The Odyssean Duke (Corset Chronicles #4)

Chapter 1

“Ladies, I have come to a decision,” announced Evelina Burville, the Dowager Countess of Thornwall.

She hoped that her friends would not think she had taken leave of her senses, for Evelina had finally found a solution to a problem which had vexed her for some time.

It was an unconventional solution, admittedly, but it was not as if the women in the Corset Chronicles Club had ever cared too much for following conventions.

The room was proof of that; while the ladies lounged on sofas and chairs, the children were present and not hidden politely away with a nurse or governess.

Her sister Theodora, the Duchess of Hawthorne, lounged on a nearby sofa with a glass of wine.

The young woman’s face was flushed, and her eyes shone.

She had perhaps over-indulged, but they were all celebrating their good fortune and the arrival of their newest member, Lady Rosalind Kendall, a waif of a woman in a pale pink gown.

She was Theodora’s sister-in-law and had a tendency to become a wallflower when she stood near Theodora, who was always filled with exuberant energy.

“Why did you laugh?” Evelina asked.

“Because you said it so urgently, sister!” Theodora exclaimed. “Why, I might believe that you were going to announce that Napoleon has found our shores!”

“Not urgently,” said Maria, the Duchess of Winterleigh and a close friend of Evelina’s. While the pair shared no blood, Evelina considered her—as well as Anna, the Duchess of Wutherton- to be her sisters as much as Theodora was. “But with force, certainly.”

The three women exchanged glances, as if they were silently determining if Maria’s descriptor was correct.

“With force,” Theodora conceded, raising her glass in a precarious toast that nearly sent the wine spilling onto the cushion beneath her. “Significant force.”

“Well,” Evelina said, folding her hands in her lap. “It is a decision that I have been contemplating for some time, examining from every angle before deciding upon it at last. If I am forceful, it is only because I am so excited to have committed to it.”

“So what is this mysterious decision?” Theodora asked, grinning.

“I have decided to have a child.”

Theodora gasped so loudly it was almost comical.

Maria stood a small distance away, watching like a hawk as her three-year-old son James toddled to the piano.

Gilbert, Maria’s adoptive son, followed.

Seeing that her sons were safe, Maria walked to the sofa upon which Theodora sat and stood behind her. “Do you truly wish to marry, Evelina?”

Evelina’s gaze fixed on the boys. Gilbert had hoisted his brother onto the piano bench and sat beside James, who slammed his hands on the keys and released a discordant sound.

James laughed. A wave of longing swept over Evelina.

If her husband had been kinder, she might have children of her own running around just like that, leaving a trail of mischief in their wake.

“The glamorous widow,” Theodora continued. “The woman who obeys no conventions. I cannot believe you wish to marry!”

Evelina reluctantly turned her attention to the other disbelieving women. “I did not say I wished to marry,” she said. “Only that I wish to have a child.”

“Well, you cannot have one without the other,” Maria said.

Evelina clasped her hands together in her lap. She bit the inside of her cheek, silently awaiting her friends’ judgment, as they drew the inevitable conclusion.

“Unless you…” Theodora trailed off. “You cannot—you do not mean to say…”

“Perhaps, I might travel to a wellness retreat and return with a child,” Evelina said evenly. “Without any marriage at all.”

“I believe she is serious,” said Rosalind.

“Are you?” Theodora asked, some of her mirth fading. “Evelina, there are so many reasons why you should not do that.”

A flurry of sharp notes followed. James was abusing the poor instrument, but Evelina’s lips twitched in fond amusement.

Children were so lively and just wonderful, and Evelina just wanted one of her own.

Of course, there were many reasons why she should not conceive a child out of wedlock, but a good mother would do anything for her children.

What was a little shame? Besides, she would not be shamed forever.

While the ton was quick to criticize, they were equally quick in moving on to the next scandal.

Eventually, they would find something more interesting than Evelina’s child with dubious origins.

“Dearest—” Maria cut off abruptly and hurried to her children. She murmured a few soft words, and James relinquished the piano seat.

Evelina had not minded the sound. James did not seem upset about having his musical interlude interrupted, though. He and Gilbert set into the cakes which had been left with the tea.

“These are wonderful cakes!” exclaimed Gilbert.

Evelina smiled. “My cook is quite gifted.”

Evelina imagined herself as a doting mother, eating honey cakes with her child; she thought they’d laugh together, as their fingers became sticky from the honey.

A tightness formed in her chest and spread everywhere, making it difficult to breathe.

She could imagine it all so clearly, and it hurt being able to envision everything so precisely.

Evelina thought about how wonderful it would be to have a child growing inside her, to feel those first kicks and to know that her baby would soon arrive.

Then, she imagined holding a child—a precious little boy or girl—in her arms and knowing that it was her duty to take care of such a sweet, vulnerable baby.

Of everything her husband had done, depriving her of children was the worst. Evelina knew there were women who disliked motherhood, and she had always championed a woman’s freedom to choose her life.

But to Evelina, not having a child was like being a half-woman, doomed to a wretched existence of wanting.

“Are you certain you do not wish to at least marry?” asked Maria as she rejoined them. “It would be less scandalous.”

“I cannot do that,” Evelina said. “Even if that is the convenient choice, it is not the best one for me.”

There were no secrets between the members of the club and herself; they all knew about her cold and loveless marriage. The former Earl of Thornwall had been a cruel and thoughtless man, who married her for wealth and never gave a moment’s consideration to her once the marriage contract was signed.

“I do not imagine this is a great surprise to you,” Evelina said. “You know just as well that I have expressed a desire to be a mother.”

“But marriage…” Theodora trailed off.

“I have a plan,” Evelina said, knowing that the details of her plan were certain to scandalize. “I will find a man, use him for his seed, and have a baby to raise as my own.”

The sound which came from Theodora’s throat vaguely resembled the cry of an affronted chicken. To her chagrin, Evelina could not even blame her friend for the unseemly outburst. She had expressed her plan rather directly.

Maria simply stared at her, and Rosalind averted her gaze, shifting uncomfortably. Heat rose to Evelina’s face. While she was an unconventional woman, she tried to remember that others were not. Maybe she should not have mentioned any man’s seed quite so openly. Unexpectedly.

“But then you will be married to him!” Gilbert piped up.

Evelina’s face flushed; it was clear that Gilbert, as astute as he was, did not realize the significance of what she was saying. However, his declaration seemed to break the spell which held the other members of the club in a disbelieving trance. “Yes,” Maria said, sounding flustered. “Evelina—”

“I have considered this matter very carefully,” interrupted Evelina. “I am eight-and-twenty years of age. Soon, I will be thirty. Could I even have a baby then?”

“Angelica.” The nurse, who stood by the wall, snapped to attention at Maria’s words. “Yes, Your Grace?”

“Will you take Gilbert and James into the gardens?” Maria asked. “I think they would benefit from the fresh air, and it is such a beautiful day.”

“Of course, Your Grace.”

Evelina, of course, understood the real reason for the request. They were about to discuss matters which were not suitable for children. Once the children were gone, Maria sank into the chair beside Rosalind.

“I know what you are going to say,” Evelina said.

“That you have taken leave of your senses,” Theodora said bluntly.

“Precisely that,” Evelina acknowledged. “But you must consider my perspective. I am eight-and-twenty. What do I have? This club, which has become a place for our families, but that is all.”

“That is all?” Maria asked. “This club is unlike any other. It is magnificent, Evelina!”

“I agree,” she said. “And I love what it has become. I am glad that it is a place where you can all come together with your lovely children, but in seeing how happy you all are, I find myself wanting.”

Rosalind’s eyes widened, and she put a hand to her chest as if terribly scandalized by the idea.

“But why?” Theodora asked. “You still have time to find a husband and marry happily.”

“I do not want to wait any longer,” replied Evelina. “Besides, after all my independence as a widow, I cannot possibly endure marrying a man for the rest of my life. Why, if I could make a child on my own, I would!”

As the silence settled between them, Evelina’s eyes darted from woman to woman, searching for their reactions.

Maria’s brow was furrowed in thought, Rosalind looked as if she was startled and fighting to conceal her surprise, and Theodora swallowed another mouthful of wine.

Evelina shifted in her chair, thinking of Athena, who had grown fully formed from Zeus’ skull.

If only she could bear a child in that same manner!

Evelina would suffer the most excruciating of headaches if it meant she might have a baby of her own.

“Regrettably, that is not an option,” Maria said at last.

Evelina was uncertain whether Maria meant creating a child without a man or if she referred to the plan in its entirety.

“I have already made my decision,” Evelina said.

“I realize that it is an unusual one, but I will not be dissuaded. I shared my choice with you because you are my friends, and I desperately desire your approval.”

“Are you courting someone in secret?” Theodora asked, tilting her head back against the sofa seat.

Evelina supposed that was a reasonable question. It was simple enough to imagine that a woman who was courting in secret and who had previously sworn that she would never marry again might concoct a story such as hers to justify another marriage and spare herself the embarrassment.

“No,” Evelina said. “There is no one.”

There would never be a courtship. She was no longer a young miss being ordered like a hound by a cold and mercurial father but a mature widow, who was capable of making her own choices in life.

Evelina would find a man who did not care to ask any questions, and they would have a child. It was really quite simple.

“The ton will be merciless,” Maria said. “Do you truly wish to make such an arrangement? You would be barred from all society’s events once everyone learned about it.”

“You will be my support and invite me to your events,” Evelina said, “and I will still have the Corset Chronicles Club.”

“But Evelina—” Evelina cut off Maria with a wave of her hand.

“I would like to remind you of how supportive I was when you were found in the phantom duke’s bed and forced to marry him,” Evelina said.

Maria’s face pinkened. “Be that as it may…”

“And when Anna staged a fake funeral,” Evelina added. “She is not here, but I am certain we all remember that outlandish episode.”

The women nodded.

“I was also rather kind when you were concocting your love experiments,” Evelina said, turning her attention to Theodora. “Remember?”

“Yes,” Theodora said breezily.

Evelina waited in case there was further opposition, but no one else spoke.

She nodded, satisfied that she had convinced them not to protest further, at least for the moment.

“I know that not all women are suited to be families,” she continued softly.

“But that is all I have ever wanted. I was married once and could not fulfill that desire. My husband would not even consummate our marriage and denied me the chance to bear a child. He shared himself with his courtesans and did not spare a thought for me. When he drank himself to death, I was free but with my dreams in tatters.”

Maria’s face softened. “My dear Evelina.”

Evelina took a shuddering breath of air and forced herself to be calm. “I know that I can be a good mother. It is what I am meant to be, and I cannot bear spending any longer not doing what I am meant to do. I cannot.”

Her eyes burned with threatening tears, but she forced them back, feeling a little foolish.

When Evelina had imagined herself sharing the plan with her friends, she had envisioned herself as a brave, resolute heroine who would not surrender to her emotions, but saying everything that she had held within her breast for so long left her feeling raw and exposed.

“It will have to be a duke,” Theodora said.

Evelina blinked, startled. “Why?”

“You cannot settle for less,” Theodora explained. “Maria, Anna, and I all married dukes. Your child must, at least, be a duke.”

“He does not have to be the best duke,” Maria added, her lips twitching. “Not the one most admired by the ton.”

“Maybe a rakish duke,” Theodora said. “He would be content to live apart from you after the deed was done.”

“Or a devilish duke,” Maria said, grinning.

“A destitute duke!” Rosalind exclaimed.

Evelina laughed, her face warming as she basked in the love and support of her friends. “That is unnecessary. I have been doing research in secret, and I have already determined the best man to bear a child with.”

Maria’s eyes widened. Rosalind was too late to stifle a gasp.

Theodora propped herself up on her elbow and pulled herself up a little. “What kind of research?”

“In taverns,” Evelina said.

Of course, Theodora would be excited at the prospect of research, no matter the subject.

“I have determined that my child’s father need be neither a lord nor a duke,” Evelina said. “No, I must find someone who will have no care for societal expectations. And more pertinently, someone who will have no power over either my child or me.”

Her friends’ eyes widened, for that aspect of her plan was even more scandalous than her proposed marriage arrangement. She had spent a considerable amount of time and effort on this plan, and it would be simply perfect.