Chapter Six

The duke decided to walk the beach again. This time he took Clayo, and his attire was indeed informal. He’d left his jacket at the villa, but was still dressed in his waistcoat appropriate to his rank. Crop in his right hand, he strode quickly. Although he would be loathe to admit it, he wanted to see if his Enchantress of the Sea would be out and about. He invited her the night before to walk along the beach, but she didn’t present herself. In his heart, he didn’t think she would t, but nonetheless, it didn’t hurt to ask.

Clayo plodded alongside him and wagged her tail. He kept at their “stick into the ocean” game, and she promptly retrieved. They played most of the time until either he became bored or Clayo tired.

His heart leaped when he saw Cassandra. This time the outfit was a dark azure skirt with the same white balloon sleeve blouse, a light blue jacket, and a fetching azure hat with her blonde hair tucked under it. The children were with her. Alicia, wearing a white ruffled dress with many petticoats, ran barefoot and giggled. A huge white bow accented her blonde braid so the wind wouldn’t whip hair in her face. Blue eyes that matched the sky, soft creamy white skin, and a delicate frame gave the girl an impish look. It then occurred to him how much Alicia resembled Cassandra. Could it be a coincidence? Or was there more to it? Was there a secret somewhere?

Alicia hugged Alfred who was in a white cotton sun suit, tow blond hair also, and barefoot, giggling when the water trickled over his toes.

It seemed strange how he remembered their names even though they’d never met.

He felt a tug to his heartstrings at the familial picture that depicted a mother with two children who enjoyed the day at the beach and took turns looking through the telescope. The children stepped on a little wooden stool to get a view.

“Good morning, Cassandra,” he shouted as Clayo leaped forward. The children were frightened for a moment and then the command was given. “Hold.” The dog sat. “Don’t be afraid. Clayo is playful. Here, Alfred, throw the stick into the ocean and she will fetch it for you. Just ask her to fetch. Can you do that?”

The boy grinned and threw it. The waves kidnapped the stick and the boy shouted, “Fetch, fetch.”

Sure enough, Clayo swam over some waves, retrieved the wood, and laid it at the boy’s feet. Alfred was so ecstatic he clapped his hands in glee.

“May I try?” asked Alicia.

“Of course.” Clayo performed for quite a while until the duke called a halt to the game and said Clayo needed to dry off and rest a while to regain her strength since she had hungry puppies that awaited her.

“Puppies? Will we get to see them?” Alicia’s voice was filled with excitement.

“Certainly, when next you come to visit my mother, I’ll show them to you.”

“Children, Auntie has been remiss and has not introduced you to his Grace, Althorn, who is a friend of mine. Please greet him appropriately.”

Alicia curtsied and Alfred gave an unsteady bow. Pleased at their display of manners, she turned to the duke. “I haven’t properly instructed them on the honorifics due your station. We will practice though.”

“I’m glad I can be a lesson to the children,” he said. “What a novelty.”

“You pronounce the dog’s name as ‘Clayo’ phonetically, and not Cleo. Was she named after the famous Egyptian Queen?” asked Cassandra.

“You have the gift of discernment, my lady. I dislike common things since I am a snob, and I admit this with emphasis. Phonetically pronounced, Clayopahtra, or simply Clayo. I like the sound of it, don’t you? It rolls seductively off the tongue.”

“Oh, yes. It is quite…quite…different the way you say it.” She spoke out of earshot of the children.

“It brings to mind Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. Both men were predictably involved with an erotic worldly queen,” said the duke, a whisper breath away from her.

Even his dog had a seductive name. Sweet heaven.

“Althorn, the children are eager learners. May I request you don’t speak out of turn for then I will be besieged for answers I don’t have.”

She had visions of him and his tongue. Why did she hear sensuality in all his words? Every time he mentioned the word tongue, she remembered how magical it was to have him explore her lips. She was in deep trouble and fanned the dangerous flames of her imagination. She might be better off if she jumped through fire hoops in a circus.

“Yes, of course. I see you have your chaperones today,” the duke teased.

“And good ones they are. My cousin was annoyed with me last night. I’m never to be alone with you, it seems. Your reputation and scandal follow you like sentinels.”

“Do you always do as you are told?” He moved the telescope to gaze at an object near the horizon.

“Probably I do…although the risk has to be worth the reward. Somehow I think there’s a great danger in your illustrious presence.” She enjoyed flirtation with him. Her turn to taunt. Cassandra liked the sensations he caused within her. All she knew was, with him, she felt safe, protected and—desirable.

Very safe.

Very protected.

Very desirable.

She regarded him as a friend.

A dear one.

A dangerous one.

A smoldering one.

A man who always talked about seduction and sensuality, things she never knew existed. Until now. Did he spend all his time with thoughts about sex?

“Children, come quickly,” he commanded. “Take a look.” Clearly he enjoyed them since he was like a child himself. “One at a time, I will hold you and direct the scope. That is an English ship out there.”

“Where? Where?” they asked in unison.

“Alfie, you go first,” exclaimed Alicia.

The duke held him strongly on one knee to get a better look. Cassandra couldn’t help but notice his muscles strained the cloth of his breeches. He could pose for a penny novel. What a magnificent sight.

Alicia took her turn and asked how he knew it was an English ship.

“It flies an English flag, but even if it didn’t, the design could only be English since it’s narrow and swift, an excellent example of our fine English ship builders.” Pride was evident in his voice. “It is a British man-of-war, a ship of the line.”

They all spent a pleasant hour at the beach, searched through the telescope, and then ambled for a short walk to a sand dune. The children had their water pails and proceeded to build a sand castle as Cassandra and the duke conversed.

“I have an appointment to see the duchess today, your Grace. It seems I’m not to hear the end of my indiscretion last night.”

“You could have asked me to stop, you know, and I would have.” With an obvious roguish grin, he clasped his hands behind his back. “I’m not sure that’s quite true, but it makes me sound noble so I’ll keep to my story.”

“It is difficult to protest when one’s mouth is occupied with someone else’s tongue,” she said.

“Your hands could have pushed me away,” he offered in mock protest.

“I did try, but believe you had my arms pinned to my sides most of the time, your Grace. Or is that standard procedure for such behavior?” She molded wet sand inside a seashell and affixed it to the cylindrical castle. Cassandra held his attention. “When I attempted to push you away prior to our discovery, you remained rigid.”

“Perhaps because I thought you weren’t sincere?” Then he added, “You seemed to enjoy it, Cassandra. You haven’t been kissed much. That is evident.”

“Was I so inadequate, your Grace?” She wanted to know and fought her own inner inhibitions.

“No, you are innocent, and it invites education on my part.”

“Do the women you so…educate all have to face angry parents or cousins?”

“How would I know unless they tell me? There have been no complaints from the ladies. I looked for you on the beach last night, but you didn’t come,” he whispered.

She gave him a startled glance and spoke innocently, “I cannot believe you expected me to meet you, without a chaperone after our encounter on the balcony.” Her cheeks grew hot, and she burned down to her fingertips. Such scandalous thoughts. How dare he conjure such an inappropriate wondrous meeting?

“Will you kindly refrain from the salutation Your Grace. Once again, my Christian name is Gordon. Again, call me as such when we are in private situations. Otherwise, I am Althorn.” He smiled a grin so broad it dimpled his cheeks.

“Gordon. Gordon. Gordon.” She repeated the name thrice. “Kindly notice we are not alone.” What kind of private situations had he in mind?

The duke slipped to his knees and helped the children with the sand castle. “We endeavor the construction of a large monument so we must work quickly. Hurry, help me.”

She liked the way his shirt rippled in the breeze. He removed his boots and stockings, gathered the water pails, and sloshed barefoot in the water, and it lent him a boyish air.

Perhaps it was that precise moment, she realized she’d fallen in love with him. Cassandra had a premonition no good could come of it.

The castle was a mighty structure by the time they were through with turrets and parapets. Small seashells lined the moat. With his long fingers, the duke tunneled through the main part of the fortress as the seawater unleashed and flowed through. Then all four of them built a wall surround to keep the waves away.

As with most things crafted from sand, the tide eventually came in and washed it away. The children were disappointed and Alfie shed a tear. “Don’t worry, Alfie,” Alicia said. We’ll just build another one farther away.”

The duke couldn’t remember when he had a better time. He couldn’t explain the joy he experienced in this playful atmosphere. Deep within, he knew bottomless peace and satisfaction—an overly welcome sensation of tranquility.

“Althorn, you seemed to have quite an active conversation with a number of ladies last night. I saw you leave with a woman who draped herself over you like a fur cape.”

“Unfortunately, Cassandra, while I normally might have found distraction with such warmth, you have spoiled me for any other woman. I truly like you. It’s an unusual circumstance.”

“I like you, too, Althorn.”

A half-smile crossed his face. “Well, you might show it a bit.”

“Please be appropriate. The children are present and can hear everything, even through brick walls.”

My how he loved this game with her and her propriety, yet he knew full well, she was curious and an innocent. Indeed, she was different from the other women with whom he had sex—unadulterated sex. No commitments were necessary. Just the need to pleasure and be pleasured in return. He contemplated the change she encouraged in him. He desired her to trust him and wanted to be a better man because of her. Dammit. It had to be witchcraft. Rakes didn’t believe in love.

“Althorn, it’s time for the children to eat. We must return before Miss Dutton thinks some ill has befallen us.”

“Cassandra, what could possibly happen?” he asked in jovial banter. Immediately he sensed something foreboding in her tone.

She turned to the children. “Let’s gather the telescope. Alicia, will you carry the stool? Alfie, you bring the sand pails and off we go back to the hotel.”

After he donned his footwear, the duke took the telescope. The children ran on ahead with Clayo close behind. Cassandra and the duke laughed and chatted amiably alongside each other.

“What’s on our calendar for tonight?” he asked playfully. “Are we to dance or attend a soirée?” He wasn’t sure of his plans, but he knew he wanted to be with her once more. She had a sensible mind, good intellect, spoke three languages fluently—Spanish, French, and of course, English. He admired her common sense approach to life.

And he wanted her.

Yet, his instinct told him there was some mystery associated in her life. Whether it had to do with Alicia or someone else, he didn’t know. He was intrigued by the woman and her reaction to his advances. She was innocent in her own way, and he much needed mystery in his tiresome life—a strange combination. Quite the romantic, he was sure she would surrender easily to the right lover. It bothered him he might not be that lover. Everything about her was an adventure. He enjoyed how she flirted with temptation. Did it send a thrill through her body? He could indeed become the right man for Cassandra, but something in her, the absolute virtuous maiden with all her virginal misgivings restrained him. He wasn’t that kind of scoundrel.

Ah, what nobility, he pondered of himself. Was she an experienced tease? Or was she just a sweet innocent? He opted for the latter. He truly enjoyed her friendship, but he needed heartier fare when it came to bed sport. Was it possible she was still a virgin? The thought piqued his interest.

When he thought of the word surrender, he thought of her in his arms passionately in search of fulfillment, his kisses raining over her body, everywhere untouched by sunlight. It made him wish for more and more of her company. Yet, while she appeared agreeable and open to him, there was something withdrawn about her. He couldn’t help but think how much she and the little girl looked alike. There was more to this than he was told, and he was determined to find out what it was, but for the moment he enjoyed himself.

“I am not sure of our plans. I believe we are to attend the races later.” She offered a shy smile.

They were within sight of the hotel veranda and he paused to say, “I must leave you, Cassandra. The effort to build sand castles can make one untidy. I will watch as you enter the veranda to assure you and the children are safe.”

She moved swiftly up the steps with the children. If she turned and smiled, it would be a good sign.

His gaze never left her body as Cassandra provocatively climbed the steps; her motion caused him to take a deep breath. Almost to the door, she paused and waved, gave him a long glance, and then went through with the children in tow.

He smiled knowingly and proceeded to his own villa. While he wanted her like a hellion, he couldn’t allow himself to take full advantage of such an innocent, or so he told himself. He wasn’t that rotten. Underneath his profligate exterior dwelt a good heart.

“Come, Clayo. I do believe you enjoyed yourself as much as I did.”

He whistled a bawdy seafarer tune he learned in Barbados. Attenzione al richiamo di una bella donna. Beware the lure of a beautiful woman. His laughter echoed over the sound of the waves.