Page 37 of A Scandalous Kind of Duke

“First, there is your own … indecision.” Renshaw, too, seemed to have relaxed, having lost that confused look. “In the years since your divorce, you have demonstrated a tendency to show an interest in a lady, only to abandon her. It does not look good, Dammerton. We do not want Susannah’s name added to a list of ladies who weren’t good enough for the duke.” Renshaw pursed his lips, and then added, “It also raises questions of how you might treat a lady after marriage. If you might … abandon her then too.”

Leo nodded. “Let us be clear that, in my previous marriage, my wife was the only one of us seeking entertainment outside the marriage bed.”

Renshaw looked mildly taken aback by the confession. “One does wonder,” he murmured. “Your late father. My friend, of course, and a great man in many ways and yet…”

And yet, a man with two families. Was that one of the ways in which the previous Duke of Dammerton had been “great”? Did taking a Prussian noble as a wife, and keeping a French woman as a mistress, with some eight children between them, add to or subtract from a man’s claim to greatness? It was the mistress he had loved, with whom he was living before he even sent away to Prussia for a bride.Why did you not simply marry Mme. St. Blaise, given your affection for her? Leo had wanted to know. His father had seemed astounded by the question.An English duke could never marry a French Catholic, my boy, Papa Duke had said.It simply isn’t done.

Leo said nothing. He would not apologize for his father.

Renshaw continued. “I suppose your father’s more immoral tendencies display themselves in your half-brother. One often hears implications about Mr. St. Blaise.”

Leo sighed. “There is always some implication about St. Blaise. The fellow was born with an implication.”

“I wonder you acknowledge him at all. There are only rumors of what he does, for he is remarkably tight-lipped, but rumors do not come from nowhere. I should not like Susannah to be exposed to the likes of him.” Shaking his head, Renshaw walked on. “And one does wonder why your mother took your younger sister to the Prussian court for her debut, instead of presenting her at court here as befits the daughter of an English duke. Rumor suggests that one or other of them has something to hide.”

Leo refused to be baited. “You have thus far complained about my father, my half-brother, my mother, my sister, and my former wife. Restrict yourself to comments about my own behavior.”

The main objection remained. Sure enough, Renshaw raised it next.

“My lady wife already discussed it with you. What is your relationship with this artist, this Juno Bell? I am informed you made two visits to that woman’s studio just this week.”

“Many people visit artists’ studios.”

Once more, Renshaw came to a stop. “Do not play the innocent. It beggars belief that you are merely looking at herpaintings.”

“If you wish to consult with my secretary, he can tell you everyone else I visited this past week too. Do you imagine I am swiving them all?”

“There is no need for such vulgarity.”

“Why single out Miss Bell?”

Renshaw’s lips tightened. “I do not wish to speak ill of Sir Gordon Bell’s niece, but, well, a professional artist.” He shook his head. “No respectable woman would put herself on display like that. A woman, making a living as an artist, and not married? It is an aberration, Dammerton.”

“I’ll thank you not to refer to any person as anaberration,” Leo said coldly. “Miss Bell is respectable and hard-working, without a hint of immorality staining her name,” he added. “I trust you do not intend to ruin a woman’s livelihood out of sheer idleness and spite? I thought you a better man than that.”

Renshaw looked momentarily chastened, before rallying. “As my wife said, it would be humiliating for my granddaughter to be engaged to a man who is involved in a liaison with another woman, especially given your father’s choices and your previous marriage. Being a duchess will be no consolation for that.”

Leo’s impulse was to defend Juno again, but this was precisely why he was here. And precisely why he had to deflect attention to protect both Juno and Miss Macey from the gossips.

He had made his choice. He had chosen marriage to Miss Macey and his Foundation over his friendship with Juno and their tangled history. He had chosen to return his life to order. Now he had to make that choice stick.

He had to betray his friendship with Juno, right here, in the dappled sunlight under the wisteria vines.

“I haven’t the slightest interest in a liaison with Miss Bell.” He spoke clearly, deliberately. “I call on her merely out of duty to my friend Hadrian Bell, who requested I stand in his stead as her brother figure for the duration of his posting abroad. Now Hadrian is back in England, the visits will cease. I assure you, my acquaintance with Miss Bell is of no consequence whatsoever.”

He felt strangely better for having uttered the lies. More in control of his feelings, less threatened by that desire, less haunted by the past.

“Well.” Renshaw nodded. “The truth is, Susannah is amenable to your attentions. She sees herself as a great patroness of the decorative arts. You’ll find her expensive,” he added with a chuckle. “Call upon her at your leisure. But one word of misconduct on your part, Dammerton—”

Leo inclined his head. “I will treat her with respect.”

“See you do. Yes. Well.” Renshaw looked up and down the wisteria bower. Confusion wrinkled his brow. “This garden looks all the same,” he said with a nervous laugh.

“You are here to acquire a painting from Prescott, I understand,” Leo reminded him gently.

The other man’s expression cleared. “Ah yes, Prescott.” He nodded. “Yes. Got an appointment with him about a painting. I wonder if Mrs. Prescott might get me a cup of tea while I wait.”

“No doubt she will,” Leo said, choosing not to mention the tea Renshaw had already received. With a friendly hand on the older man’s shoulder, he turned him in the right direction, then added a nudge. “Head back to ask her, or perhaps Prescott is ready for you now. I shall enjoy this garden a while longer.”

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