Page 34 of The Duke Who Dared Me
“I won’t be attending,” Alistair said, setting his glass down too firmly on the desk.“I’ve other matters to see to.Now that I’m back in Town,” he rushed to add.
Percy arched a brow but said nothing.
Verity jumped to her feet.“I’d feel better if I checked on Colin again.”
“You said yourself he is better and sleeping.Let him be,” Percy snapped.
“Then…” She glanced between Alistair and her brother.“Excuse me.”Verity rushed out of the room so quickly her teacup rattled against its saucer.
“It’s not like you two to put up with being in such a tight space for so long.How did you survive a carriage ride together?”Percy opened the drawer to his desk and pulled out a cigar.
A hundred answers popped into Alistair’s head, each one more incriminating than the next.So instead, he settled for, “She was worried about Colin.Too distracted to go after my jugular.”
“I don’t know how you tolerate her mouth sometimes.”
He wasn’t expecting the hot flash of anger that ripped through his body.True, it had been there for years as gossip spread about Verity and her temper and spiritedness.
He was frustrated, maybe even annoyed, because she had allowed him small slivers of herself.
Singing bawdy songs on the piano to infuriate her tutors while he was stuck going over ledgers with Percy.Or saving an injured squirrel from the garden, only to have the creature make a miraculous recovery overnight, then gorge itself in the pantry to the terrified screams of Cook.They were little pieces of the woman who he…
No, he wouldn’t go there.
Alistair cleared his throat, refusing to take the bait, if that was in fact what Percy was doing.Did he know something had happened between them?Had someone seen them kiss in Hyde Park?
“Do you want one?”Percy held out another cigar that Alistair refused.“Listen, your silly wager with her has been too much of a distraction.My financial situation is worse, and I don’t know if I can have her finish out this Season.”
“It’s March.There are only a few months left.”
“Between you and me, I needed her married at the start.But somehow she’s snagged the attention of Brookhouse, and we both know he’s not going to help.He’s only after a dowry, and I suspect his attentions will stop when he learns she doesn’t have one.”
“No dowry?”He set down his glass with deliberate care, fighting the urge to vault from his seat.“I know your parents didn’t see to a lot of practical things, but I thought they would have set aside something for their only daughter.”
Percy shrugged.“It’s bad, Ali.I’m going to do what I can to keep this house, but my father’s debts keep spilling out of all corners of England.Just when I think I might have a handle on everything, I’m notified of another.”
“I can help.Tell me what you need.I’ll provide her with a dowry if it means she has better odds of finding a suitable husband.I’ll place money on the bet at White’s to gain more interest.”
“I’m waiting for you to find her a suitable husband.”Percy’s voice took on a hard edge that was unfamiliar to Alistair.“But you’re too distracted with Lady Clara.I didn’t think you even wanted to get married.Haven’t you spoken with the Duke of Cranbrook?”
Ahh, yes, the Wayward Dukes’ Alliance.Yes, well, in theory, there was an excellent network established to assist dukes wishing to avoid marriage.“Mother has other ideas.”
Percy slumped forward, lighting his cigar from the lamp on his desk.“Verity won’t listen to me.She never has.”
“You think she’ll listen to me?”
“I think you have always managed to find a middle ground with Verity.Though God knows, that’s always a moving target.All I mean is, I need you to put an end to this wager between you.All of London is gossiping now, and she’s no closer to being a bride.I can’t support her any longer.I know Verity hates me, thinks I’m a giant villain, but I know my Aunt Francis.Verity thinks she’ll be independent, but at the greater cost of what?Our aunt has nothing and lives a simple, devoted life.She’ll expect the same of Verity, even if it means breaking her spirit day after day until she listens.”
His heart hammered against his chest.It didn’t matter because he had arrived this morning, determined he wouldn’t give weight to what happened last night with Verity.And now, he was left holding her very life in his hands.No matter what he did, she would hate him.
“As much as I want to avoid my mother, it’s time I head to Mayfair.I’ll take your words to heart, but Percy, I will help if you need my help.”
“I couldn’t accept that.You’ve done enough already.”
This had always been a tired argument between them, and as bad as it was, he didn’t have it in him just then to put up a fight.
“You should try for some sleep yourself.You look terrible, Musford.”He rose quickly, ready to return home to a bath and his bed and maybe spend another night at his club, where he didn’t have to think about…
Verity was walking from the library with a book tucked against her chest.
