Page 55 of Matters of a Duke's Heart
“Indeed, they are not. Since writing that, I have discovered more.” Rupert leaned forward. “I made myself conveniently busy at the Silver Fist to have a friendly game of dice with a friend of mine. Anyway, while I was at the gambling hell none other than Radcliffe himself showed up. His temper was absolutely rotten, and by the time he was seated at his first game he was already ranting about his money and needing a win that day.
“It turns out that the Radcliffe name has flown so far south since he took over the viscountcy that he has very little left to his name. He boasts good connections because it is the only thing hehas to show for it, but it is only a matter of time, I wager, before they come asking for money.”
“He has only garnered those connections by likely promising them something financial,” Spencer agreed, and Rupert nodded grimly.
“He is putting himself in a very dangerous position, and by extension, the ladies he has relentlessly pursued. He lost out on Felicity, thankfully, but I have been keeping an eye on Lady Daphne. Georgina reported that Radcliffe has approached her on more than one occasion. She has been occupied with a suitor both times, and she has had the protective measures you put into place, too.”
The words lingered unsaid: but what if one day she is alone?
“I spread word to other lords,” Spencer said, “that if they see him approach her then to conveniently draw him into conversation. I like to think I know enough that she will always have somebody. Felicity is concerned, but Daphne has asked for no further intervention.”
“I do not like doing nothing,” Rupert muttered. “She is a lovely lady, and I do not want to see her pursued like this.”
Spencer wasn’t surprised by the revelation about Radcliffe, and he couldn’t push aside the idea that had he not asked to marry Felicity, she would have likely been matched to him.
“He wants the considerable Merriweather dowry,” he sighed, rubbing his eyes as he leaned back in his chair. “He could not get it through Felicity, so his next choice is Lady Daphne.”
“Radcliffe cannot be trusted. He sounded desperate, Spencer. Desperate men do desperate things for money, and although he has not had a history of being forceful with ladies and advances, he has been known to be pushy. Your wife experienced it first-hand. To everybody else he simply looks eager to court, but his eyes are on the dowries.”
“If he cannot get a wife through the proper means…”
“He is not afraid to be improper.” Rupert pinched the bridge of his nose. “I will continue my digging, but I think we should have more people aware of this. I am already putting information out to other lords to suggest that if they have financial agreements with Radcliffe to tread cautiously. After all, I was not the only one who heard his raving every time he lost.”
“He is a fool to still be gambling,” Spencer hissed. “He will only lose more money and become more unpredictable and volatile. There has to be something more I can do for Lady Daphne.”
“She is spending more time at my residence to call upon Georgina, so I will do what I can to keep an eye on her. Perhaps I will show interest in courting her so I can maintain a close proximity and ensure her safety. She has two suitors to myknowledge that she is keen on, but she has not promised herself to either of them, nor received their proposals.”
Spencer paused at how Rupert’s voice softened at the mention of Lady Daphne’s name, and he wondered…
No, he thought. That is none of my business.
But perhaps Rupert had grown fond of her, especially if he already knew her through his sister.
“In the meantime…” Rupert stood up to pour himself a glass of brandy. Spencer stared at him long enough for his friend to chuckle under his breath and pour him one, too. He did enjoy riling him up. “Lady Helena is showing her claws as well. She is not happy, and she is being rather vocal about it. See, this is why I insist you come back to your townhouse. You can keep an eye on her yourself.”
Spencer fought down a flare of irritation. “Rupert, if I go back to London permanently then she will only advance more toward me out of convenience. She will be closer to Felicity, as well, and I do not want that.”
“Then tell her,” Rupert urged, coming to sit back down again. “Tell your wife she might stand for some nastiness, for I fear Lady Helena will act out.”
Spencer fell silent for a moment, pondering it as he drank. “We are in a good place, Rupert. If she knows of this…” He shook his head. “Heavens, we haven’t even discussed Sophia, let alone my abandoning Helena. She might wonder what it is about her that has made me want to keep her in my life. She could take it negatively, when the opposite is quite true. It is more that she has made me feel something so different to anything I have ever experienced. I cannot—” His throat tightened. “I cannot lose that.”
The confession surprised him. He had been so scared to admit that his feelings for his wife were growing, yet he realized his confession was true. He really couldn’t stand to lose Felicity, and if she thought he had unfinished business with Lady Helena then would she find a way out of their marriage?
Would she insist she move to another estate where they would not see one another? Their marriage would go back to being on paper only, and Spencer…
Spencer would lose her.
“Worse than telling her would be Her Grace finding out through another means,” Rupert gently said. “If she must hear anything at all, she deserves for it to come from you.”
Spencer nodded, idly tapping his finger against the glass. “You are right.”
“I know.” Rupert smirked at him and drained his glass. “I will keep my ears and eyes open for word on Radcliffe and write to you.” He paused, turning back to glance at Spencer. “You are attending the Farriers’ ball, are you not? It is in three days.”
“Of course I am,” he muttered. “I will simply be on watch for Radcliffe.”
“Let me handle that. You just pay attention to your wife.”
Spencer waved his friend away, unable to confess that all he had been doing was paying attention, for it was hard not to when Felicity struck him so squarely in the chest.
