Page 81 of The Duchess' Ultimatum
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Dorian sat patiently, waiting for the arrival of Lord Kenbrook.
He was in the lord’s office, located in central London. The building being used was one which featured dozens of offices rented by various merchants and businessmen, a rather expensive rental at that and beyond what Lord Kenbrook should have been able to afford.
It is all for show, the very reason that Lord Kenbrook has chosen such a location as this. If one is to lie through his teeth and trick those he means to go into business with, he best look the part.
Truly, there was a part of Dorian that could not help but be impressed by the lengths through which Lord Kenbrook had gone to in order to complete the ruse and fool just about every lord in theton.Such effort… and such joy to be found in tearing it all down.
He sat with his legs kicked up on the table, and a smile found his face when he heard footsteps shuffling down the hallway. Soon, a shadow appeared in the cracks of the door, a key ratting in the lock, a pause because the door was open, then slowly the whining of the hinges as the door was pushed open.
Lord Kenbrook stood in the open doorway, expression one of utmost shock to find Dorian there waiting for him.
“Your Grace…” Lord Kenbrook hesitated, eyes flicking about nervously. “This is… a surprise.”
“A pleasant one, I hope.”
“That depends on the purpose.” He hesitated further before finally stepping into his office. Dressed in a large coat, he removed and then hung it from the wall, his brow furrowed tight, a fear flashing behind his eyes. “If you had sent word ahead that you wished to meet, I would have come sooner. And there was no need to break in like this.”
“I thought to do as much,” Dorian said, still with his feet on the table. “But I figured that surprise was necessary. After all…” A smile stretched across his face. “I did not want to give you a chance to run.”
Lord Kenbrook was halfway across the room when he paused. “Run? I am afraid I don’t understand your meaning…”
“I think you do.”
“No, I don’t.” He firmed his posture and crossed the office, putting himself on the opposite side of the table. “Nor do I know what you are doing here. If you mean to threaten me or… or bully me, I am afraid that you have chosen the wrong man.”
“No threats,” Dorian assured him. “That is really more your style than my own. You see, the thing about threats is that they can be undone. Only as good as their promise, when that falls apart, they are as useful as tits on a bull.”
Lord Kenbrook, now resigned to the duke’s presence, narrowed his eyes and attempted to appear brave. “If this is concerning your sister and my son, I will not have it. I came to you with an offer, one I had hoped you would consider – that you would see the value in. This theatre is unbecoming and –”
“Ah yes, your offer,” Dorian spoke over him, still casual. “How you meant to blackmail me, you mean.”
“I did not such thing. I merely pointed out that it would be within your best interests. What I heard…” He sighed and shook his head. “It is nobody’s business and I hoped to keep it that way. I was doing you a favor.”
Dorian snorted. “Is that how you see it?”
“A favor that we would both stand to benefit from,” the lord continued. “A marriage between our two families would be to great benefit. Where I was hoping to use the weekend to discuss the reasons why, now if you will allow it…” He raised a questioning eyebrow.
Dorian indicated for him to continue.
Lord Kenbrook smiled with relief. “As you no doubt are aware, my fortunes of late have seen a miraculous reversal. A few smart investments, some apt purchases, and I am not the man I was a few years ago.”
“How lucky.”
“For both of us,” Lord Kenbrook assured him. “With a marriage to my son, I was prepared for your sister’s dowry to be made in the form of an investment – one with returns that are, quite frankly, almost unbelievable.”
“And even more than that, I am sure.”
Lord Kenbrook hesitated, his eyes flicking about the office again. “If you will allow me…” He bit into his lower lip. “I have the paperwork here for you to look through. And I am sure you will agree that what I suggest is…” He laughed softly. “I hesitate to use the word robbery, but that is how it might look. You will be a rich man, Your Grace. As will I for that matter.”
“Somehow, I doubt that, Lord Kenbrook.”
“What is your meaning?”
Dorian sighed and kicked his feet off the table. “I wish I could say that it brought me no pleasure to do this, but that would bea lie. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself this much.”
“What…” Lord Kenbrook leaned back. “I don’t understand.”
