Page 96 of The Duke's Mysterious Lover
He finally broke the silence. “You look like your mother.”
Keeping her expression neutral, she inclined her head as if accepting a deserved compliment. “Thank you.”
“But clearly you got your brains from me.” Was that an insult to Mother? “You cracked your uncle’s code?”
“No.” Kit willed her eyes to give nothing away. “He took me into his confidence over a year ago. He called meinsurance.”
Father cursed under his breath as he turned her gently around the floor. “Just like the bastard. What do you know?”
I know you had your own brother killed to gain your title. I knowyou murdered your men, had them murder one another, so no evidence would remain of your evil deeds. But you underestimated what they could do when they worked together.
But what she said was, “I know the code he used to communicate with you. Fiendishly brilliant, that one was.” She strove for a suitably impressed tone. “I know of your business dealings. He left word that if something happened to him, I should make my way to London and…investigate.”
“Investigate,” Father snapped out, stumbling just slightly. “Investigate what?”
She managed a nonchalance shrug. “His death, I assume. But he died of a weak heart, and after speaking with those who knew him and his habits, my lord, I am not surprised why.”
Themy lordseemed to calm Father, and he swung them both off the dancefloor and into the privacy of an alcove. Improper, yes, but Kit didn’t care about her reputation, and her father hardly needed to worry about his.
His hand gripping her elbow, Father ground out, “You know of mybusiness dealings?”
She kept her expression neutral as she said merely, “Yes.”
He interpreted that exactly the way she wanted him to; that she knew of his traitorous activities. His curse was soft, but his hold on her elbow tightened until it was almost painful. “You came here with the Duke of Stroken. Who else knows what you know?”
Time to put her thespian skills to work.
“Why, no one, my lord.” When he turned a suspicious glare her way, Kit blinked innocently. “I am yourdaughter. Mother was clear about that, at least. My loyalty is to you, is it not?”
Slowly, his shoulders relaxed, as did his hold on her, although he didn’t drop it. Beneath her long glove, her elbow was beginning to ache. “Yes. Yes, my girl, your loyaltyisto me. How do you know Stroken?”
Kit shrugged, using the movement to pull her arm from hishold. “He is an admirer of Mother’s. She used their…connection to convince him to escort me in London. Introduce me.”
Interestingly, he flinched at the wordconnection. Kit wondered if her father had bought the implication that Mother had taken lovers—she’d been counting on Thorne’s reputation to sell that lie—and why it would matter to him. It wasn’t as if an affair two decades ago would mean she’d be true to him. He was marrying someone else, for goodness’ sake!
Still, she pushed on.Follow the plan.
“But, Father, Stroken isn’t…” Kit frowned, pretending hesitation. “He has some opinions on you.”
The man at her side snorted, locking his hands behind his back and turning to scowl at the crowd. “And what are these opinions,daughter?”
“He says you are a traitor to the Crown. Of course I pushed him for details, but he’d been quite in his cups when he admitted that, and has refused to say anything more.” She tapped her chin innocently. “Do you think he knows of your business dealings with Uncle?”
His gaze was locked on the room, but Kit doubted her father was seeing it, the way his eyes blazed with fury. “It is possible,” he finally ground out.
“Oh dear.” She sighed. “Then I suppose it’spossiblehe wasn’t lying about the evidence.”
Her father jerked around so quickly she didn’t have to fake her wince. She couldfeelhis anger, barely held in check. “Evidence?” he spat out, as if he hated the word.
Time to lay the trap. “Stroken and some of his associates were speaking one evening in his study when I passed by. I slowed my steps so I could listen; they spoke of evidence against you, evidence you thought was destroyed.”
Father’s nostrils flared, but that was the only indication he knew of this evidence. “It wasn’t destroyed?”
She shook her head carefully. “Apparently not. I couldn’thear whatkindof evidence, but there’s a plan to give it to the proper authorities.”
“Which authorities?”
His rage was palpable, and Kit had to resist the urge to shrink back. He was a dangerous man, but she was his daughter, she could face him. She knew that somewhere, Thorne was watching this performance, and she feared that if she gave any indication it wasn’t going well, the dear fool would sweep in to save her—ruining the trap.
