Page 92 of An Unwanted Widow for the Duke
Assured that everything was well in hand, he went to his study, hoping to sort out some correspondence. He had barely sat down when a knock sounded at the door.
“Yes?” he called, his eyes fixed on the letters.
“Lady Farnmont wants to see you, Your Grace,” the butler’s voice announced.
“Lady Farnmont?” Gerard murmured, looking up with a frown.
“She insisted that she see you, Your Grace. I will be in the corridor if you need me.”
“Thank you. Show her in, then.”
Lady Farnmont swept in, looking distraught. She sat on the chair across from him without waiting for permission.
“Your Grace,” she said. “I hope I am not intruding. I wished to talk to you, but didn’t expect you to retire from the event so early.”
“I am planning to return to bid the guests goodbye. What is it that you wish to talk about?”
“I’m here to warn you, Your Grace,” she began somberly.
“Please speak plainly,” Gerard urged, his patience wearing thin.
“It’s about your Duchess.”
He did not like that at all.
Jaw clenched, he met her eyes. “Choose your words carefully, Lady Farnmont.”
“Oh, I shall,” she said breathlessly. “If you think your Duchess is a model of grace and innocence, think again. She has been hiding behind a mask. I have reputable sources telling me that she is none other than Lady Silverquill herself. Imagine being married to someone who has repeatedly disturbed the peace of the peerage.”
“All right, then. What else do you want to tell me?” Gerard asked evenly.
“You may not believe me now, but you will thank me once everyone finds out. There will be a scandal, certainly. What do you think the ton will do to a duchess who writes like that? She thrives on scandal.”
“Mhm. I thank you, Lady Farnmont, for the information you provided,” he said, trying to keep his temper.
Lady Farnmont laughed bitterly. “She has blinded you. I knew that woman was dangerous. If you think her being Lady Silverquill is nothing, how about this? Robert’s death is still a mystery.”
“Tread carefully, Lady Farnmont,” Gerard warned.
“No! Consider the injustice! Robert’s memory lies in her hands! She married him simply to pacify her mother. Surely she must have done something to bring that ill-fated marriage to an end!”
Gerard rose to his feet, fury simmering inside him. “How dare you accuse my wife of murder in her home?”
“She had every part in Robert’s death!” Lady Farnmont cried. “She is calculating. Ask around. Your wife was not gentle and meek. She used that false personality to ensnare you, Your Grace, just as she did Robert. When she realized that he could do nothing for her, she cast him aside in the worst way possible!”
Gerard clenched his fists in a bid at self-restraint. He had never and would never hit a woman. “Enough, Lady Farnmont. I won’t hear any more slander against my wife.”
“You have been bewitched. Again, ask the ton. The Grisham girls have a way of ensnaring dukes. They are an ambitious lot. Robert was not enough for her.” Lady Farnmont then rose to her feet.
Gerard did not doubt the intensity of her feelings. She truly believed what she was saying.
“It is one thing to mourn Robert, Lady Farnmont, but quite another to weaponize your bitterness and hurl accusations at those who have not wronged you. That will not be tolerated.”
For a moment, the two were silent, each one trying to rein in their anger. Then, the door to the study swung open.
Wilhelmina entered, looking bewildered. “Lady Farnmont?”
Gerard saw his wife battle with her emotions before taking a deep, steadying breath. Her eyes studied Lady Farnmont briefly, then flicked to him.
