Sins of a Duke by Suzanne Enoch

Author:Suzanne Enoch [Suzanne Enoch]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9780061752131
Google: UCC1GrK7EggC
Amazon: 0060843071
Goodreads: 621554
Publisher: Avon
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

She went downstairs early to find both of her parents already eating breakfast. Another flutter of nerves twisted through her gut. First some answers about the true nature of Costa Habichuela, she told herself. Determine how much difficulty she—they—might be in. Only then could and would she decide what to do with what she knew.

“Good morning,” she began, smiling, and headed for the sideboard, though the thought of eating anything at all made her stomach roil. As Grimm held her chair for her, she nodded her thanks and sat opposite her mother, with the rey at the head of the table. “Grimm, please give us some privacy,” she continued.

“Of course, Your Highness.” The butler snapped his fingers. He and the two hovering footmen in the room vacated, closing the doors behind them, and in a moment she and her parents were alone.

“What’s this?” her father asked. “Charles will be here within the hour. We have a very important appearance to make this morning.”

“I’m aware of that.” Josefina sat for a moment, gathering herself. “Father, I have some concerns about this next step we’re taking. I think we need to discuss them.”

He lifted a light eyebrow. “We discussed this already.”

“Yes, but where are you sending these settlers?”

“Are you jesting?”

“I’m quite serious. I would like to hear exactly what your plans are.”

He set down his fork with a clatter. “I will not be interrogated by you. This project has been our sole concern for the past two years. Why are you questioning it now?”

“Because I think you left out some details,” she returned. “I thought this was about loan money. And perhaps marrying me off to a peer. Nothing more.”

“That was the original idea.”

“Then why alter our plans?”

“Did you have any idea that we would be handed one hundred and fifty thousand pounds within a fortnight of our arrival in London?”

“No. Our reception here has been astounding.”

“Yes, it has been. We’ve been presented with the opportunity to double that. Perhaps triple it. We’ll never have to worry about money again. We can live like royalty.” He laughed. “What am I saying? We are royalty.”

“I have no difficulty with that,” she returned. “As of this moment, we’re only hurting the banks. They’ll have to refund that bond money to the investors or face riots. The citizens won’t lose anything but hopefully some of their naivete.”

“And?”

“And that changes once you begin selling land. These people are buying a dream, Father. A hope for the future. What are they going to find when they get to Costa Habichuela?”

“Paradise.”

She drew a breath. “That’s what we’ve told everyone else. What’s the truth?”

The rey frowned. “It is not your place to question me, Josefina. You will play your part with a smile. Because if you don’t, we’ll all swing for this. Do you understand that?”

Josefina swallowed. “I understand.” It was the closest he’d ever come to admitting anything, even about the loan money. The secret of their success, he always said, was to treat what they did as real, even among themselves.

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