Page 1 of The Gift of a Christmas Scandal

Chapter One

“This contract is, in my opinion, completely legal. It will stand as binding, Your Grace.”

Alexander Fortescue, Duke of Southolton, glared at the lawyer before him, and cursed under his breath.

“You are quite certain of that, Warrington?”

“Quite, Your Grace. I have examined it in detail. It was well written. My predecessor in dealing with your family’s legal matters was a thorough man, as was your father.”

Alex paced about the room, unconscious of his own fluidity of movement, his frustration driving him. The wintry afternoon sun caught deep red highlights from his almost black hair, and burnished his lightly tanned skin to a richer gold. He was a man who was admired, and, to some extent, feared. He had left England an untried youth, and returned from seven years on the continent as a mature and experienced man, with a physique and an intellect to be envied.

All of which physical and mental power was, it seemed, impotent in the face of his father’s bloody-minded determination, and manipulative cunning. Even from beyond the grave, his father had made sure that his wishes would drive Alex, no matter what Alex himself wanted.

“Is there no possible way I might avoid the marriage?”

“Not that I can see, Your Grace. Unless Lady Phyllida herself cried off – and that is beyond unlikely, as both she and her parents seem most set on the match – there is no option. If you cried off, not only would Lady Phyllida be ruined, but they would have a legal right to demand your compliance, or substantial compensation, if they chose to accept such a thing.”

“Damn! I won’t ruin the girl. I have nothing against her, personally – she is just not at all what I want to marry – in fact, I can’t say that I am anywhere near ready to even consider marriage at all, especially marriage arranged at someone else’s whim!”

“Ah… then the only other thing I can think of is no use to you either.”

“What other thing? Tell me anyway – I must consider every possibility – I am determined to find a way out of this contract, without ruining her, and without paupering the estate to pay them off.”

Warrington looked more hesitant than Alex had ever seen him – albeit he had not seen the man often, for Warrington had taken on their business whilst Alex had still been in Italy. The lawyer stared out of the window for a moment, then straightened his shoulders and turned back to Alex.

“This is, you must understand, Your Grace, not the sort of thing that a man like myself, in good standing, should ever seriously suggest. But you have asked for all possibilities in this matter. The only way in which I can see you getting out of this contract, without ruining Lady Phyllida, or your estate, is to do some damage to your own reputation, and that of another woman.”

“Warrington, I have no idea what you mean – what other woman?”

“Any other woman that suits you, Your Grace. If you were found in a compromising position with another woman, a lady of rank, then you would be expected to marry her – Lady Phyllida would be expected to reject you, as would her parents. The difficulty of this solution is, of course, that you would need to find a suitable woman to compromise – one you were then willing to marry. So… if you are not ready to consider marriage at all… then you are still trapped by the contract, and will be expected to marry Lady Phyllida Wormington by the time of her twenty-first birthday. Which is, I believe, at the beginning of February.”

Alex had halted in his pacing at the words ‘compromising position’, and now met Warrington’s eyes, his lips twisting into an almost sardonic smile. He gave a snort of self-deprecating laughter.

“That is definitely a rather outrageous suggestion from a legal man. And you’re right, it’s not much help to me at all. Much though the young women of the ton seem willing to volunteer to be compromised…”

It was Warrington’s turn to laugh.

“You’ve only been back two months, and they’re throwing themselves in your path, in the hope of becoming your Duchess, aren’t they? And none of them appeal to you? Too milk and water, after those fiery Italian beauties, eh?”

Alex grinned, refusing to confirm anything about fiery Italian beauties.

“They are all rather… bland… and persistent. And lacking in conversation, and, I suspect, in intelligence. I cannot imagine anything worse than spending my life tied to one of them. Keep looking for ways out. I will keep delaying, until the last possible day, if I must, hoping that we find a solution. And I will keep the option of complete scandal in mind, just in case the utterly improbable happens, and I meet a woman I’d be willing to marry.”

“I will, Your Grace. But… to potentially find a woman you might be willing to marry, you’ll need to attend social events, allow them to flock around you, and be nice to them…”

Alex scowled. His tone when he spoke had a sarcastic, almost bitter edge.

“Actually, I don’t need to be nice to them at all. They get all in a flutter when I glare and sneer at them, and behave with the utmost arrogance. They find me being ‘dark and dangerous’ all exciting. Which only proves to me how boring their lives are. No amount of rudeness scares them away. But I will have a chance to get to know more of them. My mother has arranged a Christmas House Party, and invited half the ton, including Lady Phyllida.”

“I doubt she intends you to be looking at the other young women then.”

“My mother may not, but all of their mothers still hope. I won’t be able to move in my own home without tripping over eyelash fluttering damsels at every step. The only thing that gives me the slightest hope is that I have managed to avoid my supposed betrothal to Lady Phyllida from being announced about the place – although many in my mother’s circle of friends know of the arrangement, if not the detail of the contract.”

“I wish you well of it then, Your Grace. I will let you know if I discover any loopholes – but, if I were you, I would prepare myself for my fate.”

“Warrington, if I didn’t know that you were a serious man of the law, I would almost think that you were enjoying watching me struggle in this trap.”

Warrington affected an expression of offended innocence.