My Once and Future Duke (The Wagers of Sin #1)(75)

The change in Exeter was startling. His cool reserve vanished, and a warm smile lit his face as he caught the child up in his arms. “Molly, dear, you must meet my guest. His Grace the Duke of Ware.” He set her back down on her feet. “Ware, may I present my stepdaughter, Miss Molly Preston.”

She wobbled into an off balance curtsy and recited, “It is a pleasure to make your ‘quaintance, sir.”

Jack smiled at her, his heart swelling at the thought of another little girl, practicing her curtsies in front of the mirror. He bowed. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Preston.”

She gave him a wide smile before turning back to Exeter. “Mama caught a butterfly. Come see it!”

Exeter smiled at her. “In a moment. Are there a great many butterflies out today?”

“So many!” she cried, before turning and running down the path toward a dark--haired woman. She wore a very fashionable gown, but wielded a long--handled bag--net.

“Thank you, Exeter. It had been illuminating.” Jack inclined his head in farewell and turned to go.

“Ware.” Exeter’s voice made him pause. “Marrying the right woman is worth a scandal,” murmured the duke, his eyes on the woman catching butterflies. “Worth any scandal. I cannot give you better advice than that. Good day.” He turned and walked away, toward his duchess with the insect net and his stepdaughter, who was climbing on top of a bench and reaching for the butterflies that fluttered above the profusion of roses.

A servant stepped forward to show him out. Jack went, unable to shake the image of Exeter’s face. The man had been pleased when he saw the child, but when he saw his wife . . . It was as clear as day that Exeter loved her, passionately and deeply.

Worth any scandal, indeed.



Philip was waiting for him in the hall at Vega’s that evening. “Dear brother,” he said with false cheer. “Might I have a word in private?”

Jack repressed a sigh. He had hoped to intercept Sophie before she reached Vega’s, to no avail. Though no closer to a solution to the question of Lucinda, he was desperate to see her. Marrying the right woman puts an end to any rumors of other engagements, Exeter had said, which Jack was beginning to think a sensible choice. If he whisked Sophie to the nearest church and married her by special license, it would put a quick end to the problem, scandal be damned. He just needed to know if she would have him.

However, he’d been expecting this confrontation with Philip. He hadn’t done anything other than keep his brother in sight at all times, but he suspected that was unnerving Philip more than if he’d scolded and harangued him to stop gambling. “Of course. Lead the way.”

They went through the main salon, down a corridor lined with several doors. Philip opened one for him and then closed the door behind himself. They were in a small room with a table and two leather chairs, with a sideboard nearby waiting to hold decanters and the smell of smoke lingering in the room. This must be where the high stakes private games were played.

“What the devil do you want from me?” Philip demanded.

Jack folded his arms. “I’ve only made one demand.”

“Which I have followed to the letter!”

“To the letter,” he agreed.

“Then why are you still here?” his brother exclaimed. “Why are you following me like a nursemaid?”

“Because your promises have not always been reliable.”

Philip threw up his hands. “One bloody time!” Jack gave him a speaking look, and Philip flushed. “One time when you cared.”

“You mistake the matter,” Jack corrected him. “I cared every time you broke your word. That time was simply once too often.”

“No,” Philip growled. “You cared more than usual that time. Because of her.”

His whole body tensed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous!” His brother snorted. “That would describe you, playing hazard. At first I thought you did it simply to humiliate me, but you’ve never cared that much before, to risk your own reputation and funds. And you hate gambling! You’ve lectured me far too many times about it for there to be any doubt. No, you wanted Sophie—-Mrs. Campbell—-and you maneuvered to take her away from me.”

Jack wanted to snarl back that Sophie had never been Philip’s, and had never wanted to be Philip’s. Again the urge to declare her his rose inside him, and again he had to push it down. He’d given his word. “She was not yours.”

Philip scowled. “She was—-”

“She was not yours,” Jack repeated forcefully. “I asked her, Philip, and she denied it. How dare you suggest I would contrive to steal a woman’s affections from you? What sort of brother do you think I am?”

“You wanted her!” Philip charged.

“Suppose I did.” Jack knew he was doing a dangerous thing, but he was boiling with frustration already, and someone had to make Philip see reason. “Would it matter, if she’d wanted you instead? Wouldn’t she be the one to decide?”

His brother glared at him. “Of course.”

“And what did she say to you?” He put his hands out. “She’s at perfect liberty to bestow her favor where she likes.”

He knew very well what Sophie had told Philip. And as hoped, some of Philip’s fury faded. He scowled at the floor. “You took her away to punish me.”