Page 14 of She Tempts the Duke
Fool! So close. You shouldn’t have waited so long.
“What choice did I have? I had to fend off suspicions.”
But twelve years? Fool.
Lord David Easton paced with agitation. So close. So close. So close.
Twelve years ago, he sent his man to the tower to dispense with his troublesome nephews. He was going to claim a hunting accident. It was a poor explanation. He’d known it at the time, but creativity had never been his strong suit.
Only the lads had somehow managed to escape. Search parties had no success in finding them. The boys had skillfully eluded Lord David until even he began to believe the rumors that they were dead.
He shouldn’t have waited to press his claim to the titles, but he hadn’t wanted to be suspected of foul play. Not that it would have done him any good. A half-blind man could see the twins’ remarkable resemblance to their father.
Only one of them does. The other is half-blind, which fosters a weakness, would make him easier prey.
“After tonight’s fiasco, you can’t think I can get away with killing them.”
You must. Lucretia will leave you if you once again become nothing—just as the lads’ mother tossed you over for their father, for Randall. She was yours. But it took only one smile from Randall for her to turn her favors toward him. She said she loved him, but all she wanted was the title. It’s all any woman wants.”
“But three murders—”
Accidents. Just as one befell their father. They are cursed.
“No one will believe it.”
They believed your father died of illness. You proved to him how clever you were.
Lord David stopped his pacing and stared into the fire. “You are not as clever as your brother,” his father told him over and over as he was growing up.
“I am clever.” His laughter echoed around him. “Even my father had to admit how clever I was in the end, when the poison had done its work and all thought he’d fallen ill.” But when he died, Randall became duke and stole David’s love.
He had to pay for his betrayal, for his thievery.
“I never should have listened to you,” he whispered to the shadows that had long been his companions.
And Eve never should have taken a bite from the apple. You have tasted vengeance. Surely you would not pass up a feast.
He licked his lips, already savoring the sweetness of it.
Chapter 5
The morning following the most interesting ball of the Season, Mary was sitting in the morning room readingJane Eyrewhen the butler walked in and bowed slightly.
“M’lady, you have a guest.”
Inwardly she groaned. Lady Hermione had certainly wasted no time in seeking her out for gossip. “Inform her that I’m not at home.”
“Not ‘her,’ m’lady, but the Duke of Keswick.”
Her heart thundered as she rose quickly to her feet, patted her hair, smoothed her skirt. “Show him in.”
“He is in the library with your father. I’m to take you there.”
“Why did you not say? He’s here to see my father then. Not me.” And why? Why would he seek out her father? Why had he not come specifically to see her? Why did it pain her so that he hadn’t? Because they were friends, that was all. It was no more than that.
“My apologies, m’lady. I know only that I was sent to fetch you as the duke wishes to speak with you.”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so irascible.” And why the deuce was she apologizing to a servant? Because she was flustered by Sebastian’s arrival.
