Page 16 of The Untamed Duke
“Of course,” Nicholas agreed calmly. Rising from the table and with identical bows, the men excused themselves with a murmur of apology.
And with the duke no longer present to poke or gaze upon, Grace quietly finished her tea.
* * *
Within the confinesof a well-appointed study, Nicholas concealed his astonishment as Tristan dropped a cannonball in his lap. The Richeforte Duchy held an encumbrance on Bellmar Abby.
“Sell it to me. It’s the only way I’ll convince her to marry me otherwise.” Tristan shot back the contents of his glass, grimacing slightly as the liquor burned a path down his throat. “I’ll pay whatever you deem a fair price.”
Nicholas could not respond, not when everything inside him roared in protest. Sell Bellmar Abby to Tristan? He just learned he owned it. And Grace had no idea it was leveraged. To the Duke of Richeforte.
To him.
Her future lay cradled within his hands. The implications were astounding. Frightening.
Exhilarating.
Impossible.
It was out of the question. He could not use this as a means of driving Grace to his bed, nor would he allow Tristan to do the same.
“Rather desperate of you.” Nicholas rotated his glass of brandy. The swirling amber liquid held a similar hue as Grace’s eyes.
Tristan’s request could not be entertained. The man could not see past his desire, and that was a dangerous thing. Nicholas witnessed the same occurrence before. Long ago, Sebastian Cain suffered the same blindness, and that man was now his enemy. He couldn’t enable the same disaster again with a different friend.
Nicholas studied his friend. Tristan’s left eye was slightly swollen, a faint shadow of a bruise marring the skin beneath it. It occurred to him that Grace fended off two beasts yesterday. One, she escaped using her cleverness. The second, she eluded with the powerful force of a simple, charming whisper of a kiss.
“If Lady Willsdown does not wish to wed, bribery will not change her heart. Reconsider your position, Longleigh.”
“If I don’t marry her, someone else will force the issue. Once she learns of this encumbrance, she might choose anyone for a husband. Use him as a means of facilitating the release of the entailment. I won’t let her slip through my fingers. The Willsdown title transferred to the Earl of Ravenswood, of course, but it seems you possess the estate and the stables. Held in some sort of secret trust by your father.” Tristan’s gaze landed with a calculated gleam on Nicholas. “Since you’ve no interest in marrying, ever, I’m relieved you are excluded from the field of competition. Besides, Sebastian would kill you if you even considered it.”
“There is the fact she does not love you.”
Tristan waved his hand dismissively. “That will come with time. Many marriages begin this way.” He poured a second glass of brandy. “How would you know if Grace loves me? You only met her yesterday— I can’t imagine she confided in you.”
“The same gossips tattling of my hatred for watercress have also chattered of the lady’s disdain for marriage. She’s rejected your courtship thus far. I can’t imagine she would suddenly change her mind.” Nicholas sank further into the leather chair. “I’ll consider your proposal once my barristers examine the encumbrance. I loathe surprises. Why I was not informed of this is disconcerting.”
“I hoped you would know more of the details. My father is unaware of the full extent of the lien, but it involves that Irish stallion of hers. He’s worth more than the entire estate. All but three of the seven animals died in that shipwreck along with her father. The ones she’s bred for the past six years are prime pieces of horseflesh.” Tristan’s head tilted. “Do I have your word, Nick? You will sell the property only to me. Once the details are worked out?”
Nicholas swallowed past the sour lump of bile in his throat. If this was true, that he held the encumbrance, it destroyed any future opportunity of tasting Grace’s sweetness. Once she became Tristan’s wife, he would not seek her out or comprise her in any way. Contrary to the assertions of others, he would not ever dishonor a friendship in that manner. And Lord help him, suffering another bullet wound as a way of proving that would not occur a second time.
“I will,” he heard himself say. “Although you realize, Ravenswood himself could buy it, as a means of saving his cousin from a wedding she does not want.”
Tristan gave him a strange look. “True. But if done before he learns of it, then it won’t pose a problem, will it?”
Nicholas did not reply. This could be a blessing in disguise, placing much-needed distance between himself and the temptation Grace presented. His cold heart agreed, even if it clenched in silent protest.
* * *
Grace hurried awayfrom the study, careful that her heels did not click on the hardwood floors. She’d sent Celia ahead without her, curious to know what business Tristan had with the duke. Hovering outside the room, her suspicions were horribly confirmed.
Anger. Shock. Despair. Emotions assailed her. Sagging against the lushly papered wall of the darkened corridor, a hand held to her tight chest, she felt faint. Truly faint. No acting required this time.
How dare they!?How dare they discuss Bellmar Abbey, her horses,her life,as though everything she loved was nothing more than an enticing prospect offered on the Exchange? Questions reeled in her mind, her heart breaking with the realization this was happening.
It cannot be true!Mother did not lie or mislead me. There cannot be an encumbrance. Bellmar is mine. Mine.My home! My darling horses... who will raise and care for them if not me?
Tristan was mistaken. Even if he was not, she would never marry him. He knew she did not love him in that way, and apparently, he did not care. He only wanted possession of her, something he would never have. As for Richeforte...he couldn’t be trusted either, but at least he indicated he would investigate the matter before entertaining the highest bidder.
