“Was he?”
Her mouth dried. She swallowed painfully before stepping into the room further, closing the door behind. This seemed to mean something to her husband. As he straightened up and set the book down, she moved closer.
“I think someone was talking about him tonight. They wouldn’t continue the conversation with me there. And others were asking my sister about him.”
“Why wouldn’t they ask you?”
She gave a weak smile. “I’m a duchess who publicly doesn’t approve of gossip. People don’t actually tell me anything. It’s a lot of work to learn what I do.”
He relaxed. “I see.”
This left the two of them staring at one another. Verity wished he would speak, to tell her all that she didn’t know. She still had questions. They both knew he had the answers. And yet he said nothing, though his gaze shifted down to her notebook that she carried in her hands. It made no sense to hide it before him now since he knew of her secret.
It should never have happened this way! I don’t think I can ever forgive him for this. For learning my secret and sheltering his just so… When will I learn yours, Dominic?
Verity pushed back her fears and her doubts when realizing she would need to trade those away to find her answers. Carefully she set the notebook on the edge of the desk.
“What is it?” Dominic asked after a pregnant pause.
“People are talking, and I think… I think you’re right. That I went too far. I have to get ahead of it.”
He sighed and leaned back. “I don’t know, Verity. Sometimes the more you try to clean up a mess, the bigger you can make it.”
“Just read what I have and let me know what you think,” she pressed. “I need to publish again. If I don’t continue the topic, people will question. They’ll wonder how and why I was silenced. But this… Just read it, please. I need to submit something tomorrow.”
Realization settled over him. “You’re trusting me with your work?”
She might not have spent a long time considering her options, but they were far and in between now. With a forced smile, Verity nodded. “I expect this returned in the morning. Good night.”
And then she left him there, praying she was doing the right thing.
CHAPTER 31
“Not a chance, no, it must be the Qintby lot.”
“Qintby? Really?” The low voices still carried well in the parlor as the three people stood in the corner. “The Hamhearsts said it couldn’t be. They told me earlier that it doesn’t match up. The timing, you see. It must have been Mr. Ashbourne. After all, he worked at a bank. Surely––”
“The Ashbournes! You don’t mean… Oh, but what about…?”
Dominic felt a nudge at his elbow. It jarred him more than it should have, as he realized too late how tense he was carrying himself.
“For a duke carrying such a fine glass of brandy, you should be smiling,” Lucien Ashbourne commented. He sniffed and nodded at the glass Dominic carried before raising an eyebrow. “What are you doing standing here? Picked a book yet?”
After passing a glance at his untouched drink, he looked up to his brother-in-law. “I have an idea. And to what do I owe your appearance?”
“Not sure. My sister merely suggested I might find it interesting to rise by noon and be about town. Naturally, I came here. And I must say, these are the least possibly interesting books at the moment.”
Dominic furrowed his brow. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, I must note my interest and very evident bewilderment that my sister, Verity Ashbourne of all people, is suggesting I carouse about town. We may address that later. For now, I am seeing my family’s name appear in the betting books.” Lucien nodded toward the other side of the room before swallowing the rest of his glass that smelled like a rich and possibly illegal whisky. “Verity doesn’t like gossip but she knows something. I am assuming there is some form of partnership in a marriage, so you must know something as well. What is it? What do you know, Your Grace?” He added the honorific in a drawl, his eyes sparking with amusement and curiosity.
It didn’t make much sense why he was here, Dominic decided. The club didn’t require them both to be in attendance to learn today’s gossip since Verity’s latest journal came out.
All of her hard work was going to nought. He didn’t understand it. He’d reviewed her notes and ideas. There had been few recommendations he made before her next edition had to be taken to her printer.
We had a reasonable plan. Everyone should be following the train of the new piece. People accepted the first article as truth but now they are ignoring the second. What I wouldn’t give for a chance to shake someone right now.
Their entire goal was to redirect attention from her uncle and her family in general. And it wasn’t working.
