Page 32 of The Allure Of Lord Devlin
Right for you, more like. You think I’m an easy mark.“Of course.” And he plucked her hand off his chest and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “However, it means you could be in danger. Therefore, I fear it’s unwise to announce a betrothal just yet. I have no doubt that the man, or men, we are hunting are very dangerous. They could only be high in the government to have the ability to frame my father. If something should happen to you…”
She eyed him like a spitting snake. She could strike at will if she wanted. “But what if something should happen to you? Where would I be then?”
“I have added you to my will. You’ll receive a share of the tin mine’s profits for your lifetime.” Then they will revert to his family, but he would not clarify that.
“How much of a share?”
Christ. The witch was greedy. Not even a thank you. “Ten percent, which will be around five-thousand-pounds a year. Added to your wealth, that is more than enough to ensure the title you want should be easy for you to procure.” A very significant income and one his family could have done with, but he’d clear his father’s name at any cost.
His words pacified her. She detangled herself from his arm and walked to stand, looking up at his father. “He was a handsome man, and I see your mother was a great beauty, too. She must have had many suitors.”
It wasn’t what she said. He was sure his mother, being the daughter of a duke with a very large dowry, had many suitors, but his mother always said she fell in love with his father as soon as she met him. “I’m sure she did.”
She turned to face him. “After honor and state, follow envy and hate. Isn’t that the saying?”
His eyes narrowed. “What are you inferring? That one of my mother’s discarded suitors did this to my father?”
She simply shrugged and moved on towards his grandfather’s portrait. “If I were you, I would not underestimate envy. It motivates men—and women.”
Was that a warning about Dharma and his agreement to wed Fiona? Or was there some merit in what she was saying? Was she delivering another clue? He had always wondered why the villain had selected his father. Could jealousy be the reason?
Had Longton been one of the men courting his mother? And would he have born a grudge at losing her, a duke’s daughter? If he recalled, Longton, a mere earl, had been very attentive after his father’s death. He’d even supported the idea that his father had been framed. That’s why Devlin had never considered him as a suspect, even though he had been in the war cabinet too. And he’d sometimes gone to him for advice. His hands curled into fists at his side.
How could he be such a trusting fool? Had Longton hated the fact his father had stopped his social climb by marrying his mother? Well, he would trust no one again. Not until they’d earned it.
Devlin took his anger at his gullibility out on Fiona. “Is this how it’s going to be? You feeding me pieces of what you know to keep me dangling.”
“I’ve had to look out for myself all my life. I’m doing that now. You don’t trust me and I don’t trust you to honor your word to marry me. After all, your family name is not the greatest.”
Fury hit like a bullet. “If you don’t end up my marchioness, it will be through something you do. I am a man of my word.”
“That’s good to know. And remember, as your wife, it will be in my best interest to clear your father, too.” With that, she sauntered off down the room.
He glanced at his pocket watch. He needed to escort the ladies to Lord Clayton’s. Without another word, he left Fiona to her wanderings and hoped like hell his sacrifice would be worth it.
ChapterNine
His meeting with Clayton went well. Lord Clayton offered any help he could in the hunt for his father’s betrayers. But Clayton understood the danger the search would ignite, and he agreed for Rosemary to stay with them and he’d organize men to watch them.
“Should we tell Hawthorne?” Clayton’s question was pertinent. He might be in danger if caught alone with Rosemary.
“I’m not sure if we should trust him. Whetton wasn’t in the war cabinet, but he’s friends with those who were.”
“If I know women, Rosemary’s likely to tell him and she might not fully understand the situation.” Clayton raised his eyebrow.
Devlin’s gut churned. “You’re right. He’s coming to take her for a drive this afternoon. Let’s talk to him then.”
“How is your mother taking this?”
“She’s furious.” Devlin stood and paced the room. “She’s angry that I agreed to a marriage with Fiona, but without her, I’d be nowhere.”
“You could simply forget this course of action and get on with your life.”
He spun to face Tobin. “Would you?”
Tobin didn’t even hesitate. “No, I’d be doing everything to clear my father. But marriage—hell. I know you want to marry Dharma, and now I understand why you walked away from her in the manner you did. You’re protecting her. I can hardly fault you for that. But marriage to a woman like Mrs. McTavish? It makes my skin crawl.”
He ignored the fact his skin crawled at the idea, too. “Fiona has already given me a clue. She insinuated that they picked my father as the person to frame because of my mother. A jealous suitor. Longton’s name is on that parchment. It can’t be a coincidence. He was one of her suitors.”
