The Mad Lord's Daughter (31 page)

BOOK: The Mad Lord's Daughter

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John could hardly refuse, so he’d found himself following the duchess, his mind rapidly going over the events unfolding. They were silent until the duchess took a seat and nodded for him to join her. “My condolences,” John said.

“Thank you.” She gave him an assessing look. “Now, then. Why are you really here?”

“As I said, I came here to speak to His Grace.”

“May I inquire about what?”

“About a private matter,” John said, for he’d still been unwilling to explain to the duke’s wife that Waltham had held an unnatural attraction to his daughter.

“But His Grace is dead. Any private matter with him is now within my purview. Perhaps I can help you.”

She almost seemed to be enjoying his discomfort. And when she let out a musical laugh, he knew he was correct. “I’m sorry, Lord Willington. I shall stop teasing you. You came here to tell my husband to leave your cousin alone. Or rather, for the duke to leave his daughter alone. Is that it?”

John was startled that she was aware of the situation, but he’d nodded gravely. “Yes, ma’am.”

“My husband was quite ill. That’s what his doctor called it, an illness. I’d say he was simply a mad deviant. He enjoyed certain activities that I found despicable. Indeed, most of humanity would. I tried my best to protect the females in this household. The young ones in particular.” She gave an elegant shrug. “But I had limited success.” She seemed completely at ease, but when she pushed an errant strand of hair from her eyes, John noted that she trembled.

“He is . . . was . . . a powerful man, my lady. Please do not fault yourself for his failings.”

She gave him a calm smile, even as her eyes filled with tears. “I protected my daughters. I protected my Caroline.”

John swallowed, feeling sick inside. What sort of evil man had his children living in fear of being accosted? “He can no longer do anyone harm, ma’am.”

Suddenly, a keening sound, distinctly girlish, reached them, and the duchess raised her head. “A difficult evening for her,” she’d said softly. “She blames herself.”

“I don’t understand. How did His Grace die?”

She’d given him the most serene smile. “I killed him, of course.”

“You . . .”

“I was protecting my daughter. I tell you this in the strictest confidence and will deny this conversation ever took place should you repeat one syllable of it.” She’d smiled again, but this time her eyes were hard. She was silent for a long moment. “His physician will testify that he hit his head following a heart attack. He’s an old friend of mine. It’s good to have friends, Lord Willington.” She let out a sigh and stood. “You may tell Miss Atwell she is safe. Good evening, sir.” She’d walked from the room, head held regally, clutching her skirt with fisted hands.

“That’s the truth?” his father asked.

“Yes, sir. She told me in confidence.”

His father gave him a nod. “All right then. I’ve something else I’d like to discuss. Something that affects you.”

“Oh?”

Suddenly, his father couldn’t meet his eyes. He cleared his throat and moved his hands restlessly over his desk. “Miss Stanhope and I plan to marry,” he said grimly.

John raised his brows in complete surprise. “You. And Miss Stanhope? Whatever for?” He was truly and completely baffled.

“It has occurred to me that I . . .” and he mumbled something beneath his breath that John couldn’t quite make out but that sounded insanely like “love her.”

“Pardon?”

“I said I love her,” he said angrily.

John felt his mouth drop open and then a smile grew on his face. “You love her.”

His father lifted his chin. “Indeed.”

“Love.
Love.
”

George snapped his mouth into a firm line. “As I said.”

John stood and pointed an accusing finger at his father. “After giving me such grief about Melissa. After belittling me for my feelings. You are in love?” he asked with incredulous glee.

His father shook his head and closed his eyes, then threw up his hands in disgust. “I don’t know how the hell it happened, so don’t ask. As for my treatment of you, I apologize,” he ground out. “I was wrong.”

John crossed his arms and gave his father a full smile. “You devil,” he said, chuckling.

“Yes, well. I’m telling you so that you are aware that if we have a son and something happens to you, your own children may have quite a wait for the title.”

“Children?”

“She’s still young enough,” George said, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “And I’m still young enough.”

“If you say so,” John said with skepticism he didn’t feel. He was happy for his father. Tickled, really. “Congratulations, Father.” He gave his father another disbelieving look. “However did she do it?”

His father gave him a sharp look. “I realized that my life seemed rather dull and endless without her about.”

“That would never do.”

“It would seem so. What a couple of fools we are, eh, son?”

John smiled. “Fools in love, Father. Fools in love.”

Did you miss Jane’s first book in the series?

Go back and read
When a Duke Says I Do
!

Miss Elsie Stanhope resided in Nottinghamshire, an area so rich in titled gentlemen, so felicitous for marriage-minded mamas, it was called “the Dukeries.” Indeed, Elsie had been betrothed since childhood to the heir of a dukedom. She had no expectation it would be a love match. Still less that she would enter into a shockingly scandalous affair with an altogether different sort of lover. And the very last thing she imagined was that the mysteries of his birth would be unraveled with as many unforeseen twists and turns as the deepest secrets of her heart . . .

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ISBN: 978-1-4201-2838-3