The Duke is Back: The Footmen’s Club Series by Valerie Bowman

Author:Valerie Bowman [Bowman, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: June Third Enterprises, LLC

Chapter Sixteen

When Sophie arrived back home from Lady Clayton’s house, she stood in the foyer plucking off her hat, gloves, and pelisse. She’d been nothing but fortunate that Phillip hadn’t been there when she’d paid her call. Lady Clayton’s treatment of her still rankled, but now that she’d had more time to think on it, how could she blame the woman? The only thing Lady Clayton knew about Sophie was that Phillip had ‘cared’ for her and now she was engaged to his murderous cousin who’d taken over the title after his brother’s untimely, probably unnatural, death. It looked bad. There was no question about it.

No. Sophie didn’t blame Lady Clayton, but she would certainly blame Phillip if he suspected her of being involved with his brother’s murder. Sophie intended to confront him on the subject the first chance she got. Did he truly believe she was capable of such an atrocity? If so, he’d apparently never known her at all.

At the moment, Sophie intended to confront Valentina and ask her why exactly she refused to call off the engagement. It made little sense. Hugh was clearly hiding something from all of them. And there was no doubt. Phillip was not an imposter. The entire notion that he could be was preposterous.

“Have you seen my stepmother?” she asked Roberts, the butler, after handing him her coat and bonnet.

“My lady is in the rose salon.” The man gave her a sneer. Valentina had hired Roberts. In fact, she’d wasted no time sacking the long-term butler Mama had hired in order to install her own man at the front of the house. Sophie had never liked nor trusted Roberts. He clearly did Valentina’s bidding. “She has a visitor and has asked not to be interrupted,” Roberts continued.

Sophie narrowed her eyes at the butler. Visitor? What visitor? Was it Hugh? “Thank you,” she replied simply, knowing Roberts would not be inclined to tell her more. Instead, she made her way up the staircase, intent on convincing Roberts she was merely retiring to her bedchamber.

Five minutes later, she was back, peering down the staircase. Roberts was nowhere to be seen. He was probably smoking on the back stoop with Valentina’s hateful lady’s maid. Sophie hurried down the stairs, across the foyer, and down the corridor to the rose salon.

The double doors were closed, and she glanced each way to ensure none of the servants or Papa were coming, before plastering her ear against the door. Who was Valentina in there talking to?

“I told you, Valentina. I’ll take care of it,” a man’s voice said.

Sophie sucked in her breath. Take care of what? The voice was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. It definitely wasn’t Hugh, however.

“When? This has already got out of hand,” came Valentina’s tart reply.

“I’m weighing the options,” the man’s voice replied.

“Which are?” Valentina snapped.

“These things must be handled delicately…with finesse,” the man continued.

“What do you plan to do?” Valentina’s voice took on a nasally, whining sound. It was the same voice she used when she attempted to wheedle more jewelry out of Papa.

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