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Jack had always prided hi able to spot the irony in any situation, but as he stood in the Belgrave drawing roo roo but stark, cold reality

He’d spent six years as an officer in His Majesty’s ar from his years on the battlefield, it was that life could, and frequently did, turn on a singleturn, one missed clue, and he could lose an entire company of men But once he returned to Britain, he’d soht of that His life was a series of snificant encounters It was true that he was living a life of cri a few steps ahead of the hangman’s noose, but it wasn’t the same No one’s life depended upon his actions No one’s livelihood, even

There was nothing serious about robbing coaches It was a game, really, played by men with too ht that one of his insignificant decisions - to take the Lincoln road north instead of south - would lead to this? Because one thing was for certain, his carefree life on the road was over He suspected that Wyndham would be more than happy to watch hier would not be so accoh’s assurances aside, he was quite certain the old bat would go to extensive lengths to keep him on a leash

Maybe she would not turn him over to the authorities, but she could certainly tell the world that her long-lost grandson was gadding about the countryside robbing coaches Which would make it damned difficult to continue in his chosen profession

And if he was truly the Duke of Wyndhainning to hope that his aunt had lied Because no one wanted him in a position of such authority, least of all himself

"Could someone please explain" He took a breath and stopped, pressing his fingers against his temples It felt as if an entire battalion had marched across his forehead "Could someone explain the family tree?" Because shouldn’t someone have known if his father had been the heir to a dukedom? His aunt? His er said crisply "Charles was the eldest; John, the inald the last Your father left for Ireland just after Reginald married" - her face took on a visible expression of distaste, and she jerked her head toward Wyndham - "his mother"

"She was a Cit," Wyndham said, with no expression whatsoever "Her father owned factories Piles and piles of thehtly "We own thehtened, but she did not acknowledge his interruption "We were notified of your father’s death in July of 1790"

Jack nodded tightly He had been told the same

"One year after that, my husband and my eldest son died of a fever I did not contract the ailrave, so he, too, was spared Charles had not yet married, and we believed John to have died without issue Thus Reginald became duke" She paused, but other than that expressed no emotion "It was not expected"

Everyone looked at Wyndha,

"I will remain," Jack said quietly, because he didn’t see as he had any other choice Andor two of his father A ht to knohere he comes fro to wonder if he’d been offering forgiveness - in advance Just in case he decided one day that he wished to be a Cavendish

Of course, Uncle Williaht’ve revised that stateer said, clapping her hands together "Now then, we - "

"But first," Jack cut in, "I lanced around the drawing rooh they are"

"Nonsense," the dowager said briskly "Your things will be replaced" She looked down her nose at his traveling costuht add"

"I wasn’t asking your perer to reveal itself in his voice It did put a e

"Nonethe - "

"Furthermore," Jack added, because really, he didn’t wish to hear her voice any more than he had to, "I must make explanations toapproaching the truth," he added dryly, lest the duke assuhout the county

"Don’t disappear," the dowager directed "I assure you, you will regret it"

"There’s no worry of that," Wyndham said blandly "Who would disappear with the prohtened, but he forced himself to let it pass The afternoon did not need another fistfight

And then - bloody hell - the duke abruptly added, "I will acco he needed Jack swung around to face hi one dubious brow "Need I worry for my safety?"

Wyndham stiffened visibly, and Jack, who had been trained to notice even the smallest of details, saw that both of his fists clenched at his sides So he’d insulted the duke At this point, and considering the bruises he was likely to find staining his throat, he didn’t care

He turned to Miss Eversleigh, offering her hissmile "I am a threat to his very identity

Surely any reasonable man would question his safety"

"No, you’re wrong!" she cried out "You e him The duke - "

She shot a horrified look at Wyndham, and they all were forced to share her discomfort when she realized what she’d said But she plowed on, deterirl that she was

"He is as honorable a man as I have ever met," she continued, her voice low and fervent "You would never come to harm in his company"

Her cheeks had flushed with passion, and Jack was struck by thebetween Miss Eversleigh and the duke? They resided in the same house, or castle, as it were, with only an eer was anything but senile, Jack could not ie in a dalliance under her nose

He watched Miss Eversleigh closely, his eyes falling to her lips He’d surprised hiht before He hadn’tbefore whilst atte in the world - to touch her chin, tilt her face up toward his, and brush his lips against hers

It had been soft, and fleeting, and it had taken him until this moment to realize just how deeply he wanted more

He looked at Wyndham, and his jealousy must have shown on his face because his newly discovered cousin looked coolly aes I possess, I shall not act upon the to say," Miss Eversleigh responded

"But honest," Jack acknowledged with a nod He did not like this ht up to view the world as his private domain But he appreciated honesty, no matter the source

And as Jack looked hireement They did not have to be friends They did not even have to be friendly But they would be honest

Which suited Jack just fine

By Grace’s calculations, the ht to have returned within ninety minutes, two hours at most She had not spent e of speed, but she was fairly certain that twoless than an hour Then Mr Audley would need to retrieve his belongings, which could not take very long, could it? And then -

"Get away froer snapped

Grace’s lips tightened with irritation, but she ed to return her expression to one of placidity before she turned around

"Make yourself useful," the dowager said

Grace glanced this way and that, trying to decode the dowager’s order She always had so specific in uess

"Would you like me to read to you?" she asked It was thePride and Prejudice, which Grace was enjoying i not to like at all

The dowager grunted It was a no grunt Grace was fluent in this method of communication She took no particular pride in this skill

"I could pen a letter," she suggested "Weren’t you planning to respond to the recent missive from your sister?"

"I can write h they both knew her spelling was atrocious Grace always ended up rewriting all of her correspondence before it was posted

Grace took a deep breath and then let it out slowly, the exhale shuddering through her She did not have the energy to untangle the inner workings of the dowager’s er announced

Grace did not respond She was hoping none was necessary And then the dowager picked so up off a nearby table A fan, Grace realized with diser snapped it open

Oh, please, no Not now

The dowager regarded the fan, a rather festive blue one, with Chinese paintings in black and gold Then she snapped it back shut, clearly just to make it easier for her to hold it before her like a baton

"You may make me more comfortable," she said

Grace paused It was only for a moment, probably not even a full second, but it was her only means of rebellion She could not say no, and she could not even allow her distaste to show in her expression But she could pause She could hold her body still for just enough tier wonder

And then, of course, she stepped forward

"I find the air quite pleasant," she said once she had assuer’s side

"That is because you are pushing it about with the fan"

Grace looked down at her ee, but not the ones near herher lips into a perpetual frown What had happened to this woman to make her so bitter? Had it been the deaths of her children? The loss of her youth? Or had she simply been born with a sour disposition?

"What do you think of er asked abruptly

Grace froze, then quickly regained her coh to forer continued to look straight ahead as she answered, "Nonsense All of the best opinions are formed in an instant You know that very well ’Else you’d be married to that repulsive little cousin of yours, wouldn’t you?"

Grace thought of Miles, ensconced in her old hos exactly right

"Surely you have soh"

The fan rose and fell three times before Grace decided upon, "He seems to have a buoyant sense of huer repeated the word, her voice curious, as if she were testing it out on her tongue

"An apt adjective I should not have thought of it, but it is fitting"

It was about as close to a coot

"He is rather like his father," the dowager continued

Grace , "Is he?"

"Indeed Although if his father had been a bit more buoyant, we’d not be in this mess, would we?"

Grace choked on air "I’m so sorry, ma’am I should have chosen er did not bother to acknowledge the apology "His levity is much like his father My John was never one to allow a seriouswit"

"I would not say that Mr Audley is cutting," Grace said His humor was far too sly

"His naer said sharply "You’re too besotted to see it"

"I am not besotted," Grace protested