Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

N either of them moved as they stared at each other, silently frozen in place. The knock repeated, this time more intently than before. They quickly untangled themselves from their embrace and frantically tried to sort themselves out and regain their composure.

Hector responded gruffly, annoyed at the untimely interruption, although a part of him knew he should be thankful for it.

“What is it?”

The butler opened the door and announced, “Your Grace, Lord Somerton and his sister, Lady Anne, are here to see you.”

Hector turned to Juliet and smiled at her in satisfaction as he observed the redness clinging to her pretty cheeks. His smile vanished as he turned back to his butler and recalled the earlier predicament.

“Somerton?” he repeated, a touch of incredulity in his tone.

Of all people who could visit him, it had to be Somerton, a man he barely tolerated. In the past, Hector had been worried that his sister would choose Somerton as her suitor and that the shrewd businessman would be permanently yoked to his family. Now, he felt he should extend some of that worry to how Somerton would behave himself with Julia.

“Yes, Your Grace. Shall I have them wait in the drawing room?”

Hector nodded. “Yes, the Duchess and I shall meet them there shortly.”

The butler bowed and left to fetch their guests.

Hector shifted his attention back to Juliet, who seemed to have recovered from their tryst and was regarding him with uncertainty.

“You…you want me to accompany you? I thought you would prefer to meet with your friends on your own,” she said quietly.

Hector snorted. “Somerton and I are hardly friends. He is a colleague at best, and that is still being too generous, but he is occasionally useful. Besides, he came with his sister, and you did say that you were lonely.”

He didn’t wait to see if she would accept his explanation, and simply offered his arm to her.

“Shall we, Your Grace?”

She stared at him for a moment then nodded quietly and delicately took hold of his arm.

Hector tried to focus on Juliet as he led them to the drawing room, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he needed to be on guard for however long this spontaneous visit was meant to last.

Lord Somerton did not visit without reason, and his reasons were rarely benign.

“I hope this has nothing to do with Marcus’ plan,” he mumbled to himself as they walked into the drawing room.

Somerton rose to his feet as soon as the Duke and Duchess entered the room. His sister Anne trailed demurely behind him.

Hector greeted the two guests, his face a mask of polite indifference. “Somerton. Lady Anne.”

Somerton flashed a saccharine smile and bowed slightly. “Islington, it has been too long. We were visiting a friend near these parts and thought it only right to greet you and your new bride.”

His gaze shifted to Juliet, and his smile took on an edge that made annoyance flare within Hector’s veins.

“Ah, Your Grace. Marriage appears to be treating you quite well. You look even more radiant than you were at your wedding reception,” he grinned, his voice dripping with condescension. “It is truly a delight to once again see the lovely woman who has captured Hector’s heart.”

Juliet steadily met his gaze, refusing to be cowed. “The pleasure is all mine, Lord Somerton. I trust you and your sister are well?”

“Quite well, thank you, Your Grace,” Somerton replied though his eyes continued to assess her.

Hector suppressed an impatient sigh and quickly tried to move the conversation along “Your visit is…rather unexpected but welcome,” Hector replied. He gestured to the chairs they had been sitting on. “Please, sit.”

Somerton settled into the chair with the ease of a man who had never questioned his place in the world.

Anne took her seat more delicately, her eyes downcast. Hector didn’t miss the way those eyes flicked up to appraise him as he moved to seat himself beside Juliet on the wide settee adjacent from their guests.

He and Juliet shifted clumsily, both uncertain how much distance would suffice. Hector grew tired of Juliet’s constant movements and held her in place by wrapping an arm around her and pressing a hand to her hip to keep her still.

Once she’d ceased moving, he released his hold upon her and returned his attention to their guests.

Both Edwin and his sister were watching them with curious expressions. It was only when Hector raised an eyebrow that the Earl decided to speak up.

“I trust your marriage has been going smoothly?” Somerton asked casually, but his eyes betrayed his interest.

Hector nodded curtly. “As well as can be expected.”

Somerton’s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. “Good, good. Marriage is a tricky thing, is it not? Especially when one’s wife has led such an…unusual life.”

His gaze darted to Juliet, who seemed to bristle at his remark but remained silent.

“I understand you spent many years in a convent. It must have been…quite an adjustment to return to society.”

Juliet’s smile didn’t waver. “It was an adjustment, certainly. But I am grateful for the experiences that have shaped me, both within and outside of the convent walls.”

Hector watched as Somerton’s smile faltered. He had underestimated Juliet as many had before him. She was proving to be quite capable of holding her own.

Hector felt the need to add with a twinge of pride in his voice. “Juliet is adjusting admirably. She is an excellent Duchess and has succeeded admirably at adapting to her new life. I am sure she would love to tell Lady Anne all about it over tea while we discuss what it is you came here for.”

Anne looked caught off-guard by the mention of her name. Her gaze shifted to the Duchess, who also appeared startled by Hector’s suggestion.

She leaned closer to him, asking softly.

“Are you certain?”

Hector fought to focus on her words and not her plump, pink lips or the scent of citrus and flowers wafting from her skin. He nodded in agreement and stood as she excused herself.

She smiled as she faced their guests and rose to her feet.

“Lady Anne, let us leave the gentlemen to their duties and stale conversation.”

Anne nodded with a small smile of her own, and together, they exited the room.

Once they were alone, Somerton leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with what Hector felt could be likened to malice.

“I do wonder, Hector, how you manage it. A woman with so little experience suddenly granted such a prestigious position. It must be…difficult for her.”

Hector’s eyes narrowed. “I did not expect you to offer your sage opinions, Somerton. I had not realized you were so experienced in matters of marriage.”

Somerton raised an eyebrow, his tone almost mocking. “Ah, yes. I shall soon join the league.” He continued when Hector didn’t dignify him with a response. “Yours certainly piques my curiosity…a mood I am sure much of the Ton shares. Chosen by fate, was she? Or by a father eager to see his daughter settled before she became a permanent fixture in a nunnery?”

Hector’s temper flared. “Whatever her past, Juliet is now my wife, and I will not tolerate your disrespect towards her, especially in my home.”

Somerton held up his hands in a placating gesture. “No disrespect intended at all, Your Grace. I merely speak as a concerned friend.”

“Concern yourself with your own affairs, Somerton,” Hector said coolly. “My wife and I are managing quite well.”

Somerton wore a smug expression that was quickly replaced with a look of feigned innocence. “I am sure you are. She appears to be a fine match for you, Your Grace. Though I must wonder, how long will it take until the novelty of playing the dutiful wife wears thin?”

Hector’s eyes hardened. “One more word about my wife, and I will throw you out of my home.”

Somerton chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “I never imagined I would see the day when you would be so protective. It is rather endearing.”

“I would choose my words more carefully if I were you,” Hector warned in a menacing tone.

Somerton held up his hands in mock surrender. “As you wish, Islington. Let us speak on other matters.”

Hector forced himself to unwind although his anger still simmered beneath the surface. He would not let Somerton goad him into a confrontation, not here and not now.

“What is it?”

“I am here to convince you to join forces with me on a buyout project.” Somerton brought out his map. “There are chains of estate to purchase.”

It is the joint venture that Marcus was pushing for.

Hector leaned back as Somerton pitched his plan, but his mind was already made up. If he’d had no intention of joining this venture earlier, his interest would certainly not become piqued now that Somerton was presenting it to him.

“The estates are doing pretty well despite their large number.”

Hector nodded as he realized what he had to do. “Who is in charge of these estates?”

“I believe Mr. Colin Aiden is the solicitor.”

“Well, let us review our ventures first, and we can see to this afterwards.”

“All right. It would be best if we investigate the shipping methods employed there,” agreed Somerton. “I am on my way to Cornwall, so I might be able to stop by as well.”

The men were soon buried in work, and it wasn’t until about an hour later that they leaned back in their seats for a break. Somerton reached into his briefcase and retrieved a bottle of brandy.

“Let us celebrate our successes. This bottle cost me a fortune, and it would be a shame not to enjoy it,” Somerton said, raising the bottle.

Hector eyed the bottle, skeptical. “No, thank you.”

“Just one glass? We should make a toast to the prospect of a successful future.”

Hector sighed and nodded. “Let us be done with it then.”

Somerton poured the rich, amber liquid into their glasses, the aroma of aged oak and spice wafting through the room. “To a prosperous venture,” Somerton toasted, raising his glass.

Hector clinked his glass with Somerton’s and took a careful sip. The warmth of the brandy spread through him, easing some of the tension from the meeting. “Cheers.”

Somewhere down the hall, Juliet’s hearty laughter filtered into the room. Hector smiled, relieved that at least his wife was enjoying herself.

Somerton caught the look. He leaned back, a calculated smile on his face. “Be honest with me, Islington—how are you really enjoying your marriage? I expect the Duchess is lovely as she seems.”

Hector’s expression hardened slightly. “That is none of your concern, Somerton.”

Somerton chuckled, unfazed. “Oh, come now. I am merely inquiring out of genuine interest since I am also considering marriage. It is not every day that one hears of such a match.”

Hector’s gaze was steely. “My marriage is a private matter.”

Somerton waved his hand dismissively. “I assure you, I mean well. With your…reputation, one can’t help but wonder how you have adjusted to a marriage with someone as different from you as the Duchess.”

Hector’s jaw tightened. “I am unclear what you are insinuating, but let us keep this conversation strictly focused on business, shall we?”

Somerton raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “I was merely curious. You are quite well known for your…shall we say, varied tastes. I hope the Duchess has at least met your expectations?”

Hector’s eyes narrowed, and he set his glass down with a deliberate thump. “My expectations are none of your business.”

Somerton’s smile faltered slightly. “I meant no offence, Your Grace. I was merely trying to lighten the mood.”

Hector’s tone remained firm. “There is no need to lighten the mood at my expense. If you have any more business matters to discuss, let us focus on those.”

Somerton raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Of course, of course. I did not mean to pry. But it is as I said earlier, when confronted by such a unique situation, one cannot help but be curious.”

Hector’s gaze was resolute. “Curiosity is only well and good when one does not cross any lines in the process of expressing it. We are not friends or relatives that you should feel owed any sort of explanations or answers about my affairs. Know your place, Somerton, or I shall feel obliged to teach it to you.”

Somerton, recognizing that Hector was serious, nodded and changed the subject. “Very well. Let us discuss our next steps for the upcoming project. We shall need to finalize the financial projections.”

“That can be arranged. I will ask Herbert to see to it,” Hector interrupted.

As the conversation returned to business, Hector weighed Somerton carefully. He didn’t see himself entering this estate deal with him and would rather have worked with Marcus. Furthermore, Somerton’s odd and persistent interest in his marriage had left a coppery aftertaste of irritation in his mouth.

It was obvious that he had been privy to some details of Hector’s libertine ways. On reflection, Hector was not surprised that Somerton wondered how he would navigate a marriage to someone who had clearly lived a purer life than he had.

Hector’s thoughts drifted to Juliet. She was nothing like the women of his past. The difference between his past and present was as clear as the rich brandy he sipped.

I wonder how she is faring with Lady Anne.

As the meeting ended, Hector dismissed Somerton with a curt nod. “Thank you for the drink. I believe we have covered everything.”

Somerton offered a final smile though it didn’t reach his eyes. “My pleasure, Your Grace. Until next time.”

Again, the ladies’ laughter drifted into the room, and Hector became interested in what had put his wife in such a high mood.

He rose from his seat and strode out without another word to his guest.