Page 97 of A Rescue by the Rakish Duke
This time, the man’s smile was gone completely, replaced by something colder. The ice in his eyes spread to the rest of his face.
This man should not be trifled with, but Gwendoline held on to the hope that she could make him see her way.
“Montrose and I have crossed paths. Yet, I don’t know how I could be involved in your affairs, Your Grace.”
“Oh, you are certainly involved in the affairs that I want to speak to you about. I want more information on Montrose’s illicit dealings. He’s my cousin. He hurt me and my husband’s friends. If you don’t help me, I can assure you that my husband has enough proof of your dealings with Timothy. Trust me, my lord, you don’t want my husband as your enemy.”
Marston chuckled at her words.
Gwendoline was not quite sure if he had heard her, but she kept her face impassive. She stared at him. She never smiled or showed any other emotion. That wiped the laughter off his face. His eyes then flickered with unease.
He knew that she was serious.
For a moment, he was silent. Deathly so. Gwendoline wondered if she had said too much. Perhaps she had miscalculated.
However, he nodded slowly as if in agreement.
“Very well, Your Grace. We’ll talk about Montrose, but I will need protection from the duke.”
Even though Marston had agreed to talk to her, Gwendoline didn’t reveal her hand. She didn’t tell him how her maid had intercepted the letters being passed around in Greyvale.
They sat in his study. All the while, Gwendoline could feel the cold blade tied above her right ankle. She could quickly pull it out if he decided to attack her, but so far, he seemed cooperative.
She listened intently to his narrative. He said that Timothy had been involved in many illicit transactions—from smuggling weapons and forging documents to helping gamblers cheat in Devil’s Draw.
“He’s planning on leaving the country, Your Grace. You must take action if you want to bring him down. While I’ve certainly benefited from our partnership, ending it was next to impossible. It made me look over my shoulder more often than I would have wanted.”
“Leaving the country?” Gwendoline echoed, feeling her pulse in her neck. They must take actionimmediately.
“He’s also been speaking about your husband. Montrose wants to ruin Greyvale. He’ll find different ways to do so. He is tenacious.”
“That he is,” Gwendoline murmured, her resolve hardening.
She would not allow her cousin to succeed. He had inflicted too much damage, and she could only imagine what he had done to other people.
“So, everything I’ve heard about him is true.”
“Yes, Your Grace. He’s a dangerous man, ready to explode. A second son who had to make do with what he had. When he became an earl, we thought he was going to settle down and focus on his title and estate. But he became worse.”
“That title was my father’s,” Gwendoline spat out. “He’s complaining about being a second son. Now, think of being a woman. We can’t even inherit titles.”
“You’re braver than I expected. Montrose mentioned a cousin who had run away with a duke. There were salacious rumors about her being caught in a compromising position and Greyvale having no choice but to marry her. That was you, wasn’t it?”
Gwendoline didn’t like the calculating look in Marston’s eyes, but she was grateful that he spoke to her at all. He was a criminal like her cousin and could easily be as or more dangerous.
She reminded herself that she didn’t really know the man.
“It was me. But those rumors are false. Timothy was selling me to the highest bidder when the duke came along and saved me.”
“Ha. Love at first sight, then?” Marston rasped, making the hairs on her arms stand on end. “Imagine that, Your Grace. You are not only brave but are also fortunate. No wonder Montrose is after you, that bitter man. But bravery alone can’t protect you, so you must be careful.”
A blessing or a warning? Gwendoline was not certain. Even then, she continued to match his steadiness. His gaze.
“I will. Thank you.”
“Oh, and there will be a transaction between Montrose and a new associate. They will meet at the warehouse this late afternoon. Oh, let me write you the precise time and location,” he offered, further bewildering her.
Why was he willing to help her catch her cousin?
