The Wedding Game(58)

‘And you did not leave me,’ John reminded him.

He had been young and stupid. But he had known in less than a year that his love for Cassandra was a poisonous thing. As more years passed, even his lust had died. And yet he had stayed with her, serviced her, taken her money and hated himself for it. ‘I did not leave you,’ he said.

John sensed the moment of sentimental weakness and took advantage, moving his bishop to attack. ‘Check.’

Ben laughed and gave him a nod of approval before moving a knight to protect his king. ‘But you will be a better duke than he was, because of it. Hardship makes you stronger.’

John sighed. ‘Sometimes, I wish I did not have to be quite so strong.’ Then he moved his queen and smiled again. ‘Check.’

Ben moved a rook. ‘You might have to be stronger yet. There is something we must discuss.’

‘You mean there is something you wish to say that has not been said,’ John corrected, taking the rook. ‘Check.’

This time, Ben moved his king. ‘Sometimes, you are too smart for your own good. In the near future, you will hear unpleasant rumours about me.’

‘And I am not to believe them?’ the boy said, contemplating the next move.

‘On the contrary, they will all be true,’ Ben said.

John’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘What have you done?’

‘Nothing recently,’ Ben assured him. ‘But Summoner knows I am not your brother. He has threatened to reveal it. Miss Amelia Summoner is on her way to Cottsmoor to talk to my mother.’

‘I will make them stop,’ John said, falling easily into the role of autocrat again. ‘Check.’

‘Do not bother yourself.’ Ben rescued his king yet again. ‘I have decided it is better for all concerned if I call his bluff. One cannot blackmail a man who has no secrets.’

‘You will be disgraced,’ John said, obviously worried. His attention wavered and Ben took his queen on the next move.

‘When I am, you must distance yourself from me,’ Ben said, though his heart ached at the thought. They’d had precious little time together before Cottsmoor died. Now he would lose the future he had hoped for and any chance to make amends for the past. But there was no alternative. ‘I want no stain on your reputation, because of my past behaviour.’

‘Do not worry about me,’ John said, taking a bishop. ‘If Cottsmoor taught me anything, it is that I am far above scandal, even when I am at the centre of it. Pay attention to the game, Ben. Check.’

Ben laughed in surprise and searched the board for his next move. ‘I do not know why I worry about you. You have obviously learned to take care of yourself without my help.’

‘But I appreciate that you do,’ the boy said quietly. ‘And I will not allow you to keep your distance to protect me. I have few friends. I cannot afford to lose you.’

‘Thank you, John.’ He smiled and tipped over his king. ‘I see mate in three. An excellent game.’

Pleased, the young Duke nodded. ‘Another?’

Ben began to set up the board again. ‘You must give me a chance to recover my pride.’ As if that was necessary. When he was with the boy, pride seemed to swell inside him like a lump in his throat that sometimes made it difficult to speak. He coughed to clear the roughness from the next words. ‘This time, I will take white, since you are near to my equal. But that is no surprise. Your father was an excellent chess player as well.’

‘Yes, he is,’ John said. ‘Yes, he is.’





Chapter Twenty-One

The trip to Cottsmoor took most of the day, what with stops for changes of horses and refreshment. The maid she had brought with her dozed silently in the seat opposite for most of the journey, for she knew well enough not to question the purpose of the trip.

Before she’d left, Amy had gone to her sister’s room, shaking her awake. ‘Belle. There is something I must tell you.’

The sleepy blonde head rose from the pillow to look at her.

‘I need to go somewhere, just for a day or two.’

‘You are leaving me alone?’ She was instantly awake, staring at Amy in terror.

‘Not alone, dear. Your maid will still be with you. And, of course, you can trust Mr Lovell.’

Belle shook her head at this, as though she’d rather do anything in the world other than that.

Amy squeezed her hand. ‘Do not be afraid of him. I am going on this journey because he and I discussed your future and how unhappy you are.’

‘You told him?’ At this, Belle looked even more frightened.

‘He understands. And we have found something that will help.’

Belle’s eyes went wide. ‘Are you going to tell Father? He will be angry.’

‘Not yet. When I get back from my trip, in a day, or perhaps two, I will go to him and explain. In the meantime, you must stay here. You must keep my secret until then.’

‘A secret?’ Belle smiled.

‘A good secret.’ Amy did her best to smile. ‘Now go back to sleep. I will see you again, very soon.’

It had been a lie. There was nothing good about the truths she was going to uncover. What she knew so far was sordid enough. If, as he had hinted, the rest was worse, she did not know if she wanted to hear it.