Page 72 of Only Scandal Will Do

Duncan leaned forward. “About what, Grayson? What did you hear?”

“He was hard to understand with the accent, my lord, and what he was saying made no sense. Something about a proxy? When he said that, Lady Juliet went still and sat down quite hard on the sofa.”

“Oh bloody Christ!” Rather than hear that news, he would have cheerfully faced a firing squad. “This is my fault.” One hope reared its head. “But what of the other man? Where does he come into this?”

“Just now, my lord.” Grayson nodded. “With Lady Juliet so distraught, I left to find cook to send in some tea laced with brandy. While I was in the kitchen, someone else rapped on the door and Janie, the downstairs maid, answered it. She’s the one who told me about the second gentleman.”

Duncan stared hard into the butler’s eyes. “Get her here now, or I will not be responsible for what I do.”

As the butler hurried out of the room, Duncan returned his head to his hands.

Kat linked her arm with his and leaned her head on his shoulder, seeking to comfort him.

Suspicion that his own folly had led to disaster and ruin for Juliet swelled his heart with misery even his beloved wife could not dispel. And if the maid’s story matched his misgivings, he feared he would once again have cause to kill to save his sister’s honor.

CHAPTER 31

“What did you mean when you said this was your fault, my dear?” Katarina asked softly.

Duncan sighed. “Last year there was an enormous scandal concerning the Earl of Ferrers.

Did Jack tell you about this, my love?”

Katarina nodded. “He told me enough.”

“So you know Juliet and I were tainted with the scandal. Everyone started to avoid us. The scandals kept mounting and I feared word of the whole wretched business would reach her intended. We announced the betrothal to St. Cyr, but he returned to France with his father, a diplomat. I made the somewhat rash decision to request a marriage by proxy be performed in France before the scandal broke there. The Hardwicke Act forbids such weddings in England, but the marriage would be valid if accomplished in France. I sent the proxy with a chaperone and guard to St. Cyr’s father’s estate in Bordeaux.

“With the letter that assured me they arrived safely, however, also came a letter from the old Count. He withdrew his consent for his son’s betrothal, citing the scandals as cause. I revoked the proxy and requested my servants and the substitute bride return home. The servants arrived here, but the proxy, a Frenchwoman named Jeanette Valois, remained. I thought at the time she must have returned to her home. But she may have stayed with St. Cyr. I now fear he may have gone through with the proxy wedding even though I revoked permission when the betrothal was broken.”

He stared out at the room, unseeing. “He may have convinced Juliet their marriage is valid, hoping to then compromise her and force her into a real marriage.”

“Then, who on earth was this other gentleman and why did Juliet leave with him?”

As if on cue, Grayson reappeared with a young girl in tow. Dressed in the customary household blue and white maid’s garb, she scarcely looked fourteen. She gawked as though she thought he would eat her alive, her big eyes and trembling mouth making her appear even younger.

“Don’t be afraid...” Duncan glanced toward Grayson.

“Janie, my lord.”

“Janie. I believe you were hired while I was in Italy, is that correct?” Duncan attempted

his most soothing voice.

“Yes, m’lord.” She dipped a curtsy to him and kept her gaze on the floor.

“And you answered the door the day Lady Juliet left the house?”

“Oh, m’lord.” Janie threw a terrified glance at Duncan. “I would never have let him in if I’d known he would make off with her ladyship. Truly, I wouldn’t.” Tears pooled in her eyes. “I should have called Mr. Grayson straight away. But the gen’leman what come to the door looked exceedingly well. Turned out beautiful he was, but not so fancy as the first one what come in.”

“And he asked for Lady Juliet by name?” Who in blazes could the mystery caller have been?

Janie’s brows furrowed. “Not by name, no, m’lord.”

“And he gave you no name.”

“No, m’lord. We didn’t get that far ’cause all of a sudden there was a ruckus in this room. Her ladyship raising her voice to the gen’leman in here, saying she could not be married to him because she was already married to someone else.”

Duncan stared at the maid, completely baffled. “She said she was already married?” He met Katarina’s gaze. She looked equally confused. “Why would she say that?”