Deceived

The Hawkesworth family had been barons on the estate for longer than anyone could recall. The earldom had come into being when one of the ancestors had done a great favor for King Henry VII. This first Tudor king was noted for being tightfisted. Raising a man in rank was a cheap enough thanks for the king, especially when the man already possessed a large estate. The dukedom, of course, had come through Charles II.

Suddenly the coach began to slow itself, and when it had almost stopped it turned off the high road onto a narrower track. The vehicle bumped along, but the dowager continued to snore on contentedly. Aurora smiled, and drew the lap robe up a bit farther so the old lady would not catch a chill. They were obviously approaching Hawkes Hill Hall. The carriage finally came out of the trees, and Aurora could see the roadway stretching ahead of them across a greensward, and, beyond, upon a hill, was set the hall. It looked almost like a castle with its dark gray stone turrets and towers.

Aurora gently shook her companion. 'Ma'am, I believe we are approaching home,' she said.

'Eh? What?' The old lady's eyes flew open, focused, and then she said, 'Yes, that is Hawkes Hill. I hope you are going to be very happy here with us, Aurora. At least until you depart a bride.'

'Or return home to St. Timothy,' Aurora replied.

'Do not say such a thing,' the dowager scolded her. 'I should consider myself a complete failure, and unable to face your dear mama, if I did not provide you with a good husband, child.'

As the travelers drew up to the house, they found servants waiting to welcome them and take the luggage down from the baggage carts. Calandra swept grandly by everyone, Sally and Moll in her wake, disappearing into the building. The duke ushered his grandmother and his guests inside.

'Welcome to Hawkes Hill,' he said to George and Aurora. 'Grandmama, will you be joining us for dinner this evening?'

The dowager held her hands out to the fireplace, then said, 'I think not, dear boy. It has been a long trip, and I think I should prefer a tray in my room. I know you understand.'

'Yer grace?' Moll had joined them. 'Her grace says she'll take dinner in her room too; and she don't want to be disturbed neither, she says to tell you, sir.' The maidservant curtsied, flushing.

'Tell her grace that I acquiesce tonight, but tomorrow is another matter. Say it just like that, Moll,' the duke instructed the girl, his demeanor serious.

'Yes, yer grace.' Moll curtsied again, almost running from the drawing room where they were all standing.

'Impudent chit!' the dowager muttered. 'And to send that poor child to deliver such a message. Valerian, you must do something!'

'I fully intend to, Grandmama.' He turned to George and Aurora.

'Dinner in the country is at seven,' he said. 'Peters will show you to your rooms.' He bowed.

The dowager had gone on ahead of them. George and Aurora followed the butler back into the entry hall. Beyond the staircase they could see a large room, probably the old hall, Aurora thought. She was really looking forward to exploring this wonderful house. It might have been yours, a wicked little voice in her head reminded her. She pushed the thought away. She had made her choice, and she had to be content to live with it. It was, after all, what she had wanted. Wasn't it?

'You and the old girl get on quite well,' George whispered as they mounted the broad staircase. 'You were in her coach all but the first day. Cally is obviously still in a bad mood.'

'The dowager was far better company than our sister,' Aurora told him. 'Besides, I like her. She is intelligent and has wit.'

'What are we to do about Cally?' George persisted.

'Cally is not our concern,' Aurora told her brother. 'We helped to get her home, and now the rest is up to the duke. She is his wife. Besides, Lady Mary Rose has plans for you, George. She has lined up a bevy of eligibles from which you must pick a bride.' Aurora chuckled wickedly. 'I cannot wait to meet the girl who will ensnare you with melting eyes and maidenly sighs.'

'And what about you, miss?' he demanded.

'First you, George,' Aurora laughed, giving him a gay wave as she entered the bedroom Peters indicated was hers. 'I'll see you at dinner, brother dear!' And she blew him a kiss.

'Well, miss, and here you are at last,' Martha said. ' 'Tis a grand house this Hawkes Hill. Just look at this room. Isn't it lovely?'

Aurora looked around, and had to agree with her servant that it was a lovely room. The walls were covered in a creamy silk. The woodwork was painted pale green. The hardwood floors were covered with a rose and green Oriental carpet. The marble fireplace was flanked with a winged angel on either side. The cream and celadon striped draperies were of heavy silk, tied back with heavy gold roping. The mahogany bed had tall turned posts and an arched canopy of cream satin. The matching bed drapes were sprigged with rosebuds. There was a magnificent mahogany chest against one wall; a piecrust table before the windows flanked on either side by upholstered chairs; and by her bedside was the prettiest little side table Aurora had ever seen, atop which was a crystal candlestick with a beeswax candle and a small silver snuffer.

'And,' Martha said, sounding most pleased, 'there's a separate dressing room for your clothing, miss, as well as a little room for me so I don't have to climb those stairs into the attic.'

'Then you think we'll be happy here?' Aurora teased her servant.

'We'd have been happier if you knows what,' Martha replied tartly. 'Miss Calandra's rooms are at the far end of the hallway. She ain't hardly spoke to you since we left London.'

'She's still angry at me, I fear, for threatening her as I did,' Aurora said. 'I far more enjoyed riding with the old dowager.' She sighed. 'It is unusual for Cally to have such a prolonged attack of the sulks, but she'll come around in time. After all, I'm all she'll have unless she makes some friends among the local gentry.'

'They won't be tony enough for the likes of our duchess,' Martha decided. Then she said, 'Would you like a bath, miss?'

Aurora nodded. 'It is to be just George, Valerian, and me at the dinner table, but I think I should make an effort, don't you?'

Martha agreed. Going to the wall, she yanked on the bellpull. It was answered shortly by a housemaid. 'My mistress needs a bath,' Martha said. 'Would you be kind enough to have hot water brought?'

'Yes, ma'am,' the housemaid said politely. A personal servant outranked her.

At five minutes before the hour of seven, Aurora descended back down the wide staircase, going to the drawing room where the duke had said they would meet. Her gown was of lavender silk, the underskirt a broad stripe of lavender and cream. The rounded neckline was edged in tiny purple silk violets, and her sleeves dripped lace.

'Good evening, Valerian,' she said, curtsying prettily. 'I am early, then, for I do not see George, who is always on time.'

'How pretty you look, Aurora,' he replied by way of a greeting. He was dressed in white knee breeches, a black velvet coat, and a waistcoat of black and white striped silk. 'No, your brother has not come down yet. Do you find your room satisfactory?'

'Oh, yes! And Martha is more than pleased to have her own little room next to mine. It was most thoughtful.'

'Excuse me, your grace.' George's valet, Wickham, stood politely in the