Page 47 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
A footman opened the door and they stepped out into the night, before a lynch mob had the chance to form. But Peter was right, Drew’s comeuppance would come tomorrow.
‘They can do what they like.’
‘So now you have a death wish.’
Drew did not answer as they descended the steps. He looked for Peter’s carriage among the line of those waiting. If Mary’s family wanted to have their revenge and challenge him to a duel, he would not fight; he would delope, and fire his shot into the air. If they shot him they would be doing him a favour. He could not imagine living the rest of his life bearing this much inner pain. He had freed Caro. What happened to him did not matter.
Peter’s hand settled on Drew’s shoulder. ‘I am not ready to part with you, my friend. Do not do anything foolish, and tonight I would suggest you get very drunk, and as your best friend Iam willing to help you achieve that. Let us find Mark and Harry, they will willingly help you too, and then you are sleeping at my house. No one is going to shoot you. And believe me, I shall be telling everyone tomorrow you are not an incestuous man.’
‘As though they will believe you…’ Drew laughed, but it was a broken sound.
24
John reeled back, shocked. ‘Good God. That bastard!’
Mary looked at John. He was reading a letter at the breakfast table. It was unlike John to express his emotions so vehemently.
‘John!’ Kate whispered.
Mary put her cup of chocolate down. John was looking at her. Whatever had made him angry was something to do with her.
His expression changed to a look of regret. ‘I am sorry.’
‘Why?’ she asked.
So far, the child had been kind to her; she had only suffered slight nausea in the mornings and never been physically ill, but now she felt as if she might be sick.
John’s gaze ran around the footmen about the table. ‘Leave us, please.’ They bowed deeply then filed out. ‘You too, Finch,’ John prompted the butler.
Mary had never seen him send the servants from the room.
A hand pressed to her stomach, as though she would protect the child from whatever was coming. John stood.
She stood too, with a desire to run. ‘Please, do not tell me. I do not wish to know if he has been seen with her.’
‘Mary.’ John came closer. ‘You must know this. The letter is from Uncle Richard, and you must hear this from me and not others. It is worse than you thought. Sit down.’
She did, her legs too weak to hold her.
John’s gaze softened as he sat in the dining chair beside her. ‘Uncle Richard saw Lord Framlington at a ball last night. He was involved in another brawl and an accusation was thrown, which everyone heard.’
‘Is the woman married?’
‘She is.’ He looked sorrowful. ‘It is the Duchess of Kilbride, his sister Caroline. He was accused of incest by his brother-in-law, and his sister has disappeared. It is said they have been in a physical relationship for years.’
‘Good Lord.’ Kate’s fingers covered her mouth.
It is not true. Mary shook her head. ‘John, it is not true. He would not.’
‘You told me his family have cut him,’ Kate said. ‘They also cut the Duchess of Kilbride. This would explain why, if their family knew…’
Mary looked at Kate. ‘That is absurd. It is not true! He would not do such a thing. I saw him speaking with the Duchess of Kilbride once, before we wed. They had been talking outside?—’
‘Is that not added proof?’ John said in a kind voice, as though he thought she simply did not want to believe it.
‘No.’ Her voice grew stronger. ‘Andrew told me Lord Kilbride beat her, and all he could do was offer comfort. He was the only person she trusted. I saw bruises on her neck once after that and they looked like finger marks. Lord Kilbride will have said that because Andrew has helped his sister.’
Mary shut her eyes and felt the blood drain from her skin. Suddenly everything made sense. She opened her eyes and looked at Kate. ‘The woman in the draper’s… That was her! She wears veils to hide the bruises.’
