Page 11 of Her Lion of a Duke
“Then why would you do it?” Beatrice asked. “I must now fend for myself, and to make matters worse, all three of my friends have married dukes. I will never live up to such expectations!”
“Bea, I have not done this deliberately. I was thinking of Clara and how she must marry well, too. That was never going to be possible while I was here, with such a reputation. If I could have avoided this, I would have. Besides, you are more than capable of marrying well. You need only try.”
Her friend did not seem to believe her, but it was the truth.
Beatrice was beautiful and kind, and she was incredibly talented, as well as passionate about her interests. Still, she had never truly been able to speak to gentlemen because she thought herself unworthy.
Cecilia hoped that would change soon.
“I shall be going to Pridefield Manor,” she added. “We will return to London after our honeymoon, so you do not need to miss me too much.”
The ladies laughed, but Emma seemed to be lost in thought. Cecilia gave her a look, prompting her to speak.
“Has His Grace spoken to you about his situation?” she asked.
“About his need for a wife? Yes, that tends to happen when one is accused of murder and has to fix his reputation.”
“No, I mean… Oh, it truly is not for me to say.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Duke has told my husband about some letters he has read, but I had not thought much of it until you announced your engagement.”
The words rang in Cecilia’s ears.
Emma’s husband, the Duke of Lupton, was Leonard’s greatest friend, so it was no surprise that Leonard would tell him about such a thing. What surprised her, however, was the fact that she knew nothing about the said letters.
However, she intended to find out about them.
CHAPTER 4
Leonard did not marry Cecilia to find out the truth about the letters, but he had to admit that it helped.
When he had rid himself of his brother’s belongings, something about the letters from Felix Gray had remained with him, though he never questioned it. He had been rather too preoccupied with clearing his own name to wonder about someone else’s.
That had to end, however, when he heard the rumors.
Felix Gray was not only a man who was in contact with Henry, but also a writer. Leonard had been alerted to a political critique by his housekeeper, and as he read it, he realized just how relevant the subject was.
It was about ducal corruption and the dangerous silence surrounding the deaths of aristocrats. It was no coincidence that the rumors spread just as it was published. Someone had meant to hurt him, and he intended to find out who it was.
His plans, however, would have to wait, for he had a wife to tend to.
“That was quite the evening,” he said softly as they rode home.
But Cecilia did not respond.
Their situation was far from ideal, but Leonard had not expected her to be so silent about it all. Cecilia always had an opinion, and she always made it known. If she were feeling bad, she would have said something to him. He was certain of it.
“I ought to warn you about the manor,” he continued. “It is not exactly what one would describe as homely. I have not lived in it for years now.”
“Leonard, I have already told you that I have been there before. I know the manor like the back of my hand.”
“Yes, but I have not lived there since that party. It might be quite the surprise when you see it.”
Again, there was no response.
Leonard wondered if she believed him, but he hoped that she did. He had sequestered himself in the manor when he was not in London, as it had become difficult to stay in the house he had once shared with his brother after everything that had happened.
