Chapter 3

In Search Of The Good Stuff

Edwin Clarke, the Duke of Walford, was irritated for many reasons, and that was why he had not spoken a word since they climbed into the coach. The journey felt especially bumpy that night, as if the driver was intent on hitting every dip and bump in the road. Each jolt was jarring.

“Are you still sulking, dear brother?” Elizabeth Clarke asked.

Edwin turned to glare at his half-sister before looking back out the window. She might be annoying at times but was often the source of least annoyance in his life—no one seemed to care for him more than Elizabeth.

“Because we’re running a little late?” she pressed. “You are the guest of honor, and Lord Pemberton is your best friend. No one will even notice. Besides, it is fashionable to be late. Only the very desperate guests arrive on time.”

“We are not running a little late,” Edwin reminded her. “I don’t care about these things, but I promised Robert I would be there, and I don’t make idle promises.”

“He shall understand completely when you tell him why we are late,” Elizabeth said. “I truly thought Mother was dying this evening. She was only out in the sun fifteen minutes longer than usual but was convinced she would collapse from heat stroke. That poor physician. We should not have troubled him!”

“Then Mother would have continued her lunacy for the rest of the night,” Edwin commented.

Modesty Clarke was his stepmother, but she had wed his father when he was young and was like a mother to him. She was fond of being very dramatic and was often melodramatic.

Elizabeth giggled as she remembered how her mother had acted only a few hours ago. Edwin might have cracked a smile if he were in a better mood.

“Being late does have its advantages,” she stated. “She always sours my mood. The less time I must spend with her, the better.”

“Elizabeth,” Edwin warned, “you will debut this Season, and you are turning into a fine young woman. Talking ill of others is not befitting of you.”

“And there are a number of things that are not befitting of Miss Jennings,” Elizabeth shot back.

Edwin was too exhausted or exasperated to talk her through the finer points of how to act when in London Society, and he knew his sister understood everything. She always acted well in public and spoke her mind in private, but sometimes that threatened to spill over.

“Miss Jennings will soon be your sister-in-law, so you had better learn to like her,” Edwin urged.

“I shall have to if you are to marry her. I still don’t understand why you must wed her, Your Grace.”

Edwin relaxed a little at her use of his title. She had been born when he was twelve, and he had always been very close to her and protective of her. She called him Edwin in private, and if she was using his title, then she had taken his words to heart and would be on her best behavior.

“There are many reasons to wed, and we make a good match. You forget that I am the Duke now, and I don’t have the luxury of time. I will marry Miss Jennings, and you will find a man of your own. Then, you shall only have to worry about your life.”

There are many reasons to wed, and in certain situations, love does not enter the equation.

The coach stopped outside Pemberton Manor, and Edwin felt some relief. He knew Robert would not make a big deal of it, nor would he be bothered that Edwin was late, but it was the principle of the matter. After the day he’d had, Edwin only wished for a pleasant, quick evening before he retired to bed.

They entered the great hall, and he quickly looked around for Robert.

“Come, I think I see him,” he said.

He moved past an older gentleman descending the stairs and was about to turn and walk toward his friend when he saw a young woman staring at him as if she knew him.

The look in her eyes soon turned to one of lust, and Edwin found it quite amusing. He thought of the fun he might have with her in different circumstances.

She was gorgeous enough, tall with curves in the right places. The stories his hands would tell as they wandered over her clothed body—her pale pink dress embraced her as much as he wished to at that moment. His eyes explored her curves, ravenous. He appreciated the small dimples in her cheeks and the richness of her brown eyes.

I want this as much as you do, but you have arrived too late in my life.

But he did not have time to dwell on the woman and quickly departed in search of his friend.

“Ah, there you are, Your Grace,” Robert said when the Duke had finally caught up with him.

Edwin would rather Robert call him Edwin than use his title, but it was a small peeve.

“Lord Pemberton, I apologize for our tardiness. I will not bore you with the reasons for it. Look at this place! It is spectacular, old chap. You have outdone yourself once again. And the drinks are flowing. Are we to be blessed with…?”

Robert chuckled. “My stash is becoming depleted, and I shall not waste it on anybody. If you are still here later, I shall drink some with you—you are a man who appreciates the finer things.”

“Oh, are my ears burning?” Agnes asked, arriving to complete the foursome. “You mentioned the finer things?”

Edwin had hoped he would have a little time to himself before he moved on to his next obligation, but luck was not on his side tonight.

“Miss Jennings, you look lovely as always,” he said.

“Oh, you are too kind, Your Grace. And you look very dashing yourself. I appreciate the effort you put in when we are to be seen together in public.”

Agnes moved to his side and took his arm. Edwin quickly maneuvered himself out of her grasp without making it look like he was annoyed by her actions. He had become irritated by her clinginess, and he had already arrived irked.

“I had to defend you this evening,” Agnes added when she had a moment to converse with him alone. Robert and Elizabeth were talking amongst themselves. “Someone dared to call you cruel. Can you believe that?”

“I can’t,” Edwin muttered.

“Some ladies don’t understand the difference between a powerful man and a cruel man, Your Grace,” Agnes continued. “You have been a much-changed man since we met, and I know you will continue to change and grow as we get to know each other better. You have never once been cruel to me. Isn’t it amusing how people talk?”

“Yes, very amusing,” the Duke agreed.

“You have not had a woman such as me by your side, have you? I will learn all about you, Your Grace, and then I will help you become the man you are destined to be. Many women speak about changing their husbands once they are married, but they want to do so selfishly. I know the man you can become, and I will help you become him. I do not wish it for me but for you.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Edwin murmured.

Agnes spent the next hour trying to take his arm and informing him how she would change him for the better. Edwin did not care too much about her incessant chatter in public as long as it was not part of a conversation with others, and she could say whatever she wanted to her friends. He knew it would be different when they were married.

Their courtship was all for show, and he would not need to spend nearly as much time with her when they were wed. Edwin had conversed with older gentlemen previously and had always been amused by their old-fashioned notions of marriage and women’s positions, but the more traditional ways were looking more and more appealing at the moment.

“… which is why we must host a dinner party at least once a month. If we do not, Society will not see the people we become when we start a family.”

“My blossoming flower, you must excuse me,” Edwin stated dryly. “I did not have enough time to speak with my friend. Might you do me a favor and converse with Elizabeth for a while? She was talking a lot about you on our way here.”

“Was she?” Ages asked happily. “I shall be glad to give her a few pointers for her upcoming debut.”

“She will greatly appreciate that,” the Duke returned, feeling amused for the first time that day.

He quickly stepped toward Robert while Agnes sidled up to Elizabeth.

“When will you marry?” he asked.

He needed someone to keep him company in his misery.

“It seems like a lot of work.” Robert laughed. “It is far simpler to remain alone, don’t you think?”

Edwin smirked. “I need to escape.”

“From your upcoming nuptials?” Robert asked.

“From the evening. I have not had a moment to myself. Can you help me?”

“Do you know where my room is?” Robert asked.

Edwin nodded.

“That is where I keep my stash. Go up and help yourself to some, and I shall try to slip away at some point to join you.”

“Will you keep an eye on Elizabeth for me?” Edwin asked.

“I will. My aunt is here also, so I can have her chaperone Elizabeth if I retire from the ball. Drink as much as you like—you look as if you need it.”

Edwin clapped his friend on the shoulder. “You are a good man.”

He would not need long, only some quiet and a good drink to recover from the stress of the day, the stress of his life.

When Agnes looked absorbed in giving poor Elizabeth advice, Edwin took his leave. He left the large hall and made his way upstairs, feeling more like himself as the noise faded away. He could almost taste the good liquor as he reached Robert’s bedroom door. He opened it, went in, and closed it behind him.

The room was dim, and he could only make out the shape of the bed in the center of the room. When he moved to look for the liquor, he came face to face with a woman in only her shift. He was surprised, but the surprise was not an unwelcome one, especially when she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him.

His hands instinctually went to her curves, claiming her body. She let out a gasp at his touch, and he felt the gasp run through his loins. He could not help but explore her sumptuous body with his hands, and the moan that followed stirred his excitement more.

I know I shouldn’t, but Robert must have been hiding her here for a reason.

She felt delicious under his touch, and he felt himself stiffen in anticipation of what would come next. He had only seen her body briefly beneath the thin fabric, but he had very much liked what he had seen. He might have thought briefly of his commitment to Agnes if the situation had not been so exciting.

Edwin moved his hands up to her face, taking her soft cheeks. He could not hold himself back and moved his lips closer to hers. She had her eyes closed, ready to be taken by him. He turned her head, bringing his lips to her ear.

“And who might you be?” Edwin whispered.

The woman turned to face him and slowly opened her eyes. She gasped.

“Who are you!” she screamed.