The Scoundrel Duke of her Heart by Violet Hamers
Chapter Nine
Jenny had completely forgotten that she had promised to go riding with Sir Phineas today. He walked into the drawing room bearing a bouquet of lilies. As soon as he beheld Jenny, he bowed graciously.
“A more pleasing sight I am yet to behold today, my lady.” He offered her the flowers.
“Thank you, Sir Phineas,” she said with a friendly smile. “These are lovely flowers.”
“They still do not do you justice.”
Nicholas cleared his throat and Sir Phineas straightened, the smile vanishing from his face at the look Nicholas was giving him. “Your Grace.”
Nicholas stood. “Sir Phineas. Are you here to court Lady Jennifer?” he asked possessively.
Jenny did not like it. Men thought they could stake their claim on a woman in a show of power. It was as condescending as it was primitive. But she remained quiet because there was already tension that was gathering heavily.
“Lady Jennifer is my friend and she promised to go riding with me today.”
Nicholas looked at Jenny with a raised brow. “Lady Jennifer is engaged at the moment.”
She felt her shoulders tense. “I made Sir Phineas a promise and keeping it is important. I do not like disappointing my friends, Your Grace.”
His blue eyes flashed momentarily but he nodded. “Are you going to take long?”
“Oh, I will endeavor to not take too much of her time,” Sir Phineas assured.
Jenny stood. “Please allow me a moment to get ready.” Then she excused herself from the room but not before she shot a warning glance in Nicholas’s direction. Be nice, it said.
She called Sarah to help her change into a riding habit and instructed the butler to ready her gelding. When she returned to the drawing room, she found Sir Phineas eating with Ernest while Nicholas buried his face in the poetry book.
At least they are not trying to kill each other.
Sir Phineas quickly washed down his sandwich with some tea and gained his feet, offering her his arm. Ernest and Nicholas stood, too.
“Shall we, my lady?”
“Yes.” She placed her hand on his elbow.
“You will find us right where you left us,” Ernest said. “Enjoy your ride.” Nicholas did not say anything.
Jenny and Sir Phineas mounted their horses and rode slowly down the street. “Are you, by any chance, the duke’s chosen bride?” he asked.
“How can you tell?”
“He was very possessive of you, my lady,” Sir Phineas replied.
“I am the mystery lady and I only found out yesterday.”
He turned to look at her. “Was that the reason you swooned?”
Jenny winced. “Is the entire town talking about it?”
“No, only those that cared to notice. People like me.” He smiled at her. “Are you all right?”
His concern touched her and she returned his smile, reassuring him. “I am well, sir. I was merely shocked.”
“I don’t blame you. You are going to be marrying a notorious rake and that is no easy feat.”
“I shall survive.”
“I do not doubt it. If ever you find yourself in want of a friend, I am here.”
His offer drew a genuine smile from her. “Thank you, Sir Phineas.”
“And I insist you call me just Phineas. Friends do not address each other so formally.”
“Then you may call me, Jenny.”
“Jenny,” he pronounced as though he was testing the word out on his tongue. “I met a Jenny in Ireland once but she didn’t have red hair. She was a little girl with wavy blonde hair.”
“She must be adorable.”
“Oh, she is. Sadly, she is with her maker now.” There was sadness in his eyes and Jenny empathized with him even without understanding the cause.
“I am sorry for your loss.”
He smiled at her. “Oh, forgive my maudlin behavior.” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small leather-bound volume. “I thought you might like this. It is a collection of John Skelton’s works. I hope you like it.”
His gift delighted her. “I am sure I will. I’m afraid I did not get you anything.”
“The pleasure of your company is enough for me.”
Sir Phineas was not flirting with her and she believed he truly only wished to be her friend. She had a feeling she would need many distractions to keep her heart from swaying towards Nicholas. And there was a chance that she might never have a child to keep her occupied. Nicholas had all but said that their marriage would be in name only.
“Such a frown should not have a place on your face,” Phineas observed. “Would you like me to tell you a story?”
“I love stories,” she said.
“Once upon a time, there was a pirate that ravaged the high seas…”
Jenny laughed. “What are you laughing about?” He made a face.
“When you said, ‘Once upon a time,’ I did not picture a pirate coming into the story.”
“Life is full of surprises, is it not?” At her nod, he continued telling his story. “The pirate lost his heart to a sea goddess.” He paused for effect.
“Is this pirate by any chance the captain of the Flying Dutchman?” she asked, feeling her worries slip away.
“Yes! You know the story, then?”
“Everyone tells the story differently. I wish to hear yours.”
He grinned broadly. “Excellent. But losing his heart gave him immortality which he used to sail the seas and accumulate great wealth.”
“Why did he lose his heart?”
“The goddess could not love him back. He cut his heart out and offered it to her but she cursed him with immortality and the inability to ever step on land.”
“That is a sad tale, Phineas.”
“It depends on how you choose to look at it. Some see gain while some see a loss.”
Again, Jenny wondered why society never took him seriously. “So the moral of this story is…”
“Losing one’s heart is not necessarily a bad thing.” He had a point but Jenny still thought losing her heart to Nicholas would be her undoing. The man would never love her. He would never give her children.
* * *
“She is no longer here,” Nicholas said to Ernest. “What are you still doing here?”
He motioned at the plate before him. “There is still one sandwich left and when I finish it, I shall help myself to some of your biscuits.”
“Suit yourself.” Nicholas continued to read, or rather, stare blindly at the open page while he thought of Jenny.
“Were you surprised she accepted your offer?” Ernest asked.
“Well, she did not accept my offer. She accepted Grandmother’s offer. But yes, I was greatly surprised.”
“Are you pleased?”
Nicholas did not know how to answer that. His body was responding to the sight and thoughts of Jenny in ways that made him uncomfortable. Nevertheless, he was happy that her father’s debts would be paid. He planned to see to them personally.
“I am helping her family,” he said.
“I hope she will be happy.”
“I will try my best,” Nicholas said.
Ernest nodded. “I hope you will.” Movement in the doorway caught his attention and he looked up to see Lord Hanover entering the room.
“Your Grace,” he said to Nicholas, “I did not know you were here.” He looked at Ernest. “And you, too, Mr. Brighton. Where is Jenny?”
“She went riding with Sir Phineas,” Ernest informed him as he threw Nicholas an impish grin. The man wanted to see him squirm and he would not give him the satisfaction.
“Peculiar fellow,” Lord Hanover said. “Since you are here, Your Grace, may I have a private word?”
“Of course, Lord Hanover.”
Since Nicholas’s return, Lord Hanover had addressed him formally and he had done the same. He intended to correct that before he married Jenny. They crossed the hall to his study.
“I believe you are aware that Jenny has accepted your offer.”
“Yes, and I am most pleased.”
“Good. I have some concerns that I wish to raise. Concerns regarding your reputation.”
“I grew up with Jenny and I care about her. I will never intentionally cause her any grief. You have my word.”
A life of celibacy was not what he had planned but he was marrying a woman he had no intention of touching. He would have to survive the path he had taken. Besides, there were ways in which one could relieve himself without a woman.
“I will trust you.” Hanover offered him a slight smile. “I am sure you understand my concern. She is my only child and there is nothing I will not do for her. It saddens me greatly that I am not able to provide for her.”
“But you made a good decision to secure her future. You have done right by her.”
Lord Hanover had lost his fortune through bad investment and not gambling as most gentlemen with lost fortunes did. Nicholas respected the man for the efforts he was making for his daughter.
“I have sent a signed contract to the dowager duchess,” he said, “but I wish to discuss the time of the wedding with you personally. After all, you arethe one marrying my daughter.”
“Whichever date Jenny chooses is good for me.”
“I shall consult her on the matter, then.”
“And regarding the debts, I will bear them personally, independent of Seaton’s accounts.”
Lord Hanover’s eyes misted. “Nicholas…”
“You opened your home to me when I had no one. This is the least I can do.”
He was silent for several beats before he said a heartfelt, “Thank you. I will never forget your kindness.”
With a nod of acknowledgment, Nicholas rose to leave. His discussion with Lord Hanover today assured him that Jenny had not been traded. To his grandmother, it was no more than a trade but not to him. He found Ernest in the drawing room with one of the lilies Sir Phineas had brought Jenny in his hand, plucking the petals.
Yes, ruin the confounding flower.
“I was waiting for you. There is somewhere I have to be.” He gained his feet.
“I knew this chaperone charade would not last long.”
Ernest grinned. “I have far too many engagements to remain here all day.” He clapped him on the shoulder. “See you later, cousin.”
Nicholas smiled when Ernest left. He would finally get a chance to speak with her alone when she returned.
Not long after Ernest’s departure, Jenny returned but not with Sir Phineas as he had expected—and planned to send away as soon as possible. She was with her friend, Daphne Bexley instead.
