To Steal a Duke (The Sisterhood of Independent Ladies Book 1) by Maeve Greyson

Author:Maeve Greyson [Greyson, Maeve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“I want to know everywhere they go before they even think about going there.” Elias fixed a stern glare on Jack Portney, willing the Bow Street Runner to understand the severity of the request.

Mr. Portney accepted the task with a curt dip of his chin. “It will be done, my lord. Several reliable contacts now exist within the household. I shall keep you informed on a regular basis—hourly, if necessary.”

“Good man.” Elias dismissed him with a nod and returned his attention to the paper Celia had signed with everything but her title and surname. He had suspected her identity from the beginning but wanted so badly to trust her, to believe she would never deceive him, that he had shoved his suspicions aside. Never again would he make the mistake of going against his instincts.

And now he would solve the rest of his precious lioness’s mystery. If she had released him with the excuse that she had tired of toying with a second son, a solicitor, he might have accepted her reason at face value. He jerked his head with a hard shake and threw himself back in the chair. No. He would not have accepted that reason either. Heartache had filled her eyes along with that same strange leeriness he had noticed the first time they met. She loved him as much as he loved her. Celia was his, and he would win her back after obliterating whatever foolishness she had spouted about refusing to ruin him. Ruin him how? He could not be ruined.

“But she very well could be,” he muttered. What if she carried his child? Yet another reason to solve this riddle and convince her to marry him. Never would he abandon his own or be a cruel, heartless bastard like his father. He picked up the slip of paper and slowly rubbed his thumb back and forth across her flowery signature. “What is your secret, Lady Cecilia? What is this web of lies you have woven?”

His brother, Aurelias Montseton Raines, fourth Duke of Almsbury, affectionately and sometimes not so affectionately known as Monty, strolled into the office without the courtesy of knocking. “Your summons sounded both urgent and slightly rude, little brother.” He softened the accusation with an affectionate smile as he dropped into the chair facing Elias’s desk. “What sorry business has you so crusty?”

Elias ignored Monty’s usual flippancy. “You are widely traveled. Have you ever crossed paths with the Duke of Hasterton?”

“Hasterton, you say?” Monty scowled as he pondered the question, then shook his head. “I don’t believe anyone has, old man. Why?”

“He is my client, yet never responds to correspondence unless he initiates it. His dying mother had me draw up her last will and testament to leave all her worldly goods to her devoted companion, Miss Celia Bening. According to the dowager duchess, her son was much too busy to escort her to London for a final visit, and her daughter’s frail health prevented her from coming also.” Elias leaned forward and thumped the desk.

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