Always a Gentleman, Never a Duke (Dueling for Dukes Book 3)

Chapter 14

It was on a sunny afternoon made even more beautiful by a gentle breeze that carried the scent of new blooms and cut grass that the Duke of Ardley finally met a woman who instantly fell in love with him.

Not for all his charms and his systemic way of winning a woman’s affection.

No. He won her love by sitting down on the grass with her and letting her unravel his cravat.

Lady Felicity Bender was smitten within seconds.

She toddled over to the duke and threw her arms around his neck, gurgling happily when it was too much and telling him he was very pretty when she could form the words.

Eloise couldn’t help but laugh along with the rest of the members of their little gathering.

It was a sendoff, but she didn’t wish to think of it like that. She and Tuck were to leave within the fortnight for Spitsbergen, and everyone had gathered in the shared courtyard of Stoke Bruerne House. The supplies had all been purchased, guides hired for every leg of the expedition, and tickets in hand. It was time for them finally to go.

Eloise’s mother had insisted on a formal gathering to give them a proper goodbye, and although it was hard to imagine leaving the only place she had ever known, there was too much excitement burbling within her to let any feelings of sadness or misgiving overtake her euphoria.

Gwen and Logan had made the trip down from Yorkshire with little Felicity. Eloise got to hold her for all of a minute before Grandmother Bitsy and Nancy had commandeered the poor child. But they both had lost to the duke, and Eloise found this fitting somehow. The man was nothing if not a strategist.

Gabriel fawned over Annie, and Eloise wondered if the man would make it through the entirety of Annie’s pregnancy without expiring from the strain of it. They had wasted no time in starting their own little family, and even now, watching Gabriel bring Annie yet another glass of lemonade as she reclined in the shade—the poor woman was going to be using the retiring room all day—Eloise couldn’t help but smile.

The only question was who would be delivered of their baby first. Eloise’s eyes traveled to Gwen who sat next to her husband, her stomach already rounded enough to be straining her gown.

There was a pinch in her chest as she watched her sisters and their husbands, and Eloise wondered if she would meet these babes they carried. She shooed the thought away for the silliness that it was. Of course, she would meet them. They would return in the spring when the weather was favorable enough for travel, and then she would meet her new nieces or nephews or better yet perhaps there would be one of each.

Her eyes moved to Tuck then who was seated at the small table on the terrace with her father. They were debating over an editorial in The Gazette that asserted the platitudes of Prime Minister Disraeli. Seeing Tuck sitting there, lounging so naturally, his speech so animated, Eloise wondered if he’d meant to be there all along, nestled here in the bosom of her family.

They’d traveled to Derbyshire for Eloise to meet Tuck’s family and for them to wish them well on their journey. Eloise didn’t know quite what she’d been expecting, but she wasn’t surprised to find Tuck had been raised in a home full of books where a teapot was always at the ready and with a mother who while not demonstrably affectionate would likely raise an entire army to defend one of her children. It was the exact place where she wished to imagine little Tuck growing up.

Their visit was all too short, and they returned to London to find their expedition gear had been delivered to Tippy’s. They’d given up their rented rooms after it became clear they were not large enough to house all of the equipment they were purchasing for the endeavor. Tippy had insisted they come live with him until it was time for them to depart, and they couldn’t have thought of a better idea.

The earl gave his ideas on everything from the ropes they purchased to tie down the equipment to the dog sleds to the dried jerky they acquired for when fresh rations would run out. He plied them with stories of his and Carolina’s adventures around the globe and gave them helpful warnings on what to avoid.

All of these warnings contained some story of bats in dark caves.

It had been a glorious couple of months, but the season was winding down, and with it, their departure drew near.

Eloise let her gaze drift over to Tippy who sat next to Grandmother Bitsy under the rose arbor. The two were deep in conversation, their voices hardly more than whispers.

She was startled when Tuck touched her shoulder as she’d been watching the pair in the arbor so intently.

Just before she turned to greet her husband, she caught Tippy sliding Grandmother Bitsy a coin.

“Grandmother,” Eloise said, and the woman jumped as if caught. “Are you taking money from the earl?”

Tippy touched a hand dramatically to his forehead. “I’m afraid I’m helping her pay off her gambling debts.” He glanced in Bitsy’s direction. “We’ve been caught, my dear. Might as well give up.”

Grandmother Bitsy stood with a sound of indignation. “I never give up, Tippy.” She held the hand holding the coin to her chest. “And this is not gambling. It was a single wager, which I lost, and I’ve owed dear Hattie for some time. I’m a woman of honor, and I shall pay my debts accordingly.”

“Hattie?” Eloise asked.

Grandmother Bitsy waved a hand in the air. “Lady Travers, child. I didn’t think she’d get the two of you locked into that broom cupboard, and she not only managed the feat, but she acquired witnesses too.”

Eloise shot to her feet. “You had us locked in that broom cupboard.”

They had the attention of everyone in their little gathering then as Eloise was unable to control her voice, even when Tuck placed a calming hand on her shoulder.

Grandmother Bitsy scoffed as if offended. “I did no such thing.” She shrugged as if it mattered very little. “I simply made a bet with Hattie that she couldn’t see the deed done. I was wrong. She saw to it masterfully, and you two finally came to your senses and wed.” She shook her head, her eyes wandering to the sky in frustration. “I must do everything around here.”

Eloise and the rest of them had no choice but to watch the woman walk away as she went to pay off her gambling debts.