Page 137 of The Lyon Returns
“Why could it not have been Father’s?” Grayson parried, jutting his chin in an obstinate manner.
“Holt showed me the letters he received, all signedLord G.He said your representative was very clear that he should make certain her purchase fell through, and if he did not, he would make an enemy of the future Duke of Ashwood.”
“I see.” Grayson met Gideon’s eyes. “I wasn’t behind any of it. Do you believe me?”
“For the sake of argument, let’s say I’m willing to consider the possibility.”
Grayson’s expression turned pragmatic. “What we must ask ourselves is why someone might wish to cause your wife such distress—and use me to do so. Have you any ideas?”
Gideon shook his head. “Only the one—that whomever he is, he wished to get to me through her.”
Grayson nodded. “Undoubtedly.” His gaze sharpened on Gideon. “What about this previous offense? What is it I supposedly did to damage our relationship? I confess, I have long wondered why your attitude toward me turned frosty.”
“You’re claiming you truly have no idea?”
“None.”
Gideon nodded. “All right. I’ll bite. Fannie.”
Grayson arched his brows, looking nonplused.
“I married her for you,” Gideon gritted out. “While you enjoyed a tour of the bloody Continent and washed your hands of the whole mess.”
Grayson snorted. “What mess? And how on earth would your marrying Fannie aid me, other than getting the duchess off my back? Admittedly, she pushed the chit…er…your late wife as a marriage candidate nearly from day one, but when I told her I did not wish to marry her under any circumstance, she seemed, finally, to accept my decision. In fact, it was her idea for me to tour the Continent that summer. She all but—no, shedidbook my passage, as I recall, saying it would help Fannie’s chances of securing a good match if thetondid not see me as vying for her affections.” He rubbed his chin, as if remembering. “I had no notion the two of you would be married when I returned, or I wouldn’t have left and missed the ceremony.”
“You didn’t know,” Gideon said, marveling.
Years. He’d wasted years believing the worst.
Grayson shook his head. “That’s what I just said isn’t it? Wait. There’s something more to this.”
“You got her with child.”
Grayson’s eyes bugged. His mouth worked, but no words came for several seconds. When he finally spoke, he erupted. “I never got her with child. I never touched her. I swear on my honor I did no such thing.”
All the breath went out of Gideon. Of all the things Grayson could have said, this was the last thing he expected.
“Why would you ever think that?” Grayson continued. “I really must know. Did Fannie say she and I…But, why would she lie?”
Gideon began to pace, thoughts spinning. “Because someonedidget her with child and she needed a scapegoat.”
“Dear God,” Grayson exclaimed. “No wonder you changed toward me. You must’ve thought—blood of the saints, what you must’ve thought. I’m amazed you ever spoke to me again. But I still do not quite see why you felt compelled to marry her. Unless…” Grayson’s complexion darkened with anger. “She told you I was the father and that I’d abandoned her. I swear to you, Gideon, I never touched her.”
Gideon faced his brother. “I believe you. But no, she did not tell me she was breeding.Shedid not tell me anything.”
“Then, who?”
“The duchess came to me. She said Fannie had tricked you into bedding her. I did not doubt this because…” He spread his arms wide.
A sardonic smile twisted Grayson’s mouth. “Because she was forever trying to corner you before you escaped to Calcutta.”
Gideon inclined his head.
Grayson’s eyes narrowed in thought. “The duchess told you I bedded Fannie. What else did she say?”
Gideon saw no reason to sugarcoat the truth. “She said I owed the family, and if I married Fannie, my debt would be paid in full.”
A crash sounded from the garden through the open French doors, as if one of the clay flower pots had hit the paving stones.
