A Duchess to Fight For: A Historical Regency Romance Book Read online

  “But I have a proposition for you. If, after ten days, you do not find my policy, I will become betrothed to your daughter. I assume her dowry covers the amount of money you owe me.”

  Frederick looked up into Barton’s eyes and levelled his gaze. “I’m not interested in your proposition. I will pay you outside of involving my daughter.”

  “Ah, but I heard that might be difficult for you. You already sunk your money into the next ship, and you’re investing heavily in projects you are keeping to yourself. Is that so?”

  “Look, Barton, you’ll have your money at the end of the ten days as we agreed. That’s all you need to know. I have the resources to make good on any obligations. You need not concern yourself with how I will pay.”

  “I’ll be honest with you, Frederick. I want your daughter, and I’m willing to make a very favourable deal with you for her. But if you don’t find that document within the remaining time, I’ll take her as payment. She will be mine.”

  Frederick shook his head. He felt as if it would explode. “I’ll not negotiate her for a financial settlement. What’s more, she is in the midst of a courtship with a gentleman she hopes to marry. I’ll not dash her hopes.”

  Barton put his legs out straight, crossing them at the ankles. “Yes, I’m aware of the courtship. I have looked into the young gentleman, and I can ruin him with one sentence. All of White’s will be buzzing when they hear about Jack’s indiscretion. Let’s just say he has laid his seed in a fertile field, and the young woman who has the burden of being a single mother raising Lord Duggan’s child at least gets financial assistance from him.

  Frederick could barely hold his anger at Barton in. “If you don’t mind, Barton, I’ll continue my search so none of this conversation has to ever be uttered again. There is no need to ruin the young gentleman over a misplaced insurance policy.”

  “Oh, did I forget to mention? I can also tell all of White’s that your brother is a murderer. If Jack’s past doesn’t get them buzzing, your brother Hobart will. Yes, I’ll get Louisa one way or another. She will be mine.”

  Frederick smiled. “Making up stories about my brother will get you nowhere. Come now, Barton, you can do better than that, can’t you?”

  “You may think this is amusing, but you won’t when doubt is planted in the head of every blue blood.”Barton’s smug smile begged to be wiped off his face.

  “You may think you have a great story now, but mine is better. You stop at nothing, including making up outlandish stories to blackmail me into permitting you to marry my daughter. All because you cannot find a lady to accept you. You have been searching two years with not even one lady or her father interested in you. Is it your sparkling personality and handsome face and physique standing in the way? The ton will understand. You’re a laughingstock already. Every blue blood will eat up that story.”

  Barton sat stone-faced, but every word from Frederick’s mouth brought the colour in his face a deeper red. Frederick stood and pulled the bell. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have a document to find before you make a fool of yourself when I am forced to counter your gossip to the ton.

  “Mendon, show the Duke out.”

  Neither bowed nor said goodbye.

  Frederick kept it together until he heard the front door shut behind Barton. Then he lost it.

  Mendon heard the crash and rushed into Frederick’s office, concerned for his well-being. What he saw was Frederick in a chair, elbows on his thighs, hands cradling his head.

  “Your Grace?” he said.

  Frederick didn’t answer, so Mendon looked around the room for the source of the crash. A whisky glass on the hearth and inside the fireplace lay quietly in a thousand shards.

  He turned and left Frederick’s office, shutting the door softly behind him.

  Frederick didn’t know how much time had passed when he heard the barely audible knock on the door. He ignored it. Amelia walked in and surveyed the room. She went to Frederick and began rubbing his shoulders, saying nothing.

  Frederick leaned back in the chair and said, “Ah,” while she continued. He closed his eyes and tried not to think. He needed to tell her. Louisa might lose Jack over this. He would never allow Barton to marry his daughter, but he was powerless to keep Barton quiet about Jack and Hobart. She could help Louisa pick up the pieces.

  He reached his left hand over his right shoulder and patted her hand.

  “We need to talk. I have made a very powerful enemy.”

  Amelia bent down, crossing her arms over Frederick’s chest and kissed him on the cheek. She stood straight and moved to sit in the chair next to her husband.

  Frederick took a deep breath and started talking, not sure if anything he said made any sense.

  “When the ship sank, my investors recovered their money from the insurance policies I took out for them. I have spent an enormous amount of time searching for the insurance policy I took out on behalf of Barton. I can’t find it, even though I’m sure it exists.

  “I told him to give me ten days to find it, and if I don’t, I’ll pay for his loss out of my own funds. I’m able to pay, but I would prefer not to touch my accounts. I don’t want you to worry. Our financial position is solid.

  “Barton ran into you and Louisa in the hallway. Remarked about how Louisa resembles you?”

  “Yes, I remember.” She nodded.

  “He just visited to let me know I’ll be off the hook with the money owed to him if I agree to let him marry Louisa.”

  Amelia gasped. She began to shake her head. Frederick thought she didn’t even realize she was doing it.

  “I said no; I wouldn’t ever agree to that. I made him aware of Jack and his interest in Louisa. He already knew of him.

  “Amelia, I need to tell you something Barton told me about Jack. He may try to force Jack to back off Louisa by letting it be known that Jack has a bastard son living in Salisbury with the baby’s mother. Jack supports them financially.

  “I wanted you to know all this because Louisa may need you if Jack breaks it off with her. I think Jack is a good match for Louisa even with his past indiscretion. I also think Louisa could accept him knowing his past.

  “Barton may sabotage the relationship at any time with the threat of exposing Jack. Barton may insist on the breakup in exchange for his silence.

  “Then he threatened to tell the ton that Hobart was a murderer.”

  Amelia gasped again, this time bolting out of her chair. She realized she was standing and sat down.

  “I don’t know where he would get information like that. He has no proof, or he would have told me. I threatened to let everyone in White’s know he was making up stories about my brother to blackmail me into consenting to him marrying Louisa.

  “That’s when I told him to leave.”

  Frederick took Amelia’s hand in his. “I am so sorry for all of this. Barton is not a good man, and he is trying to marry Louisa no matter how it is accomplished.”

  Tears were running down Amelia’s cheeks, but she remained silent. Frederick deliberately waited for her to speak.

  “Even if you find the policy in the next four days, Louisa’s relationship with Jack is ruined?”

  Frederick nodded. “Probably. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did it just for sport.”

  Amelia squirmed in her seat. “Do you have anything on him?”

  Frederick gave her a small smile. “No.”

  Amelia’s voice got stronger. “Then you must find something. And quickly. He’s a horrible man; he’s probably done something he would like to keep buried. Please, Frederick, find something before he ruins Hobart and Jack.”

  Frederick nodded. “I’ll go see Hobart. He can get someone on it. Amelia, I’m relying on you to keep silent about this, even to Louisa. She will need you.”

  Amelia stood and frowned. “I hope not. Thank you, Frederick. For telling me.”

  “You’re welcome. I need you to stay silent and to stay strong.” Frederick looked at her expectan
tly.

  “I will. Now, go see Hobart.”

  *****

  Hobart sat in silence, taking it all in. “I can have him followed, try to dig up something on him. That way, the kid’s reputation isn’t ruined.”

  Frederick sat up straighter. “OK, he plays hardball. We’ll play hardball. He’s going to come to me and threaten me. He will never get Louisa.”

  Frederick stood and started to pace. “This man is such a miscreant. I can’t believe you won’t be able to find something on him.”

  “My men will find something. They’ll find something. No one is squeaky clean, and from the way you describe him, we’ll find something.

  “Listen, while you’re here, let’s go over what I think we should buy for our next passage.”

  Hobart opened the bottom right drawer of his old nicked and scuffed desk. He swore. He grabbed six inches high of parchments and dropped them on the desktop then another six inches high went on top of the pile. He pulled the drawer out of the desk and laid it on the floor.

  Frederick walked around to see the drawer on the floor. “What are you doing?”

  Now Hobart was on his knees leaning into the abyss. He grabbed a few parchments and stood. He lifted two pieces of parchment into the air.

  “This desk is so old; parchment falls over the back edge into the area between the drawer and the desk.”

  Frederick smiled. “Have you thought to put a weight on the parchments so they don’t move?”

  “No, but I will now. I’ll be over for a weight. You seem to have more than you will ever need.”

  “I’ll bring one over next time I come. Listen, I need to go. We’ll have to go over shipments next time I’m here.

  “You’re going to find something on him?”

  Frederick practically ran out of the warehouse. He mounted his horse grateful he wouldn’t be stuck in traffic with his carriage.

  He climbed the stairs of his townhouse, and Mendon opened the door before he could get to it. He went straight to his office, knowing Mendon would get a stable boy to take care of his horse.

  “Mendon,” he called loudly.

  “Your Grace?”

  Frederick looked up to see Mendon in front of him.

  “We’ve got to get these drawers out. It’s behind one of these drawers.” Mendon rounded the desk and began to work on the left-hand drawer while Frederick fiddled with the right drawer.

  Mendon’s drawer fell to the floor with a thud. He got on his knees and peered in. He pulled out three bent and slightly torn parchments. None was what they needed.

  Frederick’s drawer thudded to the floor. He crawled in and started scraping out everything in there. There was twine that had held stacks of parchment together, a stylus, and six parchments mangled by the drawer opening and shutting. He looked at the six parchments and whooped. He stood and smoothed one over the top of his desk.

  It wasn’t torn, just jagged around two edges and folded over.

  He looked up at Mendon. “Don’t you love my brother Hobart?”

  Mendon grinned. “If you would move, Your Grace, I will put your desk back together.”

  “Gladly. When I was at the warehouse, something fell behind Hobart’s desk drawer. It wasn’t the first time. He took the drawer out and retrieved what he needed. He said he did that every day. He popped the drawer back in, talking the whole time. I jumped out of my seat and came home.”

  Mendon stood. “The desk is back together. What would you like to do with these parchments?” He motioned at the piles on the floor.

  “I organized everything by category, something I should have done long ago. You can put them in the wall cabinets that way. I’m not going to keep any files in the desk drawers anymore. I’ll save those drawers for paperweights and inkwells and such.”

  Mendon bowed, “Your Grace.”

  Chapter 7

  The euphoria Frederick felt did not wear off as the day progressed.

  “Mendon, I’m off to the FLIP to give them the insurance policy on Barton. I shouldn’t be long.”

  Mendon bowed. “Your Grace.”

  Frederick saw him smile as he shut the door behind him. It was a lovely day for a walk. He decided to visit Hobart after his business was done.

  “Hello, Your Grace,” the clerk bowed. “How may I help you?”

  “I’ve come to see Fergusson. Is he available?”

  “This way, Your Grace.”

  Frederick was led into a well-appointed conference room used only for visitors.

  Frederick sat. Fergusson came in and bowed. “Your Grace.” He sat across from Frederick and folded his hands.

  “Fergusson, I have an unusual request of you. My policy for Barton St John, the Duke of Hamilton was misplaced for a short period because of an unfortunate event. I would like you to hold it in my stead, and I will send His Grace here to retrieve it and his money. There won’t be a problem?”

  Fergusson shook his head, “Not at all Your Grace. Wait here, and I will be back with a receipt.”

  Frederick greeted Hobart with a bear hug. Hobart poured some whisky and sat, offering Hobart a glass. “You, my dear brother, found my insurance policy.”

  “Did I? And how did I do that?”

  “It was behind the drawer. I just came from the FLIP to celebrate with you and to brainstorm on how to make that miscreant pay.”

  “FLIP?”

  “First London Insurance Partnership. So did you arrange for him to be tailed?”

  “Yes, that’s happening now. Shall we wait for his next move, or should I arrange for him to confess his sins.”

  “Let’s wait. He won’t wait long to do something. When he sees something he wants, he goes after it. Something interesting may come out of his tail.” Frederick and Hobart had another drink then Frederick went home.

  “Mendon,” Frederick said.

  “Your Grace.” Mendon bowed. “You had a visitor while you were gone.”

  Frederick grinned. “Did I? I’m sorry to have missed my dear friend.”

  “He asked me to inform you that he will return.”

  “I would have expected no less,” Frederick said and headed for his office. He passed the parlour and decided to drop in.”

  He entered and bowed to Amelia, Louisa, and Percy. They returned the greeting, and Amelia smiled.

  “Good afternoon. If you ladies wouldn’t mind, I would like to steal Percy away from you. Not for long.”

  He turned to Percy. “Could you join me in my office in fifteen minutes?”

  “A pleasure.” He bowed.

  Frederick penned a missive to Barton.

  Barton,

  I am more than pleased to inform you that your insurance policy has been recovered and sits at the First London Insurance Partnership.

  You may go there when convenient to recover the funds from your investment.

  I believe you and I can agree that this closes all business between us and any potential repercussions from those business dealings are not necessary.

  Frederick Haddington, Duke of Pemberton

  Frederick was melting wax over his letter to Barton when he heard the knock on the door.

  “Come,” he answered.

  “Ah, Percy. Come in.” Frederick took off his signet ring and pushed the top into the soft wax.

  He stood and pulled the bell. “Sit. Drink?”

  Percy nodded.

  “Mendon,” Frederick said. Please have a footman deliver this to the Duke of Hamilton as soon as possible. It is vital he receives it immediately. When he returns, talk with him to follow up.”

  Mendon took the folded parchment and bowed.

  Frederick turned to the sideboard and poured two whiskys. He sat next to Percy, offering one of the glasses.

  “How are you, Percy? You haven’t dined with us lately.”

  “No, Your Grace. But I accept every offer given,” Percy smiled.

  “I heard you had an unfortunate end to a lady you pursued?”

  Pe
rcy laughed. “I suppose everyone has. Yes, I was thrown over for someone wealthier.” Percy shook his head, “Women. I have yet to figure them out.”

  “Good luck with that,” Frederick snorted.

  Percy smiled but sat silently, patiently.

  Frederick got to the point. “I need to talk with you about a distressing situation that has come to affect Louisa although she is unaware of it. I would like to keep it that way. You may soon be the only young man who can stay by her side to help her.”