Page 38 of Matters of a Duke's Heart
At the topic change, Rupert turned more serious as he nodded. “I do indeed.”
“I need a favor from you,” Spencer said. “He has approached Felicity several times, overstepping greatly, making her feel rather threatened. Now that she is my wife, I believe he has turned his focus to her sister, Lady Daphne Merriweather. I need you to discreetly inquire around London. I wish to know if he has any secrets, anything hidden he would not want word getting out about.”
He bit back his blunter meaning: he did not like the viscount’s seeming obsession with the Merriweather girls. Something bothered him about it. It did not only seem like social standing, and if it was, it was clear Lord Radcliffe would not give up anytime soon. With Lady Daphne being unwed, she stood at most risk, but Spencer couldn’t stop thinking about Felicity.
“I will,” Rupert said. He grinned, falling back into easy step with Spencer. “I believe this is where I shall make the most of my excellent connections.”
Spencer nodded. “Yes, do that.”
The two walked further on, heading toward a path that would fork off, one way to Wexley Village, the other to Bluebell Manor, but before they could properly leave the main part of Langdon Village, Spencer stilled.
His eyes narrowed immediately on a woman who approached him, her smirk already fixed in place.
“Well, I never!” she laughed in greeting, her voice carrying even as she moved closer. Lady Helena made her ambling way over, looking shocked. “Look at the two of you out and about on such a fine day. I never thought I would run into you.”
“Lady Helena,” Rupert greeted, bowing briefly, but Spencer didn’t miss the glance he made toward him. “Lovely to see you, as always.”
She barely spared him a smile, her focus on Spencer.
He smiled tightly. “Lady Helena. You say you did not think you would run into us yet… you are in my village.”
“Indeed I am.” She looked around as if shocked. “The Duke of Langdon. It is such a beautiful village. I have had a fondness for it ever since you brought me here. You recall those memories, of course, I am certain.” She gave him a slow, knowing look, urging him to say he did.
Pettily, Spencer answered, “it was long ago. I am a busy man. I have many things to recall.”
Lady Helena looked affronted, her overly nice facade fading for a moment as she frowned, only for her expression to pick back up into something almost pleasant had she not appeared slightly sour by the remark.
“Lord Wexley—”
“Yes,” he said, already knowing what was about to be asked. “I will be right over here. Do shout for me, Your Grace, if you need it.” He gave a quick, cutting glance back to Lady Helena in silent warning, before he stepped away. He didn’t go far, pretending to browse the flowers on a florist’s stall.
Lady Helena wasted no time in sidling closer. She linked her arm through Spencer’s. “You always thought I would make an excellent duchess.”
“I do not believe those words ever crossed my lips, Lady Helena,” he answered stoically.
“Well, I deduced them from your actions,” she quipped back. “A man does not court me for as long as you did without thinking such a thing, surely.” Before he could answer, she continued. “Then again, you did not court Lady Felicity at all, and see wherethat has gotten you. Do you regret your choice, Your Grace? Do you see now how I would have made a far better duchess than the one you have given the title to? Lady Felicity is…” She paused, feigning delicate thinking. “Well, there are terrible names for what she may be called, but I will refrain from saying them out of respect.”
“Respect,” Spencer laughed. “Lady Helena, we both know that you would not hold back out of respect.”
“No, but I will out of pride,” she shot back. “I was supposed to have all of this. This beautiful, quaint village, and Bluebell Manor. I was supposed to be the Duchess of Langdon everybody wished to meet. You took that away from me.”
Spencer could not endure hearing any of her tantrum for much longer, and he stopped short, cutting into her path. “Lady Helena, we both know you wanted the duchy, and only that. Let neither of us pretend that you wanted me.”
“Yes I—”
“Lady Helena,” he said quietly, watching the fight leave her eyes at his tone. “I do not appreciate how you speak about my wife. You will pay her the respect she garners or you will not speak of her at all. You will stay away from me, and from her.”
Lady Helena gaped at him, her eyes shining with tears he did not quite believe in. Rupert had already mentioned howLady Helena had already set her sights on a marquess of the neighboring village to his own. Spencer was not heartless, not as much as he wished to think, but he was not a fool, either.
“Spencer,” she whispered, familiar and hurt, and he felt a stab of guilt, but tampered it down. “You cannot feel for her the way you once cared for me. We had something special.”
Spencer’s eyes narrowed, a cold reservation settling into his heart at the false claim. “That is not the case, Lady Helena. We had a brief courtship, and I admit I continued it for longer than I ought. But I never would have married you. I enjoyed your company, and I got selfish with how readily you gave it, but I never promised you marriage.”
“I—”
“It sounds as though you are done here.” Rupert’s voice gave Spencer a much-needed reprieve, and he gave his friend a relieved glance at the interruption.
“We are,” he confirmed.
