Her Wicked White Read online

  “Story?” she asked taking a step back. “Why would I need to have a story at all?”

  “I don’t know. You tell me. What are you and Dez doing that you might have to hide?”

  Her dismayed cry filled his ears. “Are you implying untoward behavior on my part?”

  “You are destitute.” He twirled his hand in a flourish.

  “Regardless,” she huffed back. “While I would very much like to retain my position and continue to be employed, I will not allow you to defame my character.”

  “By implying you’re destitute or that you’re having an affair with my brother?”

  Her mouth fell open and then she clasped her face. He regretted the words. They were mean-spirited, and he had no proof. Why had he said them? Because she’d been working her way under his skin.

  But as she blinked, her large blue eyes looking glassy with unshed tears, regret lanced through him. It was the sort of low blow his father might have landed. Of course, he would have followed it with a lecture on the need to be pious, but still. Ben knew he’d crossed a line just as he understood this was why he kept people at a distance. He wouldn’t hurt them if he maintained an impenetrable heart, and they wouldn’t wound him either.

  “You asked me what I deserved.”

  He had. His fists clenched at his sides.

  “I don’t deserve this treatment and I’ve done nothing but serve your family humbly and ethically. Whatever else I deserve, I am entitled to some amount of respect.”

  Then she stepped around him and started for the door.

  He turned and followed her with his gaze, an apology sitting sour on his tongue. He deserved to be horsewhipped but he wouldn’t say that to her. Whatever he regretted, he’d been effective in one aspect. He’d successfully pushed her away and that was where she belonged. Far away from him.

  Chapter Four

  The next morning, Chloe had taken a tray in her room rather than making her way down to breakfast. Not that she’d touch much of the food. The eggs Florentine smelled heavenly, but her stomach had been twisted in knots.

  The new Duke of Whitehaven was even more dangerous than the last. He was erratic, mean, and good looking as sin.

  She wrung her hands together while pacing about her room. That last reason on her list was the real problem. Part of her was drawn to him in ways she couldn’t explain, but she didn’t like being attracted to him one bit.

  Before he’d started accusing her of being a lightskirt, he’d been engaging and interesting. Then he’d turned back into the surly mean man she should have known he was.

  Dez would be back inside the week, a thought that provided a great deal of comfort in this moment. His Grace was liable to sack her at any moment. And while she’d been honest with Whitehaven about her relationship with Dez, one based on mutual affection for Millie, she knew Dez would help her if she needed it.

  The question was, did she? Part of her wanted to leave, find a new position and never see the Duke of Whitehaven again. But what would happen to Millie?

  Granted, she had Dez to protect her. But still. He had a business to run, and it was Chloe who covered Millie’s silence when social duty called.

  She let out a long breath as she walked to the window to stare at the sea as if it held the answers she needed.

  A soft knock sounded at the door. “Chloe?” Millie called from the other side.

  “Come in,” she answered, turning back to cross the room and open the door.

  Millie entered, her gaze sweeping the near-full tray before she looked at Chloe. “Not feeling well this morning?”

  Chloe plastered on a false smile. Millie had enough going on without worrying about Chloe. It was her job to look after the other woman. “I’m fine. Just in a new house and I didn’t sleep well. You?”

  Millie shrugged. “I didn’t sleep well either. I’m trying to decide how I feel about my brother, the duke.”

  There was a great deal of that going around, apparently. “How long has it been since you’ve seen him?”

  “Years,” Millie answered. “May I confess to you that I don’t always understand why. I mean, I know why he left my father. We all did that. But why he left us…” Millie shook her head, sitting on Chloe’s bed. “Justice and Sayden always went their own way. But Ben…” Millie let out a long sigh as she lay down, propping her head on her elbow. “Before Dez kept a watchful eye on me it was Ben.”

  Chloe started, surprise rippling through her. “Ben took care of you?”

  Millie nodded her head. “One of my first memories is of Ben holding me. He whispered in my ear as I cried. I don’t know why but I was, and it was him who held me close and bounced me in comfort.”

  Chloe shook her head. “But he’s so cold now.”

  “Dez claims that Father was hardest on Ben. Wanted to make him strong. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t let anyone in.”

  Chloe moved to sit next to Millie. “That makes sense, I suppose.” Secretly, she wondered if that made a difference. Was there a kinder man under his hard veneer? Or was the Ben that held crying babies gone forever? “Are you going to tell him when Dez will return?”

  Millie shrugged. “I’m not certain yet. While Ben is my brother, I need to make certain he won’t do anything to hurt Dez. I don’t know why he would, but then again, I don’t know much when it comes to my eldest brother.”

  Chloe nodded. “We spoke yesterday.”

  “Really? Was that before or after you played? I heard you. You were as wonderful as always.”

  Chloe grimaced. “During. I performed at his request. It was odd. We were having a perfectly lovely conversation and then he turned into a complete beast.”

  Millie frowned. “That’s what frightens me. What were you discussing when he changed?

  Chloe shifted her skirts. “Dez.”

  Millie sat up then. “That’s what I was afraid of.”

  “Specifically,” she said, dropping her voice. “He accused me of having an inappropriate relationship with Dez.”

  Millie’s mouth fell open. “You can’t be serious.” She snapped it shut again, silence falling between them before Millie spoke once again. “I’m trying but I can’t understand what he hoped to gain by making such an accusation.”

  Chloe looked at her friend. “An excuse to terminate my employment?”

  Millie’s brows lifted. “Maybe. Perhaps he’s more like Father than I realized. He’s looking for some moral ground to justify his behavior.”

  Chloe shivered. “The sooner Dez gets back, the sooner we can get this whole business over with. Will travelling with your stepmother be all right for you?”

  “Fine,” Millie said. “You’ve met her. She’s perfectly lovely. It’s a shame, nice women having to marry pig-headed dukes because they have all the power and money.”

  Chloe nodded. “I know you’ll need to mourn.”

  “We can mourn in London the same as in the country. I’m sure Esme would also appreciate leaving Ben’s company. We’ll make ourselves as conspicuous as possible and we’ll all find husbands.”

  Chloe swallowed a lump of gratitude. She appreciated the thought, but marriage required a dowry at the least and family connections at best. “Millie, you know I can’t do that.”

  Millie turned with a wink. “I’m formulating a plan for you. Don’t give up hope yet.”

  Chloe leaned over, wrapping her friend in a hug. “What would I do without you?”

  Millie hugged her back, the two women rocking a bit. It had been a difficult few days and this hug was making Chloe feel much better.

  Just then, another knock sounded on the open door. “May I come in?” A deep voice rumbled.

  The two women disengaged, Chloe turning toward the voice though she already knew who it belonged to. One day and his deep baritone had been etched into her mind.

  She slid off the bed, dropping into a curtsy for the Duke of Whitehaven. “Your Grace,” she said at the same moment as Millie.

  He cleared
his throat. “I apologize for interrupting. I wanted to let you both know that Lord Tyron and Lord Lambford will be joining us for dinner this evening. They wish to offer their condolences.”

  Millie gave a nod and Chloe followed suite. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

  Whitehaven cleared his throat. “I know you are in mourning. At least as far as society is concerned. But I also happen to know that Lambford is hoping to make a match in the near future.”

  Millie quirked a brow. “You’ve got suitors lined up already?”

  “No.” Whitehaven gave his sister a long look. “But if you like him at all, it’s something to consider.”

  Millie frowned as she stared back, her cheeks flushing with color. “I shall take it into consideration.”

  “Do,” he answered. “You know I’d like to see you happily matched as soon as possible.”

  Millie’s hands balled into fists. “Our father has just passed. Is this really necessary?”

  "It’s been nearly a month and you haven’t even purchased clothing for mourning. Now you’re arguing that you’re the grieving daughter?”

  Chloe covered her mouth as she glared at the man. He had a knack for being rude.

  He grimaced in her direction before looking back at Millie. “An engagement could be announced in as soon as five. You know that.”

  She glared at him. “When did you become so dreadful?”

  Chloe winced. She wished to protect Millie without making the situation worse.

  “A long time ago,” he said. “I’ll expect you in the salon at six sharp to greet our guests.” Then he turned and left the room once again.

  Millie looked over at Chloe. “Did I attempt to defend him by saying Father was hardest on him? It matters little. He’s allowed himself to become an awful man.”

  Chloe pressed her lips together as she reached for Millie’s hand. “We’ll get through this. Dez will be here soon. He’ll help us.” But silently wondered if another White would help the situation or make this entire affair worse.

  Ben stood in the salon and looked at the longcase clock to one side of the foyer. It was only a few minutes to six, yet his sister and her companion had yet to arrive. He could hear a carriage on the drive and knew the guests were about to enter.

  With a growl of frustration, he started for the stairs.

  He deserved to be ignored, even he knew that. He’d implied, in both conversations, that he wanted Millie out of his life. Chloe, too.

  And he did. He was meant to walk alone. He’d understood that clearly at the age of fifteen. His father had been about to use a switch on Millie’s delicate little hands. She’d misbehaved in some trivial fashion. Ben had interceded, ripping the switch from his father’s hands and bringing the device down across his father’s cheek.

  His father had responded by beating him senseless. When he’d come to, Ben watched as Millie was switched over and over, her punishment far worse for his intervention. She’d looked at him with sad eyes, accusation evident. He’d made her punishment so much worse. That’s when he’d known…they’d all be better off if he stayed far away.

  When it was done and Millie had been dismissed, bleeding and crying, their father had leaned down and spoke quietly to Ben. “You’ll understand, someday. You’ll have to make the hard choices and they can’t always be what people want. You have to be stronger, tougher than anyone else.”

  His father had actually believed he was helping his son.

  Which had made him wonder. Had his father had good intentions under all the horseshit?

  It was not a question that made him comfortable. Nor did it excuse his father’s behavior, which meant that it didn’t excuse Ben’s either.

  He’d been gruff and rude to both Chloe and Millie. And while he intended to see them both out of his company, he didn’t need to be an ass while they were here. They needn’t be subjected to a new tyrant in their lives. He rubbed the back of his neck.

  He owed them both an apology.

  He made his way to the bottom of the stairs just as he heard the swish of skirts behind him. That was the problem with spending the last ten years on his own. He’d gotten rusty at the nuances of relationships.

  He looked up to see Millie coming down first, Chloe just behind her, both now dressed in black.

  Even in the drab color, he found that he couldn’t drag his gaze away from his sister’s companion.

  “Brother,” Millie said, her voice distant and cold. He’d succeeded on one front. He’d pushed his sister away quite effectively.

  “Sister.” He closed his eyes, composing his thoughts for a moment. “I see you had a productive afternoon.”

  She sniffed. “Someone pointed out that I’d yet to obtain the proper clothing.”

  “How did you manage to get dresses on such short notice?”

  Her brows rose. “I ordered them the moment I heard of Papa’s death. They’ve taken this long to be completed.”

  His jaw clenched as a muscle ticked in his cheek. He’d underestimated her once again. “I’m sorry about earlier, Millie.”

  “You’re sorry?” she asked coming to stand next to him.

  He gave a stiff nod. “I shouldn’t have been so callous. I’ve stopped keeping the company of ladies.” He looked around Millie to Chloe. “I’ve forgotten how to speak to them.”

  Millie softened then, her face relaxing. Surprise made Ben’s jaw slack. She’d forgiven him that easily?

  Millie threaded her arm through his. It was a casual gesture of a sister to a brother that he hadn’t experienced in so long. Then she gave him a kind smile. “It’s far better for you to practice on Chloe and myself. See, Chloe is proving useful already.”

  “Practice for what?” He looked between the two women.

  “You’ll have to participate in society again now that you’re the duke and not just the errant heir,” Millie said. “Particularly when you decide to marry.”

  Marriage? Distantly, he was aware that he’d need to marry eventually. It was part of being the heir. But he’d never given it much consideration. He’d spent most of his time avoiding nearly everyone.

  Chloe nodded, dipping into a curtsey. “We’ll help you anyway we can, Your Grace.”

  “Thank you, Miss Fairly.” He ought to apologize to her as well, but he’d already made one large leap today.

  Chloe gave him a sweet smile, the kind that gently pulled at her lips and softened her eyes. The kind that melted him inside. Why did he suddenly wish for a woman to look at him like that every day?

  The door swung in and the butler greeted their guests. This was a private gathering, meant for closer friends to express their regrets. Not that Ben knew either man well. But they’d likely been involved with his father in some fashion. Millie was right. Society would be knocking on his door often.

  He’d come to hate these sorts of faux relationships. They pretended at depth and feeling but were often only self-serving. He’d bet a king’s ransom these men wanted something from him.

  Or perhaps, Lambford had come for Millie as he’d implied.

  A possible match was the only reason he’d consented to have them here.

  He looked at his sister and frowned. He’d planned to get both of these women out of his life as quickly as possible, but today, the thought of them leaving made regret niggle in his chest.

  “Your Grace,” Lord Lambford called with the sort of flourish that set Ben’s teeth on edge. The man was a dandy. “So good to see you.”

  The men were opposites in every way. Lambford was a beefy fellow, while Tyron was almost hawkish in his looks. He believed they were cousins of some sort, but the particulars escaped him, likely because he didn’t care.

  He gave a stiff jerk of his chin in acknowledgement. He couldn’t even bring himself to reply. If they’d been speaking of horseflesh, he would have muddled through with talk of the topic, but he could not force his mouth to say he was happy to see the other man.

  He did, however, introduce Millie a
nd Chloe. And when Tyron’s gaze lingered on Chloe’s supple curves, every muscle in his body tightened.

  Chloe however, smiled graciously, speaking in his stead. “Shall we see ourselves to the salon before dinner is served?”

  Lambford nodded, his chin jiggling as he offered his elbow to Chloe. It was expected that Ben would escort his sister, but he hated the way the other man got to feel her hand on his arm. At least it wasn’t Tyron touching her. He didn’t like how that fellow had looked at her and he turned back to glare at the man who walked alone.

  The he realized how ridiculous his behavior was. His teeth clenched. He’d justified his irritation when he’d had this same feeling concerning Chloe and Dez. Ben and Dez had been at odds much of their teen years, but there was no denying it tonight. It was Chloe causing this bout of irrational behavior. He was jealous. He hated the other man looking at the woman he wanted, but he had to gain control of this wayward emotion. He’d be in her company until he could collect his siblings and he couldn’t go around yelling every time another man was nearby.

  But as Lambford laughed at something Chloe said, his jaw clenched. So he’d just decided he’d not yell. But perhaps hitting would be all right.

  Chapter Five

  Chloe did her best to make the dinner a success.

  Their two guests sat across from her and Millie as Ben stood some feet away by the fire.

  Ben was no more talkative than his sister. Both Whites were virtually silent, though she didn’t think shyness was the duke’s ailment. His face was set in deep lines as though he’d smelled something fowl.

  To the duke’s credit, Lambford did have the distinct odor of a man who did not bathe often and, considering he was a heavier fellow, there was a great deal of him to emit the scent.

  Lord Tyron was neither heavy nor smelly, but he leered every time his gaze turned to Chloe, a fact she ignored as she laughed at a joke Lambford was telling.

  Lambford chuckled to himself. “I do say, Miss Fairly, Lady Millicent, it’s been a delight to meet you both.”