The duchess closed her eyes, her expression pained. "I am thinking of all the times she has been from our sight. It…it truly cannot be contemplated."
It seemed his mother had drawn a similar conclusion. That whoever his sister stole away to visit during the day and even last week when she begged to leave a ball early pleading a headache. He feared it was all to visit this particular house.
"How often does she visit this…place?" the duchess whispered.
"At least three times a week for the past month."
"And we have not noticed? Though she is affianced and allowed liberties not afforded to other debutantes, she is always properly chaperoned with Miss Felicity as her companion!" His mother's expression cleared, and her lips flattened. "Of course, Perdie has convinced Miss Felicity to deceive us in this willful and insupportable manner! Lord Owen must never find out about this, Sebastian. He loves Perdie very much, and he is from a fine, upstanding family. Should he discover her activities—"
His mother placed a gloved hand over her mouth as if she couldn't bear to say whatever fear lingered in her heart. That her daughter had led herself to be seduced and ruined.
"Perdie has good sense," Sebastian reassured his mother, masking his own turmoil and the rage bubbling deep within him. Whoever had preyed upon his sister would rue the day they initiated the scheme. "I am certain she has not allowed herself to be wayward. Perhaps it is not what we think."
His mother sent him a glance filled with fury and disappointment.
"I will hold my tongue until you uncover what this is all about."
"You have my word I will not delay. Do not expect me at Lady Edgecombe's ball this evening. Do pay close attention to Perdie."
The duchess nodded. "Do you plan…plan to visit that house today?"
"I sent word to my man of affairs to uncover who owns or occupies that townhouse. He should have the information by tomorrow. I shall, however, not delay in my visit."
His mother took a few bracing breaths, and it pained him to see the worry in her eyes. It was an emotion he felt in his heart, for he could not imagine what sort of shenanigans his young, innocent sister might have embroiled herself.
"The scandal—"
"Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We do not know what I will find in that house. It might be innocent.”
“You are a man of the world,” his mother snapped. “Surely you do not believe that nonsense. The recklessness of her scheme could make life exceedingly difficult for both of you. You might be a duke, a very wealthy one, but even your reputation matters. Our family’s reputation matters. If this gets out, you might lose your opportunity to match with Lady Edith.”
He stared at his mother, almost admiring the manipulative ease in which she had slipped that lady’s name into the conversation. “I see you’ve been sucked into the assumptions of everyone else in thetoninto thinking I intend to offer for Lady Edith.”
There was even a wager on it at White’s; it had got as far as to be written in the book that he would offer for Lady Edith this month or closer to the end of the season. Serious money would be lost if he did not propose. He had laughed somewhat bitterly in annoyance when he’d heard of the entry.
His mother shot him a startled glance at his cold tone. “Is there anyone else you wish to marry in society? I cannot imagine anyone else who would be a better match for you. She would make the perfect duchess for you. The daughter of a marquess, she’s a very accomplished dancer and speaks three languages fluently. Surely, you must realize she was the only eligible young lady you danced with last season? It was all anyone talked about for weeks.”
“It wasn’t a marriage offer,” he said with simplicity. “It was a dance.”
“There was nothing simple about it. Lady Edith is known to have rejected several splendid offers for her hand, and I suspect we both know who she is waiting upon.”
“I do hope it is not me!”
“Of course, it is you!”
Though he had overheard sly hints on many lips that he had found his duchess, at last, he was far from convinced. Lady Edith was indeed beautiful and openly had been declared incomparable these last three seasons. She was also a witty conversationalist, and he had liked that she hadn’t tried to hide her intelligence when they had conversed.
“I have not given her any encouragement…”
His mother laughed, something mocking in her eyes piercing him. “You are thirty, my dear, and I sense the shift in your moods of late. You are thinking of settling down and filling your nursery with the patter of little feet. And I happened to come across your list, so I am perfectly aware Lady Edith is at the very top of it.”
Bloody hell. He had made a list of all the eligible ladies currently out in society. Sebastian should have known the current duchess would have snooped to uncover it. Now he understood why the duchess had expended so little effort over the past few weeks in reminding him of his duty to his title and the realm. “If you will excuse me, madam, I will prepare to pay a visit to Berkeley Square.”
“To turn up without any warning will be a great shock for the reprobate. I highly doubt you will be admitted.”
“I am the Duke of Hartford, who dares turn me away?”
Chapter Two