Page 101 of A Bride for the Sinful Duke

Marcus got to it before he did, placing it on the ground next to him, out of Hector’s reach.

“Hector, none of those deaths were because of your inadequacies. Your mother might not have survived her suffering, but you ended the one who had hurt her. You gave your sister peace in her last moments by promising to care for her dear and only friend, and you upheld that promise. I sawthe way you looked at Juliet when you both were at my home; you have not yet realized what is evident to anyone who simply looks. You love her, you dolt. Enough that you are shaken by the stress of recent events, and you are trying to deceive yourself into believing that you do not deserve to be happy.

“You have given so much of yourself to those around you. You have sacrificed and toiled, and you have built much with your own abilities. You saved your father’s legacy, and you are shaping it into something kinder and stronger in your own way. I believe that nothing will hinder you if you press forward. Your father has taken enough from you as it stands, but he is dead now. He holds no power over you from where he rots. Lydia would want you to move on with your life, and you can do that with Juliet. Do not run, Hector. Do not push your wife away because you are worried about your future. She is apartof that future.”

A small trickle of hope entered Hector’s heart as he absorbed Marcus’s speech.

He did want a life and a future with Juliet. In as much as he had worried over the likelihood of their long-term happiness and his ability to fulfill her needs, he still hoped for a chance to try if she would have him.

Before he could voice his thoughts to Marcus, there was a knock at his study, and Worthington entered quickly.

“I apologize for the intrusion, Your Grace, Lord Elwike. Lady Anne Somerton is here to see you, Your Grace. She said she must speak with you urgently.”

Hector glanced at Marcus, who simply shrugged, unperturbed that Lady Anne had interrupted their conversation. He wanted to quip that his guests seemed to have grown fond of simply appearing at his door without prior notice, but the expression on Lady Anne’s face told him that there were more serious matters afoot.

“I apologize for dropping in unannounced, Your Grace. It is rather urgent that I speak with you,” she said quickly.

She pointedly stared at Marcus, who eventually realized why she was looking at him.

“Right. I shall be on my way then. Think about what I said, hmm? Remember that marriage gives you a companion with whom you can share your worries and concerns, Hector. The next time you feel burdened, speak with your wife. I certainly do not have the sympathy to listen to your woes as I am a father of three unruly children, and I get enough questions about why the sky is blue on a daily basis, thank you.”

Hector smiled a little. “You are incorrigible.”

“You would not like me as much if I were any less than the special person that I am.” Marcus mock saluted as he left the study.

Hector felt thankful for his cousin and then shifted his attention to Anne.

“Sit, Lady Anne. To what do I owe this surprise visit from you? And…” he paused, glancing over her shoulder, “…without your brother, no less? If you are here to see Juliet …”

“No, Your Grace. It is you I need to speak with.” She shook her head quickly.

Hector was confused by the urgency in her voice but prompted her to speak freely.

She hesitated for a moment, then said, “I know who has been spreading the vicious rumors about you and the Duchess. It is my brother, Your Grace.”

Hector felt his blood run cold. “What did you just say?”

She nodded quickly. “I heard him discussing it with an associate of his a few days ago, Your Grace. I was angry, so I confronted him about it. We had visited Jul…the Duchess, many times during your absence, and she was always sad and upset by the cruel talk surrounding her. I felt betrayed when I discovered that my own brother, who had looked her in the eye and offered her support, was the mastermind behind the source of the Duchesses’ pain. He became angry with me and told me to mind my business as he was trying to work things out in my favor. He went on to explain that he planned to have you marry me, Your Grace, and I suppose he was trying to chase the Duchess away from you.

“But that is not what I want, Your Grace. The Duchess and I are dear friends, and I truly hope that she is happy. Also…I have no interest in you in that way. There is a man that I love, Lord Emerson. He is good and kind, and he is the one my heart wants. I am…I am terribly sorry, Your Grace. If I had known or discovered sooner that Edwin was scheming against you, I would have done something about it. During one of our visits, he tried to poison the Duchess against you, talking about how your absence from her likely meant that you had been taken by another. The Duchess loves you, Your Grace. While you were away, she missed you dearly and spent most of her time worried about whether or not you were doing well. Please do not dismiss her due to the mess my brother has made.”

Hector had no words at that moment.

Many pieces were now suddenly falling into place. From the beginning, Somerton had been overly interested and curious about Juliet and their marriage. He had also made many strange comments to Hector and Juliet that Hector now realized had been deliberately malicious and provoking.

At the time Hector had dismissed Somerton’s drivel, believing that the man had seriously been thinking of getting himself a wife.

Hector now saw that Somerton’s plan all along had been to marry into Hector’s family, one way or another.

“Thank you, Lady Anne. I am profoundly grateful for the insight you have provided,” Hector told her, standing up.

“What will you do? Will you help Juliet?” Anne asked, concerned.

Hector nodded. “Of course, I will. She is my wife. But first I need to have a word with your brother.”

It had been easy to find Somerton.

He was a man with loose lips and an even looser purse who liked to frequent gentleman’s clubs. It had taken a brief questioning of one of Hector’s solicitors to find out the one he would be at, and all Hector needed to do was find him there.

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