Page 94 of Nothing Compares to the Duke
“Tell them the rest, Mr. Radley, so this can come to an end,” Bella urged.
“The Duke of Claremont was a vile man. He used everyone that came within his circle, but there was only one who mattered to me enough to seek revenge.” Radley glanced at Bella, and Rhys sensed he’d already divulged something to her. “My sister.”
Bella nudged Rhys but he still didn’t understand.
“Mrs. Turner,” she whispered to him.
The woman his father had discarded in a town house in Gordon Square.
“Belinda was just widowed when he set his sights onher,” Radley spit out. “Thought she was lucky to catch a duke’s eye. Thought the bastard loved her.”
Just as he had when meeting the man’s sister, Rhys felt guilt. Disgust at his father’s behavior, and guilt for all the ways he’d become like him.
“I regret whatever indignities your sister suffered at my father’s hands.” He could muster a modicum of sympathy for the man, but not enough. He wanted Bella away from here and for Macadams to apply the law however Radley deserved.
Rhys turned his back on the man and reached for Bella.
“You’re not much better than him, Claremont. Apple never falls far, does it? You needn’t put on high-and-mighty airs with me.”
Bella ignored Rhys’s outstretched hand and kept her gaze fixed on Radley.
“Whatever the late duke did, it doesn’t justify your theft, sir.” Bella’s tone somehow managed understanding and brutal honesty.
“He and his father and all their ilk make more money than they know what to do with,” he protested. “And this one piles on even more at his Den of Dukes, or whatever they call themselves.”
“They invest in people and their ideas,” Bella said defensively.
“We needn’t do this, Bella,” Rhys told her.
“I’m more than grateful for your assistance, Your Grace,” Macadams told them by way of dismissal. “I’ll see to Mr. Radley now.”
Rhys nodded at the man and took Bella’s hand. Hewas relieved when she clasped his tightly and started with him toward the door. Halfway there, Rhys stopped and turned back to Macadams.
“It wasn’t me, Detective.”
“Pardon, Your Grace?”
“Your thanks should go to my betrothed. It was Miss Prescott who discovered the clue that led us to Radley, and she was the one who insisted we pursue it.”
Macadams worked his jaw for a moment before finally shifting his gaze to Bella. “Indebted to you, Miss Prescott. Well done,” he told her with a begrudging tightness in his tone.
“You’re welcome, Inspector.” Bella beamed at him, despite his gruff demeanor.
Rhys didn’t breathe easily until he got her outside, away from Radley’s wrath and whatever danger the man might pose.
“I echo the inspector. Well done, Bella.”
As soon as they reached the pavement, she released his hand and stepped away from him.
“Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”
She let out a shaky exhale before turning to face him. “That’s one more part of our agreement resolved.”
“One part, yes.”
“But all of it is coming together. We’ve found Radley. Meg is well on her way to starting her Season. Mama and Papa will soon set sail for Greece.” She took a step closer but he couldn’t read her expression. “Don’t you see? Soon we’ll be able to end the charade.”
“You know it’s more than that.” He’d said the wordsbut he hadn’t laid out his thoughts, his desires. “The engagement may have begun as a falsehood but what I feel for you isn’t false.” He took a deep breath and ignored the way his heartbeat seemed to stall in his chest. “Perhaps the engagement shouldn’t be either.”
