The Scoundrel Duke of her Heart by Violet Hamers

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Pay that no mind, Nicholas,” Jenny said, every nerve in her body screaming for him to listen to her.

“I am not,” he replied, undoing the buttons holding her dress together and drawing the neckline down her shoulders. “I am not going anywhere. I want you.” He pulled away to gaze down at her bared chest, primitive hunger swirling in his eyes.

Her joy soared and her hands reached for him. “So do I.”

“Your Grace!” Bentley called again.

“Forgive me, darling, I have to dismiss him.” He kissed her once more and tugged her dress up. She helped him. He went to the door and opened it a crack. “What is it?”

“Mr. Davis is here, Your Grace.”

“Tell him to come back at a later time. I am occupied.” There was a brief silence following his instructions before Bentley cleared his throat in a manner that suggested he was aware of the activity holding his master.

“I shall inform him.” Nicholas closed the door immediately and strode back to her. She was still sitting on the table.

“Where were we, darling?” he asked, drawing her dress down, this time to her waist. Before she could say anything, her nipple was in his mouth and she cried out in pleasure, pushing her fingers through his hair. With each suckle, her senses inched further away from reality and into a void where there was nothing but the pleasure he was giving her.

“Your Grace, Mr. Davis insists that he is here on urgent business.”

Nicholas cursed, the sound coming out of him in a hiss. “He said something about a cheque being rejected.”

When his body immediately grew tense, Jenny knew their moment of pleasure was over. She clenched her jaw and began to dress. “Forgive me, Jenny. I have to attend to this.” He drew her to him and kissed her lightly on the lips.

In one final, albeit futile, attempt, she tried to deepen the kiss but he pulled away. She hopped down from the table, silently cursing and gritting her teeth. I was so close to having him. So very close.

Frustrated more than she was willing to admit, picked up one of her geodes and hurled it at the door that Nicholas had just closed. It hit the wall by the doorframe instead and landed with a thud on the floor.

* * *

The day of the Seaton ball was finally upon them and everything was going flawlessly. Jenny looked flawless and Nicholas could not take his eyes away from her. When she had come down to meet him in the foyer. He had nearly forgotten how to breathe for the sheer beauty he beheld. And he kept her close to him, feeling proud that he was the husband of such a woman.

After many incidents of lying awake at night staring at his ceiling—in the days after their interruption in Jenny’s laboratory—he had come to a decision. His urges were stronger than his conviction to resist his wife. His fears were still there, hounding at the gates of his consciousness but he had to have her. The next time an opportunity presented itself, he would not squander it.

“Men like you are bad for this country,” Lord Hambert pontificated as Nicholas and Jenny joined him and Lord Hanover after making rounds, greeting their guests.

“Would you care to enlighten us on how men like Lord Hanover are bad for this country?” Nicholas asked.

“Well, Your Grace,” Lord Hambert tugged at the right waistcoat that was riding up his paunchy midsection, “Lord Hanover cannot seem to see the advantages of the Corn Laws and that is not good for this country.”

Lord Hambert was a ridiculous man and Nicholas did not always take him seriously. Until now. He shared his father-in-law's view of the laws having more disadvantages than advantages but he understood the importance of employing tact when speaking about it. “Everyone can have an opinion, Lord Hambert. It is why we have been given free will, after all.”

“Yes, Your Grace, but Lord Hanover's opinion is rather harmful. Do not you think?”

Nicholas glanced at his father-in-law and smiled. “Had you found yourself on the other end of this spectrum, you would have found yourself protesting like the poor. I do not believe Lord Hanover’s opinion to be harmful and this is a free world.” Lord Hambert blinked several times, having been rendered speechless.

“I am in full support of my father’s opinion, Lord Hambert,” Jenny spoke and Nicholas smiled. “This law does not benefit the common man except the wealthy landowners. Merchants are suffering. How is the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer good for our country?”

Lord Hambert cleared his throat. “I did not know the duchess dabbled in politics. The Dowager Duchess of Seaton’s influence is strong with you.” He would have said more if Jenny were not a duchess. Nicholas could see the disapproval in his eyes.

“One has to dabble especially when the way of life of the working class is being compromised by the aristocracy. And most of said aristocrats have not worked a single day to earn what they are so very proud of.”

Nicholas could kiss Jenny right then. There will be talk of this, no doubt, but his wife was an unconventional woman. She was fearless. He leaned close to her ear and whispered: “Well said, darling.”

She smiled graciously and inclined her head, her eyes fixed on Lord Hambert. Her father looked pleased, too. “Did I hear you say the political playground is no place for a woman, Lord Hambert?” the dowager said, her voice loud enough so anyone in proximity would hear.

“I said no such thing, Your Grace, I only asked if the duchess—”

“Your opinion is irrelevant, Lord Hambert,” she said. “The duchess and I are of like minds. We are not so blinded by wealth that we cannot see the worms eating the good things we have.”

He opened his mouth as if to say something but closed it. The dowager had a way of destroying one’s pride. Turning his nose up, he bowed and excused himself, heading toward the refreshment table.

The Earl of Hanover finally freed the laugh he had been holding and took Jenny’s hand. “Men like Hambert believe they are imposing when they are no more intimidating than a kitchen mouse.” He regarded her with all the pride of a father.

Just then, the Prince Regent was announced and he was accompanied by the Viscount of Down who was one of his very good friends. The Viscount shared a lot of the Prince Regent's views and they were both notorious for living very similar hedonistic lifestyles.

Some other members of the House of Lords who had chosen to be fashionably late were in the entourage, the Lord Chamberlain among them. Nicholas introduced Jenny to the Prince and the rest of the party.

“This is a perfectly planned ball, Duchess,” Prinny said. “May I request a dance? A waltz, preferably.”

Nicholas’ ire began to bubble beneath the surface and he was tempted to tell the Prince Regent that his wife’s dance card was full. He could not do that, of course. It would be improper. Thus, he swallowed his jealousy and allowed her to accept. His compliments did not come, however, without insinuations of how the evening would have been so much better if his preferred sort of entertainment had been available.

The obsequious Lords around them would burst out laughing at every lewd joke the Prince would make until the Lord Chamberlain, who was known for being stern and most often the only person that could call the monarch to order, stepped in.

When the dowager was introduced, the prince mentioned how he had heard many wonderful things about her, especially her political views. He also mentions his admiration for unconventional women. When he thought no one was looking—which was never— he flirted with Persephone, causing her to fly her colors like a debutante.

“All opinions are welcome,” the royal declared, “It is, after all, modern times.” That opened the ground for the gentlemen to further argue their opinions.

He looked down at Jenny, giving her an apologetic smile. “I did not anticipate this ballroom turning into a debate room.”

She smiled. “I am rather enjoying it.”

“Well, that is a relief.”

The Prince Regent leaned close to Nicholas and whispered, "I certainly do not discriminate in all aspects of life. If you catch what I mean."

Before Nicholas could respond, however, a footman wanting Jenny's attention distracted him. She was needed to handle a household emergency. “Please excuse me,” she said graciously before hurrying away.

Nicholas immediately felt bereft and he forced his attention back to the Prince only for it to be snatched away by the Lord Chamberlain who changed the subject by asking Nicholas about his views on numerous aspects of politics.

Nicholas shared his honest feelings when he was asked about the dratted corn laws. “Our economy has been dealt quite the blow because of the war but I think that the corn laws contribute less to reviving it than what was initially expected.” He went on to enumerate how negatively the laws were affecting the common man. While he spoke, his eyes repeatedly glanced in the direction of the ballroom door in search of his wife.

The Lord Chamberlain considered what Nicholas had said before clapping him on the shoulder. “You are a man of change and substance, Seaton. One of the very few men that think of the humbler class. We should discuss more over brandy at White’s. It would be good to better know a man like you away from this stifling atmosphere.” He glanced askance in the Prince Regent’s direction.

“I shall honor your invitation, Lord Chamberlain.” He was making strides in the House of Lords but that brought him no pleasure. Only Jenny did that. As most of the gentlemen gathered were only too eager to impress the Lord Chamberlain and Regent, they unanimously commended Nicholas, too. Some even pointed out how more promising he was than his father, for he was more flexible and willing to explore and move with time.

The dowager practically dipped with happiness at this reception of him by the Lords, and before she excused herself to join the Dowager Duchess of Cheshire who had just arrived, she made sure to pronounce it, saying proudly, "Gentlemen, I shall now leave you with my grandson."

Certainly, I am your grandson now and not just boy, Nicholas thought to himself as he watched her retreating form.

“I am here to make merriment, gentlemen, and not to work,” Prinny announced. "The Lord Chamberlain's wife practically competes with his work. You may follow him if you wish to work but I am here for the music, booze, and laughter. There shall be no more talks of the dratted House in my presence."

Nicholas grinned, agreeing with him, but when he looked once more toward the ballroom doors, he saw none other than Sir Phineas and his mood darkened. Then he stepped forward.