Behind the Courtesan - By Bronwyn Stuart Page 0,75
you are brothers and that he is indeed the heir to the dukedom.”
“You heard all that?” He didn’t wait for a reply. “What are you going to do with this new information?”
“No, Daemon. What are you going to do with the information? Why are you really here and why did you purchase almost every one of Blakiston’s horses?”
Daemon dropped into the chair before the cold hearth and beckoned for her to sit as well. She did so, even though her anxiety rocketed higher with each and every question that sprang to mind. There were so many.
“Charles is in deep to some very nasty men. The auction was the quickest way he could acquire the funds to flee England.”
“I don’t understand. Why does he not ask the Crown for help, or his friends? Surely a loan would put him back on the straight and narrow?”
“He has no friends in funds and the King has already helped as much as he is prepared to. Charles owes money to so many men, even if the estate and title could be sold, it wouldn’t even be a drop in the ocean to his creditors.”
“But what has this got to do with Blake? Why do you bring it all up now?”
“We’ve known who we are to each other for about a decade. My mother considered herself in love with the old duke until he showed his true colors and almost ruined her life. St. Ives paid no heed to her in the early days of their marriage and didn’t particularly care when one of his oldest friends did. Discreetly of course. Discretion is the middle name of the ton. If it weren’t for the secretiveness of the upper echelon, duels would have wiped half the aristocracy from the country.”
“And you wouldn’t be in the position you are now.”
“Heard that too did you, minx?”
“Why aren’t you angry with me?” He should have been furious, but instead he sat with his ankle on his knee, his hands steepled before his chest and a thoughtful look on his face.
Daemon shook his head, leaned forward and took one of her hands in his. “I’m not angry with you, because it is a wasted emotion. It is you who should be upset with me.”
Sophie covered their clasped hands with her free one with a sinking stomach. She wouldn’t pretend she didn’t understand the tone in his voice. “I could never be upset with you. You have given me more than I deserved, more than I would have thought to ask for.”
“What will you do now?” he asked.
“I’ll wait for my niece or nephew to be born and then I’ll go back to the city and pack my things. I don’t belong there anymore and I suddenly find I want more than can be found in London.”
“What about your friends and the infirmary. You enjoy working there.”
Sophie shook her head. “In a way I always thought the clinic needed me but they only need my money. Well, our money. I can donate from anywhere in the country. I think in truth it was me who needed them. A way to stay connected with both the lives I lost. As for my friends, they only need to know that I’m safe and happy.” Safe and happy in Blakiston? She wondered if that were truly possible.
“But will it be enough for you? Rotting away in the country?”
Sophie laughed at the irony, at him using her own words. It felt like a lifetime ago since she’d spoken them, so much had changed. “I believe I shall cope. Violet will need help with the baby and if she lets me, I should like to be a real aunt, perhaps even a friend.”
“I think she would like that.”
“What about you? What will you do about Blake?”
“I intend to set to rights the wrongs we have all wrought.”
“How are you going to do that, when he so adamantly refuses to take the title?”
“He can reject the name and title as much as he wants, but he will have to make an official decision. He isn’t aware of it yet, but he is already a duke. The King stripped Charles of the title last week, and is only giving him the time to flee. It’s why I purchased the horses with Crown money. Charles will have the funds to start again somewhere new rather than board a ship for his sins. Blake will have the means to save the Blakiston name and build the fortune he’ll need to