My Deceitful Duchess by Aydra Richards

Author:Aydra Richards [Richards, Aydra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-01-10T00:00:00+00:00

“I need your help,” Sebastian said, and he spoke the words as humbly, as penitently, as he could manage. He had not expected to find himself here in Lady Clybourne’s home once again, and yet—there was nowhere else he could turn, to no one else he could appeal.

“I could not be moved to help you under any circumstances,” Lady Clybourne said, placidly sipping her tea.

“And yet, you continue to admit me,” Sebastian replied. “One would think, my lady, that if you had no interest in helping me, you would simply have had me refused at the door.”

“I said I would not help you.” Lady Clybourne’s eyes flashed with a fire reminiscent of the color of her hair; vibrant and flaming hot. “However, I find myself a trifle vindictive lately. I won’t help you—but I eagerly await the day you recognize your error and crawl on your belly like the snake you have revealed yourself to be.”

Sebastian could hardly hold her venom against her, not when he’d jailed one of her dearest friends. “If there are apologies to be made, then I will make them gladly,” he said. “But as it happens, I am after the truth, and this”—he cast the leather folio down on the table before her—“this is not it.”

One delicate auburn brow lifted in silent inquiry.

“It’s Jenny’s statement,” he said. “It may yet prove to be partial truth. But it is not the whole of the truth, and that is what I am after.”

“Why?” she inquired icily, in stark contrast to the fury still brushed over her face. “Why would you bother, Mr. Knight?”

“Because Jenny would not agree to be released into my custody and exiled from England,” he said. “And I won’t let her hang. The truth will either condemn her—or clear her name entirely.” He was hoping fervently for the latter.

“You suggested exile?” Her shock, her horror, were palpable.

“It seemed a reasonable alternative to hanging,” he said. “Despite what you may believe, I have no wish to be the orchestrator of her death.”

“You might have thought of that before you had her jailed,” Lady Clybourne said tartly. “My answer is still no, Mr. Knight. Pray remove yourself from my home. If you should wish to perform some sort of investigation of your own, no one is stopping you—though nothing could ever sway my opinion of Jenny’s innocence.”

“You misunderstand, Lady Clybourne,” he said. “I’m not asking for your assistance in my investigation. I’m capable of managing it on my own. What I should like for you to do—you, Lady Livingston, and your husbands—is to take responsibility for Jenny until I can uncover the truth.”

Her teacup rattled on its saucer, a fine tremor shaking her fingers.

“What—whatever do you mean?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“I’ve convinced the magistrate that she won’t risk running. She’s lived in London itself for nearly a decade, after all, right beneath everyone’s noses,” he said with hollow laugh. “She’d be confined to Ambrosia, and we would have to hire guards to watch the entrances

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.