Page 99 of A Bride for the Devilish Duke
Damien glared at Sutherland who had seated himself on a chaise and crossed his legs, smiling in a self-satisfied manner.
“You cannot mean that. Whatever threats this man has made mean nothing. I can protect you from him,” Damien uttered ferociously.
Josie gave a brittle smile and shook her head. “He has made no threats and I need no protection. I have agreed to marry him and will tell my father as such.”
“You see?” Sutherland declared. “Nothing untoward has occurred. Perhaps the fact that you believed so says more about your own mind than mine.”
Damien glanced from Josie to Sutherland. She had resumed her seat and was looking at the floor meekly.
“Be that as it may,” Damien said from between gritted teeth, “it is not appropriate for an unmarried young woman to be alone in the home of an unmarried man. Or, for that matter, her fiancée. I think it best for Josie's own reputation if she returns to her family. Until the happy day, that is.”
Damien felt sick to his stomach at any suggestion of continuing Sutherland's plot or validating his lies. But he saw that humoring him was going to be the only way to persuade him to release Josie.
I could physically overpower him. But if he has persuaded Josie to go along with his plan, then it will do no good. If she believes she is acting in her family's best interests, then she will refuse to cooperate.
“There is indeed merit in your suggestion, but I am a man of honor and this house is staffed fully. She will not be without one of my maids to act as chaperon,” Sutherland waved away. “Was that all you wished to say, Your Grace?”
“No, I should like the opportunity to speak to you alone, Sir Silas. On a matter of business,” Damien muttered.
“But I would keep nothing from my future wife. What can be said to me can be said to her,” Sutherland said with a smug smile.
“Very well. I can see that you have outmaneuvered us all, Sir Silas. Beaten me well, in fact. I had not considered you such a worthy opponent. I would not have wished anyone to hear me say so but there we have it.”
Josie looked up in surprise and there was sudden interest on Sutherland's face. Damien tried to look humble, like a proud man reduced to acknowledging another as his superior.
“I find myself in need of strong allies. You are aware of the contest that has been raging between myself and my cousins?”
Sutherland nodded. “I do indeed. It is the talk of the ton. You currently have the favor of the Regent, I believe. But he is notoriously fickle.”
“He is, and not to be relied upon. Currently, he is being entertained by Sir Thomas Donovan at his home. To secure my future, I must secure allies within the ton separate from him. I think that you have proved yourself worthy. That is, if you would consider such an alliance?”
Sutherland stroked his chin, affecting a look of deep thought. But Damien had seen the excitement flare in his eyes.
This has been his dream all along. To be recognized as a great man by one who stands above him in society. He reveled in the power he held over the Montrose family and is now offered something of even greater worth. Power over a Duke.
“This could cause me trouble with my own wife. She dislikes you to an extreme degree for some reason. And I would not have our business relayed to her by her sister,” Damien added, hoping this would prompt Sutherland to send Josie back to her family.
“Josephine. Go to your room. Your former room and yours once again. Now,” Sutherland snapped, pointing to the door imperiously.
She stood and hurried from the room. Damien took a breath and sat in the chair she had just vacated.
“What hold do you have over her?” he asked innocently, “I cannot achieve such submission from my own Montrose wife.”
Sutherland laughed. “Your Grace, I feel safe in confessing this in view of what you have just said. I merely told her what I had already told you in my note. I told her of the oh-so-brief but torrid affair I had with her sister. And threatened to make that public.
“I see how angry that makes you. Please, bear in mind that your cousins are now my close friends and they know many people whose profession is to unearth scandal and share it with the people in print. Do not threaten me. You see how pointless it would be?”
Damien made himself look defeated. He stared at the floor, clasping his hands together and knitting his brows. He shook his head, wringing his hands.
“I am cornered. It is check mate. I cannot Marshall such resources as you. I thought my cousins were beaten by the Regent but see now how temporary my victory was. Can I persuade you to my side? You have Josie but she does not bring much in the way of material reward.Ican bring that.”
Sutherland nodded and Damien put on a relieved smile.
Now for the plan he had formulated as he rode here, wondering if he would be able to restrain himself from strangling this blackguard.
To remove this odious man’s presence once and for all. He only hoped that Emma would forgive him after.
“Excellent, old man.Excellent,” Damien beamed, “I will share my plans with you for my businesses. Do you know the Fitzgerald warehouses in Wapping? They are the heart of the empire my father built.”
