Page 62 of The Duke’s Christmas Redemption

Caldwell’s face worked for a moment before smoothing into careful lines.

“Did they indeed? How fascinating. And does His Grace know that you’ve been investigating his father’s private affairs? Again? After his reaction to finding you in his study that day?”

The barb struck home with devastating accuracy. Charlotte felt Edmund tense beside her, and knew that he would try to intervene, to protect her from Caldwell’s increasingly pointed insinuations.

“How dare….”

“Your Grace.” Caldwell’s voice dropped even lower, pitched for her ears alone. “Consider carefully. His Grace married you for your father’s connections, for the stability that your name would bring to Alverton’s standing. Do you truly think that he would thank you for uncovering old wounds? For exposing secrets he’s spent years trying to bury?”

“You know nothing of my husband,” Charlotte whispered, though doubt began to curl through her chest like poisonous smoke.

“Don’t I?” His smile held cruel understanding. “I know how desperately he clings to control, how he measures every action against his father’s failures. What do you imagine he’ll do when he discovers his wife conspiring with his solicitor behind his back? That the one person he was beginning to trust has betrayed him yet again?”

Charlotte’s fingers whitened on her reticule. The evidence within could destroy Caldwell’s schemes utterly - but at what cost to her relationship with William? Would he see her actions as protection or interference? As love or betrayal?

“Sir Geoffrey.” Edmund’s voice, though quiet, held deadly intensity. “You go too far.”

“Do I?” Caldwell straightened in his saddle, his manner shifting to smooth society polish once more. “I merely offer Her Grace a chance to protect what she claims to hold dear. The choice, of course, is entirely hers.” He gestured to his companion, who moved his mount closer to the carriage. “You have until tomorrow morning to consider my offer. After that...” He shrugged eloquently. “Well, certain documents will find their way to interested parties. Including, perhaps, some rather fascinating correspondence regarding Lord Parrington’s supposed gaming debts.”

“I already told you…” Edmund began hotly.

Charlotte knew full well that Edmund didn’t gamble, but she could easily see how much of society might believe it possible. And the fear of what that would do to him coiled like lead in her stomach.

“The truth hardly matters, does it?” Caldwell’s smile widened unpleasantly. “Only what people believe. Just ask His Grace - he understands perfectly how reputation can be destroyed by mere whispers. Though perhaps you should hurry home and ask him now, before someone else enlightens him about his wife’s morning activities.”