Page 45 of Three Rules to Wed a Duke

“Agreed. It shall take some time, for I must speak to your uncle. But I will see to it that it happens, you have my word,” she promised at last.

“There’ll be no need of that once my solicitor speaks to him,” someone called out from behind her.

Frances looked to the doorway and gasped. Anthony was standing there, watching the entire scene unfold. She had no way of knowing how he would react to seeing his wife lording her power over someone else, nor to her defending a wayward daughter whose reputation may well be in shambles.

“I have spoken with my solicitor,” Anthony said stoically as he strode forward. “It seems there has been some deception about Her Grace’s dowry, isn’t that true?”

“I… I don’t know what you mean,” Lady Hutchings finally spat out. Frances knew that tone well enough to know the woman was lying.

“According to the contract I was given to peruse, Her Grace’s father left a massive portion of his sizeable estate to her, to be overseen by her guardian… and then her husband.”

Frances gasped once more. Her father had left her well-provided for. She wasn’t an ungrateful orphan who was living off her uncle’s generosity? But that meant…

“You stole my father’s money,” Frances said evenly, her attention once more directed to her aunt.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” the viscountess said defensively.

“Aunt Bridget…” Frances practically snarled in warning.

“All right, fine! Yes, your father’s estate is in our keeping,” she confessed, looking ashamed.

“And this is why you wanted me to marry Lord Rowland. You promised him a willing young wife in exchange for retaining control of my father’s funds.”

“Yes. All right? We did, and we’re horrible people for it. Is that what you wished to hear?” Lady Hutchings snapped, glancing at Anthony with discomfort.

“It’s not even a fraction of what I wish to—” Frances growled, lunging forward before Agnes grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“Lady Hutchings, I think it would be best if you leftnow,” Emma urged her.

“But what of my daughter?” she moaned, looking around at the cluster of angry faces.

“When I see a contract with the conditions I’ve stated, then I will help you. Not a moment before!” Frances argued, still fuming.

“And when I have the full control of my wife’s estate turned over to her, only then will I instruct my solicitor not to contact the court on her behalf,” Anthony added, folding his arms and looking quite imposing.

Lady Hutchings went pale, but she nodded. With a quick curtsey to Frances and a much-humbled word of goodbye, the viscountess scurried out of the house. Agnes and Emma exchanged glances, then Agnes made her excuses as well.

“We shall call on you again soon,” Agnes promised Frances as she kissed her cheek. “In the meantime, we will begin our efforts to find Juliet.”

Frances thanked them and bid them goodbye, promising to speak to them soon. When they had gone, Frances turned to Anthony wordlessly and simply waited.

“You knew about my father’s estate?” she asked quietly.

“Yes.”

“And you did not say anything to me?” Frances struggled to keep the accusing tone out of her voice.

“I did not know how,” Anthony confessed slowly. “When I learned that you’d never known about it, that your aunt and uncle had lied to you all these years, I… I was afraid of hurting you.”

“Hurting me? By informing me that my parents had left me some funds? That they had cared enough to ensure that those funds were for my care? That’s what you consider to be hurting me?”

“No, by forcing you to know that your only remaining family members had stolen from you all this time, and that they had intended to force you to marry someone who’d agreed to permit them to keep your money. When you did not marry Lord Rowland but agreed to marry me instead, they discovered that they would be cut off and have nothing to their names.”

Frances’ mouth fell open in shock, but she quickly remembered herself. Anthony had been trying to protect her all along, but he could not have known that she was already aware of her aunt and uncle’s utter disregard for her. He’d been intent on sparing her feelings, though she had none left to save where they were concerned.

“I’m sorry I assumed the worst,” Frances said, saddened by her first assumption. “That was very kind of you to think of my feelings, but I promise you, I am not unaware of what my aunt and uncle think of me.”

“That is their loss, and I am certain that someday they will realize it,” Anthony said, though the corners of his mouth turned up slightly when he said it.

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