Page 38 of The Truth about the Duke
“I think that I – ”
“Oh, what a fine afternoon it is!”
An unfamiliar voice broke through their conversation and Lydia was forced to pull her attention away from the Duke, seeing another fellow coming towards them. It was not Lord Kendall, but an older gentleman with a greying beard and a rather jolly face. It took her a few moments to remember, only to recall that this was none other than Lord Dunford.
Her hand tightened on the Duke’s arm and he threw her a quick look, understanding in his eyes.
“Good afternoon, Lord Dunford,” he began, as Lydia bobbed a quick curtsy. “Yes, it is indeed. I am out walking with Lady Lydia, as you can see.”
“Of course, of course!” Lord Dunford beamed at Lydia as though her presence was enough to delight him. “How wonderful to see you out here again, Melrose. You appear to be in better spirits than you were at my soiree!” He laughed at this but Lydia bit her lip, a little concerned over what the Duke might say to this.
Thankfully, she did not have to worry.
“Indeed, I was in low spirits,” the Duke agreed, shaking his head. “But that is because I had only just learned that the story in The London Chronicle was, in fact, quite true.”
This made Lord Dunford’s face freeze into a fixed expression, and Lydia’s eyebrows lifted as she watched him.
“I am sure you know the one I mean,” the Duke continued, letting out a long sigh. “Do you not?”
Lord Dunford’s smile was no longer as bright as before. “If you are speaking of the heirlooms, then yes. That was a strange story indeed, was it not?”
The Duke tipped his head just a little. “I am not certain I would consider itstrange, no. You see, my father had not told me anything about the heirlooms and had also, for whateverreason, instructed my mother to say nothing on the subject either. Though I now realize why that was, of course.”
Lydia said nothing, holding her breath as she waited for Lord Dunford to respond. Would he respond to the Duke’s remark or merely shrug off the comment before turning the conversation to other things?
“Might I ask why that is?” Lord Dunford’s voice had, to Lydia’s mind, become a little strained. “I knew your father well, as you know. I am surprised that he kept the theft of the heirlooms from you.”
“Indeed but it was because he did not know who it was.” The Duke sniffed and then lifted his chin. “However, since the writing of that article, I have heard from my mother. She told me of those that my father suspected of stealing the heirlooms.”
A slight pallor came into Lord Dunford’s face.
“And even more so, I found the driver, Stanley,” the Duke continued, making Lydia’s eyes flare though she did not look up at him, wondering if this was the truth or if there was something of a pretense here. “And he has told me all.”
Lord Dunford blinked furiously, going a furious red before turning very pale indeed. Lydia blinked quickly, her breath hitching in her chest as she realized, in one swift, wonderful moment, that the truth had been discovered. There was no doubt in her mind now that Lord Dunfordhadbeen the one to steal the heirlooms.
“You grew your beard to cover the scar,” she breathed, her eyes fixing to Lord Dunford as the Duke nodded in evident agreement. “The late Duke injured you, did he not? And this was the only way you could hide it.”
Lord Dunford shook his head furiously. “No, that ispreposterous.”
“You may as well be honest, Dunford.” The Duke’s voice had taken on a commanding tone. “It is just as well for you that weare speaking out here in public, rather than standing in your drawing room or study, which was where I had intended to confront you.”
This sent a quake through Lord Dunford, for he trembled visibly and seemed to shrink before them both. The authority that the Duke presented merely by his stance and firm voice was enough to make Lydia tense, hardly able to imagine what it must feel like for Lord Dunford at this moment! She gripped the Duke’s arm all the more tightly, half hoping, half praying that the confession would come and that the Duke would hear all that he needed.
“The truth, Dunford.” Again, the Duke spoke but this time, his voice was lower and yet held even greater weight than before. “I will hear it from you now.”
Lord Dunford dropped his head and heaved out a great long breath, still shaking. The Duke stood firm and Lydia stayed precisely where she was also, feeling as if the very air around them held its breath as it waited.
Then, he spoke.
“I had no other choice.” The heaviness in Lord Dunford’s frame was reflected in his voice and as he lifted his head, he looked straight into the Duke’s eyes, desperation there. “My estate was falling to the ground. My late father had done nothing to prepare me for just how much debt was to fall upon me! I had married before he passed from this life and it was only then, once I took ownership of the estate, that I realized just how much difficulty I was in.”
The Duke scowled. “Thus, you used your friendship with my father to steal the heirlooms from him. And you did so for your own purposes.”
“I would not have killed him!” Lord Dunford exclaimed, as though this somehow made the situation a good deal better. “Iwanted the heirlooms. I knew that he was to go to London to fetch them, for he had informed me of it.”
“And the driver?”
Lord Dunford closed his eyes. “He was easy enough to bribe.”
