Page 64 of The Virgin in the Rake's Bed
“They are not forgeries. Besides, there is further proof,” he said, rummaging in his pocket.
“What is this…?” the duke began, but Ian interrupted him.
“A token of your affection, from you to my mother,” he said, opening the box to reveal the ring.
The duke swallowed hard, the sight of the piece of jewelry evidently enough to change his mind. “I see…” he said, and Ian put the ring safely back in his pocket.
“I understand it comes from a set, one which this ring completes. Did you tell your wife you had lost it?” Ian asked, and now the duke sighed.
“Very well, Westwick, you have won,” he said.
Ian had no desire to humiliate the duke. He had no liking for him, and his behavior toward his mother had been abhorrent. But it was this acceptance he desired, the acceptance of responsibility and the possibility of his help. Ian did not have to like the duke in order to be grateful to him for his help.
“I did not wish to win anything, your Grace. I merely desired your admittance of responsibility. This matter affects us both, myself in personal terms, and you in matters of business. Besides, I doubt your wife would wish to discover her own son has a half-brother,” he said.
The duke nodded. He looked thoughtful now, and Ian wondered if there was a trace of regret or the thought of how many other illegitimacies might be waiting to reveal themselves. “You want nothing else from me?” the duke asked, and Ian shook his head.
“As far as I am concerned, you are not my father, nor the man I shall continue to call “father,” and in whose legacy I live. I really want nothing to do with you, but we are forced to associate by way of unfortunate circumstances,” he said, and the duke nodded.
“It seems so, yes. And if I help you, will you remain silent?” he asked, and Ian laughed.
“I will say nothing, nor do I wish ever to reveal this unfortunate truth. I will gladly take this knowledge to my grave. I will make no claim on you, and for what it is worth, I admire your son, Nicholas very much. My wife is a friend of your daughter-in-law, and neither of us wish any difficulty for either of them. But what can be done?” he asked, and the duke pondered for a moment.
“I think I have an idea,” he said, and now he offered Ian a brandy, as the two of them sat up long into the night and discussed their plans…
Chapter Thirty-Three
“It is all too remarkable for words,” Rebecca exclaimed, shaking her head for what must have been the tenth time that morning.
Catherine, Rebecca, and Samantha were sitting in the drawing room at Westwick Manor, taking tea. It was the morning after Catherine and Ian had returned from Ashcourt Park, and Catherine had barely slept for fear of what had happened to Ian. She had remained awake, listening for the sound of his carriage, which had not come until the early hours. He had climbed into bed and kissed her before falling asleep almost immediately.
It had not been until the early morning that Catherine had learned the full story of what had transpired between Ian and the Duke of Sinclair, and she had sent word to Rebecca and Samantha immediately that they might join her. The events of the past few weeks seemed even more remarkable when explained in their fullness, and Catherine could almost not believe herself that she was now a married woman, albeit one not yet living in the full happiness of that state.
“And you were married by a blacksmith?” Samantha said, looking at Catherine in amazement.
“The anvil priest, in the forge, at Gretna Green, yes. It was all very romantic, though I did miss having the two of you there,” she replied.
“And we have missed seeing you married, too, Catherine. It is so sad,” Rebecca said, sighing.
“A sadder fate would be to see me married to the Earl of Westwood. That would be a fate most unfortunate. I would have had my society wedding, granted, but a life of misery would have awaited me. I far prefer the forge,” Catherine said, smiling at them both.
“But what is to happen now? Do your father and your brother know you have returned to London?” Samantha asked.
Catherine shook her head. As far as she knew, neither Rickard nor her father knew she and Ian had returned to London. That was part of the plan, which Ian had explained to her that morning. The Duke of Sinclair was to host a dinner under the auspices of business. Rickard and Catherine’s father would be invited, and Ian and Catherine, too. The Duke of Sinclair intended to make it clear that a threat against Ian was a threat against him, too, and he had ways and means of making things very difficult for Catherine’s father in matters of business. It was a risk, but one which Ian had explained was necessary if this sorry business was to be put behind them.
“Then you and I are sisters-in-law, Catherine,” Rebecca exclaimed, as though the fact had only just occurred to her.
“Of sorts, I suppose. Though hardly in orthodox terms. It is true that Ian and Nicholas are half-brothers, but it hardly counts for anything. I do not believe Ian wishes anything to do with the family which is his by blood. It is all so terribly complicated, but I hope it will come well in the end, though we both know what a huge secret this is,” she said, taking a sip of tea.
It had been a bold decision to tell Rebecca the truth. Her loyalty to Nicholas was undoubted, and the secret itself was so fraught with danger that even to know it was a risk. But Catherine had always trusted Rebecca, and it was clear now she could trust her again, despite the astonishing revelation.
“And do you think your father and brother will allow such a threat to be made against them?” Rebecca asked, wide-eyed with amazement.
“My father is a greedy man. If he is told his business interests are to suffer – even if he stood to gain much from my marriage to the Earl of Westwood – then I believe he will back down. Rickard is another matter, he has less to lose, and more to gain. We shall see,” she replied.
Secretly, Catherine was worried. She wished it would all just go away and that she and Ian could be left in peace. But her father would never give in so easily, and she was certain that in her absence he had made further moves to ensure her marriage to the Earl of Westwood. She wanted that same happily ever after which Rebecca and Samantha had enjoyed, but it seemed she would have to wait a little longer before that happy day could come.
“Nicholas does not know. He said nothing of all this at breakfast this morning, and I have not seen the duke today,” Rebecca said, and Catherine nodded.
