The earl’s lips thinned. His gaze grew sharp again, pinning Hart with its intensity. “Your father had an affair with my wife. It is hard to stay friends with someone who would betray your friendship in such a way.”
The revelation pushed Hart back in his chair. No, his father was an honorable man. He would never do something like that to a friend. It must be a lie, a misunderstanding.
Blackpool let out a caustic laugh. “I can see by the shock on your face that you thought your father a perfect gentleman. Well, he shocked the hell out of me, too. I always knew he was a womanizer, but I never thought he would cross the line with one of us.”
As Hart sat stunned, grappling with the phrasewomanizeras a descriptor for his father, a discreet knock sounded at the door.
“Come in,” the earl called out.
The door opened, and the butler stepped across the threshold. “Sir, Mr. Murdoch is here for your one o’clock appointment.”
“Thank you. Give us a moment or two and then bring him back.” Blackpool turned to Hart. “If you’ll please excuse me. I have a meeting with my solicitor.”
Hart rose to his feet. Wait, Lucy’s Mr. Murdoch was here? “Mr. Murdoch, of Jackson and Worth?”
“Yes.”
“Could I meet him?” Hart improvised. “I have heard good things about the firm.”
“Are you thinking of switching?”
“Perhaps,” he replied. This was his chance to size up the man in person. There was only so much Hart could infer about someone from a piece of paper.
The earl crossed the room and pushed open the door. In the corridor, a golden-haired adonis leaned with one shoulder against the wall. A toothy grin stretched across his face as he spoke with Violet Blakely, the earl’s oldest daughter. The man straightened with a start when he noticed her father. Tucking his leather bag under his arm, he gave a small bow.
“Come inside, Murdoch. The Duke of Hartwick would like to meet you.”
Hart watched silently while the man came into the room. Damn him for being so handsome.
*
Lucy rang thebell at Violet’s house. The door swung open almost immediately, but instead of Lord Blackpool’s butler, her friend stood there.
Violet grabbed Lucy’s wrist and yanked her across the threshold. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Sorry I’m late. I stopped to get us sticky buns from that little bakery on Derry Street.” She offered her friend the small twine-wrapped box.
Violet looked over her shoulder toward the staircase. “Thank you, but there is something you should know immediately.” Violet’s panicked expression was worrying.
“What is it, dear?”
“Mr. Murdoch is here.” Violet squeezed her hand painfully. “And the duke is here as well. They are all in my father’s study. Together.”
Lucy raised her hand to her heart. Panic bubbled up into her throat. “But how can that be?”
“Bad luck, I guess. The duke showed up unannounced about a half hour ago.”
“How long have they been in there?” she asked.
“Maybe ten or fifteen minutes. I came to stand sentry at the door so I could make sure to tell you right away.”
“We must go hide at once. Neither of them can know I am here.” Lucy whispered.Oh my Lord.Was Hart in there grilling Mr. Murdoch about his intentions? Certainly not. Not in front of the earl. Would he?
“Thank you for meeting with me, Blackpool. Good day.” Hart’s deep voice echoed from the upstairs hallway.
She exchanged a panicked look with Violet. Lucy felt lightheaded as she glanced around for an escape. She might actually swoon for the first time in her life. Violet pulled her across the polished floors to the left. Yanked open the door to the coat closet and shoved her inside. Lucy stumbled back and landed against a rack that held umbrellas, making them rattle. Violet thrust the box of sticky buns into her hands and shut the door in her face.
Lucy could hear the muffled clicking of Hart’s cane as he navigated the stairs down to the ground floor. She slowly cracked open the door to the closet, just enough to peer out with one eye.
