Page 31 of The Duke's Indecent Match
“WheredoesDrake keep getting off to?”Christian asked, and they all shrugged in response.“Do you think he’s gotten a lead on… on our fathers?”
On who had killed their fathers, he meant.All of them slowed in their steps.Exchanged a glance.
“He would tell us if that was it.Wouldn’t he?”Matthew frowned, not entirely sure of his declaration.Drake did tend to hold things very close to his chest.The last bit of information he’d shared was from Sinclair’s heir, the new Duke of Northumberland.The man had found no threatening letters or anything that might lead to a clue among either of his predecessors’ effects, though he’d promised to look.Drake had also reported that the new duke was as eager as ever to make friends with him.
However, none of them could look at Northumberland, or even hear the title, without thinking of Sinclair.It was bad enough to have lost their fathers; losing their friend so quickly in the wake of the tragedy had cemented their bonds… and the new Northumberland was left on the outside.
“Not if he were unsure of the information,” Sebastian replied, his frown deepening.“He would wait ‘til he was sure.We should question him when he reappears.”
“He may have just gone out for a ride.The social whirl always grates on him.”Though if Drake did have any new information… The confliction Nathanial was all too familiar with rose up in his chest again.His relief that his own father was gone.His grief for his friends for their loss.
Most times, he shoved the mystery to the back of his mind.He was not as eager as his friends to solve it.His focus was, by necessity, on the future and on what he needed to do right now to provide security for his sisters and his people.
He also knew his friends wanted answers.Needed them.
They wanted justice.
They deserved it, too.
Nathanial would have to fight the urge to shake the murderer’s hand for what he had done for Nathanial’s family—saved them from complete and utter financial ruin, most likely.
Sometimes, he wondered why his friends did not suspect him more.He’d certainly considered patricide more than once.He had not done it… but he had thought about it.The fact that so many others had died in the explosion was likely the only reason he was not viewed with more suspicion.
“We will find out soon enough,” Christian said, his voice sounding slightly distant, as though he had pulled into himself.
They had gone far enough down the hall that they could hear light feminine laughter coming from the open door of the parlor.
“Unto the breach we go,” Matthew muttered under his breath as they walked to the doorway.He was not wrong.The moment they appeared, every eye immediately turned to their entrance.Fans went up, fluttering, creating a wave of air puffing through the room.
Nathanial scanned the room, looking at everyone, and certainly not for anyone in particular.He spotted Miss Little immediately in one of the chairs near the unlit fireplace, with her mother beside her.They looked to have been talking to Lady Astrid and a young woman dressed in a spectacular outfit of green, cream, and gold that set off her beauty.She was now studying the four dukes with a sharp, intelligent gaze, despite her youth.MeiLady Astrid had said her name was when he’d spoken with her this morning, traveling with her grandmother.
“She is no older than a debutante,” Sebastian muttered, huffing and eyeing the young woman with obvious suspicion.
So as not to allow his gaze to linger, Nathanial had already moved on and spotted the older woman speaking with Lady Kari and Lady Nichole on the other side of the room.Her outfit was similar to the younger’s, though in more muted colors.Not as flashy.That must be Lady Hu.
“Where are they from, do you think?”Matthew whispered.
“China, of course.”There were plenty of traders, merchants, and others who had moved to London and other cities in England over the years.Nathanial recognized their particular set of features.
As he had not been able to afford much in the way of staff, speaking with merchants was a task that had fallen to him, which allowed him to meet a far greater number of people than he might have otherwise.There was an absolute madness for Chinese dishes and fabrics among theton, though the spices seemed to have recently fallen out of fashion.The flavors had grown in popularity among the lower classes, so they were still available and finally at a price that Nathanial’s kitchen could afford.The difficulty of travel had been much reduced over the past few decades and allowed for a much greater quantity of goods to reach England than was previously possible.
“Oh.How interesting.She’s very pretty.”Matthew tilted his head and reached for his pocket.
“Stop that.”Sebastian grabbed his wrist, pulling it away.“You cannot marry a matchmaker even if your blasted coin says to.”
Sighing, Matthew dropped his hand.
“I suppose grandmother would be upset if I do not at least marry gentry,” he conceded with a hefty sigh.“I will not flip for her.”
Because if he did flip and the coin said to marry the matchmaker, he would do so regardless of whether it upset his grandmother.Nathanial’s lips twitched.No, he could not imagine living the way Matthew did.He had so little control already; giving up the rest of it was out of the question.
“Ah.That must be the real matchmaker,” Sebastian said, tilting his head toward where Lady Hu was speaking with Lady Kari and Lady Nichole.She had barely glanced toward the dukes, while her granddaughter was still silently studying them.
“Not that you need her, eh?”Christian murmured, nudging Sebastian in the side.He grunted a noncommittal response.
Lady Astrid came to greet them, smiling widely.Nathanial steeled himself.
To his surprise, they did not meet the matchmakers immediately.They found themselves seated together with tea to coddle their innards, waiting for their turn after the ladies.Their surrounds stymied any true conversation, especially anything about their fathers or their marriage prospects.There were too many ears to overhear, and more of the older ladies arrived soon after them, drawn by their own curiosity.
