“What do you mean?” her father barked. “I told you to find out if he’s trying to sabotage me, to bring me down, ruin me like he has ruined my business associates.”
Iris tried to be patient. “Yes, but he’s hardly going to tell me his nefarious plans, is he? And the Duke keeps his study locked at all times, the key on him. Even if I were to somehow break intohis study, which I don’t think is possible, I wouldn’t even know where to start. He’s unlikely to state his plans outright. But if I had a sense of what it is you fear he is up to, then I could listen out for any reference to it, any conversations—no matter how subtle—with people who might visit.”
Her father looked as if he were going to interrupt her, but she continued speaking. A change seemed to have come over her. Now that she was facing him, she didn’t feel as afraid as she normally did in his presence. It was as if she were wearing armor that only she could see. He couldn’t control her anymore.
“Right now I’m fumbling in the dark, and I don’t want my sisters to be punished because you didn’t properly prepare me for this scheme of yours,” she said rather forcefully.
Her father leaned back in his chair, his eyes roving over her with interest. Iris sat up a little straighter.
The Viscount wasn’t used to being spoken to like this, especially not by a woman, and certainly not by her, and she liked the slightly shocked look on his face.
“Very well.” He nodded. “You may have a point. I will tell you what it is I’m anticipating, and you can be on the lookout for anything to that effect.”
He stood up and went to the window, his back to her.
“Many years ago, I had a deal with the previous Duke of Eavestone, your husband’s father. Under that agreement, he planned to sell me some of his land that was rich in coal. But then Eavestone died—an untimely death, and very inconvenient for me—and his son didn’t want to honor our agreement. I suspect he wanted to keep the land for himself and build his own mine.”
He turned back around and gave her a contemptuous look. “Well… I wasn’t having that. I had an agreement with the former Duke, and so I enforced the contract. Now, I suspect his son is going to attempt to sabotage my mines or the land on them. He may also be planning some scheme to buy back my lands—which would involve either forgery or blackmailing me into selling, as he knows I wouldn’t give up the mines otherwise.”
Iris sat very still, absorbing everything her father had said. “I’m surprised to hear he wouldn’t honor his father’s agreement,” she began slowly. “Especially if the legal documents had been drawn up.”
“Yes, well, he was fifteen and eager to prove he was tougher than his father, I suppose. I was prepared to make him a very competitive offer for the lands.”
“But if there was more profit to be had in mining it himself, then it makes sense he refused you,” she reasoned.
The Viscount scoffed. “What does a lad of fifteen know about what is more profitable? Had he done the work of calculating how much it would cost to build a mine? Did he hire thecontractors who evaluated the land? Did he figure out how long until he’d see a return on his investment? No, that was all me. I did all the work, and he wanted to take my idea and my hard work and use it for his own profit.”
He strode to the chair where she was sitting and placed his hands on the arms, leaning over her in a menacing way.
“Believe me when I say this, Iris. Your husband is a spineless thief who couldn’t even do right by his dead father by honoring his wishes. He is not a good man. That’s why I need you. Together, we can take him down.”
Iris nodded. She wished she could lean back, away from her father, but she was blocked by the back of the chair.
“I understand,” she murmured. “And I promise to help you, now that I know what I’m looking for.”
Her father leaned back and stood straight. “Good. Because, don’t forget, your sisters’ happiness hangs in the balance. You would be a fool to cross me.”
Iris could hear his threat echoing in her head for the entire walk home, but it wasn’t nearly as loud as the nagging voice of her own doubt.
Chapter Six
“So what did you discover?”
Iris looked up from her needlework to see her husband—she could never get used to that word!—standing in the doorway of her parlor, watching her. It had been several hours since she’d arrived home from her father’s house. The Duke had been out, which had given her time to think. Although she didn’t particularly like the direction of her thoughts.
Setting her needlework down, Iris stood up and curtsied. She knew she didn’t need to, but she still felt a little flustered whenever the Duke walked into a room. He was so tall and handsome, and his icy imperiousness—the remoteness that part of her longed to conquer—only made him even more attractive.
“Good afternoon,” she murmured, her throat very dry. “I didn’t realize you were back.”
“Don’t waste my time with idle chit-chat,” the Duke said, scowling as he walked further into the room. To her annoyance, the scowl only enhanced his chiseled jaw and aloof beauty. “Just cut to the chase. What did you learn from visiting your father?”
Settling herself back onto the sofa, Iris’s annoyance loosened her tongue. “I’m well, thank you for asking,” she scoffed.
The Duke stopped, scowling deeper, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
“I know ours is an unusual marriage,” Iris continued, “and that you are used to doing things your own way, but in a normal marriage, a husband asks his wife how she is doing before jumping into practical discussions.”
“What are you talking about?” The Duke snapped.
