Page 7 of Claiming his Cursed Duchess

A coward, as expected.

He forced himself to maintain his composure, the image of his brother’s reckless actions flashing through his mind.

Though he wanted to tear the Earl limb from limb, Adam had been well prepared to take on his role as the duke, and he knew staying silent would unsettle the small man and scare him into talking more than he should.

Indeed, Lord Claridge looked increasingly uneasy as the silent seconds slipped by, reaching up to loosen his collar, his smug smile dimming slightly.

“I have a letter, you see,” he finally began, stumbling over his words slightly. “It…fell into my hands a year ago.”

Adam used every ounce of patience in his body not to react.

I know the cost of rash actions,Adam reminded himself as a twinge of pain shot up his leg.

His fingernails bit into his palms as he clenched them to restrain himself, hoping the earl would continue revealing what he knew, and what evidence he had, without Adam admitting to anything.

“Your war hero brother killed his commanding officer,” Lord Claridge hissed, the strength of blackmail lending confidence to his smug smile. “He confessed to it in this letter, penned in his hand.”

The earl paused, evidently pleased with himself.

“A letter which I have kept very safe, lest it fall into the wrong hands.” His voice had grown steadier. “A letter like that could ruin a man’s life, and possibly the legacy of an entire family.”

Blackmail, then.Adam thought grimly,Just as I suspected.

Shame washed over him, a bitter taste in his mouth.

A duke, reduced to this.

Adam’s jaw clenched so tightly he could almost hear his teeth creak as a muscle along his cheek jumped and twitched.

“As I am sure you are aware, Your Grace, my family is also familiar with the harm rumors can do to a legacy,” Lord Claridge finally began his business pitch, and Adam tried not to let his impatience and frustration show.

“My niece, Rosaline, is the daughter of my brother, the late Earl of Claridge. I am sure you have heard talk among the ton of the cursed trio of women—she is one of them, I fear. With her reputation so shrouded and tarnished, I would be eternally grateful if a man of your status would see fit to marry her.”

Adam’s vision went scarlet once again.

Forced into marriage?

The duke could not stop his polite mask from cracking, revealing the fury within him as his eyes blazed with rage, teeth bared.

Lord Claridge went utterly pale, eyes wide, smug smile frozen in place as the duke loomed over him.

“I will keep that letter as safe as my niece’s future,” he squeaked, his voice barely a whisper.

The duke set back on his heels slightly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“I suppose your niece and I will make a handsome couple,” Adam finally forced the words through gritted teeth, clenching and unclenching his hands at his sides.

A forced marriage, a tainted reputation, and a life dictated by blackmail.

Adam took a deep breath and nodded once, confirming the shocked optimism in Lord Claridge’s eyes.

“A handsome couple, indeed!” The earl beamed, smugly confident once more. “I shall have my wife make the arrangements necessary for Lady Rosaline. Simply provide us with the wedding date—it should be within the next three days. That should suffice for a powerful duke like you to acquire a special license, no?”

Three days?Adam snarled, then took a deep breath.

“Three days is short notice for a wedding ceremony befitting a duke and his duchess, wouldn’t you agree, Lord Claridge?”

He shifted forward once again, grimly satisfied that, even with the clear upper hand, the earl still cowered slightly before the duke.