Page 74 of The Duke Who Loved Me (The Duke's Estates 1)

As they walked, Henry voiced astonishment about the state of the house. “This is a rum place and no mistake. Is that a spinning wheel?”

James simply nodded. As they passed the room where he’d been working, Ned and Jen stuck their heads out. “Who’s that?” asked Henry.

“My staff.”

“Your… Is this some sort of joke, James? Because I’m not seeing the humor in it.”

“It’s Uncle Percival’s jest, not mine.” They reached James’s bedchamber, and he closed the door. “What is this thing you must tell me?”

His friend looked uneasy.

“You see how much there is to do here,” James added. “I should get back to it.”

“Prince Karl is spreading rumors about Miss Vainsmede,” Henry blurted out.

“What?”

“He’s claiming…well, insinuating that she…succumbed to his advances.”

The fury that swept through James then made him incapable of speech.

“He’s doing it really well, too,” Henry added. “If that’s the word for slander. I saw him at a card party. He drops hints and then pretends to regret his slip. Claims far too vigorously that he meant nothing by it. Goes off with a sly, secretive smile.”

“That foul buzzard,” James growled. He was shaking with the need to pummel the fellow.

“Charlotte says it’s not true,” Henry added quickly.

“Of course it’s not true!” James had no shred of doubt.

“But she’s worried that some people are being convinced.”

“I’ll kill him!” said James. He turned to go and do so immediately.

Henry caught his arm. “A duel would just draw more attention to his story. People would say there must be some truth to it if you issue a challenge.”

James jerked free. He hadn’t been thinking of anything as formal as a duel. More along the lines of assassination. “People,” he echoed with revulsion. But he had to admit that Henry was right. A fight—anotherfight—would add to the talk. There was also the fact that Prince Karl would skewer him in a duel. He struggled with rage and frustration.

“Charlotte and her friends want to find a way to squash the rumors.”

“Ridding the world of the prince would be a good start,” James answered.

“Not really,” replied Henry.

“Stealthily, as a conjuror makes a rabbit disappear.”

His friend almost smiled. “But that is not possible.”

“You could not use your diplomatic connections to have him deported?” James was only half joking.

“My ‘diplomatic connections’ are no more than a slender hope at this point,” Henry replied.

He’d known this. “I must return to society,” James said. There was no question. Cecelia was more important than anything else, including his own position. He would return to his rooms today. “I don’t suppose you can recommend a valet?”

“I…what?” Henry stared at him.

James had to look his best if he was to come down on Prince Karl like the avenging Furies from the old Greek story. Didn’t they rip evildoers to pieces? That must have been a satisfying role. He would make the fellow sorry he’d dared to malign Cecelia. More than sorry. He would see him crawl. “Never mind. I will call on your sister tomorrow morning,” he added.

“On Charlotte?”

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