He sighed and stopped pacing long enough to look at her. “Yes, I suppose I did. Why else do you think I insisted on such a ridiculously long engagement? I hoped she would grow accustomed to the idea, and frankly I hoped Stuart would get over whatever phase he was going through with the exaggerated airs and ridiculous clothing. I never dreamed it was all an act.”
“It was a ruse,” Sebastian muttered. “The whole thing was nothing more than an attempt to wrest information from Jenna that the viscountess passed along to her.”
“Yes, I see that now. At least I suppose that was it. I would very much like to speak to Stuart about this whole matter. So far I’ve only Mr. Douglas’s account of what happened.”
“I am sure he will come to see about Jenna,” Catherine spoke up. “We can speak to him then.”
“If he doesn’t, I’ll haul him over here myself,” Quinn said in a steely voice.
“I won’t have any more bloodshed,” Catherine warned.
The earl pinned his sons with a stare. “If we are finished scrutinizing my decision to wed Jenna to Stuart, perhaps one of you could explain exactly how Jenna came to take a lover while your mother and I were in Italy.”
###
When Gray arrived home, it was to find his drawing room full of agents to the crown. He wasn’t in the mood to answer their questions and snarled at one who immediately set upon him. Demanding that they leave his house at once, he retreated to his library and nursed a glass of brandy.
A knock sounded at his door, and his lip curled in disgust. “Masterson, if that is you, get the bloody hell away from my door.”
The door opened and Stuart Eglin—correction, the new Viscount Dudley entered.
“Oh, it’s you,” Gray muttered, taking another swallow of the brandy.
“I am sorry to burden you with my presence,” Stuart began. “But it is imperative that you speak to me. I have questions. The crown has questions that must be answered.”
“Sit down, Eglin, or should I call you Dudley now?” He regretted the remark when pain flashed across Stuart’s face.
He settled into the chair in front of Gray’s desk. “Please, call me Stuart.”
“Very well, Stuart. What kind of questions brought you to my house?” He couldn’t help but notice the marked difference in Stuart’s clothing. He wasn’t the same fop who had flounced around London these past weeks. Every movement, every look, expressed his utter seriousness. He was someone a woman might indeed find attractive, someone like Jenna. Gray’s head pounded a bit harder at that thought.
“Jenna told me of your relationship,” Stuart said quietly. “So what I need to know is if she confided in you any of the details of my mother’s information.”
“You mean the letters.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“No, she didn’t. I wish she had. Maybe if I hadn’t...” He trailed off, unwilling to admit that he’d turned her away even if it was the best choice. He cleared his throat and went on. “I found out because her maid came to me this morning concerned that your father was threatening Jenna if she didn’t go through with the engagement. When I arrived he had a gun trained on her.”
“Dear God. He would have killed her.” He shook his head, sadness mirrored in his eyes. “What must she think of me? I never dreamed things would go this far. If only I had confided in Jenna.”
Gray remained silent, not at all sure what to say to this enigma of a man. Nor was he entirely sure he could be trusted yet.
“How was she when you left her?”
“The physician removed the ball and felt that she would make a full recovery. She was resting when I took my leave.”
Stuart rose from his seat. “Thank you for your help, Mr. Douglas. I am only sorry you were involved in my family’s disgrace. I’ll see myself out.”
He turned to go but Gray called out to him. “Do you still plan to marry Jenna?”
He stopped and slowly turned back around, fixing him with a pointed stare. “I don’t think it’s me she wants.”
###
Jenna slept fitfully through the night, waking a few times to find her mother at her bedside. How comforting her presence was, and how tempting it was to throw herself in her mother’s arms and let out all the pain she was feeling.
When she opened her eyes to see sunlight streaming through her window, she looked around, searching for her mother. She smiled when she saw her asleep in the chair beside the bed. With extreme care, she tested her arm, trying to sit up.
