Chapter 6
There was a knock, and then some more knocking. Sprawled on his stomach, Royce opened his eyes; the room was too bright, and his head ached. Exhausted, he grunted as he lifted his head and glanced in the door’s direction. That seemed to be where the noise was coming from…or had it been part of his dream?
A slight smile tugged at the corners of Royce’s mouth. His dream had been so vivid and explicit that he could still see the image of a woman, naked and radiant, lying on his bed.
She had been on top of him, below him, and in every position imaginable. Royce remembered his gaze roaming over her form as his fingertips caressed every dip and curve, tracing a line up her neck and tucking a stray wave of amber-colored hair behind her ear.
But then he remembered the way her hazel eyes looked up at him lovingly, and his smile quickly fell from his face. Royce ran through the dream in his head several times and could not recall picturing anyone but Della. Bloody hell. The banging resumed, and he dropped his face into his pillow.
“Royce…Royce! If you are in there, answer me, or I will have Mother come up here. And heaven save you if I must do so. I will give you to the count of three to open this door. One…Two…”
Royce drew the blankets up, having divested himself of everything the night before. He found sleeping in the nude to be invigorating and only used a robe when he needed to leave his room for something in the middle of the night.
“For God’s sake, come in and stop banging on the door, will you?” Royce yelled.
The door burst open as Maggie flew into the room with her hands fisted on her hips. “You look horrible.”
“Thank you,” Royce mumbled into his pillow.
“Giles!”
Royce winced as Maggie’s call echoed through his head.
“Yes, my lady?” Giles said, slipping into the room.
“See that His Grace is given coffee and some sustenance, please. Then he is to be shaven, dressed, and report downstairs within the hour.”
“Yes, my lady.” Giles bowed and left to do Maggie’s bidding.
“And here I thought I was the master of this house,” Royce said in response to Maggie’s high-handedness.
“Not when the master of the house looks as though he was robbed or perhaps drank a bit too much. But, seeing as everything seems to still be here, and the owner looks like he got trampled by a horse, I will go with the latter.”
“Must you shout?” Royce groaned as he sat up. “Hand me my robe, will you?”
Maggie crossed over to where the robe hung on the bottom post of the bed, picked it up, and threw it at Royce.
Royce sat there on the bed with his robe hanging over his head. “You know you should not be in here. It is not proper,” he said as he pulled his robe on and threw a pillow at Maggie.
“You are to escort us around today,” Maggie said, catching the pillow and throwing it back at him. “We have several places to visit before the Bellamy’s ball tonight. Della sent word, and she said we were to inform you should we desire to go out.”
“Correction—“ Royce held up a finger—”I told Della to send a messenger if she wanted to go somewhere and did not have an escort. Last time I checked, you were not a messenger, nor did I give you permission to read my correspondence.”
“I did not read it. Mother did,” Maggie said with far too much enthusiasm.
“I will have to have a word with mother. She should not be reading my correspondence without my knowledge. But it comes as no surprise that she sent you to deliver the message.”
“I was not sent. I volunteered.”
“Of course you did.” Royce rolled his eyes.
“Why did you offer to escort Della, and when did you talk to her?”
“I spoke to her after we literally bumped into each other as she walked home from tea with you and Mother. Did you know she came without an escort yesterday?”
“She always does.” Maggie waved a dismissive hand. “And you did not answer my question.”
“Not even her lady’s maid?”
“It is not like she must go far, and Mother knows. You talk as though she has committed an egregious act. There really is no point—“
“The point,” Royce was quick to interject, “is that neither of you should go anywhere alone. It is very irresponsible of her aunt and father if they do not notice that she does so. And even more irresponsible that our mother knows and does nothing about it.”
“Why are you suddenly so protective? Della is not your responsibility, dear brother.” Maggie tapped her toe in an irritated fashion. “Why did you offer to escort her around?” she repeated.
“I figured she needed some form of protection, seeing as how she must endure your company so often.” Royce sarcastically answered Maggie’s question without giving her the truth.
Maggie stuck her tongue out at Royce when Giles appeared in the doorway, holding a towel and a basin of water. Royce let out a silent sigh of relief. Thank heavens for Giles’ arrival.
“I will see you downstairs within the hour!” Maggie reminded him, ending their conversation as she swept from the room.
Giles moved swiftly and efficiently around, pulling everything together that he would need for the day. Royce thought for a moment. Escorting Della, his mother, and Maggie could work in his favor—and he had promised he would.
Many gentlemen would be in and out of shops this time of day, and until Aden decided if he was serious about offering for Della, Royce had to continue as if nothing had changed. He sighed. At least it was a starting point until he figured out his next move.
Royce got up and made his way into the dressing room to ready himself for what was sure to be an interesting day.
Della sat alone in the dining room, eating breakfast. Her father had left earlier for a meeting about a business he had planned to acquire. And Tilly, feeling under the weather, elected to have breakfast in her room. Not having much of an appetite herself, Della absentmindedly moved the food around the plate.
“We are here!”
Della nearly jumped out of her seat, her fork clanking against her plate as Maggie came charging into the room. Croxton hurried after her, looking crossly at Maggie for denying him the opportunity to announce her arrival.
“Thank you, Croxton.” Della looked at the man with sympathy.
Croxton bowed and left the room, but not before throwing a quick exasperated look in Maggie’s direction.
“What?” Maggie asked when Della looked at her with her eyebrow raised.
“Have a care for poor Croxton. Could you maybe, just once, let him announce you before you come bursting into the room?” Della asked, taking the last sip of her morning chocolate.
“Bah, he should be used to it by now.” Maggie waved her hand dismissively.
“Be that as it may,” Della laughed. “Just so we do not have to hire someone new, allow him to announce you…just once.”
“Fine,” Maggie said exasperatedly, plopping down in the seat. “But I make no promises on anything past that.”
“I guess that is all one could ask for,” Della said bemusedly. “Thank you.”
“You say thank you as though I have no care for other people. I care about them greatly, but I am a busy woman. I simply do not have the time to wait for an announcement of my arrival every time I come here.“ Maggie slumped back into her chair. “Well, let us go!” She abruptly stood, as if remembering why she was there. “I have already informed Royce that he is to accompany us today as you asked me to do.”
“But I did not ask you to tell him that. I sent him a message.”
“You did…but then mother read it and I told him.”
“How did your mother know there was nothing in that message that was to remain private?” Della asked.
Maggie shrugged. “I think since it came from you, she figured it would be safe to read it.”
Even though she trusted Maggie and the Duchess implicitly, Della could not help but feel a twinge of unease knowing her letters to Royce were being read before they reached him.
“Let us go. Royce and the rest of the family are waiting for us. We have so much to do and so little time before the Bellamy’s ball tonight!”
Just about that time, Della looked out the window to see Royce go around to the stables. Puzzled, she headed to the front door and before she could finish tying the ribbon on her bonnet, Maggie linked arms with her and practically dragged her outside.
Della looked into the carriage and saw not only the Duchess, but Samuel, and the twins—accompanied by their governess. She had not expected this small trip to turn into an excursion for the Derrington family. Especially since she only needed to pick up a book she had ordered.
“Della,” the Duchess called out. “The carriage is full up, I am afraid.” She gave Della an apologetic look. “Would you mind riding with Maggie and Royce alongside the carriage?”
“It would be no problem at all, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, dear. Royce has already gone around to have your horse readied.”
Della’s eyes went wide, remembering the last interaction Titan and Demeter had been involved in. She looked where Titan stood innocently munching on some grass. Poor horse, he was in for a surprise.
The clacking of hooves made Titan’s ears perk up, and he shifted restlessly. At the first sight of Demeter, he whinnied and pulled on the leads, nearly lifting the groom from the ground. Demeter was pulled up next to Titan, who eyed Royce with a look of betrayal and snorted his discontent.
“Your horse has a clear lack of respect for boundaries. I tried to be kind and retrieved a fresh carrot the groom had waiting for her. But apparently the only thing she cared about was finding the opportunity to sink her teeth into something else.”
Royce grumbled, turning to show the smeared dirt and hay stuck to the back of his coattails. He stepped closer to Della as everyone in the carriage laughed at his obvious displeasure.
Della’s breath hitched, his nearness filling her with nervous excitement as Royce gently lifted her up onto the saddle, and slowly released his grip, allowing his hand to leisurely move down to rest on her knee.
“If everyone is ready, we must hurry. We need to get to Madame Delphine’s before she closes,” the Duchess said.
Royce acknowledged his mother with a nod, his fingers delicately caressing the fabric of Della’s dress before he shifted and turned to look at Titan. Placing his foot in the stirrup, he gracefully swung his leg over the saddle to sit astride.
Della could only imagine the freedom men must feel completely unburdened by multiple layers of clothing or the need to ride side-saddle.
“Ladies first,” Royce said, motioning Della and Maggie to go ahead of him.
Della had to laugh at Royce’s blatant dislike of Demeter, but she could not really blame him. If the shoe had been on the other foot, she was sure her reaction would have been much the same.
As they made their way to Bond Street, Della felt the weight of Royce’s eyes on her back and could only speculate what he was thinking when he looked at her.
Royce followed from a safe distance, his eyes remaining vigilant of the four-legged temperamental beast in front of him. His mind, however, remained focused on its rider. He had helped Della many times before, but, for some reason, the feel of her body beneath his hands left him feeling unsteady.
Maybe he should have taken Aden up on his offer the other night. It had been far too long if he could not recall the last time he had lain with a woman. That could be the only plausible explanation for why he had let his hand linger on Della longer than he should have.
A short time later, they arrived at the Inn. Royce dismounted and hurried to help everyone alight from the carriage, then proceeded to where Della and Maggie waited. He helped Maggie first, then turned to Della, keeping a firm eye on the annoying equine that stood beside him.
“Does she have something against all men, or just the Derrington men?” Royce asked as Demeter snorted at him, her pinned back ears a telltale sign of her evil intentions.
“Demeter, we must be on our best behavior. You will make me break my promise to Titan, and it really is unladylike to act in such a manner.” Della reprimanded the horse as Royce helped her slide from the saddle. “She really is a big sweetheart once she gets to know you,” Della cooed while rubbing Demeter’s nose affectionately.
Oh, she was a big something, all right, but Royce held his tongue.
Leaving the care of horses to the lad outside the Inn, Royce placed a hand at the small of Della’s back, guiding her to where their group had gathered.
Everyone needed to go in different directions. Maggie and his mother to the milliners for a few things, then to Madame Delphine’s to pick up Maggie’s dress. The twins would accompany them with the aid of Mrs. Cora.
Della only needed to dip into the bookshop to pick up a book she had ordered and then wanted to walk in the park. When Royce offered to accompany her, he noticed the look his mother and Maggie had exchanged. Hoping they were not jumping to conclusions, Royce hastily asked Samuel if he would care to join them on their walk.
With Samuel’s emphatic yes, they all went their separate ways, agreeing to meet at the Inn for luncheon in one hour.
“Shall we?” Royce offered.
Royce greeted the occasional acquaintance as they strolled down the street and considered the various gentlemen they encountered. He noted the way they looked at Della, and how effortlessly she would smile at them as they passed, but acknowledge no sign of their interest.
Upon entering the bookshop, a young man named Thomas greeted them. Della gave him her name, and he ran to the back to retrieve her order, while Samuel wandered off to look around. Soon, Thomas came back, his face flushing an intense shade of scarlet as Della smiled and thanked him for his help.
He could not blame the boy for his reaction. If a woman like Della had smiled at him in that manner when he was younger, he likely would have responded in a similar fashion. Della thanked Thomas once more before they departed the shop with Della clutching her book to her chest as though it was the most precious thing in all the world.
Royce drew in a deep breath as they exited onto the street. The scent of chocolate and freshly baked bread permeated the air…he knew exactly where the intoxicating smell was coming from. Looking further down down the street, he read the aged wooden sign swinging lightly in the breeze: Mrs. Babbage’s Sweet Shop.
When he suggested they might indulge in a treat, Samuel’s eyes lit up, and he gave a small cheer before racing ahead of them. The tinkling of a bell sounded as he opened the door and went inside. Royce and Della had almost made it to the door themselves when Royce glimpsed Miss Putnam and Lord Milton standing by their carriage.
Lord Milton would not react favorably if he were to see Royce walking down the street with someone other than his daughter, even if there was no wrongdoing involved. When he had gone to Miss Putnam’s house to address the rumors, she had not been at home.
And when he inquired when she might return, he was informed that she was at the local orphanage for her weekly visit. Her return was unknown as the demands on her time at the orphanage varied from week to week. Since then, the opportunity to speak with her had not yet presented itself.
His eyes frantically scanned the area, desperately looking for something he could hide behind to prevent being spotted.
Noticing a dimly lit alleyway to their right, Royce immediately took Della’s hand and pulled her into the shadows with him.
“What are you—”
“Shhh.” Royce held a finger to Della’s lips, effectively silencing anything else she might have said that would have garnered the Putnam’s notice.
He quickly glanced over his shoulder and saw their retreating figures heading off in the opposite direction. Royce felt his tension ease and released a sigh of relief, but a tap on his arm brought his attention back to Della and she pointed to her mouth.
“I am sorry,” Royce murmured softly, his gaze fixating on where his finger rested. He felt the warmth of her breath against his finger as he lazily slid it down and hooked it beneath her chin, tilting her face upward.
Gently, he drew his thumb across her rose-tinted lips and grew more intrigued by the thought of kissing her. How it would feel to coax a moan from her mouth, to have her beneath him in his bed, just as he had pictured in his dream.
The subtle scent of lavender coming from Della danced with the faint smell of chocolate, creating a sweet fragrance he found impossible to resist. The feel of her skin akin to velvet—soft and smooth—as he leaned in and gently ran the tip of his nose along her cheek and down the delicate curve of her neck.
Royce snaked his hand around her waist and let out a deep growl of satisfaction. He could feel the book Della had just purchased pressing against his chest, its paper wrapping crinkling between them, as he backed her up against the nearest wall.
His clouded mind whispered reminders of his obligation to find a suitable partner—that was not him—for Della. But with every breath, it became harder to heed those words. Suddenly, they were surrounded by the resounding echoes of footsteps, effectively pulling him back from his thoughts, and reminding him of where they were.
Royce let his hands fall and quickly stepped away as Della’s grip loosened, causing the book to slip from her hands. Her eyes were wide with confusion and surprise as she stood there looking back at him. He understood that look.
What had come over him?
He had become so lost in the moment that he had nearly kissed her amidst the repulsive and squalid atmosphere of the alleyway. As a duke, he was expected to carry himself with grace and dignity, to lead by example with his actions. But in this moment, he had thrown caution to the wind, behaving as recklessly as a drunkard in search of a hasty rendezvous.
“Care to explain what that was about?” Della asked, straightening up.
Royce’s eyes greedily followed her every move as she ran her hands over herself, ensuring everything was still in place.
“There was a rat,” Royce said, silently berating himself.
”A rat?” Della looked at him as though he had gone crazy. “Is it gone?”
“I believe so.” He nodded, knowing that she could have easily scolded him for what had just transpired, and was grateful for her willingness to go along with his feeble and slightly embarrassing excuse.
“Come,” he said, bending over to pick the book up. “Samuel will wonder where we are.”
Quickly walking the remaining distance, Royce ushered Della through the bakery door and promptly closed it behind them.