Page 41 of His Arranged Duchess (Regency Wedding Crashers #5)

“You’re angry at me,” Lucien murmured. “Perhaps I have not been a good friend since I first came home. But neither have you. You disrespected my wife, and you tried to get in between us. That was not fair, Benjamin.”

Benjamin closed his eyes, the motion of the cloth on the smooth leather of his boots slowly stilling.

“Your point is a fair one. But I never cast aspersions on your name or on the Duchess’.”

“I know. I was wrong to think that. But I never thanked you for what you did do. You prevented Lord Easton from taking the matter to the papers. I ask you again, how much did you pay him?”

Benjamin flinched. “More than I could afford but less than he would have liked.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.”

Lucien rose slowly to his feet. He felt tired again, as he had at the opera, but this time there would be no opportunity to rest and mull over what had happened. There would be no taking back what had been said about Frances. The secret was out and was not going anywhere.

But there was something else he could do.

“It was Lord Easton,” Lucien murmured. “He’s a pitiful, revenge-driven bastard. He accepted your money, but decided that his insult was too great. He took the story to the papers. But what about the letters? The papers said that there were letters between the Baroness and Frances’s father.”

“I think I can answer that question,” Benjamin said slowly, putting his boot and the polish aside.

“He mentioned something about a source on the inside—he was rather pompous about it—and then forgot that he meant to be mysterious about the whole thing and mentioned a maid. The letters were found in the Baroness’s writing desk, carefully tied up with a ribbon and kept away.

She ought to have destroyed them, naturally, but of course it can be difficult to throw away something so special, especially when the one you cared for is now gone.

The letters, I assume, contained the unsent notes about the child. ”

“That means that he actively tried to dig up information on Frances and her family,” Lucien muttered, a flare of anger making him see red for an instant. “He would not have agreed to marry her if he’d known, so this was something he discovered after she married me.”

“I can’t believe the wretch took my money,” Benjamin added, flushing. “What a villain.”

“He’s going to pay for it,” Lucien growled, turning on his heel and striding towards the door. He’d almost reached it when Benjamin spoke.

“Wait a moment, Lucien.”

He paused, glancing over his shoulder. Benjamin was on his feet, looking rather pale.

He looked rather small and vulnerable without his vibrant waistcoats and elaborately tied cravats.

Standing there in the middle of his shabby apartment, in his shirtsleeves and stockinged feet, Benjamin seemed younger than before.

“She cares for you, you know,” Benjamin said at last. “She wanted so badly to trust you. I believe that if you play your cards correctly, you might win her back.”

Lucien gave a faint smile. “I’m not so sure about that. I really did manage to make quite a mess of all this, Benjamin.”

He snorted. “Don’t you always? I’ve always said that you fling yourself into matters head-first and never think twice. The girl is besotted with you, and you are smitten with her . It’s the stuff of romance novels.”

“She writes romance novels, you know.”

Benjamin tilted his head. “Really? How interesting. Well, since her reputation is already in tatters, she might as well try publishing a few.”

Lucien grimaced. “They’re rather… rather warm , you know. Perhaps a pseudonym would be a good idea.”

A slow grin broke out across Benjamin’s face. “Warm romance stories? Heavens. Just when I think I couldn’t learn to like your duchess more. Congratulate her from me, won’t you? Once you’ve reconciled.”

“ If we reconcile. First, there’s a small matter I must take care of.”

“Oh?”

Lucien nodded, stepping back towards his friend. The anger was coming back, hot enough to make him shake with rage. This time, it was not directed towards Benjamin. It was not Benjamin who’d hurt Frances; at least, not intentionally.

Lucien had already decided that he would not cut off his old friend.

Benjamin had acted badly, yes, but so had Lucien.

If Benjamin could come to terms with Frances’s new place in Lucien’s life—and if he could keep away cloying ladies who sought after his favor—then there was no reason why they could not be as close as ever.

But that was a conversation for another time. For now, Lucien contented himself with a warm smile, which Benjamin tentatively returned. Placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder, Lucien leaned closer to him.

“Do you have Lord Easton’s address, Benjamin? I would like to pay a call on him. Now.”

Benjamin pursed his lips, visibly amused. “I can certainly direct you towards him. By the way, my nose was not broken after your hurtful attack last night. I shall forgive you, presuming that you deliver an equally impressive punch to the real villain of this whole story.”

Lucien chuckled, low and menacing. There was no mirth in the laughter, and already his heart was thumping against his chest, getting ready for action.

There’s going to be a reckoning, to be sure. This matter is not nearly over.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” he said aloud.