“This is Mr. Whitman,” Austin said tightly. “My solicitor.”
Mr. Whitman bowed stiffly, his face ashen. “Your Grace. It is an honor to finally meet you.”
She smiled, but her gaze darted between them. Austin’s jaw was clenched, and his eyes were darker than she had ever seen before.
“It is an honor to meet you, too,” she said softly to Mr. Whitman. “Please, sit.”
They sat as she picked up all her papers clumsily.
“Leave that be,” Austin said firmly.
Deena stopped and lowered herself into the chair beside him. Her pulse quickened as she felt the unease around them. She looked at Austin, but he was glaring at Mr. Whitman. She waited for him to reach for her like she usually did, but his fists were clenched and braced on his knees.
Something is wrong.
“Tell her,” Austin spoke coldly towards Mr. Whitman, who shook his head nervously before he began.
He turned slowly towards Deena. “Your Grace…I am afraid I bring grave news.”
Austin let out a low growl beside her that sent a cold shiver up Deena’s spine.
“What has happened?” Panic gripped her, but she tried her best to remain calm.
The solicitor swallowed. “Someone has published… proof. Proof claiming that His Grace is not the legitimate heir.”
Darkness fell upon her like a blanket. She knew something was wrong and that the blackmailers had been quiet for too long.
Austin leaned forward. “Explain to her exactly what you told me.”
Mr. Whitman wrung his hands, and Deena felt bad for him. “An article was printed this morning inThe Daily Scribe. It contains… documents. Birth records and a certificate. All suggesting that His Grace was born before his father married his mother.”
Deena stared at him, stunned. “But that is impossible.”
“I’m curious, Mr. Whitman.” Austin’s voice sharpened. “Why did your investigator not find this? You advised that he would be stationed at theScribe’soffices.”
Deena looked at Austin then. She was unaware of how far he went to protect them from the blackmailer.
Should I have done something too?
“I—I do not know, Your Grace,” Mr. Whitman stammered. “The article appeared without warning. No one saw the writer enter. No one saw the documents delivered. I am deeply sorry.”
Austin surged to his feet, and Deena gasped when the chair crashed loudly beside her. “I warned you what would happen, Whitman! I warned you that if Deena was placed in a dangerous position, you would pay for it!”
His voice cracked like a whip and echoed around them. Deena flinched at the sound. She had never seen him lose control. Not like this. It frightened her.
“Austin,” she said gently, rising and placing a hand on his arm. “Calm down, please.”
He looked at her, chest heaving, and after a long moment, he picked up the chair and sank back into it. Deena stood behindhim and kept her hand on his shoulder until she felt the tension ease slightly.
“Mr. Whitman, show me the article,” she said firmly.
Mr. Whitman nodded and pulled a folded newspaper from his case. Deena took it with unsteady hands.
The headline screamed across the page:
A Bastard wrapped in Velvet
Her stomach dropped as she read on.
