Unmasking the Duke's Mistress (Gentlemen of Disrepute #1)(49)

‘Very good, your Grace.’ Bentley gave a bow. Arabella was already gone by the time the butler’s gaze flitted towards the library door in a warning.

Dominic glanced round to see Misbourne and Linwood standing there.

‘Everything all right, Arlesford? No trouble, I hope.’

‘No trouble.’ Dominic’s expression was cold and hard as he made his way back into the library and topped up his guests’ glasses. And he wondered just how long the men had been standing there and how much Misbourne had seen. For all their sakes, he hoped that the answer was not very much at all.

Chapter Fourteen



From the minute that Dominic arrived at Curzon Street the next day Arabella could see the determination in his gaze. She thought of what it was he had come to discuss and her heart missed a beat. She was frightened and hopeful and confused all at once.

‘Dominic!’ Archie ran up, so happy and joyful to see his father that Arabella’s guilt at keeping the two of them apart weighed heavier than ever upon her. ‘Are we playing the horses game today?’

‘Archie, let Dominic come in and at least remove his hat and gloves before you pester him. I told you that he is busy and might not have time to play today,’ said Arabella, but Archie was already by Dominic’s side looking up at him hopefully.

Dominic smiled and ruffled Archie’s hair. ‘Of course I have time for the horses game…that is, if your mama and grandmama give us their permission.’

Archie peered across at her and Mrs Tatton.

Arabella glanced at her mother, who was watching Archie and Dominic together. ‘Mama?’ she said softly, wanting her mother to be a part of this.

Mrs Tatton nodded. ‘Let them spend time together.’

‘Thank you,’ said Dominic. Arabella knew that he had no need to ask for permission—it was his house and his son. But the fact that he had understood how important this was to her and that he had consideration for her mother’s feelings gladdened her more than any fancy words or gifts could have done.

‘Hurrah!’ Archie shouted and produced a rather crushed and tatty-looking scroll of paper from his pocket. ‘I have my picture all ready.’

And when they went through to the drawing room, Mrs Tatton did not make her excuses, but came and sat with them too.



Dominic did not cease to marvel at Archie. The more he came to know him the more he realised that, although the boy had his looks, he had many of Arabella’s mannerisms. The way he tilted his head to the side when he was listening, and the way he chewed his lip when he was unsure of himself. Dominic never tired of the wonder of his and Arabella’s child.

His tailcoat had long been abandoned, his waistcoat was unbuttoned and the knot in his cravat loosened. Archie insisted on removing his shoes and demonstrating with pride to Dominic how well he could run and slide in his stocking soles across the polished floor. Dominic remembered doing the very same thing at home in Shardeloes Hall when he was a boy.

Dominic took a seat on the sofa and felt something hard jab into his back. He glanced round and found a small carved wooden horse half-hidden by the cushion.

‘Oh, you found Charlie sleeping in his stable.’ Archie smiled.

‘So his name is Charlie,’ said Dominic.

‘Gemmell made him for me. For my birthday.’ Archie smiled even more widely. ‘And my mama took us to the park and allowed me and Charlie to ride upon a real horse.’ Archie was beaming fit to burst.

‘I am sure you enjoyed that.’ He slid a gaze to meet Arabella and wondered how all this could have gone on beneath his very nose without him having an inkling of it. Her cheeks flushed and she bit her lip.

‘Oh, indeed, yes! It was the best treat ever.’

‘So now you know, Dominic,’ piped up Mrs Tatton. ‘She should have told you of the boy and the rest of it at the very beginning.’

‘Mama!’ whispered Arabella, scandalised.

‘Well, you should have,’ said Mrs Tatton to Arabella before turning back to him. ‘And you, for all that you can plead your excuses, should have treated my daughter a deal better than you have.’

‘You are right, ma’am,’ he conceded. ‘But I am here today to resolve that matter.’

Mrs Tatton’s eyes widened slightly. Her gaze shifted momentarily to Arabella and he saw in it both the question and anxiety before it came back to rest upon him.

No more was said of it, but Dominic stayed for dinner and was still there to kiss his son goodnight when he went to bed.



By the time Arabella and Dominic were alone in the drawing room Arabella was feeling distinctly nervous. She smoothed her skirts and perched on the edge of the sofa.

‘Your meeting with Lord Misbourne went well last night?’ she asked.

‘Well enough.’ He was standing over by the fireplace, which was still unlit on account of the warmth of the evening.

There was a silence that she quickly filled.

‘Would you like some more tea?’

‘No more tea, thank you, Arabella.’ His dark pensive gaze came to rest upon hers. ‘I meant what I said last night—about marriage—to you.’

‘Dominic.’ She sighed. It was such a sensitive subject for them both. ‘How can we possibly marry after all that has happened?’

‘How can we not?’ There seemed to be a still calmness about him, yet the flicker of the muscle in his jaw betrayed the tension that ran beneath that stillness.