The Duke's Men [1] What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries Read Free Book Online Page B

finances of her and her half brother.
    “Now then,” she asked when she took her own seat,“how can you be sure that this handkerchief belonged to your brother? You said you
     were young when he . . . um . . . left.”
    “Was kidnapped. Let us not mince words. And the handkerchief has certain distinguishing
     marks. The embroidery is distinctive, for one.”
    “But any embroidery design could be copied. I copy designs in my own embroidery all
     the time, whenever I see something pretty on a gown.”
    “You’ll have to trust me when I say it can’t be copied. It’s more than what was in
     the design. Each handkerchief’s embroidery is unique to its owner. No one but the
     family knows how. Unfortunately, it requires that I see it to be sure it’s the right
     one.”
    “How would you even recognize it? I mean, if your brother was taken when you were
     barely old enough to remember anything . . .”
    “Before we received word of Peter’s death, my father gave me a written account of
     everything Peter was wearing or carrying when he was abducted, including the handkerchief.
     That’s why it’s imperative that I meet with your brother. So I can get to the bottom
     of this.”
    Furrowing her brow, she sipped her tea. “It makes no sense, you know. If Tristan had
     uncovered an heir to the dukedom and then had traveled to England to reveal that,
     he would have told Dom and me.”
    “Perhaps he did tell Manton. And Manton left you out of it.”
    “Dom would never do that.”
    “Then where is he? It can’t be a coincidence thatManton ran off right before I was supposed to meet with Bonnaud. He has probably gone
     to join the scoundrel somewhere.”
    She glared at him. “Dom began planning this trip to Edinburgh weeks before you received
     that note from Tristan. I have the letters he received from the client, notes about
     the information he’s been—”
    “Edinburgh?” Maximilian cut in, as hope of speaking to Manton died. “He’s in Scotland ?”
    A sigh escaped her. “I suppose you might as well know. He left by ship yesterday morning.”
    “Confound it all. He has a day’s start, then.”
    “Following him won’t do you any good. He doesn’t know where Tristan is any more than
     I do. In fact, before he left we were discussing our concern that Tristan hasn’t written
     for months, which isn’t like him.”
    “Obviously Bonnaud was already planning his trip to England.”
    “I don’t think so. He would have written us about it. Dom and I and Tristan are very
     close. We have no secrets from each other. Dom would have told me if he’d heard from
     Tristan.”
    “Unless Dom is part of your brother’s scheme.”
    Anger flared in her face. “He would never be part of any ‘scheme.’ ”
    Maximilian considered that a moment. He had to admit that Manton had an excellent
     reputation as a man of good character and principles. It was hard to believe he would
     countenance a fraud, especially one involving a duke.
    Manton’s half brother, however, was another matter entirely. “So your Tristan didn’t
     tell either of you. That just points to his guilt. He was probably ashamed to admit
     that he sought to defraud me.”
    She shook her head. “I still say something bad must have happened to him. That is
     the only logical explanation.”
    Not as far as Maximilian was concerned, but clearly she had blinders on when it came
     to her brother. “In any case, none of this helps me find him. He didn’t even leave
     a note with the tavern keeper or inform the messenger boy what to do if he was gone
     when we arrived. You have to admit that looks suspicious.”
    “Yes. And it’s not like him at all.”
    “Have you no idea of where he would go in London?” he pressed her.
    “I’m telling you—he can’t possibly be in London. Not willingly, anyway.”
    He sifted through his memory. “Then perhaps he went to the family seat. It’s in Yorkshire,
     is it not?”
    A hard laugh escaped