Page 71 of The Undesirable Duke
“You will not speak of my father in such a derogatory manner. He was a great man.”
“So I have heard,” Lord Bertram rolled his eyes. “Have you finished?”
“Not in the least, Bertram. I have many questions, but the most pressing of all is, why did you set your sights on Lady Lillian?”
“Why her? If I recall correctly, I set my sights on her long before your return. It was merely unfortunate that the young lady gravitated towards you. She must have a liking for wounded and stray animals.”
Samuel’s anger bubbled to the surface, and he grabbed Lord Bertram’s cravat and pulled him closer.
“Choose your words carefully, Bertram.”
“Perhaps you two gentlemen should take whatever this strife is outside,” a gentleman suggested from beside them.
Samuel released Lord Bertram and rose from the table.
“My apologies,” Samuel told the gentleman, then turned back to Lord Bertram. “I will be waiting outside.”
Samuel did not pause for a response from Lord Bertram; he simply left White’s and proceeded to wait outside. It was not long until the door opened, and Lord Bertram approached him.
“I can tolerate many things, Bertram, but you certainly crossed a line when you broke into my home,” Samuel stated. “I am still unsure of how you managed to enter my home without anyone seeing you.”
“It was rather easy. I created a diversion a short distance away. It is incredible what people will do if you offer them a few coins.”
“What did you do?”
“I merely paid two men to create a diversion that was loud enough for your footmen to hear. They were on the scene rather speedily, attempting to restore the peace. I broke the window and climbed inside, then threw things around, creating a mess.”
“You certainly did make a mess of things, Bertram – care to inform me of just what you hoped to find in my home? Because it certainly looked like you’d been searching for something.”
Lord Bertram laughed – a bitter, ragged sound.
“Indeed I did make a great mess of the place - but there is no proof that it was me. And as far as what I was looking for? Given that Lady Lillian was still persisting with placing herself in your company, I thought to find something more to sully your reputation with. I reasoned that I might find evidence, either of your father’s peccadilloes, or of your own, if you had inherited his ‘tastes’. That would have given me material for further articles, to ensure that thetonnever allowed your face to be seen in polite society again.”
Samuel looked at Lord Bertram with some amazement, shaking his head.
“You were never going to find anything of that nature, because there was nothing to find. My father was meticulous with his records, and while he had some questionable tastes,they did not extend to anything easily documented – he was no fool. And I most definitely did not inherit such tastes from him – quite the opposite – the example he provided was enough to make certain that I never indulged in any of the things he had enjoyed. You damaged my house for a foolish reason, which just goes to show how little you know about me.”
Bertram almost snarled at Samuel and waved his hand dismissively.
“Regardless of that, now that your name is tarnished and Lady Welsford will not allow Lady Lillian anywhere near you, I am free to court the young woman. It will bring me much joy when I marry her, knowing that you will never have her.” Samuel’s nostrils flared as he grabbed Lord Bertram by the collar and pushed him against a wall, but Bertram continued to speak, despite it. “There is nothing you or anyone else can do to change that.”
“That is where you are mistaken, Bertram. The writing on the threatening letter that you sent me on the day that I arrived, as well as the letter that you sent to Lady Lillian, matches a note that was attached to a bouquet that you sent to Lady Lillian at her home.”
Lord Bertram’s face paled, and his eyes widened.
“What?”
“I will not repeat myself. There is clear proof that you are the culprit. You were intent on ruining me and scaring Lady Lillian, with the aim of ensuring a courtship and a possible marriage for you. Simply as revenge for what I did to you, unintentionally, over ten years ago. Is that not rather extreme?”
“You do not know what that ‘innocent comment’ did to my reputation and my family.”
“I can assure you that I do. And I do not take threats lightly. If you do not cease all contact with Lady Lillian, I assure you,a ruined reputation will be the least of your concerns,” Samuel hissed.
“Nowyouresort to threats, Your Grace?” Lord Bertram sneered.
“Indeed. The Constables will be rather intrigued to hear of your threatening letters to both myself and the innocent Lady Lillian, not to mention how you damaged my home. And I am certain that Lady Lillian, Lord Timothy, and the maids at my home would have much to say regarding your involvement in the matter. Jail time will certainly be a much worse fate than that which you initially anticipated by writing that article, is that not true?”
“You are blackmailing me.”
