Page 100 of Romancing Daphne

“Signing contracts must leave you with muscle cramps,” Daphne said quietly.

James bit down a smile. To his surprise, the duke and lieutenant did the same.

“Your father waxed surprisingly eloquent at the club this afternoon about his worthless son and how desperately he wishes the young whelp didn’t continually give him reason to . . . What were the words he used, Linus? He painted such a precise picture.”

The lieutenant didn’t waste a single moment. “He bemoaned that he was burdened with a son who was a ne’er-do-well drunkard with a thirst for gambling so insatiable that he needs to seek employment simply to keep the sharks from tearing him to bits.”

That was drastic, even for Father.“What utter—”

His Grace held up a hand and cut off the rest of James’s protests.“Sadly, I was not done with my retelling.”

“There is more?” James asked. Though he should not have been surprised, he was.

“Apparently unconvinced he had maligned you thoroughly enough, your loving father told everyone who would listen that you are an unrepentant rake who continually pretends to court unsuspecting young ladies as a matter of sport.” What little humor had been in the duke’s tone disappeared entirely. “He has warned all who will listen that you have set a goal to run the gamut of innocent young ladies in London.”

James dropped into the low-lying chair across the table from the duke. Father was ripping him up before all of Society. “I am assuming that since you have not shipped my mangled remains to your Northumberland gibbet, you do not put a great deal of store by my father’s declarations.”

“As I have told you many times, Tilburn, your father is an idiot.”

James slumped lower. “An idiot working very hard to denounce me.”

“What are you willing to do to salvage your good name?” The duke pierced him with a challenging look.

James found he could not entirely rise to the occasion.“What can I possibly do?”

“You?” His Grace very nearly laughed.“You can do nothing.I,however, could do a great deal if I were so inclined.”

“Considering my history with your family, Your Grace, I do not in the least warrant your support.”

“No, you don’t.” The duke’s stern gaze remained fixed on James.“Tocontradict your father would be to stake my own reputation on yourtrustworthiness. Whether or not you are a man of honor has been a topicof very unfavorable debate in this household.”

James nodded.“Understandably so.”

“Well, Daphne.” The duke looked away from James for the first time.“What is your opinion on this matter? Does Lord Tilburn warrant my declaration of trust?”

James’s heart dropped to his boots. While he had promised mere moments earlier that he would work to regain her trust, he knew full well he did not yet have it. The duke and the lieutenant had turned their attention to her. Seeing for himself the denial on her face would be too much. He kept his gaze on the desk.

“I have seen the care he takes of his mother and brother. He works very hard to keep Techney House running smoothly. I cannot imagine he is any less responsible with his family’s Lancashire estate,” Daphne said,though with a hint of hesitation.“You know as well as I do that he hasworked very hard as your secretary and without complaint. I am certain the Duke of Hartley would concur.”

It was, when one considered it, a very glowing evaluation of his workethic. James had not expected that. Yet somehow, the compliments felthollow.

“That is not what I asked, Daphne,” the duke said.“I want to know ifyoutrust him.”

With that clarification, His Grace hit upon precisely what had been missing from Daphne’s response. Nothing in her recommendation had been in the least personal.

She studied her clasped hands a moment before lifting her eyes to her brother-in-law.

James held his breath.

“I would trust him with my own estate if I had one,” she said simply.

If ever a man had been humbled by an undeserved show of support, James was in that moment. She would trust him with her own land and home. He did not warrant Daphne’s support but somehow had it.

“Linus,” the duke said,“I believe that is endorsement enough to go through with our plan.”

They had already formulated a plan?

Lieutenant Lancaster stepped forward, his posture stern and unyielding. In a crisp, authoritative voice, he addressed James.“Let me preface this by saying in no uncertain terms that I make this offer because of my unwavering faith in my sister’s judgment, not because I have decided to fully trust you.”

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