A Duke By Any Other Name

Chapter Four

H enrietta dressed with care, choosing one of her finest day gowns. Today, she would insist Landon take her to her cousin’s estate without delay. She had already overstayed her welcome, and the thought of remaining at Rosebery any longer made her stomach churn. What had possessed her to ask him to kiss her? She must have been entirely out of her wits. In that moment, all she had wanted was to feel his arms around her, to be made to feel special and desired—and for a brief, fleeting instant, she had.

But then he had ruined it all. The man believed her to be Grayfield’s betrothed. What would he think if he realized how wrong he had been, that she was, in fact, the earl’s cousin? Would it matter? Would it change his view of her? And more importantly, why did she even care?

Henrietta sighed deeply. She had never concerned herself with a man’s opinion before. Why, then, did Landon seem to have such an unusual hold on her thoughts?

Leaving her bedchamber, she descended the staircase with purpose. Her trunks were packed, waiting only for a servant to load them into a carriage. All that remained was to locate Landon and demand he make the necessary arrangements to take her to Grayfield Park. He had claimed that Grayfield was his neighbor, so hopefully the trip would not take too long.

“Good morrow, my lady,” the butler greeted her with a bow. “Might I escort you to the breakfast room?”

“Thank you,” she replied. “But if you would be so kind as to inform his lordship that I wish to depart, I would be most grateful.”

“Of course,” he said. “His Grace is in his study. Would you like me to show you the way?”

His Grace?

Henrietta froze, her thoughts spinning. She had paid little attention to how the servants addressed Landon. Come to think of it, they had not referred to him as “my lord” or anything at all in her presence. She had not thought it odd at the time, but now… She could not help questioning everything.

What had Landon been hiding from her? He was not merely a gentleman or a neighbor to Grayfield—he was a duke. And Henrietta had thought she had been the fool…

Well, in some regards, she had been. He had made a lot of assumptions regarding her. Was this why he had thought she sought a loftier title? Clearly, Landon struggled with trust and had allowed his assumptions to guide his actions.

“That would be wonderful,” she replied at last, forcing a smile. “I would be most obliged.”

“It is my pleasure,” the butler said. “This way, my lady.”

Henrietta followed him down the corridor until they reached a door. The butler knocked and then opened it. “Pardon the interruption, Your Grace,” he said, “but Lady Henrietta wishes to speak with you.”

Landon looked up, meeting her gaze, and she saw the realization dawn in his eyes. If he had hoped to keep his identity a secret, he had failed miserably. Why had he felt the need to hide the truth from her? And now, standing before him, she wasn’t certain she even wanted the answers to her questions.

“Come in,” he said. “We should talk.”

The butler closed the door behind her, leaving them alone. Henrietta stepped closer, stopping just before his large wooden desk. Landon leaned back in his chair, his intense gaze locked on hers.

“Can you arrange for a carriage to take me to Grayfield Park?” she asked evenly.

“Ye doona believe he will come tae fetch ye himself?” Landon arched a brow.

“He might send a carriage,” she replied curtly. “That is, if you informed him of my whereabouts.”

“And yet ye doona think he’d come for ye in person?” Landon pressed. It had not escaped her notice that he did not deny that he had failed to send a missive to her cousin. She should not be surprised, and yet she was.

She shrugged, exasperated. “Grayfield is a busy man, with guests arriving for his wedding. It seems far more likely he would send a servant with a carriage. Why does it matter?”

Landon exhaled deeply, rising from his chair to stand before her. He towered over her, but Henrietta refused to be intimidated. “What is he tae ye?” he asked softly.

“I fail to see how that is your concern,” she retorted, tilting her chin up. “I have not pretended to be anyone other than who I am.”

“And who are ye, exactly?” he challenged. “Ye’re not his betrothed, as I believed.”

“As I never claimed to be,” she snapped. “I cannot fathom why you thought otherwise.”

“Someone I trusted told me his betrothed was traveling that road and would arrive soon,” he said. “I made an assumption, and for that, I owe ye an apology.”

Henrietta stared at him, unimpressed. She didn’t care who had misled him; it was of no consequence now. “Tell me something, Your Grace,” she said. “Why did it matter to you if Grayfield’s betrothed traveled that road? What were your intentions for her? For me?”

“I intended nothing like what ye’re imagining,” he replied firmly.

Henrietta did not know about that. She could imagine quite a bit. He had planned to seduce her. Somehow she knew that with a certainty she could not explain.

She shook her head, her frustration mounting. “Grayfield is your closest neighbor, isn’t he?”

“Aye,” Landon admitted.

“And you hate him,” she stated flatly.

His jaw tightened. “I doona know if I’d use that word…”

“You hate him,” she repeated, throwing up her hands. “And you wanted to harm him in some way. That’s the only reason you would care about who traveled down that road. You weren’t there out of kindness, Landon.” Her voice trembled with anger. “You may spare me your explanations. I see everything clearly now.” And it was time for her to leave. She could not be near him a second longer. “Have a carriage brought around to take me to Grayfield. I cannot stay here.”

Henrietta turned, storming out of the room before her emotions could betray her further. Her heart ached with the realization of how deeply she had misjudged him. She had wanted so much more from Landon—something lasting, something real. Foolishly, she had thought she’d found it. But no, there had been no love, only schemes and assumptions. And she would not allow herself to be humiliated further.

*

Landon had to stop her. This had all gone wrong from the very beginning. He strode out of his room and caught up with her before she reached the foyer. Without hesitation, he lifted her into his arms and carried her back down the hallway. When they reached his study, he stepped inside, shut the door behind them, and turned the key in the lock. She would not escape him so easily—not until they settled this matter once and for all.

“Ye cannot leave yet.” He could hear the desperation in his own voice as he spoke. How had it come to this?

“Oh? Is that so?” She glared up at him, fire blazing in her eyes. “And why not? What possible reason do I have to remain at Rosebery?”

“Ye have every reason tae stay.” The thought of her leaving—especially if she intended to go to Grayfield Park—was unbearable. “Doona go, lass.”

She scoffed, placing her hands on her hips. “You are being utterly ridiculous. You do not want me here. You simply want an excuse to use me in your petty grudge against Grayfield.” She snorted in disgust. “Well, I will not allow it.”

“He has nothing tae do with this!” Landon’s frustration mounted. He was botching this up nicely. “I need ye here.”

“Need me?” She tilted her chin up in defiance. “Then give me one good reason why I should stay.”

“Because I want you to,” he said.

“Not good enough.” She turned on her heel, marched to the door, and yanked at the handle. “Unlock this door, Landon. I am leaving.”

“No, ye are not.” His heart was pounding. If he didn’t stop her now, he would lose her forever. He had to tell her the truth, to bare his soul. She had breached the icy walls around his heart, bringing warmth where there had once been only cold. “Please,” he said, his voice softer now. “Doona go.”

She paused, her hand still on the door handle, then turned to face him. “I told you what I needed from you. Why is it so difficult for you to give it?”

Landon ran a hand through his hair, his frustration warring with the emotions he had long suppressed. He had spent years guarding his heart, shutting others out. But Henrietta had done the impossible—she had slipped past his defenses. If he didn’t confess it all now, he would lose her.

“I have never let anyone in before,” he said, tapping his chest. “But ye…ye are here. Somehow, ye have found yer way into my heart when no one else ever has.”

Her breath hitched, her eyes softening. “What are you saying?”

“I adore ye,” he confessed. “I cannot imagine this drafty old castle without ye in it. I want tae spend the rest of my days with ye by my side. I want tae marry ye and show ye every day how much we belong together.” He stepped closer, cupping her cheek. “I want tae kiss ye every morning and every night and worship ye as you deserve.”

“You do?” Her voice trembled with emotion. “Even though you do not truly know me?”

“I do know ye,” he insisted. “Ye are Lady Henrietta Newman—the woman who stole my heart and has kept it safe ever since. Ye are my everything.”

Her lips parted, and she stared at him, searching his eyes. “You should know something. Grayfield is my cousin. He is my father’s heir and will one day be the Duke of Hampstead.”

“I do not care,” Landon said without hesitation. “As long as ye agree tae be mine. I may never like the man, but I can tolerate him for yer sake. That is what families do, is it not?”

She laughed softly, her tension easing. “How generous of you.”

“Aye,” he said with a grin, “it is. But ye should know I will secretly be wishing him all manner of ill will. I just will not actively seek tae ensure it finds him.”

Her laughter rang out, warming him to his very core. “I can live with that,” she said. “He can be insufferable at times, so I understand your dislike. Thankfully, we won’t have to live with him—or even see him often.”

“I’m only grateful ye are not in love with the scoundrel. Otherwise I would be honor bound tae murder him tae save ye from him,” Landon said, his smile softening. “I always thought ye were too good for him.”

“You were not wrong,” she teased. “But trust me, his betrothed will manage him well enough.”

“Good,” Landon said with a smirk. “I hope she makes his life extra difficult.”

Henrietta wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his chest. For the first time, everything felt right.

“Tell me,” he said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Will you marry me? Today? We are in Scotland—we need not wait.”

She looked up at him, her eyes shining with joy. “I would like nothing more than to marry you today.”

Landon did not waste a moment. He leaned down and captured her lips in a kiss filled with all the love he could not put into words. Their courtship may have been a whirlwind, but it felt as though it had been destined from the start. Let the world be surprised by their union; he could not wait to make her his wife.

“You will never regret this,” he vowed.

“I know,” she replied. “I love you.”

“And I love you, my lass,” he said tenderly, kissing her again.

Landon had never dreamed he would find the love of his life when he had been plotting revenge. But Henrietta was his, and he would spend the rest of his days ensuring she knew just how deeply he adored her.