Page 84 of The Duke's Indecent Match
It is time to pay what your father owed.
He sucked in a breath as he stared at the letter, which was far too reminiscent of the stack of threatening notes he’d found in his father’s things.The notes that had, at one time, made him think that his father might have been responsible for the death of all his friends’ fathers, in a roundabout way.He’d worried that his father’s actions had gotten them all accidentally killed.
But when he’d revealed the existence of the notes, he’d discovered that his father had not been the only one receiving threats.Gregory’s father had a stack as well, and they’d recently uncovered the fact that his father’s old steward had been the one sending them.The man had fled before he’d been discovered, and they had investigators looking for him, but so far, he had not been found.
It had reassured Nathanial that it was likely not his father who had been inadvertently responsible.They were still unsure how Gregory’s steward was involved, and none of them thought he was the mastermind—indeed, his last note had indicated a larger plot—but at least Nathanial had been able to wipe that guilt from his mind.
Taking a deep breath, he put that aside and started mentally tallying the list of debts his father had owed, not just to businesses but to the various members of theton.All the debts he had inherited along with his title, damn his father.
Ton.Most likely ton.
The paper was heavy in his hand, thick and high quality.He snatched up the envelope again.There had been a wax seal on it, which he had barely paid attention to, though he should have.His mind had been too focused on the plan for this afternoon and evening, the first engagements with thetonsince his marriage.
The wax was dark red, which indicated nothing, and Nathanial did not immediately recognize the coat of arms displayed on it.He’d never been one for memorizing such things.The ones he knew mostly belonged to those that he’d seen frequently on either correspondence or his friends’ carriages or both.
This was neither of these.
Was this a new debt or an old one?
“It’s possible I’ve already paid,” he murmured.The last of the banknotes had gone out from his desk just before they’d left for London.Perhaps this had been sent before the bank note had been received.
He would have to ask around to all those he’d paid.Ensure that they’d been paid properly.Impatience swept over him at the knowledge.He wanted to bedonewith his father’s legacy.
Folding the note, he tucked it back into the envelope and put it on his nightstand.He would deal with it later.First, he needed to get through the musicale, then the Styx’s ball.Those were the two events that Tiffany and Gregory had helped him and his wife choose from the small stack that had arrived as their first excursions.
Lady Darning’s musicale would be a well-attended event, featuring an opera singer and Tiffany herself, which was a large part of the reason for attending.All of his fellow dukes would be there, as would Lady Astrid and his wife’s friends.From there, the ladies would move on to a private tea at Tiffany’s, which he thankfully would not be expected to attend.But he would escort his wife to the Styx’s ball tonight.
Tomorrow, they would do another set of rounds, a rather exclusive luncheon hosted by the Duchess of Windham, then a masquerade in the evening at Camden House.The new Marchioness was hosting her first large event and, according to Tiffany and Gregory, it could not be missed without causing comment among their set now that they were back in London.
At every event, their role would be the same—to play the proper, boring, unconventional married couple.
He was not going to pretend to a love match, the way Gregory and Tiffany had to weather the scandal of being caught in the library.He did not have it in him.Not when his emotions were so conflicted already.
Torn between forgiving her and holding on to his righteous anger.
Eventually, he would forgive her… he knew it.His sisters were too happy.The family’s financial troubles were over, thanks to her.She was doing a remarkable job as his duchess, regardless of how she’d attained the position.And the way she responded to him at night…
He would forgive her.
It was creeping up on him, but he was not able to completely let go of his anger, his resentment.Not yet.He could imagine a day when he could, though, and that was good enough for him to feel more settled.
If thetonaccepted their ruse and there was no more scandal or drama or anything that would harm his family’s reputation, it would be much easier to forgive her.With his friends rallying around them, that would help.Especially with Tiffany and Astrid at his wife’s side.
The bustle of servants as Nathanial made his way to the foyer impinged on his senses, interspersed with Fiona’s laughter.She was in the music room with Julianna and Emma, apparently enjoying herself.When he reached the front hall, his wife was already there waiting for him.
As always, her beauty hit him straight in the chest.Her lustrous dark hair was piled in gleaming coils on the back of her head, a dusky pink hat with three creamy feathers perched smartly on top.As always, the pink set off the color of her skin, adding a rosiness to her cheeks.Her dark eyes gleamed brightly as they lifted to meet his.The gown she’d chosen was perfect for an afternoon musicale, with a high neckline and a bodice that nipped in at the waist to emphasize her figure.The color was a matching pink to her hat, with a cream underskirt and cream ruffles lining the edges of her sleeve, drawing attention to her delicate hands.Small pink diamonds, large enough to be seen but not so large as to be gaudy, shone at her ears and throat, reflecting the light in her eyes.
The uncertainty in her expression as she met his gaze was quickly covered by calm serenity, and she folded her hands in front of her.The pink kid gloves covering her fingers were a shade darker than the rest of her ensemble, drawing attention to her graceful movements.
“Madam.”Nathanial held out his arm.“Shall we?”
Neither of them smiled as she put her fingers on his arm, yet he felt her touch like a brand.
Their first public outing as man and wife.
Once again, he felt that little hint of resentment.Taking his wife out for their first excursion should have felt nothing but triumphant… instead, he was going to have to go before thetonand pretend their marriage had not started with entrapment.Pretend that he was entirely content in his situation, when the truth was he was not.
Taking a deep breath, Nathanial shook the thoughts off as he led his wife out of their rented house and to the carriage.
