Page 31 of Duke of Silver
CHAPTER 14
“Broughton, what in the world are you doing back here?” Alexander clapped his friend on the shoulder as Colin was ushered into his study.
“I had some property to view in the neighboring village and thought to drop by after,” the Marquess replied with a grin.
Alexander couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief at the sight of him. Colin had always been a welcome distraction from the burdens that weighed heavily on his mind. He poured them both a drink and handed one to his friend.
“So, how’s the new life going?” Colin asked, stretching his legs out comfortably over the rug and crossing them at the ankles, a picture of ease.
Alexander felt a sigh escape him, unbidden. The question hit closer to home than his friend could have known. His new life, this marriage—on the surface, it was just as expected,but beneath it, there was a constant tug of tension. Keeping Elizabeth at a distance was one thing, but managing her curiosity about his past was proving to be far more difficult than he’d anticipated. And now, there was Georgianna’s meddling to contend with.
He had always known the widow to be relentless, but even he had underestimated her persistence. To show up during his honeymoon—her audacity left him speechless. And worse, Elizabeth now believed her to be his mistress. No matter what he said, she wouldn’t be swayed from that notion. The very thought of it made his chest tighten with frustration.
It wasn’t just the lies that troubled him. What unnerved him most was his growing desire for Elizabeth to believehim. He wanted her trust—needed it, for reasons he could not fully explain. The idea that she viewed him with suspicion perturbed him, unsettling in a way he hadn’t expected.
“Well, that sigh doesn’t sound very promising,” Colin remarked, his gaze sharp as he watched him over the rim of his tumbler.
Alexander offered a wry smile, swirling the brandy in his glass. “Suffice to say, I am still navigating the tides,” he replied, his voice more guarded than he’d intended.
“Hopefully not in a storm?” Colin’s tone shifted slightly, concern flickering in his eyes.
Alexander chuckled lightly, though there was little humor in it. “I have to keep the storm at bay. Isn’t that what marriage is all about?”
It was, indeed, a most daunting task.
“The unflattering aspect of it, I suppose,” Colin shrugged, taking a sip from his glass.
“Flattering?Youfind marriage flattering?” Alexander couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it. His marriage, thus far, had felt anything but flattering.
“From afar, yes,” Colin replied with a mischievous grin. “For example, it looks good on you so far,” he added impishly, his tone full of jest.
Alexander shot him a look, which only made his friend roar with laughter. But beneath the banter, Alex’s mind was already turning over the rumors Georgianna had delivered. If anyone would have a finger on the pulse of society, it was Colin.
“So, how fare the rumors in town?” Alexander asked, his tone more casual than he felt.
Colin raised a brow, but answered readily. “I believe society has made its peace with the scandal,” he said, referring to the unfortunate circumstances that had led to Alexander’s hasty marriage to Elizabeth.
But Alexander frowned, confusion knitting his brow. “I speak not of the scandal precisely, but of the new rumors about the Duchess,” he clarified, his voice more serious now.
Colin blinked, his expression shifting to one of genuine surprise. “What are you talking about?” he asked, clearly at a loss.
Alexander exhaled, feeling the frustration begin to coil within him again. He briefly shared what he had been told about Elizabeth and Percy, though he deliberately left out the identity of the person who had brought the news to him. There was no need to drag Georgianna’s name into this conversation—at least not yet.
Colin frowned in thought, his brow furrowing as he processed the information. “Perhaps these rumors started after I left town already,” he mused aloud.
Alexander clenched his jaw. Could Georgianna have been lying? He wouldn’t put it past her—causing trouble in his marriage would be entirely in keeping with her vindictive nature. But then again, could there be any truth to her words? He couldn’t shake the uncertainty prickling at him.
“How long have you been out of Town, then?” Alexander asked, hoping to gain some clarity.
“Oh, I left town the day after you did. I had a brief stop in Essex first,” Colin replied, his voice thoughtful.
Alexander felt his frustration deepen. If Colin had left so soon after him, there was little chance he would have heard anything about these rumors. Which left him no closer to the truth than before.
Could Georgianna possibly be telling the truth?
Alexander knew he needed to confront Georgianna at the earliest opportunity, to put an end to her schemes once and for all. But perhaps, for now, a warning—delivered through a carefully penned letter—would suffice. The thought brought him a measure of resolve.
“I have another property to view in an hour. I best be on my way, then,” Colin said, rising from his chair at last.
