AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Tony was now the Duke of Averell and not happy about it. Maggie, Tony’s new duchess, round with child, was devastated at his father’s death, for she’d loved Marcus Barrington, as most women did. Leo’s sisters and Olivia, Amanda’s ward, had fluttered about hopelessly lost, like a flock of wounded doves, uncertain where to land without Marcus to direct them.
God, the paintings Theodosia had done.
Horrible, stark expressions of anguish on canvas. Painful to look at.
The staff of Cherry Hill had been prostrate with grief over his father’s death. Black armbands adorned their arms. Cook had burned dinner two nights in a row. Maids had wept while they cleaned and dusted. Even the bloody horses in the stable had worn expressions of loss.
Becauseeveryonehad loved Marcus Barrington, it seemed, but his two sons.
“I loved him,” Leo whispered, his breath rustling the paper of the letter. “Only I didn’t want to.” Something else he’d realized far too late.
Blame and regret were such dangerous emotions, especially when mixed with bitterness and anger. Leo had spent his whole life keeping his feelings tucked carefully away, safely hidden beneath his charming demeanor, pretending so many things didn’t matter when in fact, they did.
He eyed the letter, reached to touch the pages, and just as quickly jerked his hand away.
Those pages were the last words of Marcus Barrington, Duke of Averell, to his bastard son. Amanda had tossed it at Leo, still unable to even speak civilly to him.
Tony, she wouldn’t even look at.
After reading the letter, Leo had calmly folded the paper and placed it in his coat pocket. He’d stared out at his assembled family, snarling out that he must immediately return to London. No one had seemed shocked. Tony hadn’t tried to stop him.
Now he had read the letter so many times he could recite every word, trace every flourish of the shaking hand which had laid out the truth to him. A truth Leo had missed in that hallway at Elysium as Georgina had slid away from him. And all the truths that had come before.
He took a mouthful of the scotch, swishing it around in his mouth.
What about when I become with child. What then, Leo?
But there already was a child.Hischild. She’d failed to mention that very pertinent fact to Leo.
A bastard just like him.
He’d sworn never to have children. He only had to think of Tony’s mother to know what havoc a bastard could cause. He’d always been so careful. Made sure his bed partners used tiny sponges soaked in vinegar. Covered his cock in those awful French letters.
What a bloody stupid name. French letter.
Except with Georgina. He’d taken no real precautions with her besides withdrawing, a method not in the least foolproof. Part of him, Leo finally admitted, had wanted the sight of Georgina round with his child. It had taken over a month and a great deal of scotch for him to admitthattruth.
He’d sent a note to Beechwood Court,finally. As furious as he was at Georgina’s deception, theywouldcome to some sort of understanding, he just wasn’t sure what it would be yet.
The reply had come from her butler.
Lady Masterson has extended her stay in London.
Next, he went to the town home she rented in Mayfair, but the staff there insisted she’d gone to Paris.
Georgina didn’t even speak French.
The longer Leo went without being able to find Georgina, the angrier he became. She was clearly hiding from him. So, in an effort to flush her out, he called in Masterson’s markers. But that only succeeded in bringing Harold to his door.
God, he detested Harold.
Harold had begged. Pleaded. Blamed his lack of funds on the American girl his uncle had had the bad fortune to marry. Interesting, considering it was Georgina’s dowry that had kept Masterson’s estate afloat. WhenHaroldfound Georgina, the earl had whined, his debt to Leo would be repaid in full. She was on the Continent, according to her solicitor, because her family wouldn’t welcome her return to America. No doubt Georgina was living extravagantly. Spending the sum in her account she’d coaxed his uncle into giving her which rightfully belonged to Harold.
The fortuneLeohad given Georgina. He’d nearly corrected Harold. Lind had been instructed some time ago to never, under any circumstances, release the sum to anyone but Georgina. Even if Harold or his twit of a wife brought an army of solicitors to Lind’s door.
Leo had waved a hand at Masterson’s nephew in dismissal, giving no hint of his intentions toward the markers or anything else. Harold, besides being greedy, was an idiot.
Georgina wouldnevergo to the Continent, no matter the trail she’d left for Harold to follow or what Lind claimed. Whether Jacob Rutherford would welcome his daughter or not, Georgina would go home. She’d longed for New York the entire time Leo had known her.
