Page 43 of Masquerading with the Duke
‘It’s to your credit that you still don’t realise that your status as a duchess makes every female with ambitions anxious to court your society.’
‘Yes well, I am developing a thicker skin and learning from my mistakes.’ She sighed. ‘I cannot rescind the Redrows’ invitation to the masque, though. Not without telling them why, which will only embarrass Martina.’
‘Without wishing to encourage your expectations, Amos seems to think that Braden will take it upon himself to protect Martina on the night.’
‘Of course he will,’ Frankie replied sweetly, and Zach could hear the smile in her voice.
‘Enough of Braden and his problems.’
‘What problems?’
Damn, Zach hadn’t meant to let that slip. ‘Nothing of consequence—and if there was something, it will have to wait.’ He pulled Frankie on top of him and kissed her thoroughly. ‘I have plans for you,’ he said in a voice thick with passion.
She laughed, her hair falling forward and tickling his chest. ‘When do you not?’ she asked.
*
‘Any developments?’ Jared asked Ramsay as soon as he arrived home.
‘Nothing. Your brother didn’t leave the house,’ Ramsay replied, following Jared up to his chamber and helping him to disrobe. ‘He drank himself insensible, ate a large meal and then passed out. We had to wake him and to took two of us to get him up to his room. He will have the devil of a headache in the morning,’ Ramsay added, gleefully.
‘A charming houseguest,’ Jared replied. ‘But at least he will be gone tomorrow. Make sure you stay on his tail. I shall be very surprised if he doesn’t meet with Redrow before leaving the district.’
‘Will do.’
‘Did he quiz you, or any of the household staff?’
‘He did talk to John for some time. When I asked John what he’d wanted, he claimed that he’d been issuing instructions for his carriage to be prepared for the morning.’
‘That wouldn’t require a long conversation. Arthur doesn’t usually have anything to say to servants, other than to give curt orders, which confirms my suspicions that John is likely in Redrow’s employ.’
‘Want me to dismiss him?’
‘Heavens, no. He might come in useful.’
‘You have that cunning look about you, sir.’
‘I didn’t entirely waste my time in the diplomatic service.’ Jared yawned. ‘Anyway, did Arthur do anything else that I need to be aware of?’
‘Nope. Just sat in the drawing room, imbibing and muttering to himself. He’s not a happy man, that much I do know.’
‘He will be a great deal unhappier by the time I’ve finished with him. He’s threatening to have me publicly accused of disloyalty to the crown. I have given my solemn word to keep the country’s secrets and honour means a great deal to me. Arthur is aware of that, which is why he made this clumsy attempt at blackmail. He’s failed and must now sell his soul to the devil as a consequence. Even so, he must be grappling with what passes for his conscience as things stand. He cannot hurt me without hurting himself.’ Jared gave a mirthless chuckle. ‘I almost feel sorry for him.’
‘What shall you do?’
‘I have absolutely no idea.’ Jared climbed into his bed with a weary sigh. ‘Hopefully, whatever he does tomorrow will point me in the right direction.’
‘No pressure on me then,’ Ramsay said with a wry smile.
‘None whatsoever.’ Jared dismissed his man with a tired wave. ‘Night, Ramsay.’
‘Night, sir.’
Jared lay awake long after Ramsay had left. The curtains were partially open and the light from the full moon spilled across the bedcovers and sent patterns dancing across its canopy. He mulled over his time with Martina, wondering what it was about her that captured his interest. She was little more than a child. An admittedly very lovely child, but a child nonetheless. Except that she was mature beyond her years. He considered what she had told him about a childhood destroyed by the aftermath of war. He suspected that she had glossed over most of the hardships. Even so, it was little wonder that she seemed so worldly. It infuriated him that even their cousin, the man they looked to for protection after their uncle’s death, had attempted to exploit Ariana for his own lustful purposes.
Jared felt great admiration for their courage and tried to tell himself that that was as far as his interest in Martina went. But he knew he was deluding himself. The chit had sparked his interest on levels over which he had absolutely no control. It was deuced inconvenient and somewhat ironic. He was no stranger to the machinations of females keen to secure his ring on their finger. None of them had made any impression on him and he’d found them easy to resist. Martina, in contrast, was making no effort to put herself forward; quite the reverse, and here he was, frustrated by the images of her fierce pride and sparkling green eyes that lived on in his memory, making sleep a near impossibility.
He turned over and thumped his pillows hard, sending the odd loose feather dancing into the air and making himself sneeze. It was ridiculous. Even if his thoughts were turning to matrimony, which they were not, she was far too young for him. And she would most likely reject him anyway. All he could do for Martina was keep her safe from Redrow’s vicious revenge. If by so doing he was somehow able to expose Redrow as the actual source of the governmental leaks that were in danger of unbalancing the delicate state ofdétentebeen England and Francethen that would just have to be reward enough for him.
