Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom(154)

“Then the duke never had any intention of taking care of the mother or child?”

She hesitated. “He did his best, but the circumstances were difficult. Eventually he and Sophia were able to live together.”

Justine frowned. “I thought he’d grown tired of her. You mean he set up an establishment with her?”

“I mean they were married,” the woman said.

Justine stumbled to a halt. “What?”

The woman paced ahead several steps before she noticed. She came back, took Justine’s arm, and hurried her along. “Yes, I was certain Count Marzano left out that pertinent fact.”

Justine shook her head, bewildered. “I don’t understand. Why would the duke abandon his own son? It makes no sense.”

“I believe he truly didn’t want to, but he was talked into it. Marco is a mild-mannered, retiring young man with an abhorrence of conflict, especially with his mother, the duchess. That was unfortunate, in this particular situation.”

“But the count said the duchess didn’t know about the baby.”

“She knew,” the woman said grimly. “And she was determined to eliminate any evidence of either the marriage or Stephen.”

“But why—”

The woman cut her off with an impatient chop of her gloved hand. “I’m sorry, but we don’t have time for this. I’ll explain everything later, but it’s imperative that we get Stephen out of London first.” She stopped and cast a quick glance around. “I understand you have no reason to trust me, but I must ask you to do just that. Obviously, you harbor suspicions about Count Marzano’s motives, or else you wouldn’t have met me like this, alone as I asked you to.”

Justine had hated that part, slipping out of the house without telling anyone but Rose. Even then she’d lied about why, but it was necessary. “Yes, I’m deeply suspicious and I believe Stephen is still in danger.”

“Good. Now, when does the count intend to fetch the baby?”

“Tomorrow morning.” Just saying the words made Justine’s stomach cramp.

The woman let out a tight, relieved sigh. “Then we still have time.”

“What are your plans?” Justine was beginning to feel frustrated by her deliberate lack of information.

“For you to get Stephen out of the city by tonight at the latest. I will give you money and instructions on where to go, and then I will meet you as soon as I can.”

Justine shook her head. “How can I hope to do that? And do you even have proof of this marriage between Sophia and the duke?”

“Yes, I do. Irrefutable proof.”

A great weight seemed to lift from Justine’s shoulders. “If that’s the case, then we can tell my husband. He’ll help us. So will Uncle Dominic. He’s the—”

She broke off when a spasm of pain crossed the woman’s features. She’d gone so pale that Justine feared she might faint. She braced a hand under the woman’s elbow. “What’s wrong?”

“We cannot do that. Or, at least you can’t. I will do it, once you’ve taken the baby out of harm’s way. I’ll explain everything to Dominic then.”

Everything inside Justine went still. “You know him.”

A muscle twitched in the woman’s cheek. She nodded.

“Then you know he’ll help, especially if we give him proof,” Justine exclaimed. “We can go together right now.”

“That wouldn’t be wise, my dear.” The woman’s voice trembled just a bit. “My presence will be . . . a complication. The child’s safety might be compromised in the resulting confusion.”