Page 92 of The Duke of Seduction
“Yes, I suppose we should.” Beck sounded resigned as he turned toward the exit.
Lavinia tightened her grip on his hand. “I’m coming with you.”
Father glowered at her. “No. This isn’t a conversation for young ladies.”
“If it concerns Beck, it concerns me.” She wasn’t going to let him exclude her. Curling her hand around Beck’s arm, she led them both outside.
They moved to the side of the door, and her father didn’t waste a moment getting to his point. “What the devil are you about, challenging Haywood to a duel?”
Beck’s muscles tensed beneath her fingertips just as her muscles loosened, and she worried she was going to pitch over. “It was necessary.” Beck’s tone was clipped and coated in ice.
Lavinia turned and took her arm from his. Her legs were wobbly, but she refused to show any weakness. She stared at Beck, whose gaze was stoic, his mouth set in a hard line. She barely recognized this man. “You challenged Haywood to a duel?”
“He murdered my sister.”
Now she wavered, and Beck’s arms shot out to steady her. His face folded with concern. “Are you all right?”
“No.Your sister was murdered, and you’re going to duel someone. How can I possibly be all right?”
“If he indeed had something to do with her death—I didn’t even realize she’d been murdered.” Her father blanched. “If he was involved, you must notify Bow Street.”
“He admitted it to my face. I demanded satisfaction.” Beck stared at her father with scorching heat. “You mean to tell me that if a man killed your sister and got away with it for sixteen years, you wouldn’t want satisfaction?”
Father glanced away briefly before looking at Beck with pity. “I understand. However, without a father here to guide you, I hope you’ll allow my counsel. This is not the way.”
“No, it isn’t,” Lavinia said. She turned to her father, grateful for the care he was showing to her future husband. “Father, I’m going to have Beck drive me home in his phaeton.” She wasn’t asking permission. “I’ll see you shortly.” She went and kissed him on the cheek, eliciting a small grunt of surprise from him.
He looked at Beck. “Think about what I said.”
Beck didn’t respond as he offered his arm to Lavinia and escorted her to his vehicle. After he helped her inside, he said, “You’re not going to change my mind.”
“I must. We’re to be married in a fortnight. I’d rather not have to bury you first.” She was trying to inject a bit of levity but ended up feeling a stab of distress.
“You’re not going to bury me. Haywood’s a coward and probably a terrible shot.”
“Then I don’t want his death upsetting the start of our life together.” She turned toward him as he drove the phaeton into the street. “Please, Beck, you can’t do this.”
“I can and I must. He killed my sister.”
She could feel the fury coming off him in waves, as if he were a raging bonfire. Maybe she could calm him down a bit and find some reason. “What happened? Is this why you were acting strangely at the ball last night?”
It took him a moment to respond. He seemed to have difficulty finding words today, which was odd since words were so much a part of who he was. “I received a letter from my sister Margaret. She said Haywood was the man who’d given my sister hope for a union. Given his reputation, I wanted to know what happened, so I asked him for advice with my mistress.”
She didn’t think it was possible to feel any more distressed. “You have a mistress?”
“Of course not,” he said in a rush. “I meant what I told you yesterday. I loveyou, Lavinia. There is only you.”
And Haywood, apparently. Obviously, Beck didn’t love him, but right now he was standing between her and the man she loved.
“He suggested I dispose of her with pennyroyal, which is toxic in large amounts.”
Lavinia had heard of that herb. “It’s also used to get rid of unwanted babes.” Her voice was low, disbelieving. “Was your sister…with child?” She watched as his hands clenched the reins and the muscles in his jaw tightened.
“Yes. And he didn’t want to marry her, so he killed her.” He swallowed. “I’m just glad my father isn’t here. Actually, I hate that he went to his grave thinking Helen took her own life.” His voice broke at the end.
Lavinia wanted to hold him, but she couldn’t without causing an accident. She touched his arm as tears stung her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I can understand how you feel.”
“I don’t think you can. If you could, you’d know that I have to meet him tomorrow. My sister’s honor is at stake. Do you know how awful it’s been for my family to live with the knowledge that she killed herself and to keep that secret to protect her and our family?” His voice rose. “It’s bloody torture, and it was all unnecessary. Shedidn’tkill herself. Haywood killed her. And an innocent child.”
