Page 1 of His Forbidden Duchess
Chapter One
“Whoever could it be at this hour?” Eloise asked.
The sharp rap of a knocker at the door sent a shiver down Eloise’s spine. She glanced at her mother, who returned a brief, worried look.
Eloise bit down on her bottom lip. She had no idea who was at the door, yet something inside of her warned her it wouldn’t be good.
Rose Manning, Dowager Duchess of Danridge and Eloise’s mother, rose to her feet to greet their guests, throwing Eloise another apprehensive glance. She was a meek woman of five-and-fifty and one prone to dramatic outbursts.
This time, however, Eloise had a feeling that her mother was right to be concerned.
A knock such as that one was neither the knock of a friendly visitor nor of someone coming with well wishes. It was an ominous knock, if ever there could be such a thing.
A gust of chilly air rushed into the parlor as the butler opened the door, followed quickly by the smell of damp wool and cheap cologne. Eloise scrunched her nose up against the scent, trying to recall where she had smelled it before.
Her question was quickly answered.
The butler, normally so sure of himself, entered the parlor wearing a rather sheepish and uncomfortable expression. He too knew that nothing good would come from this visitor.
“Mr. Carlisle to see you, My Lady,” he said in a weak voice.
At the mention of his name, the Dowager Duchess let out a cry of despair. Eloise’s eyes widened as she choked back her fear, and Mr. Carlisle entered, flanked by two intimidating, rough-looking men..
She keenly recalled why she had recognized that scent. She had long ago come to associate it with a visit from the creditor though she pushed it out of her mind whenever it arose.
That was one of the last things her dear, late father had left them with—a mountain of debt and a relationship with this creditor and his thugs.
Lady Danridge let out another cry of despair, dabbing her damp forehead with a handkerchief that she had fished out of her pocket.
“Is it really that time? Surely it cannot be, can it, Eloise?”
“Lady Danridge,” Mr. Carlisle greeted with a thin, reptilian smile. He gave a mock bow, his gaze lingering on Eloise longer than propriety allowed. His eyes swept over her, making her feel exposed though she kept her chin high and her expression steady. “And Lady Eloise. Lovely as always.”
Eloise fought the urge to recoil under his oily gaze. She knew he derived a perverted degree of pleasure from making her uncomfortable, and she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm.
“Oh, goodness, Mr. Carlisle,” her mother said, her voice quivering. “You are early.”
She glanced again at Eloise, as if her daughter was the mother and she was the child.
Eloise looked away. She could not protect her mother in this situation, and neither should she have to. She knew her mother was lost in her grief, but so was Eloise.
“I am prompt, My Lady,” Mr. Carlisle replied smoothly, stepping further into the room, his henchmen remaining near the door like wolves guarding their prey. “And I bring urgent news.”
“More demands, no doubt,” Eloise said coolly, folding her hands in her lap.
“Tell them, Eloise,” Lady Danridge said, turning the handkerchief over and over in her hands. “Tell them they are too early.”
Carlisle’s grin widened at Eloise’s defiance, entirely ignoring her mother’s plea. “Astute as ever, Lady Eloise. Indeed, I am here to remind you of your family’s… predicament.” He drew out the word, savoring it. “As you are aware, your father’s debts are quite substantial, and time is running out. You have one month left.”
“One month?” Eloise’s mother gasped, her hand clutching her chest. “I thought we had more time. Tell him, Eloise, will you not?”
Carlisle shook his head with mock sympathy. “Afraid not. If the debts are not paid in full by that time, I will strip both your townhouse and the country estate of everything you own. It is only a shame that I cannot take the buildings themselves.” His tone turned harder, more threatening. “It is all in the contract as agreed.”
Eloise’s heart raced though she kept her expression impassive. “My brother has been working abroad tirelessly to settle these debts,” she said. “He has already paid off a large portion.”
“Ah, yes, Lord Danridge,” Carlisle said, his voice dripping with disdain. “He has been quite diligent. However, it is stillinsufficient. Let me remind you, my dear,” he leaned in slightly toward Eloise and lowered his voice to a menacing whisper, “the debt must be paid by someone in your family. No loans from outside sources. That is also part of our arrangement. If you try to deceive me, I will find out, and the consequences will be most unpleasant.”
“Your agreement was with my father, not with us,” she snarled in response.
