Page 10 of An Earl's Scandalous Return
With a sigh, he took the letter back, folded it up, and stuffed it into his waistcoat pocket. “I don’t know. But I cannot think why anyone would want to do this to me. And who is this Gregory? Why would they wish to break up my and Jacinda’s engagement? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“No, it does not.” She tapped at her lip. “Tomorrow, we will go to the duke and explain everything.”
His voice broke as he shook his head. “He will do anything to protect his daughter. Even if it isn’t true, people will believe it is once they hear of it.”
Saddened, Arabella put a hand to her brother’s cheek. She hated that his newly found happiness was now to be crushed.
“We will try, though. Tomorrow.” She nodded at him. “We will not give up yet.”
***
“Surely you cannot think me such a fool that I would let this go?” The Duke of Gloucester bellowed in his study while Arabella and Alvin sat across from him.
“But if you would simply understand, Your Grace,” Alvin began, “that we had no idea of this. And we have no idea who Gregory is. My father certainly was not capable of such cruelty. Selling a child? Murdering a woman?”
“But you do believe he might have been capable of impregnating his housekeeper?” He lifted a brow at her brother, and Arabella blushed.
“Of course, that could be possible, especially since my mother died soon after my birth, but it is the unfortunate way of things for many. Although we hate to think that of our father. Would that scandalize your daughter?” Arabella asked, only to receive a glare from the duke.
“I had hoped to marry my daughter to an earl without a sordid history. She is a wonderful girl, deserving of every good thing.”
He sighed and looked over the blasted letter yet again.
“Nor do I wish to get tainted by this delivery of money business for this man to keep secrets for us.” He shook his head and pushed the letter back towards them. “Besides, this child may be a son and may come to try to inherit the earldom from you instead of it passing to your son. No, I cannot have this. You cannot be wed.”
His eyes were glinting and hard, and Arabella’s heart sank for her brother. Jacinda burst into the room just then.
“Please, Father, I beg of you. Surely, we can think of a way to get around this person who has sent the letter. I love Alvin.”
Arabella saw a shadow pass over her brother’s face at her words.
“No.” The duke rose. “I cannot risk it. Good day, Lord Montrose, Lady Simpkin. Consider the engagement at an end. I will send word to the papers as such.”
Alvin took the letter, and before leaving the study, he took one of Jacinda’s hands. He brought it to his lips, kissed it without looking at her, and then walked away. Jacinda let out a little whimper, but Arabella caught her hand for a moment before she, too, left, her heart angry.
At the doorway, Alvin took his hat silently, and they made their way down the steps to the carriage’s open door. “I will go my own way for a while, sister. You go home. I must clear my head.”
“Very well,” she whispered back, her heart hurting for him as she watched his slumped shoulders as he walked away.
Her father was no murderer, for he had always been a good and kind man, a good and kind father. But then, there could be a child. However, had he been too ashamed to tell them?
Is there really a brother or sister out there in the world that Alvin and I never knew about?
She bit her lip, then realised the coachman was watching her, waiting for instruction. “Regent’s Park,” she said, and the waiting footman helped her in.
She, too, needed to think and to clear her mind.
Chapter 11
Edward ate alone at breakfast, for his father wanted to rest more after his busy evening at the ball. He was glad to be alone, however, for even though he pecked at his food, he wasn’t hungry. Instead, he wished to return to bed, to pull the woollen covers over his head and forget what had happened last night.
She’drun awayfrom him. At first, he thought it was just her toying with him again, wishing to pretend they didn’t know each other. But he kept replaying the look in her eyes. They had been wide as if she was both surprised and afraid. When she’d left, he’d seen the pallor of her cheeks. She was afraid of him. And for what? He had no bloody idea why.
I was the hurt one, not her.
The thought of such a kind and loving creature being afraid of him made both anger and guilt twist together in his stomach. At the same time, he couldn’t help forgetting about the last time he’d seen her in Lady Glenda’s gardens, her lovely, full breasts pressed up against his chest as he kissed her madly.
As he practically devoured her while his fingers had roamed south, seeking that delicious wetness between her thighs. He knew it would have been delicious, but only his fingers had tasted, bringing her to sweet pleasure before he’d come to his senses.
