Page 74 of Miss Prim and the Duke of Wylde
Drago was grateful that, other than to Meg, George, and Harry, he hadn’t mentioned having considered Alison Melwin as his duchess to anyone present. Although all three looked at him, they didn’t speak, and he was grateful for that, too. Alison didn’t need to be dragged into this.
Drake grimaced. “When you put it like that, it does sound far-fetched.”
Denton caught Drago’s gaze. “But there is another reason. Someone might think that by removing Meg, Drago will be unable to marry before his thirty-fifth birthday, thus plunging the dukedom into a financial hole.”
“What?”The loudest exclamation came—understandably—from Demon Cynster. He skewered Drago with a sharp blue gaze. “What’s this?”
Drago swallowed a sigh and explained about the clause in his father’s will. “But my birthday’s in mid-August. Removing Meg now would still leave ample time—”
“No, it wouldn’t.” Louisa made the statement with absolute authority. She met Drago’s eye. “If Meg died now, you would be deemed to be in mourning. Yes, you might wish to marry before mid-August, but your chances of finding another ton family willing to make that alliance and risk social censure, led by the Cynsters and connections no less… Well, at the very least, it would limit your choices quite dramatically, dukedom or not.”
Both Drago’s mother and Flick were nodding.
“And,” his mother added, “the truth of why you would need to marry with such unseemly haste would come out, and that would create all sorts of questions.”
Pru looked at Meg. “Did you know about this? Before you accepted him?”
Meg met Pru’s gaze. “I knew before our engagement ball.”
Pru nodded and grinned at Drago. “Just checking.”
He muted a snort.
“So,” Drake said, “there’s a chance that whoever is behind the efforts to scupper your wedding is seeking to prevent you from accessing the funds required to keep the ducal estates running.” He focused on Drago. “I take it that would harm the wider family and damage the estate?”
Tight-lipped, Drago nodded.
“That means,” Drake continued, “that we might be searching for someone with a grudge against the Helmsfords.” He glanced at Drago’s mother and Warley. “Any ideas?”
Both clearly thought, then both shook their heads.
“I can’t think of anyone who would fit that bill,” Warley said.
Drake nodded. “That leaves us with two other possibilities.” He looked at Aidan.
Apparently following Drake’s thoughts, Aidan nodded. “Leave it with me. I’ll check and make sure that the funds in question are still where they’re supposed to be.”
Deaglan cocked an eyebrow at Drake. “Embezzlement?”
“That’s one possibility.” Drake transferred his gaze to Evan. “The other is whoever stands to benefit from those funds if Drago doesn’t marry in time.”
Drago frowned and looked at Warley. “It’s a list of charities, isn’t it?”
Warley nodded. “A short list. Three, I believe. I can’t remember which off the top of my head.”
“No matter,” Evan said. “I’ll check the will and then delve into the current financial state of each of the potential beneficiaries.” He looked at Drago. “It’s possible someone is desperate, and your father’s potential bequest… Well, I imagine it’s sizeable and, consequently, would be highly attractive were someone needing to cover a shortfall in their accounts.”
Drago considered that, then shook his head. “I find it difficult to believe that either of those possibilities will prove to be correct. As far as Warley and I know, the money is still safely in the Funds, and knowing my father, the charities, whichever ones they are, will be established and sound.” He shook his head again. “There has to be something else behind this.”
Deaglan raised his brows. “If not that, then what?”
Drake nodded. “There has to be some reason, but it’s possible that this villain, whoever he proves to be, has a motive none of us can yet see.”
Drago didn’t find that reassuring, and from the expressions on the faces around the circle, neither did anyone else.
There followed several half-hearted attempts to speculate as to what such a motive might be, none of which were taken seriously, until Constance said, “Could it be Hubert?” When others looked her way, she elaborated, “Hubert Melwin, a neighbor at Wylde Court.” She looked at Drago. “Edith mentioned that at one point—before you met Meg—you had flirted with the notion of Alison, Hubert’s sister, as a possible candidate for the role of your duchess.”
Thank you, Edith.Drago shook his head. “I made no mention of my thoughts regarding Alison to Hubert or any of the Melwins. I’d merely sounded out Edith—or rather, she made the suggestion to me. It never went beyond that.”Because, thank God and all the saints, whisky and Fate intervened.
