Page 82 of The Unwanted Duchess

“She is envious as I told you.”

“Her wedding day was about me! I would have felt the same way that she did.”

“Adam,” he said firmly, “I understand that this is not what you expected, but you must understand that everything that I have ever done was for you. The moment I learned of your existence, I began planning. I did everything I could to ensure that you would be able to take your place as earl. I even found husbands for your two sisters so that they would be out of the way. I know how ladies can be when we men are trying to work.”

“And how exactly did you marry them off?” Adam asked. “I had suspected that they were love matches.”

“Diana volunteered herself,” he confessed. “She always was my favorite of the two. Samantha, on the other hand, required some persuading.”

“Persuading?”

“You know how some ladies are. They believe that they are capable of being more than wives. Nothing could scare her into submission, not even threats, but then I had the perfect opportunity. I saw her in the Duke’s bedchambers. All it took was one little note, and she had no choice but to marry him. To this day, she does not know what I did. She blames her husband’s brother, I believe. Now look at me. I am a man with two daughters married to wealthy dukes and a son that will take my title.”

Adam was stunned. After weeks of willing his father to tell him something, he had finally gotten what he had wanted. It did not, however, satisfy him in any way, shape, or form. It made him angry, furious even, that his father could treat his own daughters like that.

He left immediately. He did not know where he would go, but he knew that he had to tell Samantha, no matter what she felt about him. He hated England, hated his father, but he had a duty to protect his sisters whether they were happy about it or not.

CHAPTER 27

Samantha had to sit down.

Adam had said everything so quickly that she had not had time to think about it all. One thing remained in her mind, however. They had placed the blame falsely on Graham’s brother because it had been her own father.

“I understand that this is not easy to hear,” Adam said gently, “but believe me, I would not have told you if I did not think it was necessary. I do not mean to cause you pain.”

“I know,” she replied kindly. “And I thank you for coming all this way to tell me. If it is any consolation, you should know that simply by doing this, you have proved you are nothing like our father.”

“I should hope not. He is insufferable, and I hate the fact that I must face him when I return. He shall be furious that you know.”

“Then do not tell him,” Graham replied. “There is no need to, truly. Samantha and I are happy, and I suppose I should thank him for what he did.”

“You need not say that for my sake,” Samantha began, but he laughed gently at her.

“I would not, and I believe you know that.”

“So I am not to say a word?” Adam asked.

“No. Simply tell him that you took a walk. Should Samantha and I wish to confront him, we will do so. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, but I believe it is time for you to go.”

“No,” Samantha said suddenly, “he can stay for a while. We ought to at least have him for tea.”

The tea arrived whilst Adam explained his story, but nobody had dared eat anything. Samantha, however, could not send him away so soon. He did not have to tell her all of this, and he could have decided to keep his loyalties with their father, but he had not, and she felt the need to thank him for that.

“I do not mean to intrude,” her brother replied. “I understand if the two of you must talk.”

“We do, indeed,” Graham agreed.

“Then we will go to the study,” Samantha said. “You can stay here and eat. We will return soon.”

Graham gave her a puzzled look, but Samantha left the room. He followed behind her.

“What is it?” she asked once they arrived there.

“Do you trust him?”

“I do. He has no reason to lie after all. Besides, how could he have known about the blackmail if Father did not tell him?”

“I suppose you are right. Very well, what do you suppose we ought to do about this?”

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