Chapter 15
Maggie and Della have been gone a while, Royce thought to himself, looking down at his timepiece. Tiring of standing in one place, he decided to see if perhaps he had missed their return to the ballroom and went in the direction where they had supposedly gone.
But when he asked some ladies standing outside the door if anyone had seen Maggie or Della, they all said no.
Royce felt a pang of concern surge through him as he craned his neck to search the room, hoping he could see them. Surely, they would have come back by now…but it was Maggie. And she would have thought it funny to linger just long enough to annoy her older brother.
However, Della had said she would return to dance with him, and for as long as Royce had known her, she had never been one to go back on her word.
He looked out over the room in one last attempt to locate them. Perhaps his mother might know where they had gone. He spotted her with a gathering of ladies and was about to go speak with her when he heard a door close softly behind him.
Spinning around, he glimpsed Maggie silently slipping through the door, not from the retiring room, but from a door leading to another part of the house.
“Where did you go?” Royce asked perhaps a little louder than he had intended.
“Calm down. You are drawing attention,” Maggie said, smiling at some people nearby. “Your Miss Putnam evidently said something that upset Della, and she wanted to go somewhere quiet. I took her to the study since Lord Ravensdale leaves the room available for gentlemen to use.”
“How do you know about that?”
“We women know more than you think. I may have also followed you and Aden at the last ball he hosted.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Royce rolled his eyes. “Did you leave her there, alone?”
“I gave her the key and told her to lock the door behind me. I only came back because I left my reticule on a chair and needed to retrieve it. She will be fine.”
“I shall go get her,” Royce said, heading for the door.
“Really, there is no need. Della is perfectly safe.” Maggie stepped in front of him. “No one else was in the room with us when I left. Like I said before, she is not your responsibility.”
“Perhaps I want to change that.” Royce attempted to walk around Maggie.
“What?!” Maggie looked at him as though he had sprouted two heads.
“Now, who is drawing the attention?” Royce asked her sarcastically.
“What do you mean you want to change that?”
“It does not concern you.” Royce tried to pass her again, but Maggie raised her hand to stop him.
“It most certainly does,” Maggie whispered harshly. “She is my best friend.”
“And as her best friend, you should want what is best for her,” Royce argued.
“I do! But who are we to decide what is best for her? Is that not her decision to make?”
What else could he say without giving too much away? Royce had not meant to say what he had, but Maggie had this way of finding the tiniest crack and wheedling her way in.
“You are correct,” Royce agreed. “But I must speak with her and apologize for whatever Miss Putnam might have said.
“Fine. I told Della I would knock four times when I return. Wait here, let me get my reticule, and we will go together so that nothing untoward is suspected.”
Royce watched Maggie disappear into the crowd. Once she was out of sight, he slipped through the door into the darkened foyer, making his way to the study.
Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock
“Who is it?” a voice from the other side of the door asked.
“It is the Duke of Exeter,” Royce replied.
If what Maggie had said was true, and there was no one in the room other than Della when she left, then why was there a man replying? Maybe Della had made her way back into the ballroom and someone else was making use of the study?
But, there was something about the situation did not sit well with him.
“Go away! This room is occupied!” the man yelled.
“Royce! Hel…” another voice screamed before it was cut off.
Royce’s heart thumped in his chest at the sound of Della’s voice. He turned the knob, praying the door was unlocked, but no such luck. Unable to come up with another idea to get into the room, he backed up a few paces and ran full speed, ramming his shoulder into the door, but it did not budge. Royce grimaced, rubbing at the pain radiating up his arm, and let out a grunt of annoyance.
Without the key, there was no other way of getting to the room, unless… If he remembered correctly, there was a window overlooking the front lawn; perhaps he could get in that way.
“What on earth is going on?” Royce turned to see Maggie walking through the foyer. “You were supposed to wait for me.”
“It is a good thing I did not wait! There is someone in there with Della!” Royce wanted to yell at Maggie, but that would not help the current situation. He began to make his way outside to check the window when the sound of metal scraping across the floor reached his ears and a key slid from beneath the door, hitting the side of his boot. “Go find Aden!” He demanded, picking up the key.
Royce unlocked the door and attempted to push it open, but it did not move. He tried again, still nothing. With all his might, he tried a third time, and the door finally gave way as two figures tumbled to the floor.
“Della!” Royce ran to her side.
“Royce, thank you. I, LOOK OUT!” Della yelled as Lord Haddock approached them with a marble statue raised above his head, preparing to strike. Della kicked her foot out, landing a solid blow to Lord Haddock’s nether regions.
With a loud grunt, Lord Haddock dropped the marble statue onto his own head and fell to the floor, unconscious.
“Again?” was all Royce could say, checking to make sure the man was still breathing.
“Royce? Della?” Aden came running into the room. “Maggie came and got me, said that you needed help. Ah, but I can see I am too late. What happened?”
Della quickly filled Aden in on everything that had transpired, including how Lord Haddock had come to be lying on the floor.
“Let me just say that you may have saved us all from the stupidity that is Lord Haddock. His ability to reproduce has likely been diminished, and for that, the world owes you a great deal of gratitude.”
“Now is not the time for your joking,” Royce grunted, trying to lift Lord Haddock.
“Pfft. The man must have had enough drink to supply the entire British Navy,” Aden said as he helped hoist Lord Haddock up.
“Let us get him out the front door and to his carriage before anyone sees us. Maggie, go inform Mother, Della’s father, and Tilly. Della shut the door and lock it. Do not open it for anyone but me.”
“Should I not go back with Maggie?”
“Just do what I ask,” Royce said, a bit more harshly than he intended. “Please,” he added, softening his tone.
“Very well.” Della said, as Maggie hurried off to do what was asked of her. “But how will I know it is you?” she asked, following them into the foyer.
“I will say ‘petite duchesse,’” Royce grunted as they dragged Lord Haddock’s limp form toward the door.
Della watched Lord Haddock’s feet disappear around the corner and stepped back into the study, turning the key once she was safely inside. She rushed over to shut the window and checked behind the curtains where Lord Haddock must have been hiding and drew them closed. Heaven knows she did not need another repeat of tonight or of anything else that had recently happened.
She vigorously rubbed her arms, attempting to reassure herself that she was not in danger as she walked over to the toppled table. Pulling it back into its upright position, she set the chess board back on top; placing each of the scattered pieces back in their respective places as she found them. When she checked it over, she realized the queen was still missing.
“Ah, there you are,” she said out loud, spotting the piece lying under a chair.
Knock, Knock, Knock, Knock
With a start, she whirled around, causing the chess set to topple over once again.
“Della…Della?”
Della walked to the door but did not respond.
“Petite duchesse.” Della cracked the door open and peered out to see Royce standing on the other side.
“Where is Aden?” she asked, letting him in.
“He is keeping an eye on Lord Haddock and making sure he does not wake up and start creating more trouble before they have retrieved his carriage.” Royce stalked into the room, raking his hands through his hair. “Della…”
Della held up her hand. “Please, do not lecture me. Do you think I would have remained here alone if I had known someone was hiding behind the curtains?” She plopped onto the chaise, feeling defeated.
“You lied to me about fixing your dress,” Royce lightly scolded as he shut the door.
“Yes, and no. I did need to fix it, but I had already decided to come in here before you asked me to dance,” Della admitted as she bent over to pick up the chess pieces again. “All I wanted was some peace, without people constantly asking me about marriage or trying to tell me how to live my life. Somewhere I could clear my head and think.”
“You usually do your thinking in a garden.” Royce smiled.
“I do, but I need a place where I would not accidentally stumble upon another unfortunate incident. But you see how well that turned out,” Della said sarcastically, setting each piece down a little more forcefully.
“None of this is your fault, Della. Do not blame yourself for Lord Haddock’s actions. That is his burden to bear.“ Picking up a chess piece, Royce placed it on the table, then kneeled in front of her, taking her hands in his. “And as easy as it would be for me to be angry and blame Maggie for bringing you here in the first place, I know she was only trying to help comfort her best friend.”
“She was,” Della agreed. “Please do not be mad at her. You may think her reckless, but she cares a great deal more than anyone gives her credit for.”
Royce nodded. “You were attempting to free your dress when I saw Miss Putnam speaking with you, and I find myself curious to know what she said that made you so upset.”
Della shot up from the chair and walked over to the desk by the window. She tried not to let the negative behavior of others affect her ability to stay calm and level-headed, even in the most difficult situations. And engaging in hysterics would not help the situation, as it often created more issues than it solved.
Her heart had leaped with joy for a fleeting moment when she thought Royce had taken notice of her the way Miss Putnam had suggested. However, that feeling was short-lived when she realized that Miss Putnam was warning her to keep her distance. She understood, but it hurt.
Della saw no reason to tell Royce the words only intended for her. Nor did she want to sound as though she were trying to undermine Miss Putnam or talk Royce out of what he believed was the right path for him. What purpose would it serve?
Prior to the agreement with her father, Royce had probably not even thought of her as a potential duchess. And no matter what she said, his decision would stay the same.
“I will not repeat what was meant for my ears alone.” Della turned her back to Royce, taking a deep breath before continuing. “But you must speak with Miss Putnam. She is upset and one can hardly blame her.”
“Why?” she heard Royce ask.
“Why?” Della repeated. “Why would you not? You have an understanding with her, and it is her expectation that you will announce your engagement soon.”
“I understand that, but why do you care about how she feels? She has obviously shown no kindness toward you.”
“No, she has not. But my only concern is that she makes you happy.”
“And what about you?” Royce inquired.
“What about me, Your Grace? There is no point in seeking my opinion regarding matters associated with your marriage. Nor do my feelings have any bearing on the situation,” Della said, attempting to swallow past the lump in her throat. “And I am sure Miss Putnam will expect to make many decisions regarding you and your household after you are married.”
“And what do you expect, Della?”
Della shook her head, unwilling to look at Royce as tears streamed down her face.
“I expect to be sitting in the pew at your wedding with your family, Your Grace—if Miss Putnam will allow me to do so. Then, who knows what the future holds?” She shrugged her shoulder. “Perhaps I will find someone to marry and hope you will return the favor.” Della would not mention that Aden had proposed, or that she planned to accept his offer.
“I wanted to speak with you earlier, when you promised me a dance.”
“I know, and I had every intention of coming back.” Della nervously bit her bottom lip, staring at the floor as she turned around. “You can speak to me now, if you would like.”
“I could, but I would rather ask you a question.” Royce said, coming to a stop in front of her.
“A question?” Della looked up at his handsome face.
Royce nodded. “May I kiss you again?”
Royce looked into Della’s gorgeous eyes, and was filled with a quiet, yet intense anger, knowing she had dealt with the unwanted attentions of Lord Haddock more than once.
He softly held Della’s face in his hands, tenderly wiping away her tears with his thumbs. His entire being was longing to have her in his arms, to experience the sensation of her lips pressed against his own once again.
“Yes,” Della whispered.
He felt his heart swell in his chest with that single word, and he closed the distance between them, pressing his lips against hers. Letting the kiss be a physical expression of his concern for her safety and proof of his conviction that he wanted her as his Duchess.
Moving his hands down her back, he felt her body quiver beneath his touch. He ached to rip away the fabric between them, to feel the warmth of her skin against his.
Della wrapped her arms around his neck as he placed her on the desk behind them, and slowly slipped his hands beneath the edge of her skirts. His fingers moved sensually over curves of her legs as if engaged in a mesmerizing dance. He would be more than satisfied to touch her like this forever.
“You are not mine,” she uttered, gently pushing his chest as he leaned in for another kiss.
“What?”
“You are not mine,” she repeated. “We have to stop.”
Royce looked at her, desire still clouding his head as he continued to hold her. Della was unaware that he had decided to no longer pursue Miss Putnam as his duchess. And he was about to tell her, could feel the words on the tip of his tongue, but the abrupt opening of the door interrupted them.