Page 36 of Her Ruse with the Rakish Duke
“I know the family; it is enough. His father was once entangled with a friend of mine. They were supposed to have a son together, but in a fit of anger, that child died. My friend has never spoken of it, but I am sure he had something to do with it.”
“Victor is… is different. And you gave your approval earlier.”
She remembered the torture that had flashed in his face when his father was mentioned. And at the library when he spoke about violence. There was something wrong, but she did not believe it had to do with him.
“I had to, that was in the spur of the moment. You are my child and I will always protect you first,” her mother said.
She was starting to abhor that word.Protect.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Go to Percy. He has almost as much value and none of the weighty past.”
“I want to hear it from the duke first. I want to know what happened with his family. Then let me decide, Mama.”
“Yes, Aunt. He actually sav—” Melanie suddenly interjected but Daphne shook her head at her cousin. She did not want to dredge up that night, four years ago.
“Maybe he will surprise you. I have heard the other ladies talking. They regret avoiding him now. They all think he would make a wonderful husband.”
“Then they should speak to him and have him. For now, I have to discuss with Percy how to repair whatever damage you have caused. Unless…”
“What?”
“Is there something about Percy that I should know? In the past, you got along splendidly.”
At the moment, she was deceiving everyone by courting Victor. One of the reasons was to avoid Percy, the other was to hide their animosity. An animosity resulting from Victor’s rejection. While she did not agree with her mother about his family, there was still no ground to vilify Percy or Victor.
The Viscount of Suffork, Percy’s father, was feared as a strict man. He would never condone that kind of immorality, especially under his roof. He would disown his own son before he understood any explanation.
In his rooms, Percy had waited until the other woman was gone before he went on his knees. There was desperation in his tears, “I will make it right,” he had said. “Please do not ruin me.”
“No, Mama. There is nothing.”
* * *
“Drink, you will feel better.”
Victor stared at his friend, completely helpless. They stood in Harry’s drawing room, and a glass of wine was being handed to him. “I am not a child.”
“Even from across the room, I could see you were about to punch him. Drink.”
“What was the emergency?”
“That?” he waved a hand. “I had one of the servants handle it. You are more important. I thought I could not get across the room fast enough. What did that fool do that made you lose your temper?”
Victor frowned, “Was it obvious?”
“To me. It was like that night at the den. When you took on three men at once.”
Victor snatched the glass from him, “I have heard enough.”
“You would have been a dead man. What were you? Fourteen? You owe your life to me.”
“I should not have returned to this place. Or perhaps I am dead, and this is hell. I am being punished.”
“You had to return. You owe me… and her, it seems.”
“I will leave now; have a lovely evening.”
