Page 96 of Enslaved to the Seduction of a Lady
Chapter Thirty-Five
The Duke of Salsbury had agreed to release Luke after days of uncertainty. He had far from forgiven Luke his misdemeanors, he said, but with mixed evidence, he didn’t feel he could call the Constable. Luke had, of course, asked after Alison. He even went so far as to ask to see her, even though he knew the chances were slim to non-existent.
The Duke would not tell him anything, but through a string of servants he discovered that Alison was recovering well, that her injuries were superficial at worst, and that she would be fine in a day or two.
In his relief, Luke had wracked his mind for where to go in search of help. And then he hit upon the idea: Carrington Hall. Now that he had been cleared of his accused crimes, he knew he would be able to look Thomas in the eye. And without Jenny in tow, he could claim to be there on business. He would fetch Jenny later.
“But, My Lord, please. I don’t understand what has changed,” Luke urged. “Only last week you were—”
“I don’t now wish to discuss this, Mr. Jones,” Lord Denninson said, his lips tight in his firmness.
“But why?” Luke asked. “I am in need of assistance, and you promised me that—”
“That was before I discovered what you did to the Duke,” Lord Denninson said, his voice raised with a sudden anger that flooded through him.
“I did nothing,” Luke pleaded, his pride stopped him from all but begging. “My Lord, you’ve got to believe me. I was set up, and I believe I know who did it.”
Lord Denninson turned his back on Luke, tutted loudly. He spoke as he began to walk away.
“I do not wish to hear your excuses; you are clearly not the man I thought you were.”
“But we’re brothers! And I should like to think you have more faith in me than that. Surely you can see I am a good and honorable man!”
Those words, as intended, made Lord Denninson stop in his tracks. He paused for a long moment, Luke’s heart racing with hope that perhaps he had got through to him. And then he turned back, his expression softened.
“We are indeed brothers,” Lord Denninson replied, his tone more willing, but still reticent. “But, Luke, I cannot abide that sort of behavior.”
“I know,” Luke said, taking an urgent step forward. “I know that. And please believe me when I say, I cannot abide it either. That’s why I’m so horrified to have been excused.”
Lord Denninson stared at him for a long moment, his eyes lost to the thoughts that ran through his head. Luke held his breath, watching the consternation on the lord’s face.
“All right,” Lord Denninson said at last, “come into my study. We can discuss it there.”
“Thank—”
“That doesn’t mean I have decided to help you,” he said, holding a warning finger out at Luke. “It simply means I am willing to listen.”
Luke nodded wordlessly, but relief washed through him and he quietly followed Lord Denninson up the stairs to the small study.
“It’s temporary,” he said when he opened the door and ushered Luke in. “I will move to the big study downstairs when I am Duke, of course.”
“Of course,” Luke said, trying not to smile at his obvious insecurity.
“Please, take a seat.”
Luke did as he was bid, and then he began to talk, his whole story streaming out in a rapid fashion.
“You remember I told you about Lady Alison and I?” He didn’t wait for answer to the affirmative. “Well, the Duke of Salsbury arranged for her to be married to the Earl of Belmont instead, but she doesn’t want to marry him. She wants to marry me. And it appears—or so young Sam tells me—that—”
“Please,” Lord Denninson said, holding his hand out to stop Luke’s river of words. “Slow down.”
“Sorry,” Luke said, shaking his head. “All right. One of my stable hands at Salsbury Manor, Sam, overheard one of the footmen, Noah, being bribed by a stranger to make it look as though I had stolen something valuable of the Duke’s. And then again, later, this Noah was paid to crash our carriage.”
“Your carriage?” Luke sighed and nodded.
“Lady Alison and I, well, we were planning on running away. To marry in secret.”
“I see,” Lord Denninson said, his mouth turned down into a frown. “As if the Duke did not already have enough scandal to deal with.”
