Page 128 of Ironvine

“I did not fight the duel, Your Grace,” said Charles. “Hugh did.”

“And yet you bear a wound on your arm? Is that wound not Mr. Treharne’s doing? From his pistol?”

“No, it is not. It is my brother’s doing. Directly after the duel, Hugh shot me.”

“No. It cannot be. Why would your own brother do such a foul thing?”

“It is the truth, Your Grace,” said Georgina. “I was there, I saw it. After William was taken away, Hugh shot Charles right there in Hyde Park.”

“Hugh had asked me twice to take his place in the duel, but I’d refused,” said Charles. “He was angry with me, desperate to ensure that nothing would endanger his engagement. He feared if it was known he had bedded Mrs. Treharne, had fought the duel, Georgina’s family would have grounds to break the engagement we’d just signed the day before.”

“Hugh was most angry with me for being at Hyde Park and having seen him shoot Charles,” said Georgina. “We argued, and I took Charles from the park to a doctor, a cousin of mine, to be seen to. Charles and I stayed there for a short while, and then we both thought it wise to find Hugh, to confirm that the engagement would go on.”

“We went to my house and found him dead on the floor of the drawing room,” said Charles.

“A fine story,” the Duchess’s voice clipped.

“Pray, what is your story, madame?” Charles held her gaze. “For I believe you capable of a great deal, especially if you are betrayed.”

“I let Hugh go so he could marry because he had to, because he should. I loved Hugh. I wanted what was best for him.

“And Hugh spent almost every night in London at whorehouses and private clubs with his friends. Surely you’d heard reports. Were you not jealous?”

“No. I fully expected it. I encouraged him to indulge in those entertainments to prove he was a free man. We all enjoy such pastimes, do we not?”

Georgina bit her lip at the Duchess’s reply.

Charles rubbed his sore arm. “But if your man was hovering over Hugh to deliver your letters, he might have seen him go off to his secret lover and then report it to the Duke. Perhaps you did not consider Mrs. Treharne such a passing entertainment? It seems Hugh had been with her a number of times—a fact he kept secret from me.”

“I never had Hugh followed or spied upon.”

“Perhaps the Duke had him followed and killed? If you and Hugh were broken, your husband finally took a husband’s revenge on his wife’s lover.”

She let out a short laugh. “You don’t know my husband. He was glad I’d found Hugh. He was glad that I was happy. He liked him. Furthermore, he knew our plan.”

Charles blinked. “Nonetheless, I find it odd that a man such as Oakley wouldn’t mind that his wife—”

“You, sir, know nothing of our lives, do not assume you do.”

“Quite right.” His chest expanded as he dipped his head. “My apologies.”

Georgina filled glasses with sherry and brought one to the Duchess.

The Duchess drank. “When I heard of the duel, I did consider that it could be Hugh who had cuckolded Mr. Treharne. I found it most unsettling, for he and his wife were Hugh’s childhood Hugh’s time was running out to secure a bride, and such an indulgence was a heavy risk for a scandal that would have put a stop to any engagement to a fine young lady from a good family.”

“I agree, it was most unwise.” He attempted a small smile as he raised his glass at her. “Hugh had once remarked to me that you were a very sensible woman.”

“Did he?” she let out a soft laugh, more weary than amused.

“I can only offer that since my brother inherited his title, he thought himself invulnerable, more so than before.”

“Yes, he did.” Her Grace let out a ragged breath. “Now he is gone, you bear a gunshot wound, and I a chasm inside me that is filled with grief, questions, and doubts.” Her grip on her glass tightened.

Georgina drained her wine glass. “Well, now that we are all clear on what we know—who the devil killed Hugh?”

ChapterFifty-Six

Charles

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