Page 62 of The Undesirable Duke
“As certain as I will ever be, brother. Lord Bertram is the man who wrote the article and who broke into the Duke’s home. It is him,” Lillian stated.
Timothy stared at the two papers in his hands and sighed.
“Yarmouth and I spoke of Lord Bertram earlier this evening.”
“And why is that?”
“Prior to inheriting his title, Lord Bertram was known as Lord William Beaumont. He was the second son of the late Marquess of Bertram.”
“Then how did he come to inherit the title from his father?”
“He did not. When his father passed away, his older brother inherited it. A year later, his brother passed away very mysteriously, or should I perhaps say…”
“Rather conveniently,” Lillian interjected.
“Indeed.”
“We must tell the Duke what we have uncovered,” Lillian said.
“I will go.”
“I will join you,” she agreed.
“I cannot allow that, sister.”
“Brother, please do not deny me this,” Lillian pleaded.
Timothy shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and his jaw clenched.
“Very well, but you cannot leave the house as you are.”
“Of course. I will go and dress appropriately.”
“And if Mother finds out, I will inform her that it was my doing,” Timothy stated with reassurance in his tone. Lillian smiled in relief and nodded gratefully. “Make haste, please, sister.”
Lillian nodded again and left her brother’s bedchamber as swiftly as she was able to, briefly contemplating what she was to wear.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and the glimmer of hope flickered in her heart once more.
Chapter Nineteen
The sound of a carriage stopping outside Samuel’s home immediately caught his attention, for, until then, the house had been completely silent as he stared at the painting on the wall opposite him. That sound was followed by a pounding on the door, which startled him as he did not think that anyone would come to call, given the state of both his house after the break-in and his name.
“I must speak to His Grace at once,” Samuel heard a familiar voice, and his brow furrowed.
“Is that Colborne?” he mumbled to himself as he rose from his seat and proceeded out of the drawing room.
As Samuel stepped into the hallway, he was rather shocked to see that it was, indeed, Lord Timothy at his door. He was even more shocked to see Lady Lillian by her brother’s side.
The butler turned to Samuel with an apologetic expression on his face.
“My apologies, Your Grace. They are rather insistent on speaking with you.”
“That is quite alright. Thank you.”
Lord Timothy and Lady Lillian stepped into his home and, as Billings closed the door after them, Samuel led them to the drawing room where he had been quietly sitting, pondering the implications of his decision to leave London and return to Cornwall. He simply wished to put this entire trip in the past and never think of it again.
Of course, Lady Lillian constantly consumed his thoughts. Her lovely face and golden hair, her laugh, and the ease which she allowed him to feel. She was etched into his heart, and the memory of her would haunt him for the rest of his life - a small price to pay to ensure her safety.
