The Lady Tamed by Boyd, Heather (urban books to read TXT) 📗

duke frisked him quickly, efficiently, thoroughly, even patting his shirt front a few times and arms to be sure he’d nothing stashed inside his clothing. Satisfied he carried no paper; the duke declared the accusation false and made them shake hands. “Wilks, you were wrong, and Mr. Dawes was provoked enough to defend himself. That is the end of it. Wilks, go sleep it off and cause me no more trouble.”

However, the way Wilks glared at him alerted Jeremy that it wasn’t over. The man’s eyes almost glowed with hate. “Perhaps I misplaced it,” Wilks conceded.

“I’ll have my staff bring me anything they find.” Then the duke turned to Jeremy, frowning. “Inside. My library. Now.”

Jeremy complied, striding straight toward the duke’s library with a confidence he didn’t exactly feel. The duke was sure to follow, and then Jeremy would have to be damn quick to nick the contract back before Stapleton stuck his hand in his own pocket.

Fanny’s brothers caught up to him as soon as he reached the library doorway. They drew him across the room to the decanters. “Nice little fight you had brewing there, Dawes, or would have been if Father hadn’t interfered,” Lord Samuel complained.

“Wilks could do with being taken down a peg or two,” Lord Milo agreed, wearing a wide smirk of his own. Samuel poured port for the three of them. Milo, though, captured Jeremy’s hand and inspected his knuckles. “No harm seems to be have been done.”

“A pity some harm hadn’t happened to Wilks’ face,” Samuel muttered. “He’s traded off his looks and his title far too much in my opinion. No doubt someone will break that smirk off his face eventually. We were so hoping it would be you. What did Wilks want back?”

“I’ve no idea.”

“Must be some love letter he’s lost,” Milo murmured, teasing perhaps. “Did you know Wilks ruined a business deal of our sisters last year? Seduced her previous maid to find out her plans before anyone. Not that we could prove it then. The way he’s followed her about tonight leads me to think he’s meddling with her life again, or his father has set him to it. And then I saw him talk to you tonight like old friends.”

Jeremy frowned. “Why would Wilks seduce Fanny’s maid and not Fanny?”

“Fanny is too smart to fall for false flattery or let down her guard around men coming courting. The maid was foolish in the extreme to trust any promises he made her.” Milo pursed his lips. “Cost Fanny a fortune to unentangle herself from the project. But Fanny has a knack for turning everything things she touches into gold, so the loss was negligible in the end. She deserves better.”

“Yes,” Jeremy murmured.

Milo studied him. “We shouldn’t like to see her wings clipped by any man in any marriage.”

Jeremy agreed. “Nor would I. She is unlike any woman I’ve ever met.”

He glanced down at his hand as his knuckles started to throb.

“You might want to get some ice for that.” Milo nodded. “Ask the housekeeper to bind it, too. I’d better go mingle before Father sends me to a corner, too. He hates it when his children brawl.”

Milo strolled from the room whistling and Jeremy was left alone with Samuel.

Jeremy turned to Samuel. “I thought the duke was coming to the library, too?”

“My father sends everyone to the library when he wants to cool his own temper.” Samuel smiled and flicked up his fingers. Jeremy was astonished to see a folded piece of paper in his possession. “I’m thinking you’ll be wanting this back.”

Jeremy blinked. “Where did you get that?”

Samuel smiled as he unfolded it and appeared to read it rapidly. “From my father’s own pocket. I possess none of your unique skills at picking pockets, but I have a habit of hugging him still, so…voilà. Well done pinching back Fanny’s paper from Wilks. How on earth did he get hold of it?”

Jeremy wet his lips. “Why do you think it’s Fanny’s?”

“The paper and handwriting is hers. She writes all her family correspondence on the same sheets, too. Also, it’s signed by her…and you. A fascinating arrangement you have here.” Samuel passed it over. “You should really keep something so sordid under lock and key. People could misunderstand.”

Jeremy began to feel uneasy about that contract. What else was in it that he hadn’t understood? “I will.”

Lord Samuel inclined his head and turned about, heading for the exit.

Jeremy followed more slowly, stuffing the note inside his shirt. Samuel had already disappeared when Jeremy paused in the front hall. He did not want to return to the ball with the contract in his possession, certainly Lord Wilks lurked about and would watch for another chance to frisk him.

He turned for the stairs.

“Mr. Dawes!”

He shut his eyes briefly, wishing Fanny hadn’t come looking for him. He turned politely though and saw Thwaite lurking at her side again. “Lady Rivers. Lord Thwaite.”

She wet her lips. “We wondered where you’d gone. I heard…”

He thrust out his hand to show her his knuckles were only barely marked. “It was a misunderstanding. I was just on my way to get some assistance from the housekeeper.”

Fanny caught his hand in hers and peered at his reddened knuckles, wincing. “How bad is this?”

“Stings a bit but Milo feels nothing is broken.”

She sighed in relief. “I’m very glad to hear it.”

Thwaite smirked, eyes sliding to Fanny. “I assured Lady Rivers that there’s no ill feeling on my son’s part either. The duke settled the matter. Wilks had a bit too much to drink. Besides, a bit of competition between young men over a lady’s affections is good to see, especially when so great a prize is at stake.”

Fanny’s eyes dropped and he saw she was uncomfortable with the comment. Did she know Thwaite had taken their agreement, and passed it off to his son? Perhaps she did, or perhaps it was only the talk of winning her favor that bothered her. “My lady, might I have a private word with