Page 99 of The Untamed Duke
“Do not make jokes of this,” Grace replied, her voice dangerously shaky. “That was horrifying to watch….and your mother…”
“Dear God. I forgot about her,” Nicholas breathed. “Come along. The others are going on ahead, my mother leading the way. I suspect the destination is the library. There is room for all of us there. And should we start fighting again, we can push the settees up against the walls.”
“Don’t you even dare think of it,” Grace cried.
“Will you doctor me?” Nicholas teased. “Will you put cold cloths on my wounds and tend to all my aches and pains?” His arm wrapped about her waist as they exited the ballroom and walked down the corridor. The musicians began playing again, guests chattering with excitement about the evening’s surprising events while servants rushed about, cleaning up splatters of blood, broken glass and spilled champagne. “Shall I come to your room tonight, or will you come to mine? Strictly for medical purposes, should anyone ask.”
“Behave, Your Grace,” was her prim reply. She was a bit dazed by Nicholas’s lighthearted manner. It was as if the vicious brawl erased the last remnants of the icily controlled duke she’d fallen in love with. Was it possible that pounding fists into another man’s face could somehow erase all feelings of hate and betrayal? Could it have some type of cathartic cleansing of old emotions for Nicholas?
She couldn't help grinning when he laughed softly and said, “I love how you use my title when you believe it will sway me. When you are my duchess, I will try the same tactic and see if it works on you.”
When they were all gathered in the Ravenswood library, Ivy and Sara poured drinks while Nicholas fondly embraced his mother and introduced Grace.
“You may call me Brianna, dear. At least until the wedding. And then Mother will do just fine, if you are inclined to call me so. You are a dear little thing, aren’t you? Nicholas chose well. I feared he would never wed. His father and I set a rather horrible example of married life, I’m afraid.”
Sebastian scowled at the duchess. “Do you really believe it will come to that, Your Grace? There are matters here no one understands. It makes a wedding between these two impossible. And I’ll never allow someone I care for to marry a man like him.”
“Sebastian, my love.” Ivy handed him a glass of brandy. “Listen to what the duke has to say. You will understand, I promise.”
“Let us start from the beginning, shall we?” Nicholas said slowly. He took a deep breath, taking Grace’s hand, grateful when she gave his a tiny squeeze, flashing him a smile of encouragement. “Sebastian, I was not the father of Marilee’s child. My own father was responsible for the deed.”
Sebastian frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s true. He seduced her, or she seduced him, I’m not sure on that point. I suspected for some time she was making a fool of you with someone. I didn’t know who until it was too late. When I refused to marry her and claim the baby as my own, the Duke threatened to disown me. I told him he could take his title and the entire dukedom straight to the devil. I would never marry that girl, nor would I betray you. When Marilee discovered her plan had failed, and not only had she lost her chance at becoming a duchess, but also any hope of becoming your countess, she was so furious. She vowed she would destroy us both. That she would have her revenge. And she did.”
“How do I know this is the truth?” Sebastian asked, taking a deep swig of his brandy. He appeared lost, holding Ivy’s hand tight. “Why did you not tell me this before? Why did you let me believe—”
“Why did you automatically assume the worst of me?” Nicholas interrupted savagely, slamming a fist down on a table. “You and Alan both. You believed me capable of such betrayal, even after our years of friendship. You turned your back on me as if it meant nothing to you. As if I meant nothing. All on the word of a woman who had already proven she could not be trusted. I could not say anything because I was ashamed. Of my father. And yes. Ashamed of my lineage, which let that inkling of doubt creep into your mind. You thought the cruelty and wickedness of my father had finally leached out through me.”
Until this moment, Brianna sat in a chair near the fireplace, silently listening to the exchange. Her heavy sigh drew everyone’s attention.
“It’s the truth. The old duke did those awful things. He was a horrible man. He beat his son. He beat me. Took advantage of people, used them, seduced women, willing and otherwise, and generally made life miserable for those who knew him. Marilee’s family owed him some manner of debt. He used her to pay it off, and somehow, she made my husband promise that if she became pregnant, he would make her a duchess, that he would force Nicholas to marry her. And the duke was becoming so desperate for a grandson, he agreed. Marilee used him just as he used her. They were both greedy, conniving creatures.”
“Sebastian, my dear, sweet boy. Nicholas is telling the truth. You knew his father. You saw for yourself evidence of his cruelty, witnessed the beatings he’d give Nicholas when you boys came for visits. I kept Nicholas’s secret regarding Marilee, thinking it was his to tell you, that after the death of his father, he would do so in his own good time. That time finally came.”
Sebastian did not say anything for a long moment. He swirled the remaining liquid in his glass while Nicholas stood rigid, waiting to see what the outcome of this revelation would be.
“How did you come to realize you loved Grace, Nicholas? And why are you paying for the restoration to her stables? Before I could make arrangements on her behalf, you had already handled it. And when I was in London, I received letters from your barristers, inquiring as to a secret encumbrance. What do you know of that?”
Grace moved until she stood directly between Nicholas and Sebastian. “I learned of the encumbrance, Sebastian. I made a bargain with Nicholas before the fire occurred.”
“What manner of bargain, Grace?” Sebastian asked softly, head tilting. Alarm filled his eyes.
For a moment, Grace was unable to speak, then her spine straightened. “The kind men have preferred for centuries. Myself in his bed. Five nights for my estate, my horses and my stables.” Her chin lifted high. “Before we could complete our agreement, Nicholas ceded it all. He forfeited the encumbrance, dissolved the contract, and gave me his prized stallion because I lost Llyr. More importantly, he swore his love to me.”
Sebastian’s features tightened, his fists curling. The glass he held was in danger of being shattered. “He never held an encumbrance, Grace. Not in a true sense, anyway.”
Grace was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Nicholas frowned. “My barristers are still looking into the matter. Tristan is the one who first informed me of its existence. He wanted Bellmar, hoping it would force Grace into marrying him.”
“Oh, Nicholas,” His mother said sadly, disappointment evident in every word. “What have you done?”
“Nothing I did not insist upon, Your Grace. Nicholas is not to blame for my stubborn nature.” Grace quickly assured the dowager duchess.
“The encumbrance was only on the land itself. Not the stables or the manor. Nor the horses. When Grace turns twenty-one, the whole of it becomes hers. The Earl of Willsdown skillfully negotiated with the old Duke when he borrowed the funds for those Irish horses, realizing he needed a way of safeguarding Grace’s inheritance. Even if she marries, Bellmar Abbey, Willsdown Stables and all related with it remains in the Willsdown name by a special Royal Decree. I have the necessary documentation to prove it. It has been in my possession for the past six months. When your father died, it was somehow sent it to me. I imagine for safekeeping.” Sebastian’s cold fury cast a chill in the warm library. “It’s why your father never attempted collecting the debt. He was outfoxed by Lord Willsdown. So, you see, it was never yours to bargain with, you heartless fiend. But you knew that. Grace, he used you. He knew exactly what he was doing to get what he wanted from you. It’s what he does. Uses people. Lies to them. Betrays them for his own selfish gain.”
“Sebastian!” Ivy hissed. “Stop it. This instant. Oh! You stubborn man! Open your eyes and see. The truth is right before you. Nicholas did not know. He would not have used Grace so callously.”
