The Duke Meets His Match (The Infamous Somertons #3)(59)

“You have matured into a good man, Henry. Your father would be proud,” Michael said.

“Thank you, Your Grace. My father would have wanted you to be at peace.”

Michael felt his throat close up at the mention of his old friend. “And what about you?”

Henry chuckled. “I received an invitation this morning from the charming Lady Willowby to attend an intimate gathering at her home.”

Michael suspected the shrewd widow had moved on to her next conquest. He wasn’t alarmed. He was learning to trust Henry’s judgment. Perhaps Lady Willowby would be a perfect match for him. “Good luck with the widow.”

Henry stood and walked to the door, then turned to look back. “I can only hope you come to your senses. Don’t let happiness slip through your fingers.”

Michael pushed back his chair after Henry departed. Henry didn’t understand. Happiness had to be shared. He couldn’t be that selfish. He loved Chloe with all his being.

That’s why he had to let her go.





Chapter Twenty-Six


Chloe arrived home from the orphanage to find Eliza and Amelia in the breakfast room. Their husbands weren’t present, and the two sisters were enjoying cups of tea in the lovely, sun-drenched room.

“Come join us, Chloe,” Eliza called out.

Chloe’s nerves were frayed after everything that had occurred, but she knew her sisters would be concerned if she refused to join them. She chose a chair, and a footman set forth a cup of steaming tea before her then quietly left the room.

“How’s Emily?” Amelia asked.

“For the first time, there is hope. The duke sent his own physician to treat her.” Chloe did not have the opportunity to thank Michael for sending Dr. Graves to see Emily. Would she ever get the chance?

No. It was best if she didn’t see him again. She’d never forget the determined look on Michael’s face when he’d rejected her in Huntingdon’s library.

Chloe cleared her throat and looked at her sisters. “There is something else I must tell both of you. A secret I’ve kept to myself for far too long.” She’d always believed she could keep her darkest sins from her sisters. But things were different now, and she’d withheld her past for too long. She was tired of the secrets, tired of carrying the burden.

Amelia lowered her cup. “Your secret has to do with the Duke of Cameron, doesn’t it? We know you have strong feelings for him.”

Chloe bit her lip. “It no longer matters.”

“Of course it does, darling,” Eliza said, reaching out to touch her hand.

Chloe felt like an ungrateful wretch. Her sisters were always her champions. “That’s not what I want to discuss. The duke, I mean. My secret goes back years to when I was sick and a burden on both of you, financially and emotionally.”

Both Amelia and Eliza looked confused and stricken. “You were never a burden,” Amelia said.

“It’s true. Never say such a thing,” Eliza admonished.

“I felt like I was,” Chloe said, casting her eyes downward. “I was always sick with that lingering cough and never able to work as hard as both of you in the print shop.”

“You are the youngest. It was my responsibility to care for you,” Eliza said firmly.

Chloe didn’t want to argue, she just needed to tell them the truth. “I did something horrible. You will both look at me differently when I confess.”

“It’s clear something has been a burden on your shoulders. Tell us,” Amelia urged.

Chloe took a deep breath. “I picked pockets. I stole from the wealthy shoppers on Bond Street.”

“Why on earth would you do that?”

“I wanted to help pay for the cost of my cough tonic with Mr. Allenson at the apothecary. I know it was very costly and I…I needed to help any way I could.” Chloe’s voice sounded weak to her own ears.

“So you stole?” Eliza said. “I always wondered why the price of the tonic decreased over time. When I inquired, Mr. Allenson said the cost of the special herbs to make the medicine fluctuated. I thought he was being kind to our situation.”

“He wasn’t,” Chloe said.

“But there’s more, isn’t there?” Eliza asked. “Mr. Allenson wouldn’t accept anything but coins. Did you only steal purses from rich gentlemen?”

Always the shrewd businesswoman, Eliza caught on faster than Amelia when it came to the finances.

Chloe swallowed. The rest of the story was worse. “You’re right. Mr. Allenson only wanted money. I traded the stolen goods for coins from Madame Satine at the Seven Sins brothel.”

A horrible silence descended.

A heartbeat passed, then Amelia threw back her head and laughed. “And I thought I was the only one who felt sinful for following in father’s footsteps and painting forgeries of priceless artwork.”

Eliza looked more taken aback, but then she took a deep breath. “And I thought I was the most deceitful when I repeatedly lied, assuming the false identity of a widow to open the print shop.”

Chloe looked at her sisters in astonishment. “You don’t blame me?”

“How can we when we’ve all committed scandalous misdeeds? I do believe we should call ourselves the Infamous Somertons,” Amelia said.