Page 18 of A Simple Scandal (Millionaires of Mayfair #3)

Seventeen

D ane adjusted his cravat in the mirror. “Thank you, Kendrick.”

“Of course, Your Grace.” His valet bowed as Dane exited the dressing room.

He strolled the second-floor hallway and bypassed the family sitting room. Knowing his sisters and brothers-in-law, they would be waiting for him in his study, ready to give him the devil as they peppered him with questions.

Instead of dreading it, he was looking forward to the conversation. He’d planned to explain that he and Grace were meant for each other and had recognized the inevitable.

Or at least, he had until Grace had confided she had doubts about marrying him.

It was just like that irascible woman to complicate everything. It should be so simple. Grace would move in with him, and they would marry immediately. He wanted to host a ball on her behalf and introduce her as his duchess. He despised social events but the thought of having her on his arm as they walked around the ballroom sent a ridiculous thrill through him.

Yet, it was unnerving that she didn’t trust him and kept bringing up the past.

He stopped just before he reached the staircase to descend to the main floor. He lifted his head and stared at the ceiling.

Of course, she felt that way.

Why hadn’t he seen it before? He had never shown her that he would always protect her. For all that was holy, he never considered that Grace didn’t know he would always put her needs before his. He had thought that what happened in that field all those years ago was finally behind them. But he’d abandoned her just like Stewart, her sister, and her father. How could she know? He’d never proven it, demonstrated it, or even discussed such a topic with her.

And he would have to be careful and not upset her again with talk of her dowry and inheritance.

He vowed then and there to do everything in his power to ensure that Grace knew how much he cherished her and how he would protect her. He would prove it by caring for her every single day for the rest of his life. He would do whatever it took to ensure she knew how much he loved her.

And he would tell that as soon as he found her.

She desired security—a place to call her own. This wish was logical, given that her family had forsaken her and ruined her future. What had become of that dowry and any inheritance might hold the key to helping her move on from the past. God, the guilt weighed on his conscience for not recognizing how vulnerable she had felt all those years. Whatever it took, he was determined to uncover exactly what had happened to that money. He suspected her father had provided for her, but something—or someone —had stolen it from her. It would be his life’s mission to reveal the truth. He paused, imagining all her potential reactions. She could be angry at him for interfering, but she might also finally be ready to put aside that unfortunate chapter of her life and open up her heart and life to him. Heaven knew he was ready.

If she still wanted to be the Governess and own her own home, he would find a way to help her secure it. Perhaps he would buy the block she lived on, then lower the price of her home to an amount she’d feel comfortable paying. He’d give her all the security she wanted and more. That’s what a man in love does for the woman he adores.

With a newfound determination, Dane started down the marble staircase, only to abruptly stop. Below him stood Grace with a straight posture that would have made a dance master envious. Beside her, Stewart Arnold stood close, wagging a finger under Grace’s nose as if reprimanding her.

Dane’s upper lip curled in disgust. Grace was clearly distraught by the telltale blush she wore and the way she twisted her fingers. She had done the exact same thing in his bedroom earlier. He rubbed his hands together as a smile tugged at his lips. He could not wait to rebuke her worthless brother-in-law and then personally escort him from Pelham Hall with explicit instructions never to return.

“Darling, were you expecting this man?” The words were cutting, but his voice's drawl proved that he thought the man beneath his Grace.

“Your Grace, do you remember?—”

Before she could finish, Arnold strode forward and bowed from the waist. “Excellent to see you again, Your Grace. I’d heard a rumor in town that you were ill. I hope you are much recovered.”

“I am, and it’s all because of the excellent care I received.” Dane stood there with his feet hip-width apart, ready for battle.

Arnold turned to Grace and frowned. “Is that so?”

Grace’s eyes widened.

“Is there a reason for your visit?” Dane asked curtly. “I have family who is waiting for Lady Grace and me.”

Arnold narrowed his eyes. “Yes, there’s a reason for my visit. I’m quite concerned about that ‘excellent care’ you speak of and how my sister-in-law is involved in it. Your other house guest mentioned it in the village. I was there when Marbury stopped for supplies.” He shook his head. “Grace’s sister is bedridden with worry. We’re both concerned with her reputation…or lack thereof.”

“Watch your tongue,” Dane growled.

Arnold’s eyes flashed with unbridled anger. “I will not watch my tongue. We both know that you’ve ruined her.”

“Stewart, you need to apologize to His Grace,” Grace hissed as her cheeks heated.

Without his gaze leaving Dane, Arnold laughed, but it held little humor. “I will not apologize for defending your honor.” Arnold lowered his gaze and lifted it, staring straight into Dane’s eyes, taking his measure. “It makes little difference to me if we discuss the matter here. I’m sure your staff will be enthralled when they hear what you’ve done. London will undoubtedly hear of this before the week is out.”

“Are you threatening me?” Dane took two steps forward, towering over the man. “More importantly, are you threatening Grace?”

Arnold took a step back. “It’s not a threat, but even you, as well as I, know that rumors can find their way into the salons and sitting rooms of the ton’s busybodies.”

Grace gasped.

Dane instinctively took a step closer to her. Her brother-in-law was more worthless than pond scum. He had little regard for her and didn’t care that her livelihood depended on a sterling reputation. Dane couldn’t wait to teach him a lesson.

“Come to the library,” Dane commanded. He extended his arm for Grace to take. When she did, he leaned near and lowered his voice so that Arnold couldn’t hear them. “Would you allow me to handle this?”

She leaned against him, and it took everything in his power not to scoop her into his arms and take her away from the ugliness that her brother-in-law was spewing.

Her throat bobbed slightly as she swallowed. “I don’t want to leave you alone with him.”

“Protecting me again, Governess ?” He patted her arm. “Let me protect you for a while, darling. Will you head to my study? You’ll find Honor and Pippa there, I’m certain of it. I’ll come find you when I finish with the garbage.”

“Dane,” she murmured. “Don’t do anything either of us will regret.”

Dane hated negotiating with vermin, but he had no choice if he wanted to protect Grace. “Just speaking the truth, darling.” He stopped and took her hand. In a show of respect, he brought it to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles. With a pleasurable sigh, he watched her walk down the passageway.

Of course, he couldn’t help but notice the sashay of her hips, the very curves he had held in his hands last night and this morning. She was a magnificent woman, and whatever it took, he would make her his.

Finally, and forever.

He turned and feigned a smile. The sooner he disposed of this riffraff, the sooner he could join his family and make plans with Grace.

“Follow me,” Dane ordered. He didn’t wait for the man beside him to follow. He strolled to the library but could hear Arnold rushing after him, trying to match his steps. When Dane entered the library, he pointed to a table in the center of the room. He waited for Arnold to sit before he took the chair on the opposite of the table. “What do you want?”

“It should be obvious. As the head of the family, the responsibility of caring for my wife’s elder sister falls to me. Since my sister-in-law is a member of polite society, you know that her reputation is paramount.” His smile filled with feigned compassion. “Particularly since she finds great joy in helping others find a love match.” He shook his head and furrowed his brow. “Imagine how shocked we were to find that our beloved sister was staying with you without anyone chaperoning her.”

Dane wanted to roll his eyes at such a pious display of untruths. By Grace’s own admission, the man practically threw her out of his household. The longer the man talked, the stronger the urge became to reach across the table and grab Arnold by the throat.

“You do realize that I was ill,” Dane challenged.

Arnold smiled slightly. “And I’m delighted you made a full recovery. Unfortunately, you’ve compromised her. There’s only one solution to save Grace.”

Dane held up his hand. “Before you continue your trite diatribe, I’ve already asked her to marry me.”

“Excellent.” Arnold sat back in his chair with a wide smile, tugging at his lips. “Excellent news,” he repeated as he rested his clasped hands on the desk in front of him. “What are your thoughts about the marriage settlements.”

Dane pursed his lips. Naturally, that was Arnold’s only concern. He’d never once asked how Grace was. He didn’t embrace her when he saw her. He didn’t offer her comfort. Nor did he try to whisk her out of Pelham Hall. No, his first and foremost concern was money.

How originally banal and clichéd.

What was that old saying…what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

“Before we discuss settlements or dower, what about the monies Grace’s father set aside for her when she married.” Dane didn’t crack a smile.

“Surely, you’re not concerned with that, Your Grace. Everyone knows you are the original Mayfair millionaire.” Arnold’s face turned serious. “May I be honest?”

Dane nodded once. He already knew Arnold would say that Grace’s father was a wastrel. It would give him the opening to grill the man on the specifics.

“Grace’s father was a tenacious gambler. He wagered everything that was not entailed to the estate.” He shook his head as if this was the saddest story ever written. “When I went to the reading of the will for the family’s benefit, that’s when the whole sordid story revealed itself.”

“Where did he gamble?” Dane softened his voice, trying to disarm the man. “London?”

Arnold shook his head. “The Jolly Rooster. After his wife died, the man’s grief couldn’t be contained. He went to the Jolly Rooster nightly.” He let out a heavy sigh.

“The Jolly Rooster?” Dane leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table. “How much did he lose?”

Arnold shrugged. “Several tens of thousands.”

“Were there any funds left?” Dane studied Arnold’s eyes as they shifted slightly. Through his years, he’d learned when men were trying to hide something, and Grace’s brother-in-law fit the mold exactly.

Arnold shook his head. “There was only enough to pay for the estate’s remaining bills before the new earl moved in. When I approached him about Grace, he’d said it wasn’t his problem. That left poor Grace without anything. Shortly after I returned from the reading of the old earl’s will, the Marquess of West Essex asked for her hand.”

Dane had never heard his sisters, brothers-in-law, or members of his various clubs mention such an offer of marriage, and Grace certainly never told him.

“West Essex had to withdraw his offer once he learned there were no monies for settlement purposes.” Steward didn’t blink. “He had to marry a coal heiress.”

Dane’s heart stumbled in his chest, stealing his breath. He might have lost Grace forever if her dowry hadn’t been lost.

He leaned back in his chair and thumped the table softly with his knuckle. “You are aware that I own the Jolly Rooster?”

Arnold nodded.

“I have all the old account books. In reviewing them, I never saw the earl’s name.” He didn’t blink as he stared at the man.

Arnold stared right back at him. “I can’t explain what your records say. I only know what the family solicitor said.”

“Didn’t the earl’s secretary or bookkeeper mention the state of the estate to the solicitor at the time the earl fell ill?” Dane continued to thump the table as Arnold fidgeted in his seat.

“Not that I’m aware of, Your Grace.”

“Where are the old earl’s estate account books?”

Arnold’s Adam’s apple bobbled as he struggled to answer. “I assume with the new earl.”

“But you don’t know for certain?” Dane smiled slightly.

“No, Your Grace.”

“What about Grace’s father’s summer estate, Sommer House, the one next door to Pelham Hall? Who owns that? Perhaps that might be part of the marriage settlements?”

“It belongs to the new earl. Part of the entailed property of the earldom.” Stewart pulled at his cravat, another sign that the man was lying. “Back to the matter at hand. What about the marriage settlement?”

Dane threw back his head at the baldfaced lies sputtering from the man and laughed. “All in good time. I need to formally ask Grace to marry me.”

“As head of the family—” Stewart puffed out his chest “—I can answer for her.”

More like the head arse of the family and a poor example at that.

“The answer will be no. I will not ask you.” Dane wanted to add that Grace was now part of his family, not Stewart and Hope Arnold’s family. But it wouldn’t help Grace if the man became riled. Dane didn’t want Grace upset. “Grace is an adult and can make her own decisions.”

“But I’m her brother by marriage.” He had the audacity to look offended.

It took all of Dane's restraint not to physically throw the man out of Pelham Hall. Instead, he counted to three, smiling serenely. “She mentioned you suggested she marry a farmer. Where was that?" He wrinkled his nose as though he were smelling something foul. “Northumberland, if I remember correctly.”

“I was looking out for her welfare.” Without success, Arnold tugged his waistcoat to cover his thick middle.

If you were looking after her welfare, wouldn’t you have had her become part of your household instead of sending her out into the proverbial streets without even a goodbye?

Dane blinked twice. He’d had enough of the man’s foolishness. The man thought to enrich his coffers by acting like he had Grace’s best interests in mind. What a farce that was. But he needed to play politely and appear friendly to find out what happened to her dowry. There was no earthly way the story Stewart Arnold told today resembled the truth. Dane had studied all the Jolly Rooster books before purchasing the coaching inn to ensure he knew the operation and the men holding excessive debts.

Grace’s father’s name was never listed in any of the books that covered the last twenty years. The man may have gambled, but not at the Jolly Rooster. Dane suspected that when the old earl passed away, he had ensured Grace was provided for. He would bet that she had a dowry when her father died.

Which meant that Dane had to find the old earl’s solicitor and bookkeeper. The first person he needed to call on was the Earl of Webster-Harnly and find out exactly what happened all those years ago when he inherited the title from Grace’s father.

Dane stood, and Arnold had the good manners to stand as well.

“It’s been wonderful, but I need to see my family.” He chuckled softly. “My sisters probably have Grace hidden away somewhere, planning their activities for the day. I have to make sure I’m on the agenda so I can ask your lovely sister-in-law for her hand in marriage. Once I have the answers, I’ll reach out to you, and we can discuss marriage settlements.”

Dane waited for the man to ask what he meant when he said, “ Once I have the answers. ”

Smiling, Grace’s brother-in-law nodded in agreement.

Thankfully, Winston possessed a keen sense of when guests had worn out their welcome. His wily butler appeared that very instant with a footman. “Mr. Arnold, if you follow Thomas, he’ll see you out.”

When Arnold bowed, Dane waved a hand as if dismissing him. What a common toad.

Thomas didn’t crack a smile as the man practically skipped to his side.

Arnold turned and addressed Dane, “Your Grace, you can call on me anytime. I look forward to our next conversation.”

“As do I,” Dane answered.

As soon as Thomas had the man out of the room, Dane motioned for Winston to shut the door. “If you have a moment?”

“Of course, Your Grace.” Winston closed the door with barely a sound, then came to Dane’s side.

“Do you remember who Grace’s father employed as his personal secretary and the estate manager?”

Winston didn’t hesitate. “The estate manager was Edgar Baker. The last I heard, he had retired when the old earl passed away and had gone to live with his son in York. He’d been with the old earl’s father as well. Simon Fields worked as the old earl’s secretary. He was from Hinton, two villages over. He went to work for the new earl and is at the earl’s London home.”

“Thank you.” Dane’s mouth tugged into a smile. “When I need to know the gossip, I know who to come to.”

Winston raised one eyebrow. “That’s what makes me the perfect butler for you. You can stay above the fray, and I’ll provide the information you need.”

“Indeed. Thank you.” Dane laughed. His butler turned to leave, but Dane stopped him. “Another moment, please.”

Winston turned around and clasped his hands in front of him like a dutiful butler.

“Do you know where the earl is spending the Season?”

Winston cracked a smile. “In London. He’s decided to take a wife.”

Dane shook his head. “How do you know what is happening in London.”

“My cousin Ritson always keeps me abreast of the comings and goings of the ton . I keep him abreast of everything happening at the Jolly Rooster.” He beamed proudly. “Our duty as your butlers is to know everything for you.” With that, Winston turned on his heel and left the room.

Dane walked to one of the floor-to-ceiling windows and gazed at the fields and pastures spread before him like a chessboard. He was lucky to have such loyal servants who looked after his wellbeing. Once he married Grace, they would help with anything she desired. Unlike other men, it didn’t bother Dane a whit if she wanted to work after they married. His only condition?

She had to save all her dances for him.

He had to make up for all the lost time they’d had apart.