The Way to a Duke's Heart: The Truth About the Duke by Caroline Linden Read Free Book Online Page A

after Edward’s whirlwind courtship and wedding, it felt almost like a desertion to Charlie. Obviously his brothers weren’t nearly as worried about losing Durham as they claimed to be, if they had time to fall in love and marry.
    When Gerard did return to Bath, he hardly cared at all for solving the Durham Dilemma. Some quarrel had sent his wife off, and Gerard could think of nothing but following her. Half amused, half concerned, Charlie went with him. By the time he met his newest sister-in-law, he knew Gerard would abandon him as Edward had done. Edward at least made a little speech pricking him with guilt, telling him the dukedom was his to pursue or lose; Gerard effectively said he cared more for his wife and it was Charlie’s duty to find the blackmailer. This was all well and good for Gerard, whose new bride had brought him a large fortune that would insulate him from the consequences of failure. Charlie, on the other hand, was astonished that both his brothers were turning everything over to him after they’d barely consulted him on what to do. Now they thought he was suited to handle the entire problem on his own?
    The sad truth was, he feared he wouldn’t be up to this challenge. His brothers had been unable to solve it. Gerard had uncovered the blackmailer’s name, Hiram Scott, but then passed up an opportunity to pursue him in favor of haring off to reconcile with his wife. Instead Gerard handed over the original blackmail letters and eight ancient notebooks from the Fleet minister who had married Durham to his first wife all those decades ago, and wished Charlie luck.
    The very thing he seemed to have run out of.
    Charlie had no experience in locating someone, especially someone who wished to remain unknown. Gerard at least had some military training, and Edward had the patience to plod through hundreds of possibilities, but Charlie had never had to exert himself; people came to him. He tried to make sense of the minister’s notebooks, but there were a dozen entries per page, all in faded, cramped handwriting. The thought of combing through all eight books made his eyes water, but he squared his shoulders and made himself open the first book.
    After an hour of frustration, Charlie set it aside. He wasn’t giving up, but this would require some fortification.
    Instead of having something sent up to his rooms, he went downstairs, away from the ledgers and documents and other proof of his present morass. He should have brought his chef with him, so he could have a proper pot of coffee instead of tea. He should probably send out inquiries about Hiram Scott; the man had been in Bath just a few days ago, according to the postal clerk who had recognized him and reported his presence to Gerard. In fact, he had just caught Mr. Lucas’s eye, intending to ask where he might hire a man to ask some discreet questions, when the very name he was seeking floated by his ear.
    “From Mr. Hiram Scott! You must take it right up for Mrs. Neville, Mary; she’ll be expecting this letter.” The speaker was a petite older lady swathed in a lavender shawl, her white curls clustered under a lace cap. She handed over a sealed letter to a younger woman, obviously a maid from the way she curtsied and hurried off with it, a number of parcels in her other arm. Charlie watched the letter go with hungry eyes. Then he turned toward the woman who had received it. Perhaps his luck hadn’t deserted him after all.
    “Are you well, madam?”
    At his query, she looked up from digging in her reticule. Her eyes traveled up his figure, growing wider and wider until she met his gaze. Her mouth dropped open and her cheeks flushed bright pink before she stammered, “Oh—Oh, indeed, sir!”
    “Forgive me,” he said with a penitent, though charming, smile. “You looked a trifle unsteady. May I escort you to a chair?”
    “Oh—well—I’m sure I’m perfectly . . .” Her flustered protests died away as Charlie offered his arm. For a