Page 305 of Desires of a Duke Collection

CeCe skipped down the hallway from her bedchamber, feeling lighter and happier than she had in quite some time. Hoping that the cook had made scones this morning, she decided to forgo the breakfast room and head straight to the kitchen.

Fortune seemed to be smiling down upon her, for the cook had made those luscious hot scones and freshly made peach preserves to go with them. After eating two or three, she felt sufficiently stuffed and, after licking her sticky fingers clean, headed to her mother’s chambers to see how she was faring.

Not bothering to knock, she opened the door and was pleased to see her mother sitting up in bed with a hot scone in one hand and preserves around her lips.

“Mother,” CeCe exclaimed, running over and sitting on the edge of her mother’s bed, “I am so happy to see you feeling better. We really should have tried Cook’s scones earlier; I’m certain they have healing properties.”

CeCe winked at her mother, and the Baroness laughed in return.

“I am terribly sorry to have troubled you so, my dear,” her mother said, looking repentant.

“One can’t help getting sick sometimes, Mother. Please do not trouble yourself. I’m just so happy to see you sitting up and eating.”

“Yes, well...,” the Baroness seemed uncertain of what to say. “You are certainly correct. Everyone does get sick sometimes. I suppose that you will want to return to London for the remainder of the season.”

CeCe’s first inclination was to agree. However, the feeling of Charles’s lips pressed firmly against her own made CeCe take a moment’s pause. CeCe knew without a doubt that she wanted to learn more about that kissing business. And with Charles, she felt that she was safe from the parson’s trap; after all, he would never want to marry her. For a small moment, she felt saddened at that thought but did not like where that line of thought was taking her. She quickly tossed it away.

“We don’t need to rush right back,” CeCe began slowly.

“Oh, my dear, thank you ever so much. I was so worried you would want to go back right away.” The Baroness beamed at her daughter.

CeCe felt a little bit guilty. Obviously, her mother still needed time to heal. They would stay in the country and return for the next season. After all, they seemed to be rather monotonous. Country life could be fun, and country kisses could be even better.

“I feel that we should stay for the remainder of the season here,” CeCe decided.

“Are you certain, dearest?” Her mother asked hopefully.

“Absolutely, Mother, I wouldn’t hear of it any other way,” CeCe said with conviction. As she leaned down to kiss her mother’s cheek, she smelled the familiar scent of honeysuckle and cherries.

“Bless you, child,” Eloise said before taking another bite of her scone. She patted her daughter’s hand fondly and then went back to eating.

CeCe suddenly remembered her decision to raise the stakes on the bet with her brother. So, she asked nonchalantly, “When is Eli coming back out to Mangrove Manor?”

“Why, I’m not sure. I don’t believe he told me, at least not that I can remember,” her mother replied, turning to her lady’s maid, Crane. “Please go retrieve today’s correspondence; perhaps there is a note from Elias.”

Crane left immediately and returned a few moments later with a small silver tray littered with creamy envelopes. Before handing the tray to the Baroness, Crane took the top envelope and handed it to CeCe. “There is one here for you, Miss.”

“Thank you, Crane,” the Baroness replied before looking through the stack of invitations.

The Baroness noticed a distinct quietness about CeCe that was not characteristic of her nature. Glancing up, she noted that her daughter had a slight smile on her lips as she read the words. A note from a lover, perchance?! She dearly hoped so!

Wanting to know the contents of the letter and not seeming to intrude on her daughter’s privacy, which was indeed exactly what she was doing, her mother asked, “Have you made plans for the day yet, my dear?”

CeCe looked up from her letter and gave her mother a warm smile. “It would seem that I am going over to Rotherford Hall today to assist Spencer in cataloging some new books for his library. He writes that he could never ask his brothers to assist. He even alludes to them being partially illiterate.” CeCe laughed merrily. “I know he’s just teasing, but I can imagine Charles and Robert’s faces were they to hear of this.”

“You always have a good time there, don’t you?” The Baroness inquired.

“The very best. I do love them all,” CeCe said absentmindedly as she stood and folded up the letter to place it in her pocket, much to her mother’s chagrin.

**

At Rotherford Hall

After being shown into Spencer’s library by a footman, CeCe wandered about, looking at all the ancient texts. With so many languages and genres, it was a fascinating place to be. Many would not know this about CeCe, but she was very well-read and quite intelligent.

In their modern world, women were not supposed to be well-read and intelligent. They were to be decorative, musical, mostly silent, and childbearing. All these things terrified CeCe, but the worst of all was that they were to bear their husband’s children and, afterward, turn their backs and ignore him when he took up with his mistresses.

That was one thing that CeCe could not and would not tolerate. It destroyed her relationship with her father. After a rather shocking display of mean-spirited gossip in CeCe’s debut season, she’d learned some terrible truths about her father.

Reeling from the news, CeCe stiffly held her head high and faced the matrons who were slandering her family. Rather than give them the satisfaction of her tears, she’d given them the cut direct and walked away with her pride being the only thing keeping things together.

CeCe allowed herself to fall apart in the library’s privacy. Thirty minutes later, when Elias stumbled upon her, she was one giant lump of heartache, tears, and sorrow for what could have been.

As only a twin could, he’d gathered her into his arms and held her as she cried. He couldn’t promise that all would be well or that things weren’t as bad as they seemed. So he opted for the truth. “CeCe, I’m so very sorry you had to find out about this.”

“How long,” CeCe had choked out between sobs. “How long has he been flaunting his paramours about the city?”

Elias tried to change the subject, but CeCe was adamant he told her, and so he finally admitted, “The current relationship isn’t more than a few months old. However, this behavior is nothing knew with him.”

“That’s why Mother stays at the country estate,” CeCe whispered, working things out in her mind.

Elias nodded. “Of course, she was thrilled to come to town with you, C.”

“But she would rather be as far away from him as possible?” CeCe added. “I don’t blame her. I feel the same way.”

CeCe could remember asking Eli why their father didn’t love them. Richard loved his children. Had she done something? It hardly made sense.

Elias breathed out a loud breath. “It’s just the way of the world, C. Theirs was an arranged marriage, and although I think they are very fond of each other, it’s not in a romantic way.”

“I will never put myself in that position,” she vowed then and there. “Do you intend to do that too?” she asked, searching her brother’s eyes to know if he was telling her the truth.

“No,” he said softly. “I’ve seen how difficult it is for Mother, and I would never do that to another person. She ignores the gossip and lives as vivaciously as always, but sometimes I see sadness in her when Father is around. I won’t do that, ever.”

CeCe vividly remembered that night and, from that point forward, knew that she was to be a spinster. Her trust fund was more than adequate for her to live quite happily her entire life without worrying about money. She was honestly lucky that she wouldn’t have ever faced an unfaithful husband; at least, that is what she told herself.

Lost in her thoughts, CeCe sat in a chair near the fire, watching its flame jump about and wondering what life would have been like if her father had chosen to stay with them.

Completely forgetting about Spencer, CeCe picked up an interesting book and quickly got lost in the pages.

**

A loud crash, followed by the slamming of a door, shook her from her reverie. CeCe jumped up and ran to the door to see Charles sprawled across the floor near the entryway. He propped himself up on his elbows, and a welcoming smile slowly eased across his handsome face. “Why…. hello, Peanut. Whatever are you doing here?”

CeCe rushed over and tried to help him stand. Taking his large hand in hers, she tugged. He laughed at her efforts and pulled his hand away to rise and dust himself off.

“I am much larger than you, Peanut. There is no way you could lift me from the floor, but I appreciate the attempt.”

CeCe ran her hands over his chest and arms. “Are you hurt? Whatever happened? Should I call someone?”

Her innocent attention was getting him very excited in the southern parts of his breeches. ‘Damn,’ he thought, ‘I can’t walk around with my cock saluting its favorite person.’

He set her aside. “I assure you I am quite all right. I was helping Spencer move a chaise lounge he wanted to add here, and he must have pushed too hard, which caused me to fall and the door to shut.”

He turned and walked over to the door with his back to her. “See, it’s just on the other side of the door...”

Charles jiggled the knob, but it was stuck. He tried turning it both ways and even applying pressure with his shoulders.

“It would appear the door is stuck,” CeCe said behind him.

“I’m sure it just jammed when it slammed. I just need to work with it for a minute.” True to his word, Charles did everything that he could possibly think of, but the door would not open.

Finally, he realized they were trapped. He turned back to her slowly, and she raised her eyebrows, questioning. He shook his head.

“So... it’s stuck then?” she asked, smiling ruefully.

“Yes, it is. But I’m sure that we will get out soon. Spencer surely has gone for help. CeCe, you have a rather strange expression on your face right now.”

“Oh, do I?” she replied cheekily.

“Why are you smiling like that? You are beginning to make me nervous. Do I have something on my face?” he asked.

“Not yet,” she replied and grabbed the lapels of his coat, pulling his head down to meet hers.