will be so happy to hear it.”

Law narrowed his eyes at the lad. “I just told you it was a secret. And I didn’t mention your sister at all.”

Richard’s face lost a shade of color, and he straightened as if reprimanded. “My apologies, Your Grace. I promise I won’t tell anyone what you said.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your discretion. It’s an important quality in a gentleman.” Law watched the young man puff up. This was something Law’s father might have said, but he would have done so in a more demanding way. Here, Law was hoping to ensure the boy’s silence on the matter, not encourage him to be strong and unyielding.

“But you do like Sadie, don’t you?” Richard’s face was so expectant, so hopeful, that Law couldn’t deny him.

“I do, in fact.” More than he should. Definitely more than he needed to like someone whom he was only pretending to have interest in courting.

“I was sure you did.” Richard schooled his features into sobriety. “But I won’t say a word.” He started toward the house, but instead of accompanying him, Law watched him go.

The lad walked through the kitchen garden, then Sadie came out of the house and spoke with him for a moment before he ducked inside. She went to snip a few herbs, sniffing the clippings before turning to go back into the house.

It was a simple act. She was a simple woman—compared to him and the demands he faced. He envied her.

But this was no place for him. He had responsibilities and a duty that had been generations in the making, including marriage to an “appropriate” woman such as Lady Frederica. His father would be apoplectic to know that Law was here dawdling with Sadie when he ought to be fulfilling his deathbed promise.

This sojourn at Fieldstone was making Law reevaluate his plans. His father wasn’t here. At what point could Law claim his life and do entirely what he wanted instead of what was expected? He hadn’t realized how much of a hold his father still had on him until this week when he’d found himself torn between meeting his father’s demands and pursuing his own desires.

But what did that mean with regard to Sadie? She deserved a simple, kind, hardworking country gentleman who would complement her and give her the life she wanted—the life she deserved. And Law would help her achieve that. He could suffer a few more days of unrequited longing.

What would happen to him, then? He’d wed Lady Frederica and forget about Sadie entirely?

He knew in that moment that no matter what happened, he never would.