To Desire a Wicked Duke (Courtship Wars)

“You do realize I could be dismissed for prying into the duke’s financial affairs?”

It was Tess’s turn to frown. She was not asking him to pry, only to help her to pry. But perhaps there was little difference.

Then Basil hastened to add, “But of course I will do anything you ask. Indeed, I would not even have the post of his secretary if not for you.”

“No, I have changed my mind.” She didn’t want to cause trouble for Basil, especially not when he was just beginning his new life with Fanny. “Never mind. It isn’t important.”

“I can see it is exceedingly important to you, your grace.”

It was desperately important to her, but rather than say so, Tess fell silent. Basil knew her marriage to Ian was not a love match, but that didn’t mean she felt comfortable discussing her marital problems with anyone but her closest friends.

“Is there no other way to gain the evidence you seek?” Basil asked, still intent on helping her.

“Perhaps.” She could question Mr. Grimshaw, but his loyalties doubtless lay with his employer, and he would probably not be forthcoming. Worse, he might report her peculiar interest to Ian before she had a chance to question him.

She wanted the element of surprise when she confronted her husband. Ian might try to fob off her queries, and she urgently needed to see his expression and judge his reaction for herself.

“With all due respect,” Basil added with obvious concern, “could you not simply ask the duke directly when he returns to London?”

“I intend to,” Tess said, pressing her lips together with resolve.

One way or another she meant to get to the bottom of Ian’s secrecy and discover if and why he had been deceiving her all these many years.

It is shocking to learn why Ian hid the truth from me all this time.

—Diary Entry of Miss Tess Blanchard

From the moment she began suspecting Ian’s subterfuge, Tess felt fretful and on edge. Doubtless she was a fool to long for his return, but she was anxious to understand his motives if he had deceived her. Not, Tess firmly told herself, because she keenly missed him.

Perhaps her unease was due in part to the fact that she had to settle into Ian’s magnificent ducal mansion in Cavendish Square. She claimed her own suite of rooms, but without his presence, she found it awkward to establish herself with the large staff, who were much more formal than the friendly servants in his remote castle in Cornwall.

At least she had Dorothy for companionship. When Ian finally did arrive home Friday afternoon, Tess was out making calls with the elder lady. Upon being informed that the duke was in his study, Tess excused herself to Dorothy, then handed over her outer garments to the lofty butler and went in search of her husband.

The study door was closed, but when she rapped lightly, she was bid entrance at once. She found Ian seated behind his desk. His expression remained shuttered as he greeted her, although he politely set down his quill pen and stood.

Not wanting to seem too eager to welcome him home, Tess kept her tone dispassionate when she said, “I trust your business in Falmouth went as planned?”

“Yes. Banks and his confederates are in jail awaiting a hearing.”

“Good,” she responded.

“How is Crutchley?” Ian asked in a detached tone of his own.

“His mental state seems to have improved a bit, I think. He no longer quakes at his own shadow. And now that he has proper care, I hope he can heal enough to find productive employment someday. Earning his own keep may help Ned recover his dignity and give him a reason for living.”

When Ian gave an impersonal nod, Tess hesitated. The stiff formality of their exchange felt supremely uncomfortable, although she should have been glad for the cold barrier between them. It was precisely what she had wished for, wasn’t it?

“Did you desire something particular of me?” Ian prodded.

“Well …” Hearing the tentative quaver in her voice, Tess chastised herself. She had no reason to feel ill at ease. She had a legitimate right to question Ian about his possible involvement in her affairs.

She just wasn’t certain she wanted to know the answer. Not if it meant that he had been her anonymous benefactor all this time. She didn’t like to think she owed him such a great debt, or that she had misjudged him so profoundly. But Tess took a deep breath and began calmly.

“I recently realized that Mr. Daniel Grimshaw is your personal solicitor,” she commented.

“So?”

“So, for the past several years he has been a major contributor to my two most important charities.”