Page 4 of A Duke for Hire (The Devil’s Masquerade #1)

CHAPTER FOUR

“ Y ou tell me exactly what happened at that dinner party, and you tell me this instant,” Mary demanded as soon as Seraphina walked back into the sitting room.

Seraphina grimaced, but knowing she had no choice now, told her mother the truth. Still, she didn’t want to give away too much. Her mother was angry enough as it is.

“I danced with him at Tristan’s party,” she confessed, “Before I knew of his reputation.”

“I raised you to be a smart girl but you can be rather stupid at times,” Mary stated when she finished.

“It was poorly coordinated, I admit,” Seraphina agreed, blushing wildly.

“You should always know who you are giving your time to, girl,” Mary seethed in frustration, “I taught you better than that.”

“I know, Mama,” Seraphina replied apologetically. “But look at the outcome. I have suitors now! And if I may say so, I do not know why people think so ill of him. He was kind to me. Far kinder than any other man of the ton has been.”

“Oh, you simple girl,” Mary chuckled cruelly, “Of course he was! You are probably the first woman brave or thick-headed enough to talk to him! Of course he is going play nice with you.”

Play? No. Hugo’s manners seemed quite genuine to her. Gathering up her courage, she shook her head in disagreement.

“No, Mama, you do not understand,” she replied. “He can be kind when he is not being attacked, which is what you had done.”

Mary sneered, as if rearing up for another assault, but then her shoulders drooped, her head dropped, and she sighed heavily.

“No, child. Come. Sit. You need to know what he has done.”

Part of Seraphina wanted to disagree, but there were two things holding her back. One, she could not run away from her mother. Two, her curiosity of Hugo’s alleged reputation was screaming to be satisfied.

As she sat, Seraphina’s nostrils burned as she caught the odor of spirits on her mother's breath. Suddenly her mother’s behavior made sense. She was always overbearing, but after a visit with the Duke of Caldermere, it was always worse. Their affair, she assumed, had recommenced.

“The man you seem so intent on protecting, my child, is a monster,” Mary began. “His father was a monster too, you know, according to most, and the present Duke was raised to be just like him. His temper is worse than his father’s though. You see, a few years ago he nearly killed a man, and there is even talk that he kills women in his sleep.”

Seraphina’s body went rigid at the news.

“Do you know the specifics?” She ventured. Surely there was a rational explanation. But Mary shook her head.

“Only that his temper is monstrous,” Mary replied, “And when he reaches a certain point, he destroys whoever is before him. Man or woman.”

“I know you are tenderhearted, Seraphina,” her mother went on, “But your kindness does not need to extend to devils. You will stay away from him. Block him entirely from your mind. You have choices now. Many, in fact, and we will find you a husband with a stellar reputation. One that is so pristine, it can wipe away the darkness of our own,” Mary insisted.

It all seemed so unfair, but knowing her mother’s word was law, she nodded.

“Yes, Mama,” she whispered obediently.

Mary let out a sigh of relief, and patted her daughter’s leg.

“Good girl. Now, I think you were right earlier. It is growing too late for you to receive suitors,” she told her, getting up.

“Also,” she said, heading toward the door. “You will be on your own for dinner this evening. Your father has sent an invitation so I shall be out all evening.”

Seraphina’s mood withered into pure dismay. She had been right.

“Papa is calling on you again?”

Mary smirked as she turned to give her daughter a final look.

“I believe we are headed toward a reunion of sorts.”

You are headed toward disaster, Seraphina thought silently. Again.

Her mind reeled with the hypocrisy of it all, and she sighed and stood up as she was left alone. For a moment she simply walked around the room, admiring the many bouquets she had received over the past couple of days. She stopped and blushed, though, when she saw the pretty box of chocolates Hugo had brought her.

Casting a wary look toward the door to make sure she was still alone, Seraphina then removed the lid and reached inside. Picking up one of the chocolate flowers, she slipped it between her lips, and closed her eyes at the delicious taste as it melted almost instantly on her tongue.

Images of the soft way Hugo’s fingers had stroked over her chin and throat suddenly flashed through her mind, and with a gasp, she put down the box, and hurried out of the room.

“Hugo, I heard the news!” Leah gushed, rushing into his study.

Hugo looked up from the new paperwork Tristan had drawn up for their new venture, his brow raised in alarm.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, then balked at his tone. It was harsher than he intended.

Hurt rippled across his little sister’s face, but only for a moment. He wondered how she could even stand to be around him after what she’d seen him do. Hugo took a minute to gather himself, then asked again in a softer tone, “I mean, what brought you to London without a letter first? Is everything all right?”

Leah’s smile was warm, a touch of pity just barely gracing it.

“I am fine,” she assured him softly, “Everyone is fine. Aunt Rita sends her regards. I am here because my friends here have written me the good news.”

“And what news is that?” He asked.

“That you are courting a Miss Seraphina Kinderson.”

Hugo dropped his pen at the information.

“And who, pray tell, told you that?” He asked, ignoring her questions.

“Oh, it is all the chatter,” Leah explained readily. Now that their awkward reunion had passed, she was practically radiating with excitement.

“She has had a long line of suitors as of late, and it is said that you were among them,” Leah went on, “Tell me, what did you bring her? Flowers? Jewelry? Oh, did you read her a poem? I am told London ladies adore being read a love poem.”

“Chocolates,” he gritted out, then closed his eyes as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Of course word had gotten out. The eyes of the ton were like that of hawks. Especially when it came to him. He should have known better than to think he could do anything without causing a scene.

“Oh, brother,” Leah sighed dramatically, “That is so precious!”

“Leah,” he sighed, “I am delighted by your need to check on me but it is most unneeded. Go back to the country, please.”

“No,” she answered stubbornly, inspecting her nails. “I am here to lend support.”

“I have done just fine without it,” he chuckled dryly. “What support could you possibly give?”

“You know nothing of women,” Leah replied with a shrug. “My perspective can assist you in wooing this young lady, perhaps help you avoid certain stumbles.”

She put both hands on her desk and looked at him square on.

“Either way, I am not going back to the country. Not yet anyway. I want to visit my friends and do some shopping. So I am here whether you like it or not.”

Despite his annoyance, Hugo felt a swell of pride for his little sister’s stalwart attitude. She had been spared so much by living in the country. Away from their father. Away from him. Her ability to stand up for herself was, in his mind, a great asset. But it did nothing to change his mind.

She paused, then added in a softer tone, “And, even if you will not talk to me of this woman, I would still like to learn about you. It has been too long since you have shared with me how life has been.”

That was Leah. Always trying to get close. No matter how much danger it put her in.

“You may stay here,” he conceded, “But I am too busy to entertain such conversations. I am here. I am conducting business. I am obtaining a wife. That’s it. I assure you the beast of Merrivale has not claimed any new victims.”

Her annoyance seemingly renewed, Leah slammed her hands on the desk.

“Do not say that!” She demanded. “Stop acting like I don’t know you. You have looked after me like a guardian angel, not the demon people make you out to be. Do not forget, brother. I know the truth of what you have done. My knowledge is not that of secondhand gossip.”

“I am not talking about this anymore,” Hugo stated, rising from his chair.

“Maybe we should,” Leah argued, following him. “Maybe if you finally spoke about it, you could-”

“Leah, enough!” He growled, whirling around on her.

His sister’s eyes grew wide as she took a step back. There it was. That fear. She needed to be afraid, to be wary. For her own safety. Even he did not know when he would lose control again.

He pulled in a deep breath from his nose as he took a step back, forcing his temper back into check.

“You should be more careful around me, Leah,” he warned, walking away. “You do not know everything. Especially of me.”

“You can try to intimidate me all you want, Hugo,” Leah called after him, “But I know the real you. You are better than this!”

Leah’s words rang in Hugo’s mind as he left the house and headed toward the club. He had been planning on leaving soon anyway to join Tristan and his two other friends, Dominic and Everett at White’s Gentleman’s Club. Like with Tristan, it had been years since he had seen them. They had both been out of town for Tristan’s dinner, though, so he had insisted the four of them meet up that night. He was surprised, and a little put off, when he walked in and discovered them already there.

“Ah, there he is!” Tristan greeted enthusiastically, waving him over to their table.

“The Recluse of Caldermere,” Dominic crowed, rising from his seat to shake Hugo’s hand. “My, it has been an age.”

“I see you have only gotten uglier,” Everett joked, clapping him on the back.

Despite his discomfort from their boisterous attention, Hugo smirked and replied, “Are you looking at me, old boy, or did you glance in the mirror over my shoulder?”

A round of raucous laughter went up among them, and though he was still getting used to not being secluded, Hugo felt a sense of camaraderie being with them.

“Have a drink, old man,” Dominic encouraged as they all sat down, “Tell us how you have been.”

Hugo began to tell them of the state of Merrivale, but Everett quickly cut him off.

“No, no, tell us the fascinating parts,” his friend insisted. “You’ve come to London for a wife, yes?”

“And why would you say that?” Hugo asked wryly.

“What else would lure you out of seclusion?” Everett scoffed.

Hugo gave him an unamused look, then rolled his eyes.

“Goodness how I have missed your company,” he said with wry sarcasm, “But yes, you are correct. And I believe I have found one.”

“Miss Seraphina Kinderson,” Tristan piped up, as if too excited to hold back.

Hugo raised a brow at his friend, which Tristan merely shrugged at, not remotely shaken by his annoyance.

“They were going to find out sooner or later,” Tristan insisted. “You two are becoming the talk of the town.”

“I see,” Hugo mused, annoyed. “And why is it the talk of the town?”

“Tristan, you have not told him of the talk around Miss Seraphina?” Everett asked, raising a brow toward him.

“I know and I do not care about it,” Hugo retorted, and realized he meant it.

After all when had rumors ever turned out to be completely true? They certainly never were when it came to his own reputation. He’d spoken enough with Seraphina, seen enough hostility from her mother, to know that things were not as everyone assumed.

Chance had brought it up shortly after he’d walked away from his dance with Seraphina. His new acquaintance had delivered it as a warning, but Hugo found himself unperturbed by the information. He did not care how she came to be. Only where she was going. And, if he had anything to do with it, that place would be by his side.

“She is going to be my wife. I have already decided it.”

“Why her?” Dominic asked.

“She must be special if she has pulled you so quickly out of isolation,” Everett chimed in.

“She is not afraid of me,” Hugo answered, feeling a warmth in his chest as he said so. He kept the fact that he also found her beautiful and downright fascinating to himself.

“She doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything. I admire that.”

Everett chortled.

“Well, be careful of those bold, unafraid women,” he replied. “Her mother is apparently one, and she clearly had no fear of going to Seraphina’s father the moment his wife died. Word is she is trying to become the new Duchess of Caldermere."

“Watch yourself,” Hugo and Tristan warned in unison.

Though still annoyed with Tristan’s meddling, he glanced at his friend in appreciation.

“Seraphina is not her mother,” Tristan said, still holding Hugo’s gaze for a moment. “She is a good girl, and a dear friend to my sister. Do not let these fools dissuade you from your pursuits, Hugo.”

Everett looked theatrically from Tristan to Hugo. “Do I sense a competition?”

“Not at all,” Tristan replied quickly, raising his glass in a seceding manner toward Hugo. “I just know how such loose talk can ruin a person. Seraphina has it bad enough. She does not need such words spoken of her. As I said, she is a good girl. None of us can control the circumstances we grew up in. We can only make the best of it.”

Hugo said nothing as he abandoned his drink, knowing his friend’s words were meant for him just as much as they were meant for Seraphina. And indeed, his intent to pursue only intensified with each warning. The bold lady he’d chosen to court was growing more fascinating to him by the minute. So much so that he decided to forgive Tristan for making him the topic of conversation.

“Ah, Tristan,” Dominic sighed dramatically, “You are a rake with a heart of gold. How did that happen?”

Tristan smirked.

“Of all the men in this group, I am the one you deem a rake?” he scoffed, then drained his glass.

“Speaking of rakish behavior,” Dominic mused, his smile growing wolfish, “What was the situation in Merrivale? Did you keep…company?”

Hugo scoffed, finally taking a sip from his glass.

“With my reputation? Even the ladies of the night avoided me.”

“Hmm, we suspected as much,” Everett chimed in, his smile matching Dominic’s. “Which is why we arranged something else for you this evening.”

“An invitation,” Tristan piped up.

“A very unique invitation,” Dominic sang.

Hugo smiled, feeling more at ease.

“What are you on about?” He asked, looking toward Tristan for answers.”

“You may be marrying Seraphina soon enough, old boy,” Tristan replied, reaching over to clap his back, “But at the present, you are single and unattached. Come, we are going a to party.”

Hugo’s brow rose suspiciously.

“What sort of party?” He asked warily.

“One where your handsome looks, and not your reputation, will gain you nothing but pleasant attention,” Tristan promised, rising from his chair.

“Come, Hugo,” Dominic said, sounding sincere for the first time, “It is time you shuck off your mantle of solitude. I know you do not yet like London, but trust us, there is more to offer here.”

“Especially when night falls,” Everett chimed in, “And you are part of the proper circles.”

Curious and feeling more at ease, Hugo rose with his friends. Perhaps they were right. Perhaps it was time for some changes. Starting with how he approached his life outside of Caldermere.

“To the proper circles then,” he said, rising from his chair with his glass.

“There’s our lad,” Tristan cheered as they all grinned and clinked their glasses.