Never Forget Love Read online

  “It certainly made you look the part,” Nerissa smiled. “I am sure that even Delphine will not be able to complain.”

  “Certainly not, so she has made her point, the Duke has been duly impressed with her ancient home and her distinguished father and I doubt if we will see her again until this husband dies and she is chasing another one!”

  “Oh, Harry, you should not say such things,” Nerissa protested. “The Duke is a young man and poor old Lord Bramwell was very old.”

  “I suppose, if you think about it,” Harry remarked, “when Delphine has caught her Duke she cannot expect to go much higher, unless she catches sight of an eligible Prince or King!”

  The way her brother spoke sounded so funny that Nerissa laughed and then, rising from the table, she suggested,

  “Now I am going to give you your dinner and you deserve it! There is some delicious salmon to start with, then the baby lamb, which is just what I have always longed to be able to afford.”

  “I can assure you I shall do justice to both.”

  Nerissa moved towards the stove and as she did so there was the sound of men’s voices coming along the passage outside.

  For a moment she thought that she must be mistaken and yet they came nearer and she could hear her father talking and wondered what could have occurred.

  She knew that Delphine would have left the gentleman to their port and gone upstairs to tidy herself as she had told Nerissa she would do,

  “Don’t forget to light the candles in your bedroom,” she had said sharply. “I don’t want to go there in the dark.”

  “No, of course not,” Nerissa smiled. “I had thought of that.”

  If Delphine was upstairs, why was her father coming towards the kitchen?

  They drew nearer and now, just when Nerissa was certain that he would pass on down the passage, the kitchen door opened and he came in followed by the Duke.

  For a moment she and Harry were too surprised to do anything but appear to have been turned into stone as her father walked into the middle of the kitchen to say,

  “Now, as you see, Your Grace, this is a perfect example of an Elizabethan ceiling, which has never been touched except for very minor repairs over the centuries. Look at those joists and the strength of the ships’ timbers that have kept it in such good condition for so long.”

  Only as the Duke did not answer did Marcus Stanley realise that his younger daughter was staring at him in consternation and his son, for some unknown reason, was sitting at the kitchen table in his shirtsleeves.

  If Nerissa and Harry were surprised no less was the Duke.

  He had obviously expected when his host wished to show him the unique architecture of his kitchen, he would find there the usual old family servants that would somehow have been in keeping with the atmosphere of the house.

  Instead he saw facing him a young girl whose looks struck him as vaguely familiar.

  Her hair was very fair, the colour of the sun when it first rises over the horizon, her eyes that seemed to dominate her whole face were green flecked with gold and the translucence of her skin seemed to shine like a pearl against the ancient walls that she was surrounded by.

  The Duke was at once aware that she was staring at him not only with surprise but with consternation that seemed to him to have a touch of fear about it.

  Then to break the sudden silence there was the sound of quick footsteps outside in the passage and a moment later Delphine came into the kitchen.

  One glance at her face told her sister how angry she was and after an awkward pause during which nobody spoke, Nerissa managed to find her voice.

  “I am sure – Delphine dearest,” she said, “you are – surprised to see us here – but Harry and I – came back unexpectedly to find the – poor old Cosnets had been – taken ill and rather than – spoil your dinner party we took – their place.”

  The words came from Nerissa’s lips a little disjointedly.

  As she spoke, she saw some of the anger leave her sister’s face and again there was a silence as if Delphine was trying to assimilate what had been said.

  Then she managed to answer,

  “This is a surprise! You told me that both you and Harry would be away.”

  “I – know,” Nerissa answered, “but the – children in the house where we were – staying developed – measles and, as we were in the way, we came back.”

  Listening, Harry wanted to applaud knowing that Nerissa’s brain had worked quicker than his had been able to do.

  He rose belatedly to his feet as the Duke said,

  “I find this somewhat bewildering and I would like to be introduced if this young lady was really responsible for the superb meal I have just enjoyed so much.”

  As if Marcus Stanley was suddenly aware of what was happening, he said,

  “Yes – yes of course. This is my younger daughter, Your Grace, Nerissa. And this is my son, Harry, who has just come down from Oxford University for the holidays.”

  Nerissa curtseyed and the Duke held out his hand saying,

  “I really must congratulate you and may I say in all honesty that I have never enjoyed a better dinner.”

  Nerissa smiled.

  Equally she was conscious of the firm grip of his hand and, as she looked into his eyes, she had the strong feeling, although she thought that she must be mistaken, that he was not being deceived.

  Before she could really formulate what she was feeling the Duke was shaking hands with Harry.

  “I am sure you are enjoying Oxford,” he said, “Which College are you at?”

  “Magdalen, Your Grace.”

  “Where I was myself,” the Duke said. “I don’t expect it has changed very much.”

  “The College is very proud of Your Grace.”

  “I just hope that is true,” the Duke replied and Nerissa thought the way he spoke made it obvious that he would be very surprised if it was not.

  Delphine came a little further into the kitchen and, as if she thought that she must take part in the play that was taking place in front of her eyes, she said,

  “I suppose, Nerissa, I should thank you for ‘saving the ship’, so to speak. I would have been very upset if the Duke and I had had to drive away supperless!”

  “As it is, I have been feasted and feted,” the Duke remarked with a smile.

  “And now I think we ought to go,” Delphine proposed.

  Nerissa knew as she spoke that she was now longing to get away and longing to repair the damage that had been done by her father’s unforeseen behaviour.

  ‘I might have guessed,’ Nerissa chided herself, ‘that Papa would want to show anyone who was interested in Elizabethan architecture the ceiling in the kitchen. And he has always claimed that it is the one absolutely unique piece of building in the whole house.’

  “Before I leave,” the Duke suggested, raising his head to the ceiling, “I really must look carefully at what you are showing me, Mr. Stanley. I do clearly agree that no later century has produced such fine workmanship or anything so serviceable that would last as long as this has for nearly three hundred years.”

  “I thought you would appreciate it,” Marcus Stanley said with satisfaction.

  Behind his back Delphine gave Nerissa a meaningful glance and she understood that it was not only what had happened that had infuriated her but also her own appearance.

  Quickly, thinking that she should have thought of it before, she removed the apron that she had worn to cook the dinner, recognising as she did so that the gown she was wearing beneath it was not very much more presentable.

  However, as if they were still conscious that things had gone wrong, Harry was shoving himself back into his liveried coat.

  Now, as the Duke brought his eyes down from the roof, he would have been very obtuse if he had not realised that three people in the kitchen were willing him to leave as rapidly as possible.

  “This has been a unique experience for me,” the Duke said, “and, Mr. Stanley, I would
feel it very wrong if I did not return your most agreeable and instructive hospitality.”

  He paused, which made what he was saying more impressive.

  “I want to suggest that in return, you, your two daughters and your son should do me the honour of being my guests at Lyn next Friday. A Horse Show is taking place in the grounds on the Saturday but, if you could all manage to stay until Tuesday, that will leave two days in which I can show you my Elizabethan masterpiece, as you have shown me yours.”

  For a moment, as her father did not reply, Nerissa held her breath.

  Then with a smile Marcus Stanley answered,

  “It will not only give me the greatest pleasure to see Lyn, Your Grace, but it will be of inestimable benefit to me as an author to be able to view with my own eyes what at the moment I am only able to describe from hearsay.”

  “Then it is agreed,” the Duke said. “I will send a carriage here for you, your son and daughter early on Friday morning, shall we say nine o’clock? I will arrange for you to have luncheon on the way and you should arrive, if my horses perform as they should, at Lyn at about teatime. Of course your elder daughter will drive down with me from London.”

  The Duke looked at Delphine as he spoke and with an effort she forced a small smile to her lips before she said,

  “I would love to come to Lyn, but I expect it will be impossible for Nerissa and Harry to accept your invitation. After all they are both very busy here.”

  “I hope that you can manage to set aside your numerous engagements,” the Duke said politely, but Nerissa knew that he did not believe a word of it.

  As he was speaking, Nerissa looked uncomfortably at Delphine, who was making it very clear that she was not to accept the Duke’s invitation.

  But Harry had other ideas,

  “If you are having your Horse Show on Saturday, Your Grace, I cannot imagine anything more exciting. I have heard of the Horse Shows that take place at Lyn and one of my friends, who was there last year, said that it was the finest parade of horses one is likely to see in the whole of the British Isles.”

  “I believe that is its reputation,” the Duke agreed, “and I expect you would also like to see my stables. So don’t forget to pack your riding clothes.”

  “I will certainly do so,” Harry enthused.

  There was a note of excitement in his voice that would have told the most obtuse listener that he had just been offered a ticket to Heaven.

  “Then that is agreed,” the Duke said, “and since I have no intention of allowing any of you to refuse, please be ready for the carriage on Friday morning and I shall be waiting to welcome you at the end of your journey.”

  As he finished speaking, the Duke walked from the kitchen and there was nothing that Delphine could do but follow him and her father.

  However, as she reached the door, she paused for a moment and looked back to say with her beautiful face contorted with rage,

  “Why did you not stop the old fool from bringing the Duke in here?”

  Her words seemed to be hissed between her lips.

  Then, as Nerissa made a helpless gesture with her hands, she flounced out of the kitchen leaving an atmosphere of fury behind her.

  “Phew!” Harry exclaimed.

  Then before he could say anything more Nerissa urged him,

  “Quick! You must to see them off and don’t upset Papa by letting him think that he has ruined the evening. I know how thrilled he will be at having been invited to Lyn.”

  Harry did not reply, but merely ran from the kitchen and down the flagged passage and, only as his footsteps died away, did Nerissa realise that she was trembling.

  It had been such a shock when the Duke had walked into the kitchen and an even bigger one when Delphine had followed him and shown how angry she was.

  However there had been nothing that she or Harry could have done about it and it had never crossed her mind that her father would want to show the Duke the kitchen ceiling.

  He was, of course, proud of it because it was, as she knew, completely unique.

  At the same time who would have expected the owner of Lyn to be interested in the kitchen of some obscure Manor that he had never heard of until he met Delphine?

  She could only pray that she had managed to cover up the truth by pretending that she and Harry had taken the place of servants, who were actually non-existent.

  When Harry came back a few minutes later, he said, as he sat down again at the kitchen table where his salmon was waiting for him,

  “It was extremely quick of you, Nerissa, to save the side. At least I do hope we did. I thought that the Duke looked rather cynical.”

  “You don’t think he – believed me?”

  “I should be surprised if he did.”

  “Why should you say that?” Nerissa asked.

  “As he is known as being very shrewd and, if he did not see through Delphine’s wiles, then he is not as astute as I have always believed him to be.”

  There was a pause before Nerissa enquired,

  “Were they – very obvious at dinner?”

  “She did everything but kiss his boots! If that is the way that all women behave towards Lynchester, then all I can say is I am not surprised he prefers being a bachelor!”

  “Oh, Harry, don’t say that. It might be unlucky. If he does not propose to Delphine now, she will say it is all our fault and will never forgive us.”

  “I cannot think it will make much difference. We have not seen her for years and, if she marries Lynchester, I should be very surprised if we ever saw her again.”

  Harry ate a mouthful of salmon before he went on,

  “That is why I intend to see the Horse Show and ride the Duke’s horses while I have the chance. Once she is married to him, mark my words, Delphine will say we are dead, diseased, crippled or transported. Anything to prevent our visiting the august presence!”

  “But why, Harry? Why should she be like that?” Nerissa asked him. “We were all so happy together when we were young and Mama was alive.”

  “I can answer that question quite simply.”

  “Then what is it?” Nerissa asked in astonishment.

  “Look in the mirror, old girl!”

  Nerissa laughed.

  “Now you are talking nonsense. You are not going to tell me that Delphine is jealous of me?”

  “Why not? You are very lovely, exactly like Mama. If you ask me now that I have seen you together, Delphine is obviously an older and considerably over-painted edition of you!”

  “Harry! How can you say such things?”

  Because it made her feel apprehensive about Delphine, she hoped that what Harry had said was completely untrue.

  Chapter Three

  As she drove away with the Duke from Queen’s Rest, Delphine thought with a sense of outrage that her father had messed up what had been in her opinion a perfect plan.

  It had never entered her mind for one second that, when she had left the men alone in the dining room, her father might take the Duke to visit the kitchen.

  Because she had always been bored with architecture, even that of her own home, she had never listened to what her father was saying either to the family or to guests.

  Now, however, she remembered too late that anyone who was interested in architecture was always taken to see the kitchen ceiling.

  Equally she knew that the one thing she must not do was to let the Duke think that she was in any way upset.

  When she had first realised, to her intense satisfaction, that the Duke of Lynchester was turning his roving eye in her direction, she had decided with determination that would have made strong men quake that he would marry her.

  She had heard about the Duke long before she first saw him and, when she had done so, she understood how it was completely impossible for any woman not to admire him and find him irresistible.

  It was not only his title and his distinguished position in the Social world, it was that he himself was without any exception the mo
st attractive man she had ever seen.

  The stories of his love affairs lost nothing in the telling.

  Practically every woman she met was only too willing to relate her own particular story about the Duke, which was either his latest affaire de coeur or one of those that had ended so disastrously in tears, threats of suicide and broken hearts.

  Although Delphine was still young in years when she became a widow, she had grown immeasurably older during the time that she had been married to Lord Bramwell.

  She had not been unhappy, because she found the fact that he was rich enough to give her almost anything she wanted was fascinating after being so poor and insignificant.

  That her husband was so much older than herself did not particularly trouble her either.

  That she found him a bore went without saying, but, as he was infatuated with her, she soon learned how to make the very best of his feelings. She found that she could soon turn every kiss he gave her into jewels or gold.

  When Lord Bramwell died, leaving her to all intents and purposes, a rich woman, she told herself that now was her opportunity to rise up the social ladder to the highest possible pinnacle.

  So when she first saw the Duke of Lynchester, she knew exactly what her goal was.

  Delphine was much too shrewd not to realise that in order to capture the Duke, where so many other women had failed, she had to be different.

  This meant quite simply that she refused the moment he began pursuing her to go to bed with him.

  Every other woman, she learned, who had been in the same position had found him so overwhelmingly irresistible that they had succumbed at the first assault and so had ardently given him everything he desired.

  The reason for this was that the women who the Duke spent his time with were either widows like herself or had, as was indeed fashionable, extremely complaisant husbands.

  Occasionally, Delphine had learned, a husband would be brave enough to challenge the Duke to a duel, but invariably and unjustly he became the loser of the contest.