The Duke’s Deception Page 3

  Chapter 6

  Katherine closed her eyes hoping to take another short nap. Oliver had mentioned the carriage should arrive at Loneshire near dusk. She was nervous for some reason. Oliver's explanation of Percy was flawed. He would not make eye contact and avoided certain questions. What was he hiding?

  Her mind drifted into the direction of her childhood. She was the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Clarendon. Her parents were very wealthy and considered to be of the ton in England. She was fortunate to have beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes.

  She lacked for nothing growing up. She had the finest clothes money could buy. She loved her nanny deeply and was saddened when her services were no longer required. She had handmaidens to wait on her. Her parents loved her and doted over her.

  Every year, they would migrate from the enormous estate in the country to London to festivities known as The London Season. The season ran from February through August. Katherine looked forward to attending every year. She would go shopping for clothes and fabric. She would ride with her parents through Rotten Row and stroll in Hyde Park.

  There were hundreds of events to attend. Katherine could hear the cheers of the crowd after a performance at the opera. Smiling, Katherine recalled her favorite adventure to the theatre.

  Joseph Grimaldi was playing "Joey the Clown" and Katherine was so excited to attend his performance. His face was painted white with red rouge painted in half-moons on each cheek. His costume was colorful with patterns of large diamonds and circles and fringed tassels and ruffles. He was indeed a character to behold.

  Then hard times had fallen upon her father. The servants were terminated except for one maidservant. Her mother begged her father to take Katherine one last time to London. London was the largest market for any marriage contacts. It was there that Katherine met Percy. Her father and Percy discussed the details. Her father had to sell property and other assets to obtain the necessary funds for the marriage. Then in November, Percy had asked for Katherine's hand in marriage.

  She had not hesitated when she said yes. She knew better; she could not disappoint her parents. She did not know Percy that well but there was a feeling she could never shake whenever she thought of him. She supposed it was the fear of the unknown. The few times she had met Percy, he had been kind to her. Kind, yet a little rough. She did not like arrogance, a trait which she had noticed in Percy when she had first met him.

  She supposed the arrogance was needed for his title. She knew the affairs of the estate took up much of his time, and assumed he had little to no free time to properly attend to a wife. When Katherine had heard of Sarah, her heart swelled. She knew the little girl needed a mother, and Katherine was willing to be that mother. She believed that she would come to love Percy, or at least like him a lot. She knew fate had chosen this path in her life, and that it was too late to turn back.

  Yet, the uneasy feeling returned. Katherine knew something was not right. She loved her parents and must obey them, and now was on her way to becoming the wife of a man she knew very little of.

  She glanced at Oliver out of the corner of her eye. Oliver. What if she had met Oliver first? Would she have fallen in love with him so quickly, or would she be feeling the same trepidation with him as she was now feeling with Percy?

  Was Oliver just a distraction to take her mind off of the life she was leaving behind, and the unknown life that she was heading towards? She didn’t believe he was only a distraction. She felt something with Oliver; something that she had never felt before. She had certainly never felt this with Percy. With Percy, it was cool disdain, a polite demeanor that she cast his way. It was a nagging feeling of dread; a feeling that life would never again be the same, and not in a good way.

  With Oliver, she felt comfortable and comforted. She sensed his kind heart. When she looked at him, he took her breath away. Oliver felt like home to her. He was someone she had always known, yet she had only known him for a short time.

  She had none of those feelings when thinking of Percy; she felt none of those feelings when she had spent time with him. With Oliver, she could see forever. With Percy, she could not see beyond the next day.

  What would happen if she told the coachman to turn the coach around? Wouldn’t her parents forgive her? Wouldn’t Percy find another wife and mother for Sarah? A path in life could be changed, surely. Nothing was set in stone for an entire lifetime. Changes occurred and people made adaptations.

  What would Oliver do? Would he still want her if she didn’t marry his brother? Perhaps he only wanted her because he knew he couldn’t have her. It was safe for him to voice whatever feelings he thought he had for her because he would never see her again once they reached Loneshire.

  Had she done the same? Had she confessed the feelings she supposed she had because of the fear of the unknown? Did she know that she would never love Percy so she wanted to tell someone that she loved them?

  Questions plagued Katherine as the coach rolled on. She knew fear could do strange things to a person. Fear could make one confuse their feelings and confess things one would never do if not in a stressful situation.

  Katherine tried desperately to think of any excuse that would have caused her to tell Oliver that she loved him. Perhaps I only said it because he said it to me first. Is it not polite if someone says they love you to say it back?

  She opened her mouth but nothing came out. The words were in her mind, turn back and take me home. But she could not speak them.

  She thought of the life that she and Oliver could have. She knew he’d be a kind husband. She would be a doting and loving wife to him. Their children would be blessed and loved. She smiled thinking of a little boy who would look just like Oliver. Without thinking, she reached out and brushed her fingers over Oliver’s hand. If he felt it, he did not acknowledge the gesture.

  Katherine hurriedly jerked her hand back, thinking herself a fool. She desperately yearned for him to reach out and take her hand, but he did not. Her heart silently cried out for a love that was over before it had even begun. She wished that Oliver were Percy but he wasn’t. And he would never be. Fate had dealt her a cruel blow by allowing her to fall for the brother of the man she was going to marry.

  But she knew. She knew what her heart felt. But it didn’t matter. There was no going back now; there would be no going back ever again. She couldn’t disobey her parents. Oh how she longed to, but she knew it couldn’t be done. Her life had been planned for her, and she must accept it. She would become Percy’s wife and Sarah’s mother. Oliver would be her brother-in-law. Her feelings would change for him and fade away as she got to know Percy.

  The uneasiness was just nerves. Once they were married and she settled into the estate, the nerves would go away. She would assume her place, support her husband and raise Sarah. Everything would go as planned. Katherine tried to smile. She had no choice but to accept this new life; her old life was gone. And soon, she and Oliver would go their separate ways. She tried to ignore the sinking of her heart at that thought. She didn’t want him to go away. Where he went, Katherine wanted to go. But that was impossible. She must accept her lot in life. Oliver was free to love someone else.

  Chapter 7

  Oliver’s thoughts returned to the deaths of his parents and the cook’s disappearing daughter. He just could not bring himself to divulge the sordid story to Katherine. What would she think? It was more important his niece had a mother.

  Oliver reflected back to the afternoon he promised God to find out the truth of his parents’ deaths. A plan was necessary to obtain the facts and expose his brother for his evil ways. Where was the coachman on the day of the accident? He believed the coachman held the key to the truth.

  Upon rising the next day, Oliver had gone directly to the butler. The butler did recall the coachman and believed he went to work for the Stanley estate outside of London. Once a servant vacated their job, very little contact was made. However, the current coachman had encountered him numerous times outsid
e the opera.

  A trip was planned for London. Oliver was informed by the footman to make up a story because if Percy knew whom he was searching for, the results would be dreadful. The next day, Oliver packed a bag and headed for London. Along the way he questioned the coachman.

  "Yes, my lord, the former man is with the Stanley clan. You can see their estate on the right before you reach London."

  As the carriage reached the estate, the coachman slowed it down and turned into the long road lined with trees. He stopped at the carriage house. Oliver jumped out of the carriage and walked toward the stables. A tall slender man approached him inquiring to his reason for the visit. The former coachman appeared from the back of the building and addressed Oliver.

  When questioned about the day his parents died, the former coachman was hesitant to talk. Oliver thought as much, reached into his coat pocket and handed the coachman a guinea.

  He recounted, "Sir, I drove your brother to the river with your parents. Percy carried your father out of the house first, then your mother, placing them side by side in the carriage. I stopped the carriage when instructed, and your brother threw each of your parents into the rapid waters of the river." A frightful look appeared on his face and he related, "My lord, I believe your brother poisoned your parents."

  "What happened to the cook's daughter?" Oliver asked. He was shocked by the coachman's answer.

  "I drove her to London to a small house on the west side of town. She is not dead. I see her often in the theatre district." Oliver was elated at the news that at least one person was spared their life.

  Oliver decided to travel on to London. He did not want Percy to question why he returned so quickly. He was given the address where the cook' s daughter resided. He was not sure where this was leading, but he had to complete his adventure. He thanked the former coachman and headed to London.

  The carriage arrived at the address that was given to him. He had learned her name was Mary. He knocked on the door, and a small child opened the door. Oliver was shocked. There stood a young boy who was identical to himself. He had red curly hair and green eyes.

  Oliver spoke to the child. "I am calling for your mother. Is she home?" The boy nodded his head, opened the door wide and motioned for Oliver to enter. As he stepped inside, the child took Oliver's hand and led him to the kitchen. His mother was sitting at the kitchen table sipping a cup of freshly brewed tea. Her skin color was gray with sunken dull eyes. It was apparent she was in ill health.

  Oliver's mind raced. Time factors were not adding up correctly. His parents were dead over a year and a half, and Mary was with child when she left. At most, the child born could not be over a year old. This child was at least three or four years of age.

  Mary asked if Oliver would partake in a cup of tea with her. He agreed, but asked that she remain sitting. He would help himself. He sat down at the table and slowly sipped the steaming cup of tea.

  Mary introduced her son, George. “He will be four years old next week.” George was Percy's son and was brought to his house after he was born. A wet nurse had taken care of him until the night his parents died. She was with child again so Percy moved her into the house with a former concubine. The child died the night he was born.

  "Does your mother know you are alive? Does she know about George?" Oliver asked.

  Tears came to her eyes and in a shaken voice she said, “No she does not; she thinks I am dead and that George died at birth." She begged Oliver to never expose the truth to her for fear of Percy's intent.

  But the truth had been revealed. Now what was he going to do with the information? He knew his brother was cruel and would stop at nothing to have whatever he wanted.

  But Mary’s mother deserved to know that her daughter and grandson were okay. Mary begged him not to say anything. She feared for the safety of her son and mother. She did not care about herself as she was living in a hellish prison, but she feared Percy’s anger would be unleashed on her family.

  Oliver had to promise her that he would not say anything, and it had haunted him every day.

  Chapter 8

  Katherine’s hand brushing against his sent shivers down his spine. He couldn’t ever remember feeling this way about a woman before. He’d had his share of girlfriends over the years, but the relationships had not lasted long. With Katherine, it was different. He knew he might have been out of his mind to tell her he loved her but he had to tell her. He didn’t know why. She was marrying his brother.

  He wanted to laugh. Percy would be infuriated if he found out. There had always been disdain and a harsh competition going on between the brothers. Percy always had to be the winner in everything; coming in second did not sit well with him; especially when it came to women.

  Any woman that Oliver had ever had an interest in, Percy had tried to steal her away. But Percy never really wanted the woman; he only wanted Oliver not to have her. To Percy, Oliver was not important. The only important person in Percy’s life was Percy. He had always clashed with their parents while they were growing up. His temper started early in life. Both family and staff walked on eggshells around young Percy lest his fury be unleashed. Nothing his parents did could make Percy control his temper. Temper mixed with arrogance was a deadly combination, and Percy would step on whoever he could to get ahead in life. If he wasn’t the best and the center of attention, Percy would take no shame in intimidating and embarrassing a rival. Even his brother.

  Oliver had stopped telling his parents when Percy had beat him up when they were growing up as Percy would beat him harder when he found out that he had told them.

  Percy had threatened his parents numerous times but nothing had come of it. Everyone believed that his words would never turn to action.

  Oliver glanced at Katherine out of the corner of his eye. She was stunning. He wanted to reach out and hold her hand but he was powerless to move. She had his heart but that did not matter. She was marrying his brother. He had foolishly spoken of his feelings for her, desperately hoping she would stop the carriage and turn it around. He would hold his own with Percy. He and Katherine could move far away from Loneshire. Percy would find someone else; he always did. As he had no interest in Sarah, he could bargain with Percy that Sarah would go with him if Percy agreed to let Katherine go.

  But Percy would never willingly let anyone go. Oliver would talk to Percy and ask him to let Katherine live away from the main home. Sarah could live with Katherine and Oliver would escort both Katherine and Sarah to see Percy several times a week. He had it planned in his head yet he spoke none of this to Katherine. He would speak with Percy on their arrival.

  He told the coachman to stop. He refused to take Katherine any further. He did not care what happened to him; Percy could take his life if it meant Katherine would be spared. He could not let her alone with Percy. And if she insisted on continuing the journey to Loneshire, he would make sure that she did not live at the estate with him.

  “Why has the coach stopped?”

  Her question brought Oliver from his thoughts.

  “Katherine,” he took a deep breath, “Katherine…are you…sure…do you…wish to continue on to Loneshire?”

  Katherine seemed surprised but answered without hesitation, “Yes, I do. I…I’ve made promises that I most certainly need to keep. My…my parents…and Sarah…I can’t turn back now, Oliver, my family…they would be devastated. And Sarah, she needs a mother. I will be fine; everything will be fine, Oliver, but please, I have to continue. This is my new life, and I will adjust.”

  “Very well, you may proceed on,” he directed to the coachman. Oliver remained silent for the rest of the journey. Katherine’s mind was made up; there was nothing further he could do. He silently grieved for a love that was over before it had even started. Life would go on; Oliver would find love, if he so desired, and would move on. Katherine would soon become a distant memory. He felt shattered at that thought, as he didn’t want her to become someone from his past; he desperately wanted
her to be a part of his future. She will be, he thought, as Percy’s wife.

  "What?" Oliver said after hearing Katherine's voice. He felt the vibrations of the carriage wheels and realized he had been in deep thought for some time. Glancing out the window at the scenery, he knew Loneshire was near.

  The carriage came to a stop. Katherine gazed out to a vast estate. The entire staff was lined along the massive steps awaiting her arrival. Percy stepped out onto the porch and walked down the steps to greet Katherine.

  The footman opened the door and extended his hand, gently lifting her down and out of the carriage. Percy stood rigid with his hands interlocked behind his back at the bottom steps refusing to go further. Katherine instantly did not care for his demeanor. He displayed an air of contemptuousness.

  Katherine's eyes searched the crowd before her and noticed a group of young women at the top of the stairs. Seven young women were dressed in rather alluring clothes. How odd she thought, there is no mention of sisters. Could they be cousins?

  Katherine politely acknowledged Percy by a slight bow of the shoulders. She may not care for Percy yet, but proper etiquette was always necessary. Percy introduced Katherine to Emma, her maidservant. "She will take care of anything you can possibly desire," he said, then turned to the butler demanding he take Katherine's baggage to her room.

  As Katherine ascended the stairs Percy called out, informing her she would be present at the dinner table shortly. He did not request, he demanded.

  Emma opened the door to Katherine's room. The room was stunning. The massive bed made of mahogany wood was covered in imported silk and velvet. A beautiful woven carpet centered the room. Two chintz covered chairs sat in front of the fireplace. As she viewed the room, she realized she was standing in Percy's mother's room. She should have felt awkward but instead welcomed the sweet comforting spirit of the room.