“Elin Morris?” Jack said. “Ah, you were betrothed to Gavin.” Their father had betrothed him to Elin when she was little more than a babe. “Certainly, you are his duchess now?”
A becoming color swept her cheeks. It was Ben who answered. “Actually, she ismywife.”
If someone had punched him in the face, Jack could not have been more surprised. The old duke had prided himself upon the Morris alliance and it stood to reason that Gavin, who had always jumped to their father’s bidding, would have married whom he’d chosen.
Except he hadn’t.
Jack now saw his twin with new eyes.
“You are a lucky man, Ben,” Jack said and he meant the words. Elin had an air of both grace and good intelligence.
Again, she blushed as a modest young wife should. “I am also pleased to make your acquaintance. It is good to see that our worst fears for you had not happened.”
“Tactfully spoken, my lady,” Jack said, bowing again.
His mother wrapped her arms around his as if he were a mooring anchor. “You will stay here,” she said.
Jack wanted to please, but he couldn’t. “It would not be wise—”
“Why not?” she demanded.
Words failed him. He looked down into her eyes and did not want to tell her the truth.
Gavin did it for him. “He is an American now, Mother. He is negotiating for his new country.”
“But that doesn’t mean he is notmyson,” she informed the duke. “I want him under my roof. We have been apart for too long. What would people say if my lost son did not stay at Menheim?”
Jack looked at Gavin. His face had become a mask. Jack remembered how their father would retreat in that manner. No one knew his feelings or how he would react.
“I can’t stay,” Jack said gently to his mother. “There will be negotiations that could be compromised—”
“Nonsense,” Gavin cut in. “In fact, if you wish my support in opening negotiations, then your wisest course is to please Mother.”
“It is a conflict of interest for me to stay here,” Jack insisted.
“Then return to Boston,” Gavin answered. The negotiations had begun. To win the Duke of Baynton’s cooperation, one must do as the duke wished.
And Jack wanted to refuse him, to exert his own authority, but he was a man now and the stakes at play were high. This was no time to indulge in old grudges.
“Then, yes, Mother, I will stay,” Jack heard himself say, and prayed he was making the right decision.
ChapterFive
Sarah was sitting in the front room at her desk, writing away under the flickering light of a brace of candles, when Char and Lady Baldwin walked into the house on Mulberry Street. She set aside her pen and placed the cap on the ink bottle.
“How was the ball?” she asked. “You are home early, earlier than I had anticipated.”
“We have quite a story,” Lady Baldwin said before taking a moment to place a coin in the palm of the driver of the hired chaise that had carried them to the duke’s ball and then home again.
The man did not want to leave. Hungry eyes on Char, he said, “If you ever need me again, ask for Lewis. I’m happy to be at your beck and call.” He was young and handsome in a rawboned way and quite obviously taken with her.
“Yes, well, that is enough for tonight,” Lady Baldwin assured him and all but slammed the door on him to make him leave. She looked to Char. “I always receive the best service when I’m with you. However, sometimes, it is a bit too much.”
“Hewas,” Char agreed. She was tired, exhausted. She hadn’t realized how wound up she’d been about this evening until now that it was over. She helped Lady Baldwin out of her velvet cape and took off her own cloak, hanging them both on the row of pegs in the hall.
Char had thought herself quite presentable for the evening until she’d arrived at the duke’s house, handed over the wool cloak she’d borrowed from Sarah, and had seen it against the furs and embroidered outerwear of the other female guests. The poor wool had appeared quite shabby. It had been a humbling moment for Char, one of many.
Sarah knew something was wrong. “What happened? You weren’t refused at the door, were you?” she asked as if she had feared the invitation was a hoax.
