Page 34 of Denying a Rakish Duke
“Oh no, you do not!” A woman’s voice came from inside the house. “You turn around and carry your sorry arse out of here just as swiftly as you came!” Playful chastisement colored her words.
“What? Careful now, Alice, or I shall think that you do not enjoy my company as much as we both know that you do!” Joseph teased.
Alice.That was not Margot inside then … so it was true, hedidhave multiple mistresses. Vanessa felt nauseous. No wonder he did not spend any time at his home; there were far too many ladies in want of his time and affection. This woman had a home she kept for him, warm and inviting. They even possibly had a child together. He claimed to wish for a large family, but she had not imagined that this would be the way that he would go about accomplishing it.
“You are but a thorn in my side and yet another mouth to feed,Your Grace,” Alice continued. “Let us not pretend that you are here to see me when we both know that it is my husband’s company that you truly wish to have.”
“Where is Dodger, the old cod?”
“He was called to work an extra shift at the stables, Your Grace— called to deliver a new foal. He is still the best trainer around, but I am certain that you remember that as he and his father trained nearly every horse you have ever ridden. He has fallen quite behind in his duties running around with you, and given that you have been keeping him out late, drinking to oblivion, you should know that he had to return to making wages to support us.”
“If you are in need of money, you only need to ask.”
“You know that I cannot accept any charity, nor would Dodger ever allow us to take a single coin from you.”
“That is because he is more stubborn than he is wise.”
“If you truly wished to support him further, you would purchase more horses. You would restock those stables you have out in the country, for you know that your childhood friend is not one who can have idle hands for half a second without getting himself into trouble”
Joseph wondered for a moment if perhaps Vanessa might like that very much. He wondered if she should like to help in their selection, perhaps even speak with Dodger about their care, and then together they might teach him to cultivate a higher interest in them. Yet, all that came out of his lips was, “I do not know when I shall return to the country.”
Alice waved her hand dismissively. “That is neither here nor there … Roderick! Where are you with those potatoes?!” Alice called to her child. The boy tutted and rolled his eyes before dutifully picking up every single accidentally dropped peel and carrying the whole lot inside. He left the door ajar, and Vanessa could not refrain from peeking.
“What heis, is late for his supper. I do not pretend to know the full reason why you have been here to bother us every night, but my husband had duties to attend, and you will not be stealing him away this night, Your Grace, and I will be quite firm about that.”
“I am shocked! Appalled! Clearly, he would rather spend time with me,” Joseph teased in a mocking voice. Alice laughed and hit at his chest with her spoon, leaving bits of stew on his fine shirt.
“If you think that you have more to offer him in the ways of physical comforts, then by all means, be my guest.” She smiled wickedly. “Though, I am also quite certain which of us will win that battle, Your Grace.”
“That is not fair in the slightest!”
“That is rich, coming from you. I have never known you tonotfight dirty. He will be attending to his wife this night, and while I will not force you out onto the street, I have it on good authority that you have a wife of your own that you ought to be attending to as well.”
All playful mirth slid right from Joseph’s features. “Ah, well—”
“Did you not think that I would figure out why you have been down here so frequently? When you are in town, I fully expect to be bothered by you once or twice, even for a few weekends I expect it, but it has been aweek, Your Grace. That poor wife of yours is likely out of her mind with worry! Where exactly does she think that you have been?!”
Vanessa decided in that moment that she liked this Alice; she liked her a whole lot. “I confess it, I do not know where she believes that I am. I should not think that she has any reason to care either. She is not much of a fan of me.”
Alice scoffed and went back to attending her cooking. “That tells me at least you married a woman of decent taste.”
“That we can agree on. I shall never understand why she gave me a second glance.” Joseph sighed and sank down into a chair beside the fire where Alice cooked.
“That is all the more reason why you need to return home. Dodger can send word to you the next time that I allow him free reign of the world, but I am telling you right now that I have every intention of hoarding his time for myself until further notice.” Alice sighed and placed her hands on her hips. “Well, what is it? Be truthful, what is stopping you from returning home then?”
“I am afraid that if I return to my home, she will not speak with me. I have been a royal cad to her, and she would certainly be within her rights to ignore me further.”
“Your Grace, I have never known you to have any difficulties with the fairer sex before; you must care for her a great deal.” Vanessa nearly slipped and fell into the window; she was so eager to hear his answer.
“That is precisely the issue. For all of my tactics of seduction, she has no interest. I do not even know if she would have consented to marry me of her own volition should circumstances have somehow been different.”
“There is a rather obvious solution to all of this, you know.”
Joseph raked his hands down his face and nodded in time with his heavy sigh. “Yes, I am aware of that.”
“So, it is truly your pride that is standing in the way of your possible happiness? You are really so arrogant that you cannot bring yourself tospeakto the woman who has agreed to live her life at your side? That is a fine plan, Your Grace— truly, a—”
“She thinks that I am with my mistress!” Joseph blurted, interrupting Alice whose face twisted from her normal lecture into something far more sinister. She looked as if she were about to hit him with the spoon in her hand. “Before you strike at me, I ended things with Margot the night before I married Vanessa.”
