Mark took a deep breath. This was it. If he said the words that hovered on his lips, there would be no turning back. “When the duke makes the announcement, he’ll be naming me as the heir to the Duchy of Colchester.” He hung his head.
Nicole squeezed Mark’s hand. Mark glanced back up. His entire future hung in the next few moments.
“The devil you say?” Tottenham’s eyes were wide as carriage wheels. “What are you talking about?”
Mark straightened his shoulders. “I am the son of Mary Grimaldi, the duke’s sister. The will contains a codicil naming the next male in the direct family as heir. That is me.”
Tottenham’s eyes instantly filled with what could only be described as joy. “By God, man, are you telling me my new Home Secretary is also a marquess?”
“I’m afraid I am, my lord.” Mark swallowed the lump that had been lodged in his throat since he’d asked to speak with Tottenham alone.
Tottenham clapped his hands. “Are you quite serious? It couldn’t have turned out better if I’d planned it.”
Mark stared at him as if he’d taken leave of his senses. This was hardly the reaction he expected. “It’s not a role I aspired to, my lord, that of marquess, I mean.”
Tottenham tugged at the lapels of his coat. “Are youmad? Do you realize the type of influence you can bring to the position as a marquess?”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him,” Nicole added, a wide smile on her face.
“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” Mark replied. He covered Nicole’s hand with his own and smiled at her warmly.
“Well, start thinking of it that way, Coleford. You’re bound to be able to pass any reforms you want with the Colchester name behind you.”
Mark stood there, dumbfounded. Could he really do more good as an aristocrat? The role he’d rejected his entire life. Damn. He’d been a fool and an arse for not recognizing it sooner.
“I won’t let you down, my lord,” Mark promised. He let go of Nicole’s arm and bowed to the older man.
Tottenham stepped forward and clapped Mark on the shoulder. “I know you won’t, Grimaldi. I know you won’t.”
“Shall we get back?” Nicole said, her eyes suspiciously bright. “I presume the rest of the drawing room is eager to hear the news.”
“By all means,” Lord Tottenham replied, gesturing for Nicole to precede them to the door.
The three of them filed back into the other room, where Mark nodded at the duke.
The duke smiled and returned Mark’s nod, then turned to the room at large whose occupants had fallen utterly silent. The atmosphere grew instantly thick with anticipation. “Everyone, it’s time for me to introduce you to the heir to the Duchy of Colchester, my nephew, Mark Grimaldi.”
A gasp went up around the room and the duke grinned proudly as Mark explained to everyone how he was related to the family and why he’d inherited the title.
Lady Harriet and Regina beamed. The rest of the group offered Mark their congratulations. Even Mr. Cartwright looked pleased for him.
“Remember, this means you must get to work on an heir right away!” Lady Harriet declared, nudging Mark in the side.
Mark and Nicole exchanged a glance. Her hand stole into his and his fingers closed around hers, anchoring her to his side.
***
Two hours later, they gathered with Regina in the grand foyer to bid farewell to Daffin, who was on his way back to London.
“I’m pleased that our little team was able to find the truth,” Daffin said, a broad grin on his face. “Mrs. Lester and Molly are already on their way back to London to face the magistrate.”
“Thanks to Nicole.” Mark gave his wife a fond, tender smile.
“Oh, no,” Nicole replied. “Not just me. I couldn’t have done it without my steadfast assistant, Regina. I daresay she’ll make a fine investigator one day.”
Regina bumped her shoulder against Nicole’s. “I daresay we make a fine team. Two female minds are better than one.”
Daffin narrowed his eyes on the ladies. “Why did you two suspect Molly in the first place?”
