Scoundrel of My Heart (Once Upon a Dukedom #1) - Lorraine Heath Page 0,78
recent arrivals in tow.
“You remember my brother, Griff.”
“Yes, of course,” Kathryn said, and he couldn’t judge her mood, her thoughts. “It’s lovely to see you looking so well after all the trials and tribulations your family has endured.”
And he translated her words into what she truly meant to convey by her tone: after leaving me with nary a word.
“It’s a pleasure, Lady Kathryn.” He turned to the duke. “Good to see you, Your Grace.”
“And you, Stanwick. I’ve not forgotten that I owe you for directing me toward this charming lady.”
“You don’t owe me.”
Althea’s brows pinched, and he realized she probably hadn’t a clue what the daft duke was referring to. “May I offer you some refreshment? Some before-dinner port, perhaps?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” Kathryn said.
“Why don’t you go on?” Kingsland suggested. “I’ll join you in a minute. I’d like a private word with Mr. Stanwick.”
As the ladies walked away, Griff suspected his sister was going to learn about the letter he’d written, and if she didn’t already know about it, the damned wager he’d made. Not that any of it mattered. It was so long ago. Or it shouldn’t have mattered. But he was finding that he regretted rather strongly that he’d done both. Especially when it was so difficult to see Kathryn with this lordly paragon. He was grateful Beast had offered him a glass of scotch earlier and he hadn’t yet finished it off. He took a casual sip as he waited for Kingsland to have his say, whatever it was, although he had a good idea what it would entail.
“You threatened my brother.” Four words that came out flat, casual, as though he’d stated he took four lumps of sugar with his tea, but they were edged with warning.
Griff held the duke’s gaze and lifted a corner of his mouth in a mockery of a smile. “Did I?”
Kingsland studied him for all of a heartbeat. “Not that I blame you. He owed you what should have already been paid. But I am curious. Did you intend to punch him or expose a secret?”
“A secret.”
The duke’s jaw tightened. Obviously, he’d have preferred punch as the answer. “I don’t suppose you’d be good enough to share what it was.”
“He paid. It stays with me.”
Kingsland nodded. “Was it easily uncovered, so others might use it against him, possibly to blackmail him?”
A year earlier, Griff hadn’t known what it was to want to protect one’s brother, to be willing to do anything for him. He knew now, and he recognized in the duke the same desire. Kingsland wanted to shield his younger brother from harm. Ah, hell. He might as well confess. “I don’t know what the secret is.”
Apparently quite stunned, Kingsland blinked at him. “I beg your pardon?”
“Everyone has secrets, Your Grace. All I did was imply that I knew his and would reveal it.”
“Bloody hell. Brilliant. And if he hadn’t paid?”
He shrugged. “Then I would have gone to the bother to figure out what it was.”
“Well played, Stanwick. I might have to employ the same tactic the next time I’m on the losing end of a negotiation.”
“When have you ever been on the losing end of anything?”
“Quite right. You collected all you were owed, I assume.”
“With interest.”
“Jolly good for you. Made a few enemies, I suspect.”
“They already considered themselves my enemies.” But he’d settled the ruffled feathers of those who qualified by granting them a six-month membership in his club. It had been a way to spread the word about his enterprise, and most, if not all, would no doubt continue their membership once their time was up. An initial small loss for a greater gain.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t believe in visiting the sins of the father upon the sons.”
“I appreciate it.” Even if the duke was only one of the few who held that opinion.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I could use some scotch and a word with Thornley regarding a bill we’re working on.”
He started to walk away.
“She has to marry before her twenty-fifth birthday,” Griff said quietly enough that no one else would hear.
The duke paused before glancing back at him. “I beg your pardon?”
“Lady Kathryn. She has to marry before her twenty-fifth birthday in order to gain an inheritance her grandmother left to her. She reaches that quarter of a century mark on August fifteenth.”
“I see.”
“That’s not a reason to marry her, of course, or for her to marry you, but if you’re going to marry, you might as well do it in