The Devil Duke and Miss. Granger

Chapter IV- The Cotillon

Draco knew that really, a good bribe was the best way to get the information one desired. And bribing servants usually worked best. With a wink to the aged butler and a slip of five shillings to the man discreetly and he knew where the young ladies would be going today.

Vauxhall Gardens... it was really too perfect. They couldn't have picked a better place. Now normally one had to worry about their young charge being taken off and compromised in the Dark Walk but there weren't too many rules if the chaperone was the one being compromised so Draco had no real qualms about heading to Vauxhall later that evening so that he could finally talk to his wary, dark-eyed quarry in peace and more than anything assure her that he had absolutely no plans to reveal to anyone what had transpired the night before.

But he absolutely had an idea to steal a kiss from laughing lips that had yet to refer to him by either his name or his title.

...

Hermione had a memgraine she was sat in Tori's bedroom on a wingback chair rubbing the aching spot between her eyebrows. Astoria had not let up since they had finally gone up to her room together; her cousin was relentless.

However, to Hermione's everlasting relief her questions weren't malicious or jealous just simply curious. She had tried distracting the younger girl with talk of the young Marquees paying such ardent attention to her.

It had worked the first few times but now Tori was catching on.

"I just want to know what he saiddddddd..." she wheedled in that particularly whiney voice that young women tended to use that worked so well on their parents when they wanted more pin-money.

"Tori it really isn't any of your business you know, you're a horrible gossip." Hermione said firmly, trying to stay on top of the situation.

"You're just using this as a moral lecture so that you don't have to tell me Blond and Dangerous said."

"Blond and Dangerous?" Hermione was amused.

"It's my new name for the Duke a-'la Miss. Lovegood and he is rather dangerous looking isn't he. It's those eyes." Nodded the younger girl philosophically, "They look like they can bore into your very soul."

Hermione snorted even though she privately agreed, 'twas very much how she felt when he pinned her with his mercurial silver eyes. Like she was being taken-apart at the seams and examined thoroughly.

Hermione blushed at the thought of the Duke examining her thoroughly before shaking her head.

"I want to know." demanded Astoria, "You would have told Daphne."

"This is emotional blackmail, dearest." Hermione said reprovingly, "You're a lady and not a common fishwish to stoop to such indignities."

"I'll tell Mother you gave me those scandal sheets to read." threatened the younger girl.

"Lord, you're as relentless as a hound with a fox's scent!" said Hermione throwing her hands up in frustration.

Hermione chose her words carefully, "He wished to confirm if indeed I was the same Miss. Granger that had applied for a secretarial post with his man of affairs." She bluffed.

"A secretary?" Astoria said wrinkling her nose, "You would want to work?" the appalled note in her voice amused Hermione.

"Dearest think about it... once you're married how long will Uncle and Aunt keep me and continue to pay for my food, my clothing and everything else. I'm 28 as well, there are few chances of me getting married, so the next logical conclusion is for me to find a job. I have it much better than most women considering I can read, write and do my sums and won't end up at a workhouse."

"You can always come with me." Astoria said brightly, "Once I get married!"

"That is lovely of you, dearest. A very kind offer." said Hermione gently, "However then it would be dependent on your husband, if he would be willing to take on the extra expense of one of your relatives and I... I would also like my independence."

"Independence?"

"Tori darling, I know 'tis not what we are brought up to believe in our strata of society but marriage isn't the only way for women anymore. And money gives you a great deal of freedom and independence. When you earn your own money, you are answerable to no one and no one can stop you from pursuing your hearts-desire or dreams."

"You heard this in one of your suffrage meetings, didn't you?" Astoria wrinkled her nose, "I knew nothing good could come from you going to those, those women have a warped view of society."

"No dearest." Hermione reminded her cousin gently, "We just have a very privileged life. What the women in the saloon are demanding isn't just a vote for women... it is a step towards lifting our own shackles, coming out from under the bondage of men and society... to aid all womenkind."

"Truly bizarre."

Hermione knew explaining to Astoria what the Kensington Society (A/N-One of the first women's suffrage saloons) meant to her would be fruitless. While Astoria was a part of the collective the women were trying to fight for Hermione knew that she would not see the benefits or feel them like women in positions like hers or uneducated women or women forced into the workhouses with their children due to the deaths of their husbands.

However, Hermione knew her cousin wasn't the only woman who feared what suffrage meant. They had often had discussions in their meetings about what getting the vote would mean for their collective cause, but the suggestion had been rapidly shot down, the fear that their meetings and that they themselves would be labelled extremists. At the moment their cause had no support from anyone; not anyone prominent in Society and certainly not the Parliament.

Hermione considered how at the moment even the true purpose of their saloons was unknown to the public, she had merely chosen to share it with Astoria for she knew that if her Aunt and Uncle knew where she was spending Sunday afternoon's they would have put a stop to it post haste. But 'twas good for someone to know where she was anyway.

Hermione had wished she could have recruited Astoria into their ranks, but the young woman remained steadfastly scornful of their efforts.

...

Vauxhall Pleasure Garden's

Later that night...

Draco mulled the information he had gained over and over in his head. She was an orphan, the daughter of two rather illustrious individuals in their own fields, which explained much about her, he thought with a grin. What else could explain such audaciousness in a woman.

Her mother was the famous musician and opera singer Cordelia Granger and her father the illustrious James Granger, one of England's preeminent scholars of the Classic's. Draco had studied the good professor's books while he was in Oxford himself.

A sturdy, normal middle-class family but certainly not a family that Duke's married into.

All his life Draco had been taught that the Duchy was above all else, that it was his responsibility to provide an heir with a suitably noble heritage... befitting the Dukes of MacFoy. The war taught him that all men were the same; a rich man fought for a piece of bread the same way a poor man did when the circumstances demanded it. He had been prepared to do his duty and find a suitable Duchess but now...

Hermione wasn't suitable but he'd be damned if he gave up the only woman that had managed to bring him joy in the bleak years after the war.

The MacFoy Duchy could go hang. Draco wasn't about to go about selecting a bride to appease his dead ancestors, especially when he had found a woman, one he knew would be perfect for the role of Duchess. Maybe not what Society thought of as an ideal Duchess... but rather what this Duke thought would make an ideal Duchess.

It wasn't difficult to find his quarry despite the darkness of Vauxhall. The Gardens were lit up with a million tiny paper lanterns, the sounds of the musicians along with the scent of spiced candied apples and lemon ices made the atmosphere warm and inviting.

Miss. Greengrass was surrounded by a coterie of her acolytes. Each young man clinging to her every word like a honeybee to a flower. Draco knew Hermione couldn't be far behind and indeed in the shadows, studying the acrobats with a concerned frown on her face was the woman he was looking for.

He had been waiting for ages to do this, he walked quickly towards their little group his silk mask hiding who he was from the view of the general public.

...

Hermione felt her arm being seized in a tight grip and before she could open her mouth and scream, she was hauled away... a hand on her still open lips.

Hermione struggled while trying to get Astoria's attention in vain but the darkness of the gardens, the loud musicians, troops of jugglers and actors made being heard very hard. Hermione considered screaming until she looked up at her mysterious captor. She immediately recognised the silvery eyes behind the dark mask.

Oh, the nerve... she couldn't wait to blister the arrogant man's ears. Just what did he think! That just because she had broken into his house one-time, he could go about abducting her willy-nilly.

She wasn't having this.

"What in the world are you up to, Your Grace?" she hissed acidly once he removed his hand from her mouth.

"I wish to speak to you." He replied simply.

"Well, you couldn't just ask?" she replied tartly, "Granted my cousin won't notice my absence but this is really beyond the pale."

"Ah yes, the fair Astoria. Her and that idiot Marquees keep making moon eyes at each other. A rather saccharine affair."

"It's called romance, Your Grace." She muttered under her breath, "Perhaps you could do with a few tips from Lord Halifax."

"Meow! The plain brown kitten has claws." Draco grinned down as two hectic spots of angry colour appeared on Hermione's cheek. He wasn't going about this business of getting her to kiss him very well so in an effort to distract her he asked. "So, what did you tell your cousin about why I approached you?"

"If you must know." she replied icily, "I told her it was because you knew I was looking for a position after the Season ended and we had been introduced via a mutual acquaintance who knew you were in need of new secretary."

"An excellent lie, my dear. I commend you, you're certainly racking up quite a long list of them."

"I wouldn't need to lie if you hadn't come looking for me! And then having found me... you didn't even leave me alone! You talked to me!"

"Ah yes, the talking." he said philosophically, "Nearly as bad a public debauching."

"Might as well have been." she muttered under her breath, "Not like anything would happen to you regardless... since you're a man."

Unbeknownst to her they had arrived at the Dark Walk and just in time for the fireworks. As Hermione gazed up in wonder Draco tugged her into one of the dark alcoves so prevalent all around the garden and slipped off his mask.

"What..." she whispered startled, "What are we doing here? Your Grace, this isn't right... I cannot afford to be caught with you here."

"Hush, Miss. Granger." murmured Draco, "I wished to meet you here so that we could talk... uninterrupted. I wish to put your mind at ease. I know you fear that I may open my mouth and accidently let slip about your little jaunt during the night but please be assured that shall never happen."

Hermione nodded tersely, nervously glancing around, "My thanks, Your Grace but I must leave now."

"Wait..." Draco scrambled to think of something to make her stay, "Are you really looking for a position after the Season ends?"

"Yes." she said warily, "Why? Do you know someone who may need some secretarial or book-keeping skills?"

"I have a cousin... she's been hounding me to find her a secretary for months now." He sighed, his cousin Luna Malfoy one of the many Malfoy relations scattered all around England and in many of his homes was an author of those idiotic and melodramatic novels that women and the common folk so loved.

Draco thought them to be a waste of time but at least unlike the other wastrels in his family including Luna's own father who ran a crackpot paper from his printing press and his own father; the philanderer. He appreciated that his cousin's work at least brought joy to others and that she was engaged in gainful employment. Something Draco highly approved off.

(A/N- As you all can probably tell. This Draco is a little bit of a stick in the mud)

"She writes Horrid novels." He continued with a grimace, "Perhaps you would be interested?"

At the mention of the novels Hermione's eyes grew huge, "Never say!" she had now completely forgotten about being caught in her excitement about the wonderful opportunity about to fall in her lap. "Pray, I must know! Who is your cousin?"

"She writes for the Minerva Press, under Miss. Lovegood."

"Miss. Lovegood!" brown eyes grew impossibly large, "I adore her books! Yes, oh yes! I would be ever so grateful to even interview with her!"

Draco grinned wolfishly, "The offer comes with a price, my wee spy." His voiced grew gravelly as he undid her bonnet. She hadn't got her ugly cap on under it... silently Draco offered benediction.

"A price... what kind of price." She was wary again, edging backwards.

"A kiss... I want a kiss, 'tis the least you can do." He teased, rubbing one fine sable lock between two fingers... marvelling at its softness, "Especially after breaking into my home and stealing away right from under my nose."

"What kind of game do you play sir?" she said cautiously.

"Come now, Hermione." He purred in her ear, "You're the chaperone... live a little."

...

Hermione was tired of resisting the compelling presence of the Duke looming over her.

She did want to live a little.

She was a free woman, she could kiss this man. There was no husband or beaux for her, and she had wanted to kiss him since reading about his first tour in the Peninsula.

So why hesitate now?

Because it would be so easy for her to fall in love with him. If she was being honest with herself, she had been half in love with him for a long time... ever since that first article but this was so real... too real perhaps.

But chances like this didn't come around every day and she wasn't getting any younger.

"Alright Your Grace, I am willing to pay your price."

He didn't hesitate, Hermione felt his firm mouth against her own. Oh my... oh my... but this was lovely. His warmth was all around her as she felt his large hands slide down her back, one went into her hair... gripping it to tilt her head backwards.

He licked the seam of her mouth and unconsciously Hermione opened to him. She startled as she felt the invasion of his tongue, but Draco kissed like he did everything else... with conquering mastery. She lifted her arms to circle the back of his neck, touching his unfashionably long hair. It barely skimmed the end of his nape, but it was cool to the touch... smooth and resilient.

She leaned in further, allowing the sensations to wash over her like a warm golden tide. His touch made her nerve endings sparkle.

In the dark silence of the gardens with the magical fireworks above Hermione felt like she was floating on sensation... wet, lush and sensual. They kissed for a long moment before the sounds of boots crunching on the pavement doused Hermione in the cold vapours of reality.

She moved away from Draco, her small hand covering her swollen mouth and the other trying to smooth the hair he had pulled from her pins.

Draco on the other hand looked unfazed, he simply winked at her... extending a hand so that she would come closer.

"I'll take you back to your cousin, sweet. Worry not, I'll arrange for you to meet my cousin through your uncle."

"My uncle! Oh, but what if he asks..."

"Don't worry about it." He said firmly, "It's now my responsibility to explain everything to him."

Hermione nibbled her lower lip nervously as Draco wore his mask again, adjusting it and then holding out a hand for her.

Their walk back from the Dark Walk was uneventful as most people were focussed on the pantomime being performed in the centre of the pleasure garden. Spotting Astoria in the corner with her many admirers Hermione turned to the Duke who simply smiled and lifted a hand to his lips.

"Go now." He said before melting into the crowd and leaving her standing by herself.

"Hermione?" Astoria said, noticing her stood a little away from them, "I think the crush is too much, we lost you for some time there."

Still dazed at what had just occurred, Hermione just nodded silently and joined her cousin. Unconsciously lifting her hand to her lips again.

'Twas like he had branded her. It was after all her first kiss.

...

Draco walked the dark London streets cheerfully, even letting out a wee whistle. Lord... what a night. He had finally coaxed her into kissing him after imagining what it would be like for two days and it had been as sweetly satisfying as he would have imagined.

Her ardent response was everything he wanted, innocently sensual... he knew making love to her would be the same.

He would be talking to Hermione's uncle about something... however it wouldn't be about her job as a potential secretary for his cousin.

He intended to ask her uncle for her hand.

Tbc


A/N- Full disclosure (the kiddies reading this look away) I wrote this chapter after a few glasses of rose and a joint so please excuse any typos. I'll shame edit this chapter later on, other than that enjoy and review!

Terms you should know

The Cotillion- A type of country dance

Minerva Press- The actual publishing house that published many of the Victorian era's beloved horrid novels.

Vauxhall Pleasure Garden- A popular spot during the Victorian era to enjoy an evening of entertainment. A pleasure garden often had entertainment like musicians, fireworks, actors with food stalls and game stalls. One of the most popular foods was actually a Victorian version of ice-cream simply called ices.

The Season – The (in this case) London social season was a few months in summer when the aristocracy and anybody with the means to would embark on a whirlwind of events like balls, soirees, teas, musical solons, various vocational clubs like those interested in the metaphysical or Egyptology where individuals could join and the Almac's around town before retiring to their country homes in the autumn and winter months. This was also the time for young women and men who wished to be married to hunt for a partner.