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He stood again and returned to the sideboard, pouring another drink.He glanced over his shoulder at her.“Do you really want to know all the truths of my life or just those that are palatable?”
“You call impregnating a woman outside marriage palatable?Good Lord, what else is there?”
“You know about theDaily Informeralready.”
“I am just tired of braving headwinds with a stoic expression, pretending as if I know things I don’t.There was no reason not to tell me you owned theDaily Informer.”
“Except that you’ve expressed your distaste for the paper and such ilk.”
“I’ve never read it.Overmuch.Only its reputation stirs my anger.”
“You’ve heard the expression never judge a book by its cover.Well...”
“You are telling me it isn’t full of gossip and untruths?”
“Mrs.Hardy!Jack and I maintain standards.”
“Mr.Sparling is involved?Ah, that’s what Jack meant about an investigation for you.”
“Yes, he is the editor of that rag.Truly, people say they don’t trust theDaily Informer,but our sources are impeccable and unimpeachable.It is delivered to the house.You ought to read an issue.At least one.”
“I will consider it.Is that everything?”she asked, brows raised.
“Oh, my dear.We haven’t even scratched the surface yet,” Matthew said.
* * * * *
Matthew second-guessedhis visit to Welliver, only because he had hoped to bolster Archie and Bobby’s dignity by affirming that they were sons of a duke.He had known since he was a young boy, and for him to keep a secret back then had been near impossible.He quit saying it because his young friends claimed once too often that he was too big for his breeches.That and his mother continually calling him Dukey.
“I’m glad you are allowing me to attend.I think it will lend credibility,” Rose said.
“I didn’t allow anything.You declared you were coming along, and I’ve never physically abused a woman.Did you expect me to haul you out of the carriage over my shoulder?”
Rose laughed gaily.“My dear Mr.Hardy, you have no idea what to do with a woman outside of the bedroom.Besides, I expect that the duke will ask me to leave the room once you proceed to the real reason we are there.”
“Hmm.”
“There is another thing we haven’t discussed, Mr.Hardy.”
“Is it one of my secrets?”
“It is quite out in the open, but there is an underlying problem with the story.”
“Is this going to upset me?”
“Perhaps.It is about our marriage.Everyone knows Madame DuPuis styles herself as a woman who can make things happen.For a price.Or to get her debts paid.She isn’t known to match nobles with moneylenders.Ever.And yet you were there, not really the match I had asked for, but at the edge of suitability.How did she know you?”
“Through theDaily Informer,” he said casually.
“But explain the details.You weren’t in debt to her or to her establishment.She couldn’t possibly haven’t coerced you.”
“Is it so hard to believe I wanted a beautiful wife?”
She smiled, but it wasn’t a smile filled with any sort of joy.“I talked to Madame DuPuis a few weeks ago.”
“You did?And what did you learn?”
“That she is as evasive as you are.”
