Page 15 of Courting the Duke (Reimagined Regency #2)

Serena walked into Roxanne’s private quarters at Hoxton House to find her charge tucking into a hearty breakfast. Flakey croissants were piled up on a plate, and the distinctive smell of eggs and bacon made her stomach gurgle with hunger.

Roxanne looked up at her entrance and flashed her smile, her cheeks bulging. She held up a hand to cover her mouth and said through a mouthful of food, “Good morning.”

“Good morning to you as well. I trust everything went well last night?” Serena had used Brutus as an excuse to stay in her room.

In reality, she wanted to hide away from Hoxton, but most especially she wanted to be out of the countess’s company.

She glanced at the table’s contents, disappointed to find that the bacon and eggs were gone.

No doubt Roxanne had devoured every last bite.

“Yes indeed. I played your latest composition to Hoxton and he was very impressed.” Roxanne swallowed down her food with a gulp of hot chocolate. The pale pink morning dress accentuated her fresh-faced beauty, and not a single sign of a late night appeared on her flawless countenance.

Pulling out a chair, Serena seated herself at the breakfast table.

She reached for the teapot and began to pour, resigned to have a croissant and fruit for breakfast. She could ring for more, but she didn’t wish to cause trouble should the countess inquire what her daughter had ordered to eat that morning. “You told him I composed music?”

To know that the duke was impressed by her musical abilities was both flattering and rather disconcerting. He had heard her singing the “Pretty Bird” ditty, but it was hardly a masterpiece.

A maid entered with a letter in hand.

Serena reached for the missive, but the maid shook her head. “I beg your pardon, Miss Deburgiak, but His Grace has asked me to deliver this directly to Lady Roxanne.”

Roxanne frowned and took the letter, placing it on the table next to her plate. Her fingers were glistening from the orange slice in her fingers, and she simply stared down at the thick velum with the Hoxton family crest. “Thank you.”

With a bob, the maid left the room, the door closing quietly behind her with a soft click.

“Hoxton has written you at last.” Serena stared at the letter, curious as to what he’d inscribed to her cousin.

By giving it directly to Roxanne, Serena could only surmise that he wanted it to be kept private between them.

Which meant what was written inside must be very personal for him to make that dictate.

“He told me he would be sending me a letter. He apologized for not doing it sooner.” Roxanne glanced over at Brutus, who was snoring rather loudly.

Even the smell of food didn’t seem to cut through his trauma from the previous day.

Roxanne licked her fingers before lifting a fat grape to her lips. “Please read it for me.”

“He wants you to read it.” Serena added honey to her tea, her spoon tinkling against the porcelain. Roxanne clearly hadn’t grasped the significance of the maid delivering the letter directly to her. With a gentle smile, she added, “It is private between the two of you.”

Roxanne glanced at the mantel clock and shook her head. She indicated the remaining fruit on her plate before pushing the letter with the side of her hand in Serena’s direction. “I trust you to keep his confidence.”

“I would never share the contents, but that isn’t the point.” Serena was torn between slaking her own curiosity and respecting Hoxton’s wish for privacy. After taking a sip of her tea, she picked up the thick parchment, fingering its fine quality. The crest boasted a hawk and a laurel.

“I would tell you what it says regardless.” Roxanne offered Serena a sheepish smile, the bulge in her cheeks a comical sight. “You know I am hopeless at keeping secrets. Please read it. I don’t have much time left.”

A slight shake to her fingers, Serena opened the note to reveal bold handwriting.

She licked her lips, both anxious and apprehensive about what he would say.

It was silly, really; she herself had been corresponding with him, and although she had revealed some of Roxanne’s secrets, she had tried to balance the letters with lightness as well as more personal subjects.

“‘My dearest Lady Roxanne,’”

While the endearment was expected, Serena was hard put to fight a surge of jealousy. She had no right to have any designs on him whatsoever. Her one and only goal was to get her cousin married to him. Thus, it was imperative to continue on her current path.

“‘I promised you a letter, and while I am not the most glib, you and I are trying to be honest with each other, and therefore I will endeavor to share a bit of my past with you. I only ask that what I disclose remain between the two of us.’”

Serena’s voice trailed off, and she looked at Roxanne to see her reaction. The other woman was twirling a curl between her fingers, her eyes cast down. She continued to chew, however, which meant she was trying to concentrate.

For all her beauty and love of society events, she was not a very talkative person. In that regard, she was similar to Hoxton.

“‘As you are aware, I served my country at Waterloo and, unlike some of my fellow soldiers, I came home hale and hearty save for a slight injury to my ankle. I saw things that I never wish for anyone else to see, and I will not go into detail here because you are a gently bred young lady who shouldn’t be exposed to such harshness. Needless to say, you are not alone in having fears. When the thunderstorm broke out, I must confess that I was startled, just as you were. I am not fond of loud noises for obvious reasons.’”

The words caught in Serena’s throat, and memories of his tense frame from yesterday came to the forefront of her mind. “How simply horrible it must have been for him, and yet he insisted on finding Brutus.”

“I am afraid I don’t understand.” Roxanne held up a staying hand, frowning before she caught herself. “What obvious reasons is he speaking of?”

“Hoxton was in battle, and in battle, there are cannons and guns, all very loud, I would imagine,” Serena patiently explained to her more na?ve cousin. While she’d had the best tutors and could read and write, she wasn’t academic, nor had she been exposed to the harsh realities of the world.

Serena continued to read, her heart becoming heavier at what he must have endured.

“‘They remind me of battle, and although I know I am no longer in battle, sometimes I experience memories of being in that situation.’”

Serena took another sip of tea to wet her dry mouth. She didn’t realize till she looked over at Roxanne that her eyes were full of tears for his plight.

“That must have been horrible for him,” Roxanne said. She peeled off another piece of croissant and shoved it into her mouth. A flake caught on the corner, and she licked it off.

“It was horrible indeed.” Serena had a new appreciation for him, and if it were possible, she fell a little more in love with him.

The revelation hit her like one of the lightning bolts, and her hand, hovering over the teacup, rattled the saucer.

No, she could not be in love with him. Infatuated, yes, but she barely knew the gentleman.

It had only been three days, an impossible timeframe to truly fall in love.

“‘ Now I have shared one of my fears with you, and in the future, I hope we can brave the storms together.’”

“Do you think that means he’s going to propose?” Roxanne asked.

“It sounds rather as if he is considering it. One doesn’t discuss the future unless they foresee one.” Serena’s hopes were quickly dashed on her own behalf, not that she had a chance with him at all. She was happy for Roxanne because she did think his missive held promising information.

“I don’t understand why he just doesn’t propose. Mama is chomping at the bit, and I am on pins and needles trying to bring him up to snuff. I wish he were easier to understand like Stiller.”

“You and Stiller get along famously. If you have indeed developed an affection for him, then that is the path that you should follow.” Serena knew that she was giving advice that might adversely affect her, but this wasn’t about her; this was about Roxanne.

“Mama says I am supposed to marry the duke.” Roxanne dropped the curl from her finger and shifted in her seat. “And yet the duke will not ask for my hand. Stiller, however, has asked for my hand three different times, twice on one occasion.”

“If you wish to marry him, accept his proposal.” Serena knew it wasn’t that easy, but she wanted to give Roxanne the opportunity to think this through. So many times, women accepted what was given to them and didn’t try to implement change.

“Mamma would disown me.” Roxanne plucked off a couple of more grapes to put on her plate, adding another croissant as she stared at Serena. “I would only be a mere lady.”

“A lady from one of the richest families with a man who receives ten thousand a year.” Serena shook her head at the na?ve statement. “Are you truly determined to have a grand title or would you rather spend your life with someone who engages you?”

Roxanne frowned down at her plate for a long moment.

“Hoxton engages me. As you can tell, he’s gone out of his way to try to make me comfortable and also help me face my fears.

He’s an upstanding gentleman, as you’ve told me on numerous occasions.

Now if he would simply ask for my hand,” she trailed off, frustration lining her words.

“Yes, it’s very unfair that we, as women, must wait for men to make our life choices for us.

” Serena knew it wasn’t popular to speak like this, but she and Roxanne were alone.

While they were also friends, they’d always been family.

She’d kept Roxanne’s confidences, and the other woman had helped her.

If all went as planned, Roxanne would stay a steadfast part of her life no matter how their paths differed.

The clock on the mantel chimed, and Roxanne angled her head to try to see the paper that Serena had been reading from. “Is that all he had to say?”

Both of them were aware that the countess would be rising soon, and then neither of them would have time to carry on any kind of conversation that wasn’t either strained or secretive.

Serena skimmed the last paragraph. “He goes on to say, ‘ The rain is still present, therefore, my aunt has postponed the trip to the castle until tomorrow. Since we are forced to remain indoors, my younger cousins would like to put on a play for us all. They are eager to spend more time with you.’

“That is a plus, he would like you to become more familiar with his extended family.” The jealousy that had lingered in Serena’s mind returned to the forefront. She tamped it down.

“I do love children, and some of my fondest memories are when you arranged for us to perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream .” She clapped her hands, splattering her dress with more crumbs from her croissant. Her enthusiasm was contagious.

“I am glad you enjoyed them, but I can’t take all the credit. You were an excellent thespian for a seven-year-old.” Serena would continue to play on Roxanne’s strength so that Hoxton could get to know the real woman.

“We must send a note to him forthwith, accepting the girls’ request.” Roxanne beamed at her.

“I will admit that I wasn’t looking forward to being outside in the rain, regardless of whether there is thunder or not.

The castle does look very lovely from here, and I daresay I could have stayed inside. ”

It was on the tip of Serena’s tongue to remind her that it was a ruin, despite the intact walls, but she decided not to say anything. She didn’t want Roxanne to have second thoughts, because this was very important in the courtship process.

“I am sure it will be lovely.” Serena skimmed the rest of the letter, a touch of apprehension overcoming her. She finished her cup of tea and reached for a croissant.

“Well, if that is all he said, I had best get dressed soon, and you know it takes me ages to have my hair done right.”

Serena felt that the lady didn’t have to try so hard, but she had some troubling news left to impart. “There is a bit more. Rapscallion will be present during the production. Apparently, he is a prop the girls insist they have.”

“Those bloody birds,” Roxanne muttered under her breath.

“He actually is a very lovely bird,” Serena said with a laugh at her cousin’s exaggerated statement. “And I can say with emphatic confidence, he will not nip at your hand like that nasty parakeet Grandmother used to own.”

“Oh, bother. I promised Hoxton I would meet one of his birds, and I promised you I would as well.” She adjusted her jaw, not looking very happy about it. Truthfully, it hadn’t been Serena’s idea for Roxanne to actually meet Rapscallion; rather, her mother had bullied her into it.

“I want you to try, but if he scares you, then you can say no.” Serena truly wanted what was best for her cousin, and she reached out to lay a hand on the other’s wrist. “Do not let your mother force you into something that you do not want to do. From what you told me, Hoxton has also told you the same sage advice.”

Roxanne flipped her wrist and threaded her fingers with Serena’s. “You are a very dear friend, and I don’t think I say this enough, but I do love you very much. If not for you, I don’t know how I would ever deal with Mama.”

Serena fought a rush of strong emotion and nodded. “One day you will be the mistress of this house and your mother’s influence will be a long distant memory.”

“And you will move here with me.” Roxanne nodded at her own statement.

Serena tried to keep the tears from falling in earnest. “I would consider it an honor to assist you in running your new household and I am pleased you think I am capable of filling a most coveted position.”

“I don’t think I could do it without you.” Roxanne beamed at her, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel. “And once my future is decided, perhaps we could find you a husband?”

“Perhaps.” Serena wasn’t blessed with great beauty, nor was she gifted with a fortune, but she had a mind and a giving heart. She would not change places with Roxanne for any reason save one, the ability to spend the rest of her life with Hoxton as his wife.