Page 22 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)

Chapter Twenty-Two

“ W hat on Earth is going on?” Lady Winchester frowned at the commotion by the entrance to the ballroom.

Natalie had been standing with her host, trying not to look for Adrian. Once again, she had almost lost herself in their charade. She had almost forgotten what he was. But she could not afford that. She would not risk that.

The haunted look in Adrian’s expression as he had left, the tightness in his body. Natalie wanted to go after him, but she would not. She did not want him to think her desperate.

The disturbance in the ballroom brought Natalie back to the present and she followed Lady Winchester’s gaze. There was a small crowd of people gathered around a woman who was clutching at her wrist.

“My bracelet! Someone has stolen my bracelet.” the woman cried, turning so that Natalie could better see her face.

She recognised her as Lady Cecily Nightingale, Daughter of the Earl of Rochdale. The ballroom filled with audible gasps as everyone looked towards the woman clutching her wrist, wild eyed and staring around.

She and Lady Winchester moved towards the woman, gently moving through the crowd. Natalie walked in front of Lady Winchester, using her height to cut a path through the milling crowd.

Apparently she had picked up more than one of her husband’s habits – though in this instance, she could see the benefit of cutting such an imposing figure.

“Lady Winchester!” A young man with curly brown hair stood with his arm around Lady Cecily. “Thank goodness you are here.”

“What has happened? You are causing quite the scene, Duke Caverton.” Lady Winchester frowned at the man.

“My apologies, dear Lady, but the depths of my cousin’s agitation could not be contained.” The man bowed to her, still holding his cousin.

“How could this have happened?” Lady Cecily wailed. “Someone has stolen it.”

Duke Caverton gave the gathered crowd an apologetic look. “Come now cousin, perhaps it simply fell off? It is rather old.”

“It is an heirloom! There is no way it could have fallen off; I only just had it refitted. I felt someone brush against me earlier, but I thought nothing of it. After all, balls can be rather crowded. But when I went to touch my necklace – I discovered it was gone.” Lady Cecily rubbed a hand across her naked wrist, her eyes full of tears.

The ballroom doors burst open and Adrian strode into the room. His face was a dark mask of fury as he dragged a red-faced man into the room by his coat. Natalie felt her blood run cold.

“Lord Bolton?” she whispered. What is happening?

“Unhand me! You utterly depraved lunatic, you cannot do this to me.” Lord Bolton swung a fist towards her husband, but Adrian easily moved aside. “This is a conspiracy. You planned this all along.”

Lady Winchester gasped. “Duke Blackwood! Why are you manhandling the marquess?”

“Forgive me, Lady Winchester. I had meant to take this man directly to your husband, but could not find a servant to request he join me. And I did not want to risk this snake escaping.” Adrian glared at Lord Bolton.

“Do not listen to a word he says, Lady Winchester! He has orchestrated this entire thing – I know it! He means to harm me.” Lord Bolton’s eyes bulged.

“And why would I wish to do that?” Adrian’s voice was cool, with just a hint of disdain and confusion.

Lord Bolton opened his mouth and then promptly closed it. His eyes flashed to her, fury and fear warring within them. He is the one who has started the rumours. Natalie only just managed to keep herself from gasping.

“You have still not explained yourself.”

“My apologies your ladyship.” Adrian inclined his head towards Lady Winchester. “I was seeking respite when I overheard Lord Bolton’s voice. He sounded rather agitated, so thinking I could perhaps be of some assistance, I made my way towards him.”

“Utter codswallop. Complete fabrication.” Lord Bolton glowered.

Adrian continued as though he had not spoken. “As I drew nearer I realised that the Marquess was not being threatened, but rather threatening another. I intervened and, well, I discovered that the Marquess had been seen stealing something from a guest in this very room.”

The crowd gasped and Lady Cecily clapped a hand to her mouth. Natalie frowned. Lord Bolton was many things, but surely he was not a thief. Not because she thought he would have a moral objection, but rather, she doubted he had the skill for such an endeavour.

She covered her mouth in a similar fashion to Lady Cecily. Shaking her head, she moved closer to Lady Winchester, placing a reassuring arm on her shoulder.

“That makes no sense! Why on Earth would Lord Bolton need to steal anything? He is one of the wealthiest men in the ton.”

“My dear lady, I am afraid that he is not. In fact, he is completely bankrupt.”

“In more ways than one.” Natalie muttered under her breath.

“Liar!” Lord Bolton yelled. “Lady Winchester, please, you cannot believe this. I am no thief.”

“In truth, Duke Blackwood, I find your claim rather hard to believe.” Lady Winchester pursed her lips, arms folded across her chest. “The state of a man’s finances are hardly a public matter.”

“Indeed they are not, but as you know, I am a rather… diligent man, especially when it comes to investments.” Adrian’s emphasis on the word diligent hung in the air, and a ripple went through the crowd.

“They say the devil always knows.” A woman whispered.

Natalie watched as Lord Bolton continued to flail in Adrian’s grip. It was almost comical, the way Adrian held him like some naughty puppy, feet dangling in the air.

“I would say my investigations into potential business partners are more thorough than most. When Lord Bolton came to me and asked for my investment in his New World Venture, I was intrigued. After all, who would not be at the mention of such high returns?” Adrian gave the gathered men and women an ingratiating smile.

He knows how to use his charm. As a well-bred Englishwoman, she should have felt uneasy at the depths of his knowledge. Instead, her lips curved in unaccustomed, conspiratorial glee. His handsome, calculated earnest smile suggested that they were all in this together.

Natalie reminded herself that he was a master manipulator. Her heart twisted unpleasantly. Yet more secrets. How often would he do this to her? Why had he not told her what he was doing?

“I never asked you for anything. You are pulling this out of your ar-” Lord Bolton began but Duke Caverton cut him off with a concerned look.

“Is there something amiss with the venture, Duke Blackwood? I was thinking of investing myself, but if you have unearthed some reason I should not please, tell me.” Duke Caverton’s eyes were wide, and for a moment, Natalie was sure she saw him smirking. But it must have been a trick of the light.

“There is nothing the matter with it.” Lord Bolton twisted, clearly trying to break out of Adrian’s grip and failing.

The way it made him rock from side to side only served to make him look even more ridiculous. Natalie wondered just how anyone had ever taken the man seriously, but perhaps he looked less foolish when he was not being dwarfed by someone like Adrian.

Adrian was not looking at her, his eyes fixed on Duke Caverton and occasionally flicking to Lady Winchester. Natalie realised he had avoided her gaze this entire time.

“I would like to hear what Duke Blackwood has to say on the matter.” A man stepped to the front of the crowd, his dark eyes narrowed.

He had silver streaked hair, and it was clear the cane he used was just as much a necessity as a fashion statement. Natalie recognised him as the Earl of Ascot, Lord Richard Sutton.

“I invested withLord Bolton thirty guineas for this venture three months ago and was promised I would see a return on my investments within the quarter. Yet every time I have sought to discuss the matter with him, he has slithered away.” Lord Ascot brought both his hands to rest on his cane in front of him.

“Lord Ascot – it is simply that I have been busy. I will of course be happy to give you an update once-”

“Lord Bolton, this compulsion you have for falsehoods is truly worrying. It is like a sickness.” Adrian tutted and shook his head. “I am afraid, Lord Ascot, that you have been lied to. My investigations into the matter have revealed that no such venture exists.”

“What do you mean?” Duke Caverton asked.

“I could find no proof that this venture existed. What I found was far more concerning.” Adrian’s face was a mask of sombre disappointment, and Natalie knew he was drawing the ton into his story with his pause.

She glanced at them, watching as people leaned towards him. Adrian raised his voice. “It would appear that the Marquess had planned to abscond with your funds and create a new life for himself in the New World. He sought to escape the debt his recent court losses and other poor investments have led to by feigning his own demise and then setting up a new life in the colonies.”

“Hogwash.” Lord Bolton spat.

“I trust you have proof of such an outlandish claim, Your Grace?” Lord Ascot frowned.

“Of course. I had hoped to solve the matter privately, but catching Lord Bolton stealing has forced my hand.” Adrian gave Lord Bolton a look that was such a perfect mix of condescension and pity, Natalie had to hide her face behind her hand to keep her smile from being visible. “If only you had come to me with the truth. Perhaps I could have helped you, but instead, you sought to steal from the good people of the ton.”

“I did no such thing! You are making all of this up!” Lord Bolton’s face was white, and though he attempted to sound indignant, Natalie had noticed the way he had tensed as Adrian had detailed his scheme to the members of the ton.

“And why would he do that?” Duke Caverton asked.

“It is not like the Duke has anything to gain by exposing your scheme. By his own admission, he has not even invested any money with you.” Lord Ascot pointed out, his brow furrowed.

“Exactly! This conspiratorial thinking is rather worrying, after all what kind of paranoid mind would dream up such a fantasy?” Adrian wrinkled his nose, a touch of embarrassment for Lord Bolton entering his voice.

He has them now. Natalie could feel how rapt the ton were. Oh, it was certainly scandalous to cause a scene like this, but they loved nothing more than a scandal that would allow them to sit proudly atop their high horses.

She could see the self-satisfaction in every lady’s cool disdain, in each lords’ tutting. They were loving this, and loved that not only could they find the scene itself abhorrent, but the revelations as well.

“It is the truth! You are doing this to ruin me!” Lord Bolton swung to face the ton, his voice a eedy whine. “Everyone knows you are the Devil Duke. You do this for sport.”

“Oh, I am well aware of my reputation, Lord Bolton.” Adrian’s voice was cool, dangerous as a dagger. “But what reason have I to ruin you?”

“Because of what I did to your wife.” Lord Bolton ground his teeth, the admission seeming to be dragged out of him. “I was the one behind the rumours. I made up baseless lies to muddy her reputation and sully the name of everyone who associated with her. I will admit to this.”

“You are the reason my family has known such pain?” Natalie stepped towards the pair of them, not quite close enough that there was any risk Lord Bolton could touch her, but close enough that he could hear anything she whispered without risk of being overheard.

Lord Bolton glowered at her, his eyes full of a promise of violence. Natalie drew herself up straighter; she was not afraid of him.

“Yes.” He hissed.

“Why?” Natalie demanded.

“Because I wanted to hurt you.” Lord Bolton’s jaw was so tight Natalie wondered that his teeth did not shatter with the strain. “I wanted to make you suffer.”

The crowd sounded like a hornets nest, full of angry, indignant buzzing. Every eye was hostile, cast upon the disgraced Marquess.

“Tell your husband to stop this. You have what you wanted. Call off your dog.” Lord Bolton’s lips barely moved, his words only just loud enough for Natalie to hear.

Natalie felt anger stir within her, she wanted to strike him, to hurt him the way he had hurt her. She glanced at Adrian, saw the mirror of her anger in his eyes.

She moved towards Adrian, placing a hand on his chest as though she were soothing a wild animal. She positioned herself so that her face could not be seen, so that Lord Bolton blocked most of her.

Rose had taught her the trick of speaking without moving her lips, though Natalie had not practiced the skill in some time. She hunched her shoulders, as though she were steadying herself against her husband.

“What on Earth makes you think I would call him off?” Natalie’s eyes flashed with anger. “Or even that I can. It’s like you said – I am a woman, less than nothing.”

Lord Bolton’s eyes flashed and he bared his teeth. Natalie moved away from the pair of them, catching Adrian’s hand in hers and staring imploringly at her husband. The warmth of his skin comforted her.

Loudly enough for the ton to hear she said, “Husband, please, I know this man has done me a great harm, but I would beg your mercy.”

“If it were only a matter of the harm he had inflicted upon you, then I would do as you ask, my Duchess.” Adrian shook his head, his face a grim set line. “But he has harmed too many to escape justice.”

“I cannot believe he is a thief.” Natalie clutched a hand to her chest, her eyes meeting Adrian’s. “Not as well as everything else.”

“I have the proof of his finances. And I will send them to the magistrates to deal with.” Adrian squeezed her hand. “As for the theft, there is an easy way to discover the truth. Lord Bolton need only empty his pockets.”

“You said you would not ruin me if I told them.” Lord’s Bolton hissed, his words only audible to Adrian and Natalie. “I did as you asked.”

“I gave you the choice, and you chose this.” Adrian answered loudly enough for the ton to hear. “I hoped to resolve this matter privately. After all, there is nothing I like more than being owed a favour. But after seeing the desperation and ungentlemanly manner with which you have behaved tonight, I fear only God can save you. And I am no God.”

Adrian flung Lord Bolton to the floor. The man landed in a crumpled heap. He was shaking, his face white with rage and fear. The ton’s angry buzzing grew louder. Natalie felt Adrian move beside her, slipping an arm protectively around her.

She leaned into him without thinking.

“Search him.” Lady Winchester summoned two guards and gestured to the man on the ground. “And see that you are thorough.”

“Unhand me.” Lord Bolton tried to push the men away but one grabbed his hands and pulled them behind his back.

The contents of his pockets were emptied onto the ballroom floor. A coin purse, a pocket watch, a few bits of paper, a snuff box and then a shiny gold object tumbled to the floor. Natalie moved away from Adrian to pick it up.

“My bracelet!” Lady Cecily dove towards the gold bracelet and slipped it back onto her wrist.

“No! That is not possible! I have never seen the thing in my life!” Lord Bolton’s eyes bulged. “He must have planted it.”

“I think we have heard quite enough of your lies, Lord Bolton.” Lady Winchester gestured to the guards. “Get him out of my sight. Take him to the magistrates and tell them what has happened.”

Lord Bolton let out an anguished cry. It took the guards by surprise, and in their moment of distraction Lord Bolton lunged towards Natalie. She took a step back, desperate to escape him, stumbled and fell.

“You little who-” His words were cut off as Adrian sprung between him and Natalie, shoving his shoulder hard into the other man other man’s throat.

Lord Bolton collapsed to the ground, gasping and retching as he clutched his neck. Natalie could see every muscle of Adrian’s body, see the tension in his every step.

“If you so much as look at my wife again, I will have you hanged.” His voice was ice, his words cracking across the shocked ton like a whip. “No one harms my Duchess.”

The guards collected the wheezing mess from the ground and escorted him swiftly from the room. The angry eyes of the ton followed their descent, and more than a few people looked from Adrian to Natalie with fear.

He turned to her, his eyes soft as he held out a hand. “Did he hurt you?”

She took it and let him help her to her feet. She felt shaky and unsteady as she shook her head. He pulled her to him, and she heard the thunder of his heart in his chest as she rested her head against him.

“It is done.” He muttered, his breath tickling her ear. “It is over.”

He guided her from the ballroom, and she leaned against him, not trusting her legs to hold her weight. The sound of the guest’s angry chatter was silenced as the entrance hall doors swung shut.

“Fetch my carriage, I must take my wife home.” Adrian gestured at someone Natalie could not see.

The sound of footsteps caught her attention, and Adrian tensed, whirling around and putting himself between her and whoever was approaching.

It was Duke Caverton and his cousin, Lady Cecily. Each was grinning broadly. The Marquess was right- it was a conspiracy. And Adrian had not trusted her.

Something in her heart broke. He had done this all, orchestrated this entire thing, and he had not even thought to tell her his plan. He will never let me in.

She felt a lump in her throat.

“Is the Duchess well? I never thought the man would be mad enough to try and harm a woman.” Duke Caverton shook his head. “Was it true what you said about the venture?”

“Every word. The details will be in all the gossip rags by tomorrow.” Adrian looked at Natalie, his eyes full of concern. “If you will forgive me, Caverton, my wife has suffered quite a shock.”

“Yes, of course.” Duke Caverton nodded. “I hope we meet again, Duchess, in less dramatic circumstances. Your husband… He is truly an extraordinary man.”

“He is.” Natalie agreed, her voice trembling.

Adrian pulled her closer to him, every muscle in him tense. The Duke and his cousin left, and a moment later Adrian was guiding her into the waiting carriage.

“You are safe now, Natalie. That man will never hurt you again.” Adrian’s voice was soothing, full of tenderness.

It tore at her heart like a dagger. All she wanted was to believe that he would keep her safe, that he would protect her and in that moment, she almost could. But how could she trust him, if he would not trust her?

“I should not have let my guard down. He should never have been allowed to get that close to you. I am sorry.” Adrian clenched his fist. “He did not harm you?”

Natalie nodded, turning away from him so he could not see the tears running down her face. She did not think she could stand another moment of his kindness.

The weight of her reputation was gone, but in its place was a cold truth. Adrian did not trust her. He would never trust her, never let her in, and without that she could not trust him.

An iron cage formed around her heart. He had honoured his agreement to her. It was time to do the same. She would not break her promise.

This feeling dies tonight.