Page 81 of Claimed By the Beastly Duke

“Indeed, we are family, and I would have certainly given it some thought. And yet I can’t help but remember—you did not seem to care that I was your blood before you tried to have me killed.”

The Dowager Duchess rolled her eyes. “Is that what this tantrum is all about?”

Edwin was taken aback by how easily she admitted to it. “I am surprised you did not try to deny it.”

“If this is about my forcing you into the military when you were only a boy, then I should be impressed that you finally seem to have developed feelings.”

The military?

“You think this is about you forcing me into the military?” He was rather amused.

“What is this about, then?” She looked genuinely confused that he was almost inclined to believe that she truly did not have an idea what he was talking about. “I simply cannot keep track of all the grudges you hold against me, Edwin.”

“I am talking about the man you and your lover sent to attack me. I will not allow you and your lover to harm me and my wife,” he snarled.

“What!” His mother staggered backward.

Edwin was confused.

“I would never send anyone to kill you.” She shook her head fervently. “I may not like you. In fact, Idespiseyou, but I would never do anything of the sort.”

Could she perhaps be telling the truth?

Edwin was at a loss for words. He had come to his mother’s house with the belief that she had tried to get him killed. However, now that she had denied it, he was not sure how to proceed.

As he studied her shocked expression, he realized she was telling the truth.

The Dowager Duchess was a lot of things, but she was certainly not a liar. If she truly had a hand in the attack, she would have been too happy to admit to it. She would have evengloatedabout it.

Edwin laughed bitterly. “Then I suppose I should be happy that you are, for once, dallying with a man who is far more cruel than you could ever be.”

His mother’s eyes hardened. “Are you suggesting that Wilbury ordered the attack?”

“Why do you look so surprised? Your lover does not inform you about every single one of his criminal activities?”

“If you were wrong about me having a part in the attack, don’t you think you might be wrong about Wilbury, too?” she argued. “I can imagine that you have plenty of enemies in the ton.”

“I assure you, I am not wrong.” Edwin shook his head vehemently. “Your lover is the only person who hates me enough to tell anyone who would give him an inch that I have made a business deal with the devil. Besides, I only just snatched a profitable business from him, and he is rather bitter about it.”

The Dowager Duchess nodded. “Wilbury can be sensitive when it comes to his business,” she admitted.

“Are you saying that you took this man as a lover even though you knew he is less than honorable?”

“Oh, please, Edwin. I had no idea he was a violent man. I simply assumed he was passionate about his business and would do anything to protect it. I did not know he would kill for it.”

“And now that you know, what will you do?” Edwin asked. “Now that you know that your lover attempted to take your son’s life, what will you do?”

For what might be the first time ever, his mother’s eyes softened, and she looked remorseful. For a moment, he even thought he saw tears in her eyes.

“Now that you have told me what kind of man Wilbury is, I know what to do.”

She had not said it in plain words, but Edwin understood what she meant. She would break things off with the Earl.

He felt a rush of gratitude, but it only lasted a moment before he remembered all the horrible things she had done to him and how he had suffered because of her.

His gratitude was instantly replaced by an intense wave of disdain.

This single act cannot make up for the years of torture I suffered because of her.

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