Chapter Four

“Your Grace.”

Samuel turned, only for his jaw to clench as Lady Florentina entered the gardens. He had been enjoying his solitude and, quite frankly, Lady Florentina had been nothing but a thorn in his flesh ever since his arrival at the Haddington house.

“Lady Florentina.” He inclined his head, his back straight, shoulders broad as he stood tall, hoping that his stance might make her reconsider her clear desire to speak with him. Of late, he had endured her icy stares, her narrowed eyes, her clear dislike of any attempt at conversation that he attempted to make. Truth be told, all of the ladies in the Haddington house did not appear to enjoy his presence in even the smallest amount which, Samuel considered, was a little unfair of them all given that it was not his fault that their house was now his!

“I do hope that we might have a conversation, Your Grace.”

Samuel glanced back at her, only to turn his gaze once more to the roses. It had been a fine, sunny afternoon, and he had intended to take a solitary walk through the gardens. Having made little to no progress in devising a satisfactory solution for Lady Haddington and her daughters, he had hoped the walk might bring him some clarity, perhaps even a fresh perspective. Yet, it seemed, his moment of solitude was to be interrupted by the very young lady he had hoped to avoid.

He sighed.

“Might I ask what it is that you wish to speak with me about? If it concerns this house and my ownership of it, then I must inform you that such a conversation would be entirely pointless.”

“I wish for you to do precisely that.”

“Then this conversation is at an end,” Samuel replied, with a wry but dark smile. “I have no intention of relinquishing what I have justly won.”

“But you do not need it.”

Samuel’s lip curled, his brows furrowing. “You do not have any right to tell me what I do or do not need, Lady Florentina.”

“No?”

He lifted his chin, thinking her the most audacious, rude and irritating young lady he had ever been acquainted with. “No, you do not. Yes, I may have the title of a Duke but that does not mean that you have any understanding of what I own.”

A light glinted in Lady Florentina’s eyes. “Oh, but I do,” she answered, tilting her head just a little, a smile on her face that bore no light nor warmth. “I know precisely who you are, Your Grace, and just what wealth you possess. You are aware, are you not, that young ladies are easily able to write letters? And within that correspondence, be able to find all that they require?”

This stopped Samuel’s response before he could even begin to form it. He swallowed tightly, his anger beginning to bubble.

“I know that you do not require this house,” Lady Florentina continued, a sense of triumph growing in her voice. “I know that you already have more than one estate and that your sole desire in continuing on with this property is simply because you desire to add yet more to your own vast wealth and, quite frankly, because there is no generosity nor understanding within your own heart.”

Samuel’s anger burst to new heights. “How dare you speak to me in such a manner?” He strode forward, stopping only a few inches away from her. “You have no right to talk of my character in such terms! You do not even know me!”

This did not cow Lady Florentina in the least; she merely tilted her head back to look up at him, folding her arms across her chest in a clear attempt to bolster her stance. “I know you well enough to speak as I have, Your Grace,” she said, causing heat to flare through Samuel’s frame. “As I’ve said, you could relinquish your winnings, acknowledging that Lord Haddington was foolish, and recognise that we, as his dependents, require this house merely to survive!”

“There is the Dower house!” Samuel cried, throwing up his hands in exasperation. “You are going to marry, Lady Florentina, as is your sister. Your mother and youngest sister can remove there and that satisfies all.”

“No, it does not.” Lady Florentina was breathing hard now, though her gaze and her voice remained measured. “I suspect that you have given no thought whatsoever to the Dower House, nor made certain that it is a suitable abode. For if you had, you would be well aware that it requires repairs and—”

Samuel drew himself up. “A likely story,” he interrupted, sneering at her. “You may try to manipulate me all you wish, Lady Florentina but I am not about to be drawn into this game.”

Lady Florentina took a small step closer and, much to Samuel’s astonishment, put a hand on his arm. “It is not a game.”

Those words and the touch to his arm brought Samuel up short. He blinked rapidly, looking down into her face and feeling the anger within his chest begin to ebb away though he could not explain why. A warning began to ring around his mind and, catching his breath in horror, he stepped back, letting her hand fall to her side again.

“I will not change my mind.” His jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. “I will have the ton see me as I truly am, Lady Florentina and that means I must have this house.” His breath coming in quick, short gasps, Samuel saw the way Lady Florentina’s eyebrows lifted and instantly cursed himself for speaking much too openly to her. “The answer is no. I command you not to ask me such a thing again.”

At this, Lady Florentina’s eyes opened wide, only for a hard, mocking laugh to break from her lips. “Command?”

“Yes,” he continued, now feeling a little foolish despite his efforts to remain composed. He had not intended to say such a thing, but the unexpected rush of emotions brought on by her hand on his arm had, in turn, loosened his tongue. “I am the Duke of Dartmoor, Lady Florentina, and I also own this house. You will do as I ask.”

Lady Florentina tossed her head, her brown curls dancing in the sunlight. “You may own this house, Your Grace but you certainly do not own me. You may command as much as you like but do not expect me to comply.”

“The sooner you take your leave and go to London, the better!” Samuel exploded, fully aware that he was responding in a most childish manner, yet struggling to maintain control of his emotions. “I shall be glad not to have to linger in your company any longer.”

“Though, are you not also going to London?”

A sly look was now being sent towards him from Lady Florentina and Samuel frowned, his hands curling into tight fists. “You know that Lord Crawley and I are making our way to London for the Season, Lady Florentina.”

“Then I must hope you are prepared for the less than warm reception the ton will offer you,” she continued, her tone a light but a glimmer of steel in her eyes. “I am quite certain you have every intention of telling all and sundry about your winnings. But be aware, Your Grace, that I have every intention of telling the ton of how we pleaded with you to give up your winnings and to forgive our brother’s foolishness, of our own dear mother—still grieving—and of the Dower house which is unfit for living in at present… and how you refused.”

A cold hand grasped at Samuel’s heart.

“You would not dare.”

A slight lift of her eyebrow told him that yes, she would do precisely as she had stated and Samuel narrowed his eyes, his jaw jutting forward.

“I will do whatever I must to protect and care for my family, in lieu of my brother,” she said, tightly. “My brother is at fault, I know, for even now his absence speaks of his cowardice. But still, someone must fight for our family and secure our future.”

“And you are to do it?” Samuel let out a brittle laugh, aware of the tension in his frame, the slight fear which her words had brought.

“If not I, then who else?”

The challenge in her words gave him pause and, for just a moment, Samuel’s sympathy began to warm, only for him to dash it away as he reminded himself of all she had just threatened. “And this is your way to do it, then?”

“To demand that you give up your selfishness and instead, show generosity and kindness? Yes! That is precisely what I will do.”

Samuel’s hands balled into fists. “You would even go so far as to threaten me to achieve your aims?”

Lady Florentina stepped closer to him, her eyes narrowed slits, her voice hissing out at him. “I would do anything for them.”

“Anything?” His anger boiling over into animosity, Samuel glared back at her. He wanted to wound her, wanted to show her that her courage, her supposed strength was nothing more than a sham.

An idea hit him and he grasped at it, heedless to how ridiculous it sounded. This, he knew, would not be something she would ever accept. “What would you say if I promised to give up this house only if you were to marry me?” A dark smile crossed his lips as her eyes widened, no quick response flying from her lips. “I put that to you, Lady Florentina. If you, here and now, declare that you will marry me—that you will be my bride—knowing how I live, knowing my character, and understanding how I will treat you, for I will not change myself to suit you—then I shall return this house to your brother. Would you agree? Would you subject yourself to that and the future that such an accord would hold?” He watched as her eyes rounded, saw how the strength drained out of her frame. Chuckling darkly, he lifted his chin. “You see? You are not as strong as all that. You are not as devoted to your family as you believe.”

Lady Florentina’s eyes flooded but Samuel turned away, the conversation now at a close. “I do not want to speak of this matter again, Lady Florentina. The situation is as it stands and—”

“I—I will.”

Samuel stopped dead, a sudden trembling running through him. Swallowing hard, he turned around to see Lady Florentina wringing her hands, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. “I beg your pardon?”

Closing her eyes, Lady Florentina took in a shuddering breath, visibly shaking now. “I will.”

All of the triumph that Samuel felt shattered in a single moment. His anger and frustration had led him to say something foolish but his confidence had been strong, believing that she would never agree to such a thing.

Except now, she had.

“The house will return to my brother and I will be your wife,” Lady Florentina continued, tears running like streams from her eyes. “I consent.”

“I… I…”

“Florentina! You cannot!”

The surprise of Lady Miriam rushing out from behind a rose trellis had Samuel stumbling back. He half fell, half sat onto a bench below the roses, his fingers grasping the edge of the bench, struggling to comprehend what had just taken place.

“I must,” he heard Lady Florentina say, though her voice appeared to come from very far away. “It is the only way.”

“I—I do not accept your agreement.” Rasping, Samuel shook his head. “No, I do not—”

“You must.” Lady Florentina wiped at her eyes with a handkerchief, then drew herself up. “You have already promised, Your Grace. And I have a witness.”

Samuel opened his mouth to disagree, to find something to say that would refute what Lady Florentina had said, only for him to snap it shut again, fear now beginning to cloud his mind. What could he possibly say to undo this?

He groaned.

Just how foolish have I been?

“No!” His head lifted and he shook one finger in Lady Florentina’s direction. “You are to go to the Season! You and your sister! You are to find husbands there, that was the agreement.”

“It was, but you have overruled that by your foolish promise,” came the response, though Lady Florentina’s eyes were still full of tears, her hand holding tight to Lady Miriam’s now. “We are engaged.”

“No.” Samuel shook his head, rubbing one hand over his eyes. “No, Lady Florentina. I will not have it.”

Lady Miriam tilted her head. “But you must.”

“I—I will not.” Gasping for air, Samuel put one hand to his chest, struggling against the tightness that constricted his breathing. “You will go to the London Season. You will seek a husband, Lady Florentina. That is what we agreed.”

Lady Florentina came closer to him, lifting one eyebrow. “Your Grace, we are now betrothed,” she said, with such a sadness in her voice that Samuel could not help but feel it reach out towards him also. “And the house will return to my brother.”

He could not speak, could not fight against her words. He had acted in idiocy, he knew, but had never truly believed that she would accept him, given that her view of him was so dismal.

And yet now, as Samuel watched her walk away, he realised just how much of a fool he had been. Perhaps he had underestimated her strength or her love for her family but either way, he had to find a way to escape this.

“I must find a way to break our engagement,” he hissed to himself, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, his face hot. “And the blame must be her own… else I will lose everything.”

***

Samuel looked around the table, taking in every face. Lord Crawley was still wide eyed with astonishment but none of the ladies present showed even the smallest hint of surprise. Evidently, Lady Florentina had told them everything.

“As I have said, Lady Florentina and I are now engaged.”

“And once we are wed, you will hand this house back to my brother,” Lady Florentina interrupted, angering him by her rude manner. “That must be quite clear.”

Lady Haddington made to say something but Samuel interrupted her, caring not for how improper that might be. “Yes, that is so.” His face burned as Lady Florentina’s chin lifted, a sense of pride in her expression though her face was white. It was clear she believed that she had bested him and, though he very much wanted to say that she had not, Samuel knew that he had been a fool, and she had taken advantage of that.

“I cannot believe this,” Lady Haddington breathed, her eyes narrowed in his direction. “You first take the house of my family and then take my eldest daughter instead? When you first came to this house, I did not think that you could fall further in my estimation.” She looked away though not before Samuel caught the gleam of tears in her eyes. “How gravely mistaken I have been.”

“This is not a situation that I am particularly pleased with either,” Samuel grated, seeing how mother and daughters all exchanged glances. “But given that I expect Lord Haddington to do as he promised, I must do as I have promised.”

“And I should have that in writing, signed and sealed.”

Samuel blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

Lady Florentina shrugged. “I ought to have our agreement in writing, Your Grace,” she said again, speaking more slowly this time. “And you will sign and seal it in front of witnesses.”

Anger burst through him again but Samuel bit it back, his face flaming. Evidently, she did not believe he was a man of his word and he wanted nothing more that to rail at her for it but, given the tension in the room at present, he chose not to. “Very well though,” he continued, “I have a few requirements of my own. One is that you shall not breathe a word of our engagement to anyone. Do I make myself quite clear?”

Silence met him. The ladies all looked at one another before Lady Haddington spoke, her voice soft but filled with wrath. “You wish to hide your engagement from the ton ? For what purpose?”

“My purposes are my own.” He gritted his teeth as Lady Haddington let out a low, guttural exclamation. It is not as though I can tell them all that I intend to make Lady Florentina break our engagement by her own desire and my design. “But it will not be spoken of. You will go to London for the Season as expected and behave just as you ought. Should all go as planned, then our engagement will be announced near the end of the summer, once I am quite prepared.”

Lady Haddington said nothing and though Lady Florentina’s face went a little red, she too remained silent.

“I have matters at hand that must be dealt with,” Samuel continued, his tone brooking no argument. “I will also be in London, though, again, there shall not be direct connection between us until I am ready. I have every intention of staying away from society, of being very little within it. In fact, I do not expect that many in society will even be aware of my presence. That being said, there may be only the briefest acquaintance between us until I indicate to you that such a situation can change. Is that quite clear to you all?”

Lady Florentina narrowed her eyes, her face pale but a dot of colour in her cheeks. “You are not to tell us the reason behind this, even if we ask, I trust?”

Samuel’s only answer to Lady Florentina’s question was a small shake of his head.

“Then it seems as though we have no choice though, if you hope that in delaying such a thing, I will change my mind and end our engagement, you are mistaken.”

Samuel bristled, then went hot all over, seeing the fierceness of her gaze and wondering at it. Did she know his plans and intentions? Or was it simply that she was suspicious of what he had planned?

“You will have our agreement in writing before you depart for London, Lady Florentina. Will that satisfy you?”

She looked away, her cheeks still pink. “The only thing you can do that will be in the least bit satisfactory is to return this house to my brother and to my family.”

The ice in her voice left Samuel in no doubt as to how she felt about him but he did not care. This had been the most foolish moment of his life but he was not about to let her succeed. One way or the other, he would remove Lady Florentina from him and, in return, claim this house for his own.

He had no doubt of his success. It was only now a matter of time.