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Chapter 2

1827

As soon as the hired detective left the rooh he never allowed himself to lose his self-control, this was too e to shout, hit so, was unbearable He wasn't aware that he had been holding a glass until he heard it shatter in the library fireplace with explosive force “Dammit, where is she?”

A few moments later, the door opened and his brother Lord Williae “Apparently the detective had no luck in finding our mystery marchioness”

Damon was silent, but the uncharacteristic flush on his face betrayed his ely similar in appearance, in temperament they couldn't be , sharp-hewn features coray eyes, the shade of shts, whereas Williaaze was usually filled with o-lucky air that Damon, the elder, had never had the time nor the inclination to cultivate

So far in his short life of twenty years, Williae nuh the bad would ever happen to hi that at heart Williah spirits for a while? Daer brother to have all the freedoes that he'd never been allowed—and he would protect Will from the harsh realities that he himself had not been spared

“What did he say?” William prompted

“I don't want to talk now”

Williaany pedestal side cabinet that held rows of opulent cut-glass decanters “You know,” he reate in order to get rid of her You've been searching for three years, and there's no sign of her here or abroad It's clear that the Hargates don't want her to be found Her relatives and friends are either unwilling or unable to divulge any information You could obtain an annulment, I daresay”

“I won't without Julia's knowledge”

“But why? God knows you don't owe her anything”

“I owe her a fortune,” Darimly “Or rather, the family does”

Willialass of brandy to his brother “You and your damned sense of responsibility Any other ate like unwanted ballast You don't even know her!”

Taking a deep s of brandy, Damon stood from his desk and wandered around the room “I need to find her She was a victireement was ether Besides, I don't want to take any steps withoutsome kind of settlement on her”

“With her family's fortune behind her, she has no need of a settlement”

“There's a possibility she has broken with the Hargates I won't know until I find her”

“I hardly think Julia is destitute, brother More likely she's a quite well off her papa's money”

“If that were true, I'd have located her by now”

William watched as his brother went to stand at theThe vieas spectacular, as it was from nearly every room in the reat stone arches that rose fro as it reached toward the sky Many of the once impenetrable honey-colored walls had been replaced by spectacular s filled with dialass Behind the castle stretched the endless green countryside of Warwickshire, lush with pastures and gardens Long ago the castle had served as a staunch defense against invaders of England, but it had now settled into a e

The Savage family had nearly lost possession of their ancestral ho else they owned—because of the present duke's bad invest Only Daate, and the dowry her father had provided, had saved the family from ruin And now they owed her the title of duchess, which wouldn't be long in co health

“Thank God I wasn't the firstborn child,” Williaain Father struck, e seven in order to secure er still that you've never met her since”

“I never wanted to see Julia It was easier to pretend she didn't exist I couldn't acknowledge that she was—is—part of lass

“Is the al?” William asked

“No—but that's not the point Fatherme It's ates for the money we accepted from them”

“Honor…responsibility…” Williarimaced playfully “My two least favorite words”

Dalass Although it wasn't Julia's fault, each letter of her name was a link in the invisible chain that bound him He would never be at peace until the matter was resolved

“I've iined Julia a hundred different ways,” Da about her, and what drove her to disappear like this God, I'd like to be free of her!”

“When you do locate her, Julia ation Have you considered that? You've tripled the fae finances” There was a teasing glint in William's dark blue eyes as he added, “And woloomy character Why would Julia be different? She wants what every woo with him”

“I don't knohat she wants fro yet, apparently, or she wouldn't still be in hiding”

“Well, you'd better do so about the blasted situation soon, or Pauline will amist of you”