How to Fool a Duke (The Husband Dilemma #1) - Lancaster, Mary Page 0,54
him back now.”
“You exceed your place, sirrah,” she said contemptuously.
“Actually, I don’t. I have finally realized that His Grace is correct when he calls me his friend. It is as his friend, not his secretary, that I speak now. You must not try to come between him and Sarah. It is cruel, hurtful, and will do none of you any good. Especially not you.”
“Then why are you here?” she asked triumphantly. “If you do not fear me, why trouble to bring me here and persuade me?”
“Because you are resorting to blackmail. I want to give you the chance to take back your threats. After all, if you hurt her, you hurt him. Whether you keep her from him or tell the world about her indiscretion, he will never forgive you.”
“I don’t want his forgiveness,” she snapped. “I want his rank and his lands and the life he will give me. The rest, even the Merrington girl, will matter nothing to him in time. I am, you know, very persuasive.”
“So, you will not budge?”
“I will not.”
James sighed. “Then I must tell you that your own indiscretions are noted. I know, for example, that you visited Trenton in his bedchamber more than once.”
She stared. “I did not touch Trenton! He is a boy.”
“The world does not know that. But even so, it is but one of many indiscretions. And I have seen the way you pursue the duke. In short, my lady, I have it in my power to make you a laughing stock.”
She laughed. “You? You are a nobody!”
“That is true. I am nobody. But I know everybody. All of His Grace’s family and friends. All his servants. It would not take many words to spread a story, a jest.”
She stared at him. “You would not dare.”
“I am his friend,” James said simply. “I want him to be happy, and I know where his happiness lies.”
Her lips curled. “So, it comes down to which of us can out-extort the other?”
“If you like. I need your word, my lady, that you will stop this.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I shall push you in the lake and drop a word in the ear of His Grace’s valet. He knows all the gentlemen’s gentlemen. That should ensure you return to London with the wrong kind of attention.”
She considered him. “I shall not care when I am Duchess of Vexen. And your Sarah a never-to-be-married whore.”
“You will never be Duchess of Vexen. The question is really whether or not your reputation survives to win a different husband.”
“I don’t believe you,” she said flatly. “And I refuse.”
With that, she turned her back. And James, with the slightest nudge, toppled her into the lake.
She shrieked with as much cold as rage, and James leaned down, grasping her flailing hand, and hauled her out.
“You see?” he said. “I always keep my word. I’ll send His Grace’s carriage to the foot of the drive to convey you to the inn. My lips remain sealed until the morning. Good night.” He tipped his hat to her dripping, gasping person and walked smartly back to the drive.
Rather pleased with his night’s work, he re-entered the castle, tossed his hat on to the stand by the door, and leapt upstairs toward the salons.
Halfway up the staircase, he met the duke coming down. His face was white and devastated.
“I’ve lost Sarah,” he blurted. “She’s gone.”
“Gone?” James repeated blankly.
The duke dragged his hand through his hair, tugging at it. “I tried to keep Maria off her back by staying away from her, but the upshot is she has run away with Trenton!”
Chapter Seventeen
As Sarah stood with Lord Trenton at the end of the driveway, ready to climb in his carriage and make her escape from everything and everyone she loved, the sound of a woman wailing, caterwauling really, made both her and Trenton uncomfortable.
“You haven’t much time, Lady Sarah,” Trenton said, looking about, obviously concerned that someone would see them leaving together.
Sarah knew time was short, but… “We cannot flee if there is a woman in peril, my lord. As much as I wish to, can we please find out what is wrong? Where the screaming is coming from?”
Trenton frowned, but nodded, then grabbed one of the lanterns hanging on the carriage. He gestured for his servants to wait and offered his arm to Sarah. “If we follow the noise, I am sure we will find our victim down by the lake.”
Grateful for his company and friendship, Sarah gripped his arm and walked with him,