Bride for a Duke Read online

  The woman was quiet briefly, as her hair was pulled with the brush.

  "They have plans for me," she said at last, her voice sounding unpleasant. "While they are away, venturing to every part of the landmass. Rather than allowing me to go to old Aunt Prudence's as arranged, they are presently demanding that I go to a horrendous local gathering on the bank of Cornwall, as visitor of the frightful Duke of Wycliff… "

  "Why is that so terrible?" asked Abigail, thinking a local gathering sounded rather fun. However, at that point, she had never gone to one, so how might she know?

  Clara looked somewhat timid. "I have not advised you yet," she stated, turning down the volume. "Yet, I have plans of my own. Mr. Templeton has welcomed me to his farm house, on the edges of Aberdeen, in Scotland." She wavered. "Auntie Prudence scarcely knows her own name any longer, not to mention who is around her, and I was intending to go there, at that point leave quickly for Scotland, guaranteeing that a companion needs me most direly… "

  Abigail was stunned. "Clara, that is so unsafe. What might your folks state, on the off chance that they found such duplicity?"

  Clara looked mutinous. Abigail moaned, as she continued brushing her hair. She shouldn't be astounded by any means. Clara had taken a large number of dangers since she had met the attractive and running Mr. Robert Templeton, a quarter of a year earlier. Escaping to see him, proclaiming that they were fiercely infatuated. Ruler and Lady Nightingale thought the young fellow not a sufficient admirer for their valuable just little girl, Clara had guaranteed. He was not rich enough, despite the fact that he came from a decent family. Her folks had constrained her into secrecy.

  "They could never know," said Clara, forcefully. "Auntie Prudence couldn't advise them! Furthermore, I need to be with Robert." Her eyes swam with new tears. "What's more, there is more, Abigail. They need me to go to Dudley House, the duke's home, to enchant him, with a view to a commitment. There is essentially no chance that something like this is conceivable! Gracious, what am I to do?"

  Abigail moaned. "I don't think there is a lot of you can do. Master and Lady Nightingale will know whether you don't go there, all things considered. I feel that you should simply acknowledge it, Clara… "

  But Clara shook her head overwhelmingly. "The Duke of Wycliff is a generally odd, extraordinary noble man, clearly. He is still very crazy with distress, over losing his better half and infant youngster, despite the fact that ten years has passed since the misfortune." She stopped. "He confines himself at Dudley House, despite the fact that he has far more stupendous houses everywhere on the country. They state that he meanders the precipices and the shoreline there, distraught with sorrow, raging at any individual who upsets him! I can't appeal such a man… particularly when I have my own affection… ."

  Abigail was quiet. It was a disgrace, however what might Clara actually do, in the conditions? She may be compelled to relinquish her adoration, and make the beneficial commitment that her folks wanted. Relationships of accommodation were normal, all things considered, in Clara's reality. Indeed, they were basically the standard. Love matches were not many and far between.

  "There should be a way," proclaimed Clara, her face furious. "I can't acknowledge it… " Suddenly, she gazed at Abigail very hard in the mirror, her eyes raking over her. "Goodness, it has come to me, in a flash!"

  Abigail looked at her. "What do you mean?"

  Clara's eyes were glimmering with fervor. "You are the appropriate response, dear Abigail! You are the way to it all!"

  Abigail grimaced. "I don't comprehend… "

  Clara pivoted to confront her unexpectedly, taking her hands.

  "We look like sisters, Abigail," she relaxed. "We are a similar stature, a similar shape, and even have a similar shading! We have commented on it commonly, since you turned into my servant." She took a full breath. "You will go to Dudley House, as me! What's more, I can go to Scotland, precisely as I have consistently planned!"

  "What?" Abigail was so stunned, she felt herself pale. "That is unimaginable, Clara! I'm just a house cleaner. They would all know it, when they saw me… "

  "Not on the off chance that I mentor you in how to turn into a woman," answered Clara rapidly. "There is as yet seven days to go, before my folks leave for the mainland. Time enough to furtively train you in how to talk, and walk, and the entirety of different things." Her eyes were sparkling like precious stones. "Nobody will actually speculate you are not the genuine Lady Clara Nightingale. I have never met the duke, and my folks have revealed to me every other person who will be in participation at the local party, and I have never me

  Chapter Two

  Abigail gazed out the carriage window at the moving green fields that had gradually arisen when they had left the edges of London. It was so excellent; she had never seen such excellence. However, at that point, she had never been outside London, not even on a roadtrip, since she had been taken as an unwanted youngster to St. Jude's, each one of those years ago.

  Her stomach was shuddering with nerves, so savage that she could scarcely stand by. She didn't have the foggiest idea what amount of time it would require to arrive at the shore of Cornwall and the home of the Duke of Wycliff. It very well may be just 60 minutes, or it very well may be a few. Her heart swayed with fear at the possibility of her appearance, and welcome the duke and his home visitors. How is it possible that she would conceivably pull off this charade?

  She was certain they would realize she was not a woman in a moment, in spite of the entirety of Clara's endeavors over the previous week. Each evening, her woman had trained her in the better purposes of decorum. Clara chipped away at her intonation as well, causing her to talk with the articulated vowels of a woman. Her voice sounded strange to her own ears, however Clara demanded she was tone awesome. The hardest thing had been figuring out how to walk like a woman, with mincing advances, instead of the long walks that she was accustomed to taking in her working day.

  Her heart staggered with dread, making her mouth unexpectedly dry. What had her to consent to such lunacy?

  But then she peered down at her hands, which were laying on her lap. The sensitive white gloves that encased them. The vibe of the fine muslin of the outfit she was wearing against her skin. A most excellent light blue outfit, the best that she had ever worn, in spite of the fact that Clara asserted it was only a standard morning outfit, befitting a carriage ride. And afterward there were the twists, outlining her face. The hat on her head. The shoes upon her feet. She had panted with wonder when she had seen herself in the mirror today, at the place of Clara's Aunt Prudence. She essentially had not perceived herself, by any means. Who was the brilliant haired woman who looked back at her, apparently so reserved and demure?

  She hadn't had a lot of time to mull over that wondrous reflection. The carriages had shown up inside ten minutes, pulling up external Aunt Prudence's polite house. One to convey Clara north, right to Scotland, and one to convey her to Cornwall. Fortunately, Aunt Prudence had been sleeping in her upholstered easy chair when they had withdrawn, and hadn't seen her niece's house cleaner diving the steps as a real woman. Not that she would have seen, regardless of whether she had; the facts previously demonstrated that Clara's auntie was well and really in her dotage, just ambiguously mindful of anything around her any longer.

  They hadn't waited, with their goodbyes to one another. Clara had just grasped her hand, passionately expressing gratitude toward her once more, before rapidly moving into her carriage, and giving up London. Abigail had two entire trunks, firmly made sure about to the carriage, loaded up with a determination of Clara's outfits, gloves, jewelery and shoes. An outfit for each conceivable event. There were wraps, and a thick velvet shroud, on the off chance that it was cold, fans, and hats. They had recently been extremely fortunate that they were simply a similar size, Abigail considered. However, at that point, in the event that she wasn't so comparative in looks to Clara, they would never have pulled this misdirection off, could they?

  S
he turned her look to the window again. The moving green slopes were changing, only a bit. Unexpectedly, she saw a bit of the dark blue ocean, right over the curve, in front of them. She panted, in unadulterated miracle. She had never seen the ocean in her life, and it was just as wonderful as she had imagined.

  Her mind moved, as she looked on that vista. An unusual, disturbing sensation filled her heart. It looked peculiarly recognizable, in some odd way. Be that as it may, how should it? She had never been here, had never left London. Immovably, she pushed the thoroughly considered of her brain. It should be her nerves, making her brain change, unforeseenly. To occupy herself, she thought about the duke, whose house she would remain in for the following fourteen days, before she needed to re-visitation of Aunt Prudence's home, where she would get together with Clara again before they returned to her family home. Only one day before her folks were expected back from their visit through the continent.

  Clara's headings had been clear and firm. Abigail should go about as briskly towards the duke as could reasonably be expected, without being discourteous. He should not get the impression, in any capacity, that Lady Clara Nightingale was enchanted by him, and would be responsive to a proposal of marriage. "It ought to be no difficulty," Clara had said. "The duke's standing goes before him, Abigail. He is a cool, distant man, with unexpected habits, living altogether previously. He most likely won't give you much consideration by any means, however when he does, you should put him off, however much as could reasonably be expected. The exact opposite thing I need is the intricacy of the man of honor placing in a proposal of marriage for me – particularly since it isn't me who he would recollect, in the event that he called at our home, looking for additional colleague… ."

  Abigail murmured intensely. She was not anticipating meeting this duke by any means. Indeed, the possibility of him terrified her. In the event that he genuinely was as fearsome as they guaranteed, he may see through her demonstration, right away. How might she respond, in the event that he tested her?

  Clara had demanded that nothing of the sort would occur. She had said that regardless of whether individuals suspected, they would figure it so unimaginable, that they could never voice it out loud. For who might have the daringness to send their servant to mimic them at a fabulous local gathering? What's more, for what reason would anybody even bother?

  But the consolation had done little to suppress Abigail's questions. She was a fake, and everybody at this Dudley House would make certain to see it, instantly.

  Desperately, she put her hand in the pocket of her savvy coat, looking about. Indeed, it was there. The recognizable feeling of quiet cleared over her as she felt the item, gradually taking it out and holding it in the palm of her hand, examining it.

  It was a woman's long hoop – a just dazzling piece of jewelery, in an intricate plan. Gems shimmered inside it, astonishing white and extreme blue. She had no clue about if the gems were genuine. This hoop was her rabbit's foot. She had found it in her pocket the day that she had woken up in St. Jude's as a young lady, recollecting nothing of her past life, or how she had come to be there. She had concealed it throughout the long term, possibly taking it out to examine when she was distant from everyone else. She realized that nobody should actually find it. It was the solitary connection she held to her past, before she had shown up at St. Jude's. The lone connect to the family that had deserted her. She looked at it, ingested as usual. It looked valuable, as though it very well may merit something. There had been times, throughout the long term, when she had examined selling it. However, something had consistently halted her. It was just cash, which would run out in the end, and afterward the stud would be lost to her forever.

  She essentially couldn't do it.

  At that second, the carriage adjusted a curve and an enormous, Greystone house unexpectedly came into see. She heaved. It was the biggest house she had ever seen, with bending turrets appearing to extend into the sky, roosted on the actual edge of a bluff, sitting above the sea.

  The carriage turned, going through tall fashioned iron entryways, on a way straight towards the house.

  Abigail grasped her rabbit's foot hoop in her grasp firmly, as a nauseating sensation defeated her. This is should be Dudley House. Her destination.

  She mulled over it with wide, stunned eyes. By and by, she had that unusual, startling vibe that she had been here before.

  * * *

  The carriage jogged around the round carport, attracting to a last stop before the amazing front passage. Abigail took a profound, battered breath. It was the absolute first time that she had ever gone to the front passage of a house, looking for section. Generally, she entered by means of the rear of the house, where the worker's quarters were.

  A tall, intensely fabricated man was strolling gradually down the front strides, towards the carriage. Abigail's eyes augmented in dread, as she viewed him through the carriage window. She could judge by the quality and cut of his dress that he was an honorable man, and not the steward, or another worker. Was this the Duke of Wycliff?

  He remained back, trusting that the footman will open the carriage entryway, and help her slide. She examined him further, as she strolled gradually towards him, her heart pulsating quickly in her chest.

  Yes, he was tall, tall to the point that he looked practically like a goliath to her unfortunate eyes. Expansive chested, with wide shoulders. He had twisting, rumpled dark hair, falling over his eyes, a marginally rosy composition, and a squarish face, with a solid facial structure. The eyes that observed her were coal black.

  He wasn't grinning. He essentially examined her, as icily as though she were a bug that had unexpectedly slithered underneath his shoe.

  He bowed somewhat, as she moved close. "Woman Clara, I assume." It wasn't an inquiry, by any stretch of the imagination. "James Repton, the Duke of Wycliff. I'm your host, for the length of the gathering, at Dudley House." His voice was cut, practically restless. "Welcome to my home."

  Abigail took a full breath, sinking low into a dip, as Clara had educated her. "Your Grace."

  His bruised eyes glinted over her. "I believe that you had a decent excursion from London?"

  She gestured. "It was generally wonderful, driving by the ocean." She delayed. "I have never viewed the ocean in my life. It is so delightful… "

  He looked at her inquisitively. "Never viewed the ocean? That is odd, Lady Clara. One would figure your great guardians may have visited more than once, throughout the long term. Regardless of whether you do live in London."

  She bit her lip. "They don't care to travel a lot, Your Grace… " Her voice followed off, uncertainly. She understood she had committed another error, for weren't Lord and Lady

  Chapter Three

  Abigail took a profound, quieting breath as she went into the drawing room at Dudley House. She had held up as long as she could, prior to diving the great roundabout flight of stairs to the room. In any case, at last, she had realized that she was unable to stow away in her visitor bedchamber for eternity. The duke had sent word that all visitors would blend for pre-supper drinks from five decisively, and she was at that point 30 minutes late.

  The house keeper that had been shipped off go to her had effectively done her hair and dressed her in one of Clara's lovely night outfits, absent a lot of talk. It had felt odd, undoubtedly, to be the one on the less than desirable finish of such considerations, as opposed to the one doing it. Similarly as it felt very odd that she would be staying in bed a particularly great four banner bed, with a window sitting above the rough sea.

  The house keeper had been energetic, streamlining the wrinkles on the lavender silk outfit, grimacing as she pulled down the correct sleeve. "Ideally, the sleeve won't pull up and show that skin pigmentation," the house cleaner had commented, in a nonpartisan tone. "It contrasts your fair skin, doesn't it, my lady?"

  Abigail had looked at her arm. She had consistently had the heart-formed, profound earthy colored skin coloration on her upper right arm,
yet infrequently considered anything it, not to mention that she should think to conceal it. However, at that point, she had consistently worn long sleeves, as befitted a house keeper. Short-sleeved outfits were just for ladies.

  "I will be aware of it," she had said to the house cleaner. "What is your name?"

  The house cleaner looked shocked. "Mary-Anne, my lady."

  Abigail had grinned merciful. "It is ideal to meet you, Mary-Anne."

  The house keeper looked questionable, as though no woman had ever tended to her in such a manner previously. Abigail moaned. She should recall that not all women were as personal with their house keepers as Clara was with her. Truth be told, most women were out and out impolite, and pretentious. She would not like to part with herself by being excessively acquainted with the workers. However, it would be hard. For she knew, better than anybody, that workers were just individuals, after all.

  Her eyes apprehensively thought about the individuals in the drawing room, presently. Some were standing, and talking close to the mantelpiece. Others were relaxing on chaise couches, either perusing or talking. She tallied seven individuals, including the duke, who was inclining toward the mantelpiece, with a gathering of three men.

  His eyebrows rose, simply a bit, as he recognized her passage. Abigail felt her hands dangerous with sweat. She didn't have a clue what to do, by any means. Should she simply sit down close to somebody, and present herself?

  But the following second, the duke was stepping towards her, a decided look all over. Abigail could see that he was focused on performing his responsibility, yet that he was upset about it, at all. Why had he even tried to welcome Clara here, an absolute outsider, on the off chance that he wasn't quick to become more acquainted with her? He was an odd man, for sure, similarly as her companion had claimed.

  "Lady Clara." A little, close grin showed up all over. "Kindly permit me to acquaint you with my other guests."