Discouraging the Duke, page 1
Discouraging the Duke
Dukes Done Wrong
Book 1
Alexa Aston
© Copyright 2021 by Alexa Aston
Text by Alexa Aston
Cover by Wicked Smart Designs
Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. is an imprint of Kathryn Le Veque Novels, Inc.
P.O. Box 7968
La Verne CA 91750
ceo@dragonbladepublishing.com
Produced in the United States of America
First Edition June 2021
EPUB Edition
Reproduction of any kind except where it pertains to short quotes in relation to advertising or promotion is strictly prohibited.
All Rights Reserved.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
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Additional Dragonblade books by Author Alexa Aston
Dukes Done Wrong Series
Discouraging the Duke
Dukes of Distinction Series
Duke of Renown
Duke of Charm
Duke of Disrepute
Duke of Arrogance
Duke of Honor
The St. Clairs Series
Devoted to the Duke
Midnight with the Marquess
Embracing the Earl
Defending the Duke
Suddenly a St. Clair
Starlight Night
Soldiers & Soulmates Series
To Heal an Earl
To Tame a Rogue
To Trust a Duke
To Save a Love
To Win a Widow
The Lyon’s Den Connected World
The Lyon’s Lady Love
King’s Cousins Series
The Pawn
The Heir
The Bastard
Medieval Runaway Wives
Song of the Heart
A Promise of Tomorrow
Destined for Love
Knights of Honor Series
Word of Honor
Marked by Honor
Code of Honor
Journey to Honor
Heart of Honor
Bold in Honor
Love and Honor
Gift of Honor
Path to Honor
Return to Honor
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Publisher’s Note
Additional Dragonblade books by Author Alexa Aston
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Epilogue
About the Author
Chapter One
Wildwood, Kent—August 1796
Miles Notley awoke and immediately grinned.
Today, he was ten years of age. He would be in double digits the rest of his life, unless he made it to the ripe old age of one hundred years. He didn’t know anyone who had ever lived that long. Not anyone of his acquaintance, much less any figure mentioned in the history books he loved. Maybe he would do the impossible and live to be in triple digits.
His grinned widened. That would irritate Ralph to no end. One of Miles’ favorite things in life was annoying his older brother, who never let anyone forget that he was the heir apparent in the family. Ralph constantly mentioned how he would one day be the Duke of Winslow and his two younger brothers would be no ones. It didn’t bother Miles in the least. He didn’t want to be a duke. Especially if it meant being anything like his father. Winslow barely acknowledged Miles’ presence. Sometimes, he thought his father hadn’t a clue as to what his two younger sons were called. The duke was all about his heir and didn’t hide his favoritism.
It hurt Tony. He was only six and sensitive to criticism. Miles had made it his mission in life to protect Tony from Ralph, who could be cruel in both actions and words. Ralph would do something careless and blame the outcome on Miles or Tony, knowing they would be punished for his misdeed. Miles had taken many a thrashing which he didn’t deserve, all to protect the youngest Notley.
It didn’t matter. Neither of them cared for Ralph and tried to have as little as possible to do with the current marquess and future duke. If they weren’t family, Miles knew he would never wish to be friends with Ralph, who was lazy and spiteful. When Miles had gone away to school, it was expected that Ralph would look out for his younger brother, who had been sent to the same school all Notley boys attended.
The opposite had happened.
Miles had been bullied by several older boys, all at Ralph’s urging. He had learned to take whatever was doled out to him that first year. By the next school year—thanks to a painful growth spurt—Miles stood as tall as Ralph, who was three years his senior. He had laid a bully flat the first day of that second year and since then, Ralph and his crowd had given Miles a large berth. With Tony turning seven in two weeks, he would also go off to school with his older brothers. Miles intended to see his baby brother protected from Ralph and anyone else who might do Tony harm.
He rose and went to the window. The lawn of Wildwood looked like a magnificent green carpet rolled out as far as the eye could see. He wondered how he would spend his birthday. Probably riding with Tony. They could also go swimming in the nearby lake this afternoon. He knew not to expect any presents, however. Neither parent ever remembered his birthday. He told himself it didn’t matter when he knew that it did. When he was grown up and had children, he promised to always remember their birthdays. He would lavish gifts upon them, toy soldiers for the boys and dolls for the girls. He would take them somewhere special on that day and tell them how much he loved them.
And he would never let his parents see them. Ever. Miles swore never to expose them to his father’s cruelty and his mother’s indifference. He hoped the woman he wed would have nice parents. They would be his children’s grandparents, not the Duke and Duchess of Winslow. As far as Miles was concerned, the two of them could fawn over Ralph as much as they wanted. He and Tony would make separate lives, far away from the pair.
Leaving the window, he washed and changed into his clothes for the day. Heading to the schoolroom, he found Tony already there. A maid entered, bringing in a tray, and the boys breakfasted in peace, thanks to Ralph dining downstairs with their father. That had started a few weeks ago when Ralph turned thirteen. The duke had said Ralph was becoming a man and would take all his meals downstairs. Ralph had taunted his younger brothers, laughing at how privileged he now was. Miles and Tony had merely shrugged and proceeded to enjoy their meals for the first time in their lives, without Ralph’s constant taunting and badgering.
“Are you going to have a cake?” Tony asked. “For your birthday?”
“Yes. Cook is making a special one for me,” he shared with his little brother. “She remembers every year.”
Left unsaid was how their parents would ignore Miles’ special day.
Tony looked at Miles with undisguised devotion. “Do you feel older, being ten? That’s such a long way off,” he said forlornly.
“I don’t feel a bit different than when I was nine. But I plan to act as if I do.”
Tony’s eyes widened. “Do you mean to say that to Ralph?” he asked anxiously.
“I may,” he said.
“You know he doesn’t like you, Miles. Or me,” Tony said mournfully.
“Well, we don’t like him either, do we?”
“No,” Tony said resolutely. “We don’t. He’s mean to us. He broke a vase yesterday and told a maid I did it.”
“Were you punished?” Miles asked quickly. “Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
Tony shrugged. “You always stand up for me. I wanted to take the punishment.”
“You shouldn’t do that, especially when you hadn’t done anything wrong.”
“I wasn’t punished,” his brother said. “Once Ralph left, the maid swept up the pieces and told me she would throw them away. She promised not to tell anyone.” Tony bit his lip. “I think she knew I hadn’t broken it.”
Miles was certain the servants knew exactly what Ralph was like and appreciated that Tony hadn’t been blamed for the broken vase. He only hoped Ralph wouldn’t discover what had occurred. If he did, his brother would seek the maid out and blame her for the breakage and demand that she lose her position. It had happened before.
“Rub your bottom when you next see Ralph,” he suggested. “Wince a little as if you’re in pain. Make him think you’re so sore you can’t sit down”
Tony’s eyes lit up. “You want me to act as if I were punished?”
“Yes. Can you do that?”
His brother nodded solemnly.
“Good. Finish your breakfast. We’ll go riding after if you’d like.”
Tony shoved the rest of his food into his mouth and chewed quickly. Miles knew how much Tony enjoyed riding because he also enjoyed it more than any other activity. Being on a horse meant freedom. Being away from the house. Away from Ralph, who only tolerated riding and rarely chose to climb atop a horse.
The boys went to the stables, where a groom saddled ponies for both of them and then accompanied them across the estate. They rode for almost two hours, waving at tenants and taking a break to walk their horses through the forest so they could water them at a nearby stream.
When they returned to the house, Ralph was waiting for them, his arms crossed over his chest and a surly look upon his face. He seemed to resent any fun his brothers had, especially if they did so together, even though he never chose to spend time with them himself.
“Father wants to see you in his study,” he told them.
“Why?” asked a panic-stricken Tony, who looked to Miles for reassurance.
Miles couldn’t help but wonder if this was in regard to the broken vase. When Tony started to speak, Miles shook his head subtly, causing his brother to clamp his lips together.
“Come with me,” Ralph insisted, leading the way through the kitchens.
As they passed Cook, she gave him a conspiratorial smile and pointed. His eyes flicked to the tall cake, already iced and sitting on a nearby table. His mouth watered at its sight. He grinned at her and hurried to catch up with Ralph, Tony trailing behind him.
When they reached the study, Ralph ushered them inside and closed the door, throwing the lock. The duke wasn’t present. A sick feeling coursed through Miles. If Winslow had been waiting and grew tired, whatever punishment that would be administered would be horrible.
He turned to Tony and whispered, “Rub your arse.”
Tony, whose mouth trembled, did as he was told. Miles saw the gleam of pleasure light Ralph’s eyes.
“Sore today, little brother?” Ralph taunted, rushing over and slapping Tony’s arse hard, so hard the boy cried out.
Miles pushed Ralph away. “Leave him alone,” he said, staring directly into Ralph’s eyes.
The two held their gazes and then Ralph looked away. He shuffled off but Miles knew Ralph wouldn’t stay intimidated for long.
Ralph went to the desk and opened the bottom drawer on the right side. He lifted a pistol and aimed it at Miles.
“What are you doing?” he hissed at his older brother, his insides going cold at the sight of a weapon being pointed at him.
“Just playing,” Ralph said, moving his hand and pointing it at Tony.
Immediately, Tony teared up. Fat tears coursed down his cheeks.
“You’re such a baby,” Ralph taunted. “You better be ready when you get to school next month. The boys will really have it out for you.”
“Leave him alone,” Miles warned as Tony began to visibly shake.
“Or what?” Ralph said, pointing the pistol back at Miles. “What will you do about it?”
“I will protect him—as you should. He’s your brother, Ralph. You shouldn’t bully him or have your friends do so. Like they did to me,” he added.
Ralph puffed up with importance. “I am a marquess. I will be the Duke of Winslow someday. You can’t tell me what to do.”
He shook his head. “Don’t you ever get tired of saying that? We know you are the heir to the dukedom, Ralph. Tony and I don’t care. It’s yours and we don’t want it.”
“Of course you do. Everyone wants to be a duke. Only those good enough get to be one,” Ralph said smugly.
“If being good is what is required, then you will never be Winslow,” Miles declared, his temper flaring. “A duke is one of the highest peers in the land. He has great responsibility to his family and his tenants. You are a selfish dolt who can barely ride a horse. You are cruel and wicked. You should be glad you are the firstborn Notley and will inherit everything because if you truly had to be good to become the Duke of Winslow, you never would.”
“How dare you!” Ralph shouted. “You are a conceited, arrogant little nobody. You’ll never be anyone. I’ll see to that.”
“No, you won’t,” Miles said, reining in his anger. “I am a second son. I will go into the army and fight for king and country. If I am lucky, I will be sent halfway across the world to India. Then I’ll never have to lay eyes on you again. Ever.”
Ralph’s face grew red with rage and Miles figured his brother had never thought that both his brothers wouldn’t be around to be kicked like stray dogs once they reached manhood.
“You’ll go into the army if I say you can,” Ralph said stubbornly.
Miles shook his head. “That’s not how it works. Second sons are meant for the military. Third sons become clergymen.”
“I’ll be a vicar?” Tony piped up.
He looked to Tony. “Yes, if you’d like to do so.”
His little brother nodded enthusiastically. “I would, Miles. I like the smell of a church. And I would get to marry people and christen babies. That would be fun.”
“You will be good at,” Miles said. “I know you would take good care of your parishioners.”
“No,” Ralph growled. “I won’t allow it. Father won’t allow it. When I am Winslow, you will work for me. You will be a steward at Wildwood and do everything I say, Miles.”
He smirked. “I will be doing whatever my commanding officer says, Ralph. You won’t have any part in my life. You won’t have me to blame when you are reckless or thoughtless. You will have to stand on your own two feet. Yes, people will fawn over you and tell you what you want to hear, merely because you are a duke.
“But I won’t be one of them.”
“I hate you!” declared Ralph. “The both of you.”
“Hate us all you like,” Miles said casually. “We are indifferent to you. You think we are nobodies?” He snorted. “Well, you are no one to us.”
Ralph’s nostrils flared. “I will make Tony’s life miserable once we’re at school. You won’t always be around to protect him. I will see that he becomes a blubbering mess.”
Hate reared within Miles. “Don’t threaten him,” he warned. “Tony is your brother. He is young and innocent.”
Ralph smiled triumphantly. “I can get to you through him.”
“I’ll tell Father,” Miles blurted out, instantly regretting his words. “He won’t let you be cruel to Tony.”
“Will you? Would he even believe you?” Ralph asked softly. “Father only loves me. He doesn’t care one whit about the two of you. I am his heir. I am the marquess.”
“You are so full of yourself,” he said. “You are a terrible person, Ralph, and you’ll make for a terrible duke. No one will like you. They will smile to your face and laugh at you behind your back—the way all the boys at school do now.”
“They do not!” roared Ralph. “Take it back.”
