But the earl merely shrugged off the insult. “And yet, your actions paint a much different picture.”
Will dug his nails into the heavy fabric of the armrest. “What do you want?” he said coldly. “For me to marry Lady Gwen?”
Fairbanks looked genuinely surprised by the question. “Oh, heavens. I don’t think she would have you now even if you asked.No, my daughter is much too prideful. She was willing to overlook you being a common barrister’s son in order to become a duchess, but she will certainly not abide being second in your heart to anyone, let alone a woman soveryfar beneath her. Though I suppose it shouldn’t be so surprising that someone with your upbringing would still retain such plebian tastes.”
Will gripped the armrest to keep from lunging at him.
“No,” the earl continued, unaware of Will’s violent thoughts. “You’ll need to find some other girl. Though I imagine the pickings will be quite slim when I’m done with you.”
“Explain yourself,” Will barked. He had enough of the man’s insinuations, but the smug expression never left the earl’s face.
“Even you won’t be able to recover quite so easily from ruining a spinster schoolteacher. Did you know I own a stake in theLondon Daily? It’s a terrible rag, but this is just the type of story with mass appeal. The perfect duke leading a seedy double life and dragging a promising young woman down into the muck with him.”
“I’ve done nothing of the sort,” Will protested.
“Oh, I highly doubt that. But it won’t matter either way. There’s enough grains of truth to keep the story in print for the next year, at least.”
Will gritted his teeth and steadied his breathing so he wouldn’t throttle that smug look off the man’s face. “Name your price then,” he finally said.
“Your support for my bill. As it is,” Fairbanks added.
Of course.
“But you will keep away from Miss Atkinson?”
“Yes, though I should tell you that she remains in a perilous position, especially now that my source knows what his information isworth. If youreallywant to protect her reputation, there is only one thing you can do.”
Will gave a stiff nod.Marriage.
“It would still be a minor scandal, naturally,” Fairbanks continued. “I can’t think of a woman less suitable to be a duchess, but then I suppose the duchy can weather another blow. It’s survived you, after all. And I’m sure Atkinson will give her a generous dowry, so at least you will get some coin out of it.”
“I don’t care about that,” Will snapped.
Fairbanks gave him an amused look but did not press further. Instead, he finished the last drop of whiskey in his glass and stood. “Allow me to be the first to offer my felicitations, then. I will see you in Parliament.”
Will didn’t bother to watch Fairbanks leave. When he was finally alone, he emptied the rest of the silver coffeepot into a cup and swallowed the bitter dregs. It would be a late night, and he had a hell of a problem to solve.
When Phoebe awoke the next morning, she blinked in sleepy confusion. It took her a moment to remember that, despite her surroundings, she was not a girl still living under her parents’ roof, but a grown woman—one who had enjoyed a passionate tryst in her mother’s greenhouse the previous evening. And though that had been a fine excuse for spending the night here, it was time to return to her normal life. Which most certainly did not include illicit liaisons with terribly handsome men. Just as Phoebe’s pulse began to race at the memory of Will’s warm hands gliding over her skin, she sat up with a start and threw off the covers only toimmediately draw them back when she saw the sorry state of her nightgown.
“Good heavens,” she muttered. Thank goodness the maids weren’t about yet, for she would have a devil of a time trying to explainthat. Fortunately, it was still quite early. Phoebe was hardly in the mood to speak with anyone, but her parents wouldn’t be up for hours and she intended to be long gone by then. Phoebe quickly washed, dressed, and gathered her things, then crept down the hallway. The house was only just beginning to stir and she had nearly made it to the entryway when Alex suddenly came charging out of the library.
Of course her sister was up with the dawn.
Alex came to an abrupt stop when she spotted her. “Oh. Hello.” She then nodded to the satchel in her hand. “Leaving already?”
Phoebe lifted her chin. “I’ve things I need to do. For the bazaar.”
“I see.” But her sister didn’t look convinced. “I don’t suppose you know anything about the light that was on in the greenhouse very late last night.”
Blasted Alex. Did sheeversleep?
“No,” Phoebe said with remarkable calm. “I do not.”
Alex raised an eyebrow in suspicion. “All right. But if you do happen to recall anything, you can tell me,” she said with surprising gentleness, though her thorny expression remained unchanged.
“Oh,” Phoebe bleated. “Thank you.”
“Have a good day,” Alex said with a stiff nod as she swept past her.
