Page 18 of The Duplicate Duke
The stricken butler closed his eyes and turned to leave.
“Wait,” she cried, scrambling for her shirt and tossing it over her head.“Don’t leave, Mr.Garner.”
Mama held out her arms, blocking his way.Then she pushed the poor man backwards, his eyes still closed, and slammed the door shut.“You can open your eyes now,” her mother told him.
He did but refused to turn around.Gwen had to walk around him and stand in front of him.She saw a sheen of sweat on his brow and realized how shaken this proper man was.Gwen took his arm and marched him to a chair, walked to the wardrobe, and withdrew a bottle of whisky the old duke had kept hidden there.
Pulling the stopper out of the bottle, she handed it to Mr.Garner.“Drink, you’ll feel better.Or so I’ve been told.”
“You will,” echoed Mama from experience.“Now, it isn’t what you think.My children are twins.Gwendolyn is only taking Graham’s place until he arrives.Then they will switch and tell everyone his sister has arrived.”
The butler took a long pull off the bottle, then held it with both hands, his eyes darting back and forth between mother and daughter.
“Although Graham doesn’t know we’re here yet.The investigators are tracking him in Canada, someplace with lots of timber.We think.They assured us they could find him, and they were so confident that we believed them.And we’re sure Graham will want to be a duke, so everything will be well in the end.”Gwen took a ragged breath.“Do you understand?”
He nodded and took several more swallows of whisky.
“Will you keep our secret?”asked Mama.
His gray eyes widened.“I cannot lie to Lord Wickton.”Another pull off the bottle.
Gwen knew how rattled the man must be to drink in front of them.“We’re not asking you to lie for us.Just don’t bring it up.”
“Or change the subject if the viscount comes too close to the truth,” added her mother, nervously smoothing her raven hair back into her chignon.
“I plan on telling him soon,” Gwen explained.“I just haven’t found the right time yet.”
“Wh-why?”croaked the butler.
“We were destitute, barely able to feed ourselves, and the house we lived in was being sold,” said Mama with a sniff.“It was agonizing not being able to provide for my daughter.”
“When we learned about the inheritance, I thought we would just begin the proceedings for my brother.A… proxy of sorts.”Gwen smiled, considering proxy a better word than substitute.
“An imposter, you mean.”The butler had found his voice.
Mama wailed, tears pouring down her cheeks in earnest as she shook her head.“I-I tried t-to talk her out of it.”
“It really is all my fault,” agreed Gwen, blinking rapidly to stall her own onslaught of hot tears and failing.
The horror on Mr.Garner’s face as he realized he was trapped in a room with a bottle of whisky and two sobbing females was almost comical.Almost.He tipped back the bottle again.
Gwen went on her knees and threw her arms around the butler.“Please, don’t tell Miles.I must find the right time, or he will hate me.”
“And she loves him,” squeaked Mama.
Mr.Garner’s mouth fell open, then a slow smile curved his lips, transforming his face.“I knew something wasn’t quite right.And the way Harry acted when he first met you.Smelling your trunks and the clothes you wore, then smelling your hand, only to howl.”
Gwen bit her lip and held her breath, hoping the butler was softening.“I wonder if twins have a similar scent, and it puzzled him.”
“And some of your mannerisms when you thought you weren’t being watched…” Mr.Garner set the whisky on the floor.“You’re in love with Lord Wickton?”
Gwen swallowed, her world tilting.She hadn’t been sure until this moment, hearing Mama say it.“Yes, I do.For the love of Hercules, I really do.”
Mr.Garner stood, took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.“I have known the viscount since he was a child.I know the losses he has endured, the sweat he has poured into his estate—and how lonely he is.”
“Well?”asked Mama, dabbing at her eyes with a sodden handkerchief.
“I will keep your secret if you promise to tell him within the week.”He walked to the door and opened it.“Even if he is angry at the news, he is a reasonable man.Give him time and he will accept—if not condone—your scheme.It’s obvious he is very fond of you.”
