Chapter Ten
A week had passed since that terrible day at the milliner’s. Milli sat in a wing chair in the duchess’s bedchamber while warm sunshine filled the room. Jane rested on a sofa beside her, near an open window, reading a book. A soft wind lifted the curtains, letting in sounds of chirping birds residing in the tall oaks.
The doctor had just left, and Jane was more somber than ever. Although the duchess seemed to be gaining strength every day, Milli’s heart turned at the sadness that lurked in her friend’s pale blue eyes.
Milli had to wonder if the young duchess was only pretending to read. She seemed so far away.
Milli had been staying with Jane while Lizzie had returned home. Lady Emily had left as well, and Marcus had moved back to his apartments. Milli hadn’t seen him since that horrible day with Lord Hughmont.
Lord Hughmont had been called out of town on family business, so she hadn’t seen him either. Lord Knightengale had visited once. But he was not her only suitor. Lord Breadford, Lord Valford, and Lord Buntington had all made their appearances.
Stephen had made it quite clear that she was not to accept any invitations outside the duke’s home until she returned to his townhouse. That way Stephen could look over the suitors themselves and ask them about their intentions. But he would allow the gentlemen to visit at the duke’s home, as long as Roderick knew it.
Milli grimaced, folding her hands in her lap. Goodness, the entire courting scenario that Stephen suggested seemed so archaic. But at the moment, with Jane and Roderick in such need, Milli didn’t want to start any more trouble. So, she had agreed to Stephen’s highhanded edict. But it didn’t mean she had to like it.
Milli turned her gaze toward Jane and frowned. It was obvious the lady needed her, because the duke was no help at all. He secluded himself in the library most of the day.
“You seem better today,” Milli remarked. “Would you like to take a stroll outside?”
Jane closed her book and shrugged. She traced a finger along the window sill, then turned a watery gaze toward Milli. “What am I going to do?”
The lady’s brilliant blue eyes shimmered with sorrow.
Milli’s throat clogged with emotion. “You are going to get better and have another baby, that’s what. Don’t you dare give up.”
Jane shook her head, her bottom lip trembling. “I can’t have any more children.”
Milli stood walked over to her. “How do you know?”
“The doctor . . . said as much.” Jane fell against Milli’s chest and sobbed.
Milli felt Jane’s pain as if it were her own. She drew her hand through Jane’s blond hair, soothing her. “What do doctors know anyway? We shall have another opinion.”
With a delicate sniff, Jane lifted head. “He talked . . . to the most noted surgeon in . . . London. They both agree. I cannot . . . should not have any more . . . Ever.”
Milli patted her back. “There, there, Roderick will love you no matter what. You know that.”
Jane sobbed more, her shoulders shaking. “But he needs an heir. I am his duchess. He is the duke.”
Milli stared over Jane’s head into the gardens, watching a robin fly past the window. “An heir. He has brothers. What do you care?”
Tears streamed down Jane’s face. “I . . . I w-want a baby. I want something to call my own. A little person to love. A little piece of heaven. Something for Roderick and me to love the rest of our lives.”
Milli’s gaze blurred with unshed tears. Words failed her. What could she say? What should she say?
“Let’s take a stroll in the gardens, dearest. You’ll feel better if we do. And then maybe we will have some tea and cakes and get fat.”
Jane nodded. “Very well.” There was a small smile beneath her frown. “Give me a few minutes to gather myself.”
Milli agreed to meet her in a half hour.
In the meantime, Milli intended to go straight to the library and confront the duke. He and Jane were miserable, and it was getting worse every day.
“We’ve got a problem,” Roderick said to Marcus.
Marcus didn’t know why Roderick was staring at him instead of addressing the entire group of men. Clayton, Stephen, and Stonebridge were all seated in the duke’s library as well. They had gathered to discuss William Shelby’s death.
Marcus bristled. The entire group was staring at him now. “Do I have a wart on my nose or something?”
Stephen scowled. “No.”
“Roderick?” Marcus asked, his gaze piercing his brother’s cool facade.
“It’s about Milli,” Stephen put in, clearly agitated
Marcus frowned. “She is safe, is she not? You told her not to venture on any drives and such.” He clenched his fists. “Did the female disobey your orders?”
“She cannot stay in this house forever,” Clayton put in.
Stonebridge stood and paced about the room. “The Home Office believes her father’s murderer is still at large, most likely waiting for a time to have Milli alone.”
Marcus narrowed his gaze on his brother-in-law. “We guessed that. What else?”
Stonebridge shrugged. “Seems about a year ago someone broke into the solicitor’s office where Shelby’s will was held. It also included his papers regarding the inheritance.”
Stephen looked shocked. “And why was I not told of this?”
Stonebridge sighed. “There are other things. His house was robbed weeks after his death.”
Stephen shot from his seat. “The devil you say? Who are your contacts in London? I demand to know””
“The point is,” Roderick said. “Milli has been safe here. I have not let any suitor take her beyond the premises. I have asked Jane to help, even though she is still recovering. All my wife knows is that some suitor wants Milli’s money, and for now, we are trying to figure out who it is.”
The duke’s face darkened. “However, Jane has no idea about Shelby’s murder. And I will not involve the women any more than that.”
Marcus’s lips tightened. “I take it the suitors have been allowed to be entertained by Milli, then?”
Roderick nodded. “I cannot very well send them away without suspicion. Of course, it seems all of London knows of Jane’s predicament.” A frown marred his brow as he spoke. “But I have made certain a servant has been with Milli while her suitors have made their visits.”
“Has Hughmont been here?” Marcus asked, annoyance filling him.
“Probably,” Stephen said in agitation. “But having two women to care for is taking a toll on my sanity. I don’t want them hurt. But confound it, a murderer! This is far worse than Fennington invading our grounds.”
Clayton smothered a groan. “Don’t mention that fool, please.”
Marcus recalled the quizzing glass Milli said she still had. Fennington was easy to deal with. William Shelby’s murderer was as dangerous as giving Napoleon another army at Waterloo.
Marcus felt his heart race at the thought of Milli in the murderer’s grasp. He stared across the room at the bookshelves, recalling the tiny female and the devastating kiss that had turned his world upside down. He was fond of Milli, but she was young and foolish. She was also a flirt like Lady Madeleine. Marcus didn’t need that complication in his life. And he blasted well didn’t need love.
Marcus grimaced. “Elizabeth may handle the facts better than Milli, but neither should be involved in their father’s case.”
Stephen frowned. “Heaven help us. If Milli discovered the culprit, she might put cherries in his drink and kill him.”
Marcus could not help but chuckle. The story of Milli putting cherries in a certain lady’s drink, a lady who had been very mean to Elizabeth, was something he could not forget. Milli had been a child, but she had almost killed the lady who had a high sensitivity to cherries. But there was a lesson to be learned. Milli acted first, thought later. She was a lady of impulse, and in a murder case, that was a dangerous thing.
Clayton snorted. “Shame Milli is a girl. We could use her. A loose cannon would bring out the villain sooner than later.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Marcus snapped.
Roderick sighed. “Of course, she isn’t going to be part of this investigation. But we must consider the facts. Our little Milli is in danger. I am thinking about her safety. We could marry her to some gentleman who will protect her while we find the culprit. Have the man take her away for a while. What do you think?”
Marcus clenched his hands, not liking the scenario at all.
“Marrying that little firefly off and finding the murderer won’t be easy,” Clayton put in.
Roderick leaned back in his chair. “I’ve been thinking about what you said before, about having a party in the country. We could gather a list of gentlemen whom we believe may have had reason to kill Shelby and invite them.”
Stonebridge nodded. “Those that may have owed him a good sum?”
“And those who may have some attachment to Milli and are biding their time to marry her,” Stephen added, his face grim. “Sounds rather dangerous.”
“Too dangerous, if you ask me,” Marcus remarked, his anger mounting. “I don’t like it.”
Roderick tapped a hard finger against his desk. “What else are we to do then? Wait for the murderer to marry the girl? We cannot. I have a great fondness for Milli. But one never knows what she might do.”
Stephen toyed with the ink well in front of him. “The girl is stubborn and unpredictable.” He looked up. “I have no idea if she might venture to Gretna Green and marry, just to spite me or any of us. I admit I was quite surprised she took my edicts so well. In fact, her calm demeanor frightens me to death.”
Roderick walked over to the fireplace, where a small flame danced in the hearth. “It’s obvious. She is looking after Jane and does not want to make matters worse, so she surrendered to you without a fight.” He glowered at Marcus.
Marcus straightened, wondering if the duke knew about their kiss. “Confound it, why do you keep staring at me? I didn’t do a thing.” Liar, he thought.
“I heard from Gabby that you were very mean to her at the milliner’s last week,” Stonebridge announced bluntly.
Marcus’s jaw dropped. “Mean? Hell’s teeth. Hughmont snatched her arm like a mad dog reaching for a bone. I merely intervened.”
“The man grabbed her?” Stephen shouted. “Why the devil didn’t you mention that before?”
Marcus poured himself a drink from the sideboard. “I believe I took care of the matter. We have no notion if Hughmont is our man. It could be Graveland, Pickford, or Reardon, for all we know. Of course, Breadford, Valford and Bennington are circling Milli as well.”
Roderick sat down at his desk and picked up his pen. “Who else? Let’s make our list of the possible culprits now and add to it.”
Clayton pursed his lips. “Knightengale. Yardley.”
“Knightengale?” Marcus repeated. “The man may have kissed Milli, but I can assure you, as my good friend, he would do nothing to hurt her or her father.”
“Kissed her?” the men said in unison.
Marcus scowled. “Our little princess enticed the man into the gardens. What was he to do? She is rather fetching.”
The men regarded him with a keen eye.
Roderick smiled. “Rather fetching, is she?”
Marcus felt his cheeks color. He took a long swallow of his wine. “You know what I mean. Not that I am interested. She is not what I would want in a spouse.”
Stephen glared at him.
Marcus fumbled for words. “Well, confound it. I am quite fond of the girl, but she is too bold, too forward for my taste in a wife. And too blasted young. When I marry, which will probably be ten years or more, I want a wife who will not be jumping head first into trouble. And I certainly do not want a wife who wants to try a man’s kiss, then move on to the next one.”
Roderick frowned. “Next one?”
Stephen’s eyes flashed with worry. “Milli is high strung, but she is still an innocent. Blast it all, this is going to be more difficult than I thought.”
Marcus scoffed. “Difficult? King George, of course it’s going to be difficult! If you think we are going to have some grand party and not let the women know why, you have another thing coming.”
Roderick looked at his list. “Who else?”
Stonebridge pursed his lips. “Emily mentioned a few suitors. I may have to ask her.”
Stephen sank into the nearby sofa. “Hell’s bells. No husband for Milli until we find the man. This is getting too complicated.”
“I agree,” Marcus put in. “Why involve a husband before we know who the villain is?”
Clayton looked thoughtful. “They do have a point, Roderick.”
The duke nodded. “It might be best to lure a group of suitors to the country with the false intent of Milli looking for a husband.”
“Tell me this,” Marcus said curtly. “If the culprit shows his face, how do we discover him? How the devil do we know he will even be there? And how the blazes will we know Milli will not be in danger?”
Roderick’s eyes turned black. “We all want the best for Milli and would lay down our life for the girl. Do you forget that all the gentlemen here have worked in reconnaissance? We are the best England has to offer and we will find the murderer. Besides, I don’t think getting the word out at White’s about Milli looking for a husband will be too hard. An heiress ready to marry is something the ton longs to talk about.”
“The women will discover the ploy in less than twenty four hours,” Stephen growled.
Clayton let out a heavy breath. “True.”
Roderick scowled. “They will have to be told we are looking for a husband for Milli.” He turned a hard gaze toward Marcus and Stephen. “I think it best you talk Milli into playing the part in looking for a husband by using the ruse that we must keep Jane busy.” He cleared his throat and dropped his gaze. “To forget what has happened.”
Marcus bit back an oath. He felt for Roderick and Jane, but he wasn’t about to put Milli in danger. “But in reality, we will be looking for a murderer. Her father’s murder, to be precise.”
“Exactly,” Roderick said frowning. “I agree it’s dangerous, and I know you don’t like the plan. You probably won’t like what I have to add.”
“Go on,” Marcus said, his voice hard. “I await your grand plan, Your Grace.”
Roderick didn’t flinch. “We must have someone to play the devoted lover.” He put up a hand when he saw the shocked look on the men’s faces, including Marcus’s. “Now, now, you must see the need to push the villain into making a move. If Milli is spending time with another suitor, and it looks serious, our villain will pounce.”
Marcus scoffed. “Good luck with that. Who the devil can we trust?”
All heads turned toward him.
“WHAT?”
Stephen clapped him on the back. “You are the best man for the job. You can pay your attentions to Milli like a besotted suitor, and that will bring the villain out of his cave. It’s not as if you cannot defend yourself.”
Marcus’s eyes widened. “And what if our villain tries poison again?”
Stephen’s dark eyes twinkled. “We can find a replacement. No need to worry about that.”
Clayton laughed. “I doubt the man will try poison with you, Marcus. You are too healthy to drop dead on the spot. It would be too obvious.”
Marcus ground his teeth. Threats didn’t bother him. It was getting close to Milli that did. Being her devoted suitor was a complication in his life he didn’t need. But to find the villain, he would do anything. “Very well, I’ll do it.”
Stephen pursed his lips. “Ah, none of that . . . you know . . . stuff . . .”
Marcus scowled. “What do you take me for?”
Stephen shoved a hand into his jacket pocket. “She’s my responsibility. I won’t have you compromising her, even to find her father’s murderer.”
“Hell’s bells! She’s a child.”
“She’s a woman,” Roderick put in. “And you well know it.”
“What about Milli’s feelings?” Clayton remarked. “We cannot play with her as if she were some doll without any emotion.”
The gentlemen all frowned.
Marcus leaned against the ladder behind him. “I will be careful. I will shower a bit of attention on Milli. The gentlemen will see it. And that should do the trick.”
Stephen looked relieved. “Don’t want her hurt.”
Roderick agreed. “All of us can put in a word for Marcus. Talk will get around that he is thinking of marrying her, but there is no commitment. No true engagement. And if things go beyond that—” Roderick shrugged.
“What the devil does that mean?” Marcus snapped.
Roderick smiled. “It means if the gossip goes too far, well then, we spread the word that the situation was confused. But in the meantime, I believe our murderer will play his hand. I think it best to have everything played out in Bath. Away from London. The place is smaller, and Society is found at similar functions.
Roderick stared out the window. “The doctor seems to think it best for Jane to take the waters there too.” He turned back to the men. “She will be the host of all the festivities in Bath. It will be the perfect place.”
The gentlemen finally agreed.
But Clayton scowled. “I believe this may take more effort than we thought. Marcus can not be left alone at the party.”
“Oh, devil take it. I am not a child to be looked after, and you are not my nanny!”
Roderick shook his head. “We will make plans to be with Marcus during the waking hours, one way or another. And he will watch Milli.”
Clayton chuckled. “Thunderation. We can’t have Milli and Marcus marry. Their union would be disastrous. It would be like mixing oil and water.”
Marcus glowered. “Ha ha, very amusing. But I don’t think I need to marry at all. I have plans to travel the world, and having a wife by my side would impede my plans with Whitehall and the Home Office.”
Stephen’s face flashed with amusement. “I hear the general’s daughter has her cap set for you.”
Marcus’s face softened. “I have the highest regard for Miss Canton.”
The general had made it clear to him that if he married his daughter, then Marcus could have a position as liaison to his choice of country in the new world. Perhaps even the Americas. It was something to think about. Marcus would enjoy leaving England for a while and having an adventure. Even though he loved his family, he was not the duke, and he needed to start his own life.
“The parties in Bath will give Jane something to focus on instead of her loss,” Roderick added. “She will need to heal a bit more before then, but on other things,” he paused, “I need you all to know that she can longer bear children.”
There was a shocked silence.
Marcus didn’t know what to say. Blast it all!
Roderick heaved a sigh of regret. “Marcus, this leaves you as duke if something should happen to me.”
Marcus tried to laugh. “Have no worries. I believe you will out live us all.”
Roderick speared him with a burning gaze. “I need you to marry. Now, Marcus. We need an heir.”
The shock of Roderick’s announcement took a bit longer for Marcus to absorb than the other gentlemen.
“What about them?” Marcus’s hand went out to his brothers, who stood with mouths agape.
Roderick shook his head. “I know what happened with Lady Madeleine. I know you don’t want to wed. Maybe you are thinking about a marriage of convenience sometime later. But it seems obvious you don’t want love.”
Marcus felt his anger rising. “That’s exactly what I’m thinking. I don’t need any more pain—”
He caught himself, catching the hurt in Roderick’s eyes. The man had lost a child not too long ago. Marcus didn’t take that lightly. It was just one more reason not to love a wife. The pain of losing anything was too much to bear. Marcus had enough of that with Lady Madeleine. He had loved her, and she had thrown it in his face. She had taught him a good lesson. Loving a woman hurt, and hell would ice over before he loved one again.
“I need you to marry,” Roderick repeated, the ache in his words hitting Marcus hard. “Jane cannot have any children. It would kill her. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Marcus could only stare at the duke.
The duke made a fist. “I have heard from the doctor this morning. There will be no more babies for us. No children!” His voice increased in volume. “No heirs! At least not for me!”
Marcus stood stock still. “I’m sorry, Roderick.”
An icy stillness settled over the room.
Roderick looked at his brothers. “It is my duty to make certain there is an heir. But I don’t want this conversation to go any further.”
The gentlemen nodded in agreement.
Roderick sank into his chair, looking defeated. “Clayton, you have Victoria. Who knows if you will have another baby. Stephen, I know you and Elizabeth have been trying to have a child, but no luck.” He stared hard at Marcus and threw up his hands. “Emily, of course, is not in line for the heir, so you are left.”
Marcus felt his stomach roll. Roderick had every right to ask him. “I see.”
“I wanted to you to know the details before you journey to Bath. Perhaps, there you will find someone to love. Or perhaps later. After we capture the villain, you will be free to marry whomever you want.”
“Love? Marry?” Marcus gave a sad laugh. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, Roderick. But love is for others, not for me.” He didn’t say that Roderick’s face told him everything he didn’t want to know. Love was hard, and it hurt.
Roderick’s frown faded a bit. “It’s not as bad as you think. Love can be wonderful. I still love Jane. This setback in our lives hasn’t changed anything I feel for her. In fact, it only makes me love her more.”
“Jane is a prize among women.” Marcus turned, not wanting to see the sadness in his brother’s eyes. The man was not able to have children with the woman he loved. How horrible was that? Even adoption would not give him his heir. It was through the bloodline.
“Marcus?”
Marcus glanced over his shoulder.
“You may find that prize yourself.”
Marcus’s jaw clenched. “I will find a wife, Roderick. I will have an heir. But I will not fall in love. That, dear duke, is for my brothers, not for me.”
Clayton made a clucking sound, showing his disapproval. “A convenient marriage won’t work. Not for you. Take it from me. I’ve tried that road. It will cause you more heartache than you ever dreamed.”
“I think I know what I want and what I don’t want,” Marcus said sharply, walking toward the door.
He thought about his mother who had loved his father. Their marriage was not the best, and his poor mother had paid the price for her love. Now, she was happily married to Lord Bringston, a good man, but Marcus saw the pain in her eyes when she thought about her previous marriage. Some people married the wrong person, and some people suffered in love. Well, he was not going to be one of them. A convenient marriage was the answer now. It would be business and nothing else.
And devil take it! He didn’t have to love his wife with his whole heart and soul. And she didn’t have to love him. There could be respect and that could work.
With an oath on his lips, Marcus grabbed the door handle. He raised a mocking brow toward his brothers and Stonebridge. “I will help find Shelby’s murderer and play the part of an attentive suitor to Milli in order to draw the villain from his cave. And confound it, when that is over, I will find a lady to marry. I hope you are all very happy.”
The men said nothing, but their frowns were obvious.
It was only the duke who spoke. “I hope you are happy, Marcus. You deserve a good woman. I only hope you let her into your heart.”
Marcus cursed. Confound it. There was no room for love in a heart that had been burned to cinders.