Page 34 of Second Duke's the Charm

“Bravo!” Daisy clapped. “And just so there’s no chance of him calling off the wedding, you’re going to have to stall him until the wedding night.”

Tess shook her head. “This is all so strange. I never thought I’d marry again.”

“It’s an elegant solution,” Ellie said. “Thornton’s one of the few men in England youcanmarry and not be worse off.”

“But he doesn’t love me.”

“Notyet,” Daisy said. “But intense physical attraction is a good place to start. Who’s to say he won’t fall in love with you once you spend more time together? And even if he doesn’t, and you part ways this summer, you’ll still have had the most wonderful time.”

Tess rubbed her forehead. “He’s coming to see me on Saturday for an answer.”

“You’re going to tell him yes?”

“Provided he agrees to my requests, then yes.”

Daisy let out an excited whoop. “I love weddings!”

“You lovecake,” Ellie teased. “The fact that there’s a wedding attached is just a bonus.” She turned to Tess. “Don’t worry, we’ll help you write a list of demands.”

“You make it sound like a kidnapping,” Tess laughed. “Or blackmail.”

“Speaking of which,” Ellie said, tapping the papers on her desk, “I have a potential suspect for who might have stolen the princess’s letters.”

Tess raised her brows. “How? Did someone approach you after we left Lady Iveson’s?”

“No, but I spoke to a friend in the War Office who gave me a list of everyone who served in the same troop as Hesse for the past five years.”

“Isn’t that a lot of men?”

“About eighty, but the vast majority can be immediately discounted. Most are still serving abroad, and several are dead.”

Ellie plucked a piece of paper from the precariously stacked pile in front of her. “There is one man, however, a Richard Case, who bears further investigation. He was with Hesse until he was invalided out on an army pension just before Waterloo. He lives here in London, and according to my cousin Reginald, he’s a well-known gamester. Reg says he’s a member of a couple of gentlemen’s clubs. His latest addiction is horse racing, but he owes money to several other men thanks to losses at cards.”

“Sounds like a man in dire need of some funds,” Tess mused. “And if he was canny enough to take a couple of Hesse’s letters as insurance for a rainy day, he could have decided it’s time to cash them in.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Ellie murmured.

“Do you know his address?”

“Not yet. But Reg says Case will probably be at Lady Greenwood’s party on Saturday because the play is always deep.”

Tess nodded. “I’ll see if we can get an invitation.”

Chapter Twelve

Tess was a bundle of nerves by the time Saturday arrived. She’d taken a ridiculous amount of care with her appearance, and even knowing that the pale blue dress she’d chosen flattered her figure, she still felt gauche and ill prepared to face Thornton. A lamb waiting for the wolf.

Daisy, mercifully, had gone riding with Ellie in Hyde Park, so she was alone.

Determined to appear cool and businesslike, she stood behind her mahogany writing desk as Thornton was shown into her study, and the sturdy wood provided a much-needed barrier between them.

Her heart started to pound as he handed his hat, gloves, and cane to Gustav, her footman, with a nod of thanks.

“Your Grace.” He swept her a slightly mocking bow.

His white shirt and neat cravat complemented a navy waistcoat and a jacket of the same color that molded to his broad shoulders and tapering waist with loving faithfulness.

Lord, he was beautiful.She wanted to reach out and trace his finely molded cheekbones and sharp jaw. Totouch his lips to see if they really were as soft as she remembered.