Cursed & Cherished--The Duke's Wilful Wife (#2 Love's Second Chance Series) Read online

  Observing the scene as though it didn’t concern her, Anna couldn’t help but ask, “Is he in need of money?”

  “Anna!” her mother chided, shaking her head at her daughter.

  “No, no,” her father said, lifting a hand to calm his wife. “She is not wrong.” Looking at Anna, he nodded his head. “I see no reason to keep this from you. It is most fortunate for us in-deed. He seeks a way of saving his estate while I would like me grandson to inherit a title. In addition, business should pick up even more when our relation to the Duke of Cromwell becomes known.”

  “But surely, he can find a wife with a substantial dowry within his own circle,” their mother asked, still patting Judith’s hand, who had sunken into herself, eyes fixed on the tea cup in her hand.

  “But apparently not one with a dowry as substantial as the one I can provide,” her father beamed, pride ringing clear in his voice. “In addition, I suppose a father would generally not want his daughter marrying a man who is bankrupt. Title or no.”

  “Then why would it be advantageous for us?” his wife asked.

  “Because there are things money can’t buy,” her husband explained, his enthusiasm slowly dissipating at the lack of approval provided by his family.

  For the first time since her father’s announcement, Judith lifted her eyes, unshed tears clinging to their corners. “What about John?”

  “Do not fret,” her father consoled her. “This week you fancy yourself in love with Mr. Miller, next week it will be someone else, preferably the duke.” He winked at her. “But remember, affection is not the means to a successful life. I know, in time you will come to see the wisdom of my decisions. After all, I only have your best interest at heart.” Rising from his chair, he patted her hand and left the room, humming a jolly tune as he went.

  Chapter Two − A Ruse Planned

  Judith’s quiet sobs echoed in the now silent room. Left behind in the wake of their father’s announcement, the sisters sought to absorb its implications and consequences with regard to their own future. However, Anna’s mind could not focus on the freedom she loved which now appeared to be slipping through her fingers. Her sister’s tear-streaked face drew her in, and her heart began to ache.

  Rising from her seat, she walked over to Judith, drawing her shaking frame into an embrace. “Hush, Dear Sister,” she whispered, eyes travelling to her mother, who sat stock-still, eyes staring into the distance. “Do not worry. Everything will be all right. I am sure of it.”

  “How can it?” Judith sobbed. “Father made it clear that I have no choice in the matter.”

  Brushing Judith’s wet curls from her face, Anna sought to look into her sister’s eyes. “There is always a choice. We only need to find it.”

  “But what can we do?” Judith asked, her swollen eyes a pitiful sight.

  Anna thought for a second. She wasn’t a schemer. There had never been the need for elaborate scheming. Her wit and clever reasoning usually provided enough ammunition to win her battles. “If you married John soon, before−”

  “Without father’s consent?” A horrified look opened Judith red eyes. “I could never go against his wishes!”

  Anna sighed. “Would you rather marry a stranger?”

  Another heart-wrenching sob escaped Judith’s lips as she buried her head against her sister’s shoulder.

  “Well, maybe the duke will choose me,” Anna said, not believing her own words. Neither did her sister, she was sure of it, although Judith politely refrained from uttering the objections she had. Few men ever showed a deeper interest in Anna, and those that did were quickly discouraged. She knew she was no beauty, but had a certain wild appeal that some men found alluring. However, she was not tender-hearted as her sister and always spoke her mind. More than once she had witnessed a gentleman’s countenance turn dark upon hearing her reply to his question, only to be followed by a feeble excuse and a quick exit. To this day, Anna had seen no need to change. She strongly believed that those who disapproved of her opinions were not worthy of her company.

  But now everything was different. Her sister’s happiness depended on her ability to charm a man she most likely couldn’t stand to be around. From what Anna had seen of the Duke of Cromwell at the occasional event, she thought him to be a pompous, arrogant aristocrat, who never had to lift a finger for all that life had given him, and now that his livelihood was threatened, he merely chose a wife with a sizable dowry and continued on as he always had, going from one event to another, spending his money without second thought.

  Anna wondered. Could she charm a man like that? Could she keep her opinions to herself? Could she smile and nod and refrain from speaking her mind? But even if she could, her sister’s conduct would still outshine her, for her kindness was genuine to a fault.

  “I have an idea,” Anna whispered, lifting her sister’s face off her shoulder and brushing the tears from her cheeks. “But I cannot do it alone. I will need your help.”

  “But what can we do?” Judith sniffed, reaching for her handkerchief. “I cannot go against father’s wishes.”

  Anna nodded. “I know, and I am not asking you to.” As her mind raced to assemble the pieces of her plan, her pulse hammered in her veins. “Father said the duke will come to dinner to-morrow night. He will have a chance to speak to us and then make his choice.” Judith nodded. “All we have to do is make him choose me.”

  Judith frowned. “But how can we assure this? And what of your own heart? Do you truly wish to marry the duke?”

  “Of course not!” Anna shook her head. “But that is not important right now. What is important is for us to trade temperaments.”

  “What?”

  “You are cunning, my child,” her mother said. She sat down her tea cup and joined their conversation. “A daring plan. However, it will not be as simple as deciding to be charming. Have you ever charmed a man? Merely by being attentive and kind? It is not an easy skill. And do you truly believe our Judith is capable of your own ‘honest’ remarks in order to drive him away?”

  At their mother’s words, understanding filled Judith’s mind and her eyes opened wide. “Oh, no, I cannot. I−”

  “But you must!” Anna insisted. “As must I. We have one day. One day to perfect our masks. Masks we will only have to wear for one evening.”

  “But, Anna, I am not like you.” Judith shook her head, eyes going back and forth between her sister and her mother. “I cannot. I just can’t.”

  Anna nodded. “All right, but you know what the consequence will be then, do you not? Let’s not fool ourselves. If we do nothing, the duke will choose you. I am as sure of it as the sun rising in the east tomorrow. You cannot deny that.”

  New tears filled Judith’s eyes.

  Once more their mother took Judith’s hand in hers, patting it reassuringly. Then she turned her eyes to Anna. “Are you certain?” was all she asked. When Anna nodded, she turned her gaze back to Judith. “My child, I can see your pain and I wish I could take it from you. But there is nothing I can do. Only you can. You must save yourself. If Anna’s plan has any chance for success, it is only with your support.”

  “But how can I participate?” Judith sobbed. “I wouldn’t know what to say.”

  “I’ll teach you,” Anna assured her. “As you will teach me.”

  “But it’s not right.” Judith shook her head. “It is not right to deceive him.”

  “Is it right for you to marry a man you don’t love?” Anna asked. “And what about John? What will become of him when you marry the duke?”

  Fresh tears spilled down Judith’s cheeks, but she swallowed the sob that threatened to escape her lips. “All right,” she nodded. “I will try.”

  “Good,” their mother said. “Now go upstairs, lie down and put a cool cloth on your eyes. Anna and I will discuss what is to be done.”

  Nodding, Judith rose from the settee. Without a look back, she left the room, the handkerchief in her clenched fist a crumpled mess.

 
; As the door closed, her mother turned to Anna. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

  “I thought you agreed with me. She cannot marry the duke. She will be miserable.”

  “I know,” her mother confirmed, her eyes intent on her daughter’s face. “But what about you? What of your own heart’s desire?”

  Anna shook her head. “I am not in love, Mother.”

  “Not yet, at least. But what if you find love? What will you do then?”

  Anna shrugged. “So far love has not found me, and I do not believe it ever will.”

  Her mother nodded, a sad smile on her face. “I love you for doing this for your sister. It would break my heart seeing Judith married to a man she does not care for, especially now that her heart has already chosen. I thank you for doing this.” She took Anna’s hand, patting it as she spoke. “But do not deceive yourself. This will not be easy. Not even for you.”

  “I know, Mother. We must be as convincing as we possibly can be. We−”

  Her mother shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. If we succeed and he chooses you, then you will have to marry him. Do you know what that means? Have you even thought about it before offering yourself as the sacrificial lamb?”

  “Of course, I do, Mother,” Anna assured her. “It’s marriage. The only difference will be that he is a duke and not a merchant’s son.”

  Her mother nodded, and there was something in the way she smiled at her that suddenly made Anna feel very young, almost like a child, inexperienced in the ways of the world. “Do think about it,” her mother insisted. “And do not hesitate to talk to me.” Then she rose from the settee. “I will see to your sister.”

  Left to her own devices, Anna took a deep breath, feeling the strain of the past hour fall from her shoulders. How was it possible for the world to change so drastically in a mere hour? Only this morning she had risen from her bed, full of wonderment as to what that day would bring. Little had she known it would bring a potential husband.

  A husband. Anna thought on the matter some more. Certainly, if anyone had asked her that morning if she wanted a husband, she would have whole-heartedly declined. More so, she would have laughed at the mere thought of it. And that sentiment had not changed. The fact was Anna didn’t want a husband.

  However, neither could she allow her sister to lose the love of her life. Even if Anna had never experienced it herself, the way Judith and John looked at each other had touched her. She saw such tender feelings in every look they shared, every word spoken between them. They belonged together, and if Judith could not defy their father, another way had to be found.

  A ruse was the only way, and Anna the only alternate candidate for the duke’s hand.

  Pushing the thought of what having a husband would mean aside, Anna rose from her chair, determined to see things through. Crossing the hall, she hastened up the stairs toward her sister’s chamber. There was no time to waste. They had but one day. One day to trade who they were. One day to perfect their masks.

  Chapter Three − The Purpose of a Charade

  “It was a disaster!” Anna said, slumping down on her sister’s bed. “How can we expect to fool the duke if we couldn’t even convince our own father!”

  Judith nodded, sinking into the chair by her vanity.

  “Now, do not be too harsh with yourselves!” their mother chided. “Naturally, your father was surprised when you suddenly behaved differently. You must not forget, he knows you. The duke does not!”

  Anna lifted her head, eyes shining as she looked at her mother. “You’re right, Mother.” She shook her head, smiling at her own insecurity. “The duke does not know what we are truly like.” She turned to her sister, nodding her head eagerly, her eyes imploring. “We can do it, Judith.”

  “Will father not give us away?” Judith asked. “He did not seem pleased tonight.”

  Sliding off the bed, Anna brushed her concern away. “Father was just confused. He does not know of our plan, and he would never risk offending the duke.” Anna smiled. “He will have no choice but to play along.”

  Judith shook her head. “I don’t like this. Father deserves better. And maybe he is right. Maybe this will all be for the best.” Her voice almost broke as the words left her lips.

  Their mother pulled Judith into her arms. “Do not falter now, my child. You have chosen your path; now you must walk it.” Lifting her daughter’s chin, she looked into her eyes. “It will be worth it. Trust me. You will regret it for the rest of your life if you bow to your father’s wishes.”

  Judith nodded, clinging to their mother who held her as she had from the day she had been born.

  As mother and daughter stood holding each other, Anna’s gaze was drawn to her mother’s eyes, squeezed shut as though a dormant pain had reawakened. Again Anna wondered what her mother’s past held. What had been the circumstances of her own marriage? Anna realised she knew very little about her mother’s life before she and Judith had been born.

  ***

  Simple, yet elegant and of sufficient space, the townhouse stood in one of London’s better parts. Edmond rarely travelled here; however, he noticed the potential of the merchant’s home, wondering if a new place for the man’s family would be in order soon. Could Mr. Hanford afford an improvement in location after providing one of his daughter’s with such a substantial dowry? He only hoped it was true. Naturally, Edmond’s main concern rested with settling his debts, not losing his family’s estate. However, the higher his future father-in-law climbed on the social ladder, the better it would reflect on Edmond with regard to his choice of a wife.

  After his steward, Mr. Lloyd, had informed him of Mr. Hanford’s new position in life, Edmond had made enquiries with regard to the two young ladies of the house. While Mr. Lloyd had reluctantly suggested, based on his own knowledge of the family, that the youngest daughter probably suited him best with regard to spirit and temperament, the general opinion of his acquaintances urged him to stay well clear of same young lady due to her ill-manners and wilful attitude. Determined to let his own judgement choose for him, Edmond entered the house with a sense of eager anticipation, like a young boy awakening on Christmas morning.

  After being shown to the front parlour, Edmond merely had to wait a matter of seconds be-fore the door flew open and in walked Mr. Hanford effusively welcoming him to his humble abode. The lady of the house, while cordial, appeared less enthusiastic and mostly remained in the back-ground, eyeing him through guarded eyes.

  While Edmond had no mind for numbers or other serious and mostly boring aspects of life, he was an infallible judge of character. He immediately recognised Mr. Hanford’s exuberant ways as those of a man anticipating a promising business deal, and yet the man’s eyes held an ulterior motive buried under layers of cordiality. Edmond could not help but wonder if it were wiser to find a wife elsewhere.

  Mrs. Hanford, on the other hand, appeared perfectly sincere, despite the stolen looks she cast at him. Edmond understood them as a mother’s concern for her daughter’s happiness. She was appraising him with regard to his own qualities.

  Before Edmond could make up his mind with regard to whether or not it would be advisable to choose one of Mr. Hanford’s daughters for his wife, the door opened once more, and the two young ladies in question entered.

  Introductions were quick, and before long, they were seated around the supper table. All the while, Edmond conversed with Mr. Hanford, while casting his own stolen glances at the man’s daughters, trying to determine if one of them had the potential to be his duchess.

  Upon first meeting them, Edmond had been surprised to hear the blond one was Judith. Her chin raised, lips pressed into a thin line, she had greeted him with a cold look of derision in her eyes while her courtesy had been anything but courteous. When he enquired after her favourite pastimes, she answered him with short, clipped replies, never smiling, an ever-present scowl on her face. According to his enquiries prior to this dinner, Edmond would have assumed she was t
he younger, bold sister without manners.

  Miss Anna, however, was politeness in person. Her eyes shone as she looked at him, a dazzling smile decorating her full lips. Occasionally, she would avert her eyes as though shy and answer his questions in a polite yet insecure manner, her voice a mere whisper. By all means, judging from her character, he would have assumed her to be Miss Hanford.

  As the evening proceeded, Edmond, at first, assumed that he had to have gotten the names mixed up. But, then he noticed slight discrepancies in their behaviour.

  When he enquired after the most recent performance they had seen at Covent Garden, Miss Anna’s answer was delivered in a melodic voice and with a sweet smile. However, when Edmond turned his attention to Mr. Hanford, he observed from the corner of his eyes that she rolled her eyes at him, then winked at her sister.

  Confused at first, Edmond detected many more of these slight oddities. In fact, what he had first attributed to Miss Hanford’s ill manners, he now understood as shyness masked by a strangely, curt behaviour. Sometimes her voice would come out soft and sweet only to harden in the next instant like an actress who had only just then remembered her lines. Whenever she turned her gaze from him, the cold in her eyes immediately vanished as though she didn’t have the strength to maintain this ruse any longer, which is exactly how Edmond came to understand their behaviour.

  For a reason he could not fathom, Mr. Hanford’s two daughters did their best to convince him that they were not who everyone else knew them to be. While Mr. Hanford prattled on in his usual enthusiastic manner, Mrs. Hanford observed their interaction through her by now familiar guarded eyes. Occasionally, she would place a hand on Miss Hanford’s arm, give her a slight nudge or whisper what Edmond presumed to be an encouragement to maintain their charade. She clearly was part of this ruse.