Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom(159)

“Because she was a commoner?” Griffin asked. “But why would that matter? He’s the ruler of his blasted little duchy. Who’s to stop him if he wants to marry a shopkeeper’s daughter?”

Dominic shook his head. “That’s a fairly substantial impediment, but not the true complication, I imagine. Was it a Catholic or Anglican ceremony?”

“Anglican.”

Dominic’s brow cleared. “Ah, then the marriage would be null and void after all, at least in the Duchy of San Agosto, since Sophia was not a Catholic. In that case, strictly speaking, little Stephen would be considered illegitimate.”

“And not heir to the duchy,” Griffin said. “We already know that. I don’t like Marzano any more than you do but, strictly speaking, the man wasn’t lying.”

“I must confess,” Dominic said to Chloe, “that I don’t understand the need for all this skulking about. It’s true that the count has been less than forthcoming, but Griffin is correct. The child, while perhaps an embarrassment, is no threat to the stability of the duchy’s royal family. The scandal of his birth will surely fade over time.” He directed a rather stern look at Griffin. “As it always does.”

While Griffin was debating whether to tell Dominic to sod off, Chloe shook her head.

“Not in this case,” she said. “Shortly after their marriage, Sophia converted to the Church of Rome. Their marriage still needed to be solemnized by a Catholic priest, but I’m sure you’ll agree her conversion complicates the situation.” Her lips parted in a wistful smile. “Sophia was a very beautiful and very sweet girl, and there’s no doubt the duke loved her. He traveled to Vienna to inform his mother of the marriage, and of his intentions to bring Sophia home to Italy, eventually.”

Dominic snorted. “I’m sure that news was greeted with tremendous enthusiasm.”

“Hardly,” Chloe said drily. “The duchess was in the middle of negotiating a marriage for her son to the daughter of an extremely wealthy Spanish grandee. From what Marco told me, his mother was adamant in demanding that he break off all contact with Sophia. She was quite forceful, to the point of issuing rather disturbing threats.”

Griffin frowned. “What kind of threats?”

Chloe shook her head. “The duke wouldn’t give specifics, but it was clear he was rattled by them.”

“And you put my wife in the middle of all this?” Griffin asked, exasperated. “Thank you very much for that.”

Chloe rushed to placate him. “No, I’ve made sure they were safe. The count won’t be able to find them.”

He leaned forward and glared at her. “The count has someone watching my house. No doubt the bastard already has someone hot on Justine’s trail.”

Dominic’s gaze went flinty. “Marzano had someone watching Jermyn Street? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it didn’t seem to matter,” Griffin retorted. “I had no idea that my wife and my blasted mother would be involved in a plot to sneak the baby out of London under my very nose. Christ, what an unholy mess.”

Chloe made a small sound of distress. “I didn’t realize that.”

A sense of urgency drove Griffin to his feet. He loomed over his mother. “I need you to tell me where Justine is. No more stalling.”

Chloe gazed up at him, her expression turbulent. “I cannot unless you agree to help. The duchess and her men cannot be allowed anywhere near Stephen, and that’s on the advice of her own son.”