Page 78 of Duchess By Accident
“Exactly! This conspiratorial thinking is rather worrying, after all what kind of paranoid mind would dream up such a fantasy?” Adrian wrinkled his nose, a touch of embarrassment for Lord Bolton entering his voice.
He has them now.Natalie could feel how rapt the ton were. Oh, it was certainly scandalous to cause a scene like this, but they loved nothing more than a scandal that would allow them to sit proudly atop their high horses.
She could see the self-satisfaction in every lady’s cool disdain, in each lords’ tutting. They were loving this, and loved that not only could they find the scene itself abhorrent, but the revelations as well.
“It is the truth! You are doing this to ruin me!” Lord Bolton swung to face the ton, his voice a eedy whine. “Everyone knows you are the Devil Duke. You do this for sport.”
“Oh, I am well aware of my reputation, Lord Bolton.” Adrian’s voice was cool, dangerous as a dagger. “But what reason have I to ruin you?”
“Because of what I did to your wife.” Lord Bolton ground his teeth, the admission seeming to be dragged out of him. “I was the one behind the rumours. I made up baseless lies to muddy her reputation and sully the name of everyone who associated with her. I will admit to this.”
“You are the reason my family has known such pain?” Natalie stepped towards the pair of them, not quite close enough that there was any risk Lord Bolton could touch her, but close enough that he could hear anything she whispered without risk of being overheard.
Lord Bolton glowered at her, his eyes full of a promise of violence. Natalie drew herself up straighter; she was not afraid of him.
“Yes.” He hissed.
“Why?” Natalie demanded.
“Because I wanted to hurt you.” Lord Bolton’s jaw was so tight Natalie wondered that his teeth did not shatter with the strain. “I wanted to make you suffer.”
The crowd sounded like a hornets nest, full of angry, indignant buzzing. Every eye was hostile, cast upon the disgraced Marquess.
“Tell your husband to stop this. You have what you wanted. Call off your dog.” Lord Bolton’s lips barely moved, his words only just loud enough for Natalie to hear.
Natalie felt anger stir within her, she wanted to strike him, to hurt him the way he had hurt her. She glanced at Adrian, saw the mirror of her anger in his eyes.
She moved towards Adrian, placing a hand on his chest as though she were soothing a wild animal. She positioned herself so that her face could not be seen, so that Lord Bolton blocked most of her.
Rose had taught her the trick of speaking without moving her lips, though Natalie had not practiced the skill in some time. She hunched her shoulders, as though she were steadying herself against her husband.
“What on Earth makes you think I would call him off?” Natalie’s eyes flashed with anger. “Or even that I can. It’s like you said – I am a woman, less than nothing.”
Lord Bolton’s eyes flashed and he bared his teeth. Natalie moved away from the pair of them, catching Adrian’s hand in hers and staring imploringly at her husband. The warmth of his skin comforted her.
Loudly enough for the ton to hear she said, “Husband, please, I know this man has done me a great harm, but I would beg your mercy.”
“If it were only a matter of the harm he had inflicted upon you, then I would do as you ask, my Duchess.” Adrian shook his head, his face a grim set line. “But he has harmed too many to escape justice.”
“I cannot believe he is a thief.” Natalie clutched a hand to her chest, her eyes meeting Adrian’s. “Not as well as everything else.”
“I have the proof of his finances. And I will send them to the magistrates to deal with.” Adrian squeezed her hand. “As for the theft, there is an easy way to discover the truth. Lord Bolton need only empty his pockets.”
“You said you would not ruin me if I told them.” Lord’s Bolton hissed, his words only audible to Adrian and Natalie. “I did as you asked.”
“I gave you the choice, and you chose this.” Adrian answered loudly enough for the ton to hear. “I hoped to resolve this matter privately. After all, there is nothing I like more than being owed a favour. But after seeing the desperation and ungentlemanly manner with which you have behaved tonight, I fear only God can save you. And I am no God.”
Adrian flung Lord Bolton to the floor. The man landed in a crumpled heap. He was shaking, his face white with rage andfear. The ton’s angry buzzing grew louder. Natalie felt Adrian move beside her, slipping an arm protectively around her.
She leaned into him without thinking.
“Search him.” Lady Winchester summoned two guards and gestured to the man on the ground. “And see that you are thorough.”
“Unhand me.” Lord Bolton tried to push the men away but one grabbed his hands and pulled them behind his back.
The contents of his pockets were emptied onto the ballroom floor. A coin purse, a pocket watch, a few bits of paper, a snuff box and then a shiny gold object tumbled to the floor. Natalie moved away from Adrian to pick it up.
“My bracelet!” Lady Cecily dove towards the gold bracelet and slipped it back onto her wrist.
