Page 74 of Enslaved to the Seduction of a Lady
“Please,” Luke said with a chuckle, “call me Luke.”
“Thomas,” Lord Denninson said, bowing slightly to Luke.
“I’m curious,” Luke said. “How did you find out? The truth about your heritage, I mean. I can’t imagine that is something your fath—the Duke would want revealed.”
“Indeed not,” Thomas said with a frown. “It would cause an awful scandal. My mother—the Duchess—she passed a few months ago, as you have heard.”
“I had, and I’m sorry for it,” Luke said. “She was a kindly lady whenever she visited Salsbury Manor.”
“Yes, well. On her deathbed, she told me the truth. She and my father were unable to have children and so they… her words weretook me in, but my father has since told me that they paid a pretty hefty fee for me, and that since then, they told the world I was their natural born son.”
“That must have come as a terrible shock,” Luke said, wide-eyed.
“It was,” Thomas said, nodding sadly. “It has taken me all this time to pluck up the courage to discover more about my birth—and it has taken me a while to persuade my father, also. Of course, he is not happy about it because he knows what would happen should word get out.”
“You wouldn’t be able to inherit the Duchy?” Luke asked.
“No, I wouldn’t. That’s why I beg of you, Luke, please don’t say a word to anyone. Other than your—our—sister, of course.”
“Jenny,” Luke said, smiling brightly, “her name is Jenny.”
“I am so keen to get to know you and Jenny better. I hope we get to spend some time together.”
“We’ll try our best, but it can be difficult. We both have lots of responsibilities, and—”
“Ah yes, it rather slipped my mind that you both work so hard. Still, I would dearly love to know you better. Perhaps I can help in some way. I don’t know. Perhaps… I… I am aware this may be somewhat of a sensitive issue, but are you and Jenny all right? Financially, I mean? I can help, that’s all. Especially if it means we get to see more of one another.”
Luke felt an irritation rise in him and he clenched his jaw. He was a proud man, and he would earn everything he had. “We’re perfectly fine, thank you,” he said.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Thomas said. “But now that we know the truth, I really want to help.”
Luke snorted. “Money will not help me.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Thomas asked. He swirled the brandy around in his glass, listening intently. Luke sighed before pouring out everything he felt for Alison.
“So you see,” he said finally. “I love Lady Alison, and she loves me. But I cannot see a way in which we can marry. Your offer of money is kind, but it cannot help me.”
“Not necessarily,” Thomas said, cocking his head. “Don’t discount the power of title and wealth. Besides, my family—my adoptive family, that is—are both rich and influential.”
“You mean?” Luke couldn’t finish his sentence for his loss of breath at the notion.
“I do not mean to promise anything, but expect that things will improve for you.”
As the sun began to set in the distance, they had spoken of everything—from their childhoods to their adult lives—and they had become friends as much as long-lost brothers.
“I would dearly love to meet Jenny,” Thomas said as he shrugged on his tailcoat to leave. “Perhaps my carriage can drop you home, and I can meet her this evening? I’d like to see where you’d live, too.”
Luke blanched. He couldn’t allow Thomas to see the hut, and certainly not without warning. Besides, Jenny would balk at the idea of a surprise guest.
“I understand your eagerness, Thomas, I really do,” he said. “But Jenny… well, she doesn’t like surprises. Let me talk to her first, explain everything that has happened. And then I’ll bring her to see you at the first opportunity. I promise.”
“Hm, well, that does make sense,” Thomas mused. “A surprise brother turning up on one’s doorstep would be quite an overwhelming afternoon. But you won’t forget, will you? To bring her to me?”
“Forget! Goodness no!” Luke laughed. “I am as keen to know you as you are of us, and I know that, after I have explained everything, Jenny will be equally as keen.”
