The Scandalous Secret 0f The Tempting Duchess (Steamy Historical Regency Romance)

by Scarlett Osborne

  If only Miss Jones had kept to herself. If only his friend had kept his eyes on the person that truly mattered—his sister. If only he had seen the signs earlier, maybe he would have been able to stop it.

  If only, if only, if only…

  There was no more time for that. Timothy and Miss Jones were in too deep. They were sneaking away together, risking being seen by onlookers just to speak with each other a few minutes out of the day. That didn’t look like a simple straying eye. Straying eyes he could deal with. Straying eyes Jonathan almost expected. But no… this looked like love.

  Or at the very least, Timothy looked to be falling in love. There was no denying it now. Timothy’s eyes followed her everywhere, whether he knew it or not, and though Lady Nancy was a little naïve, he was surprised she didn’t notice it herself. Jonathan could see the yearning in his friend’s eyes. He saw the way he perked up whenever her name was mentioned and the way he deflated just a little when he mentioned his sister. Now, it was as clear as day and he had to do something to stop it.

  There was too much at stake here. His sister’s heart was one of them, but Jonathan knew better than to assume they would fall in love simply because their fathers promised them to each other years ago. Jonathan was smarter than that but he thought he knew his friend. Timothy cherished his father, and so Jonathan had believed he would cherish the promise his father made as well. The promise to tie the families together and, by extension, their companies. The promise of one’s son to the other’s daughter and, as a result the formation of a monopoly in the wool industry.

  Jonathan didn’t know if those were their father’s intentions, but however pure they may have been, the merging of their companies must happen. He couldn’t allow it not to.

  Did Timothy know? The thought angered him even more. Was he even aware of what his actions would cause? How devastating it would be if he called the engagement off for the ruined lady? How the companies, who would have thrived under their combined rule, would suffer as a result of his actions?

  Jonathan knew that he didn’t. And because of that, he knew it was up to him to ensure that this happened. He couldn’t tell his father. It would only make the Earl put more pressure on Timothy which would cause him to want to escape even more. No, he couldn’t risk that. He should do this his own way.

  Jonathan sat up a little straighter at the knock on the door. He peeped through the window to see that it was the person he was waiting for and he opened the door. The man got in, bringing in the fresh scent of the night’s air in with him.

  “Why did you make me wait so long?” Jonathan demanded.

  The man pulled the hat off his head, letting his sweat-drenched curls hang loose. “I had to make sure I wasn’t been followed.”

  “Who would be following you?”

  The man tucked a short stick in his mouth. Something to chew on, Jonathan supposed. He wasn’t very sure what was the use of it, but he didn’t question it. “You aren’t the only one I do work for, m’lord,” the man said. “You just happen to be the one paying me the most right now.”

  He huffed a laugh, which turned into a light chuckle, which turned into a full-blown guffaw. Jonathan patiently waited for him to stop. As annoyed as he was for waiting, he didn’t want to upset him. Shady people had shady ways of dealing with people they didn’t like and Jonathan wasn’t very keen on getting on his list of people he didn’t like.

  Not to mention the fact that this man had the ability to blend into any surrounding. No matter where it was, he could be there and no one would be any wiser unless he showed himself. Even at the last ball Jonathan attended, he hadn’t known he was there until he arrived home to find a note slipped into his pocket, detailing where and when they should meet.

  “You don’t find that very funny, do you?” the man asked slowly.

  “No,” Jonathan admitted, “but to each his own. Now, have you anything for me?”

  “I have something for you, yes. His Grace and Miss Jones seems to be courting.”

  Jonathan stared at him, waiting to hear the rest of it. The man only stared back. “That’s it? I already know that!”

  “Hey, hey.” Utterly calm, the man raised his hands slowly. “I was only ensuring that you were on the same page as me. As much as you rich folks like to pretend otherwise, I know many of you aren’t very well-endowed up here.” He tapped his temple twice.

  Jonathan took in a deep breath. If he ignored the fact that he had implied that he was a little dumb, he could get through this. “What else is there?” he asked.

  “The Duke goes to her manor on several occasions as well. At first, I thought it was because they were courting, but then, when watching him, he seems to be openly courting another lady. Your sister, I gather?”

  “Yes.” Jonathan frowned, leaning back in the chair in thought. “Which means that he wouldn’t be going to the Roburg Manor for Miss Jones. That’s too open. People are bound to notice that eventually. There must be another reason.”

  “Papers.”

  “Pardon me?”

  The man flicked the stick out of his mouth with tongue and it nearly landed on Jonathan. It took everything in him not to recoil in disgust. “Papers. He arrives with papers sometimes and leaves without them. Sometimes he arrives empty handed and leaves with papers in his hands. Other times, he has them both coming and going. Point is, whatever reason he’s going to this manor so often, includes paper.”

  “Paper…” Jonathan’s eyes trailed away as he mulled over the thought. “Paper …” Then it hit him. “He’s attending meetings.”

  “I thought as much,” the man said coolly. Somehow, he managed to have another tiny piece of stick stuck between his teeth. “Seems to me like he’s having a lot of important meetings with the man of the house, the Viscount of Roburg himself.”

  But if that was the case, then that would mean… “It has to be about their businesses. They’re planning on a partnership.”

  “I reckon you don’t like that.”

  “No.” Now, it wasn’t just anger bubbling inside him. It was betrayal as well. Not only was he secretly courting someone else, but he was having business meetings with the Viscount? “I don’t like that at all. I’m going to need you to keep your eyes on him and Miss Matilda Jones for a while longer.”

  “You said I only had to have them watched for a couple days. If you want more time then you’re going to have pay for it.”

  Jonathan reached to his side where he had expertly tucked his coin purse and tossed it at the man—who, unsurprisingly, expertly caught it.

  “You’re going to see way more than we agreed on in there. That should be enough to have you and your men tail them for a few more days, right?”

  The man didn’t respond right away. He eased the purse open and took a peek, then a slow smile spread across his face when he took in the sheer amount that was inside. “I think this will suffice. It’s always a pleasure working with you folk. Never picky with your purse strings, I see.”

  “Yes, yes. Now if that’s all you have to tell me, you’d best be on your way.”

  The man tucked the purse into the folds of his many layers of clothing and gave him a polite smile that Jonathan instantly knew not to trust. The smile widened when he was out the carriage, standing there giving him a small little wave.

  Jonathan didn’t focus on it. He signaled to the coachman to get moving, wanting to get out of this part of town as quickly as he could. As he began to grow familiar to the bump of the carriage moving down bad roads, Jonathan’s mind lingered on the last tidbit of information he was given.

  So Timothy was having other business meetings was he? That clearly meant he wasn’t completely forgetting about the company, which only made things worse. Clearly, the monopolization of the wool industry by their families was the last thing on Timothy’s mind.

  Jonathan huffed a laugh. Then another. And much like the man he hired to watch them, he burst out laughing, though there was no mirth in it.

&
nbsp; He must make this happen. The very thing he had been looking forward to since the moment the late Duke died. Now it was time for his dreams to be realized, for him to maintain control over their monopoly. And through it all, Timothy was a good gentleman. Nancy should be happy she wasn’t being forced to marry someone less kind.

  The laugh faded away to nothing and Jonathan settled into his seat. He had to pull them apart. That was the only way he’d get what he want. Miss Matilda Jones had to leave the picture for the final pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.

  Chapter 20

  “It’s been a while since we last came here,” Timothy said, twirling the glass of neat whiskey in his hand. He looked at his friend, who sat next to him with the very same drink, though he barely touched it.

  Instead, Jonathan put his attention on him. “You mean to say that it’s been a while since we last saw each other.”

  “What do you mean?” Timothy asked with a frown. “Did I not stop by the manor to see Lady Nancy only a few days ago?”

  “Lady Nancy,” Jonathan pointed out and Timothy chuckled. “When was the last time you stopped by to see your best friend?”

  “Are you jealous?” Timothy teased. He nudged Jonathan with his elbow. When he got Jonathan’s invitation to come to the gentleman’s club they liked to frequent, he was eager to accept. It really had been some time since they last spent time together. “Jealous that your sister is going to steal me away?”

  “Oh, by heavens, that’s the last thing I could ever be jealous about. Trust me on that.”

  “How harsh. And here I was thinking you were trying to show me your soft side.” Timothy grinned broadly at him and threw the rest of his whiskey back. He set the glass to the side.

  “Are you done? Let me pour you another glass,” Jonathan offered.

  Timothy raised his hand to ward him off. He could feel the effects of his past three glasses already and he wasn’t very keen on getting too drunk. “I’m just fine. I’ve had enough for tonight.”

  Jonathan cocked his head to the side. “After only three glasses? Are you growing soft on me, Timothy?”

  “Coming from the man who is still on his first glass.”

  “Well said.” Jonathan swallowed the rest of his in one gulp. “It looks like I need to keep up with you.”

  “Looks like it.” Timothy let himself relax. He hadn’t been able to do that of late. Simply relax. When he was around Matilda, he couldn’t think of anything else but her. The way she smelled, the way she smiled, how inviting her lips were and how soft her skin felt. And when he wasn’t around Matilda, his thoughts were nearly the same, save for how deeply he felt her absence. How much he wanted her next to him, how much he wanted her to be completely in his life.

  And the guilt of lying to her and Lady Nancy.

  And for the past couple days, his thoughts had been riddled with the fear that she truly no longer wanted to see him. She hadn’t said anything to him since he gave her the gift, even when he arrived at the manor the day after his visit and saw her in the hallway. She merely gave him a polite nod and greeting and went about her way. It told him all he needed to know, yet he couldn’t help but hold out hope.

  For tonight, or for as long as he was with Jonathan, he wanted to forget about the things she made him feel.

  “So,” he said, giving Jonathan every ounce of his attention. “How have the days been treating you?”

  Jonathan brows shot into the air at that, then dipped into a frown. “How have the days been treating me? How odd. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say those words before. It’s almost as if we’re friends and you haven’t been avoiding me all this time.”

  A laugh escaped him. “Avoiding you? Oh, come now, Jonathan. You know we are both very busy and life simply grew a little hectic.”

  “Is that so? Life has remained perfectly hectic-free on my end. Can I say the same for you?”

  “Not entirely.”

  “How so?”

  He opened his mouth, the words about to spill right now. But then Timothy realized what a catastrophe that would be and closed it right up. Timothy knew Jonathan noticed it, however. He wasn’t the best at hiding things when there was a decent amount of alcohol in him.

  Jonathan leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He narrowed his eyes at him then, without a word, signaled for another drink. He didn’t say anything until it was in his hand, which he placed before Timothy. “Well, surely you aren’t waiting for me to actually ask you what it’s about, are you? Come now, Timothy, you offend me.”

  “It’s nothing to be concerned about,” Timothy said in a sad attempt to ward him off. Even to his own ears, it was pitiful.

  “Who said anything about being concerned? I merely want to be up to date with the happenings of my friend’s life, who is obviously having a much more exciting one than I am.”

  Timothy saw his chance to turn the conversation around and he took it. “More exciting than yours? Tell me, Jonathan. Have you chosen which twin you would like to court yet?”

  “I’ve decided it’s better to look elsewhere. As for where that elsewhere is, I’m not entirely sure yet. There’s not much to say about it other than that.”

  Timothy deflated. That died much quicker than he thought it would. “Well, surely you have some idea—”

  “Is it that you don’t want me to know? Your closest friend?” Jonathan shrugged, looking away. “Well, all right then. I won’t force you if you don’t want to.”

  “It’s about the betrothal.”

  Jonathan frowned just a little bit. “The betrothal? Between you and Nancy?”

  Timothy nodded. The guilt that had been building within him as the days went on was growing too unbearable. He couldn’t bear to break Lady Nancy’s heart when he told her that he couldn’t possibly marry her. Now that Matilda was beginning to worm her way into his heart, there wasn’t any space for Lady Nancy. In fact, it took meeting Matilda for Timothy to see that he couldn’t marry someone he didn’t love anyway. With or without Matilda in his life, he couldn’t follow through with this engagement.

  The problem was telling everyone. The Earl and his wife were ecstatic about this union. So was Jonathan. And anyone with eyes could tell that Lady Nancy saw no one but him. And he had led them all to believe that he wanted this as much as they did. That he was willing and eager to fulfill the promise his late father made. How could he back away from all that now?

  Timothy knew that, in the end, he would have no choice but to back away. Yet his heart wrenched at the thought of the people he would undoubtedly hurt. For now, would it hurt to talk to his closest friend about it? Of them all, Jonathan was more likely to understand him.

  “I don’t love Lady Nancy,” he told him. “She’s a marvelous lady and exceptionally beautiful, but my heart doesn’t move for her.”

  Jonathan waited a beat. “So?”

  “So? I thought I could grow to love her or, at the very least, be able to raise a family with her through fondness but now I know that fondness isn’t something I can use to marry someone.”

  Jonathan looked as if he was trying to understand. “Now I’m terribly confused. You said only a few days ago that you were looking forward to this wedding. Did you change your mind in that time span?”

  “I’ve been thinking this way for a while now.”

  “But it must have come from somewhere, did it not?” His eyes grew direct. “What made you start thinking like this, Timothy?”

  Timothy looked away. He knew how it would sound to him, to hear that his friend—who was betrothed to his sister—was falling in love with another lady. A lady who bore a child for an unknown man. “Do you recall Miss Matilda Jones, the Viscount of Roburg’s eldest daughter?”

  “Yes, I do. I fail to see what she has to do with—” Jonathan’s eyes widened slowly, realization filling the depth of them. “Don’t tell me you two are…”

  Timothy was suddenly happy they were in a secluded part of the club. It wouldn’t bear well
to have others overhear what they were talking about. “She caught my eye, Jonathan. There is something about her that is simply … riveting. Other than her captivating beauty, that is.”

  “You no longer want to marry Nancy because you’re falling for a lady who is known to have bore a child out of wedlock and is now utterly unmarriageable?”

  Timothy tampered the flare of anger that rose in him at the accusation. “She’s more than just her past, Jonathan. Have you ever stopped to think about how your words affect other people?”

  “Have you never stopped to wonder just how incredibly insane you sound right now?” Jonathan leaned forward in his seat, locking eyes with Timothy as if he was pleading with him to listen to every word he was about to say. “Your father made a promise, Timothy. You made a promise. I know you don’t think it’s fair to give up on that promise simply because a whore in a dress batted her eyes at you.”