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It had been so long since Wolverton Estate received guests, and Hudson was hardly immune to the subtle pleading in his mother’s eyes when shesuggestedthat Lady Scarlett and her mother remain under their roof while they waited for the storm to pass.

His mother had endured so much that the least he could do was endure a few more hours of their uninvited company.

He only hoped he could hold onto his wits long enough for him to safely—and politely—kick Lady Scarlett and her goddamned mama off his property.

CHAPTER FIVE

Icannot believe this is happening to me.

Scarlett could hardly swallow the delicious pot roast as the Dowager Duchess of Wolverton peered at her over the fine china, her eyes dancing with more merriment than what could be considered polite.

No, the Dowager Duchess looked at Scarlett as if she herself was the solution to all of her life’s conundrums.

Any young woman would have swooned at the thought of receiving such a distinct honor, but Scarlett only wanted to dig a hole—one deeper than the one she currently found herself in—and hide there for the rest of her life.

Or when the consequences of her actions had blown over—whichever came first.

Her mama, on the other hand, chose to sit in blessedly ambivalent silence, even as she continued to cast furtive glances at her and the painfully empty seat at the head of the table.

No doubt, she had already sent word to Alexander.

Scarlett groaned inwardly.

The matter of ruining a young woman’s reputation was no small issue. Doubtless, countless mothers all over London would fervently nod in agreement at her mama’s storming Wolverton Estate to demand that the Duke do right by her.

Except thatshehad been the one who had done him wrong by besmirchinghisreputation.

Scarlett inwardly shuddered as she recalled the dangerous look in his eyes. The blatant menace in his tone when he threatened to execute her brother on the dueling grounds for her misdeed.

“His Grace… will he be joining us for dinner?” she asked the Dowager Duchess carefully. She did not want to seem too eager for his presence. Or too fearful.

Fear of a man gave him power, and that was something she was not willing to relinquish, whatever the cost.

The Dowager Duchess shook her head. “Oh no, my dear. Hudson has always eaten alone ever since… well, ever since hereturned.”

Returned?

Scarlett’s ears perked up at that. Returned from where exactly?

Probably from that route of debauchery cloaked under the guise of education that privileged gentlemen calledthe Grand Tour. Alexander had embarked on the same quest, as well. Apparently, it had made him none the wiser nor more knowledgeable if he thought the Marquess of Colton would make a suitable husband for her.

She frowned as she stabbed at a small, perfectly round, perfectly innocent potato.

“I apologize for his abhorrent manners,” the Dowager Duchess added with a sad, little shake of her head.

Her mama immediately rushed to comfort her.

“Oh, no, no! I am certain that His Grace has other matters of greater import to attend to!” she gushed.

Scarlett nearly rolled her eyes at the prompt vindication of the Duke of Wolverton’s rudeness to his guests.

“You are much too kind, Lady Southford.” The Dowager Duchess smiled gratefully. “I, however, would like to make better use of his absence—my son makes for poor company, anyway, with that temper of his.”

Scarlett watched as her mama promptly forgot that the Duke had threatened to throw them out of his estate just that afternoon. Or that he had sinisterly promised to execute Alexander on the dueling grounds.

All on account of a tiny lie. He truly was not one to look away from the slightest grievance and demanded payment for the most minuscule of debts.

“It is my complete and honest belief that the right woman…”