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Chapter One

No matter how much time had passed since his last visit to Ha Duke of Ro help from Romsey Abbey If not for his quest to locate his faain

He stared across thelowed boldly in the earlyAll his life he had gazed at the place that had been the hoht have been born into another family

The stench of betrayal lay thick upon Ro to understand the power he would wield one day, his existence was far from innocent, steeped in lies Born and bound in deceit The Romsey duke’s crushed those that stood in their ithout a passing thought for the pain they would inflict Leopold’s side of the family had suffered such a fate, scattered to the four corners

Leopold had been denied any return to England in the past five years His existence considered both a threat and a commodity for the old duke’s schemes The last time he had been suain with the old devil to keep his sister safe Even if he’d not had any choice in the ht still haunted his dreams and robbed him of any peace

Behind hie came to life They were happy, secure in their lives, confident in the benevolence of the Duke of Romsey, and the continuation of years of endless tradition, poly, calculating power of the family he was sadly a part of

Leopold slipped a pistol into his hand, finding reassurance in the fao he’d been sweltering in Surat on the banks of the Tapti River, unaware of the changes at Ro about the old duke’s business with no idea he was free The news he had died a year and a half ago had pleased him But it was only by chance that he’d heard the duke’s only son, his cousin Edwin Randall, had died sixto the title To say he was shocked was an understate the title of the Duke of Romsey

Somewhere in the depths of hell, the old Duke of Roony

Many ht covet such a situation, but Leopold was free and, if he lived a quiet life now he’d returned to England, he ain The idea had been gratifying—intensely so He could go where ever he chose without having to account for his actions Freedom after a decade of servitude eet It had taken him a very short amount of time to wrap up his affairs, set aside his mistress, and return home on the first available ship Not even a run-in with aAmerican privateer had dimmed his enthusiasm

His heady sense of excitelish cobblestones in Portslish voices at once had overwhelle voice—clear and insistent—had turned hi lad na brother’s name was Tobias

But it hadn’t been his brother, just a street sca his pursuers But at thatho falobe if necessary to find out what the old Duke of Roer brothers and sister had been taken froranted a limited liberty, forced to dance to the old duke’s tune in order to keep them safe

Unfortunately, inforaging a private investigator to discreetly question staff at the ducalof their fate He was informed the London mansion had been closed since the old duke’s death a year and a half ago The current duchess, his cousin’s wife, ed a year ago, was mired in the country with her son and had no plans to come to town that anyone knew of The man of business was new and clueless about the past, or his side of the Randall fa up a careful friendship with Viscount Carrington in London, a man an old friend had vouched for but with too many probleingly return ho for information himself

Now, he had no idea what future lay before him, but his audience today would set the wheels in et his answers and be done with Romsey once and for all

“Your breakfast is ready, Mr Randall,” the innkeeper called “Saht”

“Thank you, Brown” Leopold turned froraced the innkeeper with a smile reminiscent of his former life before his exile The man need not have any reason to question hisHe need not see how bitter Leopold had beco these days?”

“Very well, sir She’s got three young ones now and another on the way Her husband coular from sea and refills her belly at each visit”

Leopold smiled but made no further comment He’d only asked to be polite The former Fanny Brown had been the local tart Tender hearted, but a tart just the same

“If you don’t mind me sa

ying so, sir, it sure is good to see another Randall in the district The place has been far too quiet since your family left” Brown touched his cap and hurried away “The Duchess of Romsey will be pleased to see you, he called”

But anger swirled through Leopold like a rising tide and he hesitated to follow He had to work hard to force his bitterness away Left? His family had not left of their own volition His parents had likely been killed on the duke’s order, his siblings abducted certainly But until he had proof of their whereabouts, he’d keep his eyes open Until he’da threat she was to his fa she said or did

With one last glance at the distant abbey, he turned toward the inn and the war cha his absence that he expected to hear his fa around the battered table over a ood to dwell on happier times—and wearily sank into a chair

Leopold spooned food into hisa smile to the shy innkeeper’s wife as she added fresh rolls to the table But hisquestion of where his family had been taken and,now that the old duke was dead Despite his proer that Roo He shook his head He could not think too much about that possibility That way led to the sao when he’d discovered Oliver had disappeared overnight