Scars of The Duke (The Valiant Love Regency Romance) (A Historical Romance Book) Read online

  SCARS OF THE DUKE

  THE VALIANT LOVE

  REGENCY ROMANCE

  A HISTORICAL ROMANCE BOOK

  DEBORAH WILSON

  COPYRIGHT AND ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Copyright © 2019 by Deborah Wilson

  All Rights reserved.

  In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this book in any form or by any electronic means without written permission from the author. Recording of this book is strictly prohibited. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

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  * * *

  Six Years Ago

  London, England

  March 1814

  Selena slid her fingers over the pianoforte keys and dared to glance over at the group of women in her sitting room. He sat with them.

  Marley Bing, the Duke of Astlen, was in her home.

  Selena had never seen him this close or in such an intimate setting. From under her lashes, she watched him.

  He was fully engaged in a discussion on the play that the theatre group that her mother and his mother belonged to had written.

  He looked relaxed, but one corner of his mouth was lifted. It made her want to be the first to turn that hint of a smile to something full and bold. That was the sort of accomplishment that you’d tell your friends about for years to come but mention with great indifference in order hide just how thrilled you were, how much that moment had shaped your life and pleased you.

  Not that Selena had any friends. She rarely allowed anyone close these days.

  The women around her mother came alive like a horde of puppies who were basking in their master’s glow. Selena’s mother had introduced the duke to everyone on that side of the room but had completely forgotten Selena—too pleased that Astlen had come to concentrate on anything else.

  Selena forgave her, for it gave Selena more time to stare at him.

  He was beautiful.

  His eyes were dark, reminding her of the night sky. The rest of his face was just as memorizing. Chiseled and hard, with a hint of gentleness that could be cultivated if he wished it. His hair was dark as well, but instead of the boyish curls that were in style, he styled it in waves like an untamed ocean.

  She was startled when he finally looked at her.

  “Oh, and that’s my daughter, Lady Selena.” Other mothers would have introduced their daughters first. The marriage market was a game that many a mama had mastered, but not Selena’s mother. She simply never learned to think as other mamas did. She was a patient and loving woman, believing all things would come in time.

  Selena’s eyes caught the duke’s and held.

  He stood and bowed. “Lady Selena.”

  She rushed to her feet and curtseyed. “Your Grace.”

  His gaze lowered, shifting down her body before returning to hers. There was something there, but in a blink, it was gone. He turned when Lady Ebba Blanc called him.

  “Oh, Lord Astlen, we know you to be a patron of the arts with a fine eye,” young Lady Ebba said with a great amount of breath and the flutter of her lashes. “Surely, you thought our play was good. Better than good.”

  The duke had his own theatre, Theater von Rosen, or Theatre of Roses. Most people called it The Rose. He was known to purchase manuscripts from the public, writers who didn’t work at the theatre. Though not a writer himself, he was fastidious about which plays graced his stage and bore his backing, almost to the point that people thought him captious. Yet at the end of the day, every play Marley had ever backed was a success.

  Selena hadn’t known the women had sent off their manuscript. It didn’t even have a name yet. When her mother had first started holding the meetings for the Ladies of Theatre, it had been about nothing more than discussing the latest plays. Then, sometime last year, the women had decided to write a play.

  Selena had thought it just a fun way to be occupied.

  But then, a few weeks ago, they’d grown very serious about their play, fighting over names and characters, and especially the final scene. Should the love tale end in triumph or tragedy?

  They’d decided triumph.

  “I enjoyed it,” Marley said, giving Selena a final glance before retaking his seat. Selena took her own as he went on. “Though, I did have questions about the music. Perhaps you could play one song in particular? The last song.”

  “Of course,” Selena’s mother said. “My daughter can play both piano and harp. She is musically gifted. We wrote the songs, but her playing truly brought them to life.” Again, Lady Dorshea did not say these things because she thought they were what Marley wished to hear but because she thought them true.

  Selena wanted to duck her head, but she’d all but been invited to join the conversation.

  She stared at Marley, and it seemed he’d waited until the last second to look over at her. His sharp dark eyes caught her in their snare. He had that look again. She felt caged. They commanded her attention and something else… something deeper. What was it?

  Butterflies spread their wings and took flight in her belly.

  He stood and walked over, slowly, predatorily, as though giv
ing her a chance to run. “You play the harp, Lady Selena?”

  She wet her lips quickly. “I do…” Her voice faded away as she noticed his eyes on her mouth. He’d caught her action. His gaze flicked back to her eyes, and it was like being struck by a bolt of lightning.

  Selena’s skin drew in tight.

  “The harp is in the music room,” Lady Dorshea said. “The song sounds lovely on both instruments, but there’s an intimate quality about the harp, I must say.”

  The women around her quickly agreed.

  Marley approached and held out his hand. “Shall we go to the music room?”

  * * *

  Marley was almost surprised when Lady Selena stood to accept his escort. She kept her chin tilted high, but it could do nothing to hide her obvious apprehension. Her expression was nearly coy, yet she was doing what she could to hide it. To appear brave, as though he, a duke, offering to escort her to another room was something she encountered every day.

  And maybe she did.

  She was lovely.

  Her hair was the shade of thick honey with a hint of fire. Her lips were a natural crimson. Her cheeks had grown a rosy shade at his approach. She had many lovely shades of red, like a fine berry he wished to nibble on.

  She had to be young, no more than nineteen to his twenty-five.

  She was pretty. Her features were soft. Feminine.

  But there was something else about her that Marley liked, an honesty in her expression. It lacked the calculation of other women and girls.

  Any other lady would have played demure or blasé in his presence, since women were usually taught to do so by their mothers. But there was a freshness to Selena. She was a surprise, like a sweet one enjoyed after dinner.

  And those eyes….

  He’d never seen such a true blue before. Usually, a color this bold could make one look frosty, yet with her, he felt far from cold.

  Marley was heating by the minute.

  Finally, finally, she took his hand. Their fingertips touched and then she slipped her hand more fully into his palm.

  The feeling of holding simply that small part of her was invigorating.

  Immediately, he wished they were alone, but he knew that would not be possible. Which meant he had to find another way to see her. He had to see her. He needed to know her.

  Marley had never felt this way about any woman before.

  Caution whispered its way through his mind, but he brushed it aside. He did not have his heart set on love, only fun.

  The twelve members of the Ladies of Theatre led the way, their destination only the next room over and divided by a wall that could be folded back to accommodate larger parties. The women chatted with his mother about their excitement. Marley purposefully slowed his steps so he could have a moment alone with Selena. He was thinking of something to say when he looked over and saw her smiling, yet its boldness told him it wasn’t about him or the fact that he held her arm.

  “Do you find something amusing?” he asked.

  She looked at him and then away, her lips still turned up. “My mother, not that she’s amusing. She’s quite delighted that your mother managed to convince you to come. I don’t know if you actually like their play, but it’s wonderful that you would take the time to entertain them at least. They’ve worked so very hard on it.”

  There had been a compliment hidden in her words, yet it hadn’t been said to flatter him. She was simply happy that her mother was happy.

  And so was he. Lady Judith hadn’t had to work very hard to get him to come over. He’d known his mother had been a part of a lady’s theatre group for some time. Whenever she’d spoken of the ladies who had become her friends, her face would glow, and he’d been pleased.

  He enjoyed seeing his mother happy.

  However, the play was only part of the reason he’d shown up today. Marley thought it time he met his mother’s friends to see if they were truly her friends of if they were only using her.

  So far, the women seemed genuine. Lady Dorshea was a true gem. Her house was warm, and, like her daughter, her presence didn’t seem cultivated from the drive to conquer and win the Season.

  They were wealthy. Marley saw that from the decor and the details in the fine muslin of their dresses, but everything was done tastefully and without boast.

  They entered the music room.

  Marley looked around as Selena let him go. It was a small pale green room with gold and white accents and fixtures. There was plenty of seating, and Marley took the chair closest to the harp.

  She settled in her chair.

  “Do you need the music?” Marley asked.

  She shook her head as she removed her gloves. “I have it memorized.” The embarrassment from earlier had left her. She flexed her pale fingers and then moved to position herself closer. The gleaming mahogany instrument was twice her size, yet Marley had no doubt she’d learned to master it.

  She moved and positioned herself close, settling down with the instrument at her knees, and Marley knew he’d never seen anything more erotic. But then she positioned her head close to the strings, as though she would cradle and whisper it into submission.

  Marley moved to try and hide the growing heat between his legs then stilled as the first notes began. He recognized the melody. He’d had a friend of his play it on the piano when he’d gone over the play.

  “Do you sing?” Lady Dorshea was over his shoulder, smiling.

  Marley frowned and was ready to tell the woman he did not, but then his mother cut in.

  “He does,” his mother said. “Sing. Please, Marley.” She had her hands pressed to her chest, her gaze filled with hope.

  Marley sighed as Lady Dorshea handed him the music, as though knowing he’d not tell his mother no.

  He stared at the lyrics as his heart picked up its pace slightly. He’d not sung in front of people in years.

  Selena’s voice caught his attention as she began to sing.

  ∫ ∫ ∫

  0 2

  * * *

  The song was about a man and woman who were deeply in love, but neither was willing to say it, even though there was a chance they’d never see one another again. The man was driving the woman home.

  This would be goodbye.

  It was sad and moving.

  Selena’s eyes urged him to take the second part.

  Marley cleared his throat, trying to ignore just what else those eyes had made him feel, and sang the next part. The melody was a simple one, but its combination with the lyrics made it one of those tunes that could easily become the anthem of the Season, being played in every music hall for every party.

  Selena’s voice followed his. She was the best singer. She wasn’t trying to be, but the song suited her voice easily. They finished the rest of the song in the same manner, even blending on a few parts. The song had not been written to be a duet and wouldn’t be but singing with her had been fun.

  “That was wonderful,” Lady Dorshea cried.

  The other ladies agreed. Many praised Marley on his voice. He had a pretty good baritone. A few told Selena how well she played, but she waved it away, likely used to their kind words. Then she turned her bright eyes to him. “Do you sing often?”

  “Never,” Marley said.

  “Only when I beg him,” his mother said. “So, what do you think?”

  * * *

  Like the rest of the party, Selena waited for Marley’s judgment. She held her breath even while telling herself she was being silly. She hadn’t written the play. She wasn’t a member of the Ladies of Theatre. She simply happened to be home when the group met most days… and it was the only time her mother allowed her to have a real glass of wine, unlike the watered-down version at dinner. Lady Norris, one of the ladies of the group, had a son who owned vineyards in France and Spain and always sent her the best of his selection.

  Yet even not being a member, she could feel the tension surrounding them. It was so great that not even the wind from the open w
indow could calm it. The entire house seemed too quiet, as though even the servants waited with bated breath.

  Marley drew his lips down… but they didn’t stay down for long. He grinned a moment later and then nodded. “It’s fascinating and beautiful. Well done, ladies. This play will see the stage, but it will need a name.”

  The room went up with cheers, applause, and hugs as excitement bubbled over and filled nearly every corner.

  “We need wine! This is a celebration.” Lady Norris was an enchanting older lady who had an extensive knowledge about wine.

  A few approached Marley and began to thank him. There were three women in the group who were about Selena’s age. Lady Ebba Blanc was twenty-two and though she had two suitors who were currently fighting for her hand, Selena was sure she’d forget they ever existed if Marley even gave her a hint that he was interested.

  Selena was still amazed that he was there. She’d seen him at a distance before, in large assemblies like her presentation to the queen. His sister, Lady Emily, had also been presented that same night and like a great escort, he’d remained at her side. Therefore, Selena was not surprised they hadn’t been introduced.

  Aside from the fact that Selena didn’t make a habit of going to parties, their families were part of different circles and Selena was sure the people Marley kept company with were more… unprincipled. She’d heard the rumors about him and the women who surrounded him. Theatre actors, musicians, and an avaricious group of ladies and lords. They were thought of as being wild but great fun.

  Marley was a part of the inner circle. There was gossip about the many women he entertained at one point or another, yet since he was not one to boast, no one was truly sure. That was what made him so charming. He was a man of secrets.

  When the discussion became about who should play which part, his gaze turned to her and Selena stiffened. Her breath hitched. She was resting her head slightly against the harp and more than anything, she wanted to duck away.

  But she didn’t.

  Instead, she smiled and swallowed down her fears of this cultured man.

  Once again, his eyes grazed over her and then his smile grew, forcing hers to grow as well. Then she let out a soft laugh. She didn’t know what was going on between them, but her nervous waned until there was nothing but calming warmth.