Page 9 of The Duke of Pain

At age ten, Gideon became the Duke of Watford. The duke’s untimely death had changed Gideon’s life forever and not for the better.

In the will, beyond what Gideon inherited, the late duke had settled a good amount of money on his widow. Again, one of the main reasons Whinstone had latched on to his mother.

It had been a shocking turn of events within the family and society.

But none so shocking as finding his mother had remarried a mere five months later, scandalizing society. The then thirty-eight-year-old duchess married the ten years younger Whinstone.

Yes, it had been quite the scandal. It was still tittered about in certain circles.

“He has enough ready coin to rent somewhere else, considering you are still financing his lifestyle. Whinstone has taken advantage long enough. I am done allowing him to stay there rent-free. It is bad enough I’ve paid his gambling debts through the years. Tell him to be gone in ten days,” Gideon stated, his voice firm.

His mother shook her head. “No. You want Sanford to vacate the premises, then you must do it yourself. I am through acting as a mediator between you.”

Gideon laughed bitterly. “You never acted as a mediator. You always took his side.”

“He was my husband. I had no choice,” she said matter-of-factly; as she reached for a raspberry tart.

“When has he ever been a husband to you? You’ve been living separate lives for years,” Gideon snapped.

His mother’s eyes welled with tears.

Oh, God, not again.

The duchess used tears as an effective weapon, and because of it, it had ceased having any effect on him.

“I still love him,” she whispered. “I am in misery; you have no idea of what I suffer.”

Gideon had a rough inkling. When home from school, he had witnessed the overwrought drama. His mother’s querulous begging, Whinstone rebuffing her advances. The noisy but sporadic times they did have sex was enough to scar Gideon for two lifetimes.

But it wasn’t only his mother and Whinstone’s twisted relationship; it was Whinstone himself.

Why, considering Gideon was well into middle age, did the miserable bastard still affect him, causing him to feel like a helpless boy?

Gideon shook the horrible reminisces from his mind. “Mother, why are you here? You obviously want something. Why else would you deem to visit?”

The duchess made of show of dabbing the corner of her eyes with her silk handkerchief. “You are still a cruel boy. Can’t a mother wish to see her only child?”

Gideon stood. “Get to the point, or I am leaving.”

“Very well. Please, sit. Sanford needs money. No, it is not a gambling debt. A woman has stated she is with child. Sanford says it is his as she is his mistress and has been with him exclusively.”

“I thought you said you were in agony over your love for Whinstone? You speak of his mistress and supposed by-blow without any drama. For once.”

“What am I to do about it? Men have mistresses. It is the way of things. Your father had one,” his mother replied.

“I don’t doubt it,” Gideon murmured under his breath.

“Speak up. I cannot hear you,” the duchess admonished.

Gideon sat and shook his head. “I will not support one of his bastards.”

“He wants to recognize the child, at least, as far as society and the law will allow. Granted, I know that isn’t much, but I feel I owe him since I couldn’t give him a child. I lost my babies.” The duchess sniffled and dabbed her eyes once again.

His mother had two miscarriages in the first few years of her second marriage. It was the cause of the final break between her and Whinstone.

“You mean he wants to recognize this particular child. What about the others? There are rumors of more. Between him and the Duke of Chellenham, there must be illegitimate children in every corner of the city and beyond.”

Gideon was affluent enough, but not excessively so. To keep Whinstone, mistress, and child in comfort? It turned his bile to be asked to do so, only because he loathed the man.