Page 43 of Duchess By Accident
“How is Lord Bolton?” Adrian asked. “The last I heard he had to pay a tidy sum to Anne Taylor and her children.”
Emberly grinned. “I thought he would burst when the judge read out the sum he owed. And the other women have been given similar amounts. They will not be living a life of luxury, but they will not be destitute. It is a pity the payment is the only one they will get.”
Adrian noticed a dark look flit across the other duke’s face. The man shook his head and sighed. “While the money will have stung him, he will face few other consequences.”
“And the women will still have a hard road ahead.” Adrian ran a hand through his hair.
“My mother-in-law had a few thoughts on the matter.” Emberly poured them each another healthy glass of whiskey.
“Did she?” Adrian asked.
“Well, a fallen woman is one thing, but a widow is quite another. After all, there is still a war being fought.” Emberly gave him a meaningful look.
“It seems the Viscountess is more than just a matchmaker.” Adrian drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair. “With the right support… It would not be too hard to arrange such things.”
Adrian closed his eyes, retreating back into the library of his mind, rifling through bookshelves as he searched for the information he needed. Names of Lords and Ladies who owed him favours, a collection of less than savoury characters who owed him their loyalty.
He opened his eyes, and nodded. “It would be best that we place the women as far from the reaches of the ton as possible. I have several people who owe me favours, no doubt I could place one or two in their households as servants.”
“I have a few as well, and there are others within my family who would be willing to take them on. Glassley is reasonably remote, and Maxton would be glad to help, I am sure.” Emberley nodded.
“Then we have a plan. I shall make the arrangements for their backstories.” Adrian drank his whiskey.
“You are not as heartless as they say.” Emberly said. “Plenty of men would balk at calling in what I can only assume are hard won favours.”
“Would you have let me marry your sister if you thought I was all the things the scandal sheets say?” Adrian canted his head towards the other man.
“No.” Emberly replied. “Though, I knew you were not the man they painted you as simply by virtue of you asking.”
The Duke stood up, letting out a yawn and stretching. Adrian stood up as well.
“If you were truly a devil, you would simply have taken her.” The man’s eyes darkened. “You would have given me no choice in the matter.”
“What makes you think I was not prepared with some scheme or another if you refused my request?” Adrian asked.
He was not used to being so candid with people, but there was something about Alexander Rokesby that seemed to set him at ease. An odd thing, given the man had once been called the Beast of Emberly castle.Perhaps that is why I like him.
“Firstly, there is very little you could discover about me that the ton do not already know or claim to know at any rate.” Emberly began to count on the fingers of his hand. “Secondly, I suspect you had your spies look into us rather thoroughly before you even made the proposal, and if you had found anything too scandalous you would not have wanted the match made.”
The Duke of Emberly shrugged on his coat. “Thirdly, my wife said that she trusted you. And she is a rather good judge of character.”
“Perhaps I should work harder on my devilish reputation.” Adrian shook his head.
“Reputations… Well, they are hard to control.” The Duke opened his mouth as though about to say more, closed it and shook his head.
He smiled at Adrian and said, “The Pembletons have a knack for seeing things others do not. Your reputation as marionette master of the ton will remain intact and on that note, I will take my leave of you. I shall see you in two days.”
“I shall look forward to it.” Adrian replied smoothly.
Duke Emberley laughed and disappeared out of their private room. Adrian stood for a moment longer, pondering the exchange. There was something in the way the other man had paused when they were discussing reputations.
“He was probably worried that I was going to spread about my reputation as a rake. I doubt he would want that kind of embarrassment for his sister.” Adrian nodded. “Few men would.”
He left the gentleman’s club and made his way back to Blackwood castle, stuffing his hands in his pockets to keep them from the cold.
“Emberley’s are far too dangerous.” He shook his head. “And I am about to have a house full of them.”
Chapter Thirteen
