Devil of a Duke by Kathleen Ayers

Author:Kathleen Ayers [Ayers, Kathleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-02-12T18:30:00+00:00

Hamilton, Bermuda

To His Grace, the Duke of Dunbar,

I apologize, Your Grace, for not attending you in person. In consideration of your instructions, I am staying on Bermuda to gather all the pertinent facts as I know Your Grace would wish me to be thorough.

Nick expected nothing less of Hotchkins. He crossed to a leather chair and sat. A fire blazed in the hearth before him, but Nick shivered all the same.

I arrived in Hamilton and made discreet inquiries. William Manning died shortly after your departure from Bermuda.

So Manning died. He should have felt a sense of satisfaction, but he found no real pleasure in Manning’s death for it meant that Jem was alone and unprotected in her grief.

I admit to feeling some relief at the knowledge of Manning's death as Miss Manning could not have married Mr. Corbett while in mourning. My task would thus be easier to accomplish if she were not another man's wife. I proceeded to Sea Cliff in order to seek out Miss Manning. I bore Your Grace's letter confident that she would see reason, prepared should she not.

Nick made a mental note to give Hotchkins a bonus. The man had absolutely no reservations about kidnapping a woman for his employer.

I arrived to find the entire house in deep mourning, not unexpected given Manning's death. I inquired at the door after Miss Manning only to have the servant who answered burst into tears and run from me.

Why was his chest tight? A knot formed in his throat. The awful sense of dread felt earlier at the letter’s arrival, intensified. He carefully turned to the next page.

I waited on the step, unsure what to do, when an older woman came to the door. She introduced herself as the vicar’s wife, Mrs. Stanhope.

Nick's hands started shaking. He imagined Mrs. Stanhope’s plump form at the door of Sea Cliff.

Mrs. Stanhope, tears streaming down her face, asked what I wanted Miss Manning for, as Miss Manning was gone. When I asked the good lady where, Mrs. Stanhope sobbed in earnest. She asked why I wished to see Miss Manning?

Nick gulped in air and tried to catch his breath. He pressed one hand against his chest and felt his heart race beneath his palm.

I have a letter for her, I explained, holding out your envelope. Mrs. Stanhope swayed against the doorjamb, and I feared she would fall at my feet. “I cannot help you, sir. Jane Emily is gone. She gave a great sob. Poor lamb, she has thrown herself from the cliffs.”

“What do you mean?” I said.

“Grief, sir. Her father’s death did something to her mind. She’s gone. Dead. Poor lamb.”

Nick blinked at the words, quite sure he’d read them wrong. The paper crumpled as he gripped the pages tighter.

I decided to investigate, Your Grace. Miss Manning apparently took off suddenly during a luncheon with Augustus Corbett and ran towards the cliffs. He claims she was irrational during the meal, speaking of her father and blaming herself for his death. Mr.

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