Chapter Eleven
Tiffany Duke lay on her bed, doodling in her notebook. She should be working on her German homework but she wasn’t really interested at the moment. She kept thinking about English class today and how Mr. Roth’s green eyes seemed to rest on her, more than once.
She closed her eyes, imaging them in his classroom, after school.
She had a burning question about their assignment and he’d look up from his desk, mesmerized by her. He’d rise from he was sitting, and reach for her, a tender look in his eyes...
Beep beep beep beep.
Tiffany snapped out her reverie and sighed. A text message was coming in from Aralyn. Dean was hinting about you tonight.
With a sigh, Tiffany texted back a response with a blech, and opened her German workbook. Her birthday was this week, and while the family would celebrate later in the month, her party was this weekend. There wasn’t snow on the ground yet, but it was freezing cold outside, resulting in everyone bundling up in heavy clothes. She never got to have outside birthday parties, she thought wistfully. Instead, the house would be decorated and opened for her school friends, with movies to watch, and music, and food. Honey didn’t want her daughter’s eighteenth birthday to be passed by quietly, and neither did Trixie.
It was one thing Tiffany and Aralyn had in common. Neither was comfortable with big splashy displays dedicated to them. As a team, sure, but not apart. Which was why over the years they often had a joint party, and this year was no exception. Aralyn was only two weeks older; it was silly to have two parties. So the girls had always celebrated together. Each had their own cake in their favorite flavor combination and they always ended up sharing their cake and presents. They had the same friends and were more than happy to share the spotlight.
It felt odd this year though, Tiffany thought. Aralyn had Cam. He was so respectful of their bond, never fussing when Aralyn wanted to do something with her cousin. He never intruded and often invited Tiffany to join them. It made her feel good that her cousin’s boyfriend didn’t try to monopolize Aralyn, but it still felt odd. She hereself was eighteen and had never been kissed.
She had gone out with Lester Mundy Jr. last year, but the night was torturous and when he moved in for a good night kiss, Tiffany stepped backwards, almost falling over. She had no desire whatsoever to kiss him. In fact, she didn’t really find any of the boys at school appealing. Cam was incredibly handsome, she thought, but she wasn’t attracted to him-which was good. There were several nice looking boys around, including Dean, but Tiffany just didn’t feel any sort of desire for them.
But then there was Tony. Mr. Roth, she corrected herself mentally. She couldn’t call him Tony, which was inappropriate. With his soulful green eyes, poetic heart and gentle, fun demeanor…that was what she wanted, she thought. Sophisticated and educated, sexy and mature.
He’s your teacher, you twit! She set her pencil down, leaned her head back, and sighed. Fantasy was about all she could manage with him, she thought sadly. But she was sure he looked at her longingly. Everyday, his eyes would land on her; he called on her when no one else knew the answer. He relied on her.
Tiffany admitted to dressing with care. She had grown up with an impeccable sense of fashion, which was to her advantage in the summers when she worked for Daisy, on the runway and off. She liked classic, elegant styles, and she knew how to choose clothes that would flatter her slender figure that lacked the curves of her cousin. Tiffany refused to dress like a tramp the way Callie did, pushing the dress code limits so that she ended up in the in school suspension room at least once a week.
No, she didn’t need to resort to cheap, tawdry tricks. She couldn’t do anything about it, she sighed. Other than dazzle him with her wit and intellect.
And even then, it wasn’t like he could act on it. He was ten years older, a teacher. It wasn’t fair, she thought. The first man to come along that sparked her interest and he was completely off limits.
***
Tiffany awoke to her birthday morning on Thursday with a smile. She was eighteen today. She was a legal adult, free to do what she wanted. Granted, she was still in high school, and her trust fund was untouchable until she was twenty five, but she had real freedom now. She could finally vote. That was important. She wasn’t one of the ‘kids’ anymore.
Throwing back her emerald green blanket, she climbed out of bed and did a few stretches to loosen up her limbs. The four poster canopy bed suddenly looked regal to her. Last week she had been thinking it was childish, but now, suddenly she felt very grown up. It was almost seductive, she decided, with the filmy green curtains tied back to the posts.
Pulling up the covers of her bed, she quickly straightened them and headed for the shower before Jace got in there. Humming, she prepared herself for the day, finally emerging from the steam cloaked bathroom.
“’Bout time,” Jace groused. He was not a morning person, which was the only reason he agreed Tiffany could have the bathroom first. It gave him an extra twenty or minutes to sleep.
Tiffany stuck her tongue out at him and sailed past her brother.
While her hair was wrapped in its ultra absorbing towel, she selected her outfit for the day. Dark green slacks, a form fitting white turtleneck under a dark green, hand knit sweater from Ireland. It filled out her figure, she thought happily, adding her customary gold hoop earrings, and emerald drop necklace, a twin to Aralyn’s sapphire. Green was her signature color, blue was Aralyn’s, though she was leaning more towards browns since her homecoming dress.
Tiffany rubbed in her Winter Lily scented lotion, a light, airy scent that she felt suited her. Aralyn favored fruity scents, but Tiffany liked the cleaner, light scents.
Taking her hair down, she began the process of drying it, making sure to smooth in the heat protecting serum before she blow-dried it. Once it was sufficiently dry, she dressed, combed out the hair and clipped the sides back, and then dusted her face with just a hint of a bronzer, to give her a little color. Her favorite lipstick was in her purse, she’d apply after breakfast and teeth brushing. Tiffany skipped the full face makeup. Her cousin Rayma loved to play with makeup but both Tiffany and Aralyn preferred a natural look. It wasn’t real sexy to be sweating makeup after hockey practice.
She was greeted with birthday wished by her parents, and several brightly colored wrapped presents and envelopes.
Her grandparents Wheeler sent her a dazzling emerald and diamond necklace that made Tiffany gulp. They were vacationing in Brazil at the moment, and Tiffany had no doubt these were mined down there. Her ‘grandparents’ Belden had sent her a framed copy of her birth announcement from the Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Tiffany wasn’t surprised; they had done Aralyn’s too. Her eyes threatened tears at the thought of how Moms had kept them all these years. It was slightly yellowed with age, but lovingly preserved. Of course there was a copy in her baby book, but there was something different about this. Her grandparents Lynch had sent a generous gift card to Saks Fifth Avenue, which made her grin. Her parents gave her an allowance, but she was not given all-access to the credit cards to go shopping. While she suspected Honey might have indulged it, her father Luke was way too practical with a poor background to give his teenage daughter carte blanche with shopping funds.
There were more gift cards, some books, and sweaters. Tim had sent her a special diamond encrusted pendant of a high heeled shoe with a bow on it, knowing her love of shoes and the fact her closet had one wall entirely comprised of shoe holders-all occupied. Tiffany was fairly certain her cousin could not afford diamonds, but she didn't care, she loved that he had picked out something to specific to her.
“Thank you,” Tiffany said to her parents, eyes shining.
Luke had made her favorite breakfast of crepes and marmalade, and Honey had special ordered beignets from New Orleans for her.
By the time she and Jace headed for the car, Tiffany was smiling and ready to face the day.
***
She wasn’t surprised to see the bouquet of wildflowers that Dean had for her. She thanked him with a smile and he gave her a roguish wink before wandering down the hallway. He had been giving her flowers on her birthday since they were ten.
Leif and Logan gathered the cousins to sing a rousing chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ to her in the cafeteria, causing her face to go red as Aralyn laughed and sang along.
In English, her heart shot through the roof when Mr. Roth said, “Miss Tiffany Duke, I understand it’s your birthday.”
“Yes,” she said shyly.
“Well, congratulations. Eighteen is certainly an accomplishment.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, her cheeks tingeing pink as she took her seat. She was sure his eyes were lingering on her.
***
Coach didn’t let up on them for practice; she kept on the girls, hollering at them to hustle.
Aralyn sat on the side lines, unable to play because of her shoulder injury, but she helped them by yelling instructions as they scrimmaged. She showed up for every practice, willing to help, and determined to not let her team slack off.
Aralyn and her family joined them for dinner, which involved another round of singing and presents from her Duke cousins.
By the time she got upstairs to work on homework, Tiffany was floating happily on a cloud of celebration.
She washed off her light makeup before she put on her nightclothes and sat at her desk, booting up her laptop. A half hour of her history report and she was nodding off, so she crawled into bed and was asleep almost immediately, dreaming of Mr. Roth’s green and soulful eyes.
In her dream, it was another time, and another place. Strains of the waltz filled the room from the quartet playing.
She was escorted by her cousin Timothy, but it was the man across the room that caught her eyes, with his piercing green stare and sensuous mouth. Tiffany dropped her eyes in embarrassment, not wanting to seem forward. She clung to her cousin as they made their way through the crowd. Tiffany’s dance card hung on her wrist, empty and waiting to be filled.
Her gown had been selected with care, emerald green velvet, gold silk and lace, yellowed pearls around her throat and in her upswept hair. The most eligible men in the land were here tonight, and her parents were insisting it was time she begin the selection process. They would be clamoring for her hand, she knew, she was heiress to vast lands and monies.
Timothy gave his approval to the suitors that wanted to dance with his cousin, and a warm eye to other lovely ladies. While his job tonight was to chaperone his cousin, he was hoping to steal a few minutes with a pretty girl or two. While his parents were beginning to nag him to find a wife, he just hadn’t met the right one yet.
Timothy stood at Tiffany’s side, scrutinizing the suitors that approached. He had a reputation for being hot tempered and good with a gun, and they all knew if they didn’t impress him, they would never get near his beautiful cousin.
Tiffany held her composure when the stranger approached, but Timothy tensed.
“Might I have a dance with the lovely lady?” he asked.
Tim studied him. “Your name first, sir, and title.”
“Anthony Roth, Duke of Cheshire.”
Tim’s green eyes narrowed. “I thought the Duchy of Cheshire was surnamed Flynn.”
“It was indeed, sir, however I have bought his land and title.”
“Bought or swindled in faro?” Timothy demanded.
“Timothy, do not be so rude,” Tiffany murmured, barely audible, but embarrassed.
“Bought, I assure you,” Roth smile but Tim didn’t like it. “I simply haven’t been able to take my eyes off this beautiful girl, whom I’m told is your cousin and under your guardianship tonight.”
“Correct, sir,” Timothy said stiffly. “She is in my care.”
“Then if it is agreeable to the both of you, I would very much like to have a dance with her.”
Timothy sized him up, but Roth stood firm, not flinching under the intense green-eyed gaze. Tiffany glanced at her cousin and Timothy saw the hope in her eyes.
“Very well,” Timothy said. “You may have one dance with my cousin, but I warn you sir, I will not tolerate any inappropriate behavior on your behalf.”
“Timothy!” Tiffany exclaimed.
“Nay, cousin, this man we know not and I am reluctant to let him near you. However, I will permit the one dance at your request.”
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Anthony Roth wrote his name on her dance card. “I’ll be waiting, m’lady,” he bowed to her and Timothy, and melted into the crowd.
“Timothy, you were absolutely rude!” she exclaimed.
“Forgive me cousin, but that man disturbs me and I can’t place why. Allow him his one dance, no more, and I shall be watching.”
“Yes, cousin,” she sighed.
When he claimed his dance, Tiffany found herself unable to breathe as he swept her around the room. He had a smooth voice, and she found herself listening to every word he uttered, wanting to step inappropriately closer. She didn’t hear the music change, not once, not twice, but three times, until Tim appeared, furious, and pulled Duke Roth away.
“You sir, have dishonored my cousin,” he snapped. “You were permitted one dance, you have taken four. Explain yourself.”
Around them, couples stopped swirling, rumors of a duel raced through the crowd.
“I was simply enchanted by her beauty and wit, and lost track of the time,” Anthony said smoothly. “I did not see anyone else try to claim her.”
“You lie!” a stout young man, red with fury, burst out.
“Indeed, Sir Mundy came to me to complain that he was owed the dance two dances ago.”
“Well, I shall certainly not interfere,” Anthony released Tiffany and she suddenly felt small and alone as he pressed her gloved hand to his lips. “To m’lady, I offer my heartfelt apologizes, and hope we can meet again sometime, without your chaperone and guard.”
Timothy stepped forward, his handsome face taut. “You sir, are a cad, and a scoundrel. A lady does not sneak around without escort to bandy about in the bushes with the likes of you. You are to meet me outside the garden in five minutes time, and we will put an end to your bad manners.”
“Timothy, no!” Tiffany exclaimed.
“Your cousin is right, fair lady,” Anthony said calmly. “Sir, I shall meet you in five.”
Timothy took Tiffany by the arm, and pulled her away from Duke Roth.
“Timothy, you can’t!”
“I can, and will. It is my charge to protect your virtue and reputation.” He signaled to his friend Dean. “Acklen, you’re my second. And I entrust you to escort Tiffany home should some tragedy befall me.”
“Of course,” Dean said. His devotion to Tiffany was well known.
“Tim, this is ridiculous!” she exclaimed softly. “He did nothing to sully my reputation!”
“He kept you from other courtiers, thusly staking his claim on you. As this man is no one we’ve heard of and I have caught whispers of a blackguard reputation, I cannot allow him to continue to besmirch our family name.”
“Timothy-” But her plea was ignored, as Dean took her by the arm. People were flowing outside to witness the duel.
The pistols were brought by the gala’s host, and the duelers chose their weapons. Tiffany was joined by her cousin Aralyn and her courtier Camden.
“Has he lost his mind?” Aralyn whispered.
“He must have. Camden, can’t you stop them?”
“I fear not, Lady,” Camden said quietly. “Timothy made the challenge, only he can withdraw, and by doing so, put a mark of cowardice on his name.”
Tiffany moaned in despair. Dean kept his arm around her waist to steady her.
The duelers faced each other, bowed, and began the march of ten paces. At ten, they turned, raised guns, and fired.
Tiffany sat up in bed, heart pounding. What the hell? She thought. Pressing her hand to her forehead, she calmed her breathing and reached for her water next to the table.
“That’s what you get for eating too much cake,” she muttered to herself, lying back down.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
Author’s Notes
- A huge yee-haa to the fabulous Donna, for editing this!
- I hope you enjoyed a deeper look at Tiffany, she’ll be back soon with more, but in the meantime, click the next button to see who's next!
- Ronda, I promise there will be more Tim soon. I hope you enjoyed his guest appearance in the meantime!
- Word Count, 2,315
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