Unmasking the Duke's Mistress (Gentlemen of Disrepute #1)(65)

‘Good Gad! Where is your sense of honour, sir?’

‘In the same place as yours, Misbourne. I care not if you strip her naked and sit her upon my doorstep for all the world to see.’ From the corner of his eye he saw Lady Marianne clutch a hand to her mouth and he felt sorry that she had to witness this. ‘You may publish the story in every one of your newspapers and still I tell you most solemnly, sir, I will not marry her.’

Misbourne’s face turned an unhealthy shade of puce. And then paled to an ashen shade as he realised his plan had failed. ‘You have reneged on a contract that was agreed by your father. This betrothal has been in place since before my daughter was in her cradle.’

‘As I told you before, Misbourne, I will not be bound by a contract that never existed. I thought that we could maintain some degree of civility between us because of our political association.’

‘You led me to believe that you would consider taking her as your wife.’

‘If I did, then I am sorry, sir, for it was never my intention.’

‘You have made us a laughing stock before all of London, you damnable cur!’ the earl growled. ‘I should call you out!’

‘I would be only too happy to oblige you, sir,’ said Dominic coldly.

‘No, Papa!’ he heard Lady Marianne cry in the background.

‘A moment, sir.’ Viscount Linwood laid his hand upon his father’s shoulder. ‘We have not concluded our negotiation with his Grace.’

‘On the contrary,’ said Dominic, ‘I consider the matter closed.’

‘But we have not yet touched on Mrs Marlbrook, or should I call her Miss Noir? And then there is the consideration of the boy. I believe his name is Archie. What a startling resemblance he does bear his papa.’ Linwood smiled a dark dangerous smile, and Dominic’s gaze dropped to see the tiny glint of emeralds and the shape of a wolf’s head in the handle of the walking cane beneath Linwood’s palm.

Dominic’s stomach turned over. He felt his blood turn to ice. ‘It was you,’ he said, hardly able to believe it. Smith. And in that moment all the answers slipped into place. Linwood part-owned his father’s newspapers. He had journalistic connections. He had money in plenty. And an interest in seeing that Dominic did not marry Arabella.


‘Think of what it would do to the boy were the truth of his mama and his most famous papa to be published throughout the capital. The duke, his doxy and their bastard—what a headline that would make!’

Dominic reacted first and thought later. His fist smashed hard against Linwood’s jaw. It happened so fast the viscount did not see it coming and was left staggering and clutching a hand to his bleeding lip.

‘That is what you used to threaten Arabella when you went to Curzon Street, is it not?’ Dominic grabbed at Linwood’s lapels and backed him against the wall.

‘That and the threat of violence against your person if she told you. Did you think that I would just let you get away with how you have treated my sister?’ snarled Linwood. ‘The snub you have dealt us? You arrogant villain, Arlesford! Marry Marianne or I swear to you I will print every damn word of it.’

Dominic looked Linwood straight in the eye and watched the viscount pale. He allowed the deadly intent to show for the briefest of moments before masking it once more. And when he looked again at Linwood he was more under control and ready to play the biggest game of bluff of his life.

‘Sit down, gentlemen. Let us discuss the matter.’ He gestured once more to the chairs by his desk. ‘I am sure you will forgive my outburst…given the provocation. The urge to protect one’s blood is strong. I think we, all of us in this study, understand that. You have seen what young Archie’s mother was prepared to sacrifice. Can you expect his father to be any less protective?’ He resumed his seat behind his desk.

Both Linwood and Misbourne still looked wary, but Dominic could see that they thought victory was at hand. This time they sat down as they were bid.

‘A father has a duty to his son…and his daughter,’ said Misbourne. ‘By marrying my daughter you would be protecting your son. Only think if the scandalous story were to come out, what it would do to the child.’

‘I do, sir, and thus I will do all in my power to avoid its publication.’

Misbourne nodded and could not quite hide the triumph in his smile. ‘I am glad you begin to see sense, Arlesford.’

‘Indeed.’ Dominic returned the smile, but it was a smile that would have frozen the Thames. ‘However, it does occur to me that the story Lord Linwood outlined is perhaps not the best one to fit the facts.’

‘How so, sir?’ Linwood’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Dominic smiled again. ‘Let us review the facts: firstly, there is the blonde masked courtesan, Miss Noir, whom, in contrast to my previous custom, I have gone to great lengths to keep secret. Secondly, there is the Earl of Misbourne’s desperate insistence that I marry his daughter, his blonde daughter. And finally, there is the small matter of his daughter’s presence here, at Arlesford House, the home of a dissolute bachelor, late at night.’

‘What are you saying, Arlesford?’ Misbourne demanded.

‘Why, that the woman behind the mask of Miss Noir is none other than Lady Marianne Winslow, your daughter, sir.’

‘Damnable lies, sir!’ The words exploded from Misbourne as he jumped to his feet.