Chapter One
“Will! William!” a young voice kept yelling urgently until the person in question, the Duke of Surrey shook his head and responded to the young lad.
“Nick, you don’t have to raise your voice like that. I heard you the first time,” William replied.
“Then why didn’t you acknowledge me sooner?”
William shook his head of dark curls. “Because that is my prerogative.”
Nick crossed his arms, a hint of impatience lingering on his face. He shifted his weight in his saddle and looked out at the horizon. Nothing but water for as far as one could see. “We’re too close to the edge. I’m going to back away.”
William glanced at Nick, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he watched the boy’s cautious retreat. The sun was beginning to set, casting golden streaks across the waves and painting the sky with hues of orange and lavender.
“We need to head back anyway,” William said. “It will be dark by the time we reach the house.”
“Yes, and Jane will be mad because she’s expecting guests this evening.”
“Who? She never mentioned that last evening or this morning at breakfast,” William replied.
Nick shrugged, glancing at William with a mischievous grin. He nudged his horse forward, heading to the stables. “Her friend, Margaret.”
Margaret Cooper and William’s sister Jane had been friends for as long as he could remember.
He had been unmerciful when they were all younger, pulling pranks on her and Jane.
Then they got older. William left for Eton.
Margaret and Jane were sent to a finishing school by both sets of parents.
Holidays were about the only time they saw each other.
Every time William saw her, she had grown more beautiful.
“I believe her parents are on the Continent,” Nick offered.
“That explains it. Now why don’t we get one last gallop in before it’s too dark.”
“You’re on!” his brother replied.
The horses pawed eagerly, sensing the energy between the brothers. The air was alive with the promise of one last adventure before evening settled in. As William and Nick exchanged a quick, competitive glance, the quiet anticipation of the race lingered in the salty breeze.
As usual, William let Nick win. His younger brother was fiercely driven, and usually William would make a race harder for Nick to claim victory. It was getting dark and he didn’t want to chance Nick falling from his gelding.
After leaving both horses with a waiting stable boy, the brothers ran to the kitchen door of Melbourne Manor. Inside, the kitchens smelled wonderful with the evening’s dinner being prepared. Hardly any eyes looked up at them as they quickly crossed to the glass doors.
Light laughter tinkled through the hallway as they crossed to take the staircase to their bed chambers. Whatever Jane and Margaret were laughing about was muffled by the thick oak door of the drawing room.
“Should we acknowledge them?” Nick asked innocently.
“No, I believe we should go change for dinner first,” William replied. He paused for a moment, his thoughts lingering on the laughter that promised comfort and companionship after a long day.
Inside his bed chamber William made note of clothes laid out on his bed by his valet, Thomas. The man had been with William since he turned ten. A friendship of sorts blossomed, and it seemed the man knew William’s wants and needs before William might.
“I understand Jane’s friend Lady Margaret has come for a visit,” William said.
“Yes, Your Grace,” came the reply.
Four years had passed since his father had died and he had inherited the ducal title.
And still he hadn’t gotten used to being referred to by that address.
His mother had moved into the dowager house after the initial year of mourning and now was living a new life.
One without the love of her life. Nick was the youngest and clung to William as a substitute father figure.
Jane, their sister, was fun loving, but after their mother moved out of the house and into the dowager house, she took over the role of hostess and whatever else was needed since William had yet to marry.
After Thomas finished helping William dress, he left the room, leaving William to himself.
He walked across the room and poured himself a whiskey from the sideboard.
William had only recently moved into his late father’s bedchamber.
Before he did, he had it redone. New wall coverings and paint, and some furniture had been removed.
He’d always wondered if his father had the same apprehension when he inherited the dukedom.
One thing that couldn’t be changed was the view.
It still looked out at the vast body of water and the private beach.
After finishing his drink, he set the glass down and walked outside the room and down the stairs. As he stopped in front of the drawing room, a footman opened the door for him. The door closed behind him as he entered.
“Will! Look who’s here!” Jane said with a wicked grin. His sister had always harbored plans to play matchmaker for him and Margaret.
Walking over to the women, he took Margaret’s hand and kissed the back. “Margaret, it’s lovely to see you.”
“You look tired, Will.”
“I’ve had a lot going on right now,” he replied.
“Save some time for me. I would like you to ride with me. I want to go down to the beach when the tide is low, and I want to see that house on the island.”
“Anything else?” he asked, arching his eyebrow.
“I’m sure more will come to me.” She grinned.
Jane interrupted their discussion. “Where is Nick?”
“I left him at his bedchamber. I’m sure he’ll be here momentarily,” William replied.
“He’s probably found something else that interests him and has forgotten about the time,” Jane said.
“I rather think his valet stuck him in a tub of hot water to scrub some of the grime off of him,” Will replied.
Margaret giggled. “I’m afraid I must side with Will. Nick is of that age.”
“Should I have someone check on him?” Jane inquired.
Will shook his head with a small smile. “No need, Jane. He’ll come along soon enough, especially if he knows there’s food waiting for him. Besides, he needs to learn to be responsible.”
Dinner was soon served and the three of them made their way to the dining room. Nick hurriedly brought up the rear, trying to make sure his arrival was low-key. But that wasn’t to be.
“Nice of you to join us, Nicholas,” Will reprimanded his younger brother as they all found their places at the table.
“I apologize for my tardiness. My valet insisted I take a bath first.”
William heard their sister snort as she tried to disguise her laughter. “Your valet deserves a prize,” Jane said.
Dinner began. Conversation was limited to silly things like the weather and the roses in the main garden, until Jane turned things around.
“Margaret asked you to take her riding to the beach and the lake? She wants to see the glass house on the island?”
“Yes,” Will replied abruptly. He cut a piece of roast chicken and popped it in his mouth.
“How do you intend to get to the house without swimming to it? I thought the boat had a hole,” Jane said.
“I’m sure it’s been fixed in case Mother wishes to go there,” Will said wiping his mouth with his napkin.
“It has been fixed,” Nick offered. “I rowed out to the house just a couple of days ago.”
Will gave his brother an annoyed look. “You know you’re not to do that. Not by yourself.”
“I wasn’t by myself. James accompanied me.” Nick was referring to his own valet who went along with his young charge if there was no one else.
“Very well,” Will said.
Margaret clapped her hands enthusiastically at the news. “That’s wonderful news, isn’t it, Will?”
It wasn’t the news he wanted to hear. Now he would have to row Margaret out to the house so she could see the inside. It would be all he could do to accompany her on the beach, but rowing to the cottage was going to take everything he had.
After dinner, everyone except Nick returned to the drawing room for tea and brandy.
Will glanced at Margaret, who was now beaming with anticipation, her blue eyes sparkling at the prospect of adventure.
He felt a knot tighten in his stomach as he realized he could not deny her request, no matter how much the thought unsettled him.
He forced a small smile, determined to do his best to make the day memorable for her, even if it meant facing his own demons.
She also volunteered to entertain them with her pianoforte skills. Sitting down at the keyboard, Margaret lightly let her fingers fly across the keyboard before she began a Paganini piece she knew he loved. Out of the corner of his eye, William noticed Jane was watching him intently.
Just then he realized his sister was yet again possibly eyeing a match between her best friend and him.
The idea was ludicrous. The best thing he could do for now was to get through tomorrow and keep his head down.
If he showed no interest in Margaret, Jane would become bored and move on to something else.
It wasn’t that he disliked marriage; he hadn’t yet found that perfect woman. Deep down he knew he needed to consider taking a wife and starting a family, as it would be better in the long run. He simply needed time.
He found himself nodding off to the music and rose from his chair and bid the two women good night. Will agreed with Margaret as to when they would meet up for their ride. With that, Will turned and walked out the door and straight to his bedchamber.
When he rose the next morning, he noticed the sun was out, making it the perfect day for a ride.
He looked out the window and down the cliff to the beach and water below.
The tide appeared to be coming in. He estimated they had no more than a couple hours to enjoy the beach before it was all engulfed in water.
Entering the breakfast room, he found Margaret sipping a cup of coffee. She glanced up at him with a smile on her luscious lips. After greeting her, he quietly scolded himself for noticing her body as he had.