Page 5 of Two Nights with the Duke (Cherish and the Duke #3)

J ocelyn’s tension eased when the seamstress and her staff immediately set to work on the final alterations and did not ask questions about her marriage to Camborne that had never taken place. She prayed he had the sense to keep quiet about their nonexistent wedding, too.

These dukes sometimes had too much confidence in their power and did not always see a problem so clearly. Not only was Camborne a duke, but a Silver Duke. This meant he had gained an overblown confidence because he was adored and pampered by everyone, especially the ladies, everywhere he went.

She breathed a sigh of relief when the final fittings were completed and the seamstresses set about making the small adjustments needed to deliver the finished product. It was almost teatime. Miss Farrell and her ladies had five minutes to hand over the gowns and claim double their outrageous fee.

For this reason, not one of them wasted a moment in idle chatter or even looked up when Camborne strolled back into their quarters to escort Jocelyn down to tea. “Ready?” he asked.

She hesitated to take his offered arm. “Um…almost. I…ah…”

He grinned. “Ye are truly softhearted. Ye’re no’ going to walk out of here until the last minute because ye want to be sure the gowns are turned over to ye and Miss Farrell gets her reward.”

She nodded. “Are you angry?”

“Och, no. Do ye think I would have ye as my wife if ye did no’ have this kindness in yer heart?” He drew out his fob watch and noted the time. “Will ye look at that—there’s still fifteen minutes to spare before the inn’s tea service starts. The clocks downstairs must all be wrong.”

Miss Farrell, who had been listening in on their conversation, glanced up in surprise and smiled at him.

Jocelyn, taking full advantage of being his imaginary wife, kissed him on the cheek. “You are a wonderful man.”

Twelve minutes later, the gowns were completed and handed over to Jocelyn. The workmanship was excellent despite the breakneck speed at which they were made. “Thank you, Miss Farrell. These are truly beautiful. I shall wear them with great pleasure.”

Camborne looked on, not at all bothered by the fact that he was about to turn over an outrageous sum to the seamstress, which he did on the spot. “I am a man of my word,” he said, also expressing his gratitude for her taking such good care of his wife.

“An honor serving ye,” Miss Farrell responded. She and her staff bustled out.

Jocelyn heard them giggling with glee as they scurried down the stairs and raced out of the inn. No doubt they were heading straight to her shop to divide their earnings. She hoped Miss Farrell had the wherewithal to hide her share in a secure location. The seamstress was a thrifty businesswoman, and the windfall was going to be applied somewhere useful once she decided what to do with it.

Camborne had his arms folded across his chest and looked wickedly handsome as he reclaimed Jocelyn’s attention with a deliciously engaging smile. “Shall we go down to tea now?”

She nodded. “Thank you for being so generous to these ladies. When we get to Aberdeen, I think I ought to reim—”

“Lass, ye’re not going to reimburse me. Put it out of your lovely, stubborn head. Ye know the cost is meaningless to me. But what matters is that ye will no’ freeze to death now that ye have suitably warm clothes.”

“Freeze in August? There is little chance of that.”

He shook his head. “Ye haven’t spent much time in these Highlands, have ye?”

“No,” she admitted. “My parents thought it more important for me to gain ton polish, so I spent most of my life in England training to be a proper wifely consort to a nobleman. But it is beautiful here. I’ve enjoyed everything you’ve shown me. Those abbey ruins were hauntingly magnificent. Well, I suppose magnificent is not a proper description, since this hallowed ground holds so much tragedy.”

“Aye,” he said thoughtfully. “The damage and destruction wreaked in the name of piety is a disgrace. All those innocent lives lost, murdered in the name of righteousness.” He shook his head. “Bah! Men will always find idiotic reasons to fight. I’m sure jealousy, greed, and envy have existed since the beginning of time.”

“You fought in the war against Napoleon,” she remarked, glancing at the prominent scar that had been absorbed into his rugged facial features.

His eyes held the wisdom of the ages. They were a passage into his soul and filled with depth, but they were also sharp and beautiful, though tinged with a hint of sadness. His mouth was broad and his lips nicely shaped. His nose was prominent but sleek and solid, and his cheekbones gave his face that hard-as-rock, chiseled look.

However, every feature fell into place with natural splendor, even the dusting of silver threaded through his chestnut hair, creating the striking handsomeness of his appearance.

She shook out of the thought as he began to speak.

“This war, as all wars are, was harsh and futile. Napoleon ought to have known he would never win, but his thirst for power would not be quenched.” He appeared ready to say more, then shook his head and held out his arm to her. “Do ye mind if we end this conversation? I’m feeling a thirst for tea. Let’s take seats in the common room and figure out the rest of our trip.”

She placed her hand in the crook of his arm, which felt muscled and solid. “All right.”

“But first, are we agreed that we need to properly marry as soon as possible, lass?”

“Yes, as soon as possible,” she said, and began to walk out of the bedchamber, but he held her back another moment. “Is there something more?”

“Aye, lass. I have something else to tell ye.”

“Oh, no. What else did you do?”

He held up his hands in mock surrender and cast her an appealing grin. Well, everything about him appealed to her. “Nothing bad, I promise. While the ladies were fussing about yer gowns, I sought out the local minister.”

“Oh?”

“I’ve made arrangements for our wedding ceremony. It’s to take place first thing tomorrow morning. I could no’ in my heart allow even tonight to pass with ye unmarried and sharing my bed. But he insisted that he could not marry us today. So ye’ll now be spending two nights outside of wedlock in my bed. I’m sorry, lass.”

She wasn’t in the least. Two nights with this duke? She could not wait until they retired for the evening. Was this sinful of her?

“I could sleep on the fl—” he began, but she cut him short.

“No. We’ll share the bed as we did last night.” She would rather be sleeping beside him while married, of course. But simply being beside him, even without sacred vows exchanged, was better than not being with him at all.

He gave a curt nod. “I promised the minister a fat donation to keep him quiet about our situation. I told him I would pay off the witnesses, too. Aye, it was an outright offer of a bribe. But ye’d be proud of me, Jocelyn.”

“I would?” she asked with the arch of her brow, struggling to contain the urge to laugh. There was something quite charming about Camborne. For all his good looks, wealth, and power, he was remarkably uncertain of himself when dealing with ladies in matters outside of seduction. Yet he was endearingly earnest in his desire to do right by her.

“Aye, lass. I was tactful and called the witness bribe a gratuity. Either way, it was a price paid for their silence. Dinna condemn me for it. Ye must agree that we have to marry under the eyes of the Lord to protect ye. But it also has to be done discreetly, or else everyone in Arbroth will know we’ve been lying to them. To suspect is one thing, but to know it for a certainty…”

“I agree.” Jocelyn stared up at him. She could easily fall in love with this man. He had the most honorable instincts she had ever encountered, for he had yet to cast any blame on her when she was clearly the one who had incited this entire mess. “I truly feel wretched about my dishonesty, because these residents of Arbroth are such lovely people.”

“We were both dishonest with them.”

“But your motives were more valiant,” she said, casting him a wan smile. “I was just trying to take advantage of you.”

He returned her smile with an affectionate one. “Am I complaining? I could have turned ye out last night. Instead, I went along with yer ruse. And before ye absolve me of any wrongdoing, I knew the consequences of being caught with ye in my bed. Dinna ask me why I was willing to take the risk, for I dinna quite understand it myself. I just knew I could no’ turn ye out.”

“And now you are stepping up to marry me,” she said, feeling quite a bit of remorse for forcing him to it.

For herself, she was elated. She could not have made a better choice for herself than Camborne. Her fear was in disappointing him. Was it possible for a love match to blossom from such frail beginnings?

“We are not going to confess the truth, Jocelyn. I know it is not a wise thing to start off a marriage with dishonesty, but it is not quite the same. We have been honest with each other. Mutually dishonest with others. So, do not think ye are being noble minded by taking the brunt of the censure upon yer shoulders. I’ll never allow it.”

“I must thank you again.”

“No, lass. None required. I’m just sorry ye will no’ have the elegant wedding ye were probably dreaming about ever since ye were a wee lass. I considered having us wait until Aberdeen so I could marry ye in a grander church—the city is big enough to provide us a measure of anonymity. But considering Burling’s reprehensible character, and the possibility that Ballantry is already closing in on ye…”

“I know. There is not a moment to lose. As for that elegant wedding,” she said, grimacing at the thought, “I was in the midst of it when I ran away from Ballantry. I left him and over one hundred guests wondering what had happened to me. So, no more fancy weddings for me. A quiet one here in Arbroth is perfect.”

“Then we are of the same mind? Marriage in Arbroth it is.”

She nodded. “Yes, without question this is best. We would then arrive in Aberdeen as husband and wife, and no banker is going to deny me access to my funds while my husband, the Duke of Camborne, is standing by my side. Anyway, Aberdeen is likely where Ballantry and my parents will be waiting for me, since it is one of the few places where I can access my funds. You suggested as much, and I agree with you. However, I hope we can get in and out without incident.”

“No reason why this cannot happen. No one will look twice at a carriage that does no’ bear my ducal crest. I travel in an unmarked carriage for the purpose of attracting as little attention as possible,” Camborne said.

“That did not work out too well for you in Arbroth, did it?” she remarked with a gentle laugh. “I stumbled into your bed and created this uproar.”

“My life was becoming too dull,” he said with a smile. “Perhaps ye were just what I needed to liven it up. If yer family and former betrothed are in Aberdeen ahead of us and watching for ye, I can go into yer bank alone and make whatever arrangements are necessary. They’ll not spot ye until ye are ready to be seen.”

“Unless Burling has found them first and told them about us. Then they will be on the lookout for you, too.”

“Aye, that could be a problem. We’ll deal with it when the time comes,” he said with a shrug. “Yer father isn’t going to remain angry once he realizes ye’ve married a duke instead of that rat-faced earl.”

“Camborne, if all goes smoothly and we are married by tomorrow morning…”

He arched an eyebrow. “What is it, lass?”

“You were heading up to your lodge in order to hide away and fish. Would you consider allowing me to join you?”

The notion appeared to surprise him. “We go there together?”

She nodded. “We could even head straight up there instead of stopping in Aberdeen first, if you prefer. I mean, once we are married, what is the urgency of getting hold of my funds? We could always stop there on the way home.”

“Home?” He stared at her for an uncomfortably long moment.

She gasped, suddenly realizing the reason for his apparent concern. “Oh! I’m so sorry for presuming… I got ahead of myself. We did not discuss anything about what is to happen to us after the wedding. Do you even want me with you? Are we to part ways in Aberdeen as soon as we get hold of my accounts? I would not blame you if you wanted me out of your life as soon as possible. I just thought… Well, I haven’t really been thinking, have I? Not about my marriage to Ballantry. Not about my running away. Not about—”

“Lass, there’s no reason for ye to get all wound up,” he said, giving her shoulder a gentle stroke. “Let’s just go downstairs and enjoy a cup of tea. All right?”

“Yes, all right.” She took his arm and he led her downstairs into the common room, where sweets and savories had been laid out in a decorative display upon a long table against the wall.

Camborne led her to an empty table in the corner, away from most of the crowd. Everyone was surreptitiously eyeing them, but he did not appear to be affected by everyone’s stares. He was used to having all eyes on him the moment he strode into a room, she guessed.

After escorting her to her seat, he strode to the long table and prepared plates for both of them. In the meanwhile, one of the inn’s maids came around and poured tea into their cups.

Camborne returned and continued to appear quite relaxed as he settled in the chair beside her, still not troubled at all by the looks cast their way. This was a good thing, she supposed. The more naturally he behaved, the more likely the patrons were to believe they truly were married and not lying through their teeth.

“Jocelyn,” he said in that delicious brogue that never failed to warm her insides.

“Yes?”

“Ye mentioned making plans for after we are wed.”

“It is important. We need to know where we stand with each other. What each of us expects from the marriage. We really should talk about this.”

“I dinna know if it is wise to do it here and now, lass. Ye’re going to make me think about that discussion we had earlier, the one about expectations and sacrifice.”

She blushed, recalling what she had told him. She had spoken to him as though she were an expert on such matters when she really had no experience at all. How could she expect anything more from him than what he had already given her?

“And what is wrong with getting to the heart of what our marriage is to be? Should we not be thinking about these things? Not necessarily to make any immediate decisions, but shouldn’t we know what the other is thinking?”

He stared at her with a terribly serious expression on his face. “I want yer promise, lass.”

“About what?”

“No matter what comes from this conversation, ye’ll marry me tomorrow.”

“Even if what I wish from the marriage is completely opposite to what you want?”

He nodded. “Aye. There’s nothing ye can tell me that would be worse than my leaving ye unmarried to fend for yerself against yer family, yer friends and acquaintances, a vicious ton , and malicious strangers who think to lift themselves by treading on ye. I’ll never let that happen to ye.”

“You do realize this is completely to my advantage and all to your disadvantage.”

“I am not disadvantaged by it. Do I have yer promise?”

“Yes, with my gratitude.”

“So, now that we are going to talk about our marriage… What would ye care to do once we are lawfully wed?” He shook his head. “Dinna tell me what ye think I wish to hear. And dinna give me a forever answer right away.”

She frowned, not certain what this meant. “What is a forever answer?”

“One that binds ye to me forever. Our plans need only be for a month in the future, or however long it takes for us to get ye free of Ballantry and secure yer funds. As for longer term, this is something we both need to think about as we get to know each other better, isn’t it?”

She nodded, realizing she had not given the matter proper thought and had just gone with her heart. One might say she had fallen in love with Camborne at first sight because he was that perfect combination of handsome, smart, and wonderfully irreverent that proved irresistible to her.

Of course, it was ridiculous to believe an immediate attraction could be so strong and genuine as to be called love. But to call it mere infatuation did not give her feelings their proper due. She was no silly schoolgirl to giggle over a handsome boy. No, her feelings for Camborne were much more than childish attraction.

He melted her heart. She wanted to remain by his side for always and make this a real marriage, if he would allow it.

But what if he did not want this? What could she say if he chose to return to his Silver Duke life and tuck her away somewhere out of sight? She could not blame him, nor could she expect him to give up everything to tie himself to her when none of this was his fault.

And yet he was so unlike Ballantry. It was quite possible Camborne would desire a true marriage. This lightened her worries and gave her a glimmer of hope.

“Do you want children?” she asked abruptly.

He set his teacup down with a clatter and his face paled. “Children?”

“Yes,” she said with a light laugh, hoping to keep the conversation casual. Perhaps she should not have led with that question.

Good grief. What was she thinking to hit him over the head with that hammer? Who leaped ahead to asking questions about offspring upon a day’s acquaintance? It was a bit much, wasn’t it? She did not even understand why this was the first question she had blurted. However, now that she had asked it, she did not want him to avoid a response.

“You know, those little creatures with sticky hands and constantly runny noses,” she continued.

He chuckled. “Aye, I was one of those once. Eons ago.”

“I would like to have children,” she said quietly.

And yet this was such a huge demand of him. He had never married. What if he did not want them? More important, what if he did not want them with her ? After all, her every action from the day of her wedding up to now had been witless. She could not blame him if he cut this conversation short and begged off their marriage.

However, she pressed on because she wanted to know whether it was even a possibility. Not that his answer was going to change their situation. She had to marry him or her life would be a disaster. In truth, she would have no life, since everyone down to the village ratcatcher would shun the shameless harpy who had jilted an earl on their wedding day to cavort in the bed of a Silver Duke.

Her choice was to marry Camborne and immediately become a respected and powerful duchess, or not marry him and be reviled, subjected to names much worse than harpy.

But to pursue this matter of children?

She tried to keep her expression as unreadable as his own, but she was not good at this, and he had to be seeing straight into her heart. “It is something I desire, although I would understand if you felt the opposite. Who is to say I am even able to have children at my age?”

He placed his hand gently atop hers. “Twenty-seven is hardly decrepit. Jocelyn, ye look like an angel.”

“Hardly, but thank you. I’m sorry I shoved this at you. In truth, I’m not sure why it was the first thing out of my mouth. Had I felt more maternal, I would have accepted the best offer received in my debut Season and started working on getting those children. But I could not even think about it when none of those men who came forward interested me. I would not have been able to bear their touch.”

“And ye think ye can bear mine?” he asked, still holding on to her hand.

She let out a long breath. “Yes. I think I might even grow to crave it, to be honest. But I’m sure other ladies have told you the same thing. I’m just one among many.”

“No, lass. Those others were merely pandering to me. Ye’re different.”

“Well, I thought I should be truthful with you before we take the leap and marry. You made me promise to marry you, but I have not insisted you do the same. I could release you from—”

“Absolutely not. It will change nothing about our need to wed. I’ll be marrying ye no matter what future marital arrangements are decided upon. This is not up for discussion. That matter is resolved.”

“All right.” She made no further protest because this situation truly was to her advantage. More important, she sensed he was not the sort to marry and then abandon his bride.

Not that she knew him so well, but he appeared to be a man who would take his vows seriously. Despite all this talk of not deciding on their future just yet, she knew that if he promised to be faithful to her in their marriage vows, then he was going to keep to his word. He was going to do all in his power to be a good husband to her and make this marriage work.

She hoped.

“My thinking, lass,” he said, “is that we ought to stay together at least for the rest of this month.”

She was ready to stay with him for a lifetime. “I agree.” If he wished to take it a month at a time, that was fine with her.

“I say this because Burling might incite Ballantry to take revenge beyond a mere financial settlement. I will not have ye insulted or demeaned, or have him attempt worse if I am not around to protect ye.”

“Why are you mentioning a financial settlement? I will never give Ballantry a ha’penny. He’s a lying, cheating wastrel.”

“Jocelyn, sometimes these things are easiest resolved with a bit of coin exchanging hands. So what if he gets a little out of it? You’d be gaining yer freedom by cutting all ties to him.”

“Are you suggesting I ought to bribe Ballantry to keep him quiet?” She tipped her head up in indignation. “Or should I politely call it a gratuity? And what of Burling? I won’t give in to that oaf, either. Those funds are mine, and Ballantry will never get his greedy paws on any of it because he is the cur who broke our betrothal contract first, and I’ll go to my death proclaiming he is an undeserving wretch.”

Camborne grinned. “Are ye through being incensed?”

She cast him a wry smile. “Yes. Spleen vented. I know I have to be practical about this, even if it is the most galling thing imaginable.”

“Will ye leave the matter up to me, lass? I’ll have it settled as quietly as possible.”

She tried to suppress her laughter, but it came out in little snorts. “Sorry. You handled Burling so…so…”

“Poorly?”

“Your words. I doubt I would have handled him any better. But you must admit to a few missteps. If not for the scene you caused, I would not be getting married now.”

Camborne grinned. “Who knows? Ye still might have gotten that proposal out of me, but it would have taken a bit longer than a day.”

“Right,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

If the most beautiful women in England and Scotland could not have snared this Silver Duke, she was not likely to have caught him either.

Which made her think of the unfairness of what she was doing to him, and this sent a pang through her heart. However, she was not going to say anything to him, because he truly did not appear heartsick over their situation.

Why was he so accepting of his fate?

“He’ll get nothing of yours,” Camborne said, regaining her attention as he emitted a low growl. “However, I’ll pay Ballantry whatever it takes to make this betrothal problem go away. As for Burling, if he opens his mouth, I’ll knock out all his teeth.”

“Then you’ll wind up with a broken hand.”

He glanced at his still-swollen knuckles. “It is a small sacrifice.”

She let out a resigned breath. “No, you needn’t hit him. If he approaches us, then I will pay him to silence him.”

“No, lass. Let me handle the matter.”

She arched an eyebrow. “As you did earlier?”

“Maybe,” he said with a wincing grin, appearing to completely lack remorse for dropping the cur to his knees in front of all the occupants of the inn. “Never underestimate the power of greed, lass. Burling has malice in his heart and thinks ye’ll pay dearly for it. But he knows I will kill him if provoked. So, I do the negotiating with Burling and Ballantry. Ye’ll stay out of it because yer heart’s too soft and they will trample it.”

“I’m not a very good harpy, am I?”

He cast her an affectionate smile. “No, lass.”

“Camborne, I am so very grateful for your assistance and protection.”

“Ye’ve already said so, lass. Ye dinna need to thank me again when I’ve made a fair bollocks of the situation.”

“No more than I have.” She emitted a light laugh. “But I’ll keep that in mind next time you assure me that you have matters under control and allow me to walk away.”

Mr. Farrell approached them to ask if all was to their satisfaction.

Jocelyn nodded. “It is all excellent. And thank you for the recommendation of your niece. She is truly talented, and I love my new gowns.”

The man beamed as he expressed his gratitude and then walked away.

“Oh, now everyone is looking at us again,” she remarked as Mr. Farrell engaged his other patrons in conversation. These conversations had to be about her and Camborne, since everyone kept glancing their way. “What do you think he is saying about us?”

“Oh, probably taking bets on whether or not we are married.”

“Camborne! No, that’s awful.”

He cast her a jaunty smile. “Och, love. Just jesting. I doubt they are talking about us at all.”

But she knew he was only saying this to spare her the humiliation.

Did anyone in Arbroth believe they were married? And what would they think when she spent a second night sharing a bedchamber with this Silver Duke?