Page 4 of Doubling Down on a Duke
“That’s what I just said, ain’t it.” Mr. Cadby stepped forward and proceeded through a door, leaving Bryce behind.
How peculiar. Head bent, Bryce kneaded the back of his neck. The Head PORF had made no mention of the theft or that he intended to assign Bryce to a mission last evening when they spoke at the Redburn affair. In fact, Lord Hadfield and his beloved wife had kept their conversation light and brief. Although in his memory of the encounter, Lady Bronwyn did have a rather sly smirk as she mentioned how much she was looking forward to seeing him again. He’d been so preoccupied searching for his wayward fiancée that he hadn’t paid much mind to the passing comment.
The haunting image of his fiancée that appeared every time he closed his eyes formed as he squeezed his eyes shut tight. Theidea of Helen marrying him purely out of duty had his stomach in knots. But what was the alternative? What had he been hoping for?
Helen had mentionedloveearlier, but he didn’t believe in the emotion. Desire, he understood. But love? Love was a fictional ideal that poets and novelists had created.
Mr. Cadby reappeared at the threshold and said, “Hurry along, we don’t have all day.”
The idea of rejecting an order crossed his mind for a moment but only for a brief second before he sighed and followed Mr. Cadby into one of the back rooms. Orders were orders. He’d marry Helen and then atone for the fact he’d not been able to meet all the terms of their betrothal agreement.
CHAPTER FIVE
Awoman Helen held the utmost respect for, Lady Bronwyn, paced around the small back room of the tobacco shop in dizzying circles. Helen dropped her gaze to the ground and asked, “My lady, I hope you won’t take offense in my asking; however, is it really necessary for me to wed in order to retrieve the missing diamonds?”
Lady Bronwyn stopped and dropped her chin to her chest. “Did you know that before I married Landon, before he became head PORF, even before he inherited the title of Lord Hadfield, I was secretly in love with him? I, a merchant’s daughter, fell in love with a solicitor who then became an earl. Back then I thought it absurd to ever dream of becoming his wife.”
The brief pause Lady Bronwyn took to inhale a deep breath gave Helen the opportunity to interject. “But everyone knows your husband adores and loves you. Whereas I know for a fact that the Duke of Whistlestop is not in love with me.”
“Apologies for digressing and not getting to the point before. What I meant to impart was that when I embarked upon the journey across England and up to Gretna Green to marry Lord Hadfield, I did so out of duty, not because I was in love with the man.” Lady Bronwyn circled back and stood in front of her. Eyeto eye, Lady Bronwyn stared directly at Helen. “You have been engaged to Whistlestop for years. When you reached the age of majority you could have, with your skills and knowledge, run off with another, yet from what I’ve observed you chose to remain close to Whistlestop.” Lady Bronwyn’s gaze narrowed. “It is as if you are so accustomed to being in the man’s vicinity, it would be peculiar for you to be anywhere else. It may appear to our peers within the ton that the two of you rarely interact or converse with one another. However, I know that not to be the case. I couldn’t help but notice over the years that you and Whistlestop have created a language all of your own, one of covert glances, hand gestures, and best of all, coded signals with the use of nothing but a simple touch to a piece of clothing.”
Helen’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open slightly. What had begun as innocent glances as a means of assisting Bryce during matches with her papa had in fact over the years turned into an effective form of communication. Why hadn’t she considered the possibility that other members of the Network, who were trained to notice such things, would discover their code?
Regaining her composure, Helen asked, “Does that mean you are aware we have a unique way of communicating in secret but haven’t managed to decipher the meanings?” She shouldn’t be questioning the woman who held the second highest rank amongst both PORFs and the Network, but she’d never been one to hold her tongue.
With a broad smile, Lady Bronwyn whirled away and resumed her pacing about the room. “Like I was saying earlier, the diamonds you and His Grace are assigned to retrieve are set in a necklace and earbobs that the queen is rather partial to. We believe the thieves…”
Helen stepped in front of Lady Bronwyn to ask, “If you were in my position, Lady Bronwyn, would you agree to marry the Duke of Whistlestop?”
“Do you love His Grace?”
She had asked herself that exact question many a time over the years, and after careful consideration Helen could confidently answer, “I certainly care for the man’s welfare, but no, I’m notinlove with the Duke of Whistlestop.”
Lady Bronwyn took a half step backwards and then tapped her forefinger over her pursed lips. “Hmm. If neither of you are in love with the another, then I would assume that the two of you would enter the marriage for the same reasons: duty and honor. Not necessarily a terrible foundation to build a relationship upon.”
“Then you are saying you would risk marrying a man who is known for having visited many a widow’s chambers and leaving a trail of broken hearts all across the countryside.”
“Well, when you state it that way…” Lady Bronwyn’s brow knitted.
Leaving the woman to her thoughts, Helen walked over to a stack of wooden crates in the corner and sat down. With her arm propped up on her knee, she rested her cheek in the palm of her right hand. She closed her eyes, allowing the burning sensation that had settled in her chest to slowly subside.
“When you think about it, Whistlestop is the worst type of cad. You’re a saint for not ending your betrothal years ago. I doubt I could have endured it if my fiancé flaunted his conquests in front of me.”
Guilt had Helen opening her eyes. “To be fair, Bryce has never flirted or paid attention to other ladies in my presence. I’ve only heard of his roguish behavior.”
Lady Bronwyn cocked her head to one side. “Hmm…that explains why you always make yourself scarce. For fear that you might witness His Grace charming another lady.”
“That is preposterous!” Helen jumped to her feet and continued, “In order for me to experience fear…well that would imply I cared more for the man than merely as a fellow Network member.” Helen rubbed her sweaty palms against her skirts.
“All right. Let’s assume for the moment that the only ties you have with the Duke of Whistlestop are those woven by your mutual interest in fulfilling your Network duties. Duties that now require you to wed so that the two of you can travel together without scandal and track down the missing diamonds. The information we have gathered to date leads us to believe that you are on the hunt for a band of female bandits.”
Suddenly weak-kneed, Helen sat down once more. “If it is a group of female thieves, why must I marry Bryce? Wouldn’t it make more sense for him to complete the assignment as an unwed gentleman?”
“If our informants are correct, Whistlestop’s charm will only hinder the investigation. Based on the backgrounds of the women we believe are involved, this particular group of ladies do not care for or trust men. We need you to gain their trust, but we can’t send you unaccompanied.”
“But why me?”
“Lord Hadfield reasoned you would be the most successful at portraying the role of an unhappy newlywed. And as frustrating as it is, my husband is more often right than wrong.”
