Page 46 of Desire and Discipline

“Oh no, he preferred London.” The duchess brightened again.

If she had been fearful of him, that would explain why she had no interest in visiting the city.

“We spent most of our time apart. Do not worry. I am sure Samuel will not be parted from you in such a manner. You two are a love match. I can tell.”

And the duchess still believed in love. That belief shone from her honest and open face, along with a kind of yearning. However her late husband had treated her, he had not been able to stamp out her dreams completely.

Samuel

“So, you and Catherine. Again.” Gregory raised his eyebrows suggestively as he swirled the brandy around its glass, leaning back in his chair as if he had not a care in the world.

Samuel knew better.

Unlike Catherine, he had quickly cottoned on to the lack of mourning around the household.

Marguerite’s dress had been an immediate indicator that no one missed the old duke.

Did Samuel think that meant Gregory had engaged in patricide?

Absolutely not. But it could not be denied that there was something going on.

Still, he would not immediately force his friend to delve into such heavy matters.

“Again,” he agreed easily. “Though very different this time.”

“Indeed. What are your intentions with her?” There was nothing but pure curiosity in Gregory’s voice, wondering what Samuel would do. Possibly because he was looking at his own prospects for the parson’s trap.

“To marry her. As soon as possible.” Samuel grimaced. “Perhaps see if this time I am more successful at convincing her to run off to Gretna Green with me.”

That made Gregory chuckle, though his amusement only lasted so long.

“Are you so sure of her answer?”

“No, but I must try.” Samuel sighed. “I promise not to run off again if she tells me nay. If all she wants from me is a lover, then I will be that. If she wants nothing to do with me, then I will still remain in England.”

“That is good to hear.” Gregory lifted his glass in appreciation for the sentiment. “I have missed you.”

“And I you.” Samuel hesitated and lowered his voice. Unlike some members of the ton , he did not forget that there were footmen within earshot of his normal speaking voice. “I gather your father is not so missed.”

Gregory snorted.

“Who would miss him?” he asked dryly. He met Samuel’s gaze for a brief moment, then his own skittered away. “I did not wish to speak of it in my letters, but his temperament grew worse and worse while you were away.”

That was saying something because when Samuel had met the man, he would not have described him as having a good temperament.

He’d been demanding, cold, and disgusted with a wife who had only been able to bear him a single heir rather than the brood of children he’d felt like he deserved.

He’d been self-involved and far too obsessed with appearances.

The complete opposite of Gregory’s mother, which was likely why he kept her tucked away in the country while he gallivanted all about town.

Gregory’s charm brought him women; his father had used his wealth and position since he’d had no charm.

Gregory rubbed one hand along his leg, shaking his head as his leg bounced, as though he was attempting to soothe its motion but could not manage it.

“I have four half-siblings now.” Gregory’s smile held no amusement as Samuel’s mouth dropped open in shock. “All young enough to be my own children. All from different mothers. My father got the brood he wanted, not that he was doing anything to take care of them. All girls, you see.”

“I presume you are taking care of them now?” Samuel asked, though the hairs on the back of his neck tingled. Abandoning his children could be a motive for murder, though why the other dukes were killed… it would take someone particularly cold-blooded to kill so many bystanders for one man.

“All their mothers are now receiving a stipend from the estate,” Gregory nodded. “My mother sent a massive parcel of clothing to each of them as well as soon as she found out.”

Of course, she had. The duchess was as warm and generous as the old duke had been cold and stingy.

“I tell you,” Gregory continued, musing into his brandy. “If it were not for the other dukes, I would have been looking into my half-siblings’ families for my father’s murderer.”

Samuel stilled immediately.

“You believe your father was murdered?”

“I do. He received several threatening letters before his demise.” Gregory canted his gaze in Samuel’s direction again. “I have not yet been able to track down who they are from or even why he was being threatened. They said, ‘he had better take care of things or else.’”

“A mystery,” Samuel murmured. Certainly something he could report back to Oliver. “Interesting.”

“Very.” Gregory sighed. “As yet, I have not received any communication from whoever sent the letters, so either the sender gave up after his death, or they were the cause of it.”

Samuel hesitated for a moment, then went ahead and asked. Samuel would not have told him this information if he did not want Samuel’s opinion.

“Can I see the letters?”