Two Notorious Dukes Read online

  The doctor manoeuvred the tube into the entrance of the wound and slowly poured hot water down the funnel. Robert groaned and jumped, as if he was trying to move away from the heat and Elizabeth watched the blood and debris run out of the hole on his chest. Using another towel, the doctor swabbed the water away and checked the bones again. ‘He’s lucky.’ He whispered.

  ‘Why?’ Elizabeth asked pertly. The doctor looked up, as if he’d forgotten she was there. ‘Because the ribs are intact. It is just a flesh wound.’ He kept pressure on both ends of the wound as he debated how to cauterise it.

  ‘Do you need powder?’ Burke asked suddenly. ‘Yes, I think that would be best. Cauterise the inside first and then seal the ends.’ The Doctor said and Burke left the room.

  ‘Do you think all of the debris is out?’ Elizabeth asked looking at the bits of material and lead on the towel.

  ‘I’ve cleaned it as thoroughly as I can, but any material left in there will be destroyed when I cauterise it.’ He explained.

  Burke returned with the powder flask, complete with pouring nozzle. The doctor forced the nozzle into the wound and poured gunpowder into it, making Robert moan again. He did the same on his chest and then Burke handed him a spill from the fire. He looked at Elizabeth. ‘Hold him tight!’ he ordered and she strengthened her grip on his arm.

  The Doctor touched the flaming spill to the wound and the gunpowder burst into flame and shot through the hole, spewing out like a firework, singeing the hair on his chest, making him buck and cry out. The doctor sat back to wait and watch. Elizabeth was surprised, because the blood stopped flowing, just like that. After a couple of minutes, the doctor nodded, picked up the iron from the fire and sealed the outer wounds with a smell of roasting pork and Robert bucked again.

  ‘He won’t want to move it for a few days and he shouldn’t. Let the burns scab over and give him some laudanum if he has trouble sleeping.’ He nodded and smiled. ‘How does your back feel this morning?’

  ‘Much better thank you, Doctor. I shall get Mary to put some more of the ointment on, now that this is finished.’ She smiled at him. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Don’t thank me until you’ve seen my bill!’ he said and packed his instruments away in his bag. ‘Don’t let him have any more alcohol for now.’

  Rogers showed the doctor out, downstairs in the hall Rogers offered the bag of gold. ‘His Grace’s compliments and could you please not speak of this incident?’ The doctor nodded, took the gold with a smile and vanished into the morning sun that was just spilling over onto the Square.

  ‘The bed needs changing now.’ Elizabeth said and suddenly an army of maids and footmen were in the room moving Robert, stripping him and the bed, making the bed up afresh and putting a nightshirt on Robert.

  Elizabeth didn’t think it wise to leave the burns exposed, so she had Mary get some cotton and made a couple of pads, which she strapped in place with cotton bandages. When the footmen laid him back on the bed, Elizabeth manoeuvred his arm a little so that it wasn’t rubbing on the wound.

  Once all the staff had gone, she took off her shirt for Mary to treat her back and dressed in just her chemise and the green morning gown. She sat patiently in the chair, beside the bed and waited for Robert to wake up.

  Chapter 17 Who me? Never!

  ‘It was such a shock to see him die.’ Sarah whispered. ‘I didn’t think anyone would die.’ She lay with her head on Argyll’s shoulder, her arm and leg carelessly thrown across his body and her golden hair splayed across his chest where it glinted in the sun.

  He squeezed her shoulder. ‘That’s what duelling is like. That’s why the King banned it and made it illegal.’ He sighed. ‘Our biggest problem is that Robbie challenged him in the House, in front of all the peers, including the Lord Chancellor.’

  ‘Yes, but there’s no proof that Robbie did it, is there?’ She asked innocently.

  ‘Not as long as everyone concerned keeps their mouths shut about it.’ He looked down at her and kissed her forehead. ‘And that includes you my love. You were never there and you’ve never seen a duel.’

  ‘Make love to me again and I might forget I ever saw it.’ She said and smiled lasciviously.

  ‘Do you know you’re a vixen!’ he stated as he rolled her on her back and kissed her tenderly.

  Half an hour later Robert moaned and opened his eyes. Elizabeth was immediately on her feet. ‘How do you feel, my love?’ she asked as she stood over the bed.

  ‘Like I’ve been shot.’ He said incautiously and then she saw him thinking about it. ‘I killed him, didn’t I?’

  ‘Yes, my love.’ She smiled down at him. ‘Honour has been satisfied.’

  ‘What did Beresford do?’ he asked softly.

  ‘He left him for the crows.’ She said harshly, ‘as befits a monster.’

  ‘You do realise this is the first place the Runners will come, when they’ve identified the body. Every peer in the land heard me challenge him yesterday.’

  ‘Really?’ She said in surprise. ‘When was this, before or after he took me?’

  He squirmed but said, ‘Before.’ Then he sighed. ‘I think I forced his hand and made him move prematurely. He might have taken you somewhere else, if he’d had time to plan it properly.’ He tried to lever himself up and Elizabeth helped to get him settled. ‘Why did you come?’ he asked as she leaned over him and straightened the covers.

  ‘Because you slinked out of here without so much as a kiss. And I wanted to be able to kiss you goodbye if he got it right,’ she stroked her fingers over his chest. ‘It was close at that.’ She whispered. He put his good hand on the back of her head and pulled her slowly to his face. Softly, but provocatively, Robert kissed her. Slowly he manipulated her lips open and delicately he licked the inside of her lips and when she moaned, he kissed her a little harder and deeper. The more she moaned, the deeper he kissed her, until he went to engulf her in his arms and groaned at the pain in his armpit.

  She pulled away from him. ‘Yes, the doctor said you shouldn’t move it too much.’

  ‘I feel stiff, more than anything.’ He said softly. ‘It doesn’t feel like this one did.’ He pointed to his shoulder.

  ‘That’s because you didn’t break the bones, this time. It would have been infinitely worse if the ball had smashed your rib.’

  ‘Send in Burke.’ He said as he sat up and pushed aside the bedclothes. ‘I need to be up and around if the Runners call.’ He said and although Elizabeth disagreed, she didn’t argue with him. ‘I will also need to show my face in the house and hear the gossip.’ He added as he swung his feet to the floor. She nodded and went to find Burke.

  As she was on her way down the stairs, she saw Burke, talking to Mary and sent him to help Robert. As she got the ground floor, Lady Verity came out of the drawing room. ‘Ah! Elizabeth. I’ve ordered breakfast, so we can get back to normal.’ She said briskly. ‘But I don’t know where Sarah and Johnny are.’ She said innocently.

  Elizabeth laughed coarsely. ‘Really Lady Verity! Where else would they be. I’m sure Sarah was very shocked this morning. She has led a very sheltered life, I think. And I know the only thing I’d want to do would be to make love to the man I love, unfortunately the man I love was injured, so I couldn’t.’

  ‘Oh!’ Verity said, surprised. ‘I didn’t think of that.’ She said chagrined.

  ‘I’ll send Carter to inform them of breakfast.’ Elizabeth smiled as she turned and went to look for Carter.

  ‘Oh! Johnny!’ Sarah sighed as her internal muscles relaxed. He rested on one elbow and stroked his hand down her body from shoulder to knee. He was still huge within her and he knew he could make love again. ‘I love you so much!’ she gasped as he pushed against her contracted passage.

  ‘I know.’ He said arrogantly as he looked in her sparkling blue eyes. He pushed again and she moaned and lifted her hips for him. He smiled gently ‘More?’ he asked and she smiled back and nodded her head in a shower of golden curls so Argyll move
d slowly and gently he made love to the woman whom he would share the rest of his life with. It was slow and voluptuous and in the end Sarah was shuddering as her body demanded but Argyll would not be rushed and as she tripped over into her orgasm she cried out and started to giggle. An uncontrollable laugh that soon turned to cries of ecstasy for them both as Argyll copiously spurted the last of his hot sperm into her womb. As he collapsed down onto her body, he clutched her golden curls to his face and she wrapped her arms and legs about him.

  There was a sharp rap on the door and Argyll shrank away from her and lifted his head. ‘What?’ he shouted.

  ‘Her Grace’s compliments and breakfast will be in half an hour, Your Grace.’

  ‘Very well, thank you.’ He shouted and looked down into Sarah’s eyes. ‘I love you, more than I can possibly say.’

  ‘I know.’ She whispered. ‘But I think you have an empty stomach, like I do.’ She smiled ‘and breakfast sounds good!’

  Breakfast was a lively affair, as Verity wanted a blow by blow account of the duel. After each of them had told the story from their own unique prospective Argyll called the gathering to some sort of order.

  ‘Ladies and Gentleman.’ He said gruffly. ‘It has been amusing to laugh about this affair and get rid of the stress and tension it created, but a man died this morning. This matter is now closed. The event never took place and we were never there.’ He sighed deeply and looked at Sarah firmly. ‘It must never be talked about again, especially to people outside this household. I’ll deal with the staff after breakfast.’

  ‘I would expect the Runners to arrive here soon.’ Robert said calmly. ‘So, we must all be shocked at the Earl of Craanford’s demise and ignorant of any duel, threatened or realised.’ He looked at Elizabeth, ‘especially you, my love.’ And he lifted her hand to kiss her fingers.

  ‘Who will the title go to now?’ Sarah asked. ‘The crown.’ Elizabeth said softly. ‘Unless there is a cousin I don’t know about.’

  ‘We had better get to the House.’ Argyll said to Robert, who nodded.

  Out in the hall, Rogers was waiting and fetched the cloaks with alacrity. ‘Rogers?’ Argyll spoke softly. ‘Inform the staff that each of them will receive a guinea in their pay packets this week. The doctor was never here and there was no duel. Make them understand. I shall be most displeased if one of them should let the cat out of the bag.’

  ‘An unfortunate choice of words?’ Robert said with a smirk and Argyll sniggered.

  The House was bustling, as usual. ‘Good morning, Roding, Goring.’ The Duke of Norfolk said as he took his seat in the house.

  ‘What’s Norfolk doing here this morning?’ Argyll asked.

  ‘Isn’t he normally holding Prinny’s hand?’

  They watched the faces of the men they knew. Fiery, red haired, the Earl of Rathbone made a beeline for Robert. ‘Is it true?’ he asked without any pretence of pleasantries.

  ‘Is what true?’ Robert asked him with a lift of his eyebrow.

  ‘That Beresford is back?’ he asked in a softer voice.

  ‘I have no idea.’ Robert whispered back, ‘but we’d all better be on our best behaviour if he is.’

  There was a hush in the foyer as Lord Beresford stepped through the door. Rathbone scurried into the chamber, but Robert stood and stared him out, as the members expected him to do. Beresford sauntered past with a non committal nod and took his place in the chamber.

  Robert pretended to breathe a sigh of relief and followed with Argyll a few minutes later. They took their seats and the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Eldon, opened the session with a discussion on the army in the Peninsular.

  ‘That’s why Norfolk is here.’ Argyll muttered.

  The session seemed interminable to Robert, but suddenly the Chancellors private secretary ran into the chamber and urgently whispered in the Chancellor’s ear. Their earnest discussion went on for a few minutes and then the Chancellor stood.

  ‘My Lords, I have very grave news for you. The Earl of Craanford was found shot in the head in Hyde Park this morning. Do any of you know anything about this incident?’

  Robert had already composed his face with an innocent expression and exhibited as much shock as the others as he jumped to his feet and shouted ‘no!’

  The Chancellor let the lords present have a few moments of chatter then he shouted for order. Slowly the voices died away as all the eyes in the house turned to Robert Bosworth, Duke of Roding.

  ‘Why is everyone looking at me?’ He demanded, affronted by their attention.

  ‘You did threaten him yesterday,’ Lord Eldon voiced every man’s opinion to a few hear, hears. ‘You did say you would meet him with pistols in Hyde Park this morning, did you actually fulfil that wish?’ the Chancellor accused.

  ‘Who me? Never!’ Robert spat back. ‘I only wish I had!’ He shook his head. ‘Were there any witnesses to this supposed duel?’ The Chancellor shook his head. ‘Then how do you know it was a duel? He might have been attacked and killed for his purse, we all know he dressed like a dandy and it doesn’t pay to advertise how rich you are in the park, the footpads will have you.’

  Again the house erupted with hear hears and a general discussion took place over the footpads that lurked in the city streets and how dangerous it was to be abroad alone at night. Robert had effectively steered the house away from him as a suspect in a duel and given them another alternative. The Chancellor let it run for a few more minutes while he watched Robert Bosworth.Did he do it?He asked himself,he doesn’t look as if he did and there is no self satisfied look or a sigh of relief.And the Chancellor decided he didn’t want to know about it and brought the House back under control.

  ‘I shall open a debate on the safety of our parks at a later date, now can we return to the Peninsular War. My Lord, the Duke of Norfolk!’ he called Norfolk to his feet and gradually Craanford was forgotten.

  By the lunch break, Robert did not look well and Argyll decided to take him home. ‘I need the licence.’ Robert said distantly. So they approached the Archbishop of Canterbury before he left the house.

  ‘A special Marriage licence?’ the Archbishop looked at them. ‘For both of you?’ his eyebrows were almost at his hairline in surprise. ‘I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, it was only a matter of time until you were caught.’ He laughed delightedly. ‘Come to my office.’ And he stalked away still laughing.

  ‘This is embarrassing.’ Argyll muttered.

  ‘No. It isn’t.’ Robert said and smiled wanly, ‘It’s necessary. Elizabeth is already pregnant and after this morning I’m sure Sarah will be too!’

  Disconsolately they followed the Archbishop to his office and stood there stoically waiting for the documents. ‘Let’s see this one is for you Bosworth?’ he looked up and laughed. ‘Bosworth, the biggest rake in London caught in matrimony, ha! Ha!’ He giggled like a little girl. ‘So what’s the lucky lady’s name?’ he asked, his pen hovering over the form.

  ‘Lady Elizabeth Audley.’ Robert said softly.

  The Archbishop laughed again and penned the name into the form. Before he realised what he’d written, he flicked the licence at Robert and said. ‘Here, now what’s your intended’s name, Argyll?’ and again amidst a lot of mirth he filled out the form.

  ‘Lady Sarah Trevanon.’ Argyll said evenly.

  ‘So, you can marry in any church, at any time you’d like.’ He said seriously. He stood and held out his hand. ‘All mirth aside. Congratulations, Your Graces.’ They shook the proffered hand and left with alacrity.

  Argyll helped Robert to get in the carriage and they drove home.

  Elizabeth was waiting in the hall for them as the carriage deposited them at the bottom of the steps. Argyll held Robert’s left arm.

  ‘The Bow Street Runners have been.’ She said quietly, ‘but they will be back later.’

  ‘That’s too bad, because we will be at the church later.’ Robert said as his legs buckled and Argyll physically lifted him up, wrapping Robert�
��s left arm around his shoulder and they went into the drawing room.

  ‘Actually, they came to inform me of Alexander’s death.’ She said and smiled impishly. ‘They will be coming back later, to let me know if they have a suspect or not. At the moment they have no idea why he was killed or even why he was in the park this morning. They think it was a duel, but they have no idea who with or what about.’

  ‘It was touch and go in the House this morning, when the Lord Chancellor was informed of Craanford’s death. Everyone looked at me!’ Robert said, indignantly.

  ‘I wonder why?’ Elizabeth said as she knelt down to undo Robert’s cravat and shirt. ‘A glass of brandy, something to eat and then a rest for you.’ She said firmly.

  ‘Yes, that sounds nice,’ Robert murmured. ‘But we mustn’t be late to the church.’ He pulled the certificate out of his pocket and handed it to Elizabeth as Argyll offered him a brandy.

  ‘Oh! I shall have to go and change.’ She smiled like the cat that got the cream. ‘When would you like to leave?’

  ‘I’ll give you an hour and then it’s down to Grosvenor Chapel with you, whether you’re ready or not!’ Elizabeth ran to the door, yanked it open and ran up the corridor shouting for Mary.

  He looked at Argyll. ‘I need to go to my house. There are one or two things I need to attend to.’ Argyll nodded and went to fetch Burke.

  The four of them stood before the altar and took their vows. Robert Bosworth and John Argyll were dressed in beautiful black velvet jackets, fine lawn shirts and silk cravats, their best chamois britches, their finest silk stockings and their best dancing slippers, complete with diamond studded buckles. Lady Sarah Argyll looked stunning in her emerald green coat with ermine at the collar and cuffs, the white and black speckled fur muffler cast aside on the seat, the emerald bonnet set at a jaunty angle on her blond ringlets and her pretty face hidden by the lace veil. As John and Sarah said ‘I do,’ and the vicar announced their new marital status, John carefully lifted the veil off his pretty young wife’s face, to see her crying with joy.