Page 113 of The Duke's Daring Bride

Alistair took a deep breath. “No’… only…one.”

They all turned to him, and he grimaced, almost reaching for his notebook. But Olivia scooped up his hand and squeezed it, offering an encouraging smile.

It was easier to speak when it was just to her, because he knew she wouldn’t judge him. So he held her gaze. Just tell Olivia.

“Another…way to lure…London.”

His wife smiled.

And he felt it in his chest. In his stomach. In his soul.

Despite the others in the room he was leaning toward her, like a moth to a flame, or some other kind of insulting analogy. All he knew was he needed her.

And then Demon, the arsehole, ruined the moment.

“What other way?” he barked.

Olivia’s exhale wasn’t exactly a sigh, but the way her lips twitched wryly told Alistair she wasn’t pleased with the interruption either.

Still, she straightened and turned back to their audience. “I had an idea. We don’t think it’s a particularly good idea, but it would work to lure Blackrose home.”

Everyone was staring at her expectantly. Now that it was time, Olivia shifted in discomfort. This was an awkward suggestion, considering who was sitting in the room with them.

“Now, keep in mind, when I imagined sharing this thought, I didn’t expect to be doing it in front of you, Georgia.” When the other woman’s brows rose in surprise, Olivia winced. “Um…it makes me look rather cruel and heartless, and you are the man’s daughter, after all.”

“Spit it out,” Demon demanded.

Olivia didn’t seem cowed by the man’s rudeness, and held Georgia’s gaze as she spoke. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but…your uncle is your father’s heir, yes?”

Georgia’s nod was immediate. “The earldom is actually one of the few which, by ancient tradition, can be held by a woman, if no male heir exists. But that was never relevant to my sister and me, since Uncle William has always been the heir presumptive.”

“And Thorne told us that my brother’s plan revolved around gaining a lordship for Blackrose.” Olivia’s grip on Alistair’s hand was almost painful, but she looked so composed. How did she do it?

“Aye, we assume he thinks he’ll be able to weather the scandal—and the legal ramifications—if he had a title,” Thorne agreed. “Ye’re thinking—what? To help nature along?”

Demon nodded curtly. “Kill Bonkinbone, and Blackrose will inherit. That’ll lure him back home, sure as shite.”

Olivia had gasped at the man’s casual comment, but Georgia rolled her eyes and slapped his knee. “Behave, darling.”

Hurrying to explain herself, Olivia patted the air in front of her with her free hand, as if trying to slow down everyone’s assumptions. “We don’t have to kill your father, Georgia. Goodness, I never thought I’d say—we just…make Blackrose think he’s on death’s door.”

“And how do we do that?” the other woman asked.

Olivia exchanged a glance with Alistair.

They’d discussed this, but hadn’t come to any conclusion. Or rather, she hadn’t made any suggestions he actually liked, or was willing to go along with. So he raised a brow, waiting to hear her most recent plan.

“I thought…” She pulled her lower lip between her teeth in that adorable way which always betrayed her nervousness, and made him want to comfort his normally bold wife. “Belladonna.”

Demon’s brows rose, Thorne sat up straighter, and Georgia raised her fingertips to her lips, although it wasn’t clear if she was distressed.

Alistair, for his part, frowned. They were back to the poison idea, were they?

“Belladonna?” Demon prompted doubtfully. “I thought you said ye didnae want to kill him?”

Olivia hurried to explain as Alistair’s frown deepened. “Deadly nightshade is fatal, but it depends on the dose. A person could be kept incapacitated—potentially for a while, especially if it could be readministered—for a while. If we could find a way to get Bonkinbone to ingest a non-fatal dose, he would appear near-death. Spasms, delirium, difficulty breathing—but not dead.”

Thorne was shaking his head. “If the point is to lure Blackrose out of hiding, why no’ just print a story claiming Bonkinbone is near death? Blackrose would see the story and step up as his brother’s heir, aye?”

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