Page 46 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
Rachel considered this, nodding slowly as she looked into her friend’s eyes. “You might well be right,” she said, softly, her eyes rounding. “Lord Chiddick wishes to take the dukedom. Butif I marry and produce the heir, as you have said, then that prevents him.”
“So Lord Chiddick will have to bring an end not only to the Duke’s life but also to yours,” Miss Renfrew said, quietly. “Be careful, Rachel. This could be a good deal more dangerous than you think.”
Chapter Twenty
“What?”
Andrew nodded. “It is just as I have said and it is all because of Miss Grifford that I have learned the truth.”
Lord Wrexham went rather pale, rubbing one hand over his face. “You mean to say that your cousin is the one who caused your father’s accident and has, subsequently, been attempting to poison you?”
Andrew nodded. “Yes, I believe so. He is the heir to the Dukedom since I have no brother behind me and thus, it would make sense for him to be behind this all. I confess that I am still rather stunned by it all but who else can be responsible? The Queens Currant Cakes, for example, are my favourite as I have said, but it would only be my cousin who would be aware of such a thing.”
“Good gracious.”
“And now I must know what I am to do,” Andrew continued, seeing his friend’s eyebrows lift. “How can I force his hand? How can I force him to reveal to me the truth about all of this? I must do it in a way where he is unaware but yet open enough to explain all so thatheis disgraced and I am protected.”
“You could call him out.”
Andrew shook his head. “I do not want to kill him.”
“Even though he has attempted to kill you?”
Considering this, Andrew still found himself against such an idea and shook his head. “No. My cousin has done a great wickedness, yes, but I do not want to act in the same way. Besides which, in calling him out and demanding a duel, do I not offer myself up to him on a silver platter?”
Lord Wrexham grimaced. “You mean to say that he could still take advantage of the situation? He could send someone to shoot you even as you are preparing for the duel.”
“Leaving him as the next Duke of Longford,” Andrew finished, seeing the frown on his friend’s face. “So you see, it is a rather difficult situation.”
Nodding, Lord Wrexham continued to consider this in silence, leaving Andrew to study him, hoping that his friend would offer something of an answer.
“Your Grace, good evening.”
He turned, his heart leaping in his chest, heat spreading out across his frame and a broad smile on his face as he took in his betrothed. “Miss Grifford. You look utterly beautiful this evening.” He reached for her hand and bowed over it, meaning every word. “My breath is quite gone from me.”
She smiled back at him, though there was a slight flicker in her eyes which he understood. There was still a great deal of concern.
“And Miss Renfrew, good evening,” Andrew continued, smiling at the lady. “I presume that Miss Grifford has explained all to you?”
“I am aware of all the recent developments, yes,” came the reply, her eyes twinkling as a bright smile spread across her face. “Though I am concerned about one of them, certainly.”
“Have you decided anything? Has anything been suggested to you?”
Andrew shook his head. “Only that we wish to avoid a duel at all costs.”
“Quite,” came the reply. “Though you must discover Lord Chiddick in public, must you not?”
A footman drew near and offered them all a brandy but Andrew declined quickly, as did the rest of them.
Miss Grifford grasped his arm. “That is it!”
He looked back at her, a little confused. “What do you mean?”
“The footman!” she exclaimed, “do you not recall? On both occasions, a footman has been used.”
Andrew blinked quickly, realizing what she was saying. “The footman was instructed to bring me the poisoned whiskey and again, the cakes.”
“So Lord Chiddick must be paying someone a great deal in order to have them do such a thing as that. Can we not use someone in that way? Can we not hope that he will do the very same thing at, say, our engagement ball?”
