“Because I am the ‘violent Duke of Ashford’, yes? The Dragon Duke? I thought you had to go on more than rumors and names.”
“We do have more than that. Allow me to make it clear to you. Unless you had a personal reason to intervene, we have to consider it an unprovoked attack, which means we must investigate further.”
“And a personal reason cannot be that I do not want ladies to suffer at the hands of cowardly men who feel the need to lord their power over them?”
“Unless you are engaged to or courting that lady, then no. I do not want to believe that you are capable of unprovoked attacks, but I must work with what I have.”
“I understand that, but?—”
“Then you understand why I need a better reason.”
Frankly, the only thing Cassian could think of was that he was trapped. Trapped by bureaucracy, by Mr. Hargrave’s lies, and all because of a woman who should have meant nothing to him. He did not even know who she was, but one look at her terrified face, and he knew what had to be done.
He left the meeting seething with anger, for he did not want any of what was to come, but he only had himself to blame. He knew what became of men who acted as vigilantes, and he had done it regardless.
Even so, stepping out into the street, only to be offered a scandal sheet, did not make him happy with his decision. He only needed to glance at the front page to know that it was not an issue that would be easily solved.
It is one thing to leave London in disgrace, but to stir trouble as Lady Adelaide Wynn did is another. This author cannot help but wonder if she does it deliberately, reveling in the attention it brings her, for one cannot possibly fathom any other reason.
That is, unless this is all an attempt at revenge. We all remember her scandalous engagement to Mr. Hargrave and how it led to her prolonged absence. With her sudden return, one can assume that she came seeking vengeance, which the Dragon Duke was more than happy to enact for her.
He crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it to the ground, furious at the speculation, but at least glad to learn the name of the lady he was searching for. He ordered a carriage and rode to her townhouse, knowing what had to be done and hoping that she would have the decency to agree.
He waited in her drawing room, and when she entered, she seemed genuinely surprised to see him.
“You have not read what has been written about us, it seems,” he said in place of a greeting.
“My mother keeps it all from me. She says there is nothing to be gained from idle gossip.”
“Well, it pertains to you, so you ought to listen.”
He tried to ignore the fact that she looked as lovely in her pink dress as she had in her blue dress the day before. She was undeniably a beautiful lady, and though that was not why he was speaking with her, he had to admit that it made what he had come to do easier.
She seemed to realize the gravity of the situation, and he took that to mean she had some sense, too.
He took a steady breath, trying not to take his frustration out on an innocent lady.
“Unless I can prove that my rescuing you yesterday was for a personal reason, it will be labelled as an unprovoked attack, and that will prompt further investigation.”
“Oh! My sincerest apologies, Your Grace. I never would have wanted that.”
“I am aware, but now we must rectify it. I must prove it.”
She gave him an uncertain look, one that told him she knew precisely what he meant by that. It was sudden, and probably not what she had wanted for herself, but they did not have a choice.
“Mr. Hargrave is an awful man,” she sighed. “The tonadores him, but he is terrible. There is nothing I can do to help you.”
“But there is. I need to give the constable proof, and the only one they would accept, that would give the control to me rather than that pathetic excuse for a man, is a marriage contract.”
Lady Adelaide froze, and he knew that her fears had been confirmed. She would have to marry the most feared man in London, and it was through no fault of her own.
Cassian pitied her. But if the scandal sheet was to be believed, she had problems of her own.
“I cannot trap you in such a fate,” she whispered. “That is not fair.”
“Make no mistake, Lady Adelaide. This is not a trap that you have set. I am the one forcing your hand, not that I have a say in it any more than you do.”
At that moment, Lady Wynn entered the room. She took a moment to study him.
