Ravaging the Duke

  Chapter Eighteen

  "What do you mean you're leaving for London in the morning? Aren't we going to Somerset?" Margaret asked as they ate dinner that evening.

  "We'll go the day after I return," Alec replied. He continued to cut his chicken, not looking up at his wife.

  "You can't postpone this trip to London until we return?"

  "No, I can't. There's a matter Norwood and Evermont are interested in. They asked me to go and offer my opinion. It might be a good investment for all of us."

  He watched as Margaret picked up her wine glass and took a swallow. She was thinking this through. Her cousin would be foremost on her mind. She would question him about Douglas. He hoped he could put her off. She was, after all, like a dog with a good bone.

  "What sort of business is it?"

  Alec put his knife down and looked at her. They were seated in the blue drawing room. A small dining table had been placed at one end. It was far better for them to enjoy a quite meal together rather than in the cavernous dining room.

  "A ship." It wasn't a complete lie. Norwood had mentioned on several occasions that he was agreeable to them pursuing some of their mutual business interests.

  "Going to find my cousin never entered the conversation the three of you had this afternoon?"

  "You know Evermont has men on the lookout for him."

  "I can't believe he's so hard to find."

  Alec gazed at her. "If he doesn't wish to be found, anything is possible."

  Margaret pushed the food on her plate around with her fork. "I suppose you're right. I just thought..."

  "What did you think?"

  "I suppose I conjured up images of my cousin welcoming being found. He's a stranger here, but not without family. If he truly wishes to stay, I would have thought he'd seek us out."

  "We've been through this. For now he's being cautious. He knows we'd all be wary of him. No, I think he'll only seek us out once he's established himself. Not before."

  Alec hoped this explanation would satisfy her.

  "You're probably right. Even I don't trust him entirely."

  That was unexpected. She knew him better than any of them. Perhaps it was a family matter. She and Douglas being cousins. They'd been raised together as brother and sister, which may have become a case of the one sibling becoming jealous of the other’s success. That had to be it. It was the only logical explanation he could come up with. Jealousy even played a part in his own family. His sister, Prudence, had always been jealous of Eleanor. She was furious and jealous of Eleanor marrying Evermont. Had Prudence run off to the Caribbean with Cameron's brother, James, as a way to get back at Eleanor? No one would know for sure until they returned.

  Perhaps his wife didn't want her only link to her father's family to be tarnished with the wicked emotion. She wanted to save her cousin. He needed to tell her the real reason they were going to London. Their marriage didn't need to begin with lies.

  "Margaret, there is another reason we're going to London."

  She tilted her head and smiled. "You have found Jacob, haven't you?"

  He hung his head. "Yes. I'm sorry I misled you. I didn't want to get your hopes up in case he refuses to speak with us or disappears yet again."

  "How do you think your meeting will go?"

  "We'll know more once we have a chance to speak with him. In the meantime, you and my sister will have some time to spend together. I imagine she'll invite you to dinner or something."

  "I know we spoke about her introducing me to people in the village when I had tea with her."

  Alec smiled. "There you go. Eleanor never met a stranger. She knows how foreign all this is to you. She'll walk you through it."

  "Does your sister ride?"

  "She used to. Before she married Bentley, her first husband. I'm not sure about now."

  "I need to ask her then."

  He picked up his wine glass. "I'm glad you've found a friend in Eleanor." He took a sip, looking at his bride.

  "She makes it easy."

  "How's that?"

  "Her grace. She's never once made me feel like I'm a foreigner from America with little knowledge on how the aristocracy works."

  "Eleanor would never do that. She knows how difficult it must be for you. Before you know it, you'll be accepted by all of polite society."

  She cast him a seductive look. "Go on to London. I'll be in good hands. Trust me."

  Alec reached his hand out to take hers. "I won't be gone but a day. After I return, we'll move on to Somerset. Just the two of us."

  She giggled. "At least for perhaps a week."

  "Well, except for Evermont and my sister."

  "That is fine as long as we have some time together."

  "And we shall. As much time as you want."

  Margaret smiled and looked into his eyes. "I believe we might need to find someone for my poor cousin, Monty."

  "I think Norwood may have met someone. We'll have to see what becomes of it."

  "I would like to do something nice for him."

  "And we shall. For now, can we focus on just you and me? I leave for London in the morning. Until then I'd like to spend some very private time with my wife."

  "You would?"

  "Yes."

  She squeezed his hand. "How about if I go upstairs and have my maid undress me? I'll dismiss her for the night when she's done."

  "What are you waiting for?" He groaned and brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

  "Anxious?" she teased.

  "For you? Always."

  "Promise me if you find my cousin and speak with him you won't judge him too harshly."

  Alec groaned and shook his head. He couldn't let his guard down. "I promise. If we find him and if the opportunity to speak with him arises, we'll be gentle."

  She sat back as a footman removed the plate and another placed the dessert course. Strawberries. "Thank you. That's all I ask."

  She took a plump strawberry and fed it to him. "I believe I'm going to go upstairs. Give me a half hour before you knock?"

  "Why don't you come to me when you're ready. I'll leave the door unlocked."

  Chapter Nineteen

  It was the middle of the afternoon when Jacob Douglas was brought to the Duke of Wexwood's London drawing room. Three of the men the Duke of Evermont hired to find him escorted him into the room that warm, summer afternoon.

  Inside, Wexwood and Evermont stood near the long glass windows overlooking a garden in the back of the home. They turned at the commotion.

  "I should have known it was you," Douglas said with a tone of disdain in his voice.

  "I'm sure if you'd been cooperative, they wouldn't have had to have insisted you accompany them," Alec replied. He turned to his brother-in-law, who was watching as the situation unfolded.

  Evermont stepped forward. "I won't assume you know either of us since we haven't been formally introduced. "This is my brother-in-law, the Duke of Wexwood. He's also your cousin's husband. I am the Duke of Evermont, Wexwood's brother-in-law and friend."

  "Please sit," Alec said, pointing to a group of chairs.

  "Would someone mind telling me why I'm here?" Jacob asked as he sat down in a green and gold wing back chair. He looked between the two men.

  Alec jumped at the chance to begin questioning the man. "We were curious as to why you are still in England. Obviously, Margaret has married, so her dowry is of no concern to you or your father now. So why stay on in London?"

  "Is that all? I'm trying to start a life for myself. Away from my father and his tyrannical ways."

  Evermont went over to a table and picked up a crystal decanter. He removed the stopper. "Whiskey? It's Scottish from Wexwood's family estate."

  Douglas nodded. "Please."

  "Why not start over in another state or city from your father?" Alec asked as he took a glass from his brother-in-law.

  "I like it here."

  Cameron passed him a glass. "Fair enough. Do you have plans?"


  The man sipped his whiskey carefully. "For now, I'm working at a press. Not something I particularly care for, but I know the trade."

  "No, you don't particularly like it, do you?" Alec asked. "Margaret has mentioned you have knowledge in land management. Is that true?"

  "Ah, yes, my cousin the duchess. Can't fault her. She's done well for herself. She and her mother did in mere months what I should have done years ago. To answer your question, yes, I do have quite a bit of knowledge in land management. My father had other things to attend to. He always left his farm to others. I enjoyed planting crops, watching them grow, and then harvesting them at the end of the growing season. He referred to it as poor man's work."

  Alec sipped his whiskey and glanced at Cameron briefly.

  Cameron sat back in his chair. "There has been some discussion about some jewels the duchess and her mother have in their possession. Any truth to the fact that your father believes they are his?"

  Douglas shook his head. "Yes, he believes anything that was once his brother's should have been passed to him. Including the jewels. He even tried to convince me he'd purchased a large portion of them and that my aunt and cousin had stolen them from him."

  "But he didn't convince you?" Alec asked.

  "It took me being away from my father to realize what he was up to. The man has no sense of loyalty. He's only out for himself, no one else."

  "So you have no interest in abducting my wife and taking her back to America or abducting her for the purpose of getting your hands on the jewels?"

  "No, none. They are with their rightful owners. My father cheated my aunt out of what was due her when he sold their farm. He told me it was his fee for having to take care of his brother's problems. So no, I have no use for them."

  Evermont swallowed the last of his whiskey and looked Douglas in the eye. "Did you go to the masked ball my wife and I gave?"

  "Yes. I admit I did, but once I saw how happy my cousin was, I left."

  "Your father does have a reputation for being a hard man to do business with. It is said he doesn't always keep his end of an agreement," Evermont said quietly.

  "It's all true. Even a written contract means nothing to him if he feels he's been crossed or cheated. Most of the time, it's merely an excuse on his part to not make good on payments."

  "Is there anything else you wish to tell us?" Alec asked. He set his glass on the table between him and Cameron.

  "No, other than I'm trying to start my life over here. Much like my father did when he went to America. I'm ashamed for the reasons I was sent here. I was planning on writing aunt Beatrice and my cousin once I established myself." Jacob nervously twirled his glass between his hands.

  Cameron leaned forward and picked up the decanter which he had placed on a table that sat between them. "More?" he asked Douglas.

  "Please."

  As Cameron poured, Alec leaned forward in his chair. "I have an idea. A job offer, actually. Margaret thought it might suit you."

  "I'm listening."

  "How would you like to properly train in land management? With an estate manager? It would require at least three years’ commitment. I have an estate manager who is getting on and has no male heirs to pass the trade on to. I need to find someone to train with him who will take over when he is ready to step down."

  "You'd do that for me?"

  "Margaret thought it perfect for you."

  "Where would I go for this training?"

  "Scotland. There is more than just the land that needs tending. I am having part of the castle torn down. I need someone to oversee that. Then there is making sure all the tenant homes are fit for the upcoming winter." Alec said, watching the young man carefully. "So you see, there is quite a bit to keep one busy."

  "I've heard Scotland is quite beautiful."

  "It is, especially during the summer. Winters can be harsh," Evermont replied.

  "You would be paid in accordance to your experience, which is more than I imagine you earn at what you're doing now, and a cottage would be provided," Alec added.

  "That's more than generous. I'm not sure I deserve it."

  "You can thank my wife the next time you see her."

  "Margaret has always been a generous soul."

  "She is."

  Jacob swallowed the last of his whiskey and set the glass on a table. He ran his hand through his thick, dark hair. "May I have some time to think on this? It is an extraordinary and most generous offer, and I need to weigh all the variables."

  "Is there something in particular that troubles you?" Alec asked.

  "No. It's just that I have only recently established myself in London. Now a move to Scotland, doing something entirely different. Scotland is like a world away."

  "It is, but I believe you'll find Edinburgh provides all of what London does," Alec replied.

  "Only without the stench and smoke-filled skies London has," Evermont added. He watched the younger man closely. The man was having a conflict within himself, which made Evermont wonder if he was being entirely truthful with them. Most men would jump at an opportunity if offered what Alec was offering him.

  "If you'll allow me a day or two to think things out."

  Alec nodded. "Evermont and I will be leaving for Kent in the morning. If we haven't heard from you by then, send word to either of us in Kent." Alec didn't want to tell him he and Margaret were leaving for Somerset. Any correspondence would be forwarded to them there.

  Jacob rose from his chair. "Thank you. I'll let you know my answer soon."

  Evermont shook hands with him after Alec had. "My men will return you to where they picked you up."

  "Thank you, Your Grace." He turned to Alec once more. "Thank you as well, Your Grace. Tell my cousin I'm happy for her."

  "You'll make her even happier if you decide to accept my offer."

  The man smiled. "Good day."

  Alec and Evermont watched as the man turned and walked across the room and through the doors.

  "Do you think he'll accept?" Alec asked.

  "He'd be a fool not to. Those were more than generous terms," Evermont replied.

  "I didn't expect him to want to think it over."

  Cameron shook his head. "Nor did I. Maybe it's because no one has offered him anything like this before."

  "I'm sure that is it."

  "I'll keep my men on him. Even if he accepts the position. I want to make sure he's being truthful. No need in us letting our guard down."

  "What do you think?"

  "Of him? He's a confused young man who's coming to terms with what his father really is. He desperately wants to make his own way, make his own life for himself. He won't have that if he returned to America."

  "We have a lot in common, Jacob and I."

  "Yes you do."

  Alec turned to Cameron. "I have a couple of errands to run before we leave tomorrow. Care to join me?"

  "As much as I'd love to, I have my own to tend to. Eleanor gave me a list of items she wants me to bring back. Dinner this evening?"

  "Yes. White's?"

  "Yes. I need to stop at the art emporium. I want to see how everything fares since I've been gone."

  "Good idea."

  ***

  Margaret found it increasingly hard to sit next to the window and do needlework. The only thing she could keep her mind on was whether or not Alec and Cameron had met with Jacob and how it worked out.

  "Ow!" She muttered to herself as she thrust the needle into her finger. She pulled it back to look at it in the light. A tiny drop of blood had appeared, and she dabbed it with her handkerchief.

  She looked up as the door opened, and the butler announced the Duchess of Evermont. Margaret smiled as she watched her sister-in-law glide across the carpet to the windows where she was seated.

  "Oh, my. This is not good." Eleanor muttered.

  "What's that?"

  Eleanor took the needlework and placed it in the basket at Margaret's feet. "You doing needlework. I exp
ected to find you out in the garden snipping flowers."

  "The thought had crossed my mind, but I realized if I did that, there would be no blooms left to admire from the house."

  "What if we went to the village? I could show you around to a few of the shops, introduce you."

  "It's a nice thought, but my mind isn't there."

  Eleanor nodded. "I know, which is exactly why we need to do this. Buy some ribbons, a book to take to Somerset. Anything to keep your mind off London."

  "I am concerned at how Jacob is going to react to all this."

  "I'm sure everything will go quite well. You'll see."

  "I hope you're right."

  Eleanor smiled. "I know I am."

  "Then what are we doing inside on such a beautiful afternoon? Let's ride to the village. Maybe you know of someone who makes ices."

  "I'm sure someone does. There is also a marvelous bakery you need to see."

  Margaret giggled. "Which means I must taste."

  "But of course."

  "Let me get my wrap. I won't be but a minute," Margaret said. She slipped out the doors and headed up to her room.

  Her sister-in-law was such a kind and gracious woman. She knew exactly what was going on with her and was doing her best to divert Margaret's thinking. It was true. She was worried as to how it would go with Jacob. Would her cousin be angry once he found out he'd been followed? Would he resent Alec's offer of training and future employment? She wouldn't know until Alec and Cameron returned. That wouldn't be until tomorrow, and she needed to keep her mind occupied on other things. More feminine matters. Like picking out ribbon or books. Silly things she hadn't thought about doing in ages.

  Chapter Twenty

  Margaret stared up at the granite stone structure in front of her in awe. The wind caught her shawl, and she grabbed it before it blew away. Alec had said how much he loved Somerset, and now she could easily see why. It was nothing like his estate in Kent. It was larger, more stately.