Page 119 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
Xavier turned his glare on the burly man who had followed him in. Ball, dressed like a groom, was indeed holding a pistol. A cocked pistol. The man kept a wary distance, but did not lower his weapon.
In the meantime, March was staring at Xavier in horror. As well he might. Holding a Duke at gunpoint was not exactly a good career move for a diplomat.
‘Your Grace. I— Well—’ the Ambassador stuttered, apparently at a loss for words.
Charles stepped forward with a smooth smile. ‘Good evening, Xavier. We were not expecting you.’
‘So why post a guard? Tell your man to put his weapon down so we can talk in a civilised manner.’
Charles winced as he glanced over at the groom and back to Xavier. ‘Perhaps once I have explained, Your Grace, you will be content to return to your carriage and to London and forget all this unpleasantness.’
He did not, however, ask the groom to lower his gun.
Xavier gritted his teeth. ‘Then explain quickly, for I find that my patience is short. Where is the Countess?’
‘Now, now, Your Grace,’ March said, clearly having regained some of his wits. ‘This is a private family gathering. Nothing that need concern you.’
‘Indeed,’ Charles said quickly. ‘In fact, I rather think I am doing you a favour.’
Xavier looked down his nose at the fellow. ‘I have no idea what you are talking about.’
‘Really?’ Charles spread his fingers and looked at them quizzically before raising his gaze to meet Xavier’s. ‘I would say that the Countess was about to find herself at the centre of a major scandal when your rather sordid affair became common knowledge. Especially after her appearance at Jackson’s saloon. By wedding her, I will relieve you of that embarrassment. Indeed, it seems your arrival is most fortuitous: instead of Ball here, you can stand as witness. No one will argue the validity of a wedding ifwitnessed by a Duke.’
Wedding her? Xavier’s chest felt as if it was bound in iron. He forced himself to take a breath. ‘You and Barbara are getting married?’
‘As soon as the vicar arrives.’
That Barbara liked the fellow, Xavier knew, but he had never seen her show him any sort of warmer emotion.
If it was so, then everything between her and Xavier would have to have been a lie. His stomach dropped.
He could not have been that stupid, surely?
‘And she has agreed to this wedding?’
March shifted his feet. His hands shook as he tugged at his cravat and smiled reassuringly. ‘My daughter has always been headstrong, but she knows it is the best solution.’
The words rang patently false, and Xavier’s heart seemed to lighten.
‘The best solution for whom?’ he asked.
‘Let me find Lady Wells and make sure all is ready,’ March said. He left rather hastily.
‘Sit down, Your Grace,’ Charles said. ‘We will not take too much of your time.’ He gestured to Ball. ‘Give me the pistol and go ready the horses. We leave within the hour.’
His henchman handed over the weapon and left.
Xavier eyed the gun.
Charles shook his head. ‘Do not think about it, Your Grace. Killing you will make everything extremely difficult. But I will do it if I have to.’ He gestured for Xavier to sit. ‘While we are waiting, allow me toexplain how the dear Countess stole my family jewels. Then you will understand why this is necessary.’
Xavier sat and leaned back casually against the chair back. Sooner or later the fellow would make a mistake, and he would be ready.
Because whatever Barbara was, one thing he knew, she was no thief.
Barbara’s heart raced uncomfortably in her chest. She still could not believe this was happening, and with her father’s approval. This was beyond anything he had done to her in the past.
She glared at Lady Wells standing at the dressing table opening the jewellery box. ‘I will not marry Charles,’ she said, for about the tenth time.
