Page 103 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

“Then you find her,” Gerard said simply. “And you fight for her, the way you should have from the beginning.”

Leo looked up at his friends, seeing nothing but resolute support in their faces. Even Noah had abandoned his usual mockery for something closer to genuine concern.

“I need to see her,” Leo decided, rising from his chair with sudden urgency. “Now.”

The four men left the gaming hell together. Leo’s steps quickened as they approached the street. Within minutes, his carriage was speeding toward Berkeley Square, his heart pounding with an emotion he could no longer deny was love.

The townhouse was eerily quiet when Leo burst through the door. Henderson appeared immediately, his usual composure slightly ruffled by Leo’s abrupt entrance.

“Your Grace,” the butler began, “we weren’t expecting?—”

“Where is the Duchess?” Leo interrupted, already moving toward the stairs.

Henderson hesitated. “I’m afraid Her Grace is not at home, Your Grace.”

Leo froze. “What do you mean, not at home? It’s nearly one in the morning.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Her Grace departed approximately two hours ago.”

“Departed? Where? With whom?” Leo’s questions came rapid-fire, alarm building.

“I cannot say, Your Grace. Her Grace left through the servants’ entrance without informing anyone of her destination. Miss Betty may know more, but she’s been quite distressed since Her Grace’s departure.”

Leo took the stairs two at a time, his friends following at a discreet distance. He found Betty pacing outside Marina’s chambers, her face tear-streaked.

“Your Grace!” She dropped into a hasty curtsy. “Oh, thank goodness you’ve come!”

“Where is she?” Leo demanded.

“I don’t know exactly, Your Grace.” Betty wrung her hands. “She wouldn’t tell me, said it was better I didn’t know. But I’m worried sick. She was carrying a large sum of money, and the note?—”

“What note?” Leo seized on the detail. “What did it say?”

“I saw the note before she burned it,” Betty said, twisting her hands. “It told her to bring money to the theater on Drury Lane at midnight. Said she had to go alone.”

Leo felt his blood freeze. “Blackmail.” He turned to his friends. “Someone’s blackmailing my wife.”

“Over what?” Noah asked.

“Her writing.” Leo paced across the room. “I need to find her now.”

“We should split up,” Dorian suggested.

Leo shook his head. “No. She’s gone to Drury Lane. The old, abandoned theater.”

He turned back to Betty. “If she returns, keep her here. Don’t let her leave again.”

“Yes, sir.” Relief washed across Betty’s face.

Leo rushed downstairs with his friends following. In the entrance hall, Noah grabbed his arm.

“Let us come with you. If there’s danger?—”

“I need to do this alone,” Leo cut him off. “If something happens to me, if I don’t return, go to the theater. But I think I know who’s behind this.”

“Who?” Gerard asked.

“Felicity.” The name tasted bitter on his tongue. “She used that theater for our meetings years ago. It’s too perfect to be coincidence.”