Page 96 of Last Duke Standing

Then a few weeks ago, when his father had summoned him home, he’d reminded William that since he’d taken care of his problem—William still maintained it was nothis problem, as he’d done nothing wrong—he felt easy about sending William to do his bidding.

There it was, the reason his father had been able to wheedle him into this royal assignment.

William wanted to tell Justine the horrible thing that happened to him and Miss Simpson. He had no hope she’d believe him, and he couldn’t bring himself to ruin the growing regard between them. He thought it perhaps best to keep it to himself and pray to heaven above that she not hear a single ill word said against him before she’d settled on a match and returned to St. Edys.

All he could do was pray.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

LILA’SAFTERNOONWASnot unfolding as she had envisioned it when she’d so eagerly jumped at the chance to arrange this picnic. A few complications had cropped up.

The first complication was a mildly surprising one, what with Lord Douglas “suggesting” she turn her attention to Princess Amelia. It was nearly all she could do to keep from laughing at him—the poor man could not have been more obvious had he tried! And she could not have been more pleased. Naturally, she’d allowed him to believe he was persuading her. It was always better to allow a man to think he was winning the game. They were easier to bend to one’s will when they thought they were in charge.

But she did feel bad for Prince Michel. He was such a gentleman and would make the most excellent of husbands one day, perhaps even as good of a husband as Valentin. Lila was still of the opinion that Lord Douglas was a perfect match for the princess...but she hadn’t yet synthesized the information she’d made Beck give her when she’d called on him yesterday.

She’d gone to see him again to insist on the truth about William Douglas. She’d found Beck alone, save one young daughter who was lying facedown on the floor, kicking her feet and sobbing inconsolably.

She and Beck stood together and stared down at her. “Is she all right?” Lila had asked.

“Quite all right. She’s being punished for naughtiness, and the punishment, it seems, is to be locked in a study with me.”

“Should we do something?”

“What would we do?” he asked, almost as if he hoped Lila might have an answer.

Lila didn’t. So she and Beck had retreated to the other end of his study, and she’d whispered her question to Beck, conscious of the little girl in their presence.

“Oh dear, Lila. You don’t want to hear about that,” he’d said with a wince. “Blythe doesn’t like me to talk.”

“I understand. But it’s imperative that I know.”

He’d eyed her suspiciously. “Why?”

Lila had refused to answer, but she’d returned a look that said he really ought to have guessed.

Beck groaned up at the ceiling. “I don’t like to repeat rumors.”

“That’s not true.”

“I mean, not this sort of rumor.”

“Fair enough. But please repeat it before I wrap my hands around your throat and squeeze it from you.”

“All right, but you are forcing my hand.” He leaned forward. “They say he impregnated a girl. Left her there in Scotland with no hope or help. That’s the rumor, anyway.”

Lila had been so stunned she’d sat back and stared at him. “That doesn’t sound at all like the marquess. He may very well be a rake, but he isnota degenerate.”

“I don’t believe it, either, Lila, I truly don’t...but something happened. I have known Douglas a very long time. He said he didn’t do anything except to try and help the lass, and I believe him. But you know as well as I, darling, that no one ever really cares for the truth.”

The little girl, Lila noticed, had stopped wailing. She had a thumb in her mouth, and her eyes were closed. She’d fallen asleep on the carpet. She turned back to Beck. “Do you think him entirely innocent?”

“Innocent?” He paused, rubbed his temple. “William has a terrible predilection for flirting...at least he did. In the last few years, he’s been rather quiet. But I have never known him to be anything but honorable when it mattered most.”

That was the impression of him Lila held, too.

“I’m very fond of him, actually. I always found his approach to life rather practical.”

Lila nodded. She agreed with Beck; the truth of what had happened was hidden by the salaciousness of the rumor. But what was the truth? She stood up and walked around the sleeping girl on the carpet, thinking. “Do you think his reputation can be salvaged?”

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