The Scoundrel Duke of her Heart by Violet Hamers
Chapter One
Jenny dove behind the sofa when she heard the voices grow closer. She’d dismissed the footsteps in the hallway as her friend Daphne’s. That was until she heard a man’s voice. The footsteps advanced, followed by short quick ones that seemingly belonged to a woman. Sucking in her breath, she scooted further behind the sofa, praying she was not about to witness a tryst. Disturbing images flashed in her mind and her cheeks heated.
She had fled the ball with Daphne, to the safety of the library several minutes ago. And just when Daphne had excused herself to the ladies’ retiring room, Jenny had become trapped.
Where in God’s name is Daphne when I need her?
“I don’t know why we are still having this conversation, Grandmother,” the man said, closing the library door.
Jenny released a slow, relieved breath. It was only some nobleman and his grandmother. Then she inwardly berated herself for allowing her imagination to run wild.
“Nicholas,” the grandmother said, causing Jenny’s eyes to widen with recognition, “you will marry that girl and that’s it.”
It was the Dowager Duchess of Seaton and her grandson, Nicholas Brighton. Jenney knew them and she could rise from her crouch and reveal her presence… But that would be awkward for many reasons. One: Nicholas had once been her closest friend. Two: The dowager was a curmudgeon. Three: She would look like she was eavesdropping even though she was in the room before them.
She decided to wait them out, listening closely to discern their movements. Strong footsteps approached the sofa she was hiding behind and her stomach lurched.
Please don’t come any closer! Please!
“I am not marrying anyone, Grandmother, and that’s it,” Nicholas returned, his tone matching his grandmother’s commanding one.
“The Hanover girl is right for you.”
Jenny clapped a hand over her mouth. She was the Hanover girl. It could only be her because she was the only child of the Earl of Hanover. She bit her bottom lip to keep quiet.
“You keep forgetting that she has a name.” Nicholas sounded bored and Jenny could imagine the expression on his face.
A smack sounded, followed by, “Ow!”
“You have no manners, boy.”
“I am going to burn that damned cane if you hit me with it again. And I am not a boy.”
A gale of laughter bubbled in Jenny’s throat. That was exactly what a boy would say.
“Burn it and one of your legs would follow,” the dowager responded.
“Do that and you will spend the rest of your days in the country. The only reason I allow you some liberty is because you are my grandmother and I still have some manners left in me.” Nicholas’s voice was low, almost threatening.
This conversation is getting very interesting, Jenny thought, an amused smile playing on her lips despite just learning that the dowager was trying to convince Nicholas to marry her.
“Someone has to keep you on the right course,” the dowager said.
“And that person is not you.”
“Lord Hanover is a fool, but occasionally he knows what he is doing,” the dowager said.
Jenny almost stood to defend her father but she remained as she was, clutching the book in her hand and gritting her teeth. She had never liked the dowager and she believed she had more reason to dislike her now. The supercilious woman seemed to think that everything in life had to go in the direction she wanted it to. Her father was no fool. Yes, he had made some not-so-clever choices, especially regarding their finances, but he was no fool.
Nicholas sounded incredulous when he asked, “Do you hear yourself, Grandmother?”
“Every word,” came her smug reply and Jenny shook her head.
“The man has incredible support in the House of Lords, rivaled only by that of the Viscount of Down whose recent scandals are fortunately seeing to the decline of this support.”
“Fortunately?”
“Indeed. It works perfectly for us. Seaton needs Hanover’s backing and we’re acquiring that by uniting our families in matrimony. I have no tolerance for competition, certainly not from a man of ill-repute like Down.”
Jenny frowned. The Viscount of Down was the father of her dearest friend, Daphne. Although his scandal was the topic of nearly every conversation these days, Daphne was holding herself well. And Jenny did not like hearing such demeaning remarks about him.
“Your father neglected his responsibility at the House of Lords and you have done your fair share of soiling the name. Restoring the title’s good standing is paramount.”
“What makes you think I give a tinker’s damn about the title?”
Jenny began to drum her hands on her lap, anxious for this duo to finish squabbling so she could get out of there. If it were entirely up to her, she would not have attended this ball. The dowager was hosting it to welcome Nicholas back to England.
Are they not the hosts of tonight’s ball? Could they not talk about this at another time? Jenny suspected it was the only chance the dowager had been able to get to speak with Nicholas. The man could be very elusive when he wanted.
“I am not going to dance to your tune,” he said.
The dowager chuckled. “Oh, you already are.”
“I am not marrying Jenny! I cannot marry Jenny!”
Jenny’s heart sank to the bottom of her stomach as his words struck her with coldness.
Do I truly deserve this from you, Nicholas? After everything we’ve been through?
“Jenny is my friend,” he continued to say and she almost blurted was. They had been friends. Years ago. “She’s a good friend. She’s like a sister, even. Surely, you do not expect me to trap myself in marriage with someone I regard as such.”
And Jenny thought his words earlier had wounded her. She winced and turned her face away even though no one could see it.
The dowager chuckled. “When was the last time you saw the girl?”
Jenny remembered the last time she’d seen him. There was a beat of silence before Nicholas answered. “About six years ago. I’m uncertain.”
“She was in the schoolroom then. I am sure you will take back your words when you see her now. You are a man, after all.”
The dowager’s comment objectified Jenny but at the same time, it acted as a salve for her wounds.
“You know,” the dowager continued speaking, “the marriage mart is like a garden, Nicholas, and I carefully picked this girl for you from amongst the many flowers in there.”
“You mean, you carefully picked her for her father’s clout. For your benefit.”
They insult my father, yet they need him.
“I’m happy you are following.” She sounded somewhat proud of her grandson. “But Lord Hanover’s influence is not all. She is a suitable match for you. I must admit that she reminds me of myself at that age, full of life and fire.”
Jenny almost laughed at that. The woman must be mad if she thought Jenny was like her. For one, Jenny was not the sort of person to go about manipulating people for her gain.
“I shudder at the prospect of growing old with a woman of your nature,” Nicholas said.
“Your grandfather survived it. For a while, at least, and so will you. But that is beside the point. Giving the Seaton title an heir is paramount and she is more than capable of it. She might be petite but she is rounded in all the right places.”
“Good heavens, Grandmother!” Nicholas snapped. “She is not a broodmare!”
It would seem that she was. Jenny knew by now that all she was good for in society was to marry a man with a good fortune and title, and produce heirs. No one cared about her intellectual propensities or what value she could add to the world in that regard.
“I don’t have time for your impertinence, boy. You are marrying her and that is it. I will not discuss this with you any further. The earl and I have already drawn up a contract and all that is left is for you to reacquaint yourself with the girl.”
“You did what?” Nicholas asked.
Just then, the library door burst open and a very familiar voice said, “Jenny, I just witnessed what ought to be the scandal of the century!”
