Page 85 of Enslaved to the Seduction of a Lady
Alison bit her tongue.
“Come, take tea with us,” the Duchess said.
“Thank you, Mother,” Teresa said, and they both took their usual seats around the table.
“I actually have something I wish to discuss with you both,” Alison said. Her father groaned.
“Not this again.”
“Come now, Darling,” the Duchess said, patting Alison on the hand. “All that is done with now. It’s time to move on.”
“It’s notdone withthough,” Alison said, trying to keep her anger in check. “Mr. Jones and his sister have done nothing wrong. I know you—”
“Alison,” the Duke snapped, “the letter opener was found inhishut. The evidence is clear. There is to be no discussion on this.”
“But Father, someone has—”
“I said,” he growled through clenched teeth, “no discussion.”
“I don’t believe he did it,” Alison said, ignoring her father’s warning. “I don’t believe for one second that either he or Jenny are capable of such an act.”
“Alison,” her mother warned, “perhaps it’s better if—”
“No, Mother. An injustice has been done and I refuse to sit back and watch. Have the Jones’ not been model employees ever since they arrived here?”
“Or perhaps they weren’t caught before,” the Duke said, raising a single eyebrow at her. Alison scoffed.
“I don’t think that even you believe that, Father,” she cried. “We have been extremely lucky to have such loyal servants, and yet as soon as they hit a little trouble, you send them away.”
“Stealing your father’s antique letter opener is nota little trouble, Alison,” the Duchess said, pulling her shawl tighter around her arms.
“Someone set them up, can’t you see that?”
“No,” the Duke said, “I really can’t. What is it to you, anyhow? They are servants, nothing more.”
“You know what it is to me,” Alison muttered under her breath, glaring down at her lap.
“What?” the Duke asked and the way he looked at her seemed a dare to answer.
“I love him,” Alison said, looking the Duke in the eye, “and I wish to marry him.”
“Well then,” the Duke said with an unfriendly laugh. “All the more reason to keep him away, I’d say.”
