Page 24 of A Duchess to Fight For
Barton leaned back and took a drink. “You know what I think, Frederick?”
“No, Barton what do you think?” It was all Frederick could do not to clench his teeth.
“I think you will never find it. I think you truly believe you executed a policy for me, but I’m not convinced you did. I think you will need to pay me for this unfortunate,” Barton paused, “lapse.
“But I have a proposition for you. If, after ten days, you do not find my policy, I will become betrothed to your daughter. I assume her dowry covers the amount of money you owe me.”
Frederick looked up into Barton’s eyes and levelled his gaze. “I’m not interested in your proposition. I will pay you outside of involving my daughter.”
“Ah, but I heard that might be difficult for you. You already sunk your money into the next ship, and you’re investing heavily in projects you are keeping to yourself. Is that so?”
“Look, Barton, you’ll have your money at the end of the ten days as we agreed. That’s all you need to know. I have the resources to make good on any obligations. You need not concern yourself with how I will pay.”
“I’ll be honest with you, Frederick. I want your daughter, and I’m willing to make a very favourable deal with you for her. But if you don’t find that document within the remaining time, I’ll take her as payment. She will be mine.”
Frederick shook his head. He felt as if it would explode. “I’ll not negotiate her for a financial settlement. What’s more, she is in the midst of a courtship with a gentleman she hopes to marry. I’ll not dash her hopes.”
Barton put his legs out straight, crossing them at the ankles. “Yes, I’m aware of the courtship. I have looked into the young gentleman, and I can ruin him with one sentence. All of White’s will be buzzing when they hear about Jack’s indiscretion. Let’s just say he has laid his seed in a fertile field, and the young woman who has the burden of being a single mother raising Lord Duggan’s child at least gets financial assistance from him.
Frederick could barely hold his anger at Barton in. “If you don’t mind, Barton, I’ll continue my search so none of this conversation has to ever be uttered again. There is no need to ruin the young gentleman over a misplaced insurance policy.”
“Oh, did I forget to mention? I can also tell all of White’s that your brother is a murderer. If Jack’s past doesn’t get them buzzing, your brother Hobart will. Yes, I’ll get Louisa one way or another. She will be mine.”
Frederick smiled. “Making up stories about my brother will get you nowhere. Come now, Barton, you can do better than that, can’t you?”
“You may think this is amusing, but you won’t when doubt is planted in the head of every blue blood.”Barton’s smug smile begged to be wiped off his face.
“You may think you have a great story now, but mine is better. You stop at nothing, including making up outlandish stories to blackmail me into permitting you to marry my daughter. All because you cannot find a lady to accept you. You have been searching two years with not even one lady or her father interested in you. Is it your sparkling personality and handsome face and physique standing in the way? The ton will understand. You’re a laughingstock already. Every blue blood will eat up that story.”
Barton sat stone-faced, but every word from Frederick’s mouth brought the colour in his face a deeper red. Frederick stood and pulled the bell. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have a document to find before you make a fool of yourself when I am forced to counter your gossip to the ton.
“Mendon, show the Duke out.”
Neither bowed nor said goodbye.
Frederick kept it together until he heard the front door shut behind Barton. Then he lost it.
Mendon heard the crash and rushed into Frederick’s office, concerned for his well-being. What he saw was Frederick in a chair, elbows on his thighs, hands cradling his head.
“Your Grace?” he said.
Frederick didn’t answer, so Mendon looked around the room for the source of the crash. A whisky glass on the hearth and inside the fireplace lay quietly in a thousand shards.
He turned and left Frederick’s office, shutting the door softly behind him.
Frederick didn’t know how much time had passed when he heard the barely audible knock on the door. He ignored it. Amelia walked in and surveyed the room. She went to Frederick and began rubbing his shoulders, saying nothing.
Frederick leaned back in the chair and said, “Ah,” while she continued. He closed his eyes and tried not to think. He needed to tell her. Louisa might lose Jack over this. He would never allow Barton to marry his daughter, but he was powerless to keep Barton quiet about Jack and Hobart. She could help Louisa pick up the pieces.
He reached his left hand over his right shoulder and patted her hand.
“We need to talk. I have made a very powerful enemy.”
Amelia bent down, crossing her arms over Frederick’s chest and kissed him on the cheek. She stood straight and moved to sit in the chair next to her husband.
Frederick took a deep breath and started talking, not sure if anything he said made any sense.
“When the ship sank, my investors recovered their money from the insurance policies I took out for them. I have spent an enormous amount of time searching for the insurance policy I took out on behalf of Barton. I can’t find it, even though I’m sure it exists.
