The Duke's Legacy by Wendy Soliman Read Free Book Online Page A

several minutes, walking at a brisk pace, to reach his breakfast-parlour. Entering that room, he partook of a healthy meal but scarcely noticing what he ate, his mind still preoccupied with his unexpected guest’s revelations.
    Once he had satisfied himself Lady Abigail really was in danger, it was impossible for Sebastian to turn his back on her. Besides, he was bored. It had been some months since an interesting case had presented itself. Now that it had he was powerless to resist the challenge, even if it did mean placing himself frequently in Lady Abigail’s company. In the brief period that had elapsed since her departure he’d already convinced himself that any admiration he entertained towards her didn’t extend beyond her courage. She was too young to excite his amatory interest. He never dallied with unmarried girls and had no intention of becoming embroiled in a situation that could only end in his becoming leg-shackled.
    He wasn’t surprised his reputation had managed to reach the ears of one as closely guarded as Lady Abigail. All sorts of rumours abounded regarding his past and Sebastian did nothing to quell them. Rumour and speculation was better than people knowing he’d been one of Wellington’s most productive spies. Times were still uncertain and he’d made a lot of enemies during the course of his work. He’d flourished in that sphere, partly because of his ability with languages and a happy knack for thinking on his feet. Most significantly, his reckless disregard for his own welfare had seen him through the conflict with Napoleon with barely a scratch to show for it.
    Settling back into the rigid social structure of life within the ton was proving challenging. Sebastian found it impossible to take an interest in the latest on dits , or to pander to the scheming matrons and dredge up a show of enthusiasm for their dreary daughters. He withdrew behind a façade of haughty disinterest instead. His position and immense fortune were reasons enough for most people to excuse his attitude. Indeed, the more unobtainable he strove to become, the more tenaciously he was pursued by those with enough social ambition to ignore his eccentricities.
    Lady Abigail’s trifling difficulty was just the excuse he’d been seeking to delay the inevitable. Much as he hated to admit it, Sebastian’s sisters were right to remind him of his obligations on the marriage front. It was his duty to produce an heir, thus ensuring the continuance of the Denver dynasty, and he couldn’t invent reasons to prevaricate for much longer. Sebastian shuddered as he imagined this year’s crop of virginal debutantes, prettily deployed for his inspection. He could already anticipate their irksome giggling, lack of intellectual conversation, foolish simpering and childishly flirtatious overtures. Worse, he knew from bitter experience the entire rigmarole would leave him unmoved.
    Feeling totally justified in grasping this most convenient opportunity to temporarily absent himself from the fray, Sebastian returned his thoughts to Lady Abigail’s plight. In spite of her protestations to the contrary, her aunt and uncle had to be the prime suspects. No one else stood to gain financially from her demise, the title would revert to the Crown if Lady Abigail failed to produce an heir, so what motive could anyone else have to do away with her?
    Sebastian paused in his cogitations to remind himself things were seldom as they appeared at first glance. People bore grudges and harboured resentments for the most minatory of reasons. His own first sight of Lady Abigail had been a shock, albeit a pleasant one. Wealth, position, beauty and courage. It was a potent combination likely to stir up malevolent feelings and the spiteful desire to right perceived wrongs.
    His breakfast complete, Sebastian made his way to his library and dealt with the matters of business awaiting his attention. He dictated letters, sorted through the pile of invitations,