Page 35 of A Bride for the Devilish Duke (Marriage by Midnight #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

D amien knocked at the door of his own bedchamber, now devoted to Harry's needs.

Rightfully his rooms anyhow. He is the true Duke. Not I. What little remains of the Redmane wealth will go to him. I can begin anew. Emma and I can begin anew.

“Come in,” Elsie's voice replied to his knock, softly.

Damien entered. Harry was lying in Damien's bed. His skin was gray, and his hair snow-white. He looked like a dead man. Damien approached uncertainly. Elsie sat by his side, holding his hand, and looking at him with devotion.

“He was awake earlier and talking. He told me much of his past and yours. I hope that is not an intrusion, Your Grace. I didn't pry,” Elsie said with coyness.

Damien waved it away. “This house has seen far too many secrets, Elsie. I would like to speak to my brother alone now though.”

“He is resting for the moment, Your Grace,” Elsie added protectively.

“He has a long time in which to rest. For now, I should like to speak to him.”

Elsie did not move but instead took hold of Harry's hand more firmly.

“ Your Grace , I was once a nurse and that instinct is strong. Your brother was at the brink of death when we found him. I cannot countenance risking his health.”

Damien stared in disbelief at this unexpected defiance from a servant.

“Elsie, I give my household a deal more leeway than many employers but I am still your employer. I have given you a direct order.”

Elsie shook her head firmly. “I am employed by Her Grace, the Duchess, as I have been since I accompanied her to Montrose— Sedgewick . If my mistress says so, then I will comply.”

Damien's explosion of anger was forestalled by the sound of his wife's voice from downstairs. She was calling for her sister in an increasingly frantic tone. Then she was screaming for Damien.

He rushed to the door of his suite of rooms, tearing the outer door open. Emma was coming up the stairs and saying the same thing over and over.

“He has taken her! Silas Sutherland has taken Josie!”

“Welcome, Your Grace, to my humble home!” Sir Silas Sutherland said at the door to Sedgewick Hall, formerly the residence of the Montrose family. Damien dismounted and strode towards him, fists clenched.

“Where is my sister-in-law, Sutherland?” Damien demanded.

“Your sister-in-law? Now, which would that be? I believe there are two younger Montrose girls now that Emma is off the market as it were,” Sutherland said with an oily smile.

Damien reached him and had to stop himself from seizing Sutherland. He wanted to strangle the man. To beat him to within an inch of his life. But Josie had to be found safely and that meant humoring the man. Restraining himself was not as hard as restraining Emma had been.

“I think you know. The threat in your note was evident and Josie has not been seen since your visit. One chance, Sutherland, and one, only to produce her. If I do not call you out, then her brother surely will. You have heard of his victory against my cousin?”

“I have. I heard that he was extremely lucky. Or guided by providence perhaps. I do not believe I have anything to fear from either of you.”

Damien raised an eyebrow. “How do you reason that?”

“Because when I invited Josephine to visit with me, it was on the understanding that it would be a presage to our marriage. Previously, I had spoken of this to her father but Emmeline's sudden engagement to your good self proved a distraction. Josephine and I intend to renew that plan. Would you care to come in and discuss the matter with her?”

What blackmail is this snake attempting now? What can he possibly be holding over Josie that she would agree to this?

Damien narrowed his eyes, nodding curtly.

He followed Sutherland into the house and to the drawing room on the south side of the building, overlooking the gardens. Josie sat there, a cup of tea beside her and her hands folded delicately in her lap. The cup was full, while another next to it was empty. Josie was pale. She rose as Damien came in. He went to her, taking her hands in his own.

“I have come to take you back to Redmane. Emma is waiting there,” he said, kindly.

“I am quite well, thank you, Your Grace,” Josie said, uncertainly. “I am here of my own volition. I can assure you.”

Damien glared at Sutherland who had seated himself on a chaise and crossed his legs, smiling in a self-satisfied manner.

“You cannot mean that. Whatever threats this man has made mean nothing. I can protect you from him,” Damien uttered ferociously.

Josie gave a brittle smile and shook her head. “He has made no threats and I need no protection. I have agreed to marry him and will tell my father as such.”

“You see?” Sutherland declared. “Nothing untoward has occurred. Perhaps the fact that you believed so says more about your own mind than mine.”

Damien glanced from Josie to Sutherland. She had resumed her seat and was looking at the floor meekly.

“Be that as it may,” Damien said from between gritted teeth, “it is not appropriate for an unmarried young woman to be alone in the home of an unmarried man. Or, for that matter, her fiancée. I think it best for Josie's own reputation if she returns to her family. Until the happy day, that is.”

Damien felt sick to his stomach at any suggestion of continuing Sutherland's plot or validating his lies. But he saw that humoring him was going to be the only way to persuade him to release Josie.

I could physically overpower him. But if he has persuaded Josie to go along with his plan, then it will do no good. If she believes she is acting in her family's best interests, then she will refuse to cooperate.

“There is indeed merit in your suggestion, but I am a man of honor and this house is staffed fully. She will not be without one of my maids to act as chaperon,” Sutherland waved away. “Was that all you wished to say, Your Grace?”

“No, I should like the opportunity to speak to you alone, Sir Silas. On a matter of business,” Damien muttered.

“But I would keep nothing from my future wife. What can be said to me can be said to her,” Sutherland said with a smug smile.

“Very well. I can see that you have outmaneuvered us all, Sir Silas. Beaten me well, in fact. I had not considered you such a worthy opponent. I would not have wished anyone to hear me say so but there we have it.”

Josie looked up in surprise and there was sudden interest on Sutherland's face. Damien tried to look humble, like a proud man reduced to acknowledging another as his superior.

“I find myself in need of strong allies. You are aware of the contest that has been raging between myself and my cousins?”

Sutherland nodded. “I do indeed. It is the talk of the ton. You currently have the favor of the Regent, I believe. But he is notoriously fickle.”

“He is, and not to be relied upon. Currently, he is being entertained by Sir Thomas Donovan at his home. To secure my future, I must secure allies within the ton separate from him. I think that you have proved yourself worthy. That is, if you would consider such an alliance?”

Sutherland stroked his chin, affecting a look of deep thought. But Damien had seen the excitement flare in his eyes.

This has been his dream all along. To be recognized as a great man by one who stands above him in society. He reveled in the power he held over the Montrose family and is now offered something of even greater worth. Power over a Duke.

“This could cause me trouble with my own wife. She dislikes you to an extreme degree for some reason. And I would not have our business relayed to her by her sister,” Damien added, hoping this would prompt Sutherland to send Josie back to her family.

“Josephine. Go to your room. Your former room and yours once again. Now,” Sutherland snapped, pointing to the door imperiously.

She stood and hurried from the room. Damien took a breath and sat in the chair she had just vacated.

“What hold do you have over her?” he asked innocently, “I cannot achieve such submission from my own Montrose wife.”

Sutherland laughed. “Your Grace, I feel safe in confessing this in view of what you have just said. I merely told her what I had already told you in my note. I told her of the oh-so-brief but torrid affair I had with her sister. And threatened to make that public.

“I see how angry that makes you. Please, bear in mind that your cousins are now my close friends and they know many people whose profession is to unearth scandal and share it with the people in print. Do not threaten me. You see how pointless it would be?”

Damien made himself look defeated. He stared at the floor, clasping his hands together and knitting his brows. He shook his head, wringing his hands.

“I am cornered. It is check mate. I cannot Marshall such resources as you. I thought my cousins were beaten by the Regent but see now how temporary my victory was. Can I persuade you to my side? You have Josie but she does not bring much in the way of material reward. I can bring that.”

Sutherland nodded and Damien put on a relieved smile.

Now for the plan he had formulated as he rode here, wondering if he would be able to restrain himself from strangling this blackguard.

To remove this odious man’s presence once and for all. He only hoped that Emma would forgive him after.

“Excellent, old man. Excellent ,” Damien beamed, “I will share my plans with you for my businesses. Do you know the Fitzgerald warehouses in Wapping? They are the heart of the empire my father built.”

Sutherland nodded.

“I need time to prepare contracts and deeds with my solicitor. Perhaps we can meet there tomorrow?” Damien continued.

“And in the meantime, I take it you will make it a condition that Josie returns with you?”

The thought of leaving her in this house with you sickens me. I will not leave without her, no matter what.

“I fear that my wife will make trouble if I do not return with her. Far easier for our plans if she returns to persuade her family of her willingness to marry you,” Damien replied.

Sutherland seemed to think for a moment and Damien felt his heart pounding in his chest, willing the man to agree. If he did not, then Damien would have to remove her by force and risk Sutherland carrying out his threats.

“Very well. I do not need her presence to ensure her cooperation. She believes her sister is compromised and is willing to do anything to protect her. Take her back with you. And I shall meet with you at Wapping tomorrow.”