A Devil Named DeVere (The Devil DeVere)(38)

"But my Lord DeVere, you well know I am also recently bereaved. Only another who has suffered the same loss can truly understand a widow's grief," Caroline replied with convincing solicitude.

"Indeed so," muttered Dr. Stone. Opening his bag, he measured out a dose from a blue bottle into a medicine cup and handed it to the duchess. Caroline shot Ludovic a triumphant look over her shoulder as she departed.

***

The door to Diana's chamber opened without even a perfunctory knock, and the Duchess of Beauclerc entered in a swirl of silk. "You poor dear," she said with feigned sympathy. "What a terrible, terrible shock you have received." She seated herself by Diana's side without invitation. "I am come upon Dr. Stone's insistence that you take a small dose of laudanum to settle your nerves. I have also taken the liberty of calling for tea."

"Thank you, duchess, but it is entirely unnecessary. I am here to attend Diana's needs," Annalee answered.

"But you look so very fatigued, my lady. Your poor husband fears this is far too much strain for a woman in your condition. He insisted that you go and rest yourself. I shall attend your cousin."

Annalee looked from Diana to Caroline with uncertainty.

"You do look fagged, dearest. I daresay Edward is right to fret," Diana said. "I have been unforgivably selfish. Pray go and rest."

"Are you certain, Diana?"

"Yes." Diana forced a smile. "I will be fine."

"Just a short rest, then," Annalee conceded. "I will return in an hour or so to check on you."

Caroline said little more until Annalee departed and the tea arrived. She prepared a cup with a generous dose of laudanum and sugar before handing it to Diana.

"The medicinal is truly unwarranted," Diana protested.

"But my lady, of course you are overset! After all, what kind of wife would not be so in learning of the suspicious death of her husband?"

"Suspicious?" Diana repeated. "I hardly think so. My husband was a gambler who faced certain ruin. Although horrid and unexpected, I cannot be completely astonished that he chose to end his life under the circumstances."

"Indeed?" said the Duchess. "I, on the contrary, am remarkably astonished given that he had just acquired the instrument to shear the sheep with the golden fleece."

"What are you talking about?"

Caroline poured a second cup for herself, taking her time in answering. "I know all about Reggie's plans to end his pecuniary difficulties. He would surely have won a pretty penny too. DeVere's immense wealth and dissolute reputation would only have worked against him in the court of law." She took a sip.

"You conspired with Reggie?"

Caroline set her cup down with a derisive laugh. "It was the loosest of alliances, I assure you. He was a most despicable creature. But I was in position to provide the proof he needed and piqued enough to follow through. DeVere is a magnificent lover, is he not? I find his skills in bed far outweigh his myriad character defects."

"I would have no knowledge of such things," Diana said. "And I marvel at your own want of discretion in sharing such intimacies with a stranger."

"On the contrary, my dear. I saw his hands on your person, his lips on your neck, and the all-too-familiar lascivious gleam in his eye. It is a look I know very well."

"I explained once before. I had trouble with the clasp on my pearls. Regardless of what you think you saw, there is nothing between us!"

"Yet your husband also had grounds to believe otherwise. I received a missive from him this very morning stating that you did not sleep in your bed last night. It was a very enlightening bit of information that shall remain in my safekeeping...for now. So you see, your husband had within his grasp lawful means to recover his losses, so I wonder why would he have taken his own life? Indeed, I see no reason at all for him to have done so."

"What are you suggesting?" Diana demanded.

"That matters have taken an unanticipated and highly suspicious turn," Caroline said. "One need only examine the facts. Your husband's horse failed to run when there was no sign of injury, and the poor groom appears to have been beaten near to death. Although Sir John would most readily attribute that to your husband's wrath, do you really suppose Lord Reggie would have done his lover such a violence?"

Diana gasped and felt the blood leeching from her face. "You know nothing of what you speak!"

"How salacious!" The duchess laughed, a shrill and grating sound. "It was pure speculation on my part, but your priceless reaction tells me everything I need to know. Poor darling, I understand what a humiliating secret it is to bear, as my own Duke of Beauclerc had unusually diverse sexual proclivities. He enjoyed both men and women, you see, but his preference was for the former. He and my brother were once lovers."

Diana felt herself soften infinitesimally toward the duchess. "Is that what drove you to DeVere's bed?"

"Perhaps," Caroline answered. "But I would have desired him regardless. And I desire him still. You shall not take him from me."

"I already told you I have no designs on Lord DeVere."

"I don't believe you. He has a voracious sexual appetite and never would have dismissed me unless he had already acquired a replacement mistress. DeVere would never lower himself to tupping chambermaids. Even if I hadn't seen the way he devours you with his eyes, I would feel it safe to assume he would not cuckold his best friend. Moreover, Annalee's present condition makes her a less than suitable candidate. So that leaves only you."