A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Book Read online

  A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

  A REGENCY ROMANCE NOVEL

  HENRIETTA HARDING

  Copyright © 2018 by Henrietta Harding

  All Rights Reserved.

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  A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

  Introduction

  William Marlow, the first and only son of the Duke of Wellington loves to set the ton ablaze. Known for changing women faster than bed sheets and adept in the swordplay, William thinks it is business as usual when the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos challenges him to a duel. To William’s surprise and that of every other spectator, this duel will not go as expected.

  On a quest for vengeance, William plots out a path to the heart of young Joane, the Duke’s daughter. His fury and passion burn even hotter, when he realises that she is more than he bargained for: clever, perceptive, passionate. How will he manage to succeed, when he is constantly wrestling the temptation to take her in his arms?

  On the other end, Lady Joane, the only daughter, and favorite child of the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, is, to William’s surprise, a diamond of first water. Her beauty and wit are beyond measure. She is known as a bluestocking and isn’t eager to change that perception of herself, but when she meets William, her life and her “proper manners” are irrevocably changed. As much as she tries to avoid his touch, the walls around William’s heart are crumbling... and she’s in danger of falling, hard. But when the scandal unfolds, will she be able to put reason over her growing passion?

  From the agonizing contest of swords to the duel of hearts between lovers, love grows even when forbidden. How will their hearts find their way back to each other?

  Chapter 1

  An Affair of Honour

  The yearly Wellington ball was the biggest and most popular ball in the country. It was the first ball of the season and had royalty and important people showing the best attires and looks, in an attempt to set a trend for the new season. The Duke’s house was decorated with the best flowers and ribbons to show the commencement of the season. The garden in Wellington was large, and different flowers in variant colours had been grown to bloom exactly in time for the ball. There were hyacinths and roses, hibiscuses filled the garden and were used to decorate the dancing hall. The wardens were delighted that the ball was happening as they saw it as their chance get to meet influential people and folks of high station.

  The hall was wide - spreading far with the roof bending in at the ends - and long. When it was built the Duke of that time had just come back from a trip to Greece and had ordered the construction of Corinthians fences at particular ends of the hall; it was not really the typical English design but an architectural appetizer all the same. The hall had cream walls with drawings of popular English wars on them. The room in itself was enticing to look at. It was a work of art.

  William, the Duke’s son had also been preparing for the ball for a long time and had requested for an expensive but fitting attire for it. His best friend, Lord James requested the same attire so they match. They did almost everything together and were found with each other most of the times even though the Earl’s house was a good distance away from the house of the Duke.

  When the ball started, the two friends had picked the Charlett twins as planned; asking each of them for a dance. As William was walked hand in hand with Meredith Charlett, the first twin sister, he saw Duke Nicholas, Duke of Buckingham and Chandos request his sister, Regina, for a dance and she had obliged him.

  William looked back at Meredith. He couldn’t read minds but she seemed delighted to have the dance with him. She just wouldn’t stop grinning. William turned her sharply and pushed her close to him, rubbing her breasts on his chest. He heard her gasp.

  “Is there something wrong my lady?”

  “No, I was surprised at the type of dance step.”

  William smiled. He knew she didn’t see the smile because his face was directly above her shoulders now. William turned his face to the side of her neck and drew in air, running a small current of air from her neck up to her ears. He was sure she felt it as a soft tingling sensation. He felt her grab tighter to him. Her nails bit into the flesh of his palm. But he was not done; he had much more designs for Meredith. He had promised his friend he would flirt with her during the dance, make her expect more then leave her asking for him; he was doing all that just for the fun of it too. He was still at the flirting part.

  He turned her around, turning with her. He saw the steward to his father’s room standing behind them.

  He obviously wants something.

  William moved backwards from Meredith and held her still. He bowed to her and signaled that he needed to attend to the steward behind them. Meredith said nothing.

  “Is something wrong?” William asked his impatience making him speak rapidly.

  “Yes sir, the Duke has been in so much pain,” the steward replied.

  “Then give him his draught,” William answered him.

  “I cannot find it sir. Miss Regina gave him this morning; I was hoping you could get her to find it.”

  William turned back to look at his sister. She was fully concentrating on her steps with the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos.

  “I’ll get her,” he told the steward, dismissing him.

  William knowing the custom of dances waited till the end of the first dance before going to fetch his sister. Immediately the first tune died, William walked briskly to the Duke and her, before the next tune started.

  “Your Grace, I request that you give leave of my sister. She is required in the inner chambers with utmost urgency,” William said, upon drawing near to the dancing couple.

  His request drew a look of disdain, etched markedly across the Duke’s face. William wondered if he had done something wrong. The Duke sneered at him and faced his dancing partner, still speaking to her like no one was addressing him. William was surprised and spoke again but the Duke did not respond.

  William could see his sister was at loss with what was happening. She looked torn between being rude to the Duke by leaving him or staying with him and disregarding her brother’s request. Due to the lack of a response from the Duke, William was starting to wonder if something was wrong in his manner of approach.

  “I only ask that you give grant of her leave. Her presence is required in the inner chambers.”

  “And I reject your offer. I don’t think the fair lady is willing to take leave in the middle of this dance,” the Duke replied icily.

  William shook his head in disbelief. The Duke of Buckingham and Chandos was proving to be harder to deal with than a panicky horse.

  “Your Grace, I ask that I be permitted to take my sister away to look for something important,”
William repeated.

  The Duke didn’t respond and continued speaking with Regina, completely disregarding William’s presence and request.

  This is an insult; a cut direct, in the middle of the dancing hall. I can’t wait here for this man as he is stubborn and he doesn’t look like he’s listening to me.

  He held his sister’s left hand at her wrist and drew her away from the discussion, very gently. The Duke said nothing but looked terribly incensed, his brows arched together, almost touching each other. William led his sister out of the hall, feeling the angry gaze of the Duke on him.

  About thirty minutes later, William came back into the hall without his sister. William walked straight to his best friend, Lord James Pardew.

  “Are you not going back to Meredith? She looks to be waiting for you. I have to commend you, she did look flushed when you left her,” Lord James said.

  William laughed aloud, slapping his friend on his fore arm.

  “I am not returning to her. Our venture together was only to last this dance. I’m more worried about my father. Regina had to leave now to attend to him.”

  “And you wonder why everyone calls you a rake,” Lord James replied.

  “I am still wondering,” William said, the dying twinkle of his previous laugh still lingering in his eyes.

  William saw his friend’s gaze move behind him. He knew someone was about to interrupt their discussion because Lord James’ attention was taken by the incoming figure. He turned around just as the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos got to them.

  “Where is the fair lady?” he asked William.

  “She isn’t coming back for now. Her presence is permanently required in the house,” William replied.

  “Is that the plea you made of me?” the Duke replied, visibly displeased at the turn of events.

  “I did not tell that I would make sure she came back. I said she was required in the inner chambers. Your Grace, you seem to have made wrong inferences as to what I said,” William replied, his voice showing the strain of patience that he was exercising.

  “William Marlow, you are not a man of honour. You break the customs and lead the lady out of the dancing hall, then you refuse to provide her allowance to come back,” the Duke said.

  William was gravely insulted by the comments of the Duke. The man was refusing to understand what was going on and chose to be insulting for no obvious reason. He was not going to take that.

  “Your Grace, you will be dismayed to find out that I will not take such an affront to my honour and the word of my mouth lying down. I request that you walk away or apologize for the statement that was just made,” William replied.

  It was now obvious that other eyes were on them. The first dance had stopped and chatter was greatly reduced as many of the guests were watching the unfolding spectacle.

  “I cannot and will not retract a fair statement. You are not a man of stable character, very whimsical and lacking in the carriage or methods of royalty,” the Duke continued.

  William drew near to the Duke, saying his words directly into his face.

  “This is not a request. This is the court of the Duke of Wellington, who happens to be my father. Everything you do is under my control here. You retract your statement or we settle things with an affair of honour,” replied William.

  William was angry and refused to allow another man make ungentlemanly claims about his honour.

  “An affair of honour it is, may the best man win,” replied the Duke before walking away in the direction of the door.

  There was an audible gasp from most of the guests. William was surprised at the response of the Duke. He had never been beaten in a duel and had competed in many all over the country. The Duke was not going to beat him in one. William challenged the Duke on purpose to make the man bridle his rambling tongue but the Duke had been even more foolish than he expected; he had walked right into the den of the lions. William wondered how things got to this.

  “Nothing, I said nothing wrong,” he repeated to himself.

  “What did you say?” James said.

  “I said I said nothing wrong. I remember everything I said when I was asking him to allow Regina go,” William replied.

  James did not look convinced and shook his head in obvious dismay. He ruffled the golden curls of his hair and straightened out his black jacket. Easing his elbow from the hold of Julie Charlett with whom he had been discussing before the duel was called, he walked to his friend and spoke into his ear.

  “That man is a Duke, William. Find a way to end this madness,” Lord James said.

  “No one has to lose his life over a small personal squabble,” Lord James stated.

  William nodded his head.

  “You forget that the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos is renowned to be of great skill in swordplay. He will be better than the ordinary man,” William stated.

  “Yes,” Lord James replied. “But you are younger, faster and you have practiced more lately. Remember that no matter the outcome, your father will not like this. This is meant to be a ball, not a court where people challenge themselves to duels.”

  “Yes, I know. That is why I am going to end it as quickly as possible. There is no need for us to engage in a duel over an altercation so small,” William replied.

  He saw the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos walking out into the courtyard and he touched his friend, signaling him to follow. They walked briskly, eager to catch the receding figure of the Duke before he got into his carriage. When William got to him, he stepped in front of him.

  “Your grace, the duel is unnecessary,” he said.

  “You called it. Or are you faint of heart now that you realize what you have declared?” the Duke said.

  “Faint of heart? Never.”

  “So why the sudden eagerness to cancel; I am an old man now, I’ll be easy on you,” the Duke said, grinning as he spoke.

  The cocky attitude the Duke showed angered William more; he now wasn’t interested in stepping out of the challenge.

  “I was only looking out for you. It is unheard of for Dukes to engage in duels, especially when the challenge was made in a public arena. You should know this,” William stated.

  The Duke smiled, showing a small space where a tooth should have stood. He had removed his black jacket and given to his steward. He was in a white shirt and black trousers complete with black socks and shoes. The man was greying; age starting to take away some of his ravish handsomeness and mobility but obviously not his wit and stubbornness. William had heard stories of his whimsicality, cunning and headiness as a young man but he could not imagine that the man would remain as stubborn now that he was an old Duke.

  Some people never change.

  “I do. That is for me to worry about. Go and brush up on your swordplay William, you are going to be in need of it by the morrow. My driver will bring the letter for you later in the day; I don’t want your apology. Meet at the indicated location,” he replied.

  “I will not spare you,” William said to him between seething teeth.

  “I do not expect it to get to that,” the Duke replied.

  The Duke then walked to this carriage and stepped in. He looked at William and smiled, a self-assured grin, before closing the door. The driver drove the carriage away from the courtyard.

  William wondered why the man was so confident.

  To what does he owe the braveness of his heart?

  William watched the carriage go when he felt an arm on his shoulder. He spoke without turning his neck.

  “His courage is of exceptional state, was he so good a swordsman so as not to be daunted in facing me?” William said, directing it to his friend.

  “Will you accept the challenge when his letter arrives?” James said behind his friend’s ear.

  “Is it heard of me that I reject a duel?”

  “Think again, my friend. This is a man of shady character who seems exceptionally eager to fight you. You must be really prepared,” James answered.
r />   “This man’s courage is daunting. We will have mock duels before the duel tomorrow. You are the only one skilled enough to make it a match around here so you have to train with me.”

  “Of course I will. I’ll be at your duel on the morrow too; I’ll be your second. I don’t trust that man especially given the reputation he has,” Lord James said.

  “I have never lost a duel James. I won’t lose one where the challenge was made in the public during my father’s ball and to a man almost as old as my ailing father. I will not lose,” William replied.

  He turned and walked back up the stairs, his friend close behind him. William and Lord James took the back of the hall to avoid the Charlett sisters. They had no more designs for them than during the ball. The ball was still ongoing and people were talking and dancing in the hall; but it was over for them especially William.