Chapter 18

Ruth cursed lightly when their carriage hit a stone in the road, violently jerking her body. She narrowly missed biting her tongue, which would have resulted in having her driver’s head on a platter. She grimaced at the gruesome thought. Perhaps not his head, but he wouldn’t get away unscathed. She was already in a bad mood; she didn’t need her careless driver adding to it.

“You rarely curse,” Bartlett commented, sounding amused. “I expect this has to do with dinner?”

Ruth pursed her lips. Of course, it had to do with dinner! Despite spending several hours in the duke’s company, she was no closer to getting what she wanted—another courtship and, eventually, an engagement. However, she hadn’t given up yet. This unsuccessful dinner was merely a little bump in the road to becoming the next Duchess of Dorset.

“What do you think of Miss Barnes?” she asked, ignoring his question.

“Is this a trick question?” said Bartlett, sounding wary. “I do not know if there is a right answer here. I know how you feel about commoners.”

“Set all that aside and answer me truthfully,” Ruth insisted. “I will not judge your answer. Be truthful.”

Bartlett chuckled, crossing a leg over the other. “I feel I need that in writing,” he said. “You have given me a tongue-lashing for far less.”

Their carriage must have hit another stone because she jerked forward, the motion nearly unseating her. She released an air of frustration, making a mental note to release the driver from his position.

The very least a servant could do was be competent in their position, so riding over seemingly every stone in the road was certainly not competent. She didn’t care if he had five children to feed and an ailing wife or whatever sad story he had conjured to convince her father to hire him.

Sliding back on the purple velvet seat, she moved to the corner of the carriage, leaning her shoulder on the mahogany wood.

“It will be a miracle if I return home with all my teeth,” she complained. “I’ll likely walk out of the carriage still shaking.”

“I suppose you’ll be looking for a new driver,” said Bartlett.

She smiled. He knew her too well. “That goes without saying,” Ruth replied. “So, about the nursemaid. What is your honest opinion of her?”

Bartlett tilted his head to the side, stretching his arms along the back of the seat. “Well, if you really must know, I admit that I like her. She has something special about her that attracts me.” He shrugged. “You know how I like unique women.”

Ruth rolled her eyes. Bartlett was always looking for his next ‘muse,’ the woman capable of setting his heart on fire.

“You like novelties, but you discard them once you’re bored,” Ruth pointed out. “However, you liking Miss Barnes is a good thing.”

Ruth watched Bartlett’s eyebrows rise in the dimly lit carriage, his surprise apparent. “Indeed? Pray, tell, why is this a good thing?”

“It’s really quite simple,” she said, leaning forward and crossing her wrists. “You can keep the nursemaid occupied while I remind the duke of all my wonderful qualities.”

Bartlett frowned, confusion entering his emerald-green eyes. Ruth didn’t blame him. She usually spoke against his love of pursuing women who did not meet her standards, but she now encouraged his interest. It was for a good reason, though. Ruth was willing to put up with his new fascination if it meant having the duke to herself.

“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage because I do not understand,” said Bartlett. “What does Miss Barnes have to do with you seducing the duke? What significant detail have I missed?”

The nursemaid shouldn’t have anything to do with Ruth seducing the duke, but she had seen enough to understand that the woman could possibly be a threat.

“Did you not say you like Miss Barnes because she’s different?” Ruth asked, ensuring his interest in her was strong enough for what she had in mind.

“I did,” Bartlett replied slowly. “What of it?”

“You only like beautiful women who are usually pursued by other men,” she pointed out, smoothing her dress out of habit. “It’s a game for you to win the woman’s favour.”

“Yes, but what does this have to do with you?” he pressed. “Not to mention that I do not think anyone is pursuing her. There is no competition. Not that I need it where she’s concerned,” he added. “She is exciting enough.”

Ruth sneered. She couldn’t understand what was so appealing about the nursemaid that her cousin was willing to go without the ‘chase’ to have her. Even the duke had looked at her warmly. Ruth couldn’t see the appeal.

“The nursemaid is under the duke’s roof and likely sees him daily,” Ruth explained slowly as though he were stupid. “Who is to say she will not sink her money-grabbing, commoner claws into him? She seems intelligent enough to seduce the duke using her feminine wiles.”

Bartlett smiled, sliding a little lower in his seat until he was slouching. “Do I detect jealousy?” he asked. “That is odd for you. Do you think the duke would fall for Miss Barnes?”

“I wouldn’t be talking about this if I didn’t think that commoner could make the duke fall for her!” Ruth snapped.

She didn’t like having Bartlett imply that she was jealous. Ruth couldn’t possibly be envious of a commoner—the very notion was preposterous and insulting.

Ignoring him, she crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window, seeing the dark shapes of trees pass by. An owl hooted in the distance, making the outside darkness rather eerie. Only a sliver of moon was visible, but the stars were brilliant against the inky darkness of the sky.

Ruth used to love stargazing as a little girl until her mother told her it was a useless activity and that she should focus on being the perfect lady.

Being a lady had pulled all the carefree joy out of Ruth’s life until she began to enjoy being a beloved member of the ton. However, maintaining her perfect image wasn’t a stroll down Hyde Park. It took a strategic mind to remain among the upper echelons. Beauty and wealth could get a woman a foot in the door, but it wasn’t enough to keep her in the room.

“What specifically would you like me to do?” Bartlett asked quietly after a few moments of silence. “I think I know where this is heading, but I need you to be clear about the details.”

He had always been able to read her emotions well, although he liked to tease her at times. No one besides a handful of people knew the true relationship between them. Bartlett wasn’t a cousin several times removed, but her first cousin through an affair that was kept a secret. Ruth had only learned about it because she overheard her mother talk about it, which led her to understand why Bartlett often came to the house despite being such a far-off blood relative.

Ruth smiled, turning her attention to him. “I want you to seduce Miss Barnes and keep her busy,” she revealed. “You’ll make a good distraction while I work on the duke. I think I have been patient with him long enough.”

“We really do think alike, Cousin,” said Bartlett, grinning. “I was just thinking that I wouldn’t mind pursuing our pretty nursemaid. I think she’ll keep me interested for quite a while. She might set a new record.”

Ruth laughed. “Why am I not surprised? I noticed how you stared at her this evening. You could barely keep your eyes off her. Surely, she is not that beautiful?”

“She’s not the prettiest woman I’ve seen, but beauty is not the only thing a woman should offer,” said Bartlett. “I doubt I’ll ever be bored in her presence, and her little fiery nature calls to the primal part of me. Of any man, for that matter. I suppose I can see why she would worry you concerning the duke.”

Ruth’s lips thinned. “You think she’s better than me?”

Bartlett raised an eyebrow. “Did I say that?” he asked.

“You might as well have.”

Bartlett smiled. “Calm down, dear cousin,” he soothed. “Women like you are not meant to answer to a man’s primal urges. You’re a delicate flower and need to be protected and cared for. Commoners are ... different.”

Ruth lifted her hand, not wishing to hear anything more. Her cousin was a lustful creature with lewd ways she preferred to ignore. She was taught that men had different needs and that a woman should turn a blind eye. However, Ruth believed the duke was different, which was why she was adamant that only he would do as her husband.

It wasn’t just about becoming a duchess, although that was the driving reason behind her quest for the perfect life. She wanted a man she could trust who would respect and treat her well because he had a good heart. Ruth didn’t expect love, but she wanted to be cherished.

“Spare me the details of your urges,” she said. “It’s enough that you’ve agreed to pursue her.”

“I thought you’d be accustomed to my urges by now,” he replied, smirking. “No one knows my deepest, darkest secrets as well as you do, Cousin.”

Ruth curled her lips in distaste. “Please, do not remind me,” she said. “If we were not so close, I doubt I could have tolerated your behaviour. To think that you stand before the parish every Sunday and preach the principles of the Bible.” She laughed. “All the old prunes would die from shock if they knew what their precious, handsome vicar did away from their prying eyes.”

Bartlett shrugged. “What they do not know cannot hurt them,” he said. “Now, about our delectable Miss Barnes, I believe she could be of real use to me.”

“Delectable?” Ruth repeated.

“Scrumptious, mouth-watering, nectareous, luscious, delectable, ambrosian,” he said, grinning wickedly. “You can take your pick of any of these apt words.”

Ruth closed her eyes, sighing as she pinched the bridge of her nose. “That is enough, Bartlett,” she chided, frowning at him. “Control yourself and tell me how she can be useful to you.”

He laughed. “Very well. As you know, she has connections to some powerful people, so it might work in my favour to woo her. I’ll get to know these people and solidify my position as a respected man. No one would dare to question me no matter what I do.”

Ruth inwardly shook her head. Bartlett wanted to get away with his fleshy lifestyle while being the parish vicar. Even she knew there was such a thing as too much of anything.

Marie Antoinette lost her head to the guillotine because the peasants were tired of starving and paying exorbitant taxes to the king. Even though she had done nothing but marry a French king and live lavishly, she was counted among those destined to die to bring about a revolution.

Ruth wasn’t an idiot. She knew enough about politics and religion to understand that no one had absolute power indefinitely. Empires rose and fell, kingdoms were filled with the blood of those killed for power, and the Church was no stranger to evil deeds.

It was a matter of manoeuvring around power figureheads for her gain while keeping herself out of trouble. It was a delicate dance that many women had executed with precision and would continue for centuries to come.

“I can help you get closer to Miss Barnes,” she said. “I doubt she’ll respond to you as other women do, so you need a middleman to help you. In return, you’ll do whatever I ask to ensure she is not bothersome. I cannot have her turning the duke’s head.”

“I thought wooing Miss Barnes was my way of helping you,” said Bartlett. “What else do you expect me to do?”

“Whatever I feel is necessary to convince the duke that he belongs to me,” said Ruth, shrugging. “He seems to have lost his way, and I intend to bring him back on the right path.”

Bartlett snorted. “You say that like it’s the most normal thing to do,” he said. “We’re talking about manipulating the Duke of Dorset, the man whose gaze is enough to freeze a man’s soul. Mind you; such men possess the most passion when they let their inner animal out to play.”

“Enough, Bartlett!” Ruth exclaimed, banging on the carriage’s interior in frustration. “What is wrong with you this evening? Kindly keep your mind out of the chamber pot while we discuss this matter. You’re usually more controlled than this.”

Bartlett rolled his head to one shoulder, utterly unfazed by her annoyance. “I think it’s our little nursemaid. I haven’t been this interested in a while, not since that voluptuous courtesan I pursued last year. I eventually lost her to Lord Fulham, which I still feel a tad sore about, but she wanted more than I was willing to offer. I hear she’s with child—his first. Although I doubt it’s his. I hear he’s infertile.”

Ruth waved her hand dismissively. “That’s neither here nor there,” she said. “I expect you to keep your head about this. You have to support me until I get what I want. Do you understand?”

Bartlett stared at her, saying nothing. Ruth held her breath, clenching a handful of her dress as she awaited his answer. She knew he would agree, but she wasn’t any less nervous. Listening to people whisper about the duke rejecting her and having her mother berating her for not trying hard enough had been challenging these last six months.

She didn’t know why the blasted Earl of Oakham had to die just when she was certain the duke would propose. Lady Oakham didn’t make matters any easier with her melancholy and refusal to overcome her situation. Ruth had wasted hours consoling her while hearing her offspring scream like a banshee for hours on end.

While she was grateful that she now didn’t have to endure such torture when she visited the Andrews home, it had come at a cost. She was almost certain the nursemaid might be a problem if she didn’t keep an eye on the woman.

“Of course, I will help you,” Bartlett finally said. “I’m just surprised that you think it’s necessary. You’re the perfect woman for the duke, Ruth. There is no one better than you. Surely you know that?”

“I know that, but I’m not stupid, Bartlett,” she replied. “I know what can happen when two attractive people are around each other too much. What if they grow close? What if he falls for her?”

Ruth had seen the way the duke stared at Miss Barnes. He was curious about her, but a bit of attraction was also involved. She had seen it in his gaze. The duke liked the nursemaid. He could hide it as much as he pleased, but Ruth knew better. Perhaps it was something innocent for now, but it could grow into an affair that would destroy all of Ruth’s hard work.

“I suppose I understand your worries,” said Bartlett, nodding. “I think you need someone closer to the duke to really have a handle on the situation. What about Lady Hannah?”

Ruth frowned. “What about her?”

She found the older woman rather foolish and childish and had never felt much affection for her. However, she was the duke’s beloved aunt, so Ruth had to behave respectfully towards her.

“Mr Cruikshanks is courting her,” said Bartlett. “He also happens to be your parents’ good friend and regularly plays cards with your father.”

“Oh, yes, I had forgotten about that,” Ruth said. “Papa has so many friends that I’ve lost count of them. Besides, Mr Cruikshanks is one of his lesser friends, so I’ve never been particularly interested. What of it? What point are you trying to make?”

Bartlett sighed in exasperation, leaning forward to rap his knuckles against her temple lightly. She slapped his hand away, rubbing the area.

“What was that for?” she demanded.

“You can be slow at times,” said Bartlett. “If you were smart, you would use that relationship to your advantage. Influence Lady Hannah and bring her to your side. She can keep an eye on Miss Barnes, ensuring she isn’t a threat to your relationship with the duke.”

Ruth’s eyes widened, understanding dawning. “Bartlett, you’re an absolute genius!” she cried, laughing.

Ruth was shocked that she hadn’t thought about it before. It was the perfect solution to keeping a closer watch on the Andrews household.

“I know that, Cousin,” Bartlett replied, linking his hands behind his head. “I am the brains of this familial relationship.”

Ruth rolled her eyes as her head turned with thoughts, each one forming as quickly as the one before that. She was adept at manipulating her parents, especially her father. She had learned it was the only way to get her way without them realizing it. Her parents were self-centred people, and everything they did had to benefit them somehow.

Ruth used this against them, twisting them around her finger for gain. She could influence them to say the right words to Mr Cruikshanks, words that would affect his relationship with Lady Hannah. Ruth could indirectly influence their relationship for better or worse, and they would never know she was the mastermind. Well, everyone but Lady Hannah wouldn’t know. A few hints throughout a conversation with Lady Hannah should be enough to warn the woman of the threat to her precious and budding relationship with Mr Cruikshanks.

Ruth leaned back in her seat, finally feeling at ease. “Bartlett, I think we need to pay the Andrews another visit soon.”