Page 41 of Her Temporary Duke (Rakes and Roses #2)

S trathaven was marked by a castle perched atop a hill overlooking the town, separated from it by a bustling stream. A stone bridge spanned the stream, linking the castle to a green where geese waddled with an air of importance.

Terraces of sandstone cottages radiated from the green along dirt streets.

The spires of two churches rose above the houses.

The location of the McGill Hospital was evident as their road wrapped around the shoulder of a tall hill.

On the other side of the town, situated on a hill of its own, was a tall building of dark stone with chimneys foresting its roof and an avenue of trees framing the aspect which looked out over the town.

Charlotte felt a mixture of anticipation and dread.

What if I am too late? What if Amelia’s condition has deteriorated… or worse? I could not bear to lose her! Not Amelia and mother both. Please, Lord, let us be on time.

They had paused before the castle, and now Seth put his arm about her waist, nudging his horse next to hers to do so.

“We are here, and you will be reunited with your sister. Let’s complete our journey and see what fate holds in store for us. It might not be as terrible as we began expecting.”

Charlotte forced a smile and clasped her husband’s hand. The dread surged within her.

You might, at this very moment, be titleless and penniless, Seth. How could any man not resent the woman who caused him such losses? Only a saint.

Seth might be many things, but Charlotte could not picture him with a halo. She felt a sickness in her stomach at the thought that her marriage might be over before it had truly begun.

Seth urged his horse forward, and Charlotte followed suit.

They traveled along a long, straight street that climbed gently, passing a church and a row of cottages.

Through the windows of each, Charlotte saw spinning wheels and women busy at work.

Sheep filled almost every field they passed on their way into Strathaven.

It took a few minutes to reach the hospital. It looked like a manor house, perhaps converted from the home of a local lord to serve as a hospital by Doctor McGill.

Upon reaching the end of the tree-lined avenue, they found a young man with dark hair and spectacles sitting beneath a beech tree and reading, a clay pipe sticking out of the corner of his mouth. He looked up at their approach and closed his book, standing.

“Good morning to you. Doctor Frazier McGill at your service, resident consulting surgeon and general practitioner. Can I help you, good folks?”

“I am Seth Redmaine...” Seth began, dismounting.

Charlotte could not bear it. Could not bear to hear him surrender. Not yet.

“The Duke and Duchess of Bellmonte,” she put in for him. “I believe my sister is a patient here?”

Frazier peered at Charlotte for a moment, then his face brightened into a smile.

“ Remarkable ... I haven’t had too much experience with identical twins. You look exactly alike!”

He appeared to shake himself, turned to put his book and pipe down the seat he had just risen from, and then turned back to Charlotte, bowing deeply.

“Forgive me, Your Graces, for my brusqueness. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I will take you to your sister now.”

Seth inclined his head, glancing at Charlotte.

“Thank you, Doctor McGill. We’ve come a long way.”

McGill led the way into the building and along hallways of bare wooden floors and white painted walls.

“How is she?” Charlotte asked.

She held Seth’s arm, and he squeezed her hand in reassurance. It did little to settle Charlotte, either on the subject of her sister or Seth’s title.

“She was in a frail state when she first arrived here—her body near overwhelmed by this mysterious illness of hers. I won’t lie to ye, she’s not out of the woods yet... But there’s hope,” McGill said with true Scots candor.

They were ushered through rooms that contained many beds but which had clearly been converted from sitting rooms and drawing rooms. It was a surreal experience.

“Is this your house?” Seth asked after a moment’s silence.

“It was bequeathed to me by the Duke of Hamilton after I was of some service to his late father,” McGill remarked. “I had been practisin’ out o’ rooms in Glasgow but this was a rare, God-sent chance to help far more folk.”

“That is very laudable, old boy,” Seth commended, glancing about the space.

“If ye are impressed now, I can give you a full tour. Any donations are most welcome,” McGill lifted his chin with a touch of pride.

Presently, they came to a door on the third floor of the house. McGill knocked and then opened the door, peeking in. Then he turned to Charlotte, opening the door wider.

“She is sleepin’, but you may sit with her if ye wish. Her husband’ll be out walkin’ the gardens, I’d wager—he often is at this hour.”

Charlotte nodded wordlessly. She clutched at Seth’s hand, felt a reassuring squeeze.

Then she stepped into the room. The room contained a dressing table, two chairs, and a bed situated beneath a tall window.

From the window was a view of rolling countryside, dotted with sheep as the sky above was dotted with clouds.

Amelia lay still as a porcelain doll in the bed.

Charlotte gasped, feeling tears fill her eyes. Her sister’s dark hair framed a face as pale as death. She looked paler than the white sheets within which she lay.

Charlotte walked hesitantly to her bedside, dreading to come too close in case the movement of Amelia’s chest suddenly ceased.

“How is she?” she whispered.

“Weak. She had deteriorated significantly by the time she came into my care. But she is responding to the treatment I have developed for this particular illness,” McGill said softly, “it’s not as bad as it looks, I assure ye.”

At that moment, Amelia’s eyes fluttered open.

They fixed on Charlotte and focused. The ghost of a smile appeared on her wan face.

Then she took in the two men who were also in the room.

The smile remained for Doctor McGill, but when Amelia glimpsed Seth, her eyes widened and the smile faded. McGill touched Seth’s arm.

“I think perhaps we should leave the lasses alone for a while, Your Grace,” he suggested.

Seth nodded.

“I will not be far away,” he said to Charlotte.

She squeezed his hand briefly, and he kissed her cheek, lightly but with passionate care. Then he left, McGill closing the door softly behind them both.

“Oh, Cherry, how is that man with you?” Amelia exhaled faintly. “Tell me you have not become embroiled with him because of me?”

Her voice wavered with weakness, and Charlotte felt her heart tremble at the sound. She wanted to rush to her sister and embrace her, but Amelia’s obvious frailty held her back. Instead, she sat perched on the edge of the bed and took her sister’s hand.

“Well, my sister poached my beau from under my nose, didn’t she?” Charlotte whispered with a weak smile.

Amelia smiled dimly in return. “Luke and I fell in love during the last of our... exchanges. You did not see him as more than a friend, did you?”

Charlotte shook her head, choking back laughter and tears.

“No, we put up a pretense of courtship because he wished to avoid an arrangement his mother sought to impose. I now know that Luke wanted to keep the courtship going so that it could be enacted for true the next time you visited. Why didn’t you tell me, Milly? ”

Amelia looked away, abashed. “I was a fool, and I do not deserve such a good man. For a long time, I denied my feelings for him. He was a good friend and confidante when we would write to each other. But I was infatuated with my life in London, of which he wanted no part. I had resigned myself to the fact that we were just far too unalike.”

“Well, I discovered too late upon taking your place that you were betrothed to Seth—the Duke of Bellmonte,” Charlotte murmured.

“At a loss of what to do, I maintained the relationship until I knew what your intentions had truly been. Which I did not, until you wrote to him,” she finished, chiding her sister gently.

Amelia frowned. “I wrote you a comprehensive letter explaining all. You should have ended the engagement with that terrible man as soon as you arrived. Though I have a niggling feeling it was the outcome he wanted anyway…”

Charlotte smiled ruefully. “Your letter was… waylaid. Marie had the puzzle box in her possession when she took a leave of absence to care for her mother. It fell into a flood, and the letter was illegible.”

Amelia looked appalled. “Cherry… You mean to say that you have been forced to let that man dandle you on his lap all this time? Oh, I am so terribly sorry... Well, you can end it this minute and send him on his way...” She faltered when Charlotte’s expression warmed, “Whatever is the matter? Why are you laughing?”

Charlotte did then hug her sister and kissed her forehead.

“Cherry, you are too little too late. Seth and I married at Gretna, just as you and Luke,” Charlotte smiled.

She laughed again at the look of open-mouthed astonishment on her sister’s face.

“Is it what you want, Cherry?” Amelia asked, anxiously, “Truly?”

“It is,” Charlotte nodded solemnly. “He is all I want. You may keep your London life. I should like a simpler existence... And Seth and I might yet have it now.”

Her sister’s brows pinched. “Why? You go too fast for me, Cherry.” She leaned in and whispered, “You know the kind of man he is, don’t you?”

“Better than you, I think,” Charlotte coaxed gently. “Do not worry, Milly. I know the kind of man I am married to. The very best kind. One who has all but relinquished his Dukedom to reunite me with my sister.”

Amelia frowned in confusion, and Charlotte explained about the marriage clause. Her sister appeared both angry and appalled.