“I begin to think someone is spreading them deliberately,” Levi grumbled. “There’s just no basis in reality for them, is there? What I mean is, no matter what people might want to say about Caroline and me, there is no evidence. There have been no scandals between the two of us. And it isn’t based in truth at all, because I can happily confirm that she and I are pleased with our arrangement. So, if the rumors are still spreading, I think it must be because someone out there wants them to spread.”
“That might be,” Bradley agreed. “All I know is that it isn’t good for your business to have people talking about your relationship with your wife, speculating that she wants to leave you. It would be better if we could put a stop to that kind of talk.”
“Well, I’m doing all I can,” Levi said tersely. “I’ve been attending the events of the season, trying to show people that myrelationship with my wife is good and healthy. What more can I do?”
“I can’t say that I know, exactly,” Bradley admitted.
“I think we need more information,” Levi said firmly. “I would ask you to do what you can to find out the origins of these rumors, Bradley. Find out if there is a common source, if you’re able. If there is, that person is the one who must be questioned and made to stop saying such dreadful things, because there is no excuse for slandering a duke or his personal life. And there iscertainlyno excuse for speaking ill of my wife—I won’t tolerate that!”
“I may be able to discover more,” Bradley agreed. “I’ll look into it for you. But in the meantime…I don’t know what your relationship is with your wife, exactly?—”
“And you don’t need to.” Levi glowered. “The ton may feel entitled to information about my personal life, Bradley, but surely you know better than to think that you ought to have it.”
“You want me to help you, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“I’ll be better able to do that if I know exactly what’s going on and how much of the rumors are true.”
“If you’re not able to help me without that information,” Levi said darkly, “I suppose I’ll have to find someone who can. You aren’t the only solicitor in London, you know. I’m happy to take my business elsewhere. It’s your decision, though.”
“I meant no offense,” Bradley grumbled.
“Well, you gave it.” Levi rose to his feet. “If you look for gossip about the duchess and myself, you are truly no better than the rest of the ton.”
He went to the door and held it open, inviting Bradley to depart. A moment later, the man did.
“You know,” Levi said to Caroline later that evening, “I find I’m getting rather used to having your family here with us.”
She looked at him. “Are you? I find that the longer they stay, the more ready I am for them to leave!”
The two of them were sitting across from one another over a game of chess. Levi laughed as he advanced a pawn. “You were the one who wanted them here,” he reminded her.
“Well, I still don’t want them out on the street, nor do I want my sister forced into a marriage that would make her miserable, of course,” Caroline said. “But I find myself nostalgic for the life you and I had before they got here.”
“Do you really?”
“You must admit, we were beginning to get used to one another.” Then she darted him a rather nervous look, as if she thought he might disagree with that assessment.
He was eager to put her mind at ease. “Yes, you’re right,” he told her. “We’ve been having a good time together. And you’re not the only one who’s eager to get back to that life. But I thought it was different for you. I thought you were happy and excited to have them here.”
“I’m glad we can provide for them, but…I think perhaps I’ve spent too much time free of the burdens my family put on me to easily go back,” Caroline admitted. “I’ve had the chance to learn things about myself that I never knew while I lived with my family, and it’s been a real gift to me. They always expected me to be so selfless. What my father said about me being the least appealing of my sisters…”
“That was an abominable thing to say,” Levi growled. “And it isn’t at all true, Caroline. I hope you know that.”
“I…” She blushed prettily. “Thank you.”
“You have beauty he has never taken the time to see. I mean no disrespect to your sisters, of course, but you’re the only one I would consider being married to. To me, you are the best of the lot. The brightest and most beautiful. Your father may not understand this, but I am deeply thankful that Prudence didn’t wish to marry me. When she made that choice, it meant that Iwas able to find myself in a marriage with my perfect duchess. I wouldn’t exchange that for anything.”
Caroline touched her fingertips to her lips, which were slightly parted.
Levi knew what she was imagining. He was thinking about it too.
For a moment, he considered it. Getting to his feet. Sweeping her into his arms. Forgetting the chess game and losing himself in another kiss with the lady who was coming to occupy his every waking thought.
But no. Not with her family in the house.
He would wait until they left. And once they did…well, then he would have Caroline all to himself once again.
