The Duke's Bidding

Chapter 1

The Country Seat of the Duke of Ashbourne, Cedar Lane Court, 1793

John shuffled his feet and tried to look sufficiently bored. He had planned the perfect revenge for Fredrick, one of the guests visiting from Clayton Manor, the neighboring estate. "We don't want to go outside; we want to stay inside and . . . and stay warm." He looked over at his friend, Robert, the youngest son of the Earl of Augustine, and held his breath. John secretly hoped that Robert would not take the suggestion to go outside either. They had a plan to perfect.

Robert looked up from his seat and yawned, "I am afraid I didn't get enough sleep last night, I too need to rest and . . . stay warm."

John let go of his breath and relaxed as he realized that Robert was fully aware of what he was doing.

The Duke and Duchess of Ashbourne hosted a large house party each Yuletide and had their neighbors and close friends visit with their families. This year there were not that many children visiting Cedar Lane, just the neighboring Augustine boys, Richard and Robert. Robert was a regular visitor at Ashbourne as he and John, the Duke's only heir, were tutored together prior to starting their first term at Eton when they had turned eight. They were now in their third year. On the second day of the house party, Lord and Lady Danbury had arrived with their adorable little girl who soon had the entire female population cooing. Accompanying them was Fredrick, a school crony of Richard's who had joined the house party as a last minute guest of Lord Danbury. Richard and Fredrick were in their last year at Eton and had spent most of the time either hunting or playing billiards in the card room. John and Robert, on the other hand, had spent the last week playing pranks on each other and the other guests.

Knowing the boys well, Milton, the current understudy to the family butler, looked over his shoulder to where the boys' governess perched on the window seat. Milton cleared his throat once, and in a low tone said, "Please do try and stay away from your usual antics, my Lords. Your parents have reached their limit this past week and I fear that should you get into another scrape you may find yourself sent back to Eton to spend Yuletide alone."

John gave him his most charming grin and said, "We'll manage, thank you Milton."

Milton turned and startedwalking back towards the door, a smile forming on his lips as he thought of thetrouble the young master and his friend had gotten themselves into, this pastweek. John and Robert had sneaked a pig into his parents' suite and placed a snake into his aunt's chamber pot. They had slipped into the hidden loft in the ballroom and aimed projectiles at the guests below. The Duke had been angry over that last one and as a punishment had forced both John and Robert to clean the floors of the ballroom the next morning. What had been the last straw to erupt his temper however, was finding out that the boys had secretly ventured to the lake and walked on the frozen water. He had been furious. Milton, of course, understood the Duke's fear. After all, John was his only heir! The Duke himself had found them hiding in the kitchen awaiting their punishment the evening before.

After Milton's departure, the boys left the nursery and used the servants' stairs to go down to the kitchen. They had discovered that, for the most part, if they stayed in the servants' domain, there would be no chance for them to run into John's father and get into trouble.

John turned to Robert and grinned, "I know how to get back at Freddy."

Robert squirmed in his seat, "I don't know, John. I would rather not have any more run-ins with your father. If we don't get Freddy back, he may just leave us alone." Robert was looking around to make sure they were alone as they sat near the hearth in the housekeepers' sitting room. They were both very fond of Mrs. Perkins, since she always managed to have the cook prepare their favorite desserts while Robert visited.