To Desire a Wicked Duke (Courtship Wars)

After breakfast the next morning, they searched the entire castle from top to bottom looking for clues, but could find no hint of what had caused the unsettling disturbance. Both of Tess’s sturdy footmen accompanied them, particularly when they searched the “dungeon,” but all they gained for their troubles were dirty gowns.

The housekeeper apologized profusely for the condition of the cellars, perhaps fearing for her job, but Tess reassured her.

“Please don’t worry, Mrs. Hiddleston. As you said, no one uses the cellars anymore. As for exploring the depths of the castle, we think of it as research for Miss Irwin’s novel. I doubt there are real ghostly spirits lurking down there or anywhere else.”

In the light of day, Tess found it easier to dismiss the absurd possibility of Rotham’s murdered ancestor haunting his palatial home. Yet to her consternation, an hour later she had a new concern to occupy her: A brief message came from Rotham, saying that he had succeeded in hiring Basil Eddowes and that they would arrive sometime the following afternoon. Thus, instead of worrying about confronting a ghost, Tess had to worry about facing her new husband.

She told herself that the restless flutter in her stomach had nothing whatsoever to do with eagerness or anticipation of seeing him again. Of course she was delighted for Fanny, but she’d hoped to avoid Rotham for a good while longer.

It was unfortunate, Tess thought wryly, that she couldn’t simply refuse him entry so she wouldn’t have to deal with him. Yet she couldn’t exactly kick him out of his own castle. And if she tried, she could only imagine the grief Rotham would give her.

Fanny was even more unnerved by the realization that her moment of truth was at hand. For the remainder of the day and all the next morning, the two of them tried with only mild success to calm each other’s agitation.

Long before the expected hour, they gave up working in the library and settled in the drawing room to read. Despite their effort to appear composed, however, when the gentlemen finally did arrive around two o’clock, Fanny only had eyes for Basil, and Tess could not look away from Rotham.

It was deplorable how all her senses came alive the moment he strode into the room. His gaze was fixed on her in return, she saw. He was studying her closely, perhaps wondering what sort of reception she meant to give him … perhaps also remembering their one passionate night together, just as she was.

Tess felt the impact as Rotham’s gray eyes raked slowly down her figure. She had deliberately chosen lighter colors and fabrics to wear for her visit to Cornwall, and he seemed to approve of her gown of blue sprigged muslin—not that she cared what he thought of her, Tess reminded herself.

Yet her body was instantly, profoundly aware when Rotham stepped closer. And when he took her hand to press a light kiss to her fingers, she shivered at even that slight touch.

With effort, Tess withdrew her hand from his grasp and shifted her attention from Rotham to her friends, who were staring at each other as if they had been parted for a decade rather than merely a few days.

Tall, lean, and lanky, Basil was blond, brown-eyed, and wore spectacles that gave him a scholarly appearance, which provided a striking contrast to Fanny’s lush, raven-haired beauty. Tess knew theirs was a clear case of opposites attracting; Fanny, the gay, vivacious, pleasure-seeker, and Basil, the earnest, bookish law clerk. His studious air was fortunately relieved by his sharp dry wit, though. And reportedly he’d been fun-loving in his youth, acting as Lily Loring’s childhood compatriot in her sporting endeavors and rebellious escapades.

Fanny and Basil had been childhood friends, too, but they’d been at loggerheads over her shocking decision to enter the flesh trade at sixteen. His disapproval, Tess suspected, in addition to his fierce anger, disappointment, and outright jealousy, stemmed from the probability that even back then, he was head over ears in love with Fanny.

Basil certainly seemed eager to see her again. Indeed, the desire and longing in his eyes was unmistakable.

When Fanny gazed at Basil in return, the tender look they shared only confirmed Tess’s conviction that they both wanted a future together.

She had watched the change in Basil over the course of the past summer. He’d dressed in homely attire until Fanny’s elderly courtesan friends had taken him in hand, intent on turning him into a fashionable gentleman. Under their direction, Basil had begun to look the part of a nobleman’s secretary. Just now he wore a tailored brown frock coat and pantaloons and shiny Hessian boots, and he carried himself with manly confidence, as if he were worthy of a beautiful Cyprian like Fanny.

While they greeted each other, Tess drew Rotham aside and spoke in a low voice. “Thank you for bringing Basil here. I gather he is now in your employ?”

“Yes, as my newest secretary. Did you doubt my success?”

“Not in the least.” She would never doubt Rotham’s ability to gain anything he truly wanted. “What reason did you give for requiring him to accompany you to Cornwall?”

“Just that it was difficult for you to wed me so suddenly and that you wanted your friends around you.”

That much was true, Tess thought wryly. “I presume Basil will have specific duties as your secretary?”

Rotham nodded. “To start with, he will take charge of my library at Bellacourt. I told him that the collection here at Fal

well needs cataloging to determine if there are any rare editions I want to bring home with me.”

“And does it need cataloging?”

“Not to my knowledge, but it won’t hurt. However, the library here is not extensive, so it should take no more than a week for Eddowes to complete his work. After that I will run out of excuses. You should tell your friends to hurry and fall in love before my patience runs out.”

Suspecting that Rotham was deliberately provoking her, Tess returned an unwitting smile. “I realize you have an aversion to lovers, but this is for a good cause.”

“You say that about all your causes, sweeting.”

“Yes, but this one is particularly important to me.”

“Then by all means, I will endeavor to enforce your will. It would pain me greatly to disappoint you.”