A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,23

chest ache, not to mention his head feel as if it were about to implode.

He didn’t like to see any woman suffer, but what could he do except pay the wives their dowries and offer assistance when the second wife’s baby was born? How else could he shield them from the scandal that threatened to erupt if anyone heard what Meri had done?

That’s what a noble Duke of Randford should do—protect his family. By keeping those women safe and their reputations intact, he’d be safeguarding Meri’s memory and protecting Katherine and the other two wives while sweeping his half brother’s disastrous actions under the proverbial carpet.

If Christian’s father were alive, he’d have ignored the women. Years ago, too self-consumed to consider others, his father had overlooked Christian for his new wife and Meri. Christian had never said a word, but he had watched his father’s actions carefully. Christian had learned that arrogance, self-importance, dissimulation, and obliviousness were the hallmarks of being a duke.

But such behavior wouldn’t serve Christian well in his future endeavors since those traits had proven unbeneficial on the battlefield. He fought next to candlemakers, farmers, and cobblers. They all protected one another. Men had to work together if they wanted to survive, no matter their rank or background.

He had promised himself he’d never forget the lessons he’d learned in war. Now that he was back, he would cultivate a way to help his men recapture their lives. For some men, they came home to nothing. Left to fend for themselves, sweethearts, wives, and families simply disappeared, never to be heard from again. Others came home wounded inside and out, with little hope of healing. Some of the men like Reed had to fend for themselves on the street.

Once he took his seat in Parliament, he planned to introduce legislation to provide more assistance to the valiant men who returned home without work and a place to live. He was going to lobby his peers at every social event he attended.

It all brought back what was missing in his own life. Only in the army did Christian find a place where he was part of something. However, when his father died, he had to return to Rand House.

He’d never call it home as he never truly belonged there.

He closed his eyes and tried to summon more pleasant thoughts. Again, it came back to Katherine. He could think about the softness of her skin. When she’d placed her hand in his as he offered assistance out of carriage, he had fought a mammoth battle not to squeeze her fingers. For underneath the kidskin gloves, there was an underlying suppleness and a gentle touch. He would wager on it.

But such tenderness belied a persistence that made her unique. She wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with him when there was something she wanted, namely him helping the wives out of this mess. Thankfully, he wanted the same thing.

“Captain, are you ready?” Morgan quickly and efficiently sharpened Christian’s razor on the leather belt.

“Yes,” Christian answered.

After Morgan applied the softening, creamy soap, he carefully stroked the blade against Christian’s skin.

“Tell me about this medicine Miss Ferguson gave you yesterday.” Christian closed his eyes as the ritual continued. “The two of you seemed thick as thieves when you walked into the study.”

“Willa is quite the medicine woman. She told me her father had lost his eye in a wheat thrashing accident. She said he was in terrible pain.” Morgan continued the shave as he spoke. “She created a salve from adder’s tongue and a few other herbs.” He lifted the blade from Christian’s skin and wiped it on clean linen toweling. “As soon as she applied it, the pain and itching stopped. This morning, the redness is down. Willa gave me a bitter tea made from privet to help with inflammation. I’m to drink it morning and night.”

“That’s astounding,” Christian murmured. “Did you see the other wives while you were at Lady Meri’s house?”

Morgan shook his head. “They’d retired by the time I arrived. Willa is very protective of those women, especially Lady Meri. Willa has been with her since she was a small child. She speaks of her as a mother would, with great affection and pride.”

Christian grunted. With the last swipe of the blade, the shave was finished. He took the toweling and removed the last of the soap from his face. “Did you discover anything else?”

“Willa told me Lady Meri is a self-made woman.” Morgan went about the task of cleaning