Page 59 of The Odd Riddle of the Lost Duchess
“You dare trade with that traitor?” his grandmother screeched, “How dare you! Does family tradition mean nothing to you?”
“Your delusions, Grandmother, are not tradition.” Noah said stonily over his shoulder, “I am ordered to trade with Leverton from the head of the council, The Duke of Kenton. I need your opinion on it, Mother.”
His mother’s gaze was level, “Son, if we associate ourselves with this merchant heiress, no matter how high Leverton’s offer is, it can be outdone twice, even thrice, by these people.”
The Duke’s jaw was tight as he digested her words, “Et tu,Mother? Are you going to disregard my decision and sacrifice me like a choice lamb for the possibility of money?”
“You are nothing but a pawn, boy, in this majestic game of fortune. And this is no possibility of money—this is a surety,” his grandmother sniffed.
Noah sorely wanted to ask her if money was the only thing she cared for but declined to do so. “Would either of you give me the courtesy of knowing my future wife’s name?”
“Lady Constance Calloway,” Miriam added quietly. “Her father is an Earl and her uncle is a Marquis in South England.”
“Well, excuse me then,” Noah said as bowed with mocking extravagance before he crossed the floor, “I think I should start ordering some dolls for my child bride.”
Noah made sure to close the door behind him and pretend to walk away while in truth he only stood there in hopes of overhearing more.
“Mother,” The Duchess of Newberry said, “Must you continue to test him? You know he’s mourning the Leverton lady while all the other responsibilities of the dukedom are burdening him down.”
The Dowager Duchess huffed, “All the more reason to make him marry this heiress. And don’t make any excuses for him, Miriam. We both know that Leverton chit had to be removed, one way or another, you agreed to it yourself! At least I had the fortitude to do something about it!”
Noah felt like he’d been struck between his eyes with a mallet and barely managed to keep his composure while he walked away. It was inconceivable—his own mother and grandmother had something to do with Emmeline’s death!
He sank into his chair with cold running through him and his eyes staring out blankly. If Leverton had never had a good reason to kill him before, he did now. Noah knew that if he did prove that his own family had killed his love, he would happily hand himself over to Leverton. But not before he taught his own blood a lesson.
Chapter 21
The Best Laid Plans
One more contact had left Newberry, George noted with a satisfied smile as he dropped the message on the table. This was his way of dealing with Emmeline’s death. Yes, he had cried in private but destroying Newberry was his tangible way of grieving.
If there was nothing else the Duke had learned from his grandfather, it was that an enemy should be treated as an enemy, and to weaken their power no hand shouldn’t be played. In the last month the Duke of Leverton had used his influence—and a few nasty rumors—to make most of the business contacts Newberry had, drop him like a blistering wad of coal and leave him stranded.
It wasn’t moral but it was wise and George needed Newberry on his knees. The man had stolen his sister from him and so he had to pay and pay dearly.
Cutting off Newberry’s resources was one step—George wanted full retribution for his sister which meant total obliteration. He was considering his next tactic to remove Newberry. Since he had cut off most of his investors, leaving only him standing, George was waiting on the Duke to come crawling to him for his partnership.
I’m going to destroy you, Newberry. With no other options, you must come to me.
“Your Grace,” Hudgins, the butler, spoke clearly from the doorway, “You have received a letter from the Duke of Newberry.”
Frowning, George stood and took the folded paper and after thanking his manservant, broke the wax seal and read:
Duke of Leverton,
With regards to your latest trade proposal, I have to decline. Your offer, Sir, is skewed to you and your people’s benefit with no advantage for me and mine. I have sent a copy of your proposal to Duke Kent-upon-Barr, and he will be the arbitrator in this matter.
Secondly, I am aware that you are using your contacts and influence to remove my investors from me. I am no fool, Leverton, and I know your underhanded tactics come from unsupported ideologies that I had anything to do with Lady Emmeline’s death.
Your game, Sir, will not succeed. Leverton, you are sacrificing meager pawns while I am lobbying the King.
The Duke of Newberry
George’s eyes narrowed to slits—he had not thought that Newberry would stoop so low to forfeit his pride and become a tattletale. Grudgingly, he had to admit Newberry had made a good move, one grounded in battlefield strategy–go to the source and cut off the middlemen.
Tugging a drawer open, George looked at the one remnant of his sister, as a reminder and further impetus to wreak havoc on Newberry. The stained handkerchief was safe inside a velvet sack but George didn’t have to open and look at it to feel driven. He was going to destroy Newberry no matter what.
* * *
