Unmasking Sin by Lancaster Mary

Author:Lancaster, Mary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2021-12-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Informed in advance of His Grace’s plans, Ludovic arrived at Calvert Court the morning after the duke. Since it was only around eleven o’clock, he expected to be taken up to Dearham’s room or at least forced to kick his heels until the ducal fast was broken.

But to his surprise, he was left only a few minutes in the hall before the duke strode across the tiled floor, stretching out his hand. “Mr. Dunne, you are prompt! Come, we’ll use Calvert’s study. He won’t mind.”

Ludovic followed him into a cozy, comfortable, very masculine room. He doubted much studying went on here, but it was definitely a male hideaway. He laid his document case on the empty desk and took from it his short report, which he passed to Dearham.

“I did not bring any documents or copies to back up my conclusions,” he told the duke. “Mainly because they prove the girl is not your cousin. She was indeed adopted, but by the sister of her natural mother, and her age at christening is noted in the parish register. She is only sixteen years old, which makes her, I believe, at least four years too young to be the child born to your cousin.”

“Damn.” Dearham sighed. “Where did my people even come up with this name as a possibility?”

“Perhaps because your cousin did indeed live briefly in the same village.”

“Did she, by God?” Dearham glanced through the report and folded it thoughtfully. He glanced at Ludovic. “Perhaps I should be employing you in this search.”

“I could not devote much time to it for several weeks,” Ludovic said. “And your own people might yet come up with a likelier candidate.”

Dearham shrugged, leaning back against the desk. “There is no great rush after all this time. Probably.”

Ludovic drew in his breath. “About the other matter I broached with Your Grace?”

“Lady Cornish? Sent my sisters round to make friends. They like her.”

“Thank you,” Ludovic said sincerely. “Do you believe her position has improved?”

Dearham straightened. “Ask her yourself. Breakfast?”

*

For Rebecca, the days she had spent at Calvert Court had worked out much as she had imagined. She had caught a few leery or outraged looks. One woman had even drawn her skirt out of the way to avoid Rebecca’s touching it. Another had deliberately placed her embroidery frame on the seat next to her own to prevent Rebecca from sitting there. And a dowager seemed very intent on preventing her unmarried son from going anywhere near her.

But there had been no direct rudeness, not even from Mrs. Belfont. And the marriageable young man who had taken her into dinner last night had even flirted with her in a mild and courteous way. As had the duke himself when he arrived late that evening.

“I knew we had met before,” he claimed with his engaging smile and a definite twinkle in his eyes. “But why on earth don’t I know you better?” He was, of course, ridiculously charming, and Rebecca could imagine all too easily how women fell into his lap.

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