The Scoundrel Duke of her Heart by Violet Hamers

Chapter Twenty

Jenny’s spirits were good this evening and Nicholas was happy she had invited their guests, even his grandmother.

“You should invite them more often,” he whispered as they ate.

She smiled, raising a spoonful of creamy soup to her mouth. “Including your grandmother?”

“Well, she seems to be behaving herself this evening. I suppose having her once in a while would not be so bad.”

“I did not invite her, you know.”

“Oh?” He reached for his glass at the same time she reached for hers and their hands touched. She did not pull away as he had thought she would.

Instead, she raised her eyes to his. “I made you believe that as a form of revenge.”

“Jenny—”

“Now that the Duke is married,” Persephone announced, “I have decided to turn my attention to finding Ernest a wife.”

Jenny withdrew her hand and continued eating her soup.

“Is this a game to you, grandmother?” Ernest asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin before reaching for his wine.

“Securing the future generation is something I take very seriously and you know that.”

Daphne giggled and Jenny smiled. “Is there something happening that I don’t know about?”

“Observe,” she said.

“We shall have a wedding soon and you will find yourself as excited as Nicholas was at his wedding.”

Ernest addressed Nicholas from across the table. “Does Seaton not have a dower house in Northumberland?”

“I believe there is a dower house there and it has been devoid of a duchess’s presence for far too long.” It was not true but he wanted to make his grandmother squirm.

“There is no dower house in Northumberland,” Persephone interjected.

“There is. You do not know of Seaton’s recent acquisitions.” Very fleetingly, consternation passed over her face. Nicholas laughed and Ernest joined in.

The evening passed rather pleasantly and he felt more like a human being than he had all week. He had Jenny to thank for it. Persephone even endeavored to know Daphne, although she tried to intimidate her on one or two occasions.

“Are you trying to match Ernest with Daphne?” he asked when everyone had gone.

“Yes,” Jenny replied, picking up one of her geology books from a side table in the drawing room. “I think they are good together.”

“Perhaps but I will warn you that it would likely take a pistol pressed to Ernest’s back before he can agree to march to the altar.”

“I know but we have to try.” She crossed the room to the door.

“Are you going to bed?” he asked, already feeling bereft.

“Yes. I have a busy day tomorrow. Since I can’t find my rocks, I have to collect new ones.”

“I am sorry about your rocks.” He took several steps toward her.

“Well,” she shrugged, “some of them are extremely rare and I will have to travel to find them but at least I will have an adventure.”

“Where will you travel to find them?” He offered her his arm and she took it.

“Australia.” She smiled a little.

“That is a very long way to travel.” They walked out of the drawing room to the grand staircase.

“Any distance is worth it if I will find something precious.”

Her subject meant a great deal to her and he wished he had an occupation that meant that much to him. “Are you seriously considering traveling to Australia?”

She shook her head. “That is too far.”

They reached the door of her bedchamber and she turned around to face him. “Good night, Nicholas.”

“Good night, Jenny.”

She opened the door but did not step in. She remained as she was, gazing up at him with her lips slightly parted, an enticing invitation. “Nicholas,” she whispered, “would like to come in?”

“We will be full of regrets if I come in.”

“I will have no regrets.” She reached up to stroke his cheek and his eyes fluttered shut at her touch.

“You don’t know what you are talking about, Jenny. You would not want to behold me in the morning.”

“What is preventing you from making our marriage real?”

“I made you a promise.” He took a step back and she followed him, taking his face in her hands.

“I don’t care about that promise. Don’t you see?”

Covering her small hands with his large, rough ones, he gently removed them from his face and stepped back. “Please, Jenny. No.”

Wounded, she looked away. “As you wish.” Then she entered her bedchamber and closed the door. Nicholas had half a mind to follow her but he strode down the hall to his own bedchamber.

What sort of man in his right mind would refuse Jenny’s invitation? Nicholas, it would seem. The truth was that he was avoiding bedding her for several reasons. One: He needed to keep Jenny at a distance to prevent attachments. It was something he could never afford. Two: Jenny was a significant part of the childhood he was trying to get away from. Having her did not feel right.

No one would understand his reasons, however, and thus, it was best to keep them to himself.

* * *

After receiving an opera invitation from the dowager the morning prior at breakfast, Jenny and Nicholas were preparing to depart for the opera house.

"You seem buoyant for someone who is about to spend the evening in the old crone’s company," Nicholas said in the foyer as they waited for Jenny’s gloves to be brought. She had forgotten to wear them when getting dressed.

"I haven’t been to a show in a while. I am merely looking forward to the night." She allowed a small laugh. “What is taking Sarah so long?”

"I see you still love theater." His smile looked nostalgic. “Do you remember that performance we acted from the story Miss Greene used to read to us?”

“I was the moat monster, of course, I remember it. And no monster forgets the brave knight that slays her.”

“I thought I broke your curse. I don’t remember slaying you.” His brows knit quizzically.

“Part of the princess was a monster and you slew it.” She chuckled.

“Don't say you are going to make me pay for it now.”

“I might if you are not nice.” She grinned. Her gloves came and they were soon ensconced in the carriage and on their way to the opera house.

“There is also this story…the blue…” He paused to think. "The blue-nosed peasant and the laughing—"

"Duck!" Jenny completed it with a chuckle. "You always did make a good laughing duck, Nicholas."

"I did not!" He defended before making a quacking sound to which they both burst out laughing.

Jenny's governess had read many stories to them before he had left for Eton and they had enacted many of them. She loved reminiscing with him. It assured her that she was not with a complete stranger.

They had also made a truce although she did not know for how long it would last. The pain of his rejection was still there despite her efforts to forget. “You have suddenly grown serious. A penny for your thoughts?”

She smiled. “My thoughts cost much more than a penny.”

“How much?” He leaned back in his seat and folded his arms across his chest, a daring look in his eyes.

“You cannot afford it.”

“That is cheating. Give me a price and I shall pay.”

“A cat,” she said and his brows shot up in surprise.

“A cat?”

She nodded. “A cat is an excellent companion and it is rather peaceful.”

“Why would you want a cat, Jenny?”

She might never have children and Nicholas had his life to live. A cat might just be the companion she required, but she did not tell him that. “They are lovely.”

Their carriage rolled to a halt in front of the opera house and Nicholas alighted before helping her down. They were shown to the tiny salon attached to their private box. The dowager had not arrived.

“She allows herself the liberty to be tardy but no one else can escape her acerbic tongue when they are late,” Nicholas complained.

“Perhaps there is a good reason for her being late,” Jenny said.

At that moment, a messenger walked in with a note. “The Duke and Duchess of Seaton?” he asked. At their nod of confirmation, he presented them the note. “This is from the Dowager Duchess of Seaton.”

Nicholas collected it and broke the seal, scanning the contents. He muttered something under his breath before announcing, "It says here that she is sick and will not be able to attend."

"Oh!" Jenny suddenly recalled her deal with her grandmother-in-law and she wondered if this was all a part of the plan.

"May I see the note?" She stood and walked toward him to collect the note only to trip on the leg of a nearby table and fall straight into his lap. He caught her in his strong arms. Her mouth dried and she ducked in her breath.

“You should watch where you set your foot,” he murmured, gazing at her lips.

"Sorry,” she mumbled and shifted to get off his lap but her shoe slipped against the satin hem of her evening dress.

Nicholas grunted and she gasped. “Don’t move,” he said, wincing.

“Did I hurt you?” she asked, alarmed.

He shook his head. “No, but you are on top of…” he trailed off, shaking his head again.

His arms that had earlier shot out to steady her tightened about her waist and he drew her against him. “Are we going to stay like this all evening?” she asked. She wished to take advantage of this moment but she wanted him to want her first.

"We have the box to ourselves," he tilted her chin with his finger, “and we can do as we wish.”

The desire she had been looking for began to swirl in his eyes. She stroked his jaw and tilted her head to one side, hoping he would kiss her. There was a war being fought inside her. He could kiss her now, arouse her, and then abandon her. The likelihood of this occurring, based on prior happenings, was very high.

“The show is starting soon,” she whispered. Daphne's advice rang anew in her ears, squashing the rational voice that was urging her to put an end to this before it began.

"This play is performed several times a week. We will not be missing much if we don’t see it." He lightly traces his thumb over her bottom lip, sending shivers of delight all over her body.

"I suppose a different sort of entertainment is acceptable." Jenny swallowed before lowering her lips onto her husband's while her hands played with his cravat.

“Minx!” he growled and adjusted her position on his lap.

This time, Nicholas was not as hesitant as he had been before. There was a chance she was breaking his defenses.

“You smell like a meadow.” He nuzzled her neck, his fingers playing with her stocking garters. “Lovely.” He returned his lips to hers and kissed her passionately, taking his time to lavish each lip with the attention of his tongue. When they pulled away for air, he asked, “Do you want us to leave this place?”

“Yes.” Jenny wanted them to return to the house and continue what they had started.

He kissed her one more time and set her down. “Come.”

Jenny grinned as he pulled her toward their carriage, giddy with the sensations inside her. The dowager’s plan was working and her marriage might be consummated tonight.

“Your Grace” a female sang, stopping them in their tracks.