“I’m not sure why you are saying these things, Your Grace.”
“Lord Raine cares for you, I see it in his eyes. But he is an earl, and there can never be anything between you unless he wishes to turn his back on society.”
“And I repeat, why are you saying these things to me?”
“Mr. Diard is a good man and would make an excellent match for you.”
Dimity didn’t speak.
“I think you should marry him.”
“And leave you?” Dimity managed to get out around the lump in her throat. The duchess was merely saying what she already knew. She could never marry Gabriel Deville.
“I fear you have feelings for Lord Raine, girl, and I need you to know nothing could ever come of them.” The duchess reached over and patted her hand. “So take Diard’s offer. I shall be sad to see you go, but it would be for the best. You would not want the earl or his family to face social ruin.”
“I have no feelings for him, Your Grace. I was merely working with his sister. I assure you that I speak the truth,” Dimity lied. “And I will consider Mr. Diard’s suit if and when he offers for me.”
The duchess smiled. “I am pleased with your words, even if they are not the truth.”
“They are the truth,” Dimity said in a steady voice.
“No. They’re not. But Raine will marry a woman of noble birth, as he should. Now, I wish for you to read to me.”
Dimity picked up the book and forced a smile onto her face. She would not show that her heart was aching and that one day soon she would leave the man she loved and never see him again.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gabe studied the boy standing in his kitchen doorway. A big lad, with a dirty face and look of hunger that so many about the streets of London had.
“I was told to give you this.” He held out a note which Gabe took.
Unfolding the paper, he read the words.
I have something you hold dear, Raine. It would behoove you to find me with some expediency so we may finish what lies between us. It was signed, Ombrage.
“Pay the boy,” he rasped, then ran through the kitchens and back up the stairs with Fairfax on his heels.
“My lord, is all well?” Hogan was coming down.
“Do you ride, Hogan?”
“I do, my lord.”
“I need you to get to my sister’s house as fast as you can. Take a horse and gallop there. Ensure both she and her husband are safe. Then tell them they must come here at once, but to bring footmen and be armed while doing so.”
“At once, my lord.” Hogan ran to do his bidding.
Gabe bellowed for his brothers as he headed to his study.
“Dear God, Abby, please be safe.”
“This had better be good. I was daydreaming about Miss Kent,” Zach muttered, flopping into a seat. Michael and Nathan arrived seconds later.
“Fairfax told me a boy was at the kitchen door needing to speak with me urgently,” Gabe said, handing them the note.
“Abby?” Nathan rose from his chair when he and the others had read what Ombrage had written.
“Hogan is riding there as we speak. I have told him to tell Abby and Daniel to come here at once.”
