Page 68 of The Undesirable Duke
“I recognized the writing, and I came upon a startling discovery.”
“Show them, Lillian,” Timothy encouraged her.
Lillian nodded, retrieved the two letters from her pockets, and handed them to her father. He read the threatening letter first and sighed.
“This is rather unsettling.”
“Read the other one, and please tell me what you see.”
Lord Welsford read the note from Lord Bertram, and his jaw dropped in disbelief.
“I do not believe it.”
“What is it?”
“It is the same writing – the threatening letter and the card which came with Lillian’s flowers were written by the same hand.”
Lady Welsford gasped.
“What?”
Lillian took the chance to explain.
“Lord Bertram is the man who wrote those untruths about the Duke in the newspaper. Apparently, he has held onto a very lengthy grudge – since his days at Oxford, when the Duke made a comment in passing about his mother and indirectly started a rumor which resulted in Lord Bertram being shunned socially.”
Lord and Lady Welsford exchanged shocked glances, and Lord Welsford turned to Lillian.
“And you are certain?”
“Indeed.”
“The Duke confirmed all of that with us at his home this evening. That was why we were there, as Lillian insisted on showing him her discovery.”
“It was something which was only to be done in person.” Lord and Lady Welsford were stunned into silence for a few moments, and Lillian shifted her weight on her chair in discomfort. “I am truly sorry for disobeying you, Mother. I did not mean to fill our home with strife. I merely wished to help the Duke restore his reputation. And he is not the man you think he is, or the man London thinks he is. He is kind and intelligent. His wit is sharp, and he is amusing and gracious. He is well-mannered and well-spoken. He can make me laugh and put me at ease. He truly is a gentleman in every sense of the word.” Lillian turned to Lord Welsford. “He was the gentleman who came to my aid when I lost my footing outside the modiste’s, sparing me a lifetime of humiliation.”
“Yarmouth certainly did not strike me as the type of man who had the vices the article mentioned,” Lord Welsford pointed out.
“He is a good man, Father, and he certainly did not deserve what happened to him,” Timothy added.
“Very well. All of these antics of yours are forgiven, but until the matter is rectified in full, I still do not wish you to be close to the Duke.”
“Mother, did you not hear me? The Duke is harmless,” Lillian tried hard not to speak with anger.
“Be that as it may, you still have no business with him.”
“In Yarmouth’s defense, Mother, the matter will be resolved soon.”
“Good. I would make haste if I were in his shoes.”
“I am certain that he wishes this to be resolved and free him of the looming animosity towards him from theton,” Timothy nodded and stepped back.
“Lillian, I am still disappointed in you for not coming to us.”
“Even if I had, I would not have been allowed to help.”
“Please understand, my dearest, we only wish the best for both of you. You are our daughter, and you must be protected.”
“Despite not needing protection at every waking moment?” Lillian inquired.
