Must Love Dukes (18 page)

“Tell me, Lillian, did Lord Hingsworth bring his situation upon himself?” Solomon spoke in the same low, deliberate voice that always turned Lillian’s stomach on end.

“He was set upon by hunting dogs.” Lillian shook her head. “I’m not sure what any of this has to do with me.”

“I find it peculiar that the gentlemen on the list I gave you of approved suitors seem to be fleeing town as soon as they near you.” He took another step toward her with a menacing prowl. “Do you find that peculiar, Lillian?”

“Not at all, Solomon,” she bluffed, hoping her complexion was not growing pink at the lie.

Nathaniel stepped around his desk, joining the conversation. “Solomon, she had nothing to do with those gentlemen’s fates. Why would you think such a thing of Lillian?”

Solomon held up his hand to stay Nathaniel. “This is between Lillian and me, Nathaniel. You have no business here.”

“This is my home.” Nathaniel gestured to their surroundings. “I have business here whether you approve of it or not.”

Solomon ignored Nathaniel, continuing his interrogation. “Lillian, whatever charades you have been carrying out cease now.”

“I haven’t…” she began, but he cut her off.

“You will be attending Lord Erdway’s garden party this afternoon. You will accept any advances he makes toward you and be glad for them.”

“I will do no such thing!” she exclaimed.

“You will honor my word on this, Lillian. I have been in correspondence with Josiah, and he is in agreement with me. The family needs one of these alliances.”

“Why? Why these men, Solomon?”

Solomon didn’t answer.

“What if I refuse?” Her jaw tightened around the words.

“Don’t test me, Lillian.” Solomon’s face grew tight, the only outward sign of his anger. “Where will you go without the assistance of this family? What funds do you have?”

“I will live here with Nathaniel,” she stated, looking at Nathaniel for confirmation of that truth. His face contorted with discomfort. He ran a hand through his hair as he considered before answering. The moment drew out in silence as Solomon grinned across the room. Lillian’s fingers twisted together tighter. It hurt, but not as much as the betrayal written on Nathaniel’s face.

Finally Nathaniel answered, “Darling, I love your company, but…” He looked down at his desk, unable to complete his statement of refusal. Then, turning on Solomon, he stalked across the library to look him in the eye. “I will not stand by while you bully her in this manner, Solomon.”

Lillian couldn’t believe what was happening. She truly had no options. Not that she blamed Nathaniel for wanting his freedom, but what of her freedom? She listened as the argument swirled around her like thick smoke, cutting off the breathable air in the room.

“I don’t
bully
anyone. She has not yet reached her majority. Josiah and I can make her do anything we please. She has a responsibility to this family, after all.”

“Yes, but Erdway? He’s vile. I saw him kick a dog not a week ago. You can’t doom our sister to live with him,” Nathaniel said in outrage.

“I’m sure the dog in question had some fault. Erdway is a prominent gentleman in society. Lillian would do well to marry the man.” Solomon shook an invisible wrinkle from his sleeve.

“You can see the anger in his eyes. He’ll lift a hand to her one day, I have no doubt. Have you never met him?”

Solomon looked past Nathaniel to sear her with his dark eyes, daring her not to obey. “Lillian, my word is final on this subject. You will attend Lord Erdway’s garden party and act according to the dictates of this family.” Solomon pushed past Nathaniel and left the room.

Lillian turned and left the room after him, not heeding Nathaniel’s calls for her to return. This turn of events wasn’t new, only surrounded by different circumstances. She left the house in need of air and sank onto a bench in the front garden. Every difficulty in her life always came back to a man. And it all began with Papa.

She blinked away tears as she gazed at the grass at her feet. She gave up everything for him, for the family. If he had been well…if she hadn’t had to bear that burden alone…perhaps she would be wed now. Solomon would only be a brother she rarely saw. She pulled a yellow rose from the bush beside her, gently tugging on the petals until her palm was filled with a pile of soft yellow.

Fate, it seemed, had other plans for her. Solomon had other plans for her. She looked down, realizing she’d crushed the rose in her hand, and tossed the crumpled rose petals to the ground. Now she would be forced into yet another situation in the name of family responsibility. She tried to breathe. But the scent of roses surrounded her, making her feel nauseous. She needed to walk. She needed distance from her present situation. She needed…Devon.

Devon guided Poseidon through their standard morning ride, dipping between trees and jumping the log that crossed the path into his favorite clearing in Hyde Park. The sun was threatening to reveal itself from behind the bank of altostratus clouds. Reining his horse to a stop, Devon looked up, watching the wind blow the puffs of gray across the sky. He caught a glimpse of the bright sun just before it disappeared again.

“At least it’s not raining on us, Poseidon,” he said as he slid to the ground, pulling an apple from his satchel. Devon laughed as the horse nipped at it before he could get his hand open. “Always so eager,” he mused.

Devon took a few steps away, feeling the desire to walk for a few minutes in the fresh air. The tall grass bent with a gust of wind, brushing the tops of his Hessian boots. Just then, a movement caught his eye in the corner of the clearing. Who had discovered his hidden corner of the park? He had only seen one person here before. Had she come to find him? Squinting, he could now see it was a lady in a green dress.

“Lily?” he muttered, taking a few steps in her direction. It was a little concerning that she was seeking him out here where there were no witnesses. She must be planning to berate him for gambling once more. He had to apologize or she would never move past this. Bracing himself to endure her fit of pique, he sighed.

As soon as she was within earshot, he began, “Lily, I’m sorry I gambled over horses. The gentlemen at the party were all placing bets. I was the last to join in, but there I was with a pocket full of money. So I tossed a bit in. I didn’t mean any harm by it.”

“None of that matters now,” she muttered, staring off at Poseidon where he stood grazing and swishing his long gray tail.

Had he truly just used the “Everyone else was doing it” excuse in reference to the bet? He hadn’t said that since he was twelve and caught throwing rocks! What was wrong with him? He cleared his throat and tried again. “Yes, I realize that was a terrible excuse. But believe me when I say it won’t happen again—my wagering on anything that remotely involves you.”

“I’m glad to hear it. You’re forgiven,” she replied a little too quickly, bending to snap off a long blade of grass, then tear it in half.

Had he heard her wrong? He shook his head, watching her rip the grass into tiny shards. Speaking in slow, deliberate words, he tried to grasp the purpose of their conversation. “You aren’t here to rail at me more for gambling?”

“No, although I should.” She shot him a narrow-eyed look, dropping the last of the grass to the ground at her feet.

“Oh. Well then. It is a lovely day for a stroll in the park.” He smiled up into the cloudy sky before looking back toward Lily.

“Lovely day indeed!” she grated, crossing her arms and looking across the clearing.

Devon couldn’t seem to gain his footing with her this morning. He studied her pensive frown for a moment. “Is something troubling you, Lily?”

“Yes, something is troubling me!” she fairly shouted.

He could hear Poseidon pawing the ground in agitation a few feet away, as her voice carried to the trees on the far side of the field. “I see,” he proceeded carefully. “Do you mind telling me what might be the matter?”

She took a ragged breath before meeting his gaze. “My brother Solomon has guessed at my involvement in recent events—Hingsworth, Amberstall…”

“How would anyone possibly know that?”

Her voice was bleak and her eyes vacant of expression. “He called it ‘peculiar’ since they were associated with me at the time they fell victim to dogs and, I suppose in a way, horses.”

He took a step back, running a hand through his hair. How could Solomon know of Lily’s participation? He’d been careful. If Solomon had guessed at Lily, would he discover Devon’s involvement? He didn’t want to think of what could happen with his ships if that occurred.

His family’s welfare hinged on the expansion of his fleet, and Solomon held the key to that happening. Devon should have never gotten involved, but it had been because of Lily. He hadn’t been expecting to find her, but then he had. He looked back into her eyes. “Surely he has no proof.”

“He doesn’t need proof!” She spat the words, her face twisting in anguish. “I’m a female! He can force his will on me anytime he chooses. Solomon can make me do as he sees fit. He’s run our family for his purposes for years now. Do you think I’m here seeking some vile husband because I desire it?”

Her voice rang out, the pain of her situation visible in her eyes. “I’m here because Solomon wants to be rid of me, and as with everything else, he seeks to make a profit from it. I want nothing more than to have him out of my life for good. And yet, here I am…all by the wave of Solomon’s hand.” She turned, taking a step away from him.

He watched her shoulders rise and fall with labored breaths. What was he to say? He was the Mad Duke, yet even madness couldn’t save him today. He couldn’t very well go against the man constructing enough ships to almost double his fleet. He’d thrown every shilling in his possession at the endeavor. But then, this was Lily. He opened his mouth to say the right words but no words came out.

Pivoting back toward him, she added, “It has been decreed that I attend Lord Erdway’s party this afternoon and accept his suit.”

Rage began to boil up under his skin. Devon could feel his face pulling tightly into a scowl. “Erdway? The hell you will! That bastard beats his horse!”

She took a step forward, a look of bewilderment creasing her brow as she twisted her pearl necklace around her finger. “What am I to do, Devon?”

“You certainly are not accepting any suits!” The image of Lily at Erdway’s side floated through his mind, causing his stomach to clench. He had to stop this from happening. Yet how was he to do that? The problem was that Solomon held a better hand of cards with the possession of Devon’s ships and his money. His jaw tightened over the thought that being the Mad Duke didn’t have its advantages at the moment. What good was a blasted title if not for situations such as this?

“Do you have a plan for how I am to avoid that fate?” She was looking to him for answers and he had none.

“No, I don’t.” He needed time to think, time to plan.

“You don’t?” she asked in disbelief. “I’m in this situation because of you!”

“Yes, and I have decided to end the blackmail.” He nodded in agreement with his own words. That much he knew. Whatever must be done to save Lily from Erdway’s clutches, it would not involve blackmail and preferably it would not involve Lily. “I won’t ask you to do any more tasks. Your debt is paid and I can’t ask you to take another risk. You have my word that I will never tell anyone of your past.”

Her head tilted to the side and her jaw dropped for a moment. “What good does that do me now?”

“It will keep you safe from your brother’s ire, for one thing,” he stated. He had to get away. He needed time to plot something, anything. He glanced back at Poseidon, still grazing. The horse clearly was in no hurry to leave the park. He turned back to Lily.

A wild look of desperation entered her eyes. “What if I tell all of society about us?”

He froze in his retreat. “What? Why would you do that?” He strode toward her, closing the space between them.

“I would be undesirable to marry if everyone knew of my past. Solomon wouldn’t be able to throw me at any gentleman he pleases. I would be free of this situation.” Her words rushed out of her mouth as if chasing careening thoughts. “All I would have to sacrifice is my reputation.”

He reached out and grasped her arms, holding her still. “I will not allow you to soil your own name, Lily.”

“You will not allow? This is entirely your fault!” she exclaimed, turning wounded eyes on him. “I will tell the world of our involvement a year ago. See if I don’t!”

He moved his hands in small circles on her shoulders, trying to rub away the pain he had caused her. “Lily, do you really think your actions will stop your brother’s pursuits? You will be married off even faster to hide the family shame. And you don’t deserve to have your name dragged through the mud.”

“Don’t I? You’ve said otherwise.”

He pulled her a fraction closer and tilted her chin up with the touch of a finger to look her in the eye as he spoke. “I don’t know why you stole from me last spring and I don’t want to know. None of it matters now. That’s in the past.” He had to tell her the truth: his family’s low funds, the ships, how he never meant to hurt her, and the bit about destroying her reputation having been a bluff… He sighed. “I shouldn’t have blackmailed you. If I hadn’t plotted against your suitors…”

“What can I do to get Lord Erdway away from me?”

“Oh no. You are not getting involved in any more schemes, Lily. Too much lies at stake for you.” He should never have thought up those ridiculous schemes to begin with, and he’d be damned if he allowed her to become entangled in potential scandal again. Not if he could stop it from happening.

“That is precisely why I must be involved,” she implored.

“I told you, your debt is settled. I don’t want you wrapped up in this anymore. It’s over.” His hands slid down her arms to grasp her hands in his.

“Then I will blackmail you.” Her voice was thin. She licked her lips and swallowed before continuing. “Help me be rid of Lord Erdway, or I will tell all of London society we were intimate and you, Devon, will be forced to marry me.”

“Lily.” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Forced to marry Lily? What of Solomon? He shook his head. “I can’t.”

“I know you don’t wish to marry, so what are we to do? What is our plot?”

“Lily.” His grip tightened around her fingers. The world seemed to be closing in on him. His heart was pounding the beat of her name in his ears.

“I don’t wish to marry you, either, if you must know. So think of some scheme to get me out of this mess.”

He dropped her hands and turned away with a grimace. Of course she didn’t want to marry him. And he couldn’t marry her, so he should be relieved. Stalking a few strides away, he took a breath, forcing his mind to function. He turned back to her a moment later. “Very well. We will do this together. Are you attending the charity ball tomorrow night?”

Her lips pursed in thought. “If Erdway is to be there, I’m sure I am. Why?”

“Erdway has several estates. Any one will do. However I’m thinking the one on the Welsh border would work best for our purposes.”

“Devon, what are you speaking of?” Lily clasped her hands in front of her, twisting her fingers together.

He turned his attention back to her with a smirk. “This task should be perfect for you, Lily. For, to make this work, we need to steal from Lord Erdway. His seal and stationery from his desk, to be exact.”

“How are we to accomplish that?” she asked with wide eyes.

“During this afternoon’s garden party, of course,” Devon returned.

“Steal from him…at his garden party? And I thought this would be difficult.”

***

“At least his gardens are pleasant,” Sue offered, a frown creasing her face.

Lillian didn’t care a whit about the pristine condition of Lord Erdway’s hedgerows; she would not be marrying him. She looked out across the green lawn where most of London society was gathered this afternoon. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she thought of the plot that would be unfolding for Erdway. “I suppose I shall just live in the gardens if I’m forced to wed him,” she teased Sue, knowing if all went to plan, no such thing would happen.

Sue grinned politely, pausing their conversation for a moment while two society matrons passed on their way to watch the croquet match. “Yes, you see? It wouldn’t be so horrible. You could make your home over there between the rosebushes and the stone fountain.” Sue pointed with her lemonade glass across the garden to a corner holding only a bench.

“I agree. It looks quite the cozy place to live out my days.” Lillian twisted her pearl necklace around her finger. This would be the last time she would ever set foot on Erdway’s property, yet she couldn’t tell that to Sue. She smiled and swept her eyes across the crowd.

Where was Devon? She had already made Lord Erdway’s acquaintance this afternoon. He was a middle-aged man of meticulous grooming. In fact, she had never seen hair parted so severely. She had then chatted with Sue for twenty minutes. He should be here by now. What if he didn’t come? She would have to go into Erdway’s home alone.

Her nerves were causing her toe to tap a rapid rhythm under the hem of her dress. She cast her eyes over to the large brick home at their backs. Did she truly need Devon? She could sneak in and take what she needed to complete their task. And hadn’t she spent enough of her life waiting for a man’s assistance?

Lillian glanced at Sue with a smile. “Will you excuse me? I need to find the ladies’ retiring room.”

“Oh, I’ll come with you. My nose could use some powder, I’m sure. Mama is always saying my face is too shiny. And yet she tells Evangeline how nicely she glows. What is the difference between a shine and a glow? I’ve never understood it.” She sighed. “But alas, I’m expected to be dull, so dull I shall be.” Sue set her lemonade aside on one of the small tables that were scattered across the lawn.

“You aren’t the least bit shiny, Sue. You look perfect, in fact. I wouldn’t change a thing.” Lillian’s eyes widened. She couldn’t accomplish her task with Sue at her side.

“All right, but I should keep you company. I saw Lord Erdway heading into the house with a footman a moment ago. Someone needs to keep you safe from unwanted advances.”

“I’ll be fine, Sue. I’m quite tough, you know,” Lillian bluffed.

“Quite.” Sue eyed her friend’s thin frame with a dubious glare.

“Enjoy the party. I’ll be back in a moment.” Lillian slipped away from Sue’s side, weaving her way past a cluster of gentlemen and through a group of giggling younger misses.

Crossing the terrace, she entered the home through a side door hidden in the corner behind a potted palm. She hoped not to encounter anyone, yet as she walked into a drawing room, her eye was drawn to a line of servants marching up and down the hallway outside the door.