Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

A Sacrifice To Be Made

Harston Estate, English Countryside, 1797

"O f course this is what I want," Leah Moore said firmly to her younger sister. "I am to be married to a wonderful man, and we will start a family together. I can't think of anything I want more."

"I only… You look so nervous, Leah," Bridget responded. "If you do not truly want to do this, you do not have to."

"Bridget," her father snapped. "Why do you talk such nonsense? Do you not wish to be married?"

"I must be married, Father," Bridget stated.

"Then why are you trying your best to plant silly thoughts in your sister's mind?" Ernest Moore, the Baron of Prevost, demanded.

Bridget looked down at the floor. "I don't mean to, Father. I am in love with a man and cannot wait to be with him for the rest of my life, and I only hope Leah feels the same."

"It doesn't matter if she feels the same," Ernest said. "The union has been arranged, and I will be damned if it is called off at such a late stage. Grace is married, Leah shall be married next, and then it will be your turn. As it should be. Why would you say anything to jeopardize that?"

"I am not, Father," Bridget pleaded.

Leah felt a knock against her leg, and she looked over to see her mother staring at her. Her mother widened her eyes slightly and moved her head to the side.

"Bridget, you have nothing to worry about," Leah assured her younger sister. "I know I have not had the chance to meet His Grace yet, but I am sure I will become besotted with him in time."

"How can you say that when—" Bridget began.

"Bridget!" Ernest exclaimed. "I will not have His Grace spoken about behind his back. I will not have idle gossip spread around when that is all it is. His Grace is a powerful man, and you will watch your tongue when you are in his home. Your mother and I have arranged this union carefully. It is what is best for our family, and if you continue to question this decision, then we will have a more serious conversation. Leah will be married, and then you will be married, and I will not hear another word about it. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Father," Bridget said, her head hanging again.

Augusta Moore smiled dutifully. "Your father and I did not meet until right before our wedding, and I would not change anything about that. Look at the wonderful family I have now. My life has been blessed, and I will soon be blessed with familial growth."

"You will," Leah agreed. "All three of us will start families, and you shall have grandchildren, Mother."

Augusta placed her hands on her chest. "What a wonderful thought, and you will marry a duke, no less! We really are so blessed."

"We are," Leah agreed. She looked over at her sister again and smiled as best she could. She needed Bridget to understand that everything was fine even when it wasn't. Leah wanted Bridget to have the life she deserved with the man she loved, and if marrying the Duke was what it took, then she would do it.

If it had been her choice, she would have refused without a second thought. She did not want to marry the Duke and start a life or family with him. When she thought about meeting him, her heart fluttered far too quickly, but not in hopeful expectation. She was afraid of the man from the things she had heard about him.

Bridget looked back at her sister with a serious expression. They sat side by side in the coach, facing their parents, but for a few precious seconds, they faced each other and silently conversed. Leah took Bridget's hand and squeezed it gently. She imagined the happiness her sister would gain and tried to express it through her own smile.

Bridget finally smiled at her sister, and her eyes softened.

Leah let go of her sister's hand and looked out the window. The countryside rumbled past, and as it did, her past was dragged with it. Everything blurred until it could not be seen. It tugged on her present circumstances and launched her firmly toward the future. A future she had agreed to but one she had not chosen.

"You will make a fine bride," Leah told Bridget. "Before Grace left our household to wed, she told me the very same thing. I was not to be wed at the time, but it didn't matter. I could see that she meant it, and I mean it as I sit with you here today. You will make a beautiful bride, and you will create a wonderful family. You are in love, and that will steady your ship as you sail forth."

Augusta looked upon her two daughters with some pride. Ernest picked up the newspaper he had brought along for the ride and was deep in it, but he looked over the top of the newspaper from time to time to survey the mood in the carriage.

Bridget beamed and struggled to contain the tears in her eyes. "It is all I ever wanted, and you have made it happen. I know you will sail a steady ship also as you take this next step."

The carriage passed over a loose rock, and it swayed from side to side. Leah's shoulder bumped into Bridget's—not enough to throw them off balance, but enough to be noticeable. Both women looked behind at the fabric-covered interior of the carriage as if they might see the rocky culprit.

Bridget giggled, and Leah feigned a smile, her dimples on show.

"What a funny coincidence," Bridget said.

"Yes, quite," Leah replied.

She looked out the window once more. Leah was not one to take much heed of coincidences, omens, or other such signs, but it became all she could think about for the remainder of the journey.

They drove through the main gates of Harston Estate, but Leah did not take in the grounds. She focused only on Harston House, which looked more ominous the closer it got. There was nothing untoward about it.

The house stood two stories tall, mostly constructed from pale red bricks, but the eyes were drawn to the front and center of the house, where four tall Corinthian columns framed the large oak double doors. Tall, thin windows adorned the front facade symmetrically.

Leah scanned the building, but she was not as interested in the decor as the man who resided within. As her eyes fell on the two figures standing before a handful of staff, she became disappointed. They were two ladies—the Duke was nowhere to be seen.

"I assumed I would meet him as soon as we arrived," Leah noted.

"You will meet him soon enough," Ernest noted. "His Grace is a very busy man, and he will greet us when he is ready.

I only want to get it over with so I am not riddled with the anxiety of knowing him in the flesh.

"He is extremely handsome, from what I have heard. Not as handsome as my Frederick, but no one can compare to my Frederick," Bridget added.

Leah tried to bite her tongue, but she could not. "Your Frederick has not been gallivanting with half of London."

"What did I say?" Ernest spluttered. "I will not have idea gossip!"

Bridget's eyes widened, and she brought a hand to her breast. "I am sure it is not as bad as they say—we both know how the Ton likes to gossip."

"Leah, we would not promise you to a man who is not right for you," Augusta said quickly.

"I know you would not, Mother," Leah agreed, trying to put in a united front for Leah's sake.

The footmen rushed to the carriage and opened the door for Ernest Moore, the Baron of Prevost, and his wife, Augusta Moore to exit first. Leah waited for her parents to before she and Bridget exited the coach. The four of them approached the two waiting women, obviously the Duke's mother and sister. The Duke and his brother were nowhere to be seen.

They greeted Dinah Warren, the Dowager Duchess of Harston, and her daughter Christianna Warren. The Dowager had a stern and keen look in her eyes, and Leah had the immediate impression she was a woman who saw and knew everything. Christianna had a naivety and practiced politeness.

Leah curtseyed before the Dowager Duchess.

"Welcome to our home," Dinah greeted. "Please stand so I can take a look at you."

"Thank you, Your Grace," Leah replied, standing up and looking demurely downward.

"You are a fine young woman. I am surprised you have not married yet," Dinah told Leah.

"I appreciate the compliment." Leah smiled pleasantly. "I have not found the right man until now."

Dinah smiled, but it was not a happy one. "And you know the right thing to say. You are all welcome here for as long as you would like to stay. I understand the courtship is to be a short one, but the couple will need some time to get to know each other a little before the wedding. Mrs. Beaton, our housekeeper, will show you to your rooms. I ask that you join us in the parlor for some drinks once you are settled."

"That would be fine," Ernest replied. He looked from the Dowager to the large house behind her. He was a wealthy man who had gained his money through astute business dealings, but he had not risen above the station of Baron. He tried not to show it, but he was impressed by the Duke's residence.

"Right this way," Mrs. Beaton, the portly housekeeper, ordered.

She turned and walked toward the large house as the footmen gathered up the luggage. Leah, her sister, and her parents followed. Leah caught Christianna's eye as she passed. The young woman had a youthful innocence, and she smiled politely as Leah passed, but there was a twitch at the corner of her lips as if the smile had to be forced.

"Right this way," Mrs. Beacon said on entering the house.

The invited guests followed, and all four of them could not help but scan the interior as they walked through it.

"What a wonderful place," Ernest repeated as they walked up the main stairs.

"Perhaps it is not true," Bridget whispered after she and Leah had fallen behind a little.

Leah leaned in to whisper with her sister even though she knew it was impolite. "What?"

"I have heard His Grace is in a bad financial situation, but you would not think it."

Leah shook her head as she thought the same thing. "I don't like to indulge in gossip and rumors. She had thought that it was why the Duke was so ready to wed the first woman who crossed his path, but she could not complain about that. She had her own reasons for marrying him.

"We should not talk about him in his own home," Leah told her sister. "We are guests here, and we should act like it. We have been welcomed, and we shan't do anything to make ourselves unwelcome."

Bridget looked down and pursed her lips. Her expression tensed for a moment before she loosened and nodded. "You are right. I will not do anything to jeopardize this."

And you have your reasons, too. We all have our reasons for doing things we do not want to.

"Yes, we shall not listen to any rumors," Leah added.

Leah knew her sister only wanted to make her feel better about the situation, but it only made her feel worse. The financial rumors were the least of her problems. The Duke's reputation was a far bigger concern.

"No, no," Bridget gasped, trying to keep her voice down as they were led along a long hallway. "I didn't mean to… He is not a rake, of course, and if there is any truth to the rumors, they will be far less than what people say. I only—oh, dash it all. I am only making this worse. Please remind me not to put my foot in my mouth so often."

"It is fine," Leah assured. "You are right. The rumors are either nonsense or have been greatly exaggerated. I take no heed of them. This is a lot to take in, though. Can you give me a moment to catch my breath?"

"Yes, of course." Bridget pursed her lips again and patted her sister's shoulder before walking quickly to catch up with her mother.

Leah stopped and turned to the side so no one would accidentally see her expression. She pretended to study the painting on the hallway wall while fighting back the tears that came rushing through her.

I know they are rumors, but some rumors are to be believed, and some are not. I believe these ones. I am sure he is facing financial ruin, and I know he is a rake, and I must marry him!

Leah took a deep breath and composed herself. She wiped the corners of her eyes with her thumbs and blinked a few times. She licked her lips and tried to arrange them into a slight smile. When she was ready, she went in the direction her family had gone. She turned the corner, and her heart skipped a beat at what she saw: nothing and no one.

"No!" Leah whispered.

I have only been here five minutes, and I have gotten lost. What sort of first impression is that?

Leah composed herself a second time. It was not a massive problem, but she would rather catch up with her family than have someone out looking for her. She looked back the way she had come, and there was no door they could have gone through. She looked forward again and strode off toward the end of the hallway.

When she got to the end, she did not see anyone, but she did hear them. They were in the bedroom not far down the hall. The muffled chatter and the shadows cats out into the hallway drew her forward. She smiled as she walked. Bridget would tease her, of course, but she would accept that fate.

Leah got to the first bedroom and almost walked straight into the man who was exiting.

"Oh, my! I'm—" Leah did not have time to finish her sentence.

She tripped over her own feet as she stumbled back, and the last thing she saw before she hit the ground was the man reaching out to try and grab her. Her rear hit the ground first, and she might have gone head over heels if the wall had not been close behind.

"My goodness! Are you hurt?" the man asked.

Leah looked up at the man towering above her, his hand still outstretched. She should have reached up and taken his hand, but she was unable. All she could do was stare up into his grey eyes. She blinked once, twice. His eyes were a brewing storm, and with the storm came a flurry of emotion. Leah's stomach churned as she gazed deep into the gray.

"Take my hand," the man ordered.

His voice was thunder from the gray clouds, and as soon as the words rumbled through her, she reached up and took his strong hand. And her eyes wandered. They moved down to his stern smile, then to his broad shoulders, and finally settled on his muscular chest.

Leah almost gasped.

His shirt was hanging open, the top few buttons undone. He was in a state of dress or undress. She felt herself lifted from the floor, and his shirt opened more. All she could think about was reaching out with her free hand and placing it on his body. She wanted to feel the warmth, to run her fingers through the tufts of hair. She wanted to be pulled closer to inhale his scent.

Leah's heart skipped a beat in fright as she thought it. These new forbidden thoughts were terrifying to her. If she had heard another lady speak the thoughts she was thinking, she would be aghast at them. She could barely believe she had thought them, and she tried to control her emotions without much success.

Am I not a lady? I can't be a lady to think such things!

"I still need to find my cravat," the man stated over his shoulder as he lifted Leah to her feet.

Leah shook her head as much as she could, trying to get a hold of herself. Still, she could not take her eyes from his bare chest. She unintentionally licked her lips, and a deep hunger rose from her core.

She almost jumped back when the touch on her chin sent a spark of euphoria running through her body. It only registered that the man had his fingers on her chin when he gently guided her head upward so she was looking him in the eyes again.

It did little to help the whirling within her chest. He looked at her as if he might devour her, and if he did, she would be powerless to resist.

"My eyes are up here," the man said with a wink. "Do you have trouble keeping your eyes off men's bodies?"

Leah's face flushed bright red. Then, a horrible thought popped into her head. She had no idea who the man was. She had hoped he was the Duke, but what if he were someone else? She knew the Duke had a brother. What if she had ruined everything by ogling another man?

He stood with his fingers still on her chin. She should have stepped back in case she was found—whether he was the Duke or not—but she was entranced.

Leah could not move from his firm touch, but she knew she could not stand there and be beguiled by the mystery man.

"Who are you?" Leah demaned.