Unmasking the Duke's Mistress (Gentlemen of Disrepute #1)(67)

‘You imagine the gossip to be something it is not,’ chided her mother. ‘And have I not already told you the truth? Of course there are whispers, but the villagers are our own people, and it was not as if you were left unwed with a child. They know you married Mr Marlbrook, and would have accepted you and Archie just the same. And, yes, it is unfortunate that the boy is the very image of…’ her mother’s voice hardened as it always did when she spoke of Dominic ‘…that man, but it was the old duke who forced us from this village, and nothing else.’

‘Perhaps you are right, and indeed I pray that you are, for I want more than anything for Archie to be happy here.’

‘And he will be.’ Her mother patted her hand. ‘The children will soon tire of their taunting.’

‘I hope so,’ said Arabella.

Her mother looked into her face. ‘I can see that you are unhappy and I do not blame you after all that you have been through with that villain Arlesford. But you must move on, Arabella, both for your own sake and for Archie’s. The boy needs a father and you, a husband.’

‘No, Mama,’ Arabella objected. ‘We are fine as we are. We do not need another man.’ She knew her mother meant well, but Mrs Tatton did not know the truth. She did not know the terrible lies that Arabella had told. She did not know the guilt and the misery that weighed heavy on her heart.

‘Will you hide yourself away here in this cottage for the rest of your life because he broke your heart? That is not you, Arabella. You have pride. You have spirit. You are a strong woman. A woman not unlike myself when I was younger.’

Her mother smiled at her, but in the smile was sadness and her eyes were filled with worry. Arabella felt all the worse, because it was her own fault. One lie upon another, and too many of those that she loved were suffering because of it.

‘You must do what is best for Archie,’ said Mrs Tatton.

‘I always have,’ said Arabella, ‘and I always will.’ No matter how hard that would be. No matter what it cost them all.

‘And I am glad of it. I know you do not believe me when I tell you there will come a time, not so very far in the future, when the affection of a good and kind gentleman will heal your heart, Arabella, and make you forget all about Dominic Furneaux.’

No one and nothing would ever make her forget Dominic. She would never stop loving him. But she knew it would be a mistake to say this now to her mother. She did not want to talk any more about such a tender subject, especially one about which she could not tell her mother the truth. So she just smiled and gave her mother’s hand a gentle pat.

‘I know you have ever had my best interests at heart, Mama, and I thank you for it, but matters are still too raw. It needs to be just you, me and Archie for now.’ And then she rose from the table and went to check on her son.



Dominic dealt with matters as speedily as he could the next morning. He visited the Archbishop of Canterbury, Moffat, his man of business, and finally Hunter, who, despite the afternoon hour, was only just up following an ‘all nighter’ at the gaming tables, but who nevertheless rallied to Dominic’s request.

‘And so Smith was really Linwood all along,’ said Hunter as he stood there in his bedchamber with his chin up, letting his valet tie his cravat in some wonderful new knot. ‘Damn the man. You should have run the villain through.’

‘No doubt,’ replied Dominic drily. Around them was a flurry of activity, as servants hurriedly took Hunter’s clothes from their drawers and wardrobe and packed them in a travelling bag.

‘Does Arabella know you are coming?’

‘No. A letter would not arrive significantly before we do, and besides, I think what has to be said would be better in person.’

‘I’ll say,’ said Hunter with a grin. He glanced at the coat that was being folded into his bag and spoke to his manservant. ‘No, no, Telfer, my best one, man, the black superfine from Weston.’



In a matter of fifteen minutes Hunter was ready in his riding coat and breeches, his fully packed travelling bag strapped behind his saddle, and the two men geeing their mounts out on to the Aylesbury road.

Dominic waited until they had left London behind and were trotting along in the countryside before he spoke again.

‘There is one other thing that I ought to tell you before we reach Amersham, Hunter.’

‘What is that?’ Hunter glanced across at him.

The small matter of his son. And Dominic told his friend all about Archie.

‘Hell, Dominic, I had no idea. So Arabella married Marlbrook because she was—’ He stopped himself just in time.

Dominic raised an eyebrow and drew him a droll look.

Silence, and then Hunter asked, ‘Did Linwood know of the boy?’

‘Most definitely.’

‘Ah, I think I understand your feelings towards Linwood. Bad enough threatening your woman, but your son too?’

Dominic’s eyes darkened at the memory. Linwood was lucky to have walked out of his house alive.

‘Anything else you have not told me?’ Hunter asked with a grin.

‘Nothing you need know,’ said Dominic, and smiled. ‘Now, you’d better get that horse moving if we want to reach Amersham before midnight.’

Hunter laughed and kicked his horse to a canter. And Dominic thought of Arabella in the little Tatton cottage in Amersham, and he raced his mount past Hunter.