“How is Anne?” Drummond asked, reaching his son’s side
before the others were aware of his presence.
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“Recovering, thank you. What have I missed?”
Before Teach’s father could respond, William’s eyes widened. The duke turned, his face red with rage.
“There you are. Would you care to explain why you attacked
my son in the middle of a party held in your honor?”
Drummond stepped in front of Teach. “As I told you, your
son attacked my goddaughter, Your Grace. I saw it with my
own eyes. Edward was merely protecting her.”
The duke spread his hands wide. “Where is she, then? Hmmm?
The only victim I see here is William. You could have killed him!”
If his father hadn’t been standing in front of him, Teach
might have gone for the duke’s throat as well. “I took Anne
home for her own protection. She happened to overhear a conversation between the earl and Miss Patience.”
“What did she expect, skulking about the gardens like a
common street— Ahh!” William’s words were cut off by his
own high-pitched squeal as Teach lunged for him.
It took the combined strength of the duke, Lord Hervey,
and Drummond to hold Teach back.
“You bloody coward!” Teach spat, straining against the
three men who prevented him from delivering more damage to
William’s face. “The only sullied reputation is Miss Patience’s.
Does your father know he’s about to be a grandfather?”
“What?” the duke cried.
“What the devil are you talking about?” Lord Hervey
demanded.
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Teach stepped out of their grasp. “Oh, didn’t Lord Lorimar tell you? In the garden he professed his undying love for Miss Patience. She’s carrying his child.”
The silence in the room was thick, and for a moment time
seemed to stand still.
Turning to his father, Teach pointed an accusatory finger
at William. “And it was Lorimar who accused me of piracy.
He did it hoping the baron would hear about it and break the
betrothal, for the earl hopes to marry Patience himself.”
“Is this true?” the duke asked, piercing his son with an
astonished glare.
William cowered in the corner, his mouth opening and
closing, but no sound came out.
Lord Hervey sputtered protestations, his face and neck
turning an alarming shade of red. Drummond looked between
the three men, his brows drawn together in a frown.
“Is this true, Edward?” he asked, turning to his son.
Teach nodded. “Yes. I suspect Miss Patience is several weeks
along already. They have only to ask Miss Patience to confirm it.”
The duke strode to the door and barked out orders. In just
a few minutes Patience arrived, along with Lady Hervey and
the duchess.
“What is the meaning of this?” the duchess asked. “William
should be in bed.” Glancing at the assembled group, the duchess saw Teach, and her eyes narrowed. “Why is he still here? Are you going to press charges?” she asked, turning on her husband.
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“If anyone is going to press charges, it will be me,” Drummond said. “Your son attacked an innocent girl, who happens to be under my protection.” Turning to Lord Hervey, he nodded in Patience’s direction. “The betrothal is off. My son will no longer marry your daughter.” His voice rang throughout the room, and Teach’s chest nearly burst with the relief he felt at his father’s words.
“And why not?” Lady Hervey asked.
“I believe that is a conversation best left between you and
your husband. My business here is concluded. Edward, it’s time for us to go.”
Teach was only too happy to exit the room as the aristo—
crats started flinging accusations at one another. He gathered it wouldn’t take long before objects followed.
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C H A P T E R 3 1
Teach
For the next three days Teach couldn’t wipe the smile from
his face. He hadn’t been this happy since he’d first set sail on Andrew Barrett’s ship more than a year ago, bound for adventures untold.
He was grateful and extremely relieved that his involvement
with Patience Hervey and her family was at an end. It had been an ugly confrontation, one that had no doubt turned uglier the moment he and his father had left.
Drummond had actually apologized to Teach. It was now
widely known that Patience was several weeks pregnant, and
since Teach had only recently returned, there was no conceiv—
able way he could have fathered the child. Instead of announc—
ing Teach’s and Patience’s betrothal, William’s and Patience’s names were tied together publicly.
Teach didn’t care if he never saw William or Patience again.
3 15
When he thought how close he had come to marrying her . . .
his stomach twisted at the thought. If they had married, when
the child had been born, would he have recognized that it wasn’t his? Or would he have assumed the baby had simply come early, and raised it as his own?
If it hadn’t been for Anne— Teach pictured her struggling