When a Duke Loves a Governess (Unlikely Duchesses #3) - Olivia Drake Page 0,101

it wiser to abandon the notion.

“It’s absurd to imagine that Orrin shot you,” she said. “And besides, I doubt the ton reads this rag, anyway. It’s sold to the masses on street corners. There may be little scandal at all.”

“My aunt subscribes to this rag. That’s why Roebuck delivered it to me at once.”

Tessa cringed to think the damage might be more widespread than she’d wanted to believe. Carlin prided himself on duty and honor. She regretted having caused him trouble, however unintentionally, at a time when he’d suffered a gunshot wound and still hadn’t recovered his diaries.

Perhaps it was best to distract him with another possible suspect.

“Speaking of your aunt, there’s something I must tell you.” At his inquiring frown, Tessa went on, “I was in Lady Victor’s bedchamber a few weeks ago when she was about to take her nap. As she was falling asleep, she seemed unhappy that you’d returned from your trip. She said that if you had died on the voyage, then her son would have become duke. Do you suppose she could have been repeating what she’d heard from him?”

Carlin stared as if she’d gone mad. “Good God. I hope you’re not suggesting that Edgar is trying to murder me.”

“Why not? It’s only logical, since he’s next in line to inherit your title.”

His mouth tight, the duke resumed pacing. “It isn’t logical in the least. My cousin is too sports-mad to covet the responsibilities of the dukedom. I can’t even coax him to learn the ropes of the estate he inherited. His mind is too preoccupied with boxing and horse racing.”

“And hunting? Whoever fired at you yesterday had to have been a very good shot, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” he said curtly. “But Edgar couldn’t have done it. He’s gone out of town to a prizefight.”

“Perhaps that’s just a handy excuse. Can you be certain he didn’t sneak back into the city to don a jester costume and a mask?”

Carlin scowled at her. Then a gradual easing of his expression and a slight lift at the corners of his lips gave him a rueful look. “If it will set your mind at ease, I’ll look into it. But I suspect Edgar’s guilt is about as likely as you meekly agreeing to marry me.”

His warmly teasing tone set Tessa all atremble. She ached to be held by him, to feel their hearts beating as one, to forget all the rules and restrictions of his highborn world. But wasn’t this exactly what she’d feared would happen, for him to use his considerable charm to coax her into doing his bidding?

Collecting her defenses, she arose from her chair. “There will be no betrothal, Carlin. You should never have raised Lord Marbury’s hopes.”

“It was necessary since you were discovered in my bedchamber, with me stripped to the waist. Marbury’s anger was justified. Nothing less would have served to pacify him.”

“But we weren’t alone. Jiggs was present. And you were hardly in any condition to … to do anything.”

“A valet can be sent out of the room. And there was quite a lot we could have done, then. A bullet wound wouldn’t have stopped me.”

The glint in his eyes suggested all manner of wicked acts. She remembered in vivid detail the weight of him lying over her, the intense joy of their bodies joined in passion. A keen yearning to experience that again whittled away at her common sense. Of all the men in England, why, oh why, had she fallen in love with a duke? A man who felt compelled to wed her only because he’d discovered her to have noble blood?

Fighting a blush, Tessa lifted her chin. “Well, I won’t be a party to any sham courtship. It’s cruel to mislead my grandfather. You must write a note to him today saying that I’ve decided you and I don’t suit.”

“Not just yet.” All playfulness fading, Carlin closed the distance between them and gripped her hand. “Give it a little time. There’s too much else going on right now to think about this now. You can always cry off later.”

“There’s no point in waiting, though. I shan’t change my mind.” Yet despite her firm speech, Tessa could not bring herself to draw her fingers from his warm clasp. “Please understand, Guy, I was raised to work, not to live in luxury. And anyway, I could never marry a man who derides my dreams.”

“I never did!”

“In the carriage on our way back from meeting Lord Marbury, you told me that