Page 10 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

Leo’s fingers tightened around his glass. “And now, she spends her days writing scandalous stories about me.”

“Apparently so.” Noah’s mouth twitched as he tried to hide a smile. “Though I must say, my friend, tracking down every lady who might have shared tales of your prowess could prove time-consuming. Shall I make a list? We might finish by Christmas.”

“Or next year, perhaps,” Leo murmured and lifted his glass to his friend before downing it in one gulp.

The realization that his various lovers had been sharing intimate details of their encounters made him want to break something.

“It would be pointless anyway. The damage is done.”

“And what do you plan to do about it?”

Leo poured himself another glass of whiskey. “Convince Lady Asquith to cease her literary endeavors then return to my search for William.”

“I was hoping you had given up the search after our talk the other night.”

“I have paid Matthews to continue following leads while I deal with this situation.” Leo’s jaw tightened. “He’s to send word the moment he finds any trace of my brother and Felicity. And while I wait, I will stop these ridiculous tales of my exploits.”

“And if Lady Asquith proves difficult to convince?” The glint in Noah’s eye suggested he rather hoped she would be.

“She won’t.” Leo set down his glass with more force than was perhaps necessary. “I can be very persuasive when I want to be.”

“I’m sure.” Noah smiled. “Though I can’t help but notice that you seem rather invested in dealing with this challenge.”

“The woman is publishing details of my private life for all of London to read,” Leo growled. “Of course, I’m invested.”

“Of course,” Noah agreed, far too easily. “It has nothing to do with the fact that she is easy on the eyes and from what I hear, quite clever. I don’t think she will be easily intimidated by you.”

“You’re enjoying this far too much.”

“Someone ought to.” Noah refilled his glass. “It’s been years since I’ve seen you animated by anything other than the hunt for William. Perhaps Lady Asquith’s stories are exactly what you need to keep you here in London.”

Leo ignored his friend’s observation though something in his chest tightened at the thought of those blue eyes that had sparked with defiance as their owner had trembled beneath his touch.

“Tell me more about her.”

“Well,” Noah said, settling back into his chair with the air of a man prepared to tell a particularly good tale, “as I mentioned, her marriage was hardly a love match. Asquith needed funds, not that her family had many, and her family, while respectable, was eager for the connection to an earl.”

“And her family now?”

“Deceased. Father was a minor country squire who died shortly after her marriage. I believe the mother died a year later.” Noah swirled his brandy. “This left poor Lady Asquith entirely dependent on her husband.”

“Who then conveniently drowned.”

Noah’s expression sobered. “I know what you’re thinking, but there was an investigation. Multiple witnesses saw him stagger into the Thames in a drunken stupor. She wasn’t even present.”

“Yet the ton blames her?”

“The ton always needs someone to blame. A beautiful young widow is a far more entertaining villain than the man’s ownvices.” Noah’s mouth twisted. “Besides, Asquith’s heir was quite vocal in suggesting she had driven his uncle to despair.”

Leo snorted. “Because of course it couldn’t be the heir who benefited the most from the Earl’s death.”

“The very same heir who cut her jointure to nearly nothing, I might add.” Noah’s eyes met Leo’s. “It seems your literary nemesis has more reason than most to seek alternative sources of income.”

Leo frowned. The thought that a woman of breeding would be forced to hawk stories to survive sat uneasily with him. But then again, the stories were destroying what little remained of his reputation.

“You mentioned she’s beautiful,” he said, keeping his tone casual. “It was hard to see her face in the gloom of the carriage.”

“Strikingly so. Dark hair and remarkable blue eyes. A rather generous figure, if you’ll pardon the observation.”