Page 8 of His Unexpected Duchess (Hearts of Whitmores #2)

CHAPTER 8

“ T here you are!”

Nicholas paused only for a moment when he glimpsed his sister in the hall. “Hello, Eleanor. I’m sorry, but I’m late for a committee meeting. Last minute planning, as usual.”

“Last minute and late,” she called sternly.

He chuckled because she wasn’t wrong. Hearing her following behind him, he forced himself to slow down. “I’m afraid I don’t have more than a moment to spare. Can this wait?”

“Unfortunately, not this time.” Eleanor was panting as she finally caught up to him. She winced and held her side. “Must you walk so quickly?”

“I just slowed down for you.”

“Really, Nicholas! I haven’t seen you in a week. Can’t you spare two full minutes for your younger sister?” she demanded.

That made him halt. He opened his mouth to object, to argue that it couldn’t have been seven days since he had last seen her. If that were the case, then it meant he hadn’t seen his wife since then either.

It couldn’t have been that long. Could it?

He cursed low under his breath as he counted the days, fearing she was correct. He had just been so busy since his wedding day.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed. “Truly, I didn’t realize so many days had passed.”

“I can tell, but unfortunately, I am not the only one you should apologize to.” Eleanor gave him a meaningful look. “I checked with your valet. You’ve been running yourself ragged for much too long. And now you owe me. And your wife.”

Wincing, Nicholas wondered what this could mean for him. But the stern look on his sister’s face was not to be ignored. He couldn’t win this. It was best to accept his punishment and see how he could manage.

“Fine,” he relented. “What do you want?”

“You, of course. I want to host a dinner party. It will only be family,” Eleanor explained when his eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “Charlotte and Adrian, for example. Kenneth, too, if you would like to even out the numbers. It’s a surprise for Joanna,” she added hastily.

Nicholas nodded slowly as he considered her idea.

It was a surprise that she wanted to spend time with anyone outside of this house. But perhaps she needed more company. Clearly, she had noted his absence. She wouldn’t be the only one. Though he had made it clear to Joanna not to expect his company, he already regretted avoiding her so much and so soon.

Nicholas brushed the feeling aside. He rubbed his eyes and then nodded again.

“Fine. Yes. A dinner party. I’ll make certain I can attend. Find a time when you ladies are not busy, and I shall be there.”

“Saturday,” Eleanor said promptly. “It’s not as though we go out, Nicholas. I have already planned a menu. Cook and I are discussing a few details, and I’m picking out place settings with Mrs. Knacking this afternoon. Parliament is closed for the day, I already checked. You should have no excuse not to join us.”

His mind snagged on what she had said at the beginning, but he grew distracted by the details she provided. “Very well, Saturday I shall join you all for dinner. Please tell my secretary.”

“Already done.” Eleanor flushed with eagerness. “The games, too, for after we’re done eating.”

“You’ve thought of everything, of course. Well done, Eleanor. I look forward to it,” Nicholas reassured her before nudging her with his shoulder playfully. “Look at you, all grown up. When did that happen?”

“Right under your nose, apparently.”

He chuckled. “Oh, so it was you I smelled.”

“Nicholas!”

She raised her hands as if she was about to strangle him, for which he couldn’t blame her. But he laughed and backed out of her reach. He pecked her on the cheek before hurrying out the door. Before it closed, he could hear her laughing as well.

For a little while, his heart felt lighter for having made her laugh. He had forgotten how much better it made life. Just a little entertainment and merriment could go a long way.

For the next couple of days, Nicholas continued to bury himself in his work at Parliament and paperwork regarding his countless estates. The moment he addressed one emergency, another one arose. Everyone wanted his time, his attention, and his wisdom.

Not that I feel I have any. I’m too young and too new. If only I had paid more attention at university, then I might have an idea of what I am doing.

“Your Grace? Your guests have arrived.”

He glanced up from yet another letter in confusion as the butler appeared in the doorway, and set down his quill. He wondered what Wordlesby meant. He hadn’t invited anyone here. It was Saturday, so it wasn’t anything to do with Parliament. Or had he invited someone over to discuss the corn laws? Or perhaps?—

“The Duke and Duchess of Wakefield,” his butler announced. “Her Grace and Lady Eleanor led them to the large parlor, and they’re requesting your presence.”

Cursing, Nicholas hastily rose to his feet. “That’s right. The dinner party. Blast it, Wordlesby. Why didn’t someone remind me?”

“Your valet did this morning. He has laid out a fresh shirt and coat for you in your chamber,” the butler added helpfully.

Nicholas’s short fuse fizzled out at those words. Now that he thought about it, he did recall Wilhurst telling him something along those lines when he was dressing that morning.

“Thank you, Wordlesby. You’ll let them know I shall be there soon?”

“Certainly, Your Grace.”

It didn’t take Nicholas long to pull himself together. He even took a moment with his valet to ensure that not a hair was out of place. Once he felt adequately refreshed from a long day of sitting and working, he hastened down the steps. His fawn breeches were a tad wrinkled, but they would have to do. His blue vest was in excellent condition and matched his coat, hopefully giving the appearance of a somewhat adequate duke.

Or at least a gentleman. Anything beyond that, I wouldn’t say it particularly matters. Everyone is family and friends here.

“There he is!” Charlotte called cheerfully when she spotted him in the doorway. She beckoned him over and motioned for Adrian to pour him a drink. “Do join us already.”

“My apologies for my tardiness, I needed to handle one last situation,” Nicholas said. He accepted the glass with a smile, surveying the small party.

Not only were Charlotte and Adrian there, but Kenneth had also been invited. The man was lazily playing the pianoforte. It was a skill not every gentleman had, and it had apparently surprised Eleanor, for she froze beside Charlotte, staring at him with intense eyes.

On Eleanor’s other side was Joanna. She looked lovely tonight. She had worn her green dress once again, making Nicholas wonder if she owned anything else. It was the only gown he had seen her in thus far. A very pretty thing, but still out of date and certainly simpler than anything else worn this evening––even compared to Eleanor’s mourning gown, it didn’t measure up.

He must have been frowning at her because she glanced his way with a nervous smile, only for it to drop. She paled and turned away before pursing her lips.

Although he tried to stop staring, he couldn’t help himself.

He soon forgot the green dress as he considered that she looked otherwise healthy. She stood near the group but not quite in it, as if she had set herself apart. It put her right under a sconce, and the flickering candle on it cast her in warm, golden light. She could have been a fierce angel of heaven, for all he knew.

“Nicholas?” Charlotte prompted.

Nicholas blinked and turned to her. “Pardon?”

“Your wife.” She pointed at Joanna as if he was nothing but a ninny. “Are you going to lead the way, or shall I?”

“Shall we ,” Adrian corrected her.

Looking around in confusion, Nicholas realized that someone had taken his glass and everyone was pairing up. At least, Charlotte and Adrian had linked arms. Eleanor stood beside Kenneth and glanced up at him warily, ignoring his proffered arm.

They were all ready to go to supper. All except him.

And Joanna.

Nicholas blinked again and turned back to his wife. “Right. Shall we?”

He didn’t know how to respond to Charlotte’s scoff, so he ignored her, waiting for Joanna’s answer.

Joanna hesitated before quickly stepping up to his side and accepting his arm. Though he felt her touch, it was as light as a feather.

They still hadn’t said a word to each other, and he supposed he should say something. But what was there to say? He couldn’t recall what they had discussed the last time they saw each other.

No, that was a lie.

Tempting. I called her tempting, right to her face, and I couldn’t get her out of my head for hours. Days, even.

Nicholas cleared his throat noisily and felt Joanna glance up at him, as if he might say something. He wondered if she had forgotten what he said. Part of him hoped she had, while the other… hoped she hadn’t. Wrestling with his thoughts, he said nothing as he led her to her seat and allowed the nearby footman to assist her. A footman he didn’t recognize.

Had they hired more servants? He eyed the other one for only a second before taking his seat.

“How lovely it is to be here together tonight,” Charlotte said cheerfully as she took her seat beside Eleanor, who sat on his left. “What do you have in store for us tonight?”

“Oh, I don’t know the menu,” Joanna admitted.

Kenneth was sitting on her right-hand side, while Adrian was sitting on his wife’s left-hand side.

As Nicholas wondered why he had to sit at the head of the table and make the arrangements weird, his wife continued. “Eleanor oversaw all the preparations. It was a surprise to learn about this just a few hours ago.”

Charlotte and Adrian complimented a furiously blushing Eleanor as the first course was served. Everyone tucked into their food, and then Kenneth started telling them a story that bordered on indecent.

It was a pleasant dinner party. Nicholas could admit that much. There were a few awkward moments, and he had to silence Kenneth once or twice for being inappropriate while also urging Eleanor to talk. But he enjoyed himself until he realized he’d hardly heard Joanna say a word during the meal.

In fact, she wasn’t even sitting with them.

Frowning, Nicholas studied their group, wondering what could have happened.

He had taken a seat beside Eleanor on the settee. Charlotte sat on the arm of Adrian’s large chair, and Kenneth had pulled a chair closer. There was a pouffe large enough to sit on nearby, but it was empty.

Joanna was… in the corner of the room, bent over a rolling table next to the cook.

“Excuse me,” Nicholas muttered.

He set down his glass and joined his wife, brushing his hand against her elbow to draw her attention. He caught a whiff of something floral as she straightened at the touch.

“Your Grace,” she muttered in surprise, her eyes wide.

He raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?”

“I…” Her gaze darted to the small crowd he had just left.

Looking over his shoulder, Nicholas glanced at them as well to see what she was seeing—a small group of friends laughing together.

They were enjoying themselves and setting aside their concerns and worries for the evening. Everyone was carefree, friendly, and warm. They were family in one way or another. Even Joanna.

When Nicholas looked back at her and found her still watching their guests, he suddenly wondered if she saw them that way. Did she see herself as part of the party or an outsider? It would be lonely to be a part of them and yet separated from them.

And that was exactly what she had done. She’d broken from the group to help the cook. Tea and an assortment of little cakes lay on a tray. She had a dab of frosting on her gloves, Nicholas noted, and there was a certain sad look creasing her brow.

Doesn’t she know that this is all for her? Eleanor would never dream of doing such a thing on her own. But she cares for Joanna, and Joanna… what is she thinking? Does having company not make her happy? Perhaps she would rather be out and about.

“Joanna?” he prompted.

“Hmm?” she asked distractedly, glancing back at him.

“What are you doing?” he repeated patiently and waited for her to turn her gaze back to him instead of the party.

It was clear that she wished to be with them. And yet she had been holding herself back all night. Knowing how bold she could be, Nicholas struggled to imagine why she wasn’t being brave tonight.

Hesitating, Joanna glanced down at the table and then at the cook. The man offered her a handkerchief while pointing to her hand. She accepted it and cleaned her glove as she quietly explained, “I thought I might help Cook with the trays.”

Nicholas glanced up at their cook, who gave a brief shake of his head, confirming what he had suspected. No one had asked Joanna for assistance. She had taken it upon herself to help out instead of enjoying the party.

“Stop it immediately,” he said firmly.

Joanna stared up at him, his words slowly sinking in.

She blinked and opened her mouth to argue when he continued. “This is a dinner party at our house, Joanna. You’re not the hostess, but a guest. Furthermore, you are a duchess. There is no need for you to concern yourself with these matters.”

“I only wanted to be of service.”

He let out a light-hearted chuckle as he picked up the handkerchief in her hands and returned it to the cook. “And put Cook out of a job? He wouldn’t like that. If he thinks he is useless, he’ll go to the next lord offering a monstrous compensation for his skills. He’s good at his work, Joanna, and we don’t want to insult him, do we?”

Joanna shifted and nodded, but the frown remained on her face. “I suppose not.”

Nicholas winked at his cook. “Exactly. We cannot risk provoking his ire. He’s the only man in all of England who knows how to cook bacon to perfection. Now, can we leave him in peace to do his work? Please?” he added gently when she wavered at his soft tug.

“Why are you saying please?” she asked him.

The question surprised him, but he noted that she took a step toward him. That was progress.

He nodded to the cook to make sure the man knew he was good to continue with his work. Then, he focused on Joanna, who appeared rather befuddled. She should have been enjoying herself tonight. Instead, like their wedding day, she was out of sorts.

“I thought I would try to be nice this evening. Why? Is it too odd? I can be rude if that makes you feel better,” he teased.

“No, I don’t want that.”

“Then come along and let us play games with the others. Everyone is enjoying your company. Don’t you wish to play games? I’m sure you enjoyed them with your family,” he coaxed.

While his words should have reassured her further, he paused when he realized she was tensing up. She bit her lip and grudgingly shook her head. Then, she looked down at their clasped hands. “I didn’t play games with them.”

“No? Your family doesn’t enjoy games?”

“I suppose they do,” she conceded. “But the servants always needed help. Beatrice said I needed to help them, so there was never time for me to play games with everyone.”

It was Nicholas’s turn to look bewildered. “You didn’t—they would—but that means…” He gave a short shake of his head.

Joanna leaned back as if she wanted to wrench her hand free, but he followed the movement instead of tightening his grip.

A heavy weight settled in his chest, and he had to fight the urge to embrace his wife in the middle of the room. She stopped moving as he stared down at her intently.

“Joanna, that will never happen here.”

She licked her lips. “It’s all right. I like the staff here.”

“Very well, you may do as you like when you are alone,” he gritted out. “But you are still my wife, and that will never change. You are a duchess now, and that will never change. You don’t belong in the kitchens, Joanna. So you shall come with me now and enjoy the rest of this party, and you shall do so at my side. You will play games with us and enjoy yourself––as my wife.”

“Oh.”

Joanna looked so stunned that he couldn’t help thinking of the sleeping princess who had to be woken up with a kiss. Would his wife come back to herself if he kissed her?

He tugged at her hand again, finding himself at a loss for words as well, and then led her back to the party. He motioned for Eleanor to move. She made a face but then went to the pouffe so he could share the settee with his wife.

“Joanna! Welcome back,” Charlotte said with a broad smile. “I was worried we had lost you. Isn’t this such a big house?”

“Ours is just as big, darling,” Adrian reminded her with an eye roll, though he smiled as well.

Charlotte shook her head. “I still lose myself on the second floor regularly. Oh, Joanna, I’m so glad you are here.”

Everyone echoed the sentiment until Joanna was blushing and murmuring her thanks.

The mood grew even lighter. It was evident that they wanted her there, and Nicholas hoped she could begin to understand this.

“Now we have everyone,” Kenneth proclaimed so loudly that Eleanor jumped, nearly falling off her seat. “Well, My Lady, what games do you have in mind this evening? I was promised some entertainment.”

“I… Yes, well, I do have some games prepared,” Eleanor murmured. She rose again and moved across the room to gather her supplies.

Nicholas nudged Joanna. “Are you ready to play?”

He was surprised to receive a hopeful smile as she nodded, pressing her lips together as if she didn’t quite trust herself to speak.

“Oh, you two cannot possibly be on the same team,” Kenneth complained.

“Of course, they can!” Charlotte said in their defense. “Don’t tell me you’re worried about losing to the newlyweds?”

He scoffed and shook his head. “Of course not.”

“Good, then stop complaining.”

“But––”

Adrian waved a hand and then motioned to Eleanor. “Why don’t you explain the game to us?”

The game was charades. Everyone knew how to play, though they politely let Eleanor explain the rules before she handed out small squares of paper. Everyone wrote down something to act out, all within reason.

“We shall be split into two teams here,” Eleanor murmured, deftly sliding the bowl to the center of the coffee table. “It shall be the ladies against the gentlemen.”

Kenneth let out a dramatic sigh of relief before muttering about not wanting to partner up with women.

Nicholas forced himself to rise from his seat and moved closer to Adrian and Kenneth, but not before giving the latter a quick kick in the shin and a stern look.

“I didn’t mean it,” Kenneth complained.

Eleanor glanced over at them with a furrowed brow. Kenneth was bent over, rubbing his shin. “Is something wrong?”

Clapping a hand on his friend’s shoulder, Nicholas shook his head. “Nothing at all. Kenneth here was just saying that he wants to go first.”

“Oh. Well, I suppose…”

He pushed Kenneth off his chair so quickly that the man nearly fell to the ground. When his friend glared at him, Nicholas only smiled. He was going to make this pleasant for Joanna and Eleanor, and Kenneth would learn to do the same one way or another.

Nicholas loved the man but knew how stubborn he could be. Most likely, his friend was wishing he was off at the opera with ladies he could flirt with. But somehow, he was here, and Nicholas would not let him ruin this night for anyone.

It didn’t take long for his focus to drift back to his wife. As she was urged to go first, Nicholas watched as she picked up a slip of paper and screwed her face up in concentration.

There was a little wrinkle in her brow that his fingers itched to smoothen out. He wondered if anyone else noticed the way she squirmed slightly while thinking before putting the paper away. Everyone else was forgotten. Only she had his attention as she licked her lips. She readied herself and then raised four fingers.

“Four words!” Charlotte cried and clapped her hands.

Joanna nodded and then moved around, creating some sort of shape out of thin air. It was waist-high and flat with something on it. Seeing it in his mind’s eye, Nicholas ignored Adrian’s shouting and Eleanor’s nervous guesses while his wife continued her act.

“Two?” Charlotte asked in bewilderment when Joanna held up a finger on each hand. “Candles! Is it candles? No, table! Legs! Two legs! Humans? Bird. Parrot! Is it something to do with birds? Cages?”

The merriment and tension mounted in the room. Nicholas slid to the edge of his seat, watching as Joanna gestured toward some of the furniture and then the ground.

“No cheating,” Adrian interjected when Joanna opened her mouth to speak.

She shot him an irritated look that made him recoil slightly in surprise, and Nicholas had to smother a laugh. There was that spark he knew. Then, she looked at him, and he suddenly knew.

“Time’s up,” Kenneth announced.

“Oh. I’m afraid I’m not very good at this.” Charlotte pouted.

“We’ll get better, I’m sure,” Eleanor reassured her earnestly. “The gentlemen get to guess. But only once.”

Kenneth sputtered about what it could be, but Nicholas waved him aside. “I know it. Four words. Kneeling at the altar.”

Everyone turned to Joanna. She offered a hesitant smile, fumbling with her gloves. “Yes, that was it.”

“Oh bother. I put that one in, but I had already forgotten about it,” Charlotte groaned, then looked at her husband. “You must lose for me now.”

Chuckling lightly, Adrian shook his head. “I’m afraid that won’t be happening.” And then he rose to take his turn.

Though he acted casual and careless, the playful gleam in his eyes reassured Nicholas that he wished to win. Their guess was an easy one––horse racing––and then it was the ladies’ turn again.

Unsurprisingly, they were eager to prove themselves and entered the fray with determination.

The innocent game quickly grew competitive. Soon the opposing teams were shouting over one another, trying to knock off each other’s guessing strategies. It was distracting as it was amusing.

Even Joanna joined the fray eagerly. Nicholas watched her confidence blossom.

He had managed to sit next to her during the game, feeling the need to be closer to her. When she took notice, her eyes darted frequently to him. They exchanged countless looks of determination and silent amusement, knowing how badly they each wanted to win the game.

“Last round!” Charlotte announced. “Nicholas, go on!”

Nodding as his teammates urged him forward, Nicholas collected the final scrap of paper from the bowl and unfolded it. He had high hopes of performing an easy act like he had thus far. But then he read the scribbled words and had to pause to think.

Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean.

He looked around the group, wondering who had thought to include a fairytale. They’d mimicked animals and daily tasks and a few funny ideas, but this was a first. There were too many options and yet not enough.

“Go on already,” Kenneth urged as he leaned forward, his eyes wide with determination. “Go on.”

The anticipation grew thick as Nicholas nodded and began gesturing with his hands. He hardly knew what he was doing. Everyone was shouting at this point. One would have thought they were in a pub instead of a gentleman’s parlor.

Trying to block out the din, Nicholas mimicked a small boy selling his cow for beans and throwing them before climbing up something tall where he held a chicken and a harp.

“Oh! Oh! I know!”

His wife’s voice interrupted his concentration. Every time he tried to enact the story again, running around the rug and giving Adrian and Kenneth stern looks, she would shout that she knew.

“Blast it,” the two men muttered when time was over.

“Joanna?” Eleanor prompted.

Nicholas shook his head in disbelief. “No one could guess it. I don’t know who wrote it down, but that was a devil of an idea.”

“Mrs. Knacking suggested a few,” Eleanor admitted shyly. “It was supposed to make the game harder.”

“It was,” Nicholas said. And then he turned to Joanna, raising his eyebrow as though daring her to speak up.

There isn’t a chance in this world that she could guess it. If it was something Mrs. Knacking wrote down, then no one knows what it says but me. Joanna, don’t you dare. Don’t know it. Don’t be right. If she guesses this right, then the ladies win.

Squaring her shoulders, Joanna twisted around to face him with sparkling eyes and a proud grin. She suddenly reminded him of Athena, the goddess of the hunt. And that’s how he knew that she knew.

“It’s the fairy tale of Jack Spriggins and his magical beanstalk.”

“Wait,” he blurted out when everyone started to clap. “Doesn’t she have to guess it exactly?”

Joanna huffed as Adrian and Charlotte glanced at each other, as though to consider his request. A point had been taken from the gentlemen when they’d not been able to precisely guess a runaway carriage.

“It’s Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean if you’re trying to be exact,” Joanna tossed in before anyone could start arguing, her gaze fixed on her husband.

Nicholas saw the triumph and satisfaction in her eyes. Yes, she was indeed a goddess. He realized he shouldn’t have been surprised.

A strange tension crackled between them. He could feel it on the back of his neck, in the way his hair stood on end. But he didn’t mind so long as he could look at her. His wife was even more clever than he could have predicted. Admiring her from where he sat, he offered a nod of surrender.

Everyone rose and eagerly came together, laughing over their wins and losses. The competition had ended, but Nicholas paid them little mind as he stepped up to his wife.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” she said diplomatically.

“What a liar you are.” Nicholas chuckled and leaned in, unable to stay away from her. He breathed in her scent, forgetting everyone and everything else in the room. “Well played, Duchess.”