“Thank you, sincerely.And I am at your disposal for any questions you may have,” Henley responded, his body weak with relief at their given blessing.
“Since the news was quite surprising to us, I would make the assumption that your mother and, indeed, brother are not aware since this house party was implied to make an environment for your brother to offer his hand,” the duchess asked.
Henley breathed deep and answered.“You would assume correctly.I wished to address you and the duke first, and then I will speak with my mother, and, consequently, my brother directly.”
“I see.Do you foresee any problems with your brother?”the duchess asked, her eyes spearing him with an intensity that made him wonder if they were suspect of his true nature.
Henley answered honestly.“I know my brother will not be pleased.And while my mother will be surprised, she will be pleased to have Anna as a daughter, as she already views her as such.”Henley took a breath and a step forward as he addressed the duke and duchess.“Due to last year’s… scandal that included my family—”
“That you were the center of, if the gossip is to be believed.Which, let’s be honest, it often isn’t,” the duchess added with a raised brow.“I’ll not lie and say it didn’t give us pause, Lord Allendale.However…” The duchess shared a look with her husband and then waited.
The duke nodded and addressed Henley.“Is my daughter familiar with last year’s events?”the duke asked.
Henley shook his head.“Not fully, it is a conversation we need to have soon.”
“I agree.”The duke nodded, then continued.“But I think it’s a conversation we should have first, if you don’t mind.”
“As you wish, Your Grace,” Henley agreed, his heart hammering as he considered just what the duke might wish to discuss.
It was a sordid mess, what happened last year.The fallout had been great and only expert social maneuvering from his mother had saved them from social ruin.
“I was there.”The duke shared a glance with his wife and then held Henley’s gaze.“And I had questions afterward.I… didn’t dig deeper until your brother showed a partiality for my daughter.”
“And then we decided that we needed to know what sort of family our daughter could become a part of,” the duchess added.
“And so, I had an… associate do some research,” the duke continued.
Henley nodded, waiting to see how the conversation would continue.They had already given him their blessing, so whatever reservations they might have didn’t exclude him from Anna, however, their tone bespoke of concern.Henley took another step forward, his focus on them entirely.
“We…” The duke shared a look with his wife again and then continued.“Were given information the day before the party, and after conversing before we made our way to your family’s estate, had made the decision to reject your brother’s suit, should he apply for it,” the duke finished, then leaned back.
“I see.”Henley blinked.That was unexpected.“May I ask why?Not that I disagree.”
The duke gave a small chuckle then sobered.“No, I can imagine you don’t disagree.Why don’t you sit for a moment.I think this might be a longer conversation than you expected, because, while you were hiding your affections from your brother, I believe he was hiding something far more important from you.”
Henley took a seat across from his soon-to-be family and waited, an invisible pressure building on his shoulders as if the air itself knew that the words that were about to be spoken would be heavy.
“First, I’ve asked for my wife to take Anna home early, and I trust you’ll agree.”
“I trust you,” Henley replied immediately.
If they believed it would be best for Anna to be home, then Anna should be home.Everything in his life had become about her, and what was in her best interest.
“Good, and here is why,” the duke continued.“Last year, your brother had an affair.”
Henley nodded, waiting.He wasn’t surprised.How often had his brother kept a mistress or visited the demimonde?However, another man’s wife was new low, but not exactly surprising.
“You’re not shocked.”
“No,” Henley answered truthfully.
“That also answers another question.I’ll continue.That man was Lord Richard Willson.”
Henley’s ears began to ring and the air in his lungs whooshed out in a gush.“Pardon?”He listened to the duke’s words as he repeated the name.
“Willson,” Henley repeated.
“The man you boxed wasn’t ever meant to be fought by you…” The duke leaned forward.“Lord Willson thought he was boxing out a duel… with your brother.”
