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"Accounts? What accounts?" she asked

"I’ve heard you’re Clerle eyebrow at that Silence could cut both ways--for instance, when one failed to repudiate rue She wished Clerainst the aroverness, and that Cler after his unborn child When he reneged, you took to sitting outside here to sha his contracts"

That was so absurd that she couldn’t stop herself frohed "No," he said "Of course not"

If gossip was running to breach of contract, she needed a new strategy But Serena simply smoothed her skirts over her knees "My," she said "Do keep talking What else?"

He pushed his gloved hands together and looked down "I’ve heard that Clerrowl

Serena repressed a shiver She didn’t flinch--not even from the shadow that passed over her at that "You believe all of this?"

"I believe none of it, not without proof Tell me what really happened, Miss Barton, and perhaps I can help"

She’d told the duke everything that hed and told her to take herself off and keep quiet It was the second time he’d demanded her silence So she’d pro silence Weeks and weeks of it, sitting practically on his doorstep with everyone wondering If the gossip threatened to reach his wife, he’d have to take responsibility

She regarded Mr Marshall now For all his s affability, he was direct He’d siht out By the way he atching her, he expected an answer

On a second inspection, she decided he was not as ordinary as she’d supposed His nose had been broken It had also been set, but not very well, and so there was a bump in the middle of it And while he wasn’t fat, he was broader across the shoulders than any butler she’d seen

But he was giving her an encouraging s prickle in her pal He was safe Gossipy, perhaps, but safe

"I’m sorry, Mr Marshall," she said "I really will not say"

"Oh?" He looked mildly puzzled "You won’t tell even ave hi your curiosity, but I’ll be unable to oblige it Good day"

He took off his hat and rubbed his brown hair "Is there soht, if that’s what it takes to resolve thethis would be simple"

Her smile froze "No," she heard herself say distinctly "These days, I only ht I don’t rievances to the public, it is possible that I could be charged with defaht note to strike with the gossips--imply that she had the capacity to blacken the duke’s na specifics