Page 92 of The Duke’s Hidden Duchess

“The money was not hidden for her profit, Lord Merrow. It came to me. She asked nothing for it and received nothing back. I am here because you have called those payments evidence of theft, and I will not allow what reached my hands to be described as though it filled hers.”

Nothing followed immediately. There was no need.

Giles looked towards Rowland. Rowland looked elsewhere.

Selina waited until the silence had settled. “Georgiana.”

Georgiana stepped forward. She was pale. Her reticule trembled once in her hands before she opened it and removed a folded letter.

Then she looked directly at Rowland.

“He sent this letter to me.”

Six words. Nothing more.

She placed the letter in Petherick’s hand.

The solicitor unfolded it.

“This letter is in Mr Rowland’s hand. It directs Lady Georgiana to attend a clandestine meeting and threatens, upon her refusal, to send her private correspondence for publication.”

Rowland moved at last. “That proves no blackmail. A private disagreement between…”

“There is another letter,” Georgiana said.

Selina glanced at her.

Four words this time; she could hardly object to the economy.

A faint stir went through the room.

Petherick took the second sheet.

Nathaniel watched his sister straighten. She made no speech. She did not denounce Rowland or explain how lonely she had been or ask the room to forgive her for having believed him.

She allowed his handwriting to speak for him.

Petherick placed the letters beside the other documents.

Rowland had gone pale.

“A private correspondence proves nothing about Lord Merrow,” he said. “Whatever passed between Lady Georgiana and myself has nothing to do with the matter before this room.”

“Unfortunately,” Lady Marwood said, “you have already told us otherwise.”

Rowland turned.

Lady Marwood remained where she was.

“In my garden you spoke to the Duchess of Lord Merrow’s papers, of the money you required and of what might remain quiet if the Duke of Wexford were persuaded to pay. Lady Carbery heard you as clearly as I did.”

Lady Carbery inclined her head. “I did.”

Giles looked at Rowland. “You told them that?”

Rowland’s silence answered more effectively than anything Petherick might have produced from his case.

For the first time that evening, the two men looked less like allies than men privately calculating which of them had failed the other.