Page 30 of The Duke's Tempting Widow
“Perhaps that is for the best.” Weston answered ominously. His remark strange enough that Lydia looked up at him quizzically.
“Why do you say that?”
“I have something to tell you that you are not going to like.” Weston sighed, fiddling with a piece of lint on the sleeve of his shirt. Anything but to look at the disappointment she was going to have in just a moment.
“I apologize in advance for not informing you sooner, I have been looking for any loophole or way out of this situation but as more money seems to be heading to the estate, it would be best to delay such transactions for as long as possible.”
“But why? Your Grace, you are frightening me.” Lydia whispered, all thoughts of her work gone.
“I wish to be nothing but honest with you, and I have not been.” Weston hesitated, now that he had started speakingit was becoming more difficult to continue forming words. “Was there a scandal with your sister around the time that you were married?”
From the way that Lydia’s face paled, he knew that it was the truth.
“Why would you ask me that?”
“Whatever happened, clearly has been out of public memory for long enough that I do not remember it, nor does William. I do not know if that will soothe you or not, but whatever it was… it appears that our annoying flea Cassian does remember it. He says that he has proof and is willing to expose her if he is not given the earldom in its totality,” Weston finished. Every nerve felt like a frayed wire. He could not breathe, not until she answered him.
“So… the imposter is what, blackmailing you? Us?” Lydia asked, her eyes narrowing to slits. Weston watched the way her fists tightened until her knuckles were white, and then she quickly tucked them under the desk to rest on her lap.
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Since the day in town.”
Lydia’s nostrils flared, and she took another handful of moments to compose herself before speaking again. “It is true, about Kitty. Through no fault of her own. She did not invite nor welcome any advances, but she was caught with a man, and I helped her through it. I would do it again, I certainly do not regret my actions.”
“It does not seem that there is anything to be ashamed of.”
“Kitty would be absolutely mortified if she knew that you knew.”
“I would never say a word.”
“Does William know?” Lydia asked, her voice suddenly much more alarmed.
“Only that there was a scandal, I did not think—”
“Good. My sister would not wish for him to know. She has grown so very fond of him…” Lydia said as she spun her chair around. Was it because she could not stomach the sight of him? Lord, he hoped that was not the case.
Chapter 18
How could she turn her chair back around and face the man behind her? She could not stomach it. Not right away. Just a few moments were needed to compose herself and let the news sink in. He should have told her when it happened. The duke ought to have informed her what the weaselly man was attempting to do the day that it happened.
They had been alone together so many times since it had happened. He could have told her the night of the ball that they attended instead of quickly ushering the lot of them out of there and bringing them back home.
Through the window in the office, she could see a good view of the sprawling grounds to the back of the property and a lovely view of the gardens which were so lovingly cultivated. Even better, was the sight of her younger sister Kitty, walking beside William. Even from here she could see the bright way that the pair of them were smiling at one another.
There was absolutely nothing that she was not willing to do for her sister and her girls. Of course, it would not have been her first choice to have been placed into a marriage for profit, but it turned out just fine. She had even come to be very fond of Jacob.
Kitty deserved the chance to be happy, in whatever form that came for her. Just like when her girls come of age, Lydia did not have any true desire to marry them off without their consent. Those were patterns that she was unwilling to repeat.
“Are you planning on giving in to his request?” Lydia asked, dreading the answer.
“Of course not,” the duke answered, his voice heavy.
Lydia’s eyes closed, letting his words settle over her heavily for a long moment. There was no way that she was going to allow that terrible man into this home. He would not take up residence here and he certainly was not going to encroach upon her girl’s lives or her own. He had no right.
That terrible leech of a man would keep every penny for himself and not allow them a living. It would ruin them and her girl’s chance of future marriage. Or, worse, he would attempt to marry one of the four women himself. Be it now or when they were of age. Lydia’s stomach soured at the thought.
