Page 57 of A Duchess to Unravel
“The five of them have an unbreakable bond,” Dominic said, then took a sip of his whiskey. “Closer than sisters I would say. I would not try to get in between them.”
“I wouldnae dare,” Alistair replied.
In fact he was comforted by the thought. It meant that Theo would have someone to watch over her once he went back to Scotland. It meant that she would not have to be alone.
“I have some information for you,” Dominic said, leaning closer to Alistair. “Perhaps while Tristan and Hugo have Everett corralled, we could speak in private for a moment.”
Alistair nodded, but he spent another long minute watching his wife smile and laugh before he let Dominic lead him away from the party and toward an empty room. He noted how far they went down the hall, how many corners they turned to get to the small, intimate space that was to be a private reading room. Far too small for a library, but no desk to qualify as an office either. Just a few chairs, a chaise lounge, and a fireplace. Only one oil lamp was lit, barely able to cast the dimmest of light into the darkened room.
Dominic grasped the oil lamp and manipulated the wick out of the bottle, tossing the oil-soaked cord onto the logs in the hearth. They caught aflame within seconds and filled the small room with more light.
“Aiming to seduce me, are ye?” Alistair joked, looking at Dominic with a raised brow.
Dominic chuckled as he pulled an envelope from his inner jacket pocket.
“I am afraid you are not suited to my tastes,” he retorted. “However, I thought you would appreciate more light. I believe my spies have found who you have been looking for.”
Alistair’s jesting mood came to a standstill as he reached for the envelope Dominic offered him, and he tore it open. Inside was a compilation of information on a young noble named William Upton. A second born son to an earl. Not much to his name. Outshined by his older brother. Was expelled from Oxford. Poor in the way of business and in funds and fond of brothels and gambling.
Precisely the type of man who would try to blackmail a wealthy noblewoman into a marriage.
“Thank you for this,” Alistair said when he’d finished reading over the information.
Dominic nodded.
“Theo means a great deal to Amelia. Therefore, she means a lot to me,” he replied.
“You have not told her about this, have you?” Alistair asked. “I do not believe Theo would approve of you helping me with this.”
Dominic cocked his head as he raised a brow.
“I hold far more secrets than you, my wife, or anyone in this society could possibly know,” he retorted. “I know how to keepinformation private. Even the fact that you and Theo first met at the Devil’s Masquerade.”
It was rare that Alistair was taken by surprise, but in that moment, he was. He’d known that Dominic had a penchant for know-all that was going on in London, but Alistair had clearly underestimated just how far that knowledge went.
“Do not worry,” Dominic assured him. “I hold no judgment. Amelia and I have been there ourselves.”
Again, Alistair was surprised.
“If you knew we met at the Masquerade, why did you not tell Tristan that?” Alistair asked.
Dominic raised his chin, an air of authority in his stance.
“We all have ways of coping with the burden of this life. I believe that we should be able to have the privacy to do so,” Dominic replied.
Alistair studied the man before him, his respect for him growing. Dominic had the power to possibly ruin everyone within the Londonton.Yet he chose not to. Instead, he kept all secrets to himself, using them only to correct a wrongdoing.
“I am glad to call you a friend, Dominic,” Alistair said, extending his hand.
“The feeling is mutual,” Dominic replied, accepting Alistair’s handshake. “Let me know if you need anything else. I shall be very happy to rid you and Theo of any other troubles.”
Alistair bowed his head in respect.
“I shall be sure to keep that in mind,” he replied. “For now, let us go back to the party.”
Dominic nodded, grinning.
“Agreed. My wife will no doubt be wanting to dance soon, and what she wants, I give.”
