Two Notorious Dukes Read online

  Elizabeth looked out over the scenery and hoped she wouldn’t be sick, as the fear of being in a strange place, with a strange man was building. She supposed she shouldn’t worry because she was well chaperoned, with the Duchess and now Lady Sarah, but that didn’t stop the fear. She knew her greatest trial was to overcome it.

  Sarah was looking out the other side of the carriage and wishing that the Duke of Argyll was with them. She was so affronted and shocked when Prinny manhandled her onto his knee for her first kiss, but he made it totally memorable and he said thank you to boot! She was horrified when the Prince made the offer of lady in waiting. She knew exactly what he wanted, but her bond had been purchased by the Duke and she was surprised to be collected by the Duchess the next morning and she hadn’t seen the Duke since.

  ‘I suppose we will have to see what entertainment will be on offer this summer.’ The Duchess said carefully. ‘If we’re lucky I could probably get you both married off before the winter!’ she said with a smile. Sarah looked at her with huge eyes, but Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders and said. ‘No thank you, Your Grace. I’m quite happy on my own. I will never have another husband.’

  ‘Never say never, my dear. Nobody knows what is in the future.’

  ‘In my future will be lots of walking, shooting and riding.’ Elizabeth said. ‘And when its raining I shall sew and read by the fire in my room.’ She sat with a serene expression on her face. ‘At least for the next few weeks or until Lord Bosworth gets fed up of me and sends me back to London.’

  ‘Robert won’t stay longer than two weeks. He’ll have to go to Roding Hall at some point to check over the estate, although he has excellent stewards.’

  ‘Is Lord Bosworth single?’ Sarah asked innocently.

  ‘Have you had a season yet?’ Lady Verity asked impertinently.

  ‘No. My father couldn’t afford one for me.’ She shrugged eloquently.

  ‘Then you haven’t heard of Robert Bosworth, the Duke of Roding?’ Elizabeth said with such scorn that Sarah turned even larger eyes on her and slowly shook her head.

  Lady Verity sighed. ‘He has the reputation of a rakehell, my dear.’ She smiled benignly. ‘He actually isn’t quite as bad as the gossip would have you believe.’

  ‘I can believe that.’ Sarah said firmly. ‘He sprang to my honour very quickly when the Prince was talking about returning my fathers estate.’

  ‘In what sense my dear?’ Verity asked, so Sarah relayed everything that happened in the receiving room, even down to the look of horror on Robert’s face as he realised the Prince was trying to blackmail her.

  ‘Yes, that sounds like Robert. He wouldn’t actually have called the Prince out as they know each other rather well. I suppose the Prince was surprised.’

  ‘Does Lord Bosworth have any family?’ Elizabeth asked curiously, ‘He doesn’t seem to mention them.’

  Verity sighed again. ‘Robert was the second son. His father was the Fifth Duke of Roding and they had two sons and a daughter, Robert purchased a captaincy and went into the army. First he was sent to Flanders and then to the Netherlands. While he was fighting around Copenhagen, his family contracted the morbid sore throat(Diphtheria). Now some people can survive it and others don’t. It has been known to kill entire villages. We don’t know how they got it, because we didn’t know the Roding’s particularly well at that time. Robert won’t talk about it, but he was called home immediately to assume his responsibilities.’ She looked out over the countryside. ‘Responsibilities he’d had no training for, and I know what I’m talking about. I had to train John and it wasn’t easy with his father killing himself in a brandy vat each day. But to be thrown into that kind of position was very hard for him. John saw him the first time he took his seat in the house and said he looked like a lost child, utterly bereft of direction or even training, so between us, we have helped him adjust to the heavy responsibility that a Duke of the Realm has on his shoulders. Of course, you can’t stop somebody from trying to bury their pain and Robert has tried very hard to bury his pain in the arms of any willing woman, so long as she isn’t an innocent or a widow!’

  ‘So what happens to his estate if he doesn’t produce an heir?’ Sarah asked softly.

  ‘The same as your father’s. Lord Bosworth’s lands and ancestral home will go to the crown for the King to do with as he pleases.’ Elizabeth said harshly. ‘The chances are that the crown will sell them on, just like they will your family home. They want the gold, rather than the farm land. War is costly and one way or the other, Britain has been at war for the last thirty years. The money always comes from the government treasury to pay for the army and the Navy. They can only get money from taxes and selling assets.’

  ‘Hello!’ Robert said as the carriage pulled up beside him. ‘There’s a rather nice inn a mile up the road, if you want to stop and stretch your legs?’

  ‘How much further is it, Your Grace?’ Sarah asked coquettishly.

  ‘I just said, a mile.’ Robert said with a frown.

  ‘I think she was referring to Boscombe Manor, Robert.’ Lady Verity said firmly.

  He laughed then, ‘Oh! I see! About ten miles.’

  ‘Couldn’t we go straight through then?’ she asked and looked at her companions. ‘I don’t know about you, but I’m anxious to get there.’

  ‘Your Grace?’ Elizabeth attracted Robert’s attention. ‘What is that village over there called?’ and she pointed away behind him. He turned his head and looked.

  ‘Edmonton, Lady Elizabeth.’ He said calmly and turned back to the Duchess. He raised his eyebrows and waited for her to make a decision.

  ‘I think we’ll stop and at least the horses can have a drink.’ She said firmly. Robert nodded once and kicked his horse into a canter as he went on ahead.

  When the carriage arrived, Robert already had food and beverages laid on for them and he helped each lady out of the coach. He was most surprised when Lady Elizabeth put her hand on his to steady herself, as she stepped out of the carriage.

  Lunch was a light affair and Robert regaled them with some humorous stories of the Prince Regent. Then it was back in the coach for the rest of the journey. Lady Sarah couldn’t help it, she just nodded off and Lady Verity’s heart turned over as her head rested on her shoulder.

  ‘Such a sweet girl.’ She murmured. ‘I now understand why Johnny did it. He said I would understand after she was here.’

  ‘Does Lord Bosworth realise he’s in pain?’ Elizabeth asked harshly.

  ‘I shouldn’t think so. He probably doesn’t realise that he only wants women who can’t give him permanency because he doesn’t think there is any such thing. Love them and leave them, and then you can’t be hurt when they die.’ She looked so sad right then and Elizabeth wished she’d not spoken. ‘And when you love them it’s devastating to lose them.’

  ‘Did you love the old Duke?’ Elizabeth asked curiously.

  ‘As a matter of fact, I did. But it was the innocent love of a child, not the love a woman can have for a man. But it was still devastating when he died.’ She sighed deeply. ‘Poor John was thrust into the ducal duties as well, but I had already been preparing him for the day when it would happen. He’d not long finished at Cambridge and his father died very slowly. It was painful to watch him fade away like that, but John didn’t see, as he was away. I sent for him in the night, as his father’s breathing got worse and worse. By the time he reached Goring Hall his father was already dead and all we could do was mourn his loss.’ She was quiet for a few minutes as she fought the tears. ‘You and Robert have a lot in common, actually. Maybe you could help each other come to terms with your pain. Lord knows he needs somebody to help him.’

  Elizabeth rummaged in her bag and fetched out a book to read and Verity rested her head back on the seat and closed her eyes.

  Argyll waited for the dogs to flush the pheasants again and suddenly there was the croak of the cock and the hens flew up into the air. He let go with the musket and watched
two hens fold their wings and plummet to the earth. The dogs brought the two birds back and he carefully took them and put them in his game satchel. ‘Come along, Hetty.’ He said to the spaniel and ruffled her ears as the Labrador fell in at his knee.

  ‘Are you finished for today, Your Grace?’ the gamekeeper asked.

  ‘Yes, thank you, Willoughby.’ He set off back to the mansion; there was no other name for the sprawling monstrosity that was the ducal residence. It had started as an Elizabethan Manor and been added to so many times that the whole building was a hodgepodge of styles and designs. The only thing that saved it from disaster was the beautiful gardens his father had had Capability Brown design. From the smallest rose bed under the library window to the three mile long lake, it had taken Brown a month to draw it and five years to complete. It had taken twenty gardeners a year and a half to dig out the ground for the lake and all the soil had been piled up to make an undulating landscape. There were trees and bushes from all over the world in the different aspects, but Argyll’s favourite place, was the terrace over looking the formal lawn, in the evening as the sun was going down.

  As he arrived at the kitchen door, he handed the game bag to one of the boys, the dogs were taken for feeding and he sat on the stone bench to remove his boots.

  ‘Your Grace?’ Harrison the butler poked his head out of the door.

  ‘Yes, Harrison.’ Argyll said as he stifled a yawn.

  ‘There is agentlemanto see you, Your Grace.’

  ‘I’m not sure I like the way you said that, Harrison?’ Argyll said quizzically.

  ‘I’ll use the term loosely, Sir. He looks like a gentleman, but I don’t think he is one.’ He sighed. ‘I’ve put him in the drawing room, Sir.’

  ‘Very well, Harrison. Tell him I’ll be there in a few minutes.’ He took a stiff brush and scrubbed all the dried mud off his boots, slipped them back on his feet and went into the house. He threw his hat on the hall table and proceeded into the drawing room to be confronted with Alexander Audley.

  ‘Hello, Audley. What are you doing here?’ he asked cheerfully.

  ‘Where is she?’ he demanded brutally.

  ‘I’m sorry, who are you asking for?’ Argyll said placatingly.

  ‘Elizabeth, she was at your London house, so where is she?’

  ‘I suppose she’ll be with Lady Verity, where ever she is.’ Argyll said as if surprised that he was there. ‘Would you like some refreshment?’

  ‘No, I wouldn’t. All I want is what I’m due!’ he spat.

  ‘Well, I’m not a legal expert, but I think you already have everything you’re due, old boy.’ He laughed jovially, ‘but for all I know Mother could be at Brighton or Bath. She might even have gone up to Leamington.’

  ‘Damn!’ exploded from Audley.

  ‘Listen, you should forget about Lady Elizabeth. There isn’t a court in the land that will give her to you! Not even the House of Lords.’

  ‘When I want your opinion, I’ll ask for it!’ Audley snapped, snatched his hat off the table and stormed out of the door. Argyll watched him from the hall as he climbed into a small barouche with a pair of white horses.Very expensive,Argyll thought,but no breeding. Not even in his horses!The coachman flicked his whip and the horses started away before Audley was seated and he almost ended up face first in the seat. Argyll had a job not to laugh.Well, he’s been. I’d better send Mother a message.And he sauntered into his study, poured himself a whiskey and drew a sheet of high quality vellum towards him. Dipping his favourite quill in the ink pot he penned a letter to his mother, taking his time and writing carefully. She would be annoyed if there were blots or mistakes in the letter. She would expect him to write just as well if it was a message to his boot maker!

  The Manor wasn’t as big as Elizabeth thought it would be. It was obviously a Tudor manor, as the crenellated turrets at the front purported, like the ones at Hampton Court Palace, which she’d seen the previous summer. The grounds weren’t particularly formal, but were obviously well cared for and as the carriage pulled up at the bottom of the broad steps the housekeeper appeared at the door.

  ‘Good afternoon, Your Grace.’ She said smiling kindly as Robert heaved himself out of the saddle.

  ‘Good afternoon, Mrs. Simmons.’ He opened the carriage door and helped the ladies out. The introductions were smooth and she curtsied to all of them.

  ‘Mrs. Simmons will escort you upstairs, and there will be refreshments on the terrace, when you’re ready!’ Robert said. Elizabeth could tell he was more relaxed already.

  Inside the front door was a wide hall, complete with an oak beam ceiling and numerous fireplaces. The furniture was all Tudor and well cared for, Lady Verity was quite pleased with the over powering smell of beeswax. Once upstairs, Lady’s Elizabeth and Sarah were given adjoining rooms in the west wing, The Duchess was given a suite in the East wing and Robert would be in the Main Suite at the front of the house. Burke had already sorted his belongings and Mary had already seen to Elizabeth’s. The Duchess’s maid was still in the process, as she’d ridden on the coach seat next to the driver and a local girl had been employed for Sarah.

  Robert stripped off his jacket, waistcoat and cravat on his way through the house and as he got outside the back, he was met by the steward. They chatted amiably about the estate and any problems there were and then Robert fulfilled a deep seated wish he’d had for about a week. He went straight to the lake and threw himself in it. He dumped his boots in the meadow grass and stood on the bank and threw himself into the cold water. It wasn’t long until he was joined by the estate children and the boys started racing. The girls sat on the dock and dangled their feet in the water.

  Elizabeth and Sarah could see it from their windows. Sarah went downstairs to saunter about the house, but Elizabeth remained at the window, watching as Robert threw the boys in the water, one at a time and how they swam. She suddenly picked up her parasol and went straight downstairs and out into the garden. It didn’t take long to get to the lake and she stood quietly by the trees and listened to the laughter of the children. One of the little girls approached her. She curtsied clumsily and said. ‘Would you care to join us Milady?’ and indicated where the older girls were dragging a log forward.

  ‘Thank you that is most kind.’ Elizabeth said graciously and strolled along with the small girl. She was shocked when the girl took her hand, like a daughter would, and she gasped as her eyes filled with tears.

  She carefully sat on the log and arranged her skirts and demurely folded her hands in her lap, but the girl had no intention of letting her sit so properly. Suddenly she was clambering into Elizabeth’s lap and all the girls gathered around her. ‘Why are you crying?’ the girl asked and Elizabeth only shook her head.

  Robert was watching from his vantage point in the lake and he swam over to the dock. ‘Lady Elizabeth. I see Amelia has found you!’

  She could only nod, but he smiled encouragingly and swam back out into the centre of the lake, where there was a floating pontoon. He heaved himself up onto it and the boys joined him for more throwing.

  They lost track of the time and Mrs. Simmons sent one of the kitchen maids to find them.

  ‘If you please, Ma’am?’ she said timidly to Elizabeth, ‘but Mrs. Simmons is serving tea on the terrace. Ma’am.’

  ‘Thank you. Tell Mrs. Simmons we shall be there directly.’ Amelia scrambled off her knee and stood right at the edge of the dock and yelled. ‘Tea’s up!’ at the top of her young voice. All the boys started swimming frantically for the bank, making Elizabeth and the girls shriek and run as they splashed ashore. But Robert went another way and abruptly he appeared between some bushes, startling Elizabeth so much, that her hand flew to her throat and she yelped. She stood there with her breath caught in her throat as she stared at his chest through the open front of his shirt. The part of Elizabeth that was frustrated, wondered what it would be like to scrape her fingers through the hair on his chest. She blushed furiously at her own wicked thou
ghts.

  ‘May I accompany you, Lady Elizabeth?’ he asked formally and Elizabeth sniggered at his wet bedraggled hair and sopping clothes. She put her fingers over her lips and laughter spluttered out of her.

  ‘Of course, Your Grace.’ She murmured as she regained her composure and held her head high as she walked along the path. The children were all around them and one small boy approached with Robert’s boots in his hands.

  ‘Thanks, Tommy. You should all get off, now or your mother’s will have my hide!’ he said and suddenly all the children vanished.

  They continued to walk calmly back to the house. Sarah and Verity could see them approaching and Verity smiled contentedly that everything was going according to her plan.

  As they arrived at the terrace, Robert saw Elizabeth into a chair. ‘I must just pop and change out of these wet clothes.’ And Robert was gone in a flash.

  ‘What have you been doing, my dear?’ Lady Verity asked, raising an arched eyebrow at the water marks on her gown.

  ‘Lord Bosworth was swimming with the estate children and I couldn’t resist it.’ Both women heard the heartache and sob in her voice. Within five minutes, Robert was back on the terrace in clean clothes and fresh boots.

  Chapter 5 Rakes and Hell

  It was a week before Argyll turned up, just to give Craanford time to watch and see that the Duke was settled. As he approached Boscombe Manor, Robert was informed by one of the children.

  ‘Lady Verity? It would appear your wayward son has finally arrived.’ Robert told her as she languidly fanned herself on the terrace.

  The week had been easy for the four of them. Robert was more relaxed and surprisingly so was Elizabeth. She spent a lot of time with the gaggle of children that lived on the Manor as well as reading, riding and walking. Robert had had the horses sent from London, as he didn’t keep a constant stable at this estate.

  He went in the house to see Mrs. Simmons about a room for Argyll and stumbled across Elizabeth, reading in the hall. ‘Why are you sitting inside on a glorious day like this?’ he asked impertinently.