A Brooding Christmas Promise (Christmas Matches of Worth #2)

Prologue

“I have decided that it is time for you to find a wife.”

Joseph looked at his mother sidelong, rolling his eyes when she caught his gaze.

“Do not think that I will be put away from this idea!” she exclaimed, as he returned his attention to the paper he was attempting to read. It had been sent from London and he was eager to read all of the goings-on which had taken place over the Christmas season within society. “You have been the Duke of Yarmouth for five years now and as yet, you have done nothing to secure the family line!”

Barely giving his mother even the smallest bit of attention, Joseph waved one hand vaguely in her direction as the fire in the hearth crackled beside him. “Mother, I have two younger brothers. Both of them are more than suitable to take on the role, should I ever be displaced.” It was not something that he was in the least bit worried about, however, for Joseph was hale and hearty and though he had an intention of marrying some day, he had no desire to do so at present.

“But you must!” she exclaimed, stalking across the drawing room and practically whipping the paper out of his hands. “It is required!”

Joseph scowled, disliking his mother’s insistence. “Mother, that is quite enough. I have already made it plain that I will marry one day but it shall only be at the day and time of my choosing.”

“No, it shall not be.” The Duchess lifted her chin and gazed down at him with such a fire in her eyes that Joseph shifted in his chair, suddenly feeling a little unsettled. “Yarmouth, I have had quite enough of your laziness, your disinterest and your selfishness. The whispers about you are not good and society is well aware of your present reputation – a reputation which will soon become roguish should nothing change!”

“I have not been in London for the last few months, Mother, so I cannot imagine where you would get such an idea from.” Though Joseph kept his voice mild, he tried to ignore the streak of worry which ran through him. Some months ago, he had decided that a very pretty young lady by the name of Lady Sara would be good for his next conquest and had set about it. The young lady had been rather reluctant, however, and though Joseph knew he ought to have stepped back, his determination to have her kisses brought about such a strength of force within him, he had promised her things that he had no intention of truly seeking out. It had all become rather sordid in the end and though he had managed to keep the truth from society – and had bribed those involved for their silence – he had chosen to return to his estate rather than linger in London. He had not heard if there had been any whispers about him in that time and part of him was a little loathe to find out. After all, he had spent a good deal of time attempting to make certain that the ton did not think of him as an utter scoundrel and he did not want that to change.

“I have heard of what is said of you from my friends and from those connected to our family,” his mother stated, clearly refusing to let the matter drop. “I do not know your reasons for staying back from London but I can imagine they are nothing but selfish.”

Joseph frowned. “That is a little inconsiderate of you, no?”

This did not have the desired effect upon his mother, however. She took in a deep breath, set her hands to her waist and then glared at him. “Either you seek a wife in London this Season in a few months’ time, or I shall make your life nothing short of a misery.”

Joseph blinked in astonishment, for his mother was always quiet and considered, never once speaking with the fierceness she did at present. “I – I beg your pardon?”

“I hardly think that I need to repeat myself,” she replied, with that same determination in her voice which shocked Joseph utterly. “I am residing with you at present, just as I ought given that this is the house where I raised both your brothers and yourself when your dear father was alive. You know that I will only remove myself from this house when you marry, for I shall have the Dower house.”

Anger flickered in Joseph’s heart. “I could have you removed there whenever I please.”

“Ah, but should you do so, then you will have society looking down upon you and I know very well that you want society – well, certain members of society, shall I say – to think well of you. It is not often that you go to London but when you do visit, you make certain to steal as much attention from young ladies as possible, you throw money away at the card table and yet I know you want the ton to think you an excellent sort, albeit a little rogue-like.”

“I believe that my reputation is my business, Mother!”

She shook her head. “I fervently wish that such tidings were indeed true. You know that your reputation as the Duke is of vital importance and that how you are seen by society will directly impact upon not only myself but your brothers and their families, but that does not seem to concern you! You do not think of us and have seemingly no interest in the responsibilities that being a Duke represents. That is not the sort of gentleman your father thought you would be.”

Joseph’s hand curled into a fist and he thumped it, hard, on the arm of his chair, sending a jolt up through his arm. “How dare you say such a thing? You know very well that I have taken on this title with nothing but thoughts for my responsibilities!”

Despite the obvious upset and strain, his mother did not step back from what she had been saying. “You have thought of a good many things yes, I shall give you that. However, you do not seem to act! The crops, though they do well, should be reviewed in light of the new findings about crop rotation. Your tenants should have their houses reviewed and considered so that improvements might be made. You should consider the new business ventures that have been offered to you, rather than simply continuing on with what you have always known! And you should certainly stop pursuing various young ladies, all of whom will give you their affections until you become bored with them and move away from them!”

“How… ” The anger began to fade as Joseph looked up at his mother. “How do you know such things?”

She laughed but it did not hold any mirth within it. “I have been Duchess for a very long time, my son. I am well acquainted with all that transpires within this household. You believe that the servants are loyal to you and yes, they are, but they also know that I, as mistress of this house, have cause to know all that is taking place. And it does not take much effort to hear from the tenants just how little their houses have been considered these last two years; how the thatch is poor and weakening in some places, how the wind and the rain come through. Society is also very good at informing me of my son’s poor behaviour to the young ladies, both here in our own vicinity and in London. That is a matter which cannot be kept to oneself.”

A flush of shame began to burn up through Joseph’s chest but he looked away rather than let her perceive it. That part, certainly, was true, loathe though he was to admit it. His tenants had not been something he had considered a good deal of late, given that he had become very taken up with his own estate. Joseph very much enjoyed being out of doors and spent a good deal of time there rather than inside in his study or his drawing room. Instead of writing letters, he much preferred to ride as far as he could before, eventually turning around. Business matters were set aside in favor of other outdoor sports and, thus far, Joseph had not seen any issue with it. His estate ran very well, his finances were good and his business affairs were all in order. Yes, he had not tried any new ventures, had assumed that his crops were doing well and had thought only of himself for much of the time but had that been truly such a bad thing?

“This is preposterous, Mother,” he said, pulling himself out of his many thoughts and instead, determining not to permit his mother to do anything that she had threatened. “You have no right to state such things. I will do as I please and will marry as and when I so wish.”

The Duchess shrugged. “Very well. Then, if you are determined to continue on in such a way, then I shall have no other choice but to do as I have threatened.”

“Which is to make my life a misery.”

She nodded. “Precisely.”

“Then you are willing to manipulate me, to use me as you wish simply so that I will do as you ask?” Joseph got to his feet though his mother still did not move, did not even flicker. “You will force my hand?”

“Yes.” The Duchess lifted her chin. “I am doing his because I must. I am tired of the Duke of Yarmouth being spoken of in society, tired of hearing that I only have two dutiful sons rather than three. No, Yarmouth, you will come to London this Season and you will do as you must.”

Joseph shook his head. “No, I will not.”

His mother gazed back at him but Joseph held his gaze, willing to simply stare her down but, the longer that they looked at each other in silence, the more uncomfortable he became. The Duchess did not falter, gazing at him with her chin lifted a notch and a sharpness in her eyes which he had never seen before. Swallowing hard, Joseph looked away and then let out a slow breath, despising the situation that he was now facing.

“I warn you now, it will be more miserable than you have ever experienced.”

The whisper from his mother made Joseph shudder though he tried to hide it. He had always known the Duchess to be a sweet-natured lady, had often admired her kindness and her sweetness but now, it seemed, her nature had changed entirely! And all because she has decided I must wed.

“This is unfair,” he stated, swiping through the air between them with both hands. “How can you utter such a thing? You have never comported yourself or expressed such sentiments towards me until now!”

His mother’s lips quirked, though her eyebrows flung themselves down. “I have said nothing for the last five years but now, the time has come for me to be honest with you. I want to know that the family line is secure and that you are taking the responsibility your father gave you with the upmost seriousness.”

“By threatening to injure me?”

The smile returned. “Oh, I did not say that I would injure you, did I? I said that I would make your life a little more… difficult than it has been before. Perhaps then that might take you out of the way of thinking only of yourself and might, I hope, force you to reconsider your responsibilities, yes?”

Joseph did not know what to do. On one hand, his mother had no right to speak to him in such a way as this and he had every right to stop her from doing so but on the other, given that he did not know what it was she intended to do, it would not be as simple as asking her to desist! A thought came to him and with a quirk of his lips, he held her gaze steadily. This was his mother! His mother, who had never once raised her voice to him, who had always done everything she could to please those within her household and those outside of it also. She could not – would not – do such a thing as this! This was a pretense, surely? It was nothing he could take seriously, not when he knew her as he did. It was only words, words meant to force him into action. “I am afraid, Mother, that I do not believe you.”

This made his mother’s eyes flash and Joseph’s smile stuck to his lips, no longer as confident in his belief as he had been before. “Is that so?”

“I… yes, it is.” Joseph lifted his chin and held her gaze steadily. “I do not think that you would do such a thing to me. I am sure that you have said such a thing in order to force my hand but I will not be moved, I am afraid. Your threats shall not take root with me.”

This brought a lengthy silence between them and, at the end of it, the Duchess began to nod slowly, pulling her gaze away from him. “Very well,” she said, her voice low and quiet as a sense of triumph began to flood through Joseph. Had he been correct in his belief after all? Had she, indeed, said such things in the hope of merely pushing him into action?

“I appreciate that you are concerned for me but I can assure you, you need not be. I am more than able to do what is required of me but it will be at a time of my choosing.”

His mother nodded but then gave him a long look, one finger rubbing lightly across her lips, her thumb at her chin.

“I am glad we had this conversation,” Joseph continued, not quite certain what else to say. “Now, the paper if you do not mind?”

The Duchess glanced away before picking up the paper in her hands and walking across the room, rather than giving it to him. “You presume me to be insignificant, feeble and devoid of resolve,” she articulated, quickly feeding the paper to the fire as Joseph let out an exclamation of upset, half out of his chair again as his mother turned her gaze to him once more. “You will see that I am not, Yarmouth. Your father is no longer here to make certain that you do your duty and therefore, it now rests with me given that you do not do such a thing yourself! I had thought that you, as the eldest, would do what was asked but instead I see that it is quite the opposite and I am ashamed of you. I am shamed by what the ton knows of you; your lack of diligence in business matters, the complaints of your tenants and your fleeting interest in various ladies of the ton . Something must change and if you do not do that for yourself, then believe me when I say that I will force it upon you regardless.”

Before Joseph could say anything, the lady had taken her leave of him, leaving the only sound the crackling of the fire as it burnt up the last parts of the newspaper. It had only been a small act, something insignificant really, but it had shocked Joseph right to his very core. This was not someone that he recognized! His mother had never done or said such things before and now, unfortunately, Joseph was slowly beginning to believe that all she had said, she would do.

“I will not find a wife,” he muttered to himself, his hands curling into fists again as he fought to find a fresh determination within himself. “I have no interest in matrimony, no desire to take a wife.” Lifting his chin, he nodded to himself. “And I certainly shall not be forced into it.”