Page 35 of The Duke of Lies
The day the goats had come to the castle, Kit had wondered if there might be something between Verity and the steward. She had wanted to hire him rather badly. And yes, he had noticed the way Thomas looked at his wife—at Verity.
“You think he has a tendre for the duchess.”
Simon shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. I’d keep an eye on things, if I were you.” He slid a glance toward Kit. “If it bothers you. If it doesn’t, forget I said anything. Another man’s marriage is none of my business.”
“And yet here you are meddling,” Kit murmured.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I appreciate your confidence.” Yes, it was rather like they were friends. It reminded Kit of the camaraderie he enjoyed aboard ship and found himself missing, only it was slightly different. Men on a ship could come and go. Here, on land, it was easier to maintain relationships. Or so he thought. He couldn’t say since he’d spent half his life on the sea.
“Well then, I may as well meddle,” Simon said. “I know your marriage is in name only at present. Again, my apologies, but Diana and I don’t have secrets.”
“It isn’t much of a secret. We keep separate rooms.” Separate lives, for the most part. If not for Beau, Kit had the sense he could leave at any moment and not be missed.
“I imagine it’s difficult to start back up again after six and a half years away.”
Particularly when you’d been an absolute beast.
Simon winced again. “My apologies. This is really none of my affair. It’s just that I care deeply for Verity. She is my wife’s favorite person—aside from me, I think—and she was a good friend and support to us when we needed one most.”
“She’s a good woman,” Kit said. The finest he’d met.
“You sound as if you’d maybe like to change the circumstances of your marriage.” Simon said this slowly, as if he were testing to see if he might be saying something he should apologize for again.
“As you said, it’s difficult to readjust. We don’t spend much time together outside of estate management or Beau.”
“Perhaps you should.”
It was a simple statement, but so very powerful. It repeated in Kit’s head until it neared a crescendo of clarity. Yes, perhaps he should.
Maybe she’d go to town to look at a spinning mill with him. Or to the Eanam Brewery. Hell, anywhere. Or maybe he should start simple and just find a way to spend time with her here. It wasn’t as if they didn’t share common interests—the estate, Beau. If Kit could let down his guard a bit, he might find they shared even more.
They arrived at the first tenant and conducted their business in under an hour. The second tenant took slightly longer, and the third offered them lunch, which they gratefully accepted.
As they rode back to the castle, Kit definitively stated what he’d known for a while now. “Cuddy was stealing. Every single tenant reports different payment amounts from what the ledgers show.”
“What do you plan to do?”
“I’m not certain. I think he’s still in Blackburn.” One of the grooms had delivered him to a lodging near the edge of town.
“Diana and I had planned to leave day after tomorrow, but if you’d like me to stay, I will.”
“I appreciate that, but it’s not necessary,” Kit said. “I know you need to return to London.”
“Do you plan to go? When word of your return reached the House of Lords, it caused quite a stir.” Simon had mentioned this at dinner on their first night at Beaumont Tower, but Kit had artfully diverted the conversation. He didn’t want to go to London. He wanted to return to the sea before someone discerned the truth. He wasn’t entirely sure what happened to someone who impersonated a duke, nor did he want to find out.
“Not right now, and maybe not during this session.”
“It’s only the end of April. It may go until July, which is bloody hellish. I have to admit, I haven’t fulfilled my duties very well the past few years. I’m trying to make up for it now.” Simon peered over at him as they neared the castle. “They may send you a writ, and then you’ll have to go.”
“Do me a favor and prevent that.”
Simon chuckled. “I will try.”
They rode into the stable yard, where a groom took their mounts, and they returned to the castle. The women had returned, and Simon was clearly anxious to see his wife. He hurried inside while Kit went to see if he could find Thomas.
The man who perhaps coveted his wife.
