A Rebel Lady for the Duke (Preview)

Chapter One

There was a sense of excitement in the air as guests arrived at the manor. A long driveway meandered through rolling lawns and perfect gardens. At the end sat a stately manor, with perfect blue shutters and bright white walls that towered over anybody who approached. Ashworth Manor was to house a group of people for a two-week long house party.

Signs of winter were clear in the gardens. Trees had lost their leaves, and where the ground peeked out from beneath the shrubs and bushes, the ground had signs of frost. Lady Harriet Langford took a deep breath, letting the cool air wake her up.

Despite the cold, she still preferred to travel on her horse. Anything would be better than being in a cramped carriage with her father and judgmental brother.

Her riding trousers had seen many miles, and her boots had scuff marks that bragged of previous adventures. At twenty years old, Harriet knew how to have fun. That was one thing she was proud of.

She refused to live her life bound by rules that seemed to benefit everyone but herself. There was more to life than simply abiding by the expectations of others. She didn’t rely on others for her happiness, either.

So, as she rode up to the manor, she was able to ignore the glaring looks and shocked expressions, knowing that it would have little effect on the fun that she would have in the following weeks. Where she was met with a glare, she responded with a smile.

The carriage, in which her father and brother traveled, ambled on alongside her. They got along most of the time. In fact, there was hardly a day when she and her father didn’t get along swimmingly. He’d done a brilliant job of raising her after her mother died.

With him sat her disgruntled brother who always had too much to say about her personality. He was the more traditional of the siblings. His life had followed the same pre-determined plan that everyone around her seemed to follow.

He worked hard, did well, and would likely soon choose a wife that provided a good alliance between the two families. Then he and his wife would have children so that there would be heirs to the family name.

One day, their children would follow the same map of life and her brother and his wife would pass away, and it would continue on forever. Harriet wasn’t fond of that idea. She had nothing against having a family. She merely felt that there was more to experience in life than simply doing what was always expected.

In her mind, people needed to be good and kind to each other and that was all that truly mattered. However, it was an opinion that often got her into trouble. Of course, during those times she was often having the most fun. She glanced up at the manor as they approached and wondered what would await her during their stay there.

Harriet had been excited for the house party since the invitation had arrived. The two-week party was bound to have a seemingly endless agenda of fun events and interesting conversations. The reason for the house party was to celebrate the wedding of Lord Gavin Rickards and Lady Sara Elmdale, Harriet’s cousin.

She hadn’t been close with her cousin since her mother’s passing, but her memories of their afternoons together were joyful and fun, and she had no doubt in her mind that Lady Sara was still the same as she was then.

It seemed the couple were so excited about their union that they had planned two weeks of parties and fun in celebration of it. The weather, it seemed, was equally eager. The bad weather of the past few days seemed to ease into the first blue skies she’d seen in some time.

She slowed her horse as she made it to the end of the driveway and looked up at the manor. She tucked back a strand of dark hair that had come loose on her ride and smiled widely.

“You’re in our way,” her brother said through the carriage window. “As always.”

Harriet rolled her eyes and moved over for the carriage to come to a stop right in front of the manor steps. She waited for the porter to help her father out of the carriage, and her brother followed. Her brother straightened his jacket and checked his hair before taking another step.

That was fairly typical of him. He liked to give the impression that he was the perfect individual. Meanwhile, she knew that he had a short temper and an emotional reaction to anything that took him by surprise. That seemed far from perfect to her.

She was still watching her brother’s behavior when she dismounted her horse. She had expected there to be a step next to her, however there wasn’t. The ground was further away than she’d anticipated, and she stumbled.

Harriet let out a small shriek as she fell backwards. She waited for the impact of the ground, but rather she was met with something softer. Two solid arms wrapped around her, stopping her from falling any further.

There was a hushed gasp and murmur in those who gathered around her.

She glanced back and up at the person who had rescued her. A man, with steely grey eyes and a tight jawline stared unamused down at her. She was stunned, as if lightning had suddenly struck her and rendered her simple. Harriet had never been quite that close to a man and the feeling of comfort it gave her took her by surprise.

“That’s a sight,” she heard someone say beneath their breath.

The man smelled good. The man had a scent like cedar wood and pine, and it made her think of her favorite quiet spot in a forest she had visited once. While she’d only been there that solitary time, it had occupied her memories fondly and she often hoped for a reason to revisit it. She wanted to linger just a moment longer, to enjoy the comfort that he gave her.

“Oh dear,” she said, trying to find her balance. “I suppose I should have taken a better look before dismounting.”

The man clenched his jaw and propped her back on her feet before taking a small step away from her. Harriet quickly brushed back her hair and wiped her hands down on her trousers. How had she not seen him standing so close before she dismounted her horse?

That didn’t matter, really. What bothered her then was that she seemed to have a hard time forming her words.

“Please, accept my apologies. I didn’t see you there… and I thought there was a step,” she eventually explained.

The man cast his eyes along her body, looking at her trousers and her scuffed boots. The scent of cedar and pine still lingered on her. Harriet worried then that she smelled a little like a horse and it made her cheeks pink ever so slightly.

“Really, I am very sorry,” she continued

She held her breath as she waited for him to respond. To tell her not to worry about it, or that it was all right and he was happy that she was safe. When he looked at her, his eyes felt as if they burrowed right through her skin and peered at the woman that lurked beneath.

“You should watch where you’re going,” he said sternly before turning his back.

She watched as he marched up the stairs, a slight smirk on her face. It might have been expected for her to be insulted by him or frustrated at his unfriendly remark. However, she was used to that sort of thing and so she brushed it off with ease, giving her horse one last pat before sending it off to join the others.

Harriet took a moment to roll her neck from side-to-side, easing the stiffness from her long ride. Then, she went in search of her family members so that they might enter the manor together and officially join the wedding party. Something she’d been looking forward to for some time.

While her father seemed pleased to see her, that was not the same for her brother.

“It seems you’ve wasted no time embarrassing us, sister,” her brother remarked as she joined them.

He always made an effort to stand on the other side of her father, as if he was embarrassed to be associated with her.

“It’s not entirely your fault,” he continued. “Father has a role to play in this, too.”

Harriet scoffed. “You’re tense, Jonathan,” she said. “Try to ease up. It is a party after all.”

“It’s only proper for you to arrive in the carriage with us,” Jonathan retorted.

Her father gave her a knowing glance, coupled with a light smirk.

“Harriet has been raised to have a mind of her own,” her father answered. “Just like you. It’s the same upbringing, might I remind you.”

“I don’t behave like she does,” Jonathan said. “Besides, it should have been different for her. That’s precisely my point.”

“You’re cranky this afternoon,” Harriet teased him. “Perhaps you didn’t get enough tight air in that cramped carriage. You should have ridden alongside with me. Then father could have had some peace and quiet.”

“It’s improper,” Jonathan said. “You know it as well as I do.”

There was nothing more to say. She’d had that argument with her brother many times before and was in no mood to go through the cycle again. So, she bit her tongue as they prepared to enter the manor.

There was some sense of trepidation in her as she approached the large doors. Harriet was aware that her upbringing made her different from the rest of women in society. While she was proud of who she was. She also understood the impression it made. Particularly when there were others to compare her to.

They stepped through a large door.

Instantly, Harriet felt out of place. While she was adamant to live the way she did and would protect her way of life fiercely, she knew that she didn’t fit in with society and those around her. Some days, it made it hard for her to completely enjoy herself.

The looks that were cast her way as she walked alongside her father were hurtful. She was looked at as if she was a spectacle, a horrible sight to be seen. Smiles faded to smug looks as she passed. Conversations quieted to whispers as those who saw her quietly questioned her character.

It had always seemed so cruel to Harriet that such a judgement on who she was as a person could be made by just casting a single glance in her direction. Most often, Harriet wasn’t given the chance to prove herself. She was cast aside after a first impression.

Still, she was unapologetic about who she was. Those who had taken the time to get to know her enjoyed her company and made sure to let it be known. She had friends and people who liked to be around her. Harriet didn’t need much more than that. So what did it matter what others thought of her?

She looked around the entryway of the manor. Large pots of bright flowers decorated the space, filling it with a delightful scent. On the other end of the room was the stiff and tense demeanor of the man she had fallen into just minutes before.

His back was as straight as it possibly could be, and his face entirely expressionless as he exchanged pleasantries with another man.

“Who is that?” she whispered in Jonathan’s direction.

He glanced at the man and let out a short groan. “Don’t you know who that is?”

“Why would I bother asking if I knew?” she quietly snapped.

Her brother glared at her. “That’s Lord Henry Kane, the Duke of Embery. Surely that rings a bell?”

“Thank you,” she said sternly.

She looked back at the duke. He was young, she thought. He could hardly be a few years older than she was. While he had handsome features, and smelled fantastic, he had the pained expression of a man who was constantly being delivered bad news.

“Try to behave, will you?” Jonathan asked. “This is an important event, and I won’t have you running around, stealing all the attention.”

“I don’t steal the attention,” she argued. “I just know how to have fun, and that happens to attract it.”

“Precisely,” her brother remarked. “Perhaps for these two weeks you could just pretend to be a decent, normal lady?”

“Enough,” her father said, silencing the two of them. “I won’t have this bickering. You’re not children anymore.”

Harriet stole one last look at Lord Kane before they entered the drawing room.

Chapter Two

Lord Henry Kane, the Duke of Embery, entered Ashburn Manor with his mother and his sister at his side. The women were far more excited about the festivities than he was. While he attended out of obligation, could see no way in which the next two weeks would further his career or aid in his reputation in any way.

Still, two people were getting married and he’d been invited, and it felt important. His mother greeted everyone with a smile, and no passerby went without at least a few minutes to catch up with her. That was just the way she’d always been. Charlotte, his sister, was just like her mother.

“I see you’ve already met Lady Harriet Langford,” Charlotte said with an amused smile.

“I did?” he asked, reeling through the names and faces he’d just recently met upon arrival. He could think of nobody that had that name and worried that he’d forgotten someone.

“She barreled right into you,” Charlotte said with a giggle. “That surely counts as a meeting in my mind.”

“Oh,” he said with a sigh, reminded rather unpleasantly of the event.

It had taken him by surprise to see a woman so inappropriately dressed for an event as the one they were at. In fact, she was poorly dressed for any event that involved the company of others. More than just her appearance, there was a hint of defiance in her eyes. As if she’d enjoyed seeing his dismay toward her.

His mother shook her head.

“It’s not Lady Harriet’s fault that she is the way she is,” his mother said. “She was raised unlike other girls I suppose.”

Henry wondered what that meant, but his mother had already wandered off to join conversation with another woman. He’d hoped that Charlotte would follow. Henry was eager for a moment to himself where he could simply let his mind be at ease and quiet.

While he was perfectly capable of enjoying himself and being well behaved at social events, he didn’t always feel he belonged. Henry had a difficult time talking about trivial things, or topics that weren’t important to him.

He’s least favorite was conversation about the weather. Somehow, that always made him feel as if his mind had gone numb.

“Sometimes I feel a little sorry for her,” Charlotte said, but by then Henry’s mind had already started to wander.

“For whom?” he asked.

“Lady Harriet,” Charlotte answered. “Do keep up.”

He nodded.

“She should have had a normal, girly childhood if you ask me,” Charlotte continued. “Her mother died when she was eight, so she was raised by her father who always treated her as equal to her brother. While some of us were having tea parties and playing with dolls, she was out catching toads.”

That certainly explained a lot. It put Lady Harriet in a new light. It wasn’t that she had poor taste, it was merely that she’d never learned how to be a proper lady. Not from what he could tell, anyway.

“She is improper,” Henry said. “Surely her father would have known to teach her those things. Or perhaps employed someone to do it on his behalf. I mean, I can only assume that her mother was a proper lady. He’d know what the world would expect of her.”

“Don’t let mother ever hear you say something improper about her father,” Charlotte said with a smile. “She rather enjoys his company and has always admired the way he dealt with things after the sudden passing of his wife. She always speaks fondly of him.”

“I will keep that in mind,” he said.

He tried to imagine just how different life must have been for Lady Harriet compared to the life Charlotte had growing up. Henry had often gone out to catch toads with his friends, but not once did a young girl join them. In fact, they would often bring the toads home to scare the other little girls, sending them off running and screaming.

“I must admit, I am a little jealous of her confidence,” Charlotte said. “I suppose that’s something she learned from being raised like a boy. She always seems so sure of herself. I can only imagine that it goes a long way under the right circumstance.”

“Or, perhaps it will cause the world to turn their back to you,” Henry said. “Confidence is one thing, but a strong-willed woman can easily be insufferable. It’s just not supposed to be in your nature.”

His sister looked back at him, unamused.

Across the room, Lady Harriet spoke easily with others, unconcerned about the pitch and volume at which she laughed. She stood out among the crowd, and he wasn’t entirely sure it was for the right reasons.

However, he had to admit that those around her seemed drawn in by her. Anybody who greeted her seemed to cheer up in her presence. Perhaps she was refreshing to them. Or perhaps they were entertained by her such as one might be entertained by a play or actor’s performance.

Her lack of decorum was clear, though and it irked him—particularly at such an important event. Henry kept waiting for one of the men she’d arrived with to correct her, or reprimand her for the behavior she was displaying, but it did not happen.

Rather, the older gentleman, who assumed was her father, seemed perfectly at ease in her presence. They had the same eyes. The other gentleman shared her dark hair, and so he could assume that was her brother. He seemed far more frustrated with her. Every now and then Henry spotted him clenching his jaw as she spoke.

How often did that man apologize for his sister? She was a pretty woman, despite her outrageous attire. He could only imagine how different she would be if she had been raised to behave more like a lady.

Still, despite the obvious differences she seemed unbothered by those who cast her strange looks or frustrated glares.

“You know I once spotted her riding into the woods,” Charlotte continued. “Lady Fran and I were headed out for a picnic with some of the other women. We had secured a wonderful spot beneath a large chestnut tree on a beautiful property for the afternoon. On our way I saw her, in the same clothes as she wears now. Her hair was blowing in the wind, entirely untethered by any ribbon or pin. She seemed to be headed into the trees.”

“Did you ask her what she was doing?” Henry asked.

Charlotte shook her head. “I didn’t think it was any of my business. Besides, we were eager to start our lovely afternoon. I thought it be better to just leave her be.”

“That’s unsafe,” he said. “Those trees have wildlife living among them. With no experience and no protection, who knows what would have happened.”

“Well, she’s here, isn’t she?” Charlotte asked. “So, she was perfectly alright then.”

Lady Harriet seemed to make a comment to her brother that really annoyed him. Henry watched as his entire demeanor changed. It seemed to spark a small argument among her brother and her father, too.

“It must be nice to have so much independence,” Charlotte said. “Don’t get me wrong, I like being a lady and a proper one at that, but I don’t think she ever feels too afraid of anything. Sometimes I think that must be rather freeing.”

“Forget those thoughts,” Henry reprimanded her. “They will lead you nowhere. Thinking that way is brash, and I will not have you make a spectacle of yourself the way she does every time she meets someone.”

Charlotte raised her eyebrows. “Alright then. I did not mean to upset you.”

Henry did not answer. There was still a long time before any of them would be going home and starting an argument with Charlotte so early on would only backfire, he was certain of it. Still, something his sister had said stirred an unexpected thought within him.

He had never considered that the rules she followed would make her feel restricted. Henry had always taught her that they were there to protect her, and he was certain that she understood. Yet, it had never crossed his mind that she might dream of going off on her own to do anything.

The thought of it bothered him greatly. To think of his sister riding into the trees where danger resided so often, with no protection was the kind of thing he might see in a nightmare. Yet, she seemed to think that it might be pleasant.

It certainly gave him a change in perspective, albeit brief.

It also shone new light on Lady Harriet. It truly must have taken bravery for her to do such a thing. He wanted to know why she did it. What her business was amongst those trees, but at the same time he felt he might be better off without that knowledge.

To pluck him from his thoughts, his mother arrived back with a small group of women.

“Henry, darling, look! I’ve found the Jackson family,” she said.

He did. The Baroness and her daughters often liked to stop by the house when he was younger. As he got older, he often avoided their visits. The Baroness only ever liked to speak about her daughters and nothing else and Henry often had better things to do.

“Your Grace!” The Baroness said excitedly. “It is so good to see you again. It has been too long!”

Henry bowed in their direction.

“It is good to see you Lady Jackson,” he said with a smile. “The same goes to you Miss Margaret and Miss Isabelle,” he said, greeting her daughters.

They giggled through their greeting before turning their attention to Charlotte. The three women had always been good friends and Henry was happy that someone else was keeping his sister distracted.

“I very much look forward to the festivities,” Lady Jackson commented.

“Of course,” Henry said politely. “Weddings are always a pleasant time.”

“Lord Rickards is my cousin,” Lady Jackson said. “And of course I want to celebrate this with him. However, if I’m honest Your Grace, I am here for other business. In particular, there is much that I need to discuss with you.”

“Oh?” he offered.

“Oh yes,” she said, smiling brightly at him. “But all in good time. For now, we must all enjoy the reunion of good family and friends and let the festivities begin.”

Henry nodded in silent agreement, but his mind was already racing. Of course, it could have been just a casual statement by Lady Jackson, but he could not shake the nagging feeling that there was a strong motive in her words.

When he looked at his mother, she had a wide smile plastered on her face, too. Suddenly he wondered about his mother’s insistence that he attend the house party rather than merely send a wedding gift as he had originally suggested he do.

It was going to be a long two weeks, he realized. Somehow, things were happening around him and he was quickly learning that he was the last to learn about it. He didn’t like that one bit.

“What is going on, mother?” he asked, leaning in to her so that he could speak quietly.

“All in good time, darling,” she said kindly. “Don’t you worry yourself about a thing. Just calm your worried mind and have some fun while we’re here, will you?”

“I have fun all the time,” he argued.

His mother glared at him. “Getting stuck behind your desk and working all night isn’t my idea of fun. Or anybody’s for that matter. You need to have some real fun, then perhaps you will remember what life is all about.”

“Parties?” he asked.

His mother pursed her lips and stared at him, clearly cross.

“Family,” she said plainly.

Chapter Three

Lady Harriet was pleased to be settled into her room for the duration of the party, but also to be dressed in her favorite blue dress. While she still felt as though she didn’t fit in, she at least looked the part. She had pinned her hair back neatly and chosen pearl earrings to complete the look.

It had also eased Jonathan’s frustration with her although she was certain it would be short-lived. The truth was that while Lady Harriet had been raised alongside her brother, and more the way a boy would have been raised than a girl, she was still perfectly capable of being a proper lady.

However, she had a difficult time turning away from things that made her feel alive, or allowed her to laugh freely. Fun was her ultimate downfall. The day was always more enjoyable when she insisted on her independence and voiced her opinion without the fear of repercussion. She had tried to fit in once with the other ladies in her neighborhood. It had resulted in endless tea parties at which the same topics were covered in conversation. They read books and ate scones and sometimes, if they were daring, they would move out to the garden.

That could never be enough for Harriet. She would always need more. She would always insist on more. Harriet loved to do things that made her heart race and her blood pump. The older she got, the more she was certain that it would be the key to a long life.

Her mother had been young when she passed, and it had instilled a fear in Harriet that life might be snatched from her before she ever learned to truly live it.

Her thoughts were put on hold as the happy couple, Lord Rickard and her cousin, Lady Sara made their way to address their guests. Lady Sara had grown into a beautiful young woman with a face that radiated joy and eagerness for the day.

“Good afternoon,” Lord Rickard said, getting everyone’s attention. “I am so pleased to have this many of my dearest friends and family in my home. Particularly for such a momentous occasion.”

Side-by-side they looked like a perfect couple. Lord Rickards seemed proud to be standing at her side, the woman who would soon become his bride and one day the mother of his children.

“As I’m certain you can all imagine,” she said, speaking clearly and confidently. “We have been looking forward to this. In fact, I’ve hardly been able to think of anything else since the invitations were sent out.”

A quiet chuckle moved through the room. From her position toward the back of the room, Harriet could see how everyone in attendance was looking up to the happy couple. It was clear that nobody doubted their compatibility.

Within the crowd she spotted the Duke of Embery, his jaw stiff as ever and his head perfectly level with the ground. As if to feel her eyes on him, he turned his head and looked in her direction.

She gave him a courteous nod, hoping it might make up for her previously poor manners. He responded with a pained expression and a notably large sip of his drink.

“We welcome you to our Manor with open arms and endless sherry,” Lord Rickards teased, gathering her attention again. “And we hope that this wonderful weather holds out for we have many great activities planned for the next two weeks. Dare I say this might just be the best house party hosted this year?”

Again, everyone laughed.

“We are so grateful for all who are in attendance,” Lady Sara said. “To see the support for our union means the world to both of us. We only hope that we can show this gratitude to you over the coming days.”

“We have much planned,” Lord Rickards continued. “To name a few activities, we have fireplace games, delicious dinners, hunting and archery for the men… of course there’ll be the wedding and the grand ball, too. I can’t think of a better group of people to enjoy this all with.”

Harriet’s heart felt as if it would skip a beat. There was so much fun to be had, and she was ready for all of it. In particular, she fancied the idea of the outdoor sports. She hadn’t made the time to go out hunting that winter yet and it was her favorite time of year for it.

However, as she listened to what the happy couple were saying, her attention was diverted to soft whispers that carried out somewhere near her. She turned her head and noted that the culprits were the daughters of Lady Jackson.

They were family of Lord Rickard. More than that, though, they were the kind of people who were always trying to get ahead of everyone else. They wanted more than others and things that were better or more expensive. In short, they were difficult to please and tiring to be around.

“I can’t believe she would show up looking like that,” Miss Margaret whispered. “I mean, you could have dug her out of a swamp, and she might have looked better.”